Chapter 21: An Icy Visit
"That look on Victor's face last night was all the confirmation we needed," Fabian grinned as he sat down at the table.
"Yeah, but now he'll be onto us. He'll figure it out that I stole the puzzle pieces from his safe," Bianca sighed as she took her seat, gulping down orange juice.
"Have any of you seen Patricia?" Mara asked in a stuffy voice. She looked liked she'd been crying all night.
"Didn't she come home last night?" Nina asked her with a frown.
"No!" Mara shook her head. "Trudy said she went out with an aunt and uncle after the play, but I thought that she'd be back by now..." she sniffed, her tears returning to her eyes.
"Are you alright Mara?" Fabian asked her.
"No, I need to talk to Patricia!" Mara exclaimed, wiping her tears away furiously. Bianca watched her worriedly, wondering what had caused such a change from the previous night.
"Hey, you can talk to us if you like?" Nina offered. Mara glanced over her shoulder at Amber, who watched her with an almost challenging expression.
"No, I can't!" she ran off, and Amber smirked.
"Trouble in paradise," she told them, walking around the table to take her seat.
"Sorry?" Fabian frowned in confusion.
"Her and Mick. They were boyfriend and girlfriend for all of one hour, then they broke up," Amber explained.
"Why?" Nina asked.
"Who knows?" Amber shrugged, beginning to eat.
"You could stand to look a little less amused about it Ambs," Bianca told her as she stood up, having finished her breakfast. "But onto the more important topic: where's Patricia?" she asked as she walked into the kitchen.
"Hopefully with Joy, and not with Rufus," Fabian sighed.
"I thought Rufus was one of the good guys," Amber frowned. "Okay, it's impossible to keep track. We need a newsletter..." she suggested.
"Rufus gives me the creeps, there's something off about him," Bianca muttered. "Hopefully Patricia was smart enough not to go near him..." she sighed.
"You're quiet Mick," Amber commented as everyone sat at the table.
"Am I?" he asked, looking up from his breakfast, which was about twice the size of everyone else's.
"Trouble in Maradise?" Amber asked, and Alfie choked on his juice as Mick frowned and looked back down at his breakfast. "Wow, that was so clever! Get it? Mara-dise?" Amber smiled brightly.
"Ingenious!" Mick smiled brightly, before it dropped. "None of your business," he snapped at her.
"Ohh, touchy," Jerome taunted as Mick got up.
"So, Alfie," Nina started before an awkward silence could fall. "Are your parents still here?" she asked the boy.
"They leave tonight," Alfie nodded. "Actually, there's something I wanted to ask you guys," he admitted. "I sort of...got a bit carried away last night and I may have led my parents to believe that I've been...promoted to...well...Head of House" Alfie confessed slowly.
"May have? Or definitely did?" Bianca raised an eyebrow, looking amused.
"Congratulations!" Amber smiled at him brightly, before pausing. "Wait...we don't have a Head of House," she frowned in confusion.
"That's true! So it's not exactly a lie now, is it?" Alfie smiled, but it quickly dropped. "So I was wondering if...when they come round...if you guys could all like-"
"Bow down and kiss your feet?" Jerome suggested.
"Exactly!" Alfie nodded. Bianca put a hand to her face.
"You're an idiot," she announced.
"So you'll do it?" Alfie asked her in excitement.
"I'm not following orders, so don't even think about giving me any," Bianca warned him. "I'll go along with it, just because I know what it's like having overbearing parents," she told him. "And besides, my dad is coming as well so at least they can spend the time talking about you," she smirked. Alfie's smile faded.
"Great..." he sighed.
A few minutes passed, and they were all just finishing breakfast when Mick and Mara were herded back in, looking irritated as Victor followed him in.
"Here we go," Fabian muttered to Nina.
"Sit down," Victor ordered, and they all sat.
"Is this about the play?" Fabian smiled brightly. Victor stopped, glaring at him in irritation.
"Do you think I'm here to give you a review?" he asked, sounding tired. "Your juvenile fantasies are of no concern to me whatsoever," Victor growled as he prowled around the table. Bianca felt her stomach squirm. He knew. "I am here because a serious theft has taken place. Items of great value were removed from my safe last night. Are you responsible?" he demanded as he got very close to Fabian.
"No," Fabian answered.
"You?" Victor looked to Nina.
"Why do you think it was any of us?!" Fabian demanded, getting Victor's attention off Nina. He quickly lost his courage. "The school was full of people last night...when were they taken?" he asked.
"Well...they were there during the intermission. The only other time I was away from my room was during the second half of your irritating little play," Victor growled.
"There you go," Fabian replied. "We were all on stage," he pointed out.
"Except for you," Victor looked to Bianca. Nina bit her lip, and Bianca looked up with a bored expression.
"Yes, because I was backstage. In case you forgot when you ran through and nearly ran into me?" she asked, and he bristled.
"It couldn't have been any of us," Amber spoke up. "We were performing. The show must go on and all of that!" she smiled brightly.
"Of course," Victor suddenly conceded, which made them infinitely more nervous. "Of course! How very, very remiss of me!" he rubbed his hands together. "Very well! Off to school, all of you, go!" Victor instructed.
"So is that it then?" Fabian asked with a frown.
"For now, yes," Victor nodded. "But I shall discover who took those items, you mark my words," he vowed. "And when I do..."
"What do you mean?" Nina asked nervously as Victor smiled, looking very confident.
"When the security cameras were taken down, I asked for one camera to be left in my room, I had totally forgotten!" Victor explained. Bianca tried her best to remain indifferent, but went pale as she forgot how to breathe. "So whoever has stolen those items will have been caught!" he declared.
"Victor!" Trudy suddenly rushed in. "I've just taken a phone call from Mr. Sweet in your office," she told him. "He said 'can you get over to the school?'" she relayed the message, making Victor frown.
"What, now?" he asked, irritated that he finally had the students on the ropes.
"Yes, right away! He said it was an emergency!" Trudy confirmed. Victor then left, and Bianca managed to breathe again. She clenched her fists. She needed to act, and fast.
"Well well well," the amused, thick Dublin accent of her brother echoed from Bianca's phone as she sat in the drama studio; her laptop open. "To what do I owe the pleasure of a call from my antisocial yet adorable baby sister?" Noel asked.
"Don't make this any more unbearable than it has to be, please Noel," Bianca requested with a sigh as she pressed her phone to her ear with her shoulder, typing with both hands.
"Oh I intend on making this as difficult as I can, dear Bianca. You don't call me enough," Noel replied brightly. Bianca groaned. Her brother was as crazy as always. "How can I help you today?" he asked her with a chuckle.
"I...I need help," Bianca muttered.
"What was that? I didn't quite catch it!" Noel's voice was filled with glee. "You'll have to speak up," he told her.
"I need help! Please Noel. I really need your help on this one," Bianca pleaded.
"Alright, alright. What do you need help with?" Noel asked with one final laugh before turning serious. As she explained the problem and Noel explained what to do, Jerome looked in and found her sitting typing away rapidly.
"I am not saying that!" Bianca suddenly laughed as he peered in, not making himself known. "Can you just behave yourself for five minutes?" she asked, sounding exasperated as she continued to type. "Yes, I've done it. What next?" she asked. Jerome watched her, wondering just who she was talking to. "Fine. You're the most handsome guy in the world and I worship the ground you walk on," Bianca answered in a droll voice. "Thank you," Jerome frowned, finding himself jealous of whoever was on the other line. "That's it? You are a lifesaver. I will make it up to you when I see you next, ok? No, I'm not buying you a pint, I'm underage!" Bianca laughed. "I'll talk to you later," she hung up, and shut over her laptop, before falling backwards onto the stage with a groan.
"Stressed, Frosty?" Jerome asked in amusement.
"All the more for seeing you, Crazy Hair," Bianca replied without getting up.
"Who was that you were talking to?" Jerome asked as he took a seat beside her. Bianca sat up, taking care not to send her laptop flying.
"What's it matter?" she asked with a raised eyebrow, watching him curiously.
"Oh you know, the fact that you never talk to people, yet this person you were, well..." Jerome found himself growing frustrated, not only with whoever it was that Bianca had been talking to, but his own feelings. Bianca stared at him, and after a moment, burst out laughing. "What? What's so funny?" he demanded, and Bianca fell backwards laughing. "Fine, forget it," he muttered, standing up, but she caught his hand, still laughing.
"You...you really are an idiot," Bianca giggled. "I was on the phone to my brother, Noel," Jerome blushed furiously in his horror.
"Right. Well. Good. Fine. Whatever," he muttered, but as he tried to escape, Bianca held on.
"You were jealous, weren't you?" she giggled, and Jerome's face went even redder. "That's so cute," Bianca wiped away her tears of laughter. "Noel was helping me out with something. He's a pain in the arse so he doesn't give his help easily," Bianca explained.
"Right. Can we drop this now and never think of it again?" Jerome asked, and Bianca giggled again, before linking her fingers in his.
"Sure," she nodded. "Come on, we better go," she giggled, and coughed as he frowned at her. She released his hand to shove her laptop into her bag again, and they went out into the hall where Alfie and Mick were standing talking.
"Boarders of Anubis House!" they all looked around as Victor stepped out of Mr. Sweet's office, looking furious. "I want you back there immediately," he hissed as he walked past them.
"Bianca!" Bianca felt herself being pulled away from Jerome by Nina and Amber. "What are you going to do? What if he really does have proof?" Nina asked, looking terrified.
"He could expel you!" Amber whispered.
"Oh Bianca, I'm so sorry, this is all my fault! I never should have gotten you to take the puzzle pieces!" Nina had tears in her eyes.
"It's fine, seriously Nins, it's all going to be fine," Bianca smiled at her, but before she could explain, Alfie and Jerome walked over. "Come on, let's get back and see Victor complete his nervous breakdown," she said cheerfully, beginning to walk.
"I think she's lost it," Amber whispered to Nina. "Probably so scared she's gone into denial," she commented.
"Come along, come along!" Victor called as he heard the group return to the house. They walked into the lounge, where Victor stood with a smug look on his face. "It's show-time boys and girls, time to expose the thief!" he declared, hooking up the camera system to the TV. Everyone took their seats, and Nina stared at Bianca with wide eyes; as did Fabian, as she took a seat beside Jerome, not looking the least bit worried.
As everyone took their seats, Victor turned on the TV and switched on the system, which started up a video of Victor trimming his nose hair. Everyone burst out laughing as Victor's smug smile faded.
"What is going on here?!" Victor yelled as everyone laughed hard at the video. Bianca winked to Fabian and Nina as they looked to her, and they began to laugh in disbelief. "Which one of you miscreants has dared to interfere with my equipment?!" he demanded furiously.
"Dunno Victor, but can we see more of your home movies?" Alfie asked with a giggle. "You've obviously got a nose for comedy!" everyone burst out laughing again as Victor stormed off, furious.
"How did you do that?" Fabian asked as Bianca got up and went into the kitchen. She glanced over her shoulder as he, plus Nina and Amber, grinned at her.
"What, did you forget who owns the security company?" Bianca smirked. "It wasn't too hard to swap the footage around. Thank god it's all done online, otherwise I may have been a little worried. The footage of that night is gone," she grinned.
"You are incredible!" Nina threw herself at Bianca in a hug, taking the girl by surprise.
"Hey, everyone has their strengths, and it turns out that mine are highly illegal. You ever need a criminal, I'm your girl," they laughed as Bianca grinned back. "Okay, I've neglected my Ancient History project long enough, I best go and deal with it," she decided, grabbing a bar of chocolate from the cupboard and leaving.
"I'm not stupid, you know," she stopped in the hallway as Jerome spoke up.
"No, just a bit of a stalker," Bianca glanced around with a smirk. Frowning, Jerome walked over to her and got close.
"I know you're the one who messed with Victor's footage," he accused.
"Can't prove anything," Bianca shrugged, and Jerome caught her arm, pulling her down the corridor and into his room.
"Bianca, the security feed belongs to your family, and you've hacked it before," Jerome frowned at her as Bianca watched him, still slightly amused. "You were talking to your brother, asking a favour, and you said before that he taught you everything you know," he stated, looking irritated.
"Okay, yes, I was the one to switch the footage around," Bianca confirmed with a shrug.
"Why? Who are you covering for?" Jerome asked, and Bianca was surprised.
"Why does it matter?" she asked him curiously.
"Because it does," Jerome told her.
"Yes, but why?" Bianca pushed, taking a step closer to him. "Yes, I messed with the security camera before, but why does the reason for it matter?" she demanded. He blinked in surprise.
"Because...because I don't want you getting dragged into the trouble that Nina and Fabian are making for everyone," Jerome admitted, and Bianca deflated slightly in her surprise. "You get into enough trouble with me and Alfie. I don't want you getting into more trouble. I don't want..."
"What?" Bianca asked, this time in a softer voice.
"I don't want your parents finding an excuse to make you move schools again," Jerome told her, staring at her as Bianca stared back, wide-eyed.
"They won't," she said after a moment. "I won't let them. Not this time," she said, and walked over to the door, opening it. "And for the record, I was covering for me," Bianca then disappeared off, leaving him alone to try and understand the strange girl who had baffled him from day one.
"Aren't you supposed to be setting the place up for dinner?" Bianca asked Jerome as she walked into the dining room later that day.
"But I am, see? The main course!" he lifted the silver cover to reveal Alfie's head, with a green apple stuck in his mouth. Bianca put a hand to her mouth as he laughed, and after a moment Bianca's own laughter escaped.
"Well...you definitely provide the entertainment," she giggled. "Maybe...just a little," she shrugged.
"Just a little? I think you'll find that we are excellent dinner entertainment!" Jerome told her, affronted. Bianca smiled back, and he gave her a small smile back, trying not to let their words earlier affect them.
"I doubt that," Bianca then shrugged.
"I'll show you entertainment!" Jerome caught her around the waist, making her squeal.
"Hey! Let go!" she laughed as he tickled her sides.
"Fear not, dear maiden, I shall save you from this foul creature!" Alfie suddenly declared, lifting a candlestick from the table. With the apple still in his mouth, he swung it at Jerome, who released Bianca to grab the silver cover as a shield.
"Oh, Alfie! Watch it!" Bianca laughed as he nearly caught her, and she ducked behind Jerome.
"Uh!" they stopped, looking around as Trudy frowned at them. "Are you setting this table, or wrecking it?" she demanded.
"In trouble again," Bianca poked Jerome's side, and he squirmed.
"You've a nerve," he caught her, making her smile. "And I will find out what's going on, Frosty, and just what you're hiding," Jerome promised.
"Cool, let me know when you do that," Bianca replied with a bright smile.
"Bianca," the girl heard Nina and Amber call her name as she walked through the hallway.
"What's up?" she asked, seeing their attire. "Going out?" she raised an eyebrow.
"We're going to the clearing. Patricia was supposed to meet Joy last night there," Nina explained quietly as they heard laughter from the dining room. "You coming?" she asked hopefully. Bianca bit her lip. She was worried about Patricia, who had disappeared last night after meeting up with Rufus.
"I can't," she shook her head. "I'm sorry, my dad's in there. He'll think it's weird if I just up and vanish," she told the two.
"Just meet us when you can, yeah?" Nina asked, and Bianca nodded. The two left, and Bianca groaned. Of course her dad had to want to come for dinner when Patricia needed help. With a sigh, she walked back into the dining room, taking a seat beside Mara as Alfie sat in Nina's usual seat, opposite his father.
"Where is everyone?" Trudy asked as she set down another dish.
"Who cares? More food for me!" Alfie grinned. Bianca kicked his shin lightly. He glanced at her, and she indicated to his dad, who was frowning. "Uh, what I meant to say was...they're all off Trudy...doing their chores...and quite right too!" he nodded weakly.
"What?" Trudy frowned. "Oh, never mind," she decided as Alfie looked nervous. "We better start, otherwise it'll get cold," she lifted the covers off the food. "So, Mrs. Lewis, did you enjoy the play last night?" the housemother asked Alfie's mother.
"We would have enjoyed it more if our son had more to do, wouldn't we Marsha?" Mr. Lewis spoke before his wife could.
"Yes," Marsha agreed, but there was an underlining tone that she didn't quite agree.
"Dad! I don't want to embarrass my friends by talking about that!" Alfie told him quickly.
"Personally I found the camel to be my favourite character. Provided just the right amount of humour to balance the tragedy," Mather spoke, sitting on Mara's other side up beside Alfie's father.
"That's the problem with yourself Alfred, you don't push yourself forward," Mr. Lewis told him. "You could be so much more than the back-end of a camel, right dear?" he laughed. His wife nodded again.
"Actually I was the front end," Alfie corrected.
"I can't imagine young Jerome here to allow himself to be overshadowed!" Mr. Lewis scoffed at the idea. Bianca put a hand to her face in disbelief.
"He played the camel's butt!" Alfie argued. Trudy nudged him as she set a plate down.
"Tell them about your chores," Jerome suggested as Alfie tried not to get wound up by his father.
"Uh, what chores?" Alfie looked at him blankly.
"The ones that the others are on right now?" Bianca muttered, staring at him in hopes he would remember what he had said only moments before.
"Yes, they're away doing his bidding," Jerome smiled to Alfie's parents as they frowned.
"Yes! Those chores! Lots of chores, too many to mention really," Alfie laughed nervously as he finally caught on to what they were saying.
"Jerome and Bianca seem to have a better handle on the workforce than you do Alfred," Mr. Lewis commented, unimpressed. Alfie sighed. Nothing was impressing his father, which was making him more flustered. "Quite the power couple!" he nodded, and Alfie choked on his giggle, and both Mick and Mara snorted as the two went red, very aware of Mather's frown.
"We're not-"
"Tell me Jerome," Mr. Lewis spoke before they could say anything. "How did my son beat you out for Head of House?" he asked, and Jerome's eyes widened.
"I turned it down," Jerome explained. Alfie's jaw dropped, and Bianca leaned back in her seat. "Alfred was looking forward to it so much that I-" he yelped as Alfie kicked his shin hard. He then cleared his throat, and smiled pleasantly again.
"You don't need the ego boost, shut up," Bianca pointed her fork at Jerome as she whispered. He just smirked back at her.
"Bianca? What about you?" Mr. Lewis directed his attention to Bianca, who looked at him sharply.
"I'm sorry?" she asked politely.
"How did my son beat you out for Head of House?" Mr. Lewis asked.
"Yes, how did that happen?" Mather asked, looking very close to laughing.
"Oh, I..." Bianca hesitated, glancing to Alfie. He shot her a pleading look. "He just had a better campaign than me," she shrugged.
"I see," Mr. Lewis nodded, looking mildly surprised as Alfie looked relieved. "At least the boy shows promise there," he nodded. Bianca sighed, hoping that the awkward dinner would be over soon.
"And that's why if people want to keep their eating privileges in this house, they have to do their chores," Alfie explained proudly as he explained his made-up system to his father. "No chores, no chow," he added. Bianca and Jerome exchanged exasperated looks.
"Eating privileges? That's outrageous!" Mr. Lewis exclaimed. Alfie's smile immediately dropped. "Alfred?" he glanced from his wife to his son, who immediately began to panic.
"Alfie, calm yourself," Bianca muttered as he began to stumble over his words.
"I might try that in the boardroom!" Mr. Lewis laughed. "Perhaps there is hope for the boy; he's much more like me than we thought! Eh, Marsha?" he smiled to his wife, and Alfie laughed weakly, calming down. "Ruthless!" he nodded in approval.
"Quite a harsh tactic. It may work for me too," Mather nodded.
"Wouldn't it just?" Mr. Lewis smiled.
"How could Alfred possibly fail with parents like you?" Jerome turned to them. Alfie frowned at his best friend. "Unstoppable ambition on one side, poise and beauty on the other?" both Alfie and Bianca slapped hands to their faces at his charm.
"Very perceptive Jerome, I can see you're a good influence on our boy," Mr. Lewis nodded in approval. Bianca snorted, and covered her mouth, pretending to cough as she struggled to hide her laughter. Alfie threw a pea at him, and Jerome frowned back. "Manners Alfred!" Mr. Lewis scolded. "You know Jerome, I'm always on the lookout for an apprentice. Business like mine, could always do with fresh blood," he commented as Jerome shot Alfie a smug smile.
"Back off Jerome, they're my over-strict, control freak parents, not yours!" Alfie hissed at him.
"Where are Nina and Amber?" Fabian walked in and spoke to Alfie quickly.
"Probably mucking out the horses," Mr. Lewis replied on behalf of his son.
"What horses?" Fabian frowned.
"The school horses Fabian!" Alfie laughed nervously, putting on his fancy voice. "And I hope you've finished polishing the silverwear, hmm?" he held up a fork.
"Oh...okay," Fabian realised what was going on and gave a nervous smile.
"Fabian," Bianca called him over, whispering in his ear. Fabian's eyes widened.
"Thanks B!" he turned and hurried off.
"Uh, dismissed!" Alfie called over his shoulder as Jerome shot Bianca a suspicious frown. She just smiled back innocently.
"So, Mather," Mr. Lewis turned to the man sitting beside him. "When will Bianca be joining your own company?" Bianca stiffened as Mather smiled back.
"I'm not too sure of that myself," he admitted. "Or where she'll be joining in fact," Mather chuckled, and Bianca kept her head lowered as she continued eating.
"Really," Mr. Lewis glanced to Bianca, who kept her gaze firmly on her plate. "You'll have to be careful, or I may snap her up before you can. I can always do with brains, and a backbone," he commented.
"And her skill in art as well, she's very talented," Mrs. Lewis spoke up. Mather gave a laugh.
"You'll definitely have to fight me for her. And at worst, you'll have to take on her mother, and Ivy is a force to reckoned with," he told them, making Alfie's parents laugh.
"Excuse me for a moment," Bianca suddenly stood up, turning and leaving the room. As she walked up the stairs, she clenched her fists. Her dad was just the same as ever. He'd never lay off her until she gave him a definitely answer on her future.
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