"Seriously?" Patricia said.
"Yes, seriously."
"That slimeball? Are you having one?"
"No. I really think I like him."
Patricia shook her head in disgust.
"And I thought he had low standards," she said. "What about Mick?"
"What about him?" Mara asked. "We've been broken up for what, two months now? I've moved on and so has he…I think."
"Oh come off it Mara, course you're not over him!"
"I think I can decide that for myself, thankyou very much!"
"Really? Cause I'm not so sure. Every time he comes into the room you look at him like you're sorry for breaking up with him."
Mara bit her bottom lip. "I never really loved him anyway." That was a total lie and she knew it. She had loved Mick. Had being the operative word.
"The only person worse than you at lying is Nina," her friend trilled. "You loved Mick, you broke up with Mick, and now you're trying to convince yourself you're in love with Jerome? I know break-ups are tough, but seriously Mara: have some self-respect!"
"And what's wrong with Jerome?" Mara asked.
"What's wrong with him? He's a manipulative, heartless, cold prankster with as much regard for other human beings as Amber has for broken nails, that's what! He's bad news, 'specially for someone with a reputation as clean as yours, M."
"Maybe if you took the chance to talk to him you'd –."
"Have more evidence to back me up? Get a grip, Mara. Jerome's always been a scumbag void of compassion for other people, and he's not about to change. I'm not even sure we can classify him as a person anyway."
Mara stared down at her feet.
"You're probably right," she mumbled. "I'm sure it'll pass in a few days or something. Forget I mentioned it."
Patricia nodded satisfactorily. "There's my Mara. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go push Fabian into Nina some more. Those two are infuriating, and Amber's matchmaking tactics aren't nearly violent enough."
Mara smiled as her friend swung the door shut behind her, and then sighed. Damn Patricia. No, actually, don't. She was trying to help…in her own, vehement way. Mara hadn't realised Patricia noticed the guilt that flickered across her face whenever Mick entered the room, but at least she had the wrong idea about its cause. Patricia's wrong conclusion about her lingering feelings for Mick would keep Mara safe for the next few weeks. She did feel genuinely sorry for breaking up with Mick. He'd been a really sweet boyfriend…just not the boy she wanted. Mara had read somewhere that the average crush lasts no longer than four months; any crush longer than that and you're in love with them.
She knew her feelings for Jerome wouldn't end in a few days. They hadn't budged in the past five months, so why would they choose this week to move along?
