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Jerome's mind was reeling. He walked through the busy corridors, but wasn't concentrating, people moved to accommodate him, he was after all, Jerome Clarke. But something was on his mind, Mara…that little brainiac who kept her head down, her nose stuck in a book…he couldn't quite figure her out. Maybe there was more to her. And almost as if the world decided to make his life slightly easier, he heard her voice. He stopped immediately, pressing his back against the wall of the classroom door, listening in.

"N-No, Mr Sweet." Mara smiled "I…I-I know for a fact that Jerome and Alfie were at home, they couldn't have rigged the fountains,"

"Are you absolutely sure, Mara?" Mr Sweet frowned "Because I have no idea who it could possibly be-"

"I used one last week, and they have been acting out," she suggested weakly, "Perhaps it was just a bad coincidence that they all….went off …at…the same time…" Jerome smiled from outside the door, she was an absolutely terrible liar, but it was the thought that counted, and the teachers would never doubt Mara Jaffray.

"She's right," Mrs Andrews nodded, pursing her lips "There's also been a problem with the plumbing upstairs," Mara nodded as if she knew what she were talking about.

"Very well then," Mr Sweet sighed, straightening his bow tie "Thank you Mara, wouldn't want to wrongly accuse someone," the three of them laughed. Mara watched nervously as the two teachers walked out. She whirled around in the empty classroom, taking deep breaths as she tried to calm herself down.

"Nicely done, Jaffray," he called. She spun around, her skirt twirling and hair flying, she placed a hand over her heart.

"Oh Jerome! Thank goodness, I need to talk to you- I don't think I can do this, I mean, if it's gonna be this stressful every ti-"

"Relax Mara," he grinned, "It gets easier." He had to laugh at the look of shock on her face.

"I don't want it to get easier!" she shrieked. He chuckled, stuffing his hands into his trouser pockets.

"A deal is a deal Mara,"

"Right," she sighed "I promised…" she looked up at him, and her eyes widened in realisation "But! You! Are Jerome Clarke! And you accept trades!" she poked him in the chest triumphantly. Jerome grinned, this was a different side to her, a bolder side, a happier side, he liked it.

"Indeed I do," he said, waiting for more

"So how about, instead of lying to teachers, because facing facts, I suck at it," they both laughed lightly "How about…I…do your dishes-"

"Trixie's doing that one," he nodded "Lost a bet, the poor thing,"

"Um…I don't know, what do you need?"

"Hmmm…" Jerome pondered it for a moment "Well….there's this concert I want to see on Thursday, I could use some help distracting Victor." He offered. He watched her think it over.

"I can do that," she shook his hand, picking up her bag. Jerome's hand tingled slightly "Want to go to lunch?"

He wanted to say yes more than he could ever remember wanting to say yes in his entire life. But just as he opened his mouth to do so, he remembered "I…can't. I have to meet Alfie,"

Mara smiled kindly "That's fine. See you in History,"

Line Break

Jerome sat on his bed, back against the headboard, his knees up, with his journal resting on it. As he wrote She's appeared out of nowhere. I've known her for years and only now am I realising that there's so much more to her than I realised. I would write her name, but if someone ever does get their hands on this…I would be done for. She's bright, and funny, and surprisingly bold. With a sense of humour. JC

He closed the journal, no one knew he wrote one, not even Alfie. He locked it with a key, then typed in the four letter number code, and then the voice activated password, and then another padlock. He placed it into the bottom drawer, locking that to, wearing the key on a piece of string around his neck. There was a knock on his door

"Come in," he called, swinging over to sit on the end of his bed. The door opened and she immediately had his attention "Hello Jaffray," he grinned

"Hi," she smiled, closing the door behind her "I was wondering if you'd like to tell me the plan for you to go sneaking out? Or are you busy?" Jerome looked around the room…and realised he was alone. He was all alone, he didn't know where Alfie was, in fact, he hadn't even asked.

"I've got time," he pushed it to the back of his mind, moving over and patting the space beside her, pulling out his prank/escape book. "You're gonna be so amazed by this,"

Mara met his eyes and smiled "I bet,"

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