Chapter Seven

Adjusting on Another Level

"This food isn't half bad," Mara commented as she put down the fork and pressed the napkin against her stained lips of spaghetti. Their walk took them to a decent restaurant with an elegant aura, including red velvet seats and white cloth tables. While she couldn't afford the entire thing, the only reason she even stepped into this place was how Jerome offered to pay for most of it; she just needed to pay the tip in exchange, which she offered happily.

She gulped down a cup of Coca-Cola and relished its coolness as it soothed her tongue. The spaghetti was still hot, even after receiving it a while ago. This she took as a positive sign that they were decent cooks who used their food the second it was completed.

"Understand of the freakin' decade," muttered Jerome, eyes flashing. He bit into his chicken and leaned against the red chair. "You wouldn't have known this existed without me knowing, and I know good places to hang around here."

"Well, do you have any other plans to go anywhere else after this?" Mara questioned. Granted, she didn't mind spending time with him, but heading back home didn't sound so bad either.

He shrugged. "Maybe. Quite frankly, I made no plans when Amber quit on you so suddenly for her BF." His brows quirked as he observed her reaction to this statement, because it was all true, even if it did come across as a bit harsh.

Mara licked her lips, taking a quick sip before having to answer, giving herself more time to respond. Finally, she said, "She deserves just as much time with her boyfriend instead of me." She pointed at Jerome to begin defending her friend. "She's been helping me very much since I came back here. I think she deserves some time to herself, especially since Lucas has been out of town for a bit."

Jerome flicked his head to the side. "Whatever you say, Jaffray." He paused for a while, and finished off his grilled chicken. He brushed his messy fingers across the napkin set in his shirt and across his chest. Soon after, Mara drank up the last of her soda before realizing just how full she became. To go to McDonalds was just fine alone; it was that she never had the money to go anywhere fancy or with decent food like this. Her insatiable hunger for better food was replenished, thankfully.

"Enjoy it?" he asked, raising his Mountain Dew in agreement.

"Very much. Ah—thank you, Jerome. It was very nice," she complimented honestly.

He flashed a handsome grin that made her heart flutter for reasons she refused to accept. "Quite."

They ate afterwards in silence, mostly because Mara was starving. Finally, their young waiter, who was maybe in his college years, arrived questioning if they were finished. Mara smiled at her friend in agreement and kindly requested the check.

While waiting, Jerome began another conversation: "Do you have anywhere else you plan to go?"

Mara hesitated. "No, not really, but—actually, I might need to go somewhere. It's, uh, no mandatory, but I'd just like to."

"It better not be a library, Mara," Jerome deadpanned.

She stared, baffled, at him. "Actually… yes." She smiled.

Jerome didn't respond immediately. His eyes rolled upward, and he let out a quiet scoff that she heard anyway. "A library? Now I know you're trying to torture me," Jerome said jocularly, slapping his chest with an open calm. She mirrored his amused laugh.

"I have something I'd like to check out. It-it has to do with the job," Mara added in simply to carry on with the subject and to let voices ring in her ear; it was more comfortable than silence unless there was absolutely nothing to say.

"No need to let me know, Mara. Just don't drag me into reading, as well," Jerome informed her casually. He so easily accepted it, even if he was no fan of libraries; that much she knew. She remembered how he would do anything for her back when they were in high school; he did anything to be with her, to make her feel good. And he'd feel awful for moments where she became upset. Now it was years later, and it was the same as always. A twitch made her mouth perk up out of nowhere as she reminisced old times. Thankfully, he did not question this.

The check fell onto the table a few minutes later, and they paid the amount due, Mara giving about seven in a tip generously. She hiccupped, proving she did indeed enjoy the early dinner. Jerome faced her, and she felt a handful of blood rush into her cheeks just to embarrass her more. Oh, how her emotions were not in her control…

While exiting the restaurant, she started to signal a cab to head to the nearest library. Jerome's hand forced hers down, and she shot him a bemused gaze.

"No need to, Mara," said Jerome, stopping her. "The library is only a few blocks away. Don't go all American on me and try to use to the lazy way out of this."

Mara bit her lip, trying not to get in an argument. It was quite a harsh generalization and stereotype against those in the States, but she found herself not wanting to say anything to ruin this outing. They walked across several blocks in silence, having pretty much talked of everything during the lunch.

Jerome dug into his pockets and found a few items. One he put into his mouth, the other close to what he put in his mouth. Tiny flames erupted, and smoke curled into the brisk air. He placed his lighter back into his pocket.

She kept quiet about for a few minutes, but simply couldn't help herself. "I didn't know you smoked," she said, a hint of nervousness invading her face. Her face was flushed with uncertainty in what to say. Her eyes kept invading the cigarette dangling idly at his mouth.

"Problem?" he questioned. His eyebrows jumped up, otherwise making no sign of giving a damn about her thoughts. He pulled it out for a moment to send up a puff of smoky mist to slowly evaporate into the clean, autumn air.

Blush painted her cheeks, feeling stupid for starting a conversation over that. "N-no, just didn't… know," she stuttered, then trying to conceal her face in her black curtain of hair.

He stared at her for a few moments, only to shrug it off as they crossed the final block to find the nearest library that lay near their previous location.

They entered the library that, at most, held one thousand books. With this, at least it didn't take one to find the book they desired to dig into. Though it wasn't books that she was looking for.

She found the newspapers of past years easily lying in a basket by the Atlases, which had everything of other newspapers across England. She took a random newspaper and flipped it around in search of a particular article. Jerome watched her as she sat down, and stood over her as she pointed a finger across several pages.

"So you think you can handle dealing with other people's problems? I would probably mock them for going to complete strangers to answer their whiny complaints," Jerome asked out of curiosity.

"And that's why you'd never make a good advisor," Mara quipped, eyes grazing through the paper, including the advice column. The date she was checking out currently was of their previous year. She discovered the advice columns and read it to herself, absorbing all the details about what kind of advice people needed and what "Yvette's" response was.

Yvette was the confirmed name for the future advice column for the Britain Tribune. This was a faithful sign she had a chance, the fact they told her about it.

Whoever the person who gave advice in the article she was skimming through, she did pretty well, giving hard, honest advice that made sense. Though the newspaper never gave information about any previous one, she sounded experienced and honest.

"I don't know if I'm cut out for this," Mara admitted, breathing out heavily. She blew at a stran fo hair that interrupted her vision. Jerome glanced at her again. "I don't know what kind of questions they'll ask, or if I'll be able to answer them."

Jerome pondered that for a minute, doing the whole rubbing-your-chin gesture. He hummed. Then he shrugged. "How about I ask a random piece of advice, and you answer what, you know, pops into your head? See how it goes, you know?" he suggested.

Mara made a gesture with her hands that sounded like, "why not?" "Sure, ask me anything," she said.

Jerome soothed his chin in deep ponder, but this only lasted for less than a minute. "Umm… let's start with this. 'Dear Yvette, I have a friend who I have long had a crush on, yet she has never seen it, the kind of girl that is oblivious to that kind of crap. Is there any way to let her know just how I feel?" Jerome demonstrated.

Mara thought this through, staring at the ceiling as she thought over some ideas. However, gradually, she caught on, and she turned to face Jerome, whose eyes glinted in amusement.

However, from that point on, they stared at each other for a long time, eyes locked in a tight grip, refusing to escape. There was no talking, no mind-reading like people believe they hear when staring at someone they truly care for. It was just… gazing into one another's eyes, yearning to hear what they were thinking.

Jerome's pure blue eyes glistening in the fading lightness of the lights surrounding them. Both of theirs bored into the others as her heart sputtered over and over just by looking over his features. She could not escape his enticing stare. She actually leaned in barely an inch…

Mara cleared her throat, begging herself to get a grip. Thankfully, she did and found herself able to turn away, despite a deep blaze of red erupting in her cheeks. Jerome turned away as well, so she was unable to get details on how he reacted.

"So, uh, what would be your response?" Jerome whispered in her ear, as he had quickly turned back to her. She refused to copy this move, however, as a warmness vibrated up her spine. She thought she felt his breath run into her neck, but ignored it.

Her nostrils flared and she let out a large bundle of air. "Well, I'd uh…" She swallowed and faced him. "I'd say he should sit her down and… and let her know. Tell her how he feels, rather than hiding it from her, because for all he knows, he may be too late to say anything."

"She might have already moved on." Jerome nodded in agreement, but apparently, Mara did not see what he was getting at. She was searching through her papers, pointing out different articles that were similar to what she was signing up for, like they would help her. But this advice was beyond anything she had noticed.

"Then he's already late. But still, it doesn't hurt to try," Mara argued.

"He's probably hurting anyway."

"I don't get it. If he's loved her for so long, he would have moved on so he wouldn't have to hurt. He'd move on with his life… at least until she understands," said Mara, lips slowly falling down at the edges. Jerome's eyebrows dropped into diagonal slits.

"People aren't toys! This man desired this woman for so long, and she was too daft to see it. That doesn't mean he should suffer!"

"She never meant to!"

Their voices were beginning to rise as the tension increased. They caught the librarian's attention, and she sat on nearly the other side of the small library. A peeved kid with glasses appeared from his book and shot daggers at them. They noticed neither people.

"But what if it already hurts him, it hurt him before, and it still is. It hurts him on the inside, watching the woman he loves go around, trying to figure out what to do with her life. What if he's tired of just watching when he wants to be a part of her life?" Jerome questioned, slamming a hand on the table.

Mara, in reaction, flinched, realizing the power in his words were from self-experience, the words truly meaning something to him. She no longer desired to get into this debate more, and swallowed away her words. She dug her head back into the paper and scrolled some more, but out of silence as she hoped he would calm down soon.

But in an instant, Jerome's anger depleted, replacing by a barely audible huff. Mara remained quiet as he calmed his raging emotions. Finally, her eyes peeked up at him as he slowly placed himself in the seat beside him. "Well, it seems you've got the idea of what this is like."

"Jerome, I.." She trailed off, unsure what to say. Granted, her voice built up to debate about this, but failed when Jerome's emotions got involved as well.

"Listen, no offense, but this is pretty boring." He tapped against the board table. "How is it going for you? I'm hoping to get home before it gets late, 'cause I have to get to work early in the morning."

Mara glanced between him and the paper, and found herself wanting to stay; not that she needed more time to look around, but because she liked spending time with him. It was hardly at all awkward; despite their momentarily harsh argument, she couldn't carry a grudge against it for long. Rather, she found happiness being with him. This whole day's simplicity made her smile; that was all she needed.

"We can go now. I didn't really have to come here," she stated. "I just wanted to take a quick look at these articles. I'm ready when you are."

He stood up first, and stretched out his hand to lead her up onto her feet. She took it with no reluctance, and they exited the library. She peeked with a smile at him, but twisted her head away when he got close to catching her. His hand spread warmth into his, yet she tried to stop herself from feeling so close to him. She felt a forbidding vibe about it, begging her to not feel so great with him.

It was so strange, something she never expected herself to think, so she put it behind her as they entered the night-filled skies which were painted with stars. The moon beamed bright white against the world before them. When she stared at him one more time, the moon reflected against him, giving him a porcelain glow.

"Something wrong? There's nothing in my teeth from lunch, is there?" He gave a look of concern as he picked his fingers against his teeth.

Mara giggled. "No, you're fine."

The cab Jerome flagged stopped at Amber's house. Jerome took out his wallet, but Mara slapped his hand. "Hey!" Jerome exclaimed.

"I'm not letting you pay for everything. At least let me get this," Mara insisted. Though inside, she just wished she had let it go, no matter how bad she'd felt. In her purse was pretty much exactly the price of the cab ride—plus a few extra dollars—so she'd need to take a huge break in going out at all.

"Fine," Jerome said exasperatedly, rolling his eyes. He placed his wallet back in his pocket.

He watched her pay and, before she could upon the door, he put a hand on her arm that wasn't holding the lever that opened the door.

He didn't say anything. She slowly turned. "Yes, Jerome?"

"Thank you for a wonderful time, Jaffray. Call me when you get the chance." He put out his hand, and in between his fingers lay a tiny paper ripped in one side. She took it after a moment of staring. Their eyes met once last time. She blinked and found herself very close to him.

He smiled before pecking her cheek. His lips brushed and lingered on hers for what she swore lasted a long while; though it lasted merely a second. For her, time stood still as a warm feeling enveloped that part of her face, a strange feeling making her stomach flip and light up with delight. She found strength in her feet once they didn't feel like jell-o, and exited the cab. It zoomed off, and she tried to see his face one last time, but the cab disappeared in the midst of the darkened end of the day.

Only when the cold wind reminded her where she was did have the ability to move her feet. She went home and tried to forget that entirely, even as she anticipated Amber interrogating her

The problem was that she couldn't.

The next morning arrived before Jerome could process it, but he hurried to work with enough time on his hands. While grabbing a water from the vending machine, he passed by a familiar face and stopped, only taking a sip before greeting like he constantly did with the man: "Morning, Nathan. Bang any strange woman recently?"

Nathan Garner, a man with a dark brown scruff and matching colored hair flipped to the side, quirked his brows and let out a tiny chuckle. "Yeah, your sister. She probably might call later to tell you 'bout it."

"Oooh, ouch!" hissed Jerome mockingly; though he had an urge to slap his face off. Still, remarks like those from the… could he call this asshole his friend? He was okay… you know, when he wasn't being an asshole. He grinned. "You're going to pay for that one later."

"Yeah, yeah." Nathan tipped up his coffee cup, lacking concern about Jerome's fake threat.

Nathan's eyes flashed into his as they turned face to face. "So how's that girl from Australia?" he asked.

Jerome groaned. "She's not from Australia, she was just living there with a prat I knew from high school."

"Ah," mused Nathan in realization. "But still, she just went off with the prat anyway," Nathan pointed out, slouching against the table. He set his hands into his pockets.

"She was a mere child back then, Nathaniel. She was very confused about her life and everything. The poor girl went through shit until she realized it was better here. Her wedding was the worst. Oh, it must've been embarrassing. I might've laughed if I was there, though. I had trouble laughing when she told me."

Nathan rolled his eyes, causing Jerome to raise a brow. "What? Oh, geez, I'm hanging around too many girls, aren't I? Damn it, I got to stop talking so much."

"Nah, I don't care 'bout that. You can't… just shut the fuck up 'bout her, can you?" Nathan questioned, irritation nearly tangible in his tone. "Taylor doesn't shut up either about it. Seriously, I don't care about this."

The Anubis grad smile stayed, yet he felt a burning in his veins at those harsh words. "Oh, Nathan, I could say the same about your dog, Winfrey, which is really sad against a, you know, an actual girl." He nodded.

The other model ignored that. "Please. You really think she's going to stay for long? From what you told me, she's probably going to run off with that sports boy, like she's done so many times before, according to you. Remember when you told me all those times she broke your heart, each time she got closer to you but then ran right back into his arms?" Nathan smirked. He was pleased by the torture he caused, the fire he was gradually setting.

Jerome remained unresponsive. "She's just one of those girls, maybe; she messed with somebody, even if she doesn't know it. She does it because she loves somebody too much. She'll run back to him in the end because she thinks that, even after all the shit he puts her through, that she loves him, that he loves her."

"Don't start," Jerome hissed, a bitter taste lingering in his tongue, mouth curled into a snarl. A few workers inside the building

"I've seen it before, Mr. Clarke. I've seen and heard shit like that. It happens. Shame it happens to you when you're so oblivious on the fact it's happening right in front of your eyes."

"Shut up," Jerome threatened under his breath.

Nathan inched closer to him. "What are you going to do 'bout it, Clarke? I doubt you can fight as big as you can chit-chat your ways through conversation," smirked Nathan.

Jerome began by pushing him, yet that appeared to be enough to get the idea something was about to erupt. Gasps and anticipated "oooooooh"'s erupted from the room filled of either workers or models in for the day. Nathan gave him a threatening look and muttered cusses under his breath. He then pushed him back, just as hard and enough to smash him against the wall. Someone ran to get another person to get help before blood was spilt; Jerome begged it wouldn't be his own.

The two struggled, vice grips against the other's shoulders in attempts to throw the other down. In the end, Jerome won out and sent Nathan nearly to the ground. Nathan, after getting back on his feet, glowered viciously at him and lunged once more. They thrashed amongst their fight and tried punching their faces, kicking their… weak spots. While nothing horribly violent, if someone was to say things went swimmingly ought to have their faces punched as well.

Before another punch or kick could be thrown out, however, two people grabbed both arguers. Taylor was the one to grab Nathan, grasping tightly against his dark red shirt and pointing at him, saying a few sharp… particular words that Jerome dare not to repeat later on, should he need to. He did not meet her eyes, but he felt that once she faced him, dagger-like glowers were attempting to pierce his soul into a million pieces. Nothing new from her.

The person who grabbed him was a model, a woman who indeed had a perfect figure and gorgeous blond hair brushed into silky strands. He flashed a grin at her, but she just scoffed and rolled her eyes. Oh, a scoffer. Those were his favorite.

"You know, if I wasn't already looking at another girl, we could have hung out some time." He winked.

She grumbled something along the words ending in "ick," but he couldn't be too sure. She at least wasn't chiding him like a little kid. But when Daniel entered the room, of course everyone shut up and stiffened in their positions instantly. It was as if he had a gift about him, to throw silence across the room just by stepping a foot in.

"Are we suddenly back in high school, where everybody is fighting over the stupidest shit! You two!" Daniel demanded with a scrunched up face of irritation, pointing at both rapidly. Both handsome men froze in their spots. "Another disruption for the peace here will get you two fired. Since you two have a decent record, I'll let it go. But remember… you're not children anymore."

That alone was enough to let Daniel's shoulders drop, and shut down. His stare at Jerome was a narrowed stare, but not as threatening anymore. Not now, at least.

And somehow, the older man composed, brushing his brown, graying hair back. He stepped out, and the day continued in eerie, somewhat awkward silence. While Jerome posed for a new line of the Gap, he doubted many of them could be near decent, what with the lack of containing his emotions in well.

A/N: I apologize for the long absence from this chapter. Truth be told, I barely had anything just last week, so if some things seem choppy (REALLY choppy), blame my pressure to get this chapter in, because I barely like this chapter, really. The next chapter is close to complete, and is much more exciting, so that MIGHT come out quicker. I really should have gotten most of this done before I got into it. :/ Stupid me.