Legend: Thoughts = <>
Stray thoughts = ()
Ok, guys, All the disclaimers apply, that means all thanks goes to Marvel for the X-Men, I'm just making the story. And I do read all the other stories, and they're great, keep up the good work. They inspire me!
Chapter 18: Where were we?
It had been a week since I'd been to Manhattan and I made sure I hid my hurt pretty well. It didn't hurt so much that he was with someone else, but that he would say all those things to me and bring up Scott. I, of course, told Amara and Jubilee, but I wasn't so secure about telling Scott. Although cute when jealous, sometimes he can overreact, so I sat in the Rec Room with Amara and Jubilee watching tv, occasionally looking over to the pool table and video game system to see what else was going on. We were watching the " Notebook" when we heard the doorbell ring.
" Let someone else get it." Amara said, wiping her tears on her sweats. Amara and Jubilee had put on sweats to make me feel better about wearing them around.
" I agree." Jubilee said, trying to fight tears.
They knew every detail of what had happened in Manhattan and I was comfortable with it. I was starting to feel at home and not worry about people betraying me. It took a minute to figure out that Jubilee and Amara had stopped talking and were now staring towards the door. I looked that way too and my mouth hit the floor! Johnny Storm stood at the door staring at me. I got up and tried to run to a different room, but he cut me off.
" We need to talk." he said urgently.
I inched back into my seat, " About?" I said shyly.
Jubilee and Amara pushed me back up to him.
" Please don't play dumb." he said softly.
" So now I'm dumb?!" I said, offended.
" NO! No. I..." he said even more softly.
I sighed, " Why are you here? I apologized and even acknowledged that it wasn't my business." I said bravely.
" That's just it, I want it to be...I know your dating Summers, but I've tried to get over you in anyway possible....but...uh, it isn't working." he said pleadingly.
" I know the feeling." I frowned.
" You do?" Johnny asked hopefully.
I looked down, " And if things were different...." I trailed off.
" Right. I just needed to tell you how I felt." he said regretfully.
" I'm glad you did. I feel the same way and I'm gonna be here for a while." I smiled.
Johnny smiled weakly, " Ditto. Well, there's a threat against the world. Doom again. I was supposed to be there instead of here, but, hey..." he smiled.
We hugged and he left. Even though he smiled, I felt his hurt...or maybe it was mine. Either way, I could tell neither meant that we only wanted to be friends, but that's how it was.
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After dealing Johnny, I felt as if I had more or less cheated on Scott, even though I didn't, so I searched for him and found him in the gym, lifting weights. I strode over and hopped onto his chest.
I leaned forward, " This makes me think of something, but what?" I smiled.
" I heard you had a visitor." Scott said indifferently.
I got off him, " Yeah. Me and Johnny had a little chat." I said, trying to less suspicions.
He stood in front of me and I kissed him, trying to make him forget to ask why. Why did Johnny Storm need to talk to me and what happened when I went to Manhattan...and it worked.
We broke the kiss, " Do you want to go on a date tonight?" he asked.
" Yeah, sure." I said quickly.
" Is something wrong?" he asked, looking at me closely.
" No, I'm gonna go get dressed." I said, turning and leaving the room. I got halfway to my room before I ran into Piotr.
I noticed his frown, " Hey Pete, what's wrong?" I asked.
" I could ask you the same thing." Piotr said calmly.
" Yeah, but you wouldn't get an answer, I asked you first." I said innocently.
" Kitya. Our relationship is not working between us." he said gravely.
We talked for must have been hours before I looked at the clock and noticed that I was late and I told him I had to leave. I ran to my room and dressed quickly. After I got dressed, I ran from the room and got to the elevator before I heard the doorbell ring. I stared at the door until I heard a voice tell me to open it.
" You'd better get that." Jean said, causing me to turn around and see her, Ororo, Jubilee, Amara, Logan, Piotr, and Marie sitting on the stairs.
I shrugged, " Am I missing something? I'm gonna be late and Scott hates when I'm late." I said, but they persisted, so I gave in and headed for the door.
" ANSWER THE DAMN DOOR!" Jubilee smiled.
Following her mandatory advice, I opened the door to find Scott, in his signature slacks and sweater that fit his personality so well and his body so great, with flowers.
Scott smiled, " I'm not late, right?" he continued to smile.
I shook my head, speechless and began through the door with him, but as I left I saw Bobby, who just stared. He was eating spaghetti and I could tell he was shocked because the spaghetti dangled from his mouth. I walked down the steps and hopped in the navigator, trying not to blush too hard.
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I blushed hard, wondering where we were going and trying to find the right words to express how great this was going. Coincidentally, this was like my second date with anyone and I wasn't sure how to go about it.
" So how are things so far? I figured we've only had one date...official date. And lately you've been on edge. I'd do anything for you, I love you." he smiled, causing me to blush even more.
I looked directly into the ruby glasses, " That's...I love everything! No one's ever done...I've been so disconnected, but you've been there. I love you too." I said carefully. Even though I couldn't see his eyes, I knew he was looking directly into mine and it made me feel safe.
" When you died, I died with you. When we fight...it hurts." He said intensely.
I looked at him, then touched his face.
" What?" Scott chuckled.
I snatched off his shades, but nothing happened, there was just a pair of beautiful brown eyes staring at me.
" How?" he said, stunned.
" It's temporary. Wouldn't it be weird if it was you that was turning off your powers?" I chuckled, " And as for me dying....not gonna happen anytime soon." I said delightfully. I looked out the window and saw that we were at a club. The sign outside said, " Dazzler" and Scott smiled, " I've heard of her..." I said in awe. She was one of the best singers in a long time! She was the equivalent of Britney, Christina, or Beyonce. We went into the club and watched her show. Alison Blaire, or Dazzler, as Scott called her. Apparently she was a mutant too.
Dazzler finished her song and grabbed the Mic., " We have a special guest singer tonight. Pane Rawlings, please come up here. EVERYBODY GIVE HIM A HAND!" she said, pointing me out. My heart began to beat faster than it had ever before and I felt nauseated. I looked at Scott, who smirked, and he ushered me on stage. I picked up the Mic. and asked if they knew the beat to
Corrine Bailey Rae's " Like A Star" and they nodded. The band began the song and I looked out into the audience, seeing Scott smiling at me.
The Phoenix < Do not be afraid.>
Pane < Why not? I could totally embarrass us in front of everybody!>
The Phoenix < You have fought Apocalypse and all kinds of other scary things, but you can't sing a song?>
Pane < Maybe you're right.>
I heard the intro and started to sing. At first a whisper came, but then I began singing loudly and before I knew it, it was over and the whole club was applauding, even Dazzler.
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After praising me, Dazzler told me that I could come back as often as I wanted. Scott smiled, but I don't think he liked the idea of me leaving the school at all. We left the club and went by the coffee shop and got coffee to go. We walked down the street, slowly taking in the night.
" So, on a scale of 1 to 10, how was tonight?" he asked.
I smiled, " A 10...and the date's okay too." I joked. We had talked about nearly everything, but there was something I hadn't asked yet and I really wanted to, " About Alex..." I said slowly.
Scott's face got more serious at the sudden change in topic, " Yeah." he said calmly.
" Did he come with the Brotherhood?" I asked, causing him to stare at me strangely.
" He was with the Brotherhood for a while, but that's over. He's not anymore." Scott said, as if he was trying to convince himself.
I threw my hands up, " I'm just saying it's a pretty big coincidence, him showing up when they did. So what's the difference between him and the other people at the Brotherhood?" I asked, slightly nervous.
His eyes darted from me, " That's completely different!" he said, again trying to convince himself.
" How?" I asked.
" He'd never hurt anyone intentionally." Scott said with hope.
At that, I let it go. If he was anything like Scott, then he wouldn't hurt anyone and the whole thing wasn't my business anyways. So we walked in silence until I noticed that a group had formed around us. One guy stepped out in front of us.
" You're one of those muties, aren't you?" He said dimly.
I sighed, " I'm also black, you have a problem with it?" I asked.
A second person stepped forward, " A big ass problem, mutie." he said bitterly.
" We're not looking for trouble." Scott said instantly, with a sour look on his face.
" Doesn't mean we won't deal with the trouble." I sneered.
" Stop taunting them." Scott said urgently.
Suddenly a bat swung and Scott dived in front of me and it knocked him unconscious! I was in shock! I had never seen this type of bigotry...at least not in the city.
The Phoenix < Do it.>
I nodded as the group of bigots closed in on the unconscious Scott and I. I felt fire pulse under me and suddenly the ground around us caught on fire and the cement burned, causing the bigots to slip into it! Then I cooled the air, making the cement dry. By now, they had a look of shear terror on their faces as cars, telephone poles, hydrants and everything within the block began to float upwards.
The Phoenix < Finish them!>
Pane < NO! No...I just need to scare them.>
While they were preoccupied, I grabbed Scott and ran down the block to the navigator, heading back to the mansion.
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After we got back, Hank, Jean, and Professor X looked at Scott and determined he was okay. They said I should take him to his room when he wakes up and that there was no brain damage. Jean, Hank and Xavier left me alone with Scott. All the thoughts I were left with were Rage, Anger, and an unbelievably selfish want to kill those bigots. I hadn't truly experience hatred that strong until then and it felt worse than I could ever imagine.
" Always in thought." said a groggy Scott.
I smiled, " Hey. Are you feeling okay? Need anything...." I panicked.
He smiled, " And they call me the..." but I cut him off.
" Don't you say it! You asshole! Why did you jump in front of the bat? I could have shielded myself quick enough, but..." I choked.
He frowned and sat up to hug me, " It's okay. I'm okay and I'm here." he said, comforting me.
I nodded and wiped my eyes, " Get up, toy boy." I said helping him up.
" Don't you mean boytoy?" he smirked.
" No. It's my new word." I said, helping him to the door.
" What does it mean?" he asked skeptically.
" I'll tell you when you're older." I said, helping him to the elevator. When we finally got to his room, I helped him onto his bed.
" Wanna join me?" He smiled mischievously.
I shook my head, " Maybe another night. You need your rest." I said walking to the door, " Night, Scott." I said, turning the lights off. I looked back and he was fast asleep. At first I worried, but when I scanned him, there was nothing wrong. I left
the room and headed to the kitchen to find something to eat, but stopped at the stairway.
" Hey!" Jean shouted, startling me, " How'd the night go?" she asked.
She, along with Rogue, Jubilee, Amara, and Ororo looked as if they were about to explode.
" You helped plan it, didn't you?" I asked, realizing what they'd done.
" Yeah, are you mad? Scott just wanted to ensure that you had a good time and you know guys..." Ororo trailed off.
I nodded, " HEY! We're not that bad!" I said in mock hurt.
They all laughed, " You could barely function without us." Jean said cockily.
" Good thing I'll never have to try that. I'll tell you guys in the morning, I burned out." I said.
" NO! TELL US!" Amara said quickly.
I smiled and told them every detail. After I was finished telling the story, I felt someone's anger by the stairs. When I looked, no one was there, but there was a trail. The person had just went into the kitchen, so I followed. I walked into the kitchen and immediately my eyes were pulled to Bobby, who stood at the counter with only his pajama bottoms on, drinking a soda.
" How'd the date go?" he asked indifferently.
I walked to the counter, " Is that sarcasm, Mr. Drake? Are you angry? Why are you mad?" I asked, not fully understanding why he was mad.
Bobby got up and put the can in the trash and came back, eye to eye with me, " Because, maybe it's hard for me to see you with someone! I'm...I'm...not mad, I'm just..." he ranted, then I realized what he was trying to say.
" You're jealous?" I asked, shocked.
when I said the word " Jealous" he got even madder and left without another word. I stood silently, leaning on the counter. It was supposed to be a happy night, but things never went great, they were just mildly ok. I guess it could be worse...I could be facing another Apocalypse.