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"Amber," Tristan's kind face and kind heart ached at the sight of her "I…" he shook his head, eyes wide and hoping that she would understand. But she didn't. "I don't…I don't think we should…get back….you know….together,"

Amber's eyes widened, and her eyes brows furrowed together. For once, the models posture was poor "But I thought…I thought you loved me,"

"Amber," he sighed her name, and took her hands in his larger ones "I do love you but I think…I don't….feel the same way anymore. I mean, you said it yourself, we're two very different people-"

"Opposites attract," she pointed out smartly "And we balance each other out,"

"You mean I bore you and stop you from going out and enjoying yourself?" he arched an eyebrow "Amber, we have nothing in common."

"Fine." She lifted her chin defiantly "You don't want me," Tristan's heart broke at the sight and he shook his head

"Amber, you don't love me."

She stepped back, as if the accusation had physically forced her back. And she closed her mouth, flicking her hair back and storming out.

Line Break

"Mr Oke," Jerome nodded his head, he managed to force a smile onto his face. This man had killed his parents, but the fear and horror he had felt when thinking he had killed him. "I'm just here to take Mara out for lunch,"

Mr Oke nodded, his right arm was broken, but it was in a cast, with a few signatures on it "I'm not opposed to it lad, it looks good in the press when the young billionaire walks in here." He smiled and Jerome couldn't look at him "And take her out for an extra long lunch break, she's working herself to death."

Jerome nodded, walking into Mara and Tristan's office. He stood in the doorway for a second, just admiring her. She was looking up at the ceiling, but her fingers were typing hurriedly. She was a touch typer, and pretty good, she frowned at the cracks in the ceiling, finishing off her sentence. Before she eventually looked at the screen. Jerome was about to step forward and make a joke, when he noticed Tristan come in from the back room and take his seat opposite Mara, the room was busy with typing and people coming in and out, that the pair didn't notice Jerome watching.

Tristan was upset, Jerome could tell that much, and he moved into the photocopying room, right behind him, and opened the window, so he could hear what they were saying. "I said I didn't want to get back together,"

Mara's eyes widened in shock "But I thought you loved her-"

"Me too," Tristan nodded earnestly "I just…I've been thinking lately, and I'm not sure we are as…compatible as I thought,"

"You were head over heels," she argued. "Tristan…you were…" she laughed slightly "You were dating a model, not many guys I know would give that up for nothing," she leaned forward "Is there someone else?"

Tristan looked into her eyes and his mind was filled of the images of the alternate universes and the possible futures, with him and Mara together, and so very happy. But he recoiled from the thought. No, this was this universe. "I don't know," he said finally. There was silence between them, so Jerome decided to step out, feeling guilty for eaves dropping on something so private.

"Hey gorgeous," he smiled, kissing her cheek. Tristan watched them, and looked down at his hands. The pair didn't notice "I wanted to take you out for lunch,"

"Aw, Jerome," she smiled "That's so sweet, but I'm absolutely swamped here, I'm not gonna have the time,"

"Then we'll have it here," Jerome grabbed an extra chair and sat on the third side, so he could see both Tristan and Mara.

About half an hour later, they were all chatting happily, Jerome leaning back in his chair, feet both up on the desk. Tristan swirling on his chair and Mara curled up on hers laughing. "So, Tristan…would you rather…be locked in a cage of tigers who hadn't eaten for years, or a maniac with knives,"

Mara scoffed at the unlikliness of that scenario, but Tristan had an answer ready "The tigers," both of them raised their eye brows "I mean, they're all dead, they haven't eaten in years," The two of them rolled their eyes at his intelligent answer. "What?" he asked defensively, leaning forward and snatching a piece of pineapple "Don't be jealous,"

Jerome laughed flicking the paper aeroplane he made towards him. Tristan caught it with lightening fast reflexes and the two shared a look. Mara laughed at them "You are both children,"

Tristan leaned back happily, stretching out his legs with a quite satisfied chuckle "Jerome, don't you have any work to do anymore?"

Jerome laughed "That's the great thing about being the billionaire, you don't need to do a thing,"

"You must get bored though," Tristan added thoughtfully "Right? I mean…that's why you do…yoga,"

Mara laughed at the way he said it, but defended her boyfriend "Sorry, I would stay and defend you, but I need to go home and grab my photocopies, I'll be back," they nodded, and Jerome kissed her softly, before she headed out.

Line Break

Mara headed straight for Jerome's house, she knew the code now and smiled at the secretary who was now used to seeing her face. Mara went straight to the bedroom, and looked under the bed, and found the ring. She picked it up, feeling incredibly sneaky. Right, she could go to alternate universes. So maybe if she focused, she could go to a universe where she could find out exactly what was going on here. She slid it onto her finger and the familiar rush whipped around her, and she disappeared.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE 57

Mara looked around, and she didn't know where she was. It was a large green room, computers all around the outside, there was a targeting board on the side. Mara walked towards the door, but then back tracked, she'd passed a mirror. She looked at herself and gasped. She was wearing a black leather body suit. Her hair was straight and down and she was wearing makeup. She moved around, just to check it was her. When she noticed the thing hanging around her neck. It was a masquerade mask on a piece of black elastic. She pulled it on, and it just covered her eyes and nose. She cocked her head, examining herself, when there was a loud bang.

She spun to see the Green Arrow and Tristan standing side by side. The Green Arrow was arching an arrow at her and Tristan was wearing all red and blue. "Daze," the Green Arrow whispered in a voice distorted voice "Why have you broken into our escape hatch?"

Mara didn't know how to respond, and decide to make a dash for it, only Tristan was in front of her in a heartbeat. Oh, she realised, he had his powers here too. She turned back to them and tried to look menacing, pointing to the Green Arrow "Remove your hood and glasses," she ordered. The Green Arrow made no move. "Now."

"Or you'll what?" his voice boomed back at her. Again, in less than a second Tristan was beside him, one hand on his shoulder

"GA, if she's trying to do this without anymore deaths, let's help her out," Tristan was fair and just and calm, as per usual, Mara noted with a slight jolt. He was always kind. The GA sighed, before removing his hood and sunglasses. Mara almost smiled when she saw her prediction was right, Jerome came into view, looking very handsome in deed. He tossed his sunglasses aside. "Jerome Clarke," she nodded

He frowned, frowning at her "You knew?" Mara said nothing "Remove your mask," Mara didn't even think about it, she pulled off the eye mask and they both stared at her. "Mara," Jerome whispered "Oh my god- I haven't seen you in years," he stepped forward with a wide smile "I thought you were dead," Mara said nothing, as Jerome hugged her softly, almost not quite touching her, when all of a sudden he was gone. Tristan had dragged him back. "Hey!" Jerome cried

Tristan's eyes were on Mara "Jerome- she died. She's dead," he turned to her "Who are you?"

"I…I'm sorry," she said finally, deciding she knew what she needed to know, and she was just making this painful now. She crossed her hands behind her back and got ready to turn the ring "I'm just a figment of your imagination. I'm not real, to either of you."

"Don't leave me," Jerome cried, stepping forward, tears in his sparkling eyes "Please Mara, I love you, don't you dare leave me again!"

Mara didn't understand, and spun the ring, disappearing. And when she arrived back, tears were staining her cheeks, and she didn't understand why.

Line Break

"Jerome," Mara whispered, stirring her vegetable soup as they sat in her house. She looked up at him, laughing at the beard of soup that stained his chin.

"Sorry," he apologised with a grin, setting the soup down and leaning back into her sofa. She was sat on the armchair opposite him. It hadn't taken much persuasion to get him to come to her house, he seemed rather eager.

"If…you had a secret…like a really big secret…would you tell me?"

Jerome's eyes widened slightly, but other than that he didn't give much away "Like what?"

"I don't know," Mara shrugged, trying to act casual "Something big though, something you were hiding…would you trust me enough to tell me?" Jerome pushed himself back into her cushions

"I would trust you with a secret I had," he said eventually. Mara didn't like the wording

"It's just sometimes," she hinted "You seem like you're hiding something, something big," her eyes were wide with wonder and Jerome met them.

There was silence for a very long time, and Mara dared not break it, hoping that he would speak. But it went on, the tv hummed with static, and she could hear wind blowing upstairs, she had left a window open this morning. Jerome sighed eventually and she watched him straighten up, fearing he was leaving, she leaned forward too

"…Mara," he said eventually, licking his lips, and suddenly his voice turned very sincere, "With you, I feel more complete that I ever have in my life, like I'm finally…working right," his eyes sparkled blue and she couldn't look away. He ran a hand through his hair "There was this hole…and I couldn't fill it, but you do…perfectly." He sighed again and his voice begged "Please, don't do this,"

Mara wanted desperately to do what he wanted. But she couldn't. She was a journalist, she lived and breathed the truth. "What aren't you telling me?"

He groaned, rubbing his face with his hands, and when he looked back up at her his eyes were red "Nothing,"

Mara's shoulders slumped and she looked down at her knees "I…" I know who you are, Green Arrow… is what she desperately wanted to say. But she couldn't bring herself to do it, if he wouldn't tell her on his own, what was the point? "I think you should go,"

Jerome groaned again, more angrily this time, and he stood, making a show of it "What is this Mara? Are you dumping me again?"

"Jerome!" she scolded, standing up "I don't….I-"

"Can never give a straight answer?" he finished for her crudely "Fine. Fine I had way more of a fun time with Amber anyway-" he stopped when he saw her eyes widen and her mouth drop open. The tears that sprang to the chocolate orbs, and she took back as if he'd slapped her. "No-"

"Get. Out." She whispered

"Mara, I didn't mean that," he stepped forward, but she stepped away, and he knew there was no convincing her. And like a little boy who had his favourite toy taken away he fumed "Fine. If this is how it's gonna be- us always breaking up, then we can't be together, can we?"

Mara said nothing, tears streaming down her face as she hugged herself. And she felt so stupid for even bringing it up. But she knew he was right.

"I…wanted us to work so badly," his voice broke and she met his eyes "But you…you can't leave well enough alone-"

"Well enough for who?" she cried loudly "You think- you think-" she gestured between them "This is good? Jerome, I want to get to know you so badly, but you keep hiding yourself away! You don't trust me- You don't…you don't-"

"You mean I'm not Tristan?" he cried, and Mara's eyes widened and she scoffed

"Right, that's it." She said sarcastically. He glared at her venomously

"I've seen the way you look at him," he growled, and as he spoke he was surprising himself. He didn't know he felt this strongly, or that this was what he was feeling "You're in love with him, and he's in love with you, and I'm just a pawn in this bigger game you have going on!" he picked up his coat and walked out the door, not allowing her to say another word.

As soon as he was outside, in the cold night air he regretted everything. But as he thought about turning around and knocking on her door, he heard the locks click, and he shrugged his jacket on, walking away.

His tall silhouette faded the further and further he walked. His head was hunched down at his shoes, and a flickering lamp shade illuminated the expression on his face, and as good as Jerome was at masking his feelings the moon could see what he was feeling, and it reflected brightly down for him. But the lonely man did not notice.

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