Jerome watched the young woman curl her lip as she tried to solve a riddle that Jerome had already answered.

Mara chewed her lip. She just couldn't work it out.

"Two words. My answer is only two words. To keep me, you must give me." She muttered.

Jerome laughed. He knew the answer. They were words he wanted to give to Mara.

She moved on, muttering she'd go back to it.

"What question can you never answer?" She read, then muttered "The last one! That was difficult, I can't work it out!"

Jerome had worked it out. He knew the answer. "What is it like to be dead?" He grinned.

Mara groaned. "Trudy, where are you!" She groaned. The housemother looked up, startled.

"Mara, darling, are you OK?" Trudy asked.

"Trudy, I'm stuck with my homework!" Mara groaned, causing everyone to stare at her. Trudy went to help.

"What is it? Oh, dear. Riddles aren't really my forte. Hmm. Well, this one here-" Trudy pointed at the question 'What question can you never answer?' "-this answer is what is it like to be dead. But this thirteenth, I just don't understand it. I can't get it."

Mara groaned. Trust it to be the one she was stuck on.

Everyone else had skipped that one. It wound them up. Jerome knew it. He knew it very well and he wanted to show off about it.

"This is so easy. What has holes all over but still holds water?" Trudy said.

Mara knew it was a sponge. "Sponge."

Trudy smiled. "You're doing really well, Mara."

Mara groaned again, completing every riddle except number thirteen.

The day before it was supposed to be handed in, Mara was stressed out over it.

Jerome sat next to her, giving her a glass of some yellow liquid and a chocolate and marshmallow fluff sandwich.

"Good for sugar highs. Brain food." Jerome said. She gave him a look, before he pointed at the food and told her to "Dig in."

Mara ate the food, totally starving, then washed it down with the slightly yellowy liquid.

She went mad. She started singing the Gummy Bear Song and dancing on the table.

Trudy gasped when she walked in to find Mara dancing crazily on the dining room table, Jerome busting his ribs and the others, including Victor, were cackling their heads off.

Mara switched to Girls Aloud Love Machine and danced. Trudy had to give her points, the girl could sing.


Just before class, Mara went to Jerome for help.

"Jerome, my homework is incomplete and I need your help. Please?"

Jerome smiled and whispered "Two words. My answer is just two words. To keep me, you must give me."

Mara shrugged. "I don't know."

"Tell you something." Jerome said. "I need your word that you won't tell anyone. Will you give me your word on that?"

"Yes." Mara said.

"You just gave me the answer to your riddle." Jerome told her.

"I don't know it, though." Mara said in confusion.

"You gave me your word." Jerome told her, stopping the grin from spreading across his face.

"That's it? Your word is the answer?" Mara asked, delighted.

"Exactly." Jerome told her.

She threw her arms around him.

"Jerome Clarke, I love you and I'll never stop!" She said happily, before kissing him.


For Jaylaheart's One-Shot Day. Hope you enjoyed. Random Dizzy. :)