The Affected Disaffected Youth
“So where are you going?”
Paige glumly looked up at Angelo from her seat on the floor. Around them, the walls of the former MassAc rec room crackled and fizzed as they phased in and out. “Dunno. Might just go home and see Momma for a while. Ah think that´s what Sam is plannin´ ta do.” She glanced up at the roster list that still glowed on the monitor. “It´s just really frustratin´, ya know?”
Ange dropped a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. “Yeah, I do.”
“How ‘bout you? Any plans?”
He shook his head. “Not yet.”
They sat together watching the walls disintegrate and re-form in new places.
“Ah´m gonna miss this,” Paige sighed.
“The random destruction of buildings?” Ange joked.
She shook her head. “Uh-uh. The writing process.” She waved aside the other teen´s incredulous look. “No, really. It was never..dull.”
Jubilee came bolting into the room, her eyes lit up with excitement. “This is JUST like that scene in ‘A League of Their Own´ where they´re all looking to see if they made the baseball teams. I heard Wolvie´s on two teams. I wonder which one I´ll be on!” She rushed the computer.
“Uh, Jubes…?” Paige began, but was cut off by the girl´s outraged screech.
“I´m not on ANY of them?!” Jubilee slammed the mouse against the desktop and began scrolling through the lists again. “None of us are on any of them!”
“Jono is.” Monet´s voice drifted down from the rafter she´d perched herself on.
“What are you doin´ up there, M?” Paige stood and craned her neck to get a glimpse of the girl. She was wedged tightly against the juncture of the wall and beam, her head on her knees.
“Thinking.”
“Ya wanna come down from there?” Paige glanced over at Angelo, worried.
He was crouched beside Jubilee, whispering to her gently. The younger girl´s hands were balled into fists on her knees, tears streaking down her cheeks. He caught Paige´s look and shook his head.
“Not yet.” Monet´s voice had a flat quality to it that Paige hadn´t heard before.
Paige looked at the floor, now covered in crimson tile, unsure of how to continue. “It´s not the end of the world, Monet.”
“I know that.” Monet unfolded her legs and swung them listlessly over the edge. “I´m becoming exceedingly tired of this.” She finally said. “I´m tired of being passed around like a toy. I´m tired of this endless trepidation of what horrible things the next writer will do to me, if they use me at all.” Her voice darkened. “I envy Jonothon his place because it means he belongs somewhere, but… I don´t envy Jono´s future.”
::Yer not the only one.:: Jono appeared in the doorway. ::Have you seen the team ´m on?::
Jubilee turned to look at him and sniffled. “But at least you´re on one!”
::Oh, and right bloody fantastic it is, too. I can hardly wait.:: He crossed over to Paige and looked up at Monet. ::There isn´t a single gel on my team, Frost is on the other, and Bets and Claremont´s stud of the week are together on the consolation prize team. Note that she´s been going with Worthington, who´s on my team, for years now. Ifn yer can´t see the angst there…yer eyes need t´ be checked.:: His eyes twinkled as he glanced over at Jubilee. ::And do yer really want to get caught in that whole Jean and Logan mess?::
Jubilee gave him a lopsided grin. “It´s kinda like watchin´ a car wreck,” she admitted.
Ange wrapped his arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “They´re more interestin´ from a distance, y´know,” he noted.
“Yeah, I know.” She relaxed and leaned back onto his shoulder.
The beam supporting Monet flashed brightly and disappeared. Monet flinched, but remained in her seated position above the floor. A line creased Jono´s brow. ::Monet? Come down, now.::
“Fine.” Monet lightly floated to the floor, brushing dust off of her sleeves.
A thought struck Jubilee and she became agitated once again. “But I don´t have anywhere to go. I mean, I´m the original X-orphan. Next to Cyke,” she amended. “What am I gonna to do?”
“Y´ could come home with me,” Paige offered. “Momma wouldn´t mind another body around the place. Or two. Y´all´re welcome.”
Jubilee nodded. “Thanks.”
“Actually,” Ange scratched his shoulder. “I was kinda thinking of doin´ something else.”
“Yeah?” Paige raised an eyebrow.
“See, most of us don´t really have to be anywhere anytime too soon, so I was thinkin´ that maybe we could go on a little road trip. Cross country, maybe down to Mexico.” He shrugged and nudged Jubilee. “Whatcha think, Jubecita?”
Jubilee visibly perked up. “Sounds good, sounds good…” she said slowly. She turned to Paige with a glimmer of excitement in her eye. “You´ve still got all the stuff to make IDs, right? I lost mine,” she admitted sheepishly.
“Uh-huh. Lost. Sure.” Paige grinned at her. “Yeah, so long as the laser printer´s still working, we´re good.”
“Monet?” Angelo turned his gaze on the sulking Algerian girl.
She eyed Ange suspiciously. “You want me to go?”
“Sure.”
“Why?”
“Because we want you to.” Jubilee said warmly. One could see the wheels turning in her head as she made her plans. She turned to Ange. “ D´ya think we could run over to the other side of Limbo-Land real quick and pick up Ev, too?”
“Everett?” Monet´s eyes widened at the thought of the deceased young man joining them. “Do you think he´d go with us?”
“Us, huh?” Angelo shrugged. “Why not?”
Monet wheeled about and took off out the doorway. “I´m going to go call him...” Her disembodied voice floated back in her wake.
Paige started giggling uncontrollably. “That´s bad.”
“Yeah,” Jubilee agreed. “So are you coming with us, or what?”
“Um..” Paige wrung her hands. “I really should go home for a bit and see Momma. D´ya think ya could swing by and pick me up on your way through?”
“Sure.” Jubilee gave her a quick hug. She bounced on the balls of her feet for a moment before bolting out of the rec room. “I´m gonna go pack!”
Angelo hid a smile under his hand as he watched her go. “So, you sure you can´t get yourself killed or somethin´, Jono?”
::I wish.:: Jono shrugged. ::Maybe it won´t be so bad,:: he groused.
“Yeah, maybe you´ll get your flying harness,” Paige remarked, her voice warbling a little on the last word.
::Oh, that was so funny, sunshine. Really it was.:: Jono gave a gentle tug on her braid.
“Hey, I saw they´re givin´ your coat to Drake.” Angelo commented lightly. “Love the dog tags, amigo.”
::You too, huh? Yer all just jealous.:: Jono crossed his arms and tried to them a smug look.
“Sure we are. Y´ just keep on believin´ that.” Paige patted his shoulder. Her composure was starting to break down. Jono gathered her in his arm and she buried her face in his side.
Ange´s face slowly lost it´s grin. “I..”
::Yeh.:: Jono held out his hand to Angelo. ::Take care of yerself, mate.”
“You too, amigo. ‘S been a hell of a ride.” Angelo took it and allowed himself to be pulled into a hug. Jono released him and he looked at Paige who was till nestled in the crook of Jono´s arm. “I´ll talk to you later, okay, Country Mouse?”
“‘K.” Paige gave him a watery smile.
Ange nodded and headed out of the building. “Hey, Jono. When they kick you off the team? We´ll be waitin´ for ya.”
Paige giggled quietly as Jono flipped off Angelo and watched him go. She turned to Jono with a mischevious look in her eye.
::Yer sure you want t´ do this?:: He asked, somewhat skeptical.
“Last chance t´ to it right.” She replied.
Angelo was half way across the campus when the building exploded in a familiar flash of psionic light. He watched the debris settle for a moment before continuing on.
“Looks like he got more than a kiss this time...”
-fin-
[ Back ]