I shouldn't be writing this, I need to update House of Supers, Untold Feelings of Jerome Clarke, Jara Drabbles, Dad, The Clarkes…and this is just going to add to this list. Yikes

Adopted (with permission of course) from the amazing 'balfies' excellent writer, who unfortunately has outgrown house of Anubis.

But for all those who haven't, please

Enjoy

Mara sighed. Here she was, alone in school. All alone. She tucked her chair into the desk a little further, adding another sentence to her already too long essay. Everyone else was back at the house, as she should be. But…what was for her there? So see Mick and Amber flirting? To see Jerome and Alfie pranking? Fabian and Nina hiding secrets? Joy and Patricia having a movie marathon? No thanks, she preferred her school books. They could never leave her.

But after another two hours, she faced facts. She would have to face the real world eventually. She packed away her stuff, and slung her back over her shoulder, placing the essay onto Mrs Andrews desk, with a little post it note that read I finished it, thank you for letting me submit it before the due date, Mara Jaffray Yes, it made her look like a massive teacher's pet, but that wasn't the intention. She was just…overly eager. She stepped out into the empty corridors, and let her pumps click against the tiled floor, and she wondered whether Mr Sweet was still in his office, she could have a discussion with him about the next school rep meeting-

"Hello," came a voice. Mara jumped, spinning around to see Jerome leaning against the lockers. And she could have sworn he wasn't there before. "Ah, Mara Jaffray," he said silkily, emphasising the last syllable of her name, in a way no one else had done before. But that's because Jerome had personality. "Just the person I've been meaning to talk too!"

The fact he wanted to speak to her unnerved her, made her mind race with all the possible reasons why. But of course, it didn't stop the fact that she noticed his poor grammar, Just the person whom I've been meaning to talk to She corrected to herself. Then she realised he was still staring at her, eyes widened slightly "Why did you want to talk to me?" she blurted out.

"My darling Mara, you are looking excellent today." He said, ignoring her question completely.

"What do you want, Jerome?" she persisted with a sigh.

"Why do you think I want anything? Am I not allowed to compliment you?"

Mara shifted her weight to her other foot and raised her eyebrow. "Your voice is low. You always want something when your voice is low. What is it?"

"Well," he grinned, eyes sparkling "You are an observant saucy minx, aren't you?" he clasped his hands together in delight. "I was just thinking it would be divine if whenever young Alfie and I were accused of something, the blame wouldn't fall on us, so I was wondering whether you knew someone who had a high standing with the teachers? Someone who could otherwise occupy them for a few minutes? Make them talk about something else? Someone about yea tall?" he motioned with his hand level with the top of her head, "who has an impeccable record on her side as well as a pretty face and holds the unfortunate position of student rep?"he explained, piercing blue eyes flickering down to her blazer collar, where the school rep badge was worn proudly. "I trust you have a more reputable standing with the teachers than moi," he said, placing a hand on his chest with a smile.

"Jerome…" she warned, frowning "Where are you going with this?"

"It's very simple. If they talk to you about anything going astray and mention my name, do be helpful and tell them it wasn't me, would you?" he simpered with a shrug. Stepping towards her. Mara raised a suspicious dark eyebrow.

"Why? What are you and Alfie planning to do?" and it almost made her sad. You could always just assume that Jerome and Alfie would be doing something together. Lewis and Clarke. How come she didn't have someone like that?

"What makes you think we're planning anything at all, Mara dear?" he asked, with a smile. Stepping forward again, so he was only a metre away from her. "It's a precaution I've decided to take early on this term. Generally I don't get caught, but on the occasions my parents have been notified of my…" for the first time, the handsome blond hesitated

"Wrongdoings?" Mara filled in.

"Let's call them extracurricular activities and leave it at that shall we?" he winked at her, and she tried to stop the blood rushing to her cheeks. It was so rare for anyone to speak to her the way he was. "On the occasions my parents have found out what I'm doing with the educational services they've grudgingly paid for…well, let's just say they haven't exactly been supportive."

Mara rolled her eyes, smiling for the first time since their encounter. Knowing Jerome, he was understating everything. But she really didn't want to press him for any details he wasn't comfortable sharing. He caught her smile, and so continued

"So…I can trust you to shift any blame on my shoulders, Miss Perfect Student Rep?" he asked, offering a sweet smile.

"Why should I help you? Wait, no, better question: what are you going to do?"

"If I don't tell you, you can react naturally if you're confronted by a suspicious teacher. And you should help me because you're the student rep and I am a student in need of representation."

Mara sighed "Three times, Jerome. I'll save you three times. But no more, okay?"

"Mara you're an angel!" he said, grasping her into a quick hug that stopped her heart beating. "And as a form of short-term repayment, I'll give you fair warning, the maths corridor toilets are not an advisable place to visit."

"What have you- never mind. I won't ask." She said, surrendering her arms. Jerome laughed softly, he had got what he wanted, and he slid his hands into his pockets. Mara met his dancing crystalline eyes and laughed, breaking the silence- it had been too long since either of them had spoken, and her laugh was out of place. Jerome coughed, and twisted a few degrees to the left as if making out to leave.

"I should, um, go," he said, jabbing his thumb behind him. "Places to go, people to confuse, you know."

"Yeah. Well, not the confusing people part, but, um…" Mara trailed off.

"Well, bye," Jerome said, "and thanks."

Mara raised a hand farewell, then turned around. She walked a few steps before she realised she was headed in the wrong direction. She pivoted, pointing her finger towards the common room, as if reminding herself of her destination. Jerome seemed to have done the same thing; they passed each other on the staircase.

"Wrong direction," he mumbled.

"Likewise."

They each gave the other a fleeting smile, and then continued on their respective paths. Mara closed her eyes once she reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Way to go, awkward," she muttered to herself, shaking her head, hair swishing as she walked down the corridor, face burning.

Review? Maybe? Please?