Chapter Twenty Eight
Nina woke up with a start. It's been nearly two weeks since Fabian left with no goodbye. Nina hasn't been sleeping well ever since. She turned on the lamp and glanced at date on her phone. Her flight has been moved due to the stress she had and today is a Monday. Today is also the day she would be leaving.
Nina already had her things packed up and ready yesterday. Today, all she has to worry about is whether she'd be able to board the plane or not.
"Good morning," Amber greeted her, "even though it's not really good."
"Good morning too, Ambs," Nina said sheepishly.
"Wanna grab some breakfast?" Amber asked casually. "If you can," she added. "I mean, what time is your flight, anyway?"
"12," Nina answered. "But, I have to be there at least an hour early."
"Darn," Amber frowned. "And I thought this would be just a bad dream."
"Let's just eat," Nina changed topic. "I have to leave the house at ten."
"It's too early," Amber yawned. "It's only eight thirty and we don't have classes."
"Well, are you gonna be going with me to the airport?"
"Hell yeah," Amber answered almost too immediately.
"Then get your butt off that bed and grab some breakfast so we can all take a bath before leaving the airport," Nina laughed hiding whatever real emotion she feels inside.
When Nina and Amber arrived in the dining room, they found everyone else taking their breakfast.
"Good mor-ning," Joy said with much enthusiasm.
"Morning?" Nina answered confusedly.
"What's with the sing song mood, Joy?" Mick asked stopping himself from laughing.
"Nothing," Joy hid a smile. "I just know something that you don't." She winked.
"Riiight," Mick answered sarcastically. "Anyway, who's going to the airport later?"
Everyone raised their hands as Trudy came in.
"If that's the case," Trudy said. "Be ready by nine thirty, people."
The group continued to eat their breakfast hurriedly and they all rushed around the house to hurry up. At exactly 9:20, everyone is already in the hall, ready to leave.
"I rented a van for us to go to the airport," Trudy informed them as the van arrived.
The all got in the van as the driver put Nina's things at the back. The trip to the airport was long (an hour and a half) and quiet. Not one of them said a word. All was anticipating the moment for when they had to say goodbye.
As soon as they arrived in the airport, the group, excluding Trudy, accompanied Nina until the boarding area since they were running a bit late. They put Nina's bags on the conveyor belt and rushed into the departure area. Most of them are already teary eyed by the time they had to leave since the plane had started boarding.
"Oh, Nins," Amber went and gave Nina a long hug. "Promise me, we'll have contact."
"Promise," Nina grinned.
"Oh yeah, before I forget," Amber rummaged her bag until she found a small book. "This is a scrapbook I made for you."
"Thank you, Ambs," Nina gladly accepted the scrapbook.
The next person who hugged her was, surprisingly, Patricia. "I suck at goodbyes." She laughed. "But stay in contact?"
"Yeah," Nina chuckled.
Jerome was next and his words made Nina have fits of giggles. Alfie made her laugh louder. Who could blame them? They're still the funniest people around.
Nina was crying in laughter by the time she bid goodbye to Mara and Mick who were still avoiding each other. The last person she's talk to before leaving is Joy.
"So glad I got to meet you," Joy hugged Nina. "I guess, it's better not to say goodbye, eh? Clean break?"
"I guess so," Nina smiled sadly.
"It'll hurt more if he's here," Joy whispered.
"I know," Nina whispered back. "Thank goodness for that."
"I know you'll miss him," Joy smiled weakly. "We all him but please don't give up on him 'cause I believe he's not giving up on you."
"I want to believe that too," Nina smiled as she let go of Joy and grabbed her carry on and the scrapbook that Amber gave her.
"Last call for those boarding flight..."
"I guess that's my cue," Nina smiled weakly.
After final goodbyes, Nina took a deep breath and it took all she had to walk away from her friends and get on the small plane. The plane was a small one but she wasn't complaining. There were less seats and your seat is easier to find even though the place was barely empty. She finally got in the plane and found her seat. She was glad she had gotten a window seat. She didn't like the aisle seat very much.
After making herself comfortable in her seat, Nina waited patiently for her seat mate but the plane had to left and the person still hasn't arrived. As the plane slowly rose in the air, Nina adjusted to the change in magnitude and when she got comfortable, she found her eyes wandering around the plane. To overcome her boredom, she flipped through the scrapbook she only just realized she was holding.
The cover had House of Anubis written up front but she could still see the Fabina faintly behind the title. Nina smiled a sad smile as she flipped open the book, a picture of the whole house covered up the whole first page. The inscription below the photo said: 'After the Sibuna Adventure.' Nina couldn't help but smile. Amber had really thought of everything.
She felt that someone sat beside her but Nina didn't pay the person any mind.
"Sorry, I was in the loo. Bathroom emergency," the voice said in a thick British accent and Nina just nodded, still focused on scrapbook. She was now in a page where Fabian carried her to bed.
"Amber gave you that, huh?" the voice said and it made Nina stop and look and the person beside her. It was Fabian.
"Uh, hi," Nina said awkwardly. "What are you doing on a plane to America?"
"I have matters to attend to," Fabian said. "Just some problematic friend."
"Oh," Nina said. "Do you have any relatives? Where are you staying?" Nina wanted to slap herself. She had a million questions for him and she chose to ask him those. "I don't remember you saying that you have relatives there."
"I'm staying at my new girlfriend's house," Fabian emphasized the word new. "Actually, I've been here just a few days ago but I had things to handle in London and I had to rush back right away. I actually just met my girlfriend's family that time. They were extremely nice."
"New girlfriend, huh?" Nina hid her shock well. "Since when did you...?"
"About two weeks ago," Fabian said nonchalantly. "Give or take a few days."
"Oh," Nina couldn't believe how fast Fabian had gotten over her. "So, are you staying in America for good?"
"Oh, god, no," Fabian grinned. "I just had to handle something with my girlfriend's family. Very problematic, as I said before."
"Oh," Nina fell quiet. She couldn't take any more of this new girlfriend talk. She just shifted her attention back to the scrapbook and flipped the page to some page without Fabian.
"Gonna miss them?" Fabian said as he glanced at the picture of her and Amber.
"Very," Nina's voice broke. "I'll miss them very much."
Fabian watched as Nina's tears fell. She wiped them off angrily and sighed.
"You know what," Nina said, her voice fierce. "I can't take this anymore! How could you just act as if I don't matter anymore, Rutter? You've got a new girlfriend and you're practically living with her!"
Fabian gave off a chuckle which earned him a slap on the arm from Nina. "I deserved that," Fabian rubbed the part where she hit him. "I guess, I shouldn't call her my girlfriend yet. I mean, I confessed to her and she said the same but we never really talked about it since she fainted and I walked out on her."
Nina pieced his words together and smiled. "You mean?"
"Yeah," Fabian grinned. "It's always been you. That won't change anytime soon," he kissed her forehead.
"Wait, so you've been to America and met my..." Nina finally gotten what he tried to tell her all this time. "You met Grams?"
"She's real nice," Fabian smiled. "She gave me a scolding when I told her the whole story. She even hit me with her handbag."
Nina giggled. "So?"
"Well, I had her papers arranged..." Fabian grinned, "...and she'll be ready to go."
"Go where?" Nina's brows furrowed in confusion.
"England, of course," Fabian grinned. "You don't want her all alone there in America when you're studying in London, right?"
"B-but," Nina stuttered. "I'm attending a university in-"
"London," Fabian cut her off. "I fixed your transfer. You already are accepted in UCL so I just canceled your enrollment in that school."
"But, where will Grams stay?"
"My parents are totally cool with her," Fabian grinned. "In fact, she's already there."
"What?" Nina asked. "And, where will we stay?"
"Board a boarding house," Fabian grinned. "Mick's house, actually."
"Wait, so Mick is in on this?" Nina smiled. "Is this why he was defending you so much?"
"I guess," Fabian laughed. The sound was music to Nina's ears. "And Joy also be staying at Mick's. She's in UEL though... with Mick. It's still in London so no biggie."
"Anyone else staying at Mick's?" Nina asked.
"Nope," Fabian said popping the 'p'. "Jerome, Alfie and Mara are going to Manchester U, I think. Different courses. Amber's going to some design college."
"Chelsea," Nina supplied. "She's going to Chelsea."
"So, are you now okay with my idea?" Fabian smiled hopefully.
"Since, you practically thought of everything. I mean, I was worries about Grams and living in another continent..." Nina grinned. "I'd agree on one condition."
"Anything," Fabian breathed.
"Ask me to be your girlfriend," Nina grinned. "Don't worry. I promise I'd say yes. I can't take it anymore. I spent two weeks thinking you'd given up. I'd spent five minutes thinking you're over me and I've spent anothe-" Nina couldn't continue more for Fabian pressed his lips on her.
After a minute or so, they were out of breath. "So, will you be my girlfriend, Nina Martin?" He smiled.
"Yes." She answered without hesitation.
"Yes?" Nina nodded in affirmation. "YES!"
Nina jumped in surprise and it seemed like the whole plane cheered.
"What in the world?" Nina asked, surprised.
"Well, I guess we can go back to London," a familiar voice cheered.
"Jerome?" Nina couldn't believe her eardrums.
"Definitely!" A girl's voice this time.
"Amber?"
"Surprise!" Suddenly the whole house was in front of her.
"I'm surprised, indeed," Nina breathed as she took the sight in front of her. "What are you all doing here?"
"It's my dad's plane," Mick grinned. "I'm not missing a ride in it, of course."
"So, you're in on this?" Nina asked, folding her arms as she stared a them.
"Just us," Mick and Joy said unanimously. They looked at each other and grinned.
"I guess both of you make a great team," Mara smiled.
"I guess we do," Mick grinned.
"No hard feelings, then?" Mara grinned as she offered a hand to Mick.
"No hard feelings." Mick took her hand and pulled her in for a hug.
"Aw, that's just so sweet," Amber gushed. "Now, if the other couple just fix theirs and we'll all be fine now."
"We're okay!" Patricia and Jerome both shouted. They looked at each other and said unanimously. "Are we?" They grinned at each other. "We are."
"That's plain hilarious," Alfie grinned. "Glad we weren't like that, right, Ambs?"
"Wait, you broke up?" Patricia wrinkled her nose in curiosity.
"More than a month ago," Amber grinned.
"What?" Even Nina was surprised. "What happened?"
"We just..." Alfie smiled.
"...fell apart." Amber finished his sentence. "We're still friends, as you can see."
"So, the whole gang's okay now?" Fabian asked. "No hard feelings for me, everyone?"
"I guess you did make Nina happy," Amber said.
"And, you did have a good plan," Jerome grinned.
"And this is happily ever after, right?" Joy smiled.
"Yeah," Alfie grinned. "What could possibly go wrong?"
Everyone groaned. "Alfie!"
"Definitely a jinx."
"Surely."
A new voice joined in the scuffle. The pilot's. "So, kids, back to London it is?"
"Yeah, Uncle," Mick grinned. "I guess that's where we all belong."
A/N: One last chapter then the epilogue :) Happy New Year to all :D
