Secrets, Lies, Love and Mystery

Attic Surprise

(Written from Nina's POV)

Things were definitely starting to get interesting in the House of Anubis now. Ever since my initiation when I first arrived at the house things had been a little out of the box. First of all, my glowing amulet which revealed more than just its secret. There was definitely more than meets the eye to this creaky old house.

Visiting that old woman Sarah, who as it turns out was a previous inhabitant of the house many years ago, her words just as puzzling as the cryptic clues Fabian, Amber and I have discovered so far. Mix this in with the intrigue of Joy's disappearance (which happened before I arrived), the usual angst associated with moving to a new school, combine this with the bitchy girl out to get you (Patricia) and the fact that not only have I moved school's but countries and continents as well. Literally putting an ocean between family & friends, for sure made it tough at times.

"Nina! Did you hear what I said?"

I turn my head to look at Fabian who judging from his expression has been talking to me whilst I haven't been paying attention.

"Sorry! I zoned out there for awhile. What was it you said?"

He sighed, "I figured seeing as tonight was prospective parents evening, that while everyone else, teachers included are busy with the event, we could try and figure out this next clue together?"

He smiled easily as he finished and I'd have to be blind to miss the fact that he....what do they say over here across the pond? That he 'fancied' me. Truth was, even though we had been getting closer, I really only saw him as a friend. For awhile there he was my only friend. But now that Amber and I have started rooming together, at least I have someone else now in my corner.

"Great! So whilst you two are going all scooby doo on this mystery, I'll be stuck at boring parents evening," Amber interjected herself into the tailend of our conversation.

I turn my head to look at her now, "It would look a little suspicious if we all weren't present tonight. I mean they've probably noticed how much time we've all been spending together." I shifted in my seat and adjusted my skirt, "Besides, that evening will need someone there to show them just how cute and fashionable our uniforms can be."

I see her brighten at my words, the smile now lighting up her face makes me feel funny in the pit of my stomach. I hastily look away, praying for a distraction from my reddening face.

"Boo! There you are....What's wrong Mick?" I look over to see Amber now standing facing a none too pleased Mick, her voice changing from chipper to concerned in a heartbeat.

"Did you forget to be somewhere this afternoon Amber? Or did you have more important things to do with your friends?"

Fabian and I quickly exchange a look before rising to our feet, "I'm sooo sorry Mick I...."

Mick steps forward so he's right in her face now, angry and intimidating, "I don't want to here it Amber. Clearly I'm not that important to you anymore. We're through and I hate when you call me 'Boo'. I always have."

We all watch as he storms off leaving an upset Amber in his wake. I rush over to her, the words 'are you alright?' on the tip of my tongue but quickly discarded with one look at her. Without even thinking, I wrap my arms around her and her head rests on my shoulder, as she too hugs me back.

I find myself enjoying this hug way more than I should and that surprises me. What's up with me today? After a moment or two, she pulls back and wipes a tear from her eye, "We've been together for as long as I can remember, how will I go on without him?"

"I know that you'll find a way. He'll be begging you to take him back in no time!" She smiles albeit weakly and I feel that fluttering in my stomach again.

"I wish I could borrow some of that optimism that you Americans naturally seem to have."

I turn to look at Fabian, "I'll get her cleaned up and ready for tonight and I'll meet you down in the kitchen later okay?" He nods as we all head for the stairs, me all the while wishing that for some reason that Amber and Mick don't reconcile, because she could do better.

* * *

(Later that evening....)

From our perspective, the evening has been quite slow but our clues and some help from Trudy have led us to the chandelier out by the stairs. "Okay, well one of us should stay here by the chandelier and the other should head up to the attic, so how are we going to do this?" Fabian asks me.

I tap a finger on my chin, looking thought as I decide, "Why don't you stay here and I head up to the attic?"

He nods at my idea and stands by the ladder dutifully as I climb the stairs. I give him one last thumbs up before I'm out of view. I quickly race the rest of the way to the attic. I push the door open carefully and am surprised to hear someone sobbing softly.

As I make my way across the room, I see that it's Amber who apparently skipped out on parents evening early. She's dressed in the same ballet flats and pink dress that she left in earlier. I find my eyes are curiously drawn to the fact that her dress stops mid-thigh and wonder how the school let her wear that given how strict they are about most things.

I step on a creaky floorboard and I'm instantly given away as she whirls around to find me standing there in my jeans and T-shirt looking a little guilt. "How long have you been standing there?" She ask me, hastily trying to wipe away her tears.

It really is unfair how some girls still look so damn pretty even when they've been crying, "Not long I promise." I take some steps closer to her, "Has the breakup still got you down?"

She nods, "But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Mick and I got paired up to man the history booth which was just awful. I think we bickered any time there were no parents in earshot." She takes a hiccupy breath in, "I really think we're over."

I can't stand to see her so upset. We've become close these last few weeks and it breaks my heart to see hers break. Without thinking I grab both her hands with mine. The action catches us both by surprise as she looks down into my eyes, "Boys can really be nothing but trouble sometimes, wouldn't it be great if we didn't need them?" I ask her, my voice just above a whisper.

I have the strangest feeling grab a hold on me now, like an out of body experience. I find that I can't look anywhere but her eyes right now and strangely, hers stay locked onto mine too. That was until I realized this and my now dropped to her lips and a bizarre thought hits me, 'what would they taste like?'

I know they'd have some flavour to them, she asked me what she should gloss them with only 14 times earlier today, but would they be soft? I feel a flare up of nervousness combined with heat in certain places. Curiously, I notice that I'm leaning towards her as if in a trance and she not backing away, my god, could she....could she be leaning towards me?

I feel her breath on my lips now as the rays of light shining through the glass window intensify, in what would be a blinding fashion had our eyes not been closing. I'm going to kiss Amber. This shocks me but not in a way that makes me want to stop. Just as we're about to seal the deal however, the attic door bangs open and we both jump, visibly startled as we take a step back each.

I feel the forefront of a blush coming on as we both awkwardly stammer out some sort of a response, "You've got to come and see this Nina!" Fabian says rather loudly as he leaves the doorway presumably to head back downstairs to whatever caused him to come find me.

I start to say something but Amber quickly walks past me and heads out of sight towards the stairs. I take a moment to cool down and find myself both thankful and annoyed at Fabian for his distraction. Had he not shown up when he did, who knows what a kiss could have led too?

End of part one.

Hi there, thanks for reading part one. So after beginning to watch HOA, I definitely ship Amber and Nina. I'm going to see where this goes but do let me know what you think.

FYI: If something seems incorrect or out of place, chances are there is a reason for it, with the exception of spelling mistakes, those are completely on me!