Prankster, prankstee and a smashed cake
Coming back to Anubis house, Rose didn't expect the new semester to go the way it did. First two weeks after the break went as regularly as they only could. Joy was frisking after Fabian, Patricia helping her as much as she could. While Mick was constantly disappearing either for a jog or to the gym, Mara spent that time with her nose stuck in workbooks, whereas Amber spent them in front of a mirror. Jerome and Alfie kept on pranking every single member of the house, and Rose expected to be their next victim.
She kept her eyes and ears open at all times, hoping to avoid anything being thrown her way, be it metaphorical or not. With these two, you could expect anything .
"Pride and Prejudice again ?" Jerome jumped onto the couch, crushing into her side. She wasn't shocked, having seen him come. He wasn't as sneaky as he liked to think.
"Wuthering height - and since when do you care about what I read?" She raised her eyebrow.
"Since I decided to do you a favour and save you from the boredom of yellowed pages."
"You don't do favours, Jerome," she snorted. "Unless... What do you want?" She glared at him sceptically. Instead of an answer, she only got a bitter smirk from him.
"Don't do that." He looked at her frown. "It definitely isn't your best look."
"Still better than yours," Rose muttered, returning to her book. She hoped he'd get the hint and leave her alone. But that had never been his thing.
"Careful, Rose." He leaned in, his lips whisking her ear as he whispered, "Your thorns are showing." He jumped off the couch the moment she turned her head to protest. He left the room, bouncing, only leaving her more suspicious.
"Twat," she mumbled as she twisted a corner of the page between her fingers. The paper, as Jerome said, had gone yellow before she even bought it, and sometimes she feared the book would crumble in her grasp.
Yet, she couldn't help but love the smell of it, even if some words were barely visible.
She turned the page, ready to dive back into the story. She should have expected the hit. At least she managed to close her eyes before the paint bomb inside exploded, staining not only her but her book as well.
Rose wiped the red paint from her eyes and lips as much as she could before she yelled at the boy at the top of her lungs.
She was going to kill him for that.
"Stop squirming!" Amber scolded her, yanking her head a bit.
"Sorry, but you know how much I hate it when-"
"Well, it's not my fault you got this red paint all over you!"
"You're right. I'm sorry," she sighed and saw Amber smile in the mirror. "But it wasn't exactly my fault, either."
"Please, tell me you will not get them back for it," she said, rubbing more shampoo into her scalp.
"Well, if I don't, who will?!" She turned to face her friend. "Besides, I already have a plan." She smirked wickedly at the mere thought of what was to come.
"Does it involve paint? Because I am not washing your hair again ."
"Oh, believe me, I don't want that, either. But, yes, in a way, it does involve paint."
Amber only groaned in response.
"All right, wash off the shampoo. The paint should be gone now. And we can give each other facials - you'll need it to unclog your pores." The girl left the bathroom to give Rose privacy.
"Thanks, Ambs!"
The next day, when Jerome's yell echoed through the hallway, while everyone was slowly gathering for breakfast, Rose couldn't stop the beam from spreading on her face.
"What did you do?" Amber asked not so subtly- was there ever even one thing subtle about the blonde? - making curious gazes from all residents come Rose's way. She opened her mouth, an explanation ready to roll off her tongue, when Jerome ran in, his freshly put on clothes crumpled on his body.
"You!" he growled with a thrown, pointing his finger, reminding Rose of a particular scene on 'Glee'. However, her focus abruptly shifted to his hair as everyone else erupted synchronously into laughter.
Jerome's hair was unevenly pink - bright pink. It was still wet, hugging his face and making him look like an annoyed puppy.
"Well," she managed to say between laughs. "At the very least, it matches your eyes. Right, Amber?" The blonde nodded her head, unable to say anything as tears gathered in her eyes.
For a moment, Rose was sure Jerome would throw himself at her in his rage of fury, but Victor entered the room first.
"What is going on in here?" No one heard him coming downstairs, and as he spoke, the room turned quiet. "What is the meaning of this?" He grimaced, looking at Jerome's hair. Rose's heart began to beat faster in her chest, and she was sure everyone could hear it.
"I bought the wrong shampoo." Jerome shrugged and moved to his seat. Any sign of anger whisked away. Victor watched him expectantly for a few seconds, but seeing how unbothered the boy was, he turned around and left them to eat.
Jerome sat in front of Rose. All people at the table seemed to have already focused on usual gossip, not paying the two any more attention. Rose, however, raised her brow questioningly. It wasn't Jerome-like to not snitch.
"I. Will. Get. You." He mouthed to her with a wicked smirk, and she giggled.
"Counting on it," she whispered when he gave her a confused look. Some things would never change.
On that fateful day, at first, nothing seemed out of ordinary. As usual Amber stayed in the bathroom for over an hour, making other girls complain, Trudy made her annual Monday blueberry pancakes to lighten their moods before school.
Jerome had locked himself in the bathroom over the weekend and his hair had returned to their natural colour as he had washed it for about twenty times.
"Please, tell me you took pictures," Rose asked Alfie at breakfast.
"You bet your ass I did!" He smirked and promised to get her a copy. It would be another one to put inside her locker.
They were slowly beginning to leave for school, when Trudy asked those who were still left, "Any exciting plans for today?"
"Well, I want to go to the town, get myself a new book." Rose tilted her head to the right side with an irritated smile as her eyes rested on Jerome, who in return, beamed at her innocently.
"Today? Hon, I was hoping you could make that delicious cake of yours," Trudy begged.
"Um, sure. I can go tomorrow. But wait... What's the occasion?"
"Oh, we're getting a new girl! She got a scholarship and was supposed to come two weeks ago with all of you, but there was some kind of a mixup in her previous school."
"Where did she used to go?"
"Oh, honey, I'm not sure. Somewhere in America, though."
"America?" Rose raised her eyebrow. "Maybe for once something in here will be exciting," she mumbled.
"Now, now! Time to go! You don't want to be late!"
It overall seemed like a good start to a good day. Unbeknownst to them, it was all to change soon.
All-day, Rose was walking on eggshells, waiting for Jerome to strike. Neither he nor Alfie did. Soon, she found herself back in the house, making a cake in the kitchen.
"Mmm…" Jerome mused, approaching her. She hadn't realised he was back, too. Must have skipped french. - she thought. Rose rolled her eyes and shook her head. "What do we have here?"
"What does it look like? You got to do something with that hair, it took out all the brain's space."
"Like..." He pretended to think. "Dye them pink?" he mocked.
"Don't exaggerate. It washed off, didn't it?" When he didn't immediately reply, she added, "Now get out of my kitchen." He scanned her with his chin held high and eyes narrowed before, probably out of boredom - at least she hoped so - he turned around and left. Rose relaxed her shoulders when she realised they had gotten tense. She returned to work with a deep sigh.
When her praline meringue cake with strawberries was finally ready, Rose put it in the fridge and went to her room.
Unfortunately, homework won't do itself. - She thought.
She was just about to finish math when Patricia's yells disturbed her. She groaned, shut her book close, and stormed out of the room.
"What is going on?" Rose squealed as covers were thrown across the hallway.
"Hey, leave it!" She heard a female voice she wasn't familiar with yet. A girl with light brown her entered the hallway with her hand reached out towards Patricia's to take a picture frame from her. Rose fought off the urge to roll her eyes at the mess.
"Hey!" She yelled, trying to get the two's attention. Both their head turned abruptly into her direction. "Thank you. Now, what's going on!?"
"Um... I'm not sure..." A new girl started nervously. "But I'm Nina, from America-"
"She did something to Joy!" Patricia shouted. Rose's blue eyes shifted from Nina to Trixie.
"What?" Rose laughed. "What Joy has to do with it?"
"I'd like to know, too," Nina mumbled, and Patricia shot her a spiteful glare.
"You did something to her!"
"Trixie, you're repeating yourself. Whatever Joy has to do with it... Trudy told me this morning a new girl was coming."
"Joy," Patricia sighed, a vein on her forehead pulsed. "Had a visitor during french class and I haven't seen her since!"
"I'm sure-"
"And now that girl has taken all of her staff! Her bed, her phone-"
"I didn't take it!" Nina argued. "Trudy and Victor led me to that room, said the bed in there was mine. The rest of the stuff was already there! I didn't take it!"
"I don't believe you!"
Rose gaze moved back and forth between two girls, her mouth ajar. She needed to calm them before anybody heard.
"What is the meaning of this!?" Victor opened the door to the corridor and walked in with a grimace on his face. Is he capable of making any different facial expression? - Rose wondered.
Unlike Rose and Nina, Patricia didn't remain quiet. She threw another question, the same as all the others, but this time at Victor.
"Joy has left," he said calmly as if it was the most workaday thing.
"What do you mean, she's left?!"
"Her parents came to school this afternoon and removed her." He didn't blink as he explained.
"But...That's impossible! Why would they do that?"
"I have absolutely no idea." His voice also suggested that not an ounce of him cared.
"Joy would never leave without saying goodbye!" Patricia looked down at her feet and Rose took a step forward to comfort her, but before she could have done so, she lifted her head, and added, "Or without her phone, or Bunsie Bun!"
"I'll send them to her. Give them to me," Victor sighed. "Give!" He took the things from Patricia and left. The girl groaned before she took off, disappearing downstairs.
"Sorry," Rose started as she wrapped her arms around herself. So many questions swooped into her head, but she had one, most important matter at hand. "She's not always like this."
Nina opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but she stopped herself.
"It's alright." She kneeled down to pick up her stuff and Rose did the same to help her.
"I know it's not what you want to hear, but... Joy's Patricia's best friend. We weren't aware she was leaving." Nina nodded understandingly, but her eyes didn't meet Rose's. "The rest of us, or at least most of us, are nicer."
Nina looked up, a beam now on her face, though Rose noticed it seemed a bit forced.
"I sure hope so."
"C'mon, lets put your stuff back and get you something to eat. I'm sure after that long of a flight as you've had, you must be starving." Nina nodded, and they took the sheets back to her room. When everything was back in its place she turned to her.
"I didn't get your name."
"Oh, right. Rose." The girls shook hands. "Now." Rose took Nina's arm and laced her own with it. "Shall we?" She tilted her head with a raised eyebrow and a challenging smirk.
"Yup!"
She led her downstairs, trying to somehow keep the conversation flowing as they heard Patricia's yells coming from the living room.
Rose cleared her throat, interrupting a small argument that was taking place as they walked in, and released Nina's arm, giving her a chance to introduce herself.
"Hi everyone! I'm Nina, I'm from America." She waved her hand cheerfully as she spoke. Fabian repeated the move shily before Alfie jumped up from his seat and started pretending to be an alien. Nina looked quite uncomfortable at his display, and when Trudy called them for dinner, Rose used that as a chance to advise Nina.
"You might wanna tone down on the whole American thing." She headed for her seat next to Jerome.
She tried not to roll her eyes when she heard Amber whining about her seat and Mick. The blonde quickly left the room not even bothering to introduce herself. Rose didn't know how the lack of manners in this house still managed to surprise her.
Jerome elbowed her with a playful smile.
"What about the cake?" he whispered.
"Eat supper first."
"Yuck, Alfie! That's so disgusting!" Mara squealed, seeing the boy toy with his food.
"Yes, Alfie, stop messing around," Jerome added in an overexaggerated tone before he threw noodles at him.
"For the love of..." A breathy groan escaped Rose. She massaged her forehead before she turned to Jerome, glaring at him. Thankfully she managed to jump away quickly when Alfie threw noodles back at them.
"Seriously guys? Every meal?!" Fabian sighed, but it was only the beginning of the food fight. It would have gone for God only knows how long if Patricia didn't take a jug filled with water and poured it all over Nina.
Everyone either gasped or fell silent. Only Nina abruptly stood up.
"Oops? Sorry," Patrica laughed with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Classy Patricia," Fabian sighed. "Are you okay?" he asked.
When the shock wore off, Rose stood up with a scowl on her face and went to the kitchen to fetch a towel.
"Yeah, except my sweater is shrinking as we speak." From where Rose was, she couldn't see Nina's face, but her voice sounded higher than before, letting Rose know the girl was holding back her tears. She grabbed the nearest towel and gave it to Nina. The American opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Patricia attacked her again.
"So, Nina , when are you going to tell us what you know about Joy's disappearance?"
Nina wiped us much off of her as she could before she spoke, "Maybe when I actually know something."
"Oh, c'mon! One minute I'm sitting next to Joy in class, and the next she's disappeared, and you've taken her place-"
"Patrica, enough!" Rose scolded her.
"Oh, so you're taking her side!?"
"What side? Nina's just moved here! She never even met Joy? Besides." She turned to Nina with an apologetic smile. "She doesn't look like she could just grab her and lock her somewhere."
"Oh, maybe she put her in the cellar!" Alfie laughed like a five-year-old child, making Rose glare at him.
"Listen, I don't know anything about Joy's disappearance or Joy herself."
"I'll get it out of you eventually," Patricia spatted. Before she could walk out, Victor soundlessly walked in with a frown.
"What's going on in here!?" His voice echoed as everyone glanced nervously at one another.
"Nothing." Patricia shrugged. "Nina just spilt water everywhere."
Rose wanted to argue, but her voice was stuck in her throat. Victor wasn't someone to stir drama with.
"There's someone on the phone for you," Trudy intruded. She told Nina to follow her, and the girl left as quickly as she appeared.
"Clean that up," Victor grumbled and left them.
"Great," Rose sighed. "Thanks, Patricia." She gave her the fakest and most ironic smile she could and went to get a mop.
Things were about to change, and Rose loathed every bit of it.
Later on, Rose sat with Mara and Amber doing some kooky test from a teenage magazine.
"Oh, it's definitely a B." Rose shook her head at the question. "Amber?" She looked up from the paper when she didn't hear an answer. The blonde - with a tilted head and sad eyes - was staring at Mick, who was chatting with Fabian at the table.
"Do you think he's over me?" she whispered.
"No, I'm sure he's not." Mara didn't even look at Amber as she answered, her eyes glued to a workbook with a frown. "It's probably your biological-" Knowing where it was going, Rose interrupted her,
"Why don't you." She took the magazine out of the girl's grasp. "Go to him, chat a little, propose a movie date or something?" Rose didn't miss Mara's deepening frown.
"That sounds nice!" she beamed.
"Hi!" Nina walked in with a timid smile. She had changed out of her wet clothes and looked much calmer. Rose thought about starting a conversation with her, but no topic came to mind.
"Boo!" Amber called out. "Come here, do a quiz with me!"
"Let me grab a piece of cake first."
"Oh my God!" Rose stood up abruptly. "I completely forgot!" She turned to Nina, who was staring at her with wide eyes. "We have a cake for you!"
"Oh." Was all she said, but her smile widened.
"Fabian, can you, please, help me with the plates?" Rose said already on her way to the kitchen.
"Um sure," he laughed. "Maybe try to be... a bit calmer?" he whispered when they were in the kitchen.
"I freaked her out, didn't I?" Rose glanced back at the girl, who sat in her chair quite uncomfortable. Her gaze avoided the kitchen and the couch Mick now sat on with Amber and Mara.
"A bit, I think? But you're not the only one..."
Rose sighed as she cut the cake. She put a piece on every plate and together with Fabian began giving them away. "yeah, Patricia did most the work of us."
"Thanks," Nina said, taking one from Fabian.
"We planned you a diffe-" Rose never got a chance to finish as Patrica stormed in, again.
"That creep won't give me Joy's home phone number!" She sat angrily in one of the armchairs.
"Hey, Trixie, how about a cake to cheer you up?" Rose tried, but Patricia only rolled her eyes. Her focus already on Nina.
"I know you have something to do with it! And I'll figure it out sooner or later."
"So you've mentioned - ten times," Nina mumbled and Rose chuckled at her response. Patricia glared at the American.
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing."
"Rose, I changed my mind. I want that cake." She pointed at the plate Rose was holding. She had already taken a bite.
"Alright, I'll get you so-"
"I'll just take that." Patricia grabbed the cake in her fist and smashed it at the top of Nina's head. Cream and meringue mixed with the girl's hair, strawberry juice ran down her face.
"Patricia!" Mara, Rose and Fabian shouted in unison. They watched Nina ran out of the room again. "Well, I'm not cleaning that one up." Rose left the room, but instead of going after Nina, she went to Jerome and Alfie's room. She figured the American wouldn't be in the mood to see any of them right now, especially having associated Rose with baked goods.
"Didn't you hear of knocking?" Jerome mocked her as soon as she walked in. Instead of answering, she jumped on his bed with a frown. "Now, what got your thorns showing?" She shot him a dirty look, before her shoulders relaxed and she sighed,
"Patricia smashed my cake on Nina's head-"
"You started eating cake without us?" Alfie suddenly asked.
"Is this all you can think about right now!?"
"That's a yes," Jerome confirmed, and they were running out of the room seconds later.
"Boys," Rose sighed. She grabbed Jerome's laptop, typed in a password, and put on a movie.
Later, when everyone was already back in their rooms, showered and getting ready for bed, Mick walked in.
"Hey, boo. What are you doing here? I only have one eye on!" Amber gasped. Rose shook her head and kept on doing yoga exercises.
"It's fine, I kinda dig the panda look."
"Kinky," Rose snickered.
"I'm actually here to see Mara." Rose glanced at Amber, knowing the comment must have put her laser eyes on. She wasn't far off.
"Oh, okay. How can I help you?"
"It's biology project. I'm struggling and since you're a biology babe... I thought maybe you could help me out?"
"Sure!" her eyes lit with excitement. "Why not? A friend in need. Tomorrow evening?" Amber's jaw fell open and she whipped her head in Rose's direction, pouting. Rose shrugged, keeping on exercising, but with the corner of her eye, she watched Mara.
"It's a date. In... a manner of speaking," Mick corrected himself as soon as the words fell from his mouth. But the damage had already been done. He just wouldn't be there to witness it. "See you later, babe." He walked out without further ado.
"What?" Mara asked Amber who was sending daggers at her with her eyes. "You want him to fail biology?"
"No! But he could have asked me to help him." Rose chuckled at that. "Yeah, okay, but I don't like him asking another girl. Even when it's you." Mara looked seriously tired, listening to the jealous girl.
"Amber, relax, he only wants me for my brains. And you! You're textbook gorgeous! He's crazy about you!"
"Mara's right," Rose chimed in. "He only asked for her help. You can't be mad at him for trying to improve his grades. Besides, jealousy doesn't suit you, Amber."
"Yeah, you're both right. After all, what's not to like!" She beamed at the two of them. "Oh no, I left my night cream in the bathroom!" She quickly ran out to get it.
Rose used that time to glare at Mara.
"What?"
"Nothing," Rose sighed as she stretched. "Just... don't get your hopes up, okay? Mick's crazy about her, she's his girlfriend and your friend ."
"Y-yeah, I know all that, Rose." She pouted. "I'm not stupid."
"I know." Rose nodded understandingly. "But I see the way you look at him. Just try not to drool all over him tomorrow." The comment got her hit in the face by a pillow. "Hey!" she laughed and threw it right back at Mara.
"Oh my God! You're having a pillow fight without me!?" Amber rushed in, grabbed her own pillow, and started attacking both of them. Things were the way they always had been, and Rose wondered how long it was going to last.
Suddenly the door flew open, revealing a very pale Patricia.
"Guys, come quick!"
"What is it?" Mara any time .
"Joy!" As vague explanation as it was, they didn't manage to get out more from Patricia as she ran out the door. All three girls exchange a quick, worried look and followed her.
Patricia opened the bathroom door. Inside, Nina was wiping steam from the mirror.
"What are you doing?" Patricia attacked her yet again.
"Wiping steam?"
"She's wiped it off!"
"Wiped off what?" Rose asked, tired of the drama.
" 'Help me, Joy'. Now it looks like I'm going crazy!"
"Take it easy, Patricia." Mara put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"I didn't see anything being written there. I swear!" And from the look Nina was giving them, Rose could tell the American was as confused as the other three of them.
Patricia, however, kept on insisting the girl was involved. She had earlier said all Nina had been doing was to show Patricia was crazy. Slowly Rose began feeling as if Patricia could really be unwell. She was usually a bitch, but the whole day she had been acting pathetic even for herself. Rose tried to be as understanding as she could. Joy's disappearance was, in fact, at least peculiar. Yet, the drama with the mirror...
"Why are you, girls, not in your rooms?" Victor spooked them all. "You know the rules."
"I don't wanna share with her," Patricia said, barely glancing at Nina.
"Y-you know what, I'll move. Half of my staff is still unpacked, anyway. Or I can sleep on the couch," she kept blubbering.
"Nobody is moving anywhere. Now get back to your rooms immediately." Surprisingly, Victor did not raise his voice and seemed more patient than usual.
They all scuttered quietly to their rooms and when Mara closed the door behind them Rose spoke, "What do you guys think?"
Amber shrugged, uninterested as she returned to removing her make up.
"I..." Mara started hesitantly. "I feel sorry for Patricia, I really really do, but..."
"I know," Rose sighed. "Nina just seemed so genuine, didn't she?" When Mara nodded she went on, "And Trudy told me, she was supposed to come two weeks ago, so it really seems like a big coincidence."
"What do you think Patricia saw in there?" Amber didn't tear her eyes off the mirror as she asked.
"Let's say." Rose let her imagination take over. "That it really said 'Help me, Joy.' on the mirror. Then it would mean that someone had to write it there. If it was Joy, and she's not here, then it must have been her ghost - does anyone believe that?"
Amber tilted her head as if she was really thinking about her answer, but Mara chuckled, "That's impossible! Science-"
Knowing well, where Mara was heading, Rose quickly cut her off.
"Exactly! That would mean someone wrote it." She gave girls a knowing look. "Who could do that?"
Mara rolled her eyes before they answered in unison, "Jerome and Alfie!"
Next morning's breakfast was probably the most awkward affair ever to occur in Anubis house in years. Nina left the house extra early just to avoid them, making it uneasy for the bunch to even seat at the same table.
Rose took her cup out of the cabinet - it was white with bluebirds and blue and gold roses painted on it. She slowly prepared her morning coffee, adding hot lactose-free milk and lots of brown sugar. The sweet smell made a tired smile spread on her face.
"Joy definitely would have called me by now! I'm telling you something's happened to her!"
"Patricia, give it a break," Jerome sighed. "You're driving me crazy."
Not only you. - Rose thought but quickly shook her head, hoping it would help get rid of the thought. After all, Joy was once a friend, and her shady disappearance did make Rose stay awake half the night.
"Jerome! Some of us are worried about Joy. Even if you're not," Mara scolded him.
"Did you get any response to that email you send her last night?" Amber put a scone on her plate.
"No."
"Give her time. She's left all her stuff in here. Maybe she got caught up in some family drama and didn't have time, or any device for that matter, to check her mail or Facebook, yet." Rose took her seat next to Jerome. She wanted Patricia to calm down at least a bit. If not for her sake, then for theirs and most importantly - Nina's.
"So, we scared the alien away?" Alfie started as Rose sat at the table.
"She went to school early," Fabian said.
"So, she's a geek, too?" Patricia sneered.
"Stop it, Patricia," Fabian groaned. "We scared her away."
"That's what I thought too," Mara sighed. "We were pretty awful to her yesterday."
"I'm sorry, we ?" Rose sipped her coffee with an eyebrow raised, eyes boring into Mara's.
"She shouldn't have written anything on that mirror!" Patricia continued her rant.
Jerome snickered beside Rose and she elbowed him before she exchanged a worried look with Mara.
"What? You don't believe me, do you?"
"Look, I'm sure there's an explanation," Rose said. "One that doesn't involve Nina."
"Yeah, to me she's just a victim of really bad timing," Fabian added.
Jerome groaned, making all eyes turn to him.
"You'd like to add something?" Rose snapped, but he only giggled and took a bite of his muffing.
"Hey, finish up and get ready for school!" Trudy interrupted their little argument.
Everyone, having looked at the time stood up to grab their stuff, but Rose stopped Patricia and told her to follow her.
"I think Jerome and Alfie might have something to do with the mirror-thing." Patricia grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the boys' room.
That's how, they finished with Patricia practically on top of Alfie, hitting him with a pillow.
"Stop!"
"Tell me the truth! Did you or did you not sneak into our bathroom last night, while I was showering, and write on the mirror?" She finished the sentence with another hit.
"No!"
"You swear?" And another hit.
Rose was standing next to Jerome's bed with her arms crossed, groaning internally at the scene, meanwhile, Jerome was playing with his tie, silently snickering.
"I swear! On Sprocket's life!" That made Jerome lookup, a smirk wiped off his face.
"Who?"
"Sprocket! My dog! I swear on his life, I didn't do it." He sounded sincere and Patricia released him. She rubbed her temple, trying to calm herself when Jerome asked her,
"Maybe you have to accept that something sinister happened to Joy and she's trying to contact you." That remark earned him swat at the back of his head from Rose and a pillow in the face from Patricia. With a groan the girl left, slamming the door behind her. Rose stayed behind with a question that felt as if it were burning her tongue.
"Alfie... Aren't you allergic to dogs?"
"You bet your ass, I am!" Both he and Jerome started laughing.
"I seriously can't with the two of you!"
"Get your bag," Jerome told her as he tried to stop laughing. "We'll meet you outside."
After school, as planned, Rose visited the nearest town. They had a few busses going there straight from school, but Rose enjoyed walking, and since the weather was nice, she decided to take a stroll.
Over the years, she had found a short cut through the forest. At this time of year, trees were still green, bushes ample, little flowers picking slightly above the wet grass.
A soft breeze messed with her chestnut hair, and she closed her eyes for a moment enjoying a moment of peace. She breathed in the dewy petrichor. Birds were humming softly somewhere in the distance and sunrays were peering through the trees.
Suddenly, a chill run down her spine. A pleasant feeling quickly turned into one of panic. Her eyes snapped open. Rose's hand made its way inside her bag, desperately looking for her pepper spray as she turned around. Her breath hitched in her throat. There was no one in sight. The realization didn't ease the tightness that she was feeling in her chest. Inhaling was, all of a sudden, way harder than seconds before, and for a moment, her hand shifted from pepper spray to her inhaler.
"Jerome, Alfie?" she called out just to be safe. When no one answered her, she took out her phone and called Jerome.
"What?" he answered after a few beeps. Rose heard neither a phone ring nor his voice echoing between the trees.
"Say that again?" she pleaded softly, while she kept looking around. She took the phone away from her ear. The only sound, excluding the birds and trees, was Jerome's voice coming from the phone.
"What are you on again?" he asked. "Rose?" His voice sounded a little worried after she didn't answer him.
"Nothing," she mumbled. She was sure she was alone now, but the uneasiness was still present at the back of her head. But the grip on her lungs loosened, and it was one thing to be thankful for. "Nothing," she repeated louder this time. "I just thought... Never mind."
"Alright?"
She hung up and put her phone away. She had her confirmation - it wasn't another prank, and there was no one else in sight. Nevertheless, she walked faster, eager to get out of the forest, her hand, gripping the pepper spray in her bag, occasionally, looking behind herself.
She didn't see anyone until she reached the town.
"Hello, Rose!" Ade's voice echoed from the back off the shop. He was cleaning some old lamp when Rose walked in, his glasses were as dirty as any other time she'd seen him. It made her wonder, how he saw anything and how he managed to put a price to any object in them.
"Hi, Mr Rutter! What are you working on?" She put her bag on his desk and walked over.
"A client wanted this lamp renewed. It's from the victorian era. Very rare," he added the last part in a daze.
"It's beautiful!" It was. It had embroidered roses on a lampshade and some lace with beads hanging from it.
"Oh, wait until I'm done," he giggled. "Now." He put away his tools. "Do you want some lemonade."
"Has anyone ever said no to that?"
So two glasses of lemonade later, Mr Rutter was standing on an old, wooden ladder, showing Rose all copies of 'Wuthering Heights' that he had.
"This is my last one." He gave her a hardback copy with embroidered of moor and an old mansion in the distance. The floss was dirty, colours slightly faded, and when Rose opened it, the paper felt frail between her fingers.
"I'll take it," Rose mumbled without tearing her eyes off of new loot.
She left the antique shop with a huge beam on her face, feeling like a child, who just got a new toy. Her grip on the book was firm, yet delicate, and she held it with pride. All anger she felt towards Jerome for destroying her previous copy evaporated. This one was older, prettier, better kept, and as she discovered, with an inscription inside- simply better in every way.
The town was quiet with most people still at work. Something Rose dearly missed, and she didn't feel like coming back to Anubis house. Not only would she be stuck inside once again with homework to do, but also irritated and worried Patricia, which had proven to be the worst mix.
She spotted her favourite (and probably the only one in town) cafe - it was inside a small wooden house near the main square with light pink and white begonias planted outside. As usual, it was empty at this time of day, and Stefano - the owner - was standing with his back to the entrance. He was putting a tray of freshly made croissants in the oven.
"Ciao," she greeted him when he shut the oven closed. He turned to her with a beam that matched her own.
"Ciao bella!" The comment never failed to make her blush. "Do you want your regular?"
"Yes, please. Are those with chocolate?" She pointed at the oven.
"Si. Will be ready soon, too."
"Oh, I'll have two then!" She practically moaned. Chocolate was doing things to her...
"A new book?"
Rose was a creature of habit. Ever since she discovered the petite cafe, she had spent as much time there reading as she could. The place had a peaceful, homey vibe that always helped her relax, and she found herself in there every time there wasn't any big exam coming - which unfortunately wasn't that often.
"A new-old-copy," she chuckled. "A previous one was a victim of a prank."
"Oh, you gotta tell me about it!" And she did.
Stefano was a chatty fellow, making conversation with all his customers. She didn't blame him - having a small business in a town like this could definitely become dull real soon, but the Italian never complained.
"Go sit outside. I'll bring you everything when ready." Stefano winked before he turned to work.
A half-cup of cappuccino later and three chapters in, someone called out her name. She wrinkled her nose and shut the book as a shadow blocked the sun that kept her warm.
"Mick?" The boy stood in front of her, with a goofy smile on, face red and sweat dripping down his forehead from working out. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I needed new running shoes, and I wanted to try them out as soon as I paid for them." He sat in front of her at the small table. "New book?" He didn't sound surprised.
"Yep. Jerome completely destroyed my old one, but, I guess, it's alright since I like this one better."
Mick shook his head with laughter, "I'll never understand what you like so much about them."
"And vice-versa," she laughed at his messy appearance.
"Hey! You work out too!"
"I dance and therefore I stretch, that's not the same."
"You coming back any time soon?"
"Sure, let me finish my coffee and we can go."
Mick's company calmed her nerves, even though, the feeling of being watched was long gone. He told her some stories about Amber trying to work out with him and before they knew it, they were back at Anubis, where another drama was already unfolding.
"Her first day, and she didn't even make it to school." Patricia lay on the couch with her laptop. Rose glanced at Mick, but he simply shrugged and headed for the shower.
"So, you didn't hear from Joy?" Rose had a feeling there was no point in asking.
"Nothing! Do you believe me now?" Patricia sat up.
"I never said it wasn't weird." Rose left her bag on one of the chairs and entered the kitchen to get herself some cake. Patricia followed her, voicing all her crazy theories of how Nina could be involved.
"You didn't see, but they erased Joy from the school picture!"
"What?" That made Rose turn in her direction. She opened the fridge, took out the cake, and held it in one hand.
"She was there! I'm sure of it. Please, tell me you remember it, too!" She moved past Patricia
"I do." Rose frowned. "Since she's been on every photo since she arrived here."
To say she was surprised when Patricia hugged her would be an understatement. It was so sudden, it made Rose let go of the cake. She watched in horror as it smashed on the floor.
"Oops? Anyway, I'm gonna look through my stuff. Maybe I have a copy of it somewhere! We'll go to teachers together if I find it right?"
"Sure," Rose sighed her eyes on the cake. "Police might be better, though. In case, the teachers are involved." She glanced at Patricia. "But you gotta leave Nina out of it. She's done nothing wrong so far except arriving on the same day."
"Exactly! Can't you see? It all adds up!"
Rose didn't see any point in arguing with her, so she simply let her go, continue her crazy quest.
Jerome found Rose staring at the remains of the cake a few seconds after Patricia had left. His footsteps weren't exactly quiet, so she looked up, having heard him come in.
He was still in his school blazer, his hands hidden in the pockets off his trousers.
He looked at her, then at the cake and back again at her. He tilted his head to the side, a sly smirk already spreading onto his face before he opened his blazer, revealing three forks in his inside pocket.
"You want one?" He half-whispered as if he were offering her something illegal.
"We're not gonna wait for Alfie?" His only answer was a shrug, so she nodded and took one from him.
"Which side do you want?" he asked, giving her a fork and then taking one for himself.
"Letting me choose?" she hummed. She eyed the cake quickly before pointing. "This one."
They sat on the cold floor, digging in almost immediately.
"So what happened? When you called?" Rose stopped with her fork midway to her mouth with cake already on it.
"Oh, look at you, Jerome! You do care!" She covered her mouth with her hand as she giggled at the irked look he gave her.
"See." He pointed his fork at her. "That's one of the reasons why I don't."
They left it at that.
Hello,
I hope you enjoyed it ;)
Since the quarantine has began, I've been binging HoA and got a little inspired.
Title might change if I get a better idea. For now it's from 'every rose has its thorn' by Miley Cyrus.
The story is also published on AO3
Let me know your thoughts,
Runners 3