House of Anubis: House of Pasts

House of Mistakes/House of Poppy

Jerome had his phone in his hand. He stared at his sister's contact in his phone, prepared to call her, yet at the same time, not so prepared. He didn't know what she'd say. He didn't know what he'd say. He hadn't seen Poppy in forever, let alone spoken to her, and as many times as he picked on her, he was taking this seriously. After all, there couldn't have been any other way to take it.

He pressed the call button, holding his phone up to his ear, pacing around as it rung.

"Jerome?"

Jerome held his breath as he heard his sister's voice. It was far more mature than he'd expected it to be, but then again-what was he really expecting?

"Hello?" His sister's voice spoke again.

"Poopy-Poppy. Poppy," Jerome corrected himself. "Hi."

~~~~~
Amber went back into the apartment before the others. She told Joy she needed some alone time in her bed. When she entered the apartment, William was there, and she really wasn't hoping to discuss anything with him. Yet, it was unavoidable.

"What were you thinking?!" William exclaimed, standing to his feet. "Not only have you lied for selfish reasons whilst breaking your boyfriend's heart, but now Nina and Eddie still thinks it's safe to go back into the past, and I can't just tell them the truth now!"

Amber was still really distraught. In a soft voice, she responded, "I just can't deal with this right now, William; I just can't." She locked herself in her room.

"Amber?" William called in a nicer tone. "Amber, I didn't mean to yell."

Nina came into the apartment just then after the others decided to leave until the next day. She saw William near Amber's door, eyeing him.

"I accidentally yelled at her," William admitted.

Nina didn't really care. She went past him, right by Amber's door, knocking. "Amber?...Amber? Open the door for your Neens? Please?" Nina sighed when Amber didn't open the door. She whispered to herself, "Time to break-and-enter."

She went to her room, grabbed a hair pin, went back to Amber's door, and unlocked it. William tried to enter after her, but Nina shook her head and closed the door, locking it.

She sat on Amber's bed. Amber's body was under the covers and her face was pressed into her pillow.

"Amber?" Nina announced.

Amber said something, but it was all muffled in the pillow.

"Amber, face out the pillow."

Amber turned around and sat up instead of pressing her face in the pillow. Her tears had stained the case as well as her own face.

"Nina, what if he doesn't love me anymore?"

"He may be upset, but I know he still loves you," Nina reassured.

"Nina, I lied with a really bad lie, that I really, really regret, and it's really, really, really hurt Jerome. He said he never wanted to see me again!" Amber squeaked. "I made a dumb mistake just to stay in Sibuna and hurt my boyfriend."

"Well, it's been confirmed it was lie," Nina said. "I knew you weren't the cheating type. But as of now, Jerome doesn't know that was a lie. And he's as distraught as you are. And even though I know he loves you, you have to fix things to be with him again."

Amber shook her head. "Nina, it's over. Maybe he does still love me, but we can't get back together."

"Why not? I thought Jamber was pretty cute," Nina commented, trying to lighten the mood.

"It doesn't matter what I say, or what I do; I said I cheated on him. Even if I explain to him that was a lie, I still lied to him. And it was a really-"

"-bad lie; I know." Nina felt sympathetic for her. "Come here." She pulled Amber into a hug.

~~~~~
Jerome and Poppy ended up decided to discuss everything they needed to discuss in person. The next morning, they met at a coffee shop they agreed upon. Jerome showed up very early, ensuring he'd be there when his little sister showed up.

He saw his younger sister walking towards him soon enough, dressed up nicely and actually looking like an adult.

"Poppy," Jerome marveled. "You look so...grown."

"Well," Poppy responded, "I kind of am."

"Right."

Jerome reached for the chair at the table he was near beneath a umbrella outside and pulled it out for Poppy to sit. Instead, Poppy sat in the chair on the opposite side of the round table, making things awkward for Jerome. Jerome just took a deep breath and sat down.

"Wait, should I grab us some coffee?" Jerome suggested.

"I don't drink coffee."

"Oh, well, you do know they serve things other than coffee? I can get you any-"

"-we both know we didn't meet here for the coffee or the refreshments or whatever; so...spill on what you really want."

"I want to make amends," Jerome told her, straightforwardly. "I want to feel like your brother again."

Poppy tensed up.

"We haven talked in years. We haven't seen eachother in years. Last time I saw you was four years ago. How have you been?"

"Very good, not seeing your face."

Jerome was taken aback. Still, he responded, "I know we stopped talking when dad went back to jail. But that wasn't my fault."

"I didn't stop talking to you when we found out dad was back in jail," Poppy retaliated. "I stopped talking to you when you said he deserved it."

Jerome suddenly remembered. He flashbacked to the time he was in his dad's new place, where Poppy stayed as well. And when he thought he was alone, he did say his dad deserved to go back to prison, but it was just a misunderstanding.

"I-I did, didn't I?" Jerome admitted, feeling guilty. "Poppy, you weren't meant to hear me say that."

"Oh, and what? That makes it any different? Admit it; you're glad we have to spend even more years of our lives with our dad in prison."

"Hey, I did not say that, Poppy."

"But you meant it. Why did I even agree to this?" Poppy tried to stand up, but Jerome reached across the table and held Poppy's arm.

"Poppy, I don't want dad in jail. I never wanted dad in jail. I was just angry." Jerome released Poppy after he was sure she'd stay.

"Angry for what? What right did you even have to be angry at dad after he was just an innocent man getting a new start?"

"One, not-so-innocent. Two, you keep making everything sound like it's my fault. I was angry because we got into an argument about mum, and I just said those words; I didn't mean them."

"What a good liar you are. If I hadn't known any better, I'd think you were for real."

Jerome frowned. "Poppy, I'm trying to apologize here. I'm trying to make things right, here. And you're so adamant about hating me-"

"You're right, Gerbil. I hate you! I hate you!" Poppy stood up.

"Poppy?" Jerome stood up as well.

Poppy marched away.

"Poppy! Poppy, you get back here right now!" Jerome heaved a quick sigh. He looked around him at average customers staring straight at him. "Well, carry on with your coffees."

~~~~~
Intense chapter here. Poppy's angry with Jerome, and Amber feels like she can never get back together with Jerome. No discussion questions here, but stay tuned for the next chapter amazing aristocrats!