The Secret

Chapter Nine: Scott and Beast

Scott flipped through the pages of the old book. No one had added anything new this year. And for some reason it irked him Don't they get it? He wondered. How lucky we all really are?

He shook his head, almost sadly. He loved Thanksgiving. It was everyone's holiday. It didn't have the religious segregation that Christmas did. Of course, it had some Native American political facets that he didn't care for – but the ideal, like Xavier's dream – was very close to his heart.

He wandered slowly through the halls of the mansion, back to his beloved photographs.

And there stood Xavier, smirking, in his long black trench coat. Like he knows something I don't. He thought. And briefly he wondered what that might be. Like he's up to something. He almost laughed out loud at himself. Some people are just above suspicion.

He shrugged to himself and looked out the far window. Surely there had to be another way to spend a day like this one. He cast a glance toward the door and found himself heading out of the mansion.

Scott strolled across the lawn towards the Basketball court. He could hear the steady thump of the ball on the pavement.

He rounded the corner just in tome to see the Beast slam it through the hole.

"Nice." He told him.

Beast let loose a wide grin. "Feel up to a game?" He palmed the ball and held it up over his head. "Little man?"

Scott smirked. The Beast had never tried to rile him up before. He shrugged. "Maybe. I've got some time to kill while Jean catches a quick nap."

Beast began to dribble slowly and methodically. "Do you have that effect on all women of just Jean?" He eyed Scott carefully, looking for a response.

"What is it up with you today?" Scott asked him.

"Trash-talk." Beast informed him. "Vital to a good street game." He passed the ball between his legs and shot, sinking it from mid-court. "And besides, it's not like Magneto or Mystique are above running a mouth game on you from time to time. Might make good practice." He told him, recovering the ball.

Scott seemed to consider this for a moment.

"And a good beat-down might humble you up a bit." Beast said, cocking his head side to side with every new word.

"The only thing that needs beating around here is you, ya throw rug." Scott snatched the ball and drove up court. Beast tried to cover and stopped him, but Scott still managed to sink a two point shot.

"Not bad." Beast smirked. "Who's grandmother are you again?"

Scott shot him a curious look as he recovered the ball. Oh, so it's gonna be like that, is it? And he fired the ball to the Beast, intent on taking him down.

In the distance, Jubilee, having changed in to her red top and blue-jean shorts, was stalking around the property with one of the largest super-soakers ever made, having switched diversions when Rahne curled up and went to sleep in the sun – and near Wolverine in his hammock.

Little did she know, that Bobby was chilling a 'soaker' of his own while he lay in wait, and Jamie (Multiple Man) had them both surrounded, all on his own.

While, upstairs in the mansion, Rogue had already discovered the hidden truth about the memory-dreams. A truth she would now have to lie to protect.

And, as if that wasn't bad enough, dinner was still well over an hour away.