uThere Must Be Some Kind of Way Out of HereiChapter 14br
Author's Note: Stuff in /i are thoughts. And I love all of you.br
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from X-Men: Evolution - Marvel and Kid's WB do. However, I do own my original character, John Jashback.br
Before John knew what was happening, everyone in the Institute had flocked to the dining room to hear about John's fight and the fire. Everyone except Amara, Kitty and the Professor, John noticed. Jamie, who had been totally oblivious when John told the story to Kurt, Evan, and Scott, stared wide-eyed at John the whole time. Everyone seemed to want to know every detail of the fire incident, especially the many ways John tried to put out the fire. He indulged them, but shied away from his, erm, more unorthodox method. He received offers from Jean, Jubilee, and Rahne to go clothes shopping, and reluctantly accepted even when the other males in the room shook their heads. Shopping with girls was are very bad idea, but hey, he needed more clothes if he was gonna be burning the pairs he had. That's what he tried to believe, and what he told the others. If they believed...they was a different story. He agreed to go on the coming Saturday, only two days away. Evan ran his finger across his throat and Kurt insisted he was signing his own death warrant.iIt can't be that bad...can it?br
Before anyone had more questions to ask about fire or shopping, the Professor came in, followed by Amara, which quickly ceased all talking.br
"I believe we should leave these two alone for the moment," the Professor said, ushering everyone out of the room. Amara's cheeks reddened for a moment, and the same could be said for John. Jamie protested, he didn't understand why they had to leave.iYou'll know in a year, Jamie. And it'll be the only thing you know.br
Many of the girls flashed knowing smiles and the guys gave John a thumbs up. Logan rolled his eyes and Rogue shook her head in annoyance. John smacked his palm against his forehead and stared at the tabletop.iI don't know what they're expecting. She's much too young for me. Besides, I don't think I should exactly be 'trolling' for girls right now, as much as my hormones disagree.br
After everyone had left the room, the two sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, shifting uncomfortably in their chairs, staring at the table and not wanting to say anything. Finally John swallowed deeply and spoke.br
"So uh..." John began. "You uh...feeling better?"br
"Yes..." she murmured quietly, still looking down at the table. "Listen, I uh..."br
"No need to apologize," John blurted out. "I mean, I should be the one apologizing. If I hadn't been there to startle you, it wouldn't have happened at all. So uh...sorry." John reached his hand out across the table and set it on hers. She flinched and pulled her hand back, not exactly realizing it.br
"O..oh, I..I'm sorry," she said, blushing brightly. "It's just...you arm and, you know...what you can do..."br
John nodded. It was too true. "That's ok. I'll be fine as long as you're ok," he said, smiling.br
She looked up and smiled nervously back, still blushing. "Ok...well...thanks." She got up walked to the doorway, pausing to look back and smile more brightly as John. He waved and she waved back quickly and rushed out of the room.br
John loosened his shoulders and fell back into his chair, exhaling loudly. He sat in relative calmness, until his stomach began to grumble louder.br
iOh yeah. I never managed to get any food...br
John stood up out of his chair and headed over to the refrigerator and said musingly, "I wonder if they have any ham around here..."br
It didn't take long after Amara had left for the male residents of the Institute, minus Scott and the obvious adults, to come rushing back in. And a million questions were asked at once.br
"What happened?"br
"Did you ask her out?"br
"Did she ask you out?"br
"Are you two a couple now?"br
"Did you kiss her?"br
"Can I have your ham sandvich?"br
John took notice of that last question. "No Kurt, you can't have my ham sandwich. I haven't eaten any real food all day. I think I deserve this."br
Kurt frowned, but went over to the pantry to get himself some food anyway.br
As for the others...br
"Look guys, I don't know what you were expecting. She came to apologize for the fire, that's all."br
"Oh yeah? Is that why she was all blushing and looking excited when she left?" said Evan.br
"Yeah man. I think she ran upstairs to go gab to the others about you!" said Bobby.br
Everyone else rang up with similar responses. John groaned.iIf she had any interest in me, she certainly didn't show any.br
"Are you guys serious?" John asked. "Besides, I don't think she's my type."br
A couple people voiced objections but suddenly Sam interjected. "I saw him pick some flowers last night and take 'em to Kitty and Rogue's room. I think he likes one of them."br
A chorus of "Ooooooh's" rang up from everyone in the room and let his head fall onto tabletop.br
"Listen," he said. "It was nothing. I uh, just wanted to apologize to them both for what I did last night. That's all. I don't like either of them. Er, I mean, sure they're both cute, but...wait a minute. Why the hell am I having this conversation with you guys? This is my personal business, and if I wanted you to know it, I'd tell you on my own time!" Everyone grinned back at him before breaking into exclaiming over John and the various other girls.br
John sighed and bit down into his sandwich.iIf I didn't know any better, I'd say they were like gossipy girls themselves...br
Of course, they were all younger than he. Scott was the oldest, John and Jean were seventeen, Rogue was one year younger, but the rest were all fourteen and fifteen, with the obvious exception of Jamie. He shook his head.iThen again, at fourteen, all I cared about was girls...br
Jamie pushed his way through the throng and grabbed John's arm, pulling him up. "C'mon John! I'm tired of them talking about girls. Let's go do something fun!"br
John looked around the others who seemed deep in conversation (or eating, in Kurt's case), so get grabbed what was left with his sandwich and took off with Jamie.br
John tossed the basketball back to Jamie, who dribbled it on the court a couple times before unsuccessfully trying to throw it into the net. He ran over and tried to make it into the basket again, but missed. He bounced the ball back over to John, who had much of the same bad luck when it came to sinking a shot.
br
"Hey Jamie...how about a game of four on four?"br
"Where are gonna get more people from?"br
"You," John said, pointing at him.br
John walked up grabbed him by the shoulders. "I don't mean any hard, bud, but it has to be done."
br
Jamie nodded.br
And so John pushed him down hard. And *pop*, out came six Multiples.br
"Owwww," they all said in unison, rubbing their behinds.br
br
John pulled up one of the Jamies and said, "Ok, you and me are team captains. I'll pick first. And I pick..." he said, scanning the crowd of Jamies. "That one!" 'That one' was just a random Jamie. "Ok, Captain, pick your man."br
The team captain Jamie looked over his Multiples and hummed. "I'll take...Jamie!" 'Jamie' was well...just another random Jamie. The team choosing went on like that until all Jamies were on a team.br
Captain Jamie looked around at them all and said, "Uh. Slight problem John. We all look the same."br
"No problem," replied John, removing his shirt. "My team's skins and yours is shirts."br
In a matter of minutes, John and his bare chested Jamies were playing a heated game of basketball. Sure, neither of them were any good, but that really wasn't what mattered. He wasn't sure how long they had been playing, but it was long enough to work a good enough rhythm and to the point that John and his Multiples were covered in a sheen of sweat. He was about to make an easy shot (most shots were easy, as Jamie wasn't as tall as he) when a cloud of smoke clouded his vision. He tripped on a foot and fell down hard. He looked up and saw Kurt's blue face staring down at him.br
"Did I interrupt zomething?"br
"Only my shot," John said, pushing himself up.br
"Sorry. I came to tell you...all eight of you, zat dinner's is ready." Kurt licked his lips and disappeared again in a puff of stinky smoke.br
"Well guys, I guess that's game."br
"Yeah, and our team won!" shouted a bare chested Multiple.br
"Nu-uh! We did!" exclaimed one with a shirt on.br
John sighed and shook his head. One twelve year old was a handful enough...but seven? He shook his head again, wondering how teachers managed to not go insane. But teachers made him think of school, which made him think of Lance Alvers, which made him think of Kitty Pryde, which made him think of the fool he made of himself.br
"Hey Jamie?" John asked.br
"Yes?" they said in unison.br
John smiled. It was too funny, and adorable in a way when he/they did that. "Listen uh, tell 'em inside that I won't be coming to dinner. Tell them I uh, went for a walk or something, ok?"br
"Let us come with you!"br
John shook his head in disagreement. "No, you go and eat. I'll be back when you're done, and maybe we can do something then."br
"Promise?" they all asked.br
"I promise."br
"Pinky swear?"br
"Uh. Sure." John held out his hand, as did all of the Multiples. He raised his eyebrow and they all looked back sheepishly, fusing back together as one. He locked his pinky with Jamie's and nodded. "Pinky swear."br
"Pinky swear," Jamie said, turning around and heading back into the mansion.br
br
John waited until he had gone back inside before he picked his shirt up and walked off the court. A cool breeze came in from the ocean, so he didn't put it back on.iJohn, you've got to face up to what happened eventually.iI will, I will. Just...later.br
It was almost funny, arguing with himself. He thought back to Jamie and and the game, and how often that happened between himself. John shook his head yet again and wandered off, glad he was anywhere but in the dining room at Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters.br
*Gasp!* So who does John really like? Does he like Kitty or Amara, or maybe Jean or Rogue or Rahne or Jubilee or will he defy the age constraints and head straight for Storm? Heh, your guess is as good as mine, and I'll probably just skip that whole "relationship" think from this story unless you really want one, or if a good opportunity presents itself. Like I said before, I'm just coming up with this stuff off the top of my head. Oh and don't worry, there will be some major Brotherhood action when John goes back to school.br
Author's Note: Stuff in /i are thoughts. And I love all of you.br
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from X-Men: Evolution - Marvel and Kid's WB do. However, I do own my original character, John Jashback.br
Before John knew what was happening, everyone in the Institute had flocked to the dining room to hear about John's fight and the fire. Everyone except Amara, Kitty and the Professor, John noticed. Jamie, who had been totally oblivious when John told the story to Kurt, Evan, and Scott, stared wide-eyed at John the whole time. Everyone seemed to want to know every detail of the fire incident, especially the many ways John tried to put out the fire. He indulged them, but shied away from his, erm, more unorthodox method. He received offers from Jean, Jubilee, and Rahne to go clothes shopping, and reluctantly accepted even when the other males in the room shook their heads. Shopping with girls was are very bad idea, but hey, he needed more clothes if he was gonna be burning the pairs he had. That's what he tried to believe, and what he told the others. If they believed...they was a different story. He agreed to go on the coming Saturday, only two days away. Evan ran his finger across his throat and Kurt insisted he was signing his own death warrant.iIt can't be that bad...can it?br
Before anyone had more questions to ask about fire or shopping, the Professor came in, followed by Amara, which quickly ceased all talking.br
"I believe we should leave these two alone for the moment," the Professor said, ushering everyone out of the room. Amara's cheeks reddened for a moment, and the same could be said for John. Jamie protested, he didn't understand why they had to leave.iYou'll know in a year, Jamie. And it'll be the only thing you know.br
Many of the girls flashed knowing smiles and the guys gave John a thumbs up. Logan rolled his eyes and Rogue shook her head in annoyance. John smacked his palm against his forehead and stared at the tabletop.iI don't know what they're expecting. She's much too young for me. Besides, I don't think I should exactly be 'trolling' for girls right now, as much as my hormones disagree.br
After everyone had left the room, the two sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, shifting uncomfortably in their chairs, staring at the table and not wanting to say anything. Finally John swallowed deeply and spoke.br
"So uh..." John began. "You uh...feeling better?"br
"Yes..." she murmured quietly, still looking down at the table. "Listen, I uh..."br
"No need to apologize," John blurted out. "I mean, I should be the one apologizing. If I hadn't been there to startle you, it wouldn't have happened at all. So uh...sorry." John reached his hand out across the table and set it on hers. She flinched and pulled her hand back, not exactly realizing it.br
"O..oh, I..I'm sorry," she said, blushing brightly. "It's just...you arm and, you know...what you can do..."br
John nodded. It was too true. "That's ok. I'll be fine as long as you're ok," he said, smiling.br
She looked up and smiled nervously back, still blushing. "Ok...well...thanks." She got up walked to the doorway, pausing to look back and smile more brightly as John. He waved and she waved back quickly and rushed out of the room.br
John loosened his shoulders and fell back into his chair, exhaling loudly. He sat in relative calmness, until his stomach began to grumble louder.br
iOh yeah. I never managed to get any food...br
John stood up out of his chair and headed over to the refrigerator and said musingly, "I wonder if they have any ham around here..."br
It didn't take long after Amara had left for the male residents of the Institute, minus Scott and the obvious adults, to come rushing back in. And a million questions were asked at once.br
"What happened?"br
"Did you ask her out?"br
"Did she ask you out?"br
"Are you two a couple now?"br
"Did you kiss her?"br
"Can I have your ham sandvich?"br
John took notice of that last question. "No Kurt, you can't have my ham sandwich. I haven't eaten any real food all day. I think I deserve this."br
Kurt frowned, but went over to the pantry to get himself some food anyway.br
As for the others...br
"Look guys, I don't know what you were expecting. She came to apologize for the fire, that's all."br
"Oh yeah? Is that why she was all blushing and looking excited when she left?" said Evan.br
"Yeah man. I think she ran upstairs to go gab to the others about you!" said Bobby.br
Everyone else rang up with similar responses. John groaned.iIf she had any interest in me, she certainly didn't show any.br
"Are you guys serious?" John asked. "Besides, I don't think she's my type."br
A couple people voiced objections but suddenly Sam interjected. "I saw him pick some flowers last night and take 'em to Kitty and Rogue's room. I think he likes one of them."br
A chorus of "Ooooooh's" rang up from everyone in the room and let his head fall onto tabletop.br
"Listen," he said. "It was nothing. I uh, just wanted to apologize to them both for what I did last night. That's all. I don't like either of them. Er, I mean, sure they're both cute, but...wait a minute. Why the hell am I having this conversation with you guys? This is my personal business, and if I wanted you to know it, I'd tell you on my own time!" Everyone grinned back at him before breaking into exclaiming over John and the various other girls.br
John sighed and bit down into his sandwich.iIf I didn't know any better, I'd say they were like gossipy girls themselves...br
Of course, they were all younger than he. Scott was the oldest, John and Jean were seventeen, Rogue was one year younger, but the rest were all fourteen and fifteen, with the obvious exception of Jamie. He shook his head.iThen again, at fourteen, all I cared about was girls...br
Jamie pushed his way through the throng and grabbed John's arm, pulling him up. "C'mon John! I'm tired of them talking about girls. Let's go do something fun!"br
John looked around the others who seemed deep in conversation (or eating, in Kurt's case), so get grabbed what was left with his sandwich and took off with Jamie.br
John tossed the basketball back to Jamie, who dribbled it on the court a couple times before unsuccessfully trying to throw it into the net. He ran over and tried to make it into the basket again, but missed. He bounced the ball back over to John, who had much of the same bad luck when it came to sinking a shot.
br
"Hey Jamie...how about a game of four on four?"br
"Where are gonna get more people from?"br
"You," John said, pointing at him.br
John walked up grabbed him by the shoulders. "I don't mean any hard, bud, but it has to be done."
br
Jamie nodded.br
And so John pushed him down hard. And *pop*, out came six Multiples.br
"Owwww," they all said in unison, rubbing their behinds.br
br
John pulled up one of the Jamies and said, "Ok, you and me are team captains. I'll pick first. And I pick..." he said, scanning the crowd of Jamies. "That one!" 'That one' was just a random Jamie. "Ok, Captain, pick your man."br
The team captain Jamie looked over his Multiples and hummed. "I'll take...Jamie!" 'Jamie' was well...just another random Jamie. The team choosing went on like that until all Jamies were on a team.br
Captain Jamie looked around at them all and said, "Uh. Slight problem John. We all look the same."br
"No problem," replied John, removing his shirt. "My team's skins and yours is shirts."br
In a matter of minutes, John and his bare chested Jamies were playing a heated game of basketball. Sure, neither of them were any good, but that really wasn't what mattered. He wasn't sure how long they had been playing, but it was long enough to work a good enough rhythm and to the point that John and his Multiples were covered in a sheen of sweat. He was about to make an easy shot (most shots were easy, as Jamie wasn't as tall as he) when a cloud of smoke clouded his vision. He tripped on a foot and fell down hard. He looked up and saw Kurt's blue face staring down at him.br
"Did I interrupt zomething?"br
"Only my shot," John said, pushing himself up.br
"Sorry. I came to tell you...all eight of you, zat dinner's is ready." Kurt licked his lips and disappeared again in a puff of stinky smoke.br
"Well guys, I guess that's game."br
"Yeah, and our team won!" shouted a bare chested Multiple.br
"Nu-uh! We did!" exclaimed one with a shirt on.br
John sighed and shook his head. One twelve year old was a handful enough...but seven? He shook his head again, wondering how teachers managed to not go insane. But teachers made him think of school, which made him think of Lance Alvers, which made him think of Kitty Pryde, which made him think of the fool he made of himself.br
"Hey Jamie?" John asked.br
"Yes?" they said in unison.br
John smiled. It was too funny, and adorable in a way when he/they did that. "Listen uh, tell 'em inside that I won't be coming to dinner. Tell them I uh, went for a walk or something, ok?"br
"Let us come with you!"br
John shook his head in disagreement. "No, you go and eat. I'll be back when you're done, and maybe we can do something then."br
"Promise?" they all asked.br
"I promise."br
"Pinky swear?"br
"Uh. Sure." John held out his hand, as did all of the Multiples. He raised his eyebrow and they all looked back sheepishly, fusing back together as one. He locked his pinky with Jamie's and nodded. "Pinky swear."br
"Pinky swear," Jamie said, turning around and heading back into the mansion.br
br
John waited until he had gone back inside before he picked his shirt up and walked off the court. A cool breeze came in from the ocean, so he didn't put it back on.iJohn, you've got to face up to what happened eventually.iI will, I will. Just...later.br
It was almost funny, arguing with himself. He thought back to Jamie and and the game, and how often that happened between himself. John shook his head yet again and wandered off, glad he was anywhere but in the dining room at Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters.br
*Gasp!* So who does John really like? Does he like Kitty or Amara, or maybe Jean or Rogue or Rahne or Jubilee or will he defy the age constraints and head straight for Storm? Heh, your guess is as good as mine, and I'll probably just skip that whole "relationship" think from this story unless you really want one, or if a good opportunity presents itself. Like I said before, I'm just coming up with this stuff off the top of my head. Oh and don't worry, there will be some major Brotherhood action when John goes back to school.br