Chapter 1: He Would Be Mine

JEROME'S POV:

"What about this one?" Mara said holding up a hot pink, loose tank top.

"Great." I said not paying attention.

"That's what you said for the last eight shirts!" Mara protested. It's true, I haven't been paying attention to her, but I have a reason! What guy wants to listen to his girlfriend go on and on about what shirt to wear? NONE!

"Can't you tell he doesn't care, Mara?" Joy said not looking up from her magazine. To be honest, I have been looking at Joy all this time. I never noticed it, but she was…amazing. What am I saying? I'm dating Mara, but I wish I wasn't. All she talks about is herself and school.

"Is that true?" Mara raised an eyebrow. I didn't answer; I was too busy starring at Joy. "Jerome? Jerome. JEROME!" Mara yelled, but I still didn't notice.

"Jerome?" Joy said softly. Her voice was so graceful.

"Huh?" I looked around trying to figure out what was being said.

"I asked you-." Mara started.

"Jerome! I need your help!" My best friend, Alfie, rushed into the room.

"What's wrong, Alfie?" Joy asked looking concerned.

"There is a really big spider in our room! You need to get rid of it!" Joy and I laughed.

I started to get up and Mara started to protest saying that she needed my help with her clothes, not that I cared. Joy chuckled at my come-back. I turned away so she couldn't see how red my cheeks were. I walked out of the doorway with Alfie. "Come on buddy." I said pulling him with me.

JOY'S POV:

Jerome and Alfie walked out of the room to get rid of the spider, which I'm sure was small. I looked back at my magazine, but out of the corner of my eye I saw Jerome turned around, slightly, and smile. I couldn't help but smile back. Ok, you got me! I really like Jerome, but he is dating Mara and I couldn't do that to my best friend.

"What do you think I should wear: hot pink or sunset orange?" Mara said looking at her choices.

"Like Jerome, I don't care." I didn't even look up from my magazine because it would be a waste of my time. Mara doesn't look good in either of those colors.

"That's silly! I know he cares, he just doesn't want to show it." Mara said. I rolled my eyes, if any girl knows Jerome it's me. "Just face it Joy, I'm right and your wrong." She smiled at herself in the mirror.

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" I looked up at her. At that second, Jerome came running into the room.

"Uh, Joy? Can you come into our room for a minute?" He had a pleading look in his eye.

"Sure." I was a bit confused. I got up and started to walk out the room.

"Why not ask me?" Mara looked at Jerome and smiled.

"Um, we need Joy's expertise."

~IN JEROME AND ALFIE'S ROOM~

"My expertise," I raised an eyebrow and look at Jerome. "To kill a bug?"

"It's a big bug!" Alfie exclaimed while rocking back in forth on his bed.

"Wimp." I muttered.

"Please?" Jerome said on his knees. Anything to spend time with you, Jerome. I thought.

I walked to their bookshelf, and grabbed The Little Engine that could off the shelf. I walked over to the wall where the bug was on, and slammed the book over the bug; killing it.

"My book!" Alfie yelled, running to the book I dropped on the floor. Jerome and I laughed.

"DINNER!" We heard Trudy yell from the dining room. Alfie immediately got to his feet and scrambled to have dinner. I chuckled.

"Thanks." Jerome said, smiling.

"Anytime," I said walking away. "Wimp." I said so Jerome could hear. Jerome started chasing me in the hallway. We both laughed as we ran into the living room. He caught up to me quickly and wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me into his chest.

We were still laughing when he said, "Who are you calling a wimp, Joyless." We chuckled, but then Mara grabbed Jerome's wrist.

"Come on, we don't want our dinner getting cold." She pulled him towards the dinner table. The seating was always the same: Nina and Fabian at the end of the table, Amber sat next to Nina, across from Alfie, Patricia sat next to Amber across from Eddie, I sat next to Patricia across from Jerome, and then Mara sat next to Jerome across from KT.

"Why were you holding Joy like that," Jerome smiled at me. "When I was just upstairs?"

I took a biscuit and got up, walking to Trudy. "Thanks for dinner, but I'm not that hungry." I smiled. I walked up the stairs and notice Jerome getting up and walking after me.

I walked into my room and took my science textbook out of my bag and started to study the elements . . . fun. There was a faint knock on the door. "Joy?" I heard someone say, softly.

"It's open." I called. Jerome walked in with a concerned look on his face.

"Are you ok?" He asked sitting next to me.

"I'm fine." I faked a smile, but Jerome didn't buy it. "Just feeling a bit sick." He gave me a hug, holding my head which was on his chest.

"I hope your better by tomorrow." He said smiling. I looked at him, confused. "We have our science project tomorrow," He nudged my shoulder. "Partner."

"Why don't you have your girlfriend be your partner?" I looked at my textbook.

"Is that what this is about?" Jerome asked and I looked up. "Joy, you have always been one of my best friends and my lab partner. And no one, not even Mara, can change that." He kissed my forehead, and gave me another hug.

If things were different, he would be mine.

I totally ship Jeroy! And I really love this show. So please review and tell me what you think! :)