Chapter 7 Everett Steps In


"We're here," he said as he pulled up to the Massachusetts Academy gates. Jubilee pressed in the access code at the small panel to her left. It was recessed into a stone pillar by the base of the wrought iron hinges. Wolverine smelled for any sign of recent arrivals while she waited for the buzzing sound.

"Duh," she murmured, as he shifted downgear and rolled through the gates. Already she knew Emma Frost was NOT happy, but Sean Cassidy agreed it was best for her to return.

"She's not here yet," said Wolverine, pulling into the garage nearby. "Her car isn't here… but I smell Irish…"

"My ears are still ringing from our last phone call," she chuckled as he kicked the stand down. The engine thudded into silence, which grew ever more awkward.

"I know, but ya hung in there, kid. I'm proud of ya," Wolverine said, swinging his leg over and hopping down. He extended his hand to her. Jubilee hesitated, then let his fingers close around her gloved ones.

"I know and I hope that's not the last time," Jubilee said, with a smile.

"I'll help ya carry yer stuff to yer room if ya want… that is if Irish is gonna let me in the door," Wolverine teased, grabbing her duffel bag.

"You don't have to…"

"I wanna," he said, reaching into the saddlebag for her items. He slung it over his shoulder, then reached to take her hand. Both hands clasped they walked towards the main garden that separated the garage from the grounds.

At the front door, he stopped. "Guess this is it," he said, turning to her.

"Yeah," she nodded. "The others will be arriving soon…"

"So it worked out for the best. Got some time with my Jubes… an' hope we got stuff straightened out for the better…"

"We did…" Jubilee nodded, and went to his outstretched arms for a hug. She clung to him tightly, burying her face in his shirt, as she always loved to do. Logan didn't let her go, simply rubbed her back and kissed her cheek as his whiskers tickled her ear.

"I'll come t' visit ya, don't ya worry… and you'd BETTER call," he said, handing her a slip of paper with his cell number. She saw the phone hooked to his leather belt.

"I will, you can bet on it," Jubilee said. "You sure you won't come up to my room?"

"Only if ya like," he said. She punched the code into the main door, and let him inside with her.


Up the stairs they wandered, Wolverine shouldering her bag. The girls lived on one floor, while the boys on another of the large mansion Emma converted to her school. His nostrils flared as he glanced around warily for anyone. However the place was empty except for the distant sounds of Sean Cassidy on the phone with some clients. Servants and other staff were just beyond his sight, but he smelled no sign of Emma or any of the kids yet.

"Nice joint," he mumbled, while she stopped before her door. Keys jingled in her purse while she fished out the one specific to her room, and used it.

"I used to share a room with Page," she admitted. "But when you hit college equivalency you get a private suite…"

"Uh huh," he nodded, realizing this was the first time in a while he'd seen her dormitory room. He wandered inside after her, and glanced around. Slanted eaves were plastered with rock posters of the Misfits, Hendrix, the Doors, and Ramones. Newer bands represented were Marlyn Manson, Linkin Park, and Guar.

"They moved me inta here after my room burned. Paige is a pain in the ass, but she's good," said Jubilee. "When she isn't strung out on drugs…"

"Better not be the case…" Wolverine said, dropping her bag just inside.

"I won't let her," Jubilee said as she closed the door, and let him take the jacket she removed.

"Got any hangers in this joint?" he asked, waiting for her to dig two wooden ones out of the closet. He placed both their jackets on either one before handing them back to her.

"Nice… ya still like Hendrix…"

"I still love the classics," she said, hanging up her coat in the closet. She leaned down to grab two bottles of water out of the mini fridge nearby. Wolverine caught the bottle he tossed her, and sat down on the sofa opposite the bed.

"Maybe it's not so bad yer room burned, but I wish ya'd told me," Wolverine said as he twisted the top on his drink. Jubilee sighed and sat on her bed, glancing at the mail neatly piled by her pillow. Always Frost instructed the maid to leave the accumulated piles of personal mail in each student's room.

"I know, I shoulda… I won't be so dumb again. Thought I'm on probation till next break for running away…" Jubilee mumbled, thumbing through various garish envelopes and postcards.

"Sorry darlin'," Wolverine said, getting up and crossing over to sit on her bed next to her. Since his weight had been significantly reduced by 100 pounds his body made less of a dent next to her.

"Don't worry about it," she waved, voice muffled by herbottle of Sierra Springs water. She kicked off her boots, and then drew her legs to sit indian style while resting her back against the wall.

"So… you gonna be ok?" Logan asked, folding one arm behind his head while crossing one leg and letting the other dangle just off the floor. He cradled the water bottle in the crook of his bent leg, and pillowed his head on the arm resting against the wall. Jubilee realized Angelo and Everett did much the same when they came in to visit and chat.

"Yeah," she nodded ruefully, then reached under the bed to grab the cardboard box. Sliding it out, she grabbed a candy bar and tore into it. Logan sipped his water, and then chuckled as she handed one to him.

"Want?"

"A lil' bit maybe… but sugar's not my style, ya know…" he said. He wasn't surprised when she tossed him a stick of slim Jim. For a time they sat there, eating on her stash of foods while she pressed the remote control for the CD. All Along the Watchtower cued up, echoing in the small cozy room.

"You'd like it here… the grounds are pretty cool… plenty of place to hunt… and play games on people," she teased, that sparkle returning to her eyes that he loved so much.

"Good to see ya smilin' again," Wolverine noted, finishing his snack. Something told him she didn't want him to leave just yet. Not w hen she was sharing her life with him that he wanted so desperately to catch up with and be a part of.

"Well, maybe because I have something to smile about," Jubilee breathed. Shelay back with her head and shoulders resting against the wall. Wolverine repositioned himself Indian style on the foot as she nibbled her candybar and washed it down with water.

"Glad t' hear it. Guess it won't be long till yer buddies come home. But don't forget that I'll be keepin' tabs on ya. Any funny stuff an' they'll answer to me… no stupid shit…" he said menacingly.

"Or they'll wish they'd never been born?" she giggled, thumping his arm.

"Yep," he said, leaning back and glancing at the constellation of glow-in-the-dark stars she'd stuck on the ceiling. Wolverine peered at the bookcase by the far window casually, letting his eyes walk down the multiple titles. Chemistry leaned up against Shakespeare, Nuclear Physics on the lowest shelf. Up top the shelves were crammed with with Clive Cussler, Stephen King, and VC Andrews novels.

"You're impossible, Wolvie," she scrunched her nose at him.

"I am the best at what I do, remember…" he teased, grinning.

"Without your adamantium?" she said, hefting a dark brow.

"Well if what I do changes, then I can still be the best at it," he smirked, showing a bit of the old fire.

"You are a jerk sometimes," she snorted, and then grabbed his ribs. He knew she wanted to wrestle and soon it was all out war with her almost rolling off the bed. Her shrieks split his ears till he caught her with one arm before she could tumble on the hardwood floor.

"Don't go fallin' now! Told Frost I'd bring ya here in one piece… can't ruin my rep, can I kid?" he scolded. She sat up, panting as she glanced at his blue eyes gleaming with mirth.

"Yeah, you did," she said, smoothing down some of his flyaway hair that was standing on end. Wolverine gave a warning growl when her hand lingered on his sideburned cheek.

"Enough a' that, Jubes…" he muttered.

"Sorry," she apologized, and glanced at him awkwardly, biting her lip. However she couldn't stop when he patted her cheek affectionately.

"Ya got a good thing goin' here. No sense in endin' it on a bad note, kid…"

"No there isn't, is there," she said, and hugged him tightly.


There came a knock at the door, and Wolverine glanced up. "I guess there's someone here who wants to see ya…"

"Who is it?" she asked.

"Someone I'm pretty pissed off with right now," he said, getting up and stalking towards the door.

"Let's get this over with," Jubilee said as she got up, and pushed him out of the way. "No skewering or dismembering, dude... got it?"

"Not unless I see a good reason to, but this might qualify," he mumbled, flexing his wrists.

"Everett?" she asked, as the door opened, and her classmate stood there, with a sheepish smile on his face. Especially when he saw Wolverine standing to her immediate left with his arms folded across his burly chest.

"Um... Jubes… thank God you're okay… man… we were so worried…" Everett babbled, taking his hat off and glancing at her.

"Ya should be, kid," Wolverine said in that low menacing tone that sent shivers down the spines of most hearing it. Jubilee interposed between them, separating Wolverine from grabbing and shaking Everett. Not that he would, but judging by the way in which his back muscles were bunching up under his white T shirt she did not want to take any chances.

"So, Frosty's back to talk to her?" Jubilee asked. Snorting, Wolverine sauntered over and flopped down on her sofa. His eyes bored holes at Everett.

"She's here with Professor X… she sent me to come get you…" said Everett quickly.

"Where's Paige and the others…" Jubilee asked.

"Frosty sent 'em to have a long talk with Banshee… and he's having them work through a long obstacle course. They won't be back till tomorrow…"

"As she should be… you really are a piece of work," said Wolverine slowly from the sofa.

"Excuse me," Jubilee said. "I'm going to see frost. I'll see you later Wolvie…"

"I'm goin' to wait in the living room," he said as he got up, and gave Everett a death ray stare. Jubilee snorted and stomped off after him down the hallway, with Everett tagging behind.


Her feet thumped with unnecessary forceon the old grand staircase. Wolverine had by now dissapeared into the living room area to the left. Jubilee quickened her pace down the main gallery to a connecting hallway. Emma Frost's office wasat the end of amahogany panelled passagewaydecorated with oil paintings of her rich relatives and benefactors. Gilt trim and mirrors festooned the other hallways with a French Renaisance flavor. Outside her office she hadtwo benches with stiff backs, but soft red plushcusions to sit on.

"Oh gimmie a BREAK!" she groaned. "This is so freakin'lameIcan'tbelieve!"

"Jubes… we're like so sorry…" Everett panted. He had caught up to her, and leaned over a bit, slowing his breathing.

"Ev…" she sniffled.

He leaned up, and held out his arms to her. Jubilee relented, and leaned into him, sniffling, "I shouldn't have been so stupid. I should have just said I wouldn't go…"

"We shouldn't have dragged you out. And dragged you into our mess. WE blew it… together… and we should have been there for you. Not like party buds, but friends."

"I should have spilled," she whispered.

"Yeah, I know. But I was ignorin' you when you needed a friend, not a boy friend," Everett added. "Jubilee, you could have just told me you weren't ready to get tight with me…"

"I just… I just have problems dating guys… it's my fault…"

"This is probably the LAST thing you want to hear now, but I gotta say it or I'll never have the guts to again… I'd like to see you… cause I like you a whole lot, Jubes. Monet's nice to date… but she isn't you…"

"Everett… I can't…" she stammered, glancing away. That lump formed again in her throat, accompanied by a swimming in her stomach. Another choice faced her, and she was ill equipped to handle it. Jubilee thought she would lose all sense of reality if someone ELSE admitted one more secret to her.

"Sorry, I know it's bad timing an' all… but Jubilee… please just think about it? I know I'm not like… you know…"

"I know… I want to move on… but… it's so hard… and…"

"Just think about it, 'k?" Everett urged. "We don't have to get hot an' heavy. Just… you know… hang together, an' just spend time… you know…"

"Doing stuff," Jubilee added. "Yeah I can do that. I'd like it. But Monet…"

"No contest. I shouda just come out an' said I wanted to see you, and not her… but I guess she got to me…"

"Yeah, she does that," Jubilee sighed.

"She's worried too. Believe it or not…" Everett said awkwardly.

"Ev," she muttered. "You do me a favor now? It's kinda lame… but… could ya give me another hug?"

"Sure thing Jubes," said Everett. He wrapped his young arms around her, and simply held her next to him. Rubbing her back awkwardly while shushing her.

"Thanks," she whispered. "That's what I needed…"

"I know. An' I want to help you through this. Won't you let me TRY, Jubilee?"

"I'll try, but I can't promise much… but after what we pulled I don't think Frosty's gonna trust any of us again to even THINK about dating…"

"She sent me to talk to you, an' apologize on everyone's behalf," Everett shrugged. "And she wonders when you're coming back…"

"Ev…" She trailed off.


"Am I interrupting?" Emma Frost asked, standing at the door, with a quizzical brow raised.

"I'm sorry," Jubilee said sheepishly, jumping apart from Everett. He thrust his hands in his jeans pockets and shifted his weight from one sneakered foot to the other.

"Everett, would you wait outside for me?" asked Emma Frost. She crooked a finger towards Jubilee, her ice blue eyes narrowing with more than usual disapproval. Jubilee put one foot in front of the other, feeling like someone had tied invisible lead weights to her shoes.

She led the way to the massive walnut desk occupying the bulk of the office. Behind it she settled into the high backed chair, steepling her fingers. Jubilee froze at the expression that closely resembled Professor X about to enforce discipline. What was even more disturbing was the file folder laying partly open on her desk, and her rolidex with the top card showing Xavier's School for the Gifted.

Emma Frost spent the better part of two minutes tapping the top of her pen on the file folder directly to her left. Jubilee fidgeted in her chair, while Frost rustled papers. Finally she said,"Jubilation, I understand the situation as related to me, by your classmates. And that Logan came and brought you here…"

"I want to spend the rest of my time here," she said quickly.

At this interuption, Frost raised an eyebrow, staring directly into Jubilee's eyes. Through them Jubilee felt a light mental brush followed by a nonverbal repremand for her lack of decor. Emma said aloud,"Which I will allow. But remember this, I will not hesitate to enforce the right discipline…"

"Whatever you think's appropriate," Jubilee said quietly, lacing her fingers together on her lap It was a very uncharacteristic gesture, but necessary since she straighted up in her chair as well.

"Uh huh," Frost said. "And what else do you have to say, young lady?"

"I deserve far worse."

"Yes you do, young lady, and remember it," Frost said sharply, twisting the pencil in her fingers so it broke with a resounding snap. Jubilee lurched back in her chair, blinking hard.

"Yes, Miss Frost," Jubilee said, steading her pounding heart. This was definately not good, she told herself.

"Good. I'm not even started with you, young lady… you put yourself at considerable risk…" Frost said coldly. Jubilee fixed her gaze on Frost, folding her legs and sitting with her full attention. More words followed Frost's first statement, uttered in a low tone that reeked of disapproval. As a result Jubilee wondered if she would shrink down to only two inches in height by the end of it. Quickly she glanced at the brass clock on Emma's desk that she had to crane her neck to see. It was five in the afternoon, and the second hand was dragging more slowly with each passing word.


Some of the reprimands cut to the quick, and were painful yet true. However Jubilee patiently endured them, simply saying 'yes' or 'I understand'. Finally Emma finished and stood there. "Well, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"Nothing but that I intend to do what it takes to correct my behavior," Jubilee said quietly. "Miss Frost."

"Good. Now, we shall speak to Professor Xavier and what we shall do…" Frost nodded. The door opened and he glided inside, looking at Jubilee who was bravely trying not to cry.

"I see that you have spoken with her already… so I shall say nothing with regard to the topics you have covered," the Professor said. "Except the unceremonious departure from the Mansion… which thankfully was ameliorated by Wolverine's intervention…"

"Yeah… I'm sorry…"

"You put him in a very awkward situation. You could have simply come to me and spoken, and instead you've compounded the problem…"

"I know Professor… I… I'm ready to listen now…" Jubilee said.

"And you shall, child, you shall…" said the Professor quietly. "This is a serious situation, Jubilation Lee… and you cannot take it lightly."

"No I can't," Jubilee nodded. "Go ahead, Professor, I'm listening."

Frost and Xavier glanced at one another, not fully convinced. Jubilee made no smart assed remark and simply folded her hands on her lap. "Well then… shall we begin?"

"Yes," said Emma. "You are aware of the situation…"

"I am, yes," the Professor nodded, picking up the file folder that Emma Frost handed him. Jubilee saw her name on the spine, and glanced at both of them. Her face held a sad but neutral expression. As neutral as she could make it.

"So, what do you have to say, Jubilation?" asked Professor X, drumming his fingers. He tossed the file back to the desk, regarding her thoughtfully.

"Only that I have listened to Miss Frost, and I agree that this is reprehensible. I am willing to accept whatever judgement or punishment you see fit…" Jubilee said.

"You should, young lady," said the Professor sharply. Jubilee nodded, and said nothing. She wrung her hands and then looked at the floor, wishing it would swallow her up.