Cocktails Anyone?

Soon everyone was mingling in the main living room. Well, by mingling it meant that most of the X-Men were in one corner, the Misfits were in the back of the room, the four human girls were in another corner, Duncan and the other football players were lounging around the punch bowl, the adults were by the fireplace and finally Kurt and Amanda were hiding in the next room. Well actually Kurt was hiding and Amanda was sticking with him. Each group was giving death glares to the other.

"Yeah this was a brilliant idea," Shipwreck snickered to Ororo. "I can just feel the love."

"Just give this a chance," Ororo said. "Where's Kurt and Amanda?"

"They're hiding in the next room," Cover Girl told her. "I think he's still a little self conscious."

"He really shouldn't be," Shipwreck said. "Xi isn't."

"Well Xi is…" Logan started to say something. Then he thought the better of it. "Not as…shy as Kurt is when it comes to looks," He covered quickly.

"I'll go talk to him," Ororo sighed as she walked off.

"Come on Logan," Jinx took him by the arm. "I haven't had time to talk to you in a while," They moved away.

"Well I guess that just leaves you and me," Shipwreck sided over to Ms. March. "So dollface, what are your interests?"

"Well you are definitely not one of them," Ms. March growled.

"Oh lord," Xavier sighed.

"Oh the bane of the existence of all women," Roadblock sighed. "Shipwreck strikes again!"

"How much you wanna bet she slugs him within ten minutes?" Low Light asked.

"Actually it will be more like fifteen," Irene said. "Trust me on this."

Meanwhile over at the Misfit corner….

"Geeze Al, don't you think you're overdoing it a little with you hanging onto Toad like that?" Lance groaned.

Althea was draped over Todd. "No way," She sniffed. "I want those stuck up losers from Bayville High to squirm with envy! Especially how they've treated my man!"

"Oh baby," Todd cooed as he looked into her eyes. "You know how to make a guy feel like a million!"

"Yeah well it's not exactly envy they're squirming from," Wanda pointed out the faces some of the girls were making as they looked in their direction.

"This party is so DOA," Pietro said.

"What do you mean?" Fred asked.

"Dead on Arrival," Pietro explained. "Which is not surprising considering the X-Men are throwing it. Well somebody's gotta breathe life into this corpse so I guess it's up to me!" He preened his hair. "Time to go work my magic." He zoomed over to the girls and immediately started flirting with them.

"Yeah Pietro's right," Fred looked around. "I've been in funeral homes that were a lot more fun than this. Actually I lived in a funeral home that was a lot more interesting than this. It was only for a few weeks but man…"

"Freddy please do not, I repeat do not tell us!" Lance groaned.

"Man I thought my past was bizarre," Althea said.

"You have no idea," Lance groaned. "But he does have a point. We should really do something to liven things up."

"Hmmm…" Todd looked around. "I think I got an idea…"

"That's my baby," Althea grinned.

"Oh no…." Lance groaned.

Meanwhile over at the X-Men corner things were not going as planned either. "I feel like I'm on display or something," Rogue grumbled. "I knew this was a mistake."

"Look we are the hosts," Jean said. "We should at least try to be sociable."

"Sociable?" Rogue grumbled. "How can you be sociable with those jerks? Especially my idiot brother."

"Hey give Kurt a break he's not used to being in front of so many people without his image inducer," Scott said.

"My other idiot brother Scott," Rogue told him.

"Oh," Scott blushed. "Sorry."

"You're not the only one," Rogue sighed.

"Rogue you should at least try to mingle," Jean said. "I mean that this is your party after all."

"I think Pietro is doing that job a lot better than I ever would," Rogue pointed out. Pietro was flirting with the four girls, annoying them.

"Oh great," Jean sighed. "I'd better go do something." She went off to try to break it up.

"I am so sick of this!" Tabitha looked around. "This party is so dead!"

"Just give it a chance," Scott said.

"Ha!" Rogue grumbled.

Meanwhile by the punch bowl the football players were staking out the room. "Why are we here man?" A football player named George asked.

"I told you Blake," Duncan groaned. "We're not gonna let these freaks intimidate us! And what better way to do it on their turf?"

"He's got a point," Another said. "Still it's gonna be a drag."

"What do you mean Ralph?" Blake asked.

"I mean there aren't any decent girls here except for the pep squad," Ralph pointed. "And ever since I broke up with Tiffany…"

"Say no more," Duncan said. "I know where you're coming from. Those X-Freaks have been giving me the evil eye ever since I got here."

"Especially the bimbo squad," Blake sniffed. "Who need's 'em. I mean you see how those guys look at us as if we'd take away their girlfriends? Like anyone would want to do it with a freak in the first place!"

"I dunno," George looked around. "There are definitely a few freak chicks around here that are shaggable if you get my drift. Might be fun to you know, take a walk down freak lane to see what it's all about?"

"Well if I did want to do it with a mutant, I'd definitely do it with one that was more obvious than that lying tramp I used to date," Duncan growled. "Like that one over there."

"What the one with black hair and blue streaks?" George looked.

"No way, she's the Toad's girlfriend," He sniffed. "Obviously no class whatsoever. I mean that one right there, what's her name?"

"Dunno," George looked. "It's pretty hard to tell." He saw Linda and Mindy walk by. "Hey do either of you know the name of that weird girl over there?"

"Which one?" Mindy asked.

"The green one," Duncan pointed. "The one that looks like a snake."

"Duncan, that's a guy!" Mindy rolled her eyes.

"No way," Duncan said. "I mean look at the body. That is definitely not a guy's body!"

"Yeah then how do you explain the lack of breasts?" Linda asked.

"That doesn't prove anything," George snickered. "That Pryde chick doesn't have much in the bra department as well."

"Yeah and look how she walks," Duncan said.

"Oh please that is so a guy walk," Mindy rolled her eyes again.

"That is not a guy walk," Duncan said. "Trust me on this!"

"Well I'm pretty sure it's a guy," Mindy said.

"You care to bet on that?" Duncan grinned.

"What are you saying?" Blake asked. "Oh man you are not actually gonna hit on a freak are you?"

"Think of it as a challenge," Duncan grinned.

"Duncan!" Mindy gasped. "Gross!"

"You'd do it with anything in a skirt wouldn't you?" Linda recoiled in disgust.

"I prefer 'em without skirts, and underwear," Duncan leered. "She looks desperate enough. I'll bet I could get her on her back in no time."

"Well what if it is a guy?" George asked.

"Then we beat him up," Duncan took a swig of punch. "Boys, I'd say this punch is missing something." He showed them a flask.

"Oh yeah," The football players snickered as they covered for Duncan. He poured the contents into the punch bowl. "This is gonna be good! Gonna get those freaks wasted."

Of course no one else noticed this. Most of them were too busy watching the girls snap at Jean. Jean returned to the X-Men in a huff. "Well that was a huge waste of time," She grumbled.

"What happened?" Scott asked.

"Forget it," Jean waved. "I made a mistake. How could I have ever been friends with a couple of…stuck up, self absorbed jerks!"

"Well you do have a lot in common with them," Pietro zipped up to them.

"Shut up Pietro! You've done enough!" Jean snapped.

"What did he do?" Rogue asked.

"Oh I just casually mentioned what happened the Sadie Hawkins Dance," Pietro blew on his fingers. "And how Jean was with Duncan while secretly she wanted to be with Summers. Right before the monsters showed up. And of course someone had to tell them where they came from in the first place. Can you believe they had no idea how that actually happened? I was shocked at their lack of information!"

"So naturally you had to tell them it was our fault!" Scott snapped.

"You just had to bring that up didn't you Pietro?" Rogue growled.

"Well yes," Pietro grinned.

"Great now they hate us more than ever," Kitty groaned. "Those girls will tell the entire school about that stupid experiment!"

"Man," Forge groaned. "I'm never gonna live that down!"

"Not to mention Blue Boy," Pietro pointed out. "Well I'd love to chat with you all night but I think it's time I must be going. Toodles!" He zipped off.

"Great! Just great!" Rogue groaned. "Some party this is! More than half the guests hate our guts, we got a hostile chaperone, the Blob is eating all the food," She pointed to Freddy who shoved several football players away from the buffet. "Pietro's already starting trouble and the party's only been goin' on for twenty minutes!"

"YOU PIG!" Ms. March shouted as she slapped Shipwreck.

"Told you," Irene said as she collected money from Low Light.

"Not to mention Shipwreck is hitting on the chaperones again," Remy sighed. "That man is persistent, Gambit give him that!"

"Oh yeah she's gonna really give us a glowing report now," Kitty rolled her eyes. "Now all that's left is…"

"Hi Kitty!" Lance walked over.

"Right on time!" Rogue groaned. "I'm gonna go talk to Irene for a minute!" She walked over to her.

"This is not going well for you is it?" Irene said.

"Ya think?" Rogue sighed. "Sorry, it's just…the last thing I wanted was a lot of pressure and…"

"I know," Irene carefully hugged her. "Even without using my powers I can tell it's going to be a long night."

"Well at least one good thing came out of all this," Rogue sighed. "At least I get to see you again. Where have you been?"

"Moving from place to place," Irene told her. "Hiding from both your Mother and Magneto. It has not been easy."

"I can imagine," Rogue sighed. "But I don't get it, Mystique I can kind of understand, but Magneto?"

"He has discovered somehow that I betrayed him," Irene said. "And I believe he intends to use my powers to further his own goals."

"Great," Rogue rolled her eyes. "Old Bucket Head is still out there causing trouble!"

"He's also your…" Irene spoke.

"I know who he is!" Rogue snapped. "I just…wanted to forget about him. Even for one night you know. Actually I'd love to forget everything that's been going on lately. But nooooo, Storm had to throw this party!"

"Only because they care about you," She pointed out.

"Yeah but still…" Rogue said. "It's not gonna go well. I know it!"

"Who's the precog here? You or me?" Irene smirked.

"Hello?" Rogue pointed behind her. "Have you forgotten who else is here?"

"TOAD GET OFF THE CEILING!" Jean shouted.

"We're dancing!" Todd shouted as he twirled Althea around the room, mostly hopping from wall to wall.

"There's no music you loon!" Scott snapped.

"Oh don't be so nitpicky!" Althea snapped.

"Get down here!" Jean shouted.

"Make us!" Todd stuck his tongue at her.

"Hey! Stop eating all the food you big ape!" George snapped.

"Outta my face!" Fred shoved him aside.

"Ewwww!" Mindy screamed. "Look at that…that…what is he?" She pointed at Kurt. "What is it? Some kind of demon?"

"He is not!" Amanda snapped.

"God Amanda what are you some kind of freak lover?" Mindy gasped.

"So what if I am?" Amanda snapped. "You wanna make something out of it?"

"Hey if you want to waste yourself on a monster it's no skin off my nose," Mindy sniffed.

"DIE!" Amanda jumped on top of Mindy and they started to fight.

"I got five bucks says Amanda will clean her clock!" Lance hooted.

"You're on!" Duncan snapped.

"Oh great!" Hank groaned. "This will really go over well with Ms. March!"

"I'm afraid she has other concerns right about now," Xavier pointed to the corner where Ms. March was being hit on again by Shipwreck.

"Come on babe how about you and me go in the back…" Shipwreck whispered something to Ms. March.

"That's it!" Ms. March shouted as she shoved Shipwreck into a wall. "I'm gonna kill you!" She then started to beat Shipwreck up.

"Was it something I said?" He shouted as he tried to get away from her.

"Well that's one way to get her from seeing any fights going on," Hank sighed. "ALL RIGHT ALL OF YOU KNOCK IT OFF! FRED PUT THAT FOOTBALL PLAYER DOWN! TOAD DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SLIMING ANY OF THE GUESTS! GIRLS BREAK IT UP!"

Rogue looked at the pandemonium in the room. Several small fights were already breaking out and the remaining adults were trying hard to stop it. "I've said it before and I'll say it again," Rogue told them. "I didn't want this party!"

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

"Shipwreck we'd better hurry," Lance said as they hid in the kitchen a few minutes later. "They'll never believe we took this long to find an ice pack!"

"Just keep a look out will ya?" Shipwreck told him. He was placing some very nice pieces of silverware in some hidden pockets in his pants.

"I can't believe we're swiping the X-Geeks' silverware," Lance whispered.

"Think of them as party favors," Shipwreck said.

"You know Roadblock would say that the point of you Joes having us is to reform us former Brotherhood members," Lance said.

"And your point is?"

"No point, I'd just thought I'd say it. Don't forget the napkin rings," Lance tensed up when he heard a noise. "Someone's coming!"

Shipwreck managed to hide his thievery as soon as Rogue and Jean walked in. "Well we've finally managed to stop the fight," Rogue muttered. "For now anyway."

"Is she still out there?" Shipwreck gulped.

"Yes but she's promised not to kill you if you stay away from her," Jean said.

"Come on you all better get back inside," Rogue pointed to the door.

"Fine," Lance shrugged. "I wanna talk to Kitty some more!"

"Last I heard she was talking to Colossus," Rogue said.

"What?" Lance ran out.

"Thanks a lot Rogue!" Jean groaned as they went back into the room. Lance was already confronting Peter and Kitty.

"Well it's not like we didn't know that this was gonna happen anyway," Shipwreck shrugged.

"I need a drink of punch," Jean muttered as she went over to the punch bowl.

Rogue sighed as Shipwreck went over to break up the potential fight. She saw Kurt hanging around the bathroom in the hall. "How's Amanda?"

"I'm fine," Amanda walked out. Her cheek was scratched. "You should see the cheerleader!"

"Who'd have thought you'd have had a great right hook?" Rogue chuckled.

Jean walked in with a cup of punch. "Duncan is disgusting!" Jean snapped.

"What'd he do?" Kurt asked.

"Let's just say he's got his mind in the gutter," Jean sighed. "Scott nearly punched him out."

"I hope Ms. March didn't see that," Amanda sighed.

"No she was distracted by Tabitha blowing up a few of the decorations," Jean sighed. "They're getting restless out there! The Professor wanted me to tell you guys to come in. It's present time."

"Oh goody," Rogue rolled her eyes.

"You know this punch is really good," Jean nodded. "I think I'll get some more. By the way have you seen Logan and Jinx? Come to think of it, Toad and Althea are missing too."

"No I haven't…" Rogue began. Then there were sounds coming from the closet. "But I think I have a clue where those hormone crazed Misfit maniacs are!" She went to the door. "All right you two! Knock it off! You…!" She opened the door wide.

"Oh my god!" Amanda gasped.

"I definitely need another drink of punch!" Jean stumbled away.

"Logan, Jinx will you two stop making out in the closet!" Rogue snapped. "Oh god I hate birthday parties!"