Drawing the Wildcard

Chapter 9: Training Days

The next week at school was pretty dull, even by the trio's standards. Some of the students offered Jake condolences for the loss of his and Peter's uncle. Even Flash. Currently, the trio was standing in the hallway next to their lockers.

"OK, I have to go to art class. Babe, since you and Jake have gym together, maybe you can help him figure out what else he can do." Ari suggests. Jake and Kit look at each other briefly.

"Sounds good to me, babe. It could be fun." Kit says.

"It couldn't hurt to try." Jake agreed. Secretly, he was curious to see what other abilities that the spider bite gave him.

"Then it's settled. I'll see you two later." Ari says, giving Jake a peck on the cheek and Kit a kiss on the lips. She smiles and walks to her class.

"Come on, bro. Let's get to work." Jake says, leading Kit to the gym. After getting changed into a t-shirt and shorts, the duo stood with the other students in the middle of the gym.

"OK, students. Today is a free day. Either you can go to the weight room and work out, or stay here and play Dodge-ball." the teacher said. Kit nudged Jake to get his attention.

"You think Dodge-ball will be a good start?" Kit whispers in his ear.

"Sure. It'll give me a chance to test my new 'danger sense.'" Jake replies, beginning to stretch.

"Good point. Although I think you need a better name for that."

"I'll take that into consideration." Jake replied sarcastically as they stood on the other side of the gym. The teacher blew the whistle, signifying the start of the game. Everyone, except for Jake and Kit, rushed forward to grab a ball and hurl it at anyone who wasn't agile enough to dodge.

"Get ready. Flash and his friends are going to ambush us." Kit says as he crouches slightly, almost like a cat ready to pounce.

"Testing your feline reflexes as well?"

"No time like the present."

"Tom and Jerry are still in the game! Let's get 'em, fellas!" Flash says as his team ready their dodge-balls.

"Wait, so does this make me Jerry?" Jake asks. Kit rolls his eyes.

"Yes, it does."

"So does this me we hide our true feelings for each other underneath a lot of hyper-comedic violence?" Jake asks, earning a disturbed look from Kit.

"What episodes of Tom and Jerry did you watch as a child?" he asks, slightly horrified. Any answer that Jake was going to give was cut off by the barrage of red, rubber balls being thrown at them. The duo begin to dodge them to the best of their ability.

'I wonder how Ari's class is going.'

---

'If Jake is going to be serious about using his new abilities for good, I may as well contribute to the cause.' Ari muses to herself as she sketches in her notebook. 'After all, every hero needs a costume. Now, what should it be? I've got it!'  she proclaims in her head as she begins to draw another sketch, grinning like a loon.

'Jake is gonna love this!'

---

"Come on, guys! You're not even trying! " Jake taunts, leaning to the side to avoid another ball thrown at him. His words rung true, as the opposing team has yet to hit him or Kit. The duo was putting their reflexes through the ringer.

"So, how do you feel, Jake?" Kit asks as he leans to the right, avoiding another ball.

"Honestly, I feel great. It's like I can see the balls coming in slow-motion." Jake replies, catching a ball and flinging it back. "How about you?"

"I feel good, too. I also feel looser than usual." Kit replies.

"Must be the feline in you." Jake muses, catching another ball, finally getting Flash out of the game, who then grumbled and headed to the bench where the other players were out of the game. The bell rings and everyone files out of the gym.

"What do you have next, Kit?" Jake asks.

"Nothing. Just waiting on Ari and we're gonna head back to the apartment." Kit replies. "What about you?"

"I was gonna go to English, but there's a substitute for today so I could care less. I'll roll with you guys if you don't mind." Jake says, earning a nod from Kit. Ari walks up to the two, carrying her sketchbook with a huge grin on her face.

"Hey babe. What's got you so happy?" Kit asks.

"Just a little something I've been working on in class." she replies. "It's a surprise."

"A surprise? Is it another 'Fun-time' outfit?" Kit asks eagerly, remembering the last outfit she wore. 'Before I tore it off her.'

"Nothing like that, babe. It's something for Jake." Ari says, gaining Jake's attention as they walk down the hall.

"For me?"

"Yeah, but first, I need to make a couple stops. You guys head to the apartment. I'll catch up."

"You sure, babe?"

"Yes, Kitty. I'm sure. I'm a big girl and I can handle myself." Ari replies with a smile.

"Yeah. She's a big girl now, Garfield. In all the right places." Jake says with a grin, glancing at Ari's chest. "What are you? A double-D now?" Ari elbows Jake in the stomach lightly.

"Pervert."

"You know it's how I show love, Ari." Jake replies. Ari grins at this.

"Yeah, I know. You're a perverted idiot, but you're my perverted idiot." Ari replies. "Now get going, guys. I'll see you at home."

"Roger that, Ari. Be careful." Jake says, respectfully looking away as Kit and Ari engage in a make-out session.

"You be careful." Kit says after they break for air.

"I will."

"Come on, Kit. Let's bounce like Ari's boobs." Jake says, walking out the door. Ari blushes a radiant red.

"They don't bounce!" she protests, making Jake laugh.

"They kinda do, babe. Later." Kit says, following Jake. Ari huffs as she walks off.

'Assholes. But they're my boys nonetheless. First stop, the dance studio. I heard some teachers talking about throwing out some old bodysuits. I'll worry about that later. First, I'll head to the thrift shop for the accessories, then I'll get Jake and we'll sneak into school at night and swipe a few of those suits.' Ari muses as she sighs, walking down the street. 'It's gonna be a long day.'