The S-Force

18: Toni

There were a few things I had to do. Prepare for the next round of cut downs, apologise to Jacqueline and confront Winifred.

"Jacqueline wait." I called out for her as she left the room. She froze for a second then kept walking away.

"Don't make me use my powers." I warned her.

"What do you want huh? What do you want from me?" She whirled on me suddenly.

"Look I'm sorry." I stopped in my tracks. "I shouldn't have lashed out at you like that for no reason."

"I did not even do anything." She looked close to tears.

"I know I'm sorry."

"Spence, Daewoo and I do not even see each other that way at all."

"I was wrong OK?"

She turned to the shuttle doors and pressed the button to open them. "I don't know if I forgive you yet."

"But-"

"Look I appreciate the apology and stuff but I need to process everything. You made the dynamic between us weird with not only what you said but also you're the reason Spence is going home."

"I'm sorry."

"And I believe it." She smiled sadly at me. "I just- I need to be with Spence right now."

The shuttle doors closed between us.

I walked back inside to find the others.

"I saw you go after Jacqueline. How did it go?" Kylie asked the moment I got to their side.

"She doesn't forgive me." I shrugged sadly.

"Understandable." Yvonne wrapped a comforting arm around me. "Give her time. She'll come around."

"She found out I am the reason Spencer is leaving." I finally added.

"It's not your fault. It was either you or him." Kylie reassured me.

"I know but I can't help but feel a little guilty."

"Understandable." Yvonne reiterated. "But you shouldn't feel guilty."

I felt someone staring at me.

"Like it sucks that he's going but it would suck more if you were the one that had to go." Kylie reminded me.

"Yeah." My throat felt wooden and my voice felt stiff. My whole body felt stiff. I turned around and found her looking at me.

"Are you gonna be ok?" Yvonne asked.

"Yeah sure." I replied, my mind already elsewhere. "I'll catch up with you guys at lunch."

"We'll keep a spot for you." Yvonne called out as I walked away.

I gestured discreetly for her to follow me and walked out of the room. I waited impatiently outside for her to show up, pacing all over the place.

"What do you want?" She walked out and stood in front of me.

"Not here." I said in a quiet voice. I pressed the button to the shuttle and gestured for her to come aboard with me.

"We need to talk about that night." I said when the shuttle doors closed on us.

"There's nothing to talk about." She replied with a clipped tone. "I wasn't thinking straight in that moment."

I pressed the button for the ground floor.

"It makes no sense. First you hate me - and for no reason as well - then you kiss me out of nowhere."

"You humiliated me in front of those people." She blurted out.

"When I almost beat you in that exercise? That's why you hate me?" I turned to her in disbelief.

"It is a valid reason to be mad." She turned to face me.

"No, not really. No." I said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"You are so short-sighted, you don't even understand how important everything is."

"What are you talking ab-"

Her lips were pressed against mine once again, silencing all words and all thoughts that were meant to come out. Her hands were cupping my face then they slid into my hair. My hands were tingling so I could hardly lift them anywhere.

The shuttle signalled it's arrival on the ground floor and she pulled away. I quickly pressed the button to the floor with the lunch room and the common room.

"Why do you keep doing that?" I groaned.

"Just because I can't stand you doesn't mean I don't find you attractive." She said gruffly, rolling her eyes like it was the most obvious thing in the universe.

"Ok?" I said, deciding to end the conversation here for now. If I continued now, my brain would be scrambled from all the confusion.