NOTE: jeez, I just realized that all I ever seem to be giving Jubilee is
angst and more angst! ..but never fear, I'm a great believer in happy
endings for everyone. Rate and review, pretty please..
Jubilee breathed a sigh of relief when the bell rang. Honestly, one hour of Geometry was as much as she could stand before certain parts of her brain became completely numb. She lifted her long black hair off of one shoulder, and began shoving her books systematically into her backpack. As Jubilee looked up, her eye caught a very familiar pair of blue eyes watching her from the doorway. Uh..oh. It was Bobby. Feeling a strange mixture of panic and excitement, Jubilee stood up, wondering if there was any way to put off talking with him for a little longer. She had avoided him all of last night, going to bed early and even skipping breakfast. But now, judging from the look in her best friend's eyes, there was no way out of discussing her impulsive kiss. Kiss of death for our friendship, Jubilee amended morosely as she tentatively approached the doorway. Honestly, she didn't even know why she had done it. In any case, she couldn't take it back.
Jubilee grabbed her backpack and tried to sneak out the back entrance, but Bobby had already caught up with her as she scurried down the hall. "You mind telling me where you're off to in such a hurry?" Bobby asked, his voice directly behind her. Jubilee halted in her tracks, and forced herself to calm her suddenly rapid heartbeat.
"I have class, gotta run!" Jubilee said desperately, but Bobby caught her wrist quickly before she could leave.
"It's lunchtime, Jubilee," Bobby informed her, his clear blue eyes flickering with amusement and tenderness.
"Oh.well, hehe, how about that, huh?" Jubilee stammered, laughing nervously trying to look anywhere but at Bobby.
"I let you off the hook yesterday, but today it's not going to work," Bobby said firmly.
"What do you mean?" Jubilee asked defensively.
"The fact that you went to bed at 6: 30 yesterday didn't escape my notice. Neither did avoiding me all morning," Bobby told her, cocking an eyebrow at the guilty flush on her face. Great, he knew. Couldn't she do ~one~ thing without having her best friend call her on it?
"I didn't know that getting a good night's rest was such a crime. And I wasn't avoiding you. I just didn't want bother you while you were still day-dreaming about Samantha," Jubilee retorted, and gulped at the grin Bobby shot her. There was that jealousy again. I really have to work on that, Jubilee chided herself.
"Samantha called yesterday to apologize for missing our date. That's it. And I told you we were going to have that talk sooner or later," Bobby reminded her gently.
"I'd prefer later," Jubilee said quickly. Bobby shook his head, and Jubilee felt a wonderful warmth settle in her stomach.
"And I'd prefer sooner. I need to know why that kiss happened," Bobby told her, his blue eyes blazing. Jubilee could practically feel the air leaving her lungs. Was it possible to feel so panicked over such a small thing?
Jubilee was silent a moment. What was she supposed to tell him? "I need to know if you're still interested in Samantha," Jubilee said quietly, watching as frustration flitted across Bobby's face.
"I don't know. I can't make any decisions about her until I know how you feel," Bobby said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"That isn't fair, Bobby," Jubilee whispered fiercely.
"No, what isn't fair is you hiding things from me! Samantha's a great girl, but you're my best friend. Or at least I thought you were..now you mind telling me just what happened with us yesterday?" Bobby asked, his blue eyes pinning her.
Jubilee had never felt more like screaming. 'Samantha's a great girl', just how am I supposed to respond to that! Jubilee thought hotly. It was unfair, that's what it was. How could he expect her to come clean about her feelings for him if he kept professing his undying affection for Samantha every 10 minutes! I'm not a rock, I have feelings too, Jubilee thought, her eyes swimming with tears. Jubilee swallowed and shook her head at Bobby indicating clearly that she didn't want to continue the conversation any longer. Bobby's jaw hardened visibly as he caught her meaning. He was angry, Jubilee knew, but there was nothing to do about it. After staring at her for a full minute, Bobby turned his back to her and left. Jubilee watched him go, feeling her heart break.
"I need to get out of here," Jubilee murmured, her voice thick with tears. She shot down the hall and crossed the lawn to a side corridor. She leaned against the cement wall, closing her eyes tightly. A few minutes later, she heard footsteps coming closer. Oh god, is it Bobby? Jubilee thought, a mixture of hope and dread rising in her chest. But it wasn't. It was Samantha and a friend walking down the hall together, talking loudly. The last thing I need is to see her, Jubilee thought bitterly, turning to go.
"So you're dating Aaron also?! You're so cruel! You know Bobby's nuts about you!" Siren's friend squealed. Jubilee froze at the mention of her best friend.
"It's his own fault. He's such a lap dog. So eager to please," Samantha's obnoxious voice rang out. Jubilee clenched her fists.
"You think he's catching on? I mean, you did blow him off yesterday," her friend reminded her.
"Oh please, Amy told me she saw him buying jewelry a few days ago. I've got him hooked," Samantha said confidently, flipping her short white-blonde hair. Her friend clucked enviously.
"Wow, has he given it to you yet?"
"No.but I'm sure he will, especially since I'm going to ask him to the Turn Around Prom. Have to throw him a bone once in awhile or he might get suspicious you know," Samantha said conspiratorially, laughing again. Oh, Bobby how could you be so naïve? Jubilee thought, biting her lip in anger and longing. She felt a deep ache in her chest as she remembered the closed off look in Bobby's eyes when she had refused to tell him anything. As Samantha and her friend neared closer, Jubilee tried to duck out of sight but it was too late.
Samantha arched one eyebrow in recognition. "Oh, wait a minute Lise," Samantha told her friend and strode confidently over to Jubilee, who was trying to cool the anger rising in her. "Hey, you're Bobby's little friend Janice, or is it Janey..uh,."
"It's Jubilee," Jubilee said through clenched teeth.
"OH right, sorry," Samantha trilled, not sounding the least bit apologetic. "If you see Bobby, give this to him. It's very important," Samantha said breathily. Jubilee gave her a curt nod, and took the pink envelope in Samantha's hands. "I made him a little pop-up puzzle asking him to Prom, cute isn't it?"
Jubilee didn't trust herself to speak. How could she backstab Bobby like that? Jubilee thought disgustedly, clenching the envelope tightly in her hand. "Okay, bye Janice!" Samantha called, turning to leave. Tears pricking her eyes, Jubilee stormed off to a quiet cluster of trees near the science building. She'd always gone there to get some time to herself. To her surprise, Jubilee saw Scott Summers already seated under a tree, looking even more miserable than she felt. She approached him awkwardly, not used to seeing the leader of the X-men so dejected.
"Hey Scott, what's up?" Jubilee asked cautiously, taking a seat next to him. Scott muttered something. "I can't speak gibberish, you're gonna have to translate," Jubilee joked, trying to sideline her own emotions in an effort to comfort Scott. Obviously, the guy was in even worse shape than me, Jubilee thought, observing the tight line of his mouth.
Scott looked up, as if finally acknowledging her presence. Automatically he took in her stormy blue eyes and frowned with concern. "Are you okay, Jubilee?"
"No. But that's beside the point. I asked you first," Jubilee said firmly, kicking an acorn with one foot.
"What, you mean you haven't heard the news? Jean is going to the Turn Around Prom with Duncan Matthews," Scott said bitterly, practically spitting out the last word. Jubilee let out a low whistle.
"I'm really sorry, Scott," Jubilee said sympathetically. She had never really talked that much with Scott in the past. He always seemed so put together, so it was definitely weird seeing him out of his fearless-leader mode. Even weirder still to realize that, out of all her friends, he would probably be able to understand her feelings for Bobby the best.
"Yeah, well, I should've seen it coming. I'm Jean's best friend and that's the way it'll always be. You know the worst part, though? She asked him right in front of me. Even Duncan knew about my feelings for her...but she didn't. For a telepath, Jean is pretty oblivious," Scott said, staring straight ahead.
Jubilee nodded, glaring down at the envelope Samantha had given her. "Yeah, well I know what it's like to have your best-friend go for a total idiot. And it's like nothing you say can ever change their mind," Jubilee said darkly, her chin resting on her knee.
Scott jaw hardened as he watched Jean run onto the football field where Duncan stood talking to his friends. "I don't know, I used to think that she'd wake up one day and realize how I feel. But now, I think I waited too long. She actually asked me why I was so upset. Maybe.," Scott trailed off.
"Maybe what?" Jubilee asked, looking over at him. Scott sighed in frustration.
"Maybe it's time to give her up and move on," Scott said finally. Jubilee didn't know what to say that so the two sat in a pensive silence, each wrapped in their own thoughts. The bell to go back to class rang, shaking Scott out of his reverie. "Anyways, sorry to dump on you like that. Thanks for listening."
"It's alright, I don't mind," Jubilee said solemnly, earning her a rare grin from Scott. He waved to her and then took off for the History building. Jubilee sighed. What was the world coming to when Scott Summers was thinking of giving up Jean Grey? Staring down at the pink envelope, Jubilee felt a wave of despair wash over her. Unlike Scott, I can't just give Bobby up. He means too much to me. He deserves better than Samantha, Jubilee thought. Setting her jaw, she ripped the pink envelope into tiny pieces and deposited them into the garbage.
Jubilee breathed a sigh of relief when the bell rang. Honestly, one hour of Geometry was as much as she could stand before certain parts of her brain became completely numb. She lifted her long black hair off of one shoulder, and began shoving her books systematically into her backpack. As Jubilee looked up, her eye caught a very familiar pair of blue eyes watching her from the doorway. Uh..oh. It was Bobby. Feeling a strange mixture of panic and excitement, Jubilee stood up, wondering if there was any way to put off talking with him for a little longer. She had avoided him all of last night, going to bed early and even skipping breakfast. But now, judging from the look in her best friend's eyes, there was no way out of discussing her impulsive kiss. Kiss of death for our friendship, Jubilee amended morosely as she tentatively approached the doorway. Honestly, she didn't even know why she had done it. In any case, she couldn't take it back.
Jubilee grabbed her backpack and tried to sneak out the back entrance, but Bobby had already caught up with her as she scurried down the hall. "You mind telling me where you're off to in such a hurry?" Bobby asked, his voice directly behind her. Jubilee halted in her tracks, and forced herself to calm her suddenly rapid heartbeat.
"I have class, gotta run!" Jubilee said desperately, but Bobby caught her wrist quickly before she could leave.
"It's lunchtime, Jubilee," Bobby informed her, his clear blue eyes flickering with amusement and tenderness.
"Oh.well, hehe, how about that, huh?" Jubilee stammered, laughing nervously trying to look anywhere but at Bobby.
"I let you off the hook yesterday, but today it's not going to work," Bobby said firmly.
"What do you mean?" Jubilee asked defensively.
"The fact that you went to bed at 6: 30 yesterday didn't escape my notice. Neither did avoiding me all morning," Bobby told her, cocking an eyebrow at the guilty flush on her face. Great, he knew. Couldn't she do ~one~ thing without having her best friend call her on it?
"I didn't know that getting a good night's rest was such a crime. And I wasn't avoiding you. I just didn't want bother you while you were still day-dreaming about Samantha," Jubilee retorted, and gulped at the grin Bobby shot her. There was that jealousy again. I really have to work on that, Jubilee chided herself.
"Samantha called yesterday to apologize for missing our date. That's it. And I told you we were going to have that talk sooner or later," Bobby reminded her gently.
"I'd prefer later," Jubilee said quickly. Bobby shook his head, and Jubilee felt a wonderful warmth settle in her stomach.
"And I'd prefer sooner. I need to know why that kiss happened," Bobby told her, his blue eyes blazing. Jubilee could practically feel the air leaving her lungs. Was it possible to feel so panicked over such a small thing?
Jubilee was silent a moment. What was she supposed to tell him? "I need to know if you're still interested in Samantha," Jubilee said quietly, watching as frustration flitted across Bobby's face.
"I don't know. I can't make any decisions about her until I know how you feel," Bobby said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"That isn't fair, Bobby," Jubilee whispered fiercely.
"No, what isn't fair is you hiding things from me! Samantha's a great girl, but you're my best friend. Or at least I thought you were..now you mind telling me just what happened with us yesterday?" Bobby asked, his blue eyes pinning her.
Jubilee had never felt more like screaming. 'Samantha's a great girl', just how am I supposed to respond to that! Jubilee thought hotly. It was unfair, that's what it was. How could he expect her to come clean about her feelings for him if he kept professing his undying affection for Samantha every 10 minutes! I'm not a rock, I have feelings too, Jubilee thought, her eyes swimming with tears. Jubilee swallowed and shook her head at Bobby indicating clearly that she didn't want to continue the conversation any longer. Bobby's jaw hardened visibly as he caught her meaning. He was angry, Jubilee knew, but there was nothing to do about it. After staring at her for a full minute, Bobby turned his back to her and left. Jubilee watched him go, feeling her heart break.
"I need to get out of here," Jubilee murmured, her voice thick with tears. She shot down the hall and crossed the lawn to a side corridor. She leaned against the cement wall, closing her eyes tightly. A few minutes later, she heard footsteps coming closer. Oh god, is it Bobby? Jubilee thought, a mixture of hope and dread rising in her chest. But it wasn't. It was Samantha and a friend walking down the hall together, talking loudly. The last thing I need is to see her, Jubilee thought bitterly, turning to go.
"So you're dating Aaron also?! You're so cruel! You know Bobby's nuts about you!" Siren's friend squealed. Jubilee froze at the mention of her best friend.
"It's his own fault. He's such a lap dog. So eager to please," Samantha's obnoxious voice rang out. Jubilee clenched her fists.
"You think he's catching on? I mean, you did blow him off yesterday," her friend reminded her.
"Oh please, Amy told me she saw him buying jewelry a few days ago. I've got him hooked," Samantha said confidently, flipping her short white-blonde hair. Her friend clucked enviously.
"Wow, has he given it to you yet?"
"No.but I'm sure he will, especially since I'm going to ask him to the Turn Around Prom. Have to throw him a bone once in awhile or he might get suspicious you know," Samantha said conspiratorially, laughing again. Oh, Bobby how could you be so naïve? Jubilee thought, biting her lip in anger and longing. She felt a deep ache in her chest as she remembered the closed off look in Bobby's eyes when she had refused to tell him anything. As Samantha and her friend neared closer, Jubilee tried to duck out of sight but it was too late.
Samantha arched one eyebrow in recognition. "Oh, wait a minute Lise," Samantha told her friend and strode confidently over to Jubilee, who was trying to cool the anger rising in her. "Hey, you're Bobby's little friend Janice, or is it Janey..uh,."
"It's Jubilee," Jubilee said through clenched teeth.
"OH right, sorry," Samantha trilled, not sounding the least bit apologetic. "If you see Bobby, give this to him. It's very important," Samantha said breathily. Jubilee gave her a curt nod, and took the pink envelope in Samantha's hands. "I made him a little pop-up puzzle asking him to Prom, cute isn't it?"
Jubilee didn't trust herself to speak. How could she backstab Bobby like that? Jubilee thought disgustedly, clenching the envelope tightly in her hand. "Okay, bye Janice!" Samantha called, turning to leave. Tears pricking her eyes, Jubilee stormed off to a quiet cluster of trees near the science building. She'd always gone there to get some time to herself. To her surprise, Jubilee saw Scott Summers already seated under a tree, looking even more miserable than she felt. She approached him awkwardly, not used to seeing the leader of the X-men so dejected.
"Hey Scott, what's up?" Jubilee asked cautiously, taking a seat next to him. Scott muttered something. "I can't speak gibberish, you're gonna have to translate," Jubilee joked, trying to sideline her own emotions in an effort to comfort Scott. Obviously, the guy was in even worse shape than me, Jubilee thought, observing the tight line of his mouth.
Scott looked up, as if finally acknowledging her presence. Automatically he took in her stormy blue eyes and frowned with concern. "Are you okay, Jubilee?"
"No. But that's beside the point. I asked you first," Jubilee said firmly, kicking an acorn with one foot.
"What, you mean you haven't heard the news? Jean is going to the Turn Around Prom with Duncan Matthews," Scott said bitterly, practically spitting out the last word. Jubilee let out a low whistle.
"I'm really sorry, Scott," Jubilee said sympathetically. She had never really talked that much with Scott in the past. He always seemed so put together, so it was definitely weird seeing him out of his fearless-leader mode. Even weirder still to realize that, out of all her friends, he would probably be able to understand her feelings for Bobby the best.
"Yeah, well, I should've seen it coming. I'm Jean's best friend and that's the way it'll always be. You know the worst part, though? She asked him right in front of me. Even Duncan knew about my feelings for her...but she didn't. For a telepath, Jean is pretty oblivious," Scott said, staring straight ahead.
Jubilee nodded, glaring down at the envelope Samantha had given her. "Yeah, well I know what it's like to have your best-friend go for a total idiot. And it's like nothing you say can ever change their mind," Jubilee said darkly, her chin resting on her knee.
Scott jaw hardened as he watched Jean run onto the football field where Duncan stood talking to his friends. "I don't know, I used to think that she'd wake up one day and realize how I feel. But now, I think I waited too long. She actually asked me why I was so upset. Maybe.," Scott trailed off.
"Maybe what?" Jubilee asked, looking over at him. Scott sighed in frustration.
"Maybe it's time to give her up and move on," Scott said finally. Jubilee didn't know what to say that so the two sat in a pensive silence, each wrapped in their own thoughts. The bell to go back to class rang, shaking Scott out of his reverie. "Anyways, sorry to dump on you like that. Thanks for listening."
"It's alright, I don't mind," Jubilee said solemnly, earning her a rare grin from Scott. He waved to her and then took off for the History building. Jubilee sighed. What was the world coming to when Scott Summers was thinking of giving up Jean Grey? Staring down at the pink envelope, Jubilee felt a wave of despair wash over her. Unlike Scott, I can't just give Bobby up. He means too much to me. He deserves better than Samantha, Jubilee thought. Setting her jaw, she ripped the pink envelope into tiny pieces and deposited them into the garbage.