Hey! Spiderman is coming, just having a little trouble with the next chapter! I have started it though!
Enjoy!
Jerome examined his reflection, for the first time in slight distaste. The poor 15 year old had stumbled into the teenage stage of: spots. And he didn't like them. His mother was working on getting him cream, but for now, he was stuck with it. His hair was still long and fluffy, some parts came down past his ear. He looked almost gangly."Wouldn't be so bad if I could spend summer by myself." But no. Mara was coming to their Kingdom, he hadn't seen her in two years, and he could already feel the smirk coming back at all the teasing games he would do to her this time.
He pulled on this red cloak, fastening the emblem quickly. Alfie was away, his father, the Duke, had taken him on a holiday to some exotic place. Jerome was jealous, to put it nicely. But Alfie had promised to bring him something back.
"Ready, Jerome?" asked this mum, popping her head in the door. Jerome sighed
"Do I have to be?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm ready."
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For this 15 year old princess, it wasn't pimples that hit her. It was chubbiness. She disliked it, but didn't mind too much, it was more…an inconvenience. Because in the past two years, Mara's brains had grown, she was smarter, faster at mental maths than she had been. She had grown her hair a little, Jerome's snide comment about it looking like a boy's had stuck with her, but the fringe still hung down, covering a large amount of her face. Her hair was unruly with slight but definitely distinctive curls.
She took a quick glance in the mirror, the white summer dress was pretty, and came to her knees. Fastening her new white cloak around her shoulders, she picked up her book and headed down the palace stairs. Her father greeted her at the bottom with a smile "You're going to be mature about it this time?"
"Of course," Mara nodded, curtseying slightly. Although she was suffering on the inside. But she figured she wouldn't let Jerome's pranks get to her. She'd stay in her room and read, and when she was forced to converse with him, she would be nowhere near the pond.
"Two years is a long time, I hope it's not awkward, why didn't you write?"
"Oh…" Mara stuttered for some excuse "Very busy, with studies and all,"
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A massive sense of déjà-vu rushed over Mara as she followed her father stepping out of the carriage. Jerome was stood there, just like she remembered. Taller, longer hair, and pimples. Mara fought her smile at this little victory. But it was quickly wiped away when his smirk appeared. He was ready. "Happy to be here," Mara lied.
He bowed, his eyes not containing his amusement, and his acting was better than hers "The pleasures all mine," he bowed, kissing her hand softly. He enjoyed her wince of disgust, and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
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"Not avoiding me, Mara?" he grinned, walking into the library. Mara looked up from her book, and rolled her eyes, looking back down at her book, and continuing to read. Jerome wrinkled his nose in disgust. Turning and leaving. Mara smiled, and continued to read.
She read the whole day, finishing her book and cheerfully starting another. In the evening she headed up to her room, and drifted to sleep. If every day was like this, maybe this summer wouldn't be too bad.
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"Morning Jerome," his mother greeted as Jerome walked into the breakfast room. Mara was up, reading in the corner, as his mother and her father ate. God, all she ever did was read. She must be a massive nerd. He was grateful he had never been tutored with her. Jerome Clarke was smart, but he had a feeling if he was against this girl, he'd come up short. His mother noticed his gaze "Why don't the two of you play chess while me and King Jack eat our breakfast?"
Jerome swallowed "Actually-"
"Jerome."
"Fine." Jerome walked over to her, sitting opposite her and placing the chess set on the small table. "Up for a game?" he sighed, hoping she'd say no, but knowing better than that.
"Don't have much of a choice." She muttered under her breath, shooting a look at her father. "Black or white?"
"I honestly couldn't care less."
And the two of them played, not really focusing. Just trying to look interested when their parents eyes drifted over to them. When Mara frowned, realising he was playing quite well, quite tactfully, she took his queen quickly, so he couldn't kill her later. His eyebrows raised, almost in admiration of what she had done.
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And that's how the rest of the summer panned out. And it was incredibly boring for both of them. Mara liked reading, but she could only read so much. The days she wasn't forced to spend playing chess with Jerome she would wonder about the palace, off in her own world, staring out at the garden, but too afraid to go out for fear of a prank.
And Jerome spent the summer just sitting in his tree house, lying back and watched the clouds float by. Waiting for Mara to build up the courage so he could push her in the pond, but she never did.
It was even worse than last summer
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King Jack ordered them for a photo. It was one of the few moments they actually interacted. They stood stiffly, both facing the camera a few feet from each other. King Jack sighed, taking the photo and letting them both scurry away.
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Mara curtseyed, just pleased to be going home. She was so tired, and she hadn't done anything. The sun was beaming brightly, and she couldn't wait to be back in her own Kingdom, with her own friends. "I had a lovely time," she lied
"Can't wait to see you again," he retorted sharply, bowing. They both sighed as their parents embraced like old friends "This is so not my idea of fun," Mara nodded, completely agreeing with something the blond said. Finally.
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