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"Jerome? Are you listening?" the teacher asked, everyone turned to face Jerome, who was sat at the back next to Alfie, who was half asleep.
"Yes." Jerome lied, nodding. The teacher crossed her arms
"Oh? So, what did I just say?"
"Uh…" Jerome tried to sneak a look at the board, but she was blocking it. He turned to see if anyone would help him. The new kid, Eddie, just smirked at him. Jerome resisted the urge to snap a comeback. Alfie just shrugged, and Fabian was rolling his eyes. He was about to give up, when he caught Mara's brown eyes.
No, there was no way she would willingly tell him the answer…was there?
"Are school uniforms fair," she mouthed silently.
"You said, are school uniforms fair," he said quickly, smiling at the teachers shocked expression.
"Yes, I-I did. Alright then," she gave him a curious look, before turning back to the board. Jerome turned back to look at Mara, who was now scribbling away furiously.
"Well," he mumbled to himself "That's a new one,"
Line Break
He didn't have to follow her, to know she was going to the library, that was all she did nowadays. He remembered her last term, sure she spent a lot in the library, but she went outside as well. She spoke to people, she smiled a lot more.
Jerome blinked once. How exactly did he know she smiled a lot? He shook his head and sat across from her.
Mara looked up, but she didn't smile
"Hi…" she looked at him curiously, brown eyes wide
"Wanna go for a walk?"
"No thanks, I'm reading." Jerome slid the book out from her hand, and read the title
"Spreading your wings?" he grinned at her
"Ha ha," she faked, standing up "I'm gonna go now," she held her hand out for the book. Jerome stayed seated, book in hand "Jerome-"
"How much do you miss him?" he asked quickly. Mara's eyes widened, and her lips parted
"I…"
"You can tell me," he shrugged "I won't judge."
"You won't judge?" she asked incredulously, staring down at him, he half grinned. It was surprised how much she knew him, he was a judgemental person. But he never really acted upon that judgement.
"Sit down, Jaffray,"
Whether it was because he had never asked her to do anything with him, or it was the first time someone called her by her last name. Or the way his eyes seemed to sparkle in the dim library lighting, but she sat down.
"I miss him," she admitted, he leaned his chin on his hand
"How much?"
"A lot."
"Why?"
"Because…he didn't deserve to die, Jerome. He never did anything wrong, he was a good person. He had dreams and aspirations,"
"You sound angry," Jerome noted
"I…"
Mara's phone ran loudly, and she answered it quickly, "Hello?" she said. Jerome listened intently, and was pretty sure it was Joy's voice he was hearing "Again?" she sighed, nodding "Sure, I'll be right there," and with that she clicked the phone shut, took the book back and stood, ready to leave
"Going to help, Joy?"
"It's another thing with Fabian," she shrugged
"Why didn't she ask Patricia? Isn't Patricia her best friend?" he stood too now, watching her, light eye brows raised slightly
"I guess, but Patricia's not very sensitive with things like this," and she walked away. Jerome watched her, and he was…disappointed.
Maybe it was because she said no to the walk. Maybe it was because she had just ditched him for Joy, or maybe it was because he hadn't made her feel better at all.
"Hey man!" Alfie called, running up to him, Jerome raised an eye brow
"What are you doing here?"
"Sweetie just found the yogurt we hid." Alfie whispered, looking around for somewhere to hide
"Ut oh." Jerome called, ducking suddenly "Come on,"
And they both crawled away.
Line Break
"Who else thinks Patricia talks away too much?" Eddie called along the table while they ate their dinner. Everyone just laughed
"I do not!" Patricia huffed
"Yeah, it's not so much talking, as insulting," Alfie corrected. Amber whacked his arm slightly.
People got into their own conversations, Mara was sat at the head of the table, Jerome and Eddie on either side of her. Eddie was too busy talking to Patricia, so Jerome took this chance to see if his charm worked on Nerds as well as cheerleaders.
Why he wanted to impress Mara? He didn't know. But he summed it up to seeing if he was as good as everyone said
"Mara?" he asked in a low voice, Mara popped some pasta into her mouth and looked at him "Want to go for a walk?"
She swallowed and smiled "I think I already said no,"
"Why?" he pressed, placing a cool hand on her bare knee. Mara coughed in shock, quickly taking a sip of cold water, Jerome suppressed the urge to smile
"Um..i-I'm studying," she mumbled,
"Studying? Seems like you're always studying, can't take a break?"
"I could take a break if I wanted to." She smiled, and Jerome took notice of her smile, it was…warm.
"Then take one after dinner?"
"…Fine," she sighed
"Mara!" Amber exclaimed "You're smiling!"
Everyone turned to look at Mara, and her cheeks burned "Yes?"
"It's nice," Fabian helped "You haven't smiled in a while," Everyone gave a murmur of agreement
"Thanks," Mara blushed, Jerome watched her.
She was fascinating.
Line Break
It was dark out, but the school lights showed the stone path clearly, they walked side by side.
"When was the last time you went for a walk Jerome?" she asked, trying to strike up conversation. He laughed loudly
"Why?"
"I don't know," she shrugged, "Just asking,"
"You don't need to fill the silence, Mara," he looked down at her. And suddenly she thought that this was too real. This was so…
"I need to get back,"
"But we only just sta-" he began, a puzzled expression across his face. But she didn't give him time to finish, because she was speed walking away.
Jerome watched after her, genuinely confused. Was he not good enough for her? Was he not good enough for the Mara Jaffray? And the feeling of rejection coursed through him. She was a nerd with no friends for goodness sake! How could she not want him? He was irresistible. Or was he? He stood there stumped for a few moments.
A strange sort of anger coursed through him. He was just as good as Mick. He repeated in his mind, he was better than Mick. If Mick could get Mara, then he sure as hell could.
He didn't know at the time. In fact he wouldn't know for a long while, that the strange sort of anger he was feeling. Was jealousy.
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