Chapter Six

Flirting and Reminiscing

Patricia could feel her palms sweating and tried to stop herself from blushing in embarrassment. It was awkward enough to feel you hands sweaty and it even makes it more awkward when you're holding someone's hand.

"Sorry," she muttered under her breath, knowing the Fabian would hear.

"It's fine," he managed out of clenched teeth.

The 'couple' decided to eat lunch in town for cover purposes. They hoped that people from school would see them. And, see them they did but not only that, the said 'people from school' decided to approach them.

"Mr. Rutter!" a sixteen year-old blonde squealed. "It's a surprise to see you here."

"Ah, Ms. Tate," Fabian tried to give the most genuine smile he could, "and Ms. Blakewood, too."

"Is this your girlfriend?" Cassie Tate gave a quick smile towards Patricia's direction.

Erin Blakewood gave a apologetic smile for her friend as she quietly observed the encounter.

"She is," Fabian gave a tight smile, giving Patricia a one-armed hug. "This is Patricia, my girlfriend."

Patricia, uncomfortable under the observant gaze of the student and Fabian's close contact, tried to act like the perfect girlfriend that she is. "It's very nice to meet a few of Fabian's students."

"She's quite…" Cassie looked at Patricia, trying to give a compliment. Being the girly girl that she is, Cassie found it hard to find something to say about Patricia's white button-up and pleated skirt ensemble, something that looked quite like her school uniform, "… a classic."

"She is, isn't she?" Fabian almost chuckled at the 'compliment' but kept his mum as soon as he saw Patricia's glare.

"Have you both eaten lunch yet?" Cassie suddenly piped up.

Thinking of this as a way out, Fabian shook his head. "No, we haven't. I'm sure my," Fabian gave a regretful look at Patricia before continuing, "sweetheart is hungry by now."

Patricia nearly gagged at the endearment but she just pursed her lips.

"That's great then," Cassie said. "My friend Dexter is transferring schools and we're holding a going away party for him. It's just lunch and a few teachers are there too. I'm sure they would welcome you there."

"Dexter?" Fabian tried to rack his brains, remembering if he had met a Dexter. "Dexter Lloyd?" He asked, remembering a fellow who he gave detention for pranking another student in class.

"Oh, you know him? That's great then! He'll be glad to know you came! Just follow me."

Before Fabian and Patricia could refuse, Cassie had already started walking ahead of them, looking back to see if they had followed. Her friend, Erin, was already on her tail.

"Damn these kids," Patricia muttered.

"Well, it doesn't really hurt to show our faces," Fabian sighed, offering his hand to Patricia. "Are you ready for a show, sweetheart?"

"Well, honey," she let the words out through gritted teeth, gripping his proffered hand. "I guess I have no choice in this."

"That's the spirit," Fabian chuckled. "We can have our lunch in the restaurant anyway."

Ahead of them, Erin caught up to her friend. "I don't think Mr. Rutter appreciate being forced in this party."

"Oh, pish posh, Erin," Cassie gave a smile. "You're the one telling me that he's a suspicious person. Well, this is our chance to get to know the teacher and find out if he really is a shady bloke."

"I'm not comfortable with your methods," Erin sighed.

"But I get things done anyway," Cassie flashed a victorious smile as she saw the couple following them in the corner of her eye.

It had completely slipped Eddie's mind that all his charges were out in town to give Dexter Lloyd a going away party. Brielle had just remembered this tidbit when they had arrived in town, urging Eddie that they drop in just to say hi to Dexter and his friends.

"C'mon, Eddie," Brielle prodded at the blonde. "I know that Dexter has done some misdeeds…"

"Some? He broke dad's antique vases from his pranks," Eddie said incredulously. "And almost set the house on fire thrice after his chemical experiments had gone awry."

Ignoring Eddie's words, Brielle continued, "but you know you love the kid."

"Love him? I'm glad he's going away," Eddie laughed but immediately shut up as soon as he saw Brielle's disapproving face. "Okay, fine, we'll go but we will have to eat Cal's after. God, I miss the American lifestyle."

"We'll feed you as much burgers as you want," Brielle giggled, knowing how much Eddie loves the American dish.

"Those things are like drugs to me, I swear," Eddie said, his mouth already watering at the thought.

"Someday, you're gonna die of heart problem," Brielle shook her head.

"That's because they're to die for," he said dramatically.

"Oh, let's just go," Brielle took hold of Eddie's wrist and pulled him to the direction of the restaurant that was only a few blocks away from where they stood arguing.

Finally reaching the restaurant, Eddie almost did a double take when he saw a familiar face. It was the guy in the photograph with Nina.

"Hey Eddie, can't we just eat here? I'm really hungry now," Brielle said, not noticing Eddie's shocked expression. When the blonde didn't reply, Brielle looked at him weirdly. "Eddie?"

"Sorry what?" he replied but he still didn't take his eyes off the familiar man.

Following his line of sight, Brielle felt her smile grow. "Please don't tell me you have a crush on the girl."

"W-what girl?" Eddie looked startled as he gave a quick glance at Brielle who looked like she was the Cheshire Cat.

"The red head," she gave him a playful nudge. "Don't deny it. She's so your type."

Before Eddie could shift his attention to the said girl, Brielle was already on her way to their table, a plan forming in her head. Eddie immediately followed, both a little curious and nervous on her soon to be encounter with her former acquaintances.

"Hi!" Brielle greeted the couple with enthusiasm. "I just have a quick question. What do you think of my blonde friend?" she glanced at Eddie as she mentioned the words.

Both Fabian and Patricia were shell shocked at the appearance of Nina Martin in front of them.

Eddie swiftly placed himself behind Brielle. "Brielle!" he lowered his voice into a whisper. "What are you planning?"

"Playing Cupid," she whispered back.

Feeling his cheeks turned red, Eddie turned to the couple. "I'm so sorry for my friend. She's out of her mind."

"Y-you?" Fabian choked out.

"Do I know you?" Brielle's brows furrowed as she tried to figure out who the man was. "If I do, I'm sorry but I lost all of my memories."

Realising that the couple remembers her old identity, Eddie felt himself go into business overdrive mode. "Hey, Brie, I think I saw Cassie waving at you," he said, glancing at the blonde who was chatting animatedly with her roommate, Erin. "Don't you want to say hi?"

Noticing Eddie's expression, Nina knew that it was no use arguing and she quickly excused herself to greet the student.

"Okay," he faced the couple, sitting on an empty chair in front of Fabian. "I know this is freaky but please hear me out first. Nina has no memory of she was so please don't overwhelm her with things from the past."

"Who are you?" Patricia snottily asked, "and why should we trust you?"

"I'm a… friend," Eddie finished lamely.

"Oh, that totally helped me," Patricia said sarcastically. "I put my whole faith in you now." Rolling her eyes, she repeated her question. "Who are you?"

"I'm Eddie… Miller," he decided not to show a connection with his father, something the two would figure out once he muttered his father's surname. "My parents found her with no recollection of who she is. I don't know who she was but I do know who she is now and she's a friend."

"If you don't know who she was, how come you know her real name?" Fabian said, finally speaking up.

"Knowing her real name doesn't mean I know who she really is," Eddie said coldly. "Now, I believe introductions are in order."

"Fabian Rutter," Fabian held out a hand for Eddie to shake, which he did. "And this is Patricia Williamson," Fabian added when he saw that his friend was in no mood for introductions.

Eddie easily made the connection since he currently was in possession of the woman's diary. "You're her former roommate, right?"

"How do you know that?" Patricia snapped, her eyes blazing.

"Hey, chill out, Spitfire," Eddie held up his hands in a form of surrender, chuckling at her antics. "I did my research." Placing his gaze to the man, Eddie regarded him seriously. "But you, I don't know."

"I'm her… housemate," Fabian sighed, still not knowing whether to trust this stranger. "We're old friends."

"House of Anubis, right?"

"I'm not even going to ask how you know," Patricia sneered. "I'm sure it's part of your research."

"Actually, I'm the caretaker of the house now," Eddie defended himself.

"Victor left the house to you?" Patricia asked, surprised. "You don't strike me as the type that would cozy up to Victor."

"Actually, Mr. Rodenmaar left it in my father's care and my father left it to me," Eddie said. "I never met him."

"Lucky bastard," Patricia muttered under her breath.

"I'm sorry but I don't think you know enough about me to conclude that I'm born out of wedlock," Eddie said coolly.

"You know that's not what-"

Fabian gave a fake cough, not liking the fact that he's left out of the conversation and that the topic has strayed. "I believe that it was us on the date, Patricia," he reminded her in a whisper that only she could hear. "Now stop flirting with the man or you'll blow our cover."

Turning red, Patricia retorted defensively. "I am not-"

Brielle suddenly appeared beside Eddie, interrupting whatever Patricia would've said. "I'm back," she smiled kindly at the pair. "What'd I miss?" she asked mostly to Eddie.

"Well, Patty…"

"Patricia," she corrected.

"…was just about to say something," Eddie continued as if Patricia didn't interrupt. "I believe you were gonna explain why you were red as a tomato."

"That's none of your business," she retorted, turning even redder.

"Why isn't it?" Eddie argued back.

Realising that this was to turn into another verbal showdown, Fabian quickly thought of an answer. "I just reminded 'Tricia about a… er… intimate moment." Fabian felt his own cheeks turn red at the words he blurted out.

"So you guys are a couple then?" Brielle asked curiously as Patricia turned even redder at her gaze.

"Er, yeah," Fabian said, avoiding her brown inquiring eyes. "We are."

Clearing her throat, Patricia went on to change the topic. "I'm sorry but I didn't quite catch your name."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Brielle gave an apologetic smile. "It's Brielle, Brielle Miller."

"Then you two…" Patricia tried to make the connection between the New Nina and the blonde weasel.

"No relation," Eddie quickly explained, not knowing why he wanted to make the fact known immediately.

Fabian visibly gave a sigh of relief but couldn't help but find the name significant. "Did Eddie give you the name?"

Brielle gave him a confused stare.

"I mean, since you said you'd lost your memory earlier, I figured you don't remember your name as well," Fabian said.

"Ah, well, actually, I thought the name was familiar," she admitted. "But I couldn't quite remember why. I used Miller since I owed his parents a debt, a life debt."

"Ah," Fabian nodded as if understanding. "Well, it's nice to meet you Brielle. I'm Fabian and this is Patricia."

"Ah, you're the history teacher that the kids are talking about…"

Fabian couldn't help but tune out the voice of the love of his life as he inwardly smiled at a memory.

It was three years after college when Fabian woke up to retching noises. Nina was in the bathroom throwing up what she ate for dinner the previous night.

"Nins, love, are you alright?" Fabian asked, holding her hair up for her as she continued to throw up.

Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she gave a slight nod to appease her boyfriend. "I think it's just a bit of a bad shrimp," she lied, knowing her real suspicions would scare Fabian.

"I think I know when you're lying, Nins," Fabian helped her stand up and accompanied her to the sink to wash up. "So, please tell me what's really wrong with you."

After ridding her mouth of the horrible taste, Nina finally turned to face Fabian who was looking nervous as hell.

"I'm late," Nina finally said.

Fabian's expression went from confused to understanding to relief. "Oh, thank God, I thought it was something worse."

"You're not mad?" Nina found herself feeling relieved as well.

"Mad? Of course not, love," Fabian gave his girlfriend a reassuring embrace. "I would never be mad at you because of that."

"So, do you want to keep it?" Nina asked, adding hastily. "If I really am pregnant, I mean."

"I would very much want to be a father," Fabian smiled warmly, leading Nina back to their bed.

Lying comfortably in Fabian's arms, Nina unconsciously played with his fingers as he played with her hair.

"What are you thinking of?" Fabian asked her, curiously. She was unusually quiet after the unveiling of the truth.

"Names," she admitted. "I know it's way too early and that I might not really be pregnant but I just can't help it."

Fabian smiled. "What have you thought of, then?"

"Well, it'll definitely be Fabian Jr. if it's a boy," she grinned cheekily.

"And if it's a girl?"

"I've always liked the name Gabrielle," she said fondly but frowned. "But it's a mouthful."

"Shorten it then," Fabian was amused since three-syllables was already a mouthful for his girlfriend.

"Hmmm…" Nina hummed as she thought. "Brielle."

"'Cause subtracting one syllable from the name make's it so much shorter," he teased.

"Fine," Nina stuck her tongue out. "She can be called Brie for short."

"You're naming our baby girl after cheese," he raised a brow.

"Oh, shut up," Nina pouted but gave a smile. "You know you like the name."

"I do," Fabian said truthfully, tightening his hold on her. "It's a wonderful name just as you'd make a wonderful mother."

"I love you," Nina mumbled lazily as she drifted back to sleep.

"I love you too," Fabian gave a kiss on her forehead before joining her in slumber.

The couple later found out that it was just a pregnancy scare (as Nina had gotten her period) but they agreed that Brielle and Fabian Jr. would be the name of their future children.

"Fabian?" Patricia worriedly gave his hand a squeeze, trying to make the man respond. "Are you alright... dear?" she added as an afterthought.

"S-sorry," Fabian muttered when he realized that he was spacing out and that everyone's attention was on him. "Just remembered something."

"Lucky you," Brielle muttered. "I can't seem to remember anything at all."

Fabian smiled tightly. "I'm sure you would someday."

You think that you don't remember anything but subconsciously, you know who you are, Fabian mused.

AN: There! They finally meet! How did you think Fabian and Patricia fare as a fake couple? Can you see seeds of Peddie loooove? :) Hihi. Did you miss Benji, btw? You'll see him in the next chapter!

Please review! :) I mean it. I need feedbaaaack :D