Wow, I'm finally updating this! Sorry it took so long!

Enjoy?

Mara straightened her shirt and looked down at Mick's sleeping form. He was snoring loudly with his arms under his head. He didn't move as she slipped out of his room and up the steps to her room. She grabbed some clothes and left the room, heading straight for the bathroom.

They hadn't done anything. Oh, how glad she was that he didn't push her. He had been too tired after exercising so he didn't go any farther than kissing her and pushing her shirt up her stomach some. But they remained fully clothed and eventually fell asleep.

Her brown eyes landed on the diamond ring on her right hand. A promise to her father that'd she'd never make a mistake like that; that she would give herself to the man she loved and knew she would love forever. And she knew that she and Mick would never last.

When she had first come to the school, Mick was all she ever thought about and now, he was just her boyfriend. It's strange how after you spend time with someone, your feelings toward them could change almost instantly, regardless of how long your feelings had remained the same.

Mara couldn't imagine being with Mick forever and she knew that he would never settle with her. Why would he want to? She wasn't as pretty as any other girl that Mick could be with. Mick could have any girl that he could ever want, and he knew it to.

She wandered briefly if her father would be ashamed of her dating Mick. She stayed with him and never left because she wanted to feel good about herself. But after he made her feel good, she suddenly realized that he was just playing because he could do that to the girls he flirted with at the mall and at football games. She knew that she wasn't as pretty as he said she was; she knew that she wasn't important like he said she was, because he had said the same things to all of her friends; the same friends that he had dated for three months and then dumped. Their relationship was nearing the three month mark and she knew that soon she'd be battling a 'broken heart'. But she probably wouldn't. Your heart can only be broken by the one that you've given it to, and Mick doesn't hold her heart.

Eddie stared up at Anubis House and groaned loudly, looking back at his mom. "Can't you think about this? Just a little more? I was doing fine at my other school."

"Sweetie, please," Carol pleaded. She reached out and hugged him. His green eyes immediately flitted around the yard, hoping no one saw him hugging his mother. How embarrassing would that be on the first day?

"Fine, but if this doesn't work I'm going to blame you." He warned.

"Yeah, whatever," she scoffed and kissed his cheek. "Have fun."

"Impossible," he muttered as she made her way back to the cab.

Patricia let the curtains fall back over the window. "Alright, Joy, is he cute?"

"Yes," she smiled smugly. "You can't do anything. He could be single."

"Of course he is. He looks like a total douche." She stated, noting his leather jacket.

"You do know you're wearing a leather jacket too, right?" Nina smirked from the kitchen, opening a bottle of water.

"Girls don't look like douches in leather jackets. They look hot. Guys just look like assholes." She defended herself as the front door opened.

"Where can I find a Vincent or a Victor?" Eddie asked, dropping his duffel bag on the floor beside his feet.

Jerome arched an eyebrow as he walked up next to him, blue eyes flitting between the American and Patricia before smirking. "Trixie, he could be your other half."

"Oh, correction, assholes also wear ties and Italian shoes."

Jerome rolled his eyes and continued on his way, out the front door.

"Where's this guy I need to talk to…?" Eddie drifted off.

"Don't know who he is." Patricia replied.

"Victor's upstairs, in his office." Joy spoke up, smiling flirtatiously. Patricia rolled her eyes and huffed.

"Thanks, um, is she always so…"

"Yeah,"

He nodded and left the room, jogging up the stairs.

Andrew Graham looked up from poking at the cold, flat turkey on his plate when a knock sounded on the open door of the hospital room. Jerome appeared, strolling in as if he was meant to be there.

"Do I know you?" Andrew asked, eyebrows furrowing.

Jerome lifted his blazer, flashing the school patch and realization flashed over the patient's face. After a moment of silence as Jerome sat in the chair beside the bed, he spoke again,

"Jerome Clarke."

"Would you like a medal, Andrew?" he grinned.

"I'd be a hypocrite if I said I hate it when people fake smiling." He sighed, falling back onto the many pillows stuffed behind him. He went back to poking the pressed meat on the plate with the white plastic spoon they'd given him. Due to his attempted suicide, they refused to give him anything sharp. He jumped when a paper bag dropped onto the tray. He blinked and then tore into it, pulling out a burger and fries. "Call me Drew."

"Drew," Jerome nodded once, "Why'd you do it?"

He sighed through his nose as he bit into the burger, and flicked his brown bangs out of his eyes. "I've been asked that question four hundred times, at least."

"Let me rephrase that then: what kind of pills did you use?"

"Plain old sleeping pills, why?" he popped a couple fries into his mouth.

"According to your attempt though, it doesn't work." The blonde mumbled.

"Don't tell me you want to kill yourself." Drew groaned, finishing off his burger. He rolled his black orbs. "Dude, I know this sounds stupid coming from a guy that tried to kill himself, but don't try to kill yourself."

"And why not? You thought it was a pretty good idea."

"Yeah, but coming within breathing distance with death makes you rethink things." Drew pointed out.

"So when you go back to school and you're under all that pressure again and you find it hard to function and whatever happened got worse, you're telling me, you wouldn't try again?"

Drew frowned. "Why do you want to die?"

Jerome let out a slow, breathy chuckle. "We just unofficially met and you're already trying to get inside my head."

Drew blinked.

"See you around, Drew. When are you getting out of this place?"

"This weekend," he replied.

"I'll be back tomorrow." He said simply as he left the room.

Review?

"Once upon a time, I didn't give a damn. But now, here we are. So whataya want from me? Whataya want from me? Just don't give up. I'm workin' it out. Please, don't give in. I won't let you down. It messed me up, need a second to breathe. Just keep coming around." -Whataya Want from Me, Adam Lambert

-Rachel