Chapter Four: House of Locks/House of Eyes
When Georgie awoke the following morning, exhausted from being up half the night, she noticed she had a text from Jerome, but she hadn't checked her phone since before the initiation/Patricia completely losing it. The text said: I'm really sorry about tonight, I didn't know Patricia was going to lock Nina in the attic. You're not mad, right? :) X
Georgie smiled at her phone, feeling relieved that Jerome was concerned enough to text her. She replied back, apologizing for the late reply and mentioning that Nina picked the lock so she's fine. She suddenly remembered Jerome holding her hand last night, to comfort her, and she smiled at the memory. It was the only good thing to come of last night.
"Morning," Amber mumbled sleepily. "Late nights do not agree with my skin. I need exactly nine hours sleep."
Georgie frowned, and wondered if she did always get nine hours sleep without fail; before she could ponder anymore over this Mara got out of bed. "I hope Nina's ok," was the first thing she said, biting her fingernails and leaning against her bed frame. "I was just so tired I fell asleep before you guys came back."
"Oh she's fine, Victor didn't find her," Amber said brightly.
"And she picked the lock so she got out too," Georgie continued.
"Oh good!" Mara said, sounding extremely relieved.
Georgie smiled; despite Nina's ordeal, she had come out okay and Patricia must have got one hell of a surprise when she walked into their bedroom.
Oh how she wished she had seen the look on her face.
By breakfast everybody knew Nina's story, and when she entered the dining area, most people clapped in admiration. "We were certain Victor was going to get you," said Jerome as he grabbed a muffin.
"Yeah," Alfie agreed. "Either Victor or the flesh-eating zombies!"
Nina laughed, and Georgie was pleased she was smiling wider and laughing harder than ever since she arrived. "No zombies, but mostly rat bones."
"Cool!"
Georgie looked on smugly at Patricia who was furious with the whole thing. It had backfired; everyone liked and respected Nina now. Jerome placed a hand on Georgie's back as he sat down next to her, mentioning how he had received her text that morning.
"Was it really scary up there?" Mara asked Nina.
"I thought it'd be worse, it was actually kinda' cool," Nina replied. "I might move up there!"
"Don't you think she was brave?" Amber said in admiration—she too had definitely warmed to her. Everyone nodded in agreement. Georgie could not agree more.
"You have to admit Patricia," said Fabian, "that Nina passed her initiation with flying colours." Nina smiled at Patricia.
"No," spat Patricia. "She didn't bring anything back, did she?"
"Well, actually..." Nina began looking in her bag before taking something out. She held up an old book.
"Yes, brilliant!" said Georgie as others laughed and clapped again.
Patricia scowled and stormed out of the room. Mara sighed and said, "Patricia, wait!"
"Mara, I wouldn't be too bothered if I were you," Georgie muttered, but Mara got up and went after her anyway.
"Wait, where's Mick?" Amber asked, worry etched over her face. He now missed dinner, last night's initiation and breakfast. It was unusual, as he included food as part of his 'routine', but he was obviously upset about Amber kissing Alfie yesterday.
"Oh...I don't know," Fabian mumbled, before quickly starting a conversation with Nina.
"So she hasn't seen him since she kissed somebody else?" Jerome asked Georgie quietly.
"Nope."
"Trouble in paradise?" Jerome suggested to which Georgie nodded. "It was the only thing Alfie talked about all night...that and Nina's initiation," Jerome said, smirking. "Absolutely besotted."
"Can you ever see Amber falling for Alfie, Jerome?" Georgie asked him skeptically.
"Probably not," Jerome agreed. "But you can't knock the man for trying."
As Georgie walked to school with Mara and Amber, things still a tad frosty between the two of them, they walked on ahead as she had spotted Nina and Fabian. He started rummaging around in the bushes, eventually returning to a bemused Nina who pulled a leaf out of his hair. Aw, they're cute.
"Oh hey you found it," Georgie said as she approached them, Fabian holding up the attic key in triumph.
"I think this needs to find its way back into Victor's key box before it's missed," he said, as they began walking to school again.
"No, actually," said Nina as she took the key from him, putting it in her bag, "because I'm going to need this when I go back into the attic."
"You're going back up into the attic...?" Fabian asked skeptically.
"And why would you do that?" asked Georgie, a little shocked. Maybe it had something to do with what Nina had said last night; she had tapped the locket and said she had something to tell her.
"It didn't sound so crazy until I said it out loud," she joked.
"Why would you risk getting caught again?" Fabian asked, laughing nervously.
"Even though I was terrified when I was up there, it was the first time that I wasn't thinking of Gran, or trying to get Patricia to like me," Nina admitted. "And I really need to know."
"Need to know what?" Georgie asked.
"If I saw someone up there."
"Come again?"
"You saw someone?"
"I know it sounds crazy," said Nina, sighing in frustration. "But what if there really is something weird about Joy's disappearance? What if Joy's still here?"
Fabian looked baffled and didn't know whether to laugh or act curious but Georgie was pleased; she had told Nina the weird stuff she had noticed around Joy suddenly leaving school, and Nina, after her trip into the attic, seemed to agree now.
"But you're probably right," Nina said quickly after seeing Fabian's face. "It's crazy." She walked off, not before sharing a knowing look with Georgie. She definitely had to talk to Nina later.
Fabian sighed, admitting defeat on that one. "What could she be talking about?"
Georgie shrugged, and they followed her inside. It's all getting interesting. Who did Nina see in the attic?
She soon spotted Jerome and Alfie in the hallway and pushed Nina, Joy, the attic out of her mind for the moment. "Hey guys."
"Oh hey Georgie," said Jerome. "Don't you think Alfie should do something for Amber?"
"Like what?" she asked him suspiciously, folding her arms.
"Something romantic," Jerome replied, turning to Alfie whose eyes were lighting up. "Well, she made the first move with that kiss, now you have to follow it up with a few moves of your own."
Georgie knew what was going on here. Jerome was convincing Alfie that Amber had kissed him because she liked him, even though Georgie had told Jerome about the Mara and Mick situation, he was taking total advantage.
"Jerome," Georgie warned.
"You're right!" Alfie said enthusiastically. "Wait...like what?" Georgie had forgotten how clueless Alfie was when it came to girls. And Amber certainly wasn't your average girl at that.
"Oh the maestro has a few tricks up his sleeve," Jerome told him.
"Does he now?" Georgie asked, laughing a little.
"Who's the maestro?" Alfie asked excitedly.
"Me!" said Jerome. "I'm the maestro."
Georgie rolled her eyes as Alfie said, "Oh, ok! You've got to let me know when you change nicknames. I mean, last week you were captain spaghetti."
Georgie laughed as the boys grinned at her but as Alfie turned away Georgie said quietly, "This plan of yours will end in tears, Jerome."
"But you cannot deny that it will be hilarious." Georgie shrugged and admitted it probably would; Alfie was then distracted by something down the corridor. "Speaking of romance..." Jerome said nervously, looking down at the floor and wringing his hands together. "Georgie..."
But this sudden interesting turn in conversation had extremely bad timing as Georgie noticed, from a few lockers away, Patricia was whining again about nobody caring about Joy and people buddying up to Nina. She even began to break into Joy's old locker, with Mara protesting. Even Jerome had turned around to watch Mr Sweet tell Patricia off.
After he had left, she said to Mara, "Oh, just leave me alone!"
"Sorry Jerome," Georgie said quickly. "What were you going to say?" she then asked hopefully.
"Nothing, it's nothing," he mumbled, quickly walking away after Alfie. Georgie sighed and walked over to cheer up a sad-looking Mara.
"He was definitely going to ask you out," Mara said later on in class, smiling. "I knew he would!"
"Do you think?"
"Hey Mick!" Amber had walked up to his table, but he just gave her a look. She rolled her eyes and joined Georgie and Mara. "He's still pretending to be jealous," she stated as she sat down. "He'll make a big gesture soon to win me back. I know he will."
Mara widened her eyes as she looked at Georgie, who just shrugged. "Just let her get on with it," Georgie said, flicking a page of her textbook. She noticed Nina and Fabian sitting together, talking quietly about something. Probably the attic story. She certainly was a girl of mystery, Georgie agreed with Fabian on that one.
After class, Fabian and Nina bounded up to Georgie, dragging her away from the others. "Nina has something so cool to tell you!" he said, grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh my God, what is it?"
Nina explained everything; about how she fell against this panel and it opened up a secret room in the attic. Her 'glowing' locket somehow opens it and that's how she hid from Victor, and that is also where she thought she saw someone.
Georgie was just stunned into silence before only saying. "You are kidding."
"And..." Nina linked her arm with Georgie's, blushing, as Fabian went to his locker. "He said he is going up to the attic with me, and that's the end of it...I think I can really trust him, Georgie."
"I know you can," she replied, smiling at their little crush. "Fabian is loyal."
"Definitely," Nina laughed. "My secret is safe with you both."
As Georgie was sitting in the living room, on her laptop having just Skyped her family, Jerome sat down next to her. They hadn't really spoken since earlier, but he seemed to have forgotten all about it. "So Alfie has made his grand gesture."
"Oh?"
"He left a note written in sweets on Amber's bed, asking her to meet him tonight at eleven in the laundry room," Jerome said, laughing.
"She won't go," Georgie said, raising an eyebrow at his flawed plan.
"But surely she will if she thinks the message is from Mick?" Jerome asked her, raising his eyebrows. "I may have ate the 'A'."
"Oh no," Georgie groaned. This will definitely end badly... "She's been saying all day that she's waiting for Mick's gesture so they can kiss and make up!"
"This has worked out better than I ever expected..." Jerome said, sighing in content.
"Honestly you are awful sometimes," Georgie joked, shutting her laptop down and placing it on the floor.
Jerome feigned outrage. "I am hurt Georgiana."
"Anyway, maestro..." she started. "Why the Laundry Room?"
"It's cosy, intimate..."
"Surrounded by dirty washing..."
"I'm sure Amber will love it, as it's private," Jerome grinned, leaning back on the sofa. "Anyway it was Alfie's idea actually."
Georgie rolled her eyes and then suddenly said, "Jerome, what do you think happened to Joy?"
"Nothing's happened to her," he frowned. "Her parents have just pulled her out haven't they?"
"Is that what you believe?"
"Do you know something I don't?" he asked her suspiciously. "Because if you do I suggest you tell me Miss Carrington...we've never kept stuff from each other."
Georgie blinked in surprise; that was true enough, though she didn't realise it until now. And so, she told him all of the weird stuff surrounding Joy, leaving out Nina and her attic mystery, of course. "So?"
Jerome stared at her for a few seconds but he couldn't reply as Trudy announced that tea was ready.
"Georgie! Nina! Have you seen? My plan totally worked after all!" Later on that evening Amber was dragging Georgie and Nina into their bedroom, Georgie inwardly dying a little inside. How the hell was she going to break this to Amber? Nina gasped and smiled at the 'lovely' message on Amber's bed. "Mick wants to meet me in the laundry room tonight. I obviously made him wild with jealously and now he wants to apologize for his bad behaviour with Mara and kiss and make up."
Nina frowned slightly at Georgie, who just shrugged. Looks like Amber isn't at fault for kissing Alfie... "I'm sure that's true," Nina started, "if he's the one who sent the message."
Amber looked stunned whilst Georgie thought thank you Nina! "Of course he is! Nina, sometimes I think you miss so much because you're an American." She turned around, presumably to look for an outfit for the date.
Nina smiled at Georgie, rolling her eyes playfully. Georgie smiled back, probably guiltily. She really should tell Amber what she knows about that message. But Amber won't believe her even if she did, and Nina has already thought of the idea that the message might not be from Mick...let the girl make her own mistakes, right?
"What should I wear?" Amber asked Georgie desperately.
"You're asking me?"
"You're right, how stupid of me," Amber sighed, burying herself into her wardrobe.
"Guess what?" Nina whispered whilst Amber was distracted. "Fabian and I are going back up into the attic tonight, do you want to come?"
"Sure!"
"We're gonna go at eleven, ok?"
"See you then," Georgie grinned.
Admittedly, Georgie felt a little bad when she saw Amber all dressed up and sneaking out of their room before eleven o'clock.
"Are you two on a date as well?" Georgie heard Amber say, presumably to Nina and Fabian.
They both quickly protested that they weren't, using a thousand 'no's' to prove their point, and Georgie soon made herself known when they knocked on her door.
"This is weirdly exciting," Georgie breathed as they quickly tiptoed towards the attic door. Nina unlocked it and they carefully climbed the attic stairs, ready to find out its secrets. "Are you guys ready?"
Georgie nodded, whilst Fabian said, "Ready as I'll ever be."
"Do you need the torch?" Georgie asked Nina.
"I don't think setting fire to the place will help us right now," Nina said, sounding extremely confused.
Georgie burst into a fit of giggles. "I meant the flashlight." Fabian chuckled and turned it on anyway.
They watched in trepidation as Nina took out her locket, holding it up for them to see. Georgie stared as it lit up, and Nina pressed it against the wall which glowed also; the wall gave way to reveal a secret room. Nina was right about one thing—someone was in there! Georgie shrieked along with Fabian who held onto her as glowing eyes stared back at them.
Nina had entered the room as Georgie caught her breath, clutching her heart as she did so. "It's just a portrait!" said Nina. "Look." She took it down and brought it forward for them to see.
"That was seriously scary," said a shaken-up Fabian who let go of Georgie. He picked up his torch. "The eyes were glowing and looking at us and...eugh."
Nina however looked a little amused. "It's ok. I won't tell anyone that a painting of a little girl made you so scared you screamed."
Georgie laughed a little as Fabian protested. "I didn't...scream."
"He's right," Georgie agreed, as he shone the torch light onto the painting. "It was more of a shriek."
Nina laughed too as they studied the beautiful painting. "I know her," she suddenly said, handing the painting over to Fabian and Georgie. She took out her locket, opened it up and held it under the light. "It's the same girl! I wonder who she is..."
"Hang on," Georgie said, holding her head. "So a random old lady gave you a locket which, coincidentally, has the picture of the same girl we've got a picture of here...in Anubis House. Maybe she was right...she could have lived here once, Nina."
Fabian continued to study the picture as Georgie felt the excitement of their little mystery grow in her gut. "Hey, what's that?"
Nina pointed to something on the back of the portrait; Fabian put it down and shone the light over it. It was like a mark painted on in black ink, like the artist's signature. "It looks like Egyptian hieroglyphics!" Fabian realised, taking a picture of it on his phone.
"You know, the old lady said there was treasure hidden in this house," Nina said anxiously.
"What kind of treasure?"
"Well she hardly knows her own name so she wasn't that specific," Nina replied. "But...maybe we should go talk to her."
"That's a good idea," Georgie said, as Nina put the portrait back inside the secret room. "See if we can find out more of what the hell is going on!" They all agreed; Nina closed the sliding door with her locket and they left the attic as quickly and as quietly as they could muster. "I think we should have American girls start more often," Georgie pondered, as she tiptoed back to her room.
Nina and Fabian chuckled; biding them goodnight, Georgie entered her room and slid into her warm bed. And it also looks like Amber isn't back yet—she must be having a good time with Alfie. Or she's killing him.
Her phone light suddenly flashed and she flipped the lid. It was a photo message from Jerome—it was Alfie in a very shiny suit, getting ready for his date with Amber. Jerome captioned the message with 'fool!'
Georgie laughed quietly to herself as to not wake Mara. She quickly replied to his text and then fell asleep, dreaming of Egyptians, mysterious portraits and treasure.
"Morning...Amber?" Georgie cut her greeting short as Amber stumbled into their room, her hair messy, still wearing her dress from last night and smelling like dirty laundry.
"Mick didn't show up last night," Amber muttered, grabbing her uniform and storming out on the verge of tears.
Georgie bit her lip and shared a look of worry with Mara, before getting ready for school herself. She wondered why Amber didn't put two and two together after seeing Alfie all dressed up...then again, this was Amber. "Georgie..." Mara said, sounding guilty.
"What?" Georgie asked, frowning.
"I think Patricia may want to steal Joy's file from Sweety's office," Mara said quickly, the words stumbling out all at once.
"Oh God," Georgie moaned. "Mara..."
"She wants me to distract her, and I can't do that!" Mara panicked. "That's like...assisting a fugitive or something! Which is just as bad!"
Despite everything, Georgie started to laugh. "Mara, it's not that big a deal. Just tell her no."
"I'm no good at saying no," Mara mumbled. "Anyway...why do you think Mick didn't show up last night?"
Because he didn't write the message! "Er...I don't know."
"Do you think he's really not into her anymore?" Mara asked, her eyes lighting up. "I mean, that's not my fault if they break up because he's not interested—"
"Or he didn't write the message?" Georgie quickly cut in. "It wasn't signed by anyone, was it?"
"Oh...I suppose it wasn't," she said thoughtfully.
"It could be Alfie's idea of a grand gesture...maybe," Georgie quickly added. "Come on, let's head on over."
Jerome caught up with Georgie as they walked into school. "Come with me," he said, smiling away and looking pretty pleased with himself.
"Where are we going?" she asked, being dragged down the corridor by Jerome.
"If I tell you where and why you won't go along with it," Jerome said. "So I'm not telling you."
She was led to where Alfie was standing by his locker, looking depressed. "Morning Alfie...are you okay?" Georgie asked kindly, glaring at Jerome afterwards who winked.
"No," he mumbled. "Amber was waiting for Mick last night, not me. She pushed me away." Georgie's heart almost sank as he genuinely looked and sounded heartbroken.
"Alfie I'm so sorry," Georgie muttered, rubbing his arm comfortingly.
"I just can't believe Amber was expecting Mick instead of you," said Jerome in a very convincing concerned voice. "Do you reckon someone messed with your message?"
"Duh, what do you think?" said an annoyed Alfie. Georgie bit her lip; oh God this was definitely mean...poor Alfie and poor Amber. Her best friend looked distraught that morning. But then too be fair, Jerome had told Georgie after he had already eaten the 'A' so she technically wasn't in on it...and there was no way she would have ratted him out. She liked him too much, admittedly. And plus, Amber assumed the message was from Mick and Alfie should have stood up for himself in the laundry room. Georgie definitely knew how to make herself feel better. I'm an awful person.
"But who would have done that?" asked Jerome.
"Mick, obviously!" Oh no, now Alfie thinks Mick is the bad guy.
Jerome laughed whilst Georgie said quickly, "Alfie, Mick wasn't in the laundry room last night..."
"Then he's still mad at her and wanted revenge?" He pondered, looking a little better about the whole thing. Georgie sighed; that's not what she meant, but oh well. "But he's still got a hold on her."
"No, no, no, Amber's still got the hots for you man," Jerome said, putting a hand on Alfie's shoulder. "Without a doubt."
"It didn't look that way when she was pushing me out of the room," said Alfie in a sad voice. He must really like her.
"Ok look," said Jerome, as they all began to walk away from Alfie's locker. "Twenty says I can get Mick out of Amber's life, by the end of the week. And pave the way for you to move in there: easy." Alfie grinned and high-fived Jerome's open hand. "No...I need payment in advance. Cash problems, you know."
Alfie sighed and handed Jerome twenty pounds. He smiled a little though as Jerome said sincerely, "Thank you."
"Jerome, can I have a word please?" Georgie asked, raising her eyebrows and crossing her arms.
"Anything for you," he said, nodding at Alfie who walked away. He grinned at her. "What?"
"Jerome...you're exploiting your best friends' feelings," Georgie started. "And Amber's my best friend and she likes Mick and—"
"Georgie, Georgie, Georgie," Jerome said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I see it as a way to have a laugh and make some quick cash while Alfie gets the girl...maybe. And I also see it as Mick isn't the right guy for Amber and she needs someone like Alfie...hopefully she'll see that and will be over Mick in no time."
"But then there's the Mara Mick situation..."
"Do explain?" So Georgie told him about the bracelet incident, and the buddy studying and how he has been talking to Mara a hell of a lot more since Amber kissed Alfie. "What's the problem? Mara will get Mick, and Amber will get Alfie."
"Maybe."
"Maybe," he agreed. "It's fine, Georgie, you're not being a bad person...and you won't tell on me, right?"
He then did that annoying thing—pulling a cute puppy-dog look, tilting his head and raising his eyebrows. She groaned in frustration, why does she do anything he tells/asks her? "Fine."
Jerome grinned. "It's not my fault Alfie told me that he likes Amber," Jerome said.
"He's not that subtle about it though anyway," Georgie reminded him.
"True, but I don't tell him who I like because I am clever," he said, tapping his forehead.
"Don't you?" she asked, surprised.
"What, and you tell Amber, do you?"
"Point taken."
"Oh and I was going to ask you something..." Jerome asked, looking serious.
Georgie's heart skipped. "What?"
"Well...you know the whole Joy thing?" he asked her, flinging his jumper over his shoulder as they gradually walked down the corridor.
Feeling disappointed she answered, "Yeah?"
"Well...do you know anymore?"
She decided to leave out the attic thing. And Nina and the old lady thing. "Nope, nothing...just what I've already told you."
"You'd tell me if you learnt something?"
"Absolutely." Oh God, he might get it out of me eventually...
"But you're right, it does sound weird..." Jerome agreed, looking like he was in deep thought. "Maybe at some point you and I will have to do some digging."
"Sounds good to me," she replied, smiling to herself—anything to spend some more time with Jerome.
In History, Georgie sat next to a depressed-looking Amber, because Mara and Patricia were muttering suspiciously about something. "Hey Ambs...are you okay?"
"No," she mumbled, leaning on her palm. "Boys...love hurts."
"I know that better than a few," Georgie said, laughing nervously.
Amber smiled sadly. "Georgie...I could do with cheering up tonight. Can you please let me give you a makeover?"
Georgie sighed. "Alright...but only because I love you."
Amber squealed in delight and threw her arms around Georgie, who was almost knocked off of her chair at the sudden contact. "Thanks Georgie!"
"Alright Amber, let Georgie breath," Mr Winkler laughed, as he began the lesson.
Georgie almost snorted into her bottle of water as Mr Sweet walked past her later on that day, saying to Miss Andrews, "...And Mara has a new and concerning obsession with hedgehogs, do you think we're giving her too much extra work?"
I wonder what the hell that's about.
"Hey," Mara said breathlessly, catching up to her, looking really worried. "So Patricia got file from Sweety's office—"
"What?" Georgie hissed, forgetting all about the hedgehogs. "Is she mad? They'll know it's her—or they'll suspect one of us from Anubis House!"
Mara nodded, linking Georgie's arm as they made their way back to the House. "I know, I know, but it's got Joy's home phone number in it, so she can give her a call."
"Oh thank God," Georgie said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Maybe this isn't such a bad thing after all."
Patricia certainly looked like the cat who got the cream as Georgie reluctantly walked with her and Mara out of school and back home. They entered the building as Victor was taking Jerome and Alfie's bags.
"What's going on?" Mara asked nervously, as they stood by them at the foot of the stairs.
"Apparently we have to have our bags searched," Jerome said, shrugging and sounding confused.
"Why?" Patricia asked, sounding scared and also sounding guilty. Why do you think?
Georgie sighed, blaming Patricia for this stupid thing. Why couldn't she have written the bloody number down? She handed Victor her bag and her jacket, wondering why hers had to be searched, she didn't even like Joy all that much and he probably knew that, seeing as she was usually arguing with Patricia these days.
"Patricia," Victor warned, holding out his hand for her bag.
"No!"
"Something to hide, Patricia?" he asked her.
"What's gone missing?" she said, ignoring his question.
"Something very valuable indeed," he answered, taking her blazer. "And whoever has taken it is in deep, deep trouble. Now give."
He took the bag from her reluctant hands, as Mara stared wide-eyed at it. Jerome frowned at Georgie, who tried her best to gesture subtly to Patricia's bag. As everybody else filed in from school, they all handed over their bags too, muttering between themselves.
Georgie quickly got changed after the drama and headed back downstairs.
"Oh Georgie," Jerome said, who had also changed out of his uniform. "So what is Victor searching for? I think you're my new eyes and ears around this place."
Georgie laughed slightly. "Most likely Joy's file," she told him bluntly as she entered the living room.
"What? Patricia stole it?" He said, laughing. "Oh, brilliant."
Georgie crossed her arms as she saw that things were still weird between Mara and Amber as they sat at a distance on the sofas. "Right, that is it! Will you two please make up now? This is getting ridiculous, you're best friends and driving me insane." She breathed out slowly, feeling a whole lot better after Amber sat by Mara and gave her a hug. "Thank you." The three friends smiled and laughed a little; just like old times.
All she had to do now that evening was wait for the drama of Victor finding Joy's file in Patricia's bag. And then it was the weekend.
Although she felt a little better about the impending drama when she caught Jerome smiling at her.