Episode 3: "House of Agendas & House of Keys"

This edited and revised chapter was uploaded on June 26, 2020


Chapter 3: The First Clue

Jerome sat on a chair in the living room with his laptop. Cameron sat on the couch, also on her laptop. She had her headphones in and was typing away. Jerome was curious as to what she was doing that required her to type so fast. Her hands flew across the keyboard and her gaze never left the screen. But… Jerome didn't risk interrupting her by asking or looking over her shoulder. He'd irritated her enough for one day, and he did not want a broken nose. It was hard to believe a calm, little thing like Cameron could break someone's nose, but upon seeing how serious she was, Jerome believed her.

"So how have things been between you and Amber since this whole kissing incident?" Jerome asked Mick. He knew he was digging himself into a deeper hole with Cameron, but at the time, she wasn't paying attention. Maybe he could continue his fun for a little bit longer.

"I'm not going to talk to you about Amber, dude," Mick said, pausing his practice. He had been juggling a soccer ball. He glanced at Cameron, or Speedy as he'd taken to calling her (she was an insanely fast runner) for support, but she wasn't paying attention. In fact, she seemed so engrossed in what she was typing that he didn't doubt someone could take out her headphones and yell at her through a bullhorn and she couldn't even look up.

"Only asking," Jerome said. "But I do have my ear to the ground if you need any information."

"No thanks," Mick replied, starting to juggle again. "I think I've got it covered."

"Of course. You're Mick."

"Yep."

"As if you wouldn't know about your own girlfriend and Alfie. What was I thinking?"

Mick's face scrunched up in confusion. Jerome knew he had this in the bag.

"What?" Mick asked.

"Alfie and Amber, in the laundry room last night," Jerome continued.

"The laundry room?" Mick asked. He stopped juggling and faced Jerome, incredulity and confusion on his face.

"Ohh, you didn't know!" Jerome faked. He shut his laptop and feigned being sorry for Mick. "Sorry, mate. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but… It does look like Alfie is a little more of a Romeo than we thought."

"Right!" Mick exclaimed. His nostrils flared with anger and his grip on the soccer ball tightened.

"Where are you going?" Jerome asked.

"To get Alfie."

"No! No! No!" Jerome stood and stopped the blond athlete. "You don't want to do that."

"I do. I really, really do," Mick insisted.

Jerome could see how serious Mick was. He really wanted to go beat up Alfie.

"No, you don't, Mick," Jerome said. "You're better than that." Jerome sat Mick down on the couch next to Cameron. She didn't even look up. "Alfie's a joke. He's not worth the effort."

"Yeah," Mick agreed.

"And Amber? She's just a two-timing flirt! You're better off without her."

"Amber is gone. History. I don't need that," Mick decided.

Jerome didn't notice as Mick glanced in Cameron's direction.

"That's my man," Jerome said. He amicably patted Mick's leg. Not a second later, Amber strode into the room, and she was not happy.

"I'm waiting for an apology, Mick," Amber said.

"Well, you'll be waiting a long time, then." Mick got up and strode past her out of the room. Amber's jaw dropped, and she stared at him as he left.

"Wait a minute! I'm the mad one!" she cried. She turned to Jerome. "He's the one who stood me up!"

Jerome smiled as Amber sat down on another couch. His plan was going swimmingly, and Cameron was still typing away, oblivious to the whole thing.

Patricia and Mara came into the living room, and Patricia scowled at Jerome. "What are you grinning at?"

"Just happy to be alive," Jerome answered. He still had the stupid smile on his face. It was wiped away when he felt something hit the back of his head. Jerome whipped his head around to see Cameron lowering her hand back to the keyboard. She hadn't even looked up from the screen.

Well. It seemed Cameron hadn't been quite as tuned out as he'd thought.

"Any sign of Victor with our bags?" Patricia asked.

"No, it's great, isn't it?" Jerome said. "The perfect excuse not to do French homework." Just then, Victor showed up with everyone's bags in hand. "Ah, spoke too soon."

"Here we are. All checked," Victor said. He set down the numerous bags.

"Find anything?" Patricia asked. The way she asked made Cameron narrow her eyes. Was she the reason their belongings were being searched?

"Nothing that shouldn't be there, no." With that, Victor strode back out of the room.

Cameron grabbed her bag and Jerome's before settling back on the couch. She dropped Jerome's bag in his lap before digging out her homework. She had an essay for Mrs. Andrews (French) and some math homework. Cameron and Jerome tuned out Amber as she talked to Patricia and Mara (rather loudly) about how she thought Mick was playing hard to get.

Cameron knew otherwise, of course. But it still wasn't her business. So she didn't say anything.

She also didn't have the heart to be the one to tell Alfie the truth. It would break his sweet little heart.

Five minutes passed. Then, Jerome broke the silence, unable to contain his curiosity anymore.

"Okay, you've been typing furiously for almost an hour. What are you doing?"

"I'm writing an essay for Mrs. Andrews," Cameron replied.

"We don't have an essay for Mrs. Andrews," Jerome said with confusion.

"You don't," Cameron said. Jerome's eyes widened and he looked at her screen.

"Is that… French?"

Yep. Cameron was writing in French. And it was advanced. At a level way beyond anything Jerome could understand.

"Yep," Cameron confirmed. "I'm fluent."

Jerome's eyes widened.

"Want to do my French homework for me?" He knew what her answer would be, but he asked anyway. Cameron surprised him.

"I'll tell you what, Jerome. If you get stuck, I'll help. I won't do it for you, but I'll help."

"You will?" Jerome was surprised at her offer.

Cameron nodded, looking strangely sympathetic.

"Learning any foreign language isn't exactly easy. And French isn't one of the easiest ones to start with. It's more different from English than a lot of people think. Half the letters aren't pronounced and the ones that are make completely different sounds than they do in English. There are a lot of tenses and keeping them straight is hard. I guess I know what it's like to stumble through something and feel like you can't catch up."

"Was it like that when you learned French?"

Cameron sighed, and looked like she was cursing herself for revealing something she hadn't meant to. "Pretty much. I learned the French language in under a year. I was forced into it and I had barely any help. I was 10." Jerome's eyes widened. "Let's just leave it at that."

Cameron closed her laptop, threw her bag over her shoulder, and left the living room without another word.

~)8(~

"So we're still sneaking out this lunchtime, yeah?" Fabian asked Nina and Cameron the next day at breakfast. Both girls nodded.

"You're getting really good at this sneaking around stuff," Nina joked.

"Learning from the best," Fabian replied.

"Not me," Nina laughed. "Cameron is amazing. You should've seen her stealing the key." The three of them laughed together.

"Whisper, whisper, whisper. Very cozy," Patricia mocked, sneaking up behind them.

"Let's go," Fabian muttered, shooting a dark look at Patricia. He, Nina, and Cameron got up and shouldered their bags.

"When did you become their friend and not mine, Fabian?" Patricia demanded.

"Since you became such a witch, Patricia," Fabian retorted. The girl didn't have a response.

Fabian was so fed up with Patricia. Yes, he missed Joy. Everyone did. But there was no reason for her to be a bully. The way she had been treating Nina and Cameron was inexcusable.

"He could be all our friends," Nina suggested.

Patricia scowled. "Not likely."

Nina frowned, but she knew she should've expected such an answer. She and Cameron followed Fabian from the room.

Patricia watched them leave, then turned to Trudy.

"Hey, Trudy?"

"Before you ask, Alfie's had the last of the hash browns," Trudy said. "I could make you a Trudy Pancake Surprise, if you like?"

"No, I've been meaning to ask," Patricia started. "Was it Joy's parents who came and cleared her room out last week?"

"Erm… it was a man. I'm not sure if it was her father. I've never seen her parents," Trudy answered. Patricia almost scowled. This was getting her nowhere.

"And when were you told she was leaving?"

"The same morning she left." Trudy had said it like it was no big deal.

"Didn't you think that was weird?"

"Well, Joy always was a walking soap opera," Trudy said. Patricia couldn't argue with that. "I thought it was a bit sudden. I'm not sure about weird."

"And what about Nina and Cameron coming to replace her the same day? Now that was weird, right?" Patricia asked quickly. Trudy looked startled at all the questions and Patricia's blatant desperation for answers.

"Not really," Trudy said. "Nina and Cameron were always meant to start at the beginning of term. They're both on scholarships and there was a mix-up between the scholarships, meaning their money was delayed. Nina got a half-scholarship and Cameron got a full scholarship, I believe."

Patricia's eyes widened at that. A full scholarship? What had Cameron done to receive that? But… The fact that both of them were meant to start at the beginning of the term planted doubt in Patricia, and threw a wrench in her theory.

Maybe the two girls weren't involved in Joy's disappearance after all.

~)8(~

"So, have you guys given any more thought to your ancient history projects yet?" Mr. Winkler asked them in history class. Everyone was silent. Most people hadn't given it much serious thought, actually. Save Nina, Fabian, Cameron, and maybe Mara. "Mick?"

"Yeah. History of the Roman Gladiatorial Games," Mick said. Cameron smiled. That was a perfect topic for Mick.

"Excellent," Mr. Winkler complimented.

"With a practical demonstration of me, as a gladiator, humiliating and destroying Alfie in a very public arena." Mick's tone grew angry and low as he continued his explanation. The class shifted around awkwardly. Everyone knew Amber and Mick were in a bit of a lover's tiff ever since Amber kissed Alfie.

Only Jerome and Cameron had the whole picture.

"Right," Mr. Winkler said uncomfortably. He cleared his throat and moved on to another student. "Cameron?" The girl looked up from whatever she was writing and answered.

"I was thinking about doing the history of written language," she said. Everyone looked a little impressed. That certainly was a good topic.

"Very good! That's very fitting for you," Mr. Winkler said. Nina and Fabian exchanged looks at that. Neither of them knew what Mr. Winkler was talking about, but neither he nor Cameron offered a further explanation. However, it seemed the rest of the class didn't care. Neither of them noticed Jerome also shooting Cameron a look.

"Fabian, any more thoughts on your project yet?" Mr. Winkler asked.

"Yeah! Me and Nina thought we might do something on Egyptian mythology," he said.

"Yeah, especially with Anubis House being named after an Egyptian god," Nina added.

"Yeah. Nice one, nice one," Mr. Winkler complimented. "You know, I'm a particular fan of Egyptian mythology. All that interest in life after death and living forever."

"Ugh, who'd want to live forever?" Amber spoke up. "Imagine how wrinkled you'd get."

There was a scoff and Cameron turned to see it had come from Mick. Cameron merely shook her head. Now was seriously not the time for them to start another little spat.

"Right. Egyptian mythology, good," Mr. Winkler continued, walking over to the whiteboard. "Anything else? Anyone?" No one answered. Amber turned in her seat and began arguing with Mick. However, they fell silent after Mr. Winkler told them to shut up.

The bell rang, signaling the start of lunch.

~)8(~

"Hello? Can we come in?" Nina asked, gently opening the door to Sarah's room. Nina and Cameron were visiting her at the old folk's home, Fabian in tow.

"Sarah?" Cameron said. The woman was sleeping in her bed, but woke up and smiled upon seeing Nina and Cameron.

"Oh, it's you!" she said excitedly. Nina and Cameron laughed and nodded. They took seats on either side of the woman's bed and each took one of her hands. "Have you found it yet?"

"No, we haven't found the treasure yet, Sarah, but we're looking," Cameron told her, rubbing her hand soothingly. She had really grown a soft spot for this woman. Not only did Cameron believe she was telling the truth, but she believed Sarah knew more about this than she was letting on.

"We came to ask you where it is," Nina said.

"You won't let him find it, will you?" Sarah asked. Her voice lowered and there was a warning in her voice. "Promise you won't let him find it!"

"We promise, Sarah," Cameron assured her. "We promise."

"Good," Sarah breathed.

"Sarah," Nina started as she produced the locket. Cameron suddenly became aware of the key resting against her chest. "Who's this?" Nina opened the locket and showed Sarah the picture.

"Is it you?" Sarah asked, smiling as she looked at the picture. Nina and Cameron smiled.

"No, it's not me," Nina scoffed. "She's way too cute." Cameron saw Fabian smile softly at Nina for that. Oh, he had it bad.

But… Cameron had to agree with Sarah. The girl in the picture definitely resembled Nina. Though she resembled Sarah far more.

"It looks like you," Sarah said. The older woman looked up and gasped. "Who's that?"

She had spotted Fabian. Cameron could tell Sarah was getting uneasy and motioned for Nina to hide the locket.

"Sarah," Cameron started, her tone soothing and gentle. "This is Fabian." Fabian came inside the room, but stood at the foot of Sarah's bed, not wanting to crowd her. "He found the first clue to the treasure." Nina and Fabian snapped their gazes to Cameron at that, but she didn't even glance at them. "He's helping us. He's a friend."

Sarah didn't look quite as uneasy, but it was obvious she was still wary with Fabian in the room. However, after a few more minutes, Sarah relaxed enough for Fabian to come sit next to Nina.

They visited with Sarah for half an hour, but eventually, it was time for them to return to school for class.

"The black bird is watching the house," Sarah warned as the three made to leave. "You have to be careful!"

"Black bird?" Fabian muttered to himself.

The three of them were having similar thoughts. Could this "black bird" be Corbiere? Was Sarah telling the truth?

Cameron knew she was, and she was truly beginning to believe that the girl in the portrait was Sarah. It was her locket, and the Frobisher-Smythes had a daughter named Sarah. It was too big a coincidence to ignore. Something was strange about all this. Cameron just couldn't put her finger on it.

~)8(~

After school, Cameron went back to the house to find Alfie already in his normal clothes. However, he was sitting on the couch, his ankle wrapped and propped up. When she asked Jerome what happened, he told her that Mick had knocked Alfie over and hurt his ankle. However, Jerome also added that Alfie was playing up the injury to get attention from Amber.

Cameron promptly smacked the back of Jerome's head.

"What was that for?" he cried, rubbing the back of his head. It hadn't really hurt, just startled him. Not to mention it messed up his hair.

Cameron shot him a look.

"For supporting Alfie and helping him manipulate two of my friends into fighting with each other."

Cameron turned and went upstairs to change. Jerome sighed, trying to ignore the rising guilt in his gut. Cameron wanted him to put a stop to this, but he couldn't. If Alfie wanted to be with Amber, this was the way it was going to happen. He was helping his best friend.

Could Cameron really not see that?

~)8(~

"Amber told me what Mick did. I think it's pretty terrible," Nina said after seeing Alfie injured on the couch. She couldn't believe Mick would do such a thing.

Nina and Fabian and just finished discussing the hieroglyph from the back of the painting. Neither of them had believed her at first, but Cameron's translation had been spot on. Now, it wasn't just Fabian suspecting something, but Nina was too. Neither of them knew that Jerome was also starting to pay closer attention to the American girl and all her oddities. Patricia even was starting to be suspicious of Cameron after finding out about her full scholarship.

"After what Alfie and Amber did, I'm surprised Mick didn't do more damage," Fabian replied. Nina blinked. That didn't make any sense.

"Why, what did they do?" Nina asked.

"They went on a date."

"What? How is that possible? Are we talking about the same Alfie?"

"It was the night we went up to the attic. Remember, we bumped into her in the corridor and she was all dressed up?" Fabian said.

"Uh, yeah. For her date with Mick, not Alfie," Nina said like it was obvious.

"What?" Fabian gasped.

"Yeah. She got a message from Mick, or at least she thought it was from him, arranging to meet in the laundry room, but he never showed. She had me and Cam look at at least forty outfits."

Fabian raised his eyebrows, but wasn't necessarily surprised.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'm not exaggerating," Nina said. "Forty outfits."

"Technically, it was 46," Cameron said, gliding into the dining room, dressed for a run. "I kept a tally."

"Is that what you were doing on your arm?" Nina asked. All through Amber's little, not-so-little fashion show, Cameron had been doodling on her arm.

Cameron nodded at Nina's question. Then, she grabbed a banana, and left.

~)8(~

The next day at school, Fabian watched Jerome as he scammed an underclassman into paying for Jerome's old homework. Fabian had done some thinking last night. Jerome was obviously behind the whole ordeal with Mick, Amber, and Alfie. Pranking three people at once plus fooling everybody else had to be a new record for him.

Fabian had to do this. Jerome had to get what was coming to him.

"Hey, Jerome?" Fabian said going up to him. He had to look up, as Jerome was much taller than himself. "Why are you spreading rumors about Alfie and Amber going on a date?"

"I'm not spreading rumors," Jerome immediately denied.

"Yes, you are," Fabian insisted. "Alfie and Amber are not an item and you know that."

"Aren't they? Have I got it wrong, then?" Fabian had to admit, Jerome was good. He would've believed him if he hadn't exchanged stories with Nina last night. "Ahh, well sometimes you have to give fate a helping hand, then."

"You have to tell Mick the truth!" Fabian cried, stepping in front of Jerome to stop him from leaving.

"I don't have to do anything," Jerome retorted.

Fabian grit his teeth. "So how is your recycled homework business going then, Jerome?"

Jerome paused, then turned back.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm sure Mr. Sweet would love to hear about your thriving trade with the lower years," Fabian continued. "How much do you earn a month selling your old homework assignments? Fifty? A hundred?"

Jerome scowled. He was caught, and he knew it.

Fabian led Jerome into the common room, where Mick was sitting doing some class work. Jerome spotted Cameron sitting in the common room as well. She was talking on her mobile, her laptop open in her lap.

Jerome scowled. So that was how Fabian figured it out. Cameron had ratted him out.

Fabian forced Jerome to tell Mick what he did. Mick was not quiet when he stormed out. Everyone stared, and Fabian ran after him, leaving everyone else wondering what they had missed.

Cameron, who had paused in her work to watch the scene, quickly resumed her call.

Jerome approached her, ready to confront her, but paused when he realized she wasn't speaking in English.

She, instead, was speaking in flawless, perfect, fluent French.

Cameron finished her call and looked up at Jerome with a raised eyebrow.

"Can I help you?"

Jerome scowled and sat down right next to her, hoping to make her uncomfortable. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to work. She was either enjoying his close proximity, or was really good at hiding her real emotions. Based on what Jerome knew about her, he was going to go with the latter.

"You ratted me out to Fabian," he hissed. Cameron looked offended.

"I did not!" she cried. Jerome was surprised. She looked genuinely shocked and offended at his accusation. "What on earth made you think that?"

"Fabian just made me tell Mick the truth," Jerome hissed. Cameron looked less confused, as if understanding suddenly dawned on her.

"Oh, well, that explains things. But I didn't tell. I swear."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because I promised I wouldn't." Cameron said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Jerome scoffed.

"Promises can be broken. I know. I do it all the time," he said. Cameron frowned.

"Well, I'm not you. I kept my promise, Jerome. I didn't tell." Cameron closed her laptop and got up to leave. She looked back at the still-pissed Jerome. "You know, Nina and Fabian were talking about it last night. They probably exchanged stories. Fabian's not stupid — he probably figured it out. You might try asking him how he knew next time, instead of jumping to conclusions and wrongly blaming people."

Jerome saw her logic and sagged in defeat. God, this girl was making a habit of outsmarting him and making him feel like an idiot. She brought out sides and emotions in him that he rarely ever showed as well.

Jerome knew if he wasn't careful, he'd fall for her.

"I'm sorry," Jerome muttered. He refused to make eye contact with Cameron, but looked up when he felt her hand on his shoulder.

"I know," she said softly. Cameron left Jerome to his thoughts.

~)8(~

"Ahhhhhhh!" Alfie leapt onto Jerome with a cry, a pillow in hand. The two began whacking each other, not noticing as Cameron was caught in the crossfire.

"Alfie! Jerome!" she cried.

Jerome stopped, having forgotten that she had been sitting next to him on the couch.

"Sorry, Caramel," he said. He noticed the scowl appear on Cameron's face at his little nickname for her. Her nose wrinkled up and she fixed him with a stern look. Jerome would've found the look annoying on any other girl. Not Cameron. In fact, on her, it was kind of… cute, actually. It made him want to tease and tickle her until she was giggling uncontrollably.

"Yes!" came a sudden cry. "I have an email from Joy!"

Everyone in the room besides Nina and Cameron gathered around her as Patricia began to read. It was simple, sweet, and short. Joy explained why she left and that she was sorry for leaving so suddenly and being incommunicado, but that she was okay and safe.

Patricia complained a little about the changed writing habits, but seemed to accept the email.

"Sorry, I bet I've been driving you all crazy," Patricia said. Mara denied it while Jerome let out a blunt, "Yes." "Especially you two, Nina, Cameron."

"Hey, you were worried about Joy," Cameron said. "We understand."

"We're just glad she's safe," Nina added.

"Can somebody help me take this food to the table, please?" Trudy called from the kitchen.

"Coming!" Patricia leapt up from her seat and joined Trudy. Everyone else gathered around the dining table and Cameron took her normal spot across from Fabian and next to Nina.

"Wow! I think that might have been Patricia's attempt at an apology," Fabian said to them.

"I think you might be right," Nina agreed.

"Hey, guys, guess what?" Amber flounced into the dining room, Mick by her side. "Mick and I have made up." The two were holding hands and all smiles once more. Cameron was happy for them, but felt an undeniable pang of sympathy zing through her for Alfie. "And we're having a party to celebrate. Tomorrow night, you're all invited."

"Great," Alfie said sarcastically.

~)8(~

Night fell. And long after the rest of the house was asleep, Nina and Fabian met up at the staircase. Together, they followed the clue from the hieroglyph, and pried open the floorboard of the eighth stair.

Inside, they found a key.

But with the floorboard now loose, Victor later tripped over it, spraining his ankle. Trudy found him later, attempting to get into the locked first aid kit. But when he retrieved the spare key from his cabinet, he noticed one key was missing.

The spare attic key.

And he knew that there was only one explanation.

Someone had stolen the attic key, and he was going to find out who.


Hey all! Here's the third chapter, edited and rewritten. Hope you all enjoy it!

Reviews

Maricate: Haha, I'm glad you decided to enact your evil plan! And I hope you enjoy the new chapters :)
thunderyoshi: Thanks for the review! And I'm excited to be back and working on this story again :) I'm glad you like Cameron. She was actually one of the very first characters I developed when I started planning OCs years ago. I hope you enjoy the rewrite!

Sammiemoosam