Two is Company (House of Anubis)

Chapter 96: Goeth Before the Fall

"Hey, Jo," Eddie recited dully, doing everything in his power to not actually have to look at KT while playing his part. Of course, that was difficult given the fact they were co-stars in the god-awful production. "Wanna go out? Sometime? Like on a date?"

KT didn't look too thrilled to be onstage with him either, and her line delivery was almost less convincing than his. "But, Jordan, we can't," she deadpanned. "What about Mandy?"

"No, no, no, guys..." Jerome groaned and buried his face in his hands; behind him, Mara was pinching the bridge of her nose so hard there would almost certainly be a mark there. "Where's your chemistry? It's like watching a pair of wet mops."

"Who has stolen my sequins?" It was then that Willow stormed out from backstage with Kira skittering behind, frantically trying to shush her.

"Willow, no, I'm not in the mood," Jerome said, loosen his collar. "Please, please, no."

"No, I cannot finish my costumes without my sequins!" she fired back.

"Sequins?" Mara repeated dubiously.

"Willow, sweetheart, there aren't any sequins in the show," Kira explained as patiently as she could, at the same time Joy began flipping through her copy of the script.

"Willow, we didn't write sequins into the script!" she added.

"CAN SOMEONE GET WILLOW OUT OF HERE, PLEASE?" cried Jerome, and Kira snapped her fingers aggressively at Fabian and Alfie, pointing sharply at Willow.

"I need my sequins!" she demanded, even as Alfie and Fabian scooped her up by the arms. "No! NOOOOOO!"

"I don't need this right now, I have priorities!" snapped Jerome directorialy while she was carted away by the stage hands. "Raus!"

Eddie watched it all happen with a sort of morbid fascination, and a sidelong look at KT confirmed she was equally as mystified. Even an evil version of herself was baffled by the magic of live theatre. Go figure. Hopefully Fabian and Alfie could figure out a way to get more information from Willow about her connection to the nursery rhyme; in the meantime, Eddie really had to work on his acting chops.

—

Two hours after lunch, they took a ten from rehearsal, in which Kira trudged to her father's office with a drag in her step. She was just so tired, and it felt like there was nowhere else to turn. Maybe he'd have some advice. Maybe he, unlike Mara, would understand.

She knocked hesitantly, easing the door open when she heard his familiar call of "Open!"

"Dad?" she asked.

"Ah, Kira," he said. "I was wondering if you'd stop by. Have a seat."

"Thanks," she mumbled, tossing her bag down by the legs of the chair and flopping into it heavily. "Dad, can I ask you something?"