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Jerome Clarke was 13 years old. Perhaps adorable, with fluffy blond hair that was admittedly far too big for his head. But his mother refused to let him cut it yet. For apparently he was too young. And Jerome had no father to argue his case. But the young Prince was intelligent and proud. Perhaps slightly spoilt. "I don't want to!" he tried again, for the third time. But his mother, Queen Clara did nothing but pat his shoulder as she looked through his wardrobe. "Mother!" he tried again, stomping his right foot "Are you listening? I don't want to spend my summer with some Princess! Me and Alfie were gonna go spend our days down by the lake-"

"Jerome Henry Clarke." She looked down at him, shaking her head, pulling out a deep blue cloak to hang from his shoulders with a golden medallion. "You will be meeting with this princess, one whole summer every two years." Jerome scrunched up his face, and managed to scramble away after she'd fastened the clasp. "Don't get too mucky, the King and his daughter are travelling across the oceans to see us!"

Jerome rolled his eyes.

Line Break

Mara Jaffray was 13 years old. And she was cute. Her whole Kingdom said so. With short black hair that tickled her shoulders, and a clumsy fringe her father wouldn't let her cut, maybe if she had a mother, that mother might stand up for her. "Please father," she tried again, pulling at the puffy pink gown she'd been forced in to. They walked onto the ship, ready for their departure, this was Mara's last chance "Oh please! I would much rather spend the summer in the palace library-"

Her father chuckled heartily "You've read every book in that library at least twice Mara," he shook his head "No no, you will meet Queen Clara and Prince Jerome,"

Mara sighed, looking down at her shoes hopelessly. When she frowned, the 13 year old looked up, and she asked a question that surprisingly had not occurred to her yet "Why?"

King Jack stilled for a moment. This was the down side of having and intelligent child. Why? Well in the hope that one day Mara Jaffray and Jerome Clarke would marry, and finally unite the two Kingdoms, resulting in more gold than either population had ever wanted in their life. "Too…keep up good relations," he lied, nodding "Anyway, the Prince is your age, I'm sure you'll come to be great friends,"

Mara rolled her eyes.

Line Break

Hours later, they arrived. The carriage pulled into the Palace yard and Mara looked around nervously. Following her father, she stepped out onto the cobble. Queen Clara and Prince Jerome were standing there. "King Jack!" cried Clara, rushing to hug her old friend. He hugged her back happily, before both parents eyed their children.

Mara swallowed, forcing herself to be brave, and she stepped forward, curtseying lowly "Very nice to be here," she lied through gritted teeth. Jerome glared at her, this was the reason he wasn't down the lake with Alfie skimming pebbles? Pathetic.

He bowed, determined to hide his face from this girl. "Pleased to have you here, Princess," he stood up, and his mother rose an eyebrow, with a loud sigh, he took Mara's hand, kissing it awkwardly. Both turned away in disgust.

Line Break

"You've got hair like a boy." Jerome said, quite rudely. Mara's eyes widened at the insult. They had both been shoved into the garden, and at least she was making the best of it. Noting down the different flowers.

"Well you've got hair like a girl." She turned, heading for the other side of the garden, away from him.

"I don't, stupid." He spat. Mara whirled around, and flicked him once on the forehead. He glared at her "I don't hit girls."

"Oh," Mara feigned innocence, placing a hand over her heart "Does that mean I shouldn't hit you?"

It took Jerome a moment, but he finally realised that insult. When he looked up, he saw her running away. He immediately sprinted after her, irritated to no end. Alfie had respect for him, that's why he was his best friend. He hated this. Being stuck here with this…poor excuse for a princess, she wasn't even pretty. He sprinted after her, not realising she had stopped abruptly.

He collided with her, and she fell into the pond, he managed to maintain his balance, and burst out laughing. Her notebook floated helplessly beside her. His laughter tormented her ears and Mara glared up at him.

Ah, the first day of summer.

Line Break

"Come on guys, a little picture in front of the castle," King Jack held the camera, beckoning the two of them to get closer together. They refused too, and the photo was taken, of the two 13 year old facing away from each other, with their arms crossed.

Line Break

Jerome spent the rest of the summer teasing the poor Mara whenever he could. Three times he had pushed her into the pond, tricked her into going swimming just as the pool was being cleaned.

Mara had hated every second of it. Her worst summer ever. The only time she could escape Jerome's stupid antics was in the library, where she hid behind the bookcases, reading quietly. But Jerome always found her, pushing books out of the slots to come tumbling down around her.

So the last day of summer, when it finally arrived, was Mara's saviour. She was all packed, ready to go. Worst holiday of her life. Their parents watched them carefully

"Loved having you," Jerome bowed, a smirk playing on his lips. Mara glared, curtseying

"The pleasure was all mine," they both grimaced when he kissed her hand, and their parents beamed. Mara hissed into his ear "This is not my-"

"This is my idea-" he smirked, cutting her off, then they both finished in unison:

"Of fun."

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