Scene: Bobby and Jubes

[arliddian.livejournal.com]

Sorry I haven't been around much, guys - school has exploded into this crazy, busy stress factory. I'm on exams next week, so here's a scene that I should have posted LAST week, just so you know that Bobby and Jubes are still alive!

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Bobby finished packing up his books and walked out of the classroom, intending to find Kitty and see how she was doing. He had barely gone two steps when the sound of Jubilee’s giggle floated from around the corner.

Thinking she was probably talking to Kitty, he sped up – and the smile on his face faded when he saw his girlfriend chatting brightly with Remy, one hand placed flirtatiously on his arm.

A moment later, the Cajun said something that made her laugh again, and then walked off.

Bobby narrowed his eyes and stepped up behind her. Jubilee turned as he approached, still giggling.

“Oh, hey Bobby!” she chirped, reaching up to give him a peck on the cheek.

“What was that?” he asked her, gesturing in the direction Remy had left.

“Oh, Remy and I were just talking,” she replied innocently. “He’s got this whole mysterious foreign thing going. It’s so cute.”

“Yeah, Jubes, that’s definitely something I wanted to hear,” Bobby frowned. She raised an eyebrow at him, and he folded his arms. “You were flirting with him, weren’t you?”

“So what if I was?” she shot back, beginning to walk away. “It’s not like I’m going to cheat with him.”

“It’s still flirting, Jubes, and to be honest, I’m not comfortable with any form of the idea of you and him,” he said, easily keeping up with her.

Jubilee came to an abrupt stop and faced him angrily. “So what, it’s not okay for me to flirt, but it’s okay for you?”

Bobby was taken aback. “Me?” he said incredulously. “Since when have I ever been a flirt?”

“Oh, come on, Bobby! I’ve seen you and Amara together. She blushes when you talk to her!”

For a moment, he could only stare at her. “Me and Amara?” he finally managed. “How many times do I have to tell you that there is nothing going on between us?”

“Well, if there really wasn’t anything going, I wouldn’t have to keep asking you!” Jubilee snapped. “Nowadays, you spend almost more time with her than with me!” She shook her head and turned to stalk off, but Bobby caught hold of her arm and pulled her back.

“I ran after you on New Year’s, not her,” he told her. “And I’m with you, not her.”

She gazed at him inscrutably. “Things change, Bobby.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

She didn’t answer him directly. “Can you honestly look me in the eyes and tell me that you’re completely and totally in love with me, and you don’t want to be with Amara at all, not even the tiniest little bit?”

Bobby opened his mouth to answer – and closed it again.

“That’s what I thought,” Jubilee said quietly.

There was silence for a minute, and Bobby tried to make himself say what he knew was the right thing to say – but the words wouldn’t come out.

Suddenly, Jubilee began to laugh softly. “This is ridiculous,” she murmured.

“What?” Bobby asked, confused. “Jubes, I…”

She raised her eyes to his, and he could see disbelief and amusement on her face. “This is totally ridiculous!” she exclaimed, beginning to laugh again. “I sounded like a soap opera! The really bad kind, with all the close-ups and violin music and soft lighting that makes 50-year-old women look like they’re in their 20s!”

“Jubes, what are you talking about?” he asked in bewilderment.

“Do you remember when we were like, twelve or something, and all we ever did was make stupid jokes about the teachers and play video games and watch movies with Pete? And how we used to think it was funny whenever Dr Grey and Mr Summers had a fight?”

“Yeah, but I don’t see what it has to do with –”

“How did we go from there to this? I mean, we used to be like, best friends. And now we’re fighting about how much time each of us spends with other members of the opposite sex?”

“I guess you’re right,” Bobby said thoughtfully. “Things do change.”

“To be honest, Bobby, I kind of miss those days. Everything was…simple,” Jubilee admitted with a nostalgic half-smile. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, going out with you has been fun. But I kind of miss having you as my friend. We never used to fight back then.”

 “And it was never over something as stupid as this,” he added.

Jubilee shook her head. “It was good while it lasted, but seriously – even when we went out on dates and stuff, it was more like when we hung out as friends.” She paused for a moment. “I think that’s why I kind of overreacted on Valentine’s Day, and why I got so mad about this whole Amara thing. I thought, well, we’re supposed to be a couple, so we should act like it. But I never really…felt it.”

“I know what you mean,” he agreed, leaning against the wall.

“I mean, I did like like you,” she said quickly, reaching out to touch his arm. “But…not really so much any more. I don’t think the whole romance thing is for the two of us.”

Bobby chuckled. “It’s okay, Jubes, I get it.” He pushed off the wall and smiled tentatively at her. “So…friends?”

“Yeah,” Jubilee smiled. “Back to friends.” She moved forward and hugged him.

“You sure you’re okay with this?” he asked her, watching her face carefully.

“Yeah, I am,” she reassured him, stepping back. “I think it’ll work out better for us this way.”

“Good.” He grinned mischievously at her. “Guess this means you get to flirt with Remy all you want now.”

Jubilee laughed and turned to leave – and then she paused and looked back at Bobby.

“Just between you and me, as friends,” she began, smirking. “How do you feel about Amara?”

Bobby raised an eyebrow at her, but he was unable to disguise the tiny smile that played at his lips.

“That’s what I thought,” she grinned, and left.