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Jerome had awoken at 3 am.

And turned his phone alarm off. Sneaking out of his room, he tiptoed up the last flight of steps, to Poppy's room in the attic of the house. He hovered outside her door for a moment, his blue eyes shining bright in the darkness, and very slowly, very carefully, he turned the doorknob.

Success!

It was unlocked. He pushed it open, and a sliver of light crawled in after it, Poppy was facing away from the door, and Jerome used that to his advantage, he snuck in, and closed the door behind him a little, so the sliver of light was no thicker than a piece of thread. But it was enough. He knew exactly where to go, to the pink stuffed bunny sitting below the shelf on the third wall. He unzipped the back, and searched through the cotton stuffing, until he met a cold surface. Smiling, he shook his head. "You never change, Poopy," he murmured to himself with a smile, before sneaking out of her room, and closing the door with a click.

It took him a few hours actually, to read everything. It had been a while, with a wince he flicked over the pages about her feelings towards a girl named Jenna, he really wasn't in to girl talk and everything. And then he paused. Harry. Jerome had noticed Harry's name mentioned when Poppy was describing her first day, but it was here again. And again...and again.

I'm not sure if it was because it was my first kiss, but I know it's probably the best one I'll ever have. Harry said he wanted to walk me home, like a proper gentlemen, but he couldn't of course. Not with Jerome out and waiting.

Jerome was frozen for a moment. And he wondered...was it Harry? As in...his best friend, Harry? Harry Osborne, who would inherit millions and millions when his father died? He shook his head. It couldn't be.

He scaled the house tonight, I think we broke up. He's just too committed. Who would have thought, one of Jerome's best friends so eager to be tied down forever? I'm slightly glad actually, it's like a weight off my shoulders.

We're back together, and ironically, I can thank Jenna for that.

We broke up. He claims it's for good, but I'm not over him

Jerome tossed the book into the corner, and his eyes were glowing angrily.

Line Break

"Harry!" Jerome called, stalking through the corridors, everyone turned to watch, his voice was loud, and angry. And the students knew what that meant. A fight! Boy's started betting and the girls began wondering who he was fighting, and was it for love?

Harry turned with a frown, closing his locker. He looked tired, dark circles under his eyes, more...more sombre than Jerome had seen him for a while. And it made him hesitate. Harry had always had problems with his father, his father was cruel, and his expectations were far too high. It had been part of the attraction at first, the two of them both had major problems with their dads. But it wasn't enough. "Hey man," he said quietly, shifting uncomfortably at all the eyes on them. "What's up?"

"Is it true?" He glowered. Mara looked up from across the corridor, holding her History book in her arms, arching an eyebrow. Poppy and Jenna stood beside the water fountain, unsure of what was happening. "Are you dating my sister?"

An 'ooh' went around the corridor, and a few people started pointing at Poppy. Mara's eyes were wide, and Harry's ashen face was more than enough for Jerome. He dropped his bag and stepped back slightly "Technically, we're not dating righ-"

He didn't even see the punch coming, but it did come. And it came hard. Knocked him straight off his feet, and the sound his head made as it bounced off the floor made the audience wince. Harry forced himself onto his feet, his hands in the air in surrender "I thought I told you, Harry," Jerome whispered, flexing his fingers "I thought I said, no. She was out of bounds-"

"It wasn't exactly a choice," Harry replied meekly, forcing himself up onto his feet. Jerome caught his elbow, and pressed Harry into the lockers. Harry cried out and managed to turn his face away from the metal, gasping for air "I'm sorry-"

"I told you!" Jerome cried, lifting Harry back and slamming him into the locker again

"Jerome!" Poppy cried, stepping forward "Stop it!" Jerome turned slightly at her voice and Harry used the time to push his elbow back and whack Jerome right in the face. Jerome stumbled, but stayed standing, the crow cheered, and blood trickled from Jerome's nose. Harry was still wheezing. "He didn't do anything-"

"For gods sakes Poppy!" Jerome roared "Can't you find anyone your own age? Someone who's not my best friend?" He stuck out his leg and swept Harry's feet from beneath him, so he landed harshly on his knees. "Girls in our year, like you! You idiot! Couldn't you pick one of them?" he whacked the back of Harry's head and the boy groaned in pain. "Get up!" Jerome ordered, stepping back. Mara cleared her throat, but Jerome shook his head, she couldn't stop him now. "Get up! Harry!"

"Why?" Harry smirked slightly, it was one thing, knowing Jerome for 7 years, Jerome would never fight someone who wasn't fighting back. "Can't hit me?"

"Stand up Osborne!" Jerome yelled right into his ear "Get up and fight!"

"Make me." Harry whispered, Jerome couldn't contain himself, and kicked Harry right between the legs. A cry of disbelief jolted the crowds and the boys had to look away gritting their teeth as Harry groaned in pain. He forced himself to stand, leaning heavily against the lockers, and whispered one word. Blood was trickling from his mouth, and his eye was already darkening, but his voice was clear and smooth. "Mara."

Jerome glared daggers at him, wiping the blood from his nose, and Mara was beside Harry immediately, dabbing at his face with tissue paper. "You knew about this, Mara." Jerome stated angrily "You knew-"

"I did!" Mara glared at him "And it's a good thing, you over-protective jerk!"

Line Break

"Your laughter comforts me." Mara admitted. Harry had been taken home, and Mara had gladly gone with him. She looked around his house as he leaned against her. She couldn't get him all the way upstairs, so he was lying on the plush red carpet of the mansion. "You've got such a great house Harry-"

"It's a mansion." He corrected with a smile, he groaned at the pain "I'm pretty sure I'll never walk again," Harry emphasised.

Mara smiled wryly "Jerome should not have kicked your reproductive organs."

"Oh yes," Harry put on a girly voice "My reproductive organs."

"You'll be fine," she slapped his shoulder, and examined his face with careful hands "He didn't hit you very hard, you're mouth fine, no cuts...and the bruise on your eye is barely noticeable."

"Oh how kind of him," Harry spat, sitting up slightly. But he burst out laughing again "When you called him a jerk, oh Mara, you are hilarious." The dark haired girl smiled slightly, and helped Harry stand.

"Are you and Poppy broken up then?"

"Yeah," he shook his head "But I still like her." Mara smiled, and hugged Harry very tightly. He seemed surprised, but hugged her tightly.

"No Harry," she whispered into his shoulder "You love her."

Line Break

"For what it's worth," Poppy huffed, her arms crossed as she sat opposite Jerome in the sick room "I think you are a jerk."

"Oh do you? Thanks Poppy." He hissed, holding the tissue to his nose. He titled his head back, rolling his eyes "I forgot Harry had such a strong back lash." Poppy said nothing and he sighed "Do you...do you really like him?"

"What's it matter to you?" she asked sharply. Jerome sighed,

"Poppy...there's something you gotta know. It's not just because he's older than you, and my best friend that I don't want you dating him. In fact, I think it's a good thing," he managed a half smile "I know him, he's...he's really nice, a bit cheesy and cliché, but he would never purposely hurt you. He doesn't know how to hurt a fly. And I already see him as my brother. But..."

Poppy was interested now, at her brothers clear show of emotions. He wasn't yelling at her like she expected, but he was being rational, and calm. "Why?"

"You don't know about him...about his family."

Poppy frowned "I know his father's that major scientist, doesn't he produce technology for the army? He's rich."

"Poppy," Jerome groaned "He has a very, very, very poor relationship with his father." He shook his head "You don't wanna get mixed up with that. His father...it's not physical abuse, but it's so much worse. The things he says to Harry..." Jerome looked very guilty for a moment "You could tell he'd had a fight with his father this morning, I shouldn't have hit him. I shoulda left it. But Poppy, just because he seems really happy and easy going, you should know, that before you fall in too deep, he's a lot of work."

Poppy looked down at her shoes "I think it's too late."

Jerome half smiled, touching her shoulder gently "I thought as much. The way you described him in your diary, it was practically love at first sight."

"You ready my diary?" She shrieked in annoyance, but she sighed, letting it slide, and settled for whacking her brothers arm, and they shared a quiet laugh.

Line Break

They hugged very tightly.

And Jerome patted his back, and Harry laughed. "Sorry mate," Jerome smiled "You had to know it would happen immediately."

"I did yeah, but uh...I liked her too much,"

"It was wrong to keep you two apart," Jerome sighed. He started his elaborate handshake with Harry, and about three minutes later, they were done, and they were laughing. A loud sound rang up through the mansion. Harry stiffened and Jerome swallowed. "That's your dad." Jerome stated dumbly "How are you doing? This morning you were-"

"Fighting about how I was a disappointment." Harry shrugged "Come on, let's go. He likes you. Stupid science whiz." But he was smiling. Jerome laughed

"Don't worry, I'm sure my mum loves you more than she loves me."

"Nah, she just thinks I'm handsome and rich."

The two boys walked downstairs, and Mr Osbornes eyes brightened upon seeing Jerome. "Jerome!" He cried excitedly, shaking Jerome's hand as the boys made it to the bottom of the grand staircase "How are you lad? Haven't seen you around here in a while! Hope my boy hasn't been giving you a hard time." He glared at Harry, who swallowed and looked at the ground. Jerome laughed coolly

"No Sir, sorry I've been stealing Harry to come around to my house. He's great at maths, he's been tutoring me-"

"Oh I don't think so," Mr Osborne laughed "I can't imagine you needing tutoring with anything. I saw you in the newspaper the other day, winning the Physics Essay, entitled 'Are we just maths?'." He patted Jerome's shoulder "Good lad."

Jerome smiled sadly "Yeah uh, Harry was in it to. He placed s-second."

"Please," Mr Osborne waved him off "What's second place, compared to first?"

"Dad, I still placed-"

"Harold." Mr Osborne turned to him with a cautious glare "What's the golden rule?"

"Only speak when spoken too." He said in a low voice.

"Quite right." He smiled tightly "Now Jerome, surely, stay for dinner, we should talk! Have you decided what to do for your future? I could get you a fantastic apprenticeship in my company." Mr Osborne was a strong and confident man. Always dressed in an impeccably clean and fashionable new suit. His face was old and wrinkled, but there were hints that he was once very good looking. Probably how he had landed a woman as beautiful as Harry's mothers, so the pictures told. But she had died, upon giving birth to Harry.

"Sorry Mr Osborne," Jerome smiled "I must be getting back," He shook his hand with a charming smile. His blue eyes flickered to Harry sad face, and a brilliant idea formed. "But uh, I do have some great news." Mr Osbornes green eyes, much like the colour of his sons burst with interest, "My sister Poppy, about a year younger than me, she's brilliant at the sciences, well she and Harry are dating, and he was going to introduce you to her this weekend, right Harry?"

Mr Osborne turned to Harry with wide eyes, and for the first time in weeks he was impressed by his own son "Really Harry? That's...fantastic!" He bid Jerome adieu and the blond left, leaving Harry with wide eyes. "Wow. I didn't know Jerome had a sister, fantastic Harry! Good job my boy," he patted Harry's shoulder and ordered the butler to alert the chef that they were both famished. And he pressed Harry for details, intrigued by the fact that his own son had done something he deemed as right.

Harry was elated with the attention, but now there was a more pressing problem.

Poppy.

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