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"I'm just saying," Jerome managed, his face scrunched up in concentration as he did a sharp turn, clutching the WII wheel tightly. He may have been Spiderman, with improved and astounding reaction times, but Alfie was a renowned Mario Cart champion "It seems rude if we don't go,"

Alfie stuck his tongue out, grabbing a box to get a special power "Well…it's a bit off, isn't it? I mean, why would he give you eight tickets?"

"Because he knows I've got friends," Jerome rolled his eyes. Jerome and Alfie were the only two still playing, it had been five hours, and was nine o clock. Mara and Fabian were playing chess in the corner of Alfie's room, Willow and Amber were sitting in front of the mirror, as Amber taught Willow how to properly apply makeup. Eddie and Patricia were standing on opposite sides of the room, throwing a tennis ball to each other, discussing Batman.

"I think it's a great opportunity," Mara said loudly, moving her knight. "We've been invited to wonderful seminar on science, and I for one, would love to go," Jerome grinned at her

"Great," he nodded "So, I'm going, Mara's going, anyone else?"

"It could be fun…" Fabian agreed, turning his attention to the race, Alfie had won, by about a second, Jerome rolled his eyes as Alfie nudged him victoriously. "If you don't mind?"

"Sure," Jerome nodded, picking up one of Trudy's muffins "So that's three…come on Willow," he pleaded, eyes landing on the ginger "Don't you wanna come? There'll be free food-"

"I'm in." Alfie and Eddie blurted out in unison. Jerome laughed, eyes still on Willow

"Please? I don't want Doctor Conner to think I'm being rude. He's giving a really good lecture at the Royan Halls-"

"The Royan halls?" Amber looked up, flicking her hair back "So it's black tie?"

"Well yeah-"

"Willow!" she screeched at the top of her voice, everyone covered their ears "We have to go! It'll give us the perfect chance to go dress shopping!" she clapped her hands, Willow nodded, giving in. Jerome clapped his hands, standing up and stretching, he turned to Patricia

"Come on Trixie, the rest of Sibuna are going?" he cocked his head pleadingly. Patricia chucked the tennis ball at him instead of back to Eddie, and of course, he caught it with lightening fast precision "Please?" he threw it back. Eddie huffed at being thrown out of the game, so went to join Alfie to take Jerome's place. "Why not? At the very least it'll help with school-"

"I don't need help with school." Patricia shrugged "It's just…there's nothing there for me. You, Fabian and Mara are going for the science, Eddie and Alfie for the food, Willow and Amber to play dress up…it's just…pointless really,"

Mara looked up, her eyes wide as she realised "Patricia," she whispered "You don't feel like one of us," everyone else turned to face Patricia, who wavered under their scrutiny

"I just…well I barely know you and after three years of school together I just…well," she let out a small laugh "You can't really expect us to all come together,"

"You're coming with us," Jerome looked her right in the eyes "Patricia Williamson whether you want to be or not, you're a Sibuna now."

Amber nodded, clapping her hands "You can come dress shopping with Willow and I if you like?"

Patricia shuddered at the thought.

Line Break

"Yacker," Eddie whispered, as the two walked down the street, the night air was surprisingly warm, they had just left Alfie's house. "Why on earth wouldn't you feel like one of us? We've spent enough time with each other,"

"Nerds, lowlifes, a popular, and then you- a jock just thrown into the mix, and you want a goth in that mixture?"

"Don't let the labels define you," Eddie whispered, shaking his head "We're not…I mean, our group, we're not labelled. We don't need to be labelled, we're…"

"Sibuna," Patricia sighed "I know, I get it," she looked down at her shoes "Just difficult I guess,"

He hesitantly wrapped his arm around her, scared she might punch him in the face. But she didn't. "You'll get use to it,"

Line Break

"Allies, Jerome," Mick ran his hands through his hair "We agreed to be allies,"

"I didn't realise you were going to keep bullying people!" Jerome exclaimed. They were both standing in the empty gym, Mick had arranged to meet him here. Jerome shook his head "Mick, we can't be allies if you keep purposely hurting others!"

"Jeez Jerome- this is really none of your business! I stay away from you and your little group! Despite the fact that your best friend stole my girlfriend! I don't say anything!" Mick looked at Jerome in total bewilderment "What is up with you, Clarke? You're so different."

Jerome frowned "What? That I can fight back now?" Jerome stepped towards him, so they were really close "That you know I could beat you up, and win in any fight?" his words were being hissed, but Mick remained calm, looking up at him

"No." he said firmly, tapping his basket ball gently on Jerome's chest "You've changed. I mean…probably in some ways for the good but Jerome…no one gets that kinda muscle in a week," Jerome swallowed, and Mick took a step back, still holding the ball "I mean, I may not be the brightest guy," Jerome resisted the urge to scoff "But I know when someone's speed is unbelievable," he chucked the ball at Jerome quickly, and to everyone else, it would have hit them right in the head, but Jerome caught it, and then realised the trap he had walked into. "Come on, Clarke, are you on drugs?"

"Drugs?" Jerome laughed, shaking his head, unfortunately it came out as nervous "No! No way,"

Mick's blue eyes flickered intensely as he ran a hand through his golden floppy blond hair "Jerome-"

"Listen Mick. Easy solution to all of our problems. Stop bullying people. I guarantee I won't bother you ever again-"

"What if that's not what I want?!" Mick cried suddenly, his voice bounced off the walls, echoing around them. Jerome almost jumped, watching him "Jerome- have you ever…I don't know, even slightly thought that I'm bullying people because I know you'll step up? Huh? Maybe…because I know you're the only person who'll willingly talk to me about something that isn't sports? The people I hang around with- they're not my friends!" Jerome's mouth dropped open, as he watched Mick's outburst "You, you stupid tall haired freak- you're the only person who's ever…ever shown be any sort of decency when I was horrible to you! And so I want to push that, I want to see how far I have to go to get you to agree to meet me and talk to me for one moment to save me from another moment with the blundering idiots I hang out with!" his face was red, and he stopped suddenly, as if he'd realised what he'd just said. "I mean…" his voice was eerily quiet "Fine. I'll stop bullying people, Jerome. Sorry for hassling you," he turned and walked out, dropping the basketball and letting it bounce.

Jerome watched in utter shock. Standing all alone in the gym. He walked forward slowly, picking up the ball, it had Mick's name on it, no doubt a gift from his parents. Jerome tucked it under his arm, unsure what to make of it all.

Line Break

"Evening m'lady," Jerome grinned, webbing into her room, and pulling off his mask. Mara didn't jump, use to him popping in and out. She set down her pen and paper, kissing him softly on the lips as he sat beside her.

"Jerome, as sweet and thoughtful as it is, every time you buy me flowers my parents get suspicious."

Jerome shrugged "What's a guy to do? You say no to jewellery," he wrapped his arm around her, looking down at the homework she was doing. He was still slightly breathless, having saved two children who were running across the road at night. Man, was he that dumb and clueless when he was a kid? "Do you have a lot of homework to do? I was hoping we could…talk?"

"About what?" Mara asked, looking up at him

"Mick,"

Mara laughed "What girl doesn't love talking about the guy that bullies her boyfriend,"

It send shudders through him when she called him that. "I know," he shrugged "But….today he…"

And he proceeded to tell her everything. Mara was attentive and caring, but it was a longwinded tale, and eventually she drifted off. Jerome realised, and he stopped talking, smiling fondly, he let her fall back gently. Pulling back on his mask

He'd go talk to Eddie about it.

Review?

I seriously wouldn't mind Jerome just stopping by for late night conversations, like…please do…

Rebecca: haha, you know me too well!

Rachel: really? Where do you recognise it from? It sounded familiar to me too as I used it….glad you liked it! I know, but then hopefully Spiderman could like save them or something so they respect him. And Captain America, definitely in the Avengers movie, would take him under his wing. Tony stark might be a little cruel…but funny!

LucianDaughterofHades: Um wow, I love your username! Great to get a new reviewer so late in the story, I tend not to start stories if I see they have over ten chapters, because I feel I won't catch up- so basically you're awesome!

I love you all!