NOTE: I had a lot of fun writing this chapter hehe……the plot thickens…..i would really appreciate if you guys would tell me what you'd like to happen, diff. Scenarios, etc……anything at all. Thanx for reading!

Kitty opened her eyes to feel the searing sun bathe her body in light. How could it be so damn cold yesterday, and today, it's like, 120 degrees, Kitty thought shading her eyes. Glancing over, she noticed with surprise that Pietro was missing. Geez, and I thought ~I~ was an early riser, Kitty thought, debating on whether she should just go back to sleep.

"Forget it, it's too hot," Kitty muttered, standing up and stretching languidly. The only thing she wanted now was a nice cool shower. She felt disgusting after last night's fun little experience with mud puddles. Kitty stepped out of the cave and kicked off her shoes. The question was WHERE she would take a shower; the ocean was too far away, and the lake (aka the swamp), was out of the question. Kitty shuddered at the memory of the swarming mosquitoes. No way, Kitty thought determinedly, there HAS to be another water source. Briefly, she wondered if she should stay in the cave as Pietro would probably want her to. She could just picture him saying, "Don't wander off Pryde, I don't want to have to save your butt like I did last night."

Kitty scowled. If Pietro Maximoff thought she would stay in the cave just waiting for him to come back and escort her than he could go jump off the nearest cliff. Admittedly, he HAD been a gentleman last night, but Kitty had a feeling she would be hearing about his "rescue" long afterwards. Kitty straightened her shoulders and headed into the clearing, mentally noting which turns she took.

She wandered for about 15 minutes when suddenly she heard the burbling of water. Kitty walked a little further and the sounds became louder and louder. Yes, Kitty thought excitedly as she continued down the path and gently brushed some branches aside. Her eyes met a small lagoon filled with clear blue water, and above it a tiny waterfall splurging cool, spurts of water. Kitty was momentarily breathless at the beauty of it all.

She cautiously stepped into the pool, and relaxed into the cool water. Mmm, Kitty thought closing her eyes. She opened her eyes again to take in the beautiful scene. The luscious green trees, the sparkling water, ……..and PIETRO?! Kitty nearly choked on the water as her eyes collided with those of Pietro, who was calmly standing under the waterfall, running his hands through his silvery hair.

"What are you doing here?!" Kitty spluttered, her brown eyes sparkling with indignation. Pietro gave her a lazy look and turned around.

"I'm taking a bath as you can clearly see," Pietro replied, letting the water ripple over his abs. Kitty gulped. It had to be illegal to look that good. Kitty immediately blushed at her thoughts, and glared up at him, brushing a wet strand off her face.

"Well, so am I! Figures that you'd have to wreck the most perfect setting," Kitty muttered, pulling up on the strap of her bathing suit. "Can you get out?" Kitty asked impatiently. "Unless you WANT to watch while I take a shower," Kitty finished, mimicking the exact words Pietro had used the first day they'd met.

Annoyingly enough, instead of being irritated, Pietro threw his head back and laughed. "That's okay, Kitty…..I'm sure it makes you uncomfortable to have a boy's attention on you."

Thoroughly enraged now, Kitty stood in the middle of the lagoon, hands on her hips, presenting a very pretty picture with her brown eyes snapping with irritation. "What, exactly, is THAT supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing…..," Pietro trailed off in a singsongy voice. "It's just that with you're limited dating experience, you might not appreciate-."

"Oh really?!" Kitty snapped, cutting him off. "For your kind information, I do have a boyfriend!"

Pietro's head snapped up and he gave her a long measuring look. "And who would that be?" he asked, his eyes unreadable.

Kitty bit her lip. "His name is Kurt Wagner, and he's coming back tomorrow morning from visiting his relatives in Michigan." Okay, it was partly true, Kitty thought guiltily. Kurt had expressed an interest in her as more than a friend. But he wasn't exactly her boyfriend either. Kitty shrugged off her guilt. If telling a little white lie would shut Pietro up about her lack of dating experience than it was well worth it.

"Hmmm," Pietro said, looking thoughtful. "Really?"

" Yeah, really. You don't have to sound so amazed. Just because I don't go around flaunting my own personal harem doesn't mean I don't have people interested in me," Kitty said heatedly. Pietro rolled his blue eyes at her and smiled.

"Can I help it if I attract a lot of girls?" Pietro asked smirking. Kitty let out a disgusted groan.

"You're hopeless, I can just picture you in ten years, replacing Hugh Hefner in the playboy mansion or dying of AIDS in some lonely street corner," Kitty said, crossing her arms. She noted with satisfaction, that the comment had finally gotten under Pietro's skin, judging from the way his eyes narrowed in anger.

"Nice Kitty, judge a person by their appearance, is that it?" Pietro said heatedly, stepping into the pool with her. Kitty, not one to back down, stepped forward until they were face to face.

"You haven't exactly done your best to make a great first impression," Kitty shot back. "You started throwing yourself at girls practically your first day at the Institute! Tell me, Pietro, were you so popular at Mystique's place?"

Kitty regretted the words as soon as they were out of her mouth, as she watched Pietro flush red with anger. "Actually," Pietro bit out through clenched teeth, "contrary to your wild notions of my playboy status, Lance and I hardly had enough to eat! We had to steal to survive, I guess you didn't expect that, did you?" Kitty opened her mouth to apologize, but Pietro continued furiously. "I guess I can't be surprised, coming from a Valley Girl moron who'd rather make blanket statements than getting to know the person!" Pietro shouted.

Kitty felt hot, anger flaming through her as the apology died on her lips. "How DARE you!" Kitty spat out. "I'M making blanket statements about YOU?! Ha!" she bit out. "That's a joke! From the second I met you you've been calling me an airhead, when you don't know a single thing about me!" Kitty yelled, surprised to feel tears prick her eyes. "And the only reason you're so mad is because I'm not nipping at your heels like an idiot, the way all the other girls are!" Kitty finished, an angry flush in her cheeks.

"You've got me all figured out don't you?" Pietro said harshly, his blue eyes flashing as they stood inches away from each other.

"Yeah, and I don't think I want to get to know you any more of you! Face it, we will never EVER get along, and the more time I spend with you, it's becoming pretty obvious that you and Bianca are made for each other!" Kitty retorted, her voice shaking. "God forbid you ever get interested in a girl with a brain!"

"Oh yeah?" Pietro spat.

"Yeah!" Kitty said, her fists clenched to her sides.

And suddenly, she wasn't quite sure how it happened, she felt her body being crushed against Pietro's chest, and he was kissing her passionately. Without a moment's hesitation, Kitty kissed him back almost desperately, her thoughts and emotions a jumble, her arms entangled about his neck. After what seemed an eternity, Kitty stepped back, dazed and breathless. Oh my god, what just happened?, Kitty thought, touching her burning lips with her fingers.

She didn't have time to contemplate, because suddenly she saw Mr. Summers appear in the clearing.

"You didn't think we'd leave you here forever, did you?" Mr. Summers teased lightly. Then he frowned as he took in their flushed faces and the way the two were avoiding eye contact. "Is there something wrong?" he inquired.

"No!" they both practically shouted simultaneously. Mr. Summers looked at them a long time and then gave a slight nod. As Kitty followed him to the Blackbird, she forced herself not to look in Pietro's direction. Oh yes, Mr. Summers, there is definitely something wrong…….Kitty thought, I think I'm falling in love with a guy I thought I hated.