Disclaimer: Warning! Reading this story while trying to eat or drink may result in choking or spillage of food or drink. You have been advised.
A/N: If you don't get today's disclaimer, it's the result of one reviewer's offhanded comment that snowballed into an actual disclaimer and should be taken quite seriously. I don't want anyone to choke on their dinner or burn themselves with hot coffee (or whatever hot beverage you prefer).
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for! The prank unveiled! Plus a little bit of romance for one of our cast members. Who is it? You'll have to read on to find out!
Forever Friends
10. Mischief
Sadie's PoV
I spotted her from my hiding spot. Strutting around without a care, bossing orders to her so-called friends. But her world was about to turn upside down. Everybody knows their part, and if this works, Trish won't be teasing anyone for a long time.
Wanda's PoV
It wasn't hard. Actually, this was easy. Like shooting fish in a barrel. But revenge is revenge no matter how it goes down. The fewer snags the better.
I walked past the slut and "casually" bumped into her.
"Watch where you're going, Freak!" Trish squealled. The loser didn't even remember who I was. Time to remind her.
"Hey, aren't you the one made that linebacker shove Todd into a dumpster?" I asked. OF course, I knew the answer was yes. Toad was very upset that week because he had to take two showers. The rest of us were relieved.
"so what if I did?" She asked.
"I also watched you insult a friend of a friend today." I said. "I am not amused."
"You don't have to be." She said. "I can do whatever I want! I'm rich! What will you do? Use your powers on me?"
"No need." I said. "Now girls!"
Rogue and Lexa sprang out of the crowd and doused the biatch in shaving cream and silly string. She screamed like a wounded animal.
"You freaks!" She shouted. "You've gone and ruined my hair!"
"We didn't." Lexa said. "But She will."
Trish turned around just in time to watch Sadie pour orange soda all over the bottle-blond's head. I laughed out loud, as did the other girls. The crowd around us even got in on it. Still, I felt like something was missing.
"You!" Trish screamed. "I'll sue you all!"
"for what?" I asked. "We haven't done anything illegal. It's just a harmless prank."
"in fact, this was a much tamer version of what we wanted to do to you." Lex sneered. "Think twice next time you want to run your mouth!"
"I hate you all!!!" Trish shouted. I watched as several cell phone cameras began snapping photos of Trish's bad hair day. It was priceless.
"We don't think much of you either." Rogue said. "Hey, ladies, ain't we forgettin' somethin'?"
"Like what?" I asked. She didn't need to answer. The next thing I heard was
"BANZAI!!!"
Feathers rained down from the air above Trish's head. I noted a puff of smoke that marks Kurt's powers. Ah. So his sister called him in to get the feathers. I must say, I'm impressed.
The feathers stuck to the soda-covered cheerleader with no trouble. She made several growling noises and looked like she wanted to cry. Naturally, Kurt knew just what to say.
"Don't ruffle your feathers, Frauline. It's all in good fun." He smiled.
Trish ran out of the mall like a bat out of hell, wailing about her ruined social life. It reminded me of the time that my brother was scared off to school in his pink flannel pyjamas. He cried for a week. Wuss.
Lexa's PoV
"Why didn't you tell us he would drop in?" I asked Rogue as we walked to the parking lot. She and kurt grinned back at us.
"It was a last-minute thing." Kurt said. (A/N: Sorry, but I can't type the phonetics for Kurt's accent. He will have to do without one for now.) "Oh, and the Professor won't be too happy about his missing down pillows."
"Wait!" Rogue shouted. "You stole the Prof's personal pillows?"
Kurt nodded. "Ja. I couldn't find any in the recruits' rooms, and I'm not going anywhere near Storm or Logan's rooms."
"Gee, Kurt, I never knew you were this thoughtful." Wanda said. "I like it."
"Watch it! I'm taken." He grinned from ear to pointed ear. "So, what else are we doing today?"
"You are going home to explain away the pillow theft." I told him as Rogue's cell phone rang. "We are going to continue shopping somewhere else."
"That's no fun." He pouted. "Why can't I go with you?"
"Because you're a guy and we're girls?" Sadie stated.
"Why don't you go visit Amanda?" Wanda asked.
"Will ya all pipe down? Ah'm tryin' ta listen here!" Rogue shouted. "What was that, Professa? Oh." Her eyes grew wide. I stared at her in confusion. What was Xavier saying to her? She nodded, said "okay", and hung up the phone.
"What was that about?" Wanda asked.
"He wants us to come back in five minutes or we're all on probation." The Southerner said. "Oh, and Sadie. Xavier said your dad called. You're grounded."
I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing at Sadie's angry face.
Sadie's PoV
I fumed all the way home. How dare he rat me out? We don't even live in the same house! What makes him think he can just butt in and run my life? Sure, he's my genetic donor, but what does that have to do with anything?
I bet that Mystique lady has something to do with this. She must have told him to call the Institute. But why? Why care about what goes on with me? Why jump into the fight this afternoon? I'm not her kid. I'm not even remotely related to that woman. I just can't figure her out.
I don't even remember the car stopping when we arrived at the Institute. As soon as Rogue pulled into the garage, I bailed out and tore up to Xavier's office. Baldy better have a good reason for doing this!
"Hello, Sadie." He said as I walked in. How can he be so frikkin' calm?
"Don't 'hello' me!" I snarled. "Why am I grounded? I didn't do anything wrong?"
"Your guardian feels otherwise." The older man replied, staring me in the eyes. "And given what he overheard, I must concur with his choice of action."
Damned super hearing.
"I didn't say it to his face! Or hers for that matter!" I protested. "Besides, he swore the entire time we talked! How can he yell about my language?"
"While no one can temper his behavior, save for perhaps Raven, yours will be brought into check." He said. "I will not tolerate such disrespect from my students, yourself included. You are grounded for one week plus extra training sessions with Wolverine. Any protests or colorful language you use will add days to your pinishment. Are we clear.
This sucked. Like a shopvac, suckage. I nodded anyway, but mentally vowed to make Wolverine' sjob as hard as possible. There was no way he would survive an entire week with me.
Rogue's PoV
I passed Sadie on my way to the Prof's office (Kurt, Lex, and Wanda in tote). She looked royally pissed about someiting and wouldn't say a word. The Prof must've told her off for something, though I don't know what. However, I forgot all about her problems when I stepped into his office.
"I see you wasted no time in returning." He said. I rolled my eyes. I hate it when people beat around the bush.
"How much trouble am Ah in?" I asked.
"That depends." He said. "Did you tell Kurt to steal and empty down pillows?"
This will be tricky.
"Ah asked him to find some feathers for a prank. Pillows were not what Ah had in mind."
It was a lie, but he didn't need to know that. In truth, I asked my darling brother to scarfe up a few pillows. I thought he'd get them from the guest rooms, though; not from the Prof's study.
"I see." Xavier furrowed his eyebrows. His hands did a wonderful impersonation of Monty Burns. "Well, Kurt, since you took the pillows without seeking permission from an instructor, you are now on one week's probation."
Kurt's face fell when the Prof spoke. Poor guy. At least it wasn't me.
"And, Rogue, for telling Kurt that he could take the pillows, you will be working the New Mutants' training sessions next week."
"What?" I blurted out before I could stop myself. "Why?"
"Because you are responsible for this." Xavier replied. "Take Wanda home, then report back here. Logan is preparing a self-defense class this afternoon." He smiled. I glared at him and walked to the door.
"Come on, Wanda. Let's go."
Brotherhood Boarding house, Mystique's PoV
Victor left over an hour ago. He probably won't return until nightfall. Which was why I wondered who could be pulling into the driveway at this hour. I walked downstairs in time to see Wanda walk in through the front door. Ah, Rogue must have brought her home. How considerate.
"How did it go?" I asked as she walked in.
"Prank worked, but Lexa and I are the only ones who escaped punishment." She answered.
"What did Kurt and Rogue do?" I asked.
"Well, Rogue called Kurt and asked him to scare up some feathers." She started. "Kurt hijacked the Professor's pillows to get the feathers. Xavier gave Kurt a week's probation, and Rogue has to work with the recruits' training sessions."
"He stole Xavier's pillows?" I blinked. She nodded. "Good lord, I thought he'd matured over the past year!"
"Be glad he didn't steal our pillows." She shrugged as her brother zipped in.
"What's this about pillows?" He asked.
"None of our concern." I glared at him. "Don't you have something to clean?"
"Nope. Finished my chores hours ago." He said.
"Then why don't you go supervise the other idiots and leave us alone." His sister growled. He squeaked and ran out of the room.
"Speaking of the boys, you really should go to dinner with him." I said, changing the subject. "You did promise him one date."
"But he's so annoying!" She whined. "He won't stop writing stupid poems or making up pet names!"
"You still picked him." I reminded her. (&) "You made your choice. You cast the spell, and it decided. Besides, he would do anything for you. Do you realize how hard it is to find someone like that?"
I know. I have spent much of my life trying to find a "good" man. All I found was a counterfiet count and Victor.
"Fine." She sighed. "One date! I won't commint to any more!"
"You don't have to." I told her. "Just give him one chance. That's all."
She sighed. "Fine. But if he starts catching flies at the dinner table, it's over!"
Todd's PoV
I was just goofin' off online when someone knocked on the door. I figure it's probably Pietro wanting something or Mystique asking me to re-clean the fireplace. Didn't think it'd take long, so I left the web page up and hopped to the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Hang on, I'm comin' as fast as I can!" I shouted. When I got to the door, I froze. What is she doin' here?
"Oh. Hi Wanda. What brings you to my end of the hall?" She looked down at me.
"I wanted to know when you were planning to take me on that date?" She grumbled. My heart lodged in my throat. She really wants to go out with me? Well, she did promise me one date, but that never really happened. I guess she wants to make it up to me or something.
"Is next Friday good?" I asked.
"Yeah, it'll work." She sighed. "I'll talk to you later."
"Okay." I smiled. "We'll leave at six-thirty."
She nodded and walked back to her room. I reminisced about the conversation for five minutes before realizing that this date would probably be a disaster. I don't go into fancy restaurants; the hosts don't like the look of me. Besides, I'm too broke to afford their food. Which also means that flowers are out of the question too.
Then there's the transportation. Lance won't let me within five feet of his jeep. Ever since Tabby wrecked it last year, he's been a wee bit paranoid. We have two other vehicles here, but Sabes will kill anyone who touches his bike, and I don't think Mystique would let me take her car. Hmm. Looks like we're walking to Taco Bell for dinner next week.
Yeah, real classy.
If this is going to go smoothly, I'll need help. But who do I ask? Fred's never had a girlfriend. Pietro's a commitment-phobe. And then there's Pyro... yeah, not goin' there. That leaves Sabertooth and Lance. And given the furball's record with women, I think I'll ask Lance. He's been out with Kitty enough times to know how things should be.
Who knew his thing with the ditzy x-chick would come in handy?
Wanda's PoV.
I realized as soon as I said yes that this thing was destined for trouble. Where the hell is he going to take me? He's not allowed to drive any of the cars yet, and can't afford a cab. Plus there's his hygene problem. He rarely bathes, needs a breathmint, and doesn't have any nice "casual" clothes. The last suit he borrowed was actually my brother's.
Speaking of clothes, what am I going to do? I've never been on a date before. How am I supposed to act? Do I pretend to be nice so I don't hurt his feelings? Do I tell him how I feel? What if he does something stupid like eating flies. Do I storm out in anger or force myself to stay for the rest of the evening?
Oh, I'm so confused. Too bad there aren't any other girls around here to talk with. I could call Rogue or Lexa, but I don't think they really know what to do either. They don't strike me as the experienced dating types, and I don't want to ask any of the other x-girls about this. Granted Kitty is dating Lance, and we do talk, but I don't want to hear her nitpicking my choice of boyfriend and picking out clothes for me to wear. What I really need is someone a lot more mature than her.
Wait a minute! Mystique lives here too. Granted she's my boss, but she's certainly been with enough men to offer some advice. The question is, do I want to ask her?
"How could you agree to a date with Toad?" Pietro demanded. He didn't even knock before coming in. Asshole. I hexed him out of the room and stomped downstair. I need something to take my mind off of this mess before I give myself a headache
&). Read the story "It's not easy being me" for some background on that.