Quick note:

I do love your comments guys, they really make me happy, but this story IS NOT a spoof of the hunger games, I know it has similarities, and that's probably because I LOVE the sound of the hunger games and want to place it into my stories, but please, I don't know why, but for some reason it hurts my feelings calling my story a 'spoof'

Sorry.

Enjoy.

"Where've you checked?" Fabian panted, the three of them pulled out their notepad

"I've checked all areas surrounding the clearing and the edge of the west part," Jerome breathed

"The entire south area," Nina said

"Right, and I've taken the west, we all have to go to the north. She has to be up there,"

Jerome ran straight up with them, all splitting into different areas. He would find her. He loved her, but her words rang strong in his mind

Sorry, but I hope you don't win

Don't, I love him

You wouldn't understand

What we have is nice

What we have is nice

Nice

Nice

He hit his forehead sharply as his eyes scanned the area. And he continued walking.

Line Break

"Stupid Alfie," Jerome muttered, he was all on his own now, panting as he walked up a hill in the darkness. He didn't know where the others where, or if Rufus's team had even found her. But he kept searching. "Stupid, stupid Alfie," Jerome stopped for a moment, opening his back pack, scrimmaging for anything that may be helpful in the darkness.

The torch Alfie had packed for him wasn't working, and neither were the spare batteries "So stupid Alfie," Jerome repeated, running a hand through his hair. He turned his gaze upwards, and saw the moon shining brightly. He decided to go up higher, just so he could see better.

"Mara?" he breathed as soon as he broke through the trees. She was sat there, on a low tree branch. Both hands tied up high, tears streaming down her face, she had a tight rope tied around her face, in her mouth so she wouldn't be heard.

And yet he found her beautiful.

Her swimming brown eyes looked up to meet his. She didn't have a ring on her finger.

"Mara," he sighed again, running over to her, he worked on untying her knots. Remembering that Alfie had packed his scissors "Clever Alfie, clever, clever Alfie," he cut the roped quickly, and staggered back slightly when she hugged him.

"Oh my god," she cried, panting. Jerome stood and held her small form, laying his cheek on her hair

"Mara, are you okay?" he pulled back, holding her shoulders gently. She nodded.

"Jerome," she shook her head "I made a terrible mistake, I don't even know why I said I would marry him. I wasn't thinking. Please, please Jerome," she pulled him close again, burying her face in her shirt "I was so stupid, please, please forgive me?"

"Mara," he let out a shaky laugh, tone covered with relief. "Mara, I was never angry with you. I love you,"

She smiled at him "I love you too," and they kissed, softly sweetly, and he smiled into her.

Line Break

"Now I guess you know why I don't like people joining," Nina smiled. Mara nodded,

"Yeah, it's a lot harder than I thought it would be,"

Nina turned away then, turning to Fabian.

"So then Jaffray, you never did say. Are we back together?" Jerome smiled down at her, Mara whacked his arm lightly

"I hope so,"

Jerome smirked slightly wrapping an arm around her "Come on then," they stood and walked out of the common room, heading out onto the fields. It was a bright day, and Jerome felt on top of the world

"Hey Jerome!" came a voice, they both turned to see Poppy standing there, her hair in plaits. "Hey Mara!"

"Poopy," Jerome nodded, laughing at his own joke. Mara sighed

"Hey Poppy, what's up?"

"I need to talk to you in private for a second Mara," Poppy smiled her usual wide, grin and Mara couldn't help but smile back.

"Sure, is that okay Jerome?"

"Sure," Jerome raised his eye brows slightly, pleased but surprised that Mara was asking for permission "Go ahead, I don't do the whole girl thing," he leaned in and kissed Mara lightly on the lips, savouring the light strawberry taste

"Um, ew?" Poppy laughed. Mara smiled, and walked over to her.

Jerome walked on, his satchel hitting his leg evenly as he walked, creating a steady rhythm.

"Jerome!" Joy cried, running over to him.

"Kill Joy," he nodded

"Jerome, are you ever actually gonna forgive me for kissing you? It was ages ago Jerome, Mara's over it, isn't she?" Joy asked, giving him that know it all look.

"Yeah well…you're short." Jerome said for lack of better retort. Joy simply rolled her eyes at him

"You are such a baby, what does Mara even see in you?"

"My charm, good looks, sparkling eyes, height, brain, ability to stand up for people, unwavering support of everything she do-"

"Okay!" Joy cut him short "Maybe we could go grab lunch?"

Jerome stopped, and turned to look down at the small brunette. She was in her uniform, neat as usual. She reminded him of Mara, only slightly. "Why?" he asked in a low curious voice

"We're friends now, aren't we?"

"Uhhh," he took a deep breath "No, I don't think we are," he shook his hair and turned away.

"Why won't you be my friend?" Joy called in a small voice. Jerome turned back at her, a look of complete curiosity on his face.

"You're a complete puzzle," he said in a bewildered voice "Now go play with…whoever it is you play with nowadays,"

"Jerome!" Mara called running towards him, she stopped beside Joy for a moment "Hey Joy," she said distractedly "What are you doing here?"

"I was asking Jerome if he wanted to come to lunch with me,"

"Nice idea, awww, my best friend and my boyfriend hanging out. You should definitely do that, just not today, bye Joy!" she talked quickly, then twirled Joy around and pushed her gently in the other direction

"What's got you all hopped up Jaffrey?" he asked, amused.

"Poppy just gave me this," she held out a piece of paper, the edges were decorated with blue ribbon. Jerome stared at it for a moment, before plucking it out of Mara's fingers. He opened it up, scanning the words

"Mara, this is a bunch of random letters?"

"I know." She squealed excitedly

"Then why are you so happy?" Mara sighed at him, still glowing

"You know how it's summer into a week?" he nodded at her "Well, Poppy just invited me to stay with you guys!"

"Really?" Jerome began to smile himself "How do you know from this?" he ruffled the paper slightly

"It's written in code, Jerome."

"Why?"

"Jerome!"

"Fine," he backed of suddenly "Girl thing, I get that. Mara, you're staying with me!" he hugged her, lifting her high into the air and bringing her down for a kiss. Mara laughed quietly

"Just me, you, Poppy and your dad,"

"You did this Mara," he whispered into her ear "You gave me a real family,"

"No," she shook her head, hugging him tightly "You had the family, and we brought them together."

"We're going to have a great summer,"

There are going to be a lot of adventures for the three kids during a summer at Jerome's house.

If you want something to happen during the summer, PM me, or leave it in the reviews, no matter how whacky, I'll try to fit it in

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!

X

Review!
x

PS, can't believe Nathalia's not coming back…