A/N: Oh how I love all the fantabulous reviews you reader peops send my way - thanking you so muchly :-) Here's a longer chapter for you all, which I think I have managed to cram all of the main characters into, some emphasis on the M/I and more so the Rayne relationship...
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 10 - Don't Let It Be Love
Kaylee Frye weren't no coward, and she weren't about to shy away none when it came to returning to school the very next day. Still, she didn't much look forward to the whispers and pointing she knew was gonna come her way when she walked the halls of Firefly High. Rumours'd be flyin' thick and fast, that she knew for sure. Her boyfriend was a lying cheating feh feh pi goh and she knew it afore she ever took up with him again. Was more or less waitin' for him to turn around and mess up again, and Bester didn't let her down on that score at least, no siree.
On the upside to bein' a fool, at least little Kaylee had friends enough to be on her side. When she and Wash arrived at school in his car like usual, the rest of her crew was already there waiting for her - Mal, Zoe, and Jayne, plus River and Simon too. She'da liked to of raised a smile for 'em but she couldn't hardly manage it. They was good folks and she appreciated their kindness, but she couldn't be happy and sunny today, not for a little while at least. Sure, she'd taken up with Bester just to get Simon's attention in the first place, but that didn't mean she liked any more he made a fool outta her. Reminded her how bad menfolk could be for her sometimes.
"It ain't so bad" she said anyway, as she walked around the car and faced her friends, "I ain't dyin' or nothin'. Just a gorram stupid girl with her head in a cloud, I guess" she berated herself with a sigh as her eyes went to the ground.
"Blinded by a pretty face" said River, nodding her head as if she knew all about what Kaylee was going through, despite the fact that everyone else was fair sure that weren't so, "Happens to everyone"
"Won't happen to me again" said her friend definitely, "I am done with boys turnin' my head, making me fall over my own feet for 'em" she practically stamped her foot indignantly as she turned to walk into the school building with all of her friends at her sides, "Now on, I got friends enough, I don't want nor need no boyfriend" she said, oblivious to what she was doing to poor Simon with her determined words.
Others amongst her friends noticed the look on his face, but said not a thing about it. None but River who hung back with her brother and leant in to speak near his ear.
"Bright shining anger, hot as lightning" she told him, "Storm will pass soon, wait it out" she said with a smile, before practically dancing off to catch up to their friends.
Simon couldn't conceive how his mei mei seemed to know so much about relationships when she was so young and inexperienced with the opposite sex. Of course, there was no telling how long her naivity of men might last when she was spending time with Jayne Cobb.
Now there was a friendship Simon was much more concerned about than even his own with Kaylee. River and Jayne were total opposites, and whilst he understood that had the potential to lead to attraction, he had hoped his sister would develop vastly better taste than that. For now he didn't say much on the topic, knowing as he did that trying to defy River to do something would only make her all the more determined. He had only mentioned the odd connection between herself and her newest friend in passing and River had let out a girlish laugh at the obvious undertone in his voice.
'Men and women are perfectly capable of platonic relationships' she has told him, as if he were an idiot instead of the top-of-the-class brain he really was, 'You're such a boob' she had muttered on walking away from him, and Simon had smiled in spite of himself at her attitude.
Now he still had that strange niggling feeling that wouldn't leave, and before long there was no doubt going to be a problem when it came to the River-Jayne relationship, whatever form it took at this moment or later on. As for himself, Simon was going to have to go against the plans he'd made and take two steps back before he even managed one forward towards Kaylee. Badger's idea to go sweeping her off her feet had seemed sensible in its way, but given the broken girl's little anti-boyfriend speech this morning, Simon wasn't so sure his sweeping would be appreciated. In fact it may end up earning him a similar fate to that hwun-dahn Bester, and a dented face at the hands or Jayne, Mal, Wash, or even Zoe, was not something Simon was hoping for anytime soon!
Further down the hall, River caught up to Jayne by his locker, tapping his left shoulder then darting to his right, making him look for her where she was not. She giggled at his expression when he finally realised what had happened.
"Gorram crazy girl" he rolled his eyes at her childish antics, serious in a second as he glanced the other way down the hall and caught sight of the death glare Book was sending his way.
A teacher he may be these days, but the man had been a preacher too long to be able to keep from deliverin' a sermon once in a while. He'd pretty much warned Jayne off from getting anything like close to River. Last couple of English classes, he'd made it plenty clear all be it metaphorical like that he had his eye on him. There was a special hell for folks who did things they didn't oughta with girls like little River Tam.
"Serious expression" she noted as she got in his field of vision, "Could talk to me about whatever's troubling..."
"What I want to talk to you for, crazy little girl?" he asked her, a nasty edge to his voice that wounded her easily, "Now, get!" he shooed her away, turning his back on her.
He didn't like doin' it, didn't wanna see that hurt in her eyes when he snapped at her like that, but it got her to get the hell away from him like he wanted for now. Stopped Book lookin' at him like some kinda evil thing, stopped him gettin' a worse and dirtier reputation than he already had.
"Yi dwei da buen chuo roh" muttered River as she bolted off down the corridor, away from one young man she actually thought was her friend.
* * * * *
"Mal, you gotta snap outta this" his best friend told him as they passed down the hallway of Firefly High, his eyes locking onto the door marked 'Guidance Councillor' as if willing it to open.
"Snap outta what?" he asked, though it took a few seconds more for his gaze to waver and his eyes to turn their attention to Zoe.
"You ain't stupid" she said with a look, "I don't need to spell out to you what I'm talking about"
"Zoe..." he said, pulling her into a quiet corner where he figured on no-one hearing what he said next.
Mal hadn't noticed the little red head who had followed him and his friend down the hall, and was now hid around the next corner, her ear trained on his voice alone. Had he realised, there was no way he'd have spoken so freely about his feelings for a certain staff member.
"Can't rightly explain how it is to ya" he told Zoe in an agitated whisper, "Don't reckon you're gonna understand it if'n even I don't, but me and Inara, we got a connection"
"A connection?" she asked, eyebrows raised, "That what they're calling it these days, Mal? Seems to me what you got is the makings of an affair, a felony, and an expulsion, you two don't watch your step"
"You don't think I know that?!" he practically exploded, though all in a quieter-than-usual voice, for fear of being heard, "Ain't nothin' I don't reckon I thought on my ownself when it comes to me and that woman, but I can't help it, Zoe" he told her honestly.
Zoe didn't doubt that Mal had feelings for Ms Serra, and not necessarily just the teenage boy's hormone-driven lust that they all had over a woman like her. The thing of it was, Mal seemed like the tough and uncaring type, but bein' as she was his best friend for more'n a decade now, Zoe knew that weren't even a little bit true. He had emotions enough and good sense too in a lot of ways. That's how she knew Mal felt a whole boatload of feelings for Inara - she wouldn't be worth the risk if'n he didn't.
"Be careful is all I'm sayin'" she told him firmly, "My experience, one kiss leads to another, and then 'fore y'know it, could be too late to turn back" she told him, not knowing that it was already too late if'n it was the plan to keep Mal and Inara's relationship secret, which it was.
Saffron heard every word and her eyes went wide at the sound of each one. They threatened to roll clear out of her head when Mal thanked Zoe for her advice anyhow, and moved towards the forbidden door that belonged to Ms Serra. A light tap and then he let hismelf into the office, as Zoe shook her head and walked away. Saffron stayed, moving to stand by the Guidance Councillor's door that had not quite shut.
"Mal, please..." she heard Ms Serra say, only to be cut off as the young man interrupted.
"'Nara, can't keep running from this" he told her, and Saffron could only imagine the clinch as no more words were said, but a muffled moan escaped Inara's lips.
That was some kiss Mal just planted on her and make no mistake.
"We should meet later" he told her, as Saffron, sure no-one was watching her, peeked through the gap in the door and saw the pair with their arms around each other, "Here" said Mal, putting a note down on Inara's desk, "Tonight. Don't leave me waitin'" he told her as he backed up towards the door.
"Mal..." she said, sounding less than definite, as Saffron realised she needed to move if she wasn't to be caught, "I'll try" immediately Inara seemed to change her mind and Mal left the office at least partially satisfied, and entirely pleased with himself.
Saffron watched him go a smile coming over her own face, in spite of what she had just heard and seen. It did not thrill her one bit to have the man she wanted most pandering to that whorey hag of a Guidance Councillor instead of falling over himself to be with her like he should. Mal would learn she wasn't to be messed with, of course. The good girl routine was getting her nowhere, and so it was time for Plan B.
* * * * *
When the final bell rang, it made a change for Jayne to be allowed to leave with all the other students, instead of having to stay behind and face yet another detention. Unfortunately, it seemed he still wasn't going to get to do his own thing, as a pair of Freshman kids came careering down the hall, almost falling over each other as they reached Jayne and Mal.
"Hey, what in the gorram hell...?" started Mal, only to be cut off by the rambling of the twin kids who he didn't know from Adam.
"They're coming for us" one gasped out, barely breathing.
"You said you'd protect us" the other added, hands on his knees as he bent double, sucking in as much oxygen as he could.
"Aaw, hell" complained Jayne as he realised what was going on, "These here is Fanty and Mingo; the boys that been payin' me. Y'know, to play bodyguard and all" he explained to his friend.
"Best you get to bein' protector of the people then, I reckon" joked his friend, slapping him on the back, "I cant be waitin' for ya" he said as he headed off down the corridor, "Got me a sweet date to be getting ready for" he called as he backed down the hallway and was gone.
"Gorram fool..." muttered Jayne before turning his attention back to the kids that stood afore him, all pale and shakin' like they was gonna die - well, without his help maybe they was, "Time we dealt with this asshole once and for all" he said, turning back to his locker and shoving his bag and jacket inside.
It was unlikely anyone was gonna wanna mess with Jayne Cobb any time, but he was a genuine sight to be fearin' as he strode down the halls of Firefly High today. The young man had muscles aplenty and an expression that told all he weren't none amused at havin' his time wasted by punk kids in Freshman year. Little did he know that the bully after his protectees wasn't all he had to face.
"Mei yong ma duh tse gu yong!" he swore colourfully as he flung open the side door to reveal the Freshman bully, his two usual henchman types, and one much larger guy stood behind.
"You think you're so smart, faggots" said the boy in front, the bully who made the kids lives hell just 'cause they was a little different to them and just the same as each other, "You got your bodyguard, I got mine" he chuckled, soundin' as near to evil as a fourteen year old ever could.
Immediately the twins ducked behind Jayne, leaving him alone to face the group. The worst of them came from the back, a hulking mass of a guy, even bigger than Jayne himself, with a tattoo across half his face and a few more everywhere else.
"Jayne Cobb, meet my cousin" the scrawny kid chuckled, his arms crossed over his chest, "This here is Crow, on a little vacation from college, looking for someone to take out some frustration on" he grinned.
The one they called Crow squared up to Jayne, puffing out his chest and towering over his competitor by a good few inches.
"Ain't afraid o' you" said the High Schooler, and honest truth was he looked like he meant it.
Still, in the back of his head, Jayne was panicking just a might now. This guy was big, make no mistake, and whilst he was pretty sure he could come out of this alive, he didn't much like the idea of the broken bones he was gonna suffer. He surely weren't being paid enough by them Freshman kids for the beatin' he was about to take, that was for gorram sure.
"You should be afraid" said Crow with a grin that was missing a couple of teeth.
A second later his fist came flying, and Jayne was lucky to catch it afore it clocked him square across the jaw. The fight was on, and the bully and his cronies weren't about to be left out of it, chasing down Fanty and Mingo the second they tried to bolt, diving on 'em and bringin' 'em to the ground easy enough.
Jayne couldn't care about his protectees right now, had too much of a fight on his hands his ownself as he was knocked to the ground and about to get seriously whaled on. There was only so much a man could take by way of beatin' and too much more of this was gonna be Jayne's fill.
Sure this next punch to the head was gonna take him out for sure, as Crow grinned evilly over him, an almighty scream, a battle cry almost, erupted outta somebody Jayne never for a second expected to see comin' to the rescue. Crow was at least distracted long enough that Jayne got a good kick in somewhere good and vulnerable, bringing the over-sized thug to his knees. Before he had a chance to think about getting up, Crow received another blow, the failing arms and legs of a battle-ready female flinging herself onto his back and ripping the hell outta him.
Jayne barely had a chance to realise that River had just thrown herself into his fight as he scrambled to his feet, dragging the back of his hand across his face to remove the blood from under his nose. He turned around to see Fanty and Mingo doing their best at beating back their bullies, something Jayne was quick to help with, dragging the little punks away and tossing them easily on the ground. He had no time to do anything else as Crow let out a roar and threw River off his back where she landed sprawled on the ground on her front.
Seeing red the moment he saw her go down, Jayne caught Crow off guard the second he turned back around, catching him with an upper cut to the jaw, a boot to the groin, and a further smack in the head as the big guy went down.
A police siren in the distance suggested the cops had heard a ruckus, or someone else had and called them. Immediately the bullies and their victims scattered one way and the other, Crow getting himself up and away like the coward he was. Jayne immediately hurried to River, helping her up from the ground and rushing her away from the scene before they got into any more trouble than they needed too. He was stunned to find her laughing beneath his arm as he swept her around the side of the building out of harms way.
"Exhilarating" she said breathlessly, leaning her back against the wall as Jayne did the same right beside her, "Feels good, to do the right thing" she smiled, that expression wavering some as her eyes ran over the injuries her friend had sustained.
Jayne was going to have a black eye before the morning, and the cut on his other cheek was not gonna heal none too easy either. He was all cuts, bruises, and dirt, his T-shirt most likely ruined and his pants in a ripped up state too. His Ma would have his hide, he had no doubt as he also looked himself over quick. A second later, his attention went to River and he hated to see blood on her face.
"Crazy little woman" he muttered as he reached out a hand to her, wiping the redness carefully from beneath her lip with his thumb.
It was a strange feeling to River. One moment they were both fighting, fists and feet, all violent and apparently bloody, the next Jayne was as gentle with her as anything. It was the oddest anomaly she had ever encountered, but she loved it all the same.
"Crazy, maybe" she said as she considered it, shivering involuntarily as his hand dropped away from her face, "Good friend, definitely" she nodded once, "Would not let you fight alone"
"Coulda got yourself killed!" he told her definitely, angrily, she realised, but it didn't change anything for her.
"Could have got yourself killed too" she retorted, just as determined as he was, "Doesn't stop a man called Jayne, won't stop her either"
He shook his head at her crazy gorram attitude, but there was no way Jayne could deny she was all kinds of useful in that there fight, and she'd shown them dumbass boys a thing or two. Still, didn't sit right with him to see her this way, to have her help him fight some stupid battle he didn't oughta found his ownself in anyhow.
"Got yourself right banged up, little woman" he told her, ghosting a hand past her shoulder where her dress had gotten torn, a bruise already starting to show right there on her arm underneath the damage to her clothes.
"Not the first time" she shrugged, making Jayne stare a moment, but it seemed she either couldn't or wouldn't explain right now as she moved past him to peek around the corner and ensure the coast was clear, "Walk me home?" she asked, apparently not so much a question she expected him to answer but rather just to follow the instruction, as she set off at a fair pace her ownself, looking back at him all expectant like.
Jayne Cobb couldn't do much else but pick up his feet and get to movin'. Sure as the worlds turned, he'd never completely understand River Tam, but it sure was an adventure tryin'.
To Be Continued...