"Trudy, I want to switch houses." I not-so-confidently rolled my suitcase into the kitchen.

"What?" She almost dropped the pan of scones she was carrying.

"I can't handle Anubis. I can't go home, but I can't stay here." I explained.

"Well don't you think now wouldn't be the best time?" She buzzed around the kitchen, trying to get lunch prepared," However if it really is what you want, we might be able to take a walk down to Mr. Sweet's office later."

I breathed a sigh of relief," Thank you." We shared a Trudy hug. I savored every second of it, for I knew this very well might be my last one.

Amber's entrance broke us apart," The police want to speak with Alfie, but I am scared to venture through the guy's hallway."

"I'll go." I volunteered. I sped off in the direction of Alfie's room. Inside, I heard quite little sobs filled with pain and sorrow. I lightly tapped on the door and pushed it open," Alfie?"

He was holding his hand in his hands and softly weeping. When he noticed me, he sat up and brushed away his tears," What if he goes to jail, Nina? We always said we would get arrested together. We swore we would in the seventh grade. " He tried to stop crying.

Not knowing what to do, I wrapped my arms around him, "Shh Alfie, it's fine."

He sniffled, "Thank you. " He whispered.

"The police need to see you, by the way." I informed him.

"Okay, I'll be there in a moment." He pulled himself together.

I gave him a warm, comforting smile and left the room, shutting the door behind me. I've never seen Alfie so…venerable. He's always been the weird goofy one with a smile on his face. It was odd to see him cry. Another odd thing was Patricia running up to her room earlier. What could have led her to do that? She looked on the verge of tears, but all that happened was Jerome got arrested….Jerome got arrested, that's it! Maybe she likes Jerome! Wait Nina, let's not get crazy here. I probably should go check on her though.

I climbed the staircase and softly wrapped thrice on the door. There was a quiet, "Come in." on the other side. The door slowly creaked open to reveal a somewhat horrifying scene. Patricia lay in a bed of Kleenex. Her purple mascara ran all over her face. Her extensions had been removed, and her nose was red. I came over to her and sat on the floor, "Are you alright?"

She sniffled," No."

"Care to share why?" I passed her another box of tissue, for her nose was running.

"Why do you care?" She grumbled.

"Patricia, even though we got off to a rocky start, you're still my housemate and I will always think of you as family. Familia siempre esta ahi para familia." I spoke the words my Spain born mother always said.

"What?" She asked, dumbfounded.

"Family is always there for family." I explained. There was a moment of silence as she took a moment to calm down and breathe," I know you like Jerome."

"Me, like slime ball? Pff…" She dismissively waved her hand. I gave her a "Really?" look. "Okay, but you can't tell anyone!"

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." I assured her.

"What if he gets locked up for a month or something! Nina, I really like Jerome and to be honest, he is the reason I get up in the morning." She looked away, probably to avoid my reaction.

My jaw dropped," Elaborate, please."

" This whole school is just one enormous hell hole to hold us until college because our parents don't want to look at us. Everything here sucks. Well, not some of the students. If Jerome didn't give me something to look forward to, I would have run away by now. I don't know if it's his beautiful, icy blue eyes or his annoying, joking ways. Something is there that other guys don't have. I put up a tough front, but I'm a girl. I can like a guy too." She looked everywhere except for at me. She was the one blushing, not me like I have in most cases.

"You don't have to keep your feelings locked inside." I tried to convince her.

She twiddled her thumbs and changed the subject. "Well, are the po-po still here?" She sat up.

"Yeah, they probably want to speak to you soon. We should go." I took her down to the dining room then went back to my room. Amber was napping in her bed. That was a good idea. I tried to follow in her lead, but I couldn't sleep knowing that Jerome might not be back for a few days. He could even be sent to Juvi! Did Fabian really mean what he said about me? That wasn't even Fabian who said it though, because Fabian is sweet, kind, and caring. I don't know where he has gone, but I hope he comes back soon.

A recorded ringtone blared from my phone," Pick up your phone Ninaaaaa! It's Jer-homo calling you! So, So ,So, you should answer because he could be dyingggg! " I chuckled as I remembered the inside joke behind Jer-homo. Realizing that Jerome was in fact calling, I pressed the green button, "Jerome?"

"Hey Nina, you'd think they would take our cell phones, but nope! We're fixing to pull in." He said on the other end.

"Okay, we'll be downstairs." I hung up and received a text,' Cops just left x3 Mara:)' I reached over to Amber's bed and shook her awake, "Jerome is back!"

"What about Fabian?" She rubbed her eyes.

"Who cares?" I mumbled as I ran out of the room.

"Nina! Don't run, you'll kill the baby you might potentially have!" Jerome waltzed in the front door, picked me up, and spun me around. He kissed my hair and set me on the ground. Behind him, Fabian tried to sneak over to his room. Joy, however, saw him first.

"Fabes!" She pounced on him.

"No Joy, we're done." He pushed her away. He then locked himself in his room.

"What the hell has happened to him?" I asked.

Fabians POV

Cruelty, thy name is Amber.

Beauty, thy name is Nina.

Trouble, thy name is Joy

Jack-ass, thy name is Fabian.

Where is Fabian Rutter? I have no clue anymore. This term, it's like I am a different person. I need to change, and I need to do it now. I made the first step and dumped Joy. She brought out the bad in me. What do I do now? I cant make amends with Nina yet, she would never forgive me. However, I can make a public apology. That's exactly what I'll do. I know everyone is in the common room now, so it would be a good time to do it. I went to open the door, but Mick opened it," Mate, we are all gathering in the field on the side of the house. Important business that concerns all of us. Come on then."

I followed him outside. We all sat in a circle. Nina sat on top of her suitcase in the middle, "Guys, I'm leaving."

"What? No!" Mara protested.

"Nina, don't." Joy begged.

"Why do you of all people want me to stay?" Nina replied with venom.

"Tele shows are boring these days. You make things interesting." She justified.

" I am not here for your entertainment, I am not a mat for you to step on, and I sure as hell am not a punching bag for you to strike time and time again and expect to still be there! Fuck that shit! I am out!" Nina picked up her luggage and stormed away. Apparently, her fuse had been cut short over the term.

Jerome chased after her," Nina don't!"

"I'm sorry Jerome. "She kissed his cheek and tried to walk away, but he kept a grip on her.

"Please think of it. You'll have to start all over. Make new friends, suffer humiliation because they don't know what you've been through and you might be pregnant. Please, if not for yourself do it for me. I need my little sister. I can't talk to the guys about my feelings. I've never had a family, and this is the closest I will get until I am grown. I don't want my sister to leave. " Tears ran down his face," Nina, please don't go."

" One condition." She replied," You have to come to the girly doctor with me next month."

"And you promise that you will stay?" He made sure.

"On my life." She raised her right hand.

He pulled her into a brotherly hug. I hated seeing him so close to her. That should be me. The two came back to the circle. Nina pulled out her phone and called Trudy to tell her that she would stay. After she put her phone away, Alfie had an idea," Truth or dare?"

"Last time we did that, I passed out. So no." Nina objected.

"Spin the bottle." Patricia said, glancing at Jerome. Glancing at Jerome..?

"No, I don't feel like catching mono." Joy folded her arms across her chest.

" The voice!" Amber exploded.

"What?" I asked

"I know it sounds kinder garden like, but a singing completion! We all sing a song and then vote on who wins!" She happily explained.

"There is way too much singing going on this week!" Nina pointed out.

"Yah, so not that." Alfie agreed.

"Why don't we freak some kids out on campus by just acting odd?" Mick proposed.

"My friends and I did that all the time at home! Watch this!" She ran over to the sidewalk and stopped Mr. Winkler," Hey Mr. Winkler, do you want to see my belly button treasure?" She slightly lifted up her shirt to reveal her belly button. She rubbed her stomach," Booo, booop, blee opp." Mr. Winkler just shook his head and walked away. As she watched him get in his car, she called out, "It's okay, I have to fluff my Garfield anyway!" She smiled as she rejoined our group.

"Fluff your Garfield..?" Mara asked.

"I can fluff your Garfield if you want me to." She crept closer towards Mara.

"I think my Garfield is fluffed enough." She nervously smiled.

Nina laughed and returned to the center of the circle," I miss this, I miss laughing and getting along. I miss being happy so much." She glanced over to me," I hope that we can start doing that. I know some things need to change first, and I pray that they change quickly." They all stared at me," Fabian, I think it's time we work things out."

I nodded in agreement," I don't know why I have been the way I have been this term. I don't like it. In fact, I hate myself for it. Joy, I think you should know that I only kissed you so I wouldn't feel anything. I didn't want to hurt, and you just brought me numbness. I don't know how to describe it, but you made me feel dead. Like a zombie. I saw Jerome and Nina kiss, and that killed me."

"I did it because I was hurt that Joy kissed you." Nina turned the tables.

" I still love you." I told her.

" I never stopped loving you. How do you think I kept winding back up in your arms? "

"Then why don't you stay in my arms?" I inquired.

"This new Fabian.. This new person… is not good for me. " She responded.

"I can change." I reached for her hand.

She pulled away, "Then change, but I am not going to get hurt in the process. No, I will not hold your hand. I wont kiss you. No, not again…. You are addicting, it's like we have an invisible string tied to both of our wrist that disenables us to be apart… Right now all I can do is wonder why are we here in the first place? It all started the morning after prom. You told me you wanted to be housemates. Now, you are on your knees, almost begging for me. Why?"

"Since the day you ran over Patricia. Joy, and I, I have liked you. Ever since the day we joined Sibuna together I have loved you. I know your Gran's state of health and I know you could be called back to America soon. Nina, I did this because I love you so much that I didn't want you to get hurt." I explained.

"How would I get hurt?" She gave a weak giggle.

"Because Nina, I know that if I had to leave you and go all the way across the country- no, the world- I would die." A tear formed in the corner of my eye.

"Fabian over thinking things again." Mick mumbled. Mara and Amber both elbowed him in the stomach and told him to be quiet.

"Don't you think what have done has hurt me more?" She tried not to yell.

"Sorry." I looked down at the green grass," Can you forgive me?"

"Yes."

I moved in to try to kiss her. She held her hand up," It's going to take more than sorry to fix this." And with that she rolled her suitcase back inside.

"Did you just really try to kiss her Fabian?" Amber grew red with fury.

"I'm just going to go…floss." I made an excuse to leave.

I was pinned down by a hundred pounds of blonde, pink anger," You listen to me Fabian Rutter, if you ever even think about talking to her again unless she wants to talk to you, you will die! I am tired of seeing her cry! I worry about her so much, and worrying causes wrinkles! The day I get a wrinkle is the day I buy a shotgun." I couldn't help but stifle a laugh at the mental image of Amber holding a gun," You think it's funny now, just wait." She let me go and the others remained in the circle.

Nina POV

I hated seeing the pain in Jerome's eyes as he pleaded for me to stay. I knew what his parents had done, and it would be pretty heartless to leave him after that. Fabian is so tempting. I believe that he really did do it with the right intentions, because he is an over thinker. You will not believe how much I wanted to shut him up with a kiss, but I cant trust him yet. While I put all of my things back in its original spot, I couldn't help but think there was something tapping on my window.

Tap ,Kuthunk, Tap.

I finally became annoyed with the continuous noise and went to see what was causing it. I pushed the pink curtains aside to reveal Fabian with a keyboard," What are you doing?" I called down.

He looked down at the keys and began to play," What have I done? I wish I could run away from this ship going under. Just trying to help. Hurt everyone else. Now I feel the weight of the world is on my shoulders. What can you do when your good isn't good enough, and all that you touch tumbles down? Well, my best intentions keep making a mess of this. I just want to fix it somehow. But how many times will it take? Oh how many times will it take for me to get it right? To get it right…Can I start again with my faith shaken cause I cant go back and undo this. I just have to stay and face by mistakes, but if I get stronger and wiser Ill get through this. What can you do when your good isn't good enough and all that you touch tumbles down? Well my best intentions keep making a mess of things I just want to fix it somehow. But how many times will it take? How many times will it take to get it right? So I throw up my fist, throw a punch in the air and accept the truth that sometimes life isn't fair. Yah ill send out a wish, Yah ill send up a prayer that finally this one will see how much I care!" He held the note out," All that you touch tumbles down, but how many times will it take to get it right? To get it right…" His hopeful eyes looked up to me. I just closed the window and finished packing.

The song was sweet. And I am very tempted to take him back, but how do I know Fabian is back? I looked over at the bouquet of flowers on Amber's desk. I stole a white rose. I wrote Fabian on the stem and picked off a petal," He is back." I picked another one off," He is still gone." This continued until the delicate flower told me he was back. I shouldn't trust a flower though, that would be crazy. I dug a penny out of my pocket," Heads I give him another shot, tails I stay away." With a slight flick on my thumb, I sent Abraham Lincoln flying.

Buh bah bummm Sorry its short. The choice is up to you! I could pull from the stay or go votes what you probably want, but I want to make sure! REVIEW:) (and please vote for Iconic Boyz on Americas Best Dance Crew)