I handed the taxi driver some money, thanked him, then got out of the car. Wow. Mara had traveled almost an hour yesterday to come to Luton to visit me. I looked at the large house in front of me. There were several cars parked in the yard and on the curb. There were young kids playing whatever in the front yard. I walked up the driveway, thinking about turning back as nerves crept up my spine. Stop it, Jerome. It's not like you're on a date. I rang the doorbell and waited until a woman opened the door.

"You must be Jerome. Mara has told me so much about you. Come in."

I stepped inside and was immediately hit with scrumptious smells and loud chatting.

"Mara is in her room. Follow me." Mrs. Jaffray led me up the stairs.

I wondered if all the other kids at Anubis House still had their own room. Maybe it was just me that didn't.

"Mara, sweetie? You're friend is here," Mrs. Jaffray said after knocking on the door.

I felt so uncomfortable around all of these people I didn't know. And I usually never cared about being around people. But this is Mara's family. I want to make a good impression on them. Why, Jerome? You'll never have the courage to ask Mara to be your girlfriend. Maybe I shouldn't have came.

The door opened to reveal Mara. Never mind that last thought. I'm so glad that I came. I had to force my mouth to stay closed as I gazed at the girl in front of me.

She wore a beautiful red dress that hugged her hips perfectly. Her wavy hair rested on her shoulders. She wore both a silver necklace and a bracelet. Her lips formed a smile. "Hey, Jerome. Glad you could make it," she said as her mother walked back down the stairs.

I cleared my throat. "Thanks for inviting me."

She opened the door wider so that I could step inside. I did. I stood in front of the door, for it's rude to sit on someone's bed if you haven't been allowed. Right? I don't know. But I haven't been here before, so…I'm just going to stand.

I looked around. Mara's walls were a light yellow: her favorite color. The walls were plain-no pictures or anything. I figured that all of her posters and decorations were in her room at Anubis House. Her comforter was also yellow. On her nightstand was a mini Christmas tree, which was decorated with small ornaments.

"You could sit down if you want."

"Thanks." I did.

"I got you a Christmas present." She grabbed something out of her dresser drawer and brought it to me. It was square-shaped and wrapped in Christmas paper. She held it out.

"You didn't have to get me anything."

"But I did anyways."

I smiled, then tore through the wrapping paper. "A Pink Floyd CD."

"Not just one; there's two. See?"

"Wow. Thanks, Mara."

I looked down at the CD. The front of it read, "Pink Floyd: The Wall" which was placed in front of what seemed to be a white brick wall. I flipped it over in my hand. I should've thought to bring Mara a gift.

"You don't like it," she said.

"No. I love it. But I left your gift back at my Mum's."

"That's okay. You could give it to me when we go back to school."

Mrs. Jaffray stepped inside. "Supper's ready, kids." Just as quick as she entered, she was gone.

Mara said, "Yum. I'm starving."

"Yeah. I'm gonna leave the CD in your room so I don't lose it, okay?"

"That's fine."

I set it onto her dresser, then followed her down the stairs and into the kitchen. Food covered a small circular table. Everyone grabbed a plate, then flooded it with delicious food. I went behind Mara. I didn't take too much-just a little…until I came face-to-face with the macaroni and cheese. Mmm…. But I still only took my share and continued. After people got their food, they separated throughout the house-some going into the living room, others just hanging around the kitchen. I followed Mara to the back porch. We took a seat on the tall patio chairs and set our plates onto the glass table.

I felt a bit like I was intruding. I mean, if I weren't here, she'd probably be in there with her family. But I'm sure she knew that I'd follow her around like a lost puppy when she considered inviting me.

"Can I ask you a question?" she said.

"What would you do if I said 'no'?"

"Ask anyway."

I smiled, but it quickly faded when she spoke.

"So why were you really upset when I visited yesterday?"

"What are you talking about?" I said, shrugging it off.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"I-I forgot to grab a fork. I'll be right back." I got out of my chair, then headed inside. I slipped through the crowd until I got into the kitchen, then I grabbed a fork. I started to turn, but stopped when someone spoke to me.

"So you're Mara's friend?" It was an older boy-taller than me and with broad shoulders.

"Yeah."

He nodded his chin toward me. "You fancy her?"

"What? No. No, I d-"

"I saw the way that you were looking at her."

I swallowed.

"If you break her heart, just know that I will personally hunt you down and-"

"Jerome, this is my older brother Luke," Mara said, coming up from behind me, giving her kin a warning glare. "C'mon." She led me back outside. "Don't listen to him. He's just very protective."

I took my seat at the table, then dug into my macaroni.

"So you never answered my question."

I swallowed my food down. "Oh, um…what was it again?"

"Why were you crying when-"

"I wasn't crying."

"Right. So why were you crying?"

I rolled my eyes, then took a sip of my tea nervously. I set the glass down, then spoke. "Because of the B."

"C'mon, Jerome. You and I both know that you've had lower grades before."

"Yeah, but I just wanted to bring better grades home to show my Mum."

"Did you show her the grades?"

"Yeah."

"She didn't care, did she?"

Sh*t. I've said too much. But I couldn't stop now. "No."

"Well, I think that you did great. I'm proud of you."

I looked up with a smile, gazing into her eyes. If she wasn't sitting on the opposite side of the table, I think I might have kissed her. She knew exactly what I needed to hear, and she wasn't afraid to say it. Sure, it doesn't replace the abandonment that I feel from Mum. But Mara cares about me. Me.

I coughed and put my eyes on my food, forgetting that I'd been staring at Mara.

"What aren't you telling me?" she asked, observing me.

See, Jerome? That's why you don't let her look into you eyes. Because she can see things that no one else can.

"Nothing," I replied.

"You're lying."

Denying is the best way to go. "No, I'm not."

"Jerome, why don't you trust me?"

"I do. More than anyone, Mara. You know that."

Did she? It's not like I've ever told her. She probably thought that I told Alfie all of my secrets.

"Then why won't you tell me what's bothering you?" she said.

I looked down at my food, suddenly losing my appetite. Should I tell her? I trust her. She wouldn't tell anyone. Would she? It really wouldn't matter because I could never be mad at Mara. I love her. When you love someone, aren't you supposed to share everything with that person? I mean, you can't keep secrets if you want your relationship to grow.

My voice was soft, almost inaudible. "He raped me."

"What?"

I picked my head up, looking straight into her eyes. "Benjamin…he raped me."

Mara's eyes went wide. She was shocked and didn't know what to say.

I stood and started toward the door. "I should be getting back."

"Wait." The girl hurried to block my path. "Please, wait a second."

"What?" My voice cracked. Great, Jerome. Are you gonna cry again…in front of Mara?

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah. Me, too." And here comes the waterworks.

She grabbed my hand and led me to the porch steps. We took a seat. Mara rubbed my back with her soft hand.

I sniffled. "Mum was there when he did it. And she didn't even attempt to stop him. She doesn't even care about me now that she has a new life with Benjamin and Annabel."

"Don't say that."

"But it's true."

"Did Benjamin beat you up?"

I guess she didn't go for that story about me falling out of a tree and down some stairs. I nodded. Before I left my mum's earlier, I'd used some of her make-up to cover the marks. It was so weird. But I couldn't show up to Mara's house looking like I did. What would her family think? Maybe they would've known what had happened like Mara did. Isn't she so smart?

"Then why are you gonna go back?"

"I wanna be with my mum for Christmas. I haven't done that in a while."

"What do you mean?"

"On breaks, I usually sneak back into the boarding house through my window. I always leave it unlocked when I go to my mum's." I looked at her. "Don't tell anyone, okay?"

"Your secret's safe with me."

"Thanks."