DISCLAIMER: I don't own House of Anubis, or Odd One by Sick Puppies.

Thank you for helping me reach 300 reviews! It's so great to hear your feedback on Patricia and Eddie's development, since I'm constantly worried I'm going too fast or too slow.

Patricia picked at her food that day. She wasn't hungry at all, still overwhelmed by yesterday. She had seen the look on Eddie's face when she had hesitated- he looked like a kicked puppy and she couldn't stand knowing that she had caused that.

But on the other hand, what did he think was going to happen? They had known each other for about six months tops and most of those they had spent together because of a bet or because they needed to. It was only recently that they started hanging out voluntarily, and after everything that had happened, Patricia wasn't sure if she could trust him. Maybe Piper was right, maybe this all was another bet. Maybe it was a mistake trying to get close with someone.

"Hey," Eddie's voice sounded quietly and Patricia's eyes flitted towards him. Of course he had to sit next to her- there was no other option. Although there weren't assigned seats at the lunch table, everyone had their own designated spot and Eddie was the last to arrive. He kept talking, "Look, about last night-"

"I don't trust easily." The words escaped her lips before she could stop them and Patricia visibly cringed at how harsh she sounded. But at least she was still talking to him, she was making an effort. She didn't know why considering usually, she would be avoiding him after something like this.

"I figured," Eddie chuckled nervously. "I shouldn't have asked that anyway." Patricia nodded beside him in agreement, looking down at her food once more.

"I want to trust you," Patricia stated once more, softer now. She hadn't meant for the words to escape but she had gotten so used to blurting out things that it didn't even affect her anymore.

"So trust me," he said, using the same tone as her, making sure nobody else was watching. Patricia could feel his gaze on her, and she sighed.

"I…I can't."

"Why not?" He sounded more concerned than anything else, and Patricia clenched her eyes shut and dug her fork into her food. Why was Eddie so worried about her, what was that even supposed to mean? She stayed quiet for a minute until she felt Eddie's finger prod her shoulder. "Patricia?"

Patricia's voice remained low as she revealed her fear, "This might be another bet." No one seemed to be listening or even looking at them, which was good, considering this was the most vulnerable she had ever seemed at school.

"…you honestly think I would do that again?" Patricia looked up, and there was that kicked puppy look again. Eddie looked beyond hurt and Patricia wasn't sure whether she should be annoyed at his stupid question or feel bad for him.

She opted to shrug, voice bitter as she said: "You did it once, didn't you?"

Eddie paused, considering the truth in the sentence, "Okay, yes, I did. But I thought we were, you know, over that?"

"I just can't get over something like that so quickly," Patricia admitted. "And besides, I don't know you at all." When was the point that she started saying everything she thought? "You…you don't know me at all."

"So tell me," Eddie shrugged, trying to lighten the mood but still show he was serious. His eyes twinkled, "Tell me all about the great Patricia Williamson. Tell me all your deepest secrets and your darkest fears." He laughed at the look on her face. "Too much?" Patricia nodded.

Eddie nudged her, "But seriously, Patricia, you seem like a really cool person. And you can trust me…I mean, I trust you." And it was true. After she had kind of comforted him during break, he did trust her. It was like she knew how it felt, like she was on his side. He didn't need to know her favorite food or favorite color to know that he liked her as a person. Maybe it was a bit quick, but there was just something about her that drew him closer. That made him want to know her in every single way. That made him want her to trust him.

"Okay," Patricia sighed. "So maybe I can…learn to trust you?" She looked up with hesitant eyes and Eddie nodded eagerly- it was a step. Patricia gave a weak, guarded, smile and Eddie took pity on her, changing the subject.

"So, Sick Puppies…"

Amber glanced over at the loser table, seeing Patricia and Eddie sitting awfully close to each other. She stabbed at her salad and Joy looked up, giving an exasperated sigh.

"Amber, if you still like Eddie, why don't you just ask him out?"

Amber gasped, "Joy, Amber Millington does not ask out guys-"

"Guys ask out Amber Millington, yes, we know," Jerome interrupted, rolling his eyes.

"Amber, you dumped him," Joy pointed out, and Amber scowled.

"Just ask him out again," Mick shrugged, biting into a banana. "Honestly, girls make everything so complicated." Jerome nodded beside him.

"But he doesn't like me anymore," Amber whispered quietly, seeing Eddie smile at Patricia. She turned back to Joy, willing herself not to cry. It didn't take a genius to tell that that Eddie had moved on, with Patricia of all people. The way he looked her…he had looked at Amber like that at one point, when they had first started dating. Now? Now, everything was lost.

"Amber?" Joy asked.

"I just…" Amber sighed, trying to collect her thoughts. "I want a guy that will treasure me, you know?"

"Amber, we all want that," Joy smiled. She liked this side of Amber, the vulnerable side. It made her look like a real human being.

"He needs to be really nice," Amber nodded, beginning to think about it, listing it off on her fingers. "He needs to be good looking obviously, needs to make me laugh-"

"Make you laugh?" Jerome butted in, once again, and Amber gave him an annoyed glance.

"Yes, Jerome, make me laugh. I'm sorry, but you don't fit my qualifications-"

Jerome laughed, "Oh, Millington, I don't want to date you. But I do know someone who fits your 'qualifications' as you put it. Well, okay, he's not the best looking, but-"

"Who is it?" Amber raised an eyebrow and Jerome tilted his head towards the loser table. Amber's smile fell.

"Is this about Eddie? Jerome, I told you-"

"Alfie," Jerome's voice came out raspier than he intended as he remembered his old friend. "Alfie Lewis."

"The class clown?" Amber wrinkled her nose.

"You did say you wanted somebody to make you laugh," Mick cut in.

"But he's not popular!"

"Eddie isn't either now," Joy cut in, and Amber glared at her. She hated it when somebody proved her wrong, as everyone usually did.

"Shut up, Joy."

"Are we walking home together?" Eddie asked, running up to Patricia's locker breathlessly, his bag swung over his shoulder. Patricia dumped one last textbook into her bag before slamming her locker shut.

"Sure," she nodded, and Eddie grinned, mockingly opening the front door so that she could leave.

"Ladies first," he gestured, and Patricia bit back a smile as she thought about that night, seemingly ages ago, when she had gone over to his house for the first time.

"I'm not a lady," she teased- wait, since when did that happen- and punched his shoulder. Eddie laughed it off but she was pleased to see he mouthed 'ow' soon after, and slightly laughed. Her mouth set in a frown when she saw Amber glaring at her, and she sent her the same look as the blonde made her way to her car.

"She doesn't get to you?" Eddie observed, raising an eyebrow as Amber sped away. Patricia shrugged.

"Not really," she said. "There are worse people." Eddie looked as if he wanted to ask a question, but decided against it. He stayed quiet, the two walking in comfortable silence until he finally burst.

"So, you don't care about what she says? At all?"

Patricia paused, eyeing him skeptically, "Like I said, there are worst things to say than insults on my clothes or something. Besides, I'm not really-"

"-concerned with acceptance?"

Odd One. The Sick Puppies song that she had fallen in love with, that she had related to. Had he really just referenced that, implied she was the odd one? The entire song centered on the fact that the odd one was never alone…what was he saying? That he was on her side? Patricia pushed the thought out- she was probably overthinking it. But she said the next line, just to see what would happen.

"We are all desperately seeking out," Patricia said, trying to wind it into their normal conversation. Eddie smiled as she understood his reference.

"And fitting in with anyone-"

"-who will accept us," Patricia finished, a tad breathless as she stopped in front of her house. Eddie paused and gave her a light smile, awkwardly punching her shoulder. He lowered his voice:

"But not you, odd one."

And maybe that was the first time Patricia had- however subconsciously- considered Eddie a tiny bit more than a friend, as she watched him run away back into his house.