A/N: In this story there is no Victor because I suck at writing adventures. This a Mara/Jerome story based on Jesse McCartney's song Just So You Know. There's a brother/sister relationship between Nina and Jerome. If there is any questions go ahead and ask. I am also all-American, so my British terminology sucks. I do not own House of Anubis or any of the characters.

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Jerome Clark was no stranger to disappointment. All his life he felt as though nothing and no one could make his life worth anything. Of course he would be born to two stuck-up workaholics. Of course he was nothing but an inconvenience. Pretty much as soon as he could walk and talk he was sent to boarding school. And a nanny took him there, with no goodbyes from his parents. They were in Milan. His parents became nothing but the monthly check and a scribbled hello probably written by his parents personal assistants. So he acted out and shut people out.

Then he met Mara Jaffry. Well, he'd known her for years, but he'd never paid much attention to the quiet, mousy girl that sat in the front of the class, even when they lived in the same house. His crowd was the trouble makers, the pranksters, the student who barely passed each term. It wasn't that he was dumb, he just did it because he could. Because no one cared. But the plan to bring his grade up at the last minute backfired.

"Mr. Clark." said Mr. Wesley, "And Ms. Jaffry. I would like to see you both after class."

Jerome glance over at Mara who was unnaturally sitting in the back. She looked as though she might pass out. Mr. Wesley noticed.

"You are not in trouble Ms. Jaffry." he assured her.

Mara didn't look convinced. But as soon as the bell rang she hurried to his desk. Jerome took his sweet time gathering his belongings.

"Sometime today Mr. Clark." Mr. Wesley said in bored tone.

Jerome sauntered to the desk. Mr. Wesley irritably cleared his throat. Most thought he would be better in another line of work.

"Mr. Clark." Mr. Wesley said, pulling a file out of his desk, "At this time, you are currently failing math."

Jerome just blinked at him, thinking that of course he would get the one teacher who gave a care about his grades. Jerome blinked again to find Mr. Wesley informing Mara that he would like her to tutor him in math. She had the best grade in the class and she lived in the same house. Mara was eager to help.

"Jerome? Jerome?"

Jerome realized the petite girl was speaking to him.

"What?"

"When should we meet? I can work anytime. We'll get you in shape for the final test. I-"

"Geez Mara!" Jerome interrupted, "I didn't know you talked so much."

Mara's expression fell. Jerome felt a little bad. But not that bad. Jerome walked out into the hall, that Mara was following. He swiveled around so fast, Mara almost collided with him.

"Listen Mara," he said in his trickery voice, "I don't need a tutor. My mathematics are just fine."

He stalked away leaving a very confused Mara standing in the middle of the hallway.

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"Jerome! I must tutor you!"

Now Jerome was getting a splitting headache. Mara had bombarded him after every class. It was getting to be unbearable.

"If I go to one tutoring session, will you please stop nagging me." he groaned.

Mara gave an excited smile.

"We'll work an hour before dinner."

With that she took off down the hall.

"Bloody hell."

"Hey mate!"

Jerome stiffened before he realized it was his best friend.

"What's the matter with you?" Alfie Lewis asked, throwing an arm around Jerome's shoulders.

Jerome summed up his day.

"Are you going to tell Mara that you fail your classes on purpose?" Alfie asked, a little distracted by the blond bombshell walking down the hall.

"You have absolutely no chance." Jerome snickered, "You know Amber Millington is 'Mick Campbell's girl'"

Alfie gave Jerome a dirty look. Then he scrambled after Amber.

Jerome sighed. He didn't know how else to tell Alfie that he wasn't Amber's boyfriend and that she didn't find alien trivia fascinating. He headed towards the Anubis House. He decided that he would tell Mara right off that his grades were just a game to him. Again, he took his sweet time.

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He nearly had a heart attack when he opened the door to the Anubis House. Mara was standing directly behind the door, hands on her hips.

"You're late."

Mara turned on her heels and led the way to the dining room. Jerome was a little surprised. He had never seen Mara so forceful. He found himself following her obediently.

( A/N: I am skipping over the math stuff. I barely passed my high school math classes. And it's just evil.)

45 minutes later, he had actually learned something. Mara was an amazing teacher, he had to give her that. She was easy to talk to once she warmed up to him.

"Hey everyone."

Jerome saw Mara freeze when Mick Campbell walked into the dining room.

"What's for dinner Trudy?" he asked, forever hungry.

Trudy and Jerome rolled their eyes. But Mara just stared. But she quickly stopped when Amber entered the room.

Hmm… Jerome thought.

Once Patricia Williams, Nina Martin, Fabian Rutter and Alfie joined them, they chowed down on Trudy's famous Fettuccini. Jerome looked up to see Nina looking at him. Most of the house didn't know it, but Jerome and Nina had become like brother and sister. She was the only one he ever confided in. He knew she would ask him what was wrong after dinner. But Jerome didn't quite know if anything was actually wrong. But he felt different tonight. And he had no idea why.