Sun, Sand and Insanity
"Man look at this place!" Tabitha whistled. "It's like a palace!"
The girls had just arrived at Aunt Hope's. Her house easily rivaled the Institute in size. "And I thought the Institute was posh," Kitty was impressed. "Is that a real Picasso?"
"Yup," Brad nodded as he carried some of the bags. "One of three in Ms. Lee's collection."
"Whoa…" Tabitha gasped. "Really posh!"
"I hope you don't mind sharing two to a room," Aunt Hope said as she directed the girls through the house. "I decorated them myself. To be honest I have no idea what young girls like…"
"You say that as if it was that long ago you were a young girl," Brad smirked.
"Note the man who is being paid to work for me said that," Aunt Hope rolled her eyes. "Here's your room Jubilation," She opened the door.
The room assaulted Jubilee's very eyes in a shocking off scarlet blaze. From the walls to the curtains to the bedspread to the very carpet it looked like the inside of a Pepto Bismol bottle. "It's very…" Jubilee was in shock. "Pink."
"I think it's cool!" Kitty squealed.
"You would," Rahne rolled her eyes.
"You hate it don't you?" Aunt Hope asked.
"Hate is a…strong word," Jubilee struggled. "They're not all pink are they?"
"Afraid so," Aunt Hope sighed. "Personally it makes me want to retch."
"Then why…?" Tabitha began.
"Let's just say I did a stupid thing and listened to my interior designer who was more into pink than any female I have ever met," Aunt Hope told them. "Maybe it just needs a few…Personal touches."
"And a few fires," Brad grinned.
"I could help with that," Amara grinned.
"Amara!" Kitty glared at her. She looked at Aunt Hope. "She's kidding."
"Yeah," Brad chuckled. "Like Ms. Lee's never set a few fires in…"
Aunt Hope gave him a withering look. "I used to smoke," She explained quickly. "A long time ago. But I don't do that any more."
"Well I guess the first thing we should do is unpack," Paige sighed.
"Actually the first thing you should all do is take one of these," Aunt Hope picked up some small brightly colored bags. "They're for all of you while you're here."
"A cell phone!" Amara squealed as she took hers. "Cool!"
"I want you all to stay safe and I certainly can't expect you to all stay home with me every second of the day," Aunt Hope grinned. "So this is for you while you're here and I put in one extra thing for you Jubilation."
"An I pod!" Jubilee squealed. "Whoa! Thank you Aunt Hope!" She hugged her. She looked at it. "Whoa this thing has everything! This is so cool!"
"You're welcome," Aunt Hope grinned. "Now I have to go to a meeting so why don't all of you grab your swimsuits and I'll have Brad drop you off at the beach for the rest of the day?"
"Aunt Hope I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!" Tabitha laughed.
"Let's hit the beach!" Jubilee grinned.
Soon the girls were at the local beach, relaxing in their swimsuits and admiring the sights. "Oh yeah," Tabitha grinned. "Now that's a sight you don't see in Bayville." She grinned at a very muscular surfer coming out of the water. "Jubes thank you oh so much for taking us on this trip!"
"We're supposed to be keeping our eyes open for new mutants," Rina reminded her.
"Come on X," Tabitha put on some sunscreen. "You gotta lighten up a little. Have some fun! Besides, our eyes aren't exactly closed." She gave a good look at some very buff lifeguards.
"Hey!" Paige said. "I thought you and Sam were going steady!"
"I may be dating your brother but I ain't dead," Tabitha pointed out. "I'm only looking. Kitty doesn't have a problem with it." She pointed to Kitty who was clearly ogling the lifeguards.
"I am not!" She protested.
"Then what's that drool doing hanging from your jaw?" Paige snickered.
"Geeze Kitty don't you have enough boyfriend trouble as it is?" Amara rolled her eyes.
"I thought she chose Lance," Rahne said. "Oh, I see your point."
"But she still desires Colossus," Rina folded her arms.
"What?" Tabitha shot up. "You serious?"
"I can smell it on her," Rina told them.
"No way!" Jubilee gasped. She looked at Kitty. "I can't believe you! I thought you were totally devoted to Lance!"
"I am! Sort of…" Kitty confessed weakly.
"Sort of?" Danielle looked at her.
"How can you 'sort of' be devoted to someone?" Paige asked.
"Look I really, really like Lance," Kitty said. "A lot! I'm in love with him. Most of the time…"
"And this is where Colossus comes in?" Tabitha asked.
"Sometimes I just can't help but think of Peter when I'm with Lance," Kitty admitted. "And when I was with Peter I couldn't help but think of Lance! It's like…Each of them had one vital thing that the other lacked. You get what I'm saying?"
"Yeah," Paige looked at her. "You're nuts."
"Hey!" Kitty protested. "I can't help the way I feel you know? It's not like I'm openly lusting after guys while I have a boyfriend! I'm not Tabitha you know?"
"Don't compare me to you," Tabitha said. "At least I'm honest about my lusting."
"She's right," Paige said. "You are way worse Kitty."
"Oh god…" Kitty fell back and covered her eyes with her hands. "You're right! How did I get into this mess? I'm supposed to be more mature than this! I mean, I can handle college level schoolwork. Fighting battles against bad guys who want to take over the world like Apocalypse, Magneto and Cobra? No problem! I mean I even handled my parent's divorce pretty well, considering that the two of them are completely messed up!"
"Well maybe that's where you get it from?" Tabitha asked. "Maybe it's genetic?"
"Yeah Kitty," Jubilee said. "Don't get us wrong, we love your folks but their love life is pretty…"
"Messed up," Paige finished.
"I mean look at the evidence," Jubilee said. "Your Dad is dating your best childhood friend's uncle and your mom…."
"My mom is dating a Misfit's cousin who is like half her age," Kitty groaned. "I get it! I get it!"
"I wish I was getting it like your mom," Tabitha whistled. "I mean damn girl I gotta give her props! Jesse D is hot!"
"Thanks a lot Tabitha!" Kitty rolled her eyes. "I so did not need that image right now!"
"Maybe it's the whole bad boy/forbidden fruit thing?" Amara thought aloud. "Think about it, Lance used to be in the Brotherhood and now the Misfits…"
"She's got a point there," Paige said. "I mean with your mom dating a younger man and your dad…"
"Oh god it is genetic!" Kitty wailed. "I'm doomed!"
"'Fraid So Kitty-Cat," Tabitha patted her shoulder. "You're doomed like Dr. Doomed De Doomed on Doomsday."
"And I thought I had problems," Rahne sighed.
"At least you have some kind of love life," Jubilee sighed. "Better to lose and love than not have anything at all. Or so something like that."
"Trust me, Aiden is definitely a loss," Rahne snorted.
"You mean there's no one you're interested in?" Tabitha asked Jubilee. "I thought there was Bobby?
"They broke up a few months ago," Kitty reminded her. "Remember? She caught him putting snow in her closet one too many times. So there's no one else?"
"I kind of like Everett," Jubilee admitted. "But…"
"But?" Kitty raised an eyebrow.
"I dunno, there's just something…Missing," Jubilee shrugged. "He's cute but, I don't know. I guess he's not my type."
A loud wolf whistle startled them. "Baby you is fine!" One muscle bound beach goer laughed as he walked by with his buddy. It was clear he had directed his comment at Rina.
"Why that…?" Rina growled.
"X, he was paying you a compliment," Tabitha said. "Still one can't just let an opportunity pass…"
While the two boys weren't looking Tabitha tossed some small energy bombs in the pockets of their shorts. Their intended result worked and soon two very embarrassed guys were trying to cover themselves rather unsuccessfully. "WHOO HOO!" Tabitha yelled as the boys ran away. "FULL MOON TONIGHT!"
"Tabitha! What part about keeping our powers hidden didn't you get?" Kitty hissed.
"Lighten up Kitty no one saw me," Tabitha waved. "When did you turn into Jean Jr.?"
"When the entire planet turned against us," Paige told her.
"Geeze you people are no fun at all," Tabitha grunted.
"I thought it was funny," Jubilee said. "Better than X going postal on them."
"It was amusing," Rina grinned.
"I'm going to get a soda," Rahne got up. "Anyone else want one?"
"We'll come with you," Amara said. Rina and Danielle went with her.
"I'm gonna just chill for a bit," Jubilee lay back on her blanket and started listening to her Ipod. She closed her eyes and started to relax. Suddenly the next thing she knew someone had yanked the earphones out of her ears. "HEY!" She turned and saw a lanky teen run off with her Ipod. "GIVE IT BACK CREEP!"
She tore off after him. Paige and Kitty followed while Rahne went to get the others. "Come on!" Jubilee shouted. "He went this way!"
The thief dodged in and out of the boardwalk while the girls pursued. For a moment they lost him among the crowd and the carnival games. "You two go left and right! I'll go this way!" Jubilee told them. They split up. Jubilee caught sight of the thief and followed. "Got you now you…"
At the end of the alley was the thief and seven other very big guys. "Looks like Slab brought something else back," One of them said.
"Give me back my Ipod now!" Jubilee snarled. She was too angry to think that taking on the gang alone was a bad idea.
"Yeah right!" Slab grunted.
"Is there a problem here?"
Jubilee turned around and behind her was a tall thin African American boy. He was bald wearing a blue bandana around his head and a gold earring in one ear. He was wearing a blue wife beater, low riding jeans and red sneakers as well as a fancy gold watch and a gold chain with a gaudy diamond encrusted S. On his arms were firebrand tattoos that ran from his wrist to his elbow.
"Yeah these creeps took my Ipod and I want it back!" Jubilee said.
"Well we can't always get what we want now can we?" The boy smirked.
"Look you Fifteen Cent wannabe…" Jubilee growled.
"That's Fifty Cent," The teen corrected.
"I know," Jubilee told him. "But Fifteen Cents looks like all you're worth."
"Oooohh!" The Gang hooted.
He stared at her hard. "You know, for someone so pretty you got a big mouth. You should watch it."
"Is that supposed to be intimidating or something?" Jubilee folded her arms. "I mean I have been threatened by eleven year olds who sound way scarier than that. Do me a favor cut the posturing, it's embarrassing."
"Shane, you gonna let her talk to you like that?" One of the cronies snarled.
"Chill T-Bone," Shane motioned. "I can handle a girl."
"I'm not so sure," Jubilee got in his face. "You might need your bodyguards. I've got a few tricks up my sleeves."
"My sleeves aren't exactly empty either," Shane said with a straight face. "I think I'll manage."
"Oh that's right," Jubilee mocked. "You're a big bad gangbanger with a gun. My mistake."
"For your information I don't carry a gun," Shane said. "Kind of thing the cops can bust you for."
"Jubilee!" Kitty ran with the other X-Girls. "You okay?"
"We got your back girlfriend," Tabitha made a fist.
"You have something that belongs to her," Rina growled. "Return it or else!"
"Or else what?" Slab snorted.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Rina sneered.
"X, no!" Jubilee put a hand on her arm. "Don't! He ain't worth it."
"This your gang?" Shane raised an eyebrow.
"You could say that," Jubilee told him. "Now are you going to give me back my stuff or is there gonna be a throw down?"
Shane looked at her for a minute. He motioned for the Ipod. He then handed it to Jubilee. "Here you go. Sorry. My man was just playing. Say sorry to the nice lady, Slab."
"Uh…Sorry," Slab looked surprised.
"Hmmph," Jubilee snorted. "Come on girls. Let's get outta here." The X-Girls walked away.
"Like he was so rude," Kitty fumed. "We should have turned him in."
"Guy like that would have been out on the streets in ten minutes," Jubilee shrugged. "Trust me, we hurt him more to dis him like that." She looked back at Shane.
Rina noticed this. "Why are you looking at him like that?"
"Like what?" Jubilee asked.
"Like you were interested in him," Rina said.
"What? I do not like him!" Jubilee exploded.
"Well he is cute," Tabitha said. "If you're into the gangster rapper type."
"I am so not into that type!" Jubilee snapped.
"You'd better not be," Kitty said. "Guys like that are nothing but trouble!"
"Look who's talking," Danielle rolled her eyes. "What about Lance?"
"Yeah he ain't exactly Mr. Honor Student either," Paige pointed out.
"That's…That's different!" Kitty said.
"Kitty come on, who are you fooling?" Tabitha snorted. "The day you guys met he conned you into helping him steal test scores and then trashed your old high school."
"Still nothing compared to Aiden," Rahne grumbled.
"I guess all girls like bad boys," Tabitha smirked.
"Well then how do you explain my brother?" Paige looked at Tabitha. "Oh wait, he's not the goody two shoes he pretends to be."
"Damn right he's not," Tabitha grinned. "You'd be surprised how many times we were able to make out in the elevator without anyone knowing."
"Don't be so sure," Amara gave her a look.
Meanwhile Shane was looking at Jubilee as she walked away. "You just let that girl get away with that?" Slab asked.
"She's got spunk," Shane grinned. "I like that. Besides she ain't the one that was stupid enough to get caught in the first place!" He glared at Slab.
"I thought it was an easy mark," Slab shrugged. "That ipod could have made some cool cash."
"How many times I gotta tell you?" Shane pointed his fingers so that they resembled a gun. "Cash and credit cards only! Everything else is just junk! And never do it in broad daylight! I mean the beach? It's like you were asking to get caught!"
"But I…" Slab gulped.
"And I don't like you pinching stuff from young girls either," Shane hissed. "One their eyesight is too good. Two, they usually ain't got enough cash. Especially when all they're wearing is bikinis! And three…Well there's better ways to get stuff from 'em. Ways that'll make 'em want to give things to you. Get my point?" Shane pushed his fingers into Slab's face.
"Yeah, yeah man, chill! Chill!" Slab was getting very nervous. "Point those things somewhere else man! I got it! I got it!"
"You'd better," Shane told him. "Or else you will get it."
To prove his point he casually shot out a small burst of energy from one of his fingers. It barely missed Slab's ear. "Man," T-Bone whistled. "No matter how many times I see it it's still cool."
"They don't call me Shane Shooter for nothin'. Let's go," Shane said. "We got places to go and things to do. Now that the Pride is gone there's a whole city just waiting for us."
Next we go check on the Misfits and see how they're doing. We're going to meet our favorite Runaways as they stop a crime committed by some old friends!