House Of Apologies, House Of Promises, House Of Recovery, House Of Love.
Jerome opened his eyes, awaked by an annoying beeping noise. He looked around, wondering what had happened and how he'd ended up at the hospital. The last thing that he could remember was snorting a line.
Trudy was standing next to him, holding his hand, but Jerome didn't mind. She's the closest thing to a mother that he has. "How you feeling?"
"I'm fine. What happened?"
"You overdosed. The doctors had to pump your stomach."
"What time is it?"
"Four o'clock. Mara and Alfie are on their way over now to visit." When there was a knock on the door, she said, "In fact, I think that's them now."
The door opened and two teenagers stepped into the room.
"I'll give you guys some time alone," Trudy said, walking out the door.
"How you feeling?" Alfie asked.
"I'm okay."
"That's good."
They weren't close friends anymore, so they didn't really have anything to talk about.
"I'm glad that you're okay," Mara said.
"Thanks," Jerome said before glancing at Alfie.
He got the message. No matter how distant they were now, they would always recognize the go-away-I'm-talking-to-a-hot-girl look.
"I'm just gonna go…away," he said, leaving the room to find Trudy.
"I read your letter," Mara said.
Jerome looked at her.
"But I still don't understand why you didn't tell me about the drugs."
"I'm sorry. I just thought that you'd be so disappointed. And I wasn't addicted…at the time I started. It was just for fun, you know? A weekend thing."
"That's why you always acted so strange on weekends."
"I guess. I don't really remember. But, after my parents called, I started using coke on the weekdays, and I guess that I got addicted to it."
"Why didn't you just talk to me instead of using drugs to cope?"
"I broke up with you. I didn't think that you wanted to talk to an *sshole like me."
"I can't believe Mick blackmailed you."
A single tear escaped Jerome's eye. "If he would've told the teachers, I'd have been kicked out of the school. My parents wouldn't have kept me. And I can't go back to that. And, even if I broke up with you, I'd still get to see you everyday here."
Mara wiped his tear away.
"I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?"
She nodded. "Of course I do."
"Are we still…together?"
She really considered this for a moment. "Only if we stay honest with each other."
"I will. I promise."
"No more drugs?"
Hesitantly, Jerome agreed. "Okay."
Mara smiled, and so did the boy. She kissed his cheek. "Scoot over."
Jerome moved over weakly so she could lay down next to him. "I love you, Mara Jaffray."
"I love you, too, Jerome Clarke."
