A/N: Okay, a few things… First, I know I said the new kid was there, but I'm not going to add him until he shows up on the show. Second, there is a little bit of Mick bashing. Mostly that's because I'm not a fan, but I mean no offence. Again, thank you for reading and please review.

LINE BREAK

Mara had to pinch herself. Was she even alive? There was no way something this beautiful was real.

"Wow."

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Jerome said, sitting on the edge of the boulder, gesturing for her to do the same.

Her fear of heights was forgotten as she sat down, enchanted by the waterfall. The water was crystal clear. There were flowers all around it. There seemed to be a small cave behind it. It wasn't a rushing waterfall, but a calm one. The sound of the flowing water sounded like a melody.

"It's breathtaking." Mara said breathily.

Mara chuckled. Jerome turned to look at her.

"What?"

"I can't believe I'm going to say this." Mara laughed, "But thank you for bringing me here."

"You can't tell anyone about this." He said sharply.

Mara frowned. Jerome's mood swings were giving her whiplash.

"I won't." She said in a clipped tone.

Jerome sighed.

"Sorry." He muttered.

Or at least Mara thought that was what he said.

"When did you find this place?" she asked, setting her arms behind her and leaning back.

"The first week I got to this school."

She waited for him to elaborate.

"This is my ninth boarding school. I kept getting kicked out." Jerome said, staring out at the glistening water, "I wanted to go home."

His sad tone was breaking Mara's heart.

"When I got here I kept trying to ring my parents. They never answered. So I ran and I found this place, counting on getting caught and expelled." Jerome tore his gaze from the water and looked at her with his ice-blue eyes, "It was here I realized that they would just send me to another school. They were never going to bring me home."

"Jerome…" she whispered.

Jerome didn't hear her or acted like he didn't and continued.

"So I went back to the house. This is the only home I have."

Mara gently put her hand on his arm. He stiffened but didn't pull away.

"Why am I telling you this?" he asked sharply.

"Everyone needs someone to talk to." Mara said.

"Yeah, well, not me." He snapped, yanking his arm away from Mara's touch.

Mara sighed. Well, it was nice while it lasted.

Jerome shook his head. He needed to snap out of it. He was sharing. Jerome Clark didn't share; it was one of his rules. He needed a distraction.

"So what is it about Mick that you are so 'in love' with?" he asked sardonically.

Mara blushed

"How did you know?" she asked, looking down at her feet.

Jerome snorted.

"You didn't take great pains to hide it. You only stare at him constantly and blush if he comes near you. I'm surprised nobody else noticed."

"He's just so…" she began.

"What? Cute?" Jerome scoffed, "That's all he is Mouse."

"What do you mean?" Mara cried, offended.

"He's as intelligent as a brick wall and all he can talk about is sports. Which you completely suck at." Jerome said, smirking at her frustrated expression.

"Hey!" she cried, then paused.

He wasn't exactly wrong. He didn't have to be so blunt about it. Though, she did think Mick was smarter than a brick wall. Not by much, but smarter than a wall.

"I just want a guy like him to just look my way." She bashfully explained.

Jerome stared at her. She squirmed under his gaze.

"What?" she asked.

"You think that-oh never mind." Jerome stopped and looked away.

"No, what were you going to say?" she inquired.

He just pulled out his phone and started texting. She punched his shoulder lightly, not appreciating being ignored.

"Ross is going to take us into town for lunch."

"I thought we were going to be here until two?"

"Well, I'm hungry now." Jerome said, jumping off the boulder and offering his hand "And you need to eat something."

"I don't need a nanny." She huffed, taking his hand.

LINE BREAK

Mara had to admit that once they got back to the house, she felt a lot better. They had gotten back fifteen or so minutes before Trudy. She thought for sure they were busted when Trudy asked why they didn't answer the phone. But Jerome smoothly told her that they had spent most of the day sleeping and didn't hear the phone. Mara was mildly impressed. The front door opened and her housemates filed in.

"Hey Mars!" Mick said.

"Hey Mick." She responded.

She heard Jerome whisper behind her "brick wall" making her have to stifle a giggle.

Her friends asked her how she was doing. She noticed nobody believed Jerome was ill. That made her smile. Mara then noticed that Amber was missing.

"Where's Amber at Mick?" She asked, following him to, where else, the kitchen.

"Some sort of dance class." He answered, stuffing a sandwich in his mouth.

Mara cringed. Mick didn't look too cute right at this moment. He turned his oh-so-gorgeous eyes on her. He seemed sad. Mara hated when people were sad.

"What's wrong Mick?" she asked.

Suddenly she was swept up in a bear hug. She hugged back out of surprise.

"Amber is being so-so-Argh!" Mick said, pulling away.

Mara patted his shoulder comfortingly.

He leaned close; she could feel his breath on her cheek. She froze.

"Can I talk to you?" he whispered, "Privately."

She nodded. Much to her surprise, and glee, he took her hand and led her out the back door. For some reason she glanced over at Jerome who was at the chess board. He had no expression, but was watching her. Mick pulled her to the porch swing.

"What's going on?" she asked.

He hadn't let go of her hand and she was getting nervous.

"I'm thinking about breaking up with Amber."

Mara felt her heart leap into her throat.

"Why?" she managed to ask.

"She's been brushing me off lately and she nags all the time."

Mara couldn't help the giggle that escaped. Mick laughed too.

"Thanks for listening." He said, squeezing her hand.

Before she could say more…

"Mick! Mick! Mick Campbell! Where are you?"

Mick let Mara's hand go with a sigh.

"You can go tell her I'm out here."

"You're going to break up with her now?" she asked.

Mick gave her one of his heart stopping smiles.

"Not yet. See you."

"See you."

LINE BREAK

To Jerome, Mara seemed dazed when she walked back into the house. He watched her hurry up the stairs.

"You want to tell me why you'd rather focus on Mara than our chess game?" Nina asked, crossing her arms across her chest.

Jerome flinched. It was never good to be caught staring.

"You're just so bloody awful at chess that I was looking for anything to ease my pain." He teased.

Nina reached across the board and smacked him upside the head.

"I came back to the house to grab my science paper at lunch today." Nina said casually, "I'd understand you not being here, but where did Mara go?"

Jerome didn't answer; just skillfully captured another one of Nina's poorly placed pieces.

"Is there something going on between..."

"No!" he answered quickly, "No way."

Nina smiled at him.

"You're not going to tell me where you two went, are you?"

"No." he answered.

"I'll ask Mara…" Nina said.

"Ask her." He shrugged, "She won't tell you."

Nina sighed.

"Hey Nina."

The duo looked up to see a nervous Fabian.

"What do you want kill joy?" Jerome asked good-naturally.

Fabian rolled his eyes. So he preferred to follow rules, so what?

"Jerome!" Nina admonished before turning to face Fabian, "What's up?"

"Would you…" a blush crept up his face, "Would you like to go for a walk with me?

Jerome smirked at Nina's equally red face.

"I would love to." Nina said.

"What about our game?" he asked, pouting playfully.

Nina threw him a glare. He gave her a cheeky smile.

"Don't stay out too late kids."

"Jerome!" Nina snapped, horrified, "It's only five o'clock!"

Jerome laughed as Nina pulled Fabian out of the room.

"You are an absolute prick Jerome Clark." Patricia said from the couch, not even looking up from her book.

"Why thank you queen Trixie." He took a bow.

He barely ducked the book thrown his way.

LINE BREAK

Mara lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Mick's confession floored her. How was she supposed to respond to this? Was she supposed to respond at all? Her mind drifted to the Willows. It was a beautiful place and Jerome was mostly different there. She had to admit that she got a thrill out of skipping school. It was like having a new super power. She knew how to skip school.

Mara rolled on her stomach with a laugh. She didn't feel like reading or writing a single thing. Even with Jerome in company she had had a wonderful day.

There was a knock on the door.

"It's dinner time Mara." Joy said, poking her head into the room.

"Thanks Joy, I'll be down in a minute." She said, getting up.

She didn't feel like eating, but knew that wouldn't go over well with Trudy.

"Mouse! You have to eat!" Jerome said, appearing in her doorway.

And Jerome too apparently.

"Yes, mum." She said, annoyed.

Jerome just made a face at her.

"Your infatuation has saved you a seat." He informed her.

Mara suddenly felt hungry. She brushed past Jerome and hurried down the stairs.

"Sickening." Jerome muttered.