HUZZAH! I think this is the longest chapter so far! Amazing, considering I just wrote random scenes and pasted them together with a little TLC.

Taineyah: *bounces around merrily* DAY TRIPPER! ONE WAY TICKET GIRL! j00t!

Evanescense kicks ass: We're all agreed that Mr. Williams has earned himself a slow and agonizing death. Unfortunately, my executioner is on vacation and won't be back for a few chapters... pooers. I miss the little bugger.

Ishandahalf: To the biggest ROMY fan that ff.net has ever seen *bows deeply*. I'm sorry for the lack of Romyness lately, but I'm glad you still like my story. Rest assured that there WILL be uber Romyness coming up in the future.

UndyingImmortal: Embrace the insanity! Tip a cow or two!

Goldylokz: I quote Taineyah 'devious Remy!'. He's a tricky little man, isn't he? I'm so happy you like my interludes. And just because I can, I'm going to nag you! Please! Update Nine to Five! *gets down on her knees* It's one of my favourite stories ever! *gets up again* I hope you like this chapter!

Eva: I love your e-mails! They make me all warm and fuzzy inside! I have another chapter up for your viewing pleasure. Don't worry, there will be mucho mucho Romyness coming up in the future.

Sparkie-The Wateringcan: Ooooh! *hops around in giddiness* what can I do with my new lighter... Please don't gag on the cuteness. Just to make up for it, I've put a lot of RAGE into this chapter. RAGE and TENSION... *makes a clawing motion with her hand* grarg... rage... grrrr...

crazyspaceystracey: Fortunately, anything that IS hidden in his underwear drawer is hidden quite well. Wanda hasn't found anything... yet. Somebody has to look after those boys though. Unfortunately, you'll have to put up with Simon a titch bit longer, I'm not finished with him yet. I have a very random mind. Sometimes I wonder where it is... Meggan rox my sox. Oh... *shakes finger* You'll have see what happens in regard to Wanda's memories. I can't give anything away just yet.

Vampiree: O.O! It's like you were reading my mind! I WANT MORE JONDA TOO! WHY ISN'T I WRITING MORE! wait... oh... *bonks self over head*. If everyone who reads this story writes a JONDA fic, then Amieva could die a happy girl... or not, because she'd have to read them all first... then she has to feed her cat... damn my priorities!

Fluffy's Numba 1 Gal: You ask very good question, Fluffy. Rogue and Kitty... well, that got me thinking, so I put a little explaination in this chapter, just for you! Huzzah!

General information: Did you know it's the MALE seahorse that gives birth? Wacky, huh?

DISCLAIMER: Amieva doesn't own X-Men Evolu-

Amieva: DON'T LISTEN TO HIM! HE LIES!!!

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Sweat ran down his temple and dripped into his ear. He squirmed from the tickling sensation it caused, but if he dare try to mop his forehead, he would drop the weight that was suspended over his torso and prematurely end his life. He was required to workout at least four times a week, not including gym class. Magneto was a real bastard when it came to training the Acolytes, and John resented having to do physical labour on a Sunday. He hadn't slept very well the night before. He couldn't stop thinking about the different possible outcomes of Wanda's date. His muscles started to ache horribly from exhaustion, but he was only halfway finished his bench- pressing exersizes.

"Five... Six... Seve-ech" John grunted as his arms quivered from the strain. He tilted his head in the direction of the gymnasium door. Satisfied that he wasn't being watched, he focused his attention back to counting. "...Fourteen... Fifteen!" He set the barbell back on the rack and sat up.

"Y'know, cheating on your workout will only cause problems down the road." an amused voice startled John, causing him to jump.

"Wanda!"

She tossed a fresh towel to him, and he caught it. John wiped the sweat off his face and neck and dropped the towel onto the bench beside him.

"To what do I owe this pleasure? Are you here to yell at me, then rip my head off and use it for some freaky ritual involving the death of Australian Sex-Gods?"

After tossing another mound of cloth at him, Wanda rolled her eyes. Folding her arms across her chest, she muttered "you wish..."

"What's this, then?" John unbunched the bundle and gawked upon realizing it was his favourite sweater. "How di-"

"You left it in my room with that present. Don't act dumb, John, I know it was you."

"Yea, I admit that the gift was from me but I di-"

Wanda cut him off again, speaking in a low and cautious voice. "I don't know how I can thank you, John. You have NO idea how much it meant to me." she looked down at her feet sheepishly.

She suddenly jumped onto his lap, straddling his hips. She took his face in her hands and pressed her full, moist lips against his hungrily. Her nails scratched across his sweat soaked shirt, almost as if she was trying to tear it off. John groaned deep in his throat.

"John?" Wanda snapped her fingers in front of his face, pulling him from his trance. It had all been a dream?! Oh damn...

"Huh?!"

"I was feeling really rotten last night and... well... what you did for me was really sweet, and... thank you."

"Sorry, lack of oxygen to the brain..." John started to grin, despite having been caught daydreaming. "No problem, luv. I guess y'date didn't go too well last night?"

Wanda scoffed. "Pheh! Or at all-" she seated herself in front of him, on top a chair used for weight lifting. "I think you were right about Simon..." she mumbled dejectedly.

John's spirits sky-rocketed, but he tried to keep his excitement as discrete as possible. "Do you want to elaborate on that statement?" he asked, sounding truly concerned of her feelings, but in actuality, wondering what the hell could've happened last night. What caused Wanda to have such a change of heart? It couldn't have only been the peace offering and the sweater...

"He never showed up."

John wanted to start dancing!

"I ended up waiting around for an hour, then walked home, by myself."

"Well, I'm sorry, luv. I don't want to say I told you so."

Wanda looked up at him and smiled. "I'm sorry about getting mad at you. You didn't deserve that kind of treatment."

"Oh?" John leaned in closer. "And what kind of treatment DO I deserve?" his brow quirked suggestively. He certainly wouldn't mind reliving his little moment, only in reality this time.

Wanda scowled slightly. "Like I said, you wish."

If only she knew.

"I think you've been spending too much time around Remy." Wanda stood and walked out of the door.

John rubbed his eyes and stared after her. "Can't blame a fella for trying, though." He smirked triumphantly. Score: Pyro 1, Wonder-Wanker nadda!

~*~

Peter had noticed a huge change in John's general demeanor in the past few days. The nutbar had gone from moody and edgy back to his usual happy and bouncy self. This could be seen as a mixed blessing of sorts.

Peter flipped through his sketches one last time. There seemed to be a page missing from the book. This was extremely odd, considering he was quite protective and shy about his work (much like Amieva is about HER crappy drawings!) and never removed a sketch unless it was atrociously necessary. His mind wandered back to that day when he nearly beat John within an inch of his life... right... that's where it must've gone. That was another thing about John that Peter noted. He was getting quite close with Wanda, even if it wasn't as obvious to either the goth or the pyromaniac. That was a match made in hell! Peter shuddered to think of what their kids might be like, if it ever got that far. Wanda wasn't that bad. She was quite calm and generous most of the time, although she tended to be headstrong and dramatic, but the thought of anything spawned from St.John Allerdyce was downright scary.

He shook those thoughts from his head as another entered. As long as Wanda was John's focus, Peter didn't have to put up with him. Remy had an excellent point.

Speaking of the devil, Remy waltzed into the living room at that moment, holding a deck of what looked like playing cards, and his cellphone. Peter spared him one glance and a courteous nod before going back to his sketchbook.

"Petey, jus' de metal-man Remy been searchin' fo'!"

"Why is it, comrade, whenever you greet me in such a manner, I find myself doubting your intentions?"

"I t'ink y'gotta stop watchin' day-time television, Pete. Y'english be better den mine."

Peter regarded the Cajun with a confused scowl. "You wish to discuss something with me?"

"Oui! Alors, dese-" he held up the cards, which were not playing cards as previously suspected, but a small stack of tickets, "- be VIP passes t'de concert dis Saturday night. As a close friend, an' team mate, Remy wan' t'give you one."

"I am grateful for your generosity, Remy. However, I must decline your offer. I am not, how is it you say in America... a yes... Fond of crowds."

NO! This was NOT good! Remy had to get Peter to go. Damn that Russian and his shyness! "Dat's too bad, mon ami. Y'was always sayin' how y'wanted to experience some 'American Culture'. Remy only trying to help. De Mosh- Pit always been a good place t'meet people."

Peter nodded and pulled the pencil off his ear. "A souvenir would be enough."

Alright, NOW Remy was getting desperate. Rogue told him that she would never be alone with him for longer than five minutes if she could help it, but Remy had figured if he got everyone else distracted then he could swoop in and sweep his Southern Belle off her feet. Kurt was bringing his girlfriend, as was Evan. John was still undecided, but either way, he could entertain himself. If Wanda was going, John was going. This only left Kitty. Kitty was Rogue's security device against the lecherous Cajun. As long as the bouncy little wall-walker was around, Rogue didn't have to pay any attention to him. Remy needed Peter to be there, for the sake of his romantic endeavor. And hadn't Rogue mentioned she was planning on getting Kitty and Peter together? Or at least try?

"Alrigh'! Y'force me t'do dis! Piotr Nikolaievitch Rasputin, in de names of Venus, Aphrodite, Eros, an' all dose other gods of love, I, Remy Etienne LeBeau, de Prince of T'ieves, King of Hearts, an' professional ladies' man, beg y'to come to de concert dis Saturday!"

Peter stared in astonishment. He had invoked Peter's full name, and the names of almost every classical deity that had anything to do with romance. This had to be serious! "Why do you persist?" Why was Peter dreading the answer?

"Please?"

"Remy..."

"S'il vous plait?"

"I do not speak French."

Remy sighed heavily. "I guess Remy will just have t'break de news to Miss. Pryde dat y'won' be dere."

Peter stiffened, and his big blue eyes bulged. "Kitty... wants to know if I am going to be attending?"

Remy smiled evilly to himself. Yes! It was working! "Yeah, homme. She asked at de last practice, while you weren't here."

"B-bu-but I am not... ah... Sh-sh-she has-"

"A huge crush on ya!"

"The last time I spoke to her, I sounded like buffoon." Peter inwardly groaned.

"Don't worry 'bout it! She tell Rogue dat y'be cute an' she like to get t'know y'better. So, y'coming t'the concert den. Y'can tell Kitty y'self when she comes over dis Friday."

"WHAT?!"

"She be needin' help wit' her fashion homework. I t'ink wit' you, she be in good hands."

"Hold on, little French-American Man! I did not hear-"

"Remy owe you a big one! Merci beaucoup, mon ami!"

~*~

School... the final frontier...

(No. This is just Amieva trying to figure out a good way to change scene setting...)

Kitty finished typing out the lengthly HTML script for her latest Computers Project. The whole program had taken her weeks to complete, and now she could finally get up from her laptop and stretch. She was FREEEEEEEEEEE!!!

She did a little victory dance around her room (yeah, she's at home instead of at school). She phased her body and started 'walking' on air, a skill she had been working on during the Danger Room sessions. She was getting quite good at it too. She would do it more often, except Rogue kept telling her to quit it because it made her nauseous to watch. Was Rogue scared of heights?

"You've got... 1... new message from... anonymous sender." the tiny little man living inside her laptop announced mechanically. Kitty lowered herself to the ground and became tangible again. She bounced onto her bed and scrolled the cursor around on the screen until the little white arrow was over her e-mail icon. She double-clicked the open envelope and waited for her inbox to load up.

"Who's sending me a letter, Lockheed?" she asked the lifeless little stuffed-dragon that was forever perched beside her pillow. Lockheed just stared back at her. After selecting the new message, another screen popped up. It was a link to some sort of game with a short letter in red text.

Congratulations True Believer!
You have been selected out of hundreds of outstanding young men and women to test a new program before it becomes available to the general public. We, the creators, hope you enjoy your experience.

Click here to play 'Murder World' !

"Murder World?" Kitty looked over at her purple toy and confidante. "What do you think, Lockheed?" He didn't respond (what do you expect?! He's just a plushie!). "Look at me," Kitty laughed, "I'm talking to a stuffed animal. What the hey, I've got some spare time..." she clicked on the link.

Another screen popped up. It was red with a black skull-and- crossbones. White text started to scroll across the screen as eerie music played in the background.

We, the creators of Murder World wish to extend our special thanks to a Miss Katherine Pryde; for being a loving and caring individual who's too stupid to screen her messages!

"WHAT?!"

The Arcade Corporation also hopes, for Kitty's sake, that she has a backup file of her Computer's assignment. The poor soul is going to have a hard time telling her teacher that her computer ate it.
Well, cheerio, Kitty darling!
Arcade_the_King_of_Murder_World

"No... he didn't..." Kitty muttered, too shocked to come up with any sort of other coherent thought. She rushed and opened the file that held her assignment.

It was... gone... All of the text she had oh so lovingly typed out and tested... was gone... 25 pages of code...

"ARCADE IS GOING TO DIE!!" she sprung up from her bed and stomped THROUGH the door. She was going to find Rogue. She REALLY needed to rant right now.

Kitty stormed down the hall, following what she recognized as Rogue's voice, at a rather well raised volume. Scott was there too... and so was Jean...

~*~

"Ah assure you, Miss Jean, Ah don' know what y'mean abou' Wanda bein' dangerous! She's a flat-line!"

"Rogue, you've got to realize that your friend ISN'T who you think she is!" Scott shouted back.

"Oh yeah? Well, Scooter, why don' y'tell me who she is then? Since y'all seem t'know everythin' 'bout everythin'!" Rogue subconsciously grabbed the tips of her gloves.

Jean scowled. "Her last name is Lehnsherr, Rogue!"

"Ah know that!" Rogue scoffed. "Ah have known her for more than a month, y'know! An' if yer gonna tell me she's Magneto's daughter, then don' even bother, because I know that too! So does Kitty!"

"She's dangerous! And we can't have you galavanting off to sleep over at the enemy's house! The Acolytes live there, Rogue! You can't trust them!"

"Y'don' have a problem with Kurt and Evan going..."

"They're guys!" Scott burst.

Both Rogue and Jean glared at him.

"Wanda is a flat-line! She and Ah were talkin' an' she started askin' me questions an' makin' jokes 'bout how cool it would be t'have powers. Ah've played along, as far as Ah can tell, she doesn't know Ah'm a mutant, but Ah think she's figured it out by now. An' she ain't 'Magneto's' daughter. She's Eric Lehnsherr's daughter!"

Scott very indignantly placed his hands on his hips and put on his angry-leader face. "They're still the same man, Rogue! Do you really think that Eric Lehnsherr is the kind of father who goes home every night and bakes cookies with his children?!" Rogue didn't answer him. "That what I thought... He's dangerous! This is probably a trap set up to capture you guys and force you into joining his team!"

"GAWD! Why can' you two get it through your thick skulls! We haven' had any problems with the Acolytes lately! Magneto's probably abandoned the whole 'supress the human race' thang! Remy-"

"-Remy?!"

Rogue growled. "-GAMBIT, Remy, there really isn't any difference! He told me that Magneto hasn't been around much, except to check in on them and make sure they're still followin' his rules. One of those rules is t'keep Wanda from finding out 'bout their double lives! Maybe Eric's decided that human's ain't that bad afterall, an' takin' care of his sick, injured daughter will be his first step to redemption!"

Scott and Jean sniffed (here puppy puppy...). Rogue could make a good lawyer some day... as long as she didn't try to rip the heads off her competitors.

~*~

"Look at me look at me look at me look at me look at me..." Wanda kept muttering under her breath. She was watching another scene in her Drama class where Simon was playing the lead roll.

Yes. Simon had hurt her badly that night, but she wanted to know what his reasons were for standing her up. Nearly a whole week had passed since that night, and Simon hadn't spared her more than a glance. It was Friday. She wanted to talk to him. She wanted to tell him off. She wanted to scream at him! She wanted to get her boot wedged into a very uncomfortable place and then laugh at him.

Judging by the look on Rogue's face, she was thinking the same thing.

Rogue was furious with Scott and Jean, and she just wasn't going to live it down! She was angry at what they said about her friend and band mate the night before. Dangerous Mutants, pah! Remy couldn't try anything with her, even if she let him! She was feeling bitter and resentful. Wanda and Rogue on an emotional rampage made a dangerous combination. Worst yet, Kitty was pissed as well.

People generally avoided them during lunch.

Arcade had gone missing after homeroom.

Girls were complaining of screams for help coming from somewhere in the second floor washroom.

Kitty had denied everything.

The scene ended on a low note. Simon was curled into a ball in center stage with the lights fading away slowly. His personal fan club cheered enthusiastically. Shebea Harlot (great name, non?), a vibrantly red headed girl, jumped up from the back of the room and did one of her cheer-leading routines. Wanda glared at her, and almost as if on cue, she slipped and fell (no, she doesn't know that she has powers yet).

Rogue laughed along with Wanda, as a very confused Meggan blinked. "When is this class over?" the British blonde asked them.

Suddenly and without any prompting from the author because she is awesome and can make things happen magically before your very eyes, the bell rang and class was dismissed. Isn't that just wonderful?

Rogue had to go down to the office to pick something up, so she left Wanda to get her stuff off the stage. Wanda didn't notice that someone was following her.

Not until she turned to leave and ran smack into a large muscled chest. "Oof!"

"Wendy, I need to talk to you."

Wanda looked up with a large scowl on her face. "Wanda, you prick! What the hell do you want, Simon?!"

"Wanda, I'm so sorry about last Saturday." he placed one of his large hands on her shoulder.

Wanda glared angrily at the appendage, but Simon made no move to take it off. She turned her face back to his. "Sorry, huh? I'm sure you're REAL sorry, considering you haven't even TRIED to find me for a whole week!"

Simon could tell that Wanda was upset. He only had 32 hours to fulfill the bet! He had to smooth things over with the tempestuous goth before midnight on Hallowe'en. "Wanda, please. I'm so sorry about standing you up like that. I didn't want to get you upset but..."

Wanda raised one of her eyebrows quizzically, as if she was challenging him to finish that sentence. "You didn't want to upset me?! How the hell do you think I've felt for the past week?!"

"My grandmother died." he said, hoping that would be a good enough excuse. His grandmother wasn't really dead, but living in Wisconsin.

Wanda gaped. She had no idea! No wonder he didn't tell her. He was probably still really upset about it too. All of the anger drained out of her as she looked into Simon's eyes. "Oh..."

He smiled inwardly. It had worked?! "I really want to make it up to you, We-anda."

Wanda stood in silence for a while. "Well, I guess you could take me to this concert tomorrow night. My friends' band is playing, and it's supposed to be really awesome! I can get another ticket easily."

"Alright! I'll pick you up tomorrow at-"

"6:30."

"6:30 it is!"

"Wear a costume."

"Sure thing. You're an awesome girlfriend!" he kissed her cheek, and with that, Simon walked off with a bounce in his step.

The bell telling her that she was late for English went off. Wanda stood in the middle of the hall way. "Girlfriend?" her knees started to quake. "He wants me to be his-"

~*~

"One, two, three, four. Sorry mate, that's all I can fit in there along with all your book bags and crap." John indicated to his yellow JEEP in the school parking lot.

Evan groaned. "Don't you guys have another car or something? There's seven of us!"

Kurt, Amanda, Evan, Kitty, Rogue, Wanda and John looked amongst each other, then at the pile of knapsacks and overnight bags piled behind the JEEP.

Kurt decided he could try being helpful. "Ve could call Scott and ask him to-"

"NO!" Rogue and Kitty shrieked at once.

Everyone stared at them in shocked awe.

"I guess I could take the girls in the car. We'd be short a seat, and it'd be a tight fit, but hey, that's not really all bad is it?" John winked to the girls.

Rogue's eye twitched, "You're as bad as the Cajun!"

"And vhat about us?" Kurt indicated to Evan and himself.

"You fellas can walk."

Kurt held Evan back as the skater-boy was irked enough to try and lunge and John.

Amanda giggled at the boys' antics. "I wouldn't mind walking. Besides, I need to pick up a few things in town."

Kurt let go of Evan as soon as he had calmed down. "Vell, if Amanda's valking, I'm valking."

"Well, that takes care of two of you." John looked to the other four potential passengers.

Wanda picked up her bag off the pavement and slung it over her back. "This is all the stuff I have to carry. I might as well walk home." she turned and started to walk away until John grabbed hold of her bag and tugged her back to the circle.

"Oh no you don't, shiela! You aren't going to make me drive home alone with your scary friends and their buddy!" John snatched her bag off her back and threw it into the back of his vehicle. He then pushed her into the front passenger seat. She opened her mouth to retort, but he placed a firm finger over her lips. "Don't argue with me, luv. Buckle-up!"

Wanda snorted indignantly, but she didn't buckle her seat belt. "You are so weird."

Kurt and Amanda were halfway out of the large parking lot, walking hand in hand, when they heard John's shout. They turned around to see what was going on in time to see John 'help' Wanda into his car.

"Are they dating?" Amanda asked her blue furry elf.

"I do not think so... They vere very angry vith each other for a long time. I guess they have settled their differences and decided to be friends."

Amanda leaned on her boyfriend's shoulder and smiled contentedly. "I'm glad we don't fight that much, Kurt."

"Of course not! Chicks dig the fuzzy dude! Who could stay mad at a face like this?"

"Principal Kelly doesn't like you much."

"Principal Kelly doesn't count. Luckily, he is not a teenaged girl. Besides, he does not find me very cute either."

"And for that, we are eternally grateful."

~*~

RANDOM INTERLUDE! HUZZAH!

Magneto: BOYS! I'm HOME!

Viktor+Jason: *rushing into the kitchen of the old Acolyte base* What did you bring!

Magneto: It's a surprise!

~HALF AN HOUR LATER~

Viktor: Two cups of Chocolate Chips... Jason, where's the- HEY! It's my turn to put in the Chocolate Chips! Give me that measuring cup!!

Jason: I'm a monkey!

Magneto: Boys, stop fighting! I want you two to get along! You both can pour in the Chocolate Chips.

Viktor+Jason: Yes sir...

Magneto: I don't like it when you two fight. It makes me very upset. Baking cookies is supposed to be fun! Please don't ruin it with your bickering.

Viktor+Jason: Sorry...

Amieva: Be afraid! Be VERY afraid! Oogie-boogie!

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*Amieva shudders in disturbance* That was very... eaaauch...

May the Glomp Gods smile upon you!

Bai-Bai!