Jerome XXVI

Hey y'all! So this was originally supposed to cover Mara's trial but the story got away from me. So enjoy lots of #Lilrome angst and cute #team clarke bonding moments!

There were many things that Jerome Clarke expected on Thursday mornings, pancakes by Vera, Alfie packing a second bag for his therapy appointment after classes, the arrival of a new copy of Investors Weekly, and a good morning text from Poppy. What was not expected was a large photo of Vera across the school news website (which Mara still hadn't named) and the angry headline: Vera Devenish, Liar Exposed. What had Mara gotten herself into now!

Breakfast was understandably tense as their housemother had placed breakfast on the table and then retreated to Victor's office. Jerome's customary seat next to Liliana provided a clear line of sight to Mara's self-righteous face. She clearly believed what she had written and wouldn't back down from it any time soon.

Which was apparently something that Fabian even after all these years hadn't learned. "Mara how could you write this?"

"Write what?" Asked Amber pouring herself another cup of tea. Fabian passed the blonde his phone so that she could see the article.

"What if they close down the school site because of what you wrote?"

"Chill man!" argued Eddie. "The story was off the chain. It had to come out".

"Not everything needs to be written. This seems like an issue that would have been better solved by going to Mr. Sweet" added Liliana.

"Yeah Mara. You absolutely destroyed her. And it's on the internet. If this turns out to be false, how is the poor woman ever expected to get another job!" exclaimed Amber.

Pushing her chair back, Mara jumped to her feet, "I stand by everything I wrote, and I am going to prove it!". Unfortunately for her, Victor entered the dining room in time to hear her declaration. The man was scary enough without knowing all that Jerome did about his murderous tendencies.

"There is to be a hearing tomorrow," announced their glowering head of house. "To ascertain the legitimacy or otherwise of a story which has appeared on the school website" yikes Mara was in big trouble! "I am instructing all Anubis house residents to attend and hear the truth" with a final glare at Mara, Victor headed back upstairs.

"Sorry Mara" comforted Fabian.

"Why a public hearing though?" questioned Eddie, "Is that how you guys normally handle discipline issues?".

"No, it should have just been a meeting with Victor, Vera, Mara and Mr. Sweet. Probably Mrs. Andrews as well since she is in charge of the website" explained Amber

"Well we are all behind you though and it will be ok" declared Patricia. With their breakfast ruined by the news, Jerome and the rest of the students hurried to finish their food and head off to school.

*Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold*

Even with Mara's article drama, Jerome knew he had to focus up and find a new ping pong partner, which included telling Alfie he was out. Jerome had put it off for as long as he could, hoping to spare Alfie's feelings, but they now had to face the music. Jerome had to win back the Frobisher shield to break the curse on his father and unfortunately Alfie was not a partner who could help him win.

Alfie was in the student lounge where Jerome had texted him to meet up. "Hey bro! I was just getting ready for some practice. You wanna play me?".

"Alfie, we have to talk" Jerome motioned for him to take a seat.

"Sure Roe, What's up?"

Deep breath Jerome, you got this! "Alfie, you know how we really need to win this competition next week?"

"Yeah, that's why I've been practicing so much" explained Alfie.

Ugh! That just made this so much worse. "I know you have been practicing a ton, but I'm thinking that it is time to start looking at other options"

"You don't want me to be your partner?" Jerome winced as his friend started to grow visibly more and more upset.

"Look, I am so thankful that you want to help me. I know that I can always count on you to support me… But with the competition coming up so soon, we need to be sure we have the strongest team possible".

"Can I at least show you how much I've improved?" Alfie asked pulling out his paddle.

"Sure thing mate, but please think about what I said" agreed Jerome.

The pair headed over to the ping pong table and started a match. Alfie started off strong but wasn't able to keep up the momentum. This led to a few balls flying past him. As much as firing Alfie as his partner sucked, it was clear that he wouldn't be ready by next Friday.

Something strange happened though as Jerome served a ball which flew passed Alfie. He had expected it to just land somewhere on the ground and roll off never to be seen again, like so many balls before. Instead, the ball came flying back. What? Alfie was clearly as lost as he was… so who hit the ball?

Snagging the ball Jerome hit it again past his friend and watched as it made its way towards Amber. Jerome stared in amazement as the girl absentmindedly swung her hairbrush and hit the ball back across the table without ever looking up from her magazine. "How did you do that?" he demanded.

"Do what?" Amber asked looking exceedingly bored with the conversation.

"Do it again!"

"Do what again? I didn't do anything!" defended the girl

Jerome hit another ball to Amber and laughed as she hit it back without stopping their conversation.

Alfie quickly handed over his paddle and pushed Jerome towards Ambs. "You are amazing!" he praised.

"Thank you, Jerome. But I already knew that" she sassed.

"I need you to be my partner. Please! I'm begging you!".

"Oh, when you put it that way, NO" she replied going back to her article.

"Why not?"

"I got sick of ping-pong when I was under-13 county ping-pong champion. Three years running" she explained.

Alrighty time to pull out the big guns… getting down on his knees he held up a paddle with the most desperate look he could muster. "For the fame… fortune…" she clearly wasn't buying it. "Immortality!" and that just made her look at him like he was crazy. "Ok… It's none of those things Amber. But I will make sure that you get to wear a really cute outfit".

"No offense Jerome, but I have to insist that you leave the outfits to me". Yes! Jerome would do a happy dance if it wouldn't make him look more foolish than he already did. She had said yes and now they would win back the Frobisher shield! He spent a few more minutes thanking her and ironing out the details before scarfing down his lunch and heading back to class.

*Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold*

Standing at his locker after class Jerome tried to figure out which books he would need that evening. The sudden clang of someone leaning against the lockers made him smile as there were only three people who would do that around him and two had already returned to their houses for the day. "Good afternoon Liliana. Do you need something?".

"Nope!" she announced as she popped her bubble gum. "Just wanted to see if you wanted to walk back to the house with me?"

"Of course love, just give me a sec to finish packing". Adding the final books to his bag, Jerome closed his locker and offered his arm to Lili. She quickly looped her arm through his and they were off.

It wasn't until they were back outside Anubis house that she brought up what had clearly been bugging her. "Look Roe, I wanted to let you know I wrote Hadrian back".

"Did you?" Jerome tried his best to feign indifference.

"Yeah," she continued shooting him a significant look. "I said yes to the date. But only to the date though, we're going to get coffee in an hour. Like you said a date doesn't automatically mean a relationship".

Jerome breathed out a sigh of relief, she knew him so well. Of course she did, she was his best friend, he reflected. "Well that's good!".

"That's good huh?" she teased.

"You know what I mean. I just want you to happy".

"Thanks Roe that means a lot!" after giving him a hug she went inside to do homework while Jerome went over to Hathor house in search of Poppy.

*Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold*

Ringing the bell Jerome awkwardly waited for Maribel, the Hathor house mother, to let him in. "Jerome! How wonderful to see you" greeted Maribel. "Please come in, I'll go and get Penelope".

Heading into the sitting room Jerome saw a couple of his sister's housemates hanging out. "Hey you guys" he greeted.

"Sup Jerome" greeted Jorge from his spot hanging upside down on the couch.

"Are here to see Poppy?" asked Missy.

"Yeah, I thought I would take her out for the evening. How is school going for you guys?"

"It's so hard!" whined Philip. "Mrs. Andrews expects so much of us even though we are taking seven other subjects".

"I feel that" commiserated Jerome, "Don't worry though, you get used to old Andrews eventually". This sparked a round of laughter from the year sevens.

"I'm ready Roe" called Poppy as she entered the sitting room.

"Great let's go Pops. Nice to see you all. Keep your chin up, school gets better I promise" chuckled Jerome ruffling Nicky's hair on his way out.

"So where are we going?"

"I thought we could go get an early dinner in town since Alfie is at his appointment and Lili is… busy".

"Huh 'busy'… Is that what we are going to call it?" teased his sister.

"I'm sure I don't have any idea what you are talking about" he replied stiffly.

"Oh come on Roe. You are obviously upset about this"

"Well even if I was, it isn't my place to tell her who she can date or not date" replied a frustrated Jerome. Their conversation paused as they got into their newly arrived cab.

Unfortunately once they were settled Poppy picked back right where they had left off. "You know that's not what I mean. How is she supposed to know that you are an option if you don't tell her?".

Jerome could hear his neck click as he whipped around to look at his sister, "WHAT! I… What. I don't!?"

"Oh grow up Jerome" she snapped. "It is so obvious that you two fancy each other. All you are doing is torturing each other by ignoring it".

"No Poppy, you've got it all wrong".

"Yes Poppy!" she argued. "Why else would you suddenly dislike Hadrian?"

"I don't dislike Hadrian".

"Yes you do! You two used to be at least friendly, but now that he asked out Liliana you can't hear his name without glaring"

"I don't do that!". Right? Jerome thought he was a very component actor. There was no way anyone could tell his feelings. Poppy must be trying to get him to confess, not that there was anything to confess. Well unless Lili had something to confess… but clearly, she didn't since she was on a date with another boy. And Jerome would never do anything to disrupt her happiness, even if that meant shoving his feelings way down deep and never acknowledging them.

"Would you like my compact so you can see your face?" she so 'generously' offered with a knowing look.

"Just knock it off Penelope" he sighed tiredly. She went quiet then knowing that he never called her Penelope unless he was upset. The rest of the ride was spent in silence until they got to the restaurant. Conversation over dinner mostly centered around how Poppy's school year was going and her friends. It was nice catch up with his little sister even if her words from earlier were still echoing in the back of his mind.

*Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold*

Poppy had managed to keep quiet on the Lili issue until they were back at Hathor house. "Look Jerome, can I just say one last thing".

"What?"

"I just want you to think about how Lili reacted when she thought you were dating Mara. And really think about why she reacted like that… I think you will change your mind about not asking her out if you do. "

"Fine".

"I just want you to be happy gerbil, and I seriously think you two will make each other happy".

"Alright Pops. You should get back inside now or Mari will send out a search party. Love you!"

"Love you too!" after hugging him tightly she rushed back into her house and Jerome made his way back to Anubis.

Next Update: #Ladrian date recap and Mara's trial kicks off!

Question: Are there any POV's y'all want to see?

I love hearing from y'all, let me know what you think of the chapter and the story so far! Stay safe everyone! - Xo Evie