"You lie a lot, Jerome," Alfie shook his head in amazement. Jerome shrugged, nudging him as the two boys walked home for Alfie's birthday party.

"It's always been in my nature mate, you know that, always has been," his eyes glinted, almost evilly, in the afternoon sun.

"You didn't lie when you were dating Mara," he pointed out quietly. Jerome's face became serious, and his eyes dropped to his shoes. "I'm sorry the two of you broke up," Alfie said honestly, touching Jerome's shoulder "You were so good together. You will be good together."

"Funnily enough," Jerome managed a smile "She dumped me because I was always lying. Maybe I'm a pathological liar, Alfie. Maybe it can't be helped,"

"It's like a reflex to you," Alfie noted quietly. But then he brightened "It doesn't matter mate, I still love you," he hugged him tightly, and Jerome laughed.

"Yeah yeah," he pried his best friend off him "Come on birthday boy, make sure you act surprised,"

Line Break

"Alfie!" Mara greeted, grinning. They had all given Alfie their presents, and that had each had a slice of Trudy's fabulous cake. And now it was the late evening, and due to all the dancing, a majority of the house was tired. All apart from Jerome and Alfie, who were sat on the sofa, staring at the fire, laughing warmly with one another.

Alfie smiled when he saw her "Hey Mars,"

"I'm here to give you, your real cake," Mara held out a plate, and on it, sat the most amazing looking chocolate cake they had ever seen. Alfie's mouth watered. It was better than Trudy's.

"You didn't have too," he grinned. Mara shrugged

"I couldn't have done it, without Jerome's help," she begrudgingly gave him his deserved credit. Jerome didn't meet her eyes, producing a candle, and placing it in the middle, and then lighting it.

"You mean the two of you worked together without killing one another?" he teased, moving off the sofa to sit cross legged on the floor. Jerome and Mara followed suite, so they were in a small circle, the whole room plunged into darkness, apart from the flickering flames of the fireplace, and the tiny candle.

"It was hard work," Jerome whistled, glaring at Mara. Mara glared right back. But took a deep breath, she had promised herself that this was about Alfie.

"Make a wish Alf," Jerome urged, Mara nodded with a smile.

Alfie looked between them, closed his eyes, and blew out the candle.

Just as he did so a crack of thunder sounded, and lightening lit the room, before it all went silent. "Weird," Mara whispered "Not a cloud in the sky,"

"Yeah…" Jerome echoed.

The three of them ate their cake, Mara and Jerome silent, listening to Alfie talk and chatter happily, quietly. And once they were finished, they stood. "Good night Mara," Alfie grinned, hugging her tightly. She smiled

"Hope you had a good birthday,"

"I did. And the surprise party was good, wasn't it Jerome?"

"Yeah, but you knew," Jerome laughed. Mara's mouth dropped open

"You knew?" but she laughed "I should have known Alfie," she smiled, before heading up to bed. Alfie turned to Jerome.

"Why did you tell her, I knew?" he asked curiously.

Jerome shrugged, eyes wide "I don't know. It just…came out,"

Alfie smiled, as the two walked quietly down the corridor to their room. "Jerome…do you think Mara's pretty?"

"Of course I do," Jerome said automatically "I think she's the most beautiful girl to ever walk the plane-" Jerome brought up a hand to cover his mouth, staring at Alfie in shock. "Why am I saying that?" he whispered "I-I don't…" He shook his head, and Alfie laughed

"Jerome, I wished, for my birthday, just now. That you wouldn't lie. That you were incapable of lying for 24 hours," Jerome stared at him with wide eyes. "Oh my god…it came true,"

"That's impossible," Jerome whispered. "Ask me something else."

"Am I your best friend?"

"Yes." Jerome blurted out. He rolled his eyes, Alfie grinned. "So…I can only tell the truth? Jeez Alfie," he rolled his eyes "Why would you do that?"

"So you and Mara can get back together. You obviously still have feelings for her."

Jerome opened his mouth to deny it, but the words came out with "She's my soul mate." He gasped, biting his tongue harshly. Alfie smiled.

Line Break

Jerome pressed his back against the wall, biting his tongue. If anyone asked him anything…he wouldn't have his walls to hide them. He pulled at his dark school cardigan, waiting for the bell to go, so all these people would leave the corridor.

"Jerome?" Mara frowned, pushing her glasses up her face. "What are you doing?"

"Hiding." He answered honestly. She arched an eyebrow

"From who?"

"Everyone." He bit his tongue harder

"Why?" she laughed, amused.

"Because I'm afraid they'll ask me a question." Jerome's mind screamed at him to shut up.

"Okay, are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine, honestly." Mara gave him a shy smile, before turning and heading off to class. Jerome watched her leave, and sighed.

Line Break

He managed to avoid people the whole day, hiding in the library. But on his way home, he bumped into Mara. "Can I walk with you?" she asked

"Of course you can,"

She smiled at his tone, and walked slowly beside him. He slowed his stride, remembering the time they use to take walks together, and she would always complain that with his long legs, he was always ahead of her. "I wanted to talk to you," she began, wringing her hands "I mean…I know that…we're still a little angry at each other, for the whole break up. But I…I want us to be friends. For our sakes, Alfie's sakes."

"It would be for the best," he agreed.

She smiled "So you like the idea?"

"Not really." Jerome sad honestly, though he couldn't help himself. Mara stared at him "I mean…I don't want us to be friends. I wan-"

"Fine," she stopped him, shaking her head "Fine. You don't wanna be friends, we're not friends. I tried to be mature." She turned and marched off. Jerome watched her leave with sad eyes. Though he was glad she was gone before he could confess that he in fact wanted to get back together with her.

Line Break

He was wringing his hands, staring at the clock. Mouth kept shut. It was 8 pm. Only three more hours, till the wish would wear off. He looked up, realising someone was standing in front of him. It was Mara, of course. "I wanted to say sorry," she sat quietly, sitting down on the coffee table in front of him. She was close to him, closer than she had been in a while. "For not even letting you finish what you were going to say."

"I forgave you," he gave her a half smile, and Mara arched an eyebrow, smiling.

"You've been acting different, today, Jerome." She smiled "I like it," Jerome shook his head

"Mara, last night, when Alfie was making his wish. He wished that for 24 hours, I could only tell the truth. And now…well Mara his wish came true."

Mara arched an eyebrow doubtfully "Sure it did…"

"It did!" he protested, laughing at her disbelief. "Try me."

"Okay," she rubbed her hands together, tugging at her oversized jumper. "Do you love Poppy?"

"More than life itself," the answer warmed Mara's heart, but she didn't believe him.

"Do you…like sports?"

"Hate them."

She grinned at him. But she knew all these things. She tried again, a harder one. Her voice dropping "Do you miss your mum?" Even Jerome was surprised at his answer.

"Yes." He whispered, voice breaking "So much. Even though she was horrible to me, and even though I never stood a chance of being better with her as an influence I miss her so much. Every day." Mara reached forward, and touched his hands gently.

"You turned out pretty fine, Jerome Clarke,"

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes "Not fine enough. Even you, the kind and patient Mara, didn't have it in you to stay being my girlfriend." Mara refused to let it get to her.

"Why don't we play a game of chess?" she suggested, moving to sit opposite him, and setting it up.

Once they had finished, Jerome had made them a cup of cocoa each, and they sipped in by the fire It was 10:45, and he was watching the clock eagerly, waiting for the wish to be broken.

"Magic must exist then," Mara said quietly "If Alfie could wish that."

"Did you ever not believe?" he grinned. Mara shrugged, blushing. Before yawning, and running a hand through her hair. She caught his look.

"Sorry," she smiled "I must look a mess-"

"You look beautiful." He whispered. Mara's face flooded especially red, because she knew he was telling the truth. Whether he wanted too or not.

"You really do think that?"

"I always did." He shrugged, and a small part of his brain was pleased he could only tell the truth. He found it so hard sometimes, to tell Mara how he felt. This was making it a lot easier. "I always thought you were beautiful. First time you smiled at me, I swear I was in love,"

Mara laughed, shaking her head. "We were naïve, weren't we? To think our friendship could just turn into a relationship?"

"Not naïve, at least I don't think so. I wanted it to work, in fact, I was so desperate for it work out, I wasn't myself. I lied all the time and…and it wasn't good,"

Mara's eyes flickered to the clock. It was 10:59. "Jerome," she said quickly "Do you still love me?"

He paused, silent for a long time. As if battling with himself, before speaking. "I don't think I can ever stop loving you. You're the first, only, and last girl I'll ever love. You're my soul mate." Mara gasped quietly. It was 11:02. He'd said that, after the spell. She could never know if he meant it. She stood "Mara," he stood with her "I'm telling the truth. I am. I love you. I want to be with you, please take me back,"

"What about Fabian?" she whispered, shaking her head. "What about Fabian?" and she walked out.

Line Break

Fabian had broken up with Mara three weeks before Alfie's next birthday. But she had expected it. Nina had come back, and…Mara knew what true love was.

Now, it was Alfie's birthday, and like last year, she made a cake, and met them in their room, smiling excitedly. Jerome opened the door, smiling at her, letting her in, and closing it.

They sat on the floor, in a small circle. Jerome lit the candle. "Wait," he stopped suddenly. The tiny candle was the only light in the room. He turned to Mara "Do we really wanna let Alfie make another wish? Don't you remember last year?"

Mara laughed "What are the chances that will happen again?" Alfie grinned. Closing his eyes, and blowing.

The room was plunged into darkness, and all was silent.

When Jerome felt Mara's lips press against his, in a wonderful, firework lights kiss. Alfie flicked on the small lamp, and his eyes widened when he saw them. They pulled away from each other. And Jerome cleared his throat, staring at Alfie in wonder

"Did you wish that Mara and I would get back together?" he whispered.

"No," Alfie shook his head "I wished for roller skates,"

Jerome turned to Mara in shock, and she smiled, blushing at him. His heart rose, and he was kissing her again. Alfie grinned, his favourite couple back together.

"Don't worry Alfie," Mara grinned, handing him a box "I'm pretty sure your real wish is about to come true,"

He grinned, ripping open the box, to find a pair of silver skates.

Maybe Alfie really could do magic.

And they weren't just party tricks.

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