An Unnecessary Explanation

Peter pulled up in front of Tara's house in his black Cadillac Escalade. He put the truck in park, and looked at her. Tara smiled at him. "Well, I had a good time, Peter." She smiled.

Peter nodded, "Yeah, I did too." He sighed.

Tara pivoted to face him. "Peter, you've been acting weird the past few days. What's going on?" She asked, suspiciously.

Peter looked at her. "What? I haven't been acting weird."

"Oh please, Peter! You used to call me every night. But you have not called me, or even offered to take me out anymore! What's going on?" She snapped.

"Tara, things just have been changing at the institute, and I'm just tired. I haven't gotten much sleep lately." Peter sighed.

"Oh? And does that change have anything to do with Elizabeth?" Tara retorted, raising an eyebrow.

Peter looked at her, "What? What do you mean by that?"

Tara rolled her eyes. "I see the way you stare at her in the cafeteria, and in first period. And; you happened to have called me Elizabeth last night!" She snapped.

Peter scoffed, "I didn't call you Elizabeth! And I don't stare at her!"

Tara rolled her eyes again, and opened the door. She stepped out of the car, "Goodnight, Peter! I'll see you tomorrow!" She snapped.

She slammed the car door, and walked towards her house. She stopped, and turned around, "Peter, you're letting me walk away!"

Peter looked at her. "Well, you got out of the car, Tara. I don't need to have you accusing me of things that aren't true!" He snapped.

"Whatever, Peter!" Tara snapped, as she turned around and continued walking.

Peter sighed, and started the engine on his car. He then drove off.

Peter groaned, and threw his keys on the counter in the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator, and grabbed a soda, and lunch meat to make a sandwich. He grabbed the loaf of bread out of the pantry. He glanced at the window, and saw Elizabeth wrestling with Brian on the lawn. He noticed the others outside as well, with the lights on, lighting the back area. He saw Elizabeth on top of Brian's back on the basketball court, wrestling to grab the ball. He saw the other students playing other games of basketball, and football. He smiled to himself, and put the lunch meat back into the refrigerator. He put the loaf of bread back into the pantry as well. He rushed outside. "Peter! Come join us for football!" Kurt yelled.

"Why don't we all play football? Let's try and see if we can restrain ourselves from using our powers!" Jean suggested.

"Brian, no! I had the ball fair and square!" Elizabeth yelled, wrestling with Brian.

Brian laid on the ball. "No! I had the ball!" He yelled.

"I'll stun you!" Elizabeth playfully threatened her twin.

"I'll fly up!" Brian laughed.

"Hey, you guys! Come on, play football with us!" Kitty said to the twins.

Elizabeth and Brian stopped, and looked up. Brian immediately jumped up, and Elizabeth slipped off of him, falling onto the ground. "Ah! Brian, you dropped me on my bum!" Elizabeth snapped.

Brian looked at her, and grinned, "Sorry, Lizard. I don't pass up a game of footie!"

Brian rushed towards the others on the grass. He stopped, as he saw Peter throwing a football up in the air. "Oh, you mean American football!" Brian smiled.

"Well, we can play soccer! I play on Bayville's team!" Jean smiled.

"Now, that's more like it!" Brian smirked.

"I can't play soccer!" Peter complained.

"Well, Jean, let me challenge you to a one on one!" Brian smirked.

Scott raised his eyebrow with jealousy. "Sure, Brian!" Jean smiled.

"I'll be Jean's goalie!" Kitty offered.

"No way, Kitty. That ball will go right through you! I'll do it!" Scott said.

Kitty shot him a dirty look. Scott stood behind Jean. "Well, where's your goalie nets?" Brian asked.

"I'll get them!" Kurt smiled.

Kurt teleported away, leaving the sulfide smoke behind him. Peter sighed, and leaned against the tree. Rogue sat against the tree next to Peter. "If that ball hits me, someone's gonna get it!" Rogue snapped.

Kurt teleported back with the nets. He quickly teleported from post to post, setting them up. "All done!" He smiled.

"I'll be Brian's goalie!" Evan smiled, running towards the goal post behind Brian.

Brian and Jean stood in the middle of the field, with the soccer ball in between them. Brian smirked at her, "You're not going to be able to get that ball past me, Red Head!" He grinned.

"Just wait, Brian!" Jean smiled.

Brian quickly grabbed the ball with his feet, and Jean chased after him. He rushed towards Scott, juggling the ball between his feet. Jean caught up towards him, and tried to steal the ball, but Brian dodged her, and quickly kicked the ball at Scott, "Catch, pea brain!" Brian yelled.

Scott leapt towards the ball, but the ball flew past him, and through the net. It flew towards the mansion. Jean quickly used her telekinesis to stop the ball. "No powers!" Jean snapped.

"Hey, that's just how hard I kick, Red Head!" Brian snapped back.

"You're a liar! You used your powers, Brian!" Scott yelled, marching towards him.

Elizabeth grabbed the ball from the ground where Jean stopped it. Brian and Scott stood toe to toe. "I don't think I heard you correctly, brown nose!" Brian snapped.

Jean pushed into between them, and forced them away from each other, "Okay, now, let's not fight over it now!"

"Stay out of it, Jean! I've been wanting to settle this with the rookie for a long time!" Scott snapped.

Brian stood up to Scott, "Bring it on!"

Peter rushed towards them, "Guys, don't fight!"

Elizabeth forced herself in front of Brian, and stared at Scott. She lit both of her fists. "Don't make me use these, Scott! No one threatens my brother!" Elizabeth hissed.

Rogue quickly pulled Scott back, "Really, Scott, don't make her use 'em!" Rogue warned.

"Can it!" They heard.

They looked towards the mansion, and saw Logan walking towards them, with an angry look on his face. "Logan-", Scott began.

"I don't want to hear it! You and these twins have been arguing since you spoke to each other!" Logan snapped.

Logan grabbed the ball, and looked at them, "If you guys don't start acting like a team, and soon, you all will be grounded!" Logan threatened.

"No, forget it! I know where I'm not wanted! I'm going back home!" Brian snapped.

Brian began to walk towards the mansion, "Come on, Betsy." He said.

Elizabeth sighed, and followed Brian to the mansion. Rogue looked at Scott, "What ever happened to the hospitality here, Scott? You're a jerk!" She snapped.

Rogue ran after the twins, to catch up with them. Logan rubbed his forehead, and looked at the others, "We have to talk with the Prof."

Charles stared at all of the students, with his chin rested on his folded hands. Elizabeth and Brian stood against the wall in the back of the room, away from everyone in the room. "Now, this needs to be settled. Elizabeth and Brian, you two are welcome here at the institute, and to the team. Having a house full of adolescences, with gifts like all of you, is a challenge. I knew that from the day I began admitting each of you into this institute." Charles began.

Elizabeth eyed Scott, and then turned back to the Professor. Charles continued, "Now, I understand, Scott, that you have become suspicious of Elizabeth and Brian over their origins. The twins have had a hard life recently."

"No, you really want to know what's happened to me and Brian? I'll tell you!", Elizabeth interrupted, "I was kidnapped by a group of terrorists as a child when my powers started to emerge," Elizabeth's eyes began to water as she dug up her past, and poured it out to the students she still hadn't come to trust, "They taught me martial arts, wanting me to be an assassin to world leaders. They reformed my whole body. That's when my parents contacted Professor Xavier right after he and Mr. Lensherr created cerebro. Professor Xavier used Cerebro to locate me. Professor Xavier spent two years trying to reform my mind back to a normal state. He couldn't do anything for me regarding the reformation of my body. There, are you happy?!" Elizabeth snapped.

Tears began to stream down Elizabeth's face, and she quickly left the room, slamming the door behind her. Brian sighed, and stared at Scott with an angry look on his face. He crossed his arms, staring at him. The others sat in silence. "That was none of your business, Scott!" Brian snapped, breaking the long silence.

"He's right, Scott. You shouldn't have forced it out of her." Rogue sighed.

"What's the problem with letting us know?" Scott retorted, hiding his embarrassment.

Brian stood up straight, "Scott, Elizabeth was going to tell you all when she felt she was ready! Elizabeth-", Brian stopped, and wiped the tears swelling in his eyes, "You have no idea what Elizabeth went through with that. You have absolutely no idea!"

Scott sighed, and sat back against the couch. "Scott, I suggest you learn to not jump to conclusions. I understand your suspicions, but you do need to trust the Professor and trust that he knows what he's doing." Storm suggested.

Brian stared at Scott, and marched towards him. He grabbed Scott by the collar, and lifted him up to face him. "You owe my sister a big apology!" Brian snapped.

Peter shot up, and placed his hands on Brian's, "Brian, calm down. Let him go." Peter gently said.

Brian threw Scott back onto the couch, and rushed out of the room. "Scott, we need to be sensitive to new recruits. Life as a mutant has never been easy. Especially accepting changes, and coming to terms who we really are." Charles said.

"Professor, what brought them here, exactly? Why can't Elizabeth control her powers if her father is a mutant?" Jean asked.

"Was a mutant, Jean. Her father had passed away a couple of months ago. What her mother had called me for, was Elizabeth had been having nightmares regarding her father's death. A couple of nights before I had brought the twins here, Elizabeth had a nightmare. Her mother attempted to wake her, but Elizabeth uncontrollably used her telekinesis, and threw her mother out of her room window. Luckily, Brian was there to save his mother from dying. I had offered her mother Elizabeth's safety and sanctuary here at the institute. She's wonderful with focusing her powers into her psionic blade, but, can't control her telekinetic ability alone." Charles explained.

"Professor, I'm very sorry. I feel like an idiot." Scott sighed.

"You are, mon' ami." Remy snapped.