Fabian

When two people were having an argument in the living room, they generally shouldn't be yelling loud enough that their voices reached all the way into Nina's room upstairs. However, in the three days since Patricia had become infected with anger, most of the house had considered making an investment in noise-cancelling headphones at one time or another. She'd fought with Amber over doing the dishes, snapped at Mara for being too busy to help her study, lost her temper on Jerome for playing his music too loud, and gotten into a shouting match with Eddie over whether or not he'd copied her homework. Patricia was currently, to the shock of everyone in the house, yelling at Victor over his taxidermy collection. When most of us had wisely retreated into different sections of the house, Joy and Eddie had been trying in vain to play peacemaker.

"Remind me how long they've been going at it," I murmured. My chin was resting atop Nina's head as she mumbled something indistinguishable in response to my question, before snuggling further into my side, her nose brushing against my neck. I smiled as the sensation sent warmth flooding through my body, and used the arm around her waist to tug her a bit closer.

"Yeah, I think 'mmhmmhmm' would be my estimate too," I teased.

Nina lazily pulled her hand up from where it had been relaxing on my chest, to place a single finger on my lips. "Shhh," she insisted, before removing the finger. "You smell good."

My shoulders thrummed with laughter. "I smell good?"

Nina nodded, her curly hair tickling my chin. "Yeah. Like pine trees. New shampoo?"

I smiled in surprise. "Actually yes. How did you know?"

"You used to smell more like coconut," Nina giggled, pulling herself further into me. I could feel her breasts pressing up against me through our shirts, and my face warmed at the thought.

"I DON'T THINK IT'S AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST THAT I NOT HAVE TO STARE AT A DEAD CROW EVERY TIME YOU CALL ME INTO YOUR OFFICE."

Nina sighed in annoyance. "We have got to find Patricia a selfless deed before she gets herself suspended."

I made a sound of agreement, grateful for the change of subject. "Hey, so if Patricia's got wrath, then that only leaves lust, pride, and envy. Which one do you think you'll get?"

"Hmm." Nina rolled over so that we were lying on our backs, side by side, and my arm moved up to below her shoulder blades. "To be honest I don't care that much, I just hope it's not envy."

"Really?" I was curious. "Why not?"

Nina gave a small, slightly guilty-sounding cough. "It's not a huge deal or anything, it's just hard enough for me to have you and Joy work on group projects. I don't want to imagine how difficult my life would get if I couldn't bear to have you in the same room together."

I opened my mouth to insist that Nina had no reason to be worried, but she didn't give me the chance. "It's nothing you're doing of course, and I know you can't just cut her out of your life or anything given the whole living together situation, it's just a thing I need to work on, that's all."

Jerome said he found it hot when Mara got jealous. I was more uncomfortable than turned on, so I decided to take her mind off of it. Twisting over so that I was on top of Nina, I leaned down and kissed her.

She gave a small moan before arching into me, and as I ran my hands through her hair, I reflected on how it was a nice change to have Nina make out with me because she wanted to, and not because she seemed like she might shatter into pieces if she didn't. After the shooting, she had refused to discuss it with me at all, and every time it got hard for Nina to breathe she would grab me, or text me, or drag me into the nearest empty room. Those kisses had been, messy, desperate, and rough, with hair pulling and nails scratching and neck biting. While it had been its own kind of sexy, I still liked this kind of kissing just as much. Slow, gentle, and leisurely, Nina dragging her tongue against mine, pressing her hand into my chest, her legs sliding up and down mine.

I felt electricity beginning to charge my blood, as I shifted so that I was sitting up, and dragged Nina with me. I kept kissing her as I began to work on the buttons of her shirt, feeling her hands come up to clasp the sides of my face before I got the shirt undone and she threw it off. The shirt had been light green and looked amazing on her, but in nothing but a clean white bra and skinny jeans, she looked even better.

I swallowed down the sudden bubble of nerves in my throat as Nina's fingers started working at my own clothes, pulling off my gray tee shirt. I was wearing a long-sleeved blue one underneath it, and Nina had it in her hands and halfway up my torso before hesitating. She pulled back, breathing heavily, and let the shirt go back down, staring at where her hands still held it. I was surprised at the strength of my disappointment. "Sorry, I just," Nina caught her breath before trying again. "I need a minute."

"Something wrong?" I asked, unsure of what had made her stop.

She hesitated before shaking her head, and gave a breathy laugh as she looked up at me. "I just don't want to start something you're not ready to finish, that's all."

I held her gaze and breathed in once, before grabbing my shirt and tugging it off myself. It came over my head and I pulled it off my hand, and I thought my skin might catch on fire as Nina's gaze turned downwards and her lips slightly opened. Her hand squeezed my bare shoulder before slowly drawing a path down my chest and to my hips. I dipped my head so that I caught her gaze and smiled. "What makes you think I'm not ready?"

Nina raised an eyebrow. "Well for one thing, even though you've gotten my tops off plenty of times this is the most I've ever seen of you, and for another—"

I interrupted her with a kiss, placing one hand on her back and one on the bed to make sure we didn't go down to hard until her back hit the mattress. I pulled up and let the tips of my fingers ghost over the front of her bra, watching her chest swell as she inhaled sharply. I pressed another kiss to the corner of her lips, before moving across her cheekbones and sucking lightly at her pulse point, knowing from experience how crazy it drove her. Sure enough, Nina clapped a hand to her mouth to stifle a groan, and I fought back a surge of pride, moving so my lips were right next to her ear. "I'm ready when you are."

Nina let out a breathy laugh, running both hands through my hair. "You're joking, right?" I lifted my head and Nina locked eyes with me, smiling. "Babe I've been ready for months now."

"NO GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD AND CALL MR. SWEET, LETS SEE WHOSE SIDE HE TAKES IN THIS MATTER. THAT'S ALWAYS YOUR BACKUP PLAN ISN'T IT, JUST GO RUNNING TO THE HEADMASTER."

Nina laughed as I dropped my head down to her shoulder with a sigh. "Readiness aside," she pointed out, "I am not going to have our first time be in an unlocked room with Patricia screeching downstairs."

I hummed in agreement, before returning my lips to that spot on her neck, trying to surprise her into a moan. She bit down hard on her lip instead, but her body shook underneath me. "What if you came over to my house for winter break?" I suggested. "We have plenty of empty rooms."

"Why Fabian Rutter, what must you think of me to ask such a question?" Nina giggled.

I moved back up to the corner of her mouth, feeling her smile press against mine. "Depends on your answer."

Nina tilted her head to kiss me and I let her. "In that case, if you're sure those rooms are empty I promise I'll make it worth your while."

She kissed me again as Patricia's voice exploded from downstairs.

INSERT PAGE BREAK HERE LATER. DON'T FORGET.

Unplanned school assemblies were never a good sign. They were a worse sign when only a certain grade got called. They were an even worse sign when a specific group or groups were summoned and nobody knew why. Most of Monsieur Duval's old French classes had grouped themselves together by period, and were chattering nervously as we waited for one of the teachers to show up. Eddie was deep in discussion with Jerome and Alfie, Amber and Nina were looking through a new magazine article, and I was rereading my copy of The Martian that Nina had gotten me for Christmas last year.

I quickly glanced over at Nina, just to look at her, and took a minute to admire the way her hair fell over her shoulder as she leaned forward, and how her skirt was hitched up further than normal due to her crossed legs. I turned back to my book but my eyes caught on Joy, who appeared to be trying very hard not to panic, and Patricia, who looked like she was trying to calm her down. I sent up a brief prayer that whatever Joy was upset about – probably a failed quiz – wouldn't send Patricia off the rails, again. The last thing she needed right now was to lose control in front of the whole school.

"Erm, students? If I could get your attention please."

I bookmarked my spot with a pen and slid it into my backpack. Gradually second, third, fourth, and seventh period French all hushed themselves as Mr. Sweet waited patiently. Once we were silent, he cleaned his glasses and placed them back on his nose. "There are two announcements. The first, is that due to the administration's… difficulties, in finding a permanent replacement for Monsieur Duval, the class is being replaced with two optional electives." Excited whispers filled the room, but quickly stopped when Sweetie kept talking. "Due to the extranormal circumstances surrounding his departure, you will all receive a passing grade and full credit, and to finish the semester you will either be taking physical education, or a theatre class. We have spoken with the faculty and found teachers to take on the classes during the original time slots, so that no schedules will need to be adjusted."

I glanced over at the rest of my housemates. We'd probably all be taking theatre, given our joint distaste for most activities involving sprinting. Eddie might've signed up for the other class, but given that there was no way in hell he could talk Patricia into it, he'd probably join the rest of us.

Most of the room had gotten busy discussing who would be taking what until Mr. Sweet raised his voice again. "Before the next announcement, all male students have the option to leave the room, although you may stay if you wish. You will probably find out eventually, although this only concerns the young women here."

Most of the guys left, with high fives and superior looks, but a little over a dozen decided to stay, probably out of curiosity, all of the Anubis house boys included. I glanced over to see Nina talking to Amber in a low voice, both of them looking just as confused as I felt. Shrugging, I waited for the room to quiet.

Mr. Sweet looked distinctly uncomfortable, and my curiosity was instantly piqued. What did he want to talk about? "I feel obligated to warn you, this is of a somewhat delicate manner, and if it is discussed, it must be done with the utmost respect." I looked over at Eddie as Sweetie straightened his tie and raised my eyebrows. My roommate shook his head, before turning back.

"New facts in the Halloween investigation have been recently brought to light. One of these, is that Monsieur Duval was sexually harassing one of his female students." I thought my eyes might jump out of my head. All the girls immediately started looking at each other, trying to figure out who it could've been. "The police are asking that either the victim herself, or anyone with information about the identity of this student come forward, as it is of the utmost importance."

"What's so important about it?" Patricia called out, sounding waspish.

I closed my eyes in despair. Oh please, not now, not now.

"I'm sorry, Miss Williamson?" Sweetie looked confused and I didn't blame him. I wondered if Joy could shut her up, but from the looks of it she was already trying.

"Well he's dead, isn't he? He killed himself, we all heard. If he's dead then why are the police still interested?"

Students murmured in agreement, turning towards Mr. Sweet expectantly, who looked not at all pleased with the direction the assembly had taken. "The police are not at liberty to discuss ongoing investigations."

"Except he's dead, so it shouldn't still be ongoing," Patricia insisted. "Which means either he's not really dead, he didn't really kill himself, or someone else shot the place up."

I glanced sharply over at Nina, who looked as though she might throw up at the last suggestion. The idea that whoever had shot her might still be here…

"Miss Williamson, unless you have information about the student Monsieur Duval was targeting—"

"That arse brought a gun, to our school. He shot Nina. We were all there when it happened so there's no use coddling us now, and frankly I think we're owed the least bit of honesty on the subject."

Mr. Sweet ran a hand over his face, looking as though he wished he'd rather be anywhere else. "You're right Patricia." Looking both stunned and suspicious, Patricia folded her arms impatiently. "If anyone, Miss Williamson included, has any questions on the matter, you are welcome to come see me in my office and I will do my best to answer them. Dismissed."

Everyone practically leapt out of their seats and grabbed for their friends, and I knew the news would be all over the school before the end of classes tomorrow. We all funneled out and I quickly made my way over to Nina and Amber, who both looked shell-shocked. "Did you know?" I asked quietly, readjusting my bag to have something to do with my hands.

Nina shook her head, looking wooden, but Amber recovered as Alfie came over with Jerome and Mara. "No idea," Amber answered. "That poor girl though. I mean can you imagine?"

"I honestly don't want to," shuddered Mara. "The idea that a teacher here would do that? I feel a bit nauseous."

The rest of us vaguely agreed as I glanced around for Patricia and Joy, wondering if they knew anything. I saw them huddled in tight formation with Eddie, Joy looking nervous, and Patricia looking pissed off as usual, cutting a path towards Sweetie's office. I exhaled impatiently. Given how terrible most of our house was at keeping a secret, they were probably as in the dark as the rest of us.

We headed back to the house and were either working on homework, just relaxing, or – in Alfie and Jerome's case – devising some unholy idea involving ghost peppers and marble statues when most of our phones went off with a message from the group chat. Nina and I both grabbed our phones, and my eyebrows went up in surprise when I read the text from Patricia.

Im cured losers. Fabian, ur up.

"Well that came out of nowhere," Nina muttered. I nodded in agreement, already typing.

How'd you do it?

There was a few seconds pause before the reply came through. Apologized 2 Kruger 4 yelling him.

Amber chimed in with a message of her own. Tht doesnt sound v selfless. U do nything else?

If it hadn't been good enough, do u think it would've workd?

Nina nudged me and I looked up. "Guess it's your turn tonight."

I swallowed against my suddenly dry throat. "Looks like it."

"Hey." She grabbed my hand and squeezed. "It'll be fine. What's the worst that can happen?"

I closed my eyes and sighed. "Nina, never ask that question. Have the last two years taught you nothing? The three questions we never ask, are what's the worst that can happen, what could possibly go wrong, or how can it get any worse. It can always get worse."

Nina knocked my shoulder gently. "I thought I was supposed to be the one wracked with anxiety, while you're the calm voice of reason."

I grabbed her hand and pressed it to my cheek. Her skin was cool against mine, and I inhaled deeply. Vanilla, which she somehow always managed to smell like, and cinnamon, from that perfume she sometimes wore. "I think we may be swapping places for a bit."

She moved her thumb back and forth gently across my cheekbones. "Deal."

A BREAKING OF THE PAGES GOES HERE. BITCH YOU BETTER NOT FORGET

"Well I'm the girlfriend and I say I don't want him near anyone until he's cured."

I was trying to focus on the conversation, but it was proving difficult when Nina had her hair pulled over one shoulder, exposing the curves of her graceful neck.

"So, he's infected with lust," Eddie argued. "It's not like he's going to go around having sex with every girl who looks at him. Which might I point out, is not a lot of girls in the first place."

Because I was still watching Nina, I saw her cast a nasty glare at Joy. "You'll have to forgive me for not wanting to take the chance."

I followed Nina's gaze to Joy and smiled. Had Joy changed shampoos, or had her hair always been that sleek and shiny? And her frame was so small and lithe, delicate like a woodland creature. I mentally stripped her of her clothes and my attraction immediately increased tenfold.

Fingers snapping in front of my face jerked me out of my reverie. I turned to see Nina, looking furious. "Okay, Joy needs to go."

"What? Why?" I protested.

Nina wrapped her arms tightly around herself, just underneath her breasts, propping them up just so. "Is there a reason she has to stay?" she demanded.

I shrugged. "She's nice to look at," I answered honestly.

I glanced over as Joy inhaled sharply and smiled at her, looking up and down her body. That school uniform really worked wonders.

"Fine." I turned back to see Nina blinking rapidly. "I have to go do homework. Eddie, you deal with him."

Seeing as how Nina was also nice – if not nicer – to look at, I wanted to protest, but Nina was out the door before I could open my mouth. Disregarding her abrupt exit, I turned back to Joy, smiling at her. If history was anything to go by, she'd probably be willing to have sex with me. Now if Eddie could just leave us alone.

"Joy, I think you should probably go too," Eddie suggested daintily.

"Oh, come on!" I exclaimed.

BREAK THINGIE WHATSIT HOLLA

The next four days were death by boredom. Eddie told Victor and Trudy that I had pinkeye, and since I had once tried to go to school despite a case of strep throat, Trudy was pretty willing to believe it. Victor didn't seem to care. Thus, I was confined to my room and only Eddie was allowed to see me, although I occasionally texted Joy and Nina. I tried texting Patricia but Eddie punched me, and Amber deleted her and Mara's numbers from my phone.

Nina mostly stopped answering my texts, saying she'd talk to me when I was cured, so I ended up talking to Joy the most. So, it really shouldn't have come as a surprise when I convinced her to leave school early and come visit me. One cheesy text conversation later, and she headed over.

Come on, please? I'm so BORED, Joy.

Well wht m i supposed 2 do abt tht?

I can think of a few ways you can entertain me ;)

The door closed behind her and I grinned. "Took you long enough." I walked over, ready to kiss her but she held up a hand.

"You can't keep doing this to me."

I frowned, confused. "Doing what?"

She gestured between us. "This. Acting like you want me when we both know it's temporary."

I sighed. This was not how this was supposed to go. Bringing my hands up, I gently cupped her face between my palms. "I've always wanted you Joy."

Her lips parted and I went weak in the knees. "You have?"

No. I nodded, and pressed my lips gently to hers. "Always."

What came next was a jigsaw of memories. Joy's fingers in my hair, her breasts in my hands, Joy breathily laughing as she struggled to pull off her socks, fumbling for a condom at Joy's insistence. And as we neared the end I buried my face in her hair and breathed in deeply, inhaling the floral scent, frowning in confusion. Flowers? It should be cinnamon and vanilla, shouldn't it? But then Joy moaned and I forgot about what she smelled like as we stopped moving against each other.

I had pulled all of my clothes back on, but Joy was struggling with her bra when Patricia walked in.

"JOY!" she cried, one hand opening and closing in midair, the other jabbing at the both of us. "Did you two – you didn't – he just – oh Nina – Joy how could you?"

Much to my dismay, Joy finally managed to snap her bra back into place and quickly reached for her shirt, looking embarrassed and defensive. "So, what if we did?"

Patricia looked angrier than I'd ever seen her. It was kind of hot, actually. "So, what if you did?" she hissed, steam practically coming out of her ears. "First off Joy, I don't think I should need to tell you how stupid this was, did you even use protection? Have either of you been tested? He's with Nina! Not to mention you really think the first guy you get involved with after your French teacher hit on you should be a guy with a girlfriend who's not into you?"

"What do you mean after your French teacher hit on you?" I interrupted, for once focusing entirely on the conversation at hand.

The girls went dead silent as I processed her words. "You don't mean it was Joy do you?"

Now they both looked furious, although Patricia seemed slightly guilty. "I didn't say that," she snapped.

Joy spoke at the same time as she pulled her shirt back over her head. "You can't tell anyone."

I rubbed at my temples, still trying to fathom the enormity of what Patricia had let slip. "I don't understand."

"You don't have to understand." Joy sat down on the bed next to me. "Please just promise you won't tell anyone."

I looked at the girl who used to be my best friend, staring at me with desperation in her eyes, and knew there was no way I could deny her this. "Of course, I promise."

Joy sighed in relief and I suddenly felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I gasped as my entire body glowed deep pink before the sensation of my chest collapsing caused me to double over. All of a sudden it was gone.

I blinked a few times before looking up to see Patricia and Joy both staring at me. "He's cured now, right?" When Joy asked, her voice sounded curiously high pitched.

Patricia shrugged. "Let's make sure. Fabian, do you want to sleep with me?"

I instinctively recoiled. "No! I mean, not that you're not attractive, just that I as a person, am not attracted to you. But I'm sure loads of people are attracted to you, in that way, I just don't think—"

"Yeah he's cured," she deadpanned.

I rubbed my eyes, suddenly feeling exhausted, and leaned back on the bed. The very messy bed.

"Oh my GOD!" I jumped to my feet, staring at Joy in horror. "Did we just – we just – you and I we – oh my GOD!"

"Yeah that was pretty much my reaction," Patricia scowled.

Joy looked shaken. "You said you wanted it, you said—" she took a moment to gather herself. "Do you regret it?"

Of course, I regretted it. Unable to form words I simply stared at her. At Joy, who I had just had sex with. I had just had sex with a girl for the very first time, but it wasn't supposed to have been with Joy, it should've been with Nina—

I choked on air as the blood drained from my face. Nina. "You can't tell Nina," I managed.

Patricia folded her arms. "You're joking right?"

"Patricia, please, you can't."

She shook her head stubbornly. "Don't you think she has the right to know her boyfriend slept with someone else?"

I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think. This was not happening. This was a nightmare I was about to wake up from, or some twisted alternate reality I'd somehow gotten trapped in. This was not happening. I hadn't slept with Joy. This was not happening.

FINAL PAGE BREAK REMEMBER IT I SWOM TO JOM

Nina's door was slightly ajar and I took a moment to look at her before knocking. Her legs idly hanging over the side of the bed, curly hair tucked behind her ears, eyes skimming over an online article. Feeling so horrible my knees almost gave out, I gently rapped my fingers against the door and pushed it open as she looked up at me, smiling before immediately withdrawing in suspicion. "If you're not cured yet I've got nothing to say to you."

Guilt wrapped its greedy fingers around my lungs, crushing out the air with a viselike grip. I managed a small smile. "I'm cured."

Nina bit her lip and frowned at me for a second, until I passed whatever test she'd devised. She leapt up from the bed and threw herself into my arms. "Oh, thank God," she mumbled, burying her face in my neck. I wrapped my arms around her tightly, inhaling vanilla and cinnamon, feeling the familiar shape of her torso.

It felt as though my brain were tearing itself in two. Half of me was screaming that I had to tell her and now, the other half insisting I keep my mouth shut and never open it again, having gotten Patricia to agree to not tell Nina unless she asked outright.

"I'm sorry," I whispered into her hair.

Nina drew back and smiled at me, looking twelve kinds of relieved. "Sorry for what?" she laughed. "If you're apologizing for flirting with Patricia then I don't think I'm the one you should be talking too."

I shook my head. "No I'm just…" I struggled for words that wouldn't give away what I'd done. "I'm sorry for whatever I did that made you unhappy. I wasn't thinking clearly."

"Yeah, no kidding," Nina grimaced. "But now that you're cured, as long as you remember that I'm the only girl you're allowed to flirt with, no hard feelings."

"You're the only girl I want to flirt with," I insisted.

Nina rested her hands on the nape of my neck, the fingers brushing against my hair giving me goosebumps. "You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that," she murmured before kissing me gently.

My lips burned with the ghost of the last girl I'd just kissed, and so I grabbed Nina roughly by the shoulders and drew her in, kissing her roughly, trying to erase the memory of Joy from my skin. Nina made a noise of surprise against my lips, but whenever we got rough she gave as good as she got. Nina bit down on my lower lip, prying open my mouth and sweeping her tongue against mine. I turned her around and pressed her back against the door, running a hand down her thigh and as she lifted her right leg to hook it around me. Maybe if I kissed her hard enough, I could wipe away the stain of my sin.

AN: sooo it's been a while. Also can I just say that however sweet it may be, y'all need to take several chill pills. Like this story has been ongoing for multiple years now. I don't update for a few weeks and there's ensuing panic in my inbox asking me not to abandon the story. I promise I am not abandoning the story. RELAX. Anyway, so this chapter happened. Fabian cheated on Nina? Le gasp! Will she find out? If she does, who tells her? What do the last two sins have in store for our characters? Will I ever go back to Mara and Jerome? (Yes to the last one btw.) Anyway, I am very sorry (very, very sorry) about the long breaks between updates but guys, I promise: I will finish the story. (I'll finish it faster if you review. Yes that is blatant bribery. No I am not ashamed.)

Favorite, follow and review please. Let me know whose POVs you'd like to see.