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Enjoy!

2 WEEKS LATER

"Morning sunshine," Jerome grinned when Mara crept back into her apartment. He was sat on the sofa, he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively "Have a good time with Edmon last night?"

"Not like that," she smiled, rolling her eyes "We both fell asleep on the sofa, sorry, did you stay here the night?"

"Your bed is very comfortable," he laughed, running a hand through his hair. Mara arched an eyebrow, and he looked down at himself "I know, I'm dressed for once," and he was, in a pink shirt, with a black waist coat, and black jeans. The top buttons were undone, and his collar bone was exposed. "I was thinking we'd go out today,"

Mara arched a delicate black eyebrow, taking the croissant out of Jerome's hand, and taking a bite out of the other side. "Hmm…" she chewed thoughtfully "Where?"

"Anywhere you like," he smiled brightly, obviously in a very good mood, "We could see a movie, go to the park, go on a rib voyage-"

"What movie could we see?"

"Whatever you like," he offered, cocking his head enticingly "Even a…" his voice dropped "A chick flick,"

"OOhh, never," she gasped in fake amazement "As much as I would love to watch 4 weddings with you, why don't we go for something more…in right now? Scream?"

"A horror movie?" Jerome raised his eyebrows, nodding, impressed "You seem like someone who gets scared easily,"

"I am." Mara nodded, pressing her lips together "But I'm sure you'll protect me,"

"Of course I will," he smiled kindly, both completely oblivious to the obvious flirting between them.

Line Break

"Gosh!" Mara cried, jumping in her seat, Jerome chuckled, leaning down to whisper in her ear

"That one got you didn't it?"

"I don't get it!" she admitted "I thought she was the killer! Who just killed her?" the two were sat at the back, the only two on the back row, everyone else a horror enthusiast, and wanting to get as close to the screen as they possibly could. She jumped again, turning her face towards her, he chuckled at her terror.

"Poor Jaffray," he sympathised, wrapping an arm around her "Just don't look at the screen,"

"I can get with that plan," she muttered, burying her face in his chest, he moved his other arm to wrap around her, and he swallowed, unsure of the feeling that tingled all over him. But deep down he knew, he knew exactly what was happening.

"Crap," he whispered under his breath. He knew it. He absolutely knew it. He loved her. Almost as soon as he thought it, he stiffened, ignoring the horrific scene playing in front of him. He loved her. He loved everything about her. How she was so focused, intelligent, how she liked him, and she liked hanging out with him, how she didn't want to sleep with him. He looked down, and wished that what he was doing was real. He was holding her in his arms, and it meant everything to him…and it meant absolutely nothing to her.

"What did you say?" she whispered, peaking up at him

"Nothing," he lied, not removing his arms from around her "Careful, Sam's about to die," she squealed, burying her face in his chest, and he resisted the urge to cry, that this feeling wasn't permanent.

Line Break

"So," Jerome blinked at the sunlight that attacked his eyes as they walked out of the movie theatre. "Scared stiff?"

"Shut up," she nudged him and she sighed in content "Thanks again Jerome…for everything. I can't imagine not meeting you now, it all just fits," she ran her hands through her long black hair and Jerome smiled

"How's good old Edmon?"

She seemed slightly startled at the change of topic, but nodded "Good. I…think he might be okay,"

"Okay?" Jerome cleared his throat "Don't you want perfect? I mean…you…" he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans "You deserve perfect, Mara," they stopped by the pier, and looked out at the many boats. She smiled, shaking her head

"Perfect kinda sailed away a long time ago, Jerome. I've gotta make the best of what I got, and you know…Ed's pretty great. I could learn to love him,"

Line Break

He knew he shouldn't.

Jerome knew he shouldn't be here, but he was. Being a pro at tracking people, he had hacked into Edmon's system, so he knew where he would be. And currently, he was going to a flower shop. Jerome made sure to be there at the same time. He dressed well, in a slick grey suit, his hair flicked off to the side, and he bought a large bouquet of flowers.

"Hey," he grinned as he waited for his receipt. Edmon smiled kindly

"Hey, buying flowers for a sweetheart?"

"Yeah," Jerome lied, chuckling sincerely "Her name's Mara Jaffray, I mean, it's not exclusive or anything but you know, I'm hoping tonight's the night," he crossed his fingers together, Edmon frowned.

"Mara…J-Jaffray?" he repeated hesitantly, Jerome resisted the urge to smile victoriously

"Yeah, d'you know her? Short, beautiful, black hair tanned sk-"

"Yeah," Edmon whispered, looking down at his shoes, he shook his head in disbelief "I know her. So…how long have you been dating her then?"

Jerome smiled "Just a few days, she asked me out quite randomly, can't say that I'm displeased though- thank you," he said to the cashier, taking his receipt, and holding the flowers in his hand. "So are you buying flowers for a sweetheart?"

Edmon's eyes glistened with hurt, and he seemed shocked to the core. "Uh…no. No I don't think so, not anymore," and he turned, walking out. Jerome smiled, nodding, he walked out of the shop, dumping the flowers in the bin, and walking down the street victoriously.

Line Break

The guilt was eating at his soul. Creating a feeling he had never experienced before. But he didn't understand, he had to. He had to make Edmon dump her, then why did it hurt so much? Hurting her…hurt him. And he didn't understand when they had merged together to become one.

So as he led a girl up to his apartment, and as soon as they were inside, he slammed her against the door, kissing her hungrily, which she of course did not seem to mind at all. He clenched his eyes shut, trying to replace the horrible feeling, with an emotion he was familiar with, lust.

The bony girl tugged at the top buttons of his shirt, running her fingers through his hair, messing it up, her hands were trailing over his muscled abdomen when there was a knock at the door they were pressed up against. He gestured for her to get into the bedroom, he would only be a minute. Opening the door, he froze.

It was Mara, tears on her cheeks, her hair a mess, blue bruises onto her wrist in the shape of finger prints. Her short black dress edged up higher than it was meant to be, heels that looked dangerously high. "Mara," he whispered.

"Jerome," she sobbed, wiping her eyes with her back of her palms, when she took in his dishevelled appearance, his shirt torn open, hair mussed up, and a breathless stance. "Oh, sorry," she whispered. He was with a girl. And it made her sick. For a reason she didn't understand, she wanted to be sick.

So she was. She turned and sprinted into her apartment, falling by the toilet as she was sick. Jerome watched her leave, and he closed his door, rushing after her, and closing her door behind him. The girl in his bed would probably fall asleep.

"Mara," he whispered, kneeling beside her, brushing her hair back as she coughed. "What happened?" his eyes were blazing blue, only slightly buzzed from the night club.

"We…got into a fight," she whispered, closing her eyes "He thought I was cheating and…I'm pretty sure we're broken up," Jerome grasped a wrist gently "Did he do this?"

She gave a small nod "But only because I slapped him," he didn't want too, but he half smiled, nodding with some pride. She noticed, and smiled a little too. Jerome took a deep breath, lifting her, bridal style, his arm under her knees, and the other under her shoulders. She felt perfect against him, and he forced himself to look ahead, and not at her gorgeous body. Lying her on the bed, he covered her with a thin blanket, and sat beside her. "Go back to her," Mara whispered as he turned off the light "The girl in your room Jerome, you deserve some normality,"

Jerome smiled sadly, and he shook his head, his eyes stinging. "Mara…I can't go back to her. I can't be with another woman anymore. Mara…" he looked down at his hands, a tear falling from his eyes "I'm in love with you," he turned to look at her face, and realised she was asleep. Nodding, and biting the inside of his cheek so hard he almost bled. Just his luck. "Night," he whispered, collapsing on the bed beside her.

Line Break

The hot water helped. It helped a lot. As she breathed in the steam, that helped declog her burning throat, she got to think.

"How dare you accuse me?" Mara cried, eyes brimming with tears. She raised her hand, slapping Edmon hard. "I would never cheat on you!" she raised her hand again, but he caught her wrists, slamming her into the wall.

"Stop lying!" he cried angrily, crying too "I know! I know you've cheated on me!" he slammed her into the wall and a picture frame clattered down, Mara cried out in pain and Edmon released her suddenly, "We're through Mara, we're through because you're a liar!" Mara ran from the apartment.

She pulled on an over-sized cotton grey top, and a pair of shorts, her wet hair dripped onto her back. Mara stood in front of the mirror, all her hair brushed to one side, still dripping wet, and she shook her head. Edmon had seemed like a good idea, but she knew, she had always known it would be Mick. The last on the list, she had been trying to put him off, but she knew. It was always him.

Walking back into her room, Jerome stirred, and she had to stop for a moment. He looked so handsome. His shirt tucked into his smart grey trousers, almost completely unbuttoned, the slick grey blazer highlight the light baby blue of his eyes, his hair was a mess. And she loved it. "Morning," he gave a sheepish smile, sitting up stiffly, as he ran a hand absentmindedly through his hair "Better?"

"Much," she nodded "Fingers crossed that Mick works," Jerome watched her walk past him with a frown, and he quickly pulled himself out of bed.

"Y-you want me to start looking for him immediately?" he wondered, Mara nodded "But…you looked pretty hurt last night, you don't wanna wait a few days?" he was begging her, but she didn't hear it.

"It'll take you at least a few days to find, best start right away," Jerome ran his eyes down her, her slowly drying hair curled slightly, and he smiled sadly

"Yeah," he croaked "Right."

Line Break

"That's messed up." Alfie said eventually, shaking his head as he stirred his appletini. The green liquid looked purple in the flashing strobe lights of the club. He shook his head again "You're actually in love with her? Or you just feel slightly different because you haven't been able to sleep with her?"

"It's love." Jerome managed through gritted teeth, "Believe me, I wouldn't mind never sleeping with her, as long as she was mine." Alfie's eyes widened slightly, and he touched Jerome's arm gently

"What you did to Edmon was wrong." He said sincerely "And you have to tell her."

Jerome groaned, his jaw locking as he stared at the black ceiling "Damn you Alfie." He whispered, Alfie smiled, tapping his friends back.

"Damn us all," he grinned, downing his drink.

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