Ten minutes later, Jono finally found the strength to move. His legs were still wobbly, but he managed to reach the steps before having to stop. If he still had a throat, he would’ve swallowed the lump in it. He slowly touched the skin of his nose, which was probably bright red by now. She’d kissed him...again. But he hadn’t blown up the entire girl’s dorm this time, or the kitchen, for that matter. Of course, right before she had, she left her thoughts open for him to see the image. He hadn’t objected, but he hadn’t agreed, either. Apparently, his neutrality was good enough for her.

As he made his way downstairs, Jono reflected on their past together. They’d been friends a while now, if you could even call it that. The other students had encouraged their fragile relationship. Even Monet had given him a stern preaching after he’d purposely hurt Paige’s feelings back in Angelo’s neighborhood, and she could usually care less about any of them. Of course, that was back when she was actually two people, so it didn’t really count...did it? He knew it did, wondering why he’d ever questioned it at all.

Afterwards, he and Paige had made up, so to speak. He’d apologized for ruining Thanksgiving at her home in Kentucky, and she simply told him to forget about it. At first, he’d thought her too forgiving. It took him a while to realize that she actually liked him. She didn’t care that there was an unwritten rule about keeping away from monsters/disfigured beings/self-haters. She cared about him. Maybe he could try that, too.

Jono stepped into junky basement, only to find Gateway sitting on his couch. As he remembered, Gateway was the one that had convinced Jono to comfort Paige when she got drunk. That had pretty much been the start of their relationship...even if it had been a rocky one. In a way, he owed Gateway something, but he doubted the old man would take anything from him, aside from the use of his TV.

Jono stepped over a box of old socks and soda cans, taking a seat next to Gateway on the old couch. Gateway glanced at him, and then turned his attention back to the TV. “You and Paige talk, yes?” Jono blinked in surprise. The voice in his head had been so sudden. It almost seemed like Gateway had used his mouth instead of his mind. Jono only nodded, unsure of where the conversation was going. “You have...feelings...for each other, yes?” Again, Jono nodded, beginning to think Gateway was either very nosy or incredibly perceptive.

“She alone now, yes?” Gateway asked, turning to look at him. Jono shrugged. Paige had probably gone back to her dorm room, where Jubilee was sure to be, asleep or not. “Go to her, and tell her things, yes?” The Aborigine mutant’s voice broke into his thoughts. Jono stared at him. “Happy things, yes?” Jono scratched his head. Sometimes he wished the old man could use complete sentences. It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand, but the way the guy turned everything into a question was slightly annoying.

“She waiting for you,” Gateway added, a hint of a smile on his face. “Rec room is open now, yes?” Jono understood. He wanted to thank the little man, but Gateway had already gone back to flipping through the channels.

Paige sat on the pool table, swinging her legs back and forth. This particular table held special meaning to her. It was they very same one where Jono had decided to begin their friendship, so to speak. She’d been drunk (after only one beer), and he had offered to talk about her problem. Later, when she’d thrown up in the bathroom, he stood behind her, towel in hand. He escorted her back to her dorm room, where she had attempted to kiss him. The resulting explosion hadn’t really harmed her, but the girl’s dorm had to be rebuilt.

She was beginning to wonder if she should’ve asked Jono to meet her here. He’d probably gone to bed by now, and was dreaming of something pleasant (hopefully, herself). She, on the other hand, was sitting here like sentimental fool, freezing in a pair of red shorts and a stupid T-shirt she’d taken from Jubilee. “Not too desperate, Guthrie,” she told herself, picking up an eight ball. If it had been one of those Magic Eight Balls that could predict the future, she imagined it would say, “Future uncertain. Go to bed and try again later!”

Paige dropped it on the floor and watched as it rolled across the carpet. She hid her face in her hands, sighing heavily. The eight ball stopped under the tip of a black boot. Paige was too busy cursing herself for a fool to notice the footsteps that walked across the room and stopped directly in front of her. However, she did feel the hands that pulled her own away from her face. “Peek-a-boo,” Jono thought in a dull tone that made her want to laugh.

“How’d you know I was here?” she asked as he sat down next to her. “A little old man told me.” Paige stared at him for a moment before getting the joke. “Gateway talks to you?” “Only when he feels I should be talking to you, gel.” Paige smiled. “I’ll have to thank him some day.” “All he wants to do is watch the ruddy telly anyway. I’m surprised his brain hasn’t rotted.” Her laughter was reward enough for him.

“I thought about us, like you asked,” he said suddenly. Paige looked at him. She’d never seen him look more serious. “What did you decide?” she asked, obviously curious. “I want to give us another chance,” he almost whispered, as if he was afraid of something. It took a few seconds for his answer to register in her mind. “You really mean that, Jono?” He nodded, taking her hand in his. “Maybe all I really needed,” he told her, his eyes crinkling slightly, “was a little Sunshine.”

Jono watched as the curious look on her face became a big smile. The realization that he had caused it only made him feel better. He hadn’t felt this way in a long time. Her face was like something out of a good dream. Every strand of her blonde hair was like a harmonious string on the most beautiful harp. Her blue eyes became deep pools of desire, beckoning him closer with every passing second.

Her voice was the only thing that brought him back to reality. “Jono, why are you looking at me like that?” He blinked, and the world shifted back into focus. “Sorry, luv. Just zoned out, I guess.” Paige wasn’t very satisfied, but she let it go. “Your hand’s getting sweaty,” she pointed out, glancing down. Jono quickly pulled his hand away, only drawing another smile from her. “Maybe we should both go to bed now,” she suggested, holding in a yawn. “We can figure out where to start in the morning.”

“I’ve got a few ideas,” he replied, standing before her. “What I’ve got to say can’t wait until morning.” “Go ahead,” she said quietly, recognizing that this was big. Jono racked his brain, trying to find the right words. “Do you remember when Omega Red attacked us?” he asked. Paige nodded. “You were a hero. You saved us all from that monster.” He held up a hand for silence. “There was one moment, though. One moment when I thought I’d lost everything to him.” He paused, looking into her eyes. “One moment when I thought I’d lost you, luv.”

There were tears in her eyes as he went on. “When I held you in me arms, you felt so lifeless. Life was one of those things you always had enough of. But right then, I would’ve given mine to see you open your eyes and smile at me.” He stopped again, reaching out for her hand. She slowly let him have it. “I guess that’s when I first knew I cared about you, gel. I never forgot that moment.”

Paige stared at the boy in front of her. Even through her tears, she could see the look on his face. He was opening his heart, just as she’d told him to do. She only hoped that the tears would stop, so she wouldn’t seem so silly to him. Wiping them away with the back of one hand, she blinked and focused on him again.

“It took a while, but I finally know what’s been bothering me all the times I pushed you away,” he said, squeezing her hand. “It was me own heart, telling me what I was afraid to hear. But I think I can say it now.” She watched, amazed, as he sank down on one knee. He wasn’t going to do what she thought he was going to do...was he? Those Mrs. Starsmore jokes Jubilee had made were all in fun, but he couldn’t be that serious yet. At least, she desperately hoped he wasn’t.

“I...I love you, Paige,” he finally said, not caring if she answered him or not. As long as he had gotten it out in the open, she couldn’t say he never tried. Still, he stared into her blue eyes, hoping for some reaction. Even a nervous twitch would have satisfied him about now, though. “Oh, Jono,” she whispered, placing a hand over her heart. “I love you, too.”

To his credit, Jono kept his balance. His head was still spinning, but he managed to stand up. However, Paige almost knocked him down as she flew into his arms, burying her head in his leather jacket. He gently stroked her hair, wishing he could smile at her, or at least kiss her. Paige seemed to sense his anxiety as she looked up at him. Wordlessly, she drew his head down, covering his face with butterfly kisses. Surprisingly, he didn’t flinch when a few of them landed on his scarf.

“I don’t need kisses to tell you I love you,” she said, smiling at him. “Would this help?” he asked, smiling back at her. Paige gasped in surprise, and then shook her head as the illusion faded. “The man I love doesn’t need a mouth,” she told him. “Just a heart that’s got a special place for me.” And as he held her tightly in the empty rec room, Jono had to agree.

He woke up a few hours later. “If this was all a dream...” He stopped when he spotted the arm across his chest. Jono slowly turned his head. Paige was cuddled up beside him on the couch, fast asleep. There was a smile on her face. He glanced at the alarm clock on the coffee table.

“Time to do your thing, luv,” he thought, brushing the hair out of her eyes. Paige woke up instantly. “Already?” He nodded, enjoying the innocent look on her face. As she stood up, Paige noticed the outfit she was wearing. “Jubilee will want this back,” she commented. “Didn’t think your clothes were supposed to smell like bubble gum,” he joked. Paige threw one of the couch cushions at him. “I can only wonder what your clothes smell like, mister. There has to be some kind of law against living in a dump like this.”

“Yeah, but at least I don’t have to share it with Lee, of all people,” he shot back. “Okay, you win!” she laughed. “Seeya later, Jono!” He watched as she ran up the steps. Maybe he should start going on these morning jogs with her. They could talk, and most importantly, be alone. It was definitely something to consider. “Tomorrow,” he told himself, closing his eyes. He could still get some sleep before classes started.