Jubilee's POV

So, there I was. On my way to my best friend's funeral. Again. To be honest, I'm pretty surprised that, even with all that happened at Alex and Lorna's not-wedding, we were still going to be on time. I talked to both Hank and Professor X about the arrangements they made with MUSE. I wanted to make sure that Angelo got the kind of funeral that he wanted.

Not that I knew exactly what he wanted. As roommates, we'd stayed up lots of times talking about "stuff", but funeral plans never really made it into our conversations. We mostly stuck to topics like what it was like being mutants and reminiscing about our times with Gen X. Every once in a while, we moved to more normal topics, like would we ever get married (to other people) and what we wanted to do with our futures (his dream was to win the lottery and move to Malibu. Mine was more sensible. I wanted to become a famous actress and then rejoin the X-men). The closest we ever got to talking about death was when we wondered what happened after someone died. Neither of us was too sure about that one.

Well, I was dead, and now I'm back. But the funny thing is, I really have no idea what happened. I have almost no recollection of how I died, let alone where I went while I was dead. If I went anywhere.

But anyway, I've strayed off topic, something that I'm pretty much known for. What I was getting at was that Ange and I never once discussed what we wanted at our funerals. Actually, if someone had told us that it was a good idea to have these things planned out, we'd have looked at that person like they were insanely morbid.

So, when the Professor approached me and asked me about Ange's funeral, I kind of stared at him, confused. I'd never really thought that funerals needed to be planned. I'd thought that they were just things that you showed up to. Of course, I realize now that that makes no sense, but I was still kind of in shock, so sue me for not thinking clearly.

Even though Ange and I hadn't drawn up funeral plans, I didn't have too much of a hard time drafting his, on account of that I probably knew him better than any other living person. Plus, I'd been to enough funerals in my life to know the basic layout.

Angelo was Catholic. He almost never went to church, but he wore a crucifix chain around his neck, which he almost never took off. Plus, he kept a couple of crosses and religious symbols around our apartment. I figured if he was going to have any sort of service, it should be a Catholic one. I also decided that he should be buried in the same cemetery his family was in. He went weekly to drop off flowers at their graves. He never took me with him, but I knew where it was.

All in all, it was going to be a quiet, short ceremony with just a few of the X-men attending. I knew this would have irked him, since he didn't really like the superhero crowd all that much, but it was either them or nobody. After all, Ange had been pretty reclusive since our move back here. And his living relatives all thought he was dead. I was pretty sure it would have been a bad idea to go knocking on their doors, saying something along the lines of, "Hey, do you remember your cousin Angelo? The one who died a few years ago? Guess what - he didn't really die!! That's right, he's been living in this very city, up until very recently, when he did die. Wanna come to his funeral? Again?"

So Ange was going to have to deal with a superhero funeral. Sorry dude.

I flew in on the Blackbird with most of the X-men. Shortly before we left, an emergency mission came up, something about a human/mutant clash in Denver. The Professor sent a small team to deal with the problem. Kurt, who was appointed the team's leader, promised me that he would try to make it back in time for the service. Which was nice of him, really. He didn't know Ange very well, but I guess he just wanted to show his support for me. Plus, I'm pretty sure he feels a little guilty about our deaths. Not that he should, but he probably does.

Wolvie came in late the night before the wedding. I didn't see him until after the parties. Paige was going to let me hitch a ride back to the mansion. Like me, she really didn't enjoy the festivities as much. But I think she was better at hiding it. Plus, not only was I bored stiff, I had other - if you ask me, more important - things on my mind. I think it is safe to say that I was pretty relieved that the party ended.

Anyway, Paige and I were walking towards her car, not talking about much of anything. Suddenly, I stopped. I had no idea how I knew someone was following us, but I did. When I turned around, there he was, not ten feet behind us. I couldn't stop myself, I just ran at him and gave him a huge hug.

"I'll take her home, Paige," I heard Wolvie say. I looked back at her. She seemed to contemplate the suggestion for a few seconds. Then she nodded and told us she'd see us back at the mansion. Wolvie led me to where he'd left his motorcycle. Instead of driving me home, though, we stopped at some seedy bar. Wolvie has a thing for seedy bars. Sometimes it's kind of creepy, but this time it was cool because no one carded me. Not that Wolvie would ever let me drink, of course. Not being asked for ID just made me feel, well, older. In a good way, of course.

We sat at a dimly lit table (the whole place was dimly lit if you ask me. I think that the owner was trying to save money on electricity or light bulbs or something). Anyway, we talked about a lot of things. Mostly about me. Wolvie wanted to make sure that I was coping well with what had happened. I always feel totally comfortable talking with Wolvie. I told him almost everything about what's been going on with me. However, I did leave out the part about my fainting and my visit to Dr. Bauer. I didn't want to worry him. Plus, I knew that he'd get mad at me for not seeing Hank right after it happened. I also left out my fight with Bobby. I'm still not quite sure why I did that.
We finally left the bar fifteen minutes before it closed. I got to bed really late and was extremely surprised when that I woke up in time for the wedding.

I should have stayed in bed.

The flight to Los Angelos was pretty uneventful. Jono kept looking at Paige and Warren, who were sitting right in front of him. He looked so upset that I finally got up and sat next to him.

"What?" I heard an irritated voice ask.

"Chicken butt," I thought in response, trusting him to pick up the thought. His sudden scowl confirmed that he had. I looked around the room. Nobody was paying us the least attention. I guess everyone was pretty used to telepathic conversations.

"Clever, Jubes. No wonder they made you a teacher," he replied sarcastically.

"Oh, ha ha. Look, I just came over to check up on you. And to tell you to cut it out."

"Cut what out?" he asked. I was amazed. He actually had no idea what I was talking about.

"That whole jealousy thing you've got going with Paige and Warren." Before he could respond, I continued, "Not that I don't understand what you're going through. After all, I know how it is to love someone and not be loved back. But, dude, you've got to move on. I know it doesn't seem like it now, but it'll get better. She's found someone else, and, eventually, so will you. And if you give me any of that 'who'd want a guy with half a face' crap, I swear I'll blast off the other half." The nice part about telepathic conversation is that you don't have to pause for breath.

Jono didn't respond for a long time. I was actually worried that he was going to ignore me. Finally, though, he asked, "Is it that obvious?"

"Well, only to those of us who've got most of our five senses working. There's probably some deaf/blind person out there who's got no clue. Unless he's telepathic, of course," I added.

Jono took another moment to brood. He's really got that whole sulking thing down to an art. Finally, he nodded.

"Look, luv, I'm sorry I've been acting like a bloody fool lately. Can't say that I'll stop it – don't know if I could stop it, even if I wanted to - but if it's really that apparent, I'll try to tone it down."

My jaw dropped. I couldn't believe it had been that easy. I was so amazed that he had seen my point that I forgot to mention that I wasn't the one he should be apologizing to.

Anyway, we spent the rest of the flight catching up. Jono is actually a pretty cool guy when he's not feeling sorry for himself. Basically, that means he's a cool guy for about three hours a day.

The Professor had arranged for hotel rooms for us near the airport. We got in kind of late, so most of us adjourned to our rooms. The funeral was planned for tomorrow. Then, we'd stay overnight one more night before flying back.

Paige is supposed to be my roommate. However, since Warren's roommate, Bobby, is currently in Denver with Kurt, I have the room to myself. Which turns out to be a good thing, since I've forgotten my pills. I can't sleep for a bunch of stupid reasons, but mostly because I'm freaked out about experiencing another nightmare. So here I lay, awake in bed, just thinking. My thoughts keep returning to that stupid fight that I'd had with Bobby the day before the not-wedding. Both of us are now acting like nothing happened. Well, except for the fact that we haven't spoken since. And the fact that we're kind of avoiding each other.

I definitely said some things that I regret now. Actually, I regret most of what I said. Sometimes, it's like my mouth is on autopilot and my brain really has no control over what I'm saying and no idea about what I'm going to say next. I've been pretty good at not doing that since I got back, but for some reason, I seem to lose all of my restraint with Bobby. I guess that sometimes I'm so comfortable with him that I feel that I can say anything, even things I shouldn't.

Is that weird?

Yep, I'm weird.

What else is new?

The fight with Bobby had made me so upset that I almost didn't go to the bachelorette party. I finally decided to make an appearance just to keep people from worrying about me. I've been doing that a lot lately. Trying to keep people from worrying about me. I mean, it's normal to worry about someone you care about. Bobby told me that much that night in the car. I guess that I just don't want people trying to take care of me when I should be taking care of myself. To put it another way, I just want them to acknowledge that I've grown up. I can handle things myself. Although, come to think of it, I have been acting kind of extreme lately.

Is this some sort of coming-of-age, independence crap?

And if it is, I should really stop taking it out on Bobby. I'm sure he has enough going on without me complicating matters. After all, he hadn't been taking this wedding thing too well to begin with. And now that the wedding's off, it looks like Alex and Annie are an official couple. I don't think Bobby took that news well either. Plus, over the past few days (well, while I was still speaking to him), he'd been kind of distracted. But it wasn't just pre-wedding distraction. Somehow, I can tell that there's something else. Like he's got something on his mind, or some deep dark secret he's trying to hide.

Actually, that's something else that is upsetting me. I know something is bothering him and I wish he'd just tell me. What's funny is that I don't think that this would have been an issue a few years ago, back when I first met Bobby. I mean, we were friends and all, but we didn't exactly confide in one another. Now, I'm kind of hurt that he hasn't told me.

I guess that spending just a few hours with someone really can change your entire opinion of them.

If it wasn't for the fact that Bobby's in Denver and that we're still sort of feuding, I'd probably be knocking on his door right now, asking him if he feels like a game of checkers.

I guess I can always go bug Wolvie. Funny, he's usually the first person I run to when I'm bored. Or scared. Or just about anything. I don't know why I thought of Bobby first.

Maybe I will go see what Wolvie's up to.

Crap. Scratch that thought.

I just remembered, I saw him hanging out at the hotel bar before I came up to my room. He was talking to some redhead wearing too much make- up and not enough clothes. They looked like they were really hitting it off. Knowing Wolvie, that means that if I went over to his room right now, I'd be traumatized for life by what I saw inside.

Well, I guess that's one thing in Bobby's favor. He's not too much for one-night stands.

At least, I don't think he is.

I've never really heard of him having any.

Why is the thought of Bobby having a one-night stand upsetting me so much? I need to stop thinking about all of this and try to fall asleep. After all, I've got to wake up early tomorrow.

I wonder what time it is?

Three AM? Crap. Four more hours until my alarm goes off. Got to try to sleep.

Hmmm...Paige isn't back yet. I guess I'm not going to be the only tired one tomorrow.