I do not own HOA... Just being creative... Please suggest Ideas... PLEASE REVIEW!

Chapter 26

Jerome headed to the lunch room. He was glad that he could finally eat despite the embarrassing stomach growl that came upon him in the middle of class. He pondered on what food he would devour.

"Jerome!" Mara called. She grabbed him and pulled him in the opposite direction of where he was previously going.

"Wha-, wha-, but! Aww man!" he cried. She pulled him into a dark room and closed the door. All of a sudden, the grip on his arm disappeared.

"Mara, this is freaky. Where are the lights?" he asked. Silence filled the place. "Mara!" he screamed.

"I'm right here Jerome." she said. She kissed him on the lips and ran to the other side of the room.

"What are you doing Mara?" he felt around the room and stumbled over a desk. He fell to the floor and the desk with him. "Mara!"

"Stop screaming Jerome. People is going to think something is happening to you. I need you to do two things for me. Trust me and close your eyes." she said. He got off of the floor and dusted himself off.

"It's not like I can see anything anyway." Jerome said sarcastically.

"Just do it." she said. He brought his hands across his eyes and promised that they were sealed shut.

Mara scampered around the room making all kinds of noises. Although Jerome was curious, he didn't open his eyes, not even once. Silence started to fill the room again and Mara pulled Jerome closer to her. She lit candles all around the room. Jerome smelled the burning and the essence that followed. Although he wanted to ask, he kept quiet and trusted her.

"Okay, open your eyes." Mara said softly. Jerome slowly took his hands off from in front of his eyes and glanced around the room in amazement. Mara slowly turned up the music and she stood in front of Jerome and smiled. He looked around again. He saw the table in the middle of the room with plates of delicious looking food on it. He saw the rose petals that led to the chairs that were placed on both ends. He heard the soft music playing in the background. He saw it all.

"What is all this?" he asked Mara. She grabbed both of his hands and bit her lips. She wiggled a little bit in embarrassment.

"Happy Birthday Jerome." she said softly. She looked up at Jerome who had turned his head. She grabbed his chin and gently turned it towards her exposing Jerome's tear-filled eyes. She smiled. "Jerome, you are special to me. You comfort me. You are there for me. You mean a lot to me. I know that you are a joker. You like to fool around and that you like to have fun. You don't really even care what people have to say about you. But even if it doesn't matter, I just wanted to let you know how much I love and appreciate you."

Mara let go of his hand and ran to the corner of the room. She lit a candle and placed it on a cupcake.

"Happy Birthday to you,

I didn't know what to do,

so I put a candle on a cupcake,

And sung 'I love you'."

Jerome was extremely surprised. He began to smile. Mara caught a tear fall down his cheek and caught it with her finger. Jerome stiffened up. She looked in his eyes. "I want you trust me, and I want you to love me Jerome. You don't have to act tough in front of me. You don't have to impress me... You already have me." She placed her hand on his cheek and brought his head up. She leaned in closer and kissed him like she never did and just had this longing desire to take him. Their lips parted and they looked at each other.

"Cupcake?" she smiled. She flicked icing on his nose. He smiled and grabbed her by the waist trying to get the cupcake.