Chapter 9:She's actress! Whoa!

I jumped after read the note. Who isn't what I think? Maybe Annie is actually nice to some people? Maybe I just have to get to know her? I doubt it. And who is ~S?

"Ok, so I was thinking. Maybe Annie used one of those watches and hypnotized him!"

"Seriously, Nina? That's like something Amber would say!" I hit my hand on my forehead.

"I'm right here!"

"Shh!"

"What? Do you hear something?"

"Yes!"

"What is it!"

"Your mouth! Now, shh!"

"Jeez, Patricia. If we're going to room together, you're going to have to learn not to be a bitch to me."

"No offense, but she's right."

"Fine. I'm sor...sor...sorry."

"Ok, now, seriously. I don't know why or how this happened, but I'll figure it out. Everything sould be back to normal in a few weeks.

"Thanks, Neens."

I kept reading the note over and over again. Something just wasn't right.

"She's not what you think. ~S" I read aloud in my new room.

I looked closer at the note. It looked as thought it now read, "She's not what you think ~P" The note slowly formed my name.

I dropped it, startled, and looked back down at it. Nothing had changed. I was just imagining it.

The 'S' looked as though it was supposed to be erased. Proably not.

I realized I hadn't read the front when I'd gotten the note.

I flipped it closed and looked at the front. "To: Patricia." It read in big letters.

The back said, "Watch out. It isn't safe."

I couldn't believe I'd missed so much, just because I'd been too lazy to look at what was on the outside.

"Oops!" Annie said sarcastically as she bumped into me, knocking me down.

"Ha ha. Very funny." I replied.

"I know it is. Suggestion: Stay away from Jerome."

"I have been. The last time I talked to him was... A long time ago. Suggestion: Get your facts right. You should probably go to Mara if anyone for information."

"Why Mara?"

"What's going on?" Jerome asked. Alfie was right. He didn't look the same as he used to.

"Nothing, honey."

"Ok."

"Can't you tell when she's lying?" Jerome looked at me, confused. "I mean, come on. It's obvious something was going on! You don't say 'nothing' unless something is happening!"

"Jerome, go to your room."

"Alright." He just walked to his room. Just like Alfie said. He does everything she says.

"Listen, Pixie. Talk to my boyfriend again, and I'll smother you."

"Oh, I'm so scared! My name is Patricia."

"That's what Jerome calls you."

"Whatever...Nanny." She looked at me like I was insane. "That's what Jerome calls you." I went back to the kitchen, where Nina was washing dishes.

"Whaere have you been? You were supposed to help me." Nina said.

"Sorry. I got a little busy."

"Annie?"

"Yeah. How'd you know?"

"Isn't she the source of most problems around here?"

"What did she do!? Tell me!"

"To me: Nothing. To Amber: Insults over and over and over."

"I thought maybe it was just me. You guys can see the bad in her, too?"

"Well, yeah. Most people can't, but we are the smart ones around here. I mean, Sibuna."

"Fabian?"

"Yep."

"I know Alfie does, so that's five out of ten, maybe? Counting Annie?"

"Yeah, I guess. Are you going to help me or not?"

"Actually, I can't. I need to do something."

I heard a voice in my head. They were saying, "Go to your room."

"This better not have anything to do with Annie."

"It doesn't."