In the weeks that followed, all had been calm and happier. Fitz felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders now Jemma knew the truth about Scotland, and he had accepted that in time he would have to move on. Jemma had been extremely supportive and was always there for him, which he greatly appreciated and filled him with more hope that he would be okay.
When not in class, Jemma and Fitz spent almost all of their spare time together, be it watching TV, doing homework or continuing Jemma's piano lessons to prepare for the Christmas concert. Skye and Grant joined them occasionally, but they always found the time to be alone together; fellow students and staff had even started calling them 'Fitzsimmons', much to Mr Coulson's pleasure.
By the middle of October, Jemma's piano lessons with Fitz were becoming a daily tradition. Jemma had convinced her parents to buy her a piano, so there was now one permanently in her and Skye's room to use, much to Skye's annoyance (she was now getting used to being awakened early in the morning by Jemma's attempts to play a song). After their final lesson of the day, Jemma and Fitz began another lesson. By now, Jemma had learnt all the notes off by heart and was making excellent progress.
"I really am impressed at how well you're doing; you're a natural." Fitz smiled, pleasing Jemma. It was really good to see him smiling after how sad he'd been.
"Well, I do have an amazing teacher." Jemma said with a grin, turning to look at Fitz. They held eye contact for a moment too long before awkwardly returning to practice. Jemma looked at the sheet music carefully and played the first few bars.
"How was that?" She asked.
"Pretty good. It just needs to be a bit quicker, but that'll be easier to do once we've at least gone through the whole piece. It'll be easy for the golden girl, I'm sure." Fitz teased and Jemma playfully hit him.
"Shut up, Leopold." She giggled. The door opened and Skye and Grant walked in. Upon seeing Jemma and Fitz grinning at her, Skye rolled her eyes as Grant sat on her bed.
"Come on, how many lessons do you need?" Skye asked.
"As many as it takes for me to play the piano fairly well." Jemma answered as Skye sat on Grant's lap and played with his hair, much to his annoyance.
"We're going to the restaurant where Bobbi works again tonight if you're interested?" Grant said.
"Oh, that sounds lovely. I think I'll try something different tonight." Jemma said, and the other three all performed a synchronised act of eye rolling and groaning.
"What?" Jemma demanded.
"Jem, you say that every single time we go there and always end up having a pizza. Always." Skye said.
"Though you can't go wrong with pizza." Fitz said.
"Pizza's your friend." Grant added.
"There's nothing wrong with that, if that's what I want." Jemma argued.
"Come on Jemma, be a badass for once in your life and try something else tonight!" Skye exclaimed.
"…Fine." Jemma sighed, returning to the piano and trying to play the next few bars as Fitz watched carefully.
"I wouldn't class trying a new dish at a restaurant as badass, sweetie." Grant whispered. Skye smiled and stroked Grant's cheek.
"It is for Jem, sweetie."
"Oh, bloody hell! I always muck up that bit." Jemma complained as she hit the wrong key.
"Don't worry, you'll get there." Fitz said gently, putting a hand on Jemma's back. Jemma put a hand on his shoulder and smiled. Skye and Grant shared a knowing look.
"Can they be any more obvious?" Grant whispered, making Skye laugh.
"So, when are you guys gonna be done because I am all kinds of hungry!" Skye exclaimed.
"Not long. Why don't you do some homework while you wait?" Jemma asked.
"How do you know I haven't already done it?"
"Because I know you."
"…You make a good point."
Suddenly, there was a loud bang from the distance and silence spread across campus as all the lights and electronics shut off, leaving everything in darkness.
"Ah, crap!" Skye said.
"What the hell's going on?" Fitz wondered.
"Power cut, happens about twice a year here. The school gets a huge budget but apparently still not enough to get a decent generator. It's very prone to shorting out, takes a bit of time to reboot it again." Grant explained.
"And for stupid reasons during a black out no one is allowed to leave the room they're in." Skye moaned.
"It's for health and safety, Skye." Jemma stated.
"Yeah, whatever. Health and safety is preventing me from eating, and that ain't gonna fly."
…
Twenty minutes later, everyone was sat in a circle in the middle of the room, their phones brightly lit so they could just about see each other's faces. Jemma had given up trying to see which key was which after five minutes, leaving everyone in a bored silence. A silence of which Skye was fed up of.
"Let's play something. This silence is killing me." Skye said.
"How about Eye-Spy?" Grant suggested.
Silence.
"…Please tell me that was a joke." Skye said.
"I wish it was. I didn't think it through." Grant whispered shamefully.
"Okay, how about a little challenge?" Fitz suggested.
"I'm listening." Skye prompted Fitz to continue.
"The task is simple; find a seven digit number that describes itself." Fitz said.
Silence again.
"…Wait, what?" Grant said.
"How can a number describe itself?" Jemma pondered.
"Well it can." Fitz said.
"Is it 5318008?" Grant asked.
"No, why?"
"That's what you type in a calculator then turn it upside down so it says 'boobies'." Grant explained.
"How can a number be described as 'boobies'?" Jemma asked.
"Can we stop saying 'boobies'? And sweetie, I don't think this is your kind of game. I'll get this, I have to." Skye said.
"Skye's extremely competitive." Jemma told Fitz, who nodded.
"I am not! I'm…mildly competitive at most." Skye said. Jemma scoffed.
"You once told me during a school sport's day you threw a girl out of the way as you ran past." Jemma said.
"Yeah, so?"
"She wasn't even racing!"
"How was I supposed to know she was just timing us? She shouldn't have stood so close to the track." Skye protested as Grant and Fitz laughed.
"…Wait, I've got it! 7734206!" Grant said.
"…What does that spell when you turn it upside down?" Fitz asked.
"…Go 2 Hell."
"That's an even worse answer than 'boobies'." Jemma said.
"Just stop, sweetie." Skye added.
"…Okay." Grant said sadly.
"Well I haven't the faintest idea either." Jemma said.
"Give up Skye?" Fitz asked.
"NO! I can get this, just give me a hint." Skye said.
"In case you can't see, I'm shaking my head." Fitz said cheekily.
"In case you can't see, I'm holding one finger up right now. Can you guess which one?" Skye replied.
"I'll having a better chance of solving that puzzle than you do of solving mine." Fitz laughed. Skye huffed and folded her arms.
"Fine! I give up, okay? What's the answer?" Skye said angrily. Everyone looked at Fitz in anticipation.
"3211000." Fitz answered.
"Are you just making that up?" Skye asked.
"No, that's the answer."
"So how does that describe itself?" Skye asked.
"I'll tell you when the power comes back on." Fitz smiled. Skye huffed again.
"You're an irritating Scottish turd."
…
Another ten minutes passed and the power was still not back on, and the silence was now being filled by the rumbling of Skye's stomach.
"Why do I have a feeling something's gonna burst out of you like 'Alien'?" Grant asked.
"Shut up, I'm super hungry."
"You sound like you're demonstrating the mating call of the whale." Jemma joked and the boys laughed.
"OH MY GOD, TURN THE POWER ON PEOPLE! DOES THIS SCHOOL EMPLOY SNAILS?" Skye shouted.
"That would be extremely improbable." Fitz stated, causing Jemma and Grant to hold back their laughter in fear of Skye attacking them.
"My god, I never realised how annoying you three are." Skye moaned. Grant let out a small chuckle.
"Don't know what you're laughing at sunshine, you're the one who's never having sex again. Ever." Skye said. Grant's laugh stopped instantly.
"Wow, you really do get cranky when you're hungry, huh?" Fitz said.
"Yes Mr Holmes, that has been established." Skye snapped.
"Okay, let's try something else to pass the time. Uh…let's all tell a secret we've never told anyone before!" Grant suggested excitedly.
"That…could be interesting." Skye said, sitting up slightly. Jemma looked at Fitz, who smiled reassuringly at her and telling her with his blue eyes that he was comfortable to talk about secrets. She smiled back, rubbing his arm gently.
"I'll go first, shall I?" Grant said and everyone nodded.
"Okay, let's see…um…right, I've got one. This is kinda embarrassing." Grant admitted.
"Which is why this idea was brilliant." Skye smirked.
"Okay…I, uh, I don't know…I don't know how to use a washing machine." Grant said and everyone began to laugh.
"Seriously?" Fitz asked and Grant nodded. Even in the darkness everyone could tell his face was bright red.
"This was a very bad idea." Grant added, making everyone laugh even more. Soon they settled down and everyone turned to Skye.
"Right, okay…just remember that I was very young, okay?" Skye said.
"Tell us." Jemma prompted.
"Fine. I must have been eight or nine and all the girls from our class were invited to Hannah Jones' birthday party at her house. We played musical chairs and when it was just her and me left she pushed me over and won, but because it was her birthday I was supposed to let it slide and let her win. I was so angry at her that when I had the chance, I um…I snuck off and flushed her pet goldfish down the toilet." Skye said quickly.
"You little monster!" Fitz exclaimed.
"When did she realise?" Grant asked.
"She came into school that Monday in tears, but she never found out it was me. I'm not proud of it, okay?" Skye said.
"Not competitive my arse." Jemma said.
"Well then, Little Miss Perfect, what's your darkest secret?" Skye asked.
"Okay, I never planned on telling anyone this but…I don't know how to ride a bike." Jemma said sheepishly. Skye and Grant laughed as Fitz just smiled and put his hand on Jemma's back.
"That's nothing to be ashamed of, Jemma, I know lots of people who can't. Callum can't! But don't tell him I told you." Fitz said and Jemma smiled and looked down. Skye and Grant looked at each other knowingly again.
"And I guess if that's your darkest secret you've had a good life." Grant added.
Silence for a moment.
"Uh, Fitz, you don't have to say anything if you-" Skye began.
"No, no. I'll contribute." Fitz said, taking a moment to think. While Skye had comforted Jemma the night Fitz had told her everything, Jemma never told Skye exactly why she was upset, though Skye guessed she had been told the truth. She and Grant both decided not to pry Fitz for information on the matter.
"Right, I've got something. Oh, I'm gonna regret saying this, especially to Skye…"
"TELL ME, LEOPOLD." Skye said.
"…I took a ballet class two years ago to meet girls." Fitz admitted, cringing at his every word. The others all collapsed in laughter as Fitz put his head in his hands.
"Oh, mate…" Grant said through his tears.
"That is glorious!" Skye exclaimed.
"Yeah, yeah…" Fitz said sadly.
"Oh, Fitz." Jemma giggled.
"Well, did it work?" Grant asked.
"…No. Turns out there was a boy's class so they put me in that one."
The laughter returned very quickly. Another loud bang sounded and the campus lit up once again, causing everyone to stand up and smile.
"FINALLY!" Skye shouted happily.
"Let's go get food." Jemma said, laughing as she looked at Fitz, who grew red-faced.
"Oh wait, before that I need to ask Angelina Ballerina something." Skye said and everyone chuckled again.
"What is it, Skye?" Fitz asked as he gathered his things and tried not to look anyone in the eye.
"Your little puzzle, why was 3211000 the answer? How does it describe itself? I still can't figure it out." Skye said.
"Oh, right. It describes itself because each digit describes the amount a number appears in the whole thing. The first digit, 3, describes the number of zeros in the whole number. The 2 describes the number of ones that appear, and so on." Fitz explained.
"So, it has 3 zeros, 2 ones, 1 two, 1 three, no fives, no sixes and no sevens." Skye said and Fitz nodded.
"Exactly." Fitz smiled.
"You're a nerd." Skye said as she walked out, turning back to face Fitz as she reached the doorway.
"And a ballerina."
Jemma laughed as she followed Skye out the door, looking at Fitz with a grin. Fitz smiled back at her and shook his head, irritated that of all the things he could've told them he had to tell them that.
"Aw man, you crack me up Fitz." Grant chuckled as he put on a coat.
"Well, that's something I suppose." Fitz said. Grant smiled as he went to walk out.
"Grant, wait." Fitz said. Grant faced him.
"What's up?" Grant asked.
"I just…remember a few weeks ago you told me about telling someone about my past. About Scotland." Fitz began.
"Oh, yeah."
"Well, um, I took your advice and it made me feel a lot better about the whole thing, so I just wanted to say thanks." Fitz said, filled with gratitude. Grant seemed genuinely touched, putting his hand on Fitz's shoulder.
"No problem, bud. Glad I could help." Grant smiled as the two men walked out together.
"The whole ballet thing…do you think the girls will let it go?" Fitz asked.
"Sorry mate, you're never gonna live that down."
…
"And what can I get for you miss?" The waitress asked.
"Um…let's see…I'll have the…the, um…I'll have a Hawaiian pizza, please."
"Oh, Jemma!"
