This is the longest chapter so far...hopefully it's a turning point in the story. Hope you enjoy! I would love to know what you think and hear any suggestions you have! Thanks for reading!

Oh and if you didn't already figure it out: I OWN NOTHING HOA!

Enjoy!


"I'm glad you decided to come Trix," Jerome said as we walked past store after store looking for something for Amber. Alfie had taken off in front of us while Jerome and I hung back.

"Me too, I guess," I replied.

"I'm still sorry I had to bail on the project tonight," Jerome apologized.

"It's okay. This is more entertaining anyway, except for the fact that Alfie is completely clueless when it comes to girls," I laughed as Alfie stared into a joke shop. "Amber won't want anything from there," I yelled ahead.

"Aww, why not?" Alfie complained.

"Hence why I brought you along," Jerome laughed from beside me. "He doesn't listen to me when it comes to Amber. He thinks I'm trying to make him mess up," Jerome explained.

"Oh and why does he think that?" I remarked.

"Probably because I've messed him up a lot already," Jerome admitted.

"Exactly. He's your best friend. Why do you try to mess with him like that?" I wondered.

"It's fun," Jerome simply stated.

"I really hate to admit this Jerome, but you know exactly what to get to make a girl drool over you," I said.

"Oh really Trixie?" Jerome smirked at me.

"Oh not me of course, but girls like Amber and Mara," I quickly covered.

"Oh of course not Trixie," Jerome teased.

"Shut it Slimeball," I snapped, retreating to my normal self. It was weird; I was actually comfortable around Jerome and could talk to him without getting too defensive, which was weird because I was always on the defensive when I was with Jerome.

"So why'd you change your mind?" Jerome changed the subject.

"Amber," I said.

"Ahh, she sent someone to make sure she wasn't getting messed with," Jerome figured.

"Pretty much, but can you blame her. Alfie got her a skeleton last time," I laughed.

"Not at all," Jerome smiled.

"Was the skeleton your idea?" I turned to look at Jerome.

"No," he quickly defended.

"Really?"

"Actually yes, it wasn't my idea, but then again I didn't really do anything to sway Alfie away from the idea," Jerome admitted.

"Ooh! What about a baby mouse?" Alfie asked, pointing at the white mice in the pet store window.

"No!" both Jerome and I shouted at the same time.

"Why not?" Alfie complained.

"Alfie this is the same as the baby vulture. If you don't know the answer to that then you are going to stay single forever," Jerome smirked.

"Alright," Alfie said defeated and turned to walk on.

"Baby vulture?" I asked, intrigued.

"It's a long story, but let's just say he wanted to adopt a baby vulture for Amber instead of getting flowers," Jerome laughed.

"Wow he really is clueless," I laughed. Who would want a baby vulture?

"There is no doubt about it," Jerome laughed.

We walked on in silence for a little while before Jerome spoke again, "We seem to be getting along fine. What's the deal?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'm taking Nina's advice," I answered.

"Oh and what did Miss Martin advise?" Jerome asked.

"The better we got along the quicker we'd get this project done," I explained.

"Very true," Jerome smiled.

"Alfie! Let's go in here!" I yelled after him.

"Okay!" he trotted back to us and entered the bakery. "What do I get her?"

"Chocolates, cupcakes, flowers, balloons, or one of those stuffed teddies over there. Amber will love any of it," I gestured around the store.

"But what about you Miss Williamson?" Jerome whispered in my ear. "Would you like any of it?"

"I'm not that type of girl," I answered, trying to ignore the tingling sensation that shot up and down my body at the mere proximity of Jerome.

"Oh, but I think you are," Jerome whispered back.

"Then you're wrong," I shot back before I went to help Alfie pick out Amber's gift.

Twenty minutes later and Alfie, Jerome, and I were walking through the front doors of Anubis House. Somehow I had made it through the trip without physically assaulting Jerome. "Thanks Trixie!" Alfie shouted as he raced up the steps to go find Amber.

"No problem!" I called after him and went to follow him up the stairs.

"Trix! Wait a sec!" Jerome said as he grabbed my arm.

"What?" I spun around to face him.

"I just wanted to say thanks for coming with us. It was nice to have someone other than Alfie to talk to for once," Jerome smiled slightly.

"No problem," I muttered. Jerome wasn't supposed to be being nice to me and I wasn't supposed to be being nice to him either.

Jerome stood there staring into my eyes with his ice blue ones; I couldn't tell what was running through his mind. "Well I guess I'll see you tomorrow," I said starting to move towards the steps.

"Wait Trix…" Jerome trailed off.

"Yeah?" I asked turning around to face him. Before I knew it Jerome's warm, soft lips were on mine. I was in complete shock. Jerome Clarke was kissing me, Patricia Williamson! And I was enjoying it. What had happened to the world?

From the foyer Victor was saying, "It's ten o'clock you have five minutes and then I want to hear a pin drop!"

Victor's voice brought me back to reality and I quickly shoved Jerome away from me as my hand connected with his pale cheek. "What the hell was that!?" I burst and then stormed away from Jerome, past Victor and up the stairs.

All was silent as the I stormed off leaving Jerome standing there in shock and the pin hit the floor with the familiar, "CLINK…CLINK…CLINK...CLINKCLINKCLINK."