Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men: Evolution, or any other Marvel or WB
property.
Notes: Hey, if anyone is looking for some cool stories to read, and if you haven't found them yet, try out InsanePenman's stories "Way Too Much Fuzzy Loving," and "Endless Tears." Especially if you love Kurt-angst and some Kurtty.
Electric Russian: Ah! I see! The "racy" comment meant that they was a little, er. . .um. . .uh. . .sexy stuff going on. Racy = sexual innuendo. Racist and racy aren't the same. Anyhow, THANKS! I'm glad you really seemed to like that chapter. I hope you like these last two as well.
RedLion2: You never cease to amaze me in how much you get my stories. Yeah, Tabby did put Kurt in front of her own emotions. I thought it was pretty cool, too. Anyhow, glad you liked it. Coughcoughshadowsofconfusioncoughcough.
JDH3: Absolutely. Things can always change. Probably not in this little AU, but who knows? Anyhow, I'm glad you're still digging it. And now for the same treatment I gave RedLion. Ahem. . .coughcoughtunnelsoflovecoughcough.
I really don't mean to bother you two (RedLion and JDH3) so I hope you know I'm only half serious! Let's just say I'm anxiously awaiting a new chapter from both of you.
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Xavier sat in his office, content from a large breakfast with the students. Looking down at his calendar, he went over the day's events and meetings in his head. This morning Scott, Kurt and Jean all had a training session with Logan. The new mutants would soon be training with Logan, but for now, they had a training session scheduled with Hank. Evan was free today, and had requested for a ride to a skate competition. Ororo would be driving him. Xavier himself had a meeting with Marie to discuss her progress at the Institute, and Kitty would be training herself for most of the day.
The phone rang, and Xavier picked it up on the second ring, after putting his itinerary down.
"Hello?" Xavier said.
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
"Hello?" Xavier said again.
Still, there was nothing but silence. Xavier reached out with his powers, and felt for who was on the other end of the phone.
"Tabitha? Are you still there?" he asked.
"Yes, Professor." Tabby said.
"Well, what a pleasant surprise, Tabitha. How can I help you?" Professor Xavier asked.
"I was. . .wondering. . .um. . .if I. . .could, uh. . ." Tabby began, stuttering her way through her question.
Tabby was about to hand up when Professor Xavier smiled on the other end of the line.
"Of course you may return to the Institute Tabitha. You always had that choice, and you will always have a home here." He said.
"Really?" Tabby asked, a grin spreading across her face.
"Of course. Is the Brotherhood causing you problems? Do you need some help, or possibly someone to pick you up?" Xavier asked, concerned for her safety.
"No. No, I should be fine." Tabby said. "I've already packed, and I'll just walk to the mansion."
"Okay, Tabitha. But, remember that if you get into any trouble, we're only a phone call away." Xavier said out loud.
"Or even a shorter distance." Tabby heard his voice in her head.
"Yes, Professor. And, Professor? I'm sorry." Tabby said.
"What on earth do you have to be sorry for, Tabitha?" Xavier asked.
"I'm sorry that I left in the first place." Tabby said.
"Tabitha, we all make mistakes in life. We all need to learn about ourselves, and find our own way in this world. That's what youth is for. There are no ill feelings harbored towards you. And you are more than welcome here. I'm sure you are even missed."
"Thank you so much." Tabby said, her eyes tearing again.
"We'll see you soon, Tabitha." Xavier said.
"Bye." Tabby said, and hung up the phone.
Xavier smiled in his seat. Wonderful! Tabitha would be returning to the Institute. He had such high hopes for that girl. There was more to her than most people took the time to see, with the exception of Kurt. No one really understood why Tabitha acted the way she sometimes did. It was a defense, so that no one would get to know that "real her." So many people had left her during the course of her life, she purposely didn't get close to anyone else. That way, no one would ever leave her, because no one would ever BE with her.
Wheeling back under his desk, he called out for his X-Men who were still at the mansion.
"Scott, Jean, Kurt, Kitty, Marie. . .please meet me in my office now." They all heard in their minds.
Kurt was the first there, appearing in his signature puff of smoke and smell of sulfur and brimstone. The others showed up one by one, standing next to Kurt. Professor Xavier smiled and greeted them all one by one before telling them why he had called them there.
"X-Men, we'll be having another mutant with us shortly." Xavier said.
All of the X-Men nodded.
"That is, one will be returning to us. Tabitha will be returning to us." Xavier said.
Kurt's eyes went as wide as dinner plates.
"Is she okay? Did Lance hurt her? Or her fazzer?" Kurt asked, immediately panicked and worried about Tabby.
"No, no, she's fine, Kurt. She simply realizes that she's made some. . .mistakes. And she wants to rectify them." Xavier said.
Xavier went on about what room she would be staying in, what training he wanted for her, and how the X-Men were to help her. All Kurt could think about, however, was that she'd be here, close to him. He wondered what her boyfriend thought about it. What was Lance saying about it? Was Tabby moving to be closer to him? Of course not! Why would she do that? She had what she wanted. She had Lance! Kurt was the one who was alone.
Xavier released the students after his talk with them, and noticed the hurt and dejected look on Kurt's face.
"Kurt, will you please remain here with me?" Xavier asked.
"Yes, Professor." Kurt said, and sat down as the others left, casting questioning looks back at him.
After the others had left, Professor Xavier turned his full attention on Kurt.
"You seem troubled, Kurt. Tell me, does this news of Tabitha moving back to the mansion bother you?"
Kurt shifted in his seat, feeling uncomfortable.
"There's no need to worry, Kurt. Please, tell me what's wrong." Xavier said.
"Vell, Herr Professor, you know zat Tabby and I had somezing of a relationship a little vhile back." Kurt said.
"Is that what you two call your ploy to make Kitty and Lance jealous?" Xavier asked with a smile.
"Um. . .jah. You know?" Kurt asked.
"I am a telepath, Kurt." Xavier said, the small smile still playing on his face. "Don't worry about it, Kurt. Please continue."
"Vell, jah. It vas a trick. But, somezing happened zat I didn't. . .never zought. . .could happen."
"You developed feelings for her, equal to, if not more than, your feelings for Kitty." Xavier said, nodding knowingly.
Kurt nodded.
"And now you're worried about how you'll react when she's living here again."
Kurt nodded once again.
"Well, Kurt, all I can tell you is that things work out the way that they do for a reason." Xavier said.
"I suppose so, Professor. Kurt said, getting up from his chair.
"Don't worry, Kurt. Things will work out. And remember, you know Tabby better than anyone else here. She may be in need of a friend." Xavier said.
Kurt paused for a moment before he walked out of the office.
"Zat's almost exactly vhat I'm afraid of. I can't help but vant to be more zan just her friend." Kurt said.
Xavier smiled as Kurt walked out of his office.
"Oh, to be young again." Xavier thought and shook his head.
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When the others had left Kurt and the Professor in Xavier's office, Jean had followed Kitty, trying to catch up to her.
"Are you going to be okay with this, Kitty?" Jean asked.
"With what?" Kitty asked, stopping and turning around.
"With Kurt's ex-girlfriend moving back into the Institute." Jean said.
"Oh, well, yeah. Kurt and I aren't, like, together anymore." Kitty said, turning back around.
"You're not?" Jean asked, reaching out to Kitty's shoulder and stopping her from leaving.
"Nope. We broke up yesterday." Kitty said, turning around to face Jean again.
"Why? What happened?"
"It just wasn't working out. For either of us."
"So, you're okay with it? Breaking up?"
"Yeah. I mean, don't get me wrong. I totally wish it had worked out. He's, like, this totally incredible, great guy. And I'll always wonder what it could have been like. I even told him that yesterday. I guess that our timing was just bad." Kitty said with a sad smile on her face.
Jean nodded.
"Plus, I think he's in love with Tabby." Kitty said, and then laughed.
"What's so funny?" Jean asked as Kitty doubled over in a fit of laughter.
"His head's gonna, like, totally explode when she moves back in!" Kitty said, laughing so hard that she was crying.
Jean looked at her, astonished and more than a little confused. Shaking her head, she left the younger girl laughing in the middle of the hallway.
"Okay, well, I'll talk to you later, Kitty." Jean said as she walked away. "I have a training session with Kurt and Scott in ten minutes. Don't die of a heart attack."
Kitty continued to laugh after Jean left. She laughed so hard that she fell to the ground, and because she was in an emotional state even when she was laughing, she fell through the floor and onto the floor below.
"Ow." She said, getting up and rubbing her elbow.
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Tabby arrived at the mansion around eleven o'clock in the morning. She was carrying only one suitcase and had her duffel bag hanging off of her back. Sighing, she punched her old code into the security gate, and was happy to see that it hadn't been changed. Smiling at the show of confidence in her character that Xavier obviously had, she entered the grounds. She was beginning to regret not taking Xavier up on the offer of a ride, but as she was almost "home," she didn't mind that much.
When she reached the front door, she remembered that she no longer had a key, and so she rang the doorbell. Jean, who had been sitting in the rec room since she had gotten out of Logan's training session early, perked her head up at the sound of the bell. She got up off of the couch, and walked to the front door. She knew who it would be before she opened the door, and smiled at Tabby.
"Hey, Tabby. How're you?" Jean asked, moving aside so that Tabby could enter.
"Sweaty. And you?" Tabby asked.
Jean laughed.
"I'm good. Want me to show you to your new room?" Jean asked.
"Sure. Could you help me with this?" Tabby asked, motioning to her suitcase.
Jean nodded and took it, gesturing towards the stairs to Tabby.
"So, how is everyone?" Tabby asked absentmindedly.
"Everyone's good. Scott is still Mr. Excitement." Jean said.
It was Tabby's turn to laugh. She wasn't at the Institute for long, but she still got the joke.
"Evan is at a skate competition with Storm. Marie is just as surly as ever. Kitty is good. So is Kurt. He's down in a training session with Scott right now."
"Oh." Tabby said.
The two girls walked up two flights of stairs, and onto the girls' floor. Turning her head to look inside an open room, Tabby smiled at Rahne and Amara, both of the girls smiling back at her.
"So how's Kurt doing?" Tabby asked, trying to sound casual.
Jean smiled.
"Oh, you know Kurt. He's his same, usual, sometimes exasperating self." Jean said.
"Yeah." Tabby said, not daring to ask the question that she really wanted the answer to.
"Kitty says that she thinks he's falling in love." Jean said with a sly smile on her face.
"Uh-huh." Tabby said, feeling a pain in her heart.
"Well, anyhow, here's your room." Jean said, opening up a door.
Tabby entered her new room. Well, it certainly wasn't as large as her room at the boardinghouse, but the mansion felt more like a home than the boardinghouse ever had. She was happy to be among fellow mutants that weren't as violent or callous as the ones that she had just left. Turning around, she felt Jean's eyes on her. She smiled at the older girl, and put her duffel bag on her bed. Sitting down, she closed her eyes.
"Good to be home?" Jean asked.
"Great." Tabby said, smiling back at Jean.
"Well, I'll leave you to your own." Jean said. "If you need anything, well, you know where most everything is. If you don't, just ask."
"Do I need to see Professor Xavier?" Tabby asked, standing back up.
"No, you don't. He's actually pretty busy today. He'll probably make a general announcement about you moving back in at dinner." Jean said. "Anyhow, see ya around."
"See ya." Tabby said, watching Jean leave.
Tabby laid back down on her bed, closing her eyes again. Sleep was going to overtake her soon. She wanted to unpack first, but the chances of that happening were highly unlikely. Her mind drifted back to Kurt, and to Jean's comment about him falling in love. Well, good for Kurt. He had what he had wanted. She tried to hardest to be happy for him. She shook her head, knowing that it wasn't possible. In her mind, she hoped that Kitty was good to him, and did everything that she could to be worthy of him. Not wanting to cry, Tabby laid her head on her pillow and went to sleep.
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Yet another chapter in the proverbial can. Okay, so there's one more chapter to go. Writer's block seems to have left me. Maybe I just needed a little bit of time off. Or maybe I've just been really, really, really hung over. Probably the latter. Anyhow, thanks for reading, and I'll have the next chapter up pretty fast. I've also just realized that I've made Lance look disgusting because he's a smoker. Well, maybe not disgusting, but I've used it to make him look bad. And I'm a smoker! So those of you too young to smoke, look at Lance, and don't smoke! And to those of you who do smoke, sorry for making us look bad. But we kinda are.
Later.
Notes: Hey, if anyone is looking for some cool stories to read, and if you haven't found them yet, try out InsanePenman's stories "Way Too Much Fuzzy Loving," and "Endless Tears." Especially if you love Kurt-angst and some Kurtty.
Electric Russian: Ah! I see! The "racy" comment meant that they was a little, er. . .um. . .uh. . .sexy stuff going on. Racy = sexual innuendo. Racist and racy aren't the same. Anyhow, THANKS! I'm glad you really seemed to like that chapter. I hope you like these last two as well.
RedLion2: You never cease to amaze me in how much you get my stories. Yeah, Tabby did put Kurt in front of her own emotions. I thought it was pretty cool, too. Anyhow, glad you liked it. Coughcoughshadowsofconfusioncoughcough.
JDH3: Absolutely. Things can always change. Probably not in this little AU, but who knows? Anyhow, I'm glad you're still digging it. And now for the same treatment I gave RedLion. Ahem. . .coughcoughtunnelsoflovecoughcough.
I really don't mean to bother you two (RedLion and JDH3) so I hope you know I'm only half serious! Let's just say I'm anxiously awaiting a new chapter from both of you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
Xavier sat in his office, content from a large breakfast with the students. Looking down at his calendar, he went over the day's events and meetings in his head. This morning Scott, Kurt and Jean all had a training session with Logan. The new mutants would soon be training with Logan, but for now, they had a training session scheduled with Hank. Evan was free today, and had requested for a ride to a skate competition. Ororo would be driving him. Xavier himself had a meeting with Marie to discuss her progress at the Institute, and Kitty would be training herself for most of the day.
The phone rang, and Xavier picked it up on the second ring, after putting his itinerary down.
"Hello?" Xavier said.
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
"Hello?" Xavier said again.
Still, there was nothing but silence. Xavier reached out with his powers, and felt for who was on the other end of the phone.
"Tabitha? Are you still there?" he asked.
"Yes, Professor." Tabby said.
"Well, what a pleasant surprise, Tabitha. How can I help you?" Professor Xavier asked.
"I was. . .wondering. . .um. . .if I. . .could, uh. . ." Tabby began, stuttering her way through her question.
Tabby was about to hand up when Professor Xavier smiled on the other end of the line.
"Of course you may return to the Institute Tabitha. You always had that choice, and you will always have a home here." He said.
"Really?" Tabby asked, a grin spreading across her face.
"Of course. Is the Brotherhood causing you problems? Do you need some help, or possibly someone to pick you up?" Xavier asked, concerned for her safety.
"No. No, I should be fine." Tabby said. "I've already packed, and I'll just walk to the mansion."
"Okay, Tabitha. But, remember that if you get into any trouble, we're only a phone call away." Xavier said out loud.
"Or even a shorter distance." Tabby heard his voice in her head.
"Yes, Professor. And, Professor? I'm sorry." Tabby said.
"What on earth do you have to be sorry for, Tabitha?" Xavier asked.
"I'm sorry that I left in the first place." Tabby said.
"Tabitha, we all make mistakes in life. We all need to learn about ourselves, and find our own way in this world. That's what youth is for. There are no ill feelings harbored towards you. And you are more than welcome here. I'm sure you are even missed."
"Thank you so much." Tabby said, her eyes tearing again.
"We'll see you soon, Tabitha." Xavier said.
"Bye." Tabby said, and hung up the phone.
Xavier smiled in his seat. Wonderful! Tabitha would be returning to the Institute. He had such high hopes for that girl. There was more to her than most people took the time to see, with the exception of Kurt. No one really understood why Tabitha acted the way she sometimes did. It was a defense, so that no one would get to know that "real her." So many people had left her during the course of her life, she purposely didn't get close to anyone else. That way, no one would ever leave her, because no one would ever BE with her.
Wheeling back under his desk, he called out for his X-Men who were still at the mansion.
"Scott, Jean, Kurt, Kitty, Marie. . .please meet me in my office now." They all heard in their minds.
Kurt was the first there, appearing in his signature puff of smoke and smell of sulfur and brimstone. The others showed up one by one, standing next to Kurt. Professor Xavier smiled and greeted them all one by one before telling them why he had called them there.
"X-Men, we'll be having another mutant with us shortly." Xavier said.
All of the X-Men nodded.
"That is, one will be returning to us. Tabitha will be returning to us." Xavier said.
Kurt's eyes went as wide as dinner plates.
"Is she okay? Did Lance hurt her? Or her fazzer?" Kurt asked, immediately panicked and worried about Tabby.
"No, no, she's fine, Kurt. She simply realizes that she's made some. . .mistakes. And she wants to rectify them." Xavier said.
Xavier went on about what room she would be staying in, what training he wanted for her, and how the X-Men were to help her. All Kurt could think about, however, was that she'd be here, close to him. He wondered what her boyfriend thought about it. What was Lance saying about it? Was Tabby moving to be closer to him? Of course not! Why would she do that? She had what she wanted. She had Lance! Kurt was the one who was alone.
Xavier released the students after his talk with them, and noticed the hurt and dejected look on Kurt's face.
"Kurt, will you please remain here with me?" Xavier asked.
"Yes, Professor." Kurt said, and sat down as the others left, casting questioning looks back at him.
After the others had left, Professor Xavier turned his full attention on Kurt.
"You seem troubled, Kurt. Tell me, does this news of Tabitha moving back to the mansion bother you?"
Kurt shifted in his seat, feeling uncomfortable.
"There's no need to worry, Kurt. Please, tell me what's wrong." Xavier said.
"Vell, Herr Professor, you know zat Tabby and I had somezing of a relationship a little vhile back." Kurt said.
"Is that what you two call your ploy to make Kitty and Lance jealous?" Xavier asked with a smile.
"Um. . .jah. You know?" Kurt asked.
"I am a telepath, Kurt." Xavier said, the small smile still playing on his face. "Don't worry about it, Kurt. Please continue."
"Vell, jah. It vas a trick. But, somezing happened zat I didn't. . .never zought. . .could happen."
"You developed feelings for her, equal to, if not more than, your feelings for Kitty." Xavier said, nodding knowingly.
Kurt nodded.
"And now you're worried about how you'll react when she's living here again."
Kurt nodded once again.
"Well, Kurt, all I can tell you is that things work out the way that they do for a reason." Xavier said.
"I suppose so, Professor. Kurt said, getting up from his chair.
"Don't worry, Kurt. Things will work out. And remember, you know Tabby better than anyone else here. She may be in need of a friend." Xavier said.
Kurt paused for a moment before he walked out of the office.
"Zat's almost exactly vhat I'm afraid of. I can't help but vant to be more zan just her friend." Kurt said.
Xavier smiled as Kurt walked out of his office.
"Oh, to be young again." Xavier thought and shook his head.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
When the others had left Kurt and the Professor in Xavier's office, Jean had followed Kitty, trying to catch up to her.
"Are you going to be okay with this, Kitty?" Jean asked.
"With what?" Kitty asked, stopping and turning around.
"With Kurt's ex-girlfriend moving back into the Institute." Jean said.
"Oh, well, yeah. Kurt and I aren't, like, together anymore." Kitty said, turning back around.
"You're not?" Jean asked, reaching out to Kitty's shoulder and stopping her from leaving.
"Nope. We broke up yesterday." Kitty said, turning around to face Jean again.
"Why? What happened?"
"It just wasn't working out. For either of us."
"So, you're okay with it? Breaking up?"
"Yeah. I mean, don't get me wrong. I totally wish it had worked out. He's, like, this totally incredible, great guy. And I'll always wonder what it could have been like. I even told him that yesterday. I guess that our timing was just bad." Kitty said with a sad smile on her face.
Jean nodded.
"Plus, I think he's in love with Tabby." Kitty said, and then laughed.
"What's so funny?" Jean asked as Kitty doubled over in a fit of laughter.
"His head's gonna, like, totally explode when she moves back in!" Kitty said, laughing so hard that she was crying.
Jean looked at her, astonished and more than a little confused. Shaking her head, she left the younger girl laughing in the middle of the hallway.
"Okay, well, I'll talk to you later, Kitty." Jean said as she walked away. "I have a training session with Kurt and Scott in ten minutes. Don't die of a heart attack."
Kitty continued to laugh after Jean left. She laughed so hard that she fell to the ground, and because she was in an emotional state even when she was laughing, she fell through the floor and onto the floor below.
"Ow." She said, getting up and rubbing her elbow.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
Tabby arrived at the mansion around eleven o'clock in the morning. She was carrying only one suitcase and had her duffel bag hanging off of her back. Sighing, she punched her old code into the security gate, and was happy to see that it hadn't been changed. Smiling at the show of confidence in her character that Xavier obviously had, she entered the grounds. She was beginning to regret not taking Xavier up on the offer of a ride, but as she was almost "home," she didn't mind that much.
When she reached the front door, she remembered that she no longer had a key, and so she rang the doorbell. Jean, who had been sitting in the rec room since she had gotten out of Logan's training session early, perked her head up at the sound of the bell. She got up off of the couch, and walked to the front door. She knew who it would be before she opened the door, and smiled at Tabby.
"Hey, Tabby. How're you?" Jean asked, moving aside so that Tabby could enter.
"Sweaty. And you?" Tabby asked.
Jean laughed.
"I'm good. Want me to show you to your new room?" Jean asked.
"Sure. Could you help me with this?" Tabby asked, motioning to her suitcase.
Jean nodded and took it, gesturing towards the stairs to Tabby.
"So, how is everyone?" Tabby asked absentmindedly.
"Everyone's good. Scott is still Mr. Excitement." Jean said.
It was Tabby's turn to laugh. She wasn't at the Institute for long, but she still got the joke.
"Evan is at a skate competition with Storm. Marie is just as surly as ever. Kitty is good. So is Kurt. He's down in a training session with Scott right now."
"Oh." Tabby said.
The two girls walked up two flights of stairs, and onto the girls' floor. Turning her head to look inside an open room, Tabby smiled at Rahne and Amara, both of the girls smiling back at her.
"So how's Kurt doing?" Tabby asked, trying to sound casual.
Jean smiled.
"Oh, you know Kurt. He's his same, usual, sometimes exasperating self." Jean said.
"Yeah." Tabby said, not daring to ask the question that she really wanted the answer to.
"Kitty says that she thinks he's falling in love." Jean said with a sly smile on her face.
"Uh-huh." Tabby said, feeling a pain in her heart.
"Well, anyhow, here's your room." Jean said, opening up a door.
Tabby entered her new room. Well, it certainly wasn't as large as her room at the boardinghouse, but the mansion felt more like a home than the boardinghouse ever had. She was happy to be among fellow mutants that weren't as violent or callous as the ones that she had just left. Turning around, she felt Jean's eyes on her. She smiled at the older girl, and put her duffel bag on her bed. Sitting down, she closed her eyes.
"Good to be home?" Jean asked.
"Great." Tabby said, smiling back at Jean.
"Well, I'll leave you to your own." Jean said. "If you need anything, well, you know where most everything is. If you don't, just ask."
"Do I need to see Professor Xavier?" Tabby asked, standing back up.
"No, you don't. He's actually pretty busy today. He'll probably make a general announcement about you moving back in at dinner." Jean said. "Anyhow, see ya around."
"See ya." Tabby said, watching Jean leave.
Tabby laid back down on her bed, closing her eyes again. Sleep was going to overtake her soon. She wanted to unpack first, but the chances of that happening were highly unlikely. Her mind drifted back to Kurt, and to Jean's comment about him falling in love. Well, good for Kurt. He had what he had wanted. She tried to hardest to be happy for him. She shook her head, knowing that it wasn't possible. In her mind, she hoped that Kitty was good to him, and did everything that she could to be worthy of him. Not wanting to cry, Tabby laid her head on her pillow and went to sleep.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
Yet another chapter in the proverbial can. Okay, so there's one more chapter to go. Writer's block seems to have left me. Maybe I just needed a little bit of time off. Or maybe I've just been really, really, really hung over. Probably the latter. Anyhow, thanks for reading, and I'll have the next chapter up pretty fast. I've also just realized that I've made Lance look disgusting because he's a smoker. Well, maybe not disgusting, but I've used it to make him look bad. And I'm a smoker! So those of you too young to smoke, look at Lance, and don't smoke! And to those of you who do smoke, sorry for making us look bad. But we kinda are.
Later.
