Touch of Fear ▸ House of Anubis [2]

chapter twenty-three. house of hoods

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            Things are happening just like they had in the dream. I thought maybe since there was a metal band literally called Horns of Metal playing instead of the classical music I heard in the dream that it meant nothing else would be the same. Then the band started playing classical rock music. My first reaction was 'never heard of that before' before realizing it was the exact same music I heard in the dream.

            But it's okay, Ashley, stop worrying about it. Nina hasn't left for the tunnels. Fabian hasn't given his speech. Amber hasn't gushed over Fabina. And I'm still here, able to be seen by everybody even though no one's actually spoken to me. That changes when Alfie sits beside me, grumbling as he reaches for a cookie.

            "How's your night going?" I inquire.

            "I want my mask back," Alfie comments. Anubis agrees, but about his own mask. I smile, hitting Alfie's arm as I hold my silver mask over my own face. "What about yours? What're you doing all the way over here and not dancing?"

            "I, my dear Lewis, am eavesdropping on everybody," I answer happily, leaning back in my chair. "See those two girls over there? They've been talking about how cute Eddie is all night and are mad he's barely left Trixie's side since she got in trouble for the metal band. That couple over there is arguing about the fact he spilled punch on her shoes. There are some conversations I can't hear, but for those I just make stuff up."

            "Like?"

            "I'm relatively certain Jerome wasn't talking about cupcakes."

            Alfie laughs, shaking his head. "Funny, but that still doesn't answer why you're not up dancing."

            I sigh heavily. "Well, Alfredo, I've been waiting to see if either of my boys are gonna step away from their dates/almost dates to give me the dance they promised they'd save me," I retort. "Fabian's hardly left Nina's side, but I'm giving him a pass. You, you have the best excuse to escape from Amber and her mask tendencies."

            He gestures around us. "Uh, hello. What do you think I'm doing over here? Well, what about Eddie or Jerome? Did they not say they'd save you a dance too?"

            "I didn't ask Eddie," I reply. "He's weird. And I'm starting to think he's actually got a thing for Trixie. Like I said, he's hardly left her side either. And I tried to get Jerome to say, but he basically turned me down."

            "Jerome turned you down?"

            "Yeah, I think it had something to do with the whole mummy thing," I tell him with a laugh. Alfie rolls his eyes, leaning back in his seat. "Look, Alfie, this is the only time I'm gonna give you permission to do this, but I've been getting really lonely over here, so if you want to somehow convince Jerome to ask me to dance, then be my guest. I'm bored."