A Lovers Feud
By: Alex Destine
Edited by: Galry Gabriev
Chapter 1
~~ … ~~
It looked like it was going to be a beautiful day; the birds were singing their early morning tune as the sun rose behind the mountains. A few rays of sunlight went through an open window and into the sleeping form of a young boy. He slowly opened his eyes to adjust to the light and greeted the morning in his usual way.
"Oh crap… another Monday." And with that he pulled his pillow over his head and fell back to sleep. Although he usually couldn't stay still in one place long enough he felt that today he really wanted to stay in bed, but that just wouldn't be possible.
"Pietro! Get up! School day!"
"Damn it Todd, beat it! You know I can be ready in five seconds with four to spare!"
"Yeah I know, but Lance wants you to wake up."
"Well tell him not to! Now go away!" and with that Pietro covered his face with his pillow once again and tried to pretend it was a Saturday.
He covered himself with all the blankets he could find but after a while he realized he was simply tossing and turning and wasn't really resting at all. One of the side effects of his powers, once he was awake he just couldn't stand still. He got up and dressed in the blink of an eye and headed downstairs to the Brotherhood's kitchen where, with any luck, Fred had allowed enough food to exist to make himself some breakfast.
~~Why couldn't it be a Saturday? ~~ thought the white haired boy as he saw the mess that covered the kitchen table.
"Morning" he said as he dashed in. Todd greeted him with the usual "hey.." and Fred nodded as he kept eating.
"So you decided to wake up." That was Lance.
"Yeah, thought I'd grant you the pleasure of my presence."
"Thank you very much."
"I know, I'm just too good for you guys" and with that he poured himself a bowl of cereal in less than two seconds. "Hey Lance want to go and do something after school?"
"Can't today. I'm taking a part time job."
~~ He's what?!~~
"You're what?!" said Todd and Fred at the same time.
"Hey, shut up you two. Do you honestly think the money Mystique gives us is enough to cover everything?"
"So you're gonna be working now?" Pietro asked as he finished his cereal, in 3 seconds.
"Yeah, a few hours after school. No big deal."
"But Lance, what about our quality time as a group?" Todd said with mock sadness.
Lance just looked at him and rolled his eyes. "I'll live Tolensky … I'll live."
~~ Great, so no Lance.~~
"Hey Todd, how about you? You free? Huh? Are you? Tell me you're free! Come on!"
"No, I'm not." He said trying to stop Pietro from asking so
much.
~~ Oh yeah right!~~
"If you're going to lie Todd, at least make one up that we will believe." said Lance as he dumped his dishes in the sink.
"Hey yo! I'm serious. I don't usually study but my grades have always been enough to get me by. Lately though I'm flunking everything, and I'm not going to be taking no summer school to repeat a class… I need at least a C+ on my next test or it's bye bye to summer."
~~ Fantastic! Great… Well, one more to try.~~
"Ok Fat boy, how about you? You busy? Are you doing anything? Huh? Answer me!"
"Pietro, shut up!" said Lance as he covered his ears. "Fred has detention."
"How can that be? Why would Mystique give you detention?"
Lance and Todd looked at each other and started snickering while Fred looked completely furious.
"Cause I ate her lunch."
After Fred's confession Lance and Todd burst out laughing while Pietro simply looked at their large friend in disbelief.
"No way…" Pietro couldn't believe it.
"How was I supposed to know it was hers?!" Fred slammed his fist down at the table making the plates and glasses shake.
"Well you know Freddy, Mystique doesn't just leave food on her desk for you, you know." Todd said as he tried to calm his laughing fit since he didn't wish to upset his friend anymore, Lance however didn't mind at all and kept laughing.
"But she didn't have to yell at me!!" was Fred's only argument.
"You Fat boy, are an IDIOT." And with that Pietro unceremoniously dumped himself on the couch.
~~ I can't believe this. I'm going to be so bored, what am I to do now?~~
"Ok! Todd, Fred get your stuff in the car, we're leaving now" said Lance after regaining his composure from the laughing fit. He walked over to Pietro. "You going with us or walking?"
"You drive too slow."
"You know, they almost gave me a speeding ticket last time."
"Too slow." He said and turned around on the couch showing him his back.
Lance raised an eyebrow at Pietro's
laziness, he usually wasn't like this.
"What?" was Pietro's only remark, not liking the tight grip Lance had on him.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothin' and will you let go of me!"
"And risk you running off? You know I couldn't catch you."
"That's the point."
"What's wrong?" he asked more seriously this time.
"Nothing, everything is fine. I guess I'm a little bored. There's nothing for me to do around here! I finish everything so quickly and now all of you have something to do and I don't and it's driving me crazy!"
Lance blinked a few times. "Is that all?"
"What do you mean 'is that all'?"
"If that's all that's upsetting you why don't you join the basketball team or something? You used to play at your old school, right?"
"Yeah, but if I did I'd have to see Daniels everyday after school and I can't stand his ugly face."
"Well, join something else."
"Like what?"
"Any other sport Pietro, how hard could that be?"
"Not hard at all and that's the problem. Nothing's a challenge anymore, everything is way too easy. I can run faster, jump higher and catch better then anyone in this whole town."
"Well I don't know, why don't you ask around school today and see if there's some club you can join."
Pietro stared at Lance as if he'd say the most ridiculous thing on this planet, then he let out a huge sigh and realized the older boy was probably right.
"I've come this low… to stupid after school clubs?"
"Or you could get an after school JOB." Lance said as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at him.
"Clubs are good."
And with that Lance ran out the door screaming the many things he'd do to anyone who touched his car again.
"Like, come on! Why can't I go?" Kitty Pryde was not a happy mutant.
"Kitty is not that you can't go I just don't think you'd like it as much." Jean was trying to explain this to Kitty for the 10th time.
"But if you went then I wouldn't be lonely now would I?"
"But I'm NOT going Kitty, and you're not going by yourself. Those parties are not as fun as you think, all they do is talk about football and how great they all think they are."
"I like still don't get why I can't go by myself."
"Because they wont take lightly to a freshman going to one of their parties unless you're accompanied by someone they won't tease." Jean Grey didn't like anyone bothering Kitty simply because she was younger and not part of the "cool" crowd at school. She was just trying to help Kitty avoid trouble but it seemed the young girl wouldn't have it.
"Look, face it girl, you're not welcomed at those gatherings, get over it." That was Rogue, how she could find the right thing to say to always upset Kitty was beyond any ones grasp.
"Besides Kitty, we should practice more in the Danger Room."
"Come on man! We've been practicing there everyday after school!" said Evan as he took more pancakes and drowned them in syrup.
"You need to relax. Maybe YOU should go to that party, huh?" said Kurt as he teleported next to Scott making him jump a little in surprise.
"Like, what a good idea Kurt. You need to relax Scott, do as he says."
"And I suppose YOU wouldn't mind joining Scott while he relaxes?" asked Rogue as she poured herself more orange juice.
"Anything for a friend" she said smiling innocently.
"Right…."
"Shut up Evan!"
"Ok, break it up you two!" Logan was getting edgy around all this little-kid bickering. He looked at Kitty now. "Now listen kid, you're not going to that party, it's a waste of time for a kid as smart as you." He looked at everyone else now "now all of ya get your things ready or you'll be late for school."
"Child, what is wrong? Why is it so important for you to go to that party?" Storm hadn't said anything during breakfast; she simply sat there and listened as Kitty tried her best to explain way she 'needed' to go to "Duncan's jock party" as Rogue had so stated.
"Like, there's nothing wrong, you know… I understand that it's better that I don't go to that stupid party. It's just because I'm a freshman it's like I'm like invisible or something."
"You should not let that bother you Kitty" Storm said as they walked over to Scott's car where everyone was waiting.
"Yeah I know, I just like wish I wasn't known as "The Freshman". I wish I was part of their little exclusive group" and with that Kitty phased into the backseat of the car.
"Do not worry about them Kitty, they're not worth the effort" she now turned to the rest of the kids. "Alright children, have a good day," she said as she waved at her nephew and the rest of the X-men.
"Sure will Auntie O!"
"Would you two knock it off!… Oh, sure thing Storm, later" said Scott as he tried to keep his two friends from playing too rough in the backseat of his car.
Jean and Rouge said their goodbyes as well, but Kitty was still sulking and paying no attention to the rest of the world.
~~ Like, it's almost as if I didn't exist, and when other people DO notice me it's to tell me how much I don't fit into their 'cool crowd'~~
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~~I could run out of the classroom, buy a burger, eat it and come back before any one notices I'm gone…~~
"Perhaps Mr. Maximoff would like to do a small summery of what we've been talking about this past half hour."
~~ I Hate You. ~~
"Well sir, I'd love to but… I was deep in thought over something you've said earlier."
"And what would that be, Mr. Maximoff?"
"Umh… the first… thing?"
Pietro was sitting right in the center of the classroom, in front of him he could see the X-men's blue-elf… Kurt, was it? Now Kurt wasn't laughing, he was only smiling, but it wasn't a taunting smile it was more of an 'I'm-sorry-this-is-happening-to-you-hope-it's-over-soon-for-your-sake' type of smile. Pietro hated him anyway.
"Hello there, name's Mallory." This girl was actually pretty. She had long, curly, reddish hair; and the green eyes that always seem to accompany such style.
"Hey…may I help you with anything?" Pietro was trying his best not to sound desperate or nervous, a date with a cheerleader was exactly what he needed to get out of this boredom and maybe back to the old life style he left behind in his previews school.
"Well… you see… my friends and I… we were thinking…"
~~Don't do that, you might hurt yourself… oh thank god she's not a telepath! ~~
"That someone as cute as you might be interested in helping us by doing a small performance."
"Umh, I'm sorry. What did you say?"
"You see, the cheerleading club needs more funds for our activities so Principal Darkholme suggested we run a low budget play. If it goes well, it might also participate against plays from other schools in a competition at the end of the month. Now we're looking for really cute actors to help us." She smiled sweetly at him as she waited for the white haired boy to answer.
"Sure, I'd do anything for you" he said as he gave her his most 'prince charming' type of smile. "Only, I don't suppose I could get the male lead, now could I?"
~~ If you're going to do something, do it BIG! ~~
"I'm sure I can work something out…" she said as she played with her hair and with that she turned around and headed back to her group of giggling cheerleaders. "Later" she said.
"Yeah, later." Pietro couldn't believe it, something to do!! Finally!
"Did we miss the fan club meeting?"
"Shut up Todd! … hey, how long have you guys been
there?"
Lance leaned against the lockers as he answered, "Not too long, we just thought we'd give you a chance to finish showing off."
"Lance! As if I'd ever do that!"
"What did she want anyway?" Todd didn't like cheerleaders. For him they were simply the girl version of the jocks and even though they didn't punch or kick him they always found some insult to throw his way.
"Seems there's going to be a play soon."
"Another one? Didn't they just have a Vampire one not too long ago?"
"Look Todd, I'm not in charge of when they give plays at this stupid school, ok? So anyway, they're looking for actors and she wanted me to be one of them."
"Don't they usually post signs around the school for
that?"
Pietro just shrugged. "Maybe they will if they need extras."
"So what's the title of the play?" asked Lance
"I don't know."
"Well, what is it about?"
"I don't know."
"And you're acting in it?!?!?!"
"Lance! All I know is that I'm the male lead and that I finally have something to do aside from sitting at home and watching Fred eat everything in sight!"
"Fine, whatever… suggestion though, try to figure out what you're acting in before you do anything stupid."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever… say, where IS Fred?"
"Lance! Cut that out!" shouted Todd as he grabbed Pietros arm for support.
"It's not me! Why you always blame me?!"
Pietro and Todd stared at him some more.
"Ok, ok… I can see WHY you'd think it's me… but it's NOT!"
"Sorry… I'm… late…" said the exhausted boy.
"Yeah well, Freddy you didn't have to run you know, it's dangerous for the rest of humanity when you do that" said Pietro as he made sure Todd wasn't going to fall or anything.
"But, we're late for lunch! We can't be late for lunch!" and with that Fred took off running again making a few students worry about earthquakes.
"It's not like the Meatloaf is going to grow legs and walk away…" Todd scoffed as the rest of the Brotherhood went after their large friend.
"Actually Todd, I wouldn't be surprised if that happened." It always amused Pietro the many topics that could be made over meatloaf.
Lance didn't say anything, he simply walked behind his two younger teammates and smiled at the crazy and most of the time unreasonable topics they came up with.
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"Like, what is this?"
"Thought you knew by now Kitty… nobody knows!" Kurt laughed a bit at the grossed out look on Kitty's face over the meatloaf.
"They actually expect us to eat this stuff?" Rogue wasn't very happy either.
"Like, it's totally gross, I don't even know what's in there…" Kitty saw the evil look on Evan's face and knew a long list of VERY disgusting stuff was going to come out of his mouth. "And I don't WANT to know either!!"
"Hey Jean, where were you? You missed the best ideas for meatloaf I've ever heard!" Kurt was about to demonstrate a few when Jean stopped him.
"It's alright Kurt, I can read your mind… I know."
"Aww, you're no fun" and with that he sat down and continued make ideas with Evan.
"But like, where were you? You're like never late."
"Well Kitty, Duncan wanted to talk to me about something. That's all."
"Was it about the party? Cause if it was…"
"No Kitty, it WASN'T." Jean didn't sound mean or upset, simply trying to make it clear to the young Pryde girl. "It was about this play the cheerleader club is making, he wanted me to try out."
"Wow! That's like totally cool! Are you going after school?"
"No, I wasn't thinking about going at all."
"But like, WHY?" Kitty couldn't believe it! Here she was, Jean Grey, beautiful, smart, funny, popular, a JUNIOR!! She had everything! She got asked to all the parties and was always first picked by basically all the football players. Why didn't she enjoy it the way Kitty thought she should. Didn't she know that not everyone was as lucky as she was?
"I don't know Kitty, I don't feel like being in a play right now. It's too much work and I have enough of that between homework and the school paper… not to mention our 'other' activities."
"Besides, it's probably something stupid. We all know what the cheerleading squad in this is school is capable of."
~~ Rogue is such an optimist ~~ Kitty thought as she watch the Goth girl eating her meatloaf.
Jean laughed a bit, then send a message Kitty's way.
~~ I know Rogue isn't a very cheerful person, but she's probably right you know. ~~
"Would you mind if I like tried out? I probably wont get any special role you know, but I'd like to try."
"You sure you want to do that?"
"Like, sure! I'd at least like to try you know."
"Good luck" Rogue's tone was very sarcastic as she said this, which lead to Kitty's next question.
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it Pryde, all those cheerleaders. What good female role is going to be vacant."
"Well, I just want to go and check it out. It's not important if I don't get picked."
~~ Finally! Something I can do with the seniors! I can't wait! ~~
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End chapter 1
Don't worry… there'll be more soon… ^_^