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"Jerome!"
"Mara!" Jerome mimicked with a grin, closing his locker to see Mara skipping towards him. She was dressed in a white summer dress with chocolate coloured poka dots, he thanked the school for not having a uniform. "You look…pretty," he managed. Mara blushed, but otherwise ignored the comment
"I was calling you last night- you didn't pick up,"
"Sorry, must have accidently switched it off, I do that a lot," he lied, he was being Spiderman when she phoned, he couldn't just answer. As much as he hated letting her down. "What were you gonna say?"
"I was going to invite you to dinner, with my parents,"
"Your parents?" Jerome repeated blankly, but he shook his head "Sorry Mara, can't, I've busy,"
"I haven't told you which day-"
"Well I'll be busy." Jerome snapped. He stopped at the shocked look on Mara's face "No, Mara, I'm sorry. It's just…I don't really do…the whole parents deal. We can do something else, together?" he asked eagerly. His blue eyes wide and pleading.
"No," Mara brushed her hair back and smiled, clutching her school bag "It's fine, I mean, it's not like we're dating or anything, you don't have to meet them at all," the bell shrilled loudly and Mara turned, heading off to her class. Jerome sighed, he had messed that up. She had given him an open window…it's not like we're dating or anything and we never will be if I keep this up, he thought angrily. Then his head tingled, he turned, seeing Mick walk down the now deserted corridor.
"Clarke." He grinned, "Perfect timing,"
"Yeah, I don't have time to be your punch back today, Mick. Find someone else. Or no one actually, you know…go to the gym." He pushed past him, but Mick gripped his shoulder, slamming him back into the locker. Jerome glared up at him, spinning them round and slamming Mick into the locker. Mick looked up in shock. When did Jerome suddenly get so…strong? Jerome could feel Mick's skin bruising under his hands, he growled into his face "I said: I don't have time." He let go of Mick, who slumped to the ground, just glad that no one was there to witness that failure.
Line Break
Jerome looked worriedly up at the night sky, dodging the robbers knife. "Listen, I've gotta get home, so if you could just let me web you up, that would be great,"
"Listen bug boy," the robber spat at him "I've already given the money back, let me go," he made another run and Jerome jumped onto the wall. Landing behind him. The robber whirled around.
"I can't," Jerome sighed, "I gotta web you and call the police,"
The man ran at him, and despite Jerome's astounding reflexes, the knife slashes across the front of his chest. He gasped for a moment, before shooting with both hands at the same time, something he hadn't done before, and tying the man up. He clutched his chest in shock, swinging away.
He needed help, medical help, but where could he go? Doctors would unmask him, find something wrong with him, Trudy couldn't keep a secret- Mara. Mara was the only one, he increased his web, lowering himself down to the window, it was open on the hot night, and he clambered in.
Mara leapt up, but thankfully did not scream. She stared at him, pointing a finger "Y-you're…you're him! Oh my gosh! You're Spiderman! From the news!" Jerome nodded, clutching his chest, when Mara realised he was hurt. "Oh, okay, s-sit here," she placed him on the edge of her bed, "I'll go get some cloth, it's not deep, j-just wait here Spiderman," and she rushed from the room. Jerome wondered whether her parents were home or not. He guessed not. But Mara came back, and cleaned up the wound, watching, as it began healing itself before her eyes. In about half an hour, it was just a scab, that would clear up in a few days "Amazing…" she breathed
Jerome stood on shaky legs, feeling better "Thanks, I had nowhere else to go,"
Mara watched him in absolute shock "You're…a super hero." She stated "And…you just hopped into my window?" Jerome pulled the needle and threat off her counter, and started sewing the costume back up while it was on him. Acting quite casual about the circumstances.
"Rough night," he explained. Mara watched him…dumbfounded. "Sorry about barging in, I'm Spiderman," he stuck out his hand, resisting the urge to laugh at her facial expression. "And you are…"
"Mara Jaffray," Mara responded, somewhat shyly "R-rough night?"
"Yeah,"
"Of course…well you know, since I helped you and everything…who are you?"
Jerome smiled, though she couldn't see it. "This isn't an episode of Doctor Who," he knotted the string, then set the needle and thread down. "Nice to meet you, Mara Jaffray. I've gotta go now," he hopped out of the window, standing on the fire escape. Mara leapt to the window, leaning half out to look up at him
"You'll come back?" she asked eagerly "Right? I mean…you're fascinating…I need to know more about you," her eyes were large and pleading. Jerome worried for a second, but Spiderman nodded
"Sure, I'll be back, I'll take you for a swing," Jerome shot his web and it hooked onto another building "Bye," and he slid away. Mara watched in total amazement, as he swung into the distance.
"He's producing web," Mara shook her head in complete awe "He's like…half spider, really half spider."
Line Break
Mara rushed up to Jerome in the corridor, her voice hushed "Jerome, yesterday, I met Spiderman!"
"Really?" Jerome feigned surprise "How?"
"He…he just swung into my bedroom! His chest was cut, but he like…he liked healed himself so much faster than humans…and he said he'd come back!" her face was beaming with excitement "Isn't it wonderful?"
"Oh yeah," Jerome nodded, something odd bubbling inside him "You like it when some masked man hops into your bedroom?" he questioned as they walked down the corridor. Mara blushed
"No," she nudged him, "But come on, Jerome. It's Spiderman. As in, the masked hero who's decreased the crime rate by 70% And- he's…well, come on Jerome, he's brave and fearless, practically every girls dream," Jerome frowned, though the compliment was for him, it wasn't aimed at…at all, Jerome Clarke. It was aimed at Spiderman. Was he feeling…resentful? Jealous? Of himself? He sighed, only he could pull that off. "And he's taken an interest in me! Do you know how many guys take an interest in me, Jerome? None."
Jerome smiled, "I took an interest in you," he pointed out
"Yeah, but we're just friends," Jerome bit his tongue "And imagine…me hanging out with Spiderman, it would be unbelievable,"
"You've never even seen his face!" Jerome exclaimed "What if he's…I don't know, hideous or something?"
"Why would that matter?" Mara in confusion "He's caring, and smart, and brave, and fearless, and he just wants to help. Someone like that could never be hideous," Jerome looked down at her for a moment
"I wish I'd met you earlier," Jerome whispered, wrapping his arm around her "I missed out on a lot of Jaffray,"
"Jerome!" Alfie exclaimed running up to him, he gripped the front of Jerome's shirt "He knows!"
"What?" Jerome asked, brushing Alfie off him and standing beside Mara
"Mick- he-"
"LEWIS!" Mick roared, the people in the hall all immediately pressed themselves against the lockers, and Alfie stood there, quivering. Mick tried to form words through his fury "Y-you…you made out with my girlfriend?"
"Oh," Jerome whispered to Alfie "You meant he knows," Alfie nodded, terrified. Jerome stepped forward, standing in front of his friend. A murmur went through the students. Always Jerome, always Jerome Clarke to stand up to Mick Campbell.
"Move aside, Clarke. I've got no interest in you, it's your friend I need to beat up." Mick's face was red, but underneath it. You could see the pain and betrayal. But no one saw it, they were either too afraid, or too ignorant to look. There were students in that hallway foolish enough to believe that some people were all bad. Even Jerome didn't see it, because he was so blinded by his hatred to the boy. Mick Campbell loved Amber Millington, who was nowhere to be seen. He bought her gifts and texted her, and wanted to be with her all the time. But she never wanted to talk to him, she was always running off and he didn't understand why she didn't dump him. And he tricked himself into thinking she loved him. Not a dumb assumption. Mick was good looking, golden blond hair that flopped into his green eyes. "Get out of the way."
"You want him? You've got to go through me first," a few people snickered, along with Mick.
"Fine," he shrugged, swinging his fist, Jerome caught it with his right hand, smiling. Mick swung his left fist, caught again, in Jerome's skinny hand. He tried the double combo, both caught. He raised his leg, Jerome kicked him in the stomach, sending him stumbling backwards. The highschoolers laughed. All except for Mara and Willow.
"Well come on," Jerome smiled, this was it, this was what he had waited for. Giving Mick what he really deserved "You said you wanted Alfie, well come on then, do it!" Mick charged forward, and Jerome simply swerved him, sending him right into the lockers. Mick wiped his nose, the blood trickling down his chin.
"Clarke…" he growled "I'm warning you…"
"No." Jerome stepped towards him, looking down at the bully who had tormented him for years "I'm warning you. If you lay, another finger, on anyone in this school, I will find you, and I guarantee, it won't be pretty." He used his right leg to sweep Mick's legs out from under him, and he fell to the floor. Jerome looked down at him, tempted to kick him hard in the ribs like Mick had done to him. But he restrained himself. "What do you wanna say to Alfie?"
"He cheated on my girlfriend!" Mick cried in outrage. Jerome took a fist full of Mick's hair, hitting back into the lockers.
Jerome laughed "I think I said: What do you want to say, to Alfie?"
Mick turned to look at Alfie, and spat out blood "I'm sorry." He forced out. Alfie watched him wide eyed.
Line Break
"I'm just saying," Mara whispered, as the two walked home "You were…you were pretty extreme in there Jerome. Amber did cheat on Mick with Alfie,"
Jerome took a deep breath "He deserved it." He said evenly. Mara bit her lip
"Revenge doesn't suit you," she said quietly. Jerome looked down at her "I mean…you sunk to his level today, Jerome. And I know, you were protecting a friend, but…defence, not attack. Otherwise…there's no difference between you and him,"
"You don't see a difference?" Jerome scoffed "Mara, out of Mick and I, who's the nicer person?"
"Well…" Mara paused "I don't really know Mick. I mean, I know you're nice, and kind…but maybe Mick has his own issues…" Jerome listened to her reason, and took a deep breath. She was right, she was always right.
"Maybe he does," he sighed "I'll apologise tomorrow," Mara beamed up at him and he ruffled her hair "Now go enjoy your date with Spiderman,"
Review?
Rebecca: I know! I just love writing whenever I can, especially with a story I have lots of ideas for! Aw! Thank you! I guess my mind just can't follow a set template!
Rachel: ahaha! I was hesitant about putting that line in there, but you know I'm glad I did now! Quoting people is good, it means you understand them! I didn't know you liked Batman! I like him too, but unforuntately, I do have ONE other hero come into the story later on to join Spiderman fight off a bad guy, not gonna tell you who! AW! I hope we do meet in person! That would be awesome!
Lorna: Yay! Cookies! I want my room to be completely in the air too! But considering we can't walk on walls, it might get a little bit irritating, and we'd probably get bruised a lot! OH MY GOSH! Definetly send me a link! I would love to live vicariously through you! And hmm…I don't know, either flying or reading mines, just because it's something no one can do, you know, things like strength and speed, they just wouldn't fill be with as much wonder…you?
Crusguadalupe6: it's amazing that you still review my stories, considering how hard it must be for you to read them! You're amazing, thank you for putting in so much effort, I appreciate it!
And to anyone else who reviews in the future, I love you!
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