Her soft brown eyes sparkled as she giggled into his chest. He slowly turned his head to face hers and stole a kiss upon her perfect heart-shaped pink lips. This kiss was soft, short, and sweet. Her lips slowly lingered off his. Her eyes fluttered open, they were filled with love and compassion. She looked into his eyes and searched for an answer. She was looking for something; anything that proved to her he loved her back. She didn't want to believe it was hopeless. His hand rose and gently caressed her cheek. She lightly placed her small hand over his. Yet, he could not look her into her eyes. She sensed something was wrong.

"Speak to me," she whispered.

"Mara, baby, if only it were that easy," he said while letting out a slight chuckle.

"It can be." Her voice was stern and serious. She looked down into her lap and backed away from him. She backed into the couch still unable to receive an answer. She looked back up with desperation in her eyes. "I'm your girlfriend. You can tell me anything Brian. Anything." She flashed him a caring smile in hope he would finally break and tell her

"I slept with Alison," he choked out.

In that moment, everything froze. Those four words kept repeating in Mara's head. I slept with Alison. I slept with Alison. I slept with Alison. Her eyes widen as the words began to sink in. She could feel her heart breaking, crumbling into a million little pieces. Her stomach began to turn. Everything started falling apart. She could feel the monstrous pain that was boiling in her heart. The outside world began to blur. She started to breath heavily as she rose from the couch.

"You asshole!" Mara hollered as she slapped Brian across the face. It took everything she had not to cry right then there. Leaving the living room, she ran straight up the stairs and into her dormitory bedroom. She threw herself onto her bed and let everything out. "I hate you!" she yelled as tears fell from her eyes. "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" she furiously spoke as she violently punched her pillow. Her tears began to sting as they left her eyes. She had never felt so worthless, unloved, unwanted, and disgusting in her life.

It's because she's blonde, Mara thought to herself. It's because she's prettier than me. She's more fun to be with. She everything I'm not. Her sobs began to grow louder. Then, realizing she did not lock the door, she looked up and noticed the screech of the turning doorknob. She thought about wiping her tears but realized it was useless. Even with her vision blurred from the poisonous tears filling her eyes, she could distinguish the eyes that began to peek through her slightly open door. Those crystal blue eyes got her every time, looking right into her soul. They were breathtaking. They were his eyes. They could only belong to that one tortured soul. The misunderstood Jerome Clark.

"Go away," as the word escaped her lips she immediately regretted them. She didn't want him to go away. She needed someone now more than ever.

"Mara, I heard you screaming. The whole house knows about the break up. I just wanted to see how you were doing," Jerome said softly with a hint of sympathy and thoughtfulness in his voice. Without breaking eye contact, he walked over to Mara's bed and smiled. It was a sweet smile, not the mischievous smirk he usually has. With one look at him, she couldn't help but smile too. He sat down at the foot of her bed and said, "How about you tell me how you're feeling?"

Mara sniffled before saying, "Since when do you care? You must either seriously high or diluted."

"I just—I know how it feels," he whispered.

Her eyes shot up and starred directly into his. Jerome caring about anything or anyone that did not benefit him was a difficult thought to process. He had a reputation, and it wasn't one to be proud of. He was known for only caring about his weed and sleeping with every girl he possibly could. Girls found him difficult to resist. He was tall, muscular, and always knew exactly what to say. His shaggy blonde hair fell slightly above his gorgeous blue eyes when it wasn't spiked up like today. His defined abs peeked through his white t-shirt that fit him perfectly. His tight, black jeans hugged his legs in all the right places. He was impeccably handsome. He was also impossibly smart, scoring high grades in all his classes, whenever he bothered to show up. Nevertheless, he was bad news around campus. Many rumors traveled around about screwing the teachers for his grades or going to jail for murder, stealing, or getting caught with illegal drugs. He wasn't one to show any signs of human emotion, he was just there most of the time.

"He slept with Alison," Mara barely whispered.

Jerome was shocked, "Don't cry," he said. "Mara, he isn't worth it." Jerome's words were soothing, but not enough to make her feel better.

"I just- I feel so stupid for liking him. Ugh, I feel so worthless. Jerome, you wouldn't understand."

He walked to the foot of her bed, placed his hand on her shoulder and softly said, "You're not the worthless one."

And that was the first time Mara saw Jerome Clark as a person, and all she wanted to do was see that light in him again. Maybe, just maybe, if there was hope for him, there was hope for us all.

The illuminating Sun filled Mara's room with a bright yellow gaze as it rose above the horizon. Peaking through the window, the morning Sun caused Mara's eyes to open. Her roommate, Amber, was still sound asleep. Mara quietly rose from her bed and led herself to the bathroom. While rinsing her face with cold, refreshing water, the memories of last night began to flood her mind. After rapidly brushing her teeth and changing, Mara rushed to find Jerome. She knew exactly where he was. She knew that every Saturday morning he rose at the crack of dawn and escaped to the forgotten garden of Bayside Academy. She had spotted him do so since they first began living in Maxwell Hall.

The grass lightly tickled her toes as she ran barefoot through the garden, in hope of finding Jerome. He was by the glorious fountain, exactly where she had hoped. He lay peacefully on the grass, facing the fountain. The sun gracefully kissed his body, giving him a great golden glow. His eyes set on the bright yellow glow of the Sun, almost as if he was searching for something, some kind of answer. She had never witnessed him so solemn. It brought a smile to her face. She approached the fountain in great caution, not wanting to disturb Jerome.

"Can I help you?" came a stern voice.

Mara flinched, then looked down to see Jerome's eyes glaring dead at her. He placed his hands behind his head and raised his brow, "Well?"

"Jerome, about yesterday..." Mara trailed off.

Jerome signed and picked himself up from the grass and on to his feet. He kneeled down and picked up his soft, grey t-shirt. Unable to meet Mara's intense gaze, he let out a dramatic sigh and rolled his eyes. "Won't you mind telling me how the hell did you know I'd be here? Are you stalking me?"

"I just wanted to thank you," Mara whispered.

"There is no need. Now goodbye," Jerome rudely said as he walked past Mara.