Hey! An entirely jara chapter!
Enjoy!
"Mara," Jerome sighed, slightly irritated "What are you doing?" Mara ignored him, simply walking ahead of him, then stopping when she got to far, so that he could catch up. "Mara!" he snapped, the cold night air "What have you dragged me out here for?" they were on grass now, and Jerome was shaking his head. He was meant to be plotting to break into Victor's warehouse, and yet here he was, being forced to follow Mara in this ridiculous game "Why aren't you out frolicking with Fabian, anyway?"
"Jerome," she sighed, a few metres ahead, she spun to face him, and he paused for a moment, simply to admire her in the moonlight, a short purple summer dress with a striped, comfy cardigan, and a red belt. The stars twinkled in her eyes, and her hair tumbled down around her, soft and silky. And the way she had said his name, in a slightly annoyed, but breathless sigh it had left her lips. And he regretted talking to her so harshly "You have done nothing but complain so far," she shook her head "Just relax, it's not much father,"
"Mara, you're wasting my time. I don't want to be out here with you," that wasn't the truth, he knew it, I know, you know it, heck, even Eddie knew it. But he said it anyway. Why get attached to her now? If he was just gonna abandon her and break any faith she had in him. "If you're lonely, just call Fabian, he'd kill to spend more time with you-"
"Shut up!" she finally snapped, turning around again, hands on her hips, the dress twirled with her, and she stared at him, with disappointed eyes "Please Jerome, I get it. Fine, you don't want to be friends anymore," Jerome could feel his heart stop, but that was the truth wasn't it? "But for tonight, maybe you could relax huh?" She turned then and started walking, Jerome sighed, following slightly faster.
They walked for who knows how long, until they came to a small lake, and a willow tree, under the willow tree was a picnic basket, blankets and a few candles, the water flowed gently, creating a gentle humming. An owl hooted quietly, and Mara smiled, wringing her hands "Do you like it?" Jerome stared at her, blankly "Jerome?"
"Why?" he managed, blue eyes blazing with curiosity. What was this? He didn't understand and he found it all so bizarre that Mara had done this whole thing in secret.
"Because you're not yourself." She persisted, she sat down on the blanket, and tapped the place opposite her "Sit down. Talk to me." Jerome stood there, awkwardly, unsure. "Jerome, please, wasn't it just the other day you held my hand to lead me through a fair?" Jerome could feel his entire body tingle with want, just to hold her hand again or to go back to that day before Willow had messed with his mind and made him back to the basis of who he was, or who he wasn't. "Wasn't it just the other day you told me to scream with you as we let gravity have its way," her hand remained outstretched towards him "Now it's my turn," she whispered "Scream with me, Jerome."
He couldn't help it, he didn't want to enjoy spending any time with her at all, but he did. He loved it, he loved talking to her and being with her, and now, he seemed to want her even more, simply because he was taken. Wasn't that always the way? He moved his hand out, and linked hands with her, and he felt safe and more normal again. "Fine, one hour."
She cocked her head to the side "You really hate spending time with me, that much?" if she was hurt, she disguised it well. "What happened Jerome? What's happened in the last few days," she brought his hand into her lap "Is it because I went out with Fabian?" her voice dropped to a whisper as if Fabian could hear her "Did he say something to you?"
"No," he shook his head, jaw clenching "I just don't want to get too close to you. Because what happens when it's over Mara? When I get out of my anklet?" Illegally, or legally. "I'm not sticking around. I'll be leaving, it's who I am."
"You don't want to get attached," she whispered, nodding "So spend time with me, while I'm here," she took his hand, and changed their position, "1, 2, 3, 4, I declare a thumb war," Jerome laughed. For the first time since coming out with her, he laughed, and they let their thumbs take battle. A few minutes later, Jerome had relaxed, his shoulders relaxed. He had won the two games so far, and without a word, they began the third. "Tell me...your deepest desires, and tell me your most treasured secrets,"
"Aren't they the same thing?"
Mara nudged him with her knees "Well...everyone can see your desires, nobody knows your secrets,"
"Hmm..." Jerome looked away from their battling hands to see her face, she was biting her lip in concentration, her eyebrows furrowed. God, he thought to himself, for possibly the millionth time, it made his heart ache, she was so god damn beautiful. How was it possible? He had a sudden urge to meet her mother and her father, her grand parents, see pictures of her as a baby, then a toddler, then a primary school child, then a secondary school child, then a university graduate. Suddenly, he wanted to see the bedroom she had grown up in when she was a teenager. He wanted to read all her diaries, he wanted to see how she had become what she was right now in front of him. How the world had made someone as perfect, as wonderful, as brilliant as Mara Jaffray. "I've never ballroom danced with you," he whispered.
Mara smiled slightly "That's neither a desire, nor a secret. That's a fact,"
"The secret desire is," he whispered, capturing her thumb, and holding it down firmly while she struggled with no chance "I want too," she looked up, meeting his eyes, and he stood, bringing her with him.
She fit in his arms so perfectly Jerome wondered whether he really was a con. For a few moments, he felt like a prince, because here he was, dancing under the moonlight with a princess. "It's a shame we don't have any music,"
"Let's sing," Jerome suggested, his hands form on her waist, as her hands on his shoulders clutched him, almost possessively. "Oh if you have a minute why don't we go,"
Mara smiled, and in a nervous, perhaps embarrassed whisper, to be singing out loud, she buried her face into his chest "Talk about it, somewhere only we know,"
"This could be the end of everything," he had to take a breather after that line. This could very well be the end of everything. Here he was, holding Mara in his arms, having thoughts that would totally betray any trust, one of his closest friends, Fabian, had in him. What was he doing? What were they doing? Wasn't he plotting with Eddie to run away? To break Willow out? And then at the same time wasn't he promising Fabian that he Fabian to marry Mara, and to be happy forever. And then, tripled with those things, here he was, promising himself that he could be with Mara. Inhaling her sweet scent, he pulled away, "What are we doing?" he whispered, his throat clogged with insecurity.
Mara looked up at him, through her long dark lashes, and she sighed "Honestly, Jerome? I don't know."
He pulled his hands away from her "How do you feel when you're with Fabian?"
"Safe."
"How do you feel when you're with me?"
There was a pause, as she soaked in her current atmosphere "Scared," she admitted, Jerome watched her "Yet excited, and hopeful all at the same time," he had to bite back his smile as she looked around, anywhere but at him. "I feel...such a rush of emotions. Like...like I'm in danger, yet I couldn't be safer. Excitement and nervousness, faith and determination." She took a deep breath, meeting his eyes, surprised that he was already gazing at her. As if she was the most important person on the planet. "How do you feel, when you're with me?"
He smiled, shaking his head "Normal." he whispered "Like...I'm not a criminal anymore, but someone else. Like...time and space have stopped, and all that exists is being with you." Mara smiled fleetingly "But then..." he frowned, staring off into the dark and dusky horizon "I see you with Fabian and I feel...sad, jealous, and happy all at the same time. Sad, because you're perfect for each other. Jealous, because you're not with me. And happy...because you're happy, and Fabian's happy,"
"You think Fabian and I are perfect for each other?" she whispered. Jerome stared at her
"Don't you?"
"Well gee..." she whispered, a breeze came along and ruffled her hair and her dress, Jerome found himself inching towards her, to protect her from the gentle wind. "I've never really...I guess...I don't feel so...I mean,"
"Who would you rather spend time with?" Jerome asked curiously "Me, or Fabian?"
Mara bit her bottom lip gently "I think...I think I'd rather spend time with...with you."
It made him smile. And Mara knew she had answered correctly when he smiled at her like that, never before had she seen such a brilliant and dazzling smile. He drew her into him, and they both met each others lips eagerly. So much pent up tension and emotion, frustration and love released all in one brilliantly blinding explosion. Nothing like the kiss they had shared when going under cover, this was mutual, filled with want and passion. Mara had Jerome backed against the large willow tree, and he certainly wasn't complaining, feeling her pressed up against him. His hands were in her hair, running his fingers through the glossy black silk, and her hands were on his chest, feeling his heart beat quicken the longer they were together.
When they pulled away, flushing and breathless, Mara disentangled herself from him, shaking her head, she touched her lips gingerly, gazing at the sky in wonder "What about Fabian?"
"He can't know." Jerome said quickly, coming forward "He can't know about this. Any of this, or when the time comes for him to give judgement on my ankle he'll be biased and angry, and jealous-"
"He wouldn'-"
"Mara," Jerome stepped towards her "Wouldn't you? Even if all your morales were good, if you had the chance to get back at someone who took away the love of your life, are you telling me you wouldn't take it? On someone...who probably deserved it?" Mara nodded, taking quick deep breaths
"What do I do?"
"Keep dating him."
"W-what?" she stared at him shock, and Jerome was nodding
"Keep dating him, just...just keep dating him, be his girlfriend, distract him from realising you're meeting me whenever he's not there," his eyes were blazing blue with sincerity, they rivalled the lake and the sky.
"Y-you mean..." her voice wavered "You want me to cheat on Fabian? When he finds out? What happens then?" she challenged, eyes glistening with tears
"If he ever catches us I'll take the blame, I'll say you said you didn't like me, but I kissed you anyway. Heck, even slap me if you have too," She placed her hands on her hips, then changed her mind, and massaged her temples, and then ran them repeatedly through her hair, he gripped her wrists, to try to calm her down. "it's not ideal," he agreed "But at least I'll get to be with you," and he pressed his lips to hers again.
He tried not to think about the added complications this would have. Victor's treasure? Eddie? Fabian? Getting out of the anklet? And Mick, if he was out there, lurking?
Mara wrapped her arms around his neck, and tugged at the ends of his hair, and with ease, they were pushed out of his mind.
Yes there were troubles,
to be dealt with,
tomorrow.
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