NOTE: this chapter took a looong time for me to write, so please review it and tell me what u think, k? Thanx!

Kitty bit fiercely into her blueberry muffin, staring aimlessly at the kitchen counter. She supposed she should thank her stars that the Professor had been nice enough to exclude her from the morning's Danger Room session. She didn't really feel ready to face Pietro's lying, cheating, yet totally devastating smile. How COULD he? Kitty thought for the hundredth time. After that kiss on the island, she had been almost positive that he'd felt the same way. Obviously she had been wrong.

Jerk, thought Kitty darkly, taking a long gulp of her juice.

"Is the juice that bad?" a voice teased pleasantly. Kitty stiffened, and then relaxed when she saw it was only Miss Munroe.

"Uh, no," Kitty said, forcing a smile on her face. Miss Munroe smiled back and took a seat opposite her.

"Whew, Jean and I finally hung the last of the decorations for Kurt's welcome home party," Miss Munroe said, stretching a little in her chair.

Kitty felt a pang of guilt. She should have helped them, but what if she ran into Pietro?

As if reading her thoughts, Miss Munroe smiled reassuringly, "I know you must be completely exhausted from the hunt. I'm not much of a camping person myself. And I hear the weather was awful."

Kitty laughed at the way the weather goddess winked and nodded. "Yeah, it was raining all through the night."

"I hope Pietro wasn't too much of a bother," Miss Munroe said. Kitty looked away.

"He was..um,-" Kitty racked her mind for an adjective that could accurately sum up Pietro's behavior on the trip, but came up empty. Tender? Chivalrous? Kitty smiled at the thought of him bringing food to her. Then she flinched as the images of Pietro's arms around Bianca invaded her mind once again. Of course, why would Mr. Casinova settle for one girl when he could have the whole school, and spend his nights exchanging spit with Bianca Peterson? Kitty swallowed back tears. The kiss had been meaningless to him...that much was clear.

"Kitty? Kitty are you alright?" Miss Munroe demanded, her gray eyes filled with concern.

"Never better," Kitty finally said, forcing a cheerful smile to her face as she blinked back the tears. Miss Munroe looked unconvinced. "Really, I'm fine," Kitty asserted again.

"Okay well, if your sure your alright, I think I'll do one last check before Kurt comes," Miss Munroe said, giving her one last worried look before leaving the kitchen. Kitty breathed a sigh of relief, and picked up her half eaten muffin again. This is pathetic, Kitty told herself. Eating herself into a coma wasn't going to put Pietro out of her mind. All she really wanted to do was go back up to her room, and curl back into bed. She was so depressed she could hardly summon up much excitement at the thought of Kurt coming back.

Kitty sighed, picked up her plate and threw it into the sink. She turned around to find herself face to face with a pair of intense blue eyes. Pietro. Kitty nearly dropped the glass of juice in her right hand as she stared back at him. The room suddenly seemed to be charged with electricity. God, how can he look so honest after what he did?, Kitty thought with anguish. Then; He probably thinks I'm some kind of idiot, Kitty thought, anger coursing through her body.

"Kitty, I have to talk to you," Pietro said, moving closer. Suddenly Kitty heard the doorbell ring.

"Excuse me, but I have to go," Kitty said coolly, and pushed past him, ignoring the baffled look on his face.

Pietro followed her out to the living room, where Kurt stood at the door, bags in hand being greeted by everyone. "Kitty, please, I-," Pietro tried again. Kitty, however, refused to listen. If Pietro could totally forget about their kiss and find someone else, then so could she!

Striding purposefully, Kitty ran up and hugged Kurt tightly. "Kurt, I missed you so much!"

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Pietro's jaw visibly harden as he and everyone else watched on in amazement. After a minute, Kitty stepped back, forcing a charming smile on her face. "How have you been?"

"I've been great. Wow, if that's the kind of reception I get maybe I should go away more often," Kurt joked, giving his bags to Miss Grey.

"Yeah maybe you should," Pietro muttered just loud enough for Kitty to hear, crossing his arms in front of his chest. He looked ...jealous, Kitty thought in amazement. Then shook her head. Pietro had already proved himself to be a flake, this was no more than a freak occurrence.

"Uh, I don't think we've met. I'm Kurt Wagner," Kurt said, and held out a hand to Pietro.

Pietro was silent a moment, and then shook it. " Pietro Maximoff. Kitty's told me a lot about you," he said tersely. He met Kitty's eyes over Kurt, his eyes unreadable. Kitty swallowed. Why was it he could twist up her emotions with just one look? I'm supposed to be mad at him, Kitty told herself furiously. After what he did, he had no right to go and make HER feel guilty!

"Really? All good I hope," Kurt said jokingly, turning back to Kitty, who gave him a tentative smile.

"Well, you must be hungry Kurt, come on," Miss Munroe interjected with a warm smile, and led him into the kitchen.

Suddenly Kitty saw Miss Grey's eyes fill with worry. She turned to them quickly. "The Professor has just informed me that Rogue was hurt in the Danger Room. I'm so sorry Kurt, but I have to go attend to her. I promise I'll be back soon," Miss Grey said apologetically, and darted off.

Rogue was hurt? Kitty bit her lip in worry at the thought of her seemingly indestructible friend lying in the infirmary. Kurt looked worried as well. "I hope she's all right."

"She'll be fine I'm sure," Miss Munroe soothed. "Now how was your trip?"

Kurt took a bite of grapefruit and smiled his trademark cheeky grin. "It was great but I'm glad to be home. I missed everyone," Kurt said, but he was looking straight at Kitty.

Kitty flushed a little. "We missed you too, Kurt," Kitty said softly, trying to keep her eyes away from Pietro who was watching them with hawk- like intensity. "Pietro, you've hardly touched your breakfast," Miss Munroe remarked. Pietro looked up, his handsome face rigid.

"I think I've lost my appetite," Pietro said shortly, and stood up. "I'll go check on how Rogue's doing. Excuse me," he said, and stalked out of the kitchen.

Kitty watched him, open-mouthed. She stifled the urge to run after him. Part of her was thrilled that he was jealous, the other part wanted to sock him for being with Bianca. Kitty sighed. What was wrong with her? Why did Pietro have to go and betray her like that?

Kurt waved a hand in front of her face. "Kitty, Kitty."

Kitty blinked and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Kurt. I was just- .daydreaming."

Kurt smiled and cocked his head jokingly. "Of me?"

Kitty shoved away her thoughts of Pietro, and forced a smile to her face. Pietro and her would never be together. She just had to reconcile herself with that. "Of course, Kurt. Of course."