Since I was busy getting ready for bed I left Shock in charge of getting my mom's room ready for Jason to stay in. I was still upset thinking about my mom and I didn't worry too much about a guy living in my apartment. I even forgot to mention this to Commander Forge, who I knew would have been furious to know I had let Jason into the apartment without asking him first. Not that I cared right now as I entered the bathroom and closed the door, wanting to take a long hot shower and ignore the sounds of a very angry Jason as he complained to Shock.
"Again why do I need to stay here? I could have just stayed back at N-Tek." Jason asked as he sat heavily on the couch, and the Ultralink rolled his eye.
"Because Jessie wanted to stay here tonight. Maybe tomorrow I can talk to her and change her mind so just for tonight can you let it go?" Shock sighed and Jason narrowed his eyes, looking like he wanted to argue. Which he of course did or he wouldn't have been Jason.
"But its a woman's room and if you hadn't guessed I'm a man." He retorted and Shock rolled his eye again, annoying the villan. "Okay why are you rolling your eyes at me now?"
"Jessie's upset about her mom and all you can do is complain." Shock answered glancing towards the bathroom door and after a long pause Jason seemed to get it.
"Look that's not my problem." Jason said as he looked in the same direction. Well so much for understanding, Shock thought as he glared at the villian. When I emerged from the bathroom, towel-drying my hair and seeing both guys watching me I raised an eyebrow.
"What? Can't a girl take a shower without being stared at?" I grumbled and not giving them a chance to answer back I stormed towards my room, dropping the towel as I reached the door. Without bothering to pick it up I opened the door and walked inside, almost slamming the door behind me.
"Is she always this...uptight?" Jason asked as he raised both eyebrows at Shock then the door and Shock let out a chuckle.
"Usually Jessie's a lot of fun. Lately though... I dunno maybe she's just tired." Shock answered as he flew towards my room, only to pause as Jason followed him and he turned around. "Excuse me but where do you think you're going?" He asked and Jason gave him a slight grin.
"I thought maybe I could do something to cheer her up." Jason answered and getting a blank stare he frowned. "Okay why are you staring at me?" He asked getting more frustrated by the second at Shock and this whole situation.
"My problem is she's a lady," Shock began and Jason snorted at that, " and you're a man...look do I have to explain everything?" He sighed and Jason suddenly blushed.
"You think that I would...with her?! Are you out of your mind? All I was going to do was..." Jason shouted at Shock who was just getting ready to tell the villan off when they both heard a slight noise, coming from my bedroom. "What was that?" Jason asked forgetting all about Shock and as he listened closely he heard a sob.
"Oh great. Now she's really upset. Nice going Naught." Shock growled before he shot towards my room and slowly opened the door, finding me lying on the edge of the bed and when I raised my head he sighed. "Hey its okay." He whispered but I violently shook my head, eyes red and as tears slowly streaked down my cheeks I coughed.
"Its never going to be okay! I helped him and this is how he treats me! How can he be so cruel?" I sobbed, slumping to my side and burying my face in the blanket. Shock hovered beside me as I sobbed and just as he was about to speak we both heard Jason, now standing just inside the doorway.
"Can I come in?" He asked and I suddenly sat up, rubbing quickly at my eyes and then I glared. "I'll take that as a no?" He added staring at me as I stared back and just for a moment my eyes glowed, causing him to quickly step back. "Well I tried." He muttered more to himself before he decided that he was better off going to bed. Maybe she'll have cooled off in the morning, he sighed as he headed to my mom's old room.
But as the morning came and Jason wandered into the kitchen, fighting back a yawn, he noticed just how quiet the apartment was. "Huh that is one lazy girl if she's still asleep." He muttered as he ran a hand through his hair and just as he reached my doorway he hesitated. Then he shook his head and as he slowly reached for the doorknob he heard voices.
"Jessie you can't stay here. You have school tomorrow and there's that Spanish exam you haven't really studied for." Shock said as I lay beneath the covers, my eyes shut tight as I faked being asleep. "I know you're not asleep." He added as he flew down and tugged at the blanket with his arm.
"I'm staying here." Came my somewhat muffled reply and he rolled his eye, not giving up on budging me from my bed. "No one can pick on me here." Focused on getting me to move from my bed Shock didn't hear the door open but when I heard footsteps I uncovered my head, finding Jason standing in the doorway.
"Is there a problem? If not, back to N-tek we go." Jason asked, unusually cheerful and I sighed as I sat up. "Unless you want to stay here and I'll head back?" He added a slight smirk on his face and my eyes narrowed as I climbed to my feet.
"There's no way I'm letting you out of my sight, Naught." I growled as I moved past him and entered the bathroom, shutting the door in his face as he watched on.
"She's still mad?" Jason asked as Shock flew over and hovered near the door, giving Jason an eyeroll. "Hmph I think maybe I should have made the offer with Max instead." He grumbled as he wandered into the livingroom and sat heavily on the couch, folding his arms.
"You do realize Max would have blasted you before you could ask?" Shock said, closing the bedroom door and flying over to hover above the kitchen table. "Jessie's a lot more..."He trailed off searching for the right word and Jason grinned.
"Gulible?" Jason finished for him and Shock froze as Jason stared at him. Then he started to laugh and Shock blinked, feeling very confused. "Hah you are so dense."
"What are you talking about?" Shock demanded and not giving Jason even a second to answer he blasted him with a shot of Turbo energy. With a very unmanly yelp Jason ended up on the floor and as he growled, Shock readied another blast.
"I was joking!" Jason yelled before he suddenly changed to his Mech mode and as they squared off, ready to fight I walked into the room.
"What do you two think you're doing?" I yelled at them and they both turned around to see me standing there, my face slightly red from my outburst and as I glared at the pair of them I heard Jason cough. In seconds he changed back, readjusting his tie and as I watched Shock flew over to me. "I leave you two alone for five minutes and you start World War 3."
"It was his fault." They both shouted, pointing to each other and I shook my head, not wanting to get involved.
"Let's get back to N-Tek...before you two wreak my apartment." I muttered and Shock linked with me, almost knocking Jason off his feet with the Turbo energy blast. Now in my street clothes I walked along with Jason trailing just behind me and as I concentrated on getting us there in one piece I didn't notice him staring at my back.
I still can't believe I asked for her help, he thought as he followed me. I should be the one giving orders and yet I follow her like a dog, he thought as his eyes narrowed at my back. When I stopped at a crosswalk he slowed down too, not letting me see just how irritated he was at being bossed around. "First I had to take orders from Dredd and now her." He muttered and I glanced back at him to see a slight pout on his lips and I sighed, only then realizing just how difficult I'd been.
"Sorry I haven't been very...nice I suppose to you lately. I haven't been sleeping well and I took it out on you." I told him and he looked up at me, suddenly locking eyes and I gave him a slight grin.
"Took you long enough." He replied and I rolled my eyes, wondering why I even bothered. We walked the rest of the way in silence and when we arrived at the warehouse I almost gave a sigh of relief, glad to be back. Even Shock seemed a little happier though I suppose it was because he could fly around as much as he wanted.
Unfortunately just as we walked into the corridor I heard Berto call out and as I waved at young scientist I took one look at the expression on his face and I let out a breath, instantly knowing I was in big trouble.
"Jessie, Commander Forge wants to see you three. He's pretty mad you left without asking for permission." Berto told me, holding his hand held computer as he faced me.
"Look I just needed to get away for a night. What's the big deal?" I asked as I followed him toward the Com Room, Jason following behind me and Berto shrugged at me.
"Well he's not happy you let Jason stay at your apartment for the night." Berto answered and I blinked when I noticed him looking from me to Jason and back.
"Before you or anyone else for that matter jumps to some far-fetched conclusion we're not even friends." I told him unaware that Jason paused for a few seconds and since he was behind me I didn't see the frown that appeared on his face. And just for a split second the hurt in his eyes before he narrowed his eyes at me.