A.N. So this is a Jara story :) I love them. End of story. I would really appreciate some comments on what other couples you want though. It starts out Fabina, and Amfie but these are both open to change.
Mara laid her head against the cool car window, watching the autumn leaves swirl downward. A grin crossed her face as she spotted a weathered old red brick building with vines hanging down from the iron frame windows. She was finally home, back at Anubis House. Mara could not wait to see everyone! She wondered if anyone had changed drastically. She couldn't wait to see Mick, her boyfriend. She hadn't seen him in a month! She'd visited him and called him but he'd gone away to sports camp in London for summer training and it had been harder to get in touch with him there.
The family mini-van came to an abrupt stop, making Mara fly forward. She rolled her eyes; her dad couldn't drive to save his life. She shot him a glare as if to say, "I can't believe you!"
"No trouble this year right Mars Bars?" Her father joked using his nickname for her. He knew she never caused trouble of any kind.
"Of course Dad." She said giving him a quick peck on the cheek and opening the car door. Her dad came around to help her get her two huge bags out of the trunk.
"Don't study to much." He said as they embraced one more time. Mara sighed, her dad was an athlete and she hadn't exactly gotten the athletic gene. He couldn't understand why she'd rather read a good book then go for a run. That was his problem.
"Bye Dad!" She said trying to usher him back to the car.
"Oh fine, I know when I'm not wanted!" He said backing up towards the car "Are you sure you don't need any help getting settled."
"Positive!" She assured him. It would be so embarrassing for her to have her dad help her get settled! "Now go before mum get's worried!"
"All right, all right!" He said holding his hands up in defeat. "Goodbye Mara."
"Bye Dad." She said with a small smile. "I'll call you once I'm settled in."
She watched him drive off before turning and staring up at Anubis house. She shook her head when she remembered all that had happened last term! Prom, Joy, Mick, becoming the class representative! It had been a great year. She could only hoped that this one would be just as good.
She made her way up the stairs and opened the large wooden doors to the boarding school. Inside a familiar sight of the main hall greeted her. She had missed Anubis a lot.
"Mara!" She heard an excited high-pitched voice from the living room. She looked over to see Amber running towards her arms open wide. After Mara had started dating Mick, Amber had become very upset and hadn't talked to Mara for the rest of the term. Now that she was dating Alfie she seemed much less upset with Mara.
She felt Amber's tiny arms wrap around her neck in a huge hug. Mara hugged her back letting the perfume wash over her; she'd missed friendly Amber.
"Oh I've missed you soooooo much!" Amber said jumping up and down. "I had the most amaaazing summer! And I think I've gotten even prettier! What do you think?" Amber asked, twirling around. Her silky golden hair whipped around looking perfect as ever. Mara had always been jealous of her; she was the perfect looking girl. The only problem was she was incredibly thick. It didn't really matter anymore though, Mara was just glad to have her as a friend again.
"Of course you have!" Mara said giving her a warm smile. "You look gorgeous!"
"Oh really? Thanks!" She said "Well I've got to go... later!" And with that she ran off. Mara stood there frozen for a moment from al the pep and girlyness that Amber had just shocked her with. She'd forgotten how peppy and excited Amber always was.
Everyone else was probably unpacking and getting settled Mara decided and began lugging her two huge suit cases upstairs. Mara was a petite person and was not very strong so dragging the bags up the stairs was quiet difficult. She'd almost reached the top of the stairs when she heard a cough. She looked up. There stood Jerome Clarke, 6'2 with icy blue eyes and perfectly tousled blonde hair. Mara gave him a small smile.
"Hello Jerome." Mara said a little nervously. Last term had been a little rocky for them. In the beginning Jerome had just treated her like he treated everyone else, with no respect whatsoever. Then Mick left for training and he'd changed! He'd nominated her for Student Rep. and told her about his family problems. He'd even asked her out to lunch once, as a date and she'd said no, because of Mick of course.
"You're blocking the stairway Jaffray." He said in a monotone voice, shaking his head. He gave her a quick up and down scan.
"You could help?" Mara asked sighing and standing up more straightly. She shifted uncomfortably at his gaze, which made Jerome smirk. Jerome would Mara to be peculiar and a challenge. He liked challenges though.
"Could being the operative word here." Jerome said raising his eyebrows. Mara rolled her eyes pretending like she didn't care. Jerome could tell she did though. He knew Mara wasn't a very confident person and was very easily taken advantage of. After all she was dating Mick, nice as he may seem to her Jerome knew his ways.
"All right, well if you move I'll be out of your way in a few seconds." She said in a determined voice trying to pick up one of the bags and move past Jerome. Jerome watched amused as the tiny girl struggled with a bag that probably weighed twice as much as she did. She managed to get both bags to the top of the stairs where unfortunately for her, one of the bags ripped open and her stuff went toppling all over the floor. Shirts, pajamas and books poured out of her overly full suitcase. Mara blushed scarlet and hurried to pick up her things.
"Well done." Jerome said with a slight laugh giving her a round of applause. He then groaned for no real reason and then bent down to help her pick up her things.
"Jerome you really don't have to help! You'll probably just-" Mara said scurrying to pick everything up. As she turned around she saw one of the most horrifying things she'd ever seen in her life. Jerome Clarke was holding one of her bras. A shriek of alarm escaped Mara's mouth.
"Ah ha! Well what's this?" Jerome asked laughing and holding up her silky white bra by the straps and admiring it with a grin. Mara's mouth fell open, and her eyes went wide as a deer caught in a headlight. Her immediate reaction was to grab it for him, which she tried but he knew she would and moved it before she could holding it to high for her to reach.
"Jerome Clarke you give it back right now or I'll... I'll..." She said frazzled.
"Hmm I quiet like it! Mind if I keep it?" He said holding it up to his chest and smirking "It is rather small though..."
"Jerome!" She whined, sounding like a little kid who wasn't getting their way. She was half annoyed, and half frightened that he would keep it and show Alfie! "I demand you give it back!" She tried to sound affirmative. He was so intimidating though that she immediately shrunk back when he looked down at her.
"Oh calm down Mara!" He said tossing it back to her, his smile fading. She clutched the silk bra with relief and quickly burying it into her bag. She couldn't believe that had just happened. Jerome would probably torment her about it for the next few days non-stop, no doubt he'd tell Alfie. "I see you still haven't learned to have fun." He said in a bored voice.
Mara looked down biting her lip as she zipped up the suitcase, carefully setting it upright. "Being humiliated isn't really what I call fun." She said quietly.
"Mara! Relax!" Jerome teased and then exclaimed. "You haven't changed at all!" Jerome was lying when he said this. She'd gotten even more beautiful over the summer. He gazed down, not able to take his eyes off of her.
"Neither have you!" She rebutted crossing her arms over her chest self-consciously. It was silent for a moment. They just stared at each other her dark eyes into his arctic blue ones. Jerome subconsciously licked his lips. She broke the gaze first looking away. After a few more seconds he looked away as well.
"I'll see you at supper Jaffray." And with that he pushed past her walking quickly downstairs and out of Mara's vision.
"UGH!" Mara groaned loudly. She began angrily stomped, dragging her bags to hers and Patricia's room. Jerome could really get under her skins sometimes. He had no limits! She opened the door and then turned around to drag her bags in.
"I'm so mad Patricia! Jerome is honestly the most..." She stopped at the sight she saw. On one side of the room was Patricia, already unpacked. She lived close by so it wasn't a surprise to Mara that she'd gotten to Anubis House to unpack before everyone got there. Her hair was darker and she of course wore all black. On the other side of the room however was Joy unpacking her things into where Mara had slept last year. She tilted her head to the side confused. "Oh... um... hi Joy." Mara muttered not sure what to say
Joy and Patricia exchanged an awkward glance and seemed to be apologizing even though they hadn't even said anything yet.
"Hello Mara!" Joy said giving Mara a fake sweet smile. "How are you?"
"I'm... fine... I'm glad you're back?" Mara wasn't sure why she'd phrased it as a question. Maybe because she wasn't sure she wanted Joy back, or at least not back in her room, on her bed! "What are you doing on my bed?"
"Well yes Mara." Patricia said looking down. "You know how me a Joy were roommates before she left?" Mara nodded. "Well now that she's back we're going to be roommates again! Don't take it personally or anything though!"
Mara stood there shocked for a moment. Was she really being kicked out of her own room? Where was she supposed to sleep now?
"Right... well where am I supposed to live?" Mara asked with more attitude then intended, raising her eyebrows.
"Yes well we were thinking the attic maybe? Trudy's made it up all nice and it doesn't seem that bad actually!" Patricia said. Mara opened her mouth to say something and then closed it again not sure what to say. The attic was horrible! And she'd be all alone. She wanted it to be like last year where she shared with Patricia and there were no problems!
"You're joking!" Mara said angrily. "The attic? You can't be serious."
"Mara I'm sorry! I really truly am! We thought you'd understand though!" Patricia said in a very honest voice. "But you know how Joy and I am! We can hardly be apart for ten minutes! Last year was so hard and now we really need to be together!"
Mara nodded. Her and Joy were extremely close. It was usually annoying to be around them when they were together. And Mara had felt bad for Patricia when Joy had mysteriously disappeared! It had been really hard for Patricia and she'd spent the majority of the year mopping about it. Mara closed her eyes and nodded. She'd be the better friend and let Patricia and Joy stay together with no protest.
"I'll see you at supper then." Mara said turning around and beginning to drag her bags out of the room with her.
"Thanks so much Mara! You're the best!" Patricia yelled behind her. If Mara and Patricia were in opposite positions, Patricia would have protested and yelled and called Mara the worst friend ever. But Mara couldn't do that! She wasn't tough enough to stand up for what she wanted. She was passive and had to deal with the fact that she never got what she really wanted.
She made her way past Amber and Nina's room. Nina sat on a colorful rug laughing about something that Amber had just said, while Amber sat on her bed doing her nails and stating random beauty facts. Mara stopped and stared for a few seconds jealous of their friendship. Nina saw her staring and waved, Mara waved back and then turned to continue down the hallway. Nina and Mara weren't very good friends, Mara had nothing against Nina but Nina had started a very exclusive club with Fabian, Amber, Alfie, Patricia and kind of Jerome. Mara was never invited to be part of the group.
Mara finally made her way to the attic door. She slowly reached for the knob and twisted it. The door opened with a creak. Mara slowly walked up the stairs carefully watching her surroundings for any ghosts or whatever could be up there. It looked fine as far as she could tell.
The walls were dirty, but nothing that couldn't be fixed. There was a nice stain glass window, where the light poured in. Trudy had set up a cot bed for Mara and cleaned the floor so it wasn't too dusty. Mara sat down on the cot and crossed her legs examining the room. It could be nice she decided. She could fix it up to look like normal rooms, hang posters, paint. But she'd still be alone. She sighed and began unpacking her suitcases into a near by drawer. There were so many random artifacts up in the attic. Mara looked at a serious of different things like a painting of a young woman that looked very similar to Nina. Maybe this is where they were always sneaking off to! Then they'd have to include her in their group!
Once Mara had gotten a little bit more settled she decided to look for Mick. Maybe he could make her feel better. So far the day had not turned out as planned. She went downstairs to the boy's dormitories. She made sure to not be seen by Jerome and Alfie, and went straight to Fabian and Micks room.
Their room was already a mess. Clothes were all over the floor. Mick's sports gear was all over the place but he was nowhere to be seen. Fabian sat on his bed with his guitar strumming slowly. Mara knocked on the door.
"Hello Fabian," She said taking a few tentative steps into the room.
"Oh Mara!" He said looking up, setting his guitar besides him. "Have a good holiday?"
"Pretty good. You?"
"Yes. I visited Nina and her Gran in America!" Fabian said with a smile, remembering the summer.
"I'm so surprised." Mara said laughing. Last term it had been so obvious that they liked each other it was annoying! It had taken a push from the rest of the people in house to tell them that they had to date.
"Looking for Mick?" He asked obviously wondering her true intention for visiting him. Mara and Fabian didn't really talk too much but they were always friendly. Mara nodded. "He went out for a run. He said for me to tell you if you came by and I quote 'Missed you babe, See you at supper.'" Mara smiled at Fabians imitation of Mick.
"Thanks Fabian!" She said and quickly hurried out of the room. She made her way back upstairs to her new. She began setting up pictures and posters. She decided to paint it a light purple. Maybe she could get Trudy to run to the hardware store for her. She heard a noise coming from the foot of the stairs and then Nina, Fabian and Amber talking.
"Sarah said it wasn't over! She said it was just beginning!" Nina said sounding worried.
"What does that mean though? What more secrets can there be?" Fabian wondered as they reached the top of the stairs. Once they realized that Mara was up there they stopped. All of them looked completely suspicious and worried.
"Mara? What are you like doing here?" Amber asked starting to nervously play with her hair.
"I kind of live up here now. Patricia and Joy are rooming together so I'll be up here if you ever need me." Mara said with a smile. "Who's Sarah?"
"Oh no one! Really no one!" Nina said quickly. To quickly. Nina was a horrible liar. It was so easy to tell when she was lying. Nina looked around the room for the artifacts that Mara had put away. She needed them to find out what Sarah meant! People could be in danger if it really wasn't over.
"Really?" Mara said. They were still keeping secrets huh? Mara decided to let it go this time. They all looked scared out of their minds and Mara wasn't cruel. "Did you need something?"
"Oh no... Just came to say hi..." Nina said.
"Why did Amber ask me why I was up here then?" Mara questioned raising her eyebrows. Mara wasn't going to let them go that easy. She was smart, and she knew it.
"I forgot." Amber suggested. They all looked down knowing that they couldn't fool her.
"Right." Mara said, letting them know that she didn't believe them at all.
"Trudy said supper will be ready in 5 minutes." Fabian informed her changing the subject. "Mick is downstairs."
"Really!" Mara said excitedly jumping up. They exchanged glances. "Let's go then!"
"I guess so." Nina said seeming a little bit annoyed. Mara waited for them to lead the way, she didn't want any of them snooping around in her room. Obviously there was something up and she would figure it out. Eventually she would find out.
The walk down was very quiet. They were keeping a lot of secrets. And they weren't doing a very good job of hiding it. When they reached the kitchen the smell of spaghetti and freshly baked bread overwhelmed her. Jerome, Alfie, Patricia, Joy and Mitch were in the kitchen talking.
"I ran a six minute mile just now. I can eat as much as I want!" Mara heard the voice of her boyfriend from the counter. He was eating of course.
"Oh I'm so impressed." Joy said sarcastically walking over to the table followed by Patricia.
"Mick!" Mara exclaimed and ran towards him to give him a hug. He turned around to face her beaming. Mick was most peoples dream guy, cute, athletic and thoughtful. His blond Bieber cut and always smiling blue eyes greeted her, welcoming her home.
"Mara I missed you!" He said as her arms wrapped around his neck. It felt so normal being around him, like they'd never been apart. After a few seconds they split and stared at each other. He was so attractive; he could have any girl in school if he wanted. But he wanted her. Then they kissed. It was a small but affectionate kiss that left Mara content with everything.
"Get a room you two." Jerome said maliciously walking past them purposely bumping into Mick. Mara pursed her lips to stop herself from saying something that would make the situation worse.
"Bug off Jerome." Mick spat. "Mind your own bees-wax!" Jerome held his hands up in defeat but laughed as he walked over to the table and took a seat. Jerome thought Mick was thick. Mara appreciated that Mick was standing up for her but sometimes she just wished he could let it go. He and Jerome didn't really get along very well, Jerome was always joking and Mick was sensitive to that kind of thing.
Mick led Mara to the table and took a seat. Mara slid into the seat next to him and in between Jerome. (A.N Mara is almost always sitting next to Jerome in the show!) Trudy served supper, where as per usual a food fight between Jerome and Alfie occurred, getting pasta sauce in Mara's hair and noodles on Amber's designer cardigan. Amber stormed out with Alfie following her out like a lost puppy, apologizing over and over again. Nina screamed at Jerome while Fabian calmed her down, Joy and Patricia sat there laughing because they were they only once not his until Jerome flicked some spaghetti at them which caused them to break out it to a full scale food fight. Red sauce stained the walls and garlic bread was all over the ground.
Mick grabbed Mara's hand and yanked her into the hallway. Everyone was screaming at each other and laughing, while Trudy was trying to calm them down.
"Quit it Jerome!" Joy screamed. "This is so gross!"
"Lovelies calm down! I don't want to clean all this up!" Trudy said in a soothing voice from the kitchen. Poor Trudy would end up cleaning everything up.
"What a mess!" Mick said grinning, planting his hands on her hips pulling her closer to him. Mara nodded looking up at him admiringly. He ran his fingers through her hair,
"You've got pasta sauce in you hair."
"Oh I'm sorry!" Mara apologized looking down in distress.
"Sorry for what?" Mick chuckled. "You haven't done anything wrong!"
"Sorry!" Mara apologized again.
"Mara you're saying sorry... for being sorry? You're ridiculous." It was quiet for a few seconds. Mick leaned in to kiss her. Mara stood waiting. Their lips finally touched. His lips were warm and soft. Mara closed her eyes completely comfortable. It felt so natural. She giggled, as she pulled apart.
"I missed you so much!" She whispered.
"Yeah." Mick replied flashing her a perfect smile. That wasn't really the answer she was looking for she decided not to comment though. They'd fought enough last year, and Mara knew that with Mick in an argument he was always right.
The rest of the night they spent talking and laughing in the living room. They mostly talked about what they'd done that summer but also about what they thought about what would happen this school year. Mick told her all about his summer training camp, Mara agreed to help him train, like she had last year. Of course Nina, Fabian, Amber, Alfie and Jerome were nowhere to be found. Joy had only been back for a day and she was already part of their cult. Mara couldn't believe they were already having club meetings.
They had to go upstairs at 9:45 so that they would have time to get ready for bed before Victor dropped his infamous pin. Mick gave Mara a goodnight kiss before making his way to his room. Mara headed upstairs to get ready for bed. She brushed her teeth, combing her hair and put on her pajamas.
"Mara please feel free to sleepover anytime you want! Patricia feels really bad… and so do I!" Joy told her in the bathroom while washing her face. "And I'm really sorry for stealing your room and Patricia! No hard feelings?"
"Thanks Joy. It's fine. No hard feelings." Mara had said not meaning it one hundred percent but appreciating the apology. Truth was Mara had missed Joy, but she had liked becoming better friends with Patricia too. Joy's homecoming was bitter sweet, because she knew that Patricia and Joy would always be closer then her and Patricia.
"Yes really Mara! Me and Nina would love for you to come over sometime!" Amber said. Nina and I Mara corrected in her head but didn't say anything. She did not want Amber hating her ever again!
"It's ten o'clock. You have 5 minutes precisely! And then I want to be able to hear a pin drop." Victor said sounding as menacing as ever.
"Did you see Mara and that Meathead earlier?" Jerome bitterly asked Alfie before bed in the privacy of their room.
"Yes!" Alfie replied, nodding with a clueless smile. Jerome perked up looking at Alfie curiously wondering what he was so happy about, "Mara's looking fine this year!"
Jerome rolled his eyes throwing his deodorant at Alfie, which hit him square in the chest. He was sick of Mara. That was a lie. He wasn't sick of her, he was sick of wanting her. He wanted to be over her, and he couldn't stand seeing her with him.
How did Alfie have a girlfriend and not him? He was attractive and seductive... wasn't he? That's what he wanted to believe at least. He could also be a jerk sometimes and sometimes he acted like he didn't care when he really did. Alfie was a complete nut-ball and he had a beautiful (and complete idiot) girlfriend. It wasn't fair!
"Ow! Dude? What was that?" Alfie asked rubbing his chest where the deodorant had hit him.
"Sorry." Jerome responded with no emotion.
In the room next-door Mick and Fabian were getting ready for bed.
"So you and Nina are getting serious?" Mick asked wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Yeah I guess we are." Fabian said pausing from getting ready and smiling remembering Nina. Not as if he could forget her. He liked her so much. He couldn't believe that last year they'd been a "will they, won't they" couple. He couldn't imagine life without her. "So are you and Mara though!"
"Hmmm... Mara..." Mick said nodding. His girlfriend was beautiful and smart, and he didn't think he could want anything more.
"We better get to sleep. I haven't gotten up earlier then 10 a.m in about 3 months.," the always-sensible Fabian decided.
"Good idea mate." Mick agreed. "See you in the morning then."
And with that the pin dropped to the floor and all was quiet in Anubis House. Victor smiled an evil grin. This year his plan would not fail, and the rodents that the other teacher called students would not stop him. At least Rufus Zeno was out of the picture he thought smirking with pleasure. And with that he stocked out to the basement to continue his experiments.
