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Two weeks later:

"AHH!" he let out an aggravated cry. Mara looked up at him and glared, because that's what bad girls did right? They glared. She did not expect Jerome to come stomping over to her and harshly pull the hair band out of her hair, so that it fell back into its normal style

"Jerome!" cried Mara "What are you doing?"

"Mara, this-" he gestured to her, the black tights and the heavy makeup "Is not you, you should act like yourself,"

"I can do what I like," Mara scoffed looking away, Jerome reached out a hand, softer now, and tucked some of her black hair behind her ear

"I know but, the real you is so much better, I love the real you," he stroked the side of her face, but he noticed her freeze "Sorry, I don't mean love. Well I do mean love. But I should have said…" he laughed slightly "Okay, scratch all of that, I'm gonna start again. I prefer the real you,"

"The real me? So, you don't mind when I act all geeky and lame?" she asked, unsure of herself. She had changed herself because Mick had said Jerome would prefer someone more exciting. She should have guessed it was a lie.

"A geek? Mara no one on the planet thinks you're a geek," he smiled at Mara's questioning face "Fine, but being a geek is awesome. I would die to become a geek,"

"Jerome-"

"Fine okay, you got me. I wouldn't want to be a geek, but that doesn't mean I don't want to be with a geek."

"Jerome-"

"Please don't be angry with me, I think my tongue hates me today,"

"Jerome-"

"No I'm serious, I just keep saying things…"

"Jerome-"

"I'm not lying!"

"Jerome, relax," Mara laughed "I just did this because I thought you'd like me better if I did."

"Like you better?" Jerome burst out laughing, he clutched his stomach with one hand "Dear god Mara, if I liked you any more-"

"Well this is oddly entertaining," smiled Fabian. Mara starred wide eyed at him

"Have you been here the whole time?"

"What can I say, I blend right into the back ground right?" they all laughed, mostly because Fabian was wearing a shirt and trousers that matched the colour of the chair

"Fabian, get out," Jerome sighed smiling

"Sure," Fabian stood before seeming to remember something "I found this on the grounds outside, any one knows whose it is?" he brought out an eerily familiar silver flask. Jerome winced at the sight, he needed to stop Mara from getting a closer look as she might re-

"Can I take a closer look?" Mara asked, standing, her arm out stretched

"Sure," Fabian was about to pass it to her, when Jerome snatched it out of his hand and through it hard. Luckily, the window was open and it flew right out.

"Jerome!" Fabian and Mara exclaimed in unison.

"What?" Jerome asked casually, leaning against the chair. "It was just a flasky thing, who knows where it's been,"

"But it belongs to someone!" Mara scolded "I'll go it," she turned for the door but Jerome caught her hand and twirled her into him, kissing her softly. Fabian took this as a hint to leave and walked out. Jerome was a complete mystery.

"Wha?" Mara asked in daze, swaying slightly. Gosh, she felt like an idiot when he kissed her.

"Sorry, but you just look so beautiful," he hummed , pulling her in.

"No I don't," she shook her head, Jerome smiled down at her

"Of course you do,"

"Jerome. Have you seen me?" she gestured down at herself. She was wearing grey joggers and a long red shirt that had the sleeves rolled up.

"You look beautiful no matter what you're wearing," he said truthfully "Plus, that is my shirt,"

Mara arched an eye brow, looking down. And she laughed loudly "You must have left it in my room!" she whacked his arm gently

"Well, you put it on," he reminded cheekily. For now the flask was forgotten, but as he held her, he couldn't help but peer out the window, to see where the flask had landed.

Line Break

They were sat deep in the woods, and Mara had fallen asleep, leaning on his arm. Jerome couldn't help but smile. She was so perfect.

"I love you," she mumbled deep in her sleep. Jerome should have been ecstatic, but he had a nasty feeling, she wasn't talking about him. "Edmon," she continued softly. Jerome clenched his teeth. Unsure who he was most angry with.

When she awoke he wouldn't make eye contact with her. And they walked to the house in mostly silence. Finally they walked into the living room. Where Mara snapped

"Okay Jerome, what's wrong? Just tell me!" Mara demanded. Alfie and Amber turned from their position in the kitchen and crouched immediately, watching the scene unfold.

"What's wrong? Why wouldn't anything be wrong? I just happen to wait and wait for you to be over that meat-head, only to realise he was just a rebound!"

"What?"

"You heard me." Jerome hissed, pointing an accusing finger at her. "Mick was just a rebound. It was Edmon that you weren't over."

"What?" Mara asked again. "You don't know what you're talking about." she snapped

"Oh." Jerome raised his eye brow, ready for the challenge "Then tell me something Mara. Did Edmon have blonde hair? Did Edmon enjoy sports? Was Edmon Mr Popular? Was Edmon not very clever?" he watched her. Mara didn't respond, only looked down, shame faced. He was spot on. "Well, I'm not going to be a rebound Mara. We're through."

"Jerome!" Mara called, upset. "I am over Edmon. You are not a rebound, you just said it yourself, Mick was the rebound, not you! Never you!"

"Right." Jerome chocked disbelievingly. He blinked away any tears "That's why I'm blonde, and I'm a prankster and have family issues! You said it yourself Mara! I'm just like him!"

"No Jerome!" Mara shook her head, "You're wrong! I am over him!"

"I heard you! I heard you say you loved him! When you were sleeping!"

"So?" Mara scoffed "Seriously? You're going to leave me, over something I said in my sleep!"

Jerome's response was low and very quiet, all ears had to focus to hear him "If you're still thinking about him, after two years. And you're still saying you love him, then what am I Mara?"

"Jerome please," Mara cried, tears flowing freely down her face. "You can't…"

"I was so stupid to ever think…" and he turned and walked away

"Please," Mara crouched down and buried her head in her knees, crying helplessly. It was all her fault.

"So, I'll take Jerome, and you do Mara?" asked Amber. Alfie nodded obediently.

Line break

"Mara, you've been crying for the best part of an hour." Mara looked up at him, cheeks stained red.

"Sorry,"

"Wow. When I say that to Amber I usually get hit." Mara laughed lightly. "Hey Mara," he said softer, sitting down beside her and wrapping his arm around her "Remember when we were friends?"

"Of course I do Alfie," Mara sniffed

"Good. Just checking."

"I really messed up, didn't I?"

"Well, in all fairness, you were asleep." Mara didn't even ask how Alfie knew that part, Alfie was like Jerome like that. He always knew things he wasn't suppose to know.

"How do I fix this?"

"You'd be surprised how often people are asking me that question."

"Alfie," she laughed, nudging him slightly

"Why don't you meet up with Edmon again, huh? And try to get rid of the feelings that you obviously still have for him."

"Do you think that would work?"

"Who knows little M? But try it anyway."

Line break

"They sent you, off all people to try and comfort me?" Jerome smirked as Amber stepped into the room. Amber's hair was long and blond with a bright pink hair band in. She wore dark blue jeans and a light blue top.

"I can't believe you dumped her." Amber stated. Jerome looked up at her, from where he was sat at the end of his bed

"Why? Because of you're stupid scrap book?"

"No." Amber huffed "And scrap books are not stupid."

"Then what?"

"I can't believe you dumped her, because you've been waiting so long for this." She looked down at him, and her normally blank eyes were filled with sympathy "You waited for her to finally say yes Jerome. Then she did, and you just dumped her."

"Amber you don't under-"

"Oh I understand Jerome," she snarled "I understand that you just made a massive mistake. She was starting to really like you. And even if she wasn't over 'Edmon' just yet, she would have gotten over him by constantly being with you. You messed up."

"How would you kn-"

"Just trust me. Okay? You messed up, and you better fix it. Because soon she's going to forgive you on her own, and treat you like a friend."

"What?"

"Exactly."

Line break

Mara paced outside for a moment, mobile phone in hand.

"Just phone him," Alfie moaned from the side. He had his head in his hands. Jerome held his breath, he had been on his way to school, when he'd over heard the voices.

"But isn't that a bit awkward? Phoning and ex after two years and wanting to meet them?" Mara worried aloud. Alfie sighed audibly

"Just dially dial."

"You're right. I should do this. For Jerome." And she dialled the numbers. She held the phone to her ear, unsure what to expect

"Put it on speaker," Alfie requested. Mara nodded, maybe if she did that Alfie would be able to tell her if he was angry with her or not. She always found it hard to tell over the phone.

"Hi, is this who I think it is?" the male voice answered. Jerome listened intently. So this was Edmon? Intriguing.

"Who do you think it is?" she asked

"Mara? Mara is that you? Mara Jaffray?"

"Hey Edmon," she said nervously, Alfie gave her the thumbs up

"Oh my gosh, I haven't heard from you, in what? Two years?"

"Yeah, that seems about right," she hedged

"So what can I do for you?"

"Well, it's a bit much to ask…"

"Come on, you know I'd do anything for you,"

"Still?" There was a sigh on the other side of the phone

"Mara, you know everything that happened between me and Cindy was nothing, you just came at the wrong moment, if you had been like three seconds earlie-"

"Let's not get into it now," Mara said quickly "I was wondering, is there any chance of you coming to visit me? There's this hotel a few blocks away from my school. I really want to see you again."

"See me again?"

"Not like that Ed," Mara giggled slightly. He was so optimistic, it was amusing.

"Nah, I get it Mara, I was thinking of taking a little break anyway. I'll be there in two days,"

"Two days?" Mara and Alfie chocked out. Mara put a finger to her lips, a sign for Alfie to shut up "You don't have to come so soon, Ed-"

"No, I want to. Send me the details of the hotel. See you in two days Mara."

"Yeah," Mara trailed of quietly, about to click her phone shut.

"Hey Mara?"

"Yes?"

"I've missed you," and then the phone clicked shut.

"Well, if you ask me that went a little too well." Alfie murmured. Jerome silently agreed.

"I've missed him too," Mara whispered.

If you're wondering why Edmon is coming so quickly, well I don't really have an answer. He just IS. DEAL WITH IT!

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