This is actually more of a one-shot than a drabble, it's 1,335 words! This was prompted by Jaraismylife. And the prompt is similar to a prompt justkeeptyping recieved. So, I tried not to do it to much like hers since the prompts were like exactly the same!

Enjoy!

"Hey, Jerome," Mara smiled, taking a seat next to him in the almost empty drama room.

"'Sup, Jaffray?" he replied, popping a green jelly bean into his mouth.

He held the bag up toward her and she reached in, taking a small handful out. They were the only ones in the room. All the other students that had a free period were either outside or studying. And for once, Mara wasn't going to study in her free time. Spotting the poster on the wall that promoted the upcoming dance Mara turned to Jerome curiously.

"Are you going to the dance?"

"No. Why?" he smirked at her, twisting to face her.

"Just wondering; Mick asked me yesterday. I said no. Funny, right?" she chuckled. "Jerome?"

He stared at her, blue eyes searching her tanned face eagerly. "You…turned him down?"

"Yes…" she nodded slowly.

"Wow, didn't think you had it in you. Well, actually I did. I mean, you turned me down. But, whatever, water under the bridge. I don't want to go to the dance. I don't have a date." he sighed, running a hand through his blonde hair and falling back in the cushions.

"You've gone to dances without a date before. Why do you want one now?"

"…because the girl that I wanted to take to all those dances is finally single and free." He answered after a minute.

"Ooh, who's the lucky girl?" Mara smiled.

"Ha, like I'd tell you." he chuckled.

"But, you tell me a lot of things. Why can't you tell me who you like?"

"I don't like her, Mara." Jerome corrected.

"Then why do you want to take her to the dance—oh. Wow I'm slow." She shook her head at herself.

"Yes, yes, you are." He sighed, standing.

"So, are you going to ask her?" Mara copied his movement.

"I don't know."

"Why wouldn't you? You said she was single."

"I don't think she likes me like that."

"How would you know if you don't try and find out?" she raised a delicate eyebrow at him.

"Do you know how to dance?" he asked suddenly.

"Yeah, don't you?" she rolled her brown eyes at the subject change but didn't press.

He stayed silent and ran a hand through his hair.

"You don't? Is that why I never see you dancing at a party or dance?"

"Yeah, well, when you grow up without friends…you don't get invited. So, you don't learn." He shrugged it off. "Can you teach me?"

"Um…sure, I guess." She mimicked his shrug and led him up to the stage, making sure the doors were closed. "First, take my hand." she held up her left hand and he placed it in hers, trying to stop his shaking. "Calm down, I'm not going to make fun of you." she shook her head.

That's not what I'm afraid of, Jerome thought as Mara placed his hand on her hip and hers on his shoulder.

"Now, follow my lead." She instructed.

"Isn't it easier to do this with music?" Jerome pointed out.

Mara huffed and let go of his hand, walking over to the stereo to the right of the stage. "I suppose."

After shuffling through the CDs a few times she found some music that would work the dance and played it. She hopped up to her partner and pointed to her feet, telling him to watch them closely as she showed him the steps. As the music began she explained the steps she was taking and he watched her intently as she moved. When he got it, she took his hand again and they began moving. He got the steps perfectly and she smiled up at him.

"Are you sure you've never danced before?"

"I'm a fast learner." He said simply, spinning her quickly and then bringing her back to him, her back pressed against his chest.

"I didn't teach you that move." She whispered.

"When you have no friends and you're always alone, you have some free time on your hands." He said lowly in her ear. He could smell her apple shampoo and it was intoxicating. He didn't want to let her go.

"You're not alone, Jerome." she scolded him, heart racing at their close proximity.

"Yes, I am, Mara. Everyone I ever loved or cared about has left me, or will." He breathed, tears trekking up his throat. He pushed them down and his breathing caught when her reply left her lips.

"I'll never leave you."

He turned her around and looked into her brown eyes as she stared into his cold blue ones. He licked his thin, pink lips and leaned in. She pulled back and he stopped short. He hung his head in defeat and let her shoulders go, turning away from her.

"Jerome?"

"Why did you turn Campbell down?" he asked, trying to keep the shakiness he was feeling throughout his whole body out of his voice.

"Because, I don't want to go with him, I want to go with someone else." She blushed at her answer but she couldn't take it back.

"Who now," he ground out.

"He doesn't like me." she whispered, ringing her hands. "He likes someone else."

"Who?"

"I don't know but he seems to really love her." she sighed unhappily.

"How do you know?"

"He told me so."

"Mara, it's you, you're the one I wanted to go to this dance, and all the others, with."

"What?" she gasped, nearly in a whisper.

"You're really slow, you could figure that out?"

"You said you were over Me." she accused.

"I will never get over you, Mara Jaffray. I'm in love with you. Is it really that hard to see it? The way I hang on your every word? The way I neglect Alfie or anyone else if you're around? The way I drop everything if you wanna hang out? I can't believe you couldn't see it. Even though I hid best I could, I'm sure everyone in school saw it."

"I know. I saw it. I just wanted to hear you say It." she bit her lip, blushing, eyes twinkling mischievously.

He stared at her blankly for a moment before frowning and taking her shoulders in his hands again. "Mara, do you realize how much it hurt when you would turn me down or pull away from me? And you wanted to hear me say I do anything for you? That I'm in love with you? That you are the only girl that can and will ever be able to get me to spill my thoughts and feelings without saying a word?"

"I'm so sorry, Jerome, I didn't know it'd hurt you—"

She stood shocked for a moment when Jerome cut her off and gripped her face in his pale hands, crashing his lips into hers. But she soon relaxed and lifted her hands to pull on the collar of his school shirt. Jerome's long fingers threaded into her black hair and tugged her closer to him, deepening the kiss.

They froze when someone cleared their throat behind him and he untangled himself from Mara, turning to Ms. Valentine. He ran a hand through his blonde hair as Mara stepped behind him, hiding herself from the shocked students, staring up at them.

"Please kiss in your own time, Mr. Clarke, Miss Jaffray." she scolded, folding her arms over her chest.

"This is my time, actually—"

"Ah, I was just giving him a dance lesson, Miss." Mara spoke up, poking her head around Jerome's tall form.

"I already know how to dance, remember?" Jerome corrected, smirking down at the blushing girl. He took her hand and spun her around quickly, leading her down the stage's steps, arms around her waist.

"Jer—"

He cut her off with a kiss again and smiled sweetly. "Love you."

He slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out of the room whistling.

"Love you, too!" she called after him and grinned like an idiot when he cheered happily like a little kid.

There ya have it! Hope it wasn't too much like yours justkeeptyping! Please don't sue me! Wahh!

REVIEW AND PROMPT! I've got a new poll up!

My cat is pawing me. He must have food!

Love y'all!

Remember, you can ask for me to put verses up now!

"... say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.""-Isaiah 35:4

-Rachel