I AM SO SORRY TO ALL MY REVIEWERS HAVING NOT UPDATED FOR A FEW MONTHS! It's been very busy lately and I didn't have any Idea what to write and , you know? I know this chapter isn't amazing, but… meh, I tried my best on it, and this chapter is more of a filler.

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The silence that encapsulated the room was deafening. One might even dare to say that their state of quietness would go to make Victor as proud as ever. This did not, though, occur to the three teens in that very room. Mick still glared at Jerome, hurt, rage, and just a hint of sadness obvious in his eyes. Jerome stood there unmoving, almost as if he believed that Mick was an animal. That would be an accurate description for him, seeing how he looked like he was going to lash out at Jerome. Mara merely sat in her tangle of blankets, not looking at any of them.

When had this become so complicated? Was she just meant to create drama? A useless anomaly whose only purpose was to stir up a little dust every once in a while? Mick took the opportunity to break the silence. "What... The fuck was that?" He spat through gritted teeth. Even the previous silence was far more comfortable than when he spoke. And who could blame her? She had hurt him so badly. He was supposed to be mad at her, not him.

"Mick, I-" she choked out, still not looking him in the eyes. She felt ashamed, dirty, and violated. How was she even with him? She didn't deserve him. What she did was unforgiveable. In fact, she wouldn't be be surprised if he broke up with her.

"Shut up Mara!" He snarled his direct attention still on Jerome," I was asking Jerome." Despite the fact that Mick stood, ready to kill, Jerome managed to retain some of his humor. He's gonna get himself killed, she thought. But maybe that's what he wants… The voice in her head haunted her.

"Mick, I'm sorry, it's just we were talking and then gravity got so strong," He laughed. Strike one…

"Don't try to be cute Clarke," Mick was still gritting his teeth, staring at Jerome with the utmost loathing.

"Me? Cute? Why thank you Mick!" Jerome placed a hand on his chest and giggled childishly. Strike two…

"Shut it. I don't even get why Mara let you kiss her. You're nothing more than an idiot who has no future," Jerome switched off at this, and stared at Mick intensely.

"And you do? As I recall, I am not the one getting Ds on tests, am I?" The blow was low, very low for Jerome, but Jerome never really did have limits. Strike three…

"At least I know one thing. I would never do anything to hurt Mara, but you just come in, wanting to hurt her." Jerome laughed even harder now, obviously knowing something she didn't. Something she did not want to find out.

"At least I am not the one snogging Alicia Hall!" He exclaimed. Mick cheating on her? The cheating was mutual? And you're out…

Mick threw the first punch, hearing the satisfying crunch as it connected with the side of Jerome's face. His fingers flew up to touch the side of his face, as if he expected there would be blood, but there was not a single drop. There was a small twang of pain that came with it, and he knew that it would bruise a delicious purple in a few hours' time. Rage boiled inside him, churning like magma. It was bad enough that Mick had stolen his one true love and was cheating on her, but worse was that he still expected Mara to be his little puppet.

He was a ticking time bomb, and it was now that he exploded. It was all slow motion for him as he placed his hands on Mick's shoulders and brought his knee up forcefully into his chest. Mick wheezed, the familiar feeling of having the wind knocked out of him returning to him. And it became a game, both of them taking shots at each other. Vaguely, they could hear screams coming from Mara, but chose to ignore it, all until she ran into the middle of it, the target of Mick's next hit.

The punch hit her right in the side of her face, just like Jerome's, and that's when everything stopped. Mick's hands shot up to his mouth as he stared at the girl, cradling the side of her face as she lay on the floor. Then her sobs started. They were pitchy and raspy, and with each hitch, Mick couldn't help but feel a small part of him die. The feelings of anger and rage dispersed quickly replaced by remorse for their horrendous actions.

"All of you: My office, now!" Victor screamed, pushing through the throng of students all looking down at Mara in shock. The only thing that made it amusing was that his eye was twitching madly like a spider. Mick shot a look of regret at Mara as she supported the side of her face. She was confused to say the least. The punch was not meant for her, she knew that, but she knew a little of it must have.

The other residents seemed to disappear when Victor passed. Jerome, Mick, and Mara hung their heads out of shame, not daring to look any of them in the eye. The house did not need any more drama, and yet, here they were, feeding the flame. Then again, Anubis house always had a tendency to house the more melodramatic students. It was just in their very nature.

They filed into Victor's room and sat down. Well, Mick, Mara, and Victor sat down. Jerome took to leaning in a corner, toying with a small trinket beside him. He stopped when he saw Victor glaring at him. The room was not clean. There were papers nearly everywhere, sticking out of every nook. Most of them were crumple or had what looked like coffee rings on them. The curtains to the windows were closed and the only light that was in the room came from the dim overhead light. Corbierre sat in his spot, standing tall as ever, watching all of them with his beady black eyes.

"Mr. Campbell, explain what happened." Victor pointed at him and he fidgeted for a bit before starting. Even Jerome could tell that Mick was out to incriminate him, despite the fact that he started it.

"I'm sorry Victor, I just... You see, Jerome kissed Mara and I got angry. I didn't mean to hit her! I was supposed to hit him, not her!" It was obvious that Victor rolled his eyes at his explanation.

"Ah, I should have suspected. You hormonal nuisances can't live a day without an episode. Toilet duty, all of you!" Swiftly as he could, he procured three toothbrushes, all of them weathered and their bristles slightly brown. To say the least, they were all disgusted. Not to mention the fact that the handles were still damp.

"But this isn't fair! Mick was the one that threw the punch! He should get in trouble, not us!" Jerome exclaimed.

Mick rolled his eyes," Oh shut it. You would do anything to be alone with Mara, wouldn't you? Why don't you just go kill yourself Jerome, no one likes you anyway."

"You know Campbell, I might just do that," to any ordinary person that would have sounded just like a passive statement, not something to be taken to heart, but to Mara, it meant everything. The threat was obvious to her, and she found herself scared that he actually might carry on with it. She could see it most in his eyes. Do it Campbell, they said, Make me do it. Let me have a reason, let me have a way out.

"Enough of this childish squabbling!" Victor boomed, banging his fist on the table," Either you stop or it shall be toilet duty for a month. Now leave, I have work to do." Seeing as the room was small, they had to walk in a line to leave. Mick, sulky as he was, stormed downstairs and soon, a door was slammed. Jerome followed suit after shooting Mara a pained look, and his door closed too.

She didn't want to go back to her room. Going back would mean explaining everything to Nina, Amber and Patricia, and frankly, she didn't feel like spilling her secrets to them. Not that she didn't trust them, it was just that this was different. Bigger in a way. Telling them would just worsen everything. God forbid Amber actually try and solve the romance equation. She would have a field day. So she settled on going downstairs. Where? She didn't know. Her instincts led her to the boy's hall. Her hands tingled as she looked between the doors.

Mick or Jerome. She stood there for a while, her hands getting sweatier by the moment as she had an inner debate with herself on the matter. Jerome needs help, you just can't abandon him. You should sort all of this out now and tell him you'll help him through it. Be responsible Mara.

But what about Mick? She also reasoned, He's your boyfriend and you cheated on him. You, Mara Jaffray, cheated on him. The least you can do is give him an apology. Jerome can wait a bit, just go to him.

After thinking about it some more, she decided and knocked on the door loudly, hoping, no, praying that she had made the right decision. "Come in," he called.

"Oh, hi."

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Horrible cliff-hanger, I know, but hey, I got over that writer's block, didn't I? Huh? Huh? Any congrats, pat on the backs, nothing?

Please review and favorite and story alert but mostly REVIEW! Ten more reviews til next chapter, kay? (At least five people)

Bye

~kels