Under the Rose

Chapter 4

The volleyball rose in the air amidst the loud cheers in the gym and Elisa rose off the floor, slamming the ball down to the ground beyond with more force than Jinx had seen even in the Olympics- and she wasn't exaggerating.

The disguised sorceress leaned forward in her seat, enthralled by the smooth teamwork of Miranda and Elisa together, setting and spiking on a level far beyond what the quickly fading Gotham Badgers had predicted.

Jinx had always preferred the gymnastics of Hive Academy, and was an avid jogger, but in particular volleyball had piqued an interest. She would have been far from talented compared to the Lady Jackals, but during these first two months of college, watching the sport had become almost like a hobby. She had always itched to draw the smooth arm motions, the wrinkling jerseys, the bulky kneepads and the quick feet.

Brian sat to her right, and the bleacher steps to her left. Wally, sitting with an oddly pensive look of his own, was one chair away from Andrew, who sat beside the blonde. Jinx, trying to adjust herself while avoiding sharing an armrest with Brian, decided that she wished it were Andrew beside her. After all, he was the only one who hadn't ditched her at that dance.

After Wally had reluctantly left her, Jinx had been standing alone on the dance floor. When searching a scant few moments for Brian yielded no results, Jinx decided to leave on her own. She would have been content without Brian, but the absence of Wally- for whatever the reason- made her a bit sad...

You look...completely awesomely fantastically...you look great.

Jinx rethought her decision. Sitting by Wally wouldn't have been half bad.

Another super spike by Ellie and she resurfaced from her reveries with a small scowl. She was tired of guys getting close and then going away. She leaned her chin on the palm of her hand, leaning forward to try and watch.

Maybe she was forever going to struggle with love- or lack thereof (after all, she wasn't even in love with Kid Flash or if she was which she wasn't would nevereverever admit it). After all, she was bad luck. It was just common sense.

And the social life wasn't her only problem- the news reports of the past days had been speculating over the robbery of the student store.

Jump City Police Chief Hal McMillan has remained tight-lipped with the press, but our sources have confirmed that the notorious villain known only by "Jinx" narrowly escaped with the contents of the Jackal Store cash registers sometime past ten in the evening on August 31, acting independently of her "Hive Five" gang members.

Jinx's hair stood on end thinking about it, and she had avoided cutting on the television for several days now.

She had been at the dance that night. It wasn't her. She was trying not to "rob 'em blind". So who was this stupid poser, and when were they going to catch the little snot?

...And what if her cover blew first and they thought she had done it? Jinx took a small mirror from her purse and checked her reflection. She was all right. She looked completely different. She took a deep breath. She tucked away the mirror once more.

Another point from Elisa- who didn't seem the least bit tired, noted Jinx casually- and everyone was on feet cheering as the second match ended. She clapped, jumping a bit extra in Miranda's honor, and adjusted her glasses before sitting down again. It was probably better not to think of boys (or the news) at all.

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Chief McMillan had been furious to find him unconscious on the floor of the shop, but Wally had been even more tightlipped, storming out with a snarled sorry and then zipping off to circle the world a few times (there'd been no possibility of sleep that night).

He would have to apologize eventually.

The volleyball game wasn't really holding his interest, and Wally remained seated even as the crowds stood to cheer. He had thought that finding Jinx would be easier somehow, and similar to last time: speed in, get rid of the Hive Five, drop off a rose, and get her to come along again. What he hadn't expected was it already being September, Jinx ditching the Hive for those two shadowy figures (whoever they were- another problem), and being welcomed with a swift blow to the head.

Three years, though...you kinda deserved the punch, Flashy.

But, it was Jinx's fault too, wasn't it? She hadn't been there when he got back.

But she punched me to escape. Flash hadn't wanted to face the fact that maybe Jinx just preferred to be a villain, but now...

His friends all beside him jumped up once more to cheer (cheering was all relative, though: Brian whooped like crazy, but Andrew merely clapped). Rose was the first to sit again, glancing down the row to smile at Wally. She leaned towards him behind Brian and Andrew. She smiled, and black hair draped over her shoulder like a (really silky-looking...) curtain.

"You look like a carrot."

Wally was startled from his slouchy position and blinked, surprised by her conversation opener. He glanced down at his outfit of choice, an orange shirt with "JCU" in big white letters on the front.

"I...um, guess I do." He chuckled a bit, ruffling his (also very orange) hair.

Rose smirked. "There we go. Look a bit less melancholy, okay?"

A reply was there, on the edge of Wally's mouth, when the two boys sat back down again between them and ended the short exchange.

Wally remembered how Rose had smiled while they danced and decided that maybe that evening wasn't a total loss.

Miranda, with a fake-out set that landed across the net, scored the final point of the game, and Wally stood to applaud with the rest of the crowd.

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Jinx frowned at the pencil in her hand and set it back on the easel, diving into the cup beside her for a darker lead. The landscape that she had told Wally about was almost finished- she had worked hard these couple weeks.

There had been no more robberies from Imposter Jinx since the end of August, and September was already in full swing at this point. She hoped it would stay quiet like this.

"Good texture on the sea grass. It's almost popping off the page. Now add some darker values on those waves- you have a light touch, but we need some shadows thrown in there." Jinx nodded under Miss Solaro's advice.

She had chosen to draw a beach, and although some things weren't turning out quite right (the water was a perpetual work-in-progress), the simple act of sketching relaxed her, and she felt happiest during these hours when the only sound was the occasional remark from her teacher and the steady scratches of lead on paper. The only downside to this class was the chemistry class that she had scheduled right after; well, seeing Wally West there made it not so bad.

JCU was well endowed when it came to the fine arts; there was an art museum on campus, and as Jinx progressed through her art classes, she would be getting her own studio in her junior or senior year because she had chosen to major in art. And the supplies were top of the line- if she was still doing that kind of stuff, this room would have been first on her "To Rob" list. It was still very tempting to just grab the paints and run.

The thought of thievery made her fingers twinge a little, yearning to release the pent-up pink energy. Jinx scowled.

"Alright guys, ten minutes, so start cleaning up!"

Jinx carefully set her drawing on the designated counter and set the pencils back inside their respective cabinet. She returned to her easel and gathered up her purse and backpack, and with a friendly farewell from Miss Solaro exited the building.

Brian was waiting outside for her and startled Jinx as he tapped her shoulder.

Jinx jumped and, when she saw who it was, turned and smiled. "Hey Brian, what're you doing here? Isn't your engineering class in session across campus? Like, right now?"

He grinned sheepishly. "Missing one won't hurt me; I'm a techie, I'll just make it up for fun anyways." Jinx grinned and they began to walk across the quad.

"So then why are you here?" Jinx repeated.

Brian rubbed his neck. "I just wanted to apologize, for back in August. You know, ditching you and all. I didn't mean to, and I was going to come back-"

"But that was so long ago," Jinx interrupted, giving him an incredulous stare.

Brian laughed. "I know, but I don't feel like I apologized so well back then. Can I take you out to dinner tonight to make up for it?"

Jinx continued to stare at him. Brian waved his hands quickly. "No, no, not a date, but just a friend-apology thing. That I might secretly want to turn into a date, but remains a just-friends thing for now."

Jinx laughed at his candor and decided that just an innocent meal wouldn't hurt. " Apology- and dinner- accepted," she replied teasingly. There was no hope of it turning into a date, though...she'd have to set him straight soon.

Brian grinned and looked at his watch. "Um...don't you have chemistry in about five minutes?"

Jinx glanced at his wrist. "Crap!"

She took off running.

"See you tonight then...?"

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After taking notes for half the class, Wally was relieved to finally get up and move around, even if it was just to do a lab. He laughed at the look on Rose's face as she frowned into the metal tray that held their supplies. She held an apparent disdain for goggles worn on top of her glasses. The redhead decided that she looked like a raccoon, and he laughed behind his hand.

"You're really working that ensemble."

"Shut up, Wally."

He leaned against the black counter, narrowly avoiding knocking over an odd yellow powder. She was trying to hide a smile behind the lab manual. I love chemistry...

"Earth to Wally? You can add the sulfur now," she said, motioning towards the bubbling beaker. "It's hot enough."

Wally, wrinkling his nose, carefully scooped in the specified amount as Rose jotted down data in the notebook. She peeked over at his work and scowled.

"Let me, you're supposed to stir while you add it."

Wally backed off and glanced at her notebook. "Well, as long as you're doing that, I'll record the data- your handwriting's atrocious."

"I can write stuff down too!"

Wally grabbed the pencil from behind her ear (much to her surprise) and began to record. "You're very independent, you know that?"

Rose scoffed and swatted him with her free hand. "I know...I've been pretty much on my own. If I didn't do things..." she got a faraway look on her face, as though remembering something. " Let's just say the company I kept back then wouldn't have gotten anything done without me to do it." She laughed.

Wally stared as she tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear and returned to silently stirring and adding various chemicals. Rose didn't talk often about her past.

"So tell me about your friends, from the dance."

Wally paused in wiping his goggles. "Oh, I never got the chance to apologize..."

"Please don't, I have a date with Brian tonight because he apologized-"

"What?!" WHAT?! Wally fumbled his goggles. "Isn't- um, friend- What?!"

Much to the redhead's chagrin, Rose began to giggle. "I'm putting our solution on that counter since we're done, and when I get back, form a complete sentence."

Wally busied himself gathering up his books and hanging up their lab coats as she walked back. Rose slung her pack over her shoulder. "Like I said, it's just a friend date. Nice reaction."

Wally shrugged his shoulders. "What reaction? Goggles are slippery." I am the master of playing it cool. She doesn't suspect a thing... Rose eyed him skeptically as they left the building together.

"Now that you're no longer 'clumsy'...were those kids at the dance your sophomore buddies?"

Wally grinned. "Yeah, except for Roy- the other redhead- he lives in Steel City and was only visiting. The girl you saw is Kori, she's insanely nice. And then there's Richard...well, he doesn't really like his first name so we all call him Grayson. Or Gray. He won't let me call him Grichard, even though everyone loves a good spoonerism."

"You keep telling yourself that... Why does he wear sunglasses?"

Wally frowned for a moment. Robin just has to be cool and wear the mask... "Oh, you know, it makes a statement. And I think his eyes are extremely sensitive or something."

Rose laughed. "Probably more to do with the cool factor, I'd imagine." She glanced down at her watch and smiled up at Wally. "I'm on a tight schedule today," she said. "So...see you around?"

Wally nodded happily. "Definitely," he replied. Rose gave him a warm smile before ambling in the opposite direction. "Oh, wait one second!" He jogged up to her retreating form. She turned back and Wally grabbed her hand, pressing it to his mouth. He looked up at her mischievously. "Thank you, fair lady, for dancing." He paused. "You know, like that time, almost a month ago..."

Rose snorted and withdrew her hand, but Wally's spirits were raised by the pinkness in her cheeks. "You're welcome...silly flirt," she replied, and then she walked away.

Wally laughed at her and turned to depart in the opposite direction, whistling cheerily... She'll bring out the best and the worst you can be-- blame it all on yourself 'cause she's always a woman to me.

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Jinx had caught herself several times that evening rubbing the hand that Wally West had kissed. She fingered the sleeve of her wine-colored jacket and smoothed the napkin across her denim lap in an effort to do any other motion with her hands except that one.

She took another bite of her lasagna and chewed it along with the rest of her evening so far. Brian had been exceedingly polite, opening doors and pulling out chairs. They had some very pleasant conversations. It made Jinx smile every time- chivalry was dead in the Hive Five. Brian was a nice kid. She looked back at Brian and smiled. He grinned back.

"Liked your lasagna?"

"Very much," Jinx replied. "I think I'm done, though." Brian looked at his watch and blanched. Why was he worried? It was only 10:20, and in college terms that wasn't late. Time had gone by quickly...

"We should get back, Rose," he said. "Our roomies will start to worry."

"Um, I don't think Elisa will mind..." How random, Jinx thought. Didn't he want to stay up late, or walk through the park or something? It was only a friend-date, but still, it's a date, you dolt. He had cringed slightly at the mention of Elisa, but Jinx decided to ignore it.

They walked out of the restaurant and into the night air. It was a warm night, especially for September, even if it was Jump City. Brian pointed out his car, but Jinx wasn't ready to go back to the dorms.

"Want to take a walk?" she asked. She needed to find a place to let the poor boy down easily. Brian looked over at her with his green-blue eyes.

"Like I said, my roomie will freak," he replied, but kindly. "I would love to join you but..."

Your roommate is not your mother. "It's fine," Jinx said. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" An awkward silence hung in the air before Brian took a step closer.

"I really do like you, Rose," he said. "Can I, um, kiss you?" Jinx looked up with surprise in her eyes and saw his serious yet nervous look. He seemed to be hasty. He looked like it was something he hadn't wanted to ask. She placed a hand on her hip. Boys.

"Brian..." Jinx sighed. "Um..." The truth is, actually, I still have this redheaded yellow blur in my mind and it won't let me be and now there's another redhead rolling around in here too and curse all redheads, even Kori! "I told you before..."

Brian backed away, holding his hands up in mock innocence. "I know, friends, but it was worth a try, eh?" He ruffled her hair. "I'll see you tomorrow. Sure you don't want a ride?"

Jinx peered up at him. "So we're cool? Just like that?" She was more used to grudges being held- after all, Professor Blood always told the Hive kids about revenge being better cold and all that.

But Brian nodded. "Just like that. We are only freshmen, after all," he grinned.

Jinx gave him a hug. "You're a good friend. This is the weirdest date I've ever been on."

Brian patted her back. "Same here. But...now I have to leave it. Are you okay here?"

Jinx nodded. "I just wanted to walk a bit. It's nice out."

Brian left and Jinx watched the car motor away, scratching her head. Bizarre...it's like he wasn't even hurt or anything! She turned and started walking. It was odd that he had been in such a hurry. But she didn't mind; Jinx loved the night air, the stars, and the dark. She was content walking alone.

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Alright guys! Thank you so much for all the reviews so far. This wasn't exactly where I wanted the chapter to end, but I wanted to update before I jet off to camp- sorry this update was so long coming, I was at yet another camp the week before!

Sincerely,

-Silver Miracles