Hey, y'all! So this is the third chapter of the story. This chapter gives you a bit of an insight into Char's past, as well as more interaction with the characters before she meets Nina. Enjoy! Please, please, please, review and follow! :)

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

Chapter 3: Ants and Excuses

Oh lights go down

In the moment, we're lost and found

I just want to be by your side

If these wings could fly

For the rest of our lives

Wings by Birdy

I wake up when it's still dark out, disoriented and wide awake.

I roll over and check my digital clock. It reads 4:30. I groan and flop back down on my back.

Stupid jet lag, I think. What the heck am I going to do now? Try to get back to sleep? That might not work, but I could try…

So I attempt slide back into dreamland. I fail miserably. Right now, if somebody threatened to kill me if I couldn't get back to sleep, I would definitely die.

By 5:30, I'm indescribably frustrated. I can't get to sleep and I definitely can't talk to anyone because they're all asleep!

I'm really starting to regret coming to this freaking boarding school, I think angrily. Why couldn't I have just listened to my instincts and stayed in Texas? Honestly, I'm such a moron! I could be in Texas right now, hanging out and watching 'Zathura' with Ethan, Travis, and Maggie. It's around nine thirty at night there so we probably would be finishing it by now, the homemade popcorn long gone.

I roll over and glance at my two roommates, Mara and Amber. I think to last night and how they responded when I went off on Patricia.

Amber looked a bit afraid of me, to be honest. She was annoyed that I used up a bunch of her makeup on accident, and probably thinks I'm some sort of weirdo who has anger issues. I didn't talk to her too much before bed last night. She just complimented my room decorations.

I look up at my Christmas twinkle lights I brought from my room back home. Fabian helped me hang those up last night. Actually, he pretty much helped me with everything yesterday. He taped up my music posters for me and suggested ways to set up my shelf above my bed. He showed me around Anubis House, defended me during dinner, and hung out with me afterwards. I am so grateful for him here. I hope we'll be close friends. But I want to be good friends with more than just Fabian.

I think Mara and I get along well and Alfie seemed pretty funny. I met Mick briefly last night and he seemed like a nice guy. Amber seems like a bit of an airhead, but she really seems to care about her friends. Joy was fine, a little hard to read overall, but fine. Patricia hates my guts, I just know it. She called me 'Spider' and made fun of me, then poured water all over my jeans.

But Jerome…he was a different story. He seemed entertained by my jokes at dinner, but only begrudgingly. Well, he liked my nickname for Patricia, but other than that, not so much. He was really mysterious after my explosion. He looked almost…actually, I wouldn't know because he's so freaking hard to read! I'm a bit intrigued by him. I want to get to know him just to find out why he was staring at me with such an odd expression. I can't tell if we'll ever be friends.

This whole thing gives me an idea for a song, I think.

So I grab my flashlight, my song notebook, and a pencil.

By six thirty, I've got it all written down, edited and perfected until I couldn't edit or perfect it anymore. I read it over, a slight smirk on my face. I really like this. It might even be one of the best I've ever written.

I look up at my shelf to see several books that tempt me. I love reading and writing, but I just wrote. Reading sounds awesome right now.

I hide my song notebook back underneath my bed and slide The Fault in Our Stars off my shelf.

For another forty five minutes, I get lost in Hazel Grace Lancaster's world.

By seven fifteen, I'm ready to get out of bed. I grab a towel, shampoo, conditioner, a brush, a hair dryer, mascara, eyeliner, and some clothes and head to the bathroom down the hall.

It's early enough that I can take my time. I don't get that kind of alone time back in Texas. It's nice to have extra time to spend on myself for once. At home, I'd be showering as quickly as possible before sending my siblings off to school. Mom would already be at work and dad…

I shake the thoughts of dad from my mind. I don't want to remember him, not after all he's done to me, my siblings, and my mother.

I sing softly to myself in the shower, picking an array of songs from Young the Giant to Birdy to Future of Forestry. If anyone here ever found out about my music scholarship, I will be mortified.

When I was very small, my father would put on his old jazz records on our old record player and we'd dance around the house together. He loved music and was a great musician. We used to sing songs together all the time. Then things changed. He was laid off his job and our lives when downhill. Whenever I would sing, he would tell me what I was doing wrong. He stopped singing and listening to music. He hated it whenever mom or I would start to hum. And then things got worse. He once told me that I should never pursue music, as I was horrid at it. He considered me an embarrassment. I never got over that. I love to perform, but I'm afraid of what people here will think. I tried out for the scholarship thinking I wasn't going to get it. I'm not surprised I got the English scholarship, but the music scholarship? I had to call the school to make sure it was true!

So for now, people here at Frobishire-Smythe Academy will only know about my English scholarship. Somebody is bound to find out sometime, but that won't, hopefully, be for a long time.

I finish my shower and dress in a new outfit I had gotten for Christmas. I change into dark, navy blue jeans, a white and teal lace shirt, a white cardigan, a light blue, pink, and white infinity scarf, and light brown equestrian-style boots.

I dry my blonde and red hair and put it up in a bun, leaving my sweeping side bangs out. Once I'm satisfied with my mascara and eyeliner on my bright teal eyes, I collect my things and exit the bathroom, flinging the door open and jumping out like a ninja for fun.

WHUMP! CRACK!

"HEY!"

I gasp as I see Patricia lying on the hardwood floor. I must have hit her with the door. Whoops.

"I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" I asked, concerned.

Patricia looks up at me, a hand on her forehead, and growls, "Watch where you're going, you stupid American!"

"Sorry," I squeak again. "Do you need any help?"

"No, I don't need help, and if I did, I wouldn't want yours," she huffs, standing and nudging me out of the way and slamming the bathroom door.

"Well, excuse me for trying to apologize," I retort at the bathroom door. I make a gross face at her through the door and trudge back to my shared room.

It was an accident, I think tartly. Will she ever not be rude?

I sigh and enter my shared room to find Mara sorting through a set of school uniforms and Amber reading another celebrity magazine, both already dressed.

"Good morning, Char!" Mara says brightly. "Did you sleep well?"

"Hi, Mara. And I slept okay, thanks. I woke up around four thirty this morning, though. That was annoying," I say back. I cross the room and start to put away my towel and toiletries. "So I was coming out of the bathroom and—"

"Char-Char, your outfit is adorable!" Amber interjects excitedly.

I smile and glance down at my outfit. "Thanks!"

"Where did you get those boots? They are so cute!"

I think for a moment. "I honestly have no idea. I got them for Christmas."

"Well, if you find out, please tell me," Amber tells me seriously. "I love equestrian boots."

"As you've already told me at least a hundred times since yesterday," Mara giggles. "Anyways, Char, what were you about to say before?"

I sit on my bed and relay the story of me accidently smacking Patricia with the bathroom door. Amber looks slightly worried for me.

"Good luck getting her to forgive you," Amber says in a sing-song voice.

I laugh, but confusedly. "Why is that?"

"Patricia can be a little rough around the edges at first. And you two weren't exactly best mates dinner last night," Mara tells me.

"Well, I had to defend myself somehow," I protest. "I'm really sensitive about my family."

"Did you know you had an accent last night when you raised your voice?" Amber questions.

I grimace. I've lived in Texas for too long!

"Yeah," I say slowly. "Over the years, when I raise my voice or get angry, I've start to talk like a Southerner. Probably because I hear it every day from my grandparents and friends."

"I kind of liked it. It's something different," Amber says kindly.

I smile. "Thanks…I think…"

"Oh, it's time for breakfast!" Mara says. "Want to come, Char?"

I nod, happy that she's invited me to come with her. "Sure. I need to get my body used to eating at this time. You know, jet lag and all."

"Come on then. Coming, Amber?" says Mara, setting down her school blazer.

Amber stands quickly, setting aside her magazine full of celebrities and drama. "Of course! Mick will probably be up by now."

"Mick is your boyfriend?" I wonder as the three of us exit our room and head downstairs.

"That's right," says Amber dreamily.

"How long?"

"Around three months at the moment. We're perfect for each other!"

Mara glances up at Amber, seemingly happy for her, but I can see something else in her eyes. It looks like she's…upset? Jealous? Maybe a combination of both? It's an emotion I've seen many times in my life. She's hiding something. But aren't we all? At least, I am.

As we enter the dining room, Trudy's head pops out of the kitchen doorway.

"Good morning, girls! Are you hungry?"

"Good morning, Trudy!" Mara greets cheerfully.

"Hi, Trudy," Amber says.

"Morning! And I'm pretty hungry," I reply as we all take our own places at the table.

I sit at the head of table, just like last night. Amber takes a seat in the middle of the left side and Mara sits down on the end between me and Amber.

"Good, because I've made blueberry pancakes, eggs, and bacon for you all," Trudy says, setting out a plate of pancakes.

I peer into the kitchen to see several more plates of pancakes, a bowl of eggs, and a platter full of bacon. Trudy can't possibly carry that out by herself.

"Would you like some help bringing everything out?" I ask.

Trudy looks surprised, but glad. "Y-yes, that'd be quite nice."

I grin and go into the kitchen to assist her. I grab the ginormous bowl of eggs and put it on the table.

"Char, could you grab the syrup from the pantry?" asks Trudy, snagging the platter of bacon.

I nod. "No problem."

I trod into the pantry, searching for the bottle of syrup. Man, Trudy must have enough food to feed an army in here…or ten hungry teenagers…

I hear a loud, deep voice penetrate the somewhat quiet dining room.

"New girl's not in here, I see," I hear them announce.

It's Jerome.

"Hi, Jerome," I hear Mara say.

"Morning Mara, Blondie."

"I have a name, Jerome," Amber complains.

"Yeah, it's Blondie," he replies. "You heard about Char's prank on me, right?"

I halt in my tracks, pausing to listen to what he has to say before leaving the pantry.

"Alfie would not stop jabbering on about it last night," Amber says.

"What about it?" Mara asks.

"I am setting up a revenge prank," Jerome says mischievously.

"What are you going to do?" asks Amber.

"Jerome, you can't take revenge on Char! Let her adjust to being here before you do anything mean," Mara defends.

I smirk. Thank you, Mara, but I'll be just fine once I hear him say what needs to. I love foiling pranks!

"Can you both keep a secret?" Jerome wonders.

"Of course."

"Duh! Gossip girl, here."

"Okay, here's what's going to happen," he begins. "Alfie and I are going to collect some ants from the anthill that was built over the holidays. We're going to collect a whole boxful and put them in her pillowcase! When she gets into bed, she'll be laying on a bunch of bugs!"

Amber yelps. "Jerome, that's nasty!"

"Yeah, Jerome, that's really mean," Mara says. "Can't you do something less extensive and…disgusting?"

I smirk smugly. Well, we'll just see about that. I choose this point to come out of the pantry.

"Found the syrup!" I call, walking back into the dining room and sitting down. "Oh, hi there, Jerome; didn't know you were in here."

"Hello, Char. Could you hear what I just said?" he wonders suspiciously.

I scrunch up my nose, as if confused. "What are you talking about?"

I inwardly laugh evilly. He has no idea that I overheard him. It's a good thing I'm a fantastic liar.

"So you didn't hear me?" he clarifies.

"Was I supposed to hear something?" I ask, as if puzzled.

"No, no, you're fine," he says, smiling.

"Um, okay," I tell him, faking confusion.

He has no idea what's coming for him.

Later that day, Fabian and I are helping Trudy with laundry, as Amber refused to touch Alfie's dirty clothes. As I walk past my room, I can't help but notice a flash of blonde hair outside my window.

I look around, checking to make sure no one sees me go back into my room. I set down the laundry basket and open my door. I creep over to the window and look around the curtain.

It's Jerome that's outside. He has a fish tank of sorts and he's got a shovel. I see him glance around outside and back at the house. I hide behind the curtain, praying that when I look out the window again, he's not staring at the house.

I relax when I see him digging around at a huge anthill beside the house. He's collecting the ants for the prank he wants to play on me!

I grin and run back to the laundry basket, a scheme starting to form in my brain. I was just going to empty the tank back out in the yard, but I think I want to do something else much better.

Later that day, Fabian and I take the baskets of Alfie and Jerome's laundry to their room. Fabian knocks on their door and I wait in anticipation for them not to answer.

"Hello?" says Fabian as the door creaks open.

I smile. Yes! Nobody's in there! Perfect timing.

I barge into the room behind Fabian, shutting the door softly behind me. I hurriedly set down Alfie's laundry on his bed and scurry over to Jerome's side of the room, starting to look for the tank full of ants.

"What are you doing?" Fabian inquires, bewildered by my strange behavior.

I look through his drawers. "Just help me look for something."

"Should we be going through his stuff?" Fabian asks, mystified.

"Help me look for something. It's a clear tank with bugs in it," I say. "He's planning on putting them in my bed tonight and I'd like to make sure that it doesn't happen."

"O-okay," Fabian replies, looking under the bed. "Found it!"

I scurry over and pull out the box. The bottom of it is piled with the creepy-crawlies.

"That's disgusting!" he cries.

I wrinkle my nose at the bugs. That's nasty.

I carefully lift it up and nod my head towards his pillow. I grin impishly and pick up his pillow in one hand. "Will you help me out?"

Fabian's eyes widen. "We-we're going to put them in Jerome's pillowcase?"

"Heck yeah we are," I reply. "Come on, hurry! Before either of them return!"

He sighs and snatches the pillowcase. "Just to let you know, this is the only time I'm going to help you out with one of these pranks."

"Thanks, Fabian!" I smile. Then my eyes flicker to the tank full of ants. "Ready?"

He nods, slightly disgusted, as he holds the pillowcase open.

I take a deep breath, snap off the lid, and hastily dump the bugs into the case. Fabian quickly pulls it together to keep the bugs inside.

Suddenly, we hear footsteps on the hardwood floor, getting nearer and nearer.

Our eyes widen and I quickly put the lid back on, sliding it under Jerome's bed. Fabian throws the pillow onto the bed, pulling up the covers.

We scramble over to the door as it opens. It's Jerome. Fabian freezes.

"Hi, Jerome," I say. "What's up?"

He waves awkwardly and asks, "What are you doing in here?"

Fabian's mouth opens and closes like a fish.

I point to the laundry baskets.

"Just dropping off you and Alfie's clean clothes," I reply merrily.

Fabian nods vigorously and smiles, agreeing with me. "Y-yeah."

"Well, bye," I say, taking my time going out the door. Fabian follows, a terrified look on his face.

He closes the door behind us as I walk down the hall. I grin and take a turn towards the cupboards next to the stairs. I flatten myself against it, peering around the corner. I pull Fabian over beside me.

"What on earth are we doing?" he asks, exasperated.

"Waiting for the results of our prank, that's what," I whisper.

"Why?" wonders Fabian. He looks over my shoulder quizzically.

"Because that's what pranking is all about!" I tell him. "The reaction! Besides, he's got to be suspicious by now. I'll bet he's already checked the empty tank."

Then a yell sounds from his room and I laugh. Even Fabian seems amused.

I see Jerome carrying his pillowcase, fuming, as he throws open his door and walks into the hallway.

I push Fabian back and we flatten ourselves against the wall, hoping he doesn't come after us.

"Char! Fabian!" he screams.

I press my lips together, hoping he doesn't catch us standing there.

"Upstairs," I mouth to Fabian.

His eye widen and he mouths, "Right now?"

I nod, pointing to him. Then I mouth, "RUN!"

We dash towards the stairs and out of our hiding spot.

"There you are!" screams Jerome, his pillow clutched in one hand, his button up, pinstriped shirt very wrinkled and askew.

I halt in my tracks as Fabian rushes up the steps. Panic swallows me whole and I can't move.

"Hey, Jerome," I squeak. "How's your day going?"

He barges towards me, a wild look in his crystal blue eyes.

My fight or flight instinct kicks in and I decide to fly. So instead of going back up to my room, I sprint out the front door of Anubis House, leaping down the porch steps.

I hear Jerome's footsteps behind me as I race around to the side of the house, laughing my head off at Jerome's shouts of protestation.

"What the heck, Char?! Get back here!"

I look behind me, just once as I fully circle the house. His hair is sticking up everywhere and his long legs look a bit awkward when he runs. I giggle.

Then CRASH!

I end up bouncing off of someone in the front of Anubis House. It's someone wearing a trench jacket with a pin on the lapel. His tie is red and his facial hair…oh my freaking gosh, it's Victor!

His beady eyes glower down at my in shock and rage. For once, I have no idea what excuse I'm going to use.

Jerome rounds the corner, still in an uproar. "When I catch up, I'm—"

Then he ends up slamming into me, his pillow soaring to the ground with a soft thump. I stumble forward, but Jerome's hands on my shoulders stop my descent.

"Um, uh…hi, Victor," he says, removing his hands.

"What in the name of Robert Frobishire-Smythe are you two doing out here?" Victor demands viciously.

I glance up at Jerome, at a loss for words. Then an excuse pops into my brain.

"Just getting in our daily exercise, sir," I say quickly.

"Yes, yes, that's exactly what we're doing!" Jerome nods, looking down at me gratefully.

"Running is very beneficial," I say.

"Indeed it is," Victor says, as if suspicious. "But next time you decide to go gallivanting around Anubis House, please look where you are going. Carry on."

Tension leaves my shoulders as I breathe a sigh of relief. He bought it. If he found out about the pranks…eek…

"Thank you, sir," I say, grinning broadly.

"We will certainly carry on. After you, Char," Jerome says, pushing me gently forward.

We begin jogging back around the house, but stop on the side.

I look around the corner to see Victor heading back into the house, thankfully not seeing Jerome's pillow lying on the front lawn.

I hear the door close and I walk back out the front, Jerome following behind me.

"How did you find out about the ants?" Jerome asks, stunned.

I grin smugly and walk backwards, telling him. "I was in the pantry when you came in and overhead everything you told Amber and Mara."

Jerome scoffs. "Well, I'll give you credit for a good prank, but you're still going to get it."

"We'll see about that now, won't we?" I say. I wink at him playfully and head back into the house.

I laugh as I head to my own room, still in disbelief at what's just happened.

"What happened down there?" Fabian probes as I step into my room. He's sitting on my bed, playing around with my guitar.

I convey the scene that just took place and he laughs.

"And Victor believed you?"

"Apparently! I'm just glad he didn't see Jerome's pillow lying on the grass!"

Then the door opens and Amber enters. "Hi, Char! Hi, Fabian! Char, I was wondering if you'd let me do a makeover on you, as you are the new girl. I like to offer my services to anyone here, but most don't want to let me."

I look to Fabian. He shrugs.

"Sure, Amber," I agree. I'm not a girly girl, but I'll comply because I like Amber.

"Can you show me that documentary later, Fabian?" I ask.

"Definitely. You two have…fun…" he says, smiling at me as if to say, 'this is going to be a nightmare for you!'

"Bye," I say as he exits.

"Bye."

As soon as the door is closed, Amber turns to me, a brush in one hand and a curling iron in another. "Ready?"

I laugh. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"And tomorrow I'll help you with your school uniform. It's a bit drab, but I can spice it up a little for you if you'd like," she offers as I sit down at her vanity.

I smile. "Thanks, Amber."

"It's really no problem," she tells me.

This is going to be one interesting first day of school tomorrow. Jerome wants to get revenge for my pranks and Amber wants to give me fashion advice. What the heck does this semester have in store for me?

Thanks so much for reading! I know it was kind of a filler, but I wanted to show the relationships Char establishes with the other members of Anubis House! Nina comes in this next chapter! Remember to review and follow!