Sorry this took soooooo long! I was having so much trouble with finishing this chapter! You know what I did? I watched a bunch of episodes of Gossip Girl, and it helped me get this done.

So here you go! Don't forget to review!

So I got a review asking when this is in the year. So Nina and Joy come kind of far into the year, November. So it's after Halloween and before Christmas. They're all in their senior year.

Chapter 13

Hello Anubians! And other boarders of less importance. Last week was crazy! Ok let's be honest, it went exactly the way I expected it to go. With the born to be queen bitch back on her throne, along with an A Dog gone rabid, and raccoon eyes back and causing trouble, chaos is bound to happen. Unfortunately that week got cut short, and a new one begins. At least our suspendees, or whatever the correct term may be, are back. But most likely there will be 98% less drama, unfortunately. But I have high hopes for the remainder of the year. xoxo -Jackal

Well the week of dares was over. It wasn't much fun for Patricia after the others left. Fabian would watch her do homework just because he couldn't. She usually didn't mind hanging out with Amber before but this time it just seemed kind of desperate. Hanging out with Eddie was like hanging out with Sweetie. Mick wouldn't even talk to anyone because he had his head in a book all of the time. She still wasn't really a big fan of Nina, KT, or Willow. More than anything she tolerated them. That's why on the day the four that were suspended, were coming back she tried not to look too excited. Showing emotions wasn't her thing.

Mostly everyone was back to normal by the time Mara, Joy, Jerome, and Alfie were supposed to come back. Fabian spent the day attempting to catch up on all of his work. Amber and Patricia went back to their own styles. Amber did decide to keep the pink in her hair. Patricia was extremely glad to be back in her clothes. At the end Amber was choosing her clothes because what she wore was "the wrong combination" and "if you're going to wear them wear them right!" Patricia let her because it seemed like Amber was going crazy without her clothes, and interestingly enough, Patricia understood. People express themselves in different ways, and though their choice of clothes is very different from each other, Patricia understood. Just the day before she had to wear a denim 'bustier' tank top and a floral (gag) skirt and a red blazer. God she felt like such a girl. Mick was back to training, though now he also spent time reading. Eddie went back to being himself. He was a little more annoying though, as if he had to be extra in order to make up for the times where he had to be such a Sweetie jr.

The first to come back was Mara. She looked pretty much back to normal... well almost. Most of the heavy eyeliner was off, the leather boots and fish net stockings were gone as well. However, she still had the rebel Mara snarl. She said a quick hi, as in pop in, wave, pop out type quick, and left to her room. Jerome and Alfie came back at the same time in the same car drove by Alfie's dad. When they came in Willow made a point to greet Alfie, but he didn't seem to want to be bothered. Jerome seemed to be in a good mood, and all though his hair was flat it was also the blondish brown it had always been, except maybe a little lighter in a certain light due to him not finding his exact hair color. Joy came last, and Patricia expected the Joy that came earlier that year. Long straight hair down her back, goody two shoes yellow sun dress and all of that. But she stepped out of the car with her signature big wavy hair, dark blue jeans, and black leather boots as if the week weren't over. Even though the last words exchanged with the driver, who was most likely her dad, were heated and ended with her slamming the door, she seemed to be in a good mood when she walked in.

"...Hey Joy" Patricia said when Joy walked in. "You know the dare's over, right?"

"Yeah I do" Joy said as she made her way upstairs. "I decided I like my old clothes"

"You seem to be in a pretty good mood" Patricia observed. "How were the three days off?"

Joy turned around to face her and Patricia had to stop short. "Hell" she answered. "Daddy dearest was gone most hours and left me with Lady Tremain numero uno"

Joy's dad had attempted to re-marry a woman named El, short for Eleanor. Joy called her Lady Tremain, the evil step mother from Cinderella. El was five years younger than him and was a manager or something for some place that does something. They broke up due to "that little spawn of Satan you call your daughter!" After about ten months he met Raina, someone who was nine years younger than him and she called her Lady Tremain 2.0. But that relationship was doomed from the beginning. Joy knew as soon as she heard her name was Raina that the girl stuck in the seventies was not going to last.

He met wife to be number 3 just a couple months later. Her name was... who the hell knows. She didn't work, she just stayed at the house and drank lemonade by the pool. She was seventeen years younger than Joy's dad. It was no wonder Joy called her Meredeth, the same name as the woman from The Parent Trap. The gold digger who was all about a loveless marriage if it meant new shoes every day. But Joy just wouldn't have that. She did what she needed to and Meredith was gone before she even maxed out Joy's dad credit card for the first time. Now he was back with El, who was iffy about coming back in the first place because of Joy of course. But it was Joy's senior year and perhaps she thought maybe she could deal for just a few more months.

"You didn't kill her did you?" Patricia asked half joking.

"I was an angel"

"Joy"

"I came so close" Joy admitted. "I may have nearly set her on fire accidentally on purpose, but it's behind us, and now I'm back here and away from her! If there's one thing me and Lady Tremain can agree on, it's that we both love that I go to boarding school"

"So long as you don't get expelled" Patricia reminded her.

"I won't, I'm not that girl anymore" Joy said immediately. "I may look like her, but she's gone. Last week was the last you will see of her"

Patricia nodded, though she wasn't sure. Joy wasn't the way she was a couple of days ago, that was true. But she also wasn't the Joy she was a couple of weeks ago as well.

"So..." Nina began in the living room to Jerome. "Did you make up with Alfie?"

"Not at all" he answered.

"You were riding in the car with him" KT pointed out.

"If anything I think that made him more mad, seeing as his dad likes me better" Jerome laughed. "It's pretty pathetic"

"Maybe that's why he seems to be in such a rotten mood" Willow thought out loud.

"His misery gives me joy" Jerome smiled.

"Oh get over it" Mara said from the doorway.

"You ok Mara?" Fabian asked her.

"I'm peachy. I just got suspended for the first time, and spent the entire three days getting lectured by my parents, also about pregnancies and stds" Mara said bitterly. "Then I got grounded until Jesus comes back"

"But you're here now, so they can't really do anything can they?" Nina asked.

"Besides tell Victor and Sweet to 'keep a close eye on me' and not to participate in any fun activities unless they do something for my academics. Also I'm not allowed in a bedroom with any guys..."

"All because you had sex?" Amber asked.

"Yes Amber" Mara snapped. "And also because I got suspended"

"You think Victor would actually stay on top of you like that?" Fabian asked.

"I think it would give him something to do, plus I think he feeds off of misery" Mara frowned before going back up the steps.

"If Victor follows through with this torture on Mara, I don't think Rebel Mara's gonna go away" Amber said. "Unfortunately"

"Why?" Jerome asked, and others noticed it was the first time since Mara came in the room that he spoke. "She'll be miserable yeah but I don't think she'll go all rebellious on us"

"Don't you know about Preacher's Daughters?" Amber asked.

"Don't I?" Jerome smirked.

"The more she isn't allowed to do the crazier she'll get" Amber explained.

"She's right you know" Joy said as she walked in the room with Patricia behind her. "For once. You should know Jerome"

"I never went rogue because of my parents" Jerome said. "If anything it was because they weren't there"

"Not you" Joy rolled her eyes. "But someone close to you, or who used to be anyway"

"Alfie" Patricia understood.

"Ahh that's right" Jerome recalled.

"Wait, you're telling me Alfie went crazy because of his parents?" Willow asked.

"You guys see how much pressure he's under when his parents visit him" Patricia shrugged.

"Yeah they want him to be perfect, and we all know Alfie's nowhere near perfect" Joy laughed. "In a lovable way of course"

"More or less" Patricia said.

"Usually less" Jerome muttered.

"If it weren't for his parents Alfie would probably have just been a joker who pulled some pranks. The pressure drove him to the dark side" Patricia chuckles a bit.

"What about you three?" Nina prodded.

"My mum didn't really care, and my dad was in j... well he was gone for most of my life" Jerome shrugged. "That's why I was sent to Boarding School"

"I was ignored. My twin got all of the good genes and so they didn't really pay much to any attention to me" Patricia shrugged. "I started testing my boundaries. 'If I do this what would happen' or whatever. Mostly nothing happened though"

"I was angry with my dad" Joy confessed. "It made me do crazy things. I had the right to, he-" she paused for a moment. "Wait why am I telling you? It's none of your business"

She quickly left, as if worried the words she wanted to keep confined would spill out.

"You guys can tell us anything, you know" Fabian said.

"No she's right" Jerome said quietly before leaving.

"They don't have to be so rude" Amber frowned.

"You don't have to be so nosey. I know some stuff" Patricia snapped. "Some stuff about them that I wasn't ready to know when I was told, and it took a lot for them to tell me. We promised we would keep it secret and wouldn't speak of it. We don't confess unless we're in the- I just don't think they're ready to share everything with you all right now. Whether you are trustworthy or not."

"Are you?" KT asked. Patricia glared at her.

"I don't even know some of you" Patricia snapped. "Excuse me for not being ready to share my deepest darkest secrets"

Don't they understand that what's hidden should stay that way? Of course I can't blame them, I never did believe in that. Though some things are so juicy, even I have to keep them under wraps. Like my identity for example. A wise man once said: 'There are no secrets better kept than the secrets everybody guesses'. Well don't worry my gossip greedy salvages, you never have to guess as long as I'm around. I was never good at keeping secrets. -Jackal.

Nina found herself listening into Amber's conversation with her dad an hour later, and just couldn't believe the different worlds between her and her housemates. Amber may have given her a whole new look and paid for a whole new wardrobe, but she was still her. She looked like them but their worlds were completely different. When Amber got off the phone Nina had to ask.

"So how does this whole 'only the richest go to Anubis' thing work?" Nina asked Amber. "Mr. Sweet doesn't seem like the type that would separate kids by social status"

"He isn't" Amber agreed. "Anubis House is the nicest house of them all, as you may have been told. It's well known. Living in Anubis costs extra. For the other houses, room and board are a part of the tuition. Anubis is a few thousand more"

"How much is a few?" Nina asked. Amber looked at her.

"About five thousand dollars, plus paying for the entire tuition, no scholarships" Amber told her. "I only know because I asked"

"Jesus" Nina muttered.

"The ones that can afford to pay for that come here" Amber said.

"And the ones you send away?" Nina asked.

"As soon as they leave the price goes down" Amber explained. "Part of the reason is Victor, he's the best disciplinary the school has. Trudy is another reason, the other houses have house mothers but none that do as much as Trudy, who is part House Mother part maid part chef and probably more"

"So how did I get in here? I got a full ride" Nina asked.

"That's the thing, before you, Eddie was the only exception. He's not here on a scholarship, but he doesn't pay extra because of his personal connection to Sweet they were able to work it out. Unless you know someone who works here and was able to squeeze you in, I have no idea how you got here"

"Neither do I" Nina sighed.

There's something sketchy about Nina's ability to be at Anubis House, don't you think? No matter, it seems to me that N's got other things on her mind that she'd like to deal with now rather than thank her blessings she got into Anubis. -Jackal

Nina had someone she felt like she needed to talk to. So she left and made her way downstairs and knocked on Fabian's door. He opened up.

"Can we talk?" she asked.

"Of course" Fabian said immediately motioning for her to come in and Mick to come out, but he was way ahead of him and was at the door in seconds. "I thought it'd be longer before you started talking to me again.

"So did I" Nina admitted.

"What changed your mind?" Fabian asked.

"Honestly, it felt kind of good for someone else to know besides my Grams, and I just couldn't talk to her about it. And while I tried to stick to my morals and stay away from you, I honestly really wanted to talk to you about it, if you're comfortable with that"

"Oh yes definitely" Fabian sat next to her.

"Also, I realized your intentions were good" Nina smiled. "But remember, the path to hell is paved with good intentions"

Fabian smiled.

"It was the summer before tenth grade. I was still fourteen, turning fifteen in July" Nina started. "He was a friend of my mom's. In his late forties. He was my favorite person in the world, besides my Grams. He watched me all my life, for weeks at a time. He was always very sweet. When I started going through puberty he acted a little different. It was little things I only just noticed. Lingering touches, or him often calling me beautiful. One time my Grams went away for a week, and he made his move on the second day. I made it very easy for him, because I spilled water all over my sheets just before bed, and I was so tired. He offered to have me sleep in the guest bed with him, and I was so stupid. I should have just gotten new sheets or slept in Gram's bed-"

"Don't you dare start blaming yourself for what a sick man did to you" Fabian demanded. Nina frowned as she blinked tears out of her eyes.

"I didn't even think he was capable of doing that. He was stroking my arm when I fell asleep, and when I woke up at one in the morning he was over me. I was tired and dizzy and my tee shirt was off, and at first I didn't even know what was happening. First it's smooth and charismatic. 'Let it happen. It will be ok. Don't be scared. You trust me, right?' And then he started yelling at me when I tried to get away. Every day, every night. He told me if I told anyone he'd kill my Grams. So I stayed silent"

"Oh Nina"

"I stayed silent" Nina repeated. "I didn't talk for months. My Grams was worried. I couldn't look at him. If he tried to come into the room I'd run away. I flinched away from all touch except for my Grams. And then... I don't know. Something snapped. Instead of running away from the touches I welcomed them. The football teams, swim teams, most of the guys. By December I was the school slut. And I didn't even care. It took a lot of therapy and talking for them to finally get me to tell them what happened, and he's in jail now. Apparently he hurt more girls than me. God I can't even say his name, as if he's going to materialize if I do"

"You don't have to" Fabian reassured him.

"I went back to school after a month of rehab feeling new, but at school I was exactly the same to them. Nothing changed, except my responses. Guys thought I was just theirs to toss around, and when I refused they'd be pissed. The girls hated me, I had no friend. I tried to focus on school, but it was so hard" Nina was crying again. "I asked Grams if she could find a new school for me, which is when she found this place. It was a bit last minute, which is why I was late coming here instead of coming at the beginning of the year"

"Nina I'm sorry" Fabian said finally wrapping an arm around her.

"You have no reason to be sorry" Nina muttered into his shirt.

"I'm sorry it had to happen to someone as fantastic as you" he said.

"Part of me wishes it didn't, but part of me likes who I became because of it" Nina admitted. "And that I got to come here and meet people like you"

"I'm so glad you're trusting me with this"

"I meant what I said before. You're the most trustworthy guy I know, and everyone makes mistakes" Nina said looking up at him. She smiled and pulled him in for a kiss, the best kiss of his life. "I do trust you Fabian."

Fabian smiled and held her tighter.

I applaud Nina's decision to let Lonely Boy off the hook. Or maybe I'm just excited about the new couple that I've been betting on since she came. Those who cannot forgive are weak, and those who can are strong. But those who hold grudges make the world round and my blog interesting. I'll be looking to see if this new pair is one to keep an eye on. -Jackal.

There was a knock on the door, and Willow opened it since she was walking by it anyway. When she saw it was Amelia Pinches she sighed deeply. Amelia and Willow were friends at one point. They lived near each other and both came to the school in the same year. That year they both tried to stay in Anubis, and Amelia couldn't handle it. Willow ultimately could and they allowed her to stay, but Amelia convinced her to leave with her. Willow wanted to be a good friend. But they ended up going into different houses anyway. Willow went to Isis, and Amelia went to Hathor.

Neither girls give up easily, and after being in the other houses for so long they both decided to try for Anubis again. Only problem was once you leave Anubis, you pretty much didn't come back. Willow was the only exception. Willow had convinced Mr. Sweet to put her back on the waiting list, but because of her already first chance, she was at the very bottom. It took years to work her way up, and even if given the chance by Mr. Sweet, Joy didn't often give second chances. Amelia hadn't been as lucky as she. Amelia hadn't even gotten back on the list. And several students in Anubis didn't like her. At all.

Their friendship fell when they became competition for an opening in Anubis, and Amelia started to get nasty at Willow, claiming she wasn't a good friend. It really made Willow sad for a while. But Willow quickly realized she had done nothing wrong, and that was the end of the red haired amigas, which is what they used to call themselves.

"You shouldn't be here." Willow said honestly. "None of the people here like you."

"That's not true" Amelia dismissed the thought immediately.

"Amelia can we put this all behind us? It's over." Willow said.

"You only say that because you are inside the house now, Willow. But if you were in my position, you wouldn't stop fighting" Amelia walked in. "I'm here to tell you it's not over. That bed is mine. That boy is mine."

"I don't believe you have the final say in that." Patricia crossed her arms revealing herself to be listening in. Joy came downstairs at that moment.

"What are you doing here Amelia?"

"I'm simply saying hello" Amelia smiled. "Of course you decide who stays and who doesn't. Is Alfie here?"

"He's not in a very good mood right now" Willow frowned.

"Well I'm sure I can make him feel better" Amelia took out the cookies she brought and made her way down the hall. Willow was going to say something, but Joy stopped her.

"There's almost nothing more satisfying than watching your boyfriend reject a girl, especially one who throws themselves at him" Joy whispered to her as Amelia knocked on the door.

"Go away!"

"Alfie it's me! Amelia!" Amelia smiled. There was silence for a while before Alfie slipped into the voice he used whenever Amelia was around. The I-don't-want-to-hurt-your-feelings-but-you're-really-annoying voice.

"Amelia please leave me alone."

"I have cookies!"

The door opened almost immediately. "Hi Amelia"

"Hi Alfie" Amelia smiled. "Can we talk?"

"As much as I would... love to, I can't" Alfie said grabbing the cookies. "Nice seeing you Amelia."

"Oh Ok well-" Amelia began as the door closed. "Tomorrow then. Great!"

Amelia sighed, and put on a big smile as she walked towards the girls. "That went well." Patricia said.

"I've got him right where I want him" Amelia smiled at them and left.

"Didn't that feel good?" Joy nudged Willow.

"No" Willow said quietly while failing to hide her grin.

Some people don't take no for an answer, but I know that girl from whatever house isn't going down without a fight. Is Willy's spot as secure as we thought? She seems to think so. But I don't know, some people might surprise you. -Jackal

The living room was pretty much cleared out besides Jerome, Mick, and Eddie. Then Mara came in the room leaning on the door frame with her arms crossed and giving Jerome an annoyed look. She came in so quietly they didn't notice her at first. When they did the talking stopped. Jerome stared back at her with confusion, and Mick and Eddie looked between the two.

"I'm gonna go to my room" Mick said after a minute.

"I'll join you" Eddie said as the staring continued. When they got to their room, Fabian and Nina were sleeping, wrapped in each other's arms. They decided to quietly close the door and walk outside.

In the living room, Jerome began to become fed up with the staring. "Mara what are you-"

"Stop being stupid."

Jerome blinked in confusion. "Uh... sorry?"

"Exactly. Go apologize to Alfie." Mara ordered while Jerome rolled his eyes.

"Why should I apologize?" Jerome asked.

"Alfie did nothing wrong and you know it. Or at least nothing you haven't already done to him. You're feelings are hurt and you're mad about it. You know deep down he's right, but you've got too much pride to admit defeat. But this isn't just some person this is your best friend, no one understands you like him and you need him. If you keep this up you'll lose him forever. So get your sorry ass up, grow a pair, and apologize!"

Jerome gaped at Mara. He knew Mara was right. She usually was after all. So he slowly got up and walked to him room while Mara watched him the entire time. Alfie was eating cookies and listening to music so he didn't hear Jerome come in. When Jerome went into his line of view he frowned only lowering the volume a bit to hear him.

"Don't you knock?" Alfie muttered.

"Not when it's my room" Jerome said matter-of-factly. "Where'd the cookies come from?"

"Amelia"

"Are they good?"

"No" Alfie said as he ate another one. Jerome sighed and sat on his own bed, where he's only been for a minute all day.

"I'm sorry" Jerome said. Alfie rose his eyebrows and took his headphones out.

"I definitely didn't hear you right. What did you say?"

"...Sorry..." Jerome awkwardly scratched his head. "About... me"

"You?"

"About you having to put up with me"

Alfie sighed heavily. "You can't be that bad, since I hang out with you. I consider myself a very good judge of character"

Jerome laughed.

"Look man, I'm sorry too" Alfie said. "I didn't want it to happen, it kind of just... did"

"I get it. Same thing with Amber" Jerome nodded. "You said she was topless? How were you supposed to resist that?"

Alfie smiled a little bit.

"So... are we good?" Jerome asked. "Because that was humiliating"

"Yeah I guess you've tortured yourself enough for me" Alfe chuckled. Jerome smiled and left the room. Mara was still in the exact position she was in before.

"Well?"

"It all worked out" Jerome smiled as he walked to her.

"Finally" Mara laughed.

"Thanks so much Mara I really appreciate-" Jerome started. Mara cut him off by pulling him down and kissing him square on the lips. He was stunned to the bone. When she pulled away she leaned towards his ear and whispered:

"My offer still stands"

She walked away leaving him staring after her and wondering what the heck just happened.

I wonder if future Mr. and Mrs. Jaffray are kicking themselves for sending Mara further down the wrong path. Have they no wits? I'm not saying little M would ever use Jerome to get back at her parents. I'm just saying you can train a dog, but the moment you try to boss around a cat is the moment your furniture is shredded to pieces. Some people have the personality of a dog, and others are sharpening their claws. -Jackal

Nina woke up feeling warm and happy. At first she thought- That can't be right... this is my life. Then she remembered who she was with and smiled to herself. No this is exactly right. She didn't want to wake Fabian up, so she slipped from his arms and opened the door.

"Are you taking the walk of shame?" Fabian's sleepy voice stopped her. "Because if you walk from my room like that I'd like to actually do something first"

"If I walked from your bedroom after 'doing something'" Nina used air quotes. "There would be no shame"

"Come back" Fabian whined.

"It's nearly time for supper"

Fabian got up and went right next to her. "I'd rather starve" he whispered. Nina breathed in his scent, which was dove mixed with cinnamon mixed with vanilla, and closed the door.

"Maybe just a little longer" she whispered. That was it. They closed the door and, for the first time in his life, Fabian made the first move. He leaned down and Nina nearly dropped with the intensity of the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his to keep herself from falling. He locked the door as she pushed him towards his bed. Nina pulled the shirt over his head and kissed him again.

"Eddie has..." Fabian panted. "In the dresser"

Nina kissed him again and pulled away reluctantly, long enough to get the condom. When she came back Fabian took her shirt off and she kicked off her jeans.

"Have you ever done this before?" Nina asked.

"I've been waiting for the right girl" He said. Nina smiled.

An hour into the relationship and already Trojan's come to play. But I don't judge. Someone somewhere at some time said this: 'A relationship is like an ice cream sundae with all the marvelous toppings. Sex is the cherry on top'. Once you've gotten a taste of that cherry, you just can't get enough. -Jackal

"Eddie! Mick!" Trudy called. "Go fetch Fabian for me would you?"

"Sure" Eddie said.

"What are you doing? Let them sleep" Mick said.

"They gotta eat, the sleeping's gotta stop eventually" Eddie shrugged. They walked to the door and went to turn the knob, but it didn't budge. "Why's it locked?"

Mick shrugged. "I don't know, maybe they didn't want anyone to interrupt the napping?"

"Shh" Eddie shushed him and listened for a minute. "You don't think..."

"Think what?" Mick asked. Eddie gave him a look. "No! Fabian?"

"Does he know the sock rule?" Eddie asked.

"Do you want to risk blowing this for Fabes?" Mick asked. Eddie shook his head and went to the dining room to tell Trudy that Fabian and Nina wouldn't be coming.