Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or X-Men, titles or characters. Evie is my
character.
Chapter 10 - He Did What!?
Everyone continued their evening. Many young men asked Kitty to dance but she refused them all, wanting only to wait for Jesse. He could see her from his seat at the bar. He watched as guy after guy was turned away but got jealous just the same.
At one point Shalimar and Ororo got her to her feet for an all girls' dance. Jesse couldn't take his eyes off her as she moved to the beat. He felt guilty and dirty and threw down more shots but still something inside him kept forcing his eyes to return to her. He noticed that she began to relax more as Shalimar kept talking to her over the music. He watched as her hair swayed back and forth over her shoulders. When she turned, she looked toward the bar and for an instant their eyes met until he quickly turned away and took another shot. Even though that instant was but a brief twinkling he noticed something else. She finally started to smile.
When the dance ended a slow song called all the men to the floor. One of the rejected young men from before, decided to try his luck again, seeing that she was already out on the floor. With a little coaxing from her friends, she agreed and allowed him to sweep her away. In his drunken state Jesse seethed with jealousy. 'Everyone is enjoying themselves so much, so can I,' he thought. 'I think I need a dance partner. Maybe even a few.' He stood up, straightened out his clothes and ran his fingers through his tousled hair as he scanned the crowd for his first victim.
Dance after dance they watched as Jesse bounced from girl to girl. Even in his inebriation he was aware enough to stay away from girls who had guys with them. A fight was the last thing he needed. He shamelessly flirted with the girls he set his mind on. Kitty had long returned to the table and spoke little for the rest of the evening as she just painfully watched him prove Ororo's point.
"I know that this is part of the process and is not completely unexpected for a man in Jesse's position. He is obviously hurting and unconsciously looking to find someone to fill Emma's shoes. I just wish that for Kitty's sake, she would've returned to the mansion and not had to witness this." Ororo regrettably commented to Logan.
"Now, hold on, darlin'. I think you've got him figured wrong." Logan gently contradicted. "I don't think it's Emma he's trying to replace."
"What do you mean?" Ororo was genuinely confused.
"I've been watching him. These shenanigans began right after Kitty danced with that guy. Of all the girls he's picked up, not one of them was a tall redhead. Every one has been a short young brunette." Logan looked to see the questions in Ororo's eyes. "I think he really is trying to move on and he really does care about Kitty. Right now, I'd say he's drunk and jealous."
"Oh my heavens, we'd better get him out of here before he does anything really foolish. I'll get Shalimar and Kitty. Find Brennan and see if you can convince him to leave."
Finding Brennan was the easy part. As the men approached Jesse, they found that he was leaning into a dark corner. One outstretched arm supported his weight as his head was lowered.
Concerned, Brennan touched his shoulder, "Hey Jess, you ok?"
As Jesse raised his head and turned to them with a smile, they found that his other hand was resting against the neck and cheek of a lovely young brunette who was petite enough to be completely concealed by his frame. "Yeah, guys, I'm fine." He saw the surprise on their faces and added. "This is Brandy."
Logan and Brennan looked at each other then back to the couple. This girl didn't even look old enough to be allowed into the club. "It's time to go," Brennan patted his back.
"No, I think I'll just hang here for a while."
Logan stepped closer and firmly took Jesse by the wrist and moved his hand from the young girl. "It was nice meeting you Brandy," Logan gently put his other hand on her shoulder and guided her out from under Jesse's shadow, "but it's past our friend's bedtime." The three men watched as the young woman disappointedly walked away.
Jesse pulled out of Logan's hand and stormed back to his place at the bar. "I'm not going back right now." He was drunk enough to be feeling obstinate but sober enough to know that he still didn't want to have to face Kitty. "Leave me here. I'll catch a cab."
"I don't think so, bub. You need to go with us."
"NO! I WON"T! I can't." He quieted as he slumped onto a barstool.
"Listen, Jess. I know you miss Emma but you aren't going to find what you need here." Brennan put his hand on Jesse's shoulder and tried to sound gentle above the blaring music.
"No, Brenn. You're not gettin' it. Hell, I don't get it myself. It's not Emma. It should be but it's not. I feel so guilty. I know it sounds crazy. I've tried to figure it out but I can't. It's not Emma. It's---" Jesse shamefully put his hands to his face.
"Kitty." Logan finished for him. He saw both Brennan and Jesse look to him in astonishment.
"But it's not right. She deserves so much better. I just can't help it. I'm trying to stay away from her but she's all I can think about. Then when I saw her dancing with another guy, I lost it." Jesse's confession came easily with the help of the bottle of whiskey he downed earlier.
"Look, right now we're going to get you back to the hotel." Jesse began to shake his head but Logan continued. "Ya don't want to do something really stupid here and hurt her more, do ya?" That got his attention. "We'll get everyone settled in and if you want we can talk about it, but we have to get the girls back." Reason prevailed as Jesse stood and let his friends lead him out to where the girls were waiting. Ashamed, Jesse once again couldn't face Kitty.
Back in Johnston, Gambit was leaning against the bar with a drink in his hand. "You're not playin'. Somethin' wrong?" He turned to see Chastity sidle up next to him and link her arm in his. Remy looked a little surprised, since she informed him earlier of her marital status. She chuckled. "Don't worry. I already told him that an old and dear friend was back for a visit."
"Well, in that case," he covered her hand with his and strengthened his arm bringing hers tight against him. He smiled at her. "Dere's notin' wrong, chere. Remy's just been gone for a while. Got to get a feel for de place again."
"All right, Ah'll be around if you need anythin'." Chastity turned with a smile and a wink.
He watched as she walked away. Looking around the room he saw many poker tables set up, most being used. Elegantly dressed girls waited the tables with drinks and smokes. Some of the faces changed but for the most part, it was just like he remembered it. A voice next to him caught his attention.
"I told you, don't worry. You just play cards and let me worry about everything else." Dave said as he sat in the space next to Gambit.
"And if we lose?" Adam asked him. "Scotch, neat," he ordered.
"You---lose? The only time I saw you lose a hand was to that gorgeous blonde, and that was on purpose." Dave laughed. He was glad he was in on the modifications done to Adam so he could convincingly play his part and keep and eye on him while acting like his best friend.
"Yeah, well, I was trying to be a gentleman," Adam replied.
"Look, there's a table starting over there. Let's get this weekend started." Dave and Adam went and took seats with two other men awaiting players. They were about to get started when Remy walked up.
"Room for one mo'?" Remy asked.
"Sure, have a seat, friend," one of the original men offered.
As they played, Remy held back, losing to not attract suspicion. Adam on the other hand could read his opponents easily and played their weaknesses. He, from the start, began to make quite a collection of chips---and empty scotch glasses. Conversation was amiable enough. Chastity made it a policy to run a friendly place. Any disagreements were settled outside. No exceptions.
"You got a date for the party, yet?" one of the men asked.
Dave smiled, "I do. I'm taking Nancy."
"The girl from the file room?" Adam asked making a face as if he had just sucked on a lemon.
"And what's wrong with her? She's a very nice girl." Dave defended his date.
"That's exactly what's wrong with her," Adam laughed. "Very nice and fun don't go together." He gave a sly smile and wiggled his eyebrows coyly.
"You're one to talk. You don't even have a date yet."
"Oh, I will. I've been looking." Adam turned and watched the backside of one of the waitresses as she passed.
TPC
Chapter 10 - He Did What!?
Everyone continued their evening. Many young men asked Kitty to dance but she refused them all, wanting only to wait for Jesse. He could see her from his seat at the bar. He watched as guy after guy was turned away but got jealous just the same.
At one point Shalimar and Ororo got her to her feet for an all girls' dance. Jesse couldn't take his eyes off her as she moved to the beat. He felt guilty and dirty and threw down more shots but still something inside him kept forcing his eyes to return to her. He noticed that she began to relax more as Shalimar kept talking to her over the music. He watched as her hair swayed back and forth over her shoulders. When she turned, she looked toward the bar and for an instant their eyes met until he quickly turned away and took another shot. Even though that instant was but a brief twinkling he noticed something else. She finally started to smile.
When the dance ended a slow song called all the men to the floor. One of the rejected young men from before, decided to try his luck again, seeing that she was already out on the floor. With a little coaxing from her friends, she agreed and allowed him to sweep her away. In his drunken state Jesse seethed with jealousy. 'Everyone is enjoying themselves so much, so can I,' he thought. 'I think I need a dance partner. Maybe even a few.' He stood up, straightened out his clothes and ran his fingers through his tousled hair as he scanned the crowd for his first victim.
Dance after dance they watched as Jesse bounced from girl to girl. Even in his inebriation he was aware enough to stay away from girls who had guys with them. A fight was the last thing he needed. He shamelessly flirted with the girls he set his mind on. Kitty had long returned to the table and spoke little for the rest of the evening as she just painfully watched him prove Ororo's point.
"I know that this is part of the process and is not completely unexpected for a man in Jesse's position. He is obviously hurting and unconsciously looking to find someone to fill Emma's shoes. I just wish that for Kitty's sake, she would've returned to the mansion and not had to witness this." Ororo regrettably commented to Logan.
"Now, hold on, darlin'. I think you've got him figured wrong." Logan gently contradicted. "I don't think it's Emma he's trying to replace."
"What do you mean?" Ororo was genuinely confused.
"I've been watching him. These shenanigans began right after Kitty danced with that guy. Of all the girls he's picked up, not one of them was a tall redhead. Every one has been a short young brunette." Logan looked to see the questions in Ororo's eyes. "I think he really is trying to move on and he really does care about Kitty. Right now, I'd say he's drunk and jealous."
"Oh my heavens, we'd better get him out of here before he does anything really foolish. I'll get Shalimar and Kitty. Find Brennan and see if you can convince him to leave."
Finding Brennan was the easy part. As the men approached Jesse, they found that he was leaning into a dark corner. One outstretched arm supported his weight as his head was lowered.
Concerned, Brennan touched his shoulder, "Hey Jess, you ok?"
As Jesse raised his head and turned to them with a smile, they found that his other hand was resting against the neck and cheek of a lovely young brunette who was petite enough to be completely concealed by his frame. "Yeah, guys, I'm fine." He saw the surprise on their faces and added. "This is Brandy."
Logan and Brennan looked at each other then back to the couple. This girl didn't even look old enough to be allowed into the club. "It's time to go," Brennan patted his back.
"No, I think I'll just hang here for a while."
Logan stepped closer and firmly took Jesse by the wrist and moved his hand from the young girl. "It was nice meeting you Brandy," Logan gently put his other hand on her shoulder and guided her out from under Jesse's shadow, "but it's past our friend's bedtime." The three men watched as the young woman disappointedly walked away.
Jesse pulled out of Logan's hand and stormed back to his place at the bar. "I'm not going back right now." He was drunk enough to be feeling obstinate but sober enough to know that he still didn't want to have to face Kitty. "Leave me here. I'll catch a cab."
"I don't think so, bub. You need to go with us."
"NO! I WON"T! I can't." He quieted as he slumped onto a barstool.
"Listen, Jess. I know you miss Emma but you aren't going to find what you need here." Brennan put his hand on Jesse's shoulder and tried to sound gentle above the blaring music.
"No, Brenn. You're not gettin' it. Hell, I don't get it myself. It's not Emma. It should be but it's not. I feel so guilty. I know it sounds crazy. I've tried to figure it out but I can't. It's not Emma. It's---" Jesse shamefully put his hands to his face.
"Kitty." Logan finished for him. He saw both Brennan and Jesse look to him in astonishment.
"But it's not right. She deserves so much better. I just can't help it. I'm trying to stay away from her but she's all I can think about. Then when I saw her dancing with another guy, I lost it." Jesse's confession came easily with the help of the bottle of whiskey he downed earlier.
"Look, right now we're going to get you back to the hotel." Jesse began to shake his head but Logan continued. "Ya don't want to do something really stupid here and hurt her more, do ya?" That got his attention. "We'll get everyone settled in and if you want we can talk about it, but we have to get the girls back." Reason prevailed as Jesse stood and let his friends lead him out to where the girls were waiting. Ashamed, Jesse once again couldn't face Kitty.
Back in Johnston, Gambit was leaning against the bar with a drink in his hand. "You're not playin'. Somethin' wrong?" He turned to see Chastity sidle up next to him and link her arm in his. Remy looked a little surprised, since she informed him earlier of her marital status. She chuckled. "Don't worry. I already told him that an old and dear friend was back for a visit."
"Well, in that case," he covered her hand with his and strengthened his arm bringing hers tight against him. He smiled at her. "Dere's notin' wrong, chere. Remy's just been gone for a while. Got to get a feel for de place again."
"All right, Ah'll be around if you need anythin'." Chastity turned with a smile and a wink.
He watched as she walked away. Looking around the room he saw many poker tables set up, most being used. Elegantly dressed girls waited the tables with drinks and smokes. Some of the faces changed but for the most part, it was just like he remembered it. A voice next to him caught his attention.
"I told you, don't worry. You just play cards and let me worry about everything else." Dave said as he sat in the space next to Gambit.
"And if we lose?" Adam asked him. "Scotch, neat," he ordered.
"You---lose? The only time I saw you lose a hand was to that gorgeous blonde, and that was on purpose." Dave laughed. He was glad he was in on the modifications done to Adam so he could convincingly play his part and keep and eye on him while acting like his best friend.
"Yeah, well, I was trying to be a gentleman," Adam replied.
"Look, there's a table starting over there. Let's get this weekend started." Dave and Adam went and took seats with two other men awaiting players. They were about to get started when Remy walked up.
"Room for one mo'?" Remy asked.
"Sure, have a seat, friend," one of the original men offered.
As they played, Remy held back, losing to not attract suspicion. Adam on the other hand could read his opponents easily and played their weaknesses. He, from the start, began to make quite a collection of chips---and empty scotch glasses. Conversation was amiable enough. Chastity made it a policy to run a friendly place. Any disagreements were settled outside. No exceptions.
"You got a date for the party, yet?" one of the men asked.
Dave smiled, "I do. I'm taking Nancy."
"The girl from the file room?" Adam asked making a face as if he had just sucked on a lemon.
"And what's wrong with her? She's a very nice girl." Dave defended his date.
"That's exactly what's wrong with her," Adam laughed. "Very nice and fun don't go together." He gave a sly smile and wiggled his eyebrows coyly.
"You're one to talk. You don't even have a date yet."
"Oh, I will. I've been looking." Adam turned and watched the backside of one of the waitresses as she passed.
TPC
