Note: Sorry about this chapter being so long, but try as I might to figure out a way to break it up without destroying the flow of it, I couldn't.
Jubilee awoke to the sound of labored breathing, both surprised and flustered to find that it was her own. Her heart beating so hard in her chest she feared someone might hear it, she slid her feet into a pair of leopard print slippers and moved out of the room, heading to the kitchen with grim determination.
She thought she heard something as she poured a glass of water, then shrugged it off and leaned against the counter, knowing the cold water would wash the taste of early morning breath from her mouth. She only wished it could wash the images of a blue-eyed, blond-haired roommate with the perfect peaches-and-cream complexion from her mind.
Jubilee heard the noise again and hoped she wasn't going delusional on top of everything else. The glass of water was forgotten as she moved to the vent on the far side of the kitchen and listened to the quiet sounds drifting from . . . where could it have been? She leaned in closer and recognized the sound as belonging to a guitar, then drew her bottom lip into her mouth. Now or never. She would have preferred never, but she headed to the basement anyway.
It was every bit as dark as ever, but as she looked around the room, she found undeniable evidence of teenage life. The mini-Star Wars shrine in the corner was a bit of a giveaway.
"Shut up, Starsmore. Some of us are tryin' to sleep."
Jono looked up long enough to get a good look at Jubilee, and she was given the distinct feeling he was snickering at her. *Nice jammies.*
She glanced down at herself and her Powerpuff Girls pajamas and shrugged. "I think so." She paused and listened to the melody being strummed, one she didn't recognize but liked anyway. "So what, are you, like, the phantom of the basement now or something?"
*Or something.*
Jubilee turned her attention to the television and saw that even though it was muted, The Real World was playing. "You know, it's usually easier to follow a T.V. show if you can hear it."
*I hate this show,* he admitted, a sharp, playful glint entering his normally sad brown eyes. *But it does 'ave some pretty cute birds on it from time t'time.*
"Why do you call 'em birds?"
*Hell if I know. Why do you call 'em chicks?*
Jubilee hesitated. "Okay, point."
*As always. I'm guessin' you don't usually wander the halls at three a.m., so wot's up?*
Jubilee drew in a deep breath, trying to summon every possible ounce of courage she could. "Think you could talk to Ange sometime? Please?"
*Maybe. 'Bout wot?*
"He decided to write a letter earlier asking me out. It was really sweet and really stupid and combined everything I love about him and -"
*Lee.*
"What?"
*Take a breath.*
Jubilee blushed and did as she was told. "I like him, don't get me wrong or anything, but not in the way that he wants me to. Or maybe I do. I just like someone else better."
Jono looked up again from his perch on the couch, saw a very uncharacteristic Jubilee standing with her head bowed, arms crossed, and pointed to the bean bag chair to his left. *This ain't just about Angelo, I can tell that much. Sit down an' talk.*
Jubilee took the offered seat, admittedly surprised when Jono slid off the couch and into the floor beside her. "Are you my shrink now?"
*Much less expensive, though. So wot's botherin' you?* Jubilee's face gained the expression of one deep in thought, and it was enough to inspire Jono. He started plucking at the guitar strings, watching as realization crept into Jubilee's eyes. When she whacked him hard on his shoulder, he made a mental note to not play the "Jeopardy!" theme when a friend was having an intense inner struggle.
"You're not helping."
Jono set the guitar aside. *Just thought I'd provide background music for all those brain cells dancin' around in yer 'ead.* He paused long enough to see Jubilee shoot a scathing glance at him. *'Ey, now, don't give me that look. I'm developing a sense of humor. I can go right back t'bein' Chamber the Angsty Brit.*
Jubilee smiled a little but still remained silent.
*Lee, I'm gonna start charging for yer therapy session, like. Yer makin' me miss Real World.*
A deep, suffering sigh escaped Jubilee as she turned to better see her companion, the beans and plastic rustling accordingly. "I like Angelo, I really do, but I like someone else even more."
Jono's eyes widened. *No offense, but please tell me it's not me. I don't really need 'pedophile' tacked onto me record.*
"As if," Jubilee snickered. "And you're only four years older than me. Get a grip."
*I 'ad a grip...once. It went down in flames and died.* He gazed longingly at the television, specifically at a top-heavy brunette. *God, I gotta get on that show.*
"You sound more an' more like Ange every day."
Jono looked away from the T.V. *He's a bad influence. But you didn't come down 'ere for small talk. All you've said so far is that you like someone besides Angelo. What's the big problem?*
Now or never, Jubilee told herself again, closing her eyes as if she thought that would make this any easier. "'Cause I...uh...like a girl more."
The only gesture Jono made was to raise an eyebrow. *Really?*
"Y-yeah," Jubilee stammered, cautiously peeling one eye open enough to see Jono's reaction. All he did was stare back at her.
*Why are you tellin' me this? Why not someone you talk to on a fairly civil basis?*
"'Cause you were the most...open-minded person I could think of. I figured you wouldn't, y'know, judge me or anything."
*It's 'cause I'm British, ain't it?* He joked, succeeding in pulling a weak laugh from the girl. *Think you can keep yer mouth shut?*
"Probably not."
*Humor me. Pretend you can. Anyway, I kinda know 'ow you feel.*
Jubilee rolled her eyes and retreated further into her bean bag chair. "Liar."
Jono grew quiet for several uncomfortable moments. *I slept with me best friend once.*
If someone had told her that a group of aliens dressed in gorilla costumes had just invaded the house, Jubilee couldn't imagine being more surprised. "You? The walking ad for Prozac?"
Jono's eyes narrowed. *Yer not endearing yerself t'me, but yeah.*
"Bullshit," Jubilee laughed, receiving an admonishing glare for her trouble.
*Watch it. Yer too young t'be swearin'.*
"And what were you doing when you were fifteen?"
*Helluva lot more 'an you.*
She tried hard to keep her mouth closed, but Jubilee couldn't keep her wise cracks to herself. "Like sleeping with guys, for instance."
Jono would have laughed if he could. *Actually, I was seventeen when that 'appened.*
Sobering quickly, Jubilee watched as Jono regretfully turned the television off. "Was it planned?"
*Not in the least. It just sorta...I dunno. It 'appened. 'Course, I was stoned an' 'e was drunk, so that could've 'ad something t'do with it.*
Jubilee frowned. "Did it change anything?"
*Oh yeah. Things were real tense for a little while after that, but eventually we just decided that it was an accident an' wouldn't 'appen again.*
"That's it?"
Jono, who had since moved to the CD player to drop a disk into the revolving tray, turned and stared incredulously at Jubilee. *Wot the bloody hell do you mean, 'that's it'? It's not every day a bloke wakes up in bed with his best friend, despite wot Jerry Springer would 'ave you believe. It can be pretty traumatic to a seventeen-year-old kid.*
"Jono, you're traumatic."
He cast a quick glance over his shoulder, eyes flickering with the hint of his old personality. *So I've been told. It was Mum's fault. I should go on a talk show sometime an' blame all me problems on 'er.* Jubilee quieted herself, listening as Jono scanned a Tapestry CD for a certain song. *Call me curious, but tell me about this girl that's got you in this mess.*
A silly look came into Jubilee's eyes at the request, and try as she might to hide it, the look remained. "She's just...her, y'know? Smart, pretty, funny when she wants to be..." She trailed off before she blurted too much.
Jono, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to his friend's suddenly goofy mood. *So who's this perfect mystery girl?*
The silly look faded as quickly as it had appeared. Telling the truth would be the best thing to do, she reasoned, but how was she to tell her current therapist it was his girlfriend? That was when she made the brilliant choice to try lying to a telepath. "You know how me an' Paige made that trip to the mall a couple weeks ago? I kinda met someone there. Been talkin' to her ever since."
Whether he knew she was lying and was being kind to her or honestly believed the story, Jubilee didn't know. Either way, Jono nodded in understanding and dropped down once again into his spot on the floor. *Jubilee, I don't know wot t'tell you other than maybe you should talk to 'er.*
"Things get worse, though. See, not only did I get a crush on a girl, but I got a crush on a girl with a boyfriend."
Had he possessed the ability to do so, Jono would have whistled. *So you've been drivin' yerself crazy over a girl who, as far as you know, is straight?* Jubilee nodded sadly. *Sucks t'be you.*
"Come on, Jono, help me out!" Jubilee pleaded, jabbing her teammate in what remained of his ribs. "I mean, I still like guys and everything, and it's not like I go around checkin' out girls, but somehow this one's...different, I guess."
Jono started to fire off another of his signature sarcastic remarks until he looked over at Jubilee and noticed how miserable she had made herself. *Aw, Lee,* he started, sliding an arm around her shoulders as she leaned against him. *C'mon, luv, yer stronger than this. Don't let yerself get all torn up over something you really can't help.*
"It's bad enough being a mutant. I don't wanna be a gay one."
Jono let out a mental chuckle, a very strange sound that caused Jubilee to jump. *Likin' a girl don't necessarily mean yer gay. An' even if it did, wot's it matter?*
"I'm already a mutant, Sparky. I don't need to be an even bigger freak. Can you imagine what it's like not even being able to walk down the street without bein' heckled?"
*Yeah, actually, I can,* Jono snapped a bit more angrily than he intended. Jubilee flinched. *I can't really offer very 'elpful advice, Lee, I'm sorry. Just try talkin' to the gel. If you keep this bottled up forever, yer just gonna hurt yerself.*
Jubilee looked up, blue eyes hopeful. "You really think that'll help?"
*No, not really,* Jono shrugged, eyes crinkling, *but it's worth a shot.*
"See, that's what I love about ya. Yer always honest."
*That's just a rumor.*
"Here I am, havin' a mid-life crisis at fifteen, and you're making jokes. Smartass."
Jono's eyes crinkled even more. *I told you t'stop swearin'. An' I thought that was why you came down 'ere in the first place, 'cause o' me sarcasm?*
"No, I came down here because I thought you were open-minded. Instead, I get mocked and everything."
*Life's a bitch, innit?*
"You know, Sparky, if I didn't like someone else more, I think I'd marry you."
Jono arched his eyebrows. *That so? Just wot the world needs, li'l British Jubilees runnin' around, sayin' 'like' every other word.* Jono mocked a shudder, laughing when Jubilee smacked the back of his head as she moved from her seat. She had nearly made it to the door when she stopped dead in her tracks, turning to face her friend.
"Jono?"
*Yeah?* He turned around from where he was again standing beside the stereo, startled when Jubilee threw her arms around his waist and buried her face against his battered Nirvana t-shirt. He faltered uncertainly at first like a deer in headlights before slipping his arms around Jubilee and returning the hug.
"Thanks," she whispered while pulling away, simultaneously leaning up, battling Jono's considerable height advantage over her to plant a chaste kiss on his cheek. "A lot."
*Yer...uh...yer welcome, luv,* Jono stammered, trying to hide the embarrassment and brotherly pride he felt. *But next time I'm charging.* He tried to cover up his emotions with the same biting sarcasm that alienated most but drew some to him. He and Jubilee both knew it was an act to disguise his happiness at having helped someone else from a bad situation.
Nevertheless, Jubilee gave a quick smile and dashed up the stairs and out the door, trying to build her confidence as she neared her room. That confidence slipped and nearly shattered when she walked in and saw Paige sitting at the computer.
"What're you doin' up?"
"Couldn't sleep. What about you?"
Jubilee swallowed hard. "Midnight snack. Well, okay, three a.m. snack. Whatever." She clutched the doorknob tightly, forcing herself to stay calm. "Um...Paige?" The girl at the computer wheeled around in the desk chair. "Can we talk?"
"Sure, Jubes."
The door swung shut and gave a quiet, protesting click as Jubilee let go.