Force of Nature ▸ House of Anubis [3]

chapter thirteen. house of pi

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"No one is going anywhere."

The door opens and Fabian, Alfie, and I fall through into Victor's office now that we don't have anything to lean on. We're caught like deer in headlights, staring up at Victor as he looks down at us with a glare. So this probably isn't good.

"What are you three doing there?" he asks harshly.

We scramble to stand, and I'm unable to come up with an explanation. Fabian saves us, though. He reaches forward to grab flowers off of one of the cabinets, throwing them at Alfie. Alfie seems to get what he's playing at (and here I am still clueless) because he grabs my arm and pulls us over to Fabian, saying, "W-we heard you were on a date, and, um..." Fabian pats his guitar. "And we're here to serenade you in the language of love."

Okay...I'm just gonna go with it. Laughing nervously, I elbow Fabian, stammering, "Yes, um... give us a note, Fabian. Or—or something."

Fabian awkwardly plays some notes on his guitar, while we're trying to move to the rhythm. This isn't the worst excuse we've ever come up with, but it's definitely up there. The song we manage to come up with is also horrible—Alfie takes the lead, thank God, with Fabian and I trying to repeat some of the things he's singing flatly.

"Although his is kind of wrinkly," Alfie sings awkwardly, waving his hand around Victor's face, and that's where our song ends.

"Alfred Lewis," Victor states sharply, "this is not a date."

"Oh," Trudy says shortly, hastily leaving the office. I can barely hear quiet sobs coming from her. Uhhh...not sure what to do about that.

"Trudy!" Victor calls.

"Any tips for the band?" Alfie asks. Victor looks back at us and within a second, we run out of the room and down the stairs. "Well, that was, uh..."

"Not our brightest moment," I finish.

Fabian's eyebrows furrow. "What is our brightest moment?"

"Saving the world?" Alfie suggests. "Twice?"

"Maybe," Fabian chuckles lightly. "I'm—I'm going to bed. I've had enough excitement for one night." He says good night to us and goes to his room.

Alfie's about to go to his own room when I grab the back of his shirt, pulling him back. "You're mine right now, Alfred."

"I don't think Jerome would like that very much," Alfie responds.

"The business ed project," I tell him. "I know Jerome roped you into helping him with his side."

He laughs nervously. "You didn't—you didn't say you were okay with me helping him?"