Chapter Seven

Bromance and Fire Dance

It was killing them all.

Fabian sat across the love of his life as they had stayed to eat and it was killing him not to touch her, hold her or even talk to her like normally would. He knew that there was more to the story that what Eddie had said because every time he would slip and call her Nina, Eddie was quick to rescue and change the topic. The blonde gave him an apologetic expression every time he did so. Fabian finally decided to avoid talking in hope of avoiding his mishaps, focusing on rearranging the food on his plate.

Patricia couldn't help but notice the conflicted emotion on Fabian's face as he silently pushed around the food on his plate. All pretences off, she gave his hand a comforting squeeze as she smiled reassuringly at him. Fabian gave a smile in return when she did. Inwardly sighing, she knew what Fabian was feeling and she wouldn't be surprise when he finally does something out of frustration. It was killing her that she couldn't do anything for her friends.

As she thought of her friends, she was suddenly aware that one person sitting by the table wasn't one. She gave a glare at the blonde who sat in front of her. He interrupted Fabian every now and then and now, her friend has decided to keep quiet. Even if Fabian decided to give the blonde a chance, she couldn't help but think that he was hiding something about Nina.

Eddie couldn't tear his eyes away from the red head in front of him, despite the menacing expression on her face. Brielle was right. She was exactly his type. She was fiery, sassy, and sarcastic and despite all those, she still is caring. Well, she is caring to her boyfriend. He couldn't help but smile at her small gestures to make the guy comfortable. The guy was tripping over words as he tried to remind himself that Brielle isn't Nina. Brielle isn't Nina until she remembers her past and she isn't going to. Eddie is going to kill himself trying to make sure that she doesn't remember anything at all, just as his father requested.

Brielle was having the most awkward lunch in her entire existence. Well, it was the most awkward lunch that she remembers having. Fabian, who used to talk animatedly about the students in his class, was now silently playing with his food. Patricia was giving glares toward Eddie who, in turn, was looking at her with such an intense expression, not that the red head noticed. Since Fabian had stopped making small talk with her, the only sound that she heard as they ate was the clanging of silverware. The absence of welcomed noise was killing her. She then realised that something must have happened when she was gone. Finally deciding to do something about it, she suddenly stood up, startling those surrounding her.

"I'm going to the loo," she announced, just loud enough for her new friends and Eddie to hear. "Patricia," she addressed the surprised girl. "Will you go with me?"

"Er-" Patricia looked at Fabian who merely shrugged. Taking a deep breath, she finally nodded and stood up as well.

"Are you sure that you need Patricia to-" Eddie asked before the ladies left for the comfort room.

"It's a girl thing," Brielle winked at Eddie before pulling an unknowing Patricia.

Fabian watched the two enter the ladies' room before releasing a sigh of relief. He then faced the still confused blonde who sat diagonal to him. "I know there's something more that you know about Nina."

Eddie avoided Fabian's eyes. He didn't know if the man knew about Nina's shady 'Chosen One' related past. "I do but I'm not sure if you'd believe me."

"Try me." Fabian said in a challenging tone.

"She's some sort of "chosen one"," Eddie said in an almost whisper after leveling with Fabian's gaze.

"I know." Fabian gave him a small smile.

"You do?" Eddie smiled widely. "Well, that's a relief! And here I thought you'd think I'm crazy."

"How do you know this?" Fabian asked suddenly, frowning at Eddie. He knows that whatever research Eddie did couldn't have covered this.

"Well, I think I've left out a tiny little information about me," Eddie admitted. "My birth name is Edison Miller Sweet but I've used Miller ever since my parents' divorce."

"Sweet?" Fabian tried to think where he'd heard the name. "You're Eric Sweet's son?"

"The one and only," Eddie sighed. "My dad filled me in on the details about her. He was the one who found her in the first place."

"Found her where?"

"By the front door of Anubis House," Eddie lowered his voice once again, realizing the sensitivity of the topic. "She was battered and bruised. My dad immediately tried to help to her but she stopped him and gave him a locket. She begged him to keep her save and not to tell her anything about the past. When my dad gave his word, she fainted."

"Then?" Fabian raised a brow.

"Well, here's the weird part," Eddie grimaced. "When she fainted, all her injuries were gone in an instant. That's why they couldn't have her brought to the hospital. They had a doctor check on her though but besides the memory thing, nothing else could be found wrong. My mom took care of her and when I arrived, she looked normal as can be."

"Is there anything else I should know about?" Fabian asked.

"Well, Mr. Rodenmaar apparently called my father and lost all his memories of Nina," Eddie tried to think back on what else his father told him. "And-"

Eddie stopped himself when he saw the two ladies heading their way, seemingly in a rush.

Fabian nodded understandingly and gave Eddie a look that says that the conversation was far from over.

"Hey, what's wrong, Patricia?" Fabian turned to face the girl who looked distressed.

"I just got a call," Patricia gave out a sigh. "From Benji, no less."

Fabian stifled a groan at the mention of his fake girlfriend's annoying suitor.

"Benji?" Eddie tried to make a connection. "As in Benji Reed?"

"Unfortunately," Patricia groaned. "That idi-"

"What did he want?" Fabian interrupted.

"I won't even justify that question with an answer," Patricia rolled her eyes. "You know what he wants, Fabian and this isn't about what he wants. It's about what he did."

"And…" Fabian couldn't take the suspense anymore.

"He "accidentally" set the cottage on fire," Patricia let the words stumble out of her mouth, placing air quotes at the second word.

"He what?!" Fabian exclaimed.

"Why am I not surprised?" Eddie tutted as Brielle hit him lightly on his arm in disapproval.

"We have to go," Patricia told Fabian. "The idiot told me, though I don't know how that stalker managed to get my number, that the police wants to talk to us about our possessions and all."

Fabian looked at their unfinished meal.

"We'll take care of the bill," Brielle said reassuringly. "Think of it as a welcoming you in the school."

"A very warm welcome indeed," Patricia said drily.

"I'm really sorry about this," Fabian started. "I'll make it up to you guys."

"It's no big deal," Eddie smiled. "Just go before the idiot accidentally makes the cottage explode."

Fabian nodded, giving Eddie a significant look, before leading Patricia out of the restaurant.

Brielle gave Eddie a confused look. "What was that about?" she asked, noticing the long look Fabian gave Eddie before they left.

"Well, it seems that Fabian and I," Eddie smiled, "have reached an understanding."

Brielle gave out a small giggle as she signaled for a waiter.

"What?!" Eddie asked, his smile slowly disappearing as his companion giggled harder.

"And here I thought you were interested in Patricia," Brielle said playfully. "But you were actually interested in a bromance."

Eddie sputtered as he tried to explain that that wasn't what he meant but the newly dyed red head just brushed him off impishly.

"So," Fabian said as they rode the cab to the cottage. "What did you and Nina talk about?"

"Nothing," Patricia grunted. "As soon as we gotten in the stupid loo, the daft prick had called sputtering about what happened. 'Took him a while to actually relay the message. What about you? What did blondie tell you?"

"The truth," Fabian sighed. "We didn't really finish our conversation yet."

"Why are you trusting him?" Patricia scowled. "We don't know him."

"We don't have a choice. He's our only chance to finding out what happened to Nina and I'm taking this chance whether it's a real or a false chance."

"But-" Patricia tried to reason out.

"'Tricia," Fabian interrupted. "We finally found Nina, but just like the rest of the world. She doesn't know she exists… or existed. Our best hope is to know what happened to her while we weren't by her side and the only person who knows is Eddie. So, whether we want to or not, Eddie is our best hope."

"I'm still not trusting him," Patricia said after a pause. "There's something he's not telling us."

"Oh please," Fabian teased lightly. "You only say that 'cause you're in denial of your crush on him."

"What are we, in fifth grade?" Patricia scoffed. "We are adults, Fabian. We don't use the word 'crush' anymore."

"You're not denying it," Fabian observed.

"Because there's no use," Patricia defended. "You'll believe what you want."

"Or because it's true," Fabian grinned.

"No, it isn't-"

"We're here," the cab driver announced, almost irritated at the childish argument his passengers made.

Fabian paid and thanked the driver before looking out the window. Sure enough, there was a hint of smoke in the air. When he stepped out the car, the lingering smell of burnt wood filled his nostrils.

Finding a familiar face, Fabian waved at the principal. "Principal James," he greeted the old man.

"Oh, Mr. Rutter," the principal rushed to the temporary owner of the house. "We are so sorry about this…"

"We?" Patricia echoed.

"Benji is his son," Fabian whispered to his friend.

Patricia nodded in understanding.

The principal droned on. "We did manage, however, to salvage most of your possessions since the fire began in the kitchen. We took them to my house, for the time being. I am glad to welcome you in our home until you find another place to stay…"

"Makes me wonder if Benji did it on purpose," Patricia muttered making Fabian laugh, only to cover it up with a cough.

"Oh, are you sensitive to smoke Mr. Rutter?" Principal James Reed took notice of his cough. "Maybe we should leave immediately. Ben, my son, is already having your rooms prepared at the House of Isis. Currently, that's where we reside… with a few students of course…"

"Seriously," Patricia whispered to Fabian. "I'm really wondering if Benji planned this."

Shaking his head in amusement, Fabian chose to ignore Patricia's muttering until they arrived at Isis House where Benji stood waiting for them.

"Ah, my darling Trixie," Benji greeted Patricia with excitement and happiness.

Patricia, on the other hand, blanched at the nickname. She had her ex-boyfriend call her that in high school. While Jerome was a friend, it was inevitable that she hate being called that name. "Hi Benji," she managed out of gritting teeth.

"Er, I'm here too, Ben," Fabian greeted the blonde man.

"Oh, hi, Fabian," Benji waved Fabian off. "Anyway, I'm so glad that you get to stay here while you look for somewhere else to live. I'm so sorry about the cottage, though. I didn't' mean to accidentally start the fireplace."

"And burn the carpet…" Patricia muttered under her breath. "How is that even possible?"

Hearing her comment, Fabian nudged Patricia to keep quiet which she did for the rest of the tour of the Isis House.

Before Fabian and Patricia could reach their room (since they toured the gardens, the gazebo, the kitchens, the lounge and other people's room), a student announced that they had visitors.

Heading to the entrance, the three were surprised to see Eddie and Brielle standing in the hall.

"Hey," Eddie waved at the three. "'Just thought to pass by."

"We had your food wrapped," Brielle offered a paper bag to Patricia.

"What are you doing here, Millie?" Benji spat out, annoyed that his rival was in his territory.

"Oh, just saying hello to new friends," Eddie smiled at Patricia and Fabian.

"Yeah right," Benji rolled his eyes.

"They're rivals," Patricia whispered to Fabian. "Nina mentioned that to me earlier when she asked who called. Apparently, the two have been at each other's throat since uni."

"Actually, you're right," Eddie smiled, surprising both Benji and Brielle since he never agreed with his rival. "I'm here to make a proposition to Fabian and Patricia."

"What proposition is that?" Benji asked.

"Well," Eddie faced the couple, ignoring Benji who stood in between. "How would you like to stay at Anubis House?"

"What?" Benji exclaimed. "You don't have any rooms!"

"Dexter's room is available," Eddie grinned. "The kid doesn't have roommates because no one wanted to room with the king prankster so that's two beds."

"Oh please," Benji narrowed his eyes at his rival. "There's no difference between Isis and Anubis House. And besides, their things are already here."

"It's still in the car trunk, Reed," Eddie said smugly. "And there are a lot of differences between Isis and Anubis House."

"Like what?"

"Well, for one, you're not there," Eddie grinned. "And, Anubis House is more homey to our guests. After all, they stayed there when they were in high school."

"You did?" Benji exclaimed, not knowing this little fact despite stalking the red head.

"So, what do you say guys?" Eddie asked, giving Fabian a grin. "Here or there?"

A smile from Fabian gave away the answer.

AN: So, they're going back to Anubis House! Wah. :) Feddie Bromance? :))

Pardon the typos. Half asleep when I typed this.

Happy New Year, my lovelies!

Review please!