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LATER THAT AFTERNOON, Leah and Jerome returned home from the hospital... without Patricia.

"Hey, guys, have you seen Patricia? She disappeared at the hospital and I'm thinking we should tell Trudy" Jerome spoke as Nina, Fabian and Amber walked down the stairs

"Uh, Patricia is─" Fabian started

"─She's got a boyfriend. Madly in love. He's in a band. I think they're kind of goth" Nina spoke

"Patricia has a boyfriend?" Jerome questioned, "You're serious? Poor guy!" Jerome turned to leave into the living room, leaving Leah with the other three

"You need to stop lying" Fabian spoke, "Come on. You coming, Leah?" Fabian asked

"Yeah.. Look, I'm sorry for leaving" Leah spoke

"It's okay. We understand why you did" Nina spoke. Leah grabbed her jacket from the living room and headed out the door with Nina, Amber and Fabian. They arrived at the bike shed to see Patricia standing over a patient in a wheelchair, unconscious

"You stole a patient?" Amber exclaimed

"Have you gone completely insane?" Fabian asked

"Well, I couldn't leave him in the hospital, could I?" Patricia spoke, "Not like this. It's just until he comes around"

"I don't wish to be difficult but what if he doesn't, Patricia?" Leah spoke

"He will! He's already looking more alert already" Patricia spoke

"Oh! Oh, yeah. He should be piloting a plane" Fabian spoke

"Well, he was more alert in the taxi" Patricia mentioned. Amber moved forward and slapped Rufus on the face, waking him up from his unconscious state

"Rufus, wake up!" Amber shouted

"Calm down, Amber" Patricia spoke

"Where, uh..." Rufus muttered, looking around at his surroundings

"You're welcome" Amber spoke as Patricia shushed her

"Its okay. Rufus, it's Patricia. You're safe here" Patricia spoke

"Patricia? Yeah, what happened?" Rufus asked

"We're not sure. We saw Victor kidnap you" Patricia spoke, "And then... then I found you in the hospital. You were like, comatose" She spoke, allowing him to remember everything, "They must have done something to you"

"Oh, yeah, I am so tired" Rufus complained

"Should I slap him again?" Amber asked

"No" Leah spoke

"They must have thought you were close to finding Joy or they never would have kidnapped you like that" Patricia spoke

"Do you think they've hidden her somewhere? Like they did with you?" Amber asked

"Oh, I am convinced that they have hidden her, yes" Rufus spoke

"You said you thought Nina's locket might be the key" Patricia spoke, "Nina, why don't you show him it?"

"Patricia!" Fabian snapped

"So, you're the girl with the locket?" Rufus asked

"Yes, also Nina. Hi" Nina spoke

"May I see it?" Rufus asked

"No!" Nina exclaimed, holding the locket in her hand and taking a step back, "I can't show anymore. I was told not to"

"By Sarah Frobisher-Smythe?" Rufus asked

"Yeah..." Nina spoke

"How would you know that?" Leah asked

"Oh, she's a friend of mine. And you must give it back to her" Rufus spoke

"Why?" Fabian questioned

"Because the locket is cursed"

"Cursed?! What do you mean, cursed?!" Amber exclaimed

"Well, before Sarah had it, she... She was a wonderful and vibrant woman and you should never have taken it" Rufus spoke

"I didn't take it. It was a gift" Nina spoke

Rufus scoffed, "She was a confused old woman who didn't know what she was doing. I mean, I can give it back to her, if you like─"

"─No!" Nina and Fabian spoke

"Strictly speaking, the locket isn't yours" Rufus spoke

"Strictly speaking, it isn't yours either" Leah retorted

"I meant what I said. The locket is dangerous. The all-seeing Eye of Horus is an evil eye" Rufus spoke

"I thought the Eye of Horus was an Egyptian symbol for protection?" Fabian stuttered

"But is it protecting good or evil?" Rufus asked.

THE NEXT DAY, it was Alfie's homecoming and they all hid in the living room and kitchen, waiting for Trudy to lead him into the room

"Has everyone gone to school already? It's not even quarter to nine yet" Alfie spoke

"I know, terrible, isn't it" Trudy spoke, leading him into the living room. Everyone jumped out of their hiding spots to surprise Alfie

"Surprise!!" Everyone shouted together

For he's a jolly good fellow! For he's a jolly good fellow! And so say all of us! They all sang, gathering around Alfie and Trudy

"Welcome home, mate" Jerome spoke

"We've missed you!" Leah spoke

"Is it okay to go now?" Was the first question from Mick's mouth now that Alfie was home and they had surprised home.

Trudy let out a sigh, "Oh go on, then"

"Welcome back, mate. You look strong" Mick slapped Alfie on the back before leaving the house

"We're so glad you're home!" Amber spoke

"Are you coming to school today?" Jerome asked, "Our costumes for the play have arrived, and our camel suit is awesome!" Jerome spoke

"Alfie's not going into school, this morning" Trudy spoke

"Oh, Trudes, I want to go to school!" Alfie spoke

"Well, I never thought I'd hear that coming from your lips, Alfie Lewis─" Trudy spoke

"─Me neither" Leah added

"Are you sure you're up to it?" Trudy asked.

Alfie mouthed the words yes while nodding his head

"Okay, if that's what you want" Trudy spoke, giving in. Jerome led Alfie out of the room as Fabian, Leah, Amber and Nina headed off to school.

ALFIE AND JEROME stood in the drama studio after admiring their new costume when Alfie turned to Jerome

"Dude, should we plan a party for Leah's birthday tomorrow?" Alfie spoke

"That's the perfect idea!" Jerome exclaimed, "A surprise party for after her meal with her mum"

"Yes! That'll give us time to prepare" Alfie spoke. And that's what they did, they headed home once the school day was over.

"Trudy, could we plan a surprise birthday party for Leah for tomorrow evening?" Alfie asked as he and Jerome walked into the living room

"Of course! I'll speak with Victor first, since after the last one with you wearing that animal head" Trudy spoke. She headed off upstairs to Victor's office where he was sat. She knocked on the door and entered once he looked up and allowed her in

"What?" Victor spoke

"Jerome and Alfie were wondering if they could have a surprise party for Leah's birthday tomorrow evening. I thought I'd check with you first"

Victor let out a sigh, "If you must, just don't let them go overboard" Trudy was stunned by his response. Normally he would not allow it but for some reason he did, "I'll be out of the house for most of the evening so you'll be in charge"

THE NEXT MORNING, Leah woke up as usual and got ready for school. She noticed that Nina and Amber weren't in the room so she assumed that they were downstairs at breakfast.

Leah headed down the stairs and into the dining room when everyone jumped out, giving her a fright

"Happy birthday!!" Everyone shouted

"Happy birthday, Lee" Jerome and Alfie smiled as they rushed over to their best friend

"Thank you" Leah smiled. Everyone sat down at the table as Trudy had put out a special birthday breakfast, as requested by Jerome and Alfie.

"Okay, now that breakfast is out the way... Present time!!" Amber exclaimed

"You know I don't like presents" Leah spoke

"Lee, you're only seventeen once. And anyway you'll like these" Amber spoke. She passed Leah her present, which was, of course, in a pink gift box.

Leah opened the lid of the box to find a beautiful white mini dress with a black belt, "I thought you could wear it this afternoon for your meal with your mum"

"Thank you, Ams. I love it" Leah hugged her blonde friend. She got through the other housemates presents, those being: a leaf and chain bracelet from Nina, Patricia and Fabian, a new book from Mara.

"Okay, time for our present. We thought we buy it together" Alfie spoke, picking up a small box and handing it to Leah. She opened it to find a heart shaped locket inside.

"Oh, you guys!" She opened it to find a small picture of her, Jerome and Alfie with an engraving on the opposite side, always and forever ─ L, J & A ♡

"I love it!" Leah hugged Jerome and Alfie before clipping the locket around her neck.

"Right, my lovelies. Time to get off to school!" Trudy clapped. Everyone gathered their bags and headed off to school.

SCHOOL DRAGGED but Leah was glad to get back home. She showered and let Amber style her hair. She curled her hair and clipped it to the side

"Ams, I'm just going for a meal with my mum" Leah reminded her friend

"Its your birthday. The one day a year you can get dressed up... apart from prom"

"Like we've ever had a prom" Leah spoke

"You know what I mean" Amber spoke, "Okay, all done!" Leah paired her outfit with some black heels and her small clutch bag before heading downstairs where her mum was waiting

"Happy birthday, sweetheart" Her mum smiled

"Thank you"

"God, I have a seventeen year old" Her mum spoke, tearing up

"Don't cry" Leah joked

"Well, our reservation is for 6PM so we best be going" Leah and her mum left the house and it was go time for the Anubis residents to get the living room and dining room ready for Leah's party and for them to get into some party clothes.

A few hours later, Alfie looked out of the window to see Leah walking back into the house, "Everybody! Birthday girl is here!" Alfie shouted. He rushed into the hallway as Leah stepped in

"Hey! How was your meal with your mum?" Alfie asked

"It was good, but now I'm tired" Leah spoke

"You have to come with me" Alfie spoke, grabbing the girl's shoulders

"No! Alfie! I want my bed!" Leah protested as Alfie gently dragged the girl into the living room, "Surprise!" Everyone shouted, jumping out from their hiding spaces

"Oh my─" Leah spoke. The party began and was in full swing for the rest of the evening.

A FEW DAYS LATER, the gang was at school in the drama lounge, "Okay guys! Time to focus!" Jason clapped, gaining everyone's attention, "Its the big night tomorrow. Dress rehearsal, five minutes!" Jason spoke.

Alfie and Jerome were already in their camel costume and Leah was on the stage, finishing off the final bit of the backdrop

Nina, Patricia and Fabian were over in the corner as Nina relayed what had happened after the night she, Fabian and Leah found their next clue

"And then after we left, I heard Victor scream. Like he'd had a shock. It sounded like a cross between a sick whale and a broken piano" Nina spoke

"Victor definitely put the puzzle piece back in his safe. I crept back up and saw him do it" Fabian spoke, as Leah joined their conversation since she had finished the backdrop

"Then we break into the safe and we get it back" Nina spoke

"No. How can we? He'd know it was us" Fabian reminded the American

"But what if... What if we had the perfect alibi?" Nina suggested

"What do you mean?" Patricia questioned

"I have an idea" Nina spoke, "Its a little crazy but it might just work"

"But I don't understand! Why can't the cactus sing?!" Amber's voice spoke loudly from across the room

"Because cacti can't speak, Amber" Jason reminded her

"And anyway, you've got a terrible voice" Jerome's voice spoke from the other end of the camel costume

"No, she hasn't... Take no notice, fair cactus" Alfie spoke

"Okay, everyone. Let's get on with it" Jason spoke

THEY SOON COMPLETED THEIR FINAL REHEARSAL, "Okay guys. Well done! Uh, Mick, Mara. You do realise you will have to kiss tomorrow night, don't you?" Jason spoke, causing Mick and Mara to tense up, given they weren't friends or talking and they had to play husband and wife

"So, hit us with this insane plan then, Nina" Fabian spoke

"Okay, so, tomorrow night everyone will be at the play, right? Even Victor, so Anubis House will be empty" Nina informed them

"Yeah?" Fabian spoke

"After the first few scenes, I'm not on again until the second act. So I'll have about thirty minutes to sneak back, break into the safe, get the puzzle piece and get back to the play in time for my second act entrance" Nina spoke

"Brilliant" Fabian spoke

"Sibuna"

"Uh, aren't you forgetting something?" Patricia spoke

"What?" Nina questioned

"The code to Victor's safe?" Patricia spoke. Nina let out a groan as she remembered that one problem

"Alfie! Jerome!" Jason's voice shouted through the drama lounge. The gang turned around to see Alfie and Jerome, still stood on the stage in their costume as everyone else were starting to change out of theirs, backstage, "What exactly are you doing?" Jason asked

"Get a move on! I'm sweltering in here" Jerome protested, from inside the camel suit

"I can't. The zip's stuck, dude" Alfie spoke, causing everyone watching to laugh. The gang managed to get Alfie and Jerome back to the house for Trudy to cut the suit

"You're gonna have to sleep like that" Patricia spoke, removing the head from Alfie as he and Jerome sat on the chairs

"No way, his feet stink!" Jerome protested again

"Okay. Don't get the hump" Patricia spoke

Alfie let out a grunt, "Where's Trudes? I'm bursting for the bathroom!" Alfie spoke. Trudy walked in with her sewing basket, "Come on, Humphrey. This won't hurt a bit" The pair stood up but soon fell over. Everyone laughed as Leah went over to help the two pranksters up.

Patricia looked over at Fabian who was sat at the table, moving his hand in a weird motion as he had his eyes closed and looked as though he was muttering something, "What are you doing?"

Fabian shushed the pixie, "I'm trying to remember something" He spoke as Nina, Amber and Patricia moved to sit next to him as Leah helped with the boys. Fabian let out a gasp, "Pen and paper! Quick!" He exclaimed. Nina pulled out a small notepad from her bag and a pen before handing it to Fabian. He scribbled down what seemed to be a number pad of Victor's keypad on his safe.

"There you go!" Trudy spoke as she had successfully cut Alfie and Jerome out of the camel suit, "You're free!"

"I feel like I've just broken out of jail... A fur-lined jail!" Jerome spoke as he stood up

"Make way, make way!" Alfie exclaimed as he raced out of the room

"Okay, he pressed the top right one twice, the middle one once, and the bottom left one once, I think." Fabian spoke

"You only think?" Amber questioned the nerd

"We need to know definitely. Nina, you can't do this" Patricia spoke, protesting at the girl's planned antics.

"Sarah trusted me with the treasure. I can't let it fall into Victor's hand" Nina spoke, "I have to try"

Fabian circled a sequence of numbers that he wrote at the bottom of the paper before turning the notepad to the three girls who surrounded him, "It's three, three, five, seven" Fabian spoke, nodding his head

A WHILE LATER, Nina, Fabian and Leanna were sat in the living room as Fabian taught Nina how to play a game on his game console.

"Someone to see you, Fabian!" Trudy's voice spoke as she led Fabian's uncle Ade into the room

"Ah! There he is! My favourite nephew!" Ade spoke, "Are you two stepping out yet?" He asked

"Stepping out? Is that a dance?" Nina questioned

"No. No, we... no, we're not" Fabian spoke

"Even though we all want them too" Leah voiced her opinion

"Shame, I like this one!" Ade spoke, "She has cheek and a good appetite. Well, I suppose I should give you this, seeing as I'm here" Ade spoke, handing the trio a book which had a copy of the eye from Nina's locket, "It might even be some help with your Egyptian project"

"Unlocking The Eye..." Fabian recited the title of the book, "Thank you, Uncle Ade!"

"I found it in a dusty corner. Myths and legends, mainly, but it should make an interesting read, nevertheless" Ade spoke

"Would you like a cup of tea, Mr Rutter?" Trudy asked, turning to Ade as the trio looked at the book

"Please, call me Ade. That would be lovely" Ade spoke, causing Trudy to blush, "White, no sugar. I'm sweet enough"

THE NEXT MORNING, it was officially the day of the play. Everyone headed downstairs for breakfast. Leah was sat at the table, nervously eating her breakfast.

"Today's the day!" Patricia spoke

"I'm really nervous" Nina spoke as she followed Patricia and Fabian into the room

"Lots of good luck cards in the post this morning" Alfie spoke as he walked into the room, holding a pile of envelopes in his hand. Everyone reached for the pile, finding their name on an envelope

"And, yep, my folks are coming" Alfie spoke, reading his card, sounding very disappointed

"Aren't you going to open yours, Patricia?" Fabian asked as he noticed the pixie, staring inventively at her envelope, that she held in her hands, "It says, Open in private only" She spoke

"Let's have a look, don't be shy. Maybe it's a postcard from Joy!" Alfie spoke. He reached forward to take the envelope from the girl, only for her to snap her arm away, "Touch it and lose a hand, I swear" Patricia retorted.

Leah finished her breakfast and headed to meet Jerome, who was in his room, doing up his tie as she tapped on the door and headed in, "Hey, you" Jerome spoke, looking up as she walked into his room

"Hi" She responded, quietly

"Are you okay?" Jerome asked as the girl took a seat on the edge of his bed. He finished doing up his tie and joined the girl

"I'm so nervous! What if something goes wrong in the play?" Leah began to ramble

"Hey, hey, hey..." Jerome stopped her, grabbing her hands and holding them in his own, "You've wrote an amazing play. Every run through that we've done has gone somewhat smoothly. Tonight is going to be good" Jerome spoke, looking into the girl's hazel eyes.

"Thanks, " She smiled. They stayed silent for a few moments and then, Jerome lent in, with his face close to Leah's. He moved his hand up to her cheek and they both moved in, and in that moment, they kissed. They both melted into the kiss, almost forgetting what was going on around them until a pair of footsteps echoed down the hall, growing louder and louder as the door handle clicked, swinging open to reveal Alfie

"Are you guys ready for school?" Alfie asked as he looked at the two who were sat next to each other on his roommate's bed.

"Yes" Jerome spoke, standing up and grabbing his bag. Leah followed behind the two boys, with things on her mind. She was now realising that she was truly in love with Jerome and she was figuring out that he was too.

Everyone were in the dressing rooms, getting into their costume, once school finished as Fabian and Nina and Leah read through the book they got from Fabian's uncle, "It's a story about Tutankhamen's secret lover, Amneris" He spoke, flicking through the book to the page he saw the story on, "Here, read this" He handed the book to Nina as Leanna peered over her shoulder

"Before Tutankhamen's death, the god Anubis entrusted Amneris with the Cup of Ankh, the cup of immortality" Nina read, turning the page over, "When the elixir of life is drunk from the Cup of Ankh, it grants immortality to all who sup from it. In the wrong hands, it could lead to tyranny, despots and all out war. Legend has it that Amneris buried the Cup of Ankh with her lover, inside Tutankhamen's tomb... where she hoped it would remain hidden forever. But there are some who believe that the Cup was found and removed at the time of the tomb's excavation in 1922" Nina recited

"So the treasure we're looking for is a cup that can make you live forever?" Leanna asked as Fabian nodded in response

"No wonder Sarah is so desperate to keep it safe" Nina spoke

The parents began to fill into the drama lounge as the gang were backstage, getting the first scene set up. Nina, Fabian and Leanna peered out of the curtain to see that Victor had sat down on one of the chairs at the back of the room, "There's Victor!" Fabian spoke

"What if it's a mistake telling Sarah's story, in front of the man who ruined her life?!" Leah and Nina began to panic

"There's your Uncle Ade!" Nina noticed, "And is that who I think it is sitting over there?" Nina asked

Leah let out a gasp as she followed Nina's line of vision, "What's Rufus doing here?!" Leah asked

"Guys, you're not on until the second act. Can you get off stage, please?" Jason's voice spoke, shooing people from the stage, "Guys! Focus! please!" Jason demanded

"Sorry" Nina apologised as the trio turned away from the curtain. Patricia rushed over to the trio, holding the card in her hand, "You know that good luck card I got this morning?" Patricia spoke, handing the card to Fabian

"D4? What does it mean?" Fabian questioned

"I was really hoping you would know" Patricia spoke

"Maybe it's a secret message from Rufus?" Nina suggested

"Why would you say that?" Patricia questioned

"He's in the audience" Nina spoke

"What? Is he insane? What if Victor sees him?" Patricia exclaimed, rushing over to the curtain to check for herself

"Maybe it's his seat number! Row D, seat four" Nina spoke

"No, Rufus is in row G" Leah mentioned

"Oh, well then who's in D4?" Nina asked

Jason stalked over to the gang, "Patricia, places for curtain up. Guys, Mick, Mara!" Jason spoke

Nina, Fabian and Leah moved back over to the curtain to see who was sat in D4, "Can you see who it is?" Nina asked

"Three"

"─Fabian?" Nina spoke, "Well, who is it?"

"Two"

"Wait! I can't do the opening on my own" Patricia snapped

"One"

The curtains opened, revealing Patricia to the audience as she frantically looked around before spotting someone in the audience, letting out a gasp, "Joy!" She exclaimed.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey Guys! Hope you've enjoyed this chapter.

I thought I would add a little scene involving Leah and Jerome which is the start of their slow romance within season one.

Please vote, comment and give a little follow :)

G x