Here it is, part two, 'cause I like writing from multiple POV's :)

Same style as chapter one.

One of the Boys

The day when I realized Jubilee was, in fact, a girl brought a lot of changes to the mansion. Well, maybe it just me but… it wasn't just the way I looked at her, but the way I talked to her, the way I treated her..... I found myself opening doors for her and holding back insults I would normally just say and regret later. It just seemed that something clicked and, for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking of her.

Everything she did was the epitome of my universe. When she declared yellow was her favorite color, I found myself obsessing over the fact I had no shirts of that color. And the day she decided to give up meat for a week for Kitty's sake, I abstained for a whole 36 hours before cracking. Not to mention that I've always got a pack of mint gum in my pocket now. So, yeah, it's probably just me.

But seriously, it shouldn't even have been that big of a deal. The guys had been playing baseball – all the girls minus Jubilee had opted out – and we were all hot and sweaty from running in the sun all afternoon. Jubes had pulled her hand out of her glove, and a spider crawled out along with it. She flicked it away without even a second glance, and Ray, seeing this, decided to act like the idiot we all know he is, mentioning how most girls would have just screamed or something.

Jubilee stormed up to him, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him down to eye level, glaring. While she gave him a good talking to, I just stared, thinking how hot she looked just then, raging mad and dirt smeared on her cheeks. Catching myself, my cheeks started burning and I retreated inside mumbling about needing something or other, like the wimp I am. I ended up in the kitchen, banging my head on the table until there was a nice sized bruise on my forehead. In hindsight, that probably wasn't the smartest thing I could have done, 'cause walking around with a huge purple mark right above my eyes really drew unnecessary attention. I couldn't look at Jubilee without blushing until it finally faded away.

But that wasn't all. As I said, everything she did caught my attention. So, when she was started air-guitaring to a song on her iPod, of course nothing mattered for the next three minutes. Just her, her hair flying around, and the invisible guitar. Again, Ray, deciding to be an ass, caught me and has been making it a point to bug me about it ever since.

When her parents decided to pull Jubilee out of the school because of 'safety concerns', that was the hardest day of my life – I keep thinking what I doofus I was not to give her a real goodbye, hi-fives don't really count if you don't know if you're ever gonna see that person again – to be followed by the toughest three months I've ever faced. Not only because of the whole Apocalypse thing, but because I was going crazy of Jubilee-deprivation, or something. I swear, if it hadn't been only three months, I would've done something truly stupid, like taking the X-Jet to see her in California – not that I hadn't already been considering it.

The day she came back was one to remember. She walked through the doors with more flair than the sassiest Hollywood diva, hot pink sunglasses in her newly shortened hair. If she was cute before, she was definitely the sexiest thing on the planet then. I stood at the foot of the stairs, my mouth hanging open like a moron, staring at her. She caught this and smirked, rolling her eyes, right before she was swamped by all her girl friends. This gave me time to get myself together and reaffirm my idiot status by saying the most idiotic thing anyone could ever say.

I'd never known acting like an idiot could be so rewarding until then. She still called me an idiot, but at least I got a really, really enthusiastic hug. You may think it's lame, but until you've had the girl of your dreams literally throw herself at you, don't comment.

But that wasn't it. Not only had her hair changed, but she'd gotten some attitude to match. Tube tops, booty shorts, and a walk powerful enough to make even girls stare. She was the bomb. She started hanging out with Tabitha, too, for better or worse, I don't know. All I know is that she started flirting a whole lot more, and not just with me….

***

The pool is rarely used for recreational use, but today has proven to be exceptionally hot, so we've decided to make a day of it, barbeque and all. And so that's why I'm staring at this bikini-clad beauty, summoning up the courage to make a move before someone else does. She's walking my way, flicking her hair over her shoulder. I could swear I saw her wink at me just now.

Then, she walks past me. And I mean, right by me, wagging her hips.

Before something can make me actually stop and think, I jump to my feet and follow her. I wrap my arm around her waist and she jumps, surprised. I smirk and use this to my advantage, pulling her against me. The touch of her bare skin on mine is electrifying. Focus.

"Hey, Jubesy," I say, knowing she hates it when I call her that. "What's up?"

"What's up with you, Drake," she shoots back, raising an eyebrow. Then before I know it, I'm kissing her. Honestly, I have no idea what possessed me, but it doesn't matter, 'cause she started kissing me back.

"Took you long enough," she says, breaking off the kiss, but still staying glued to my side.

"Meh." I'm about to say something smarter, but Ray comes up and shoves me. Which ends up putting both me and Jubes in the pool.

Resurfacing, gasping, looking for Jubilee… there she is. Her head bobs just above the surface of the water, looking every bit of surprised as I feel. I'm just about to yell at Ray when she swims over and kisses me again, a grin in place.

I forget how to swim for a moment, and we go under. But that doesn't matter; breathing isn't required for kissing. Well, maybe eventually…. We resurface to the hooting and hollering of the other kids, and both of us grin sheepishly.

I hear Ray say something that sounds suspiciously like, "Pay up!"

Rolling my eyes, I say, a little breathlessly, "Guess we made his day."

"Forget him," Jubilee smirks. "This is my day."

She kisses me again, and I couldn't agree more.

This is only one I'm posting this weekend - I've been a bit hung up on work lately, but hopefully I'll have at least one more by next weekend. :) I have recently gotten some new inspiration, though.... ;)

- J J Bean