Chapter Seven: House of Cheats/House of Rumours

"So since we're all grounded, I think we should use the extra time to study the hieroglyphics," Fabian said wisely to Nina and Georgie, the day after Amber and Mick's party.

"God, you're both obsessed," Georgie joked as they walked down the school corridor. Nina had quickly shown her the cylinders and the Egyptian object they found last night before school started; Georgie had no idea as to what the cylinders were but the artefact was intriguing. It was a puzzle box of sorts, its main colour was gold, and it was decorated with the hieroglyphics Fabian was currently mentioning.

"Well we've reached a total dead end," Fabian sighed. "It's like they don't exist. The internet's just never heard of them."

"I was hoping it was going to be like before," said Nina, "when the symbols led us to the eighth step. Things were so much simpler back at the last clue."

"Have you thought anymore about taking this stuff to my uncle?" Fabian asked Nina. "How else are we going to find out what they are?"

"Your uncle?" Georgie asked, confused, as they hovered by their lockers.

"He's an antiques dealer," Fabian confirmed. "He works in town."

"Oh yeah!" Georgie said. "Do you see him much?"

"He's a little bit odd," Fabian chuckled. "But I do go every now and then to say hi."

Nina sighed. "Okay, Fabian. We'll go at lunchtime."

"Georgie, are you coming?" Fabian asked her hopefully.

"I can't, sorry guys," Georgie said apologetically. "Because we're grounded this weekend I can't go to Netball training, so I'll have to train today and tomorrow, during lunch."

"Fair enough," Nina said, linking her arm. "You know, I'd love to get into it again."

"You're more than welcome to come along to my training session next weekend," Georgie offered. "I'll ring my coach. We're looking for new players, a few of our girls are leaving for University soon, so we need newbies trained and ready for next season."

"Great!"

Georgie noticed Amber and Mick standing down the other end of the corridor, so she said her goodbyes to Fabian and Nina. "Hey guys," she greeted, as Amber was putting her notepad and pencil case in her bag.

"Hey Georgie."

"So why have Nina and Mara swapped rooms?" Mick was asking her.

"Er...Because Patricia didn't want to share with Nina anymore," Amber answered quickly.

"And Mara?"

"Who cares what she thinks?" Amber muttered. Georgie sighed, crossing her arms.

"She's your best friend," Mick stated, sharing a look with Georgie.

"Ha—we've got absolutely nothing in common."

"Amber," Georgie whined. "Please make things better between you. For us? Our friendship group?"

"Well when you put it like that...no," she said firmly.

Georgie narrowed her eyes. "Well, fine. Anyway, Mick, I actually came here to talk to you."

"What's up?"

"Well as you know we're grounded and I can't go to Netball training. I was wondering if you're free at lunch time? Help a girl out with some training?" Georgie asked, ignoring Amber's outraged look.

"Sure, I'm free," he said excitedly.

"Don't you want to spend lunch with me?" Amber demanded. "Because we have lots in common."

Georgie rolled her eyes, having had enough of everything and everyone. "Do you know what, Mick? Don't bother. Abandon all of your friends to hang out with your needy girlfriend twenty-four seven, why don't you?"

"But I said—" But he didn't have time to finish because Georgie had stormed off, fed up of Amber and her boyfriend issues; don't get her wrong, Mara shouldn't have admitted she liked him to Patricia of all people, but Amber seems to value her alpha-couple status over making things better with Mara. So Mara likes Mick, yes, but she didn't fall for him on purpose, to spite Amber. True, Georgie would feel put out if somebody she knew liked Jerome, but she wouldn't cut ties with that person altogether. Why is nobody ever normal?

She bumped into Mara and Patricia. "Oh, hey guys."

"Hey Georgie," Mara said, smiling. "What's up?"

"I kind of just snapped at Amber and Mick," she sighed, slapping a hand to her forehead. "Eugh, I've just...had enough of everything, you know?"

"Tell me about it," Mara agreed, rubbing Georgie's arm comfortingly. Amber and Mick then walked past, hand in hand. Mara attempted to say hi to Mick but Amber just dragged him away.

"Is Amber still not talking to you?" Patricia asked her.

"Unless you count when she told everyone to shut up at breakfast and I was in the room," Mara told her.

"Oh, don't worry," Patricia said reasonably. "She'll come around."

"She has done in the past," Georgie agreed. "But who knows with that girl."

"It's not in here!" Patricia groaned, rifling around in her bag.

"What's not?" asked Mara, who was holding her phone and purse.

"My French textbook. I'm going to have to go back and get it," Patricia took her phone and purse back. "I won't be long."

Mara nodded and Georgie said a quick goodbye, turning to Mara as they headed to lesson. "So, how was your first night in Patricia's room?"

"Weird," Mara said, shrugging. "But alright, I guess. You know she's a good friend of mine."

"I know," Georgie admitted. "OH! I've just thought of something. Are you free this lunchtime?"

"Yes I think so, why?"

"Will you help me with my netball training? I'm going to train today and tomorrow at lunch seeing as I can't go on Saturday," Georgie explained.

"Sure, I'd love too!" Mara grinned.

"Ah thanks, you're a life-saver," Georgie said gratefully.

"Hey, Georgie, wait up!" called a voice. She turned to see Jerome heading her way; Mara winked at her and left them to it. "I have an idea of what we can do this weekend if you're still up for it?"

"Sure."

"Well you love Batman, right?" Jerome asked.

"Ah you know me well," Georgie grinned.

"Well, how about The Dark Knight Trilogy marathon?" Jerome suggested. "Seeing as we're stuck indoors."

"Sounds like a plan," Georgie said, sitting down next to Mara.

"Cool," Jerome said casually, heading to his own table.

"Oooh, making more plans together?" Mara teased.

"Maybe," Georgie said, trying to contain her own smile.

Well, the weekend won't be too bad after all.

As Georgie traipsed tiredly back to school to quickly change before lessons re-started (Mara really does give her own coach a run for her money), she was quickly approached by Fabian and Nina. "Hey guys, how'd it go?"

"So, those cylinders are phonographic cylinders!" Nina whispered frantically. "And there's a phonograph in the attic we can use to play them on."

"According to my uncle," Fabian continued, "they are in very good condition and so might have decent recordings on them!"

"Oooh, maybe the next clue will be recorded on them," Georgie wondered aloud.

"And in other news, I ate some Bubble and Squeak," Nina joked. "Wow, it sounds like I just ate my guinea pigs..."

Georgie burst into laughter. "And what did you think of it?"

"I liked it actually!" Nina said of the British delicacy, surprised. "And he made the most amazing homemade lemonade."

"How did training go?" Fabian asked.

"Fine," Georgie replied, wiping her forehead. "I'm shattered now though! But see you in there? I need to shower and change before French."

She left them and headed to the changing rooms, feeling like she could easily shower and go to bed. Mara was good. Tiring, but good.

When she was showered and changed, Georgie headed quickly to French, remembering with a jolt they had a French speaking exam, taking her usual place next to Mara. "Are you ready?" she murmured, as they put their headphones on.

"I'm never ready for a French test Mara," Georgie joked. "I didn't even revise last night because of the party."

Seeing as Georgie was the last one in, but by no means late, Mrs Andrews asked her, "Don't suppose you saw Patricia on your travels, Georgiana?"

"Oh—no, sorry," she replied. She then turned to Mara, "Wasn't she only getting her French textbook from the House?"

"She did want to revise over lunch, yeah," Mara said, confused as well.

"Right well, she'll be getting an F then," Mrs Andrews said, disappointed. "Okay, let's start." Their teacher pressed a button on the tape, and the test began.

Georgie listened, trying to concentrate on the foreign words as she answered the questions on the paper in front of her. Mara was bent over her work in a weird way, for some reason, scribbling away at super speed. As per usual.

"Er—miss," called Mick. Georgie turned to see him holding up his hand.

"Yes, the test's already started Mick, quiet please."

"I know, I'm sorry," he said nervously. "But it's just that I didn't catch the last bit of the first question. Can you start it again please?"

"You know the rules," Mrs Andrews sighed, as Georgie saw Jerome laugh slightly.

An hour later, as the bell rang, Mrs Andrews called, "Ok, time's up." Georgie sighed in relief, taking her headphones off and packing up. "Quietly!"

She put her test on the pile at the front, quickly leaving the room. She walked past Mick and Amber, the former moaning that he had flunked big time. Which, to be honest, was no shock. That boy needs to start studying. She was shocked to see Patricia drag Mara off, looking worried, but soon forgot about it when she saw Jerome crumpling some paper into his fist.

"Whatcha' got there Clarke?" she asked.

"Nothing that need concern you Georgiana," he smirked.

"You know, something tells me that you are going to cause some trouble," she said, raising her eyebrows. "Call it my instinct."

"Me?" Jerome said, feigning shock. "When do I ever do that?"

Georgie rolled her eyes. "Alright, keep your secrets."

"I shall." And with that he strode off down the corridor, looking very pleased with himself, leaving Georgie wondering what the hell that was all about.

"Want to hear some gossip?"

Georgie felt Jerome's lips tickle her ear and she smiled, tilting her head slightly. "Ooh, do enlighten me."

"Well," Jerome said heavily, sitting next to her. They were in the living room of Anubis House, relaxing after dinner. "Patricia thinks Joy is dead."

"What?" Georgie spluttered, staring at Jerome intently to check he's not lying.

"I'm serious," Jerome insisted. "Apparently she overheard Victor saying to a policeman that Joy is buried."

"Oh..." Georgie said, at a loss of what to say to that bombshell.

"That's not all," Jerome continued. "Apparently Joy's parents phoned Patricia's parents, saying they've enrolled Jo y into some international school and they don't want her getting in contact."

"Oh shit," Georgie sighed, sinking her chair. "Well, there goes our peace and quiet. Patricia is going to be all over this."

"You do have to admit though, Joy not staying in contact with Patricia is weird," Jerome said seriously. "I mean, they were best friends."

"I guess," Georgie shrugged. "How do you know all of this anyway?"

"I...overheard the conversation."

"So, you eavesdropped," Georgie stated bluntly.

"Of sorts."

"You're very secretive today," Georgie frowned. Jerome tapped his nose, grinning. And it was at that moment she noticed Mara cleaning up the dishes, and then turned, confused, to Jerome, who was now currently being tackled by Alfie on the floor.

Fabian entered and asked Mara, "I thought Alfie and Jerome were on chores tonight?"

"Oh yeah!" Georgie suddenly realised. "Mara, what are you doing those for?"

"It's my night," she told them. "They're busy anyway."

"Yeah, really busy," Fabian said sarcastically, as he joined Nina on the sofa; she was flicking through a book on Egypt.

Georgie narrowed her eyes at Mara, who shrugged, wondering why she was doing extra chores.

"Don't you do anything other than work?" Georgie heard Patricia ask Nina.

"Yeah, I gotta' cut back on that," Nina said. "I mean, what is this, a school?"

Georgie laughed, as Fabian said, "Patricia, just get a life. Have you got a minute? Georgie are you free too?"

She followed them out, watching with satisfaction as Mick said crossly to Amber, "Give it a rest, yeah?"

"Look at the banisters," Fabian said. "Look at the shape that's cut into them. I always thought it was some kind of weird abstract design but it's not! It's the Eye—"

"Of Horus!" Nina and Georgie chorused.

"Yes! The same as on your locket; the same as we found in the attic," Fabian said. "I did a bit of research on this place, and it turns out the Frobisher-Smythe's had a bit of a thing for Egypt."

Georgie remembered something about them from when she first started, and their portrait that's hung near the dining table. "Well that would explain a lot," Georgie joked, thinking to the Egyptian puzzle-box they found.

"And why they named this House Anubis," Nina agreed.

"And the Hieroglyphics on the painting in the attic," Fabian concluded. "I'm betting they were the people who hid the cylinders."

"But why?" Nina asked in wonder.

"If this was their house," Georgie said. "Why would they need to hide anything?"

"I don't know," Fabian sighed. "But there's only one way to find out."

"We need to listen to those cylinders," Nina said in a quiet voice. Now things were getting interesting. What happened here? What did they record on the cylinders?

A while later Georgie tentatively approached Amber in their room, mentally preparing herself to apologise to Amber for snapping at her and Mick earlier. The last thing she needed was another fall out in the House.

"Hey Ambs..."

"Oh. Hello," she said coldly, flicking through a magazine on her bed.

"Listen, I'm really sorry about earlier," Georgie said desperately. "I was just frustrated because our group is breaking up and that we are grounded and...I shouldn't have said what I said and I'm sorry."

Amber said, putting down her magazine. "You called me a needy girlfriend," she scowled, folding her arms.

Georgie winced. "Yeah...sorry about that."

Amber sighed. "You are forgiven. But you're on probation for a while." Georgie almost squealed in delight. Honestly, she didn't know what she would do without Amber. With all her flaws, she was her best friend. "Georgie, I love you, you're my best friend. We've got to stick together now."

"Agreed."

Amber grinned, soon forgetting all about earlier. "So, any gossip?"

"Well, Jerome and I have made plans for this weekend..."

After Georgie had finished talking, laughing and hanging out with Amber, whose attentions were turned to Mick after an hour or so, she decided to find Mara, who was in the living room tapping away on her laptop.

"Hey Mara."

"Oh hey Georgie."

"So why were you doing Alfie and Jerome's chores earlier? I know for a fact tonight is their night," Georgie asked, pulling her feet up onto the sofa.

Mara sighed. "We swapped, that's all."

"You and Jerome are both very secretive today," Georgie frowned. "Is he being an arse?"

"No, no!" Mara said quickly. "Of course not. We just swapped nights, I promise!"

"Alright, alright," Georgie said, sighing. "But as I've said before, you never could lie to me so I will get it out of you. Eventually."

Georgie yawned as she forced herself to stay awake; they were going into the attic again, to listen to the cylinders. As much as she loved Nina, she was getting a little bit obsessed with this whole mystery. Not that Georgie was complaining about having it as a side project, as it was enchanting to say the least, but Nina doesn't seem to think or talk about much else at the moment. And Georgie was tired from these late nights. Victor had caught Nina and Fabian only last night and apparently they were risking it again tonight. Honestly, was she ever listened to? She had warned them to be more careful. And if Victor really did say Joy is buried then that made everything all the more dangerous in Georgie's mind.

Nina peered over to a sleeping Amber, gestured to Georgie to head out and slid out of bed. They met Fabian outside their room, and Nina used her hair clip to unlock the attic door. Georgie made herself comfy as she sat down by the phonograph, whilst Fabian opened a book his uncle gave him and began figuring out how to use the machine.

"I can't wait to hear what's on those cylinders," Georgie breathed to Nina. "They're so old and we could be the first ones listening to them since they were recorded."

"I know! I mean, how exciting is that?" Nina grinned. "We're practically making history."

Suddenly, Georgie heard a horrible high-pitched sound and it made her almost jump a mile; it was coming from the phonograph. Somebody was screaming! Fabian quickly turned it off.

"What the hell was that?" Georgie hissed, feeling her heart beat painfully as she slowly calmed down.

"I don't know, but it was way creepier than I was hoping!" Nina admitted.

"It sounded like a voice," Fabian whispered.

"Yeah," Nina said in an 'that's obvious' tone. "A voice...or a moan. A deathbed moan. Of someone who really doesn't wanna' die."

Georgie cringed at the corniness of that sentence. "Nobody wants to die, Nina."

"That was very descriptive..." Fabian said nervously. "Anyway, this one looks like it's blank."

"Maybe that's why it made that noise?" Nina suggested.

"Hopefully that's why it made that noise," Georgie muttered.

"Try this one." Nina handed Fabian another one. "Wind it faster this time."

But...there it goes again. The screaming. The almost-ghostly screaming. Georgie, this time, jumped up in fear as Nina cried, "Turn it off!"

"I don't know how, I've only ever used MP3s!" Fabian said, frantically scanning the book using his torch.

"Oh for God's sake," Georgie muttered, and she leapt forward, grabbing the speaker/horn and pulling it off. "Phew. There you go." Fabian and Nina sighed in relief, giving Georgie thankful looks.

Unexpectedly, Nina grabbed Georgie's arm. "Quick! Hide in here!"

"What's the matter?" Georgie asked, confused, being dragged to the secret compartment which Nina opened with her locket. But she got her answer as she heard Victor jangle the keys and open the attic door. They sat against the cold, stone wall, not even daring to breathe loudly as they heard him look around just behind them. Those screams were obviously enough to send Victor snooping...they must have been loud.

Eventually they heard him leave, and, after Fabian gave Nina his dressing gown to keep her warm, which Georgie thought was so cute, they crept out of the compartment and then out of the attic. Nina re-locked the attic door with her hair clip and Georgie shook her head as they ran, not even bothering to be quiet, to the bedroom door. Georgie sensibly tip-toed after them.

"My heart is still pounding!" Nina said with a huge smile on her face. She must love the danger.

"Yeah, you and me both," Georgie muttered.

"Mine too," Fabian chuckled.

"I hope I can sleep," Georgie said thoughtfully, the scream doing loops in her mind.

"I don't know who I'm kidding, I might never sleep again," Nina said, almost as a fact, laughing slightly. She handed Fabian back his dressing gown.

"I'm going to pop to the bathroom," Georgie said, leaving the most-likely-soon-to-be-lovebirds to say their goodnights. "Night Fabian."

"Goodnight Georgie."

When she returned she opened the bedroom door to find the main light on and Amber squealing to Nina, "OH! You went on a secret date!"

"Well, no, not exactly, err—" Nina stumbled, looking relieved when Georgie entered.

Georgie laughed. "What are you on about Amber?"

"And you were there too?" Amber said, confused, as Nina shrugged behind her.

"Er...yeah? Wait, there where exactly?"

"Well Nina said her heart was still pounding, she was sneaking out, and she can't believe that she got away with something," Amber recited carefully. "And so my detective skills told me that Nina and Fabian went on a date tonight but then I forgot about you sneaking out too—"

"Oh thanks Amber," Georgie mumbled. Because it felt great to be forgotten.

"—so that only means that it was a double date!"

"What?" Georgie asked irritably, plonking herself down onto the bed.

"You and Jerome with Nina and Fabian!" Amber said. "Duh. But I'm so excited because I can see it already—triple dates: me, Mick, you, Fabian, you, Jerome. I can't wait to tell everyone!"

"No!" Nina and Georgie said in a panic at the same time.

"No-one, you tell absolutely no-one," Nina demanded. "Promise?"

"Oh, I get it," Amber said heavily. "Secret love. So romantic. Your secret is safe with me." Ha, Georgie thought. She has such a motor mouth, and Nina did not look convinced.

She then turned to Georgie. "And of course I'm already keeping your crush on Jerome a secret because I'm a top friend. Even though it's completely obvious he likes you back, but whatever. And even though you went on a date without me and Mick."

"Yes, alright Amber," Georgie said, feeling elated inside at what Amber said about Jerome. "Let's just get some sleep."

The next day, which was Friday and that meant the weekend was almost here, Georgie walked down the school corridor, laughing when she saw Nina bang her head on her locker, groaning as she did so.

"What's up with you?" Georgie asked, amused, as she sidled up next to her.

"Amber, to no surprise, told Mick about our "date" who in turn asked Fabian about it," Nina said, biting her lip, looking red in the face.

"Yeah, so?"

"Well...Fabian kinda' asked me about it, but I cut him off, explained what happened last night and I may have said that me and him dating was a ridiculous idea..." She actually looked sad at her very poor choice of words.

"Oh Nina," Georgie said softly, rubbing her arm. "I can tell you both like each other. He's adorable towards you."

She smiled sadly. "Thanks. I hope I haven't ruined it."

"Nah, don't worry about it," Georgie said optimistically, as Nina linked her arm. They almost turned a corner when they heard—

"I don't get it, Ambs," Mick was saying. "What does Georgie see in Jerome?"

"What do you mean, boo?"

"Well, Georgie can do so much better than Jerome Clarke," Mick told her. "He's never going to change. I can't believe she fancies a guy like that."

"But he's different around her," Amber insisted. "I know these things, Mick. At my party, for instance, they went together and they were so cute."

Georgie didn't realise she had rooted her feet to the ground until they moved out of earshot; Nina was looking at her, smiling sympathetically.

"You can't help who you fall for, right?" was all Nina said, and Georgie was grateful for that. Right now, she couldn't care less what people thought. She really, really liked Jerome, and that was all that mattered. Nothing he could do would change that...she likes this Jerome, and doesn't want to do better, as Mick put it. Nina squeezed her arm comfortingly as they headed to class in silence, both thinking about their own little situations.

Drama was the next lesson of the day, and Georgie was approached by Jerome, who was yawning. "Tired, Jerome?"

"Well when you're up at night trying to contact the dead it can get a little tiring," he admitted.

"...what?"

"Oh, we decided to have a little fun with Patricia, help her contact Joy," he said, winking. "It was brilliant. Did you hear that loud screeching noise?"

He heard that from his room?! "Oh...yeah, I did. Creepy, huh?"

"Patricia's just said she didn't sleep all night, and that she thinks we've awakened some evil spirit," he said, laughing. "Last night could not have gone any better. Alfie was dressed all in black and had a crystal ball and everything."

"Can you all get into pairs, please!" Mr Winkler called. "Everybody."

Jerome, for some reason, went straight to Mara with a sly look on his face; something was definitely going on there. Did they think Georgie was stupid? She was definitely going to find out what it is. She paired with Fabian.

"Three little words: I love you," Mr Winkler said after everybody had settled down. "See? It's not what you say, it's how you say it. In your pairs I want you to tell a story. But, you can only do it by having a conversation only using those three words: I love you. Okay, off you go!"

Georgie laughed awkwardly, but Fabian, surprisingly, made the first move. "I love you," he said sincerely, but in an almost playful way, as if he was telling his best friend that. Which, he was.

"I love you," Georgie replied, punching him very lightly on the shoulder as they grinned at one another.

Alfie and Patricia were silent, as were some other pairs in the room, but she then heard Mr Winkler say, "Mara and Jerome! Great acting, yeah. I can almost feel the hatred!"

Georgie smirked at this, but soon stared at Alfie, who was trying to get Patricia's attention. "I love you. I love you! Hey, Patricia, I said I love you!"

"Hey, did anyone see that?" Patricia suddenly yelled, pointing at the window.

"What?"asked their teacher.

"That man! He was staring at me!" she cried out as they gathered around her, looking out of the window. Georgie frowned as she was met with just some green bushes outside. "I saw him, I did!"

Georgie shared a look with Jerome as she backed away from the window, wondering whether she should worry about Patricia's state of mind. Maybe she was starting to lose it.

"What was that about?" Mara muttered.

"You'll find out later, I'm sure," Georgie said, giving her a small wink. "And you can tell your best bud all about it when you do know."

Mara rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah."

"Okay, come on, settle down!" Mr Winkler called. "I want everybody to find a different partner and to start again."

Georgie turned to see Jerome already standing right next to her, but before she could say anything he said seriously and quickly, "I love you." There was no hint of humour in his eyes...in fact, he looked deadly serious.

Georgie stared back for a moment before saying quietly, "I love you." And, unlike last time, she found herself feeling serious and was able to look at him, rather than look away feeling embarrassed.

They looked away from each other when Mr Winkler called time on that exercise; Jerome was being unusually quiet, so Georgie cleared her throat and walked straight to Amber, who was frantically waving her over.

She pulled out what appeared to be a pink scrapbook with lots of sparkly decorations on the front, grinning from ear to ear. "Look what I made for you and Jerome!" she whispered. "It's a scrapbook, to put photos and mementos and stuff in. Did you know that Mick and I have ten of them already?"

"Yep," Georgie replied bluntly. "But Amber please put that away, we're not..." she sighed. Sorry Nina. "Look, we weren't going out on a date last night. Just...ask Nina or something." And with that cowardly ending, Georgie grabbed her things and took off from the classroom. And as if Jerome is the kind of guy to have a relationship scrapbook.

"Hey, Georgie, have you got a minute?" Fabian called, catching up with her as she headed to the P.E. changing rooms.

"Not very many of them," she teased, holding up her netball bag to explain. "What's up?"

"Well Amber just tried to give me a scrapbook for Nina and I—"

Georgie laughed a little. "Yeah, she tried to give one to me as well. Bless her, she spent all of that time creating them for us."

Fabian, Georgie noticed, had a slight red tinge to his cheeks. "Well, I had to tell her that Nina and I aren't dating."

"Oh good!" Georgie said in relief. "I said the same to her. About me and Jerome not dating, I mean."

"I said that I would have told her the truth but 'she'd probably make something up anyway'," he said, grinning. Georgie laughed in response.

"Good comeback," she said, impressed. "All I said was 'ask Nina.' I'm a coward, I know."

"You?" he asked in surprise. "Never." Georgie smiled in thanks. "Listen, are you sure you're ok? You've been quieter than usual today."

His best friend, sighed, shifting her heavy sports bag. "It's just...something that I overheard Mick saying. He said that he didn't understand why I fancy Jerome and that I could do better."

"Hey, it doesn't matter what he thinks," Fabian said firmly. "You know what you're doing and how you feel. Granted, some people are surprised, I think, but Mick doesn't exactly see eye to eye with Jerome whereas he knows you quite well, so he doesn't understand what's really going on."

Georgie pondered for a moment, feeling a hell of a lot better about it. He was right; she knows how she feels. So people are surprised that Jerome and Georgie of all people like each other but they'll get over it. They have to eventually. "Yeah, you're right Fabian. Thanks."

"Don't mention it," he said, smiling warmly. "It's nice to talk about something other than cylinders and hieroglyphics."

"Tell me about it."

"And why are you not outside Miss Carrington?" Georgie looked past Fabian to see Mara looking stern as she approached them. "You're wasting valuable practise time!"

"Well that's my cue to leave," said Fabian. "I'll see you later."

"Bye," Georgie said to his retreating figure. "And sorry, Mara, we just got caught up talking."

"Well chop chop!" Mara said, clapping her hands. "Get changed."

"I am going to check that my actual coach hasn't died," Georgie grumbled as she entered the changing rooms. "Because she may be possessing you."

"Glad I am doing a good job," Mara replied with a smirk as Georgie entered a cubicle.

"Mara..." Georgie said through the door. "I know that Patricia thinks Joy is dead."

"How?" Mara asked in surprise.

"Jerome told me."

"Did he tell you anything else?" Mara asked. She sounded panicky.

"No..." Georgie said slowly. "Mara, what's going on?"

"Well Patricia overheard Victor telling a policeman that 'Joy is buried' and so she thought that it meant they murdered her," Mara replied.

"That's not what I meant, but nice subject change," Georgie hit back. "So...what do you think? Is there a conspiracy going on?"

Mara sighed. "I really don't know, Georgie. And after she apparently saw a man earlier, I'm starting to wonder if she's...feeling ok."

"'Feeling ok' is putting it nicely," Georgie retorted as she left the cubicle, now changed into her netball skirt and polo top. "What you mean is, you wonder if she's going crazy."

Mara shrugged. "Everything is just...weird at the moment, you know?"

"I could not agree more." They left the changing rooms and walked outside and onto one of the netball courts. As Georgie began to stretch and warm up, she told Mara what she overheard earlier.

"Wow," Mara said in shock. "It's unlike Mick to be that mean!"

"Believe it or not Mara, nobody's perfect, not even Mick."

"Well in any case, I agree with Amber this time," Mara said confidently. "Jerome really is different around you. He was even since before the Easter Holidays."

"Really?" Mara nodded and smiled.

"But Amber still isn't talking to me," Mara then said sadly, sighing and looking at the ground.

"It'll take time," Georgie said gently. "I think she feels betrayed. I know you haven't betrayed her, but you know how protective she is of Mick."

Mara nodded. "But I still really like Mick, too."

"Yeah, I know," Georgie replied. "But it'll all work out soon enough. It has too."

"I suppose," Mara said, looking unconvinced. "Have you finished warming up? Right, grab a ball and we'll get to work."

Later on, back at the House, Georgie met Nina and Fabian in his room. Georgie sat down next to Fabian as Nina told them some bad news: she has told Amber about what they were up to last night.

"Oh God..." Georgie muttered.

"I can't believe you told Amber," Fabian said, slightly crestfallen. "She's got a mouth the size of a...black hole!"

"Well, she caught me with the puzzle piece," Nina explained. "She knew something was up."

"True, actually," Georgie said. "She was wondering why you sneak around a lot. And why you hid your jewellery box from her at the night of her party."

"You couldn't lie?" Fabian asked Nina.

"I know, I know," Nina said, cross with herself. "It just came out! I'm an idiot, ok."

"Hey, no, no, don't say that," Fabian said, jumping up. "Everything will be fine, I'm sure."

"Well, there's nothing we can do now," Georgie said firmly. "It's been done. Amber's not that bad, really. I'll go up and talk to her now."

After saying her goodbyes, Georgie left Fabian's room and headed upstairs to see Amber.

"I have several bones to pick with you Georgiana Carrington!"

Georgie had not even been in their bedroom for more than half a second when she had Amber storm up to her. "What's the matter Amber?" she asked innocently.

"Nina has told me everything," she said crossly. "Why didn't you tell me? Best friends never keep secrets from each other!"

"Well, technically, it wasn't my secret to tell."

Amber narrowed her eyes in response and Georgie could tell she was stuck for a response. "Yes, well...I'm still mad! For some reason or another."

"You know now," Georgie reasoned. "I would have told you eventually. Or maybe even you would have figured it out seeing as Nina isn't exactly subtle and is also a terrible liar."

"You're right. My detective skills are second to one."

"Second to none, you mean," Georgie corrected, resisting the urge to laugh.

"That's what I said."

And it was all too soon when it was time, again, to go up into the attic. Georgie grumbled as Nina shook her awake; she reluctantly left her warm and cosy bed and followed Nina, and then Fabian, up into the attic, taking her usual spot on the floor.

"I've got a film marathon tomorrow to try and stay awake for," Georgie muttered as she watched them figure out how to use the phonograph properly. "We can't go up into the attic every night—"

"Thank goodness you're all here, I thought I was going to get eaten by a goat!" Georgie looked up to see Amber in her pyjamas and fluffy slippers, holding up garlic and a pair of red heels. She smirked at the sight.

"Ssh!" Nina said quickly. "Amber, what are you doing here? And what's with the heels?" Georgie loved how Nina completely disregarded the garlic Amber was wearing and holding to ask about the heels first.

"I didn't want to miss out on anything," Amber whispered. "And these are my lucky heels."

"Why aren't you wearing them?" Fabian asked.

"I can't actually run away in them."

"And Amber, what's with the cloves of garlic? This isn't Twilight!" said a very bemused Fabian.

"The Bible says: always be prepared."

"Amber, that's the Boy Scouts..." Georgie laughed quietly at Fabian's correction as Amber mouthed 'Oh.'

"Guys," Nina said, turning her attention back to the phonograph, "let's just focus. Fabian, what if it makes the horrible noise again?"

"Don't worry, this should do the trick," he replied, holding an oil can. "But if it doesn't then Georgie: get ready to pull the horn off again."

Soon, the cylinder began to spin and it made a crackling noise. But then, a little girl began to talk. It was...eerie. "Mother and Father have given the house a name. Anubis."

"It's a girl," Nina said softly.

"They're going away again soon. To Egypt, I think. Father says he has to, for his work. But when they go, I'll be on my own again… with him." The poor young girl was crying, too.

"Why is she crying?" asked Amber, who looked nervous. "It's so..."

"Sad," Nina finished for her, staring into the distance.

"I don't want to stay here. I'm frightened of what will happen to me." The tone suddenly got even more ominous and Georgie couldn't even imagine what the little girl had gone through.

"I don't want to stay here either!" Amber cried. "Can we go please?" She jumped up and in the process knocked some things over, making a loud bang.

Georgie shut her eyes and breathed heavily, feeling slightly agitated now. She heard Nina gasp and them both cry out, "Amber!"

"Right, this is getting far too risky!" Fabian said. "I vote we get out of here and find a safe way of listening to these things. And Amber? Quietly."

Amber opened the door to the landing and peered out, with the others behind her. Victor's shadow was looming but, to Georgie's surprise, Amber shut them in and stayed outside to face him.

"What are you doing?" they heard Victor ask her.

"Hello Trudy!" Amber said in a drowsy voice. "Ice cream and brownies! Yum yum."

"Yes...unlike you Miss Millington I was not born yesterday," Victor said sternly. "Now what are you doing?"

"I'm starving," Amber said in her normal voice. "And I don't care about your stupid rules. I'm on a fridge raid!"

"Amber Millington, get back here now!"

When they were sure Victor had followed Amber downstairs, Nina opened the door and they crept out, laughing quietly.

"Impressive," said Fabian.

"She's just full of surprises!" said Nina. "Maybe she can be trusted after all."

"That's my Amber," Georgie said serenely.

They bade goodnight to Fabian and got into bed, giggling with Amber when she eventually returned too. But Georgie smiled as she began to fall asleep, thinking of hanging out with Jerome tomorrow. Alfie had told her earlier that he himself had got out of being grounded because he scrubbed the toilets with a toothbrush and was going home for the weekend, so she would have Jerome all to herself...all she had to do was a have a little lie-in in the morning to make up for lack of sleep tonight and it would all be fine. If I don't have nightmares of the little girls' voice.

Author's Note:

Hey guys :) thank you so much for your reviews, favourites and follows, as always. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and hopefully it won't be too long before I update again. Please let me know what you think :D