A/N: I don't know what's wrong with me or why my last two chapters have been so long... Do you like it or should I go back to under 5k, because this one and the last two have been getting close to 10k each.
I've decided to do something a little bit fun! Every Monday on my profile I'll be posting a little scene from the next chapter that is coming out! This past Monday I did put one up but I doubt anyone noticed it because I didn't tell you about it yet. The scene I chose is meant to be a teaser so you may not actually enjoy what you read. If you want to go read it before you read this chapter, feel free!
So you know, it seems like I've been getting chapters up aprox. Every other week on Fridays. This wont always be exact, and if I start writing shorter chapters (which I might), it will most likely switch to every Friday. If I'm off by a few days, feel free to send me a message. I appreciate them and it might keep me on track if I'm hounded for being a day or two late :). By that standard, this chapter is up early!
In the next week or so, I'm also going to go back and revise some of the first few chapters. It's nothing major and you don't even need to go back and read it if you don't want to. I just want to change some characterization I did earlier on. It doesn't change any of the story line whatsoever!
In this chapter; Nina and Cory go on their date, a major mix-up, a visit from a goddess, and a Jara date.
"Eddie," Fabian said once he reached his room "Nina's going on a date!" He yelled. Eddie was throwing a ball against the wall and catching it over and over.
"I know." He said, monotone. Bounce. Fabian wondered why Eddie knew before Nina told him. They were best friends and he was another one of her protectors!
"We have to stop her!" Fabian yelled. Eddie didn't grasp the seriousness of the situation. Cory was bad news.
"Stop playing the jealous ex boyfriend. She can go on dates with anyone she wants to." Eddie responded. He was not happy. Bounce. Bounce. He caught the ball and rolled it around in his hand, angry. Angry that Nina would go on a date. Angry that Fabian was here reminding him of it. And angry that he didn't have Nina to himself anymore, as possessive as that was.
"I'm not jealous." Lie. "You don't know Cory, I do. He explained. "Have you ever met Maggie Cooper."
He had. "The one that never talks?" He asked, his voice dry.
"That's the aftermath of dating him." Eddie threw the ball again. Surly one boy couldn't cause that girl to become so removed. "She used to be an amazing outspoken girl. Reminded me a lot of Nina."
Eddie didn't want to believe him. If they went to mess with Nina's date, she'd never forgive them. Plus, he really didn't want her to think he was jealous—which he wasn't. "You're exaggerating. You have to be." Bounce.
"You don't know him like I do... please Eddie? I just don't want her hurt and I know you feel the same way." Fabian tried to reason with him. Eddie just had to understand.
Eddie knew he would regret this. "God. Fine. But if she sees us and kills us, I'm telling her this was all your idea." He pulled himself out of his bed and grabbed his leather jacket. "How long ago did she leave?"
"Ten minutes ago. Will you drive?" Fabian wasn't thrilled about getting into a car with him twice in one day, but this was for Nina.
"Duh. How else would we get there?" He tossed another leather jacket at Fabian who barely caught it. "Wear this"
"What? Why?"
"Well, you look like a dweeb and she'll recognize you right away if you're in the school uniform." Eddie grabbed his keys and left his room. Fabian followed, pulling the jacket on and thought it looked a little weird on him.
"Where are you two going?" Trudy asked. She was scrubbing the floor where Amber and Jerome stood before she could wrap them in now ruined towels.
"We're going on a date," Eddie snapped, then dragged Fabian out of the room by the upper arm before he could explain what Eddie actually meant. They jumped into his car and as soon as they were both in, he sped off.
"Do you even know where we're going?" Fabian asked when Eddie went the wrong way.
"Not a clue," he announced, bitter. Eddie was more bothered by Nina going on a date then he was letting on. Especially if it was someone Fabian—the most trusting person ever—didn't trust.
Somehow they managed to get there in only ten minutes. Fabian put it up to Eddie's mad driving. "I brought these," he said, and pulled two pairs of sunglasses.
Eddie stared at him. "You're kidding, right?" He asked. There wasn't a single thing stupider that he could think of. "We can't go into the movie theater wearing sunglasses after sunset."
"She can't recognize us!" Eddie snatched one of the pairs from Fabian's outstretched hand and put them on.
"I hate you." Eddie said. He turned off the car and jumped out.
"The feeling is mutual."
They spotted Nina and Cory entering the theater together. Eddie put his finger to his lips and they followed them into the queue. They listened to Nina and Cory's conversation.
"...we were best mates in secondary school, but we had a huge fight over something silly and we've been at odds ever since." He explained to her. Fabian felt fury like he never felt before. If anyone would tell her about him and Cory, it would be him. And it was not something silly. Their fight was major.
"I totally understand. Fabian can overreact over things a lot." Eddie chuckled and Fabian glared at him.
"Tell me about it!" They both laughed. "I bet he was pissed you agreed to date me," Cory said.
"Understatement. I'm surprised he didn't follow me." She joked. Fabian zipped up the leather jacket a little bit more.
"Who was that guy with you this morning?" Cory asked.
"Eddie Miller. Sweetie's son." She explained.
"Now he was angry... were you two together or something?" Fabian felt Eddie tense up waiting for her response. He knew Eddie fancied her, but he wasn't sure how much.
"No." Eddie looked angry. "We're just really close. He's like an overprotective older brother."
Fabian laughed out loud at the look on Eddie's face. Nina turned around at the sound, so they quickly ducked behind the confused couple in front of them. "Older brother?!" Eddie hissed. "Try, fated protector! Potential love interest?" Fabian had to take a few extra seconds to compose himself before they stood up straight again.
"Very overprotective." Cory said. Nina laughed.
"It's nice... I've always wanted an older brother." She sounded a little distanced, but Cory didn't notice. They reached the front of the queue.
"Two for the seven o'clock showing of Frozen?" Cory asked the girl at the counter. He casually grabbed Nina's hand.
"Sorry, that showing is sold out... but there's a 6:45 sing-a-long showing," she suggested.
"Nina?" Cory asked. It dawned on Fabian that he didn't know if Nina liked to sing. There was a lot he didn't know about her. She was a very secretive girl, even to her closest friends.
"That sounds great! I've been listening to the album for weeks." She replied. Cory smiled and paid for their tickets.
"We're going to go to a sing-a-long movie..." Eddie muttered.
They waited until they reached the front of the queue as well. "Poppy?" Fabian asked stupidly. Sure enough, the girl selling the tickets was Jerome's younger sister.
"Fabian?" She said too loud. He hushed her quickly and looked around to see if Nina heard her. "Why are you wearing sunglasses?"
"I told you we look like idiots," Eddie grumbled.
"No reason... Can we get two tickets to the... em... sing-a-long sowing of Frozen..." Fabian whispered. Poppy smiled knowingly while she got their tickets.
"You're crashing Nina's date, aren't you?" She laughed.
"No!"
"Relax," she handed them their tickets. "You're secret is safe with me. Enjoy the show." Eddie grabbed Fabian and dragged him away.
"Let's go in and get this over with." Eddie muttered. They started following Nina into the theater.
"Wait!" Fabian shouted. "I want popcorn!"
Eddie stopped and glared at him. "We're not here to actually see the movie! We're here to ruin their date." Fabian rolled his eyes.
"I figured we could use it to hide behind or to throw at them or something!" They do it in the movies!" He replied, walking away to the snack bar.
"This isn't a fucking movie," Eddie said and followed him. "They'll notice if they see two boys with popcorn buckets for heads!" Fabian ignored him and bough them each a large popcorn anyway. Eddie took his and started eating it violently. They got a bunch of weird looks from the workers as they made their way to their seats, two rows behind Nina.
"So... what's the plan?" Fabian whispered. Eddie turned to him and glared again.
"You don't have a plan..." He asked slowly. "This was your idea!" Fabian shushed him.
"I don't do this!" Fabian replied, much quieter. "I reckoned you would be better with the... plan... part."
"No! I'm not. I've never had to do this before," Eddie said. How could Fabian get him to do this and not have a plan?!
"Well think of something! You're the one in love with her!" Fabian hissed. As soon as the words left his mouth, he wished he hadn't said them. Eddie looked pissed and he felt hurt.
"Whoa! No one ever said anything about love!" Eddie hissed back. Of course he was right, he was completely in love with her. But he didn't want to think about it too much. He tried to tell her once and was shot down. Him and Fabian continued to bicker back and forth until Cory put his arm around Nina's shoulder.
"Okay. We need to stop arguing and work together." Fabian said "If we don't ruin this now, they could end up stepping out!"
"They'd end up dating." Eddie corrected. "I've got an idea," He said as the movie began. Eddie had forgotten that it was a sing-a-long movie until the little boy—who appeared to be about seven or eight years old-started bouncing around and singing next to him.
"You did not tell me I'd have to deal with kids," Eddie muttered. The mother of the little boy heard.
"Excuse me, are you talking about my son?" She hissed. Fabian sighed and put his head in his hand.
"Just control your kid, lady," Eddie hissed back. Fabian closed his eyes tightly. Eddie could be suck a jackass sometimes. If he caused a scene and Nina noticed...
"Excuse me?" This is a children's movie" She said. "I don't know how it works in America, but in England it's okay to sing at the sing-a-long showing. " Someone in the row in front of them turned around to shush them.
"You're only making American stereotypes worse." Fabian murdered. Eddie ignored him. The mother huffed and turned her attention back to the screen.
"Anyway," Eddie said loud enough for her to hear. The person shushed him again. "Shut it! I'll be quiet!"
Fabian waited in anticipation for Eddie's plan. He had no interest in watching this movie and the sooner they could ruin the date and run the better. Eddie, however, seemed too upset at the child sitting next to him to do what they actually came for. Bored, Fabian chose to listen through the mass of singing for Nina's voice. When he found it, it captivated him. It was so filled with emotion, and he thought it was beautiful. He wondered why she never told him she enjoyed singing. Maybe he could have guessed, she loved acting in the play last year. It wasn't until they got to the song "Love is an Open Door," that Eddie gave any response whatsoever.
What triggered his response was that Cory started singing the song too. They were singing together! Eddie reached for another handful of popcorn to eat, but at the last minute—at the very end of the song—decided to throw it at them. Fabian glared at him thinking, That was your plan!?
"Can I say something even crazier-" Nina started the line before getting hit in the side of the face with the popcorn. Immediately, her head snapped back and looked Eddie right in the eye. He dove to the ground, but it was too late and she had seen him. Her eyes flew open in fury and it didn't take her long to see Fabian who actually attempted to shield his face with the popcorn bucket. "Eddie!"
Cory turned around too. "What?!"
Eddie stuck his head back up. "Hey C.O." She did not look amused and neither did anyone around them He swore he heard the mother two seats away mutter, "Americans."
"How dare you two follow me on my date?" She said. Even though she had been dreading the date all day, since she got there she was having a lovely time. Never would she have guessed that this would happen.
"Fabian?!" Cory shouted. A few people around them started yelling for them to leave with their argument.
"Why would you throw popcorn at her?" Fabian asked Eddie, who shrugged.
"You're the one who suggested it!"
"I can't believe you!"
Their argument didn't last long before someone came to remove them from the theater. They four teenagers were dragged from their seats and walked out while everyone else cheered. Cory wrapped his arm around Nina and winked at Fabian, knowing how much it would bother him.
"Don't any of you think about coming back here again!" The attendant who dragged them out yelled. Through the window Fabian could see Poppy laughing.
"Fabian Rutter and Eddie Miller!" Nina shouted.
"It was his idea," Eddie said immediately.
"Hey!" Fabian shouted.
"Knock it off!" Nina yelled. The two matching boys fell silent. She glared at them for some time.
"Nina," Cory cooed, making Eddie and Fabian both feel murderous. "Why don't I take us somewhere else to finish tonight?" He pulled Nina away towards his car. Fabian could hear their conversation as they walked away.
"I'm so sorry, Cory. I never would have thought that they would do something like that." She said, sounding humiliated. A pang of guilt him Fabian. Maybe he made a mistake in asking Eddie to do this. The best thing might have been to wait it out. Eddie, however, didn't agree.
"It's cool. I have a backup date." He replied.
Eddie spoke, bringing Fabian back. "She cannot date him. As a class-A manipulator, I know when someone else is one too."
"Maybe she's smart enough to see that herself..." Fabian said.
"No. He's too good... You know, if she never speaks to me again, I blame you." He said, walking away from him towards the car. Fabian started walking too, mumbling to himself.
"Glad we're on the same page."
"Trudy?" Joy called, entering the kitchen. "Do you know where Fabian's gone? He's not in his room." Trudy looked up from the oven which she had been cleaning.
"He left about an hour ago... Now were did he say he was going..." She thought for a moment trying to remember what it was that Eddie had said to her while Joy waited impatiently. "Oh! He and Eddie left for a date." Trudy was oblivious to Joy's shocked expression. Fabian on a date?
"A date? With who?" She asked. Trudy looked at her like she was crazy
"Each other, of course. Care for a cookie? I made them so Patricia would stop eating all the ice cream. She's gone through two-"
"They're on a date with each other!?" Joy shouted.
"Never would have seen it coming! I always though they had a thing for Nina and Patricia. " Trudy laughed. "Shows how much I know..."
"Oh..." Joy said. "I'm... going to..." She ran out of them kitchen to the living room. "Patricia!"
Patricia rolled her eyes and paused the T.V. program. "Whatdaya want, Joy?" She asked.
"I don't think you need to be upset about Eddie breaking up with you anymore!" Joy shouted insensitively. Patricia flinched away from her words. Mick noticed and was about to say something—he had become slightly protective of her in that day, maybe because she reminded him of himself in some odd way—but Patricia gave him a look that said not to.
"Why?"
"Because..." Joy looked ready to burst. "Fabian and Eddie are on a date!" Mick choked on his drink.
"Eddie and Fabian?" Patricia said.
"Yes!" Joy shrieked then started laughing. Patricia didn't totally buy it quite yet.
"There's no way," Mick said. He had known Fabian for a long time and it seemed like something he would know.
"It's true! Trudy just told me," Joy argued. She was starting to feel a bit silly for being so in love with Fabian for so long. He was never really after Nina! It was Eddie all along.
"Come on, Joy!" Mick responded. "You know it's not true..."
"Plus, him and Eddie hate each other!" Patricia added. Joy rolled her eyes. Patricia brushed her hair out of her face. She wasn't sure if she didn't believe Joy because she thought she was wrong, or if she was afraid of what people would think, her being the last one to date Eddie before he... turned.
"Have any of you seen Jerome?" Mara asked, entering the room.
"He's on his third shower," Patricia explained. Mara gave her a confused look so she continued. "Him and Amber got into a paint fight during detention. They were covered. You'd know that if you ever stopped studying."
Mara ignored her dig. "Amber? In a paint fight?" She asked
"It's a day of surprises..." Joy squealed.
"What do you mean?"
Joy looked to Patricia who said, "go ahead."
The second the words were out of her mouth, Joy yelled, "Eddieandfabianareonadate!" Mara looked at her like she was crazy. "Eddie and Fabian are on a date." She said, annoyed that Mara couldn't just pay attention the first time.
Mara wasn't like Patricia, she believed Joy. "Oh my god..."
"I always knew..." Joy said. Patricia rolled her eyes and turned her program back on. Around her, Mara and Joy discussed all the the things that made it obvious and how stupid they were for never noticing. Eventually Jerome came in (Patricia thought his skin looked a little too orange yet).
"Can you believe it?" Mara asked him.
"Doesn't matter. I don't have to believe it to tell everyone!" He said with a laugh. Mara gave him her best disapproving look. "Come on, Emmy. I've been looking for some more dirt on Fabian I'm-perfect Rutter."
"I never want to even hear the word dirt ever again," Amber said, strolling in. Her hair was wrapped up in a towel and she was wearing a night gown that clung to her still wet skin.
"Well you wont have to, Amber, because Jerome isn't going to be getting any dirt on anyone." Mara said, pretty proud of herself for being so clever. It was so clever that no one understood what she meant.
"What? What have I missed?" Amber asked.
Mara could hardly get; "Wanna tell her Joy?" out before Joy started shouting.
"Eddie and Fabian are on a date!"
Patricia rolled her eyes. "No. Way." Amber gasped. There were so many explanations other than Eddie and Fabian being on a date, but of course Patricia and Mick were the only ones who would think that.
"We were talking about all the warning signs we missed." Joy said.
"Ooh! Nina's on a date too!" Amber shouted. "Do you reckon it's a double date, because that's soo cute!"
"Nina's on a date?" Patricia asked immediately. Joy, knowing what she was thinking, gave her a sympathetic look. If Nina was on a date with someone else, Eddie was free and maybe they could try and have a relationship again, providing he wasn't on a date with Fabian right then.
"Yeah! With Cory" Amber exclaimed.
"Then they are not on a double date," Patricia and Joy said in tandem.
"Why?" Amber asked. Everyone in the room looked around at each other and no one spoke. "Someone tell me!"
Jerome was the first one willing to speak. "Fabian and Cory don't get along." He said. "He never told us why, though I reckon Joy knows." He looked pointedly at her.
"You're right," she said simply, but didn't offer more information.
"It's no important," Patricia said. "But they used to be super close."
"Maybe they made up," Amber suggested.
"Ha!" Joy shouted. "Not likely."
Amber folded her arms over her chest. "We'll anythings possible, isn't it? Here I thought Fabian loved Nina all along!" Her title of love expert were now in serious jeopardy! What's next; Nina and Jerome?
"Come on, Ambs," Mick said, trying to reason with her. " He totally was! You know that better than anyone!" Mara tensed up when he spoke. This was the first time Mick and Jerome had been in the same room since their fight-Jerome still had a black eye from it (though weather that was Mick or Eddie's doing was uncertain)-and she hadn't spoken to him in weeks.
"Come, Joy," Jerome said. "Let's go tell the rest of the house." He jokingly linked arms with her but neither of them could stand it long; they hated each other. Not in the way that Amber used to hate Alfie, or the way that two siblings hated each other, but pure, real hatred. They could only handle the other in small doses or there would be a fight. Mara watched them walk out of the room together.
"Don't you dare!" Mara shouted as they left the room. "What am I going to do with him...?"
"Dump him?" Mick whispered quietly enough that only Patricia—who giggled—could hear.
There were a few seconds where there was no speaking except from what was on the telly. Amber wasn't still mad at Mara, but their relationship never quite healed and they had nothing to say to each other. Mara didn't feel like talking to Mick because she was... well a coward and couldn't bring herself to do it. Mick didn't want to to speak to either of them anymore.
Patricia didn't appreciate the tension in the room. "We're trying to finish Doctor Who... We've been marathoning all day..."
"No no no no no!" Amber shrieked. "I'm only on series two!" She ran out of the room.
"I'm going to try and do damage control. I feel bad for Fabian and Eddie," Mara replied, evacuating as well. She didn't need to stay any longer than she was wanted. On her way up to her room, she saw Lacie.
"Hey." She said. "Do you know where Eddie is?" Mara eyed her odd attire. Her long hair was pulled into a high ponytail and she had a mouth guard in.
"I guess Jerome and Joy haven't come this way..." Mara muttered.
"Huh?"
"Nothing. He's on a date." Mara didn't feel the need to specify that he was on a date with Fabian. That wasn't the way she thought. Also, she didn't want to offend Lacie who was openly bisexual.
"A date?" Lacie asked. "With who?"
Mara hesitated before answering. She didn't want to be spreading rumors, but if she didn't tell her, Jerome would. Or Joy.. Or Amber... It dawned on her that nothing was secret in this house... as far as she knew. "Em... Fabian."
Lacie stood and stared. There was no way she heard correctly. "Fabian?" Why did she have to be alive with this Paragon. The one that didn't follow a single rule? Never, in all of fucking time, have the Osirian and the Isiasus been gay for each other! The previous Paragon followed every single rule. Childhood friends with the boy who would have been her Isiasus, in love with her Osirian... If Rufus hadn't gone power crazy, they would be text book examples.
But no. She gets Nina and her silly club. Completely unpredictable, completely weird.
"I'm not sure. You should speak to Joy about it. She's the one who told me. "Mara responded. Not only was he on a date, he was on a date during his rescheduled training time. He was hopeless. Lacie thanked Mara and went to see Joy.
She found her and Jerome in his room talking to Alfie. "Eddie and Fabian?" Lacie asked. Joy and Jerome looked at each other and started laughing.
"How quickly news travels." Jerome joked.
"Yeah. Eddie and Fabian." Joy replied. IT didn't seem too likely, but Joy seemed really positive.
"Are you sure?"
"Totally. Trudy told me. Patricia and Mick don't believe me either." Joy said. She was wearing a huge smile that was being to freak Lacie out.
"I don't think I believe you either, Jay." Alfie replied. "I know how hung up on Nina he was. "Jerome rolled his eyes.
"We don't have to believe it to tell everyone!" He shouted.
"Jerome!" Joy shouted. Cue the fighting, Alfie thought. "You can't tell everyone. That's terrible. We should wait until they tell us."
"Buzz kill," Jerome muttered. "Why should I listen to you, Mercer?" Lacie was terribly confused. They were getting along just a moment ago.
"Really guys, this might be a new record. It only took you three seconds to start fighting this time!" Alfie complained.
"Fine. We'll play it her way. But we're missing out on a lot of pranks, Alfie!" Jerome muttered. Lacie went to ask another question, but they heard the front door open.
"Hi, Fabes!" They heard Amber greet. She wasn't trying to hide anything.
"Eddie Miller!" Lacie shouted, exiting Jerome's room. When he saw what she was wearing and the mouth guard, he immediately remembered his training that he, indeed, missed.
"As if today wasn't bad enough." Eddie muttered. "And take your stupid sunglasses." He tossed them at Fabian.
"Bad date," Joy said behind Lacie.
"It's hardly my fault!" Fabian shouted. They looked like they had been fighting for a long time. "What are you all doing?" He asked. None of them realized it, but they were all standing near the entrance hallway. Mara was on the stairs, Patricia and Mick were standing in the door way to the common room, and Amber was right in front of the door.
"Greeting you, of course..." Patricia lied poorly. Mick rolled his eyes and walked back into the common room.
"Lovely," Eddie said sarcastically. "I'm going to bed." He stormed past Patricia and slammed his door behind him when he reached his room.
"You're the worst at dating ever." Amber said to Fabian after the sound of the door stopped echoing around the house.
Fabian looked down. "Yeah I know—What?" He asked.
"Nothing!" Joy shouted. "It's nothing! Right?"
Amber shot her a dirty look before she understood. "Oh... Yeah!" From within Eddie's room, loud music with a pounding bass filled the whole house.
"Mister Miller!" Victor roared, running down the stairs. In the confusion, Amber grabbed Fabian's hand and pulled him up the stairs to her room.. She closed the door behind them and glared at him until he became too uncomfortable to stay in silence any longer.
"What?!"
She sighed, there were so many things she wanted to say, but most of them would get her in trouble if she said them. "Where to start..." She thought out loud. Finally she decided on a somewhat safe one. "I don't trust Lacie."
Fabian thought before answering. "I do... because Nina does." He trusted Nina and whatever she said.
"But what do you think?" Amber pried. She wasn't sure why she didn't trust Lacie, but Amber trusted her instincts and was ruled by emotion. That was the only way she knew how to operate. Lacie Brown was bad news no matter how perky and friendly she seemed. Even if Nina said she was okay.
Fabian wasn't sure what he thought. He didn't think he needed to decide what he thought if Nina said she was okay. Lacie seemed nice and knew a lot of things they didn't and needed to. Like him having magic fucking powers. Finally he replied, "I'm not sure what I think yet."
"Alright." She didn't seem totally satisfied with his answer. "Just keep an eye on her... for me? Please?"
"I will," He promised. "She said she's going to start training me like she's training Eddie... I'll make sure to tell you as soon as anything weird happens."
"You better," She commanded, then laughed. It was so easy to laugh with him. She wondered why they were never friends before Sibuna.
"Eddie doesn't trust her either..." he said. "But Eddie doesn't trust anyone anymore."
"I know..." They didn't speak until the silence weighed too heavy on Amber and she snapped out of her serious mode. "Do you think Mr. Parker likes me?"
"Paragon," a voice whispered. Nina sat up and looked around.
"Did you say something?" She asked Cory who she alarmed when she moved so suddenly.
"No," He replied and Nina relaxed her head back on his shoulder and tried to focus on the movie, The Hunger Games, again. After their failed date at the movies, Cory brought her back to Ra house for some "telly" in the common room. She got to meet all of the people who lived with him—most of whom she recognized from one class or another, but she was shy and hardly talked to the people in her own house. His roommate and best friend, Bradly, was the nicest, it seemed. Lottie was the only one downright mean, but Cory said it's because they used to date.
Their housemother, a young woman named Rikki, finally told her she had to leave around quarter to ten, knowing the rules of Anubis house. "Want me to walk you home?" Cory asked
Nina was about to respond, but Rikki came over and bopped him on the head wit her spatula. "No she doesn't. The last time you walked someone home, you came back two days later." He rolled his eyes at her and smiled at Nina.
"I had a great time tonight, despite your friends..." He said. She managed to actually laugh.
"Me too... I'll see you in Algebra tomorrow?" He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.
"For the first time, I'm excited for that class. Goodnight, Nina."
"Goodnight." When the door closed behind her, she felt completely alone; very different from just a few moments before when she was so overwhelmed with his presence. She wasn't sure which was worse.
Nina had to fight to get herself back to Anubis house. Whoever spoke to her before was trying to get her to go somewhere else, but whoever it was would have to wait. She was tired and didn't feel like getting chewed out by Victor if she arrived home late. There would be time for whatever it was some other time. When she got home she only had enough time for a five minute cold shower before she was forced into bed.
Amber looked at her expecting the story, but had to deal with the promise of the story in the morning.
She only got two hours of dreamless sleep before she was woken up by that voice again. "Come, my child." It whispered. Slowly, Nina obliged. She pulled on her robe as quietly as she could to avoid waking Amber. She almost succeeded until she accidentally knocked her alarm clock off of her nightstand which proceed to clang around for what felt like an eternity.
"Nina?" Amber asked groggily. She sat up and pulled her eye mask off. "Nina where are you going?" Amber got up and grabbed her own robe while Nina didn't answer and tried to rush out of the room.
"Go back to bed, Amber" Nina commanded. She wasn't sure where she was meant to be going... If Amber cam she could be in danger.
"No. Is something wrong?" Amber asked, following Nina into the hallway.
"Nothing's wrong," Nina whispered. "I just have a feeling I need to go somewhere."
Amber understood. "One of your feelings. I'm coming with you..." Amber insisted. She didn't particularly want to, but she did want to make sure Nina was okay, and she wanted to prove her worth as a Sibuna. She was the only current member with no super power... "And on the way there, you can tell me about your date." She squealed and Nina had to shush her.
"Go to bed!" She hissed, but Amber continued to trot along next to her anyway.
They reached the front door of the house. "We're leaving?" Amber asked. Nina turned to her and shrugged. They huddled closer together and left into the cold, mid February air. "So... your date?" She said with chattering teeth.
"Not a good time, Ambs." Nina replied. She wished she had thought to bring a flashlight... or a coat, because it was dark and cold. Amber held tight to her arm.
"Nina," She said. "We can't go into the woods at night." Ignoring her, Nina went into the forest anyway where her feat were leading her. Amber hesitated for a few seconds weighing life over death before continuing to follow. She had a feeling she knew where they were going. "The Sibuna clearing... but what's here?"
"I don't know." Nina answered. They both walked to the center, looking around for whatever it could be.
Out of nowhere, there was a blinding red light behind them. "It's okay, my child." the same voice spoke. Now Nina could tell it was a woman's voice. A woman who sounded as old as time, and yet younger than her. Amber grabbed on to Nina's arm even tighter.
"What was that and why can I hear it? I thought you were the only one who heard voices!" She whispered, not turning around.
"I don't know." Nina replied, too afraid to turn around either. She heard footsteps and felt a warm hand on her shoulder. The warmth spread through her, heating her frozen skin, and she wasn't afraid anymore. "It's okay, Amber."
"Nothing about this is okay!" She screeched. Nina ignored her and started to turn around, but Amber grabbed her even tighter. "Don't you dare leave me!"
"Nina Martin," the woman said. "Amber Millington. Do not fear me."
"Alright, not afraid," Amber lied. "Nina grabbed her arm and forced her to turn around with her.
"Isis," Nina said, somehow knowing who was standing in front of them. The dark skinned woman smiled at them.
"My Paragon." She greeted.
"Why did you call me here?" Nina asked stepping away from the quivering Amber.
"You're a curious one, child." She said then laughed a big, powerful laugh that filled up the whole clearing. Even after they got back to the house, Nina and Amber couldn't fully grasp what the goddess looked like. Then, they could hardly look at her,as if she were emitting a light too bright to look at. "Amber; She is your friend, correct?"
"Yeah. She helped me find a put together the cup of ankh." Nina explained. She turned back towards the blonde. "It's alright, Ambs." She offered her hand which Amber hesitantly took.
"Um... hi..."Amber greeted.
"You are blessed, child." Isis replied, placing a hand on Amber's head for a moment.
"Nina this is the weirdest thing I've done for you." Amber whispered at a level she foolishly thought the goddess couldn't hear.
"Amber! Don't be disrespectful!" Nina hissed. Isis only smiled.
"She is protected by Tenent," She explained. "She is forgiven."
"What does that mean?" Amber asked.
"In time, Amber Millington. First, the reason I summoned you, Paragon." She spoke with such authority that the wind stopped blowing out of respect. Amber held tighter still to Nina's hand. "There is a great danger coming to you. It may already be here."
"Danger? Again?" Amber shouted.
"What kind of danger-thing?" Nina asked. Maybe this would be why Fabian's powers were activated. F Isis herself came to warn her about it, it must be important.
"That I cannot say. I'm forbidden to interfere in your affairs by my husband. I wish only for your safety. Also, I'm to tell you of a third and final treasure hidden in the House of Anubis. You must find it to protect yourself from this danger," Isis spoke as if it were simple.
"We don't have a single clue yet! How can we find the treasure?" Nina questioned.
Isis cut her off. "I'm being called back! Be safe, child! Check your dwellings!"
"Good...goodbye!" Nina shouted back.
"Sarah sends her regards." Isis said before leaving in the same burst of light she came in. Sarah Nina thought, Sarah's okay in the afterlife... Suddenly she felt really weak and fell to the ground in the clearing. The crunch of the leaves and the smell of decaying matter was too much. Amber reluctantly knelt next to her best friend (So much mud...).
"Come on, We've gotta get back to the house before Victor notices we're gone.
Fabian woke up the next morning feeling like he hadn't slept at all. He barely did. Most of the night he stared at the ceiling, regretting every choice he made the day before; would Nina even talk to him that morning? If she didn't, he couldn't blame her. What they—no, it was all his own fault—what he did was wrong. Trudy had to come in and get him out of bed that morning, he was so upset. Even when he was out of bed he moved in small, robotic movements. He nicked himself shaving twice and went to breakfast with toilet paper stitches.
The only person not at breakfast when he arrived was, of course, Nina. The one he needed to talk to. He wondered why. She wasn't out past ten—he made sure to listen for her coming home—and she never slept late on a school day. He tried asking Amber, but she gave him a vague answer that didn't satisfy him. When she was sure no one could hear her, she told him that it was something Nina made her swear not to tell him or Eddie. She liked Fabian and felt too bad lying to him. If he wanted to find out the real answer, he'd have to ask her. But first, he would give her time to cool off.
When Nina finally did come down, she was being lead by Trudy. She sat between Amber and Alfie, instead of her usual seat at the head of the table. She regretted it right away.
"So, now can you tell me about your date?" Amber pestered.
"Yes!" Jerome shouted across the table. "We can all-" he looked pointedly at Eddie and Fabian, "-talk about our dates." Mara elbowed him. Smooth.
"What?" Eddie said with a mouthful of toast. Nina looked at him, filled with anger, then turned back to Amber.
"Later?" She pleaded. There couldn't be a worse time, with Eddie and Fabian right there. Amber agreed, but only barely. She started talking to Alfie about their next public outing, which Alfie was trying to get out of—no surprise there. He didn't actually mean it, but he liked teasing her. Nina laughed as Amber complained about just about everything he did. Not much different fro the last time they dated, but this time she did it with love. Amber may have been shallow and a tad bit narcissistic, but she cared about people, that was something new she learned.
After breakfast, Lacie caught up with Nina who lingered behind so she wouldn't have to walk with Eddie, Fabian or Amber. "What's wrong?" She asked Nina plainly.
Nina thought she was doing a good job at hiding how upset and confused she was; upset at her protectors, and confused with her meeting with a fucking goddess the night before. Lacie always seemed to know how everyone else was feeling, though. "Nothing."
Lacie hesitated. "It's about Fabian and Eddie... isn't it?" She asked, referring to the date she thought the went on.
"How do you know that?" Nina asked, assuming Lacie was talking about them crashing her date.
"Everyone knows," Lacie replied quietly. She felt so bad for Nina. She knew that she cared for Eddie... even if she went on a date with some random boy. What didn't add up was Eddie going on a date when the morning before he was telling Lacie how upset he was about it. When Nina didn't say anything else back, Lacie spoke some more, "This is a really odd situation, the-"
"Odd?" Nina cut her off. "Try wrong or messed up."
Lacie was taken aback. Nina never crossed her as a homophobic. "I wouldn't go that far..."
"Well I would!" Nina shouted, unaware the two were talking about completely different things. "I'm mad at both of them and the longer I don't have to see either of them, the better!" She turned on her heal and stormed away from Lacie—only feeling a little bad about freaking out.
"Come on, Ambs!" Alfie shouted from downstairs.
Amber, up in her room, shouted down,"You cannot spring a random date on me and not give me time to get ready!" Alfie had only given her ten minutes notice and her eye regime alone took fifteen!
"But Mara's been ready for ages!" He shouted.
That's because Mara doesn't know the first thing about looking good. Amber thought bitterly. "I'll be down in five minutes, promise."
"You said that half an hour ago." Alfie mumbled and Jerome laughed. The first boy shot the second a dirty look.
"Hey! You're the one dating Prom Queen Millington." He said. Mara paced up and down the hall. She wasn't sure how much she wanted to go on this double date. Jerome had asked her to try and get along with Alfie for him, but Alfie wasn't the problem. She adored Alfie. No, the problem was Amber, her ex-best mate.
Apparently, Jerome and Alfie had been planning this date for weeks. It was sweet of him, but she wished he had warned her. They went on dates all the time, why was this one different? It would be good, though. Any date with him was good. In her mind, they made the perfect couple. Around her, he was so sweet, and loving and trusting.
She kept pacing, wishing she was able to wear heals on this date. They weren't practical for where they were going, though. Dating Jerome was difficult as he was much taller than her. It had become a running joke in the house. Yes, she was 5'2"; yes he was 6'. Yes, it made kissing difficult. But the number of step-stools she got for Christmas (a total of seventeen, fourteen of which were from Alfie) was ridicules. Because of it, she had taken to wearing heals almost everywhere she went, but was still not used to them, and fell at least once during the school day. Patricia joked that soon she wouldn't be called the clumsiest person in the house anymore.
Two hundred and fifty-one... two... three... heartbeats later, Amber was still not downstairs. Jerome and Alfie talked and laughed together and Mara saw Alfie's French lime voice mixing with Jerome's rosewood voice and occasionally his titanium yellow laugh. Jerome's voice used to be Rosso corsa to her, but after he almost kissed her, it was suddenly rosewood. Maybe that was the first time she realized she loved him. That was the first time that it wasn't a traumatic incident that changed something's color. It was beauty.
Living with sound-color synesthesia wasn't nearly as bad as it was made out to be. Mara could see perfectly fine, didn't feel OCD, like some doctors warned her... things just sounded like colors to her. Not a big deal; to her at least. When she was younger and commented on the color of someone's voice, she would get weird looks. She learned very quickly that difference wasn't accepted and kept quiet. One one hand she could count the number of people currently in her life that knew about it, and she was just fine that way. Jerome found it amusing.
Four hundred and twelve heartbeats later, Amber finally came downstairs. She had put a lot of effort in to make it look like she put no effort in. They were going on a hike, and her leggings and top looked stunning, but down to earth. Her hair was pulled into a simple ponytail, but still looked amazing. Mara always envied her ability to know exactly what to wear to look perfect. It was a skill she lacked.
"I'm ready." Amber said. It took Mara a long time to come up with the name for Amber's voice color, but one day, while she was online looking at different colors, she saw the exact match, bittersweet shimmer. It was a pale burgundy, difficult to describe. It suited her. Jerome grabbed her hand and lead her out of the house, following Alfie.
A cab was waiting outside for them when they got there. He played Spanish sky blue music the whole way there, an uncomfortable color for her, so she was happy when they were out of the cab, and in the forest. They walked separate from Amber and Alfie, so it seemed she wouldn't have to worry about Amber after all.
"So..." Rosewood tinted the trees around her. "What do you think so far?" She smiled at him and paused to listen to the soap colored voices of the birds singing around her.
"I think it's lovely," she said. Her own voice was the only one that didn't have a color. Once she asked Jerome to chose a color for her, so that she could visualize it the way he heard it, but every color he named was already reserved for something else. "I like the birds..."
"What color are they?" He asked, helping her up a small hill. The crunch of the leaves beneath his feet was such an overpowering, yet pleasant, sage color, she couldn't see the other color for a moment.
"Soap," she replied. "It's like a really pale blue." Ever since she was little, so much of her time had been devoted to colors; looking at colors; memorizing colors... She didn't like having nameless colors in her head and never liked naming them herself, so she learned colors. She knew which ones were open, which one's already had sounds... it was like a giant index in her mind.
He looked down at her and smiled. It had been a while since she had been her normal height around him. Usually she was wearing those heals that he loved, but felt were unnecessary. Her tallest ones only made her three inches taller and she was always complaining about the seal brown clicking sound they made. "I'm glad you came." Jerome whispered.
"Me too," she replied. In front of them Amber tripped and screamed a horrible bistre color. "Until now. What's wrong, Amber?" She was laying on the ground writhing in pain. Mara wasn't sure if she was faking to get out of the rest of the date or if she was actually hurt. Either way, her first aid training kicked in and she knelt next to the blonde and tried to focus.
"I fell, obviously." Amber said. She wasn't as snarky as Mara thought she intended to be, because instead of her normal bittersweet shimmer voice, it came out as more of a blue bell.
"What hurts?" Mara asked. Amber pointed to her ankle.
"I swear to god, Amy, if you ruin this date," Jerome complained.
"Shut it!" Mara commanded. She took Amber's shoe and went through the motions. "Wiggle your toes, bend your foot..." Then finally; "Can you move your ankle?" She bent it fine, but insisted that it hurt too much to walk on.
"Ambs, are you sure?" Alfie asked before calling the cab back.
Amber looked really apologetic. Mara didn't doubt that. "I'm sorry, Alfie... I loved this date... I've been wanting to do something like this for ages." Jerome and Alfie carried her back to where they entered the woods less than ten minutes before. Mara trailed behind, happy to listen to them complain about carrying her and her teasing them. The taxi driver didn't seem too happy to be back so soon.
"You coming?" Alfie asked, helping Amber into the car. Jerome looked to Mara to answer.
"I think we'll finish the date... We'll be back before ten." She said with a smile. Alfie nodded then got into the taxi himself, leaving Jerome and Mara alone at the edge of the woods. "It's your date. What did you have planned?" She asked. He walked over to her and wrapped an arm around her waist that sent shivers up her spine.
"Just a walk, but there's something to see at the end, promise," Jerome said with a wink. They walked mindlessly through the trail that—during the month of February—was completely deserted. They talked about nothing in particular, and Mara marveled at how they never managed to run out of things to talk about to each other. There was always something and when there were pauses in the conversation, they were comfortable.
"So what is this thing at the end?" Mara asked after it began getting dark. The days were getting longer, but the sun still set before six and it was starting to get very cold, even with her gloves, hat and thick coat.
"Trust me, will ya?" He teased. They walked a few more minutes and just when Mara was starting to get impatient, they arrived at a clearing.
"Jerome!" Mara exclaimed. "What is this?" He smiled at her and quietly walked over to the fire pit that was already filled with wood and began lighting it. However, Mara was more distracted by the acoustic guitar leaned up against the bench.
She sat down on the bench behind Jerome and watched him light the fire. "I used to be a boy scout," he explained. "My mother made me because she thought it would keep me out of trouble."
"You've told me that, I think. But I know you didn't tell me that you play guitar!" She replied. In the light of their torch she swore she could see him blush.
"I don't really..." Jerome admitted. "I just got Fabian to teach me a few chords." The fire started flickering to life, making an amber sound.
"You learned to play the guitar for me?" Mara asked. He shrugged then switched off the torch and sat next to her on the bench.
"This would have been much easier with Alfie here..." He said. Mara detected a hint of nervousness in his voice
"Jerome, are you shy about playing the guitar?" Mara asked, thrilled at this discovery. Jerome was nervous about doing something in front of her!
"No!" He liked poorly. She laughed at him. Jerome never got nervous. This was amusing to her.
"Don't be!" She said, leaning her head on his chest. "I'm sure you're lovely!"
He laughed, sounding timid, but grabbed the guitar and took a deep breath before playing the intro.
Mara recognized the turn instantly. It was a song she told Jerome she loved a long time ago because it always showed up as her favorite color; debian red.
"I heard there was a secret chord; that David played and it pleased the lord; but you don't really care for music do ya;" Jerome's voiced rang out. Mara never knew he could sing, but Jerome was a very secretive boy. Slowly, she was learning more and more about him, and was loving it. The more he sang, the more relaxed he because. The fire warmed their little clearing and Mara felt bad for being glad Amber got hurt, leaving them alone.
Out of habit, Mara joined in singing during the second verse. Her soprano voice weaved harmonies above his tenor voice. She and Fabian used to sing like this all the time before Nina came to the school and she got caught up with Mick, but they hardly even talked anymore. It had been a long time since Mara sang at all. She missed it more than she realized and vowed to start fixing both of those issues when she got home that night.
When the song was over, Mara applauded for him. "That's all I know," he admitted. She smiled and took the guitar from his hands.
"That's alright!" She said, smiling, then pulled out her phone and opened an app with a whole bunch of different songs and their chord progressions. "Chose one."
He scrolled through the ones she had favorited until he found the perfect one. "Nine in the afternoon."
She was surprised. "You like that some?" She asked, but didn't wait for him to answer before playing it. Jerome didn't sing along with her, instead he listened to her sing one of his most favorite songs.
"That was fantastic," he said when she was done. She was infinitely better than him. "And here I thought the only singer in the house was Fabian..."
"Hey! You were fantastic too! You should try out for the musical this year with me," she suggested as an after thought. He didn't look too excited about it.
"No. The only reason I was in Nina's stupid play is because I was forced. There is no way I'd do it voluntarily.
Mara smiled. She knew he was lying. "Please! I might know what the show is..."
His eyes lit up. Secretly he would love to be in a musical, but could never admit that, even to Mara. "What is it? How'd you find out?"
She laughed at how desperate he became. "I don't know..." she teased.
"Don't do this to me!"
"Fine!" She replied. "I convinced Mr. Parker to tell me... and he said it's not finalized, but they're going to try and get Les Misrable!"
Jerome didn't know many musicals, but he did know that one, and Mara seemed thrilled about it. He didn't really like show-tunes, but Les Misrable was okay. "That's cool! Who do you want to audition for?"
Jerome happily sat and listened to her gush about who would be right fore what parts. She told hi the colors each singer should have for the role. When that conversation was over, they got the guitar back out. Mara taught him some more chords and played some more songs. They held each other close until their fire died and the night got too late. Mara made him promise that he would take her back to their spot in the woods; they left feeling closer than ever.
"Come on!" Nathan whispered in French to the wild-haired girl bellow him. He grabbed her hand and pulled her up onto the roof next to him. She giggled and laid down at the very edge. "Get away from there, you'll get seen!"
"Who cares anymore!" She replied, also in French. Maybe she had one too many drinks in her, but it was too late to fix that. She had to do something to drown her worries.
"I care, Lace! Get away from there!" He commanded. Lacie rolled up towards him and rested her head on her fist.
"Fine. You're no fun anymore!" She teased. He handed her the tiny box he held in his hand.
"Lace, you just got expelled. If your seen, Mr. Buckley will have to call the police and then what mess will you be in!" He whisper-yelled. Somewhere in her drunken mind, she recognized that he was telling the truth, but she was too far gone to focus on that now. She pulled one of the rolled joints from the cigarette box and took a lighter from her pocket.
"He wont call the police. Besides, after what you've seen, do you really think that the police could take me?" Lacie said cockily. She lit the joint between her teeth and took a long breath in, holding it as long as she could. Coughing, she offered the joint to Nathan and said, "Want it?"
"How you tempt me," he said. "I shouldn't... but I will." He took it from between her thumb and forefinger and placed it between his lips.
"This is the last time I'm going to see you, isn't it?" Lacie asked the boy who happened to be her best friend.
"You're the one leaving," he teased. "If it were up to me, I'd be coming with you to... wherever it is you're going." She rolled her eyes and watched him pull smoke from the joint, fascinated in her half-drunken state.
"If I took you with me, you'd end up dead too... Just like Noah." She said. The drug he put into his body's calming effect started right away. He relaxed visibly.
"Don't talk about him like that..." He paused. "You know I'd die for you, Lace." He replied. "But I understand... something about Egyptian gods, destiny... whatever. I'm okay as long as you promise that I'll see you again, eventually."
"I can't promise that." She said. "And why not... he's dead, it's not like he cares."
"Lacie Petit... what am I going to do with you?" He asked dreamily. Even though this girl scared him, she was still the girl he grew up with. The one good thing about their stupid boarding school.
"Not Petit anymore. Brown. I need a new name, just in case someone tries to track me down, not like I left any clues." She replied. He wasn't sure what to think about her comment; he was almost positive that she was only speaking about it like that, mostly because of the way she was crying over his body only two hours ago. The binge drinking was one of his worst ideas, but he knew she needed it. Besides, he was never that good with girls who cried which is one of the reasons he liked Lacie in the first place. He honestly couldn't remember a time that she cried before then.
"I wonder if his family knows yet..." Nathan wondered aloud.
Lacie didn't say anything for a bit. After a particularly long drag, she spoke. "If they know that he's dead? Or that I'm his murderer?"
A/N: So...there isn't much for me to put here. Most of it is up top. Next chapter, Nina and Fabian fight, they find another clue, Patricia and Eddie have a good conversation and Jerome and who have a moment?!
R and R please, I love hearing from you guys!
See you Monday on my profile and in two weeks here!