Force of Nature ▸ House of Anubis [3]

chapter twenty-two. house of antechambers

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            At school, by our lockers, Patricia's telling three of us in the Anubis Sisterhood, "I had a really weird dream where a polar bear was chasing me."

            "Oh, is that the second time?" Mara asks.

            Patricia nods as I add, "Hey, it's not any weirder than some dreams I've had. Beware the black bird." Patricia chuckles as KT and Mara both ask what I mean, but before I get a chance to tell them it's just a weird dream I had once, we fall silent with Joy comes around the corner.

            She's especially dressed up on today's non-uniform day, wearing one of Amber's dresses. We're caught at a loss for words as we eye her, slightly confused, and Mara's the first one to speak, "Wow. Joy, you look incredible."

            "Yeah, I kinda feel underdressed now," I add, looking down at my black jeans. "Seriously, Joy, you look amazing."

            "Really great," KT adds. "Not that you didn't before. I just mean really great."

            Joy looks at us. "You don't think it's too—"

            "Amber?" Patricia says with a chuckle. Mara cringes.

            "Well, I know it's Amber-inspired, but," Joy responds, "well, Amber turned heads, and for once, you know, I want to as well."

            "Mission accomplished," KT confirms.

            "Total head-turn success," Patricia says.

            From behind us, Fabian's voice greets, "Hey, Joy—well, or—or Amber."

            "Doesn't she look amazing?" Mara asks him. "It's like she's taken Amber's old clothes and made them her own."

            "Yeah, yeah, it really—it really suits you," Fabian agrees.

            "Thanks," Joy responds. "Well, you know, I added the belt. Amber didn't wear one with this particular dress, so..." Us girls nod slowly. She hasn't gotten much better with the Fabian thing, has she?

            "Well, it really suits you. Excellent." Fabian smiles and nods before walking around us.

            Joy waits until he's out of earshot before asking us, "Okay, how did I do? Smooth, unruffled?"

            "Miss Cool for School," KT tells her. I nod unconvincingly.

—

            Later, as we're prepping for our next Sibuna meeting in Eddie and Fabian's room (which is now our Sibuna room, seeing as both roommates are a part of our Scooby gang) (don't get me started on how upset I am that my room's no longer our Sibuna room), we're one Sibuna short—Alfie, who I haven't seen since this morning. I even checked his room to see if he wanted to join us, but he wasn't there.