If JARA has to end, I want it to end like this…
Enjoy!
Nobody wanted their relationship to end, well, there were too. But one of them was on the other side of the world, wrestling with alligators, and the other one would never have the heart to purposely break them up.
"Knock knock," Jerome trilled from outside the door, Mara didn't reply, burying her head in her knees, tears pouring down her face. He waited a few seconds for a response, and when he didn't get one, he strolled in, holding a box of bounty's. "Here," he whispered, he climbed onto the bed, and sat crossed legged opposite her. Mara looked up at him and gave a small smile, taking a chocolate
"You remembered,"
"Of course I did," the handsome blond laughed "I think you're the only person in the entire world who actually likes bounty chocolates,"
Mara wiped her tears, chewing "Look Jerome, thank you for being here, but there's nothing you can do…Mr Sweet's made his decision, I'm leaving next week-"
"Mara stop it," he cut her off "Look, I am doing everything I can, I've got Alfie, and Eddie on this, I will not let you leave," Mara looked up at him sadly, and then back down at her hands "Mara…Joy left, Mick left, Nina left, Amber left…you can't leave too, soon there'll be no one here to make me laugh,"
"I was so wrong," Mara shook her head, her black hair unusually scruffy "I can't believe I accused Vera of all those things…I am such a horrible person,"
"No you're not," he shook his head "You are one of the sweetest, kindest, most insightful people I know, and you're right….there is something off about Vera…and maybe you didn't go about proving it in the right way," he grinned at her teasingly and she rolled her eyes "But you're right, it was the truth."
"Jerome-"
"Stop it," he looked her in the eyes, and his heart ached "You are amazing, Mara Jaffray," and he leaned forward eagerly, Mara leaned in to, and their noses were touching, their breath fanning onto each other's faces. Jerome placed a hand softly on Mara's next, and their eye lids began to close when-
Mara pulled away.
Jerome groaned, leaning forward so that he was resting on one knee, their foreheads still touching, his hand still on her neck. But Mara was looking down, "Why can't we kiss?" he whispered desperately. Mara made a slightly sniffing sound
"Because….because of Willow,"
"Willow and I broke up-"
"But still!" Mara raised on hand and placed it over the one on her neck, pushing Jerome away from her slightly "Kissing my friend's ex-boyfriend? Weren't you just saying how nice and sweet I was?"
"Since when are you and Willow friends?" Jerome cried exasperatedly "She's weird! And wacky, and tacky, and odd! And she ruined your business studies project! She's the reason Mr Sweet was so angry just before he expelled you, it's all her fault-"
"We're friends." Mara pressed "I like her, and she likes me, and I can just bet, that if I kiss you now, I'll have lost a friend,"
"So…a friendship with Willow is more important than a relationship with me?" Jerome asked, shuffling to the edge of the bed, and swinging his leg over. Mara paused, thinking her answer over in her head
"You know the answer to that, Jerome." She sighed "Friendships are forever, relationships…they crack and they crumble-"
"We wouldn't."
"We did." Mara reminded "Jerome, don't you remember? We came to school this year a happy couple, we were in love. You adored me and I admired you, we fit so well, we were…" she crossed her fingers together "We could practically finish each others sentences…but we cracked and we crumbled, and it all fell apart, and there was nothing we could do to stop it-"
"We didn't fall apart until I fell for Willow!" Jerome cried angrily, standing up. Mara's eyes watered, and she let him pace around the room in frustration "I didn't mean too! Mara! God! If I could go back in time and never speak to her I would! She is nothing to me! Nothing!"
"Shhh," Mara calmed him, not standing up, but sitting where he had been on the edge of the bed "Jerome…it's okay, you loved Willow. Maybe you still do-"
"I don't!"
"Jerome!" Mara stopped him, it was her turn to speak "Listen, maybe it's all for the better. We were…too close. And…I don't know…we drifted."
"I love you!" Jerome cried, kneeling in front of her "What on earth do I have to do to get you to believe me?"
"I do believe you," Mara smiled "But I'm leaving, it would be rather inpractical for us to start dating, not to mention the fact that you are clearly not over Willow-"
"I'm not over you!"
"Stop," Mara whispered again, placing her hands on either side of his face "Calm down, this is not the end of the world, this is just the beginning of another story,"
Line Break
Mara smiled, tears of joy and sadness on her cheeks "So this is it then," she sighed, the taxi was just down the road, and they were all at the bottom of the steps
"I'm gonna miss you Mara," KT gushed, hugging her small friend tightly "You'll always be a part of our club," she said, holding out her hand to see the three small hearts, Mara smiled.
"I'll redraw it on my hand every day," she promised. She hugged a still shocked Patricia, was lifted and spun around in the air by Eddie, kissed on the cheek by Fabian, and almost squashed by Alfie. She laughed slightly as he gave her his beloved doctor who sonic screw driver "Thanks Alfie," she whispered. He took out another one from his pocket, and whispered to her so that no one else would hear.
"They're connected, when one of us pushes this little button," he pointed to the small blue opening on the side of each screw driver "the other one will light, so we know when we're thinking of each other,"
"Aww Alfie," Mara said, touched "That's so sweet," she looked around, wrapping her coat tighter around her, "So…no Jerome then?" Everyone looked down at the ground sadly
"Sorry, Mara," Fabian whispered "He's in his room,"
"Right," Mara took a deep breath, brushing the hair out of her face, and they had one more massive group hug. She stepped back, and took a moment to look at all of them, memorising their faces, although she had more than enough photo's. She gave a small wave, and turned, walking away from her home. She could feel their eyes on her, and she could here Patricia and KT's angry muttering that it wasn't her fault and that Mr Sweet was being unfair, she stopped right before she turned the corner, and bless their hearts, they were still watching her, waving, she knew this would be the last time they saw her, and the last time she saw them, she gave them a hearty wave, and blew them kisses, before taking a step in the other direction. And they disappeared from view.
"Mara!" came a voice, she jumped, seeing Willow racing towards her "Oh thank you! I'm not too late!" she hugged Mara tightly "Mara, I cannot believe they're sending you away! I'm gonna miss you so much!"
Mara laughed half heartedly, hugging Willow "I'm gonna miss you, wonderful Willow," Willow smiled sadly, and hugged her again, pulling her suitcase past the bubbly ginger girl.
Line Break
"Mara!" Jerome screamed, tearing down the road, eyes watering "Mara!" he saw the taxi drive away, and he struggling to run after it. But it was drove out of sight, and he collapsed onto the ground, ruining his trousers, and he cried. "Jaffray," he whispered brokenly. Willow watched him, and murmured, just loud enough for him to hear
"You just missed her,"
Jerome turned sharply, to see his ex-girlfriend standing there "Yeah, thanks." He spat. Willow pulled the keys out of her coat and held them in her hand for a minute. She loved Jerome, she loved him for who he was, unlike Mara, who loved him for what he could be. She loved what she saw, Mara loved what she saw, after she'd changed him. But she couldn't stand seeing him broken.
"Here," she called, throwing the keys at him. Jerome caught them, frowning at her. She pointed at the bright pink motorbike. And his eyes widened. "Go," He ran over to her, and his touch sent tingles right through her "Go before it's too late," she urged, holding back the tears. Jerome nodded, riding away.
Line Break
"Um…" Mara frowned, looking at the wind mirror "What's that?"
The taxi driver frowned, and laughed "It's a boy on a pink motorbike! Look, he's waving at us!" he gave a friendly wave back, when Mara realised who it was.
"Stop! Stop! I know him!" the taxi driver stopped the car, and she leapt out, rushing towards Jerome who clambered clumsily off the bike, and engulfing her into a hug. "Jerome," she murmured into his neck "Oh god, Jerome,"
"I'm gonna miss you so much, Jaffray," he whispered. Mara looked up at him, and for one moment forgot about everyone else, she placed her hands on the side of his head and pressed her lips to his in a searing kiss.
And that was how their story ended.
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