Hey everyone. I know I haven't updated in a while, but I was busy with my other story . Anyway, hope you all enjoy this long chapter and remember to review! I wanna hear all your thoughts! Enjoy!

The next time Mara opened her eyes, she was hit with a skull splitting headache. Groaning, she slowly sat up. The world was bright. Bright and loud. She moaned again and scratched her head. What happened last night? After the Party? It was all blank.

Sighing, Mara plopped back down and pulled the blue cover over her head. Sleep. She needed sleep. She closed her eyes, praying that the next time she woke, the headache would be gone. She breathed. Yes, all would be fine...

Wait, blue covers?

She jolted back up, causing her head to pulse more. She looked down. Blue covers. She did not have blue covers. Her covers were green. Green, with hearts on them. Not blue. These were not her covers. She looked around. And this was not her bed. And this was not her room. It was Alfie's. Alfie's and Jerome's. She was in Jerome's room. She was in Jerome's bed.

What. The. Hell?

She quickly checked her clothes. Good, they were on. Still the dress she was in from last night. But why then was she in Jerome's room? Surely nothing had happened between them...did it? Her head throbbed.

"Glad to see you're finally up."

Mara jumped and grabbed her head. Too loud. Like a firecracker.

"Does your head hurt?"

She nodded.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

She nodded again.

Jerome paused for a second. "Does hearing me talk also hurt your head?" He asked softly.

Mara nodded again. "It feels like I have been trampled by a herd of elephants."

"Well, that's what you get for carelessly drinking." Jerome said "A very bad hangover."

She looked up at him. He was perched on Alfie's bed, staring back at her. "How much did I drink?"

He shrugged. "How should I know? It was you at the party, not me."

"Oh, right." She murmured "Um, Jerome, why am I in your room?"

A smirk stretched across his face. "Why, don't you remember last night Mara? Surely you haven't forgotten what happened."

Mara's brows furrowed "What...happened?"

"Between us, I mean." He casually replied.

Mara's heard sped up. "What are you talking about?" She asked, panicked. "Nothing happened!"

"Oh, are you certain of that?" Jerome mused, standing up and walking slowly towards her "You can't even remember where you were last night."

"I-I'm sure."

"Really?" He asked, leaning down to her.

"Really." She gulped, clutching the bed sheets. "Why are you so close."

"Why not?" Jerome whispered, slowly crawly on the bed "Scared?"

"No." Mara replied, lying "I just think it's very rude."

"Rude?" Jerome smiled, reaching out and ruffling her hair "Of course Only you would think that." He got off the bed "Take the pain killers and the water on your left and hurry back to your room before the others wake up. We don't want to cause a commotion, now do we?"

"Pain killers?" She said stupidly.

Jerome pointed to the side table. "Yes Mara, pain killers. To lessen your headache."

"Oh," She answered, picking up the two tablets and swallowing them down with the glass of water "thank you."

Jerome shrugged. "No problem. But really, you should leave my room. I know my bed is nice, but I would prefer it to be empty when I sleep in it. Unless, you wish to join me."

Mara's cheeks flushed. "No way! I'll get out. But you didn't answer my question. How did I get here?"

"How do you think you got here?"

"Umm, I don't know."

"By walking?" He helped "Or maybe by car. By bus perhaps?"

"Jerome!"

He smiled. "I think you should think hard and remember on your own as to how you got here."

Mara glared. "You're such a darn prick at times."

"It's my honor to be one, milady." Jerome replied cheerfully "Now please, get out."

"Alright, alright. I'm getting out. Geez." Mara grumbled, throwing off the covers and standing up "But how come no one knows that I am in your room? Didn't Alfie see me in here?"

"Nope. Alfie and Amber ended up spending the night at his parent's house."

"Oh. And what about Patricia?"

Jerome shrugged. "I told her that you went to a friend's house."

Mara stared. "And she believed you?"

Again, Jerome shrugged. "Who knows. Just go to your room before anyone suspects that you're hiding out in my bed."

She rolled her eyes. "Why would anyone ever suspect that, Jerome?"

"Because Alfie is going to be back any minute and your sitting on my bed." He pointed out "And you know how Alfie is."

As if right on cue, the door bell rang, followed by Alfie's loud 'We are back!' "And here his is now." Jerome stated "I should go stall him. Just leave."

Mara nodded. Jerome paused at the door. "Oh and Mara?"

"Hmm?"

"You are one hell of a kisser." With that, he walked out the room, leaving Mara red and speechless.

"So, where were you last night?" Patricia asked, pouring milk on her cereal "I didn't see you when I got back home and found you in your bed when I woke up."

Mara bit into her muffin. "I was with, um, friends."

Patricia rolled her eyes. "Like I would believe that. You left your cell phone and purse in your room. Not to mention your shoes."

"Well, I came home and switched shoes. I didn't take my purse because I wouldn't need it and I guess I must have forgotten my cell phone." Mara replied and took another bite of her muffin. Maybe Patricia would buy her story. Please, buy her story.

"Well, I guess that some what makes sense. Who were you with and how was the party?" Patricia took a spoon full of cereal

"Um, it was-"

"It was Janis Meyer." Jerome cut in, walking into the room "Wasn't it, Mara?"

"Um, yes, yes it was. I asked her to give me the notes I missed in physics class the previous two days." Mara quickly added "So I was with her."

Patricia chewed her cereal "Really? When did you get back."

"Late. Very late. Everyone was asleep when I got back. So yeah..."

"Oh, well how was the party?"

"Yes, how was this infamous part that you attended last night, Mara?" Jerome asked, taking his usual seat next to her "Any thing interesting happen?"

Mara shot him a dirty look. "No, nothing interesting. It was fine."

"What did Brandon say when he saw you all dressed up?" Patricia asked "Was he stunned?"

Mara smiled at the memory. "Yes, he was very stunned."

Jerome snorted. "He was probably stunned that you actually showed up to go to a party."

He reached for a banana.

Mara threw her half eaten muffin at him.

Patricia choked on her cereal.

"Your really annoying at times, you know that?" Mara responded, grabbing another muffin from the basket.

Jerome blinked, his hand frozen mid way of the fruit bowl. "Did you just toss...a half eaten muffin at me?" He sounded confused rather than angry.

Mara bit into her new muffin. "Yes I did."

Jerome blinked again and retreated his hand. "Why?"

"Because you were being a prick." Mara replied bluntly.

"So? You just can't go around throwing half eaten treats at people, Mara. That's just wasteful." He retorted.

She rolled her eyes. "Oh please, like you starting food fights are contributing to end world hunger."

"That's different-" He started but Mara shoved a muffin in his mouth.

"Be quiet, will you?" She stated, rubbing her temple. "You're making my headache worse."

Patrica coughed. "You both are acting very strange today. It almost seems like you're a couple."

Mara snorted. "Clearly, that will never happen. And besides, I'm dating Brandon."

"Speaking of which, where was he when you left the party? You did tell him you were going to Janis's place, right?" Patricia asked.

"Uh, of course I told him..." Mara lied "He was ok with it."

"Really? Was he now?" Jerome bit into the muffin "I'm surprised he didn't walk you back home either."

Patrica raised an eyebrow. "He didn't?"

"Of course he did!" Mara quickly corrected, shooting Jerome a warning look "Why wouldn't he?"

"I don't know, maybe getting shamelessly drunk at a party, perhaps?" He sounded edgy.

"Why would you say that, Jerome?" Mara asked.

"Um, ok, well I'm done with my cereal. So I'll be leaving." Patricia stated, getting up and shooting the both of them a curious look "Have fun with your conversation."

As soon as Patricia walked out of the kitchen, Mara whirled at Jerome. "What the hell is your problem?"

"I don't know, what is yours?"

"I'm being serious." She hissed "Stop adding unnecessary comments about Brandon. It's not like you know anything about him."

Jerome slammed both hands on the table and got up. "Well then, next time you get your self all pissed, don't call me." He snarled "Ask your little boyfriend to pick up your drunken self and drag you back home."

She blinked. "What?"

A cruel smiled played at his lips. "Oh, that's right. You don't remember anything that happened from last night. Try to think, will you."

"Wait, what do you mean, Jerome?" He didn't answer. Instead he tossed his muffin in the trash and started to leave. Mara grabbed his arm before he could. "Jerome, I'm being serious."

He shrugged her off. "So am I."

"Stop being such a brat and tell me what happened last night." Mara snapped "I really don't have time for your childish games."

"Well too bad. Make time." He retorted.

She was about to answer back when her cell phone suddenly went off. Startled, Mara quickly checked her caller I.D. Brandon. Why was he calling her at eight in the morning?

"Well, I'll take that as my cue to leave." Jerome said flatly "Give my regards to Conroy." With that he walked out.

Mara sighed and flipped her phone open. "Hello?"

"Hey, Mara." Brandon's voice sounded groggy on the other end "Where are you?"

"Hi Brandon, I'm at home. Why would you ask?"

"Oh, ok good. Well, because I couldn't find you last night at the party. Eddie said you guys danced and then you disappeared,"

Mara blinked and sat down. "I danced with...Eddie?" Bits and pieces of last night blurred together. The drinking. The dancing. The searching. "Yes, I remember doing that. But I tried to find you too and couldn't."

"Huh. Well I was talking with some friends and I guess we got separated. How did you get home?" He asked "Did somebody take you?"

She furrowed her brows. "I think someone did...I guess." She tried to remember again.

"Do what I say, Mara. I'll be right there to pick you up."

Her eyes widened. That was Jerome' voice. Did he...did he really pick her up? What was going on?

"You think? Aren't' you sure?" Brandon sounded worried.

"No, no my friend picked me up. I remember now." She answered "Listen, Brandon I have to go now. Maybe we can talk later?"

"Ok, yeah sure. See you Mara."

"Bye." She clicked the phone shut and threw her head into her hands. So Jerome wasn't lying. He really did pick her up and Brandon really did abandon her. Then...what exactly happened last night that resulted her in his bed? She closed her eyes and thought hard.

"Jerome," Mara coughed "I think I'm going to vomit."

"Oh, bloody hell." Jerome growled, dragging her to the bathroom "here, go vomit in the toilet."

And so Mara did. On her knees, clutching the sides of the rim, she emptied her stomach out. And when she was done she slowly stumbled up and flushed.

"All done?" Jerome asked from the outside "Or do you need more time?"

"More, time." Mara said, staggering over to the sink "I need to brush my teeth."

"Brush your..Mara you have to be kidding me. What if you fall down and knock yourself out?" Jerome hissed from outside.

"No!" Mara said stubbornly, turning on the water and rinsing her mouth. "My mouth feels yucky." She slowly reached for her toothbrush and toothpaste. She tried to squeeze out the toothpaste. But it refused to come out. She tried again.

Suddenly, the tube was snatched from her hand and someone put the paste on her brush. "There,"Jerome said, sounding irritated " hurry up and brush your bloody teeth."

"Oh my god." Mara said horrified "I vomited? In front of Jerome? And he helped me with it?" A wave of embarrassment hit her with full force and Mara felt her cheeks redden. This was not good. How ever would she be able to face Jerome now? But one thing was for sure. She had to thank him.

But...something still didn't seem right. How did she end up in her bed if he helped her back from the party? Her thoughts were interrupted when the rest of the Anubis house hold came into the room for breakfast.

"Hey, Mara." Nina greeted "Why are you here by yourself?"

"Oh," Mara said, standing up "I already ate. I was just going to leave."

"Really?" Nina asked "The food's barely been touched. Are you sure you ate?"

"Yes, yes. I'm sure. " Mara said hastily "I should go. Bye." She ran out of the room.

The rest of the day went by painfully slow and by the end of it, Mara still couldn't remember the rest of last night. She sighed and closed her book shut. She had been on the same page for nearly an hour.

"Finally closed that book, eh?" Patricia mused from the other end of the room "I was wondering when you would turn the page."

Mara sighed and buried her face in her pillow. "I don't feel like reading."

"I can tell. Your mind seems to be somewhere else anyways."

She looked at Patricia."You could tell?"

"Everyone could tell."

"Oh." She put the pillow back over her face. So everyone could tell? Could Jerome tell that she was out of it too? She shook her head as soon as that thought came to her. Why would she even care about what Jerome thought of her? He was just an annoyance in her life. But...he did help her last night. Or at least in the parts she could remember. And she still had to go thank him properly. Yet, she still couldn't remember all of last night!

"Ahhh!" Mara screamed, jolting up in bed and throwing her pillow down "So confusing!"

"My goodness, Mara." Patricia asked, startled by her spontaneous outburst "What is the matter with you today?"

"A lot of things." Mara muttered darkly, getting out of bed "But one in particular."

"Which is? Uh, where are you going?" Patricia called to Mara's retreating back.

"Somewhere." Mara answered, shutting the door behind her. She could have sworn she heard Patricia mutter something about 'PMS problems' but she wasn't sure. And anyways, she had another matter to take care of first.

"I hope this goes well." She muttered, standing in front of Jerome's door. "But I have a feeling it wont." She knocked.

No answer.

She knocked again. Really? She knew he was in there. "Jerome?" She called. No reply. Frustrated, she twisted the door knob and entered the room.

He was there, of course, sprawled on his bed, headphones on, reading a book. A comic book by the looks of it. Mara crossed her arms and waited for him to notice her presence. And waited. And waited. After what seemed like a life time, he finally looked up.

He blinked and pulled off is headphones. "When did you get here?"

"I've been here for a while." She replied "I also knocked several times before too."

"Oh." Jerome sat up and ran a hand through his messy hair. "Well, what do you want?"

Mara uncrossed her arms. "I want to thank you."

He perked an eyebrow. "Oh? For what?"

"For last night. For bringing me home from that party. I remembered it."

"All of it?" He asked.

"No, not all of it. But enough to thank you." She answered "So, thank you for bringing me home last night."

He leaned back and tucked his arms behind his head. "Alright then. I couldn't say it was my pleasure in doing so, but at least you got here in one piece. And you need to stop venturing in my room whenever you please. It's a bad habit."

Mara rolled her eyes. "Oh please, like I'd ever willingly walk into your room, Jerome."

A secret smile crept across his lips. "Don't be so sure about that, Mara."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm leaving." She turned to go, knowing very well that his gaze was still on her. Watching her intently. She touched the door knob.

Quickly, she wandered across the hall and knocked on Jerome's door. He opened on the third knock.

"Mara, what are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to go to be-"

She kissed him, taking him by surprise and cutting him off mid sentence. "I don't wanna go to bed, Jerome." She whispered, standing on her tippy toes and kissing him again "I wanna be with you."

She let go of it as if it had burned her. What was that? What did she do? She turned around to face him, turning pale.

"Did we, I mean, did something happen between us last night?" She stuttered out "Jerome?" She was slowly starting to panic.

Jerome only looked at her with his unreadable blue eyes, not answering.

"Jerome?" She asked again. More memories started to piece together.

"Mara, " he whispered, once they broke apart "Why are you doing this to me?"

She propped her chin on his head, feeling his lips slowly trail across her bare shoulders. "I don't know." She said, reaching down and tilting his head up, "but I like it."

She rubbed her thumb gently across his lips, before leaning down and capturing them with her own. She pushed him down, straddling him and deepened the kiss. A low moan vibrated through him and she smiled.

"Shhh," Mara whispered, trailing kisses down his neck and throat "Don't say a word." She kissed his collar bone, tugging his shirt open as she did so.

"Jerome?" Hysteria was now fully in her voice "Answer me!"

"What would you do," He asked, standing up "if I said yes?"

"No." She said, running a finger down his chest. " I won't." She kissed him again, gently nipping at his bottom lip, while her hands continued to explore his body.

"No," She whispered, grabbing her head "No no no no! It can't be true!"

He was watching her. She could feel his eyes on her. She dared not to look up. A course of emotions waged on through her. Hurt. Fear. Disgust. Disbelief. Shock. Guilt. They were all there. How could she? How could she spend the night with him? How could she betray Brandon like that? She felt tears prick the sides of her eyes.

"Would it really be that bad, to spend a night with me?" Jerome asked her quietly. He was now standing directly in front of her. When had he gotten there?

She shook her head. Dirty. She felt dirty. She should have never drank. Should have never gone to the party. "I'm leaving."

She turned, but Jerome's hand slammed the door shut behind her. She heard the click of the lock.

"Jerome, let me out." Her voice wobbled "I want out!"

He spun her around and slammed her against the door. "Answer me!" He demanded.

"Yes!" Mara cried out "Yes it is! I have a boyfriend. I can't go around sleeping with other guys. Especially when I'm drunk. I feel..."

"You feel what?" His hands were on either side of her head, pressing on the door, and caging her between his arms.

A tear slipped out. "I feel dirty." She whispered.

There was instant silence.

Until Jerome let out a light chuckle. "Well then, since you feel that way, and because of me, I guess you won't mind this then."

She looked up. His eyes were like ice. Cold and scary. She felt a shiver run up her spine. He looked frightening. "Mind what?"

Jerome leaned down and bit her neck. Hard. She flinched from the sudden pain and tried to pull away. But he wasn't having any of that.

Reaching down, he grabbed both of her wrists in one hand and pinned them above her head. He ran his tongue over the freshly bruised spot on her neck, and kissed it.

"Stop it!" Mara thrashed "What are you doing?"

He trailed his tongue across her throat. "Making you feel."

She felt another cold shock run through her. "What?"

His lips trailed upwards along her throat. "To make you feel more dirty."

"Wha-?"

The door knob jingled behind her, followed by Alfie's loud rapping.

"Jerome? Whats the deal with locking door, mate? I need to grab something. Jerome?" He knocked again.

Mara opened her mouth to call out, but Jerome slammed his lips on hers; forcing her to shut up. She squirmed against him. Alfie knocked a few more times, before swearing, and leaving. Mara's heart sank as she heard his retreating foot steps.

Jerome's tongue brushed the inside of her mouth, forcing her to react. She could feel him press his body full on to her's, as his other had came to slowly wrap around her waist.

Mara's heart pounded, a mixture of fear and something else. She could feel herself caving into him. Her eyes half closed. The feeling of his warm mouth on top of her's was incredible.

Slowly, she felt his grip loosen and slip away from her hands, until finally they were free. She brought one to rest on his chest while the other twisted in his hair.

Jerome broke away first, eyes hazy. He kissed her jaw. Then the her neck. Then her throat. Mara tiled her head back, her breathing heavy. She could feel her body quiver beneath him.

"Jerome." She pleaded, feeling him trail his kisses downwards, across her collar bone, and over her heart; tugging open her shirt as he did so. "Jerome, stop."

Her shirt was fully open now, and his lips burned on her bare skin. She flinched when she felt him kiss her exposed chest between her bra and go lower. She could feel her body reacting, and her legs wobbled. He was still going lower.

She groaned again as he slowly slid down, leaving butterfly kissing down her stomach. His hands were on her hips now, fingers pressing tightly in. He gently tugged her jeans lower, exposing her right hip bone. He kissed it, sending her body into overdrive.

That was all it took for her legs to give out, and Mara slid down the door. Jerome crawled above her, tilted her chin up, and captured her lips with his own. He ran a hand down her body, feeling her soft skin. She groaned again, and he pulled away. They were both panting.

Jerome's eyes were dark and clouded. He leaned forward and grabbed her hand. "You look beautiful." He muttered, bringing her palm to his lips "Flushed, disheveled, so bloody sexy. I want to devour you. Right here, right now."

Mara breathed, and covered her face with her hands. What was she doing. Why her? Why did it have to be him?

"No," Jerome parted her hands from her face "I want you to look at me. I want you to look at me when I kiss you, Mara."

She shook her head. "I can't, Jerome." She whispered "I have Brandon. No...I don't want to act like a, a..." Whore.

Suddenly, she was flipped over and he was on top. Jerome's eyes glittered dangerously. "Stop it, Mara." He hissed "You're acting like a whore."

"What?" She asked, shocked by his words.

He got off her. "You heard me, Mara. You are acting like a drunken whore. Coming to a man's room at night, kissing him, saying you want to be with him, when clearly you have a boyfriend." He crossed his arms "I wonder what the definition of that would be."

She looked up at him. "You lied. We-we didn't sleep together. You lied, Jerome."

He crouched in front of her. "I never said we did, Mara. You assumed that all by yourself."

"You, you stopped me. Why?" She asked.

He looked at her, his gaze intense. "Do you like me, Mara?"

Her heart stopped. "What?" Another memory.

Her head started to pound. "I don't know what to think anymore! I don't know if I hate you or if I like you!"

No. No. This couldn't be happening. She didn't say that. Couldn't. Wouldn't. "W-what?"

"You heard me, Mara. I didn't stutter." His voice was like steel, his eyes were intense.

"I-I have a boyfriend." She argued, but he cut her off.

"That doesn't answer my question, Mara. Do you like me?"

"Every time I think you've changed, that you might actually like me, that you might care for me, you do things to change my opinion. So tell me Jerome, what am I suppose to think? Should I like you or should I hate you?"

She closed her eyes. She didn't want to answer she didn't want to think. She didn't want to feel. But he was there. He was everywhere. Invading her thoughts, invading her space. He was always there, bringing out her stronger side and invading her world. Making her think only of him. Making her yearn only of his touch.

She opened her eyes and looked directly into his awaiting ones. "Yes," She whispered "Yes, Jerome, I like you."

Hope you like it. Please review and I will post more chapters up. Thank You!