I've been waiting to write this chapter since the very start- it was one of the first ideas that popped into my head! I also just want to warn you that this story is rated T, and there will be some language to emphasize the characters feelings. Disclaimer: I don't own House of Anubis or any of its characters.

'How could you?" Fabian bellowed, shoving his way into the room.

"Fabian it's not what you think!" Nina pleaded.

"It's not what I think?" he snarled. "I come in here to find you two this close to kissing and it's not what I think? When you're inches away from a guy who dumped his girlfriend so he could be with you? You two have been vanishing all week, and I let it slide because I thought I could trust you."

"We were just trying to find the telepathic connection!" Nina protested. "It's been getting stronger and we thought it could help the mystery!"

"Oh, and that's why you snuck off, and didn't tell Sibuna?" Fabian scoffed.

"We didn't want this to happen!" Nina cried in exasperation. "I knew you and Patricia would find it difficult, and it's a strain for us, so we kept it private!"

"Then why were you almost kissing?! Or do you just feel the need to snog every guy you solve a mystery with?"

Fabian knew the minute the words had left his mouth that he shouldn't have said them. But there was so much betrayal and anger rushing through him that he didn't care.

"We're over."

He spun on his heel and stormed out of the cellar.

Nina collapsed in a heap, sobbing. Eddie wanted to comfort her, every fibre of his being was telling him to stay with the girl, but he'd had enough. She couldn't be hurt like this. They had been protecting everyone else for far too long.. He sprinted into the entrance hall just as Fabian opened the front door.

"Hey!" he yelled

Fabian turned to face him, fury etched in his face. He opened his mouth to retort, but Eddie wasn't going to take it anymore.

"You want to know the truth Rutter?" he called. "I'll give you the truth."

The dark-haired boy stepped forward, squaring up to him.

"Oh will you?" he hissed.

"Nina hasn't betrayed you at all. She's been trying to protect you. She's been trying to protect everyone. Do you remember when you said this mystery doesn't have a time limit? Well that's bullshit."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Patricia and K.T pelt downstairs, but all he was interested in was Fabian.

"You think you're some kind of genius Rutter, but you haven't worked it out yet, have you? That golden glow that surrounds her every night isn't pixie dust. I'm not sprinting out of the house to have sex with her. Your girlfriend is dying, every single night, and I'm the only one who can stop it."

Alfie and Jerome had left the living room to watch the showdown now, Joy behind them.

"Nina is literally going to hell and back. Those minutes you guys have to wait for her to wake up? For her, that's an hour in the depths of punishment. Oh, and you know what makes it better for her? She gets to see our old friends Rufus and Senkhara there. Ammut too. She's fighting them each night until we make that draft, and there's nothing she can do. And if we don't make it before the winter solstice, one night, she's not going to wake back up."

He raised himself to his full height, glaring down at Fabian.

You know what she said to me, after her first journey Rutter? She told me not to tell you, because she didn't want you to freak out. She was afraid it would hurt you too much, and you'd ditch her. And now you've done it anyway."

"And you," Eddie roared, turning on Jerome and Joy. "You can't just pretend this isn't happening. You know what's going on, but you hide away from it, because you're cowards. Well not anymore. Nina is all of our responsibilities now. We are going to work around the clock to solve those riddles, because however any of you feel, I am not losing Nina."

He shoved past the group to the front door. Just before he left, he looked back, directly into Fabian's eyes.

"Stay away from her." he growled, before heading out into the grounds.

I know it's super short, but I wanted to get the drama in there! I'll update again later tonight. Please review- I'd love to hear your opinions on the arguments in this chapter, and the fact Jerome and Joy are involved now!