A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers,! It really made my day to see all your nice reviews, and, yes, I'm back writing! Thanks again! Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!
Disclaimer- I do not own House of Anubis (yet. . .)
Chapter 2
…...
Maybe this time, love won't end
It's the same old feeling back again
It's the one that they had way back when
They were too young to know when love is real
…...
Jerome stared at her in disbelief.
"Yes, that's my name, how did you-" she stopped in mid-sentence, "Oh my God, you're Jerome!"
Jerome smirked.
"Hey Mara," he smiled, "Long time no see."
"Yeah. . ." Mara sighed, almost sadly, "How are you?"
"Good, good. You?"
"Erm, yeah, well, I see you're reading the paper. . ."
"You're avoiding the question. . ." Mara frowned at that.
"You want to know the truth?" Jerome nodded truthfully, "I'm cr*p, Jerome. Just cr*p. Mick's dead and now I'm a widow, running an unsuccessful charity to earn some form of a living. So, yeah, just cr*p."
Jerome frowned hard.
"Mara, you don't need a husband to be happy-"
"I know that!"
"You didn't let me finish. You don't need a husband to be happy, because you've got me. And Alfie. And Amber. And the Rutter clan."
Mara smiled.
"You're still in touch with them? I'm only in touch with Patricia."
"Well, if I had the choice, I wouldn't go anywhere near the Rutters, but since Alfie and Amber are dating, and I hang out with Alfie a lot, Amber insists that I have to go see them at least once a month."
"That's nice."
"Heh, not really. Nina's preggers, and always moaning about how tired she is, and Fabian's always sweating."
"Gross."
"I know."
"Soooo. . ." she dragged the word out.
"So, how come you're in town? I thought you lived in Brighton."
"Oh, I did, but since Mick. . . well, you know, I moved here to clear my mind."
"London clears your mind? The air is full of toxic gas!"
Mara laughed.
"The busyness of it all helps me forget."
"That's good then."
There was an awkward silence.
"Well. . ." Mara finally broke it, "I'd better go. It was good to see you again, Jerome," she stood up from the table and gathered her coat and books into her arms.
"Yeah, bye Mara," Jerome mumbled. He couldn't believe it, but he still liked her after all these years. Loved her, even. Maybe now Thick Mick was out of the picture for good, he could finally get the girl that he'd been dreaming of for eight years.
Maybe this time, he'd finally get it right.