Hi… here's the new chapter. Same things apply.

Please review.

I don't own House of Anubis.

Eddie and I sit and chat for a while and I help him with his math homework. He doesn't find simplifying radicals as easy as I do. Mara comes into the room and I ask her if I can borrow a shirt.

"Um yeah," she says, "What kind?"

"Do you have anything with uh," I turn to Eddie, "What did you call them?"

"Long-ish short sleeves?" He says.

"Yeah," I say, "Something with long-ish short sleeves."

"I don't think so," Mara says, "Sorry. I like short sleeves."

She leaves and I turn to Eddie. "I'm just going to get it over with," I say, "I'll wear a tank top."

"Okay," he said, "I think that's a good idea."

But the closer I get to dinner the more nervous I get. I put on the tank top and look in the mirror. All lots of my scars show. They are thick lines, some pink, some white, and some red. There's really no way anyone could not notice them. My upper arms especially have scars from deep cuts. And then there is the bandage from the cut that went too deep.

"Everyone's going to see them," I say to Eddie.

"Patricia," he says, putting an arm around me, "These people are your friends. They care about you. They're not going to change their opinion of you because of some lines on your skin."

"Are you sure?" I ask, "Joy did."

"Joy isn't a great person anyway," he points out, "Listen Patricia, you are a truly awesome person and everyone in Anubis House loves you. I'll be there with you the whole time. "

"I'm just not sure that I'm ready to do this," I tell him.

"It's okay," he says, "I'll be there the whole time and you will be okay."

When Trudy calls us for dinner I grab Eddie's hand. I still am holding it, really squeezing it, when I am about to walk into the dining room. I start to turn away but he keeps holding my hand and whispers in my ear, "I am so incredibly proud of how strong you're being."

I step into the dining room and everyone looks up. I can see on their faces that they are shocked but nobody says anything about the cuts.

"Hi guys," Nina say, to break the awkward moment, "Trudy made pasta."

"Cool," I say and sit down in my usual seat.

Eddie sits down next to me and keeps holding my hand. "Sounds good," he says, "I'm hungry."

Trudy brings out the pasta and we all dig in. Every once in a while someone sneaks a glance at my arms but no one says anything.