Sorry for not updating like I promised to you guys in my responses to your reviews. I was tired after my flight and I wanted to add some stuff to this chapter. 4,500+ words here! More A/N at the end so stay tune.
Chapter 18 The Things We Do for Money
October 21, 8:54 A.M.
Alan's P.O.V.
"You have got to be kidding me Nina!" Fabian remarked, "You want me to defend him!"
"I want you to help him for me Fabian!" Nina said, stressing the 'me' part of her statement. I sighed to myself, 'Nina's wasting her breath. He'll never do this in a million years.' I thought.
After Nina had convinced the panel to allow Michael to call Fabian as a witness for them she went running out of the room to find him. Mr. Daniels was furious about this but personally I could care less. That man is bought and paid for by Tony's father so he lost all respect from me.
Before she left, Nina asked if Michael and I wanted to come along. Michael thought it'd be best if he wasn't there because he thought Fabian would refuse to do it just to smite him. I went along Nina to make sure that Fabian would at least listen to what she had to say and to confirm to the judges that she did speak to Fabian. So far things were not going well, with Fabian actually laughing at Nina's request the first time she asked him. It didn't help either that the entire Anubis group, minus Joy that is, was there as well. They weren't exactly Michael's biggest fans and made a point to remind Fabian of that the second time Nina asked him to testify for Michael.
"There has to be someone else Nina. I won't testify for him!" Fabian insisted again. I was growing agitated myself by Fabian's behavior. He would never address Michael by his name, he would only call my best friend 'him', as if he was plagued or something.
Nina must have been getting annoyed by Fabian's attitude as well because he eyes narrowed a little bit at her boyfriend. "His name is Michael, Fabian. And there is nobody else. My testimony was thrown out and Alan here," she said pointing to me, "wasn't in the room when the fight began so he can't testify on Michael's behalf. Sophia was the only who could testify for Michael, and that's not enough! Tori and Mitch probably testified for Tony so we need yours to help Michael!"
"What about that red head, Charlotte?" that blond guy asked. Mitt or something I think.
"I don't know who she testified for, but she probably went against Michael." Nina said, sadness and anger showing on her face.
"Why would she do that?" Mara asked. Out of all the Anubis people I liked Mara second best. Alfie was first of course. Mara seemed level headed, fair, and not caught up in past events like the rest of Anubis House was. Maybe I should think about hitting on her.
"It's complicated…" Nina said, not wanting to give them too much info on Michael's checkered past with Charlotte. I scoffed at that.
"That's probably the understatement of the year." I said. Nina shot me a glance to shut up, while everybody, minus Alfie and Mara of course, looked at me like I was the devil himself. Since I was Michael's best friend, it was easy to image me as the bad guy in this situation. I didn't like my new role at all and wished I just stayed behind in the court room.
"Why is that?" Patricia asked curiously. I laughed, ignoring Nina's silent and attempted telepathic calls to be quiet.
"Anubis isn't the only house with secrets." I said mockingly, "Odin's secrets however are a little more intimate and personal though."
"You told him?" Fabian said shocked.
"No! Look Fabian," Nina began again, "You are the only person who can do this! You heard everything that happened that night on the phone and Tony didn't get to you either. You'll catch that… that… that sleazy mongrel Mr. Daniels off guard. You have to do what's right here!"
"Mr. Daniels can just say that you're making me do this for love also!" Fabian retorted.
"No he can't, he already claimed that I was testifying for Michael on the grounds of love. Going to my "ex lover" to help Michael would be strange. He would be double crossing himself." Nina said sure of herself. I raised an eyebrow at that and so did Mara. Her excuse wasn't entirely accurate, but Fabian wasn't thinking clearly enough to see that.
"They can say that I really didn't hear what was happening. That you guys weren't loud enough for me to hear what was really happening over the phone!" Fabian said almost desperately. Nina frowned, getting mad at what Fabian was doing.
"People already testified that it was a loud event. Debbie even heard it in the kitchen, which means that you could have, must have, and did hear it too." Fabian groaned and turned away from Nina to look at his other Anubis buddies. Mara was the first to speak.
"You should do it Fabian. It would be good for you to help Michael. I'm sure he won't forget it and it could lead to a recover between you two. Something that I think that you two desperately need." Mara spoke with a soft demeanor, but her words rung with conviction. I was so sure that her words had won him over, but I was wrong. That tall blonde, or is it white?, kid began to laugh.
"Really Mara? They don't need to kiss and make up; Fabian needs to shows his muscles! Don't testify. Show him that as long as he's hanging around Nina, you'll be no friend of his!"
"Jerome!" Mara shouted in shock. Jerome shrugged as I boiled with anger. I wanted to say something but thought better of it. 'It has to be Nina gets Fabian to testify. Not Michael's best friend.' I thought to myself, and continued to think to myself.
"I agree with Jerome." Amber said, moving to the front of the group. She was beautiful, but right now I only saw a devil who stood in Michael's way, "Don't help him. He hasn't exactly been the greatest guy for you to be hanging out with. And you can't forget that horrible dinner!"
"That was like a month ago!" I blurted out, shutting my mouth as soon as I did. Nina's scowl had deepened considerably and Fabian seemed almost unmoved by this. I sighed, 'Anubis is a screwed up place.' I thought.
"Fabian man," Mitt said, "I know that you hate Michael and everything, but I think that you should help him." Everybody turned to Mitt in surprise, who just shrugged in response. "Mara's right. You two have a ton of differences and stuff, ya, but this could help you fix everything. And it would make a lot of our lives easier and stuff."
Mara's gaze softened and she smiled a little bit. Amber looked flabbergasted, "Your siding with HER?" she screeched, pointing an accusing finger at Mara, "You can NOT be serious!"
"Ams, now is not the time for this…" Mitt said, with a tone that indicated that he had enough of his girlfriend.
"Don't do it Fabian." Alfie said suddenly. I was stunned, I thought Alfie at least would back us up here, and apparently Nina did too based on her facial expression.
"You're just saying that to get on Amber's good side." Patricia muttered under her breath. Alfie gave an innocent look, but I don't think anybody was buying it. I hate love and how it twists people, it's the reason there are so many problems this year and last year.
"Knock yourself out Fabian. I agree with Mara and Mick." Patricia said, although she had a tone that suggested that she was either bored or annoyed by everything that was happening. She reminded me of Tori a bit with that tone though judging by personal appearances, the two of them were on opposite sides of the social scale.
"Well Fabian?" Nina said impatiently. Fabian looked at everybody from Anubis and then back at us. He mulled it over in his mind for a couple of seconds and then looked at his watch before responding.
"Let's get going. I don't want to miss too much of French just to save Michael's butt."
9:13 A.M.
Nina's P.O.V.
Fabian had been in the court room for about five minutes now, no doubt dancing around Mr. Daniels questions that could harm him and Michael's case. I wasn't too worried about Fabian because I knew he would do fine in court, much better then how I did at any rate. Though despite that I was still fidgeting nervously in my seat outside the courtroom, sitting along side everybody else from Odin house.
If Tony looked distressed by the appearance of Fabian, he wasn't showing it. The smug grin was gone though, replaced by a look of contemplation. I could just imagine Tony's thoughts, trying to figure out how he'll get out of punishment if things go south.
Besides this ridiculous sham of so called 'justice', the only other thing that was bothering me was Fabian. I didn't like how he needed the support of people in Anubis House to make a decision related to me. He should have just listened to me. Instead he was influenced by the people of Anubis House and couldn't make a decision without their input.
I never realized it before, but there was still a major gap between me and my former housemates. Last year I had only really bonded with Fabian and Amber, and both of them disapproved with my new friends putting a bit of an awkward dent in our friendships. Patricia and I were friends in some aspects, though our relationship was more of a rivalry then an actual friendship in many ways, and her former relationship with Joy had alienated her from me in some ways. Jerome I never really warmed up to, finding his pranks intolerable and never truly forgiving him for some of the stuff he did last year with Rufus and now to Michael. Alfie was ok, though beyond that he likes Amber, enjoys pranks, and has a rapid sci-fi obsession I don't really know him that well. As for Mara and Mick, even though they were Amber and Fabian's other best friends respectively I spent almost little to no time with them at all. The only really conversations that I had with Mick were usually when there was a group involved.
In Odin House, it was more or less the same thing with about half the house knowing me, and the other half distant and some hating me mildly. Michael was my best friend there and Alan was my second best. Sophia was like Patricia, half the time she would love to hang out with me and the other half she just wanted me to leave her alone. Any relationship with Tony, Tori, and Mitch was none existent and after today would probably never form and Charlotte… was Charlotte. This year was the year that I was truly suppose to bond with my fellow housemates in Anubis, instead of having to lie to them, endanger them, or having to worry about some ancient Egyptian curse. But of course, life is turbulent and unpredictable and I got put in Odin House.
I was brought out of my musing when the doors to the courtroom opened and Fabian and Mr. Sweet emerged. Mr. Sweet was thanking Fabian, which Fabian responded modestly too. Mr. Sweet said that the judges were going to deliberate and get right back to us on their decision.
Apparently 'get right back to us' is actually teacher lingo for 'wait about twenty five minutes in a stuffy hallway while we review the testimony'. Fabian looked slightly annoyed about waiting, as did most of us.
Finally after another ten minutes Mr. Sweet emerged again and ushered us into the courtroom, not even commenting that I was dismissed previously. This time we all sat down together with Fabian on my left and Michael on my right. Mr. Sweet sat down in his chair on the elevated stage with all the other judges. He tapped the microphone several times before saying anything.
"After much deliberation on this panel's part, we have come to a decision." I looked at all the faces up on the judge's table, and none of them looked too pleased. Mr. Daniels face looked a little darker, as if he was denied something beyond value. I took that for a good sign, but Mr. Hamilton and Mrs. Keyes didn't look to happy either so it couldn't be too good of a sign.
"Due to the… controversy and differences between testimonies, this committee has decided that neither Mr. Ericson or Mr. King II should be charged guilty for their actions." I was stunned,'Could they do that?' I though angrily. Luckily we had Sophia there, who jumped out of her seat much like I did earlier today and spoke her mind.
"You can't do that! You're supposed to pass a sentence and carry it out! You can't chicken out at the last second and expect us to go along with it!" Her voice with thick with outrage, whether it was at the committee or at the fact that Tony would be getting off without punishment I couldn't tell.
Personally I was disappointed that Tony wasn't going to get punished, no doubt Mr. King Senior's money had something to do with that. But I was happy that Michael wasn't getting punished. In a way it was a victory, though I wasn't relishing the thought of meals from now on at Odin House.
"We can and we have Ms. Evenstad. Now sit down, I was not finished speaking!" Mr. Sweet commanded. Michael lightly put his hand on Sophia's clenched fist and nodded towards her seat. She gave the judges one last death glare and sat back down.
Mr. Sweet straightened his purple bowtie and then continued speaking. "While we do not find either party guilty, a motion has been put forth by Mr. Daniels to punish both parties as a warning against violence at this school."
"What?" Tony said shocked, obviously not expecting to have any punishment at all. I dread what the punishment could be. I couldn't imagine it being anything severe, but I've learned that you can never know when Mr. Daniels is involved.
"It is nothing too severe Mr. King." Mr. Sweet began, "but we judges feel it necessary to reinforce the idea that violence will not be accepted at all, and this is the best way." Mrs. Keyes gave a very un-lady like snort and muttered something to herself, but Mr. Sweet ignored her and continued.
"For that reason, we have decided to ban both students from any extracurricular activities for the rest of the semester. After the winter break both of you will be able to participate in any activities you want, but as of now you must drop out of any activities you are currently participating in and must present the person in charge with this note from the committee explaining why." Mr. Sweet said, pulled out a green slip and placed it in front of him.
Now it was Michael's turn to jump up and scream 'What?', but I was more interested in how Tony was taking this. I could see his mind racing at first and then he seemed to relax. He smiled and looked at Mr. Daniels, who without moving his head eyed Tony. He gave a slight nod and then returned his attention to Michael who was ranting away about how it was too extreme.
I was boiling with frustration, how could these people be so corrupt? I wanted to protest Mr. Daniels for corruption but I thought that it would be useless. You need a majority here to get stuff done and if he got a majority for that motion then that must mean that he or Mr. King Senior bought off more judges.
"That is enough!" Mr. Sweet raged, his voice the highest I had ever heard it. "Our decision is final. We thank you for your time; you are excused from your classes for the rest of the day if you are in Odin House. Mr. Rutter, thank you for your time today and we apologize if we have caused you any trouble with your teachers. Please have them contact me if they require confirmation as to why you were absent from class."
Fabian nodded and the judges got up and left. Tony, Tori, and Mitch got up too and left the room with Charlotte following them, though from a distance. After about a minute our little group also exited the court room, pausing outside as the doors closed behind us. It was quiet for a while before Michael spoke.
"Fabian… thank you for doing what you did." He said slowly. Fabian looked a little stunned by the thanks, but quickly composed himself.
"You're welcome. I know it didn't do much good though." Fabian said. Michael nodded and an awkward silence ensued. "I had better get going," Fabian began "I've already missed French, I don't want to miss third period." He gave me a light kiss on the cheek and nodded to everybody else. Alan and Sophia returned it, though Michael was starring the other way.
After Fabian left, we began walking towards the exit as well. Nobody was quite sure what to say and the atmosphere was tense beyond belief. "Looks like I'm not going to be in the play with you Nina." Michael said in a monotone voice.
"I know." I responded weakly. What else could I say? We walked outside and the cool air hit us, signifying that summer was coming to a close. By Mid-November it would no doubt be pretty cold, so for now I enjoyed the cooler air despite the terrible thing that just happened moments ago.
Several steps away, Tony was in a circle with Tori, Mitch, and Charlotte. Michael's fists tightened and he began marching towards them. I would stop him normally, but he needed to blow off steam. As he got closer to Tony, he pushed him to the side before getting right up in his face.
"What the hell was that Tony? Huh? Assault? Do you even know what the legal definition of 'assault' is Tony?" Tony grinned and shrugged, and I could tell it took all of Michael's strength not to punch him again. "All of us know that that entire preceding was a load of crap! A full scale court hearing for a small fight?"
"Well I did break my nose." Tony said nonchalantly.
"And you deserved it." Michael responded with venom in his voice. "We could have convinced them to give some detentions out, because that's what we should have got! But you wanted to go with Debbie's hysterical idea! You wanted this trail! Why did you want it? Why?"
Tony gave that same sleazy smile that he usually wears, though it was demented by his wrapped nose, "I wanted to get justice for what happened to me."
"Oh like hell you did!" Michael shouted, backing up a bit from Tony. "Everybody here knows how bad that court is. Heck! I bet most of the faculty even know that!" Tony continued to smile and Michael leaned back closer to Tony, "How much did your father pay to get you off?" Michael whispered to Tony. "How much are you paying these three now for their testimony?" nodding towards Tori, Mitch, and Charlotte.
"I don't pay off people Michael." Tony said, as if he was explaining something to a little kid.
"Sure." Michael said with sarcasm, "And I'm pope."
"If you must know Michael I was simple helping out friends by giving them some money I owe them for some help they've given me."
"That a bribe." Michael said through gritted teeth. Tony raised his eyebrows, and continued to talk in his nonchalant tone, "Is it? Perhaps these two helped trim my lawn or maybe lent me money to by some school books."
"'These two?'" Michael echoed, unsure of what Tony was saying. Tony nodded to Tori and Mitch.
"Ya they helped me out. Charlotte decided not to. Such a shame. I've been a bit lazy in paying back people and if I owed her anything she would be quiet rich." He smiled again. "See you guys at the house." He left with Tori and Mitch, leaving Charlotte behind to face the rest of us.
"Why didn't you testify for Tony?" Michael asked softly, not meeting Charlotte's eyes. She inhaled sharply, as if terrified.
"I just… I just couldn't. It wouldn't be right." She said nervously, she too was not meeting Michael's or any of our eyes.
"So you testified for me?" Michael asked, uncertainty ringing through his voice. Charlotte fidgeted in her place before looking up at Michael. 'I've never seen her like this.' I thought. Charlotte was always strong and unmoved by anything through the year. This scared girl was new to me and quite frankly, I was a little unnerved by it.
"Not exactly…" She began. Michael's head shot up to look at her and she barely held her gaze to his.
"What do you mean 'not exactly'?" He demanded.
Charlotte licked her lips nervously before responding, "I didn't testify for either of you two." There was a silence that followed while everybody absorbed that. Michael held his gaze to Charlotte's, who seemed to be regaining some of her composure.
"Why not?" He asked simply. Charlotte shrugged. Michael inhaled sharply himself before talking again. "Why didn't you testify for me?" Charlotte looked uncertain and Michael continued talking, "You said it wouldn't be the right thing to do, to testify for Tony. So why didn't you do the right thing and testify for me?"
Charlotte looked like she had been slapped, "Do you think my word would have mattered?"
"Yes!" Michael nearly shouted out of rage.
"Well it wouldn't have!" Charlotte nearly shouted herself, "Do you have any idea how much money Tony's father "donated" to this school? 10,000 pounds! 10,000 POUNDS! God only knows how much he gave to that creep Mr. Daniels! My word would have meant nothing! Nothing! And if they even cared what I thought, Mr. Daniels would have ripped me apart like he did Nina!"
"So you were just scared?" Michael said, laughing. Charlotte inhaled again, her eyes watery a bit.
"I…" She began, but she stopped herself. She looked at all of us and then turned away, shaking her head, and then ran away.
"You were too hard on her." Sophia said plainly, "She tried to help you."
"She didn't help enough, and tried far too late." Michael responded plainly himself, and then marched away from us.
I DO know that Mick's name is not 'Mitt' as Alan thinks it is. Just wanted to clarify that. Also want to thank you guys for pointing out that it's 'Mrs. Andrews' not 'Mrs. Anderson'. I can't believe I mess something up like that!
Nina's little rant in the middle of this chapter about her relationship to the people in Anubis House echoes my thoughts on the matter somewhat. I just feel as a whole, the people of Anubis House really are not united as friends around Nina in the series. Like I said in this chapter, the only people Nina hangs out with when not trying to solve the mystery are Fabian and Amber, so those two would really be the only people that you can consider Nina's friends. Patricia... ya she could be considered one, but half the year she hates Nina and doesn't trust her. I know that Nina forgave her mid way through the season but even then you can kind of tell that their relationship isn't really that close. They're just united by the mystery and Patricia is using Nina to find Joy. I'll even put out the scandalous accusation that Patricia would prefer Fabian and Joy to Nina and Fabian.
It's the same thing with Jerome and Alfie. It's plainly clear that Nina does not trust Alfie, and probably for that matter Jerome as well. She only dealt with them because they were in on the Anubis secret. If she changed her mind about them after the events of the season finale, I can't say. But the fact that she can consider either of them to be friends is bit of a stretch and while she is nice to both of them, you have to remember that Nina is nice to everybody.
I don't even think I can remember Nina having any real conversations with Mara or Mick. The only times I can think of when Nina really recognized the existence of those two would be her first day, when Mara went 'bad girl' on the school, and at Prom.
No doubt this will change with Season 2, with the group growing closer and everything, but as of now they're pretty divided. The Mystery united them (minus Mara and Mick who are off in their own separate world, far away from Ancient Egyptian curses that the rest of the house has to deal with), and it will be interesting to see how their friendships will work out without the mystery to bring them together. Because this is a kids show, I bet they'll all be friends.
Please REVIEW and leave your thoughts on the characters relationships to one another and how you are liking this story so far. If you want to see my thoughts on Joy, check out my other story 'How was I to Know?' which is a one-shot story on Joy's thoughts about Nina and Fabian as Prom King and Queen. Please REVIEW that as well if you decide to check it out.