House of Anubis: House of Mistakes

Part III

The next morning didn't bring them closer to any substantial revelations. In fact, it was probably one of the more normal days they'd had so far. If such were possible, anyway.

During Denby's class, Mr. Sweet had come in to announce the drama unit for that year, acting as though it were a titillating new production in the West End, rather than some hodgepodgey class assignment.

"I would be happy to help with any one-on-one coaching," Denby had supplied helpfully after Mr. Sweet had made the announcement. Patricia and Eddie shared a look with each other from where they sat together in the back of the room. When Patricia turned back to the front, however, Eddie bit back a sly smile. This could prove to be a great opportunity.

"Don't forget that this counts towards your final grade," Mr. Sweet reminded them pointedly, and Alfie, who had been squirming in his seat excitedly over the idea of a performance and chance to be creative, slumped back in his chair dejectedly.

Mara wasted no time in raising her hand. "Can I write the play, sir?"

Eddie rolled his eyes in mild irritation. Leave it to Mara to be such a goody-goody.

His father brightened. "Ah! Yes, Mara, that is an excellent idea!" he exclaimed. "That's the spirit! Would anyone perhaps like to take on this endeavor with Miss Jaffray?"

Just as Fabian began to tentatively raise his hand, Mara's shot up again. "Can Joy write it with me?"

Fabian sighed and put his hand down; this time, Eddie let out a low chuckle, to which Patricia snickered along with. KT gave Fabian a sympathetic look, but couldn't hide her own amusement at the poor boy's dejected face.

Mr. Sweet agreed enthusiastically while Alfie leaned over to Willow and whispered in her ear. The two giggled, and Eddie resisted the urge to gag, instead wrapping his own hand around his girlfriend's. He gave it a soft squeeze, and she turned to look at him, unimpressed. At this, he couldn't help but smile for real.

While he didn't harbor any of the actual feelings for Patricia he'd had before he'd been turned, he couldn't help but be a little fond of her—impressed by her, even. When she would inevitably join Team Evil (and honestly, what a stupid name), she would be a valuable, strong asset to Robert and The Great Devourer.

—

Sometime later, Eddie and Patricia were weaving their way through the students that crowded the hallways, Patricia's hand firmly grasped around her chocolate bar while Eddie told her a goofy story about a fishing trip with his dad.

It was nice. How normal life was supposed to be. For a moment, Patricia could pretend that the two of them weren't caught in the middle of a life-threatening conspiracy, that they were just two seventeen-year-olds trying to get through school in one piece.

She couldn't pretend for long, though, as Fabian came rushing around the corner with KT and Alfie hot on his heels.

"Guys, guys!" Fabian called to them breathlessly. "I think I've figured out how to fix the phonograph!"

"That's great!" Patricia exclaimed, and KT nodded vigorously in agreement.

"And in the meantime," she said, looking at them all pointedly, "no sinning."

Eddie, clutched at his chest in mock pain while Patricia laughed. "Oh, god. No sinning? That's gonna be a tough one."

Alfie looked satisfied. "You know, guys, I think I'm going to be okay."

KT scoffed, thinking about that horrible book they'd all leafed through. "Sorry, Alfie," she began incredulously, "are you seriously telling us you don't sin?"

Alfie nodded. "Never," he swore.

Fabian choked on a laugh. "Dishonesty."

Alfie's eyes widened in insult. "What? I am Mister Honesty." His eyes bulged further out of his skull upon catching sight of Patricia's treat. "Ooo, chocolate!" he cooed, reaching for a piece.

Patricia snatched it out of his reach, with a chastising "Greed."

Alfie pouted. "Oh, well I can't be bothered."

Fabian once again piped up with an amused, "Sloth."

Eddie, who had been openly laughing out loud, put a hand on Alfie's shoulder. "Face it, Alfie, you're a one-stop sin-shop."

"Oh, sure," Alfie deadpanned, shrugging off his hand.

The others laughed, and KT shoved him playfully, and Alfie rolled his eyes. They went their separate ways not a moment after, and Alfie turned to walk to his next class when he was forced to do a double-take, for there—sitting all by its lonesome on a desk—was a big, delicious chocolate cake.

Well, that was just too good to pass up, so, with a quick look around, he rushed into the classroom, scooped the dessert up into his arms, and absconded with it down the hall.

He was none the wiser to the danger that had nearly befallen him in the form of a baited trap set by a very dangerous, very evil Victor Rodenmaar Jr..

—

However, Sibuna was somewhat the wiser, as they practically flocked to where voices could be heard shouting from inside the very same classroom that the cake had been taken from—not that they had known about that.

It was nearly impossible to discern what was being said, but it sounded heated. They crouched by the door, ears to the wall as they strained to hear the voices that were clearly Victor and Denby.

One voice they didn't have to strain to hear was Mr. Sweet's.

"What is going on here?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out, so if you could just keep it down..." Patricia trailed off when Eddie hit her arm, and she turned to see that it was, indeed, Eric Sweet that had spoken. "Oh..."

Mr. Sweet gave them all a warning look and entered the room.

It became clear there wasn't much use trying to listen in; the voices were too muffled. The only thing remotely interesting that occurred during the botched eavesdropping attempt was Fabian and Eddie practically falling onto the floor when Mr. Sweet opened the door to leave.