Last time: Jerome's seen that if he stays with Mara, she'll only end up in pain. So he's done what he can to keep her away. Mara? Well she's beyond confused, sobbing and crying seem to be all she can do.

So what happens next? Find out, right here

Beginning

Had it been days? Weeks? Or simply hours? Mara didn't know, she was so confused. Beyond confused. She sat on the roof, the wind whipping her hair back as she looked out to the vast fields, all part of her home.

What Mara, the genius, couldn't figure out, was why? What had she done wrong? Or was it that Jerome had realised how much better he could do? Or was it something much deeper, that after she had died, Jerome had realised that he didn't need her as much as he thought originally. Or maybe….it could be anything. She had known Jerome three years, and she still couldn't figure out how his mind worked. She sighed, dragging her knees up to her chest.

Was this how he had felt? All that time ago? When he loved her and she didn't return it? Well it was a horrible feeling, like she was being ripped apart slowly and there was nothing she could do. She hugged herself tighter as if that would stop the pain.

"Beautiful sunset, isn't it?" a voice came from behind her. Mara didn't turn around, she knew it was Alfie. She couldn't forget a voice like that. He walked carefully across the tiles and with a sigh set himself down beside her "How you feeling?"

Mara didn't turn around, she wasn't crying. She was all cried out. She didn't think she had any tears left in her. "Fine."

"Yeah," Alfie laughed "And there aren't weeping angels in LA," Alfie shook his head, turning to face her. "Come on, talk to me."

"Why?" she challenged, turning to him, eyes burning "Why on earth would I talk to you?"

Alfie looked stunned for a moment, before looking right back into her eyes "Because I understand."

Mara scoffed, feeling her heart ache, and she turned back to watch the immense golden sun settle further into the pretty pink sky. "Yeah right."

"I do." Alfie insisted "I understand what it feels like to love someone who doesn't love you back. You think you're the only one who's suffered heart ache? I loved Amber, ever since the first day I came here. And I had to watch her dance with Mick, and them both fall in love. I had to listen to her go on and on and on. I saw her cry when he started dating you. I've had to suffer for years. You've been suffering for one day." He sighed, suddenly realising that he wasn't being himself "I'm not saying mine is worse," he amended "I'm saying….I understand."

"So what if you do, Alfie?" she asked quietly, not turning to him "So what if I do? You're gonna side with him. He's your best friend. Whatever I tell you….it won't help. So why bother?"

Alfie examined her for a moment, eyes flickering over her features. She was no Amber, but he could understand what Jerome saw. Alfie swallowed, before looking up "Hey," he whispered "Look," he pointed over to a tall tree, with a branch near the roof "I bet I could reach that," he stood up, eyes fixated on the branch, walking closer.

Mara watched him in confusion, before realising. She stood quickly, then wobbled, remembering they were on a roof "Alfie!" she cried "Don't! It's dangerous! If you fall you could break your arm!"

Alfie ignored her, before stepping back, and running.

He leapt off the roof.

Mara's hands flew to cover her open mouth in complete shock, her eyes widening. And she let out a loud laugh, he had done it. He was stood on the branch, near the top of tree, in line with her, holding onto the bark. "Alfie!" she giggled.

Alfie let out a breath and laughed loudly "Come on!" he called, beckoning for her to follow. Mara shook her head violently

"Are you crazy? I can't make a jump like that!"

"Trust me!" he called. Mara bit her lip, and whether it was because for the first time in ages she felt free, she ran. She ran, and she jumped, leaping off the roof like a dancer, and for a brief moment, she felt like she was flying. Like she was Joy. But then, then the fear kicked in, she was going to miss! She closed her eyes, and waited, the wind rushed past her ears.

But she didn't fall.

Mara Jaffray opened her eyes, to see Alfie grinning down at her. He had caught her by the waist, holding her steady. Mara looked up in utter shock. And she laughed. Stepping onto another branch so she could have a better grip. She looked up, and turned to him

"You think we could make it to the top?"

Alfie's eyes widened, but he grinned wildly "Well I think I could," he teased ,and they both started to climb.

"No shape shifting!" she ordered.

Line Break

"Nice." Jerome stated as Alfie walked into their room, ready for bed. Alfie smiled at his best friend, removing his watch and jumping into his bed.

"What?"

Jerome was stood, leaning against the bathroom door. "You and Mara's little….moment up there," he motioned to the window, and Alfie realised that Jerome had seen.

"I was trying to make her feel better," Alfie shrugged "She's dying. She's acting just like you were when she didn't love you. Only now, it's the other way around."

"Do you love her?" Jerome asked bluntly. Alfie's eyebrows rose in shock

"Love her?!" he exclaimed "NO! No! She's my friend can't a guy hang out with a girl just being friends?!

Jerome said nothing. Before he raised his hand, a flame resting there.

"No!" Alfie cried, just as Jerome flew the flame straight for him. Alfie managed to duck just in time. "Jerome! Please! Calm down!"

Jerome said nothing, nostrils flaring, and suddenly, he was invisible. Alfie stood on his bed. Looking around, he hated this. This was why hide and seek was not his favourite game. Suddenly, he was knocked off, someone grabbing onto his legs. He twisted and turned, shape shifting into a bird, and flying out of their grasp.

Jerome became visible as he looked up at the bird, sat on the door. "Alfie." He warned "Get down here and fight as a man!"

Alfie shape shifted, but managed to stay balanced. "Jerome! Please! I love Amber!"

"I don't want you talking to her!" Jerome roared throwing a flame, it hit Alfie's shoulder, and the dark boy fell, crying out in pain as he landed on his burnt arm. He tried to get up, but Jerome knelt beside him, pressing his burnt shoulder into the floor as Alfie screamed out in pain. Writhing, head thrashing from side to side as the pain intensified and scorched him. "I want you to leave her alone. I need to get out of her life completely. But I'm too jealous. So I need everything associated with me, away from her. Understood?"

Alfie hissed in pain, and Jerome raised his hand. Letting his best friend clutch it, crying out. "No!" Alfie cried, standing up, "I will not let her go through it alone! If you didn't have me, who knows what you would have done?"

"I would have been fine."

"Yeah right." He laughed "Who does Mara have? She needs me!"

"I'm warning you-"

"-Well warn away!" Alfie cried "I am not your dog! I'm a super!"

Jerome watched him, face completely serious, and he opened the door. "It's her or me."

Alfie stood there for a moment. Looking between him and the open door. "What?" he whispered

" I said." Jerome ground out through gritted teeth "It's her or me."

"But you love her! And she loves you! For goodness sakes! Go up and love her! Love her and apologize!"

"I can't!" Jerome roared, eyes watering "I can't." he shook his head "I saw what happens if I do that. She kills herself! She kills herself Alfie!"

Alfie stood his ground, but couldn't stop the empathy from drifting into his eyes "I….So…you could either make her happy for 80 odd years, and then have her sad for five years, then take her life. Or…you make her sad for a couple months…and happy for the next 90 years?"

Jerome nodded.

Alfie rubbed his face tiredly "It's gonna be a long few months."

Line Break

"You've had enough." Patricia whispered "You've had enough of him , and his mind games." She rubbed Mara's arm "He invites you to his house, he kills you, you tell him you love him, and he dumps you. He's an idiot! You can do so much better,"

"But-"

"No." Amber said firmly "You've had enough."

"B-"

"Mara," Joy whispered "I can't watch you get hurt anymore."

Mara turned to look at everyone, Nina, Joy, Patricia, Amber. Her shoulders slumped. "But I love him," she whispered sadly.

The four girls met each others eyes as Mara looked down at her feet, before Nina sighed "You just need to find someone to fill the void." She confessed "Not a boyfriend, but a friend. Okay?"

Mara nodded slowly.

But it would never be okay.

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