The Big Break-Up

It was all anyone at school could talk about. Sunday's events weighed on everyone's minds. Both Joe and Cobra teams had emergency meetings of their own before school started. "You know Magneto is going to do something," Alpine pointed out.

"I know," Falcon nodded. "It's what he might be planning to do that's worrying me. Bazooka, you get all the security and surveillance equipment on standby?"

"Yup," Bazooka nodded.

"Hawk sent down Breaker to monitor the kids," Gung Ho said. "He'll be hearing and watching what they say at certain locations."

"I have a hidden microphone and receiver," Alpine said. "One good thing about being a security guard is I'm not as limited as you guys. If anything's up Breaker will contact me and I'll contact all of you."

"Everyone be on the lookout," Falcon said. "Especially with the Brotherhood. Maybe we'll get lucky and one of them will say something. It's a longshot, but it's worth a try."

Meanwhile in another part of the school the Cobras were having their own meeting. "I was only able to tap into a few of the Joes' listening devices," Zarana said.

"All that means is we have to be sharper than the Joes in watching them!" Zartan told her. "How is Cobra Commander taking the news?"

"He's actually pleased with this turn of events," Baroness said. "As long as nothing happens to blow our cover in Bayville, any mutant/human fiasco is actually good for Cobra. We can use the fear of the mutants to our advantage. Guyrich has already called me informing that he's set up an interview with Trask. By the end of this mission we will have not only some mutant subjects, but the plans to build an army of Sentinels!"

"That is good news," Zandar nodded.

"Just keep your eyes open," Baroness told her team. "Something's going to happen today that will help us. I can feel it in my bones."

************************************************************************

"Kurt!" Amanda waved to her boyfriend at lunch. She went over to the table where he was sitting with Kitty, Evan, and Rogue. They embraced. "Are you okay?" She asked.

"Ya," He nodded, hugging her back.

"The only thing that kept going through my mind was, 'Thank God that wasn't Kurt,'" Amanda sniffed. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

"You want to sit with us?" Kitty asked.

"Actually," Kurt looked at them. "Do you mind if we go talk awhile?"

"Go on lovebirds," Rogue rolled her eyes and they went somewhere to talk. "Five will get you ten that the talk will actually be a make out session behind the bleachers."

"Well at least one person is on our side," Evan grumbled.

"Not so loud!" Rogue hissed. "Do you want anyone to hear you? We have got to be even more careful now than ever! Do you want a repeat of that incident here?"

"This is really getting scary," Kitty shuddered. "About half the school thinks what happened on Sunday was actually…cool. Don't they get it? A kid died just because his powers emerged at the wrong place at the wrong time!"

"Tell me about it," Evan pointed to a table across the cafeteria where Duncan was holding court. "Matthews has been bragging about it all morning. Like he's the one who pulled the trigger. I hope Jean figures out what a jerk that guy is!"

"Looks like she's already getting a good look," Rogue said pointing out Jean's obvious distaste.

Not far away Scott was seated with Taryn and one of her friends. "I take it you guys saw what happened on Sunday too huh?" He asked.

"It was awful," Taryn's friend Anya said. "Why would they show something like that on television?"

"Yeah even if he was a mutant he didn't deserve…that," Taryn shuddered. "I mean those things give me the creeps too but they could have found another way to subdue him or something. Right Scott?"

"Of course they could have," Scott said, he was clearly frustrated. "But they were scared. What I don't get is…"

"I can't believe you just said that!" Jean shouted loud enough to be overheard by the entire cafeteria. In fact the entire cafeteria did hear them and looked towards her and Duncan.

"Why not?" Duncan said. "It's true!"

"Duncan no one deserves to die like that!" Jean said.

"Oh come on Jean," Duncan rolled his eyes. "He was a freak. It's not like he was human or anything!"

"Of course he was human!" Jean shouted. "That's awful!"

"I can't believe you're saying that!" Duncan shouted. "You are actually sympathizing with a freak? I can't believe that I'm dating a freak lover!"

"What I can't believe is that I've been dating Bayville High's biggest jerk for months now and never knew it!" Jean shouted.

"That's something coming from the school's most frigid tramp!" Duncan snapped.

"What did you say?" Jean's eyes went wide.

"You heard me!" Duncan snarled. "Don't think I haven't noticed you making eyes at Summers here! You know I didn't mind so much when you started making a play for him while you were dating me at first because it was fun to see his face when you kept coming back to me! But now it's getting old!"

"What are you talking about?" Jean fumed.

"Oh please, the entire school knows about how you've got this little thing for Scott," Duncan said. "I see you talking to him all the time. Those little laughs. Sometimes you stop talking when I come in the room. Like you two are sharing some kind of secret. Did you really think I wouldn't notice? Especially how you keep dragging him to my parties when you knew I didn't want him there!"

"We're friends Duncan," Jean folded her arms. "I'm tired of explaining that to you!"

"And I'm tired of your little hissy fits," Duncan snapped. "Especially at every little thing!"

"Uh," Monkeywrench walked over to the Baroness, who was on lunch duty. "Should we stop this?"

"No," She replied. "Let's let this little drama play out. Think of it as intelligence gathering."

"It is so over between us Duncan," Jean snapped. "The only reason you went out with me in the first place was because I'm popular! Just to add another trophy to your stupid ego!"

"Oh please," Duncan snarled. "Look who's talking! I mean you weren't exactly complaining about all the attention you got hanging out with me!"

"Oh yeah some attention," Jean spat. "Until you saw any of your stupid football friends and ignored me! Just like at the Sadie Hawkins Dance! Well you are through using me Duncan! It's over! You hear me over!"

Duncan sneered into her face. " I hate to be the one to break this to you Jean…well actually no I am going to enjoy telling you this. You're not the Queen of the school. Okay you're pretty and popular, but when it comes to the important stuff…like making out…Oh wait, we never really made out much. No big deal, I've had better. And I can get better."

"Leave her alone Matthews!" Scott roared as he grabbed him.

"Scott what are you doing?" Taryn shouted. "Stay out of this!"

"Yeah Summers," Duncan smirked as he wriggled out of Scott's grasp. "Come on and rescue Jean while ditching your girlfriend! Way to go Jean, you've really got him wrapped around your finger!" Summers again! It's always Summers! I'd have had Jean in the sack by now if it wasn't for him!

"Jean do you always have to be the center of attention?" Taryn shouted. "Scott just walk away!" Who does she think she is? Scott why are you defending her? Can't you see she's just using you?

"Yeah Summers what are you doing defending this freak lover?" One of Duncan's cronies shouted. I don't care how hot her body is; no way anyone should defend one of those freaks!

"Yeah why don't you go date a freak you witch?" One of the cheerleaders said. This is great! Now Duncan and I don't have to sneak around any more!

"Leave her alone!" Scott shouted. "What's wrong with not wanting to see anyone get killed on national television no matter who it is?" What did Jean see in this guy? How could she not know what goes on in his mind when the entire school can figure it out?

Jean looked around, startled by the random stray thoughts barraging her. Her control was slowly slipping away. Thousands of thoughts assailed her. Tramp. Freak lover. Weirdo. What does Duncan see in her? What did she see in him? Slut…Man this is good! Give it to her! I wanted to see her get it for years! Serves her right for stringing along two guys at the same time! She's just like those other weirdoes at the Institute! What a drama queen! Who does she think she is?

"STOP IT!" Jean screamed. "JUST STOP IT!"

Jean ran from the cafeteria in tears. Scott ran after her. Taryn stood there in shock as her supposed boyfriend ran after her friend/rival. The entire school started buzzing. "Well I can't say I'm surprised," Lance snickered. "I'm just glad I was there to see it."

"All right!" Pietro shouted. "Just goes to show you every cloud does have a silver lining! I thought this day would suck but that just made my day!"

"If you ask me she got what she deserved," Fred grunted. "About time Miss Perfect got a dose of reality."

"Amen to that brother," John nodded. "Amen to that."

"I'm not gonna cry over that little tramp," Wanda sniffed. "The whole school knows she has feelings for Scott the whole time she was with Duncan."

"It's Taryn I feel sorry for," Peter pointed out. Taryn was still watching where Scott had taken off after Jean.

Anya walked over to Taryn, pulling her away. "Come on, let's get out of here." Taryn allowed her to take her away, fueling even more fire to the gossipmongers.

"Well that was an informative piece of intelligence gathering," Monkeywrench snickered.

"Actually I think this turn of events could prove useful," The Baroness smiled as she looked at a forlorn Taryn. "Very useful."

Next up, Jean learns a few lessons about love, The Baroness learns a new way to interfere with the X-Men's lives and you'll all learn the newest little plot twist my insane mind has cooked up! Hint: It has a reference to the comic version, but…Oh you'll figure it out.