Title: Old Friends with New Beginnings

Chapter 12: The Art of Communication

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em; wish I did. 'Nuff said.

A/N: Sorry for the delay, but Easter threw me for a loop. To make up for it, I've included the final chapter and epilogue in one post. Hope that helps! Thanks to all reviewers and my beta.

"Spoken"

'Thoughts'

Telepathy

Brief Summary (because it's been awhile since I updated):

Scott and Jean have been having trouble communicating lately with each too stubborn to hear the other out. Scott thinks Jean cheated on him while they were in their fake relationship, and Jean is annoyed Scott followed her to breakfast with Duncan. The younger X-Men found out about the breakup and fake relationship, and unsuccessfully tried to get them back together. Scott is mad at himself for letting his emotions get the better of him, while Jean is mulling over the assertion Kitty made stating Scott likes Jean and she likes him.

xxxxx

Scott had wanted to talk to Jean about their recent run-ins, but he didn't have the words. He wasn't sure how he wanted to handle the situation. Sure he loved her, he had no doubt about that, but she didn't love him. She'd made that perfectly clear when she ran off with Duncan. Somehow he'd have to find a way to get them back to how they were before – just friends. He'd have to settle for that because he couldn't imagine his life without her in it.

On mostly a subconscious level, Scott had spent all day Sunday under the hood of his car tinkering. He claimed to all that inquired he needed an oil change, being that it had been 3,000 miles since his last one. Most considered the recommended 3,000 mile oil change as just that, a recommendation, but to Scott it was a requirement. He didn't see the point of having nice things if you weren't going to take care of them.

He hadn't planned on being outside all day, but it had happened. Once he'd had his hands dirty, his mind had wandered, losing track of time in the mechanics of his engine. He hadn't even realized the sun had set until after seven o'clock.

When he'd gotten up Monday morning and headed to school, he learned Jean had already left. She had signed up to help decorate for the football team's state championship pep rally. Her committee members always asked her to hang up the high posters because she wasn't afraid to climb the tall ladders, but little did they know the reason was Jean could always steady herself using her telekinesis, eliminating the fear of falling.

So he'd gone to school without her and somehow managed not to run into her all day. He was still trying to convince himself that he wasn't outwardly avoiding her, they just hadn't crossed paths. It wasn't until after 6th period when Scott was reaching into his locker to grab his calculus book that he realized he could avoid her no longer since he'd be sitting beside her in calculus. Scott mentally braced himself, knowing he'd have to come up with something to say, the question was what.

Out of the corner of his eye, Scott saw Kurt rushing towards him, his backpack bouncing off his shoulders with each step. "Scott, vhere's Jean?!"

Scott expected the worst in an unknown situation. He replied, placing a hand on Kurt's shoulder. "Why? What's wrong?"

Kurt was huffing as he tried to catch his breath after running the halls to find Jean. "I told you she vould never cheat, but did anyvone listen to the elf? Nooo, the blue dude knows of nothing."

"What are you talking about?" Scott furrowed his eyebrows.

"Jean." Looking up at his friend's face, he continued. "She didn't cheat. I heard Duncan talking in the locker room, right after gym class. He's been telling her about his abusive father."

"Wow." Jean had told him Duncan was having personal issues, but he didn't imagine they would be that bad. He suddenly felt very foolish for not trusting her. "No wonder she wouldn't tell me," he said while shutting his locker.

"No, that's not it," Kurt clarified, shifting his backpack so it sat more comfortably. "He's lying."

"You mean, it's not true? Does Jean know?"

"Duncan claims she's clueless." The urgency in Kurt's tone amplified. "The sob story is supposed to vin Jean back. Ve have to find her."

With that, the bell rang for class, and the movement of students scurrying to class quickened as they realized they were late. "I have calc with her, so I'll tell her."

Satisfied his field leader would be true to his word, Kurt's concern look transformed with a smile as he turned to run to class.

xxxxx

Jean sat in her assigned seat in calculus and reviewed her notes one last time before the day's exam. She was really anxious, which wasn't unusual before a test, but this time she welcomed it because worrying took her might off Scott Summers, if for only awhile.

She'd been thinking a lot lately about what Kitty had told her the other night. Maybe Scott really did like her, and that's why he'd gotten so mad. Wasn't that the reason she'd been furious when he'd spied on her? If it had been Evan or Kitty or anyone else, she wouldn't still be mad, but it hadn't been them.

It was Scott.

He was her best friend, and she loved him. The question Kitty had asked was how much? She shook her head. She didn't have time to think about Scott when she had an exam in two minutes.

While attempting to memorize what seemed like the fiftieth calculus formula, she heard the final bell ring. Looking up she noticed Scott wasn't in his regular seat and scanned the room for him.

The teacher cleared his throat in hopes of gaining students' attention. "Now, everyone remove your notes and textbooks from your desk, and prepare for the exam."

Groans were heard around the classroom as students shuffled to pack up their belongings. But Jean was concentrating on Scott. It wasn't like him to be late.

"Ms. Grey, your notes." The dark haired teacher said while looking over top the glasses he had perched on his nose. Jean thought he had the look of a scholarly professor who instead of ending up at a college or university, had somehow gotten trapped in a high school filled with wild monkeys.

"Oh, yes. Sorry, Mr. Johnson." She removed her notes from the desk and placed them in her book bag. With her notes out of sight, Mr. Johnson handed her the test. Without a conscious thought, she put her name on the exam in her feminine script.

Jean Grey Summers.

'Oh my God, what did I just do?' Frantically she erased it, but she swore she could still read the name. Jean Grey Summers.

Staring at the faded signature now partly erased, Jean realized through the course of this entire fiasco with Duncan, rumors around school, pretend dates, and silly misunderstandings, she'd fallen in love with the boy wearing ruby quartz glasses.

Although unable to pinpoint exactly when her feelings had grown from friendship to a romantic level of love, she knew now, staring at that name, that the fights she'd had with him were not over who was right or wrong but rather a mask of angst created to shield her true feelings for him. This realization made her blush, and she regretted having to write her name again atop the Summers last name.

She felt as if all eyes were on her even though she knew the other students would be focused on their tests. As she looked up to make sure no one had noticed her red face, she saw Scott hurriedly enter the room.

"Mr. Summers, you're late," the teacher stated obviously, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Don't make it a habit."

"Sorry, Mr. Johnson." Sliding into his seat he assured, "It won't happen again."

Wordlessly he handed Scott an exam. As he took his seat, he turned to Jean and noticed her flush face. "Are you okay?"

She only nodded, unable to find the words to say to the boy she'd finally had the courage to admit to herself she loved.

Not wanting to talk during an exam, Scott turned to telepathy and projected. We need to talk after class.

Looking at him, but not speaking, she replied. I need to talk to you too.

Although for slightly different reasons, neither one focused well during their exam. After forty minutes of struggling to maintain concentration, the bell sounded to signal the class had ended and tests were due.

As Scott met Jean at the front of the classroom to tell her his news about Duncan, Mr. Johnson spoke. "Mr. Summers, can I see you for a minute please? You took a minute of my time arriving late. Now I want a minute of yours."

Struggling to hold back a sigh at the setback, Scott turned to Jean. "I'll be just a minute. Meet me outside?"

Jean smiled and nodded. "I'll be right here in the hallway."

As she waited, she hoped Mr. Johnson wouldn't hold him long because she needed to talk to him. No longer did she want them arguing over some petty fight. She loved him and wanted to be with him. It was time to tell him the truth – about everything. Even if she had to strap him down in a chair with her telekinesis, Scott was going to hear her out. She hoped he'd forgive her and allow them to start over.

Scott walked with a determined gait as he exited the classroom and spotted Jean outside the doorway, as she'd promised.

Simultaneously they said, "We need to talk."

They laughed at each other, but Scott was the first to stop, his tone turning solemn. "I know ladies should go first, but I have to tell you something."

Jean's expression immediately changed. "Is everyone alright?" As one of the X-Men, thoughts of her teammates wellbeing was almost always the first thought when bad news was expected. It was a shame to so often jump to such a conclusion as a teenager.

"The team is fine, it's just, well –" Before class, Scott had been so determined to tell Jean about Duncan. At first the thought had thrilled him because he could finally show her what a creep Duncan was, but now, looking into her eyes, he hated to hurt her. He was convinced she loved Duncan and imagined she'd be crushed by the news he was about to give. Taking a deep breath he spoke. "Duncan's been lying to you. Kurt overheard him bragging about how his story about his father was made up –"

"I figured as much," she interrupted an unhearing Scott.

"– to make you feel sympathy for him. Wait. What?" He ran his hand through his hair and cocked his head in puzzlement.

She laughed. "Scott, I don't always have to use my telepathy to know whether or not I'm being lied to. Granted, I didn't know for sure, but I had my suspensions."

He let his hands fall to his sides. "I'm sorry for not trusting you. I should have known you'd never do anything to hurt me."

"You're right. You should've known," she confirmed. "But I shouldn't have gotten as mad as I did when you followed me. You were only trying to look out for me, which is what makes you such a good leader." Before her head warn her of the risks she was posing to her heart, she said, "I'm in love with you, Scott."

"What?" Scott asked, disbelieving.

Now that her brain had control again, she hesitated in responding, apprehensive about exposing her heart again to the risk of rejection. "Never mind," she said looking down.

"You love me?" Scott repeated, afraid he was hallucinating.

"Yeah, maybe," Jean said, crossing her arms so they could shield her pounding heart.

Knowing now that he'd heard her correctly before, Scott smiled. "I'm in love with you too, Jean." Placing a palm aside her head, he gently stroked her cheek with his thumb, enjoying the softness of her skin. "Do you forgive me?"

"Yes, of course," she smiled up at him, searching behind his glasses for his eyes she couldn't see. "Do you forgive me?"

"On one condition," he smiled cleverly and paused a moment. "We date for real."

Jean opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted by Duncan shouting at them from down the hallway. As he approached they could hear him say, "I know what you all are up to. I heard about some stunt you two are pulling, pretending to date. Who do you think you are?"

With this declaration, many students stopped and took notice of Duncan, interested in the latest school gossip.

Jean responded to the outburst with a lighthearted tone as she slipped her arms around Scott and he followed suit. "Sorry to disappoint you, Duncan, but you're looking at a bona fide couple here."

A buzz could be heard throughout the small crowd gathered around them, some snickering and others whispering their surprise.

Scott turned his attention to Jean and whispered hopefully. "Really?"

Returning his gaze, she softly said, "One hundred percent yes."

He grinned and leaned down to kiss his new girlfriend, happy this relationship was genuine. The kiss was soft and sweet, lasting only a few moments longer than a kiss in school should.

They had all but forgotten about Duncan until he said, "You deserve each other. The tease and the tightass make a great pair."

"Don't talk to Jean that way," Scott defended, releasing his hold of Jean to go after Duncan.

Without a word, Jean grabbed Scott's arm and held him back. They didn't need a fight at school that would risk exposing their mutations. Duncan certainly wasn't worth it.

Duncan raised his fists. "That's right, Jean, hold Shades back because you know what I'd do to him."

At that statement, a transformation seemed to occur in Duncan. His facial expressions changed from one of anger and resentment to concern and a degree of alarm in a matter of seconds. His eyes widened in shock, and he quickly turned to race away, bumping into any students in his path. Seeing the drama was over, the small crowd of students who'd seen the scene laughed and departed for class.

Returning to Jean's side and pointing his thumb in the general direction of Duncan's departure, Scott said, "What got into him?"

She smiled a knowing smile but shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe he got a sudden urge to relieve himself and is running to the nearest bathroom."

Scott laughed. "You never cease to amaze me."

Taking her head in his hands, he stared into her beautiful eyes. Getting lost in her beauty he wished he could substitute his optic mutation for the ability to freeze time, so he could hold onto this moment awhile longer. Knowing that wasn't possible, he leaned in to seize the moment and steal another kiss from his old friend who had just granted him a new beginning.

xxxxx

Acceptable? Not satisfied yet? Read on for the epilogue!