DISCLAIMER: I don't own House of Anubis.

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"Eddie?" There was a tinge of surprise in Fabian's voice, but Eddie couldn't really blame him. Even now that they were friends again, they weren't the type to call each other up. They used to be, way back when, but that was probably a once in a lifetime thing and nothing would ever be the same between them. But this was an urgent matter, and Eddie had taken the chance.

"Hi, Fabian," Eddie said nervously, rethinking this whole idea. "How are you?"

"I-I'm fine," Fabian stuttered out, and Eddie rolled his eyes. "H-how are you?"

"Uh," Eddie started. "I'm okay too."

"Good," Fabian said from the other end, and Eddie drummed his fingers on his bed sheets. How was he supposed to lead into this kind of conversation? The two remained in silence for a bit, and Eddie had almost begun to think Fabian had hung up when the other boy finally said, "Eddie? Um, as much as I appreciate you calling, was there a particular reason?"

"There has to be a reason?" Eddie laughed anxiously- Fabian was always smart.

"Nowadays, yes," Fabian answered, and Eddie winced. When had Fabian gotten so blunt? Must've been an effect of hanging out with KT and Patricia so much. "I mean, the last time we talked privately was…Eddie…is this girl troubles? I don't think I'm right for this, I mean-"

"You have a girlfriend, don't you?" Eddie asked.

Fabian sighed and paused, "Fine."

"Okay, so there's this girl," Eddie started, glancing over at Patricia through his window before turning away. "And, we're friends, but I-"

"Want to be more than that?" Fabian offered gently. "That's how Nina and I were."

"No, I don't want to be more than friends," Eddie said stubbornly. He was somewhat repelled by the fact he could even think of Patricia in that way. "But I don't want to be just friends either, you know?"

"…not really," Fabian frowned. "Is she your crush?"

"No, nothing like that," Eddie clarified. His feelings weren't that strong to the point where he would consider it a crush. "I just- I mean- I-"

"Do I know this girl?" Fabian asked, sounding as if he was putting a puzzle together. Eddie gulped- he hadn't wanted to reveal Patricia's identity, but Fabian seemed like he had a suspicion rising. Nobody else even hung out with Eddie anymore except the people in their little group.

"Yeah," Eddie clenched his eyes shut, not elaborating, and bit his lip harder.

"Is it KT?" Fabian asked, and Eddie shook his head before realizing Fabian couldn't see him.

"No."

"Mara?" Fabian tested, though it sounded as if he couldn't picture the two together. Eddie was a little reckless and Mara was more reserved.

"No."

"Willow?" Fabian shuddered at the thought- he liked Willow, really, but sometimes she was a little kooky and it unsettled him that she believed in unproven myths.

Eddie paused- there were only two girls left in the group, "No."

"I-Is it Nina?"

"No!" Eddie practically shouted right before hearing Fabian's relieved sigh. He wouldn't go to Fabian for relationship advice about his own girlfriend- not that he even liked Nina like that.

"But that only leaves…Eddie, no."

Eddie closed his eyes, biting his lip even harder so that he could taste the blood. He didn't say anything, didn't know what to say. He fisted the bed sheets again and then drug a hand through his hair.

"Eddie, please tell me you do not like Patricia like that."

"I don't," Eddie insisted. He didn't like Patricia like that- it was just…he felt some kind of attraction towards her, that was all.

"Are you forgetting what you did?" Fabian hissed quietly. "Eddie, you can't…you said you were friends…"

"We are friends!" Eddie muttered, looking over to Patricia again. She was still in his shirt and it was driving him crazy.

"You used her, you can't possibly expect her to-"

"I said sorry!" Eddie's voice quivered- he hated being reminded of what he had done. People made mistakes and the important thing was that he had repented, right? Patricia had forgiven him, why couldn't Fabian?

Fabian let out a long breath, "So you…have a crush on Patricia?"

"No."

"But you want to be more than friends. Eddie, it sounds as if you're confused about your own feelings."

"I guess," Eddie exhaled, looking out his window once more. Good, she had changed back into a t-shirt of her own. His was lying on the edge of her bed, and though she seemed immersed in her music, Patricia seemed to sense someone's eyes on her and looked up questioningly. They locked eyes and Eddie bit back a groan. Now he just looked creepy.

"Do you even know her that well, Eddie?" Fabian's voice sounded hesitant. "Maybe you're just-"

"Her favorite band is Sick Puppies," Eddie started, breaking away from Patricia's gaze. "She has a sister named Piper. She likes Nightmare on Elm Street." He paused, unsure of what to say next. Anyone could list out facts like this- but he felt as if he actually knew Patricia, as if he knew what she was thinking. Ever since that hug, he had felt some sort of bond with her, some sort of familiarity. He didn't want to tell Fabian all the deep emotional things though, but with just three facts, Fabian wouldn't think of it as anything.

"Get to know her," Fabian suggested after a while. "Really know her. She has to trust you. Know things about her without her telling you."

"What does that even mean?" Eddie's nose wrinkled in confusion and Fabian bit his lip.

"Well, when I'm with Nina, it's like I can almost read her mind or something. She doesn't need to tell me how she feels because I just know," Fabian stayed quiet for a minute and Eddie let that sink in. "N-not that I'm the best with this kind of s-stuff." Eddie nodded, muttering a goodbye and hanging up.

Know things about her without her telling you.

Patricia hesitated, glancing at Eddie, who, for lack of a better word, looked distressed. She frowned- she had seen him on the phone but she didn't know who with and she was curious. She shouldn't interfere though- if he wanted to tell her, he would. Besides, she was still trying to get over what had happened earlier. And, even if she didn't want to admit it, Piper had planted a seed of doubt in her. What if…what if this was all for another bet? What if there was another catch? She shouldn't trust him- next thing she knew, he would be complimenting her and bringing her to another party and breaking the news to her again.

But Eddie seemed sincere. He had given her his shirt when-

His shirt.

Patricia looked over to the edge of her bed, where the shirt mockingly lay. She had almost forgotten she was wearing it, but when she did remember, she had rushed to change out of it and into one of her shirts. It almost disgusted her that she had forgotten, but she got over it quickly enough.

She locked eyes with Eddie again, who held up his index finger before bringing out his whiteboard. He stuck his tongue out in concentration as he scribbled something down. He held it up for her to see.

That was Fabian.

Patricia nodded, not really wanting to start a conversation but feeling obligated now. She reached for her paper pad and frowned, not sure what to write. She decided to go with the honest thing:

Did he upset you?

Eddie raised an eyebrow and shook his head, writing something down.

No, why would you think that?

Patricia shrugged, contemplating whether to confront him. Eddie watched her expectantly and she sighed, writing it down.

You look upset.

Eddie gave her a small grin, looking wistful.

I'm not upset. What are you up to?

Patricia rolled her eyes:

Nothing much.

Eddie wasn't sure what exactly possessed him to ask it, why he even needed to know. But he asked it anyway, writing the words down and holding up the whiteboard before he could even think about it:

Remember last time we did this?

No. No, no, no. He did not mean to say that. Her eyes narrowed and some invisible barrier went up between them. But she didn't back out of the conversation, because that would mean giving in.

I remember.

Eddie gulped.

You know I'm sorry, right?

Patricia stiffened.

I know.

Eddie gripped his marker.

So you'd say we're friends, right?

Patricia's eyes narrowed.

That's what we agreed on.

Eddie held his whiteboard with sweaty hands, Fabian's words ringing in his ears- 'she has to trust you.'

So do you trust me?

Patricia's eyes widened and her pencil dropped from her hands in surprise. Of all things, she probably wasn't expecting that. Eddie watched her eagerly, but the look gracing her face meant something. The way she paused for so long meant something.

He hadn't expected her to trust him, but it still hurt. More than he had thought it would actually. Whatever hope he had diminished as she shook her head the slightest and slid her curtain closed, the sea of awkwardness returning.

She hadn't written her answer down.

She hadn't needed to.

They both knew she didn't trust him, both knew that the only word running through her head at the moment was:

No.