House of Jara CHAPTER 3
"What? No. It was a joke. He doesn't have a crush on Mara; he just likes her as friend." Alfie lied to cover his mistake. Luckily he'd been taught by the best (Jerome) so he was now a very good liar.
"Oh sorry, for jumping to conclusions well go and say sorry to him! You've upset him." Trudy replied, believing him. He nodded but ran up to Amber and Nina's room before Trudy had chance to see where he went.
"No running Lewis!" Victor yelled as he came down the stairs, Alfie immediately slowed down.
"Hey Boo!" Amber greeted her boyfriend. Mara came into the room and saw Alfie, turned and walked straight back out of the room. Alfie followed her.
"Mara I won't say anything about what I saw with you and Jerome" He told her and she stopped but didn't turn for a second.
"Thank you Alfie, is he still in your room?" Mara asked happily relieved.
"No, I upset him and he went for a walk." Alfie disclosed.
"I'm gonna go and look for him. Could you make an excuse for me if Mick asks where I am?" Mara asked.
"Uh sure, can you tell Jerome I didn't mean what I said? It was just a joke." Alfie replied just before she turned to walk away.
"Thanks!" Mara praised and quickly left the house before Mick had a chance to catch her and ask to hang out.
"What did she want?" Amber asked suspiciously, not trusting Mara alone with Alfie because she had already stolen Mick from her, she didn't want to lose Alfie though.
"She had a question about my magic" Alfie grinned. Nina and Fabian laughed at his joy. Meanwhile Mara was walking around campus until she saw Jerome sitting under a tree. She jogged over to him.
"Are you ok Jerome? Alfie said he upset you." Mara asked as she sat next to him on the grass, she faced the other way so she could see his face.
"He didn't tell you what he said, did he?" Jerome enquired, worried he had told her. She was with Mick and telling her would make it too awkward to be friends.
"No, he just told me to tell you it was a joke. What did he say to you?" Mara clarified. He looked into her eyes, he really did want to tell her but he couldn't.
"It was nothing, don't worry about it." Jerome said looking back down at the floor. Mara wanted to interrogate him about it but didn't want to upset him further.
"Ok, well do you want to go back to the house? Supper won't be long." Mara asked, she decided not to interrogate him and change the subject completely.
"We can take a slow walk back to the house if you want? I am hungry but I don't want to go back immediately." Jerome compromised, Mara smiled. He stood up and helped her to her feet.
"Thanks" Jerome said simply smiling at the short girl next to him.
"What for you helped me up?" Mara asked utterly bewildered by her friend's statement.
"Being my friend everyone else just assumes I'm a horrible, arrogant prankster. You've given me a chance." Jerome explained as they started walking.
"You are usually but you seem to open up to me. You don't give people the chance to get to know you." Mara clarified.
"I guess you bring out the best in me Mara Jaffray" Jerome smiled; Mara felt a sense of pride to bring out this side of Jerome Clarke. He hugged her around the shoulders and they walked back to the house silently smiling to themselves.