Hi, I love this pairing, please review,
He fixed his hair in the bathroom mirror, smirking as he buttoned up his grey cardigan
"You know, that cardigan is for girls," called Alfie from his bed as Jerome walked into the room, looking for his shoes
"That's why no girls wear them," answered Jerome, pulling on one shoe, grabbing the other one from under the bed.
"Mara wears one!" sang Alfie, searching for his blazer. Why was their room always a mess?
"Not true." he stated slipping the other shoe on "Mara wears a jumper."
"Blah diddy blah," sang Alfie, already down the stairs for breakfast. Jerome laughed at his best friend, before checking his reflection once more and joining them down stairs. His fringe was brushed forward, and he arched an eye brow at himself. It made him look about five. He decided against it in the end, walking to the kitchen.
The table was almost full, with Fabien the only one absent, probably finishing some homework. Jerome sat down in his usual place, opposite Alfie, next to Mara.
"Morning Jerome," said Mara buttering some toast. Jerome nodded in reply. Mara was someone in the house who he didn't favour or didn't dislike. At least she was polite.
"Mara babe, would you do my history assignment for me?" asked Mick, mouth full of jam. Jerome looked away with disgust but listened intently on the conversation
"Oh Mick!" Mara scolded, brushing her black hair from her face "Why didn't you do it?"
"I got really busy and forgot all about it! But I knew it would be okay as my amazing girlfriend would help me," he flattered, she smiled at him and took the papers out of his hand, moving to the sofa she started scribbling away. Jerome sighed internally at her, she was such a push over. He didn't know a bigger push over, but then again, how many people did he know?
"No talking, No cheating, No smiling," said the teacher after she'd handed everyone their papers. "Begin," she smiled, watching most of them groan.
Jerome smirked at the paper, he'd almost finished already, looking around he noticed only one other person sat like he was, back straight and proud of their answers. Mara Jaffrey. The black haired, brown eyed wonder.
He watched her curiously, eyes bright with wonder and innocence, she was smiling slightly as she re-checked her answers, knowing full well she didn't need to re-check them. Her fingers twiddled the pencil in her hand, her hair hung down silkily from her head. She was oddly pretty, Jerome blinked once as this registered in his head, if she was 'pretty' as he put it, how come he'd never asked her out before? He was meant to be a famous ladies man
"Uh Miss, could you reply that last one, I missed it," asked Mick, Jerome and Mara both turned round at his voice but everyone else kept working
"No, I'm sorry Mick, and I fear you've missed the next section." Smiled the teacher, returning to her work, Mick's sigh was loud and audible, Jerome turned around smiling, before going back to watching Mara. He watched her with wide, curious and smiling eyes as she pulled out her spare test paper, wrote Mick's name on it, and began it herself.
"Mara, Mara, Mara," he sighed to himself. He watched her actions after class, just to see how she would pull it off. Mara waited at the back of the line, only Jerome was behind her, Mick was in front. After Mick had placed his paper in the pile groaning, Mara picked it up and placed her two on the pile, before scrunching the paper up and placing it lightly in the recycling bin. Jerome smiled, picking the paper from the bin and following Mara into the girls bathroom.
He didn't need to feel embarrassed, if he walked into the girls toilets seen, the only thing that would happen is that the girls would be too terrified to use the bathroom for a while, for fear of some sort of prank. And the worst pranks were made in the bathroom. Jerome should know.
He slipped into one of the cubicles, and listened
"Hey Mara," called Patricia, looking at herself in the mirror "Test was hard right?" Jerome chuckled quietly at her stupidity, he knew she was very street smart, as was he, which was why he didn't hold any sort of grudge towards the multicoloured haired girl. But when it came to books, boy, she was a let down
"Yeah I guess," said Mara shakily
"Want some makeup?" offered Patricia, puffing her red hair slightly and adding some more lip gloss on
"No thanks," declined Mara politely.
"You never wear makeup," whined Patricia, cocking her head slightly
"I don't see the need," she replied slowly
"To impress boys, duh!" laughed Patricia. Mara laughed with her. "I'm off then Mara, catch you later," she said. Jerome heard Mara look through her bag, before he stepped out, she didn't notice him at first, but she looked up and caught his handsome reflection in the mirror and shrieked.
"Jerome! What are you doing in the girls bathroom?" she cried flustered. Jerome pulled the paper from his pocket and pulled it taught so she could see it clearly. He watched her eyes widen.
"What's that?" she asked lying badly
"I think you know what it is. Oh Mara, I'm terribly disappointed in you," he smiled, watching her blush shamefully. "Cheating?"
"I wasn't cheating!" she cried, taking a deep breath in
"Mmmhmm," he smiled
"I-I was t-trying to help," she stuttered "Please don't tell anyone," she pleaded.
"I wasn't planning on it Mara!" he cried, on the verge of laughter "As long as you help me with some chores, I'm sure this whole thing will disappear," he clicked his fingers.
"That's blackmail," she said, appalled,
"I don't think it is, it's more like, a friend, helping a friend," he offered, eye-brows raised "Try to see things my way,"
"Fine," she grumbled, seeing no other way out of it, although her brain was working on over drive. Jerome walked out of the bathroom unseen, smiling to himself. The rest of the day passed quickly for the both of them, and soon they were both in the house, Mick at trials, and the rest of them hanging out together.
Mara had often pondered what it was that kept the guys occupied for so long, but she always came up short. One time she'd thought she was there, seeing them in the woods, she thought about it, it was the house. Anubis house, it was wrong, something was wrong with it.
But her conclusion was far to make-believe, and she'd tossed it aside, disgusted with herself for even coming to an end like that. She'd become even more confused when Jerome had started hanging out with them. But he only went with them once in a while, like he wasn't a real member. Not fully into the whole thing, or maybe they just didn't want him there.
Mara was sat on the sofa, writing out rough the ideas for her English report
"Studying?" asked Jerome walking in, Mara looked up at him and quickly looked down, it was times like these she didn't talk to Jerome, for his appearance was far too distracting, so smart and professional, so mysterious yet so easy to read, catnip for girls like her. He was in his usual style, casual. His white striped shirt, dark waist coast over the top. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, giving her a good view of his collar bone, he wore dark jeans.
"Yes," she swallowed
"Really?" he asked, leaning over the sofa, so his head was beside hers, looking down at her work, she could hear his quiet breathing "You seem a little distracted," he breathed, hot breath trailing lightly down her neck
"I'm-I- I'm not distracted," she murmured
"Then why aren't you writing anything down?" She turned to look at him sharply, only then realising just how close their faces were, noses almost touching. Jerome's eyes widened when she turned her head, they were so close. He could smell her perfume, like jasmine flowers. He saw her about to close her eyes, about to lean forward, and he was about to do the exact same thing when-
"Because you're distracting me," she said, pulling away. He watched her move away from him but felt no feeling of rejection, this was Mara, and she didn't want to disappoint anyone by cheating on her perfect boyfriend. He smirked at her and stood up, practically hopping to the fridge
"Of course I am, because I'm amazing," he sang, pulling some cold flavoured water and sipping it. He watched her discreetly when she thought he was drinking. She was watching him, his mouth, his clothes. Jerome smiled, he always knew his dress sense was amazing. "Let's play a game," he offered, jumping over the sofa towards the game cabinet.
"Like what?" laughed Mara, Jerome marvelled at it. Wait what? Just who was he turning in to? He looked into his mind, and harsh unwanted memories attacked him with knives. His walls had been let down. He mentally cursed himself. Mending his mental wounds as quickly as he could without her noticing, the flash backs he was experiencing stung, he was so careless sometimes. "What are the options?" asked Mara, leaning towards him.
"There's connect four, eww. Or ludo, not today," he rambled, jutting his hand inside and reaching around, grabbing something random, he read the name of the box "How about Chess?" he asked, plonking it on the table and standing up "I take it someone like you knows how to play," he smiled at her gently, for today, he would let his walls down. Why not? He needed a break, and Mara would be gentle, she always was
"I do know how to play but-" she frowned
"What?" he asked, sitting opposite the table and setting up the pieces
"You know how to play?" she asked doubtfully, yet embarrassed. He laughed
"I am a master of many things," he smiled. "You first," he gestured, she was playing as white, it was meant that she went first.