Again, thanks, for the great reviews. I still don't quite know where this
is going or if it will turn out to be Bobby/Jubilee or not. I guess I'm
mostly planning on chronicling behind the scenes UXM for now (since the
book seems to be ignoring all of my favorite characters).
________________________________________________________________________
After finishing her workout that morning, Jubilee headed upstairs to shower and to change her clothes. She applied new bandages to her hands, since some blood had seeped through her old ones. Afterwards, making her way downstairs for a quick snack, she passed Emma. Neither woman acknowledged the other. Jubilee was too used to this behavior from her former headmistress to be hurt by it. Emma hadn't said one word to her since her return to the mansion. Hadn't even acknowledged her existence. Jubilee wasn't sure what she had done to earn her disregard, but it didn't matter. Truth be told, the woman had always creeped her out, even during the days of Generation X.
She bumped into Paige in the mansion's large living room. "She's ignoring you too?" asked Paige, nodding towards Emma's retreating figure.
"Yeah, since I got back. I guess that she doesn't have enough time to spend on both her old and new students. What with coordinating her underwear and all." Then, in a petulant voice that sounded nothing like Emma's, Jubilee added, "Hmmm. do I feel skimpy or slutty today?"
Paige giggled and asked, "Is there a difference. With her I mean?"
"You're asking me about Emma's lingerie?"
"Well, no, I ." she trailed off, noticing the grin forming on Jubilee's face. "You're just teasing me now!"
"But it's so easy!"
Paige playfully smacked her arm, and Jubilee chose not to retaliate. Since she'd come back, Paige had been treating her like a long lost friend and close confidante. The behavior seemed strange to Jubilee, who was used to Paige being a little superior and patronizing towards her most of the time. She just figured the older girl needed someone to gush about Warren to. And on cue.
"Warren and I going on a picnic this afternoon. We've decided that the big oak tree by the lake would be the perfect place. It's so relaxing out there. Have you ever been there? Warren says it's really beautiful to watch the sun set from there. Can you believe it! Watching the sunset together. I mean, Jono would never have thought about something so romantic."
They'd reached the kitchen. Jubilee quickly ran off to the fridge to pull out a container of yogurt and some milk. Ignoring Paige, who was still talking, Jubilee retrieved a box of Sugar Bombs from the pantry and a bowl and spoons from the counter. She continued to block out Paige as she poured a large helping of cereal and milk.
She didn't blame Paige for being excited about her new relationship with Warren. Jono had been a jerk to her their entire time on Generation X. But sometimes, she and Warren were so cutesy it hurt. This was the third time she was hearing about the picnic.
She'd found out they seeing each other while she was recovering in the infirmary. They'd both come to see her, Paige trying to hug her while avoiding all the tubes that they'd stuck into her while Warren stood in the background, telling how glad he was that she was back and asking if there was anything else he could do. While Paige left to go get her flowers, Jubilee thanked Warren for bringing her back. His face fell at that, and he apologized for not being able to save Skin and the others. She her insides clutch at the mention of Angelo. Nonetheless, she reassured him that he'd done all that he could. Apparently, it was just Angelo's time. She was surprised at the effects her words had on him. He seemed comforted and at ease. She guessed that he was blaming himself for what had happened. X-men were good at doing that.
Just then, Paige returned, carrying a large pot of Calla lilies. The way Warren had smiled when she entered the room piqued Jubilee's interest (she'd asked Annie about the two of them later, and the nurse confirmed her suspicions). Paige returned that smile and placed the flowers on the floor, since Jubilee's nightstand was covered in floral arrangements. The two of them left shortly thereafter.
Actually, the number of people who had visited her during the three days she had been incapacitated surprised Jubilee. Logan had spent most of the first day at her bedside. He spent that night sleeping in the chair next to her bed. His snores kept her up most of the night. She made sure that he slept in his own room after that. He still visited her often during the day, though.
Jono had come to inquire about her health. After finding out she felt fine, he started complaining about how Paige had found someone else. She didn't know why he was taking this so hard. He wasn't nearly this difficult when Paige was seeing that rich guy at the Academy. Hunter Braun's grandkid - was his name Tristan? She made sure to tell Jono he was being a jerk. That didn't seem to stop him, though. It seemed that every time he found the two of them holding hands or talking or who knows what else, Jubilee was the first to know about it. Though she tried to lend a sympathetic ear, there were times when he was just overly malicious. Not being one for tact, she made sure to tell him so. He managed to ignore all of her very poorly disguised hints.
Most of the other X-men stopped in at least once. Except for Emma, of course. Although Annie was officially in charge of her care, Hank stopped in often to check on her condition. Scott and Jean visited her, separately. So did Northstar and Juggernaut. She was surprised to see them, since she really hadn't met either of them. Another newbie, Mr. Xorn, appeared at her door once when no one was around. He stared at her for a while before leaving silently. Weird. Another weirdo was Lorna, who clung to Alex and gushed about wedding plans while Annie hovered in the background, trying to ignore them and failing miserably. Jubilee made a mental note to ask Paige about that one.
Kurt brought her a rosary and a prayer book. She didn't really know what to do with them, but he seemed so sorry, blaming himself for what had happened to her, that she accepted the gifts without protest. Maybe that would put him at ease. The Professor came by at least once a day. She was glad to see he was walking again, but when she asked him about when he wanted to try roller blading again, he stammered and quickly left.
She received a card signed by Storm and her team. The next day, a card from Remy and Rogue arrived bearing a California postal code. The biggest surprise was when Bobby accompanied Hank to one of his routine exams of her, carrying a dozen beautiful yellow roses. He caught her up to the current adventures of the X-men, while Beast took time out of his exam to interject several comments. Jubilee was glad he had found the time to visit her. Bobby was one of the few visitors who didn't try to blame himself for what had happened to her. Actually, that was pretty unusual for him - but she was grateful for it. Three days of trying to reassure people that they were not at fault had worn her out, and she was glad for the break. Bobby was..
Stealing her bowl of cereal!
"Hey, dude! That's mine!" she shouted, pulled from her daydreams.
"I don't see your name it."
"Check under the bowl."
"What?" he asked. Lifting the bowl up so that he could see its bottom, he exclaimed, "Who labels their cereal bowls?"
"People who live with cereal thieves."
"Hey, I'm not stealing it, just borrowing. Wait a few hours, you'll get it back!"
"Bobby!" shouted Paige, appalled. She had stopped her soliloquy about Warren when she'd realized something was wrong. "That was gross and totally uncalled for!"
"Like that shirt?"
"Bobby!" she shouted again, as Jubilee began giggling. "Look, if you want to be a dork, you can do it on your own time. We're leaving. Come on Jubilee."
"I'm not done with my cereal yet!"
"That's because he has it"
"For now. I can get it back."
Paige gave Jubilee a look she remembered from their days in GenX, the one that meant she was totally fed up and Jubilee was at least partially to blame. "Fine, you do that. I have a picnic to get ready for." With that, she left the kitchen, back rigid, long hair swinging behind her.
When she'd turned the corner, Bobby placed Jubilee's cereal bowl back on the counter and settled into the stool Paige had vacated.
"Figured I save you from the 'Warren is so great' speech."
"Actually, I stopped listening two sentences in," replied Jubilee. "But thanks for keeping her from finding that out," she smiled.
"Anytime, Jubes. Anyway, I've gotta run."
"Where're you going?"
"Professor says it's my turn to do the grocery shopping. He's gonna be sorry he remembered," Bobby said gleefully. Jubilee couldn't imagine what the Professor was thinking when he made that suggestion.
"Hold on, I'll come with you."
The suggestion seemed to make Bobby uneasy. "Come with me?"
"Yeah, I haven't been in town since I got back. Plus, I've got nothing to wear. Most of my stuff is in LA, and we're not flying out there for another couple of weeks. The stuff I left here doesn't fit me anymore, the attic is full of scary eighties clothes, and no one here is my size." She neglected to mention that she needed something to wear to Lorna's bridal shower and bachelorette party, since she'd noticed that was a sore point for him. "And, if you're the one who's doing the grocery shopping, I'd like to at least buy something I can eat while everyone else starves."
"Oh. Umm, alright, when will you be ready."
"Just let me finish my breakfast."
"Umm, okay. I'll meet you in the garage." With that, Bobby left the kitchen.
Seconds later he heard her shout, "Dude, you froze my milk!" He chuckled and began searching for his car keys.
________________________________________________________________________
After finishing her workout that morning, Jubilee headed upstairs to shower and to change her clothes. She applied new bandages to her hands, since some blood had seeped through her old ones. Afterwards, making her way downstairs for a quick snack, she passed Emma. Neither woman acknowledged the other. Jubilee was too used to this behavior from her former headmistress to be hurt by it. Emma hadn't said one word to her since her return to the mansion. Hadn't even acknowledged her existence. Jubilee wasn't sure what she had done to earn her disregard, but it didn't matter. Truth be told, the woman had always creeped her out, even during the days of Generation X.
She bumped into Paige in the mansion's large living room. "She's ignoring you too?" asked Paige, nodding towards Emma's retreating figure.
"Yeah, since I got back. I guess that she doesn't have enough time to spend on both her old and new students. What with coordinating her underwear and all." Then, in a petulant voice that sounded nothing like Emma's, Jubilee added, "Hmmm. do I feel skimpy or slutty today?"
Paige giggled and asked, "Is there a difference. With her I mean?"
"You're asking me about Emma's lingerie?"
"Well, no, I ." she trailed off, noticing the grin forming on Jubilee's face. "You're just teasing me now!"
"But it's so easy!"
Paige playfully smacked her arm, and Jubilee chose not to retaliate. Since she'd come back, Paige had been treating her like a long lost friend and close confidante. The behavior seemed strange to Jubilee, who was used to Paige being a little superior and patronizing towards her most of the time. She just figured the older girl needed someone to gush about Warren to. And on cue.
"Warren and I going on a picnic this afternoon. We've decided that the big oak tree by the lake would be the perfect place. It's so relaxing out there. Have you ever been there? Warren says it's really beautiful to watch the sun set from there. Can you believe it! Watching the sunset together. I mean, Jono would never have thought about something so romantic."
They'd reached the kitchen. Jubilee quickly ran off to the fridge to pull out a container of yogurt and some milk. Ignoring Paige, who was still talking, Jubilee retrieved a box of Sugar Bombs from the pantry and a bowl and spoons from the counter. She continued to block out Paige as she poured a large helping of cereal and milk.
She didn't blame Paige for being excited about her new relationship with Warren. Jono had been a jerk to her their entire time on Generation X. But sometimes, she and Warren were so cutesy it hurt. This was the third time she was hearing about the picnic.
She'd found out they seeing each other while she was recovering in the infirmary. They'd both come to see her, Paige trying to hug her while avoiding all the tubes that they'd stuck into her while Warren stood in the background, telling how glad he was that she was back and asking if there was anything else he could do. While Paige left to go get her flowers, Jubilee thanked Warren for bringing her back. His face fell at that, and he apologized for not being able to save Skin and the others. She her insides clutch at the mention of Angelo. Nonetheless, she reassured him that he'd done all that he could. Apparently, it was just Angelo's time. She was surprised at the effects her words had on him. He seemed comforted and at ease. She guessed that he was blaming himself for what had happened. X-men were good at doing that.
Just then, Paige returned, carrying a large pot of Calla lilies. The way Warren had smiled when she entered the room piqued Jubilee's interest (she'd asked Annie about the two of them later, and the nurse confirmed her suspicions). Paige returned that smile and placed the flowers on the floor, since Jubilee's nightstand was covered in floral arrangements. The two of them left shortly thereafter.
Actually, the number of people who had visited her during the three days she had been incapacitated surprised Jubilee. Logan had spent most of the first day at her bedside. He spent that night sleeping in the chair next to her bed. His snores kept her up most of the night. She made sure that he slept in his own room after that. He still visited her often during the day, though.
Jono had come to inquire about her health. After finding out she felt fine, he started complaining about how Paige had found someone else. She didn't know why he was taking this so hard. He wasn't nearly this difficult when Paige was seeing that rich guy at the Academy. Hunter Braun's grandkid - was his name Tristan? She made sure to tell Jono he was being a jerk. That didn't seem to stop him, though. It seemed that every time he found the two of them holding hands or talking or who knows what else, Jubilee was the first to know about it. Though she tried to lend a sympathetic ear, there were times when he was just overly malicious. Not being one for tact, she made sure to tell him so. He managed to ignore all of her very poorly disguised hints.
Most of the other X-men stopped in at least once. Except for Emma, of course. Although Annie was officially in charge of her care, Hank stopped in often to check on her condition. Scott and Jean visited her, separately. So did Northstar and Juggernaut. She was surprised to see them, since she really hadn't met either of them. Another newbie, Mr. Xorn, appeared at her door once when no one was around. He stared at her for a while before leaving silently. Weird. Another weirdo was Lorna, who clung to Alex and gushed about wedding plans while Annie hovered in the background, trying to ignore them and failing miserably. Jubilee made a mental note to ask Paige about that one.
Kurt brought her a rosary and a prayer book. She didn't really know what to do with them, but he seemed so sorry, blaming himself for what had happened to her, that she accepted the gifts without protest. Maybe that would put him at ease. The Professor came by at least once a day. She was glad to see he was walking again, but when she asked him about when he wanted to try roller blading again, he stammered and quickly left.
She received a card signed by Storm and her team. The next day, a card from Remy and Rogue arrived bearing a California postal code. The biggest surprise was when Bobby accompanied Hank to one of his routine exams of her, carrying a dozen beautiful yellow roses. He caught her up to the current adventures of the X-men, while Beast took time out of his exam to interject several comments. Jubilee was glad he had found the time to visit her. Bobby was one of the few visitors who didn't try to blame himself for what had happened to her. Actually, that was pretty unusual for him - but she was grateful for it. Three days of trying to reassure people that they were not at fault had worn her out, and she was glad for the break. Bobby was..
Stealing her bowl of cereal!
"Hey, dude! That's mine!" she shouted, pulled from her daydreams.
"I don't see your name it."
"Check under the bowl."
"What?" he asked. Lifting the bowl up so that he could see its bottom, he exclaimed, "Who labels their cereal bowls?"
"People who live with cereal thieves."
"Hey, I'm not stealing it, just borrowing. Wait a few hours, you'll get it back!"
"Bobby!" shouted Paige, appalled. She had stopped her soliloquy about Warren when she'd realized something was wrong. "That was gross and totally uncalled for!"
"Like that shirt?"
"Bobby!" she shouted again, as Jubilee began giggling. "Look, if you want to be a dork, you can do it on your own time. We're leaving. Come on Jubilee."
"I'm not done with my cereal yet!"
"That's because he has it"
"For now. I can get it back."
Paige gave Jubilee a look she remembered from their days in GenX, the one that meant she was totally fed up and Jubilee was at least partially to blame. "Fine, you do that. I have a picnic to get ready for." With that, she left the kitchen, back rigid, long hair swinging behind her.
When she'd turned the corner, Bobby placed Jubilee's cereal bowl back on the counter and settled into the stool Paige had vacated.
"Figured I save you from the 'Warren is so great' speech."
"Actually, I stopped listening two sentences in," replied Jubilee. "But thanks for keeping her from finding that out," she smiled.
"Anytime, Jubes. Anyway, I've gotta run."
"Where're you going?"
"Professor says it's my turn to do the grocery shopping. He's gonna be sorry he remembered," Bobby said gleefully. Jubilee couldn't imagine what the Professor was thinking when he made that suggestion.
"Hold on, I'll come with you."
The suggestion seemed to make Bobby uneasy. "Come with me?"
"Yeah, I haven't been in town since I got back. Plus, I've got nothing to wear. Most of my stuff is in LA, and we're not flying out there for another couple of weeks. The stuff I left here doesn't fit me anymore, the attic is full of scary eighties clothes, and no one here is my size." She neglected to mention that she needed something to wear to Lorna's bridal shower and bachelorette party, since she'd noticed that was a sore point for him. "And, if you're the one who's doing the grocery shopping, I'd like to at least buy something I can eat while everyone else starves."
"Oh. Umm, alright, when will you be ready."
"Just let me finish my breakfast."
"Umm, okay. I'll meet you in the garage." With that, Bobby left the kitchen.
Seconds later he heard her shout, "Dude, you froze my milk!" He chuckled and began searching for his car keys.