Touch of Fear ▸ House of Anubis [2]

chapter twenty-four. house of deceit

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            "So Anubis was telling me—where are you going?" I cut myself off at the very beginning of the story, staring at Amber as she walks away from me. I barely even got to say anything! Rude.

            "Anywhere but here," Amber replies, gesturing to me. She walks back out into the hallway from the decorated classroom we were in and I groan before following her. She's not getting out of hearing the story that easily! Nina's in the hall too, with a red nose and eyes and tear-stained cheeks. "Hey, rainy face, what's wrong?"

            "He—they—and then they—" Nina's breathless as she attempts to tell us what has her so upset she's crying.

            "Bullet points," Amber suggests.

            "Who are he and they?" I question.

            Nina sniffles, and says, much more decipherable, "Fabian kissed Joy." I stare at her wide-eyed. He did what?! "I need you both to do something for me. Just...don't let Fabian come find me. I need to be alone. Will you do that?"

            Amber nods and Nina runs off crying, disappearing around the corner. "I can't believe he would do that," Amber says to me. "Who does he think he is?"

            I crack my knuckles. "You get him. I'll get the girl."

            "Maybe I should deal with Joy instead—"

            "Oh, my God, is that girl wearing the same dress as you?" I interrupt falsely, pointing behind her. As soon as Amber spins around, I turn around and starting heading toward the curtain. That was too easy! I'm about to open the curtain when Fabian runs out. "Oh, you're dead, Rutter."

            Fabian looks at me, and then at Amber who's rushed over to join us after realizing I lied. He asks regrettably, "You talked to Nina?" Amber smacks him on the arm, hard. I'm pretty sure she hit him so hard that I actually felt it. But he deserves it. "It was an accident!"

            "Fell on Joy's lips, did you?" Amber retorts.

            "No, Amber, look, I can explain everything—"

            "'Fraid we're gonna need some security footage in order to believe whatever story you're about to give us," I reply, "to defend your kissing Joy Mercer. Otherwise you've got no proof it was an accident, therefore—"

            "Ashley, don't!" Fabian exclaims. "I just really need to talk to Nina."

            As Fabian goes to walk past us, Amber steps in front of him and says, "She's not at the house. She's...in there." She points toward the girls' toilets, and Fabian makes a move toward it.  Oh, someone's got some gall. Amber grabs his arm and pulls him back. "You are not going in the girls' toilets, Fabian. Not now, not ever. Ashley, come guard with me."