Jerome's POV

I can't believe I tried to kiss her. I'm an idiot. I just shook it off and as I walked down the hall I heard sobbing. I knew those sobs.

Mara.

I knocked on the door and entered with a sympathetic smirk.

"You alright?" I asked as if I didn't know what was going on. Because I don't, I have no idea why she is crying. I do it's my fault, but it may be because she misses Mick or because she wants me.

"I don't know," She managed to choke out. Mara got up from her bed and just gave me a hug. "I'm so sorry," She kept whispering.

I lead her to the bed, returned the hug, and sat there, in the friends' zone. Before I could kiss the top of her head, I remembered what happened last time and how well that ended. With Mara in my arms, I wondered if what I felt was normal. Maybe this is what she felt for Mick. If that were true, I know I don't ever have a chance because this is a feeling I never want to end.

"It's hard to end," Mara said after she pulled herself together.

"End what?"

"I broke up with Mick…"

I didn't say a word. I didn't smile. I can't think straight. My mind is overflowing and I think I'm frozen.

"Okay," I licked my lips, "Before I say or do something beyond stupid, tell me what this means." I said trying to hold back a smile and failing.

"It means…" She drifted off trying to collect her thoughts. Obviously, she was just as mixed up as me. "It means, as hard as it is to let go of something you thought you loved, there is something you love more."

I must be grinning like a fool. She is looking down at her hands and I cautiously take them in mine. We are looking into each other's eyes.

"It means I choose you." She said smiling back at me.

We both hesitantly leaned in, inching closer and closer. Slowly, like we were robots not moving as smoothly as we should. Finally, our lips touched, it wasn't forced like when we were kissing for the camera. My heart was thumping in my chest loudly. Surprisingly, she was the first to open her mouth to take things a step further. Having a boyfriend in Australia must be the worst for a horny teenage girl. I'm always here when she needs me. The girl I loved was kissing me, passionately, in my lap. I didn't want this moment to ever end. Time went so slowly yet so fast at the same time.

After our snog session, we just rested in each other's arms on her bed and talked. Talked about family, friends, and told each other our secrets. We laughed at our embarrassing and crazy stories for what seemed like hours.

I woke up still in her bed. I had never felt more thrilled, not even when we talked or when we kissed, because I knew then and there that all of that was real.