Chapter Eleven

Kissing and Missing You

Despite Fabian's words, the two cannot seem to find time to solve the mystery. For the next few weeks, Fabian is swamped with teacher-duty, with the upcoming charity ball coming up. Adding to his list of his responsibilities are the papers he made his students redo since majority of them had burned in the fire.

"Hell," Fabian muttered as he arrived at the house halfway through dinner. The student boarders in the house as well as the housekeepers were already eating supper.

"Hello, Mr. Rutter," Erin greeted good-naturedly at the teacher as did the other students.

"Hi, Erin," Fabian managed to let out a small smile as he slumped beside Patricia.

Cassie, with her ever-observing eyes, looked at the supposed couple expectantly. Patricia caught the gaze and understood.

"Hey," Patricia plastered a smile on her face, kissing Fabian's cheek. "Busy day?"

Fabian was too tired to question his friend's signs of affection and just nodded in reply.

"Well, mine wasn't," Patricia smirked. "So, I took up the time and effort to pass by your favorite bakeshop and pick up your most loved dessert."

At the thought of deliciously decadent apple pie, Fabian moaned. "God, I love you."

Patricia couldn't help but turn red at Fabian's words but rolled her eyes, nonetheless.

Eddie, uncomfortable at the public displays of affection, cleared his throat and looked pointedly at the students who were stifling their giggles behind their palms. "I, uh, wasn't aware that you left the house at all, Patricia," he changed the topic.

"Well, Weasel," Patricia smirked. "I wasn't aware that you're my father. I don't need to ask permission from you. I'm an adult capable of making her own decisions."

"Doesn't show," Eddie scoffed.

"Well, I wouldn't expect you to see it," Patricia retorted. "You are blind, of course."

"Well, if-"

Brielle stood abruptly, making her chair scrape on the floor. "I'll go get the pie."

Eddie took his eyes away from the fiery woman to Brielle who just glared at him. He vaguely heard the muffled laughter from the students, who obviously thought that their banter was entertaining.

"It's in the fridge," Patricia mumbled as Brielle moved away from the table.

The clattering of silverware was the only thing that could be until Brielle's return. The redhead sat on her seat, satisfied that peace was once back in the once. Cassie Tate seemed to have other ideas.

"So, what's your job, Ms. Williamson," the blonde asked curiously.

Another blonde was curious and his head shot up to look up at Patricia.

"Er, please call me Patricia," she said, not liking the fact that she was being called like a teacher. "And, I cook, actually."

"So, you're like a chef?" Cassie questioned more.

"Oh, don't you know her, Cass?" Erin told her roommate. "She used to work at the Clementine."

"OMG, isn't that the hotel that Eugene Simon owned?" Cass asked the dark-haired girl.

"Yep," Erin said, turning her head to Patricia. "I heard that you got the hotel a lot of awards. That's really cool."

Patricia felt herself redden. "Thanks. It's really rare to have someone hear of me."

"You cook?" Brielle asked, surprised. "You must cook for us one of these days! I'd love to taste your cooking!"

Patricia hummed in agreement.

"So, if you're so hotshot in the culinary industry," Eddie started nonchalantly, picking at his food. "Why did you leave?"

The redhead felt uncomfortable under his gaze. "Er, personal reasons?"

"What kind of personal reasons?" Eddie asked.

"She went to go with me," Fabian answered for her. "I needed a break from the city and she just dropped everything to go with me."

"Aw," the girls in the table cooed at the romantic gesture while Eddie, being the only male at the table besides Fabian, just hid his annoyance.

"That's so sweet, Patricia," Cassie gushed. "How long have you guys been a couple?"

"Not long," Patricia admitted after looking at Fabian, trying to converse with their eyes. "I had just broken up with my ex-boyfriend when I reconnected with Fabian."

"So, rebound huh?" Eddie raised a brow.

"Eddie!" Brielle admonished, slapping the blonde lightly. "Stop that."

Before Eddie could respond, the front door burst open.

"Drat, that'd be Patrick and Ollie," the caretaker cursed as he stood. "I'll just take care of them troublemakers."

Watching the blonde leave, Patricia looked questioningly at Brielle. "I thought Patrick was a good kid."

The two spent the day conversing about the most random things and it covered the rest of the boarders in the house: Cassie Tate, Erin Blakewood, Patrick Smith, Oliver Harvard, Kirsty Stevens and Reina Queens.

"Well, when Dexter had to leave," Brielle explained. "He apparently trained Patrick to take his place as resident troublemaker."

Patricia nodded, smiling as she thought of the troublemakers during her time, Jerome and Alfie, only to let her smile drop as she scolded herself internally to not think of him.

"Hey, are you okay?" Fabian noticed the change in her expression.

"Not really," she said honestly. "I'll just go on ahead to bed. I'm not feeling to good."

"Do you want me to go with you?" he asked, playing the role of a concerned boyfriend but really just acting like the worried friend he is. With the sudden appearance of the Book of Isis, Fabian is anxious about the mystery that's once again circling the house. He didn't want Patricia to get any more injuries from unknown Egyptian magic.

Patricia glanced at his unfinished slice of pie. "No, go on and finish your food."

Fabian nodded, squeezing her hand comfortingly. "Take care."

Patricia nodded oblivious of the longing glances of the rest of the table. All the girls wanted someone like Fabian to be attentive like that. Even Brielle couldn't help but sigh at the absence of a lover in her life.

Patricia went to leave the kitchen only to see Eddie sending the two boys to their room with no supper.

"Wow, that's just about unfair," Patricia commented.

Eddie rolled his eyes. "Well, you're not the one supposedly standing as their parent for most of the year."

"A very harsh parent," Patricia added.

"Why are you even here?" Eddie questioned. "Shouldn't you be with lover boy- I mean, rebound boy?"

"He is not rebound!" Patricia explained, realizing that she didn't really lie. It was Eugene that was her rebound, not Fabian, never Fabian.

"Whoa, you're really defensive there, Yacker," Eddie grinned, liking the way she gets all riled up.

"That's because you're such a slimeball," Patricia scowled at him. "Anyway, excuse me, I'm going to bed."

"It's a shocker," Eddie grinned. "Your yacking has finally stopped, Blabs."

"That's because you're not worth my energy, Weasel," Patricia rolled her eyes.

"Or you just don't have the reason to prove that you're using poor Fabian as a rebound," he taunted.

Just in time, Fabian stepped in the entrance hall only to be shocked that Eddie and Patricia were at it again.

"You want proof?" Patricia, out of frustration from the man, pulled poor Fabian's shirt towards her and planted a smack on his lips.

Fabian froze at the action and so did Eddie. Patricia gave a satisfied smile to the flabbergasted Eddie.

"Proof enough for you?" she smirked. "'Night, Weasel."

Patricia walked to her room, her hips swaying as she did so.

"She's quite a handful," Eddie noted to Fabian.

"Yes, she is," Fabian finally recovered, heading after Patricia. "Well, I better…er, go after her."

Eddie mistook his urgency as eagerness for the feisty redhead and felt himself turn green with envy at the thought. Fabian would've smiled at the display but he was too distraught at Patricia too think about Eddie's interest in her.

"You kissed me!" Fabian exclaimed as soon he entered the bedroom.

"Well, don't get your knickers in a twist, love," Patricia rolled her eyes.

"But, you kissed me!" he repeated.

"I am well aware of that," she rolled her eyes once again, shifting on her bad to face the man.

"Why would you… you take advantage of me like that?!" Fabian nearly growled, sounding very much like a girl.

"You're my 'boyfriend', Fabian. We might as well make it believable," she placed air quotations at his title.

"That's bull," Fabian rolled his eyes this time, plopping on the foot of her bed. "You're letting him play you."

Patricia groaned, muffling the sound with a pillow. "He just makes me so frustrated!"

"You like him," Fabian observed. "It's been a few weeks and yet-"

"No, I don't," she denied but her stand faltered as she looked at Fabian's expression. His face, if it could talk, screams out 'Really, Patricia?' "Am I that transparent?"

"I've known you forever," he sighed leaning to ruffle her hair a bit. "You couldn't hide it from me… or Joy."

"That doesn't answer the question."

Fabian chuckled. "No, it isn't obvious. You have nothing to worry about… except maybe falling for him."

Patricia sat up to lightly punch his arm. "Shut up. You know we don't have time for flimsy affairs right now."

"I do," Fabian's face grew serious as he transferred to his bed so that Patricia couldn't hear what he muttered under his breath. "But, I don't think this would be a flimsy affair for you two."

"You were saying something?" Patricia strained her ears to hear him.

"Good night, Patricia," Fabian just smiled at her, knowing that between the two of them, she was the one who needs the most happiness. "I'm tired."

"Good night, Fabian," she whispered, yawning herself.

The dark-haired man entered the bathroom to change into sleep clothes before jumping back into bed. He closed his eyes and waited for his companion's breathing to be even before sitting up to grab his phone.

Ever since they arrived at the house, Fabian couldn't bring himself to sleep. So, almost every night, he'd wander off and use his phone as a torch. This night was no different. But, it was only half past ten and Fabian knew that the rest of the house was still awake. He played with his phone, stalling until he'd leave the room.

Sighing, as time couldn't fly faster, Fabian decided to give his old friends a call. Dialling Joy's number, he waited for her to answer the phone.

"Oh, thank god," Joy greeted. "I thought you have forgotten about me by now."

"It doesn't really help that you're in another continent, love," Fabian teased. "You should be the one calling us. My phone bills are killing me."

"Sorry but, I can't help it that Mick travels… a lot," she apologised good-naturedly. "So, what's up?"

"Can't a guy check up on his best friend?" Fabian joked.

"If said guy is busy trying to save the love of his life," Joy started. "He'd call the said best friend for favors rather than asking how her day went."

"The love of his life is dead," Fabian said bitterly. "I can't save her anymore."

"She's not," Joy corrected. "Well, Patricia tells me that she's there. At least, her body is. And you're trying to find the root of the problem, thus, you're still hoping you can save her by bringing her back."

"You talk to her often?" Fabian changed the topic. "Patricia, I mean."

"Only everyday," she admitted. "She's just bored."

"She didn't have to come with me," Fabian said guiltily. "She could've stayed in London."

"But she had to leave," Joy explained. "Don't you see that she was unhappy there? And most importantly, don't you see that you need someone there?"

Thinking back to what happened in the gazebo, Fabian silently agreed that he did a friend with him. "Why did she break up with Eugene?" he asked out of both curiosity and concern.

"It was complicated," Joy sighed, thinking to how Patricia was more distant ever since graduating high school. "She won't tell me but I think it had something to do with Jerry."

"Jerome?" Fabian clarified, racking his brains for anyone he knew that was named Jerry.

"Yeah," Joy replied. "I think she's still loves him… or maybe just hung up on him even if he's very much happy with Mara."

"Well, if that's the case, maybe Eddie is just good for her," Fabian muttered, not realizing that Joy could hear.

"Eddie? Who's Eddie?" Joy was intrigued. "Patricia never mentioned any Eddie to me."

Fabian stifled a smile. "I think she wanted to be spared from your matchmaking tendencies."

"Tell me, Fabes!" Joy almost begged. "Please?"

"Okay, okay, jeez, you've been hanging with Amber a lot," Fabian chuckled. "He's the caretaker of the house now. He's Mr. Sweet's son."

"And?" Joy tried to push for more details.

"And he's completely clashing with Patricia," Fabian said honestly. "They argue like husband and wife."

"Oh, he's perfect for her then! He keeps her on her toes," Joy squealed, making Fabian pull the device away from his ears. "Send me a picture of him immediately."
"And you wonder why she didn't want to tell you," Fabian laughed.

"She deserves to be happy," Joy said simply.

"I know," Fabian agreed. "So, what's up with you?"

Joy faltered for a moment before finally answering in a false cheerful tone. "Everything's okay."

Fabian could already detect the hesitation in her voice. "What's wrong? Is it Mick?" Fabian knew that the two married impulsively after the incident with the tombs but he knew the two loved each other.

"Oh no!" Joy immediately denied. "Mick and I are alright. In fact, I don't know if Patricia had told you."

"Told me what?"

"We're expecting," she said excited.

"That's great!" Fabian could hear the smile in her voice. " But, you're still hiding something from me."

"Well, er," Joy stalled. "I guess…"

"Joy," Fabian said sternly. "Tell me."

"I don't remember how Nina looks like," she finally admitted. "It's like she's something I've read from a book. I can think of the details but I can't see them."

Fabian closed his eyes, knowing that it wouldn't be long before they all forget. "Thanks for telling me, Joy. I have to go now."

"Hey, is Patricia there?" Joy asked suddenly.

"Yeah," Fabian replied. "She's sleeping. Why'd you ask?"

"Well, I don't want you doing anything stupid," Joy said truthfully.

"I promise I won't do anything rash," Fabian vowed. "I just need a walk."

"Fabian," Joy said in a warning tone.

"I just to clear my head," Fabian sighed, looking at the wall clock. "And it's nearly midnight here. I wouldn't dare wake people up."

"But, I'm calling Patricia in the morning," Joy sulked, knowing she can't stop her friend.

"Fine," Fabian nodded. "Bye Joy. It was nice talking to you."

"Bye, Fabes."

The call was cut off as Fabian hung up. He grabbed a jacket then set off to do what he needed to do: to take a walk around the house. What Joy told him had him panicking. He wanted to remember and going back to important places would calm him. One of those places is the attic.

Opening the door to the attic, Fabian felt the dusty and cool air greet him. He sighed, slightly comforted. He headed further into its depths and took a seat on one corner, revelling in the memories he had in the place. A sound broke him from his thoughts and he immediately scrambled to see what made the noise.

"Brielle," he finally saw the source of sound. "What are you doing here?"

The redhead gave an embarrassed smile, seeing that she was caught. "Actually…"

AN: Why do you think Brie is there? What do you think is gonna happen next? What do you want to happen next? Hihi. Review please.