Love you guys!
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"You look great," Jerome kissed her softly once he saw her in the restaurant lobby. She was wearing a purple dress, and she did look lovely. Jerome was dressed in a casual almost smart suit. Perfect.
"Thanks, so do you. Let's get a table," and they walked along the tables looking for a free one. When they came across Eddie and Patricia, sitting on one side of a table, obviously just getting there. "Hey!" Mara smiled at the both of them, Jerome suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.
"Hey," he mumbled
"Mind if we sit with you?" Mara asked, already sliding in opposite them, Patricia smiled, happy it was going to plan.
Jerome sighed, sliding in beside her, looking awkwardly at Eddie. "Well this is…interesting."
Eddie, who refused to be disturbed by Jerome's presence, sat up straight. "So," he smiled at everyone "Should we order?"
"Surprised you can read the menu," Jerome murmured under his breath, eyes scrolling down the list of choices.
"Jerome," Mara warned, elbowing his ribs "Sorry, Eddie. Yeah, let's order."
Line Break
If they had thought the night would go well, there were very wrong. Eddie and Jerome kept making remarks and their girlfriends couldn't control it.
"At least I don't have a stupid accent!" Jerome yelled across the table, standing now. Eddie stood too
"You are so immature!"
"You are so immature!" Jerome mimicked in a high girly voice. He picked up the jug of water in the middle of the table and tipped it slowly over Eddie's head. Patricia and Mara's mouth fell open. "No," Jerome said, placing the jug down "That was immature," he slid out of the seats "Later." And with that he strolled away.
Mara stood slowly, eyes going from Eddie to Patricia. "I'm….so so sorry this didn't work out," she gave them a small smile, before rushing after Jerome.
Line Break
"Can't believe you did that." Mara grumbled when she caught up to him. Jerome automatically slid his arm around her waist in the darkness as they walked along the pavement. She pushed away from him "Don't!" she caught his shocked look as he dropped his arm "Don't touch me," she said more softly.
Jerome nodded, sighing "Mara-"
"No. No Jerome. No more 'Mara I'm sorry' or 'I'll just kiss you and you'll forget' okay?" She had stopped now, hands falling in frustration "Listen."
"I'm all ears, Mara." He said softly, blue eyes piercing in the darkness "I'm always listening-"
"No! Stop! No more being charming." Mara was angry, angrier then he'd ever see her, but she was calming herself down. She took a deep breath and went over to him, placing her hand on his arm "Jerome," she whispered quietly and even before he said it, Jerome knew it was over.
It wasn't a big fight, or a wrong move, or a bad grade or a telling of or cheating on another girl or jealously. It was him. It was him. He couldn't do the one small thing for her. He couldn't even get along with her very best friend. And he knew he had blown the last straw and he wanted more than anything to redo time and get along with Eddie, that stupid, stupid, stupid American.
"I don't think I can do it, Jerome. And I don't think you can either," she spoke softly, as if it were hurting her just as much as it was hurting him. But he knew better, he was hurting a whole lot more.
"You bring out the best in me," he whispered confidently, because it was true.
Mara looked down at her shoes "That's your best, Jerome?" she whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks "You in a restaurant humiliating my best friend is your best?" she looked back up at him, right into his eyes. Jerome had to look away
"I'm sorry,"
"I know you are. And I want us to be friends. I want us to build a relationship before we start things up again, okay? Because you know as well as I do that we'll be together. I just need time. Promise me we'll be friends?"
"I can deny you nothing." He whispered.
"Sorry," she leaned up and hugged him tightly "But I think you knew as well as I did," she added quietly in his ear. Jerome nodded against her.
"I think I'll walk on my own thanks," Jerome said in a low voice, walking away
"Can't I walk with you?" Mara asked, wasn't he even going to try being friends?
He looked at her for a long moment "You really want us to be friends?"
"More than anything." Jerome looked at her for a long moment to see her truthful honest eyes.
"Come on then," he whispered. And it was pure agony.
But there was one upside.
He wasn't at square one.
So Summary: It's the small things that get a relationship. Jerome is going to get Mara, and Mara has realised that Jerome is right for her and they will be together. They'll become friends again. What up with the necklace? And what up with jewellery box? I've kept you in suspense long enough, it's time for Jerome and the Sibunas to find out!
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