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"Can't believe she forgave you." Eddie muttered, the dark purple bruise on his cheek was still there. But under Mara's watchful eye, it was getting better. The two boys were laying the table, and it was just the two of them.

"What was that?" Jerome smiled, voice filled with amusement. He was holding the knives and forks in his hand. On the other side of the table.

"Nothing." Eddie said quickly, refusing to make eye-contact. "Loser."

Jerome laughed loudly at this, placing the knife in the correct place "Are you…jealous Sweetie Jr?"

"No." Eddie growled, placing the glass down. He looked up now, and glared right at Jerome. Turning his head slightly just so that Jerome had a nice clear view of the bruise. Jerome flinched, he did feel guilty. Hitting Eddie wasn't the way to solve his problems "Any way, I would be nicer to me, I could tell everyone you two are dating,"

"I don't think you would," Jerome sang

"And why not?"

"Because you're Mara's best friend, aren't you? What kind of best friend would betray her like that?" Oh Jerome was having fun with this now. Eddie glared at him, but knew he was right. He would never betray Mara like that.

"Hey Eddie," Patricia smiled, walking in. Eddie nodded at her

"Yacker," he grinned, his voice light "Are you here to stay, or on your way to Alfie?"

"Eddie, I've come to talk about that,"

"Go on then."

"Isn't he going to leave?" Patricia asked, they both turned to see a smiling Jerome, who was far too comfortable in this situation.

"Oh right, little old me," Jerome sang "I'm not going anywhere."

"Go on Yacker, anything you want to say to me, can be said in front of the Jokester."

"I love how you say that thinking it's an insult," Jerome murmured happily.

"I'm breaking up with you," Patricia said slowly, sliding her hands into her pockets. Eddie and Jerome froze.

"What?" Eddie looked at her, hurt obvious in his eyes.

"Look, I'm sorry. I just…I don't see us working out. I mean…we're so different."

"Patri-"

"Trixie! Are you crazy?" Jerome called, rushing over to Eddie's side "You can't break up with him!" Jerome was desperate here. Patricia was the only thing that was keeping Eddie and Mara apart. He needed her. "Look at him, he's so…rugged," he finished lamely.

"I'm sorry." Patricia said honestly, turning and walking out. Eddie's shoulders slumped and he looked down at the ground. Jerome stared hopelessly after her. Eventually he turned to look at the devastated boy. Jerome hesitantly placed a hand on his shoulder

"There….there," he said awkwardly. Eddie nodded. "Is that alright now?"

"Yeah, getting weird." They pulled away from each other gratefully.

"Sorry, man." Jerome said honestly

"I'm going to go talk to Mara." He headed for the door

"Hey!" Jerome called him back. Eddie turned "Don't try anything with her, Sweetie. I'm trusting you,"

Eddie watched him for a moment, and nodded "I won't man. Thanks," and with that Eddie left. Jerome watched after him. And he could only think. It could have been him. Mara could have the one that walked in and broken up with him. Then he would have gone and spoken to Patricia. So in a way he was…empathising.

Jerome shuddered at the thought, setting the table in silence.

Line Break

"I should have seen it coming." He sighed. Mara rubbed his back gently, soothingly. And it made him smile. How she could relax him, how she could calm anyone.

"No Eddie, this is not your fault. Your fault. You didn't deserve this. You are so good," she spoke so sadly, and she believed it all. Eddie didn't deserve this. He deserved happiness, he was a good person. "I'm so, so sorry,"

"Do you think she ditched me for Alfie?"

"Amber and Alfie are still strong," she whispered.

"So she left me because of me." He summed up, nodding. "Right."

"Oh Eddie, I'm so so sorry," she hugged him tightly, Eddie leaned his head on hers.

"You don't have anything to be sorry for,"

"Mara, dinner's ready." Jerome began, walking in. His eyes widened at the embrace the two of them were sharing. But he said nothing. Mara pulled away and smiled at him.

"Did you hear and Eddie and Patricia?"

"Yeah," he nodded. Mara smiled and walked towards Jerome "So you were comforting him?"

"Yeah,"

Eddie looked up "You said I could come in here, man."

"I said you could come in here. I didn't say you could hug my girlfriend."

Mara looked from both of them "What? What are you talking about?

"Eddie's trying to get you to go out with him!" Jerome accused.

"You're so insecure!" Eddie called, standing too.

"Jerome!" Mara yelled, they were both quiet. "I am not your property. I can hug whoever I want too. Don't you trust me?"

"No, I trust you Jaffray. I do. I don't trust that American," he pointed at Eddie. Eddie sighed, looking down. He really didn't have the fight in him today. He really didn't.

"Jerome." Mara walked towards Eddie, wrapping her arm around him "You have to accept that Eddie and I are friends, or we're over."

Jerome watched her, wide-eyed. And he didn't know what to say. Was this what Mara thought of him now? That all she had to do was threaten not being with him and he would bow to her every will. Is that how she saw him? That was wrong. There should be give and take in a relationship. Come to think of it, did Mara even really love him at all? And that was when Jerome realised, he couldn't give his heart to someone, without knowing he would be receiving theirs too. And the words were as much as a shock to him, as they were to the others "Then I guess we're over." And he turned and walked out.

Mara stared wide-eyed after him. She had not expected that. And an overwhelming sense of loss filled her. No! No! She loved him! She let out a tearless sob, stumbling forward. Eddie wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Shhh," he whispered, pulling her in for a hug, kissing the top of her head "Shhh, he's not worth it, Ara. He's not,"

Eddie looked through the door as well, waiting for Jerome to come back and beg for Mara's forgiveness. But he didn't. And as Mara cried into Eddie's shirt. All she could think was.

He was worth it. He is worth it.

Line Break

Jerome sat on the sofa, all the lights were out. It was one am exactly. Mara had left him a note on his pillow to meet him down here. He didn't know why he had gone. He couldn't keep up with this girl anymore. He couldn't keep sacrificing for her. It was so hard. He didn't have the strength. Yet a small part of him had forced him to come down here, forced him to wait for her.

"Jerome?" Mara whispered, walking into the black room, arms out to keep her from falling, she found the sofa and sat down. Her eyes quickly adjusting. "Jerome, I'm so sorry. I don't want to us to be broken up,"

"I'm sorry, Mara." Jerome said simply.

"Jerome," she choked "Please,"

Jerome stood, unable to be in the same room with her. He knew he would take her back soon. But he needed to show her that he was his own person. Jerome Clarke was not someone you could just walk all over. He was strong. "I tried to get you to like me for weeks. I tried so hard. So if you want me back, you're going to have to try. Try Mara, not just apologise. I need proof. I'm sorry," and he walked out.

Mara watched him leave, frowning. Was this how Jerome felt all that time before they were together? Her heart felt heavy.

That feeling sucked.

So Summary: Mara has to prove her love to Jerome. Eddie feels like this is all his fault. He'll try to bring them together. And why on earth did Patricia dump him? There has to be a reason, surely? I mean, if I was dating Eddie, the only reason that would make me dump him would be if Jerome had asked me out…

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