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"Who's Tristan?" Jerome asked, as Mara stepped through Anubis House doors. It was late, the sky dark just visible through the windows, a few stars making appearance. He had been upstairs, taking his share of the tapes from Victor, when he saw her through the window, coming up the steps, and she looked happy.

Mara frowned and looked up at him "What?" she brushed some hair out of her face, a confused smile taking over her pretty face.

"Tristan? The guy you just spent," he looked down at his watch, but it was just for show, he knew exactly how much time she had spent with him "Four hours with?"

"Oh, he's just a friend, in my advanced science class,"

"What were you doing with him?"

"Well, he wanted to know if we would be partners in the science project, and obviously I said yes, his power is to control the rate at things grow. He can change plants, into different plants!" Mara squealed excitedly. Jerome arched an eye brow at her

"Fascinating." He muttered, although he had to stop himself from smiling at how cute she looked when she got excited about something nerdy. He remembered when he would have found it annoying, obviously not anymore. Mara rolled her eyes, whacking his arm slightly.

"Don't be rude," she murmured. Sliding the black coat off her shoulders, and about to place it on the coat hook.

"Wait, wait, wait," Jerome scolded, plucking the coat from her small hands. He looked at it for a moment "This isn't your coat." He stated.

"Oh yeah," realisation dawned into Mara's eyes "That's Tristan's, he gave it to me when it got cold,"

"Oh, did he?" Jerome asked, only just managing to contain his anger. "How good of him,"

"Jerome?"Mara asked, placing a hand on his arm "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Jerome sighed, running a hand through his hair, he put the coat on the rack for her. "I'm just tired,"

"Okay," Mara nodded.

Jerome looked down at her, and he didn't know why he did. But when he saw her with Tristan, maybe he was wrong. Maybe he didn't love her, maybe they weren't meant to be. And he had to be sure, and there was only one way to be sure, only one way he knew how to be sure. He looked deep into her eyes, and turned on the switch in his mind

"Mara Jaffray, after I say now, you will kiss Jerome Clarke, and not remember it." He paused, not really sure if he was going to say it, he licked his lips, and took a deep breath "N-now."

It wasn't him who made the first move, and it was a poor excuse, but Mara stood on tiptoes and placed her lips onto his, gently. Eyes fluttering shut. Jerome could feel his heart soaring, and he felt like he could fly, felt like he could do anything. And he knew then that he really did love this girl, so he should have stopped. But he didn't.

He wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her closer and the other in her hair, feeling the softness around his fingers. Mara wrapped her arms around his neck, and she smelt like strawberries, strawberries and sugar and happier times.

Jerome nipped at her bottom lip, lost in the sensation, caught up in the moment, forgetting that she wasn't really doing any of this, because when her lips parted and their tongued danced for dominance, he let out a low groan. And he knew that once they pulled apart, Mara would snap out of it, so he kissed her, held her until his lungs burnt, and with fast beating heart he was forced to pull away.

He watched her for half a second, watched her panting, before he stepped back, letting go of her completely.

Mara's eyes refocused and her breath returned to normal "Okay then, have a good sleep," and she hugged him tightly, waved at him, then walked up the stairs.

Jerome watched her leave, hands behind his back "Oh I will," he whispered, turning and walking slowly to his room.

Line Break

It was the early hours of the morning, only about 3 am, but Jerome wouldn't sleep. His back hurt from scraping it along the wall when hiding from a teacher, and the already bruised welts burned. And the thoughts of Mara weren't helping either, now he knew exactly what he couldn't have, knew exactly what he was missing out on. And it just made him want it all the more. He sat up in his bed, and tiptoed into the bathroom to Alfie's rhythmically snores, so that he wouldn't be heard. He got dressed in a red shirt, dark jeans and his scuffed up shoes that he promised Trudy he would throw out.

He walked out of the room, closing it behind him and out of Anubis House. His hands stuffed in his pocket as he walked down away from the school, breathing in the fresh cool air. His hair was probably messy, but for once, he didn't mind. He walked over onto the damp grass, and his eye brows raised when he noticed something in the grass.

He picked it up, it looked like a weird necklace, with a white amulet thing with weird patterns and brown string. He looked around, as if the person who had dropped it would suddenly just appear out of nowhere. He shook his head, grinning at his own stupidity and stuffing it into his pocket.

"Jerome Clarke." Came a voice. Jerome turned slowly, looking up a man through his fringe. A man with dull grey eyes, receding hair and a black leather jacket stepped out of the shadows. And Jerome did not feel afraid.

"Who's asking?" he asked in the same sort of tone, low and dangerous. Ready for anything. The man laughed

"I like you," he said.

"You'd be the first,"

Again, the man laughed, an odd, unused sound that sounded odd ringing in Jerome's ears. "You're in the same house as…Nina Martin and Patricia?"

"Yes,"

"You know what they're up to?"

"I could very easily. But I've decided not to get involved in whatever stupid situations they've placed themselves into." And Jerome liked talking like this. Like the mystery, the curiosity, because he was so good at it. This was his specialty this was what he was good at.

"You're very smart, Jerome," said the man, placing a rather forceful hand on Jerome's shoulder and they walked slowly "Those stupid children don't know what they're getting into, but if you help me, there won't be anything for them to get involved in,"

"What do I have to do?"

"Just find out what it is they're doing, and everything they find, bring to me,"

"And what will they find?" Jerome asked, turning to watch the man. The man grinned

"All sorts of rubbish, but you will be rewarded for everything you bring to me,"

"Sounds fair," Jerome nodded, scratching his head "And what sort of reward is this?"

The man dug into his pocket and produced a few hundred dollar bills "I'll pay you this in advance, you seem like a trustworthy boy, Jerome." Jerome took the money, a small smile on his face

"Odd, considering I don't know your name."

"I'm Rufus," Rufus nodded, "When you find something, meet me here, again, same time, same place."

Jerome nodded, taking out his phone which luckily were in his trouser pockets "Number?"

"Why?"

"In case something goes horribly wrong and the police come after you," Jerome answered smartly. Rufus glared at him

"Alright, but save me under a different contact name."

"Sure," Jerome muttered, getting up the contacts page "Someone really is running from the police aren't they?"

"I'm surprised someone as pretty as you isn't screaming and running for the hills- save me as Rene,"

"I didn't realise you were a girl. And you wouldn't believe half the things I've seen. Nothing you could do would ever scare me," Jerome nodded, typing in the digits and sliding the phone back into his pocket. Rufus watched him

"I'm not so sure about that," but Rufus didn't take over Jerome, didn't use his body snatching skill, he would wait to see if the boy would make this easy for himself. "Off you go Jerome, and don't leave me waiting."

Jerome nodded, dipping his head in Rufus's direction as a goodbye, before he turned and walked away. Over the moon at the fact he'd decided to go for a walk after all.

So Summary: Jerome has realised he wants Mara, and he's obviously doing anything to get her, but when she's busy, he's going to be ready to do anything for Rufus. After all, if you can't beat them, join them…right?

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