House of Jara CHAPTER 21
"Hey Amber… Mara," Nina greeted them, feeling jealousy building up in her. She was still apprehensive about Mara joining Sibuna. "What were you two talking about?" she asked after hearing what Amber had said about Mara being her best friend.
"Nothing really, just chatting," Amber replied unintentionally making Nina think she was hiding something.
"Ok then, Amber wanna come and dance me and Fabian?" Nina asked, subtly trying to pull Amber away from Mara.
"Sorry Neens but me and Mara are catching up because of our stupid, prolonged argument, I'll talk to you later though," Amber smiled; Nina faked one and walked back to Fabian.
"Ambs she looked a little jealous," Mara told her friend, she didn't particularly want to steal another person away from someone else.
"Don't worry, she understands friendship," Amber defended their right to be best friends.
"Right now she is glaring daggers at us," Mara explained now feeling like Nina didn't like her.
"I'll talk to her later," Amber reassured the over worrying Mara who nodded and then they went back to dancing and having a great time like everyone else (except Mick but who's surprised really?) They were all sitting in their respective rooms still hyped from the party.
"Neens, why were you glaring at me and Mara downstairs earlier?" Amber asked her friend bluntly as they both sat on their beds.
"Well you're my best friend and I don't want to lose you to Mara, we all know she's good at stealing people," Nina explained trying to sound as if it was funny.
"Don't talk about her like that! She was one of the only people who didn't want to give you a hard time when you first arrived. I've been friends with Mara since we first came here, we've been best friends since we met basically. Nina we will always be friends, you'll never lose me – I'd definitely choose you over Alfie," Amber expressed adamantly; Nina looked down shamefully when Amber started but looked up happily by the end.
"Right sorry Amber, I suppose we should go to sleep, night."
"Night Nina," the next morning everyone woke up groggy from staying up late and being woken up by Trudy at 7 AM. "Can't we just go back to sleep Trudy?" Amber questioned as she sat trying not to fall asleep at the table. She was sat next to Mara who was next to Jerome who was at the head of the table. Alfie was sat by his other side, Patricia next to him with Eddie by her side; Nina at the other head of the table and Fabian between her and Amber.
"No Amber, I am trying to keep you in a routine to avoid you all falling asleep in class," Trudy explained to the sleepy teenagers who were basically falling asleep on each other. "Make the most of the nice weather," Trudy added as Mick walked into the room, he perked up at the thought of nice weather.
"I'll do some training," he exclaimed and ran back to his bedroom.
"I'll do some training," Jerome mimicked Mick and everyone laughed but Joy.
"Why are you lot so mean? All he wants to do is something he loves and you're all making fun of him for it!" Joy said angrily having also come down for breakfast at that moment, she felt so excluded from their club; she knew everything about the chosen one yet they decided to kick her out. She hated them for it; even Mara and Jerome were members. The angry girl left to talk to Mick and Jerome laughed again but stopped when Mara hit him in the arm.
"What?" he question holding his arm where she hit it, he was very confused.
"Most people know when to stop but you always seem to go too far," Mara explained to the prankster.
"Oh come on it was just a joke, Joy just took it the wrong way," Jerome defended himself, he grinned expectantly at his girlfriend and to his glee she grinned back.
"Yacker, do you wanna show me around the grounds today?" Eddie asked Patricia shooting her a secret pleading look. He really liked her and hoped to win her over with his Eddie charm.
"Fine," she said exasperatedly, he grinned happily at her and she secretly and shyly smiled back. Alfie, Amber, Jerome and Mara spent most of the Sunday together out walking. They walked through the woods despite knowing Rufus was out there, somewhere. They were deep in the woods when Jerome heard faint footsteps in the leaves.
"What was that? I heard footsteps," Jerome whispered.
"Jerome calm down, it's just the wind," Mara told him with a comforting pat on his back and a smile. Jerome listened to her and said no more about it; he thought about it though and Mara noticed it as he didn't participate in any of the conversations they had where as he usually had witty comments for everything. At supper Mara, Jerome, Amber and Fabian whispered about Rufus; Nina had a chat with Mick whilst Patricia, Alfie and Eddie talked and Joy sat awkwardly. Trudy saw how she was feeling and felt bad for her.
"Joy lovey, you don't look very well perhaps you should have an early night," Trudy told her, she agreed and went up to her room. No one paid any attention to Joy leaving; not even Mick who knew how she felt.
"Do you guys wanna go back to the warehouse tomorrow? Explore some more if Rufus isn't there?" Fabian asked the three he was whispering with. They agreed to talk to the others about and decided to have a Sibuna meeting at midnight as usual.
"We were thinking about having another look around the warehouse tomorrow," Amber explained to Alfie, Patricia and Nina.
"What? What you nuts? He knows we've been watching him, he could trap us or something," Nina exploded.
"Calm down Nina, he's out numbered – seven of us and one of him – we have the upper hand. We may find something vital to find the mask of Anubis so we can give it to Senkhara and break the curse she has on you," Fabian explained to his worried girlfriend.
"I'm not going ok? I'm sorry, I just don't want to risk all of our safety," Nina expressed, she was adamant on not going. "I'm tired, let's just go to bed," she added and got into bed before people even had a chance to get up and leave. Everyone including Amber stepped out of the room.
"Guys we should have a meeting tomorrow at lunch without Nina, we need to find clues about this mask. It's for her own sake, it'll only be this once," Amber suggested, adding the last part upon seeing the look of betrayal in Fabian's eyes; he didn't want to go behind her back.
"I can't, you'll have to do it without me."
"Come on Fabian, this is for her own good. We need help to lift the curse," Patricia told the geek.
"Fine just this once and only for her sake," Fabian finally gave in.
"Good, tomorrow at lunch we all meet at the front gate, we can't go to the Sibuna clearing because that's the first place Nina will look for us," Amber explained, relieved that Fabian was on board, "Night guys, see you in the morning."
"I hate this," Mara said once Amber had gone back into her room and her and Jerome had sat on the floor outside her own door.
"I do too and I'm sorry for dragging you into this, I wish you weren't in Sibuna for your own safety," Jerome explained to his girlfriend, he looked at then looked down. He felt guilty, if he had forced her to go back upstairs that night then she wouldn't be caught up in all the Rufus drama.
"Jerome don't be silly, it brought us together didn't it? I mean if it hadn't happened like that then I'd still be dating Mick and we all know why he went out with me," Mara described to her silly and guilt ridden boyfriend. He smiled at her; she smiled back and leaned her head on his shoulder. This happiness was short lived as they heard the front door open quietly.
A/N: I know I brought in Senkhara suddenly but this story isn't predominantly about the mystery so sorry if that seemed weird guys! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!