Fan Fiction ❯ If Tomorrow Never Comes ❯ Chapter 1

*Angelo and Jubilee!* Emma Frost's telepathic voice yelled.

The two looked at each other in alarm. They supposed their guilt-ridden consciences must have made it obvious as to who was responsible for the mess in the kitchen. That didn't make it any easier.

"Oh shit," Jubilee muttered as they heard angry heels clacking down the hall. Angelo tried to hide behind his small Asian friend as Emma burst into the lounge area in a towering temper.

It hadn't really been their fault. They'd been trying to make chocolate chip cookies and things got a little out of hand. Pretty soon cookie dough had been flying all over the place, not exactly helped by Jubilee's enthusiastic energy blasts. When they ran out of cookie dough to throw at each other, they realized how messy the kitchen was, and decided to duck out before anyone caught them red-handed. Ok, so it was their fault. But can you really blame them?

Half an hour later they were scrubbing the walls and floors of the kitchen, picking at each other as usual, when a loud yell made them clamp their hands over their ears.

"Paige! Jonothon!" Sean Cassidy roared.

Ange and Jubes exchanged glances, snickering to themselves. It sounded as though they weren't going to be the only ones with detention that night.

A few hours later their predictions had been found to be correct. Paige and Jonothon joined them in the detention hall, each of them sulking and pouty, whereas Jubilee and Angelo were relaxed and at ease.

Emma and Sean were waiting for them. By the expressions on their faces, their punishment had been discussed and determined. And it didn't look too good.

As soon as they were seated Sean cleared his throat. "Emma and I 'ave talked it over, and we decided tha' you should all sit here and get along."

"Huh?" Jubilee said cluelessly.

"We want you to stay in this room together, and be civil," Emma stressed.

"That's it?" Angelo asked. Emma and Sean nodded. "All right!"

*Wot's the catch?*

"The catch is tha' if you don't, there will be a worse punishment in store," Sean told them.

The four kids looked at each other uncomfortably. "Should be easy enough," Paige said, though her tone was doubtful.

"We'll see," Emma said shortly. She and Sean headed for the door.

"Wait!" Jubilee stopped them. "How long do we gotta be in here for?"

"As long as it takes," Sean answered ominously. He closed the door, and the sound of his and Emma's footsteps faded down the hall. Jubilee crept to the door, but Ange shook his head at her.

"No good, Jubecita, remember the last time you tried?"

Jubilee groaned and took her seat again. Yes. The punishment had worsened the last time she'd tried to sneak out of detention. Emma had her mind on them. She slammed her fist against the desk. "Dammit! I wanted to watch Kenshin!" She slouched down in her seat, a pout on her face.

Paige scoffed. "That stuff rots yer brains, Jubilee," she said.

"What brains?" Angelo joked.

"Shut up," Jubes snapped.

*Well, we're doing real well, aren't we?* Jono said sarcastically, his arms folded across his chest, not looking at any of them.

"Hey, what're you guys in here for anyway?" Jubilee asked them curiously.

Paige blushed. "Oh, well uh, we sorta got inta an argument," she said delicately.

"I didn't hear any explosions or see any dorm rooms falling on top of our heads, so it must not'a been that bad," Jubilee joked. Jono glared at her.

"Well, no," Paige admitted. "But Ah did throw a book at 'im."

*Try a whole bookcase,* Jono sneered.

"It was a small one!" Paige protested as Jubilee and Angelo cracked up. "And I didn't even hit ya!"

"Why'd ya do it?" Jubilee asked, gasping for breath.

*Because she's psychotic,* Jono grumbled.

Paige stood up indignantly. "Ah am not! Ah'm just tired of yer glum attitude Jono! Ya never have anything nice ta say, ever! Why don't ya just die already?"

*Believe me, I'm trying.*

"Well maybe Ah'll help ya!" Paige cried angrily, raising a hand to husk away her skin.

"EW! Ok, Hayseed, no husking. Not in front of me. And let me remind you that death threats won't get me to watchin' Kenshin," Jubilee said firmly.

Paige threw her a withering look. "Yer so god damn selfish Jubilee."

"What?!" she cried. "For trying to save Sparky from getting his head ripped off? Where's the sense in that?!"

"The only reason ya care is cuz of yer damn show," Paige declared.

Angelo snickered. "She's right Jubecita."

"Fuck you," Jubilee grumbled.

Jono rolled his eyes. *Well, Paige, thank you for again losing your temper. Thank you Jubilee for selfishly saving me. And thank you Angelo, for being useless.*

"Ouch, amigo."

"Wow Jono, Ah think that's the most Ah ever heard ya say at one time," Paige shot at him.

*We Goths like our silence.*

"Hey Jono," Jubilee said suddenly. "Would you ever do a nude picture?"

*Wot?!*

Paige and Angelo turned their attention to the two of them, looking both amused and intrigued. Jubilee grinned and continued.

"No, seriously. I mean, it'd be cool with all the flames and shit." She paused. "Do you, like, even still got… ya know."

*It stopped before it got that far,* Jono replied darkly.

"So you should do it!" Jubilee told him. "Show the world what you got."

*You are one twisted little gel.*

She grinned wickedly. "I know, but it changed the subject pretty good, didn't it?" They all groaned and she laughed. "Hey, y'know what'd be spooky?" she asked them.

*You ever shutting up?* Jono suggested.

"Jono ever being pleasant?" Paige asked.

*Paige ever getting off my back?* he retorted, glaring at her. She scowled back.

"Besides all that," Jubilee said, waving her hands. They all looked at her expectantly. She lowered her voice dramatically. "Wouldn't it be spooky… if today was our last day on earth?" she asked, looking at each of them.

Ange frowned. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Like, if tomorrow the earth exploded or some shit and we all knew it was gonna happen." She paused. "What would you do?"

"Cancel my life insurance," Ange joked. "If the world's coming to an end, who needs it?"

"Maybe Jono would try going to a church to save his tortured soul," Paige said viciously.

*Maybe Paige would-*

"Well I know what I'd do," Jubilee interrupted. They looked at her. "I'd take the time to tell Wolvie how much I love him," she said with a shrug. "And how much I appreciate him being there for me and all that. And then I'd sit by myself and watch the last sun set and see the stars come out and just spend my last night wondering about everything. That's what I'd do."

*Deep, Jubes.*

"Now one of you go," Jubilee told them, her cheeks slightly pink.

"I'd travel," Angelo said, his expression thoughtful. "I'd get on my bike and just ride all day, to see how far I could get before the world came crashing down around me." He paused. "And I'd get laid."

*Amen.*

"Men," Jubilee and Paige muttered at the same time.

Paige looked around before offering her own last-day plans. "Ah'd relax," she said. "Ah'd quit worryin' about bein' the best, and just be me. Ah'd tell my family how much Ah love 'em and…" She glanced at Jono. "And that's it," she finished.

The three looked at Jono. He kept his silence for awhile, pondering the question and his response.

*I'd play. I'd play my guitar all day long, until my fingers bled. Just play to the world in honor of its last day.* He stopped and looked at them. *And maybe I'd take a nude picture of meself and show it to Jubes while she was watching the stars,* he said in amusement.

Jubilee smirked. "If that'd be your attempt to get laid, you better try somewhere else, buddy." They all laughed.

Emma and Sean, watching their interaction on a screen, exchanged a glance. "I think they got it, Sean," Emma said. He nodded and they walked down the hall to where the kids were.

Pulling open the door and stepping inside, they saw the four of them in a group hug, undoubtedly started by Jubilee. Sean and Emma smiled at each other.

"I think you learned your lesson. You may go," Emma told them. They broke apart and looked at their leaders. Jubilee glanced at her watch.

"Kenshin time!" She zoomed out.

"You know, I have a funny feeling she planned that," Angelo said, his expression both amazed and amused as he followed her out the door. Emma and Sean laughed and left the room, feeling both relieved and successful.

Paige moved to leave, but Jono placed a hand on her shoulder.

*Paige, wait.* She turned to look at him in surprise. His eyes were serious as he gazed into her face. *If tomorrow never comes, I just want you to know that I love you,* he told her slowly.

She looked at him in shock and he put his arms around her, holding her close. She smiled and hugged him tight. "Ah love ya too, Jono," she said softly.