Hey! Love your reviews!

Enjoy!

"Mara?" the teacher asked. The classroom was silent, everyone was meant to be writing their English projects in rough, it counted for 50% of your grade, which is why even Alfie and Jerome were working. But of course, Jerome glanced up when the teacher asked her name.

"….Y-yes Miss?" Mara asked, turning her attention to the teacher. She had been staring out of the window at the rain, thinking.

"Are you alright? You look a little…ill,"

Mara nodded, anything to get out of the classroom that was suddenly far too hot. "I feel a little l-light headed, actually. C-can I go and get some water?"

"Sure," the teacher whispered, sitting back down at her desk, watching her star pupil stand up and walk out.

Jerome camouflaged immediately

"Going to follow her?" Alfie whispered to no one, not looking at him to give him away.

"If the teacher asks, cover for me," and Jerome stood undetected and walked through the luckily open door. Out into the corridor he became visible, and saw Mara go into the girls bathroom. He became invisible once more, and followed her in there. Because even though he didn't care what people thought of him, it didn't look to good for too many girls to see him walking into their bathroom once a day.

He stood flat against the wall, while she looked at herself in the mirror. Two days. It had been two days since Jerome had told her the thing about his parents. And it had disturbed her. Suddenly it all clicked into place, why he didn't trust people, why he was so mean and so cold. And she couldn't sleep.

But her feeling ill was something else entirely. She placed her hand to her forehead, trying to heal it beneath. But it was a fruitless attempt, and she didn't know why she'd tried. There were dark circles under her eyes, and she seemed to be hearing the steady beat of drums, echoing through her head. Stopping her from thinking straight.

Boom, bang, bang, bang, boom, boom, bang, bang….

She hit the side of her head rather sharply and Jerome jumped from the sound. What the hell was racing through this girls mind?

He froze when someone else came through the door, but then remembered that they couldn't see him. He watched the new girl, only to see it was Poppy. He wanted to yell at her to leave, but he couldn't.

"Hey, Mara right?" asked Poppy smiling.

Mara turned, forcing a smile onto her own face "Right. You're….Poppy Hesington?"

"Yeah," Poppy laughed slightly, starting to wash the green paint off her hands, watching her reflection. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Mara shrugged "Just a little tired,"

"Oh," Poppy turned to her, throwing the tissue in the bin "Let me feel your forehead, my friends mom is a doctor,"

Mara didn't think it a very liable reason, but she didn't object, for Poppy's hands were cold, like ice.

Poppy frowned, letting the thoughts flow

12 years, what kind of family would do that? He's been at boarding school for 12 years? How am I meant to talk to him now? What would I say? And as Poppy listened, another voice struck up. And she recognised it, everyone had a rebellious side, and Mara's had a deeper voice

Now you have dirt on him, he doesn't have to keep blackmailing you. You could call it quits, say that if he tells everyone on you, you tell everyone on him. And then some. His secrets much bigger than yours, more people will care about his problems then yours.

Mara leaned back, frowning at the girl "Are you alright Poppy?" she asked, raising her eye brows.

"Yeah," Poppy nodded, wondering who on earth Mara was on about. It was oddly ironic, how the person was right in front of her, or right behind her in their case.

"I have to get back," she whispered. Poppy nodded

"Would you like some water?" she held out her water bottle. Mara nodded, smiling gratefully

"Thanks," she took a mouthful, breathing out slowly. Jerome frowned, is that what girls did? They shared water? Disgusting.

"No problem," and she watched Mara walked out, the bathroom door closed, leaving her in silence. Poppy then turned back to her reflection. Fixing the stray bits of hair. She didn't even flinch when Jerome suddenly appeared in the reflection. She wasn't shocked. She was…prepared. "Snoop." She hissed at him.

"What did you hear?" he asked, walking up behind her. Neither of them turning to look at each other, eyes focused on the reflection instead. It somehow made everything more bearable.

"None of your business,"

"Poppy," Jerome warned, placing his hand firmly on her shoulder. It should have been a brotherly gesture. But it wasn't. "Tell me."

"You wouldn't dare-" but it was too late. Jerome spun her around and looked into her eyes.

"You will tell me everything you heard in Mara's mind, word for word, now." His cool ice blue eyes fixed on his little sister, forcefully.

"12 years, what kind of family would do that? He's been at boarding school for 12 years? How am I meant to talk to him now? What would I say? Now you have dirt on him, he doesn't have to keep blackmailing you. You could call it quits, say that if he tells everyone on you, you tell everyone on him. And then some. His secrets much bigger than yours, more people will care about his problems rather than yours." She repeated. Jerome stepped back, turning it off. Yeah, it didn't matter he could only hypnotise for a minute, a minute was all he needed.

Poppy glared up at him "You wouldn't." she repeated, she had no idea he just had.

"Of course not," he placed a hand over his heart "I already did," he sang, disappearing. Poppy fumed, she hated him. She hated him with a passion. "Later Poopster." Okay, maybe not hate.

Line Break

"Hey, Jerome," came a gentle voice. Jerome looked up, startled, he was sitting in front of a chess board, staring at the pieces, deep in thought. She sat opposite him, and picked up the king in her hand "Do you play?"

"I do," he nodded.

"Wanna play?" she asked, as if she was trying to coax a cat out of his hiding place. Or a dangerous bird into her hands. Prove there was nothing to be afraid of. Jerome's eyes flitted up to hers for a moment. But he shook his head.

"No, Mara." He said shortly, standing up, swinging his blazer over his shoulder, and walking away. Mara nodded, looking down. She supposed that just because she wanted to find out more about him, didn't mean she would. Who was she to him? He was only using her to know more about other people. It was only by accident that she had even set her mind on him. And she would solve the puzzle that was his brain, whether it was the last thing she did.

"Hey Mars," came a grinning voice. Mara turned smiling, then her smile tightened, at the sight of Mick with his arm around Joy's waist, pulling her close to his side. Joy was waving at her.

"Hey Mick!...and hey Joy!" she forced the cheerfulness into her voice. And even though it wasn't hard, she struggled.

Line Break

"Are you okay, Mara?" Joy asked again. Mara sighed, nodding. She was frustrated, how long had she liked Mick? She had liked Mick for three years. Three years she had carried a torch for him, set her gaze on him. And every time an opportunity had come around, she missed it. She missed it every time. But this time she thought it would be different, and that she could do it. Because they had formed a friendship after she healed his broken leg. But no, Joy, Joy, the lucky Joy who stayed in their room that night, Joy was the one who won.

And she was trying to hide it, trying not to get angry at one of her best friends, but it was hard. So hard, even for the genius that was Mara Jaffray.

"I'm fine, Joy," she stressed "Just tired."

"Why don't you go to sleep then? I'm sure you don't have to do all that homework. Knowing you it's probably extra," Joy shrugged, trying to be helpful.

"What's that suppose mean?" Mara asked, offended. She was over-reacting.

"What? No, nothing Mara. Calm down, it's alright,"

"You know what Joy," Mara whispered, dressed in her night clothes, she got up off the bed "I'm going for a walk," she went into the bathroom and came out quickly, dressed in shorts and a white shirt, she picked up a coat and walked to the door "I'm going for a long walk,"

"But Mara-"

"I'm not tired anymore!" Mara cried, thinking that Joy would comment on that.

"Okay," Joy said, wide eyed, watching Mara for a second "But I was gonna say, that's my coat," Mara looked down and realised it was. She threw it at Joy's bed and slammed the door shut. Joy watched her leave, frowning "That's what happens when you do your homework on the day you get it," she sighed, opening her laptop to talk to Mick who was only downstairs.

Mara walked down the steps in a huff, but she wasn't angry at Joy, she was angry at herself. Stupid teenagers and their stupid mood swings. She was only upset that Mick wasn't with her. She was upset that Mick looked happier than she had ever seen him.

She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she caught her heel on the bottom step and went flying. She closed her eyes and placed her hands over her heart, gasping, as she braced for the hard floor to come into contact with her head.

But it never came.

She opened her eyes slowly, to see Jerome's wide now ocean blue eyes looking down at her in shock. He had been on his way up the stairs, and had one foot on the bottom step, turned sideways, supporting Mara with one arm, the other arm on the banister. Mara's feet were just touching the bottom step as she looked up at him. Surprising comfortable in his arms. And neither of them said anything, just watching each other, waiting.

Jerome was in shock. He had been about to let her fall and laugh, making a smart remark. But he hadn't, he caught her. And she felt so small, so helpless, so alive in his arms. And he never wanted her to leave. And suddenly, he found her beautiful, he found her alarmingly gorgeous, and he was holding her. He brought his other hand up and gently stroked a piece of hair out of her face. Mara gasped at the contact and Jerome flinched and brought his hand away quickly. Thinking it was disgust that made her make that sound.

He lifted her up, so she was standing safely on the bottom step, and he stepped down, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Sorry," he said in a low voice. Mara watched him with her large brown eyes. "W-where were you off you?" he asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets, unable to take his eyes off her.

"I was…gonna go for a walk," she said quietly, looking into his eyes.

"Right," he planned on moving to the side to let her pass, because he realised he was blocking her, but he didn't budge. It was like his feet were stapled to the ground.

"What you said before, about not seeing your parents in twelve years…" Mara trailed off, looking up at him, curious yet kind. Jerome nodded, running his hand through his hair

"It's true, Mara. And I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone," he didn't see the point in lying to her now, he didn't have it in him, not when she was looking up at him like that. Like she truly cared.

"Of course not!" Mara promised "I would never, you can trust me, Jerome," she smiled at him. Jerome blinked once

"Trust you?" he asked, frowning

"Yeah," she nodded "I trust you,"

"Y-you what?"

"I trust you."

"N-no you don't," he let out a painful laugh "You're helping me read aura's, because you think I'll tell people,"

"No, Jerome," she shook her head "I don't think you'd tell people on me, not now, not anymore," her voice was soft, gentle, truthful.

"You're lying." Jerome stated in a slightly frightened voice "Nothing's changed Mara. I'm the same Jerome, you're the same…Mara," his voice ended up as a whisper. Mara looked up at him, trying to see through the mask and through the walls to the real him.

"We're always changing," she said quietly, placing her hand hesitantly on his arm, feeling the warmth beneath his green shirt.

And she turned and walked back upstairs, obviously abandoning the plan of going for her walk, and Jerome found himself watching her.

Review!

X