Rose POV

I decided to keep the mark a secret from Nina. She didn't need to worry. I lived my life as normal. Normal school, normal friends, normal—or not-so-normal, depending on how you look at it—boyfriend.

"Do you think me and Amber are compatible?" Alfie asked me and Jerome at school later that day.

"No," I answered immediately.

"Thanks," he said sarcastically.

"Honestly, I don't think Amber is compatible with anyone—except Amber of course," Jerome added in. Alfie left to chase after her, and Jerome turned to me. "I've made a decision," he said.

"You're going to join a traveling circus," I guessed. He laughed and put his arm around me.

"No, I'm going to visit my dad."

"Oh, that's...great?" I said. I didn't know what to say.

"Come with me," he said. "For moral support. I need you with me."

I nodded. "Of course," I said, and then Mara came up.

"Have you made a decision?" she asked.

"No, but Rose made it for me, aparently, I'm joining a traveling circus?" He looked to me for confirmation. I smirked and nudged him.

"Oh, you guys made up. That's good," she said. "Does she know?"

"About Jerome's dad? Yeah, I know," I said.

"I'm going to see him now," he said. "You should both come," he added suddenly. "I need you both. Both girls who have been there for me this whole time."

Mara nodded and I looked away. He couldn't possibly still like her, could he? We left to see Jerome's dad then.

O-o-O

Mara and I led the way, with Jerome lagging behind.

"So it's good you and Jerome are together again, because I don't think he could do this without you," Mara said.

"He could, if he had you," I muttered.

"What?"

"Mara, you know last year, Jerome liked you, right?" I asked suddenly. I turned around to make sure he couldn't hear us. He was far enough away that I didn't think he could.

"I...I guess...and you think he still does?" she realized.

"I don't know what to think, Mara! One minute he's telling me he loves me, and the next he's basically saying he can't do this without you. I just..."

"I don't feel that way about him," she reassured me. "And if he told you he loves you, that's a good sign."

"But I'm scared, Mara. I'm afraid that it's not enough. That he doesn't love me enough. I love him, and I can feel he loves me, but I can also feel that there's more to the story than that."

"How can you feel all that?" she asked. "You can't just know everything. You're probably just being insecure because you love him."

"Isn't that what you said to Amber?" I asked before I could stop myself.

Jerome caught up to us then, and we couldn't talk anymore. I wanted to apologize, but I never got the chance.

We got into the prison and the gate opened letting us into the visitation room. I spotted Jerome's dad immediately. Jerome looked so much like his dad. I squeezed my boyfriend's hand reassuringly as he stepped forward.

Jerome and Mara took the seats in front of his dad, so I stood behind Jerome's chair and put my hands on his shoulders.

"Is she your girlfriend?" Mr. Clarke asked, pointing to me.

"Don't talk about her," Jerome snapped.

"I'm sorry. I—"

"Don't tell me how sorry you are, because I know you're not. You left! And now it's my turn." And he got up and walked away.

"I'm just gonna..." I said.

"Why don't you?" Mara agreed.

"Open this door!" Jerome was saying to the guard.

"Do not open that gate!" I said and the guard backed off.

"I don't care what he has to say!" Jerome snapped.

"Then why are you here? Why did you come? Listen, I know I'm no expert. But if someone gave me the chance to see my dad, I'd take it. I wouldn't care what he's done. Your dad wants to see you. To show you who he really is, not the person who walked out on you years ago. I'd give anything to be in your position. To have a dad who cares."

He considered for a moment, then reluctantly went back. It was silent for a moment, and I was rubbing Jerome's shoulders as he sat, waiting for his dad to say something. Finally, he said, "I'm glad you decided to stay."

O-o-O

The bell rang, signaling time.

"You'll come again?" Mr. Clarke asked.

Jerome nodded. "Let me just go ask the guards something," he said. He walked away.

"It was nice meeting you, Mr. Clarke," I said.

"Please, call me John. Now, how did you get him to stay?" he asked. "He was so hell-bent on leaving..."

"I just reminded him some people would do anything to be in his position," I explained.

"What? A father in prison? A huge disappointment?"

"No. A father who's alive, and who cares."

Jerome came back then. I heard his father whisper to him, but I pretended not to listen. "Hold on to that girl. Rose. You two are perfect together. And thank you. For not leaving."

We left and got in a cab to go back to school. Jerome had his arm around me the whole way home, and I layed my head on his shoulder. We had been gone all afternoon.

Amber pulled me away from Jerome right when I got home, and we went down into the tunnels. "We're going to pick up the bridge and drop it," Amber explained.

I nodded. We picked it up and dropped it right where it needed to go.

"Great! Now who's going first?" Amber asked. Everyone remained silent.

"I...I'll go," I said quietly. I took a step onto the bridge and carefully inched my way forward.

I knew I was in trouble, but it was too late. The pendulums began swinging, and I was trapped in the very center of the bridge.