Scene 03

"I swear, if I have to sit through one more of those… those speeches about humans being so much better than mutants from Maria I'm gonna flip!" Rogue stormed down the school corridor with Kurt by her side.

"You'd think she'd have learned her lesson after the beating Blaze gave her in the mall that time," The German mutant commented. He hadn't been there himself; he'd heard the tale from Rogue and Kitty. "But it's only made her worse. She even has accused Blaze of stealing her wallet, not the other way around."

"Huh," Rogue had her own ideas about Blaze that she wasn't about to share with Kurt. "Uh-oh, here comes Kitty! Remember don't mention her birthday…"

"What do you think I am Rogue, stupid?" Kurt grinned, "then again, don't answer that!"

"Hey guys," Kitty greeted her friends hopefully. "You got any plans for tonight?"

"I got homework up to my eyeballs," Kurt groaned elaborately as they left the school through the front doors. "What about you Rogue?"

"Err, well I…" Rogue's mind had suddenly gone blank. Kitty was looking at her expectantly and Kurt was not helping by making elaborate 'No!' gestures behind the pony-tailed girl. "Hey, there's Blaze!" The southern belle had never been so glad to see the redhead pull up in her silver convertible sports car.

"Oh yeah," Kitty suddenly perked up. "I forgot we're totally hittin' the mall! Well, later guys!" The brunette sprinted off to the car, gasping in pleasant surprise as Blaze climbed out of the driver's seat and tossed Kitty the car keys.

"Did she really just do that voluntarily?" Kurt gaped.

"Have you seen Blaze drive?" Rogue replied sarcastically, "she actually makes Kitty look sensible."

"Thanks Rogue," Blaze said, crossing to them whilst Kitty was distracted as she adjusted the driver's seat and mirrors to her liking. Blaze tossed something else, a plastic packet, to the Southern Belle. "Enjoy blowing up these, won't you?" Rogue turned the packet over in her gloved hand, a hundred multicoloured balloons staring back up at her in vivid cheerfulness. "I expect you to do a decent job too…" Blaze was already walking back to the car, waving her hand over her shoulder as she left. Rogue pouted with one hand on her hip as she shoved the packet of balloons into Nightcrawler's hand.

"Who does she think she is?" Rogue griped as Blaze got in beside Kitty and the car sped away from the curb. "I've just about had it with her tellin' me what to do…"

"Really?" Nightcrawler replied, "I think it's a good idea, everyone loves balloons."

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"I cannot stand balloons," Ilehana grumbled as she set another plateful of party food down on the long trestle table that had been set up in the foyer. Across the room Kurt, Rogue, Scott and Jean were all out of breath as they sat amidst a sea of brightly coloured bubbles. Out of nowhere one balloon popped loudly, making the normally confidant Vixen jump.

"Yeah, let's call it quits with the balloons hey gang?" Logan advised, putting a calming hand on Vixen's shoulder. "There is such thing as too much of a good thing. Well, what do you think?" Wolverine addressed the Professor, Storm and Beast as they came into the room. It certainly was an impressive sight. A banner strung up across the back wall, above the stairs, wished Kitty a happy birthday. The sea of balloons covered the floor, all the furniture and Kurt, whilst multi-coloured paper streamers dressed every banister and curtain pole.

"It's very impressive," Storm said. "If you're not too out of breath with it all, perhaps some of you could lend a hand in the kitchen?" There were general groans from the balloon team, but like the good little X-Men they were they got to their feet and waded off to prepare more food. Jean waved a hand before she left, spreading the balloons about the room with telekinetic ease. Ilehana cringed, eyes angry.

"Easy does it," Logan counselled his friend, patting her shoulder with the hand that remained there. "They're just balloons babe."

#Babe?# Ilehana spoke in his head, questing as to what he meant by that. Embarrassed Logan dropped his hand, knowing both Xaviers were somewhat amused by his reaction.

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"Whoo-hoo!" Kitty squealed almost as loudly as the car tyres as she braked sharply into a parking space outside the mall. "That was excellent! Where did you get the money for a car like that anyway?"

"You don't want to know," was all Blaze would say. She reached down under the passenger side seat and pulled out her folder of blackmail material. "Up for this?"

"You bet!" Shadowcat giggled, "but won't the mall security guards have somethin' to say about this?"

"Probably so don't get caught," Blaze advised, smiling and offering Kitty half the stack of photos and a roll of tape. "Let's go annoy some bad guys!"