Conversations in the Halls

The bell rang signaling it was time to change classes for the last period of the day. However John, Pietro and other members of the Brotherhood were not in much of a hurry to get to class. "The worst period of the day is the last period," Pietro groaned. "It goes by sooooo sloooooooow!"

"I've had it with this," John fumed. "Let's blow this joint!"

"Yeah why are we at school anyway?" Fred huffed.

"I'm with you!" Pietro nodded. "You coming sis?"

"Why not?" Wanda shrugged. "Nothing better to do. School reminds me too much of the asylum anyway!"

Peter looked uneasy. "Are you sure we should be doing this?"

"You're not chicken are you?" John smirked.

"No," Peter snapped.

"Then it's all settled!" Pietro said. "Let's go!"

"Shouldn't we get Remy and Lance?" Fred asked.

"They're too busy chasing their X-Geek girlfriends," John smirked.

"Ah who needs 'em," Pietro shrugged. "If they wanna suck up to the goody good girls that's their business!"

"So is there anywhere fun to go in this dump?" John asked as they headed out.

"Actually there is one place," Pietro smirked. "Fred you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Oh yeah baby!" Fred licked his lips. "It's time for some hot wings!"

They walked by Rogue on their way out. She ignored them, heading off to class. She was bumped into by a huge jock. "Hey watch it!"

"You watch it freak!" The Jock huffed. He had two buddies with him who snickered. He knocked her books out of her hands.

"Why you muscle head!" Rogue fumed. "Why don't you go play on a tire swing?"

"Hey guys look!" The Jock sneered. "The little weirdo's threatening me! Get a decent look!"

"You get a decent brain!" Rogue snapped.

"You wanna fight? Huh Freakgirl?" The Jock snarled. He moved forward menacingly.

Only to have someone grab his shoulder and slam him into a locker. "HEY! LEGGO!"

"I believe you owe an apology to the lady," Remy said menacingly.

The Jock broke away. "I don't owe nobody nothing!" He spat. "Especially to some freak with weird hair!"

"Who are you calling a freak, freak?" Remy hissed. "You seem to know a lot more about them than you let on!"

"Wh-what?" The Jock stared at him.

"I saw you at that game last weekend," Remy sneered. "You play pretty well. A little too well if you get my picture!"

"I don't know what you're talking about," The Jock said nervously.

"Don't you?" Remy cocked an eyebrow. "Anybody can dye their hair. It's people who try to pass as normal that really bug me!"

The other two jocks looked at their leader with searching eyes. "Hey chill man," The jock backed away. "I didn't mean freak as in mutant freak I meant freak as in weirdo freak! I wasn't implying… Oh come on guys I'm not a mutant! Come on! Let's go!" They walked away. However the other two jocks were looking at the first jock funny.

"Nothing like a little xenophobia to drive away a jock," Remy snickered.

"Uh thanks," Rogue said. "It was really starting to get ugly. Not that I couldn't have handled them…"

"Of course not," Remy smiled. "I just didn't want to see you mess up those nice clothes you were wearing. Blood is so hard to get out."

"Yeah well thanks," Rogue said. "I really appreciate that."

"Do my ears deceive me? Did you just thank me without insulting me?" Remy asked.

"Don't get too used to it," Rogue smirked. "Hey um, can I ask you something?"

"Ask away."

"Do you remember what happened the night…Toad died? Who killed him?"

"Magneto did of course," Remy said. "Despite what everyone in the Brotherhood now believes."

"What do you mean?"

"They think Mystique killed Toad in a rage because you X-Men won the battle," Remy told her. "I know differently."

"Wait, the Brotherhood all thinks that Mystique killed Toad except you?" Rogue asked. "Why?"

"I don't know," Gambit frowned. "I think maybe my head is a little harder to get into than most."

"The Professor said a telepath was in the area recently," Rogue told him.

"Makes sense," Gambit said. "I wouldn't put it past Magneto to hire one. And there's no reason for the Professor to shift the blame. Listen I have a request to make of you, can you get out of the mansion for a few hours tonight?"

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Rogue blinked.

"Not quite," Gambit said. "I was told to deliver a message to you." He handed her a piece of paper. "You not supposed to show that to anybody and follow the directions."

Rogue glanced at the note. "I don't believe this," She gasped. She looked at him in shock. "I…I'll be there."

"Tell no one," Remy said quietly and walked away. Leaving Rogue to ponder. She walked down the halls in a daze, not even noticing Kurt waving to her.

"Well there goes Miss Sociable," Kurt made a face.

"Oh come on Kurt," Amanda pulled him closer. "She's just probably stressing over her tests like everyone else."

"Well better tests than…other things," Kurt sighed.

"Kurt," Amanda started to say, putting one hand to his face, taking in the fuzzy texture underneath his holographic skin.

"I'm okay," He smiled. "So are you up for a Gut Bomb Bonanza this weekend?"

"Yes," She smiled. "I finally told my parents about you. Well the dating part, not the other stuff. Trust me, my dad's already freaked enough about me dating boys period. Mom's okay with it. I think she wants to meet you."

"Oh my first interview with my girlfriend's parents," Kurt rolled his eyes

"Relax," Amanda smiled. "Dad hasn't cleaned out his gun collection yet so…"

"WHAT?" Kurt yelped.

"Just kidding," Amanda giggled and they kissed.

"All right break it up you two and get to class!" Ms. Baron shouted at them, forcing them to leave. "This is a school not a make out session!"

"Oh Ms. Baron!" Kelly called out to her. A tall man with red hair and glasses was next to him.

"Yes Principal Kelly?" Ms. Baron walked up to them.

"I'd like you to meet our Vice Principal," Kelly introduced the man. "Mr. Henry Guyrich."

"Actually we've met," The red haired man smiled.

"Of course," Ms. Baron smiled sweetly. "It's good to see you again."

"Well that's nice," Kelly said. "Mr. Guyrich was at a seminar this past week. That's why he wasn't present during our interview."

"I've heard of that seminar," Ms. Baron said. "It was the 'Keep Our Schools Safe' one wasn't it?"

"Yes it was," Mr. Guyrich smiled. "Actually I wanted to talk to you about organizing a group of teachers to attend another one like it. It's very educational."

"I'll bet," Ms. Baron smiled.

Kelly suddenly felt like a third wheel. "Well if you'll excuse me I have other duties to attend to," He backed away. He looked behind him. "HEY YOU! PUT DOWN THAT CAN OF SHAVING CREAM!" He took off.

"Well I certainly didn't expect to see you here this quickly," Guyrich said.

"I told you," Ms. Baron smiled. "I am very interested in your cause. And in your friend Mr. Trask's work. But here is not the best place to discuss such things."

"I agree. How about tonight at dinner?"

"Are you asking me on a date, Mr. Guyrich?"

"Well technically it's just two people getting together over a meal to discuss mutual interests," Guyrich smiled.

"I'll see you at seven," Ms. Baron smiled. They parted. Not long after they did Mr. Tanzar (Zartan) came up to her. They walked side by side.

"So that's the contact you were so mysterious about," Mr. Tanzar smirked. "Interesting. This game just got a whole new dimension."

"Yes the information I can get about Trask's secret organization will help Cobra a thousand fold," She smiled. "Now if I can only get the plans for that Sentinel…"

"So Cobra can use it to hunt mutants?" Mr. Tanzar asked.

"Why be so limited?" Ms. Baron walked off with him. "Mutants, Joes, scientists, Congressmen with thick bank accounts…the possibilities are endless."

"That's what I love about Cobra," Mr. Tanzar smirked. "Such an equal opportunity enterprise." They both laughed as they went around the corner past Kitty at her locker. Obviously she was too involved with her own thoughts to hear them.

"Hey Kitty," Lance came over.

"Hi!" Kitty beamed. "So how are you doing Lance? Really."

"Okay I guess," Lance sighed. "Look, um do you have a minute?"

"Well I do have study hall in the library," Kitty said.

"That's perfect!" Lance said. "Look, do you want to get out of here and talk someplace?"

"What just cut class?" Kitty was surprised.

"Why not?" Lance asked. "They never take attendance in Library Study hall and there's not any other time we can be together soon! I just…I just want to be with you alone. Away from…everything. Kitty we'll go somewhere where we won't get caught! I promise!"

"Well…Okay let's do it!" Kitty took his arm and when no one was looking, they phased though the wall outside.

Whoa! Kitty ditching school? Who would have thought? So who wrote the note to Rogue? What will happen on Lance and Kitty's 'date'? Where are the rest of the Brotherhood going? Will Kurt and Amanda's relationship stay strong? What are Guyrich's plans? How will the Baroness use them to her advantage? Stay tuned for the answers!