NOTE: ah, sorry it took so long to update, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Thanks for all the great reviews, I love reading them! Please keep them coming!

Pietro could feel his jaw drop open, as he saw Kitty grab Kurt's arm and pull him in their direction. What was she DOING here? His mind was spinning as he glanced at his date who was grinning like an idiot and Kitty who had an expression on her face bordering on...smug. Pietro shook off his thoughts, and moved over to make room for Kurt.

His heart started beating louder and louder as Kitty sat next to Tina, and began leafing through the dessert menu casually. "You know, I hope this is okay with you, Pietro. I wouldn't want to..intrude on your romantic dinner," Kitty said, lowering her menu slightly to give Pietro a glowing smile, while placing her other hand on Kurt's.

Pietro narrowed his eyes. "Of course not. I couldn't be happier with the company," he said through clenched teeth, and grabbed his own menu to avoid seeing the smile Kitty bestowed on Kurt. This was going to be hell. He knew it in the pit of his stomach.

Kurt cleared his throat and sought to break the tension that was quickly filling the table. "So, how long have you and Pietro been dating, Tina?"

Pietro saw his brain-dead date fiddle with her hair for a moment. "Weeell, I guess, a few days."

"Or a few hours," Kitty muttered under her breath, but it wasn't lost on Pietro who quickly straightened in his chair.

"Well, we can't all have such long and committed relationships, like you and Kurt," Pietro responded sarcastically, while glaring at a very uncomfortable Kurt.

"Yes, Kurt and I are lucky to have such a wonderful, open relationship," Kitty said in the same acid tone Pietro had used.

"Well, Pietro, I think we could have a really super relationship if we tried," Tina said in a syrupy voice. Pietro felt his face flame as Kitty and Kurt watched Tina try to take his hand. He jerked it away at the last minute and coughed.

"Um, we can talk about that later Tina," Pietro managed to choke out. Frankly, the thought of seeing Tina again made him ill. He couldn't even remember why he'd asked her out in the first place. Oh wait, yes, it had to do with a certain Kitty Pryde that made him love her even after he'd sworn he'd forget her. Let Kitty be with her perfect strait-laced boyfriend. So what if he was doomed to date a string of morons...

"No, let's talk about it now," Tina said, her voice turning demanding.

"Uh, but we have company, it's better if -," Pietro began urgently.

"Oh no, we don't mind," Kitty said airily, and turned an attentive eye towards them.

Pietro felt like throwing something sharp and pointy. If he told Tina that he'd rather drink a gallon of Turbo Lax than listening to her inane comments another minute, it wouldn't give Kitty any reason to be jealous. He looked from one face to the other. What the heck was he supposed to say? Pietro was saved from answering by the arrival of their waiter.

"Yes, what would you like to have for dessert?" the waiter asked, pen poised over his notepad.

"Uh, we'll have the gateau du chocolat," Pietro replied quickly, relief apparent in his voice.

"You're so good at French!" Tina squealed. Pietro looked up to see Kitty ripping her napkins to shreds, her jaw clenched. Was she jealous?

The waiter just rolled his eyes and turned to Kitty. "And for you?"

"I think we'll have something a little less DENSE," Kitty replied, emphasizing the last word while looking over at Pietro. Pietro clenched his fists as Kurt began laughing.

"Yes, undoubtedly, you'd probably want something light, fluffy, and SHALLOW," Pietro responded smoothly, and was gratified to see Kitty look furious.

"I'm going to-," Kitty began angrily, but fell quiet at Kurt's warning look. "Uh, I'm going to..have la glace," Kitty finished quickly and sat back in her seat, face still flushed beautifully. Pietro felt himself staring into her brown eyes, his face softening. The moment was broken by the waiter snapping the notepad shut and walking away briskly. Pietro shook his head as he watched the waiter go, forcing himself to stop looking at Kitty and focus on his date, who was fixing him with an evil look at the moment. But his heart refused to listen. If I can get through this dinner without any permanent injuries, I'll be grateful, Pietro thought miserably.