I'm sick… . However, that means more time to write fanfics! I'm posting a new Edricia next, and am currently writing the last chapter of this story! :D Thank you all for enjoying my stories! Reviewwwww! And thank you so much for the ones who already do!

My hands shook as I held the invisible string, twisting it around nervously.

"Jerome… I don't know if I can…" I whispered quietly, heart pounding.

We were hid away around the corner of the bend in the hallway, I holding the string that would trigger my first ever prank, Jerome supervising, providing thoughtful comments every once and a while.

"Of course you can!" he reassured me. "It's easy. Just remember, when he-"

"I know what to do…" I interrupted, voice high with anxiety. "It's just… I'm not… it's so…."

I looked up at my devious friend, and found mock disappointment in his smiling eyes.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Mara… I really thought you had it in you…"

I frowned and set my jaw, sticking my head around the corner once again to check for our victim.

"I do," I protested weakly, not sounding convincing in the least.

Jerome raised an eyebrow at me skeptically.

"I do!" I repeated with an annoyed laugh, giving his arm a playful punch. We both sat in silence, backs against the wall, waiting for Victor to make himself known. In the meantime, it was nice to just be there with my friend. However, something kept nagging at the back of my mind, something that had been there for two days. In the calm silence, I decided to finally attempt to bring up the topic again.

"Jerome…" He turned to look at me, arms slung over his bent knees, leaning back against the wall. He looked so… innocent? No… Jerome, innocent?

I hugged my knees to my chest and said, looking straight on, "We never really talked about the… letters…"

I heard him exhale beside me, but he didn't protest as I had expected him to.

"Yeah?" he finally replied, sounding slightly pained. "What about them?"

"I'm… I…" Typical of me. I had finally gotten him to talk to me about the fight, and now I couldn't find any words.

I glanced over at him apologetically, but his eyes were cast down, observing the floor. He opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again, looking up and meeting my gaze.

"I'm… sorry… for freaking out on you, Jaffray. I guess I was just… jealous? I don't know…" Jerome didn't sound like himself all of a sudden. Once again, just like the night when he had confronted me, I could see right through his usual charade to the raw emotion underneath everything else. Suddenly, Jerome Clarke was a real person with feelings and a heart. There was no punch line to what he just said, and would never be. He wasn't joking for once, and it was… nice.

I automatically reached over to take his hand, but I'd barely brushed it when he pulled away gently.

"Mick wouldn't like that," he said simply, no contempt or hostility in his voice, just truth.

I nodded, head drooping slightly, heart low.

"Right."

"Well, anyway… I'm sorry." He concluded, giving me a sad smile.

"I forgive you." I responding, fighting the urge to reach out to him again.

"Jerome?" I added suddenly.

He looked up, bright eyes inquisitive.

"I'm glad we're talking. And sitting…. and I'm glad we're friends."

He smiled back after I spoke, causing me to smile as well.

"Me too." He said quietly, grinning at the ground before him, then almost… shyly?… back up to me. He had placed his hand back down on the ground, and this time, blushing, I reached out quickly and grabbed it before he could pull away. He gave a little tug of resistance, then let my hand grasp his comfortably. We sat in silence once again, my heart soaring in my chest. Then suddenly…

"Footsteps!" Jerome whispered, letting go of my hand as I pulled away excitedly.

My heart leapt into my throat as Victor slowly ascended the stairs, humming. My eyes travelled along the little, strong string I grasped all the way to the crack at the top of the door, into which it disappeared. Of course, I already knew what it was attached to at the other end; the handle of a rusty bucket full of "carrot mush", as Jerome called it, left over from Donkey Day.

"Get ready," Jerome breathed behind me. I tightened my grip.

"Are you sure it won't hurt him?" I asked nervously.

"Yes, yes!" Jerome confirmed distractedly.

We both watched as Victor unlocked his door with a jingle of keys, then opened the door and stepped inside.

"Now!" Jerome commanded quietly.

I yanked the string, and for an awful moment, nothing happened. But then, as the movement travelled along the wire, the bucket suddenly tumbled down from the ridge above the door and landed on Victor's head with a squishing noise. He yowled as Jerome and I broke into laughter. I did it! I actually pranked someone! Me!

"What in the devil…?" Victor roared, scrabbling at the bucket that muted his voice and the orange goo oozing down all over his body and the floor.

"C'mon!" Jerome hissed, still laughing, and pulled me from the floor.

We sprinted down the stairs, two at a time, then ran out the front door and across the yard, finally coming to a stop behind the brick wall. Jerome, of course, jumped it like the long- legged criminal he was, and I struggled up and over, nearly landing on him on the other side. We stood laughing and gasping for air, catching our breaths.

"Nice one, Jaffray. I never doubted you." He high- fived me, smirking.

I raised an eyebrow, smiling.

"Well, maybe a little in the beginning…"

"I knew it." I laughed, leaning into him affectionately.

Caught up in the success of the moment, I turned and wrapped my arms around Jerome's skinny form, and he hugged back. My laughter died down as I lay my head on his shoulder, feeling him holding me. I closed my eyes, and we remained quiet, enjoying each other's company and friendship.

"I love you," I said absent- mindedly and with a friendly intent. However, as soon as it had left my mouth, my stomach churned and I looked up nervously.

Jerome looked slightly stunned, but managed to smile slightly.

"I thought you might." He replied, a playful smirk on his lips.

Suddenly something struck me. I had to write to Mick. I had finally made a decision.

What's gonna happen? :D Of course, I know, but I won't tell you! R E V I E W and you might find out… ;)