Title: It was a dark and stormy night

Author: RabidX (rabid_x@yahoo.com)

website

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It was a dark and stormy night 9

By RabidX

 

"O.k., Hayseed, spill it! What is wrong with you?" Jubilee asked, plopping down on the ground next to Paige. "Three days and mope mope mope! Not even that call from Tristan cheered you up."
Paige shrugged. She picked up a blade of grass and split it. "I dunno. I guess... Jubes, do you think there's something wrong with me?"
"Psshht. Were to start?" Jubilee said. "You, like, are a total over-achiever, major butt-kisser and have so no concept of how to lighten up." She blew a large blue bubble with her gum.
"Great." Paige rolled her eyes. "Guess I shoulda known better than to ask."
"Yeah, well, you did. Now, lighten up! Geeze! Try to start *something* to get ANYthing like a rise outta you." Jubilee handed Paige some gum. "Look, there's...I can't believe I'm gonna say this... nothing wrong with you. I can't believe you would think that, Miss Team Leader!"
"Yeah, well..." Paige threw the piece of grass away and popped the gum in her mouth. "The other... *chew*... team
leader... *chew*... left."
Jubilee blinked. "You can not be telling me you're still hung on Jono? I don't get you! You were so over him! You got the cutest, richest guy in school all luvie-dovie over you!"
Paige sighed. "I *am* over him. An' I really like Tristan." Jubilee raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "I am! And I do... it's just... I got an e-mail from Jono..."
"And? He still hung up on you? He apologize for being an ass?"
Paige laughed ruefully. "Naw. He's got someone."
Jubilee stared open-mouthed. "Who? Ohmygod, you *have* to tell me! Kitty? Sara? Ew. Not, like, Ororo? Teeeelllll
meeeee!"
"Remy LeBeau."
If Jubilee's mouth could drop any further, it did. "Gambit!?!?" She squeaked.
Paige nodded, feeling miserable. "That's why I wanted to know if there was something wrong with me."
Jubilee's mouth snapped shut. She stared at Paige's face. "Um... because he's with a guy?" Paige nodded again. "Oh
fer cryin' out loud!" Jubilee slapped her forehead. "You are *so* naive! You, like, had so nothing to do with that! I can't believe you didn't know he was bi!"
"He's bi?"
"Duh! Got good taste to, I have to say. But yes, Paige Guthrie, Jonothon Starsmore is a bisexual." Jubilee said,
lecture like. "And anyway, you got over him and got Tristan. Now he's moved on with Remy. Life goes on yada
yada yada."
"Yeah, that's pretty much what Angelo said." Paige said as she began to mutilate another piece of grass. "I guess, I
dunno, guess I thought I would have known. That maybe he would..."
"Pine away for your hick ass? Man, sometimes you can be such a bitch! Get. Over. It." Jubilee poked Paige's leg with each word. "Maybe I should start calling you Monet."
Paige jumped up. "I don't know why I expected you to understand. Not like you ever dated anyone."
Jubilee's eyes got dark as she stood slowly. "Yep, you're turning out to be a real bitch. Don't you ever tell me I don't
understand. The guy I liked thought I'm a buddy. Thought I'd want to help him get the girl he wants. And you know
what? If he likes her better, then he can have her. As long as he's happy. *That's* what it means to care about someone. Next time you tell me to grow up, Miss Princess, I'll remind you of this."
"Jubes..." Paige started, knowing who she ment. Everett and Monet.
"Fuck off, Princess! Just remember, while you're here with your head up your ass, there's a guy who really digs you.
Try not to fuck him over." With that, Jubilee stalked off.
"I didn't mean it that way!" Paige called after her.
"And just how did you mean it, Miss Guthrie?"
Paige froze. Appropriate. It was Emma Frost. She turned to see Emma standing there, arms crossed, hip cocked. She was giving Paige one of those speculative, expectant looks.
"Um."
"Oh good start." Emma snorted. "Let me just tell you that I hope you understand what Jubilee was telling you. Jono's actions are no longer about you. His sexual preferences are not about you. I know you cared about him and I didn't get involved. But now I am because I will not let this effect this school or team." She moved to stand in front of Paige. "Wipe that incredulous look off your face. I know just what sort of thing you were thinking about pulling. I will tell you now, if you go anywhere near Jono, do anything to upset him, you will have Remy LeBeau to deal with and I don't think you can handle him."
Emma softened as she saw Paige's fallen face. "Look, I know it hurts, but really, Jubilee is right. It's past time to
move on. You do care about Tristan don't you?" Paige nodded. "Well then, don't hurt him with this. And, for
heaven's sake, stop hurting yourself."
~~
To: jstarsmore@xavier.edu
From: pguthrie@massacademy.edu
Subject: Congrats

Got your mail. Remy huh? Well, that's kinda unexpected.
But I hope it's going well. Jubes said you have good taste.
Yeah, she knows. Hope that's cool. I guess you might hear
that I've been acting kinda dumb. Well, I have and I'm sorry
that we didn't talk about things before you left. I'm just glad
that you're happy there.
Paige

To: jstarsmore@xavier.edu
From: jlee@massacademy.edu
Subject: Bastard!

You butthead! I wanna come home! How come you get so
lucky? :P So Paige is like turning into a total bitch. She
thinks that there's something wrong 'cause you're bi. Ange,
Emma !!!! and me bitched her out good though. I think she's
getting it. So... Remy. You jerk! Tell him and Bobby I said
hey and GET ME OUTTA HERE!
Jubes

Jono closed his mail out. Not too bad. He was sorry Paige was having self-image or whatever problems, but it wasn't
his problem anymore. Jubes, well he knew he'd be hearing from her sooner or later. Crazy as a bedbug, but he missed her.
He ran his hands throughout his hair. No point in combing it again, it always ended up this way and that. He was
nervous. Couldn't help it. Remy had told him that some of the other X-Men would be home soon. Bobby had told him it would be no big deal. He wanted to believe him... but there was Rogue.
Jono had gotten caught up on the torrid soap opera of Remy and Rogue by Jubilee. There wasn't a time that she came back from the X-Mansion that she didn't have some new, lurid detail. And then there was the whole leave-Remy-behind-to-die thing. Yeah, Jono hadn't been with Remy, but it pissed him off anyway.
He'd cornered Bobby a couple of nights ago and pumped him for information about it and Remy's return. They'd
ended up skipping rocks into the lake in the rain, while Bobby filed him in. By the time Bobby was done, Jono had
chucked most every rock along one side into the lake and they were both soaked. He'd swore that if Rogue so much as looked cross at Remy, he'd blast her face off, let Little Miss Priss live like him for awhile. Bobby had gotten him calmed down and reminded him that Rogue was an X-Man and therefore he'd have to get in line to frag her. After they'd stopped laughing, Bobby got him to promise to just see how things went. Sins everyone had and all. Jono had finally agreed.
Jono looked balefully at the pile of laundry on the bed. No sense putting it off any longer. He'd promised Remy he
would put up the laundry while Remy and Bobby went to the grocery. He started putting away socks and underwear,
sorting out Remy's colored socks from his black sweat socks. He looked at the little piles and laughed to himself.
How domestic! How... weirdly wonderful! Just over two weeks had past since he'd come here and now he was
splitting a room and in love.
He was still putting up an endless pile of Remy's shirts when he heard the front door open and close. He spun,
Remy and Bobby were...
"Hallo? Anyone here?"
Jono blinked. That wasn't Remy or Bobby. He headed for the stairs. Looking down, he saw two huge duffel bags in
the foyer but no one was there. He headed down, looking for the owner of the luggage. As he reached the bottom a
strange popping noise sounded behind him. The faintest smell of sulfur reached his blunted sense of smell as he
turned.
"And who are you?" A very demonic but happily smiling blue face asked.
~Gah!~ Jono staggered backwards, completely surprised.
Just before he fell on his ass over the duffel bags, Jono was grabbed by a flailing wrist and tugged upright.
"Ach! I am sorry! I didn't mean to scare you."
~S'oright. Um... Yer Nightcrawler.~ Jono knew that sounded dorky, but it was all he could get out.
"Ja, Kurt Wagner at your service." Kurt bowed. "And you are..?"
~Oh! Uh, Jonothon Starsmore... Jono. Chamber.~ <Get over the dork act, Starsmore!>
Kurt snapped his fingers. "Oh yes! One of Jubilation's teammates, ja? She here as well?" He smiled continuously,
just happy to be home.
~Er... Yes and no.~ Kurt raised eyebrows questioningly at that. ~I mean I was a teammate and Jubes isn't here.~
Kurt laughed. "I have surprised you and am now bombarding you with questions. Tell you what, I will put
my bags away and then you can catch me up. Sound good?"
~Yeah. Sounds great.~ Jono was relieved. He could screw his head back on proper.
"Well then, I shall see you in a moment." Kurt grabbed both bags and... *BAMF*
Jono blinked. Well, it's not like he didn't know what Nightcrawler's powers were. From a file he had to read
during his first year at the Academy. Defiantly not complete preparation for seeing things in action. Oh well. He headed for the kitchen. Kurt may want some coffee or something.
Coffee going, Jono took a seat on one of the barstools lining the otherside of the counter. He knew the kitchen always ended up the hangout spot in any house. It used to be weird to him, given his inability to appreciate the surroundings anymore. Too many late nights with Ange and Jubes, watching them raid the 'fridge, got him over that. He looked up as Kurt walked in.
"Ah, coffee. Danke." Kurt poured himself a mug. "So, where were we? Ah yes, you are not visiting are you?"
~No. I guess I'm the new team member.~ Jono shrugged.
"Well then, welcome to the team." Kurt smiled and shook Jono's hand. "Who all is here? I certainly hope the Professor didn't send you to an empty house."
Jono laughed, an interesting sound in Kurt's head. ~Almost. Remy was just comin' back when he found me. An' then Bobby showed up a few days later. They're out at the store, stocking up.~
Just then, as if called, the kitchen door banged open and Remy and Bobby came in, staggering under the weight of
grocery bags. Jono and Kurt rushed to help. Through greetings and hugs and several trips to the car, all the
groceries finally got inside. Kurt and Bobby started putting things away, while Remy pulled Jono into a hug and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Kurt looked at Bobby who smiled.
"He likes 'em younger and ruder than me." Bobby said and ducked a roll of papertowels Jono chucked at his head.
Kurt nodded. So things had changed yet again. He watched the three of them goof around, putting the mass of groceries up, and decided that everyone involved looked and sounded happy. That was all that mattered.
"I heard the rains got bad here." Kurt said, as they settled down. "Did they?"
Jono snorted and Remy choked on his coffee. "You could say dat" He filled Kurt in on the flood.
Kurt whistled. "Mein Gott! You both could have been killed!"
Remy shrugged and squeezed Jono's hand. He was getting paler and shaky, just remembering how close he came to
losing Remy. "Not wit' dis one around." Remy kissed the hand.
The phone rang. Bobby jumped up and grabbed it. After his greeting, he smiled broadly.
"It's Angelo! I'm gonna take this upstairs! No, wait... Ange, I'll call you back on my phone. Yeah, I'm downstairs, that's why I didn't answer it.... Remy, Jono and Kurt. Yeah he just got back tonight." He looked at everyone. "Ange says 'Hey'."
~Tell 'im I said to tell Jubes to bite me.~ Jono said.
"Jono says to tell Jubes to bite him. He will, Jono.... Ok... call you right back." Bobby hung up the phone, grinning
widely. "Gotta go!" And he raced out of the kitchen.
Kurt looked at Remy and Jono, eyebrows high. "Ange?"
"His new boyfriend." Remy answered, smiling. "He's a Gen-Xer as well. Skin. Don' look like dat! He's legal!"
Kurt almost spit out the sip of coffee he had. He swallowed and grinned. "No no! Was just thinking maybe I should ask one of them out." He winked.
~There's always Jubes.~ Jono said, waggling his eyebrows.
"Nein! She is a little sister!" Kurt protested. "Besides, Logan would kill me!"
~~
*RING*
"Hola."
"Hey."
"You sound outta breath."
"Well I *pant* ran up *pant* the stairs."
"Just to call me back?"
"Yeah, well..."
"Heh. Bet you're blushing."
"Shut up!"
"You sure you're in your 20's, 'mano?"
"Hrm. Yeah well... how are things going?"
"They suck. Regular kids are back. Classes are stupid an' Frosty still won't let me have an image inducer."
"I think that's just plain stupid."
"Your lips, God's ear. *sigh*"
"Ange, are they giving you shit?"
"Yeah. I mean, come on! 'Skin Condition'. They ain't stupid. Some of them are pissed there's a mutant here."
"Did you look into your credits yet?"
"Yeah, Cassidy is lookin' for me. He knows I want out."
"Will... you come here?"
"What do you think, vato? Of course I will."
"Cool. I miss you."
"I miss you too."
Bobby shifted on his bed. He could tell Angelo was doing the same thing. He could hear a smoke being lighted and did the same.
"Better?"
"Si. Lung Cancer Express."
"Hey! That's my line!"
"I steal from the best."
"Dreamed about you last night."
"Was it nasty?"
"Of course! *laughs* Don't think I have any other kind."
"Wanna tell me about it?"
"Maybe. Rather show you."
"Then come get me outta here!"
"I could. I could drive there right now."
"You would, wouldn't you?"
"In a heartbeat."
*sigh* "Maybe you should. I don't think I can take one more stupid mutant joke."
"Surprised Emma allows that."
"Yeah well, I don't tell her everything. 'Sides, she's just tell me that I had to get used to it."
"That totally doesn't sound like Emma."
"Things have changed, 'mano. Ever since her sister screwed her outta all that money."
"Oh bullshit! But, listen, I am getting in the car right now."
"No you aren't. You're still in bed."
"You know what I mean!"
"Bobby, listen. I *want* to come there, but I don't want to be a high school drop-out. It's important to me."
"I know, you told me. The family thing. But hey, if you don't have enough credits, and I think you do, you can finish here! Xavier's is still accredited!"
"Really?"
"Yes! I checked!"
"Christ, Bobby. Come get me before I kill someone."
"I am so on my way! Pack you're stuff. I'm bringing the Blackbird!"
"The Black... ok ok... see you in a bit."
Bobby hung up the phone and raced down to the kitchen. He hastily told Remy, Jono and Kurt that he would be back, gotta go, taking the Blackbird to get Angelo. They just stared at his retreating back.
Angelo hung up and started packing. He stopped. Maybe he'd better tell someone....

 

TBC in Part 10

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