Force of Nature ▸ House of Anubis [3]

chapter seven. house of hieroglyphs

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            "You know what's a really stuck-up name?"

            Mara startles at the sound of my voice as I lean against the locker next to hers, casually smiling at her. "Oh, Ashley, you scared me," she remarks before looking at me confused. "What—what are you talking about?"

            "Atticus," I answer my own question nonchalantly.

            Her eyes widen and she closes her locker, inching closer to me. She whispers, "You know?"

            "And Jerome knows," I confirm with a nod. "We saw you kissing. And we're both very surprised."

            Mara sighs and concedes, "I know, I know, he's not really my type—"

            "I'm not exactly sure what your type is," I comment. First Mick the Jock, now Atticus the Teenage Criminal? At least one of those made sense eventually. The other just...doesn't seem like it ever will. "Listen, Mara, everything I've heard about Atticus Monroe—I mean, you were there for the thing with the bird and the window, same as me. He was suspended for a week."

            "I know, but he's changed, I swear. He's really sweet."

            "Mara, I'm just worried about you," I tell her sincerely. "I don't like the things I've heard, despite his pretty face. You are Mara freaking Jaffray, who wouldn't kill a fly and deserves a boy who'll treat her right. I'm just worried Atticus isn't that boy."

            "He has been treating me right, Ashley. Promise."

            Well...maybe Atticus really is sweet to her. I mean, kind of hard to be anything but when it comes to Mara, but I do know that people are capable of change. Maybe even Atticus Monroe's capable of changing.

            I sigh lightly and nod. "Okay. I believe you. But if he hurts you, I will be having words with him, and probably the rest of the house will be, too. Oh, speaking of the others, you are planning on telling them you're dating him, right, and soon? Because things get out."

            Mara frowns. "What do you mean?"

            "You kissed in a public place. Atticus likes to brag. They're gonna find out," I add in a sing-song tone with a tense smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, anyway, to sum up: I love you, Mara, and will hurt him if he hurts you."

            "Thank you, I think," Mara replies with a genuine but a little confused smile. "And I'm happy to return the favor. If Jerome ever hurts you—well, he wouldn't, but still—I'll hurt him...with words, of course, because like they say, the pen's mightier than the sword."

            "See, now this is friendship," I remark as I gesture between us. "Speaking of Jerome, I have some unfinished business to take care of, so see you in class." I walk away from her, down the hall to Jerome at his locker. I grab his arm. "Come on."