Cause and Effect (aka Heather and Gavin)

[Aqua]

English class couldn't have ended any faster than it had. Once Ms. Frost announced that class was over, Heather bit her lip and sighed while putting her books in her messenger bag. It was time for her to reveal her feelings to Gavin or at least ask him out or something. She was definitely feeling butterflies in her stomach. But Veronika's mother's words echoed in her head ever since they got back from the trip. Her new found confidence was definitely keeping up though and she looked to Veronika with a wink. "I'll tell you how it goes at lunch," she whispered as her best friend left to hand in her journal. She then waited for her own name to be called and hoped that Gavin was actually waiting for her out of the class room.

It was now or never, and she really wanted Gavin to at least know how she felt. It would definitely explain her reasons for acting bitter towards the new Paragon. That girl seriously was just odd. But it was funny how if Katlyn never came, Heather would have probably never realized how she really felt about the BirdBrain. She never thought it would ever be something romantic, but it was and she did. All she could hope for was that he would feel the same or at least try it out.

"See you later Ms. Frost," she said as she handed in her work and then headed out the door to see if Gavin was waiting for her like he agreed. And if he was, then where.

[StormHawk]

Gavin came up behind Heather quietly so she wouldn't notice him. When he was right behind her, he shouted "WHAT'RE YOU DOIN'," in her ear and laughed at her reaction. "Oh come on you can't tell me you weren't expecting that," he said laughing his head off and waving to people as they left the classroom. He lagged behind the group with Heather and walked slowly down the hallway, poking her in the side once in awhile to make her shriek and annoy her.

"Now what may I do for you? Wanna hire me for a birthday party? I can sing songs and make balloon animals but I will NOT wear a clown costume. If you make me wear a clown costume I swear I'll wear it at night and scare the shit out of you with it," Gavin said with a threatening face that lasted for a couple of seconds before he broke out in a full grin and laughed. "I'm playing, I'm playing." He swung an arm around her shoulder as they walked down the now empty hallway.

Gavin looked down at her curiously. "So what's up? Everything okay with you and all or is something up?" he asked shifting his bag with his books in it, wondering what was going on with her. Just to lighten the mood he poked her shoulder one more time and made a face at her.

[Aqua]

Heather yelped a piercing scream before smacking Gavin's arm several times. "DON'T.... DO... THAT!!" she said in between hits. She was half angry and half refraining from laughing. Yeah OK so he got her good. It was time to get him back, after their meeting of course. She narrowed her eyes as he defended his prank. "Uh huh," she replied while also waving to her fellow classmates. Once she started to be with Gavin, the butterflies in her stomach settled down. He was making her comfortable as he always did and Heather was happy that their friendship was so strong. She definitely was feeling better about her question to come, but wanted to do some small talk first before getting right into it. As they slowly walked down the hall, she grabbed Gavin's finger as he continued to poke her; eventually biting the tip of it to get her point across. She giggled and stuck out her tongue playfully. It disappeared however when he threatened her with a clown costume. If there was one thing that Heather McCarthy was deathly afraid of, it was clowns. She couldn't stand them since she saw Poltergeist one weekend with her father. She was twelve years old and seeing a scary clown doll pull the boy under a bed was not the best idea. It took her about a year to make her take cardboard boxed out from under her bed so any evil clown that lived near had no space to pull her to.

Her eyes widened at the fact that her best friend actually went there, but forgave him with her cute angry face as he swung his arm around her. She felt warm and safe whenever he did that and she loved how great of a person he was to have in her life. Of course he rekindled her irritation when he poked her yet again. "Did you not learn from the last time?" she asked while biting the hand attached to the arm around her shoulder. Heather then giggled and sighed while leaning her head against his chest as they walked together. "I wanted to know what you were doing anything later," she started. OK girl you can do this, she thought. It's now or never damn it/ "Wanted us to just hang out like we usually do." She paused and looked at the walls they passed before finishing her sentence. "But like a date." She bit her lip and looked at him, waiting to see his exact reaction as soon as she finished. If he didn't want to, it was fine. As long and she was able to know how he felt about her, romantically, Heather would be fine with just being friends (even thought she wanted more).

[StormHawk]

He stopped walking and looked down at her with a surprised look on his face and stopped wiping the spit on his finger in her hair. Gavin blinked for a second and looked at her curiously, not really knowing what to make of this. He had enough experience with girls to know that they were weird about stuff they said. Like when they say that 'its fine,' its really not fine, and when they say something's 'nice' its not really nice. That's why he learned that unless the stuff is clear cut, never jump to conclusions.

"A date? Like a date date? Or something more equivalent to a play date?" He asked his arm slipping off her shoulder and he stepped back to look at her curiously. "You chicks are weird, I just wanna make sure I'm not taking something differently than is said. So lay it out for me Heather, what's going on here?" he asked gesturing between the two of them, not quite knowing what to expect.

[Aqua]

The look of surprise was somewhat what she expected. Not even noticing that he was "playing" with her hair, she observed his reaction and felt like she could have made a huge mistake. When it came to boys, Heather wasn't the type to actually look for a relationship. If she liked a guy she would make sure it was a good or bad thing before hinting about how she felt. She wasn't really straightforward with them since they usually just asked her out. Of course the dates were all terrible and the guys were usually the hot jocks at her school who didn't understand the difference between an organism and an orgasm.

Now that she was able to be more outspoken with her feelings and emotions (that and control them a bit better), she chuckled when Gavin explained his reaction. She sighed and adjusted her bag before stroking her hair back. Her hair fell on her face again but it didn't matter. The butterflies were gone and she was growing more confident, surprising as it were. "I like you Gavin. As in I 'like you-like you'," she said with a warm smile. "So based on the rules of affection and dating, yes that would mean a date date." She was on fire and had no problem with telling him anything. Wow. Veronika's mom was right. It does feel empowering, she thought incredulously.

She looked into Gavin's eyes with her ocean blues. The ball was now in his court.

[StormHawk]

A smile crossed Gavin's face and he leaned against the wall looking down at her, but the thoughtful look stayed on his face. He sighed after a minute and then began talking. "Look Heather, I like you a lot too, really I do. But the thing is... well I suck at relationships... No don't give me that look I really do. My last two girlfriends all dumped me cause well plain and fact is I'm not good at the relationship stuff. They all said that I didn't give them enough attention cause I was too caught up in my band and my music, they all complained that I never wanna go out anywhere and all I want to do is sit and chill with my music. I'm not the type that likes going out all that much and they both would get pissed at me cause I'd break plans with them when I got an inspiration for a song or I had to replace a guitar string. What sucked is that when they dumped me we didn't even stay friends," he said putting his hands in his pockets and giving her a slight smile.

"I like you a lot, but honestly, I don't want to get in a relationship if its gonna be a repeat of the last two. I'm laying it out flat how I'm most likely gonna be so there ain't gonna be any surprises. And well, I like being friends with you, your fun. It's gonna suck if this ends bad like the others did and I lose a kick ass friend," Gavin said sincerely with a small smile, meaning every word and giving it to her flat out cause he respected her and liked her enough to do that.

He sighed again and rubbed the back of his neck, still calm but just looking at Heather for a reaction. "So what's the verdict? You think you can deal with all that? I'm cool if you can't and I get it, but like I said I rather stay friends with you then end up losing you period." He wasn't sure how this was going to play out, but at least he was straight up with her and he can't be accused of anything.

[Aqua]

She couldn't help but have her smile widen when Gavin had the same feelings for her. Of course when she was informed that he sucked in relationships, she rose an eyebrow. That was something she never understood in some people. The only way someone was able to suck in a relationship was if they didn't want one. But once Gavin explained she she finally got what he meant. Heather had to respect him. She loved his honesty and she couldn't ask for anything more. Of course it wasn't the exact answer she wanted, but she now knew that Gavin liked her back. She was able to be happy either way. She could work with that.

She bit her lip again and smiled wider. She then started giggling. "Gavin I'm fine if we stay friends," she agreed. "But that doesn't mean we can't show our affection now does it?" With that, she moved closer to him and kissed him lightly on the lips. She hoped he was OK with it and if he wasn't, well at least she got to kiss him before it all went downhill from there. But Heather had confidence in their friendship and had no problem taking things ultra slow. Heck they didn't need to officially be boyfriend and girlfriend. The only thing she wanted official was a date. However she had no problem if they were best friends who kissed or made out once in a while. It didn't mean they cared for each other any less.

Heather pulled away and looked into Gavin's green eyes again. "At least I hope you agree," she finished with a smirk. The New Mutant was really starting to like her new attitude. She couldn't wait to tell Veronika if what Gavin's next response was indeed good news. "I will be honest though. I don't see why we can't at least try it. All the reasons you listed to me, have been things you've already done. I'm use to it and quite frankly I support it. You know I'm the same way when it comes to my own work." It was true. Heather and Gavin were artists and were able to understand spontaneous inspiration that needed to be put down on paper; Gavin with his music and Heather with her designs. She was able to handle his ways since she was the same. She shrugged and then said "If you are really worried about our friendship that badly, then I know that means you care. But I care about you too and would like to act upon my feelings, not refrain because we are too afraid. Life is about making choices and being able to take risks. I mean we didn't even have a choice when it came to being mutants but we are. And look at us, we survived a shit load of crap so far." She laughed at her joke and then grew serious. "Hey," she said while poking his chest and then placing her hand against his face. She wanted him to see how determined she was. "Trying never hurt anyone. Plus I'm not like those girls. You should know that of all people."

[StormHawk]

A grin formed on his face and he quirked his eyebrows at her. "I don't mess around, you know that." Gavin's arms moved around her waist and he grinned down at her. "But we can give it a try, you're right. You are already used to it, but I'm telling you now woman, you give me crap one time about going off to right a song or play something or anything like that, I'm putting you in the tree and leaving you there," he threatened playfully and tickled her sides. The grin on his face was large and yea he was pretty happy. He liked Heather for awhile and probably wouldn't have crossed the line unless she brought it up. Now that she did, he was pretty happy.

Gavin grinned at her and stuck his tongue out. "You know this means I'm entitled to bother you like, a hundred times more right? I have more rights now you know," he said with a smug look on his face just to bother her. He poked at her sides and then shoved her back lightly so she wouldn't fall. "Now I can snap your bra strap and not get a sexual harassment charge, and show up in your room with a clown mask on without charges of breaking and entering," he stated laughing at her reaction and dodging any incoming hits that he expected.

Grabbing her again, he brought her close and moved his hand to her chin so he could bring it all the way up and look down in her pretty blue eyes. "Eww. I'm dating Heather McCarthy, GROSS!" he said in a little boy's voice. Before she had a chance to bitch at him, he covered her lips with his own, effectively silencing her and marveling at the sensation of kissing her, something he was tempted to do for awhile.

[Aqua]

Feeling his arms embrace around her waist, Heather smirked and bit her lip again. She was really liking where their talk was going and she couldn't feel happier in her current state. She blinked with her eyes wide when he threatened her. "First of all, I'm not a hypocrite," she began calmly. "Second, you ever leave me in that tree again I will hunt you down and round house kick you back to Maine." She ended her retorted threat with much attitude, full of humor of course. She then burst out laughing and shook her head. She then tried to dodge his tickling attacks as much as possible before biting his finger again. "Ha," she said while folding her arms. Her infamous smirk played across her face. But then she grew serious when Gavin listed all the things he was "entitled" to do since they were officially together. "Oh God," she replied with her cute-angry face while attempting to punch his shoulder. He dodged it of course, but she made up for it by flicking his ear really quick. "I prefer the tree more than the damn clown. And of course you know if any of these actions are actually performed, it will mean war."

Heather squealed as Gavin pulled her closer. She was afraid that he was going to actually do a trick or prank, or worse: tickle her. However he didn't and held her chin up to look into his eyes. She smiled, her bright white teeth shining. Heather McCarthy was dating Gavin Croft, she really liked the sound of that. Not exactly the way he said it, but he said it nonetheless. "Shut u-" she said before feeling his lips against hers. His touch was so firm and yet soft. Her entire body felt warm and amazing. She was the happiest she had ever been since she arrived at the Xavier School. Wrapping her arms around Gavin's neck, Heather kissed her guy with pride and affection. After they pulled apart she gave him a purple nurple and hoped several feet away. "I'll see you at lunch then?" she asked with a nervous laugh. C'mon she was in a happy mood and needed to prank him when he was most vulnerable. "Gotta drop off the books and stuff at my room." She started moving slowly away since she was sure Gavin would most likely be chasing her down the hall at that moment.

[StormHawk]

"OWWW! That's so wrong," Gavin yelled holding his poor nipple that never did anything to anybody. "Just cause your cute doesn't mean you're above getting a tittie twister either!" he yelled and began chasing her down the hall. He laughed while he chased her, gaining on her slowly. "I'll snap your bra so hard the strap will break!" Gavin laughed and continued on chasing her till he finally caught her. He was in a very good mood, though he knew that come lunchtime, they would get so much crap from everyone at lunch, but hey he'd been teased so much for flirting with her that this can't be too different.

Lunch would be interesting, and art class was next. Afterward he knew they all had plans to chill and hang out outside since the weather this weekend was supposed to be pretty hot for it barely being May. Right now though, he was gonna dish some major payback to a certain little water girl for touching his poor defenseless nipple.