Chapter Three: House of Dares/House of Lies
It was now day three of what, in Georgie's opinion, was turning out to be a very weird week. This term was definitely getting interesting; to think, it even started off normal.
Georgie was sitting at the breakfast table with her arms crossed and was scowling at Patricia, Jerome and Alfie, who were laughing at Nina's expense. Apparently she had had a nightmare and was constantly shouting beware the blackbird! Georgie instantly froze up at this, remembering what Nina had told her yesterday. And then Patricia, being Patricia, decided to cover Nina in black feathers, waking her up from her nightmare and having to sleep in feathers for the rest of the night.
"Oh I wish I could have seen her face when she woke up, just covered in feathers," Jerome chuckled.
"Something like this," said Alfie, who proceeded to pose a shocked face, making Jerome and Patricia laugh even harder.
"Hey, guys, I have an idea that will give her nightmares—"
"Seeing your face every day is bound too," Georgie muttered, to which Jerome said, "Oooh!"
"Leave it out Georgie," Patricia snarled. Nina then entered the room, which Georgie thought was extremely brave of her to have to face this lot. "Sleep well Nina?" Patricia taunted, making bird noises with Jerome and Alfie joining in, even doing the actions of birds flapping their wings.
"Honestly how old are you all, five?" Georgie snapped as Nina looked on, embarrassed.
"Ignore them," Fabian said nervously to Nina as she sat down by him and Georgie.
"I am," Nina replied.
"So what was this dream anyway?" Georgie asked her.
"It was awful," she told them. "I know they're making jokes, but it felt so real. It felt...evil." At this last word she looked straight at Georgie. She remembered Nina telling her what the old lady had said—that this house was evil.
"Anyone seen Mara?" asked Amber, who stood at the head of the table, behind Nina. "She's got my hair straighteners."
"Oh yeah, she's with Mick in our room," Fabian replied casually. Georgie winced at his carelessness, and waited for it.
"What?" Amber demanded. And there it was.
"Uh-oh," Jerome said, grinning. "Green-eyed monster alert."
"I'm not jealous," Amber said, trying to act nonchalant. Georgie snorted in her orange juice. "Why would I be jealous?" She sat down, trying to convince herself more than anything. "What's there to be jealous of?"
"She's helping him with homework, that's all," Fabian said quickly.
"Yeah I know all about that, and it's cool," Amber, seeing not many looked convinced, then said, "I would help him but I'm just so busy." She flicked her hair and Jerome mocked her, making Georgie smile a little.
"I see you haven't crept out at the crack of dawn today," Amber said to Nina, to change the subject.
"Wow, everyone does keep tabs on everybody else around here, don't they?" Nina said, laughing nervously.
"Fabian said you had gone to school early," Amber continued. "But then you didn't turn up to first class."
Nina shot Georgie an alarmed look, but then Trudy came to the rescue. "Nina was helping an old lady across the road...literally! We had a surprise visitor from the Old People's Home."
"I'm not very good with old people," Amber stated as Trudy returned to the kitchen. "They're all so...old. Aren't they?" Fabian choked on his orange juice, Alfie laughed and Jerome muttered, "Really?"
"Amber, your poor grandparents," Georgie sighed.
"Still, you must get used to it, Trudy said your gran brought you up," Amber said to Nina.
"She did, yeah," Nina said brightly.
"What happened to your mum and dad?" Amber asked, way too bluntly.
"Amber!" Georgie said, outraged.
Even Jerome had stopped laughing, and was being serious. "Amber, Queen of Tact."
Amber looked on, a little horrified, but Nina replied, "They died in a car accident."
"Oh, that's awful," Amber said quietly. Fabian and Georgie shared a sad look.
"It was a long time ago," Nina reassured Amber. "My gran and I are really close."
"So how come she packed you off to a big, bad boarding school, miles away from home?" asked Patricia in a horrible high pitch voice. "Sounds to me like she wanted to get rid."
"Patricia!" Fabian shouted.
"You bitch," Georgie said through gritted teeth.
"Don't be such a witch!" Fabian told her. "I know you're upset about Joy but there's no need to be taking all of this out on Nina!"
"Yeah, well, everybody seems to have forgotten all about Joy, except me," she huffed, standing up and walking down past the table.
"Can you blame us?" Georgie said, standing up too. "You're making me hate her as much as I hate you."
"You're such a bitch," Patricia shot back as Georgie watched Jerome leap up, ready to intervene. But Patricia stormed out of the room, and Georgie put her hand on Nina's shoulder, who actually looked a little guilty.
Fabian sighed and stood up, taking some things from the table into the kitchen. Georgie sighed too and sat down by Nina again. "Thank you for always sticking up for me," she said sincerely.
"Hey, don't thank me," Georgie said kindly. "Anyone should do it...anyone normal anyway."
"But," Nina said, changing the subject. "Guess what I found out last night."
"What?"
"This necklace...it's a locket!" Nina patted the chain around her neck. "I'll show you later, but it's got a portrait inside."
"Wow," Georgie breathed. "I can't wait to see inside it!"
Jerome came and sat by Georgie, grinning. "Hey, Georgie, want to hear—"
"Not really Jerome," she scowled back, hurt by his coldness towards Nina at the beginning of breakfast. And siding with Patricia. "Go away."
She didn't miss the hurt look on his face as she got up from the table and left the room. What had she done? Had she pushed him away with those few words?
Back in her room, and in a foul mood, she was packing her bag for school. Mara entered and began packing her bag too. "Georgie, is everything ok?"
"Not really," she muttered.
"What's up? You can talk to me," Mara said kindly. And so Georgie explained about Nina's ordeal at breakfast, and then about Jerome and how hurt she was by him. Mara jumped straight to the Jerome issue. "It's because you really like him. And now because you like him, you're hurt by his actions towards others. I understand. But it's who Jerome is...maybe you'll be able to change him." Georgie smiled at her, feeling a bit better, and Amber stormed into the room, leaning against the bed. "Hi...what's wrong?"
"I'm fed up of you hanging out with Mick," Amber said crossly. "That's what's wrong."
"Why don't you talk to him about it?" Mara suggested. "He's the one that keeps asking for help."
"With his homework, yeah I know," Amber said. "But you were helping him all last night and now I even find out you've been buddy studying with him again this morning. I know you fancy him, Mara."
Mara shot Georgie a fleeting look before saying, "I do not!"
"Why? What's wrong with him?" Amber challenged.
Georgie snorted before swinging her bag across her shoulder. "Nothing's wrong with him! I just—"
"Everybody fancies Mick, what makes you so different?" Amber asked.
"No they don't," Georgie said, now starting to laugh. "He's definitely not everybody's cup of tea." Certainly not mine...he's not the sharpest crayon in the box. Amber glared at her.
"And he's going out with you!" Mara protested. "So, I'm not interested."
"But you might be if we weren't going out?"
"That's not what I said," Mara tried to reason.
"You have no idea how difficult it is being one half of an alpha couple Mara," Amber said arrogantly. "Georgie you remember how it was, right?"
She thought sadly of Dean and wondered if Amber was being a tiny bit spiteful or whether she didn't realise what bringing it up meant for Georgie.
"You're right," Mara quickly agreed. "I don't."
"I have a lot of sympathy for Victoria Beckham."
Georgie scoffed and took Mara's arm. "We'll meet you at school, Amber." She had noticed that Amber was not quite ready, so before she could receive an answer she quickly pushed Mara out of their room.
"Please tell me you didn't tell Amber I fancy Mick," Mara groaned as they walked down the hallway and then the stairs.
"No, of course I didn't," Georgie said. "I think Amber is just thinking up excuses as to why you keep helping Mick. Thinking up excuses that avoid the obvious."
"The obvious?"
"That maybe Mick likes spending time with you," Georgie admitted, and, after seeing Mara's small smile, they left Anubis House.
Georgie, working away in Biology at school later that day, was shown the inside of Nina's locket. "Wow..." she breathed. "Who do you think she is?"
"I'm not sure." Nina shrugged, popping her locket away as Fabian returned to his seat next to them.
The bell rang not long afterwards and Georgie was relieved—she was not a massive fan of biology. Or any science, in fact. The whole class began to pack up.
"Your biology assignments, please!" shouted Mr Sweet over the din. Georgie had hers at the ready—having Mara as a best friend meant she had it done days ago.
He leaned over to Mick. "And no excuses this time." However Georgie watched as Mick proudly handed his assignment over, with Sweetie looking surprised. Mick grinned at Mara, who held up her crossed fingers for him, grinning back. Amber, however, looked mortified...and even a little betrayed. They're seriously going to fall out soon, Georgie thought worriedly, looking at them from her table.
"Ah, thank you, Georgiana," Mr Sweet said as he took her assignment.
"That's your name?" Nina said, as Georgie sighed at her full name being used. "It's so pretty!"
"Thanks Nina but only my parents use it if they're annoyed at me," she joked.
However her attentions were turned when Patricia came over. "Hey Nina," she said. "I just wanted to say...you know, sorry about breakfast."
Georgie narrowed her eyes at this sudden change of attitude, whilst Nina looked happily surprised. "It's fine. A little teasing helps the tea and toast go down!"
Patricia laughed along with her. "Ooh and I think it's about time we welcomed you into the school properly." Georgie stared as Jerome and Alfie bounded next to Patricia, looking too excited for her liking. She shared a look with Fabian. "The traditional way."
"What are you going on about?" Fabian asked as they made to leave the room.
"Alfie, why don't you tell Nina about the initiation ceremony," Patricia continued, as Fabian and Georgie chorused, "The what?" So this is what she's up too.
"Yeah, every new person who comes to the school has to undergo like...yeah, an initiation ceremony," he finished lamely, pointing to Patricia.
"Sine when?" Georgie challenged, crossing her arms and avoiding Jerome's gaze.
"Since forever Georgie," Patricia said.
"It's okay," Nina reassured Fabian and Georgie. She stared Patricia down. "Sounds like fun. What do I have to do?" Georgie couldn't help but admire her for going along with it.
"You have to go up into the attic of Anubis House," Patricia said smugly, folding her arms. "And bring something back to prove it."
Nina shrugged. "Doesn't sound too hard. Fine."
"Excellent," Patricia said, her eyes lighting up. "We'll go over the details later when we're back at the House."
Patricia, Alfie and Jerome left, giggling away to themselves whilst Georgie sighed, sharing a look of contempt with Fabian again. "You don't have to do this, you know. And she wasn't apologizing for this morning at all."
"I know that," Nina said casually as they finally left the classroom. "But I personally can't wait to see Patricia's face when I come back out of that attic."
Georgie grinned, and saw her two best friends up ahead. "I'd best go catch up with those two. See you guys later."
"Bye Georgie!"
She eagerly approached them, but almost faltered at the tense air when she arrived. "Is everything ok guys?"
"Oh hello Georgie," Amber said, turning to block Mara out. "Thank you for asking, but no, everything is not alright."
"Huh?"
"Mick and Mara, that's what," Amber grumbled, folding her arms.
"Amber, how many times? You've got to stop this!" Georgie said, in a slight panic; she didn't want her two best friends falling out. She wouldn't be able to choose a side.
"We're just friends, and I'm helping him with school work, and that's it," Mara protested.
"Then why doesn't he ask Fabian? He is his roommate and just as clever as you are," Amber said, directing that last bit to Mara.
But Georgie or Mara couldn't come up with an answer for this; if anything, it made Georgie question why he didn't ask Fabian. What she said earlier seemed to be right—Mick did like spending time with Mara.
Amber stormed off and Mara made to follow her, looking like she felt terrible. Georgie stopped her. "Let her cool down."
"Oh God, I don't want to ruin our friendship," Mara groaned, as Georgie looped her arm around hers.
"Don't worry about it, she's overreacting," Georgie reassured her, as they headed off to lunch. "I know you fancy him but maybe just tell him how Amber reacts if he asks for your help again. Ok?"
"Good idea," Mara nodded.
"Anyway," said Georgie as they entered the dining hall. "Patricia has got Nina doing some initiation ceremony. Want to hear what she's got to do?"
Finding herself at the dinner table all too soon, Georgie was leaning on her hand as she listened to Patricia's voice. "So, Nina's initiation takes place tomorrow night, ok? At midnight."
"The witching hour," said Alfie in a spooky voice, laughing manically along with Jerome. Georgie felt a pang of sadness, for if she was on normal speaking terms with Jerome, he would have told her all about what they were planning. And, well, just speaking to him, and Alfie of course, in general—she definitely would have had a few more laughs today.
"Alfie," said Fabian sternly. "Cut it out."
"Tell me, Fabian, does it get boring always, always being the one like cut it out or that's not right or that's bad?" asked Jerome. That was a little harsh; Fabian has a laugh like everybody else, but he could see that this was all clearly getting out of hand. And he also saw that is was just out of spite for Nina.
Fabian pretended to laugh and then said, "No."
"Drives me mad," Jerome muttered.
"What does she have to do?" Amber asked as she handed out plates to everyone.
"Go up to the spooky attic and bring something back to prove she's been," Alfie told her.
"You're going up into the attic?" Amber asked her directly, as if she had gone completely mad.
"Sure, why not, I mean it's not like it's—"
"—totally haunted!" Amber finished for her.
"Really?" Nina asked, with a hint of worry in her voice.
"Yeah she's right," Jerome agreed. "By the ghosts of former students who went up there, never to return."
"Getting cold feet?" Patricia taunted.
Nina quickly recovered. "Not at all. Let's start tonight—I can't wait."
"Oh we've got something else planned for you tonight," Patricia smiled.
"I can't wait to hear this," Fabian muttered sarcastically to Georgie.
"The key. She can't go up into the attic without the key," Patricia stated. "She has to steal it from Victor."
Nina stared back at Patricia, probably trying to figure out what kind of game she's playing. Again, though, Georgie was impressed with how quickly Nina recovered. "Fine."
A while later, after everybody had eaten dinner, Jerome sat by Georgie. "You're unusually quiet tonight," he said, as she turned to look him in the eye for the first time in a while.
"Guess I'm not down for bullying," she muttered.
"How is it bullying when Nina is going along with it?" Jerome questioned, tilting his head sideways and doing the face that Georgie loves. Particularly when he raises his eyebrow. It was cute.
"It's not just this stupid initiation Jerome," she said, still staring at him. "It's just the way Patricia has treated her from the moment she arrived."
Jerome sighed. "I know," he admitted. "But her mind is taken off Joy—for now, at least. She hasn't even mentioned her since breakfast. That's got to be one good thing. And she hasn't reallybeen mean to Nina since breakfast either. Am I right?"
Georgie sighed. "I suppose."
He smiled. "Good. Anyway, I would have thought you'd love a good initiation."
"I probably would under different circumstances," she admitted, as they eventually settled back into their old selves.
"Your hair is down again today," Jerome suddenly noticed, then laughing nervously afterwards.
"I guess it is..." she said slowly, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
"I liked it when you had it plaited the other day," Jerome continued. "Because you never wear your hair up." Georgie smiled at him noticing. She would definitely get Amber to do it for her again if Jerome liked it that much. "Anyway," Jerome said nervously, changing the subject. "How's things with the love triangle?"
Georgie stared at him, confused, and then laughed slightly. "Oh that. Not great. Amber is honestly driving me insane...she doesn't have anything to worry about but she really doesn't want to lose Mick. She called themselves the 'alpha couple.'"
Jerome burst into laughter. "Oh Amber."
"Yeah..." Georgie trailed off sadly. "And then she had the decency to bring up Dean, asking me if I remembered how it 'was.' Of course I bloody remember how it was."
Jerome suddenly looked angry. "I know she is your best friend Georgie but sometimes I think she loves being the only one in a relationship." Georgie definitely agreed with that. "I can't believe she mentioned him. I don't know what Alfie sees in her."
"She's been my best friend for ages, I'm used to it," Georgie shrugged. "I do love her...usually."
"Well, tell you what," Jerome, standing up. "Why don't I make you a cup of tea? Your favourite."
"But I thought you said I should cut down?" Georgie asked, amused.
"I think you deserve one today," he said sincerely. "But it will be de-caffeinated."
"Damn."
She followed Jerome into the kitchen, and a few minutes later he held out the cup of hot tea. She took it, her fingers brushing against his as she did so. They stared at each other as Georgie smiled in thanks.
"Hey, Jerome! Come on man, we're ready to do the first part of Nina's initiation," said Alfie with an air of excitement as he bounded into the kitchen.
"Yes, alright Alfie, I'm coming," he told him. Alfie grinned and ran back out into the hallway.
Georgie sighed, "Go on then. Go have your bit of fun."
Jerome smiled. "Catch you later?"
Georgie nodded. "And thanks for the tea."
Mara entered the kitchen as Jerome left, carrying the dirty plates from dinner. "And what are you smiling about?"she smirked, dropping them down into the sink.
"Nothing in particular," Georgie teased, smiling as she sipped her tea.
Mara folded her arms and raised her eyebrows at Georgie. "Are you sure? Because I was wondering why Jerome was grinning like a Cheshire Cat when he left."
"Oh well that would be because Nina's initiation is starting, of course," Georgie said, sharing a knowing look with Mara.
"Of course," Mara replied, giving her a wink. They laughed slightly.
"You could be right though," Georgie admitted, leaning against the counter. "I think he could like me back!"
"Of course he does," Mara agreed. "Maybe I could ask Amber to ask Alfie to find out..."
"No!" Georgie said quickly. "No, she can't find out. It's not that I don't trust her...well, ok, I don't but only because she'll accidentally blurt it out and then things will get awkward and—"
"Alright, alright, I get your point," Mara said, turning to the sink and beginning to wash up. "Anyway...I'm sorry to bring him up but Amber brought him up earlier and well...I never asked you if you were ok afterwards."
"Oh that's ok," Georgie said, waving a hand. For the first time, it didn't actually hurt to have Dean brought up in conversation. In fact, it didn't even give her too bad a feeling. "She didn't mean anything by it I'm sure. You know what she's like."
Mara smiled. "Good. I'm glad you've moved on."
"And me," Georgie said. She realised now that she can trust somebody else again. And she would be willing to open up to someone else again. That somebody possibly being—
"Amber!" Mara called from the kitchen as, for some reason, Victor dragged Alfie into the kitchen to grab some polish. It must have been to distract him so Nina could steal the attic key—Alfie would never willingly clean. "I realise you're incredibly busy but we're both on chores, not just me."
Georgie looked on as Amber, who was sitting in the living room, removed her earphones. "I hate chores," she moaned. "Washing up makes my finger tips go all wrinkly."
"I know, if only there was some sort of glove, made of rubber, that could protect your hands from water," Mara said sarcastically as Amber got up and made her way over to them.
"Oh, Mara, didn't you know, they have!" Georgie joined in. "They've called it the rubber glove. How apt!"
Amber sighed, reaching over to take the gloves. Instead, she grabbed Mara's fist, staring at her hand. Georgie frowned, looking at the hurt look on Amber's face. "Where did you get that?" Georgie put her tea down and stood beside Mara, realising that Amber was referring to a bracelet on Mara's wrist.
"Why?" Mara asked quietly, pulling her hand away.
"Because my boyfriend gave me the exact same one, that's why!" Amber stormed away, presumably to go into Mick's room. They heard her crash into Alfie holding all of his cleaning stuff.
"Oh no," Mara muttered, looking sheepish.
"Why did he give you that?" Georgie asked.
"To say thanks," Mara muttered, fiddling with it. Georgie sighed. "Did you know he had given her a bracelet recently?"
"No, actually," Georgie admitted. "She never mentioned it. Usually she would have bragged about it." Mara bit her lip. "Don't worry. But maybe try to wear that thing during the holidays when you're at home," Georgie tried to joke, to lighten the atmosphere. Mara looked no happier. Georgie squeezed her shoulder, and quickly ran after Amber, edging around Alfie and Victor as she did so, entering Mick and Fabian's room.
"I thought you gave me this as a token of our love!" she was shouting, holding up her arm to show off her matching bracelet. Georgie slowly crept in and sat by Fabian on his bed, as they hid behind his book.
"I did babes, yeah," Mick said, completely clueless, as he lay on his bed with his tennis ball.
Amber took it off. "So what's Mara's bracelet a token of?"
Mick very quickly sat up. "Oh, that. It was just a little thank you present."
"Here, you can have this one back," Amber muttered, throwing the bracelet at him. She left, slamming the door behind her.
Fabian and Georgie peeked out from the book Fabian was holding up. "It's not the best of moves is it," Fabian said to him, "giving another girl the same present as your girlfriend."
"Very wise," Georgie agreed. Mick was staring at the bracelet in his hand, looking completely baffled. "Look, Mick, go and talk to her. Try and talk some sense into her, please? For my sanity?"
Mick nodded. "Alright, I'll try."
After Georgie had spent some time with Fabian and his book, she left his room when Mick had returned, apparently having no more luck with Amber. She went back to her own room, where Mara was pacing.
"She's still not speaking to me!" Mara said in a panic. "This has gotten serious now Georgie!"
"Mara, calm down," Georgie pushed her shoulders so she sat down on the bed. "Amber didn't speak to me for a whole week last year when we did some training together. Remember? It's only been a couple of hours...she'll come around."
"But this is worse than you and Mick training together!" Mara cried, burying her face into her hands. "He gave me the same bracelet as her, which I wouldn't have accepted if I had known that, and I actually fancy him! I'm practically lying to her, Georgie."
Georgie sat by her on the bed, wrapping one arm around Mara and trying to comfort her. They were soon interrupted by a knock on the door. "Yeah?"
It was Nina, who had a triumphant smile on her face as she entered, holding up the attic key. "Look, I did it! I totally showed her."
"That's brilliant, well done you!" Georgie said, as Mara looked up, smiling sadly. "How on earth did you manage it?"
As Nina told them the story of sneaking in when Victor took Alfie downstairs to 'clean', Georgie grinned the whole way through. "I bet Patricia loved that!"
"Hey, are you alright Mara?" Nina asked in concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks Nina," Mara replied, looking grateful that she was concerned even though she hadn't exactly been welcoming.
They hung out in their room for a while and Nina left when it was getting dark outside; Amber still hadn't shown up.
"I wonder who'll be our new history teacher," Georgie wondered aloud as she got ready for bed, thinking of their first history lesson since the news broke of their old teacher.
"I know, I can't believe Mr Fleming is ill. I hope he's alright."
Amber then suddenly, and dramatically, stormed in, getting ready for bed in silence. No more was said between the three of them that night.
As Georgie sat by Amber the next day, with Mara behind them, in History, she couldn't help but feel annoyed as Patricia walked into the classroom, Jerome and Alfie following. They were all still being buddies and, for some reason, Georgie hated it.
"The calls were going through to Joy's voicemail," she was saying to them, "but now I'm just getting an unattainable signal. What does the mean?"
Looks like Joy still hadn't got in touch, even though Victor had apparently sent Joy her phone back. "It just means, Patricia, that she's gotten fed up of you bombarding her with messages and texts. Now she's changed her phone contract." Jerome laughed and Georgie smiled to herself as they sat down.
"Not funny Jerome."
"All the world's a stage!" sounded an unfamiliar voice from behind them. Georgie looked to see a young man in a suit sitting at the back table, closing a text book. He certainly silenced the class and held their attention. "And the men and women are merely players." He stood up. "Hey, my name is Jason Winkler and I'm your new history teacher. I'll also be teaching drama."
A lot of the girls looked extremely pleased about this; even some of the guys, too. He was pretty cool. "You're Mr Fleming's replacement?" Mara asked.
"Yeah," he grinned. "That's right."
Georgie however felt embarrassed as Amber was practically falling out of her chair to stare at their new teacher. "Wow, I am so pleased he had a heart attack!" The class laughed, and Georgie slapped a hand to her forehead. "Sorry! That didn't come out right," Amber laughed nervously, going red in the face.
Mr Winkler, however, pretended he hadn't heard it and the class begun.
They had Biology again later that day, and Georgie found herself sitting by Nina and Fabian again. Mr. Sweet walked around the room, explaining something Georgie found to be terribly boring. "If pressure is exerted on part of a confined fluid, that pressure will be transmitted undiminished and equally in all directions. Now this is the result if you apply Pascal's law—"
Nina was admiring her locket, and Fabian noticed. Georgie wondered whether Nina had shown him it, but soon got her answer. "That's nice. Does it have a photo inside?"
"No!" Nina said, quickly stuffing it down her jumper.
"I'm sorry!" Fabian said, looking bemused. "I was only making conversation."
Georgie stared at Nina, wondering what the hell that was all about. "Mr Rutter," said Sweetie, "silence is golden!"
"Sorry."
"Mr Sweet?" Patricia called.
"Yes Patricia?"
"I've been meaning to ask you about the school photo."
Georgie turned her head to face them instantly; she had completely forgotten about that. "I fail to see why that applies to Pascal's law."
"Why has Joy been erased from the photo?" Patricia pushed him, sounding desperate.
"Uh-oh," said Alfie, "crazy conspiracy alert!"
"That is a ridiculous notion Patricia," Mr Sweet said quickly, as the bell rang to signal the end of the lesson. "Just one moment please, I have your assignments from yesterday here!"
"Saved by the bell as they say," Patricia said, rolling her eyes. Georgie reluctantly admitted to herself that she wanted to know why Joy was missing from that photo too.
She took her assignment from Mr Sweet, happy with her B. However she was shocked to see that Mick actually got a higher grade than her—an A-!
He picked Mara up and swung her around. "A big fat A! I've never seen one in person. Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"It's only an A- Mick," said Amber, staring at them both. "Get a grip." Amber hardly gets A's herself.
"But—"
Amber walked away and Georgie quickly steered Mara away from him too. "I can't believe you got Mick Campbell an A!"
Mara smiled triumphantly. "And last night, I forgot to tell you, he asked me to help him with his Physics assignment too."
"Mara, do you really think that's a good idea?" Georgie asked skeptically, as they made their way to Drama. "What did I tell you yesterday?"
"He begged me too, even after I told him what Amber was getting like," she sighed. "And I had already said yes before Amber found out about the bracelet."
Georgie noticed that Mara wasn't wearing hers today. Thankfully. "Alright," she sighed. "But don't let Amber found out, whatever you do."
"I'm not stupid. And she's still not talking to me anyway."
"Hang on, I'll be right back," Georgie said, running over to Nina and Fabian. She was glad to see they were being normal again after Nina's weird outburst.
"Look, you're not seriously going through with this initiation nonsense, are you?" he was asking her. "You don't have too, you know."
"Yeah, I do. I'll never live it down if they think I'm scared," Nina admitted.
Fabian smiled. "You are tougher than you look."
"Only if you mean doing absolutely anything to survive the dangerous world of English boarding schools," Nina laughed.
Fabian laughed too, in understanding. When he said he was going to the toilet, Georgie immediately said, pointing to their Biology classroom, "What was that about in there?"
Nina looked at her, cringing. "I have no idea! I just felt really protective over it all of a sudden."
"It was slightly weird," Georgie said, chuckling. "You can trust Fabian, you know that. You should tell him what you told me."
Nina nodded. "Yeah, he's been so nice to me, like you have. I think I will...soon."
Georgie could tell that Amber really was genuinely upset. When Alfie was mucking around in Drama, doing some high-pitched noise whilst running around the room, she just looked frustrated, reading her magazine, whilst everybody else laughed. She slapped him with the magazine as he passed her. "Thanks Alfie. Some of us are here to learn."
"And what exactly are you supposed to be, Alfie?" asked Mr Winkler.
"A mosquito in a spin dryer!" he said proudly. "Isn't it obvious?"
Georgie was sitting by Jerome, who clapped slightly at his best friend's performance. They looked at each other and chuckled. "Now for something a little more serious. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet." Mr Winkler began handing out books to the class. "Timeless. Tragic."
"Tedious," Jerome muttered in Georgie's ear, his breath tickling her earlobe. She grinned at him.
"See, I knew I was right," Amber said quietly, leaning across to Georgie and Nina. "This article says if your boyfriend isn't paying you enough attention you have to flirt with someone else to make him jealous!"
"Oh no Amber, bad idea," Georgie groaned, as Nina didn't know whether to laugh or not.
"Oh God," Jerome muttered, laughing silently.
"Swap!" Mr Winkler said, thrusting a book into Amber's face. "Please Amber."
"Do I have too sir?" she said angelically, to which he nodded. He took her magazine and she blushed again.
"Now, who would like to play the parts of Romeo and Juliet for us?" asked Mr Winkler.
"I think I was born for the part sir," Alfie said dramatically, making the class ripple with laughter again. To Georgie's surprise, Mr Winkler nodded and Alfie stood up on the stage.
"Now we need a Juliet—"
"I will do it," Amber said defiantly, joining Alfie on the stage. Georgie shared an amused looked with Jerome as they began reciting the famous balcony scene.
Mick was staring at them. "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet."
Alfie looked extremely happy to be Amber's Romeo. "Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?"
Jerome was beside himself. "'Tis but thy name that is my enemy." Amber caught Mick's eye and suddenly said, "Thou art...only the yummiest boy I've ever seen: Romeo."
"What?"
"That's not in the script, Amber!" shouted Mr Winkler.
Amber threw her book down, grabbed Alfie's shoulders and kissed him. Georgie's eyes widened as Amber kissed Alfie on the lips; Jerome stared, shocked, and laughed whilst some of the class went Ooooh! Mick looked devastated, and Georgie's mouth fell open as what just happened sunk in. Amber pulled away, smiling guiltily, and Alfie had his eyes wide open, staring at her dreamily.
"Wow..." Jerome said, grinning.
"Alright, I think that's, er, enough for today's lesson," said Mr Winkler. "Go on, off you go."
Georgie pulled Amber to one side when she had hopped off of the stage. "Amber! What the hell was that?" she hissed.
Amber shrugged. "What? We were Romeo and Juliet."
"Ok, so number one: Romeo hadn't appeared to her yet from hiding and number two: you kissed someone else, namely Alfie who has a huge crush on you, in front of your boyfriend!"
"Serves him right," Amber mumbled, grabbing her bag and storming off.
"Oh my God, Mick, are you ok?" asked Mara after Amber had left the room. He shook his head, and he too stormed off.
"Oh dear," said Jerome, as Alfie continued to look like he was in a trance-like state. "Lover's tiff."
Georgie and Mara had tried, and failed, to talk to Amber and Mick later on that evening. They both didn't show up to dinner and when Amber finally returned to their bedroom she refused to explain her actions and constantly changed the subject. So all Georgie could do was sit up in bed and wait for the stupid initiation to start at midnight.
When the three girls heard movements outside their door, they put their dressing gown and slippers on, and headed out.
"We've been instructed to hold the torch light to our faces," Fabian sighed, as they stood in lines by the attic door.
"Excellent," Georgie said sarcastically, as she fished her torch out from her dressing gown pocket and switched it on. A minute or so later, Nina was escorted out of her room by Patricia, Alfie and Jerome, who all looked deadly serious. It was utterly ridiculous.
"Wait, where's Mick?" Amber asked, leaning over to Fabian.
"Didn't want to come, too tired or something," he replied. Georgie shared a look with Mara, knowing exactly why he wasn't here.
"Shh," Patricia spat at them as they jumped back into place. "Oh spirits of Anubis House, guide the new girl on her initiation quest and keep her from harm in the haunted attic."
"Oh come on, this is ridiculous—" Fabian started, but he was silenced again by Patricia.
"Unlock the door," she instructed Nina.
Nina took a deep breath and walked slowly towards the door, unlocking it when she arrived. "I just have to go up there and bring something back, and I'm done. You guys didn't booby-trap the place or anything did you?"
"Of course not!" Patricia hissed. "Go."
Nina turned the door knob and opened it; the door creaked and all they could see was the darkness. Nina breathed deeply again and entered, the others watching. She began climbing the stairs, looking back at them for some comfort.
Then events took a turn for the worst.
Patricia ran forward, closed the door and locked Nina inside, taking the key. "What are you doing?" Amber cried.
"No, no, no, no," Fabian said desperately as Mara looked upset at Patricia.
"What does it look like?" she replied in a deadly quiet voice.
"Patricia, you give that key to me right now," Georgie threatened, pointing her torch at her face.
"Or what, Carrington?"
"What's going on?" came the panicked voice of Nina. The door knob rattled. "Let me out!"
"You heard her, let her out!" Fabian told Patricia.
"Not until you tell us what you know about Joy's disappearance," Patricia said to the door. Georgie shot Jerome an outraged look, but he just shook his head at her, his eyes wide.
"I don't know anything!"
"Then you'll have to stay in there 'till morning," said Patricia nastily.
"Alright Patricia you've had your fun now please let her out," Fabian said in alarm.
"Just unlock the door!" Georgie almost shouted.
"Patricia this is getting silly!" said Mara in disbelief.
"Whose side are you on?" Patricia, outraged, almost sneered at Mara, who looked frightened.
"Don't you dare talk to Mara like that!" Georgie threatened as she felt Jerome's fingers brush against hers, eventually squeezing her hand, telling her to back down.
Patricia ignored her, which only riled her inside. "Last chance, newbie. What can you tell me about Joy?"
"NOTHING!" she sounded like she was close to tears. "I know NOTHING!"
"You're not really going to leave her in there all night, are you?" Fabian pleaded.
The door knob rattled more violently. "Let me OUT!"
"Stop banging!" said Patricia.
"LET ME OUT!" Nina cried out in fear. "There's something up there!"
"Oh my God," Georgie muttered.
"Open the door!"
"The zombies are coming!"
"Hurry!"
"Hurry the hell up!"
"And what's all this noise?" boomed Victor as he rounded the corner and faced them. Nina immediately silenced her banging and shouting. He turned the hallway light on. "What's going on? Why are you all out of bed? Hm?" He tested the attic door. "Are you all trying to break this door down?"
"No!" exclaimed Patricia. "We...er...thought we heard mice. That's all."
He stared at them all suspiciously. "Get to bed. Now! Before I put you all in detention."
Georgie ran back to her room with Mara and Amber, and they listened to the sound of keys being jangled—Victor must be opening the attic door. It creaked open and they heard it shut again.
"He's gone in!" Georgie gasped.
They waited with baited breath. Eventually Amber and Georgie had enough of waiting and sneaked out of their room, bumping into Fabian who had waited on the stairs. "Is he still up there?" Fabian whispered.
"Shh!" they frantically whispered back. The door to the attic suddenly opened and they grabbed Fabian's arms, pulling him into their bedroom. They peered around the door frame, watching as he turned the light back off and walked away.
"He hasn't got her!" said Amber.
"Let's get the key from Patricia," said Fabian, and they stormed into her room. She was lying in bed.
"Patricia, give us the key!"
"I haven't got it..."
"Liar!" Amber whispered in a harsh tone.
"Seriously, I haven't!"
"Where is it then?" Fabian asked.
"I...I threw it out the window," she admitted.
The three of them shared outraged looks. "You did what?"
"Patricia, I am going to kill you!" Georgie said through gritted teeth, glaring down at her. She was quite pleased with herself that Patricia actually slightly cowered.
"Later, Georgie," said Fabian. "Which window, this one?"
"I think it went in the bushes."
"You'll have to look for it tomorrow morning," said Amber.
"What a mess!" Fabian said angrily.
"I think we should go and tell Victor everything," Amber suggested.
"She's right, it's the only way to get Nina out of the attic," Georgie agreed.
"No!" cried Patricia. "We can't do that Carrington!"
"Well we can't just leave Nina in there!" Fabian told her. "Come on guys."
They left Patricia's room, and tip-toed towards the attic, whispering, "Nina...Nina?"
Suddenly the door flew open and they all jumped. Georgie put a hand on her chest as Nina stood in the doorway. "Hi. What's the matter? You all look like you've seen a ghost," she laughed nervously.
"How did you—?" Amber asked, nodding towards the open door.
Nina held up her hair clip. Amber giggled but Fabian whispered, "Shh! You'll have Victor up again." Nina closed the door as quietly as she could. "Are you okay?"
Nina grinned and nodded. "So what was it like up there?" Georgie asked.
"See any ghosts?" Amber added.
"No, just mice and some spiders...possibly a rat," she said, as Georgie shivered at the thought.
"You're so brave!" Amber said in admiration.
"I'm so sorry about Patricia," Georgie said, patting her arm in pity. "That was just awful tonight. She really is a bully."
"It's ok, nobody knew she was going to do that," Nina reassured her.
"You did so well," Fabian said, smiling.
"I feel so proud," Georgie sighed, as they laughed quietly.
"Don't tell Patricia, but my hands were shaking so hard, it took me three times to get the clip in the lock!" Nina said.
"Your secret is safe with us," Fabian promised. "Well, night."
She smiled at him, and waved as he left. "Night Nina," said Amber, tugging on Georgie's arm to go back into their room.
"I've got something to tell you tomorrow," Nina muttered so only Georgie could hear, and she tapped the chain of her locket.
Georgie nodded, curious as to what that might be, before wishing her goodnight and letting herself be dragged back to bed by Amber.
What. A. Night.
Author's Note:
Oh my God, that was soooo long! But on the plus side, I've finally finished episode one, and even got five minutes into episode two as well ;) let me know what you thought, thanks for sticking with it! :)