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"It's an…it's a…it's a…uhh…thing?" Jerome said weekly, dropping the amulet he had found on the grass into Rufus's hand. The amulet that he didn't know belonged to Patricia. He refused to give Rufus the amulet Nina had given him, that one seemed a lot more…authentic.

"It's perfect," Rufus whispered, fingers tracing the pattern Jerome couldn't recognise gently. "You took your time, but you did it," Rufus grinned at him, slapping him hard on the shoulder. "Now, I need to get into the house,"

Jerome blinked once "But I'll get you anything you need," he frowned. Rufus shook his head

"Kind of you, Jerome. But I need to see it for myself. Leave the door open tonight, can you do that for me?"

Jerome looked at the man, wearing the leather jacket, and something didn't feel right. But he snapped out of it, he had nothing now. No Mara, no Alfie, no Poppy. They had all left him, or rather he had pushed them all away. "I could,"

"Good boy," Rufus patted his back, "I'm guessing you come from a broken family?" he asked randomly. Jerome ran his hands through his hair

"You could say that,"

"I thought as much, see you and I are alike. A little father son bonding time would do us good,"

"You mean…I have to go with you? When you come into the house?"

"But of course," Rufus nodded "Problem?"

"Not at all." Jerome said quickly "Just…not tonight. I can't have that done tonight. Tomorrow? I swear," Jerome placed a hand over his heart. Rufus nodded slowly.

"Run along," he sighed, and Jerome turned and walked away, not once looking back.

Line Break

"This is…weird," Amber stated, shaking her head. Everyone looked up at her. They were outside, under a large oak tree, the sun shining down on them. Fabian and Nina curled up beside each other, Amber and Alfie sat just at the edge of the shade. Eddie and Patricia throwing grapes at each other and laughing, Joy sitting on Mick's lap as she attempted to teach him to plait her hair. Mara and Tristan were talking animatedly about their science project, sitting rather close together.

"Why?" Eddie asked, everyone turned to see the blonde.

"Well first off, that isn't Jerome," she pointed at Tristan, and Tristan grinned at her. Amber's heart seemed to speed up for a second…Tristan could smile.

"Impressive observation skills," he said sarcastically. Amber rolled her eyes

"Sure acts like Jerome though," she grimaced. "Where is Jerome, Alfie?"

Alfie shrugged "Why do you keep asking me? I don't know! You shouldn't just assume that I'll always know! I don't keep tabs on him and follow him around! I mean if you ask anyone, ask Mara! Last I checked she was the one he had a crush on!"

Now everyone turned to Mara as Alfie brought his hand up to quickly cover his mouth in shock. Mara's eyes widened and Tristan shook his head

"I knew it," he muttered under his breath. Eyes darkening, a different shade of green, much like the leaves above them, hidden from the sun.

"Jerome fancies Mara?" Amber squealed loudly, a smile taking over her face "That is brilliant! Yes! Finally! Do you guys know how long I have waited for this moment?"

Mick lifted Joy from his lap and placed her beside him, standing up faster than the speed of light, looking down at Mara. He held his hand out for her "Can I talk to you for a second Mars?" he asked, a smile on his face. Mara nodded, still speechless, and took his hand. And before she had even blinked, he had run behind another house building, away from everyone.

Mara looked down at the bottom of her shoes, all scuffed from being dragged along at super speed by Mick, but she didn't mind. He had held her hand! "Yes Mick?" she asked smiling.

"Nothing actually," he laughed, blushing, stuffing his hands "I just…wanted to talk to you," he flicked his hair off to the side, an action Mara loved.

"Really?" Mara asked hopefully

"Yeah," Mick nodded "I really like you and it seems like…like we never get to talk, you know? We never spend any time together."

"I know," Mara nodded "I'm sorry, it's just I'm always busy wit-"

"School work?" Mick filled in for her, smiling kindly "You're the only person I know who enjoys that," he shook his head. Mara grinned

"Hey! You could be my campaign manager? If you like? So we could spend some time together? So we could get to know each other?"

"You would let me?" Mick asked in partial shock. Because everyone knew that Mara liked things done to the highest possible standard, and that she would only trust certain people to help her with things, he felt honoured when she nodded "You are a great friend," he hugged her tightly.

Line Break

"Mara," Jerome stopped in his tracks when Mara walked past him. She stopped, clutching a purple folder tightly in her arms, school uniform perfect, some of her hair up and the rest of it hanging neatly over her shoulders, straightened and glossy and perfect.

"Jerome." She replied shortly.

"Listen, Mar-"

"Jerome, I'm going to be late for class," and with that she walked away from him. Jerome turned, watching her leave, an annoyed sad look on his face.

"Idiot," Tristan whispered, shoving past Jerome, purposely knocking shoulders with the blonde. Jerome growled

"You don't know what happened," Jerome glared at him. Tristan smirked at him, and Jerome was slightly taken aback, it was something…so Jerome like.

"Actually, she came crying to me when you kicked her out," he said triumphantly. Jerome said nothing, so Tristan stepped forward, eyes flickering green. Both boys the same height, same build, both good looking in their own ways. Except this time, Tristan stood taller. "I'm replacing you, Jerome," he hissed into Jerome's ear "Bit by bit, day by day,"

"Why are you out to wreck my life?" Jerome asked quietly

"All those years of torment," Tristan replied, eyes watering looking weak for the first time "All those years when we first came to this school, you made me feel so small. You made me feel as if I couldn't do anything. You made me feel like I wasn't good enough just because I was a mutant. And I kept my mouth shut, every time," his voice faded to a whisper, and he had to stop, just to make sure he could hide any emotions he was feeling or displaying at the moment "And now I'm replacing you,"

"You could never replace me," Jerome whispered harshly. Tristan grinned

"It's not hard to replace someone who never made a mark. You don't have Mara, you don't have Alfie anymore. And you never had any of the others, I've got Mara, I've got Eddie, I'm getting Amber and Alfie, and I can just bet, that Mick will prefer me,"

Jerome didn't say anything, for the first time in his life, feeling small. Tristan walked away as if nothing had happened, and Jerome was still stood there, standing in the pain.

Line Break

He walked into the house, and was late, he could tell that much. Jerome walked into the dining room, and everyone fell silent upon seeing him. They were all sat around the table, and they had been smiling before he walked in. At least Tristan wasn't here, Jerome thought. He didn't know if he could take that blow to his ego. Mara was sat opposite Mick, beside Joy, and everyone else just filled in.

"Evening," Jerome said in a low voice.

"Hey Jerome," Amber spoke up, smiling at him, the only person in the room who didn't have a problem with him. Mara was angry with him, Alfie was being rejected by him, Nina, Fabian and Patricia were afraid he was on to the them. Mick hated him for hurting Mara, Eddie hated him for hurting Mara. Joy wasn't speaking to him, because Mara wasn't speaking to him. But Amber, Amber felt no resentment towards the tall boy. "You can sit next to me if you like," she motioned to the empty chair. Jerome thought about declining, and retreating back to his room, but he nodded, slipping into the chair beside Amber. The conversation slowly started to pick up

"So, did anyone else see Alfie turn into a lizard with a beak at break?" asked Patricia, everyone but Jerome nodded, laughing. Because Jerome hadn't seen it.

"Hey! It's not my fault, I have trouble concentrating sometimes!" Alfie fought back

"Sometimes? Maybe all the time," Nina corrected, Alfie smiled lopsidedly

"Yeah well, at least I manage to get back to myself in the end,"

"That's true," Mara nodded "You never seem to have a problem with that, I wonder why…"

"Mara's probably going to research that later," Mick put in, Mara whacked his arm playfully but laughed as everyone chuckled. Everyone but Jerome, who didn't find it particularly funny at all.

"So where were you this morning Jerome?" asked Trudy, walking in "I went to bring in your laundry, and I didn't see you! Did you go out for a walk?" Everyone turned to Jerome slowly, Sibuna sensing something was wrong.

"I…yes, I went for a walk," Jerome nodded "You know me, Truds, I like to be at one with nature,"

"So you went for a walk?" Nina asked as Trudy left the room "For no other reason than to be 'at one' with nature?"

"Yes," Jerome nodded at her, looking her right in the eyes "Why Nina? What else could I have been doing? I don't know, maybe promising to tell someone who helped them, something they need to know. Or maybe I was out sneaking into the at-"

"Okay!" Fabian cut him off, Joy, Mara, Eddie and Mick looking at the two of them in utter bewilderment, not having a clue about what was going on. "Okay Jerome! You win,"

"Win what?" Eddie asked, Mara nodded.

"A…prize!" Alfie filled in "Jerome won a prize for…"

"Making Mara cry?" Mick filled in. Everyone fell silent, Mara looked down at her plate, suddenly very interested in the peas. Jerome looked across the table diagonally at her, but her face was hidden by her hair. He wanted to say something, but everyone was looking at him. He looked down at his plate, eyes burning with anger and shame.

"I think I'm going to go," Mara whispered to everyone, standing up and tucking her chair in neatly behind her, Mick reached around and grabbed her wrist gently, Joy watched this gesture, trying to contain her jealousy. Mara was just upset, Mick was being kind. Joy should be happy.

"Mars, was it me? I'm sorry,"

"It wasn't you Mick," Mara nodded, smiling slightly "I just think it would be better for everyone if I got an early start on that history project," and she walked from the room.

Jerome resisted the urge to watch her leave, even though that was what he wanted to do. That was what he always did, and he missed her. But it was for the best now anyway, he was a bad guy, he was with Rufus now. He had no friends, no family, what could he give Mara that she didn't already have?

Yes, this was for the better. It may hurt now, but Jerome was certain in the end, everything would be okay.

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