oh lord, i'm such a mess

i'm so sorry

VI. Jerome

He struggled to catch up with her. She was fast, somehow. She didn't run, she just moved fast (walking fast, making her way through the people leaving as quickly as her) Plus she had been one of the first to leave the classroom. Still, with a bit of trotting, he got to her side.

He watched her as her eyes turned a bit to look at him, and quickly went back to the pavement. He smiled, trying to think something he could say. Hi, seemed too lame and so did presenting himself. He hoped she would say something, question his sudden approach, remember him from the coffee shop, but she didn't. But Jerome had been expecting that, she was shy after all.

She did look like she was thinking, though... she was thinking, Jerome was sure of it. Her eyes would close a bit and her mouth would open and close every now and then, she would even do a small grimace. Her eyes moved to look at him again, like she was finally realising he hadn't left yet. He caught her eyes and she looked away as fast as she could, but still he noticed how she would turn to look at him again. She looked uncomfortable.

She never spoke so he decided it was up to him if he wanted to get to know this shy girl "Hey Joy" boring "You're Patricia's friend, right?" Duh

She shrugged and said "I guess..."

"So..." he hated it when he lack on things to say. He thought so much, and so many words would appear on his head, but making them come out through his mouth was, sometimes, way too difficult "What are you studying for?"

"Psychology" she answered. Joy's hands started playing with the pages on her books; he founded quite odd "You?"

"Uh... Economy" She smiled a bit, which he didn't understand, he didn't question her though. He understood she still wasn't comfortable around him (he could see it on her short replies and the lack of eye contact).

"I've got to go" she said turning to the opposite side they had been going to "Bye Jerome" He didn't mind, since he also had to go.

—

Throughout the day he met an annoying sport guy and a really nice smart girl. He didn't know the athlete's name. All he knew was that he was blond and had a southern accent. The girl's name was Mara; she was quite pretty and intelligent. Her hair was black and her skin seemed yellow, but that was probably the light.

He soon met Alfie again, who told him a bit about his day (especially about a blonde he met on his third class).

It had been a good first day (not like all the other years), he decided.

He didn't feel like staying on his dorm for the rest of the day, and he didn't feel like being with just Alfie either.

"Alfie" he said. The dark skinned boy looked at him, an idiotic grin on his face "Wanna meet an old friend of mine? I'm pretty sure you'll get along"

Alfie's eyes went back to his phone "What's his name?"

"'Her' Alfie. Trixie is a 'her'"

—

"Lucky I've still got your number" he said, as he accommodated the mobile phone closer to his ear. Alfie was standing next to him, apparently playing Temple Run on his phone (Boring game, Jerome had commented earlier. Alfie had asked which game was good and Jerome had to just shrug because, personally, he didn't like any mobile game)

"Why did I ever give it to you anyway" Patricia groaned at the other side of the line. He could imagine her green eyes looking at her nails; she had a tendency of doing so when she called someone or vice versa.

"'Cause I'm amazing" he grinned, imagining Patricia rolling her eyes "Anyway, go to Trudy's coffee shop... please"

"I don't want to" she replied "Plus, why would I go there"

He had to roll his icy blue eyes "Uh... to catch up, I suppose" He knew it was no good excuse but he couldn't really come out with anything else

"Jerome... catch up on what, we saw each other like 3 times in summer... I think that's enough"

"Oh please, Patricia" He could see her shaking her head but he plead 3 more times and she finally accepted (more because of annoyance than because she wanted).

8 minutes later Alfie and Jerome were already entering the coffee shop, and 4 minutes later Patricia walked in with Joy by her side. Patricia gave him a glare and Joy waved her hand slightly. Jerome only blinked and Joy was already heading to the library at the back of the cafe, the Fabian guy was there.

"I'm here. What do you want?" Patricia had barely acknowledge Alfie's presence but he still presented himself

"Hey! I'm Alfie, Jerome's friend" he said staring at the redhead "I like your biker boots"

"Thanks!" She replies "I'm Patricia"

Alfie looked confused "Jerome said your name was Trixie"

"He calls me that" she stated

Jerome was not paying attention at their conversation as his eyes drifted to Joy and the nerdy guy. They were talking like he had seen them earlier that day. They seem more comfortable with each other than when he first saw them. They sat closer, they smiled more, and they actually looked at each other now. They could be considered friends from now on.

He turned to his friends and said quickly that he was hungry, followed by Patricia telling him to just buy something. He did. And Alfie (who seemed to be getting along with Patricia really well) followed and so did Patricia. And somehow, Fabian and Joy soon joined them.

Jerome bothered the redhead, who replied with sarcastic comebacks. Fabian said "geeky" stuff, to which Alfie made a joke of. Joy was simply there, laughing and smiling at everything Alfie said. She talked a bit, and Jerome was glad by it. He realised that the movements of her hands, the snorts and the smiles showed that she was at least a bit comfortable with them, or that she was just too good faking. He wanted to believe that it was the first one. It didn't matter how many times it crossed his mind—how many times he repeated it to himself—he wanted to know this girl. There was something about her, something hidden that he was determined to find.

—

Fabian waved, Eddie was making his way to the counter (obviously going to order something), his eyes never leaving his mobile phone screen. The American didn't even notice Fabian. Jerome didn't blame him; he probably wouldn't have noticed Fabian either.

Eddie stood in the line, which was just him and a pretty dirty-blonde in front of him. Jerome watched how he soon started a conversation with her. They kept talking as Jerome turned to face his 'friends' (could he call two almost strangers 'friends'?). Patricia was staring at the American and he couldn't help but to say:

"A picture lasts longer, Trixie" She came out of her daze and glared at him before saying:

"I could say the same to you" she snapped, taking a quick drink of her tea.

Joy seemed to have been paying attention to them because she soon asked "Isn't he"—she pointed at Eddie—"the guy you poured coffee on?" Patricia nodded and probably would have said something else if someone hadn't interrupted her.

"Yes, he is" The American's voice was heard and Patricia chuckled. A cocky smile was plastered on Eddie's face "I never heard a sorry, by the way"

The dirty-blonde next to Eddie looked confused, not quite understanding what was going on between the redhead and the beach blond. Her smile never left her face though, her eyes wandered every now and then but her smile didn't.

"You never heard it, because I never said it and I won't ever say it"

Eddie rolled his eyes "Anyway..." he looked at Fabian "Fabian why do you always come here?"

Fabian had managed to look away from the girl "Uh... because... it is quiet and they've got books"

"You've got like 20 books back at our room, why come here?" he seemed to have forgotten about the girl next to him, which was quite idiotic from him. Jerome wanted to say something, he liked talking but he felt kind of lost, and he was sure that Alfie—who always had a joke to crack—didn't know what to say, as well.

The nerdy boy took a deep breath "One of my favourite books is here and I didn't bring it with me. When I saw it here, I wanted to read it again"

The dirt-blonde was suddenly really interested on their conversation and without hesitating she said "which book?" American

Fabian seemed surprised that she even talked to him but still he replied "The Fault In Our Stars"

"Oh my god, I loved that book. It was awesome. God, it was so good!" she said "I'm Nina, by the way"

Fabian introduced himself and the rest of their little group. Nina end up seating with them and didn't stop talking with Fabian (about books) through all the evening. Eddie joined them too, Alfie got along with him (but then again, when does Alfie don't like someone). Patricia seemed annoyed by Eddie. And Joy went quieter. Jerome was wondering how 7 people were fitting in a table meant for 4.

Making friends, socializing or friendship (you decide) was weird, Jerome decided

I hate the first part... please your opinions

i feel like I'm dragging this too long, I want to start with the actual story already but I wanted/needed to present everyone first. KT and Willow won't really appear, it is partly because I didn't like s3 and becuase I don't what use they have in the story.

A bunch lot of people have told me to read the Fault In Our Stars and I dunno I decided to include it. I might read it someday...

i'll try to update soon

i should stop making promises i know i won't keep.

:/

(PS- I'll keep the whole Patricia/Jerome stuff throughout the whole story becuase i adore their friendship)