Hey! RACHEL GIRL! I seriously love you! Your review made me laugh! So this chapter is for you!

Enjoy!

Mara Jaffray was pretty. Maybe cute. Maybe a mixture. Cutely pretty. Pretty cute. Her hair had grown, just past her shoulders, her fringe cut slightly, so you could see more of her tanned face. She had grown an inch, and she was slim now, with a healthy glow. She dressed better, in lovely gowns and dressed. She may not have been the most beautiful, or eye-catching, but the 17 year old was certainly improving. "Father please!" Mara cried as the servant hauled her case in the carriage "I get sea sick!"

"Mara," her father shook her head "This is tradition, and don't you want to see Jerome again?" Mara huffed, crossing her arms over her chest

"Well I refuse to go." She stated firmly. Her head turned up and her father looked at her pleadingly. Her firm decision lasted about a moment, and she faltered seeing her father's face. She always was a push over. "Fine," she sighed, stepping into the carriage. Her father beamed

"I love you, Mara! And besides, now you can see Jerome again!"

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The 17 year old boy was…insanely good looking, for lack of any other term. He was tall, and lean, but well muscled. His face had cleared, and his skin was a flawless marble. His eyes shone a bright blue. His hair had been cut, and he had gotten into the habit of styling it. He had died a streak of his blond hair a dark almond, and he brushed it off to the side. And he was turning heads.

"Is she cute?" Alfie asked, sitting in Jerome's tree house. Jerome shook his head, laughing

"No, god, she's gonna be like the ugliest Queen ever,"

Alfie sighed "Does she have to come?"

"Mmmhmm, mother says." Jerome looked out of the tree house and groaned "They're here," he sighed, "I had better go, you stay here, I'll be back,"

Alfie peered out of the tree house "Jerome, what are you talking about? She's cute." Jerome flicked the back of Alfie's head, looking again, and sure enough, the figure stepping out of the carriage was…kinda cute. Well, a lot prettier than the girl he had seen two years ago. She was wearing a red summer dress with a red cloak. Delicate red heels on her feet.

"She's okay," Jerome winced in disgust "We've seen better," he descended from the tree "Got the personality of a brick though,"

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"Thank you for inviting us here," Mara curtseyed, taking Jerome's appearance in. Yes, he was good looking now, and that slightly aggravated her. Weren't horrible people not supposed to be blessed with good looks? It seemed unfair.

He kissed her hand quickly, barely touching her "My pleasure," he said quickly, before turning and rushing back to the tree house. Mara rolled her eyes, but didn't mind, he could stay far away from her if he liked.

They got settled pretty quickly, and Mara ventured the castle in her red dress and cloak. And desperate, to make sure a repeat of the last summer didn't happen, she searched for someone to talk to. She spotted a guard up ahead, who looked about her age. "Hello," she smiled upon seeing him. He stood to attention, saluting her

"Yes, ma'am, how may I assist?"

Mara laughed softly "No, just Mara's fine, um…I…" she trailed off, unsure how to continue, before deciding to be honest "Really, I'm just lonely, I'd love someone to talk to,"

The serious expression lifted "I thought you were meant to be spending time with Prince Jerome,"

Mara arched an eyebrow, before laughing "Are you kidding? He's horrible."

"I-I'm Mick, Mick Campbell,"

Mara smiled "Nice to meet you, Mick, are you busy?"

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Mara and Mick sat in the library, talking happily, and Mara wondered why on earth she'd never thought of this before! She could have pleasant conversations with someone who wasn't going to push her into a pond every second day. "Mara," Queen Clara walked into the library, frowning. "Um…I was wondering if you'd like to play cards with Jerome and Alfie?"

"I was talking to Mick," she said softly, Mick grinned gratefully, but stood none the less.

"Don't worry Princess," he bowed lowly, much to Mara's displeasure "I do have a post to attend to." He nodded respectfully at both of them before leaving. Mara sighed standing, following Queen Clara.

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Mara smiled, rather pleased. She didn't want to come and play, but she was glad she did. She was winning. In fact, she hadn't lost. "I'm going to the bathroom," Alfie lied, he left the table, moving to stand behind Mara, peaking at her cards. Jerome watched him quizzically, when he realised that Alfie was mouthing numbers to him. Jerome nodded. He cleared his throat

"I'm in,"

"Me too," Mara smiled cheekily. He glared at her, before proudly dropping his cards

"Two sevens and a ten,"

"I think I've won again," Mara teased, setting down her cards to reveal three aces. Jerome slumped back in his chair hopelessly

"Alfie!" he complained "You said she had a two and a nine," Mara whirled around in shock that they were trying to cheat. Alfie raised his hands in innocence

"I meant she had 29!"

"There are no 29's in cards!" Jerome exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief. Alfie shrugged, taking a bite out a muffin that neither had seen before. Mara and Jerome gave each other a look, before they all burst out laughing.

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"You know something Jerome," Alfie grinned, the two of them walking were practising their archery skills, although Jerome was some sort of a natural already "I think you really sort of like her,"

Jerome frowned at his friend, almost missing his shot "What? No way! She's always flirting with that guard, and she's irritating to no end!"

"Right," Alfie rolled his eyes knowingly, watching as Jerome missed the bulls eye for the first time.

"I'd like her better if she'd lose at cards," Jerome confessed, rolling his eyes. Alfie burst out laughing.

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"Morning Mara," Jerome greeted in the morning, King Jack and Queen Clara sat up at this progress, both watched Mara eagerly.

"Good morning Jerome," she smiled. The King and Queen watched in immense surprise as the two ate breakfast together. And chatter nicely, they played a quick game of chess, then Mara left.

"Oh Jerome! The two of you seem to be hitting it off!" Clara beamed. Jerome arched an eyebrow, Alfie's words ringing in his ears.

"I guess…" he shrugged "Just as friends though…barely."

"So…never as anything more?" King Jack asked hopefully, Jerome frowned

"Doubtful. She's no looker."

Mara listened from the outside of the door, heartbroken.

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Jerome faced the camera, a confused expression on his face, as Mara faced away, refusing to be anywhere near him. King Jock took the photo, rolling his eyes, almost in defeat.

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It wasn't as if she'd like him in that way. But she was beginning to think that finally they could be friends. Obviously she was wrong. He was still as shallow and heartless as she remembered. Mara Jaffray spent the rest of the summer talking to Mick in the library or reading in her room. Sometimes she played cards with Alfie, but that was rare.

So on the last day, just before they left, Mara insisted there was something she wanted to show Jerome in the garden. He followed her, slightly wary. He had thought they were beginning to become friends, but then she'd blanked him completely, not that he minded though, he had Alfie to be his friend, he didn't need her. "What?" he asked when he reached the pond.

"Just reminiscing," Mara smiled "It was 5 years ago you pushed me into this pond,"

Jerome smiled, chuckling at the thought "It was kinda funny,"

"What's that?" Mara said loudly, pointing into the water. Jerome frowned, peering down

"Wha-" he was cut off by his own yelp as Mara gave him a gentle push and he tumbled into the pond.

"That's for being a horrible jerk who's gonna make a pretty repulsive king one day!" she cried, watching as he spluttered, swimming to the surface to look up at her in shock. She grinned triumphantly, and Jerome glared at her "Now this is my idea of fun,"

Thanks for all those that reviewed- I love you all!

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