DISCLAIMER: I don't own House of Anubis.

Thank you for the positive response on the last chapter! In return, I have given you the longest chapter yet, around 3000 words! Check the end of the chapter for my new updating schedule.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Jerome smirked, and Eddie sighed. Knowing Jerome, he probably thought they were kissing or having a romantic moment- when actuality was far from it. "I was just dropping off the money for our bet, Eddie. You know, since you won." Eddie clenched his eyes shut and avoided looking at Patricia, who was obviously fuming by now. She hadn't spoken, but Eddie knew the only reason she was waiting it out was because she wanted to hear what Jerome had to say. She wanted to hear the story Eddie wouldn't tell, the reasons he never revealed.

"Oh, Eddie didn't tell you?" Jerome shook his head in fake sympathy before looking at Patricia, who glared at him. He smirked; he knew what he was doing- ruining someone's life. (It was one of his favorite pastimes.) "The only reason he's here with you is because of a bet. You know, I hope you're not too disappointed- it's not like he would go for you anyways."

"Jerome," Eddie warned softly. He didn't need to be reminded of his actions, and neither did Patricia. He glanced at the girl- her eyes had a familiar look in them. He had seen it time and time again without even realizing until now- she was holding it back. She was biting her lip as if she was trying to keep something in, avoiding Jerome's eyes and just letting his words pass her by. But she heard them, and they both knew they hit home somehow.

"How do you get out of here?" Patricia muttered, looking down. With Jerome's arrival had also come her quieter side, and Eddie was ashamed to admit he was actually glad for it. Days had he spent trying to break her out of her shell, but now, all he wanted her to do was turn back into the person he had known this whole time. The Patricia he had just witnessed was one he couldn't push around, one he didn't feel comfortable making fun of because damn, she was intimidating.

Jerome teased, "What? I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you, maybe if you spoke louder-"

Eddie's eyes widened as he watched Patricia grabbed Jerome's collar in a sudden act of boldness. "I said, how do you get out of here?"

Jerome, looking stunned, quickly mumbled directions to the front door. Mick's mansion was huge, and it was easy to get lost because she hadn't familiarized herself with the place. Patricia let go of his collar before turning to Eddie. She didn't even look that angry anymore- she just looked regretful.

"I knew it," she whispered, before slipping his bobby pin out of her hair and slamming it into his hand. She gave him one last glance before pushing past Jerome.

"How are you getting home?" Eddie raised an eyebrow, trying to say it evenly, pretend everything was okay. Maybe they could both do that, pretend as if this had never happened. Patricia dismissed Eddie before turning to Jerome.

"And get Her Majesty to stop crying," she mumbled, referring to Amber. She shot Eddie a dirty look, "Because there is no way I would ever go on a date with him."

Patricia bit her lip as she took a breath of fresh air. Cars were beginning to pull up to Mick's mansion and she bowed her head before beginning to walk. She hadn't been paying attention when Eddie and she had come here, and it was hard to know which street to take to get home. She had only been in this town a week or so- school was the only place she knew how to get to, and that was only from her house. Patricia paused once she was in a less crowded area of the neighborhood, allowing herself to take it all in.

She had been used.

She had let herself be used.

If anything, she was angriest at herself. Patricia knew this always happened, knew there was always an ulterior motive. It had been downright stupid of her to even think about giving Eddie a chance to what? Be a friend? A casual acquaintance? Sure, they might've had the same music taste and sure, they might live next to each other, but the distance between them in every other aspect was too broad. He was popular and popular people did things like this. She knew that from watching countless people be messed with and ripped apart by guys like him- she should've learned.

Patricia should've known better.

And what had followed after she figured it out was wrong in so many ways. So much for staying under the radar- she had just threatened two of the coolest guys in school, and gotten the other two girls extremely upset. (Even though that wasn't actually her fault- Eddie had caused all of this.) Mick probably hated her guts even more for coming to his party, and if she didn't get an earful Monday morning she'd be surprised.

But Patricia couldn't deny it…there was a certain greatness in being herself. People feared her for it, for the way she got riled, for her comebacks and sarcasm. Elementary school had been just that- she had made a handful of friends and been respected for who she was. Patricia was tough and snappy and witty and for that, people had known not to mess with her.

But when middle school rolled around, everything changed. Everyone changed- suddenly it was about fitting in and getting dates. Patricia was moved into a school district where she didn't know anybody, and friends were hard to come by. Who needed them anyway? She was fine by herself- the lone wolf.

But she had watched.

She had watched them all get teased and taunted and broken by their fellow peers that ruled the school. She didn't want to be one of those victims.

But she was.

She remembers them poking her and teasing her and breaking her just like they had broken countless others. She remembers being shunned for speaking her mind instead of feared. She remembers being called bad names and being known as a bad person.

And so, she became invisible in school, eventually earning the nickname 'Who's Patricia Williamson?' Staying under the radar where she belonged, talking only when needed, and learning to survive without anybody.

But right now, Patricia did need somebody- somebody to drive her home or at least navigate her out of this unfamiliar area. She sighed before reaching into her pocket and pressing speed dial one, waiting as it rang.

"Yeah, mum? Funny story actually, but I kind of need you to come pick me up…"

Eddie sat down on the bed before burying his head in his hands. He could vaguely hear the music starting as voices filled the house- the guests were already here. It wouldn't be anyone important of course; all the really cool people, the ones Eddie liked hanging out with, would come later and from different schools.

"So, that wasn't a date," Jerome clarified quietly.

Eddie glared at his friend in answer. "Did you not just see what happened?"

"If I were you, I'd be more concerned with winning Amber back than anything else. I heard she has like a checklist for this."

"No," Eddie rolled his eyes after a moment. "I don't think I exactly, uh, want to get back together with her."

"Really?" Jerome cocked an eyebrow, leaning against the door. Eddie hesitated slightly- Jerome was always twisting words around and using them as blackmail so he wasn't exactly sure whether he should confess anything. "But you two are- what did Joy say again? 'The power couple'? Ah, yes, you two are the power couple."

Eddie sighed, "I don't know, man. Amber's great…but I don't know, I'm just not feeling it." Eddie shook his head at how true the statement was. He hadn't felt anything for a long time, long before this bet had started and long before he had even met Patricia. "I did like her at one point," Eddie admitted, talking more to himself than Jerome. "I really liked her. I used to dream about being her boyfriend." Jerome raised an eyebrow, but Eddie didn't even seem to notice he had let it slip. "But once, I became her boyfriend…it wasn't what I expected, you know? It's like…I'm just some kind of trophy for her to show off."

Jerome nodded as Eddie got up. The two locked eyes and Jerome lowered his voice. "Where are you going?"

Eddie swallowed, running a hand through his hair. He knew it was the right thing to do, but he was afraid of how she was going to react. "To apologize. To Amber."

Jerome crossed his arms, "Are you ready to pay me a hundred pounds?"

"What?"

"The bet. I won. She's not going to go on a date with you anytime soon."

"Right," Eddie sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'll, uh, give it to you on Monday." Jerome nodded, stepping aside so Eddie could leave. The American paused though, "And could you tell Mick that I'll be going home in a while? I'm just going to, you know, apologize to Amber, and then I'll be on my way. My mom doesn't even know I'm here." He didn't wait for Jerome to answer, instead pushing past him and heading towards the bathroom.

The music was faint in this part of the hall, and it was easy to hear Amber's sobs. It sounded like Joy was there too, offering words of comfort, but Eddie couldn't really make out what she was saying from the other side of the door. He knocked a couple times.

"Uh, occupied," Joy called.

"Joy, it's me," Eddie replied. "I need to talk to Amber."

The door flung open faster than he would've thought humanly possible, and the brunette stepped out. She glared at Eddie but didn't say anything, waiting for an explanation before she let him talk to Amber. When Eddie didn't offer anything, she spoke.

"She's not taking you back," Joy practically growled.

"I know," Eddie said. "I just want to apologize."

Joy's eyes blazed, "You break her heart and you think saying sorry will help fix anything? You went out on a date with her worst enemy and announced it right in front of her!"

Eddie fumed, "You don't think I know that? Besides, it wasn't even a date, it was on a bet! And now Amber hates me, and you hate me, and Patricia hates me, and I'm pretty sure my mom's going to hate me too. And Mick probably hates me too for even bringing her. Look, I never meant for it to turn out like this, I swear."

Joy paused, "Fine. I'll tell her. Give me a minute." She disappeared inside the bathroom again and Eddie checked his watch. It wasn't that late yet, but he needed to get going before the mansion really started filling up with guests.

Joy came back out, hands on hips. "She says you're out."

"What?"

"You're out," Joy crossed her arms. "Go hang out with that freak if you like her so much."

"I don't like her though!" Eddie sputtered. He couldn't be kicked out of the popular club- who else would he go to? These people had been his friends ever since Amber had showed him the ropes.

Amber.

He had gotten in because of Amber- because she thought he was cute and the two were sure to date soon enough.

And now, he had 'broken her heart.' Amber was his only tie to these people- sure, Jerome and Mick eventually became his close friends, but at the end of the day, Amber was the reason he was there. And therefore, she could also be the reason he got kicked out.

"But you said it yourself, Eddie," Joy pointed out. "Amber hates you, I hate you, Mick hates you. And Jerome will find something to hate you for too. What do you even have here anymore?"

"I can make amends," Eddie insisted. "Come on, Joy! It was Jerome that made the bet!"

Joy scowled, "Well, it wasn't Jerome that followed through with it, now was it?"

The drive home was mostly silent- Patricia's mum had eventually come and pick her up, and Piper had tagged along. Patricia scowled, unsure of why her twin had to come too. Whenever Piper was around, she always felt worse about herself- her twin was an example of perfection.

"So, tell me, Patricia," Mrs. Williamson said curtly, hands gripped firmly on the steering wheel. "Why again were you in that neighborhood?"

Patricia contemplated lying, but what would she say? She hadn't ended up at Mick's on accident and they both knew it. "I was, uh, going to a party."

Piper beamed at her, "A party? Oh, Trix, that's great!" Patricia looked down- hadn't she and Piper had a falling out a couple hours ago? Why was Piper not holding a grudge against her?

"Not great," their mum cut in. "And you didn't think to tell us about this party?"

"I didn't think you'd mind," Patricia replied coolly, though her heart was beating fast. Who would've thought that her Saturday, her supposed safe haven, would turn out to be a worse day than going to school?

Mrs. Williamson slammed her hand on the steering wheel as they pulled into the driveway, gravel crunching. Patricia closed her eyes and braced what was to come next- she was used to it, of course. She knew how her mum worked; she was the one in trouble most often for backtalk anyways.

"You didn't think I'd mind?" the woman screamed, patience slipping. "Do you know how worried I was, Patricia? I thought something had happened to you, I thought someone had kidnapped you or something of the sort!"

Patricia scoffed- she knew she shouldn't argue, but her first move was to be defensive. "Why would somebody kidnap me, huh? I thought you said this was a safe neighborhood- isn't that why we moved here?"

"Things happen, Patricia," her mother clenched her eyes and Piper smartly stayed quiet. "I do not know what world you live in, but here, things happen. People are not who they say they are, and nothing can be guaranteed as safe."

"You think I don't know that? I know better than anyone that things happen, so don't talk to me like I'm a child because I know that people aren't who they say they are!" Her mind instantly turned to Eddie; she should've followed her gut instincts and avoided him at all costs. She shouldn't have communicated with him via window and she shouldn't have gone with him to that party.

"Let's go inside," her mum finally sighed, opening the car door. Patricia and Piper followed suit and the three began walking in silence to the door. Piper hurried to catch up with their mother, but Patricia stayed outside on the porch. Mrs. Williamson paused and eyed her daughter, but eventually muttered a 'come in soon' and left her alone. They both knew the atmosphere was awkward, and they both needed time to clear their minds after the long day.

Patricia was thankful for a moment of peace, and she clutched her head in her hands.

Then suddenly, a rumble of a car pulling up and the sound of gravel under wheels. She didn't need to look up to know that Eddie had come home- why he hadn't stayed and partied, she wasn't sure. Honestly, she couldn't bring herself to care either.

And then his voice after a few minutes. He was right in front of her, she was sure of it, but she wasn't willing to look up and open her eyes. She wanted to be far away from this place, she wanted to be in her room alone, she wanted to be far away from this stupid town, she wanted to be back in fifth grade because fifth grade was easy.

"Patricia," Eddie started. "I just- I didn't mean for it to turn out like this. I wasn't the one who came up with the bet. And you don't have to worry about me, uh, not getting what I probably deserve because I'm pretty sure karma came around. My mom's probably going to know where I went when I get inside and I also got kicked out of the popular crowd. Happy now?"

Patricia looked up and glared at him before scoffing, "Wow, your life seems really hard, friendless with an angry parent." She narrowed her eyes as she thought about her upset mum and her status at school.

Eddie sighed, and Patricia knew he was going to change the topic. Personally, she thought he had some nerve coming here after the whole scene earlier. "You know, you're, uh, not who I thought you were. Grabbing Jerome's shirt like that."

"Yeah?" Patricia sneered. "Well, you're exactly what I thought you were." She got up, getting ready to go inside before turning back around. "I hope that money was worth it, Eddie. Because I was not lying when I said I'd make your life hell."

And she walked inside as if nothing had happened. She had walked out of the battle unscathed.

As she made her way up the stairs, a thought circled. What if she had been going about this all wrong? She had obviously already received the bad type of attention from the cool people, even after staying under the radar.

What if...this was a sign?

What if she wasn't supposed to stay under the radar?

At this school, she was shunned for staying quiet.

Maybe speaking her mind would make her feared once more.

Hope you enjoyed! I'm going to be updating this Mondays and Thursdays from now on, so keep an eye out.