So, hi guys! This is another chapter that I wrote on my phone and I apologize for crappiness if there is any, because I am rushing to get this edited because I am going out in an hour and need to get ready, ha… So I hope you like it and yeah…
I'll be writing the next chapter soon so hey, the more reviews I get, the better my chapters will be!
Now read!
~0o0o0o0~
Mara 3rd POV
It was so fast; she didn't even see him jump. He didn't scream, he just jumped and accepted that he was killing himself.
She ran off the cliff praying that this was a dream and jumped after him.
The night air rushed past her battering her. The black waves hurried to open their monstrous jaws.
She was being pushed under by the waves so quickly that she couldn't find him.
Spluttering back to the surface, she realized he was gone… and she did nothing to stop him. The one person she was supposed to save didn't make it.
Just let yourself drown, Mara, his voice called to her from far away…
She woke up.
~0o0o0o0~
She jolted upright and started to cry. Her skin still felt cool from the dream, as if she had really been in the water.
She pulled her knees up to her chest and started to wheeze.
The dream seemed so real…
She didn't know why she was crying so hard considering it was just a dream, but she did.
Never had she realized that Jerome was such a good friend.
She had always ignored him and yet she realized that without him, her life be like a black and white painting.
Her frame still shook uncontrollably from the sobs, and she just wished she could talk to Jerome right now and tell him…
What Mara? What would you tell him? She thought to herself.
How could she, the girl that had pushed him away convince him to not kill himself? It seemed irrational…
Helplessly hoping her harlequin hovers nearby
Awaiting a word
Gasping at glimpses of gentle true spirit he runs
Wishing he could fly
Only to trip at the sound of goodbye
Her throat burned and only then did she realize how thirsty she was.
Quietly, she creeped out of her room and down to the kitchen, hoping that she could clear her head for once and make plan.
~0o0o0o0~
*Meanwhile Jerome 3rd POV*
He sat alert on the side of his bed. His eyes had long since adjusted to the darkness that blanketed the room.
The moon was hidden under clouds making everything darker than usual.
Letting out a shuddery a shuddery breath, he anxiously awaited for the clock to strike twelve.
He inhaled deeply and tried to focus on other things. The sounds of Alfie's heavy breathing, and the faint sound of his iPod playing.
He knew that he should have told them that Rufus was going to call him.
It was the rational thing to do.
But he never thought rationally, did he?
Was it so bad that he wanted them to remain safe? Wasn't it bad enough he wanted everything over already.
Suddenly, his phone started buzzing manically and he picked it up not even bothering to check who it was.
As he grasped the vibrating phone in his hand, he peered out into the hall, checking for any signs of movement.
The hall remained quiet and undisturbed by any source of light, and taking it as a good sign, he crept as quietly as he could to the laundry room.
As usual, it remained lit and the dry air still smelt like detergent. It calmed it, the smell of the washing room.
He hoped it would be enough to keep his composure as they talked.
"Hello?" He asked in a semi-whisper.
"Well, care to explain?" The voice sent chills up his spine. It was as if his eyes were staring at him boring holes into his chest.
"Erm... Yeah, I'll get the pieces to you next week; I still need time for them to trust me."
Rufus muttered a few choice words as Jerome cringed.
"I need those pieces. You already took the money. Now, I want them by next Saturday or I swear you'll regret it." Every word dripped malice promising a genuine threat and Jerome felt himself feel true, undiluted fear.
"Fine. Just... I'll get the pieces from them... Goodbye Rufus."
"Good." The dial tone rang clear in his ear as he felt his heart slow down.
It was over. For now, everyone was safe. Renewed, he headed toward the door. Swiftly opening it, in tumbled Mara.
She lay sprawled on the floor in her pajamas. No doubt she had heard everything that he had said.
After all he had gone through, he still had to deal with the repercussions.
"Um, hey Jerome, I'm just gonna leave, hey!" She exclaimed as he dragged her in and closed the door.
"What did you hear?" He demanded in a voice that he hoped had sounded menacing.
"I didn't hear anything!" She exclaimed back towards him, trying hard to intimidate him.
"You're lying." He replied plainly.
"I-I'm not lying!" She replied hotly.
She squirmed herself away from him, eager to run, but in the confusion, she bumped the door loudly.
"Who's down there?" A booming voice called at the end of the hall.
Victor...
"Shit," he whispered coarsely," Come on Mara, wouldn't wanna risk your perfect little reputation now, would we?"
She shot him a look of plain anger, but followed him as he opened the door that led outside.
The night air hit both of them hard, the cold instantly affecting both of them.
"This way!" He pointed towards the woods.
"I don't know Jerome, I mean-"
"Mara, please, for once just trust me!" He pleaded.
For a moment she just stood there, paralysed and he stood there anxiously waiting.
She nodded and accompanied him and they walked as fast as they could into the woods.
~0o0o0o0~
He hadn't seen the treehouse in years.
It towered in the oak tree, and seemed more daunting than ever, yet even in the low light, he could distinguish the light wood and the red roof.
"Jerome, um, I don't know about this."
"Come on Mara, it'll be at least an hour before Victor stops searching, he's been..." He stopped and considered words that wouldn't seem suspicious," Jumpy lately."
"Do you even know if this is safe?"
"Mara, it's my treehouse, of course it's safe."
She looked up at the tree still sceptical and part scared.
He approached the makeshift ladder that led up to the house and started climbing, taking them two by two.
"Are you coming?" He shouted as he looked back down, seeing her fastened to the same spot.
She scowled at him and started climbing as he chuckled.
As he stepped onto the platform, he started to doubt his plan himself as he heard it creak painfully, but reassured himself that it was just his imagination.
The house looked smaller than he remembered, but it was probably because it was something that he never really liked to think about.
Other than that, it looked fine. Reaching out, his opened the door and ducked inside.
Standing at his full height, he had to bend his neck to fit in.
There was a worn out mattress on the right that was still fitted with Doctor Who sheets courtesy of Alfie. Under the only window on the left was a small table whose only decoration was a small lamp. An old rug lay in the middle of the room to finish it off. There were a few other oddities in the room such as one corner that was piled high with his 'favourite' books and Cds, but besides that, his treehouse was plain.
"So Jerome, you gonna tell me about your talk with Rufus?" He turned to see her enter having no trouble with the door.
"You heard it all, didn't you?"
"We wouldn't be here if I hadn't."
"Mara, we wouldn't be here if you didn't suck so much at eavesdropping." He tried laughing but it sounded strange and faded way too quickly.
"I'm doing something for my dad-"
"Jerome, I know you better than that..."
That actually stung him: even she knew he was lying and about his family to.
"This man Rufus paid me to find something that he wanted and I haven't been able to... Procure those items."
"Did you spend...?"
"Yeah... And even if I did have all the money to pay him back, he wouldn't want it." Everything tumbled out of him, which surprised him because no one could open him up.
No one but her...
"What are you gonna do?" He heard the concern in her voice and looked up. She lay on the mattress on her stomach propping herself up on her elbows.
Even now she looked gorgeous. He urged himself to focus on the question.
"I don't know," was all he could think to say. For a while they sat there in silence. He could tell she was struck by the answer.
He had built such a great facade: he was the boy that always had a plan to get out of trouble. He was the boy that could stand his ground in the most toughest of problems and here he was, his shell crumbling before one girl that barely acknowledged him.
"Who built the treehouse?" She finally asked in a whisper.
"My parents did. It was the only birthday gift they ever gave me, that's why it's so sturdy."
"Is that where you were disappearing to all those years?" Her words were sluggish now as she struggled to keep her eyes open.
"What?" He was stunned.
"I remember every Friday night, you would disappear at dinner because you never sat next to me."
"I did." He whispered.
"Why did you stop?"
"I stopped when I realised that this was just a rouse my parents were using to make it seem like they loved me."
"Jerome, I'm so-" He knew what she was going to say.
"Mara, I don't need your pity. Now, Mara, let me ask you a question, why were you downstairs anyway?"
He looked out the window to avert her gaze, he wanted to hear her honest answer.
Wordlessly watching he waits by the window and wonders
At the empty place inside
"I… I had a nightmare…"
He looked over at her and saw she had now pulled her knees to her chest as if the effect of the dream still clung to her.
"What was it about?" He asked curiously. She always seemed so composed as if she had no fears.
"Death… That's all I remember…" He could vaguely see her close her eyes in an effort to tried and suppress the dream.
"Mara, it was just a dream… Whatever happened… it's not real."
She looked up at him and managed to say," I really hope it doesn't."
Heartlessly helping himself to her bad dreams he worries
Did he hear a good-bye?
Or even hello?
Silence clung to the air once again and he found himself being choked by it.
When they did start to talk, it was all meaningless, small talk about his books and cds.
"We should leave." He commented with renewed force.
He could see her fighting to stay awake.
"Sure, just make sure you go down first in case I fall."
He laughed a bit seeing her in her tired state, her hair dishevelled like a little girl's.
As they stepped outside, he saw she was shivering, and gritting her teeth.
"Cold, are ya?"
"You would be too if you were wearing a tank top."
"Want my jacket?" He offered, watching her expression light up.
"Really?"
He gave her an 'Are-you-kidding-me?' Look and passed it over, feeling happy as he saw her sigh.
Eventually they climbed down, and after much arguing, Jerome agreed to carry her. After all, how could he resist her when she was so damn cute?
She jumped on his back, and he was amazed at how light she weighed.
He started walking and felt her heart beat on his back and felt himself blush which he tried to suppress reminding himself that he didn't blush.
It didn't help.
Not even the night air managed to sober him up from his love-sickness.
Face it Jerome, he thought to himself, she loves someone else...
That thought did the trick as he felt himself sigh knowing that no matter what he did, she would be concerned... Until Mick comes in.
He sped up to a jog surprisingly not tired. If anything, he felt like he was on an adrenaline rush as he felt his limbs go as fast as they may without jostling her.
Soon the house came into view, a sole light on in the distance and he could tell as the rush declined.
Slowing back into a walk, he tried to catch his breath. He may not be the best endurance runner but sprint he could. He did the best he could to be quiet as he carried her in, almost repeating their previous mistake of banging into a wall.
Suddenly, Jerome panicked. How could he make it up the stairs with her on his back. He paused for a second, and wondered why was he even bothering with her.
He shouldn't even be bothering. She would have no recollection of anything, and go back to ignoring him. It was all so confusing. He wanted so badly to help her…
Yet he couldn't help wondering… would she do the same?
Stand by the stairway you'll see something certain to tell you
Confusion has its cost
Love isn't lying it's loose in a lady who lingers
Saying she is lost
And choking on hello
As long as I'm quick and swift, he thought, Victor should asleep.
Treading lightly, he tiptoed up the stairs to minimise the creaks.
To his great relief, Victor wasn't in his office.
Walking faster now, he opened Mara's door and set her down on her bed and threw a blanket over her.
He turned to leave on to hear his name being whispered," Jerome."
He turned abruptly and saw her, her eyes half open and her mind half-aware.
He walked closer.
It was so quick he didn't even realize that she had pulled his collar down and kissed him until after she had let go and turned over.
But he knew now that he loved her, and that was all that mattered to him.
~0o0o0o0~
I know it's a bit rushed and crappy, but yes, I did this while I was super tired so I can relate to Mara
I hope you like it and review!
I will only start writing/upload the next chapter with five more reviews so you should...
Eskimo Kisses,
z3stygurl97