Third update of the night! Prompted by 'Guest' I would have liked a username, because I liked the idea, so I would have liked to thank you. Anyway:

The Swap

Beginning

Eddie and Mara sat beside each other on the sofa in the living room. Worried. It had always been that Jerome and Patricia were jealous of them spending time together, but now…things were quite the opposite.

Patricia was sat at the end of the table, and Jerome adjacent to her. They were both leaning in, talking in whispers, looking quite…cosy. "You know," Mara whispered to Eddie "A while ago, Patricia and Jerome were best friends. Like, she always helped them with pranks, and they always hung out in his room together."

"Really?" Eddie frowned worriedly "But…I thought she hated him."

"Patricia doesn't hate anyone. She just likes to harbour grudges."

"She knew who Jerome's uncle was, remember?" he reminded, and Mara's frowned deepened. Yes, she did remember. When Jerome went searching for the gem with his uncle, she hadn't known he had one, but then Patricia knew, she knew his name, as if she'd met him before. Just how close had they been? "And she said that they were really close,"

"When Nina first arrived, he helped her force Nina into the attic." Mara nodded, remembering "He had a nickname for her, Trixie. I don't have a nickname. I'm just Jaffray."

"She calls him Slimeball. They have all this playful teasing. She only ever calls me Eddie. Or…Sweetie Junior. She doesn't share anything with me, and the things she does share, she tells everyone!"

"Stop." Mara took a deep breath "Nothing's going on between them, they're just friends." She stated, not very believable. Eddie rolled his eyes

Line Break

"Tell me," Patricia urged, whispering. Jerome's eyes flickered to Mara's for a fraction of a second, but she seemed to be listening to Eddie, so he took a deep breath, but then shut his mouth, shaking his head.

"I can't Trix." He whispered.

"Jerome," she placed her hand on his arm, in a friendly manner, and Jerome realised…he had missed this red haired girl. This gothic chick who was once his best friend. She seemed to realise the same thing "We went different ways,"

"You mean you joined the Scooby club."

"If I recall, you were once begging to be one of us."

"I left."

Patricia sighed, deciding to end this argument there, so she went back to their previous topic. "I told you mine. Please, Jerome. It'll help, I promise. You can't keep this to yourself. You have to share it. And I'm the only person who really understands."

Jerome nodded his head, convincing himself that she was right "On windy days I hear this voice whisper my name." he whispered, voice thick "When I'm trying to sleep, I remember his eyes. Whenever someone phones me, I have to check the caller ID. I don't like going for walks on my own anymore. I have to be alert all the time. In my mind, he's everywhere. Whenever Alfie comes back late, I have a panic attack. When I can't find Mara, you, Eddie or Nina, I think the worst. I have to check on Poppy every morning, if I don't see her around school, I literally can't breathe. I have to check my room, over and over again, looking for signs that he's been in there." He gushed it all out, eyes glistening, but he refused to let any tears to fall.

Patricia watched him, trying not to show her shock. She knew Jerome had been scarred by Rufus. She knew that, but she hadn't realised what the damage had been. Jerome had always been very fragile. She knew that. "Jerome, he's dead."

"Yeah, you said that last year if I recall correctly."

"You saw him die."

"My eyes have deceived me before."

"Jer-" but Jerome put his hand up, cutting her off, before he whispered in a very low voice.

"Eddie and Mara are staring at us."

Patricia didn't move, catching on quickly "Why?"

"Well," Jerome leaned in, a little closer than necessary, "If I'm right, and I usually am, I would say, they were jealous." Patricia covered her mouth to stop from laughing. "Oh wow. This is a good feeling. Mara is jealous, because I'm talking to you! Oh, I knew she loved me back."

"Sweeties seriously jealous? That is adorable!" Patricia turned to him "You're jealous!" she pointed and laughed, Eddie stood upright, shocked, and Patricia sprinted, as Eddie ran after her. Mara and Jerome's eyes met, and she smiled shyly.

"My my, Jaffray. It would seem-" he stood up and walked over to her "-that you were jealous."

"Was not." She stuck out her tongue playfully. Jerome laughed "And so what if I am?"

"Nothing." Jerome pursed his lips "I just like it, that's all." He shrugged "I like knowing you want me."

Mara whacked him in the chest, before hugging him tightly.

Prompts!