NOTE: hey everyone! I'm sorry it took me so long to update but the first
week of college was so hectic with moving in and freshman orientation and
all that. But I'm back, and I'll try to update more often. Thank you all
for your kind reviews and your patience, I truly appreciate it! Again, more
reviews will keep more chapters coming, enjoy!
Jubilee yawned loudly as she got dressed, her nimble fingers quickly lacing her tennis shoes. She had had a long history with babysitting, and one thing was sure, if you didn't have suitable running shoes, you'd kill yourself when you inevitably ended up chasing a kid for an hour. Flipping on the radio, Jubilee let out a squeal of excitement when her favorite oldies song came on, " It's Raining Men."
" The city is riiiising, the water's getting loww," Jubilee sang along, throwing a few items into her backpack. Rogue walked in, and rolled her eyes when she heard the song.
"I don't know how you can listen to this crap," Rogue said, shaking her head and wincing when Jubilee turned it up.
"Oh come on, it's a classic," Jubilee protested.
" The song is so inane. All it talks about is strong, sweaty guys in the rain," Rogue said disgustedly, listening to the lyrics.
Jubilee grinned widely. " Exactly." As Rogue turned around to leave with a short wave, Jubilee noted a little glitter on the spunky southern girl's lips. Looking closer, she gasped.
" Rogue, are you wearing..lipstick?!"
Rogue halted in her tracks, cheeks flaming, and crossed her arms. " No way!"
Jubilee walked closer and examined her friend's face, and nodded firmly. "Yes you are! Your wearing my new raspberry lipstick, and eyeshadow too! And is that glitter on your cheeks?"
" It's just the lighting in this room," Rogue said staunchly, but at Jubilee's raised eyebrow, grimaced. " Okay, okay, fine, I'm wearing a little make-up, so what's the big deal?" "But you NEVER wear make up!" Jubilee blurted out surprised. " Wait a second," Jubilee started with a mischievous glint in her eyes, " this wouldn't happen to have to do with a certain Bobby Drake..would it?"
Rogue tried to scoff convincingly. "He is completely not my type, I mean, I'm serious and he's such a goof ball! And, and, even if I WAS interested in him, which I'm NOT, it'd never ever work out."
" You'd be surprised, Bobby can be really serious when he wants to," Jubilee replied.
" It doesn't matter, I don't like him that way," Rogue said defensively, and tried to make a quick getaway before her inquisitive friend could get her to admit more than she wanted to.
" Sure Roguey, but remember, denial's not just a river in Egypt!" Jubilee called down the hall. The southern girl threw her a flustered, dirty look and ran away.
Jubilee combed her hair and took a final look in the mirror. With her hair tousled, cheeks flushed a soft pink, and her blue eyes sparkling back at her, Jubilee nodded at her reflection with approval and began singing the last few lines of the song with extra enthusiasm.
" But tonight, forrr the first time, just about half past ten, it's gonna start Raining MEEEEEEEEEEEEN!" Jubilee belted out, just in time to see Lance leaning against the wall looking at her with amusement. Jubilee's mouth opened and closed with astonishment, and the same heated blush flew to her cheeks. WHY WHY WHY did these things always have to happen around him! Jubilee thought miserably.
" You have a great voice, Jubilee," Lance said, grinning at her. Jubilee swallowed hard, and found her voice in time to squeak out a thank you. Only he had this effect on her, around everyone else she could be the confident Jubilee, but with him..suddenly, she felt shy and giddy.
" So, ready to go?"
"Yeah, let me just grab my backpack," Jubilee said, flushing under his gaze. Picking up her sky blue backpack, she walked down the stairs with Lance, amidst the flurry of adults.
Sudden the doorbell rang. " I'll get it," Jubilee said, and opened the door with a grin. She stopped, when she saw a girl about her age standing with a suitcase in hand, blonde hair swirling around her face. She was dressed in a neat plaid skirt, and possessed a kind of arrogant elegance.
" Um, hi," Jubilee greeted uncertainly. The pretty girl gave her a chilly smile and tossed her hair with one hand.
" I'm here to see Lance, is he here?" the girl asked smoothly, her voice still cold. Jubilee swallowed and stepped back, a little intimidated.
" Sure, he's right here," Jubilee said finally, opening the door wider, her mind racing with questions.
" Who is it Jubes?" Lance's voice sounded behind her. She heard him inhale sharply when he saw the girl. " Laura!"
Jubilee watched with sinking dread as the girl smiled warmly and threw her arms possessively around his neck. Who the hell is Laura?
After several long moments, the two pulled away from each other, and Lance stood back, the astonishment on his face only lessening a little. Both of them seemed to forget Jubilee was even there.
" I can't believe you're here! Did you walk?" Lance asked in disbelief. Laura let out a little giggle. Jubilee watched them, her eyebrows raised. How could she be so cold one second and then so different the next?
" Of course not, silly. I took a bus down here. I didn't even know you left Mystique's!"
Lance looked uncomfortable for a second. " Well, I didn't exactly leave right away. Pietro and I just wandered a few months before we came here." Jubilee could tell from the look on his face that his past wasn't something he wanted to expand much upon.
" Well, still you should have told me," Laura chided. " Anyways, it's sooo good to see you again, I just wanted to know how your doing!"
Uh huh, sure, Jubilee thought wryly, wincing at the way Laura's arm draped confidently over Lance's. Her heart was getting heavier and heavier by the moment. Lance was too preoccupied to even realize that she was still standing there.
" I'm doing good, great in fact," Lance said brightening. "Oh by the way, this is my friend Jubilee. Jubes, this is Laura Hargrove.we used to date a long time ago."
" Not that long ago," Laura reminded him, with the same phony giggle. Jubilee bit her lip, trying to convince herself that she was imagining things.
" Well, do you have any place to go?" Lance asked her. Laura sighed heavily.
" Weell, not really, I am staying back with my aunt and uncle in a few months. But I don't have a place to stay for now," Laura said, sighing heavily again, and looking up at Lance. It didn't take a genius to figure out she was vying for an invitation. And Lance didn't disappoint.
"You can stay here at the Institute. I'm sure the professor will let you," Lance suggested.
" Oh noo, I couldn't POSSIBLY do that!" Laura protested weakly.
" You shouldn't have to stay out on the road. I know all about what that's like, come on, the Professor should be down any minute," Lance said, leading her into the kitchen. Jubilee followed them, feeling invisible. Suddenly her outfit, of a tanktop and jeans seemed frumpy next to the polished, elegance of Laura with her plaid skirts, and shining boots. Suddenly the kitchen seemed too big for the three of them. Jubilee couldn't take it anymore.
" I- I think I'll wait outside. Nice meeting you Laura," Jubilee mumbled, racing down the hallway, her good mood completely gone. Lance gave her a distracted wave, and Laura didn't even look up.
While racing down the hall, she collided with Pietro who was busy stuffing batteries into his CD player. She stopped, and bit her lip hesitantly.
"Pietro, can I ask you something?"
Pietro looked up and shrugged. "Sure, what is it?"
"How long did Lance and Laura date?" Jubilee asked quickly, fearing the answer.
"About 3 years, why?"
Jubilee ignored his question, trying to squelch the feelings in the pit of her stomach. " And when did they break up?"
Pietro looked uncomfortable. " Actually,..they never really broke up. Laura moved away and they lost touch." But then seeing Jubilee's crestfallen expression, quickly added "But that was a long time ago, he's way over her now."
But Jubilee couldn't speak, her throat was clogged with tears. Why am I about to cry over a guy I've known for 1 week? Jubilee thought, angry with herself for ever thinking she had a chance. Suddenly she heard Lance and Laura behind her. Blinking back the tears, she turned to face them with a brilliant smile.
" Hey, great news Jubes. The professor's letting Laura stay with us until she can go back to her aunt's place. She's going to be coming with us to the carnival to watch the kids. She'll be a great help," Lance said, smiling warmly at Jubilee. Jubilee virtually melted at the look in his hazel eyes, but the moment was broken by Laura's crisp voice cutting in.
" Yes, I've done TONS of babysitting. I know how to keep those kids in line," Laura informed her, rather haughtily.
" Let's go to the cars, they're waiting out front," Lance said leading them out. Jubilee followed behind them, hardly listening while the two caught up on old times. Why did things have to go so wrong? Jubilee thought watching them sadly.
Jubilee yawned loudly as she got dressed, her nimble fingers quickly lacing her tennis shoes. She had had a long history with babysitting, and one thing was sure, if you didn't have suitable running shoes, you'd kill yourself when you inevitably ended up chasing a kid for an hour. Flipping on the radio, Jubilee let out a squeal of excitement when her favorite oldies song came on, " It's Raining Men."
" The city is riiiising, the water's getting loww," Jubilee sang along, throwing a few items into her backpack. Rogue walked in, and rolled her eyes when she heard the song.
"I don't know how you can listen to this crap," Rogue said, shaking her head and wincing when Jubilee turned it up.
"Oh come on, it's a classic," Jubilee protested.
" The song is so inane. All it talks about is strong, sweaty guys in the rain," Rogue said disgustedly, listening to the lyrics.
Jubilee grinned widely. " Exactly." As Rogue turned around to leave with a short wave, Jubilee noted a little glitter on the spunky southern girl's lips. Looking closer, she gasped.
" Rogue, are you wearing..lipstick?!"
Rogue halted in her tracks, cheeks flaming, and crossed her arms. " No way!"
Jubilee walked closer and examined her friend's face, and nodded firmly. "Yes you are! Your wearing my new raspberry lipstick, and eyeshadow too! And is that glitter on your cheeks?"
" It's just the lighting in this room," Rogue said staunchly, but at Jubilee's raised eyebrow, grimaced. " Okay, okay, fine, I'm wearing a little make-up, so what's the big deal?" "But you NEVER wear make up!" Jubilee blurted out surprised. " Wait a second," Jubilee started with a mischievous glint in her eyes, " this wouldn't happen to have to do with a certain Bobby Drake..would it?"
Rogue tried to scoff convincingly. "He is completely not my type, I mean, I'm serious and he's such a goof ball! And, and, even if I WAS interested in him, which I'm NOT, it'd never ever work out."
" You'd be surprised, Bobby can be really serious when he wants to," Jubilee replied.
" It doesn't matter, I don't like him that way," Rogue said defensively, and tried to make a quick getaway before her inquisitive friend could get her to admit more than she wanted to.
" Sure Roguey, but remember, denial's not just a river in Egypt!" Jubilee called down the hall. The southern girl threw her a flustered, dirty look and ran away.
Jubilee combed her hair and took a final look in the mirror. With her hair tousled, cheeks flushed a soft pink, and her blue eyes sparkling back at her, Jubilee nodded at her reflection with approval and began singing the last few lines of the song with extra enthusiasm.
" But tonight, forrr the first time, just about half past ten, it's gonna start Raining MEEEEEEEEEEEEN!" Jubilee belted out, just in time to see Lance leaning against the wall looking at her with amusement. Jubilee's mouth opened and closed with astonishment, and the same heated blush flew to her cheeks. WHY WHY WHY did these things always have to happen around him! Jubilee thought miserably.
" You have a great voice, Jubilee," Lance said, grinning at her. Jubilee swallowed hard, and found her voice in time to squeak out a thank you. Only he had this effect on her, around everyone else she could be the confident Jubilee, but with him..suddenly, she felt shy and giddy.
" So, ready to go?"
"Yeah, let me just grab my backpack," Jubilee said, flushing under his gaze. Picking up her sky blue backpack, she walked down the stairs with Lance, amidst the flurry of adults.
Sudden the doorbell rang. " I'll get it," Jubilee said, and opened the door with a grin. She stopped, when she saw a girl about her age standing with a suitcase in hand, blonde hair swirling around her face. She was dressed in a neat plaid skirt, and possessed a kind of arrogant elegance.
" Um, hi," Jubilee greeted uncertainly. The pretty girl gave her a chilly smile and tossed her hair with one hand.
" I'm here to see Lance, is he here?" the girl asked smoothly, her voice still cold. Jubilee swallowed and stepped back, a little intimidated.
" Sure, he's right here," Jubilee said finally, opening the door wider, her mind racing with questions.
" Who is it Jubes?" Lance's voice sounded behind her. She heard him inhale sharply when he saw the girl. " Laura!"
Jubilee watched with sinking dread as the girl smiled warmly and threw her arms possessively around his neck. Who the hell is Laura?
After several long moments, the two pulled away from each other, and Lance stood back, the astonishment on his face only lessening a little. Both of them seemed to forget Jubilee was even there.
" I can't believe you're here! Did you walk?" Lance asked in disbelief. Laura let out a little giggle. Jubilee watched them, her eyebrows raised. How could she be so cold one second and then so different the next?
" Of course not, silly. I took a bus down here. I didn't even know you left Mystique's!"
Lance looked uncomfortable for a second. " Well, I didn't exactly leave right away. Pietro and I just wandered a few months before we came here." Jubilee could tell from the look on his face that his past wasn't something he wanted to expand much upon.
" Well, still you should have told me," Laura chided. " Anyways, it's sooo good to see you again, I just wanted to know how your doing!"
Uh huh, sure, Jubilee thought wryly, wincing at the way Laura's arm draped confidently over Lance's. Her heart was getting heavier and heavier by the moment. Lance was too preoccupied to even realize that she was still standing there.
" I'm doing good, great in fact," Lance said brightening. "Oh by the way, this is my friend Jubilee. Jubes, this is Laura Hargrove.we used to date a long time ago."
" Not that long ago," Laura reminded him, with the same phony giggle. Jubilee bit her lip, trying to convince herself that she was imagining things.
" Well, do you have any place to go?" Lance asked her. Laura sighed heavily.
" Weell, not really, I am staying back with my aunt and uncle in a few months. But I don't have a place to stay for now," Laura said, sighing heavily again, and looking up at Lance. It didn't take a genius to figure out she was vying for an invitation. And Lance didn't disappoint.
"You can stay here at the Institute. I'm sure the professor will let you," Lance suggested.
" Oh noo, I couldn't POSSIBLY do that!" Laura protested weakly.
" You shouldn't have to stay out on the road. I know all about what that's like, come on, the Professor should be down any minute," Lance said, leading her into the kitchen. Jubilee followed them, feeling invisible. Suddenly her outfit, of a tanktop and jeans seemed frumpy next to the polished, elegance of Laura with her plaid skirts, and shining boots. Suddenly the kitchen seemed too big for the three of them. Jubilee couldn't take it anymore.
" I- I think I'll wait outside. Nice meeting you Laura," Jubilee mumbled, racing down the hallway, her good mood completely gone. Lance gave her a distracted wave, and Laura didn't even look up.
While racing down the hall, she collided with Pietro who was busy stuffing batteries into his CD player. She stopped, and bit her lip hesitantly.
"Pietro, can I ask you something?"
Pietro looked up and shrugged. "Sure, what is it?"
"How long did Lance and Laura date?" Jubilee asked quickly, fearing the answer.
"About 3 years, why?"
Jubilee ignored his question, trying to squelch the feelings in the pit of her stomach. " And when did they break up?"
Pietro looked uncomfortable. " Actually,..they never really broke up. Laura moved away and they lost touch." But then seeing Jubilee's crestfallen expression, quickly added "But that was a long time ago, he's way over her now."
But Jubilee couldn't speak, her throat was clogged with tears. Why am I about to cry over a guy I've known for 1 week? Jubilee thought, angry with herself for ever thinking she had a chance. Suddenly she heard Lance and Laura behind her. Blinking back the tears, she turned to face them with a brilliant smile.
" Hey, great news Jubes. The professor's letting Laura stay with us until she can go back to her aunt's place. She's going to be coming with us to the carnival to watch the kids. She'll be a great help," Lance said, smiling warmly at Jubilee. Jubilee virtually melted at the look in his hazel eyes, but the moment was broken by Laura's crisp voice cutting in.
" Yes, I've done TONS of babysitting. I know how to keep those kids in line," Laura informed her, rather haughtily.
" Let's go to the cars, they're waiting out front," Lance said leading them out. Jubilee followed behind them, hardly listening while the two caught up on old times. Why did things have to go so wrong? Jubilee thought watching them sadly.