So in this portion of the story, you kind of get to see Char's sassy side come out. She's very protective of her family, which you already can tell, but you'll start to understand more in this chapter. I really wanted to get her relationships with all the other characters established before I can bring in Nina, as she does arrive about a week after the term starts.

Also, I used the song Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars to show how Char feels about her siblings, plus maybe how she wants to feel around friends she makes here at school.

So, here we go! :)

Disclaimer: I own no part of the television program The House of Anubis. All rights are attributed to Nickelodeon.

Chapter 2: The Dinner Table

Just close your eyes

The sun is going down

You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now

Come morning light, you'll be safe and sound

Safe & Sound by Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars

Fabian and I are the first ones in the dining room when Trudy calls for dinner. Fabian shows me all the empty seats, but I decided to sit next to him at the very end of the table.

"Should I go assist Trudy in the kitchen or something?" I ask, feeling like I should be doing something like setting the table.

"No, it's Patricia and Alfie's turn to set the table this week. We just have to wait for the food to be brought out. We rotate chores each week. I'm on laundry duty with Amber," he says.

"I don't mind chores too much," I reply.

Fabian chuckles. "You will once you get paired with Amber."

I giggle in return as Jerome and Alfie strut into the room, Jerome's forehead still a splotched red.

"Aw, the two lovebirds are already seated! How cute," Jerome jokes, making kissy faces at us as he sits down.

"Excuse me?" I say as Fabian blurts out, "What are you talking about?"

"Look, they're blushing! They're in love already," Alfie cries humorously.

"Um, no," I refuse.

Fabian and I give each other an understanding look. He doesn't like me like that; I don't like him like that. I can't imagine being anything other than just friends. We've clicked rather quickly, but we're too different to be anything more than just friends.

"Whatever," I comment, brushing it off.

"I will get you back for this, by the way," Jerome threatens, gesturing to the spot on his forehead. I chuckle.

"Get her back for what, Jerome?" asks Amber, sitting down next to him.

"This," he remarks forcefully, jabbing a finger at his forehead.

Amber leans away from him, a disgusted look crossing her face. "EW! What is that, a pimple?!"

"No, it's not acne, Amber," Alfie explains, "Char played a little practical joke on him. It was wickedly brilliant and he's just being a sore loser."

"I am not!" Jerome protests.

"Well, whatever it is, it's ghastly and hideous! I have some concealer in here somewhere," she tells him, digging around in a small handbag. "Don't worry, that thingy will be gone in a jiffy!"

"Concealer? Amber, what the heck is—"

Then Amber starts to dab concealer on his forehead from a tan-colored tube. Jerome freaks out, not familiar with the makeup. He attempts to bat her hand away.

"Ick! Gross! Amber, don't!"

"Just stay still, Jerome!"

"Get that stuff away from me!"

"You future girlfriend will not want you all spotty!"

"I don't care! Sod off, will you?!"

Fabian and I crack up. This is priceless! Amber isn't so stuck up after all. She's very determined to get that spot covered up, that's for sure.

"What is going on out here?" demands Patricia from right beside me.

Suddenly, the concealer is smacked out of Amber's hand, the tube flying right towards me. Not wanting makeup to get on the floor, I catch it. I snatch it up in my fist, squeezing out a bunch of makeup—all over Patricia's side!

It splatters on her blouse and jeans, covering up the darker colors with a light tan. She screams and drops the silverware onto the floor by Fabian's feet.

This is just fantastic, I think begrudgingly.

I suddenly realize what I've done. Patricia already doesn't like me so this is just going to make things worse between us. Of course this happens to me…

I frantically apologize to Patricia. "I am so sorry! Really, I am, I was just trying to—"

"You ruined my new top and jeans! I just got these for Christmas! Thanks a lot, you spider!" she whines, dabbing the makeup on her clothing with a spare napkin.

"It was an accident, Patricia," Fabian defends. "Char didn't mean to do that."

"Yeah, sure she didn't," she harrumphs.

"I really didn't, Patricia," I say desperately.

"You're going to get it, Charlotte!" she screeches.

She storms back into the kitchen muttering curses at me under her breath.

Everyone at the table is quiet for a moment, although it seems as if Jerome is trying hard not to start chuckling.

Oh, look at that…Joy and Mara are already seated…hooray…

"Oh, Char-Char!" groans Amber. "You just used up most of my concealer!"

"Um, sorry about that, Amber," I say, not bothering to correct the horrible nickname she's given me.

Jerome wipes up the concealer that had started to drip down his nose. "Really, Amber, you called her 'Char-Char?'"

"It sounds hip," she defends. "Kind of like JoJo or Brangelina."

Everybody manages an uncomfortable laugh.

Fabian picks up the silverware and puts it on the kitchen window for Trudy to collect.

Alfie stands and starts to help set the table.

I say nothing while the table is being readied for dinner.

Did I just jeopardize my chance for more friends here at Anubis House? I think. Jerome is mad at me for my joke, Amber is frustrated about her makeup, Joy's only impression of me is me making fun of her best friend, Mara doesn't know anything about me, and Patricia already hates my guts. Alfie and Fabian like me, I know that. I can only hope I make friends with more than just them.

I suddenly feel something wet on my legs.

What the heck?!

I'm torn from my thoughts as I realize that Patricia is pouring water on my lap. On purpose.

"Hey!" I shriek. "Quit it!"

"Whoops, sorry," she giggles, clearly not apologetic. "Must have missed your cup."

Jerome holds back a snort. I send a glare in his direction.

"You think?" I protest, dabbing my jeans with my napkin.

"Here, have some more. You look thirsty," she says mischievously.

"Don't you dare," I hiss, the pitcher teetering dangerously near my face.

Mara quickly stands and hurries over. She snatches the pitcher from Patricia.

"Go sit down, Patricia, I'll do this," she orders.

"Mara, it's my turn," Patricia says, crossing her arms. "Give it back."

"No, I'm not going to give it back if it means our new housemate is going to drown," Mara replies tartly.

Patricia sighs dramatically and trudges over to her chair across the table from me. Thank goodness she's so far away. She can't do much to me from over there.

"You alright? Need a towel or something?" asks Fabian concernedly.

"I will be as long as she doesn't toss mashed potatoes at me or something," I joke, trying to make light of the situation.

"I wouldn't bet my money on that," Jerome stage-whispers.

I roll my eyes good-naturedly and sigh.

"Shut up, Jerome," Mara says as she pours his water.

Jerome holds up a hand to his heart and gasps, obviously being sarcastic. "Oh, Mara, you've wounded my soul! How could you, you monster!"

Mara rolls her eyes, just as I did, trying not to laugh.

Alfie and Trudy bring out the dishes, piled high (ironically) with mashed potatoes, chicken, rolls, and salad. There's one thing that is definitely guaranteed about this school—I will never go hungry by the looks of Trudy's cooking.

"Trudy, everything looks absolutely amazing," I comment as she walks by.

Trudy looks pleasantly surprised. "Well, thank you, Charlotte! That is very kind of you to say."

I smile as she goes back into the kitchen.

"So where are you from, Char?" Mara asks as I scoop potatoes onto my plate.

"Dallas, Texas," I reply cheerily.

"What's it like in Texas? I've never heard of it," Amber wonders airily.

"Full of cowboys and ranches, Amber! There are cactuses and tumbleweeds everywhere, right, Char?" Patricia answers in a sugary sweet voice.

"Um, not exactly," I reply, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. "There are ranches and cowboys, but out in the country, not in the city. In Dallas, most of us have pools since it gets so hot in the summer."

"That's cool!" Alfie says. "We should have a pool for Anubis House!"

"It's too cold for that, Alfie," Joy says, suppressing a giggle.

"Keep going, Char. What else do you do in Dallas?" Mara urges.

"Well, my old high school was really into football, so—"

"Mick plays football," Amber interrupts. "One time, he was kicking it around in the yard and it hit me in the face. I got the ball's pattern imprinted in my face! It was terrible! I couldn't go to Paris Fashion Week to see Gucci's new Spring shoes collection."

I wince. "Oh. Sorry. I forgot what football means here. I meant American football."

"Isn't that really dangerous?" asks Fabian.

"Yeah, people have died from American football, Fabian," Jerome says with a completely straight face.

Fabian's eyes widen and I laugh.

"He's joking, Fabian! No one's ever died from the game!"

"Have you ever played, Spider?" interrogates Patricia from the other side of the table.

Spider? Really? What kind of nickname is that? Is she talking about that stupid conversation from earlier? Great, I'm going to be known as Spider at this school.

"Okay, my name is Char, and yes, I have played it before," I reply coolly.

"Did you get hurt?" inquires Joy.

I take a bite of potatoes, then answer. "I played a lot with my brothers before I left. Once, during a game at school, I broke my leg. It was a compound fracture, too."

Mara and Joy grimace. Fabian closes his eyes, as if trying not to imagine the incident. Jerome looks slightly disturbed as Alfie laughs nervously. Patricia's eyes narrow at me.

"What's a compound fracture?" Amber questions quizzically.

"It's when you break your bone and part of the bone comes out of your body and breaks the skin, then slides back into your body," Mara replies, wrinkling her nose.

Amber shrieks, causing me to drop my fork on my plate noisily. Jerome and Mara cover their ears with their hands.

"Amber…" growls Jerome.

"That's NASTY! Did it hurt terribly?" Amber squeaks, ignoring Jerome.

I chuckle at her reaction. "Um, yes. They had to call an ambulance. I was in a cast for around two months. But I played even after I got my cast off. I enjoy playing, but not watching."

"Well, aren't you just a little hero?" Patricia mocks through gritted teeth, stabbing her mound of potatoes with an immense bout of aggression that I've only seen in football players.

What on earth is she talking about? A hero? How about no.

"Well, I wouldn't exactly call myself a hero," I say. "People get compound fractures every day."

Even Fabian looks confused. Is she trying to make me look stupid or something?

Everyone carries on with their own conversations. I keep quiet, not wanting to intrude on anyone's lives or discussions. Even Fabian is quiet.

I get lost in my own thoughts about home. I wonder what Maggie, Ethan, and Travis are doing right now. I bet Ethan is reading a book of some sort. I know Travis and Maggie are probably planning some sort of fun prank on my granddad. Granddad loves jokes and pranks of all sorts. He once filled my socks with whipped cream. That was one of the best pranks that has ever been pulled on me, not because of the cleverness, but because of his reaction when he saw me put them on. I think he almost had an aneurism right then and there from laughing so hard. Travis and Ethan almost peed their pants, seeing granddad in such hysterics. Gosh, I miss all of them so much.

"So what made you come to the academy, Char?"

I'm pulled from my own mind by Joy's simple question. I look up from my plate to see everyone staring at me. For once, I'm not calm, cool, or collected. I end up stuttering a little as I try to organize my response.

"Uh, um, I—uh…well, my granddad actually convinced me to come here," I say. "He told me that I should focus on getting a good education so I can get into Harvard or Yale."

"Are you sure he wasn't trying to get rid of you? From what I can tell, your family is a bunch of pathetic, cow-caring, horseback-riding freaks. I'll bet you were ignored, hm? That's why they sent you away," Patricia suggests, smirking.

To this, I can't help but crack up. Everyone looks quite confused.

"Oh my gosh! Get rid of me!" I manage to say inbetween laughs. "Wow, if you suggest that, you really don't know my family or the situation we were in. Get rid of me…that's funny…"

"Why are you laughing? Are you going to explain?" Patricia demands.

I let my laughter die down and I gulp inaudibly. Fabian seems to be studying me, as if trying to figure out why I said the things I did.

"Here's the thing about my family, Patty-Cake," I start.

Jerome and Alfie splutter and burst into guffaws.

"Patty-Cake…that's a good one, Char," Jerome compliments. I can only glance at him before turning my attention back to Patricia, my bright teal eyes hardening.

"Thank you, Jerome. As I was saying, here's the thing about my family: we—well, I—was stuck in a situation where I was basically a mother," I say. I get angrier and angrier, regretting my decision to leave home. "My grandparents finally interceded and told me that I needed to be a regular teenager for once. And just to let you know, if I hadn't been there, my siblings would have probably died. So no, getting rid of me never, and I mean NEVER, crossed my family's mind. So if you don't mind, I'd rather you not make jokes about me and my family. So SHUT UP."

I spear my chicken with my fork as everyone awkwardly tries to continue with their own meal. Patricia looks somewhat guilty. Fabian puts a hand on my arm comfortingly.

"Are you okay?" he asks timidly.

"I will be once my ears stop smoking," I say. He retracts his hand and, almost as if he was afraid to make eye contact with me, bites into a roll. I chuckle softly. "Fabian, I'm not going to explode."

He smiles slightly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to make it look like—"

"It's okay, really. I didn't mean to go off like that. It's just when anybody jokes about me and my family like that, it goes into a sensitive zone with me. I've always been really protective of my family since we've gone through so much together," I clarify.

"Hey, I don't blame you," says Fabian. "It sounds like you're really close to your family."

"Most of it," I reply.

I don't know Fabian well enough to relay my past, but I have a feeling I will be telling him sooner or later.

Suddenly, I feel eyes boring into my head. My eyes flicker around the table to spot Jerome looking at me, a mysterious expression on his face. He realizes that I'm looking at him and he quickly averts his gaze. Did he hear what I just said?

What a strange dinner.

Well, that's the chapter! I think there will be one more before Nina actually interacts with Char and Fabian. What do you think of their relationship? And what do you think Jerome was thinking when he was looking at Char after her telling off Patricia? Tell me in the reviews!