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"Doesn't it...I don't know, make you go mad with power?" Eddie asked Jerome, as the two boys strolled through the park, passing a tennis ball to each other as they did so. Jerome arched an eyebrow handsomely, needing more. "I mean," Eddie sighed "I can't get Patricia to do anything, like anything I say, she'll go and do the opposite, but Mara..." he let out a small smile of fondness "She does whatever you want-"

"She doesn't-"

"She does." Eddie shoved him, "Remember yesterday?"

"Mara," Jerome whined, collapsing onto the sofa beside her, he took her hand. "Will you please do the washing up with me?" She smiled, blushing slightly at their hands

"I'm reading, Jerome," she whispered

He groaned "It'll get so boring, and lonely if you're not there- please," Mara bit her lip, before nodding, and following him.

Jerome sighed, shaking his head "So what? I wanna spend time with her, and she wants to spend time with me," he shrugged "It's not like I'm taking advantage of her," Eddie stared at him

"You got her to read your poem aloud to the class, because you didn't want too,"

"Why?" Mara whispered, touching his cheek "You're confident, and this-" she waved the slip of paper "Is amazing."

"I can't." he insisted, ducking his head in shame "Read it for me, you've got such a nice voice-"

"Jerome-"

"Please, Mara,"

She stared at him for a moment, before nodding.

Jerome stilled, a nasty feeling coming over him. He frowned "I'm not...I'm not using her...am I?" Eddie raised his eyebrows

"Like I said- how do you not go crazy with power? She'd do all your homework for you, kiss you whenever you wanted, heck, I bet you could even get her to dress how you wanted-"

"I couldn't."

"Fine," Eddie stopped, turning suddenly, tossing the ball to Jerome, who caught it with lightening fast reflexes "Let's try it out. We'll go home, and you have to get her to wear...one of Amber's outfits," Amber was away from the weekend, so probably wouldn't die if she did. Jerome frowned

"What would that prove? That I can be persuasive? Because I am. Very."

"No, this is to prove, if Mara would do whatever you said. She's a bright girl, just try to get her into one of Amber's outfits, do whatever you have to. And if she does, see for the first time in your relationship, just how much power you have."

Jerome frowned.

Line Break

"Woah," Jerome muttered, sliding his hands into his pockets. They were in Mara and Amber's bedroom, Mara was on her bed, doing homework, and Jerome had been wandering about, now standing by the wardrobe. "Amber sure has a lot of clothes,"

Mara looked up and laughed lightly "You know how she is,"

He took a deep breath, letting the silks and the cottons drift over his finger tips, scanning "You know," he cleared his throat "Some of these are really, really nice."

Mara frowned, looking up again, and putting her pen down. "I-I guess, I mean, she does have very modern, and good taste."

"Yeah," Jerome echoed, not looking at her "I really, really like it when girls dress well."

Mara swallowed, perhaps nervously. "I...I guess, I mean, you don't mind that I'm not up to trend, do you?"

Do whatever you have to Eddie's American accent hovered in his ears, and he got ready to lie. "Well," he said lamely "It's fine. I mean, not great, but I can get over it if I have too," he stopped at a long red summer dress, and pulled it out "This is nice," he said honestly "You would look nice if you wore things like this,"

"If?" Mara stood, hands on her hips "You mean, I don't look nice now?" she was more hurt then angry, he glanced over at her, and his heart ached. She looked beautiful. In a large jumper and black leggings, all cosy and ready for the cold season ahead.

"Well you look okay," he lied, holding out the dress "But this..." he nodded, gesturing to the bathroom "Try it on,"

Mara stared at him wide eyes "You want me to put on Amber's dress?"

"Maybe you'll look more like her," he shrugged, staring at the ground "Beautiful."

Mara swallowed hard, her eyes pricking with tears, but she bit her lip hard and forced herself to be strong. After all, she loved Jerome. And she would do anything for him. If he wanted her to put on Amber's dress, so she would look more beautiful, she would. She forced a smile onto her face, eyes watery, and took the dress, heading into the bathroom, closing the door with a quiet click behind her.

Jerome fell onto Amber's bed, rubbing his face. Racked with guilt, he was sure she was going to cry, and he was only a second away from telling her everything, and wrapping his arms around her.

"H-here," she managed, Jerome sat up, not realising she was done, and he was actually stunned for a moment. It fit her perfectly, must have been an old one of Amber's, because it wasn't too long. The red, thin strapped red, body hugging dress reached just above her knee, and she looked like a model. "Am I pretty enough for you now, Jerome?" her voice was soft and quiet, barely disguising her hurt.

Jerome stood slowly, watching her. "Mara," he said very seriously "Do you just...do you just do anything I ask?" Mara stared at him, not understanding. Jerome sighed, looking around "Go get me that book," Mara watched him, before heading over to her bedside table and picking up the book she had finished last night, walking back towards him. "No wait, pass me that picture," Mara placed the book back down and headed over to where he pointed. "Mara- kiss me."

She did that one gladly, wrapping her arms around him, and kissing her boyfriend.

But he could take no pleasure from it, he shook his head, pulling away from the pleasant sensations "Why are you just doing everything I ask?"

"Because you want them-"

"If I asked you to kill Eddie would you?"

"No!" Mara laughed, slightly perplexed

"Then why do you do all these basic things?" his voice was worried, and he was nervous, despite trying to convince himself that he wasn't.

Mara fiddled with her hands, and the ruffles at the end of the dress "Because I love you," he watched her, blue eyes glowing "And you're not hurting anyone, why can't I help you?"

Jerome sighed, sitting on the bed. "You don't really know me at all, do you Mara?" he whispered dryly. Her eyes widened, and she stood directly in front of him. "I mean...do you not know me that much, that you don't know that I would never ever ever say that Amber Millington was more beautiful than you? Do you not know that I would never say you didn't always look pretty? That you don't dress good enough for me?"

"Wait," Mara whispered "You didn't mean that? None of it?"

"No!" he snapped, exhausted suddenly "Eddie was right, this is bad. This is a messed up relationship if you honestly believe I could say those things." Mara stared at him, looking down at Amber's dress

"Why did you ask me to wear this?"

"I wanted to see if you would."

Mara nodded slightly "It was a test." She stood up, and headed into the bathroom. Five minutes later, she was out again, back in her jumper and her leggings, more beautiful than ever. She placed Amber's dress neatly in the wardrobe. "I don't blindly do anything you say," she whispered, sitting on her bed, Jerome stood, kneeling on the bed in front of her, so they were almost eye level, Mara above him. "I don't stupidly believe anything you say. But I believed you then, Jerome, because it is true," he opened his mouth but she placed her hand over his mouth "I don't dress as well as I could, I don't keep up to date like you and Amber. I'm nowhere near as pretty as Amber, at least in my opinion. I've always believed that, and unfortunately, you telling me, whispering into my ear as I sleep that I'm prettier than her, I'm not going to believe you,"

Jerome stared up at her, eyes glistening "And the things you do for me?" Mara half smiled

"Jerome- it's not like you don't do what I ask," Jerome stared at her

"Jerome!" Mara called, Jerome walked into the kitchen slowly, she pointed at the top shelf "I can't reach," he chuckled

"Why didn't you call Eddie, he's right there?"

"I wanted you to get it for me,"

"Okay fine."

...

"Jerome," she whispered "Will you read to me," she thrust her book in his hands, he groaned

"I've read this same passage to you befor-"

"Please," she whined "It's my favourite,"

He looked at her, before giving in "Fine,"

He half smiled too

"It's not because we randomly do whatever the other says, it's because we love each other, and we just want to help each other out," she reached down, kissing his lips softly. Before pulling away, and leaning in again, then away, and again. Repeatedly, placing soft gentle, teasing kisses on his lips, while he kneeled there, dazed. "See? Don't listen to Eddie, he tried the same thing with me yesterday,"

"Seriously?" Jerome laughed

"Yeah, the whole 'how are you not mad with power?' I think he got it from a magazine, but I was smart enough to not try and force you into one of Mick's old sports jumpers,"

Jerome smiled sadly "Sorry," he took her hand, kissing each fingertip "Sorry for ever saying that you weren't beautiful, I love you, I love you, I love you,"

"Silly Jerome," she kissed his forehead "I know that," her voice dropped into a whisper. He tried to kiss her neck as she kissed his nose "But it is rather nice to hear,"

PLEASE PROMPTS PEOPLE!

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