Jemma didn't see Skye again until after school. They spent a nice hour in the library and finished their project, but they didn't talk much about anything other than computer programming. Jemma thought it was goodbye for the day when they both packed up, but Jemma saw her again when she exited the school and headed towards her car in the parking lot. Skye was leaning with her back against a tree in a grassy area outside. She was holding a can in one hand and a small, paper cylinder was sticking out one side of her mouth.
"Skye!" Jemma stormed up to her. She admitted to herself that she was a little protective of the freshman and wasn't going to watch her drink and smoke.
"I know freshman year is hard, but you shouldn't succumb to peer pressure and get involved in these bad girl shenanigans!" Without thinking, Jemma stormed up to her, smacked the can out of her hand, and grabbed the object out of Skye's mouth. Skye only burst out laughing and Jemma realized her mistake. The can on the ground had the familiar blue and red Pepsi logo on it and the object she was holding in her hand wasn't a cigarette, but a cherry tootsie pop.
"This isn't funny! I thought you were smoking!" Jemma complained, but tears were leaking from the corners of Skye's eyes because she was laughing so hard.
"Can I have that back?" Skye laughed and reached for the candy.
"No way, you little jerk!" Jemma finally began laughing and held the sucker over her head. Skye dropped her backpack and pounced on her, sending them both sprawling to the ground. Somehow Jemma ended up lying on top of Skye in the grass. Skye was watching the chain around Jemma's neck dangle in front of her face.
"You owe me a soda and a lollipop." Skye pouted, sticking out her cherry-colored bottom lip. Jemma continued staring down into Skye's eyes beneath her. She noticed little golden flecks in her irises that made her eyes much more than just brown.
Jemma finally came to her senses and realized that she was actually completely, utterly smashing Skye when her breathing became a little labored. She scrambled to her feet and offered her hand to pull Skye up. When she took it, more of those little sparks made Jemma's arm tingle.
"Come with me right now, I'll buy you a whole bag of lollipops." Jemma smiled and walked Skye to her car.
"I really shouldn't get into people's cars when they offer me candy." Skye joked, but slid into the passenger seat anyway.
"You really shouldn't. I could kidnap you." Jemma played along.
"Well, it's a good thing you're not a stranger, then. I trust you." Skye was playing along with their little joke, but Jemma couldn't help but feel like Skye actually meant it. It set the butterflies raving in her stomach.
"Can I ask you something personal?" Jemma asked hesitantly once the car was on the road and it was quiet.
"Go for it." Skye turned her attention away from something she had been looking at out the window and looked to Jemma.
"Why are you dating Fitz when you could have any guy you want?" She finally asked. Skye shifted in her seat and stared at Jemma for a moment, trying to figure out how to explain her reasoning.
"Because he's sweet, and I don't feel pressured to do anything." Skye answered. They were both quiet, and they both knew this didn't really explain it.
"I don't... I don't really like guys." Skye clasped her hands together in her lap and took a deep breath.
"Oh?" The one word from Jemma was supposed to encourage Skye to continue, but it seemed to only make her fidget.
"I've never really liked anyone like that, I mean. There's no one I really want to be with, but it's better than being alone." Skye finally explained in a way that made sense. Jemma wished she could say she understood where Skye was coming from, but she only felt negatively about Skye's confession. Not only did Skye not feel the same way about her, but Skye was using her best friend.
"You have to tell him." Jemma demanded. The look on Skye's face told Jemma that she regretted telling her anything, but Jemma held her ground. She would not let this continue.
"I can't do that. It'll hurt Leo." Skye said.
"You think it won't hurt him if you don't tell him? You're dragging him along, Skye, and that's a horrible thing to do. If you don't tell him soon, I will."
"You wouldn't." Skye narrowed her eyes and Jemma felt the same anger radiating off of her that she'd felt that first day they'd become partners.
"You're forgetting that that's my best friend you're using." Jemma snapped at her. Skye's jaw hardened and her lips pursed into a thin line.
"If you could understand anything at all, you wouldn't be doing this." Skye growled. "Let me out of the car."
"I don't think we're anywhere near your house, I'm not just letting you walk all the way back." Jemma argued.
"You're holding me against my will. This is kidnap." Skye crossed her arms over her chest and refused to meet eyes with Jemma.
"Stop being so dramatic and just give me your address." Jemma sighed. Every now and then the freshman in Skye shined through like it was the most obvious thing in the world that she was young.
"I can't tell Fitz." Skye said. This time, her voice cracked, and it made Jemma even more frustrated. She was being a crybaby.
"And just why is that?" Jemma rolled her eyes. If looks could kill, Jemma would already be rotting underground. Skye unbuckled her seat belt, which only further annoyed Jemma because she didn't want to risk getting a ticket. As soon as they hit a red light, Skye reached over and turned off the ignition before Jemma even realized what she was doing. She unlocked the door, slipped out, and slammed it behind her.
"What the bloody hell are you doing?" Jemma called out, but it was too late. The light turned green and Jemma was forced to keep driving. By the time she'd gotten back, Skye was nowhere to be seen.
"Skye, wait up!" Jemma found the girl before school the next day, sitting with her laptop by the same tree, but Skye got up and tried walking away when Jemma approached her.
"What is wrong with you?" Jemma asked. Skye only rolled her eyes and tried to shove past the arm Jemma was blocking her with.
"Get out of my way, Jemma." She said seriously. For just a split second Jemma thought Skye was going to hit her, but Skye just roughly bashed their shoulders together as she passed.
"This is absolutely unacceptable behavior! All I'm trying to do is make sure you don't hurt my best friend!" Jemma yelled after her. Skye whipped around so fast it was a wonder her head stayed attached to the rest of her body.
"Would you have rather me said no when he asked me out? Called him a geek and completely ignored him like I do with everyone else? What about you? How do you know I'm not dragging you along, too?" Skye was pushing herself into Jemma's personal space and she instinctively backed up while Skye continually advanced on her until her hip bumped into her car.
"Maybe, Jemma, maybe you annoy the living crap out of me, but I hang out with you anyway just because I'm tired of being alone! Maybe I kiss Fitz because it's the type of relationship he wants in order to spend time with me, even though I don't have any romantic interest in him! Maybe I spend time with you because it's better than being at home! You don't know anything, despite what you like to think." Tears were gathering in the corners of Jemma's eyes because of the insults Skye was throwing at her like dodge balls in gym. She didn't appear to be stopping any time soon though, and Jemma was beginning to think there was a little more to the story in Skye's mind than she had originally thought.
"What about me, huh? You're all super concerned for Fitz, but did you ever consider that maybe Fitz is using me as well? Maybe Ward was right." Skye crossed her arms across her chest and finally stepped back, giving Jemma room to breathe. What was Skye talking about?
"Ward is never right about anything. I don't know how you believe anything he says." She scoffed. If Skye was readily able to hurt her like that, tell her that Jemma annoyed her, then Jemma had nothing to lose.
"Shut up! Just shut up for one second and look at things from my point of view. Fitz didn't know anything about me when he asked me out, he just saw a pretty face and someone who was good with computers. That's hardly any different from Ward. I still don't know why you're spending any time with me at all, we're complete opposites! The only thing you're getting out of this friendship is my protection during P.E." Skye took several deep breaths and looked away from Jemma. If she wasn't mistaken, it looked like she was having a panic attack.
It broke Jemma's heart to get a look at how Skye viewed the world around her. She assumed the worst of people until it was proved otherwise. It hurt even more that Skye could even think it was a possibility that Jemma was using her.
"Skye. Skye, please wait!" Jemma called when she turned around. Skye took a deep, shuddery breath and looked back at Jemma. For the first time, Jemma saw an actual tear roll down Skye's cheek. She'd seen her upset before, but never upset enough to cry. The both of them together, standing there in the parking lot with wet eyes, was a pity party indeed.
"I'm not using you." Jemma said calmly.
"You don't annoy me." Skye admitted. Jemma was relieved. For a minute, she was actually terrified that Skye didn't like her.
"Can we try this again?" Jemma asked. Skye nodded and stepped closer, wrapping her arms around Jemma's waist and pulling them together gently.
"You should tell him, though." Jemma didn't want to start anything, but she couldn't let it go unresolved.
"I know." Skye whispered.