Everybody's Talking

"I can't believe what just happened!" Rogue said to Kurt and Amanda.

"I can't believe we missed it," Amanda groaned. "I mean it's been coming for a long time. I've been waiting for her to dump that jerk and I missed it!"

"Yeah well Duncan made it out like he dumped her," Rogue spat. "Creep!"

"Rogue!" Risty waved as she came over. "Hey girlfriend! What's new?"

"Besides Jean and Duncan having the breakup of the century?" Kurt asked.

"I heard all about it!" Risty said. "I only wish I had first period lunch so I could have seen it myself!"

"Risty!" Rogue snapped. "I know Jean lays it on a little thick sometimes with the popularity, but she didn't deserve to be humiliated by that!"

"Please," Risty sniffed. "I mean look how fast Scott jumped to her rescue. How much you want to be those two will be on a date by the end of the week?"

"Well hopefully some good will come from that," Amanda said. "I mean it's way past due those two getting together."

"Hey Risty what happened to your arm?" Kurt looked at the cast on Risty's arm.

"Oh that," Risty shrugged. "I got into a minor accident when I was home visiting my grandmother. It looks a lot worse than it really is."

Rogue looked at her. "How did you know Scott went after her?"

"The grapevine silly!" Risty rolled her eyes. "You know how fast gossip travels around here. Come on, we've got to get to class!" She grabbed Rogue by the arm and they went off. "See you two love birds later!"

"I didn't know Risty went home to England," Amanda said.

"Yah," Kurt nodded. "Her grandmother was really sick so she had to go home and stuff. We'd better get to class also. We're running late enough as it is!" They took off.

Walking along the other side of the corridor was Scott. He was lost in his own thoughts so much he nearly ran into Paul. "Whoa!" Scott stopped. "Sorry."

"Hey no big deal," Paul said. He made off to walk away.

Scott said. "How's it going? I haven't seen you around much lately."

"Oh…been busy. You know how it is," Paul shrugged. He was about to leave, then thought better of it. "I uh, heard about Jean."

"Yeah it was a real bad scene," Scott ran his hand through his hair. "I hope she's okay."

"Hey don't worry," Paul said. "It's about time she came to her senses anyway! So I guess um… you're breaking up with Taryn huh?"

"I don't know," Scott groaned. "I mean we were going to probably do it anyway and now…but if I do I'll feel like such a jerk and I don't want to hurt her feelings. But on the other hand I want to be there for Jean and …Agggh! I don't know how all this got so complicated, you know?"

"Actually I have a pretty good idea. How things get complicated that is," Paul sighed. "I mean you think you know…how things are and everything changes."

"Sounds like you're going through some pretty rough stuff as well," Scott said.

"Me? Oh no. I just…you know. Normal grades and hassles and stuff. Look Scott, if you wanna talk, I um…I'll listen you know."

"Yeah well I gotta get to class, but thanks for the offer," Scott said. "Hey how about we hang later on okay?"

"Cool," Paul waved. "Later dude."

They went their separate ways. Not far away Remy and Peter were talking alone. "I don't know," Peter sighed.

"You said yourself you knew something was wrong," Remy whispered.

"I know but what you're talking about is treason!" Peter looked around.

"Is it?" Remy hissed. "The man altered most of our memories and killed Toad for no reason. The only person he is loyal to is himself!"

"I'll think about it and I won't tell anyone about this," Peter said. "That's all I can promise for now."

"Fair enough," Remy sighed. "Let's get to class. WHOA!" He dodged a basketball that flew out of the gym.

"What's going on?" Peter yelped as several basketballs flew out of the gym.

"It looks like the little war between the gym teachers is still going on," Remy chuckled.

"It's gonna get worse," Peter groaned. "I saw the schedule. Tomorrow they're starting street hockey."

"Oh boy," Remy groaned. "That's going to be fun!"

"Hey you two!" Principal Kelly shouted. "Get to class!"

"Uh sir I don't think you should stand there," Peter indicated the open door.

"What are you babbling about? What the heck?" Kelly looked around and saw a dozen basketballs headed his way. He was hit by several of them in various places. "Ow…" He fell to the ground.

"Uh oh…" Mr. Falcone and Ms. Rafael gulped as they peeked out of the gym. Remy and Peter made themselves scarce.

"Uh kids who wants extra credit?" Ms. Rafael said.

"All you gotta do is not tell anybody what happened," Mr. Falcon explained as they went back into the gym. Kelly lay there unconscious on the floor.

Later on that day Scott bumped into Taryn. "Taryn!" He gasped in shock. "I uh…look I'm sorry about what happened in the caf this afternoon. But I just couldn't just stand by and…"

"And Jean's your friend," Taryn sighed.

"Yeah," Scott felt incredibly guilty. "Taryn I…"

"You're in love with her aren't you?"

"Uh…huh?" Scott was flabbergasted.

"Look I'm not gonna make this any harder than it has to be," Taryn said sweetly. "I understand. Personally I think you're making a mistake but…Hey. If that's what you want. I only hope Jean appreciates you as much as I do."

"I…uh…" Scott blinked.

"Look we can still be friends if you want," Taryn said.

"Um…yeah," Scott scratched his head. "That…that would be nice."

"Look if you need anything, even just to talk," Taryn shrugged. "I'm here for you. I mean that."

"Um…Thanks," Scott said, surprised on how well this was going. "I'd appreciate that."

"Yeah well I gotta go," Taryn walked away and into the girl's bathroom.

"How'd it go?" Anya asked.

"That was the hardest thing I ever had to do," Taryn sniffed, trying to hold the tears inside.

"Come on now," Anya held her shoulder. "Remember the plan. You're supposed to be supportive. If you carry on in front of him Jean will only use that against you."

"I know, I know," Taryn nodded.

"Don't worry, Ms. Baron's old. She knows what she's talking about," Anya said as they walked out of the bathroom. "Between the three of us, we'll get you back together with Scott for sure!"

They walked past Kitty at her locker. Lance hesitantly came up to her. "Kitty?" Lance asked. "How are you doing?"

"Holding up, you know," She shrugged. "It's really scary, you know?"

"Yeah," Lance looked around. "I know. Damn norms. They're gonna pay for that!"

"What do you mean?" Kitty asked.

"Never mind," Lance tried to change the subject. "Forget I said anything."

"I won't forget it Lance what did you mean by that?" Kitty asked.

"Look don't worry about it okay?" Lance said. "Magneto will take care of it, that's all."

"What you do mean 'Magneto will take care of it'?" Kitty's voice grew louder and angrier.

"Forget I said that will you?" Lance looked around again. "I mean…Come on Kitty you really didn't think he wouldn't find out about what happened there? We're not just gonna stand by while mutants get killed for simply being who they are!"

"Lance revenge isn't the answer!" Kitty told him. "It's not going to do any good!"

"Wanna bet?" Lance snapped. "Believe me Kitty we know what we're doing. After we're done people will think twice before gunning mutants down again!"

"If you do people will want to kill mutants even more!" Kitty grabbed his arm. "Lance don't do this!"

"Kitty calm down," Lance pulled his arm away. "We're not gonna kill anybody or anything like that! We're just gonna give those goons a message that's all! Look Magneto knows what he's doing! He's right. Magneto's always right about stuff like this."

"No he isn't!" Kitty snapped. "Was he right when he killed Toad?"

"Magneto didn't kill Toad. Mystique did."

"Wrong Lance! He did! You just don't remember because Magneto did something to your minds to think that!"

"Hey if anybody's minds are being warped it's yours! Last I checked Xavier and Jean are the only ones who can change memories around here!" Lance snapped. "Besides you weren't even there! So don't go making up stuff that isn't true!" He stormed away.

"Lance!" Kitty called after him and stamped her foot.

Risty walked up to her. "Trouble in paradise?"

"None of your business!" Kitty snapped as she walked out of the hallway.

Risty smirked and changed her shape to Mystique. "Oh I'm afraid it is my business dear," she cackled and changed into a bird, flying out an open window.

Bazooka stuck his head out from behind the lockers where he observed everything. "Uh oh…" He gulped and ran to find the other Joes.

Not long after he left a figure emerged from his hiding place. Zartan had used his mutant ability to camouflage himself against the wall so he could spy on the students better. "Well this is fun," He chuckled. "High school really is educational!"

What happens next? I'm not really sure myself. Oh well it will be fun to find out won't it?

And yes, in the TV show Zartan has the ability to camouflage himself. (For those of you who don't know GI Joe.) So I figure he is some kind of mutant. His only drawback is that he can't stand sunlight. It robs him of his natural abilities and turns him into a blue color. I suspect by this time Cobra's developed some kind of sun block that he wears now to prevent this.

Hmmm…this gives me an idea! He, He….