Two is Company (House of Anubis)

Chapter 31: Gone

"Hey, Jerome," Eddie asked at breakfast, "if that was you and Mara's article, does that mean your dad's, like, in prison?"

"Tactful, dickhead," Kira coughed, popping a bite of toast into her mouth.

"It's alright," Jerome said quietly, seeming to brace himself for rejection. "Yes, he is."

Eddie looked around at the rest of the table and shrugged. "I mean, we're all cool with that, man," he said casually, and everyone nodded. "You could have just told us."

Jerome sipped his orange juice thoughtfully. "Yeah, maybe," he said, ducking his head in embarrassment as he reached across the table for an apple. "Sorry."

"Whoa," Alfie chuckled, "did I just hear that right? Did you just apologize?"

The group laughed softly, going back to their breakfast, but after a moment, Amber spoke up. "Shame Joy couldn't apologize to you, eh, Mara?"

Patricia stirred her cereal glumly. "She won't even come down to breakfast," she revealed, dropping the spoon into the bowl with a clatter. "She feels really bad."

"I mean, what did she expect?" Eddie asked wryly. "What, with all the lying, and the bad-mouthing. The plagiarism?"

"Hey," Mara said sternly, "no Joy-bashing."

"Yeah, cut her some slack. She's clearly contrite," Kira agreed. Just because she wasn't happy with Joy didn't mean she deserved to become a pariah till the end of time.

"Look, even I have to admit she's been pretty out of order recently," Patricia sighed, rubbing at her temples. "But let's not crucify her, please."

"Well, what about the article she wrote on Nina? It was just so... low," Fabian said.

"And to take credit for everything else Mara wrote," Nina added.

"But you all just assumed she'd written them," Mara pointed out. "Joy's not all bad, you know."

Eddie rolled his eyes and stood up, prompting Jerome to follow suit. Mara and Kira exchanged tired glances and stood up as well. This was a battle they couldn't win, even if either of them felt like fighting it.

"Peace out, guys," Eddie said, leaning down and giving his girlfriend a quick peck on the cheek before sauntering off.

"See you later," Jerome called over his shoulder, halfway out the door.

Kira gave both Nina and Amber's shoulders a quick squeeze as she passed, and her roommates bid her distracted farewells. The four of them pushed open the front door and started off toward the school.

"Anyone wanna go into town this weekend?" she asked conversationally while they walked along the side of the house. Autumn was pressing along, and most of the trees were already completely bare. Before long, it'd be Thanksgiving— not that she and Eddie were flying home for it. "Our birthday's this Monday, and I'd like to actually celebrate."

"Damn, I can't believe I forgot it was this Monday," Eddie laughed. "I feel like I can't keep track of days here."

Mara perked up and grabbed Kira's arm. "Wait, we totally should! We can all go out as a group! You guys are turning seventeen, right?"

The twins nodded, and Jerome smirked at them. "You know, I never asked. Who's older?" he questioned with a shit-eating grin.

Kira proudly jabbed a finger at herself, while Eddie rolled his eyes to high heavens. "That would be me. By nine minutes."

"You took your time, Miller," Jerome teased.

"Yeah, well, I didn't want to spend more time than I had to with this crazy person," Eddie retorted, purposefully flat-tiring the back of Kira's shoe.