A/N: Hello! Thank you for the reviews, follows, and favorites! So, I've finally got my posting schedule down, and I'll be posting every Sunday! Hope that's okay with everybody! Updates will usually be 900 words, give or take. It's a slow-progressing story, but there is a nice dose of Peddie in this chapter!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own House of Anubis.

"I'm Jerome Clarke," he turned to Patricia, taking her hand and lightly pressing his lips to it before smirking. Jerome dropped her hand, and Patricia subtly wiped her hand on her jeans after. She must've not been that subtle though, because Eddie noticed. He bit back a chuckle before introducing himself.

"Eddie Miller," he said, and she nodded in response before turning to Fabian.

Fabian rolled his eyes playfully, "I'm Fabian Rutter. Sorry for them. They're complete idiots."

"Says the guy that reads Egyptian Mythology books for fun," Alfie cried indignantly. He turned to Patricia, "And I'm Alfie Lewis."

Patricia rolled her eyes, "Believe me, I know. There is not a single day where I can wake up without Piper telling me about 'oh my god, I got a text from Alfie' or 'oh, listen to what Alfie said, it's SO sweet!'" Patricia laughed as Piper took her turn to bury her face in her hands.

Alfie, on the other hand, looked thoroughly pleased with Patricia's comment. He hugged Piper comfortingly, but his wide smile betrayed his act of sympathy for her recent embarrassment. She talked about him so constantly her twin was complaining about it. Alfie had never had a girlfriend like that, and personally, he loved it.

"It's okay," he cooed, but Piper didn't lift her head up. He pressed a gentle kiss to her hair, and Patricia, Jerome, and Eddie burst out in a unanimous groan. Unlike them, Fabian respected that Piper and Alfie were a couple, and these kind of romantic things were to be expected.

"Do they do this kind of shit every time Piper comes over?" Patricia hissed to Jerome. He gave a light chuckle, but nodded truthfully.

Eddie elaborated, "It's the worst."

"Why, cause you two don't have girlfriends?" Patricia smirked, looking between the two surprised men.

Jerome lifted his eyebrow, mildly curious as to how she got her guess, "How did you know?"

"Yeah, I don't remember telling Piper," Eddie said. The three were engulfed in their own private conversation, while Alfie was still coaxing Piper and Fabian being his awkward snail self, not wanting to intrude on Jerome, Eddie, and Patricia and figuring Alfie wouldn't like him interrupting him while comforting Piper. Eddie continued quietly, "I mean, I guess Alfie could've told her."

"He didn't," Patricia shook her head adamantly. "It's just, I figured you two would've been somewhere else if you could've been."

Jerome nodded, "Oh, and congratulations on your lie."

Patricia crossed her arms, "My what?"

"The lie you told Piper," Jerome clarified. Patricia muttered an 'oh' or something before Jerome continued thoughtfully. "You know, you're not a lot like Piper."

"I've heard," Patricia said. "Piper and I didn't grow up together, our parents split."

"So did mine!" Eddie looked overjoyed at the thought of another person his age who had gone through what he had. Though divorce was fairly common, he had yet to meet any people who had gone through it in anyway.

Jerome knew soon enough the conversation would be directed towards him and his past, something he didn't want. "So, what's your job?"

"Office job," Patricia shrugged. "I wanted to be a music producer, but whatever, you know?" It was obvious she still wanted to pursue her old dream, and Eddie wasn't sure if he would be considered insensitive if he told her he was a music producer. Wouldn't that be rubbing it in her face or something?

"What type of music do you like?" Eddie was genuinely interested.

"You probably wouldn't know them," Patricia shook her head, dismissing it as she twirled one of the bracelets on her wrist.

"No, seriously, just tell me," Eddie grinned playfully. What was it about this girl that made her so easy to talk to? Though her image made her look unapproachable, he had an idea that she was okay.

"Sick Puppies?" she looked up eagerly, her bracelet spinning faster and faster, her eyes flashing with desperation. Desperation to what? Not be judged?

"Really?" Eddie's eyes glistened with excitement. "You're kidding me, you like Sick Puppies?"

Alfie had succeeded in getting Piper up and making her happy again. She butt in on Patricia and Eddie's conversation, "Sick Puppies? That is all Patricia talks about." She rolled her eyes, the classical musician within her sprouting at the mention of that hard rock trash.

"Same with Eddie," Fabian agreed.

"Huh," Patricia cracked a smile. "Maybe you're not that bad."

Eddie looked a bit offended, though he tried to hide it by saying something snarky to her to show he was unaffected. Piper groaned, "Don't even try. That is honestly the best compliment you're going to get from her."

Even Patricia didn't object to that.

Fabian clapped his hands once an awkward silence arose, "Who wants pizza?" A chorus of 'me' went around, and he got up to get the boxes and plates.

"So, what's your job?" Patricia looked to Jerome first.

"Private Eye," he grinned. He had had a bad experience with private eyes in his teen years, and now, Jerome was determined to do the world justice by giving them at least one person who was actually good at the job.

"Comedian," Alfie said, and Patricia momentarily wondered how Piper and him were dating, but didn't say anything.

"And Fabian's an architect," Eddie said. "And…I'm a music producer." He braced himself for her reaction, but to his surprise, she looked fine, if not a little disappointed that she hadn't made it in the business. Eddie didn't know what came over him, but he was suddenly speaking again. "I could…show you my studio…only if you want to, you know."

Jerome and Alfie shared a glance as Fabian smiled.

"Yeah," Patricia smiled. "I'd definitely like that."