Chapter 3 - Deal or No Deal?

After weeks from their last heated argument, Emma and Taryn mended their fences and tried to reconnect with each other with the aid of Jean, Lorna and Kitty. Emma was slowly moving forward and learned how to accept things as they were. As much as she wanted to get her revenge on Warren, she couldn't waste her time for the guy who didn't deserve her attention. Besides, Warren was seen going out with Betsy. Their blooming relationship were out in the open.

Emma was with Jean one afternoon, heading to their Math class.

"I'm glad how you're coping up, Emma." Jean said happily while they were walking along the hallway.

"Well as the quote goes, 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush'. I just can't risk everything for some asshole, you know." Emma reminded Jean with confidence. She pressed her books tightly over her chest.

"You're really tough." affirmed Jean with a smile.

As soon as they neared their classroom, Paul came rushing towards them in a hurry without noticing them on the doorway and accidentally bumped hard into Emma causing her books to drop on the floor.

The girls' eyes widened and their mouths gasped in shock.

"Hey!" Emma shouted with her fists clenched on her hips.

"Sorry!" Paul didn't bother helping her and his apology wasn't sincere. He ran fast out the door as he was really on a hurry.

"What has gotten into him?" Jean frowned as they watched him running along the hallway. She was also pissed by his manners.

"Jerk! Look at this mess. Ugghh!" Emma turned her attention back to the floor where her books were scattered. Eyebrows were squeezed together that formed a crease while her eelids were tight and straight. She clenched her fists and raised her arms at the side of her head out of frustration.

Out from nowhere, Scott approached the girls from behind.

"Uhm... Would you mind if I help?" he offered Emma with a sincere tone. His voice was deep and manly.

Emma turned to face the 6'3 tall team captain and abruptly replied, "No, not at all." she flashed her sexy smile with direct eye contact.

Scott quickly kneeled down and picked her books.

Jean's left eyebrow raised higher than the other. She sensed her friend flirting with Scott and she was not fond of it since she disliked the guy so she left them and settled on her chair while the blonde chic didn't seem to notice because she paid so much attention with the handsome gentleman who offered her help.

"Here." Scott handed her books with a soft smile and put back his hands on his pocket.

"Thanks, you really are a gentleman." her eyelashes flickered while her finger intertwined her hair in a playful manner.

Scott blushed from her compliment and scratched the back of his neck, "It was my pleasure." he managed to reply and tried not to sound nervous.

Their conversation was cut short since their Math teacher arrived. They parted and moved towards their respective desks.

Emma's desk was on the left from Jean's and her friend gave her a what-the-hell look.

"What?" Emma blurted with a low voice and acted innocent.

Jean leaned closer to her, "Are you flirting with that stiff guy?" the redhead mused in almost a whisper.

"He's hot." Emma winked and bit her lip in a sexy manner.

"Seriously?" Jean was taken aback and her eyes widened.

"Oh darling, there's nothing wrong about it. Flirting is not a crime." the blonde girl almost laughed at her friend's reaction.

"Whatever." She could only sigh in frustration and paid attention to their teacher who was already discussing new lessons.

Emma turned around to where Scott was sitting and flashed a sexy smile when she got his attention. Scott tensed and felt uneasy but he was kind enough to smile back. Jean noticed and rolled her eyes with disbelief and sighed.

After their class ended, the teacher called Emma's attention and ordered her to stay for a while. Jean and Emma looked at each other with questions in their minds.

"Go ahead, Jean, I'll catch up with you later at the campus yard." she smiled to assure her that everything will be fine.

"Well, see you then." Jean grabbed her things and walked out the room.

When all the students were gone, "Miss Frost." Ms. Rogers, the Math teacher, started with a serious tone on her voice.

Emma just stared at her waiting for the next words that will come out of her mouth.

"I'm afraid your grades from our past quizzes were very low." she continued with a concerned look.

Emma just sighed as if it worries her that much. She didn't respond, she was full of herself and stubborn not only with her fellow students but her teachers as well.

"Listen, Miss Frost, I don't want any of my students fail my subject." the teacher added, hoping she could get her reply.

"It's none of your concern." Emma finally blurted out, her arms crossed and her eyes were still glaring.

"This is not how I expect to hear from one of my students." her teacher replied with calmness on her voice and tried to keep her poise despite her student being stubborn. "You must giver yourself up to study harder, Emma, remember you're going to college after this school year. You need to prepare yourself academi-"

"I know, I know. Jeez, you don't have to worry yourself much." Emma cut her off and rolled her eyes. She really was annoyed and she has no sense of respect to anyone for she was high-handed.

Her teacher knew she could be this hard, she was just trying maybe this time Emma would listen to her.

Ms. Rogers just sighed in defeat. "I just want to help you, Emma." she said with affection.

"Thanks." Emma replied sarcastically.

"I want to suggest you should have someone as your tutor, that's all."

"I don't have the time looking for someone to ask." she said with an angry tone and threw her arms on the air.

"You don't have to, you just ask your friends or classmates to spend their time with you. There's Jean Grey and Scott Summers who are both excellent in class." Ms. Rogers amlost lose her temper.

"This is going nowhere. It's really a waste of time." Emma grabbed her things and prepared to retreat. "If you excuse me, I would really love to breathe some fresh air." she continued before storming out of the classroom leaving her worried teacher. Emma Frost needed no one's help, at least that's what she thought for now.

oooo000oooo

"There she is." Lorna exclaimed looking at the approaching Emma.

Kitty was not around since she had her swimming practice.

"How did it go?" Jean asked with curiosity in her eyes. Obviously Emma was having a bad time.

Emma put her things on the table frowning.

"That crazy woman wants me to have a tutor." she said putting her hands on her hips. "The nerve." she sat down beside Lorna.

"And why was that so?" asked Taryn who rested her elbow on the table and relaxed her head on her hand.

"She told me my grades are failing." she looked away and cupped her chin.

"Aren't you bothered?" Jean mused who sat across her.

"If I fail then let it be. I don't see why would you be so worried about that. It's my future on my hands not yours." she sounds composed and defensive.

"Hello! Did you forget we are your friends? Of course we worry about you, the hell." Lorna was the one to quickly respond.

"Darling, stop worrying about me. Things are fine and dandy." she winked at them with assurance. "Besides, there are much more to worry about than that stupid subject."

"I hope you're right, Emma." Taryn cast a concerned look at her.

"Boys are worth my time than fixing my grades." Emma grinned and played with her hair.

"Not me." the redheaded girl shrugged and shifted her eyes to her books.

"C'mon, Jeannie, you have to loosen up. Studying makes you getting older by the time. Don't push the envelope so hard my dear." Emma smirked.

"I may be daft, but I'm not stupid." she replied in defense.

"Oh, a real trouper." she teased and the girls laughed except Jean who just glared at them.

"C'mon, Jean, girls just wanna have some fun." winked Emma and smiled with her teeth showing, it wasn't their intention to hurt her feelings.

"That's Jean, she really have the courage of her convictions." Lorna flashed a smile at Jean.

"I take that as a compliment." finally the redhead smiled back.

"So how are you and Duncan holding up?" Taryn faced to question her.

Jean stroked her chin for a moment, "Well, things are going well for us." ironically she answered dryly.

"Well? I thought great." Emma with a confused look.

"How is he doing?" Lorna asked.

Jean just shrugged her shoulders.

"I didn't mean to pry!" Lorna quickly added.

Jean paused for a while and gathered her thoughts before replying, "No, it's okay, Lorna. Well... He's fine, it's just that..." she was very careful with choosing the right words before blurting them out, "He's not really the kind of guy I thought he was from the time we first met." her friends saw the sadness in her eyes.

"Ow, that's sad." Lorna grimaced as she placed her hand on Jean's shoulder from across to express her sympathy. "I thought you were the perfect couple."

"Nothing lasts forever, girl." Emma pushed Lorna's shoulder slightly.

Jean raised her shoulders slightly, "I guess so." she agreed with Emma.

"So are you on the rocks now?" Taryn asked who didn't usually show sympathy to others trouble.

"We're still working things out. I like him a lot but lately I just found out we have a lot of differences. We only stopped arguing when we make out or have sex." Jean said with disgust.

"That must be frustrating." Lorna responded who showed the most care for Jean's feelings.

"Yes, it really is." Jean sighed looking at the other students that passed them by.

"At least you still have time to spend some quality time and be intimate." Emma was the most sexually active from the group. She had no serious relationship before. All she wanted was to have fun and satisfy her needs.

"Emma, there's more to that in a relationship. Duncan is so insensitive and self-centered. Even when we made love, he always do it for his own satisfaction and never did he make sure that I also get it." Jean grimaced with mixed emotions.

"Really? What a jerk!" Lorna's eyes dilated.

"I told you he is a good-for-nothing." Taryn warned her before about Duncan.

"Oh my, you must show him what he deserves and what he had just lost. Love is a mutual feeling, you must give and take." Emma told her being the most experienced of the five.

"Yeah, I know. It's just so difficult to let go of him. My mind told me to leave him but a part of my heart said I should give him another chance." Jean confessed with a look of confusion.

"Don't be confused, Jean, everything happens in the fullness of time." Lorna assured her and gave her a tight hold on her hand in a comforting manner.

"But I think this is the right and appropriate time to break up with him. You've already sacrificed so much for him, Jean. We all know he treats you like his trophy girlfriend." Taryn scolded Jean. She's right with her last sentence, Duncan was never in love with Jean. He used her for his own good.

"I have to agree with Taryn this time." the blondie expressed her approval.

Jean looked loss and helpless. It bothered her friends seeing her like this.

"Cheer up, girl. There are lot of fishes in the sea waiting for you." Lorna tried to lighten up Jean's emotions and gripped her hand more tightly.

"And more deserving." Taryn put her hand on Jean's shoulder and smiled.

Jean drew a small smile on her face. Friends like them were what she could ask for.

"Thank you. I was waiting for this time and now I feel relieved with you girls around, I couldn't ask for more." Jean felt something heavy had been removed from her heart and they hugged each other and laughed.

"Okay, I think this is enough. Erase the drama." Emma said as they regained their composure. This was one of the rare moments they'd shared. They don't used to talk things seriously. Most of their time were spent shopping, going to spa, hanging out in some fancy restaurants and gossiping about other girls in school and bragging their past achievements.

"Emma, I was just thinking and came up with an idea that involves you and me." Jean grinned as she recovered from their heart-to-heart talk.

"That must be good, darling." Emma replied as she and the other girls were all ears to Jean.

"I will break up with Duncan only if you get yourself a Math tutor." Jean said with an evil grin.

All the girls were surprised by her deal especially Emma.

"Oh boy, you're a smartass, Red." it caught Emma off guard and scratched her forehead.

"Well, thank you for that compliment. So, deal?" the redhead replied proudly and extend her hand to Emma to seal the deal.

Emma was lost for words for seconds. This must be a challenge for her but it was difficult for Jean to leave Duncan as well.

"So...? Lorna rubbed her hands together in excitement.

"We can wait no more, Em." Taryn pouted her lips as she became impatient waiting for Emma's answer.

Emma clenched her hands in raised position and finally spoke, "You know me well that I don't give in easily."

"Is that a yes?" Jean was skeptical.

Emma shaked Jean's hand as a confirmation, "Yes, I'm accepting it. Given that this is not only a challenge for me but also for Jean." her gripped on Jean's hand tightened.

"Then, it's a deal." Jean winked at her.

"Yes!" Taryn and Lorna exclaimed in unison.

oooo000oooo

***End of Chapter 3***

Up Next: Jean was slowly drifting away from Duncan as a part of her deal with Emma. Emma, on the other hand, considered Ms. Rogers suggestion as also a part of her deal with Jean but her choice of whom to ask as her tutor didn't sit well with Jean Grey...