Jerome sat in the grass, leant against the red bricks at the back of Anubis house. He was hiding from everyone not wanting their pity or their accusations. He knew he was a scumbag, making that stupid list with Alfie ranking the girls he'd dated. And of course, they got back at him with no less than he deserved but it still hurt. He thought Joy really liked him, and he honestly adored her only to discover she only dated him for a joke. So she could break his heart as payback for all he'd done. It hurt more than anything, he sniffled back tears trying not to let himself cry over it even if he wanted to.
Y/n, snuck her away out into the sunset and sheepishly approached Jerome's spot, "Hey? You feeling okay?"
"Piss off," he said, not as harshly as he could but still cold. he refused to even look at her.
"I'll go. I'll go. I promise. I just wanted to bring you this." She said putting a bottle of water and some of his favourite cookies down on the grass between them stepping back, "I just thought... They'd make you feel better. And water... For tears. Because tears make you super dehydrated."
he paused before reaching forward for the water, "So you brought it to gloat about how you all fooled me? congrats it worked. good joke, you all humiliated me."
"Fooled you? Jerome, I had no idea what Mara and Joy were up to. I swear I didn't know, I'm as shocked as you are."
he looked at her and immediately regretted it. he couldn't look at her sad expression it made it even more difficult to fight back tears seeing how pitiful she looked at that moment. As much as he wanted to blame her he knew she wasn't to blame they'd been friends a long time after all. "just don't start with the 'I'm sorry' okay...please." he muttered his voice cracking,
"I won't. I promise. I'll just be as close, or as far as you want. As quiet or as talkative as you wish. I'll listen or you can rant or we can debate whatever you want okay."
he paused for a moment considering her words before he shuffled around so there was a space next to him. "you can sit down."
she smiled and brought him the cookies closer before sitting down beside him still leaving some space as to not invade his personal bubble.
he took the cookies and started eating them as she sat down. he was quiet for a moment as he thought through something before finally talking. "it really was all a joke, wasn't it? she didn't actually like me at all did she?"
"Apparently so." She nodded, "... I won't say my opinion I don't know if you want It."
he looked at her with a tired expression, "Go on. say it. it's not like it could make me feel much worse than I already feel."
"I think it was cruel. Childish. Petty. I know Mara and Joy where upset but for goodness sake, we're all doing our exams and planning for university entry requirements this is playground-level shit." Y/n explained, "and I'm not just saying that because I'm sitting here with you and not them. I would happily say it to both Joy and Mara if I was confident Joy wouldn't slap me across the face for it."
he couldn't help but laugh softly. That was the kind of girl Joy was, and it was a little scary. but he couldn't help feeling relieved as Y/n told him exactly what she thought even if it was a small comfort. "you don't have to worry about that. I'd probably deck her back if she did." he said with a small smirk,
"Thank you." She smiled, "I think it was insanely cruel. And childish. No matter what anyone did. That's just evil."
he sighed looking up at the sky. "it really was. I think they enjoyed it too. seeing me all sweet and in love with a girl who didn't even like me. it's kind of pathetic that I was so blinded by it all huh?"
