DISCLAIMER: I don't own House of Anubis.
There is a giant time skip in this chapter and things have slightly changed.
Months passed uneventfully, weather changing from cold to colder, and the air full of stress. Midterms were right around the corner, and no one could really focus on the idea of a holiday break when the prospect of failing exams came into play. Lunch soon became study hall, and Fabian, Nina, Mara, and KT were often rushing to the library during spare time.
Yes, Fabian and Nina did eventually get back together. It was actually a lot more consequential than Patricia would've originally thought- suddenly, two groups were lumping together to form one. Willow, Nina, Mara and Alfie welcomed Fabian back, but needless to say, KT and Patricia were quite uncomfortable with all the new people. Eddie, too, was a bit of a problem. Fabian had looked to Patricia before merging the two groups, and she had nodded her consent. It wouldn't be fair to hold Fabian back from his friends because of one person. Besides, Eddie and she had made a deal that called for being neutral with each other. Oftentimes at the lunch table, they didn't even talk to each other. Their interaction was limited, especially around this time, with Eddie mysteriously disappearing halfway through every lunch period. Patricia seemed to be the only one curious about his absence, almost following him before remembering their deal. They didn't get involved in each other's lives if they could help it.
It was the last two days before holiday break that it finally happened. Everything had been going smoothly for everyone- Patricia had improved in standing up for herself, and once Amber realized that, she quit teasing her for the time being. Eddie was no longer looked at weirdly, and the group of eight were feeling happier than usual. Drama hadn't gone down in a while, and while that should've been some kind of foreshadowing, no one really cared or had the time to with the buzz of the holidays.
Eddie had mysteriously 'disappeared' during lunch again, and once more, Patricia seemed to be the only one to notice. With Fabian and Nina being mushy, Alfie and Willow enjoying their newfound relationship, and KT and Mara becoming fast friends, Patricia was the observer. Not everyone in the group was her friend- KT and Fabian were her only real friends, and maybe Alfie if the time came. Willow was too peppy for Patricia to get along with, and Mara and Nina she never got the chance to really know, considering Nina was wrapped up in Fabian and Mara in a textbook. And Eddie? Eddie was a…casual acquaintance. Wasn't that the word they had agreed to call each other?
"Hey, KT?" Patricia tapped the girl on the shoulder, mustering up some courage. She shouldn't care where Eddie had gone, they didn't butt into each other's lives. But Patricia was naturally suspicious, and she just had to know. Eddie didn't seem to care all too much for grades, so going to the library to study was highly unlikely. "Have you seen Eddie?"
KT raised an eyebrow, obviously surprised by the sudden concern. "…no." She looked around, "Where is he?"
"That's what I was asking you," Patricia muttered, slightly irritated. She jabbed at her lunch, deciding to take her anger out on her salad.
"Mara, do you know where Eddie is?" KT asked. While she did kind of hold a grudge against Eddie because of what he did to Patricia, it was easy to relate to him. Former popular kid now in the lowest status- they had quickly become friends once more and frankly, she was worried.
"No," Mara said after a moment, looking curiously at the spot at where Eddie was sitting minutes ago. "Hey, Willow? Have you seen Eddie?"
Patricia rolled her eyes as the question made its way around the table, everyone giving a negative answer. Even Nina had torn apart from Fabian, "Where could he be? It's not-"
"Ah, Edison," a voice said, and the whole lunchroom silenced, Nina quieting. The voice was louder than them all, and it was coming from the intercom. It was obviously Mr. Sweet, but why would Eddie be in his office? As far as Patricia knew, Eddie had done nothing wrong. Not school-related at least. "How have you been?"
"Fine, Eric," Eddie's voice came through, and murmurs filled the cafeteria. Since when were Eddie Miller and the school's principal on a first name basis? "You?"
"Well, I just wanted to discuss our holiday plans," Mr. Sweet said, and Patricia looked across the room to see how the popular people were handling this. They seemed as surprised as the rest, meaning they were obviously were as clueless as everyone else.
"Um," Eddie's hesitation was vibrating through the lunchroom. "Well, mom wanted me to spend it with her…"
Patricia narrowed her eyes at the loudspeaker as Mr. Sweet's words came out, "Well, I am your father, Edison. I have a right to spending time with you as well!"
Father.
Eric Sweet was Eddie Miller's father.
It explained so much- the random disappearances during lunchtime, how tensed up he got when people bagged on the principal, the reason why Mr. Sweet looked so unhappy the day after that Monday after that party months ago. Eddie was probably supposed to meet Eric that night when he tried to get Patricia to cover for him but rather ended up dragging her along.
Father.
The cafeteria burst out in laughter as it sunk in, but the group of seven exchanged a glance. Every student was filing out of the lunchroom, and soon enough, Fabian led the group to follow. They pushed past several people until they were up front, right next to the popular kids, Alfie's arm skimming Jerome's.
Eddie came out soon enough, Mr. Sweet following, wringing his hands. Eddie skimmed everyone watching, eyes finally resting on his friends and the people he had once called his friends. His eyes were filled with some kind of hurt and some kind of shame.
"Sweetie Jr.," Jerome stepped up to clap Eddie on the back, holding back a snicker, and Patricia just watched, silently. She could hear Fabian and Nina muttering a plan to the others, but she didn't take part. She just stood there and watched the public humiliation go on.
"I can't believe I used to date him," Amber muttered to Joy, but it was intentionally loud enough for anyone close enough to hear. Everyone was closing in on Eddie and he couldn't push past the crowd- that much was obvious. They were all laughing so hard- there hadn't been much to giggle about the past week because of exams, and this was their moment to let it all out. Patricia flashed back to middle school, standing in the middle of a group of kids, laughing at her for the stupidest reasons and offering the stupidest excuses. She remembered vowing to stay under the radar, and bit her lip as Eddie clenched his eyes shut in frustration. The memories are too strong for her; she's been placed in situations just like this and the reminders were frightening.
Eddie looked as if he was going to punch something, when suddenly Fabian stepped in front of him and pushed Jerome back, daring. The tall blonde looked down at him in surprise- everyone did, in fact. Acts of defiance were rare, and if they did occur, it was usually private. Not in front of the whole student body and not from people like Fabian.
"Leave Eddie alone," Fabian gritted his teeth and Patricia looked on, impressed. Hadn't Eddie ditched him once before? She would've never been able to do what Fabian had just done- act so selfless for someone who had wronged her.
"What are you going to do about it, nerd?" Mick asked, and while it was mean, he almost sounded curious. Fabian didn't have a chance to answer though, because Nina and KT quickly stepped into the picture.
"Leave him alone!" they both seethed, before glaring at each other. Patricia's eyes widened- were the two jealous of each other? She had been watching them for a while, playing the observer, but they had showed no signs of rivalry until today.
"Yeah," Mara crossed her arms, walking over. It was no secret she and Fabian had been good friends, being the only ones with a freakishly high GPA. But to walk into something dangerous like that was something Patricia hadn't seen coming.
"Aw, you have all the girls defending you, Eddie," Amber pouted, but her face was rid of sympathy. A snicker went through the halls and Fabian glared at her, offended.
"Not just girls," Alfie muttered, coming into play and locking eyes with Jerome. Willow quickly followed so that soon enough, the only one left was Patricia. She sighed before stepping in. Her and Eddie might've just been acquaintances, but Fabian was a real friend to her. And so was KT and maybe Alfie.
"Oh wow, these are your friends these days, Eddie?" Jerome smirked, surveying the group condescendingly, conveniently avoiding Alfie's eyes. "Four nerds, a joker, a hippie and the freak?" Patricia glared at him- Jerome had been there, she had grabbed Jerome's collar and forced him to tell her where the exit was. He knew better than most that she could be very intimidating- he had experienced it, hadn't he?
"You know, Patricia," Jerome said, stepping closer to the redhead and burying his hands in his pockets. Her eyes bugged but she didn't say anything. She felt so short and so powerless, but nevertheless, she shot a glare. She's done that a lot- it's a defense mechanism that usually scares people off before they can even talk. He had talked though, and more so called her by her first name, and while that was surprising, that probably wasn't the worst. "I'm actually quite surprised by you. Sticking up for Eddie, of all people." Patricia felt KT and Fabian's stares as she bit the inside of her cheek to brace herself for what would come next. He was not bringing this up- there had been this unspoken agreement between everyone at that party that they wouldn't bring this up.
"Considering what he did," Jerome said, so quietly that maybe only her friends and his could hear it. He backed away from Patricia, voice getting louder, "Just saying. Why would you stick up for someone who was never there for you?"
Why would you stick up for someone that was never there for you?
"Someone that lied to you?" Jerome smirked, and whispers fled through the hall. Eddie was quickly forgotten in exchange for Patricia's misery.
Someone that lied to you.
And as the bell rang and the halls cleared, Jerome gave her one last smug look, "Think about it."
Patricia and Eddie had a deal- act as if it had never happened. Don't forgive and don't forget, but just act like it hadn't happened, and everything would be okay. Treat each other nicely if called for, but avoid interaction if possible. That was their deal. The deal that had gotten them through months of going to the same school and living right next to each other and even sitting at the same lunch table.
But Patricia's throat had constricted at Jerome's words- there were too many memories in one place. Too many reminders of how no one would actually ever just be there for her on first instinct. No one would do that. No one would ever do that.
Willow, Mara, and Nina were going to class, offering Patricia questioning glances but nothing more. KT and Fabian had rushed over and silently asked if she was okay while Alfie had patted her back. He didn't know exactly what had happened but Patricia was sure he had an inkling.
And Eddie. Right there, right in front of her as everyone else left, gazing at her intently. They both knew what had just happened- unwittingly, she had taken the blow for him. Nobody had paid attention to him once Jerome started talking- no, the eyes were on Patricia. For that moment, everyone had forgotten he was 'Sweetie Jr.' His eyes were full of some kind of remorse but he quickly shook his head, breaking the stare.
They had a deal.
They had a deal.
They had a deal.
And so he walked away.
As if nothing had happened.
Hope you enjoyed! And let's just say, with the holidays coming up and them being neighbors, there will be some Patricia/Eddie interaction in a couple chapters or so.