At dinner, Juliana sat down in Alfie's seat.
Alfie was about to say something when Jerome came around and clamped a hand on his friend's mouth. "Grab another chair." Jerome whispered into his ear.
Then Jerome silently slipped into the chair next to Juliana.
Trudy brought out dinner and when she revealed what it was, everyone closed their eyes in anticipation. Mmmm. They could smell the steam.
Alfie tried to talk with Jerome, but Jerome paid no attention to his friend, worshiping every word that came out of Juliana's mouth.
Then Alfie got angry.
He took a handful of the pasta and flung it at Jerome.
Jerome jerked away. And Juliana stood up as she realized there was sauce in her hair and on her clothes.
"Alfie!" She cried out.
"Every time." Fabian muttered.
"Oh please, for once could we not have a food fight?" Mara asked.
"Alfie!" Jerome glared at him and watched as Juliana ran out of the room heading for the bathroom.
"Sorry. It slipped." Alfie smiled evilly, causing Jerome to throw some pasta back.
Juliana, clean- opened the door and shut it again, in time for a bowl of noodles to hit the door.
The next day, Juliana left early and she went walking around the grounds.
She caught up to Mick, who was on his early morning run.
"Mick! Mick! Wait!" She ran to catch up.
"Hey Jules, what's up?"
"What do you think of Jerome?" she narrowed her eyes.
"He's a practical jokester. I don't know when to take him seriously."
He saw his cousin's expression. "Look Jules, you don't need my approval. I'm just not sure you two are good for eachother. You two are polar…"
"Opposites." Juliana finished sadly. "I know…like you and Amber. Or you and Mara."
"What? I don't know what you're talking about." Mick immediately went into denial.
"Mick. I've been back for less than 24 hours and I see how Mara looks at you. I see how you try to deny your feelings- I see how Amber is jealous…C'mon. Let's face it. Our family is full of attracting polar opposites. Just think about that. Opposites attract."
And she jogged off, heading now for the school, looking at her watch.
"Yeah…thanks Jules." Mick slowed and smiled.
At school, Juliana was at her locker when she saw Jerome come towards her.
"Hey Jerome." She smiled pleasantly.
"Hey Jillian. Look are you-" He stopped.
"Yes?" She smiled, waiting expectantly.
"Oh never mind." And he saw a younger student. "Hey you! You got the cash?"
Juliana's smile fell. He must not like her after all.
She sighed and closed her locker and saw Fabian and Nina together.
Fabian totally liked her. She sighed. Great. The new girl from across the pond was already attracting one of the smartest, kindest, best guys at school and the returning girl had been deserted by the guy she thought really cared, and not the way everyone else did.