BeBe: Okay! I am back! Now, I don't know if you (for those of you who read my short story) noticed, but, I made it so that at the beginning Beatrice said that they were "Almost adults" and then at the end, she said they "Were adults." Didn't know if any of you caught that, but I thought it was pretty clever.
Anyway, on with the story!

Bri nearly skipped out of the attic, holding the box close to her chest. She was so excited that she'd found it, she could hardly keep it in. She felt like screaming at the top of her lungs. Announcing to the world that she had succeeded.

She could feel Jerome's gaze on the back of her head. He was smiling-she knew that, but she hardly cared. Yeah, she was that excited.

"So, what is it that you found?" he asked, still smiling.

Bri froze, before turning halfway around to face him. She couldn't tell him, it was a secret, that she wasn't supposed to let out. "It's none of your buisness." she glared.

Jerome chuckled. "Okay, fine. I see how it is."

"No," Bri sighed, "It's not that. It's just-Nina wanted me to keep this from all the boys. She said-she said that it was embarrassing if you guys were find out."

"So... George doesn't know, either?" Jerome's face seemed to darken at the name of Bri's friend.

"No." Bri glared at him, again. "And don't go glaring when he's mentioned, like that. He's never done anything to you."

"He stole you from me." Jerome mumbled.

"I was never yours!" Bri cried. "And, the two of us have been going out way before I even met you!"

Jerome blushed for a second before glancing away, looking dejected. Bri almost felt bad, but he'd been making her feel guilty ever since he'd told her he loved her, and she was done with it all. She couldn't deal with all the stress, right then.

"Besides." she bit her lip, and looked away. "Besides... besides you can't love me."

"And why not?" Jerome shot back.

"Because." Bri sighed, besides the obvious-she was Victor's grandchild, and might most likely be the reincarnation of some girl he tried to kill. "Because, I'm with George."

"Do you think that matters?" Jerome glared.

"It should!" Bri cried. "You shouldn't fall inlove with a girl who's already taken!"

"Well it's a bit too late for that, now, isn't it?" Jerome yelled back at her. It was a good thing they were still in the attic, or they would've woken the entire house. "Face it, Bri! I love you!"

"Well, you should stop!" tears were now cascading down her cheeks.

"And give me a good reason why that isn't that you're going out with George!" Jerome was yelling, but his eyes were pleading-begging for a reason not to love her. He didn't want to just as much as she didn't-she hoped.

"Because I'm moving back to America!"

(Jerome's p.o.v)

Bri gasped, throwing her hands over her mouth, and backing away from him, eyes wide. Jerome just continued to stare at her, dumbfounded by what she'd just said.

"What?" he gasped.

Sighing, Bri lowered her hands, and grabbed onto her right elbow. She looked so innocent in that pose that it took all his restraint not to grab her and hug her right then and there.

"I wasn't the one that pulled that prank." she whispered. "My friend Jack was, and I took the blame because I didn't want her to get expelled. Then she turned herself in, so I'm invited to come back after Christmas vacation."

She looked away for a second, eyes distant, before turning back. "I wasn't going to, at first. But, having all that fun with George made me realize just how much I miss them."

"When did you find this out?" Jerome asked, once he soaked all that in.

"George told me while we were out shopping." Bri sighed. "He misses me, and he wanted me to come back."

"So, you're leaving me?" Jerome whispered, feeling his voice crack and tears well up in his eyes. "Just... just like my parents?"

Bri looked up at him, confusion in her eyes. "What do you-I don't know what you're talking about."

"My parents abandoned me, here." Jerome glowered. "Just like you will."

"I'm sorry." Bri murmured, looking away. "I really am. I can't imagine having parents that would do that but-" she shook her head, solomnly. "-but, I really don't have much of a choice."

"Yes, you do." Jerome said, firmly, grabbing hold of her shoulders. "Bri, don't leave me."

"I have to, Jerome." she sighed. "I-My entire family is over there, Jerome. I have to go back."

"No, you-" Jerome sighed, this was getting him no where. "Please, at least think about it some more. Make the right choice." as he thought about her leaving, the anger in him began to build again, causing him to glare. Without thinking, he bent down and lightly brushed his lips against hers. "And realize I love you while you're at it."

And with that, he walked away. Leaving a shocked Bri behind him, her sobs and constant "I'm sorry"s drifting down the corridor.

BeBe: There's only about 5 or so more chapters left-plus an epilogue. It feels so weird being almost done with this story. Sigh. I feel like I've been writing it forever. Sigh... again. Anyway, review!