The rest of the week went by in a blur with tension building within not only the house but also the entire school. Word had spread that I was getting close to not only Jerome but Desmond as well. Many of the girls would come up to me telling me who was the better guy. Everyone seemed to be on Desmond's side. The guys on the other hand seemed to be split almost down the middle. Regardless of what they would say, though, I was not going to pick a side. Desmond seems a little sketchy, but come on just look at him! Jerome on the other hand seemed to genuinely be concerned for me. At least we have something to talk about in the attic…oh yea that's today. SHIT!
"Jude! I was looking for you all over the place! You have only two hours till the initiation! We have to run to get you ready!" I guess Queen Millington found me in my little nook at the library. I thought she would never know how to even get near here.
"Amber, I'm just going up to the attic. What could I possibly need to be ready for?" I knew exactly what she was going to say, but I really want to torture myself by hearing the beauty queen speak. That was sarcasm if you didn't catch it.
"You need to look good in case you go up with one of the guys! Don't you want a boyfriend? I mean, I've heard that Jerome and Desmond are having a little spat over you. You may just want to choose Jerome so you guys can have some private time together." When she said the word "private" she raised her eyebrows in a very suggestive way. "Just don't pick Alfie since we both know that he has a major crush on you. You are just like Bella! I am super jealous of you." Amber? Is jealous of me? THE SKY IS FALLING!
"Amber, get a grip girl! I am nothing to be jealous of. You, on the other hand, are someone anyone would wish to be." I said this with a straight face, I should get a medal or something.
"I know! What isn't perfect in my life? Thanks Jude!" With that she skipped off and out of the library. I finally know a way to get rid of her, Thank God.
I gathered up my things and walked out of the library shortly after Amber left. I really am confused on whom to bring with me tonight. On one hand, I should stick with my promise to Jerome and take him up there. On the other hand, if I do, everyone will think that the rumors about me are true and that I chose him! Again totally not the best choice in the world. I could possibly take someone like Nina or even, dare I say it, Mara up there. Ugh, I guess I will have to wing it.
Lost in my thoughts, I wandered the paths of the school slowly getting lost with each step. I somehow stumbled upon another one of the boarding houses. The name was presented above the door: House of Apollo. What is it with this school and naming their houses after various areas' ancient gods? Next thing you know I will find the "House of Thor." Everyone there has to carry around a giant hammer though!
"Guys! You remember the new girl I was telling you all about?" That sounded just like Desmond, but that can't be. I slowly walked up the path and hid behind some bushes. I pushed back some branches till I could see whom were the ones talking. My first guess was right! It was Desmond and a bunch of guys that looked like they fell out of some old school MTV music video. Preppy guys galore!
"You mean the one with the great rack?" Some guy with an almost Mohawk gestured to grabbing boobs. I saw Desmond nod his head while wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"That asshole Clarke is after her for some reason. After everything he did to me, he is not getting this girl from me. She nearly kissed me when I dropped off her homework from Fuckson's class." That arrogant son of a BITCH! So going to stick around to hear how he recovers from that.
"Dude, I hate to break it to you but she seems like a complete prude. Not to mention she has a brain unlike most of the girls around here." Another guy who looked like he tanned for living said that.
"The thing is," Desmond leaned into the circle of guys, which caused them to lean in, "I actually like the challenge. This girl could be the one who could settle all the unfinished business I have here."
"You are sounding like you are going soft man! You barely know this chick! If she was a normal girl, you would have had your way with her by now." I want to punch this fucking guy in the face right now, sexist pig.
"She isn't, Harry. She's American for god's sake! Lord knows that the Americans know how to drag the whole sex thing out." I couldn't listen to this talk anymore so I race back down the path that I originally walked down.
I ran until my legs gave out. I reached a large, full tree that had to be at least one hundred years old. I sat down with my back against the trunk. I got out my journal where I put all my book ideas and wrote down exactly how I was feeling. I am scared, confused, hurt, alone, and most importantly angry. I knew how to deal with this.
I gathered up my stuff and made my way back to Anubis House. When I got there I made my way up to my room to get my toiletry bag. I made my way to the bathroom. I smiled to Alfie and Amber who were talking outside of Amber's room. I got in the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind me.
I hoped in the shower pulling the curtain over behind me, extra insurance. I unzipped the bag and took out the shiny, sharp object. I looked at the reflection in the tiny object. Slowly, I brought the old friend to my wrist and closed my eyes. I felt the pain take over me. I opened my eyes to see the damage I had done and saw the sticky, red liquid pouring down my forearm. I watched it flow for at least five minutes before I heard a knock on the door.
"Jude! I know you are new here and all but some of us need to go to the lou!" said Mara from the other side of the door. I quickly grabbed a towel and pressed it to my wrist.
"I'll be right out!" I pulled my emergency wristband out of my bag and covered my now not-bleeding cut. I ran the blade under the water and placed it back in my bag. I opened the door to see an irritated looking Mara. "I'm sorry. I had a small…female problem that I needed to take care of."
"I guess it's alright. Don't forget be ready by ten o'clock sharp." Mara is really starting to get on my nerves.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be ready. Don't you worry about me." She just rolled her eyes and shoved past me into the washroom. Ugh, now I have to hide this while I'm doing my initiation.
I ran to my room and through on my pajamas. I was surprised when I looked at the clock to see it was already 9:53. I must have been in there longer than I realized. I could hear everyone else running around trying to beat Victor to his "five minute warning" routine. Queen Millington apparently had just taken her turn in the washroom. I sat and waited for Victor to tell us its lights out, which came rather quickly to be honest.
Mara had just made it into our room when Victor began the final countdown. You could hear him saying each number like it hurt him to let those words leave his mouth. I gathered my books that were on my bedside table. One was Paper Towns by John Green and the other was yet another book by John Green called Looking for Alaska. Hard as it to believe, Fittson had assigned the class the second book for a project. I was ready for this…. I think.
I heard a knock on my door about a half an hour after lights out. Someone obviously checked to make sure Victor was dead to the world. I walked over to the door and opened it to reveal Jerome and Alfie with flashlights pointed upwards towards their face.
"Are you ready?" Those three little words struck fear into my heart. I knew it was a risk no matter whom I chose to take up with me to the attic. If I pick Jerome, like I am suppose to, everyone will think that I just want to go up there with him to have some "alone time" with him. If I pick anyone else, Jerome will stop being nice to me and I will loose probably my one true friend here. I am honestly beginning to wonder when I became so engulfed with what people think of me. I had to swallow my pride and go with my gut in this.
"Y-yes, I think so. Let me just get Mara." I managed to stutter out the words I needed to. I walked over to my bedside table and threw on my tall boots while stuffing a flashlight in the right one. "Mara, the thing is going to start now…are you coming?"
All I heard was a moan coming from the other side of the room. I will take that as a no. I adjusted my left boot and opened the door again to reveal Alfie and Jerome having an intense conversation. I cleared my throat, which caused the two of them to jump.
"Mara isn't coming. I guess I'll just follow you guys?" I knew the moment that left my mouth either a snide comment or a smirk was going to come from Jerome. Luckily it was the latter of the two. Alfie, on the other hand, offered me his arm like a gentleman.
"M'lady, shall I escort you to the door of the attic?" He normally has an English accent, but for the question he even put on a fake sounding one. He sent a smirk over to Jerome. I could see this was going to be fun.
"Thank you kind sir, but this lady can escort her self. She shall take a rain check though." I then scurried off to try to find everyone else. Slowly the doors all began to open revealing all of the girls of Anubis House. The guys were already waiting by the attic door, well besides Jerome and Alfie of course. Everyone raised their flashlights, oh sorry, torches to light their face pointing upwards toward the ceiling. Patricia stepped forward and began the ceremony.
I'll spare you the boring part about swearing on my ancestors, proving that I am who I am, and blah blah blah. I'll just skip ahead to the important part. "Do you have your choice on who you want to bring with you ready, Judith?" Patricia asked looking right over my shoulder to Jerome.
"Yes, I'm ready." I stepped forward to the door and turned to face the other students. "My choice is…"
BUM BUM BUMMMMMMM! I'm SO sorry you guys! I know I say that a lot but I really am. This chapter took me forever to write. I wanted it to be perfect. I was going to make it longer but I like the idea of a two part chapter. Especially with such an important chapter like this one. Sadly I don't think I can do Review Return time this chapter but next chapter I'm going to answer any question you have for me about the story. Please forgive me for the asshole I have been in terms of writing this story. Just a warning, and I know I am going to say this again, July 31st I am leaving for Florida for about 13 days. During that time I expect to finish this story and begin work on my other story again. So expect a lot of updates from about August 13th till I post the final chapter. Don't count on it though, just in case. I love you guys so much. Thank you for being so understanding, I've missed you guys!
