A/N:Yes! We finally get to learn what Rose has been keeping from everyone! I figured it was about time, I just didn't know how I was gonna do it, then Alfie said...well, we all know, and I was like, perfect! Well, at first his ignorance bugged me like it did Rose, but oh well. Can't all be perfect. Little longer chapter than normal...I think...but who cares? Okay, I think this chapter catches up to the show, new chapter tomorrow about the episode tomorrow. I'm hoping being caught up will get me more organized with this story, and also clear my DVR haha. Anyway, enjoy!

I kept the same serious expression while his changed. Confusion, understanding, a hint of anger, and worry all flashed through his eyes. Those blue eyes that had me captivated since the first time I saw him...But now wasn't the time to obsess over my hot-assed boyfriend.

"So when you left," Jerome finally spoke, "To go to a different school...you were actually in the hospital with cancer?"

I nodded. "I didn't want you to worry, or to treat me different when—or if—I came back."

"You should have told me, I wouldn't treat you different. I won't. I'll worry, but—"

"See, that's the thing. I don't need you to worry about me. I'm fine. I'm strong enough to handle this." I paused, thinking of the questions that were for sure buzzing through his head and how I could answer them.

"It all started around the same time as the play. I had been feeling bad for a few weeks before that, remember? But I didn't pay any attention. My parents and the school made me go to many doctors to find out what was wrong with me. They caught it early. They let me finish my last two days here, and then they pulled me out, with the order to not tell anyone.

"I wasn't planning on keeping in touch with you guys while I was gone, but when you wrote, it made me so happy. I had to write back, otherwise you'd think I was ignoring you. I liked you, and didn't want you to think that. But I was always sick. You noticed, how I'd always complain, so I stopped telling you how sick I was, when in truth, I always was. That's why my letters were so short, and offered up nothing. I didn't have the energy to make anything up.

"My cancer went away, so I came back, but the teachers and Victor and Trudy, and now even Vera, are keeping an annoyingly close watch on me. Not to mention doctor's appointments every two weeks. You've noticed I disappear with Trudy all the time, and the medicine? I had you convinced it was nothing. It's cancer medicine."

"So that's what you and Trudy were talking about!" Jerome said. "Okay, over the summer, I wrote you about that, and I knew you were lying, so I came to talk to you face to face, but I forgot about it, because of the whole—"

"Yeah, I got it thanks."

"It makes sense."

"You aren't mad?" I asked. I expected him to be.

"You just told me your darkest secret. How could I be mad?"

"I lied to you! So many times, I...I thought you'd want nothing to do with me. I'm a liar!"

"No, no, you're not! Sh..." he said, pulling me into a tight hug. "I understand why you lied, and I don't hate you for it. I could never hate you. Got it?"

I felt tears sting my eyes, and I didn't trust my voice, so I nodded.

We sat like that for a few minutes, and I didn't notice the tears streaming down my face. I drew in a shaky breath. He looked at me, then wiped away my tears, saying nothing. Jerome understood me. He knew I'd talk when I was ready.

"What did I do?" I mumbled.

"Pardon?"

"How did I get you? You have every girl after you, and you're hot, and cocky, and—how did I get so lucky?"

"You know, most people would consider me a curse, not a blessing."

"Well those people don't know the real you. You're sweet and kind, and caring—" I cut off as a new round of tears started.

"Shhh..." he said, holding me close. He rested his chin against my head and just sat there with me, stroking my face.

After a while my breathing became more even. He looked at me. "Are you sleeping?" I shook my head. "Are you done crying?" I nodded. He got up and went to the bathroom, wetting a towel. I put it over my eyes to reduce the redness. I may have let a few tears slip into the towel, but for the most part I was done. He kept his arm around me the whole time. Then he looked over at the clock.

"It's almost time for the masquerade, and we're all required to go," Jerome said. "Unless you want me to tell Victor you're sick—" he began, but cut off. He knew now what Victor would say if he told him I was sick.

I shook my head. "I'll go. I just need a few minutes. I'll be fine," I said to his worried look. "I need something normal. Go down, get ready, I'll meet you downstairs soon, okay?"

I didn't wait for an answer. I just kissed him. Only for a minute, but it was enough. "No more carrot breath," I said in explaination.

O-o-O

"Hey," Nina said, coming into my room. "You getting ready for the masquerade?"

"Yeah, yeah." I stepped out from behind my dresser where she couldn't see me from the door. I had my black dress on that Jerome thought would look perfect with the mask he picked out. "Zip up my dress?" I asked. She complied.

Nina was already wearing her dress that Jerome had sold to her. It was colorful and pretty.

Nina went to sit on the bed. "So, how are you and Jerome?" she asked shyly. She picked up the notebook I was doodling in earlier and started flipping through the pages.

"Good," I said, nodding.

"Glad to know one of us is having luck in our relationship," she said quietly.

"I'm sorry!" I said quickly. "Hey, Fabian really likes you, I can tell. Joy is an idiot who's liked him for a while, but Fabian never really liked her; they were strictly just friends."

She nodded, not really paying attention. "Where is Joy now?" she asked.

"She left early to get everything ready."

"Oh." Nina flipped through pages of my book. It was kind of personal, seeing as I had written some sexy fanfictions lately (I blame Jerome), but she didn't read anything. Then she stopped on the page I had drawn on today.

"What is this?" she asked startled.

"Just something I was doodling today. I don't actually..." I began but trailed off. It was a shape. The Jackal Mark. "I had a dream about a woman. A spirit woman," I said, and Nina looked at me in shock. "She had this symbol on her hands and tried to touch me. I forgot all about it until now!"

"She didn't touch you, did she?" Nina asked frantically, looking at my shoulders.

"No, I'm fine. But you aren't," I realized. "Nina, if you've been getting Sibuna back together, you realize I need to be in it, right? I'm your prophetess."

"I'm sorry, I just don't want to put anyone else in danger."

"Well, too bad!" I joked. "I think the simple fact that I drew this automatically means I'm in 'danger' like the rest of you."

"Fine," Nina surrendered, then told me everything I needed to know.

O-o-O

At the masquerade, Fabian made a very good speech, then went to talk to Nina. I saw them look over at me a few times, and I knew Nina was telling him about how she told me what was going on. Then I felt Jerome's arms around my waist. "Come dance with me," he whispered in my ear, and I had a sense of Deja vu from prom night.

I went on the dance floor with him. I put my hands around his neck and he put his around my waist. We danced in silence for a few minutes.

I stared into his eyes. Those eyes, I had fallen for his blue eyes the second I had saw him, though it wasn't until a little later that we became friends, and it wasn't until a lot later that I started to like him. Looking at them now, I realized something. I realized I loved him.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Nina run off and Fabian attempt to catch her, but he got stopped by the teachers, so I figured it was my job to go after her. "I'll be back," I told Jerome, but he held me tight.

"I have to tell you something first."

"What?"

He looked like he was struggling with words. He also looked...nervous? We had stopped dancing and now it was like time was standing still, waiting for him. He finally took in a breath. "I love you," he said.

I forgot all about Nina. I smiled and leaned in to kiss him quickly. "I love you too."