An Afterschool Special Moment

"To say that I am disappointed in all of you is an understatement," Xavier spoke sternly to the mutants assembled in front of him. "I leave the mansion for one night and this happened. I expected better of you. Especially you Bobby. Your graduation to the main team was supposed to give you a sense of responsibility. I can see now it hasn't."

"Sir is Jamie going to be okay?" Ray asked.

"Fortunately we got to him in time so there will be no permanent damage," Xavier said. "But he's still going to be confined to the medical center for quite a while. We were lucky this time."

"Very lucky," Logan growled. "Which is more than what I can say for the rest of you." He glared at Bobby, Tabitha, Ray, Roberto, Forge and Amara.

"For the next two months the six of you are all on probation," Xavier told them. "Not only will you have increased chores but you will all have two extra training sessions with Logan every day."

"Not to mention you each have to turn in a ten page report on the dangers of alcohol poisoning by the end of the week," Hank said folding his arms.

"Not to mention we are going to have some very serious talks about your actions as well," Ororo said.

"You mean like group therapy?" Bobby groaned. "Oh man…"

"I wouldn't whine any more about it if I were you ice cube," Logan snapped.

"I agree," Xavier said. "As of now Bobby I am removing you from the main team."

"For how long?" Bobby asked.

"Until you can display some maturity," Xavier said sharply. "I realize you are having personal problems but that is no reason to jeopardize other's lives. Sam," Xavier turned to him. "Even though you did not drink last night you still must be held accountable for your actions."

"I understand sir," Sam said.

"But he didn't do anything!" Ray spoke up. "He even tried to stop us! He's the one that kept the party from burning down the mansion."

"But I should have called Ororo or somebody when I saw what was going on," Sam said. "I thought I could handle it myself. But I couldn't. I should have called."

"You're right you should have," Xavier said. "That is why I think this will be an appropriate response, from now on you are the team leader of the New Mutants."

"What? Me?" Sam's jaw nearly dropped.

"If anything, this incident showed how much maturity you've gained," Xavier said. "So I think giving you more responsibility as well as authority may be a good lesson for you."

"I don't believe this!" Bobby snapped. "I am out of here!" He stormed out ignoring the Professor's call. He then saw the Misfits were at the door. "Why am I not surprised you were listening?"

"Somebody's in trouble," Todd mocked.

"Shut up Toad!" Bobby snapped.

"Or what?" Todd asked. "You gonna make me Mr. Ex-X Man?"

"He's not an Ex-X-Man," Pietro snickered. "Just a demoted one."

"You got what you deserved," Lance snapped. "You always were a selfish punk!"

"At least I can cut it as an X-Man which is more than what I can say for you!" Bobby shouted.

"Not from where I'm standing you can't!" Lance shouted back.

"Bring it on!" Bobby growled icing up.

"Iceman knock it off!" Logan snapped. "Unless you want to increase your probation period I suggest you cool it and get to the garage! A lot of those cars could use an extra polish of wax."

"Have fun," Lance snickered as the other new mutants joined him.

"Stupid Avalanche," Bobby muttered under his breath. "I'll show him…"

"As for you," Logan glared at Lance. "I want to know just what went on with you and Kitty the other night!"

"None of your business," Lance told him. "That's between Kitty and me, or should I say Kitty and the Tin Man…"

"Yeah it was Kitty who was putting the moves on Lance but he dumped her!" Todd told him. "Al and I were there!"

Logan looked at him. "Why?"

"This might shock you Wolverine but even I have some sense of decency," Lance growled.

"Not to mention standards," Todd snickered.

Lance walked past Logan and went to the infirmary. He wanted to check on Jamie. He hung back a little when he saw Scott and Kitty were there. "Boy does my head hurt," Jamie groaned.

"Hey," Lance was at the door. "You gonna be okay kid?"

"Yeah," Jamie nodded.

"Jamie why did you drink that stuff?" Kitty asked. "You knew it had to be bad for you."

"Well Bobby drank it and a lot of the others were doing it," Jamie said. "Bobby said it was what grown ups do."

"Kid trust me drinking alcohol doesn't make you more grown up," Lance told him.

"Don't you drink?" Jamie asked.

"No," Lance told him.

"Never?" Jamie looked at him.

Lance hesitated. "When I was a kid, a bit younger than you I was living with some foster parents who didn't exactly have traditional ideas of raising a kid. They made me drink with them."

"Why would they want to do that?" Jamie asked innocently.

"Because they wanted…" Lance started to say something then caught himself. "They thought it would be funny. That's all. A joke. Just a big joke."

"It's doesn't sound funny to me," Jamie groaned.

"No," Lance's voice was far away. "It wasn't."

Both Kitty and Scott looked at each other but didn't say anything. "Look kid," Lance said. "Just promise me that you won't drink any more, even if everybody else is doing it? You can really get sick on that stuff. Especially if you're a mutant. Got it?"

"Yeah okay," Jamie said. "Got it. I don't think I ever wanna drink again."

"Good," Lance nodded.

"Hey Lance is it true you nearly killed Bobby?" Jamie asked.

"Where did you hear that?" Kitty asked.

"Kurt was down here earlier," Jamie explained. "So did you beat him up?"

"No he didn't," Kitty sighed. "Not really."

"But I would have if certain people hadn't held me back," Lance turned around and started to leave. Scott and Kitty looked at each other and followed him out.

"Alvers what is going on with you?" Scott asked.

"Let's just say this all brought back some bad memories," Lance said. He walked away.

Kitty followed him. "Lance we really need to talk," Kitty sighed. "Look I didn't mean to put you in any kind of position or use you in any way. It's just…well, I was just curious and I was sick of being treated like a little kid and all."

"In other words you wanted to act like an adult the same way Bobby and the other kids were," Lance said. "Only with sex instead of alcohol. It's just as dangerous you know?"

"I know but…" Kitty sighed. "I'm just sick and tired of feeling like a little kid. I guess I'm tired of being a virgin or something. Makes me feel like I'm missing out."

"Believe me Kitty, you are not missing out. Look I don't think any less of you for being a virgin, and not just because you're a girl," Lance sighed. "I just…I just want anything between us to be real and natural and not rushed. I like just kissing and talking for now, okay?"

"Okay," Kitty sighed. "Geeze this is a whole different side of you Lance."

"Look Kitty let's get this straight, I don't like being used. I know you tried this with Peter and now you're going to me like I'm some kind of back up plan. You know this little love triangle you've got going on is starting to get a little old. I love you but…I'm just tired of this okay? I need to take a walk." He walked off.

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

"I hate to tell you this Kitty but Lance is right," Jean said later on. They were in the kitchen. "This isn't doing any of you any good. Especially yourself."

"I know but I like both of them," Kitty sighed. "It's just so hard for me to choose."

Bobby was in the kitchen while this was going on. Hmmmm, maybe it would be easier if she had some kind of info on him, He thought. The Misfits are going to be here all night. Maybe I can find out something good and… wait a minute! I just got a great idea! I wonder if my old walkie-talkies still work? Yeah that would be a great way to get some dirt on him. Avalanche you are going down!