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.*･｡. THE UNEXPECTED! .*･｡.
————HOUSE OF SECRETS
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002.
LOSING JOY.
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"Have you seen Joy?"

    "What?"

    "It's not a tough question, Griffin." Patricia rolled her eyes, an irritated huff passing; "I said, have you seen Joy?"

   Griffin squinted at the girl, shuffling around the books sat in her locker. She wasn't keen on it when Patricia took that tone with her, but seeing as the girl with purple hair was the only one who gave it her best shot with Griffin, she'd always kinda respected her for it. If anyone else spoke to her that way, Griffin wouldn't be best pleased.

    "I heard you the first time," she stated.

    "So?" Patricia egged the girl on, "Have you seen her, or not?"

    "No," Griffin served her the news she didn't want to hear, and shrugged her shoulders carelessly. She hadn't seen Joy since their exam, which the girl had conveniently missed. "Didn't she go with Sweetie, or whatever?"

    "She never came back," she said.

    "Weird."

    "Yeah, weird."

   Patricia deflated, leaning against the locker next to Griffin's, her arms crossed and a frown plastered on her face. It wasn't often the girl was smiling, but something about this frown was sadder than a lot of the rest. Everyone knew that Patricia and Joy went everywhere together, they had been the best of friends since they were eleven so were practically inseparable, and when one was without the other all hell went loose. Griffin had never seen them not glued at the hip, so she had to admit, it was rather strange that Joy hadn't gone back to find Patricia after seeing Sweetie. Rather strange, indeed.

    "Maybe she's at the house," Griffin suggested, lamely. It wasn't very helpful in the situation, but it was the best she could offer her.

    "That's what they said," Patricia nodded, and turned to look at where said people were.

   Griffin followed the stare and found her eyes stumbling upon an interesting sight, in the middle of the corridor, with Jerome having his stomach attacked by Alfie— the latter sporting a new werewolf mask, which he was still evidently very fond of. She watched, with a grimace on her glossy lips, and then rolled her eyes at them; "They had enough braincells left, to really suggest that?"

    "Apparently."

    "Weird and weirder," she hummed.

    "Yeah— what you said." Patricia nodded, seeing uncertain with her take on the classic phrase, before standing up, and pushing off the locker. "Guess I'll check the house," she said. "See ya, Griffin."

As she rushed off, pushing past every student in her way, Griffin didn't reply and instead turned back to her locker. She hadn't very much care for wherever Joy Mercer was. Rather, she had way more care for finding her physics book so that she could do that awaiting homework she had yet to even look at.

She was supposed to be meeting Amber and Mara back in their room over lunch, because neither she nor the blonde had done the work whereas Mara had, but she stopped upon spotting Damien as she closed her locker. He was rested against the locker on her other side just like Patricia had been moments prior, and she rose a brow.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Longer than I'd like to admit," he confessed to her.

"And weirder," Griffin muttered.

"Huh?"

"Nothing," she dismissed it, throwing a glance over to Alfie and Jerome still in the middle of the corridor, the tacky werewolf mask making her scoff again.

   Damien gave her an odd look but shrugged, smiling at her with soft eyes. They were warm blues, she had always noticed. Damien was a softie, cool and respected, but a softie nonetheless. He was in cahoots with Mick as deputy captains of the football team, and the pair were favourites amongst their peers but he was still smart, and sweet, and funny, and kind. Damien had always been that way. His heart was pretty golden for someone so popular.

   It was a wonder he had picked Griffin to be his closest friend.

   She didn't have half the heart, he had.

    "So," Griffin crossed her arms. "Are you going to tell me what it was you were up to, before breakfast? With your new best friends?"

    "Come off it," he laughed.

    "I'm serious."

    "Anyone would think you actually cared, Griff."

    "It's not because I care," she scowled. He rose a mocking brow, to which she rolled her eyes. "I just don't want to go home and find a wild animal in my room, or something." She shrugged at him as he shot her an odd look, "God knows what you freaks can get ahold of," Griffin snapped her gum.

    "Wild animal?"

    "I don't doubt Alfie has an extensive contact list," she said.

    "Right," Damien nodded, his lip twitching.

   Griffin pushed her book into her bag and threw it back on her shoulder, all the while Damien watched her intently. She noticed.

    "What are you staring at?"

    "You."

    "I guessed."

    "Wanna pop into town?" He asked, changing the subject. The pace almost gave Griffin whiplash. Damien pushed off the lockers and rubbed his hands together, "I really fancy a KitKat, and we've got lunch now." He was correct. "It'll be a laugh,"

    "Can't," Griffin huffed. "Said I'd do the science homework with Mara and Amber, back at the house."

    "Mara's already done it," Damien frowned.

    "Exactly."

    "Makes sense," he hummed, knowing that he had copied Mara on that work too. Difference was, he had gotten in there earlier, so it was already done. "So, no town?"

    "Not today," Griffin pursed her lips, "Tomorrow?"

    "Sure," the boy smiled. He pushed his hands in his pockets and began walking with her for a few steps. "Guess I'll ask Jerome and Alfie; Mick's tryna unpack," Damien explained. He noticed as her face turned sour and his eyebrows knotted together, though he had a feeling he already knew the reason for her physical response; that had been a common response of her's, since term had started over two weeks ago. "Why the face?"

    "You three seem cosy," she accused.

    "Really?" Damien let out a laugh. It was a loud laugh, one that made his head fall back and his shoulders wobble, and had she not known Damien so well, she'd have thought he was laughing at her; he wasn't. Perhaps he was laughing at what she had said, but not at her. Never at Griffin. "And here I thought you didn't care."

    "I don't."

    "I don't believe that."

    "Well believe it," the girl threw back. "Just tell me one thing?"

    "Anything for you," Damien beamed, playfully.

    "Did you mess with my shampoo?"

    "I didn't mess with your shampoo," he promised. Griffin didn't show any relief, not that he expected it. He had a strong feeling that it wasn't what she originally was going to ask but he decided it best not to press it. "No shampoo messing, no wild animals," he listed a couple of her accusations, stepping closer and planting both hands on her shoulders. Damien looked down at her with a fond smile, in the moment feeling his chest go fuzzy, and gave her a squeeze. The girl was about to smack him off, but he leant down to look her right in the eyes first. "Whatever we were doing this morning, we weren't doing it to you— alright?"

   She blinked.

    "Yeah— whatever."

   Griffin quickly batted his hands off her and rolled her eyes, an increasing habit around him, and pointed at his smug grin. "Take that off your face before I go ahead and do it for you,"

    "You love me!" He laughed.

    "No," she waved at him, "You—" then at herself, "—love me. I've been tryna shake you, for five years."

    "Okay," Damien relented. "That one's true,"

    "Which one?"

    "Nice try," Damien saw what she was trying to do, and cleared his throat awkwardly. In an attempt to act cool and also hide away the blush on his cheeks, the boy rolled his shoulders and started to walk backwards, over to where Jerome and Alfie were still messing.

    "You don't love me?" Griffin taunted.

    "Not even slightly,"

    "We both know that's a lie," she said. "You're obsessed with me."

    "Am I?"

   Griffin made a face and blew her gum, the bubble popping in a response to his words. With that, she span on her heel as he made his way to Jerome and Alfie, strolling down the corridor to head to the house to meet Mara and Amber.

   She tried not to turn back and glance at him, not even for a split second, even though her chest clenched at the chance of his words being true. Maybe Damien wasn't so obsessed with her anymore. It was hard to tell. He had never really swanned off with anyone else before, not like he had over summer and since starting that term. It was strange for Damien to not be centring himself around her and Amber and Mick, instead around tweedle dumb and tweedle dee. It made her wonder whether Damien was starting to outgrow her, or if he preferred his time spent with other people. Not that she cared or anything. Of course, not. He was obsessed with her, after all. Not the other way around. Damien had always wanted to be her friend and succeeded, so why would he rather be with Jerome and Alfie all of a sudden? Even if it did; she didn't care — Griffin had never cared about friends. Arms length. That was as close as she would allow anyone, maybe it would be better that way?

   But, as she walked without looking back, she failed to notice the way Damien Lockehart watched after her.

————

    "Hi, I'm Nina! I'm from—"

    "Get the American away from me!" Griffin groaned, throwing her hands up and slipping past the new girl with widened eyes. In all honesty, it wasn't the nicest way to greet her for the first time, as well as it being the girl's first day, but she really didn't care.

   Griffin had heard all about the American.

   Patricia hadn't shut up.

   About Joy leaving randomly school, the new girl who had been in their room, how she had couldn't stop talking about being from America — all of it. As soon as Griffin had walked into the house, she had heard all about Patricia's suspicions: she reckoned that the new girl had stolen all of Joy's stuff, except her phone and the little stuffed toy that Joy couldn't ever sleep without. 

   According to Victor, Joy's parents had come and taken her out of the school that same morning. It was random and for no given reason, and it had left them all rather confused; it never happened.

   No one's parents came and got them for so much as a weekend, let alone forever. Joy's parents valued school and education, so the fact that they had taken her out of it hadn't made much sense. But it wasn't as though there had been no reason for it — there must've been a good reason somewhere, and Joy probably had no idea that it was happening. It made enough sense to Griffin, and to the other students in Anubis, all bar one: Patricia. The girl had been banging on and on about it all afternoon, and Griffin had grown sick. They had quickly finished the homework and then she had scrambled her way out of there, avoiding running into the American at every cost — she didn't want to be involved with the already brewing tension between her and Patricia. It sounded like an earache, and stepping into supper had been no different.

   Patricia was glaring at the American with bold hatred and there was no one that had really tried to stop her.

   Supper would be awkward. Griffin could tell as soon as she had entered the dining room. She'd managed to avoid the living areas, sitting in her room since getting home from the day, and thankfully hadn't run into Patricia or the American. Until now, that is. Griffin, quite honestly, was dreading it.

   Tension would ruin Trudy's perfectly good food.

   Stupid American.

   Talking of Americans, the new girl — Nina — blinked in shock as Griffin walked past her, and slowly sank back down in her seat.

    "That's Griffin," Fabian introduced, clearly trying to be nice to the newbie, unlike everyone else. He stared at Griffin with a strong look, one that told her to play nice, and then recycled the line he'd used on Mara's first day; "Deputy of the welcome committee," his words got him an eyeroll from Griffin, "She'll be mean to anything that breathes— so, don't take it personally."

   Must've already introduced Patricia.

    "Shut it, Rutter."

   He shook his head, taking no mind. Griffin slipped into the seat beside Damien, ignoring his own pointed look, and glanced about. There was no sign of her two favourite blondes, "Where's Amber? I saw Mick out on a run,"

    "She went to find him," Damien informed her.

    "Didn't she kick off about her seat?" She asked, glancing back over at Nina.

    "You know Amber," he shrugged. "She couldn't care less about a seat when Mick isn't in the room," Damien's words didn't fail on the fondness scale, "She's really missed him."

    "Likewise," Griffin said.

    "Ah— did our Griffy miss her Micky while he was gone?"

   Lips pursed, Griffin tilted her head to look at the boy sat on the other side of her, narrowing her eyes at his smirk. He had sat next to her at supper most nights since they had started at Amun, and it was usually a war-free zone. They clashed, but never enough for it to cause big problems, and even though his tiny digs drove her half insane, she had never once told him to change seats. It would have been weird to eat dinner without Jerome beside her.

    "As deputy of the welcome committee, I hereby welcome you to the fork I'll use to gouge out your eyes."

    "Guess we know what we're eating for pudding," Jerome sent a smug smile at her when Damien plucked the fork out of her hand, and placed it elsewhere. "You've nailed this whole welcoming thing,"

    "I aim to impress the crowd," she rolled her eyes.

    "Griffy takes her job very seriously," Jerome leaned over to look at Nina, speaking to her specifically. "Almost as seriously as Patricia takes hers,"

    "Sod off, slimeball."

    "Noted," Nina nodded, awkwardly.

   It was obvious to anyone that she was uncomfortable, and didn't feel very welcomed, but it wasn't often that anyone new arrived. It was only Mara who hadn't been around since they were all eleven, but her arrival had been far more welcoming than this, even when Amber had cried about losing her shoe closet space because of the new roommate they would have.

   Really, Griffin supposed it didn't help that Joy had conveniently vanished on the same day that Nina had arrived. And it definitely didn't help that she had jumped in Joy's bed before Patricia found out that Joy had even gone— but, that wasn't really Nina's fault. It was poor timing, sure, but Nina probably hadn't taken everything in Joy's possession, disposed of it, and then replaced her; not purposely anyway. By the saddened look on her face, Nina didn't seem all too suspicious. In fact, Nina looked like she wanted to go home; back to America, and as far away from here as she could possibly get. Nina looked ready to pack her bags and run for the nearest cliff.

   Griffin didn't blame her.

   It was quiet as everyone ate, their awkward atmosphere plenty too loud for anyone to speak over it. Only Patricia's glare made it.

    "Stop it, Alfie!" Mara groaned, grimacing.

   They all turned to watch Alfie shovel the spaghetti in his mouth with two forks — one being the one Damien had confiscated from Griffin, whom had taken Mick's instead —, and mumbled varying complaints and grunts of disgust. Only Jerome and Damien found it amusing enough to laugh at it. Griffin merely scoffed, stupid boys!

    "That's disgusting," Mara continued, "You'll choke on it!"

    "It—th del—ifi—ous, thi—th way!"

    "Alfie, don't play with your food," Jerome mocked, pretending to take a bite and instead flung it from his fork like a catapult. The shot was good enough to hit Alfie in the face, forehead acting as a bullseye, pasta flying everywhere. Damien snorted.

   While Jerome laughed at his actions, Alfie snatched handfuls of spaghetti and launched them across the table. The food landed on Jerome and Damien with impeccable aim, the boys being stunned to silence at his impact, and unfortunately Mara and Griffin found themselves stuck in the crash-zone, receiving the splatter. Both girls squealed, squeezing their eyes tightly shut as the noodles caught in their hair and bolognese sauce dripped down their cheeks. For just a moment, the room was silent. But that ended when Griffin stood up and grabbed the nearest food item, throwing it at Alfie's face. It was a good throw: the bread roll bounced off his head and he gave a weak cry, unable to make much noise when Jerome leaned across and shoved a handful of salad into his already open mouth.

   Hell broke loose.

    "Hey!"

    "Stop it!"

    "That's my lettuce, guys!"

    "Jerome!"

   Alfie recovered rapidly and threw more spaghetti, hitting Nina, while Griffin ground salt and pepper on Jerome.

"My eyes!"

    "Really, guys?" Fabian groaned at them, "Every meal?"

   Damien picked up a tomato and popped it between his lips, his other hand retrieving the bread roll and using it to wipe the sauce from his forehead, watching with great amusement as everyone at the table ducked for some cover.

   The next spaghetti rocket smacked poor Amber in the face, her entrance into the room being even worse timing than Nina's arrival to Anubis House. Griffin wondered whether this would be enough to get her to leave, but her thoughts were answered when Patricia's hands reached for the water jug and she poured it on Nina's lap. A gasp came from the American, so loud that it caused everyone else to stop what they were throwing and watch.

    "Classy, Patricia."

    "What?" She wore a large grin, "It was an accident!"

    "Right," Fabian rolled his eyes.

    "Are you okay?" Damien asked Nina, despite being at the far end of the table, still using his bread roll to mop up the sauce that covered him.

    "Yeah— yeah," Nina nodded, pinching her clothes and holding them away from her body. "Except, I think my sweater's shrinking to my body as we speak..."

   Fabian sprung up from his chair, presumably to find something Nina could dry off with, while the rest of them continued to stare, occasionally picking pieces of food out of their laps. Griffin would have to murder Jerome for shoving a piece of cucumber in her ear later, because her attention remained fully on Patricia and Nina, as the former leaned in closer to the newbie.

    "So, Nina—" she spoke her name with clear distaste, "—when are you gonna tell us what you know about Joy's disappearance?"

    "I guess when I actually know something," Nina sighed.

    "Oh, c'mon!" Patricia scoffed.

   They both stood face to face, now.

    "One minute I'm sitting next to Joy in class," she drawled out, acting as if Nina was a child and hadn't already understood any of the allegations being thrown at her. Fabian rushed back in with as many napkins as he'd been able to grab, handing them to Nina so she could wipe her face, but that didn't stop Patricia's hate parade. Actually, it might have egged it on. "And the next, she's disappeared and you've taken her place." When she put it like that, it did look as if Nina might have known something. But, they had been told that Joy was taken out of school by her parents. Why wasn't Patricia all content and ready to accept that there was nothing more to it? "You really don't think that's a bit of a coincidence?"

    "I guess it is," Nina said.

   Her voice was quiet and wobbly, and it sounded like she had an amazing talent for holding back her tears. The room had turned a corner and was as awkwardly silent as before their food fight. Even Alfie and Jerome had their lips sealed shut.

   Until, they didn't.

    "Maybe she's snatched her and locked her in the cellar!" Alfie suggested, waving his hands about and laughing, "Oooh!"

    "Shut up, Alfie!" Patricia looked at Nina. "Well?"

    "Like I said, I don't know anything about Joy or where she went!" Nina cried, raising her hands in surrender. It sounded honest, and nobody apart from Patricia thought she was lying. But that was the thing about Patricia: she didn't need anyone to agree with her when she was on a tangent.

    "I'll get it out of you, eventually."

    "Nina!"

   Everyone shot around when Victor walked in.

    "Phone call for yo—" he looked around and squinted, "What's going on, in here?"

    "Nothing!" Patricia sang. "Just Nina spilt water, everywhere."

"And Patricia spilt her personality all over Nina," Griffin said, a bored lilt to her tone. Patricia shrugged.

   She waltzed back to her seat, face as smug as ever, clearly happy with the mess she had caused. Nina watched her for a second, her eyes welling with tears, before turning on her heel and leaving that room as soon as possible. When she was gone, Fabian scowled and sent Patricia an uncharacteristically dirty look; "Nice one, Patricia. You didn't have to be so horrible to her,"

    "She asked for it."

    "By existing?" Damien asked.

    "By not telling us what she's done with Joy!"

    "She didn't do anything," Mara corrected her, trying to keep a soft tone. "She just came at a bad time,"

    "Why do none of you care?" Patricia accused, slamming both hands on the table. "Joy's gone! She's vanished, and no one wants to know what happened other than me! You're all horrible!"

   With that, Patricia abandoned her meal and rushed upstairs, a fleeting moment passing before Mara went to follow her. Griffin's eyes rolled at the theatrics and she turned to the side, glaring over at Jerome harshly.

    "I can't hear with my left ear."

    "But you are a splendid poet," he grinned.

   She flicked a rogue tomato at him and stood up. A grimace had prized place on her face when a bunch of spaghetti fell off her lap and onto the floor, and made her way towards the door so that she could go and clean the bolognese from behind her ears. As she got to the doorway, Griffin came to a sudden pause when Mick finally appeared, strolling in with a wide smile. However, it dropped when he noticed what terrible state the dining room was now in.

    "Where's the food?"

    "Ask Alfie," Amber huffed.

    "Hey!"

   Griffin passed Mick and entered the main hallway, muttering a few words under her breath as she wiped the food off her face. As far as she was concerned, it happened too often.

   When she reached the staircase, she noticed Nina sat at the seat by the landline, head in her hands and rapidly rubbing her cheeks.

   Griffin cringed.

    "Are you crying?"

    "Oh—" Nina startled, "N— no, nope."

    "Jesus..." the girl rolled her eyes, deciding that Nina was a very poor liar. "I'm no good when people are crying," Griffin groaned. She stood quietly for a moment, unsure of what to do, and stared as Nina tried to stop hiccuping and steady her shaky shoulders. In all honesty, it was a pretty pathetic scene to stand and watch.

   Eventually Griffin huffed and stomped over to the spare seat, a thump! sounding when she plonked herself down opposite the new girl. Nina looked surprised, eyes large. She sniffled and wiped her damp cheeks again, trying to hide her blotchy face, but ultimately failed. Griffin already knew she was crying, so Nina decided to give it up and admit all defeat. Who was she trying to fool? Not Griffin.

    "Cut it out."

   She blinked, slowly.

    "Excuse me?"

    "Cut it out," Griffin repeated.

    "What?"

    "The crying," she shrugged. "Patricia can literally smell fear,"

   Surprisingly, Nina let out a small laugh at the comment. There was little humour in it, but it was a laugh, nonetheless. "Yeah, I've kinda noticed that..."

    "I know it seems bad," Griffin started, "And none of us made an effort to welcome you, but Joy disappearing has thrown everybody. It's all weird now," she shrugged, lamely.

    "I noticed that, too."

    "Just... don't cry about it," Griffin said. "It's not worth it. You'll get used to it around here, eventually. We all did,"

   With that, Griffin pulled herself up from the seat and made for the staircase just as Fabian appeared at the doorway with his glass of water. He watched Griffin vanish into the upstairs landing, and then glanced over at Nina with a tender smile, "Everything okay?"

    "Yeah," she said.

    "You met Griffin properly, then?"

    "She kinda made me feel better," Nina laughed, lightly.

    "Deputy of the welcome committee," Fabian reminded, smile slightly wider when the crying girl perked up.

    "She's good."

    "I don't think she means to be."

━━━━━━━☆☆━━━━━━━

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