A Little Mad

Chapter 10

Mercedes's eyelids fluttered open. She stretched and set up noticing that she was tucked safely in warm blankets. Her eyes moved to the space next to her that was empty. Sighing her eyes noticed a note sitting next to a plate on the side table. The plate had two pancakes with three strips of bacon and two eggs. She stared at the plate confused until she picked up the note with a scribblish writing on it.

Your stomach growled in your sleep. I realized it had been at least two days since you last ate.

I didn't know if you preferred to be eat alone this morning or not. Bailey made the food for you.

Don't worry it's not poisoned. I'll be about the house when you are done. Come find me if you want.

Jerome.

His gesture confused Mercedes, but her stomach growled again. She cautiously picked up the plate and took a bite of the pancakes. She smiled at how wonderful they tasted. A few minutes later she noticed the food gone, and she felt her energy had come back. Grabbing her plate and utensils, she left the bedroom in search of the kitchen. She rinsed her plate and left it in the sink. She jumped at the voice behind her.

"You could have left that on the side table. Would have cleaned it up later."

Mercedes turned to see Jerome leaning against the door way. Mercedes grabbed her heart.

"Sorry to scare you doll face." Mercedes shook her head.

"It's okay and I couldn't have done that. It would have been rude."

Jerome chuckled at her response. "You are too polite for me."

Mercedes raised an eyebrow and Jerome shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't really have anything to do today, so I'll show you around the house. You are free to roam."

Mercedes stopped and sighed. She wanted to leave desperately.

"Jerome...." Knowing what she was meaning he turned around and put his hand up.

"I told you doll face. You can't leave. It's not safe."

Mercedes sighed as she followed him through the house she smiled once they came to a room the seemed to be for entertaining guests. Her eyes fell on a huge shelf full of CD's with a CD player. She smiled walking over. Her smile only grew when she noticed what his collection consisted of.

"No way!" Jerome turned to see the young woman amused by his music taste.

"You have so much eighties rock n roll." Her eyes beamed with excitement. "Wait! Is this The Beatles?! Elvis?! Motown?! Heavy metal!"

Jerome chuckled and watched her continue to look over his collection.

"Your music taste is incredible!" He raised an eyebrow when she turned to face him.

"So you like the oldies." Mercedes smiled the biggest smile since she had been with him.

"I love older music. My soul is slpit into four parts. Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, and John Lennon. I love today's music too, but the older music is where it's at. Although, I will tell you that my favorite genre is classical. Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach. Classical music is so beautiful."

Jerome felt slightly disgusted knowing that was his twin's favorite genre too. He mustered a smile and motioned towards the book shelf.

"You like my collection so much, it's yours." Mercedes's eyes widened in disbelief. Jerome smiled. "Come in here and listen to all the Guns N Roses, Queen, Elvis, and The Temptations you want any time." Mercedes smiled brightly, unable to hide her enjoyment.

"Care to pick out something doll face?"

Mercedes turned around excitedly walking down the shelf until a CD caught her eyes. A gasp of excited rang as she grabbed the CD and put it in the player. Jerome watched curiously as she skipped to a song. Jerome's heart almost stopped and he paused when the song started.

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain

We all have sorrow

But if we are wise

We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

It transported Jerome back in time to the little boy running around the circus.

"Mommy! It hurts!" Lila stared in disgust at her son who she had just finished beating.

"Shut up, you whiny little brat! Why can't you be like your brother Jeremiah?! You are a worthless piece of shit! I should have drowned you after you were born!"

*Slap* Jerome held his already bruised cheek. He watched as his brother set there and said nothing. Jeremiah did nothing. He let the other circus kids believe horrible things about him. No one wanted to every be around him. His mother the least of all of them. Jerome walked into the bathroom to clean his bloody face. He stared at himself in the mirror and tears streamed down his cheeks.

Jerome was brought out of his memory at the sight of the young woman dancing around with her eyes closed. He watched her carefully. Her long blonde hair swung through the air as she swayed to the music. A small cute no-teeth smile graced her face.

If there is a load you have to bear

That you can't carry

I'm right up the road

I'll share your load

If you just call me (call me)

Jerome felt a fluttering sensation in his stomach. Something he had never experienced before. Part of him wanted to go kill someone just to get rid of it, but he stood watching the young woman in fascination. She was beautiful to him. More beautiful than any other girl he had laid his eyes on. Mercedes came to a stop and her eyes fluttered open from feeling someone staring at her. Jerome froze at being caught. Her bright ocean blue eyes stared directly at his emerald green ones. Mercedes smiled once again. 

"Jerome Valeska. If I didn't know any better, I would think you were staring at me because you thought I was beautiful or something."

Jerome felt his cheeks get hot and swallowed hard. He was a psychotic Gotham terrorist feared by many yet; He felt weak in the knees over some girl. The emotion baffled him.

"Um.. Would you like for me to show you around my dangerous territory part of the city?" Jerome realized that his offered didn't sound as appealing as it did in his head, but to his surprise Mercedes's smile brightened even more.

"I would love that."