DISCLAIMER: I don't own House of Anubis.

Fabian paused when he heard the sobs, looking up from 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea in curiosity. He was in the library again- he was always in the library- it was just his place; his home. More so since he and Nina had broken up- he was doing her a favor to not have to see him every day in the lunchroom.

But in all his days here, skipping lunch for books, idly chatting with the librarian on the several occasions no one else was here, he had never heard someone crying. Crying was something Fabian heard when he passed the girl's bathroom. Crying was something he heard in the lunchroom on the days something dramatic happened. Crying was something he heard in the hall, along with a long talk of how some guy broke up with some girl. The library was peaceful though; nobody cried in the library. Nobody would want to, not with the librarian there. Quickly glancing around however proved even the librarian was gone- maybe even she had gone for a lunch break.

As far as Fabian knew, the library had two entrances, one situated by his science class and the other by the lunchroom. From science, he headed straight here to avoid the lunchroom and sat at the table behind a long shelf of books. Whoever was sobbing must've come from the entrance by the lunchroom.

Fabian frowned, feeling sympathy. He didn't know who it was or even what had happened, but still. The thought of anyone crying, even someone absolutely horrid to him like Amber, was something he just couldn't handle.

"Hello?" he cautiously whispered before berating himself. No one could hear him from back here. Fabian slowly got up and peeked from behind the shelf.

There was a girl, huddled up, knees pressed to her chest and head bent. A lunch tray with uneaten, untouched food laid beside her, and the brown hair that fell in curls only proved his assumption. This was popular girl, KT Rush. From the dynamic Fabian had witnessed from her, she definitely seemed nicer than her friends. She was a smart girl, bubbly, sweet- Fabian had often spent days after she joined the 'popular group' wondering why. Wondering how somebody like that could get along with people like them. Someone he could potentially be friends with hanging out with the people he tried hard to avoid.

Fabian debated whether to go back. Abort mission, he silently commanded, the socially awkward nerd in him making an appearance. But then his sensitive, questioning, comforting part came out- something was wrong, he couldn't just leave her like that.

"KT?" he whispered again, inching towards her almost cautiously. She looked up, tear faced, lip quivering. "W-what happened to you?"

"Nothing," she shook her head, wiping at her eyes. "It's stupid. I shouldn't be crying, really, it's not-"

"You can cry," Fabian said quietly. KT looked up in surprise as he continued thoughtfully, "Sometimes it's better to let feelings out like that." KT nodded before sniffling.

"No, I think I'm done," she gave him a weak smile before looking around at the library. Fabian smiled at the look of awe and appreciation that lit her face. "So, is this where you come for lunch?"

"Most days, yeah," Fabian shrugged before gesturing to a seat beside her. "May I?"

"Of course," she said hurriedly, running a hand through her tangled hair.

"Would you…like to talk about it?"

KT let out a long breath, "I'm out."

"Er, what?"

"I'm not friends with them anymore."

Fabian's eyes widened. Maybe there was a perk to staying in the lunchroom- at least he knew what was going on. "What happened?"

"You know that new girl, Patricia?"

Fabian paused. Patricia Williamson. The girl Eddie was leading on. The girl Eddie was supposed to ask out on a bet. Yes, he knew her. She didn't talk at all in the classes he shared with her, but it was different from his silence. Her vote on no participation was almost determined. She wasn't a nerd like the other quiet ones in his class- he didn't know what stereotype to call her. Goth maybe? Fabian couldn't tell though- refused to, actually. Classifying people based on looks was just plain wrong.

"Yeah, I've heard of her."

"So, today, Amber and Joy were making fun of her, right? And then at lunch I might've stuck up for Patricia and told Amber to cut it out and-"

Fabian sucked in his breath, "Amber doesn't like to be ordered around."

KT rolled her eyes good naturedly; she really was feeling a bit better just being with Fabian. "Yeah, I figured that out myself." A hush fell over the two, a companionable silence.

"Well…I could…um…be your friend," Fabian suggested before internally scolding himself. Damn his kind nature, he was going to be rejected and he just knew it.

But to his surprise, KT smiled, "I'd like that."

Fabian grinned too, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea forgotten.

Patricia sighed. She hated this, having to exchange these formalities with people. It just wasn't her- when she said it, it always came out wrong. Every apology she made sounded sarcastic, every greeting insincere. When she simply quit talking to everyone else at the school, no apologies had to be made, no greetings were expected.

But oh, yes. Now she had to say thank you.

It was obvious that the freak mentioned in Amber and KT's lunchroom fight was her. Everyone knew it, gaining stares and shakes of heads and muttered insults. Yes, Patricia probably should have gone after KT, considering she got kicked out of the elite popular group at her sake.

Patricia looked around as she closed her locker after last period- not many people had left yet, and she hoped KT was one of them. She didn't want to put this off until tomorrow- it would drive her crazy.

Patricia's eyes narrowed in on KT, walking with some boy Patricia had seen in one of her classes but never caught the name of. Strolling over as coolly as possible, Patricia smoothed out her skirt nervously.

KT and Fabian paused as Patricia came near them. The curiosity in their eyes shone as she fiddled with her fingers, looking down. This was so unnatural for her and her inadequate knowledge on this topic was coming back to bite her in the ass.

"Thanks," she murmured quietly. When KT didn't say anything and gave no indication of accepting it, Patricia elaborated. "For sticking up for me earlier today. I know it was me you guys were talking about, and I'm really, er, sorry about what happened." Ugh. Even saying it felt weird on her tongue, like a foreign language. She looked up to gauge KT's reaction.

"It wasn't your fault," KT reassured. Patricia shot her a hesitant smile before turning around to leave, exhaling in relief, when KT called her back. "Hey, Patricia! Could we, um, have lunch with you tomorrow?" Patricia paused, heart pounding. Having lunch with an ex popular girl was not a way to stay under the radar. KT continued, "I'm trying to get Fabian to actually eat lunch instead of being a nerd in the library." A joking tone colored her voice and the boy beside her- Fabian, apparently- laughed along.

"Sure," she found herself answering as KT beamed. No! What was she doing? Why was she talking so much? Why was she practically inviting them to sit at her table? All this was going to do was draw more attention, all this would do was get her bullied more often.

But whatever KT and Fabian had- ah yes, friendship- it shocked her how much she wanted it as well. She couldn't remember having a proper friend, the last time having invited someone over to her house. Looking back, Patricia didn't know what to blame- her social skills or Piper's perfection. It was almost a relief when Piper first started going to music academies- it meant them not going to the same school, not being compared.

"Thank you!" KT squealed, and Patricia raised an eyebrow. For somebody near tears at lunchtime, she recovered quickly. Either that or this Fabian kid was a miracle worker.

As KT began walking off and to the front door, Fabian stayed behind, eyes darting. He touched Patricia's shoulder, and she swatted away his hand. He itched the back of his neck and blushed, "Uh, I just wanted to say, um…you know Eddie Miller, yeah?" Who doesn't? "I'd be, uh, careful around him." And with that, he ran off after KT, leaving a confused Patricia in his wake. What did that mean? Be careful around Eddie?

"Hey, want to walk home together?"

Speak of the devil.