Chapter 2 is for: scottskyhawks1999, sibuna4life, Actress11, NightmarishStar, Fabina11
Song: Love Song by Sara Bareilles
~*~2: House of Calm~*~
Nina stared at Joy and Joy stared back with the same intensity. Both of the girls didn't blink. "Whoa," Nina smiled smoothly. She had practiced the smile a thousand times in front of her mirror. Nina had always heard rumors about Fabian being interested in Joy before she came and brought the mystery mess along with her. But in the House of Anubis you really shouldn't believe everything you hear.
Nina never pictured Joy as a threat, sure at prom she'd ruined Nina's dress after she danced with Fabian and she stole Sarah's locket leaving Nina to find it in the toilet where it could have been flushed by anyone who used it-but Nina had Fabian back then, she had the upper hand. Now the tables had turned though, right? Nina had Ryan now. No upper hand, nothing. She had no right to say no to Joy, and she wasn't about to.
A cater dressed in a black vest with a matching pleated skirt walked by with a tray of goblets. "I'll take a drink." Nina called, stopping the Cater, the American Girl didn't peel her eyes off of Joy for a second. "Thank-you." She drawled to the Cater, Nina hastily took a sip of her goblet of water...her stomach twisting into knots making her head feel disconnected from her body. She wasn't feeling well and she wasn't sure if it was because of Joy's recent confrontation or if she was sick.
Joy just blinked. She had expected Nina to yell...or even slap her. Joy watched Nina finish the drink nervously, this conversation had taken a silent, awkward turn. Nina put the goblet down on the arm of the sofa that had housed a thousand different 'fabina' moments in Year 9. The year Joy wasn't around, the year when Ryan wasn't around. Nina felt that it was wrong that she was angry at Joy, why should she?
Joy nodded slowly, her expression unchanging-like a block, and it made Nina sick. She was seeing two Joy faces and they kept shuffling close to each other like a deck of cards. "Well I'm going to go now." Nina stated and felt her chest get heavy as if some imaginary weight was trying to bring her to the ground. Joy just blinked. Nina didn't wait for any acknowledgement before walking swiftly out of the sitting room. Nina weaved her way through the crowd politely, a headache began pounding in her head and she arched her ears trying to make it go away.
She had to leave...now! Who cared about Victor's death? Or Amber's message? She felt sick, her body felt light, goosebumps rose on her exposed arms, and her back felt clammy. The sound of her flats clicking against the marble floor made her want to vomit and she grabbed the banister head-post at the bottom of the stairs. Nina felt like waves were crashing from above her.
Joy walked into the Anubis kitchen, her small hands playing with the skirt of her dress-was it riding up? Did it look wrinkled? Standing-in a mundane black suit-in front of the counter that looked out into the dining room was Fabian. He poured tall goblets of drinks; a variety from of virgin cocktails to water. He really is foolish. Joy thought to herself, she had her own opinion about her friend. Behind Fabian, Trudy rushed around cleaning dishes, preparing plates, taking orders from facility Staff and giving orders to Anubis Residents.
The House Mother just wanted the service to go smooth, since they're were no Ms. Millington complaints, Clarke and Lewis pranks or clumsy Fabian actions-she thought she was doing just OK.
"Fabian..." Joy purred, leaning into his side. Fabian looked up, his black hair didn't look as well-kept as it did far away. A look of confusion stared at Joy through his glassy eyes. "...she doesn't care." Joy finished flatly and grabbed a water goblet without consent. "What?" Fabian asked, still seemingly confused. What is Joy talking about?He thought to himself.
"Nina-your little friend...she's here. I tried the plan, but she didn't seem to care, I'm sorry Fabes." Joy explained and gave a soft smile which she reserved for her closest friends; Fabian was one of her closet friends. He nodded slowly, now remembering. When Trudy had ordered Caters and prepared food for the Wake last week, Fabian had found out that Nina Martin's name was on the guest list.
Nina Martin's name was on the guest list? Unreal! Fabian thought when he found out. Joy had caught him, she had walked into his and Eddie's room; Fabian was sitting on his bed, his guitar in his lap while his shaking hands held a crumpled piece of paper. Joy-being one of his most trust-worthy friends sat down and had asked him if he was OK. Fabian barely said anything and Joy knew it must have been about Nina.
Whenever Fabian got quiet around Joy, it usually was about Nina Martin-the girl who lived in the house before Joy returned, the girl Joy ruined the dress and locket of at prom before she left the next day. After ruining prom that night Joy knew she had to redeem herself. Frankly Fabian not even being able to talk about the girl-who Amber called the Love Of His Life-was tiring. Joy devised a plan to get her back for him; make her jealous and tell her at the wake that she was dating Fabian.
Joy had really changed after being sent away, she had opened her eyes and stopped being so boy-crazy. She had become the generous, sweet, intelligent, strong-willed girl she was before 'Boyfriend' was a word in her vocabulary. But she still remembered the tricks of the trade and that's why she wanted to help Fabian: she wanted people to see her as useful for something.
Unfortunately the plan didn't work.
Fabian stopped everything he was doing. Nina was here? In Anubis House...
If possible his heartbeat sped up. He had pictured so many scenarios of her return. One: She pulled a Mick and ran back into his arms from the cab. After Nina left and didn't come back for Year 10 so did Mick. His Dad had gotten him into a fancy Australian Sports School, it was hard enough for Fabian to see his friend for so long leave-especially after waiting for the longest summer for Nina to come back-but it was harder when he ran back from the cab and pulled Mara real close and Fabian along with Joy, Patricia, Jerome and Alfie watched.
"Is she really back?" Fabian asked, he needed clarity; he didn't want this to end up being some some cruel joke. Growing up that's all he ever faced-a string of cruel jokes. "Yes!" Joy replied irritated, Fabes was her best friend but that didn't stop Joy from feeling annoyed when he got sensitive. Two: She took a summer vacation and stopped at Anubis House-yes Fabian enjoyed this idea. That she would realize how much he cared about her and they would get their chance.
Trudy rushed out of the kitchen muttering about lazy caters while holding two platters of cooked vegetables squished between little salted crackers. The weight of the treats looked too much for the House Mother. "Trudy," Fabian called but the she was already gone, lost in the sea of people in the sitting and dining room. "I'll go help." Joy offered, and placed her goblet down. The young brunette stalked after Trudy, leaving Fabian alone. He was still in shock about Nina; he blinked twice.
Anubis House had been so boring after Nina left, Mick left soon after, a new kid came from America named Eddie. Sibuna had died: Amber wandered back to her old ways, Patricia rekindled a lost friendship with Mara and Joy, while Alfie and Jerome continued pulling pranks and jokes. Everything returned to the way it used to be-just without Nina. A loud crash from the other room pulled him from his thoughts.
Fabian was quick to run from the kitchen to the dining room where a large crowd surrounded Trudy; who had fallen over. "Trudy!" He wasn't sure who had called the name, maybe it was him? Fabian rushed to help his House Mother; he politely pushed through the people who had their necks craned over the head of others. He finally reached her and as soon as he went for her hand another beat him. As if in slow motion, he looked from the hand up to a pair of brown eyes.
Brown eyes that belonged to the girl he so wanted back.
Three: His favourite one-she never left.
