There Must Be Some Kind of Way Out of Here
Chapter 24
Author's Note: Stuff surrounded in ~ are thoughts and I love you all and thanks for all of the reviews. John gets weak around girls (like half of the male teenage population) -- it's his kryptonite. I had originally written the fight with John and Pietro in the previous chapter to be much longer, consisting off John ripping off his arm and beating Pietro senseless with it, but when I had finished writing it, it came off really gruesome and violent, and made John look like a maniac. If I had kept it, I would have had to up the rating to 'R' so I decided against it. And I couldn't find a suitable way to end the scene, so you got the toned down 'John-Gets-Beat-Up-Only' version. I think it came out for the better. If anyone has suggestions or requests for anything in this story (especially the date), by all means, tell me. Please.
Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men: Evolution or anything in it. Marvel and Kid's WB do. I only own John Jashback, and his arms that fall off. And your souls...hahahahahaha. Ok, sorry.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
The ability to walk while carrying items in your hands is a basic motor skill learned at an early age. The same cannot be said when one is carrying items in one arm, while a person is attached to the other. Especially when your arms can fall off. Now such a scenario is not one much of the population of the world needs to worry about. In fact, it only affects one such person, and his name is John Jashback.
John Jashback found himself walking through an moderately upscale department store in the Bayville mall, clothing that he found suitable to wear in one arm, a pretty dark-haired girl on the other. Amara Aquilla had such a tight grip on John's arm, that he was afraid if he made any sudden movements, that it would fall right off. Such a thing happening would prove disastrous, as the girl would find herself holding onto an arm, and nothing more, and John would find himself in a public area shy a limb.
~Why did I say yes? I don't know anything about taking out girls.~
And it was true. John had never had a girlfriend. He was just so awkward around girls. He'd only kissed a girl once, and it was a friend of his, so it didn't really count.
~What are you supposed to do on dates? Where the heck am I supposed to take her? What the hell am I supposed to wear?~
John knew zilch about dating. Everything he did know came from TV and movies, and those aren't exactly the best of reference material. On the inside, he groaned.
~Well, at least Rahne was right when she said Amara liked me. But why? This is only my fourth day here. I barely know the girl.~
John looked down at Amara. She was pretty. There was no denying it. He bent down and sniffed her hair. She even smelled pretty.
~Four days, and she wants to go out with me. I don't get it. I'm not good looking, last I checked. Maybe it was that whole fire ordeal. In some twisted way, did me making her faint, starting the fire, dragging her out of the way, burning my shirt on the fire, dragging her even farther out of the way, peeing on the fire, burning my pants on the fire, and having to walk through the mansion in my boxers make me somehow attractive? God, I hope not.~
He looked back down at her. She had a little smile on her face, and her expression just emanated contentment.
~Even if I live to be a hundred, I'll never understand girls.~
As they rounded a corner, John spotted the other girls up ahead, minus Rogue, still looking at clothes.
"Well uh, there they are," he said.
Without warning, Amara broke away from John and ran forward to greet the others. He was still out of earshot when they all crowded around Amara.
~What in the world is going on up there?~
As John approached, he held up his clothes. "Well uh, I got myself some clothes, after all."
"That's not all you got, from what we heard," crooned Jubilee.
Kitty and Rahne chimed in with a chorus of "Ooooooooooo." Amara blushed and Jean laughed.
"Uh yeah uh..." John stammered. "Er uh...are we uh, done here or something?"
"Yeah, I think so," said Jean. "We couldn't find anything."
~That's a surprise.~
Inwardly, John kicked himself.
~Not around the telepath, moron!~
"Ok, well uh...I guess we should uh, go pay for this now."
As they made their way to a cash register, John found himself in an odd situation. He and Jean were at the head of the pack, Amara and the other girls were behind them, whispering and laughing quietly amongst each other. About that time Rogue appeared from wherever she had been, and her presence oddly made John feel more relaxed.
"Ah see yah found some clothes," she said.
"Huh? Oh, these, yeah. I uh, finally found something plain enough for me in all that. This uh, aint my kind of place to go shopping. I usually just go to Wal-Mart or something."
Rough laughed. "Yah, this aint mah kind of place either."
After they had paid for the clothes and made their way back out to the van, John found himself confronted with another dilemma. Was he supposed to sit with Amara or something? They weren't dating *yet* so he wasn't quite certain on the course of action to make. He made sure he was the first one into the van, and climbed into the back, just to be on the safe side. To his absolute confusion, Kitty, Rahne, Jubilee, and Amara crowded into the row of seats in front of him, giggling and whispering with each other.
Rogue came in and settled into the back with John, pointing to the girls in front of them. "What're they all worked up for?" she whispered.
"I uh, don't know. Maybe me?"
Rogue gave him a confused look.
"Er uh, Amara asked me out, and I uh, said yes," John whispered timidly.
Understanding dawned in Rogue's eyes and she smiled evilly. "Look at yah, this is only your fourth day, and yah got a girlfriend."
John laughed nervously and went red in the face. "Well uh, I wouldn't exactly say that."
Rogue laughed. "When's the date?"
"Tonight."
"Ya'll didn't waste any time, did yah?"
John shook his head. "How did I get into this? I don't know what I'm supposed to do on a date."
"Take her to dinner, or to a movie," Rogue suggested.
"But I don't have a car," John replied.
"Hmm. That could be a problem. Maybe Scott'll let yah borrow his car," she said hopefully.
That wasn't such a bad idea. John did have a driver's licence, an out-of- state driver's licence, but a licence nonetheless. But...
John shook his head and sighed. "But I don't know where anything is in this town!" he whispered.
"Then yah can get lost and...yah know..." she said, winking.
John tried not to groan too loud.
~I'm dead.~
"Don't worry about it," Rogue said. "It'll be fahne."
John nodded, understanding, but his body was complying with his brain's orders.
The ride home felt like an eternity, John spending the whole trip fidgeting in his seat, the anxiety in his body ready to make him explode.
~I'm so dead.~
**********
John was the last one who went inside when they got back to the mansion. He walked very slowly to the door, lost in his own thoughts. In fact, he was so deep in them, he nearly walked right into the door. He caught himself at the last moment, and opened the door.
~God, that would have been my luck, to walk into the door.~
John walked up to his room and closed the door behind him, tossing his new clothes on the bed. The clock read 12:00, meaning he had at least six hours to figure out just what he was going to do. He walked over to the desk and stared into the large mirror above it.
"You idiot," he said out loud to himself. "John, you're an idiot." He started to hit his head against the mirror.
"Am I interrupting something?"
John looked over to see Jamie standing in his doorway.
"Jamie! Buddy!" John exclaimed. He ran over and folded the younger boy in a bear hug, squeezing him tight and lifting him off the ground.
"John...can't...breath..." Jamie coughed out.
John dropped him back onto the ground. "Sorry about that."
Rubbing his shoulders, he said, "Are uh...you ok, John?"
"Er, sorry. C'mon, let's go do something. I need to take my mind off of earlier."
"What happened earlier?" Jamie asked.
"Uh...I'll tell you later. Come on. Let's go."
**********
John tossed the basketball to Jamie, who made a shot at the basket, missing, sending the ball ricocheting off the backboard and right back to John. He dribbled the ball a couple of times and took a shot himself, but it missed by a long shot.
"Jamie, I think I've come to an important conclusion," John said.
"What's that?" Jamie said, before taking another shot at the basket...and missing.
"We suck at basketball," he replied, running over to get the ball.
"We aren't that bad," the younger mutant said. "So...you going to tell me what happened today?"
John sighed. "I ran into one of the guys from the Brotherhood. The fast guy. He uh, roughed me up a little, then left." He looked around a moment before continuing. "And uh, Amara asked me out."
"That's all?" Jamie said. "That's no big deal." He walked over to John and took the ball, actually managing to sink a shot.
"I wish. Listen, I've got to go inside and talk to Scott for a minute. You coming with me?"
Jamie nodded and took one last shot, and the two left the ball resting on the concrete.
**********
John knocked on the door.
"Come on!" called a voice from inside.
John, Jamie. What's up guys?" Scott said when the two walked inside.
John took a deep breath. "Scott, can I ask you a big favor?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"Can I uh, borrow your car tonight?"
Scott stared at him for a moment, before laughing. "That's funny. I could have sworn you just asked to borrow my car."
"Er...I did."
Scott stared at him.
"Well uh, I've got this date with uh, Amara tonight, and uh, I was wondering if I could uh, borrow your uh, car." John smiled uneasily. "Please?"
"You've only been here four days. How can you be doing on a date already?"
John held up his arms defensively. "Hey now, she's the one who asked me out. And for some twisted reason, I agreed."
Scott stared at him for a moment before speaking. "Take the van."
"Oh, come on! Would you take Jean out in that van?"
It was a low blow, and John knew it. But it worked. Scott's face darkened and if John could see his eyes, he would have been glaring too.
"Please Scott? I'll do anything you want me to do," he pleaded.
"Ok," he said, pulling out his keys and tossing them to John. "When you get back, come see me, and I'll tell you what you're going to have to do. Don't mess up my car, either," he warned.
"Ok, sure thing," John said, bowing slightly, and backing out of the room. "I really appreciate this. I won't hurt your car."
John and Jamie left the room and were about to turn the corner to the hallway that led back to the mansion foyer, when Scott poked his head out his door. "And fill it up with gas before you come back!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
You know, when I think back on this story, I never expected it to be in this spot. In fact, I never expected to write a story in the first place. I always thought that I lacked the talents to write a long-term story. I knew I could write short stories or come up with ideas that would make good stories, but I didn't think I could write something like this, but you all have proven me wrong. Thanks a lot. I really and truly appreciate this from the bottom of my heart, and I only hope I can continue to write a story that you continue to enjoy.
Author's Note: Stuff surrounded in ~ are thoughts and I love you all and thanks for all of the reviews. John gets weak around girls (like half of the male teenage population) -- it's his kryptonite. I had originally written the fight with John and Pietro in the previous chapter to be much longer, consisting off John ripping off his arm and beating Pietro senseless with it, but when I had finished writing it, it came off really gruesome and violent, and made John look like a maniac. If I had kept it, I would have had to up the rating to 'R' so I decided against it. And I couldn't find a suitable way to end the scene, so you got the toned down 'John-Gets-Beat-Up-Only' version. I think it came out for the better. If anyone has suggestions or requests for anything in this story (especially the date), by all means, tell me. Please.
Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men: Evolution or anything in it. Marvel and Kid's WB do. I only own John Jashback, and his arms that fall off. And your souls...hahahahahaha. Ok, sorry.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
The ability to walk while carrying items in your hands is a basic motor skill learned at an early age. The same cannot be said when one is carrying items in one arm, while a person is attached to the other. Especially when your arms can fall off. Now such a scenario is not one much of the population of the world needs to worry about. In fact, it only affects one such person, and his name is John Jashback.
John Jashback found himself walking through an moderately upscale department store in the Bayville mall, clothing that he found suitable to wear in one arm, a pretty dark-haired girl on the other. Amara Aquilla had such a tight grip on John's arm, that he was afraid if he made any sudden movements, that it would fall right off. Such a thing happening would prove disastrous, as the girl would find herself holding onto an arm, and nothing more, and John would find himself in a public area shy a limb.
~Why did I say yes? I don't know anything about taking out girls.~
And it was true. John had never had a girlfriend. He was just so awkward around girls. He'd only kissed a girl once, and it was a friend of his, so it didn't really count.
~What are you supposed to do on dates? Where the heck am I supposed to take her? What the hell am I supposed to wear?~
John knew zilch about dating. Everything he did know came from TV and movies, and those aren't exactly the best of reference material. On the inside, he groaned.
~Well, at least Rahne was right when she said Amara liked me. But why? This is only my fourth day here. I barely know the girl.~
John looked down at Amara. She was pretty. There was no denying it. He bent down and sniffed her hair. She even smelled pretty.
~Four days, and she wants to go out with me. I don't get it. I'm not good looking, last I checked. Maybe it was that whole fire ordeal. In some twisted way, did me making her faint, starting the fire, dragging her out of the way, burning my shirt on the fire, dragging her even farther out of the way, peeing on the fire, burning my pants on the fire, and having to walk through the mansion in my boxers make me somehow attractive? God, I hope not.~
He looked back down at her. She had a little smile on her face, and her expression just emanated contentment.
~Even if I live to be a hundred, I'll never understand girls.~
As they rounded a corner, John spotted the other girls up ahead, minus Rogue, still looking at clothes.
"Well uh, there they are," he said.
Without warning, Amara broke away from John and ran forward to greet the others. He was still out of earshot when they all crowded around Amara.
~What in the world is going on up there?~
As John approached, he held up his clothes. "Well uh, I got myself some clothes, after all."
"That's not all you got, from what we heard," crooned Jubilee.
Kitty and Rahne chimed in with a chorus of "Ooooooooooo." Amara blushed and Jean laughed.
"Uh yeah uh..." John stammered. "Er uh...are we uh, done here or something?"
"Yeah, I think so," said Jean. "We couldn't find anything."
~That's a surprise.~
Inwardly, John kicked himself.
~Not around the telepath, moron!~
"Ok, well uh...I guess we should uh, go pay for this now."
As they made their way to a cash register, John found himself in an odd situation. He and Jean were at the head of the pack, Amara and the other girls were behind them, whispering and laughing quietly amongst each other. About that time Rogue appeared from wherever she had been, and her presence oddly made John feel more relaxed.
"Ah see yah found some clothes," she said.
"Huh? Oh, these, yeah. I uh, finally found something plain enough for me in all that. This uh, aint my kind of place to go shopping. I usually just go to Wal-Mart or something."
Rough laughed. "Yah, this aint mah kind of place either."
After they had paid for the clothes and made their way back out to the van, John found himself confronted with another dilemma. Was he supposed to sit with Amara or something? They weren't dating *yet* so he wasn't quite certain on the course of action to make. He made sure he was the first one into the van, and climbed into the back, just to be on the safe side. To his absolute confusion, Kitty, Rahne, Jubilee, and Amara crowded into the row of seats in front of him, giggling and whispering with each other.
Rogue came in and settled into the back with John, pointing to the girls in front of them. "What're they all worked up for?" she whispered.
"I uh, don't know. Maybe me?"
Rogue gave him a confused look.
"Er uh, Amara asked me out, and I uh, said yes," John whispered timidly.
Understanding dawned in Rogue's eyes and she smiled evilly. "Look at yah, this is only your fourth day, and yah got a girlfriend."
John laughed nervously and went red in the face. "Well uh, I wouldn't exactly say that."
Rogue laughed. "When's the date?"
"Tonight."
"Ya'll didn't waste any time, did yah?"
John shook his head. "How did I get into this? I don't know what I'm supposed to do on a date."
"Take her to dinner, or to a movie," Rogue suggested.
"But I don't have a car," John replied.
"Hmm. That could be a problem. Maybe Scott'll let yah borrow his car," she said hopefully.
That wasn't such a bad idea. John did have a driver's licence, an out-of- state driver's licence, but a licence nonetheless. But...
John shook his head and sighed. "But I don't know where anything is in this town!" he whispered.
"Then yah can get lost and...yah know..." she said, winking.
John tried not to groan too loud.
~I'm dead.~
"Don't worry about it," Rogue said. "It'll be fahne."
John nodded, understanding, but his body was complying with his brain's orders.
The ride home felt like an eternity, John spending the whole trip fidgeting in his seat, the anxiety in his body ready to make him explode.
~I'm so dead.~
**********
John was the last one who went inside when they got back to the mansion. He walked very slowly to the door, lost in his own thoughts. In fact, he was so deep in them, he nearly walked right into the door. He caught himself at the last moment, and opened the door.
~God, that would have been my luck, to walk into the door.~
John walked up to his room and closed the door behind him, tossing his new clothes on the bed. The clock read 12:00, meaning he had at least six hours to figure out just what he was going to do. He walked over to the desk and stared into the large mirror above it.
"You idiot," he said out loud to himself. "John, you're an idiot." He started to hit his head against the mirror.
"Am I interrupting something?"
John looked over to see Jamie standing in his doorway.
"Jamie! Buddy!" John exclaimed. He ran over and folded the younger boy in a bear hug, squeezing him tight and lifting him off the ground.
"John...can't...breath..." Jamie coughed out.
John dropped him back onto the ground. "Sorry about that."
Rubbing his shoulders, he said, "Are uh...you ok, John?"
"Er, sorry. C'mon, let's go do something. I need to take my mind off of earlier."
"What happened earlier?" Jamie asked.
"Uh...I'll tell you later. Come on. Let's go."
**********
John tossed the basketball to Jamie, who made a shot at the basket, missing, sending the ball ricocheting off the backboard and right back to John. He dribbled the ball a couple of times and took a shot himself, but it missed by a long shot.
"Jamie, I think I've come to an important conclusion," John said.
"What's that?" Jamie said, before taking another shot at the basket...and missing.
"We suck at basketball," he replied, running over to get the ball.
"We aren't that bad," the younger mutant said. "So...you going to tell me what happened today?"
John sighed. "I ran into one of the guys from the Brotherhood. The fast guy. He uh, roughed me up a little, then left." He looked around a moment before continuing. "And uh, Amara asked me out."
"That's all?" Jamie said. "That's no big deal." He walked over to John and took the ball, actually managing to sink a shot.
"I wish. Listen, I've got to go inside and talk to Scott for a minute. You coming with me?"
Jamie nodded and took one last shot, and the two left the ball resting on the concrete.
**********
John knocked on the door.
"Come on!" called a voice from inside.
John, Jamie. What's up guys?" Scott said when the two walked inside.
John took a deep breath. "Scott, can I ask you a big favor?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"Can I uh, borrow your car tonight?"
Scott stared at him for a moment, before laughing. "That's funny. I could have sworn you just asked to borrow my car."
"Er...I did."
Scott stared at him.
"Well uh, I've got this date with uh, Amara tonight, and uh, I was wondering if I could uh, borrow your uh, car." John smiled uneasily. "Please?"
"You've only been here four days. How can you be doing on a date already?"
John held up his arms defensively. "Hey now, she's the one who asked me out. And for some twisted reason, I agreed."
Scott stared at him for a moment before speaking. "Take the van."
"Oh, come on! Would you take Jean out in that van?"
It was a low blow, and John knew it. But it worked. Scott's face darkened and if John could see his eyes, he would have been glaring too.
"Please Scott? I'll do anything you want me to do," he pleaded.
"Ok," he said, pulling out his keys and tossing them to John. "When you get back, come see me, and I'll tell you what you're going to have to do. Don't mess up my car, either," he warned.
"Ok, sure thing," John said, bowing slightly, and backing out of the room. "I really appreciate this. I won't hurt your car."
John and Jamie left the room and were about to turn the corner to the hallway that led back to the mansion foyer, when Scott poked his head out his door. "And fill it up with gas before you come back!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
You know, when I think back on this story, I never expected it to be in this spot. In fact, I never expected to write a story in the first place. I always thought that I lacked the talents to write a long-term story. I knew I could write short stories or come up with ideas that would make good stories, but I didn't think I could write something like this, but you all have proven me wrong. Thanks a lot. I really and truly appreciate this from the bottom of my heart, and I only hope I can continue to write a story that you continue to enjoy.