Hey, sorry for this coming so late. It's been sitting on my notes just waiting to be uploaded. Anyway, I don't own House of Anubis.

Jerome was five years old. Surely he could say the word "hate" since it wasn't as bad as other words he had heard the other kids say. It was still his first time ever using the word "hate" for anything, though.

But he found it hard not to hate having to go to boarding school.

"Hello. Who might you be, lovely?" a dark-haired woman smiled as she opened the doors for Jerome, who had timidly knocked on the door.

"Jerome." Jerome muttered stiffly.

"It's a pleasure, Jerome," the woman said. "I'm Trudy, your housemother."

"I already have a mother," Jerome said stubbornly.

"I'm not trying to take your mother's place, of course," Trudy assured him. "I'm just here to take care of you." Jerome ignored her and let his eyes trail around the room he was in. It was very big and old-looking. Almost kind of cool.

"Trudy, what is the meaning of this?" a man with dark hair and a mustache stared at Jerome with disdain in his eyes. "Who is this?"

"Our first resident at Anubis House, Victor!" Trudy said brightly. "This is Jerome."

"Ah yes. Jerome Clarke." Victor eyed the boy up and down. "Just keep him out of my sight." Disgusted, Victor trudged upstairs.

"Victor's harmless. He'll warm up to you I'm sure," Trudy said. "Come, do you wish to see your room?"

"It's not my room," Jerome sulked. "It will never be my room. And you'll never be my mother."

"Dear, I'm not saying it's your room like the one at your home," Trudy said, stroking his long, dirty blond hair. "Nor am I trying to be your mother. It's just your room while you're here...and think of me not as a housemother but the lady who cleans. How does that sound?"

"It sounds silly," Jerome retorted, stepping away from Trudy so he wouldn't keep touching his hair.

"You're awfully bitter for someone of five years," Trudy noted.

"Five years and two months," Jerome corrected her. He crossed his arms, as if to dare her to say anything else. Trudy smiled at the sight of the short little boy, with his messy long hair and his unwavering blue eyes. He'd grow up to be a handsome young man.

"Are you hungry?" Trudy asked. "I could get you something to eat. Or maybe you're thirsty?"

"Do you have apples?" Jerome uncrossed his arms. Trudy nodded. "Well...alright." Trudy led him into the kitchen, where she gave him a bright red apple. She watched as he sat down at the table that seemed almost too big for him and take a big bite of the apple.

"Are you excited to start school?" Trudy asked sweetly.

"No," Jerome grumbled.

"No?" Trudy echoed. "Heavens! Surely you don't mean that."

"Of course I do." Jerome said through a mouthful of apple. "The kids say it's dreadful."

"Did you have a lot of friends where you lived?" Trudy questioned. Jerome looked forward, avoiding Trudy's eyes.

"No." Jerome finally replied. "They didn't like me. No one does."

"I'm sure your parents love you very much," Trudy said.

"They do not," Jerome argued. "Why did they leave me here?" He was pouting now. Trudy placed a hand on his back comfortingly.

"It's not some prison here," Trudy laughed. "I'm sure they just want you to have a good education."

"You don't know half of it," Jerome spat. He tossed his half-eaten apple on the table and scrambled away from the tossed his discarded apple in the trash and watched the boy with empathy.

"Jerome?" Trudy entered the main room to see Jerome sitting on the stairs, upset. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry. Would you like to talk?"

"No," Jerome said.

"Is that your favorite word? No?" Trudy teased. Jerome let a small smile cover his lips at that.

"I don't need to talk," Jerome said simply. "I'm fine."

"Would you like to see your room?" Trudy asked once more. Jerome looked a little uneasy.

"I guess I can take one look." Jerome said, and he followed his housemother to the room.

"You'll eventually share," Trudy said, "but for now, it's all yours." Jerome placed a hand on one of the beds, staring at it, and he turned to look at the other bed in the room.

"Share with who?" Jerome asked.

"I don't know yet." Trudy said with a shrug. "Whoever comes along."

Jerome looked down at his bed again. He didn't like being someone who just "came along" like the others. He wanted to be different.

"I don't want to share," Jerome said softly.

"Every kid goes through that phase," Trudy waved it away indifferently.

"I am not a kid." Jerome snapped. "I'm grown up and I don't need anyone to take care of me!"

"There's no shame in needing someone to take care of you, love," Trudy said gently, reaching to comfort the boy, but he walked away, angry.

Jerome sat down in front of Anubis house, upset. He wanted to go home, not be near this lady trying to be his mother. Maybe he could run away. Imagine the look on his mum's face when he would arrive home, alone and independent!

Encouraged, Jerome started out. He was ready to cross the street when Trudy ran out and took him back in, her hand clasping his tightly as she dragged him back to Anubis house. Once they were inside, Jerome voiced his protest.

"Hey!" Jerome barely got the word out before Trudy caught him in a tight hug.

"Don't you ever do that," Trudy was near tears. "I know you don't want to be here Jerome. I really do. I'm sorry. But running away won't solve anything."

"I don't want to be treated like a little boy," Jerome said stubbornly. "I'm old enough to be a grown up!"

"I know. How about we try everything over instead?" Trudy suggested. "I'll introduce myself and we'll talk like grown ups."

"Okay," Jerome answered, interested.

"Hello. I'm Trudy." Trudy offered a hand to Jerome. Jerome shook her hand, feeling big and important.

"Hello. I'm Jerome." Jerome said. It made Trudy smile to see the boy so solemn and focused on the handshake.

"Good. Now would you like to join me for tea, Jerome?" Trudy questioned.

"Okay," Jerome agreed, and he joined Trudy at the kitchen table again. Trudy put some water to boil with a tea bag before she sat down across from Jerome.

"Would you like cookies, too?" Trudy asked.

"Yes, please," Jerome said with a sudden look of excitement in his eyes. His mum never made him tea before because she said it was for grown ups.

"Here you are," Trudy laid cookies down in front of him, and Jerome eagerly ate one as Trudy went back to check on the tea. When it was ready she poured two cups and set one down in front of Jerome. Jerome eagerly drank from it, but he spat it out once it burned him tongue.

"Ow!" Jerome stared at his cup in anger.

"Oh dear," Trudy said. "Better let it cool down." She smiled at Jerome in amusement, clearly in love with how cute he was. Jerome let himself give her a rare smile back. This lady wasn't so bad after all.


13 years later...

"Trudy? Are you there?" Jerome poked his head into the relatively empty Anubis House. That was a first. Victor had left and all the Anubis residents were outside, goofing off and celebrating their last day together.

"Jerome?" Trudy exited a bathroom, tugging yellow gloves off of her hands. "What are you doing here, lovely? Why aren't you off with yout classmates?"

"I came to see you," Jerome said. "Because...I'm going to miss you."

"Oh Jerome," Trudy's eyes teared up. She hugged the taller boy, and he hugged back just as hard.

"You've been my mother all of these years," Jerome whispered, tears clouding his own eyes. "I don't what I'll do without you, Trudy."

"You must write," Trudy ordered, her voice falling light. "Call, too. I'd say email but I can barely work those computers!" Jerome laughed at that.

"I will never forget you, Trudy," Jerome promised. Trudy kissed his cheek like a real mother would.

"I will never forget you either," Trudy sobbed. "You're so old now, Jerome. You've grown into a fine young man."

"Maybe," Jerome agreed, "but I'll always be your little boy, Trudy."

Trudy smiled midst her tears, never feeling happier than at that moment. Who ever said she never had any children?

I'm crying now. I loved that one, actually. Despite the way it was so fast-paced, anyway...thanks to my reviewers:

stuckbeingrachel

randomdizzy

cruzguadalupe6

LuvFiction Xxxx

You guys rock! Thanks for reading and, as always, review if you can!