Second Update tonight! Prompted by 'stuckbeingrachel' lots of great ideas!
Cats
Beginning
"Please!" Mara cried, picking the white cat up and stroking it softly. She turned it so it would look up at Jerome "We can't leave it out here in the snow! Please! Pretty please!"
"Mara," Jerome shook his head "Me and my dad don't like cats. You're staying at our house, so I say no." he sang the last bit teasingly, and Mara glared at him playfully. "You don't need a cat to cuddle with, you have me,"
Mara laughed "But it'll freeze!"
"Oh come on! It was designed for the snow! It camouflages perfectly!"
"So it was a miracle we found Snowflake," Mara let the cat nuzzle her neck for warmth. "Please? The little guy is freezing!"
"You named him?" Jerome asked in shock "We found him, two minutes ago, and you've named him?!"
"Jerome!"
"Fine. But only in the conservatory. Okay? At least he'll be dry," he rolled his eyes at Mara's uncontained glee. She hugged the cat tightly, and rushed inside. He laughed, following her.
Line Break
Even though Jerome's house was amazing, and she was so thrilled he had asked her to stay with him during the Christmas holidays, she missed her family. But they were off on a sporting event, they sent letters, every day, and all her gifts. She lay in the guest bedroom, and she knew that somewhere else, Poppy and Jerome and John were snoring.
Yup. The Clarkes were all snorers. But that was okay, she liked it. It was oddly calming. She pushed the blankets off her, finally realising she would never get any sleep without some milk, so she wrapped her green dressing down around her and padded downstairs.
She froze as she passed the conservatory. She saw Jerome lying there, the cat curled up on his chest. She smiled, but then realised he must be freezing. She walked in and nudged him awake, pulling the cat into her arms.
"Hmm?" Jerome murmured, rubbing his eyes and sitting up "What happened?" his teeth suddenly chattered and he realised how cold he was.
"You big softie." Mara cooed happily, standing up "Come on, let's go, it's freezing out here."
Jerome groaned, following her inside and almost sighed at the lovely heat. They both sat in front of the fireplace in the main room. Snowflake purred happily in Mara's arms. Jerome stuck his hands out warming them, before he noticed Mara's constant gaze. "What?"
"You do care," she smiled. Jerome rolled his eyes
"I do not."
"You do." And she leaned into him. He stiffened for a moment, but then wrapped his arms around her, stroking the cats head.
"Only around you."
Prompts!