It seemed that Jerome was keeping Juliana in the dark. He was doing deals and keeping secrets…He was starting to avoid her now, not talking to her with the exception of the day he bought all those gifts.

Juliana had been at the initiation ceremony for Alfie and had run back to the house to get her chemistry lab when she saw Jerome standing in the hall, his back to her- with a million bags.

"Jerome? I never figured you for the shopping type…there is a little girl inside you- crying to come out isn't there?" Juliana smiled but Jerome didn't even react to her. "Jerome?" Her smile started to fade away. "Jerome?" Still no answer. "Jerome!" She ran around to his side and looked at him, square in the face. "Jerome? Why didn't you answer me!…Why do you look so frightened- like you've seen a ghost?" Juliana put her hand to hold up his chin so he'd look her straight in the face- but his deep blue eyes seemed far off, and distant. "Jerome. Please. You're scaring me." She was on the verge of tears and her voice broke.

You're scaring me.

You're scaring me.

You're scaring me.

No! Jerome seemed to come back to life. Never. He would never, ever hurt Jillian in any way. He looked up into her face; he almost had.

"Jillian, look at me. Everything's alright." He dumped his phone in his bag and stroked her cheek, using his thumb to wipe away the tears. "C'mon, don't cry. Please- for me?"

Juliana didn't look at him.

"Juliana- look at me."

Her eyes widened, her eyes widened and the tears came to a crawl. He had never called her that. Not once. Well- he had, in the very beginning, but it had been years…

"I got you something." He smiled at her and pulled his arm away to reach into one of the bags and he pulled out a little case.

Juliana looked up at him and then at the little blue box and took it. She slowly opened it. Inside was the most beautiful necklace she had ever seen in her life! There was a nice blue sapphire in the center, surrounded by tiny little diamonds on a silver chain.

"Jerome! I love it! How did you…"

"I've…been saving…"

"I love it." She kissed his cheek and she put it on. And then she removed her hair trapped underneath the necklace and it spread out evenly over her shoulders.

Jerome looked at her.

"The sapphire matches your eyes."

Juliana blushed and looked down. "I have to get the chem. Lab- I'll see you back at class yeah?"

"Definitely. I have to put all these bags away anyhow."

And they went off.

Jerome was in huge trouble. He had been threatened by Rufus. Basically his life if he didn't deliver by tomorrow. But he could not worry Jillian. That was a close one. Thank God that jewelry threw her off. But it didn't throw off Alfie.

Alfie drew pictures for each of the puzzle pieces and Jerome took them and accidentally mentioned Rufus by name.

"Rufus Zeno! He's a nut job! He kidnapped Patricia!" Alfie reasoned, but Jerome refused to believe it.

"If I don't give these to him by tomorrow, I'll be in huge trouble." Jerome said, through gritted teeth when Alfie took the drawings back.

"I can't let you do this. Give the money back." But of course, that option was out. "Oh Jerome! You are in trouble man. I can't believe you didn't think this through! You only thought about yourself! Have you even thought about what could happen to you around him? Don't trust him! Bad enough if I lose my best friend, but what about Juliana? Have you even thought about how she would react if you got hurt? Isn't she important to you?"

Jerome had had it. "No. Don't say that Alfie." Only Alfie knew how to pull the strings on Jerome perfectly. "Give. It."

"No!" And Alfie ran out, and Jerome chased after him, only for Victor to take the drawings. Alfie, smug turned and walked out while Jerome groaned as he saw Mick and Mara get back together.

He trudged back to his room.

Speaking of Mick…when he had done his lame skit for Mara, Juliana watched and giggled. Of course, he had screamed at Amber for something about 'total humiliation,' and ran out. Juliana sighed and chased after him, and she hugged him as he relaxed.

"How is that Jules- that you don't say a word- but you say all the right ones anyway? Does that even make sense?" Juliana grinned and she patted him on the head, laughed silently and walked upstairs.

At dinner, everyone saw her necklace.

"Whoa- look at that rock!" Trudy exclaimed, coincidently right as Jerome had got up hastily and left.

"Oh…" Juliana touched the cold stone. "It's from Jerome…a gift." Alfie narrowed his eyes at that and he took off as well- finding Jerome.

"Take your stupid hat back! You need all the money you can get. You bought Juliana a necklace? Are you insane! You're getting closer and closer to her- and Rufus will just hurt you and shatter you and your "girl's" hearts. And why are you in here!"

"Looking for the elixir. Which isn't hear. You lied. You must not be my friend. Either you theirs and you're feeding me fake information, or your mine and they're the ones betraying you!"

"No Jerome. It's you who's betrayed us. All of us." Alfie shook his head sadly and left Mick and Fabian's room.

And with all the pieces in hand, they all were smiling.

And Juliana, like all the others were totally unaware of just how frightening and bad that this treasure hunt would turn out to be.