Chapter 2: The Break

a/n: So the last chapter didn't do so well, but that's okay! It's only the first one, right? Thanks for the people who reviewed…you guys totally rock!

Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Men series, or the movies, yadda, yadda, yadda. I do, however, own all of the original characters in this story, and the story itself.

Songs to Listen to During This Chapter:

Crappy Love Ballad by Angels and Airwaves

Sway by The Perishers

Everybody's Changing by Keane

The Adventure by Angels and Airwaves

……

The pond was not only a decoration on the grounds of the Xavier mansion, but a beautiful place where the students came to get away from the rest of the school, and possibly be alone. Surrounded by several trees, but in a seeable distance from the mansion, the pond was a place of recreation and serenity. It was also where Jasmine felt the most secluded from the rest of the world. She'd never been a talker…mostly always been a listener. And her listening had started to drive her crazy…the thoughts that she'd begun to hear without even trying, the weariness she constantly felt. Jean said it was only because of stress, but behind closed doors, she'd spoken to Professor Xavier about something different. Something Jasmine felt secluded of from herself.

"So do you hate the world now?" She jumped as an arm snaked around her shoulders, her head turning to see Riley sitting on the bench beside her. The sun was slowly setting, and the weather seemed to be getting colder as that happened. Jasmine knew she would soon be forced to go inside by pure nature, but the water was so captivating. The clear, tainted brown water that was decorated with fragile, pink lilies and reflected the rest of the beautiful, ivy-coated courtyard. "Kitty told me what happened in the kitchen."

"I lost control, Riley," Jasmine mumbled. "It wasn't a huge deal. You know how much John bothers me." His arm was comforting, and she vaguely wondered why she'd given up her crush on the smoky-haired boy. Had it been because he constantly fought with Eileen? Or because Seth had given her a warning when she'd told him? For whatever reason, she was fighting to not fall in like with the smoke illusionist. But it was moments like these that made it so much more difficult.

"You haven't been the same lately, Jass," He toyed with the loose strand of hair that had fallen out of her bun and headband. "You've been so quiet…and it's almost like you're fighting to control yourself."

"But I'm not," She said all too quickly for it to be true. Riley's startling light blue eyes locked with hers, and she pushed him away from her after a beat. So maybe she had to fight to control her emotions and the consequences? The Professor had said it was just a stage most telekinetic mutants went through…most. For the most part, she'd been doing quite well…but when she got exhausted, stressed, or worried, that whole matter changed drastically.

"You're terrible at lying, you know that," He laughed, and she blushed lightly, turning to smile halfheartedly at him. The fact that he'd come to find her was something special and his smiling face was making her stomach twist and turn. "What's wrong Jass?"

"Riley…" She warned, leaning into the arm he'd put around her shoulder again. She would excuse her crush and say they were just friends. It worked most of the time…at least that was what Kitty told her. The same Kitty who had come to complain to her about Bobby today in the kitchen. "I really don't want to talk about it."

"I know, I know," He smiled, his head resting on the top of hers. He was gently massaging her shoulder with his one hand, his musky scent hitting her senses. He was looking at the sunset, the same place she was looking. She could tell from the whispers she kept on getting in her head. The whispers she knew one day would drive her insane. Vaguely, she wondered how Seth could put up with the fact he could deal with thoughts. Had he been taught to barrier everything? It would be a miracle if he had…and she wished he would teach her something of that sort if she ever came to need it. "This is nice."

"It is," Jasmine replied quietly, her eyes searching the orangey golden haze smearing across the sky in front of her. A loud buzz suddenly sounded, and the wind increased in speed. Her eyes turned towards the basketball court area, and they relaxed in wonder as the X-Jet rose into the sky. "I wonder where they're going?" The white and red hair was visible from the seats, and Jasmine sat up. Ororo and Jean were leaving?

"Who said you could move?" The jet was merely a black dot in the sky by the time Riley spoke, and she smiled lightly to herself, settling back up against him. "That's better." And although she knew she was still trying to fight it, she felt herself relax and all the tiny bits and pieces of thoughts swarming to her head turned into whispers before completely fading altogether.

……

"That would be dinner," Eileen looked up from her spot on the couch, rolling her eyes at Piotr, who was smiling at her. After Jasmine had left the music room, she'd refused to be around Riley any more than she had to. So she'd made her way to the rec room slowly, smiling inwardly but not letting it show when she saw Piotr Rasputin sitting at a table with Marcus, sketching one of his famous cartoons. Although most people knew it, she tried to not let it show that she had any abnormal feelings for the man of steel. She wasn't like Jasmine though…and she knew that only too well.

"I know…I heard the bell," She smiled, sitting up from lying down. Piotr extended a hand to help her up, and hesitantly she accepted it. Eileen was not the type of girl to throw herself loosely at a guy like some of the girls she knew. No…she was more like all the girls she was friends with. Jasmine, Jubilee, and Kitty, all headstrong girls with their own relationship ideas in their heads. She fancied herself to be like them…but with the body discomfort she had, she knew she wasn't. She would take the first thing she got, even if it took her longer to get. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," He was a man of few words, but he was a handsome one at that who seemed to pay particular attention to her. Shaking off those thoughts, she released his hand and ducked past him to walk towards the doorway. "Hey…wait up."

Eileen didn't turn around, but paused in the doorway as she heard Piotr run back to grab something. Marcus, Bobby, and Rogue had been the only other people in the rec room when she'd come, and they'd all disappeared to head off somewhere else in the mansion. More than likely the dinning room seeing as it was always a race to get to the table first. The best seats were right near the professors, and there had been a rumor circling the mansion that Logan was back and the only one watching them. Which meant more fun for her. She'd always enjoyed getting on the nerves of the Wolverine.

"Thanks," Piotr reached her in the doorway and she barely glanced back at him to smile.

"No problem," Eileen sighed stepping into the hallway and glancing around. As many students as there were at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the mansion was so massive it was rare for a cluster of them to be anywhere at once. Especially on a nice day such as this. "So what were you sketching?"

"You noticed I was sketching?" The humor in his voice implied something, and she playfully nudged his arm…though the blush in her cheeks would not fade.

"You're always sketching, Piotr," She laughed, and she could have sworn a flicker of disappointment ran past his eyes. "I'd like to see them though? If you wouldn't mind…"

"Oh…" He fumbled with the back he'd run back to grab, the tight fighting black tee he was wearing showing off all his muscles underneath. With short cut black hair and steel blue eyes, Piotr was talked about constantly in the classes she went to, the younger girls with hopes of one day having him notice one of them deep in their heads. But instead, wherever she went, he watched her. And she wasn't the only one who had noticed it. Jasmine had…Riley had…even Seth, who was the most ignorant person in the world had noticed something. He watched her when he could have any other, stick thin girl in the school. Any other girl who was prettier than her. Any other girl who wouldn't classify herself as overweight if they were asked…any other girl who didn't support curves. Any other girl who wasn't her. "Sure."

Eileen smiled and paused as they entered the entrance hallway, taking the few sheets of paper Piotr handed her. Dinner could wait, and she could survive getting a bad seat at the dinner table. Spending any minute she could with Piotr made it all worth it. The first cartoon made her laugh…it was one of Bobby and Rogue kissing. The image of Bobby was shocked and sizzling, while Rogue still sat sweetly at the table. And as much as she loved her friends, she thought it suited what most people knew what would happen if they ever made that contact. Her power of killer touch was well known throughout the Xavier mansion, especially when she had almost killed Logan the year before.

"They were playing around on the couch right before Logan got back," Piotr explained quietly. Eileen could feel him looking over her shoulder, and she smiled. "Marcus thought it was hilarious."

"It is," She nodded, and it was then when she heard Marcus' voice from the top of the staircase in front of them.

"Geez…how many minutes ago did the bell ring? I do not want to have a spot away from Logan tonight," The boy with highlighted hair laughed as he jumped down the stairs. Eileen didn't need to glance up to know that Piotr had strayed to the bottom of the staircase to talk to Marcus, and for a moment she felt a twang of jealousy. But it was only a moment…and that's when her breath stopped. She'd been flipping the pages, laughing silently at the pictures Piotr had sketched of Marcus doing different odd poses, or the old pinball machine in the corner of the rec room that looked like it would bust in seconds if given the chance. And that's when she'd happed upon a sketch of a girl. A girl that was very much her.

She was sprawled out on the couch, her usual magazine propped up in her arms as a few pieces of blonde hair toyed in front of her eyes. Her curves were outlined underneath her loose clothes she was wearing, and her face was carefully drawn. It was, altogether, a nice sketch of her. But that was the problem for Eileen. The girl she was seeing in front of her wasn't her. The technopath she knew…the out of shape girl she knew she was. Tears began to form in her eyes and she tried not to let it get to her. How could she have not noticed him glancing at her? Sure, it wasn't anything different…but…and how could Marcus have let him drawn something so fake? So funny?

Piotr and Marcus were back beside her, laughing about something one of them had said. Her magenta coloured eyes flashed dangerously at him when she dared to look up, her hand shoving the sketchbook back in his hands. She didn't know why she was so angry…but she felt like she'd been invaded.

"Eileen…" Piotr trailed off as he glanced down at the sketchbook, his cheeks glowing red. "Oh…do you…do you not like it?"

"Not like it? Why wouldn't she? It's like, a mirror image!" Marcus laughed from beside him, his dark brown eyes shining. For as long as she'd known the boy in front of her, he'd never seemed to get why she felt so secretive about her body. Why she counted her calories when she ate, and why she was the same as every other girl. Suddenly, the brown walls around her felt like a prison and she laughed cruely.

"Mirror image? Oh, you're hilarious," She shoved the boy angrily, wishing she could do more than arrange technology and control it. She wished she could get into his head and pry into his thoughts…see just how he'd like that. Or if she could blast him out of the way with one of his super blasts of air…see how he'd like his own dose of power. "Really, guys…the joke's up. I know about how I look, okay? Just…leave me alone!"

In an angry spur, Eileen left two of the boys she really did care about at her heels as she stormed off to the dining room.

……

"Okay…well…dig in," Logan's abrupt shrug made everyone laugh quietly before reaching forward to grab the selections of salads, rolls, mashed potatoes, and roasted chicken they were having for supper. The cuisine at the Xavier mansion was incredibly varied, such as the powers of the many mutant kids inhabiting its walls. One night could be pasta, and the next night would be a barbecue with hotdogs, hamburgers, and potato salad.

"Don't you think it's weird that they left us with Logan?" Jubilee's question from across the table made Jasmine look up and smile from piling potatoes onto her plate. She did find that it was rather odd all the other professors had left and left them with the rogue Wolverine who had just come back.

"Yeah, but we'll be just as safe with just Logan here," Seth commented from beside her, his plate already filled with piles of food. "I mean, I heard about what he did with Rogue and all at Liberty Island. It's pretty insane."

The scraping of knives and forks together clashed with the mumbled conversations happening around the table with the different students, some sitting quietly and keeping to themselves while others seemed to be involved with everyone. Glancing beside her at Riley, and then the other way at Kitty, Jasmine sighed. If it weren't for her friends, Jasmine knew she would be sitting quietly by herself. She knew it for a fact…which was why she thanked God for them every day.

"I suppose you're right," Jubilee sighed. "And it's not like we're getting attacked or anything."

"Exactly," Riley winked from his seat, his plate holding just as much food as Seth's. "And even if we do, we've got the passages to use to our advantages."

"Yeah, but it isn't like it's going to happen," Seth countered again, his eyes glancing towards Jasmine. He winked at her jokingly, and she smiled back lightly. As much as she'd like to accept that tonight would be fine, something unsettling was delving inside of her. Something she couldn't shake. "Jass."

"What?" Jasmine muttered, her honey brown eyes flickering around the group. They were all staring at her strangely, all of them remaining silent as they observed her. "What?"

"Are you okay?" Seth's question made her laugh, and she knew he already knew that she wasn't. But that didn't mean she couldn't lie to the rest of her friends. Technically, it wouldn't be lying…it just would be not telling them what was bothering her.

"Uh, yeah," She smiled again, digging her fork into her mashed potatoes as she continued to stare at Seth. The others seemed to be watching the eye conversation that was happening between the two, but they would never be able to read it like she could. It was a defense mechanism she'd made up with him. If something were wrong, they'd use no words, but eyes and gestures. "Wow these mashed potatoes are good."

"I agree," Marcus piped up from further down the table, and Jasmine laughed while everyone else stared silently at him. Glancing down to smile at him and perhaps comment, she opened her mouth to speak but stopped when she spotted Eileen sitting with an empty plate in front of her, and Piotr frowning from across her. It looked like he was saying something, but she couldn't make it out. If she was closer to them, she could possibly listen in on thoughts…but the look on Eileen's face didn't look like anything good.

"Jass?" She sat back into her seat, turning around to face Riley. He was smiling at her almost cautiously, and she raised her eyebrows.

"Sorry, Rye, I didn't hear you," Jasmine sighed quietly, looking back to her food. "What did you say?"

"Oh…never mind…it was nothing," His voice was quite, and Kitty and Jubilee were engrossed in a conversation. The only person that was paying attention was Seth…but the only look he was giving Riley was a dirty one. That expression only registered one thing to her. Jealousy.

The smooth scraping of a chair's feet against the hardwood floor made everyone look up to the head of the table, confused expressions coming over their faces as Logan stood up. He was finished already? They usually didn't leave until at least after 6:30…but dessert was a free for all, and Logan didn't seem to want to wait. Then again, he didn't know the usual routine of the school.

"Does that mean we can leave?" Kitty asked, only halfway through her meal. Jasmine shrugged, still eating her potatoes heartily. Jubilee was the vegetarian, Kitty was the delicate eater, Eileen was the calorie counting girl, and she was somewhere in between the happy medium. She liked her body enough to be loose with her food and meals, but not enough to slip into a bikini and show whoever was watching her body.

"I guess so…he is the head of house now," Seth said, and within a second he'd pushed back his chair. He'd finished off his food already, and it seemed a miracle to Jasmine that he wasn't spontaneously combusting from the amount he'd shoved into his mouth.

"Seth, sit down," Jasmine mumbled and he shrugged at her. She knew exactly what was going through his head. Why?

"Why?" He asked seconds later, a smirk on his face and she leaned forward, sighing.

"You already know," The same smirk he was wearing came onto her face and he snuffed out a laugh, leaning backwards in his chair. She wished that she could pull it out from underneath him at least once…but she knew that every time she tried to, he ended up knowing seconds before. "Just wait until we're all done, at least."

"If I have to," Seth grinned, and Jasmine glanced over at Riley, who was still smiling at her. Was it normal for a person to have deep sea blue eyes like him? Jasmine smiled lightly, suddenly not caring. Surely, those eyes could never be paired with such a fitting face. "So what are we doing after dinner?"

All the attention was turned back to Seth, who was spread out on his chair, his hand grasping the back of Jubilee's. Jasmine's eyes lit up with an idea, but Riley beat her to it.

"I'm up for jamming if you want to," He shrugged, her head turning back to him. Her honey brown eyes lit up, and she nodded, glancing around the table. "Cool...anyone else?"

No one answered, and Seth turned to Jubliee to ask her what she was doing. Jasmine glanced down the table at Eileen, who was still sending a stony glare towards the table and the untouched food in front of her.

"Eileen?" The too familiar sound of the chair against the hardwood floor reached everyone's ears again, and they all watched as Eileen stalked out of the room. A silence fell around the group of friends and Jasmine stood up the same time that Piotr did, his hands up in a humbling way.

"I'll take care of this," He mumbled, pushing his chair out of the way and jogging out of the room. The silence still lingered as everyone else kept on talking, and Jasmine suddenly felt someone take her hand. She turned around to see Riley smiling sadly, his blue eyes glancing from her towards the door.

"Still feel like jammin? Just me and you?" Her cheeks had turned pink at the sudden touch, but she was still focusing on Eileen. Piotr had said he would handle it…how would he handle it if he didn't know what to say around the touchy Eileen? "Hey." Riley squeezed her hand lightly, nodding towards the door. "Forget about it, okay? Piotr can handle it."

"But what if he can't?" Riley stepped past his chair, his hand still in hers as he guided her past her own. His blue eyes were smiling, and he let out a sigh.

"Then I'll let you fly in to the rescue," He said, the smile reaching his pale lips. And although she was still worried, Jasmine nodded. She could live with that…as long as she didn't end up paying for it in the end. "Come on…I hear a few instruments just dying to be played in that room."

……

"Eileen!" She kept her speed walking up, whipping around the corner of the hallway. How could she have eaten after that? "Eileen, please, just listen to me-"

"There's no point Piotr!" Eileen hissed, looking for somewhere, anywhere to escape to. Not that it would do her much good. With strength of steel, Piotr would be able to open any door put in the way. "Just leave me alone. I completely understand."

His footsteps were catching up to her, and she increased her step. Her blonde hair was brushing the back of her neck, and the sides of her ears, but she wouldn't stop like she usually would. She had to keep on walking…and she suddenly wished that she were anything but a technopath.

"That's just it," His strong hand fell on her shoulder and stopped her in mid step, his eyes burning holes into the back of her head. "You don't understand at all."

"Oh I don't, do I?" Piotr walked around to face her, his eyes crinkling in a frown. "Honestly, don't waste your time on me. I'm not worth all the jokes anyway." Eileen tried her hardest to not look him in the eyes, the fear of him seeing her tear filled eyes worsening as he moved her face back to his.

"But you aren't wasting my time," Piotr sighed, smiling at her kindly. "You're how I like to spend my time. Being with you is what I'd do any day." Eileen felt a blush creep up the sides of her face and stain her cheeks, her blue eyes still wide. Was he being serious? There was a small chance he was…she had never known Piotr to be insincere in the whole time she'd known him.

"Oh," Was all she could say to that, wrapping her arms around her waist. "So you weren't making fun of me and my body?" He smiled at her again, his smoky brown crinkling again as he shook his head silently. "You weren't?"

"What's there to make fun of?" He asked her and she huffed out a sigh. "Forget that question…just answer me this. If I ever were to admit to having more than just normal friendly feelings for you, what would you do?" Eileen knew the blush wasn't leaving her cheeks, and she wasn't sure if it was embarrassment or flattery anymore.

"I..I…I don't know. I think I'd have to tell you that…t-that I feel the same way," As soon as she'd said it, she wished she hadn't. He was probably just asking because someone had just tipped him off. She brought her hand up to her forehead, letting out a sigh. How could she have been so stupid? It had probably been Marcus…the next time she saw him, she would kill him.

"That's what I was hoping," Piotr's strong voice came close and she felt a huff of breath on her neck before he kissed her cheek tenderly, the action causing her to open her eyes in shock. He was still lingering in front of her, his own cheeks now red as he looked at her uncertainly. "Oh no…you weren't just joking, were you?"

"No! You just missed," Eileen laughed before leaning in and kissing him square on the lips gently. After no more than a second, she pulled back and smiled at him. "I'll see you around then?" Dancing around him, she continued walking down the hallway, glancing over her shoulder the whole time. If everything went the way she planned, she would have him following her in an instant.

His feet seemed clumsy as he ran to catch up with her, his eyes smiling.

"Wait! What are you doing right now?"

……

"Seth," Jubilee's hand fell onto his chest again, and he vaguely noticed. He was staring up at the mansion, glaring at the window where he knew the music room was. Jasmine had dragged him in there too many times for him to not know where it was. If only he could see what was happening…or what was going to happen- "Seth, stop it."

"Hmm?" He glanced at his girlfriend, his vague expression making her sit up. They were lying under one of the cherry blossom trees in the garden, his view of the mansion clear and precise. Jubilee's pretty face was cringing in annoyance from his ignorance and she let out a sigh.

"If you would rather be with Jasmine, then why are you here with me?" Seth's eyes widened suddenly, and he sat up as well, letting out a laugh. Be with Jasmine? Jasmine was his best friend, and he saw her all the time! Jubilee, who was his secret girlfriend, was rarely with him. He'd asked what everyone wanted to do tonight because he knew Riley would say something about the music room. He'd just figured Piotr, Marcus, Kitty, and Eileen would be going with them.

"Rather be with Jasmine? Are you crazy?" Seth said, wrapping an arm around the girl's shoulders and tugging her towards him, kissing her head when she was close enough. "She's my best friend. I see enough of her."

He'd been the one to voluntarily bring Jubilee into their group, and he'd just been relieved that the four girls had gotten along. Yet he wasn't stupid, and he knew Jubilee was jealous of Jasmine because they spent a lot of time together. Seth had kept their relationship a secret because he knew how weird it would make everyone feel. Especially if it didn't turn out too well in the end.

"Yeah, but you can't stop looking at the music room window," Jubilee sighed. She was incredibly pretty, with long jet-black hair done up in pieces and falling down around her face, her usual muddy brown sequined jacket wrapped around her shoulders. The sky was turning to dusk, and the sweet smelling tree above them was shining its pink flowers around in the wind. Yet for some reason, he couldn't stop thinking about Jasmine and Riley being alone in the music room. "Seth…"

"What?" He'd turned back to her and her frown, Jubilee's large brown eyes shining at him. "Honestly, I'm just worried about what he's going to do to her." Jubilee snorted, throwing Seth into more confusion.

"Riley is one of the most timid guys we know!" Jubilee exclaimed, and Seth felt his cheeks go hot. She was right, and he knew it…he just didn't want to believe that. "What, do you think he's going to rape her or something?"

"You never know," That comment earned him a smack upside the head, and Seth cringed. "I was just kidding!"

"Of course you were," Jubilee mumbled, lying back down on the ground. "I love cherry blossoms, don't you?" Seth lay down beside her, nodding silently in reply. Truth be told, he really did love flowers, but he would never tell anyone. He was almost positive that unless you could read minds like he and several others inhabiting the mansion could, they would never know how completely feminine he was. Alas, that was what he had picked up from Jasmine within the first week of knowing her. "What are you thinking about?"

He didn't look at her, but continued looking directly above him at the cherry pink flowers. What was he thinking about? Jubilee was thinking about her next move, he knew that much, but he had blocked that from his mind to focus on one thing. Jass…and how much it bothered him Riley was with her right now.

"I don't know…the flowers," Seth shrugged, moving his hand to the back of his head. Jubilee moved her head to his shoulder and drew an arm around his middle. He was incredibly lucky to have her, seeing as he knew most girls would absolutely refuse to have a closed and secret relationship. Yet he was looking for something else…an element of trust, maybe? No…that couldn't be it. Seth sighed again, moving his head slightly as he focused in on a particularly large flower. He could read others' thoughts without even trying…yet he was so confused about his own.

"And you know what I'm thinking about…" He heard the smile in his voice and dared to travel to her thoughts. He saw the picture of himself leaning over to kiss her, whispering sweet nothings into her ear. Then the thought changed dramatically when he didn't do anything, turning from love to hate within seconds. "Why can't we tell people about us Seth? What do we have to hide?"

"I told you already," Seth sighed, moving his head to look down on the top of hers. She glanced up at him and smiled sadly. "I don't want to hurt anybody…and I'm pretty sure it would just be weird if we told them."

"But what about Jasmine and Riley?" Jubilee whined, and Seth let out a deep sigh. He had never thought about how much he had been doing that lately…Kitty had told him that it meant that he was low on sleep and anxious. He had told her to stop messing with his mind. But he'd only said that because he knew she was right. "I mean, they're not weirded out by all of us. Why are we?"

"They aren't dating, Jubilee, unless they haven't told me something," He said sternly, sitting up and knocking her off of him. He wasn't in the mood to be bothered with, and he knew what she was about to do before she even thought about it. The image of her standing up and leaving was burned into his head.

"Well, you're obviously tired…or something," She huffed, and he resisted the urge to add 'of you' to the end of her sentence. "I'm going back to the mansion."

"Fine," Seth mumbled, bringing his knees up in front of him. Leaves crunched under her feet as she kept on walking away, an angry thought running around in her head. He would stay out here until he had to…however long that might be.

……

"I really like that song," Jasmine smiled from the piano, the sudden silence in the room only being filled by the fire cackling and Riley plucking at the strings on his bass. She had just finished playing Everybody's Changing, a song by one of her favorite bands, Keane, for him. He'd stood up against he piano, his bass in hand as he watched her as she sang and played. A delicate smile was still on his face when he walked over to put his bass back down in its stand by the window, turning around to grin widely at her. "By Keane, I'm guessing?"

"Yes, actually," Jasmine grinned. "How do you know?" Riley walked over and sat down beside her on the short piano bench, his blue eyes shining in the dim light of the room. She had been more than surprised when he'd asked if she would like to go to the music room with him, and even more surprised when no one else followed them.

"I'm a bit of a closet fan myself," He said, nodding. "I love their song We Might as Well Be Strangers. The piano piece is so nice." Jasmine was more than surprised when he lifted his fingers to the keys in front of him and began playing, without music in front of him, the exact way that song went.

"You can play the piano?" She asked while she moved from the bench so that he sit in the middle. He moved there obligingly, continuing to play the thick and delicate notes, nodding his head. "I never knew that."

"I taught myself by ear really," Riley replied, shrugging. "I can do that with almost any instrument."

"Maybe it's another power you have?" Jasmine laughed, and he merely shrugged his shoulders in reply. He was a man of few words, but one of her best friends all the while. He was quiet enough, like her, but loud enough to surpass her at any moment. "Gosh, I wish I could do that."

"You do," At his response, she laughed again, moving to the side of the piano and watching him. He was watching her, his black outlined eyes latched onto hers as he kept on playing. For a split moment, it reminded her of Ray Charles, a crazy blind pianist and singer who was one of the best in the world. His eyes were that blue… "Seriously. You sing, don't you? That's playing by ear."

"Singing is not an instrument," Jasmine countered, and he stopped playing. She watched as he stood up and moved over to her, his hands stuck deep in his pockets as he continued looking at her.

"On the contrary, it is," He was incredibly close to her, even closer than he had been at the pond. The serious tone in his voice was enthralling, and it captivated Jasmine. Why? Because it was Riley that was talking to her and that was enough of a reason for everything. "Someone can sing without any music, but make it sound like an entire band is playing with them."

"Yeah," She said, glancing from the ground and back up to him, her cheeks tingeing red. If she really wanted to, she could set up an invisible barrier between them, or use her mind to fling him across the room and away from her. But if anything, all Jasmine wanted to do was bring him closer, even if only to give him a hug. Riley's nose brushed against hers, sending shivers up her spine. "I know what you mean."

"I know you do," Riley whispered, his forehead pressed against hers. "That's why…" He trailed off as he leaned into brush her lips with his, not getting very far before the door opened quickly. They jumped apart quickly, but his hands still rested on her forearms, where he'd been holding her before they'd parted. Seth stood in the doorway, a glint of jealousy captured in his eyes as he saw their embrace.

"Oh," He said plainly, venom filling his voice. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was interrupting anything." Turning on his heel, Seth disappeared from sight, his footsteps echoing in the hallway. Jasmine let out a sigh, turning to Riley and frowning.

"I should go-"

"Yeah," Riley nodded, his voice low and quiet. He seemed so disappointed…the thoughts that had been and were screaming out to here told her that. "Go…we'll catch up later."

"Yeah…" And with one last glance, Jasmine left the music room in pursuit of her best friend. The one boy who might have just ruined things with her and the guy she likes for good.

……

"Look who it is," The bitter voice coming from him didn't sound like his own, and he finally realized Jubilee might be right about him. He was jealous…jealous of Riley for being so close to his best friend. Jasmine turned around in her steps, her wide brown eyes softening when she caught sight of him. He pushed off the corridor wall, his arms crossed as he walked towards her. Seth didn't know why he was being so moody…but he couldn't help it. Her thoughts were racing and she didn't know what do to. She wanted to run back to Riley and get back into his arms the way she had been before. For a fleeting moment, he wished he didn't have the power to read minds. It was hell at times.

"Seth," She gasped. Obviously, she'd been running around for a while now looking for him. He'd seen her coming before she even knew where she was. "I've been looking for you for two hours now."

It was eleven at night and most people were in bed. He'd hid in his room, changing into boxers and a t-shirt before seeing her coming down the hall. He'd had just enough time to position himself right where he wanted to be to encounter her. She hadn't changed yet into pajamas yet, but had changed into more comfortable clothes from the attire she'd worn out today. Her still worn, boy cut jeans hung loosely on her, and the light, cotton sweater she wore was a deep shade of plum. She'd taken her hair down too…it now hung down at her shoulders, ending just before her elbows in layers. She looked amazing, but her thoughts were angry. Towards him.

"Sorry for bursting in on you and Riley like that today," Seth spat, letting the ice in his tone be known. He was good at getting into her head when she least expected it. He saw the casual flinch on her face. It was dark out, and they could barely see anything without the lantern lights lining the dark ebony walls. "I didn't know that there was something going on."

"Oh, shut up Seth," Jasmine sighed, her hand resting on her temple. She was getting another one of her headaches, something that always happened when she got stressed. He saw them shouting and having another row, but he didn't care. At least he could get his feelings out that way. "You know that there is nothing going on between me and Riley.

He scoffed a laugh, her feelings for the smoke illusionist popping up in his mind. Daring to go deeper, Seth reached the peak of it all when he felt a weird block hit his head. Something he had never, ever felt before. "Stop it, Seth".

His eyes went wide and he stared at her in shock. She could read minds? Since when? Seth's eyes narrowed, and he let out another huff as he casually lent back across the wall. "Gee, I never knew you could do that. Was it something that you were just telling Riley?"

"What is your problem?" The scream in his head made him wince, and he stared at her incredulously. She had never used that much power before, and any comment had just been some sort of a whisper. But that voice had been a scream, the block had been hard to break through, and almost too real to let drop. "Riley and I are just friends, and even if we were something more, you've got Jubilee. Do you know how long I have been waiting around while you snuck around with her?"

A glimmer of some sort of twisted hope flashed in his head and his eyes went wide. "Waiting around for who?" It seemed ridiculous to be standing in the middle of a hallway silent and glaring, but it was better than having anyone who wasn't telepathic over hear. Jasmine's face flushed slightly, and she shrugged, her eyes dropping.

"I don't know…anyone." She crossed her arms again, and he could feel the tiredness falling off of her in large chunks, bits of embarrassment caking through. "I'm done talking about this."

"Jasmine-" But before he could get another word in, she'd turned and walked down the hall, blocking all thoughts that flew at her.