Ahhh I'm so sorry I've taken so long to update this story! I feel so bad and I just love Pride and Prejudice, so I've missed writing it too! I know I told the readers of my other story that I've been on vacation, but I don't think I told you guys! Anyway, I'm sorry again, but my vacation is why I haven't been updating, I haven't been able to write much. I'm coming home tonight though, so hopefully I will be able to update more this week! Thank you very much to all of you who reviewed my last chapter! FNRutterHoa thank you, I'm really glad you liked it, this one definitely the Fabina romance right? cruzguadalupe, I don't want to give the story away if you don't know it, but there will be Jara eventually. Risacf110, I've definitely read the book and watched the Keira Knightly version of the movie (where I think somehow Darcy gets more attractive throughout?).I definitely agree with you, I love love love Pride and Prejudice:) Guest, I'm really sorry, but I'm not one hundred percent sure I know which reader you are, but thank you so much for reviewing this chapter, it's no big deal that you couldn't review the last one, I'm just glad you're enjoying it! Jerome definitely is supposed to be cocky, or more seem it I guess, but he'll lighten up eventually!

Disclaimer: I do not own House of Anubis or Pride and Prejudice.

The morning after the party at Mr. Rutter's, Nina, still on cloud nine, I, still angry, and our mum and other sisters, went to the Rushs' for breakfast. Immediately the topic of the conversation became last night's events. We started by talking about Netherfield, the ambiance and the guests, however, the main focus was obviously the party's hosts.

We determined that Mr. Rutter was clearly the most attracted to Nina. Mrs. Rush attempted to slip in that Mr. Rutter had also danced with KT, but her one dance was easily overshadowed by Nina's several dances with him and the comments KT and I overheard. "I think you made that up!" Nina exclaimed upon hearing what Mr. Rutter had said, trying to reject the compliment, her cheeks glowing crimson.

"No really, Nina!" I promised. "I wouldn't lie to you!"

"And what about Mr. Clarke, did you ladies find him handsome?" Mrs. Rush asked, I rolled my eyes. "Kara Tatiana says he did not seem to fancy any of the girls."

"Oh he was quite handsome! He just looked as though he was having a dreadful time and he refused to dance with anyone," Amber remarked, giggling and making us all laugh.

"Well I would still dance with him if he asked!" Joy admitted.

"Obviously!" Amber agreed.

"I might if I didn't enjoy dancing with Mr. Rutter as much as I do!" Nina added, jokingly, but her smile revealed the truth in her statement.

"Maybe..." both Patricia and KT hesitated, then chuckled at their unison response.

"Mara dear, your being awfully quiet, don't you find him attractive?" Mrs. Rush urged, KT's eyes went wide, before she bowed her head down, watching her twiddling thumbs.

Suddenly, all of my anger towards Jerome Clarke recoiled. "No one makes judgements about me without ever speaking to me, let alone my sister! I wouldn't dance with that cockroach, no matter how rich or handsome he may be, if he were the last man on earth!" I shouted, realizing I may have been a bit extreme.

The table quieted and the others shifted awkwardly. The rest of breakfast remained fairly silent.

The commotion at school on Monday was unbelievable. The Rutters and Mr. Clarke were starting and the entire student body, and teachers alike, were in an uproar with excitement.

I had forgotten a book in my locker and had to go get it, but by the time I fought my way back through the crowd, short of patience, Mr. Rutter had already taken my seat next to Nina in first period Calculus.

I was a bit disappointed, because Nina and I were the only two of our sisters who were in this class, so I would have to find a seat next to a stranger, but I couldn't deny she or Fabian their time together. I bolted to the open seat next to a nerdy looking boy, who I believed to be named Thomas, realizing it was the only empty spot besides the one next to Mr. Clarke. I was satisfied about having dodged an encounter with Jerome and Thomas seemed too engrossed in learning derivatives to notice I was there. When the bell rang, signaling the start of class, the mob outside the door, watching the new students, thinned, as they too, remembered they had class.

At lunch my sisters, KT and I sat, chatting and grazing. "He's been sitting with me all day, do you think he's tired of me? Why else wouldn't he sit with us?" Nina fretted.

I looked over my shoulder to see him sitting with Cassie and Jerome, I chuckled a bit but managed, "Nina, I don't think it's you, so much as I think he's realized his friend is not very endearing and is worried no one else will sit with him."

We all laughed at this, but I heard a fake high pitched laugh join in. I whirled around, realizing it was Cassie, approaching our table, I became slightly nervous as to why. "This table sounds like a lot of fun. Is there any room for one more?" she asked, coyly.

We all quieted, staring up at her blankly. "...umm...Cassie...it's wonderful to see you again...there's always room for you," Nina hesitantly greeted.

"Oh thank you Nina," Cassie cooed, too eagerly. "So what's new with you?"

I zoned out, not caring much for Cassie's small talk conversations. Part of my issue with her was her attitude and the way she was always looking down on our family. She clearly disliked Patricia, Amber, and Joy. She didn't seem to mind Nina, she just wished she wasn't a Rodenmaar. Cassie continually tried to include me, pegging me as more like Nina than our sisters, but neither of us could fully get past our differences with each other, making most of our conversations awkward.

Throughout the week Fabian devoted his attention to Nina and Cassie remained adamant at befriending her. On Friday afternoon Cassie invited Nina to go shopping for the party we were all going to tonight. I decided to walk home with KT. We were discussing Nina and Fabian's relationship when I told her "I think she really likes him, maybe even loves him."

"You don't think she just likes the attention?" KT wondered skeptically.

"What? No?!" I retorted. "KT she's just shy, you know that!"

"Oh well I've heard at school that he's just not sure how she feels about him," she explained.

"Who told you that?!" I screeched, frustrated that people, and maybe even Fabian, we're talking about their relationship. "You know what...never mind...it's just I know how much she cares about him, she just isn't the best at expressing her true feelings."

"Well I know that, but I think she needs to find a way to show him or he might lose interest...there's a lot of girls vying for his attention Mara," she justified, I nodded my head and tried to smile, not sure how to defend Nina and realizing she just might be right.

The party gave Nina and Fabian an excuse to spend more time together. I was hoping I wasn't the only one who was noticing the romantic tension between them, but I had warned Nina about the rumors, so I was trying to mind my own business.

I spent most of the evening talking and dancing with Patricia, Amber, Joy, and KT. The group was shuffled up several times as other friends from school joined the conversation or left, or as we were invited to dance with guys. It was just Joy, KT, and I, chatting by the snack table, when I noticed Jerome staring at me. We both quickly looked away, as if to deny we'd made eye contact. "Mara are you listening?!" Joy snapped.

"What?! Sorry!" I mumbled, slightly flustered.

"You're not usually spacey, is everything okay?" KT asked.

"Yes, I'm fine!" I reassured, swatting their worries away with my hand, but honestly, a bit distracted and concerned by the fact that Jerome Clarke was just watching me. I couldn't help but feel a little flattered.

The party that Friday led to several other parties being thrown during the following week, including one at the Rush's. My complete hatred for Mr. Clarke had begun to fade for some reason. I found his stolen glances that I'd caught a bit endearing. Although, I'd also noticed him eavesdropping on several of my conversations and I would've rather he just talked to me. The other four girls and I were once again watching Nina and Fabian's interactions, they were quite adorable and coupley when they were together, but Nina seemed especially skittish at Fabian's advances tonight and had repeatedly left him alone to come talk to us.

"Look how happy Nina looks." Mr. Rush commented, being honest but also mocking us, as he walked up to our semi-circle of a group. "And what about that Clarke boy? Mara wouldn't you love to just cut into his dance with that girl?"

I think I felt a twinge of jealousy upon realizing he was dancing with Cassie Rutter, "No not really," I protested, unconvincingly.

"Dad?" KT pleaded with him, not particularly wanting his company.

"Oh all right, I'll leave you to your girl talk," he obliged, disappointedly, walking away. Just then Nina returned for the fifth time, looking slightly flushed.

"KT I realized I forgot perfume, could I borrow some of yours?" Nina requested, before sending me a quick glance.

"Me too!" I blurted, sensing that Nina had something to tell me.

"Oh yeah! It's in my room. there's a few different kinds on the dresser," KT offered.

"Thank you," I called as Nina and I bobbed through the crowd to the stairs.

We found our way to the familiarity of KT's lilac room and Nina slammed the door behind us, beginning to panic, "Mara he's just kissed me in front of everyone!"

"Why is that...wait I missed it?!" I shrieked.

"Mara!" she snapped.

"Okay, sorry," I apologized, whining. "But why is that bad? I thought you really liked him?"

"I do!" she grimaced. "That's the problem! Mara, he's amazing, but do I really know him? We've only known each other a week."

"Well KT says sometimes its better to start dating, then get to know them, not know everything about them before you date," I tried, Nina furrowed her eyebrows at the theory. "Well maybe that's a bit ridiculous, but Nina, you do know him, you two have spent all your time together. I think you're worried about getting hurt or what other people will think, but I think you just need to worry about you and how you feel."

"Such wise thoughts on relationships coming from the girl, who refuses to let herself fall for anyone," Nina teased.

"Not true," I protested.

"Mara it's so obvious he likes you and you won't even give him a chance," she told me.

"He who?" I asked, my edgy tone let her know I already had a hunch.

She rolled her eyes, then proceeded to hug me. "Thank you," she said, letting go. "I needed to hear that...I better get back, huh? I don't want Fabian thinking I'm not interested."

I nodded in agreement, smiling. "I'll come down soon!" I promised. While I was already here, I decided to take a few minutes to freshen up and also decided to also use a bit of the perfume KT had offered Nina and I.

I heard voices approaching when I went into the hall and assumed it was an overly frisky feeling couple, looking for their own quiet space. I was proven wrong and ducked back into KT's room, upon realizing it was Cassie Rutter and Jerome Clarke. I decided it couldn't hurt to listen a little.

"Cassie!" he hissed, I couldn't help but think are you so desperate and unwilling to talk to other people that you would go after your best friend's sister?

"What Jerome?" she fussed, seemingly bored.

"Why won't you talk to me about her?" he asked with frustration. "I agreed to dance with you because you agreed to tell me more about her, remember?"

"Jerome, I've got to go to the bathroom," she told him.

"Cassie no, I know you don't!" he retorted.

"Why do you care about her anyway? Don't you want a rich, classy woman who will be just how you want her to?" Cassie wondered, annoyed.

"No Cassie, I don't want that...and I care because...because I was wrong, Cassie, because I was wrong to say that Mara Rodenmaar did not capture my attention," he muttered. The butterflies in my stomach took flight at the sound of my name, I remained frozen with my ear to the door, in that moment of bliss and fear, wondering if both of our feelings had changed.

So does Mara have feelings for Jerome too? Will Nina and Fabian end up becoming the it couple, or will Nina's fears cause him to lose interest? I hope you guys liked this chapter! Again, I'm so sorry for the long wait! Please feel free to let me know what you think, good or bad!