Disclaimer: How many times must I say that X-Men Evolution isn't mine?!?!
Scott and Jean got back to the institute first. Ali and Rogue snuck in the front doors, hoping to make it to the Professor's study without being noticed.
No such luck.
Logan came out of the hallway, looking more furious than ever. "Spark!" he barked. "Get in the Professor's office, now! You too, Stripes!"
Ali and Rogue trudged into the Xavier's study, their stomachs weighted down with a feeling of nervousness and nausea. What was the professor going to say? Would he be disappointed in them?
Scott was standing on one side of the Professor's desk, glaring at Ali. She knew what he thought: He thought she was a traitor. He thought that she was leaving them for the Acolytes. In Scott's eyes, she was now the enemy.
Jean was trying to sort things out. Ali was her friend, but Scott was her boyfriend. She didn't know what to do, or what to think. So she stayed silent.
Ali looked at the Professor, who was staring at Ali with his brown eyes intently, as if trying to read what her emotions were.
"Ali, please, sit down," the Professor invited.
Ali shook her head. "I'd rather stand," she replied shakily.
Professor Xavier nodded. "Of course," he replied.
Logan shut the door and leaned against it, his thick arms crossed over his chest. He watched Ali with narrowed eyes, infuriated that she would be seeing Pyro.
"Ali, what were your intentions when you left for the mall today?" asked the Professor gently.
Ali didn't look at anyone but Xavier. His brown eyes seemed to say, Don't pay attention to them. Answer me. Everything will be all right. She took a deep breath before answering, dreading the response she would get from the other occupants of the room.
"I went because I was hoping to see John. We've bumped into each other every Saturday there. I wanted to see him again."
"What!" yelled Scott. "You purposely went to see him without letting any of us know?"
Ali turned to him, her eyes narrowed. Cold fire burned through her veins. Why did Scott have to tell everyone? "Yes, Scott. I did. You wouldn't have let me out if you knew," she spat.
"We have good reasons for not letting you see certain people!" Scott yelled. "We're trying to protect you!"
"I'm not two years old, Scott! I can take care of myself!" she screamed.
"Obviously, you can't, seeing that you jumped off a cliff to escape a bunch of people!" he yelled.
"Scott!" cried Jean and the Professor in unison. They were shocked that he would ever say such a thing.
Ali balled her hands into fists. "You have absolutely no idea why I had to jump if you say that," she replied, her voice shaking with a controlled fury. "I jumped to keep mutants a secret. To try and keep us safe."
Scott was taken aback. That was why? But he thought that she had just been too cowardly to try and protect herself, when in reality she was protecting the other mutants in the world from being discovered.
Logan cleared his throat. "Professor, would you like to say something?" Logan asked as if talking to a small child.
Xavier nodded and leaned back in his genuine-leather chair. "Ali, I have no problem with you seeing John," he said. "But the others in this room probably do."
Ali nodded her understanding.
"They are only trying to keep you safe," the professor continued. "They only want the best for you. So, I am afraid to say that for the next two weeks, you are not allowed to see John at the mall."
Ali gaped. "But Professor—" she began.
The professor held up a hand, silencing her. "I'm sorry, Ali. This is the way that it will have to be for now," he replied.
Ali stared at him before composing herself. "Fine," she replied curtly. With that, she turned on her heel walked towards the door. Logan stepped out of the way, letting the seething teen and Rogue leave. "Scott, Jean, you need to leave. I've gotta talk to the professor," Logan said gruffly.
The two seniors nodded and left silently, leaving Logan and Professor Xavier to talk.
Rogue grabbed Ali's arm and swung her around. "That's why ya dragged meh to the mall every weekend?" she yelled.
Ali wrenched her arm out of Rogue's grasp. "Yes, and I'm sorry that you had to put up with the stupid Cajun. You don't have to go anymore," she replied, turning around.
"Ali, Ah've gotta talk to you," Rogue called.
Ali stopped and turned around. "What is it?" she asked.
"Listen, Ah hate the Cajun more than ya know," Rogue began. "Ah've been annoyed to hell by him for the past three weeks or so, all because you wanted to see John."
"I know, and I'm sorry," Ali apologized.
Rogue shook her head. "Listen, Al, if you wanted to see John, you shoulda told meh instead of making meh go through all the torture with the damn Cajun," Rogue replied.
Ali nodded her understanding.
Rogue took a deep breath and continued. "So if you want to see John, we're gonna have to figure some way out so that Ah don't have to see the Swamp Rat, got it?" Rogue asked.
Ali's eyes widened. "Thank you so much, Rogue!" she yelled, throwing her arms around Rogue.
Rogue shoved Ali away, afraid that their skin might touch. "Don't try to hug meh, it's too dangerous!" Rogue hissed.
Ali nodded. "Sorry," she replied.
Rogue sighed. "It's alrahgt," she replied. "Let's get to work planning.
*
Dinner was an unusually tense affair. Ali glared at Scott, who glared right back at her. Jean looked unsurely between the two, torn between the friendships she had with both. Rogue simply ignored it.
Kurt and Kitty, meanwhile, looked on between the two. Of course, they knew what had happened. But they didn't know how to react. So they remained silent.
After dinner, Rogue and Ali went to their room to work on their homework. Ali blasted some rock music on their shared stereo while the two worked. Neither spoke. It was usually like this. But neither of the teens minded. In fact, they preferred not to talk when they were doing homework.
Rogue threw aside her Algebra book once she was finished and looked at Ali. "You done yet?" she asked impatiently.
Ali quickly finished the last problem and threw her things onto the floor. "I'm done," she replied.
Rogue nodded. Up until they had to go to bed that night, they discussed ways for Ali to see John. Not being able to see him was eating away at her. The sooner she knew that she could be around him again, the better.
*
Rogue and Ali headed out to eat with Kitty and Kurt the next day. Logan had sent the other two with Rogue and Ali to make sure that they didn't sneak off to see the Acolyte.
Everywhere they went, Ali found herself scanning the crowds for a redhead, hoping and praying that she would see him. But in every store they went, there was no redhead to be found. If there was one, it was not John. Time after time, Ali's feeling of hope continued to plummet. Finally, she gave up on hope of seeing John that day as they walked into a casual diner.
Lunch was alright. Not tense, but quiet and somewhat happy. The four walked back to the institute after finishing their lunch. Logan was waiting for them, and got a full report from Kitty and Kurt about the outing.
Rogue and Ali continued to the rec room, where Sam and Jaime were competing on their Playstation 2. Bobby, Amara, Jubilee, and Ray were all crowded around, watching and cheering for one or the other. Scott and Jean were watching with waning interest, finally deciding to talk to each other instead. Rogue and Ali walked over to the pool table, where Ali picked up a pool cue and began to chalk it.
"So what are you going to do?" Rogue asked quietly. Lucky them, the pool table was in the back of the large room. Everyone else was up in the front, near the TV.
Ali shrugged. "I don't know," she replied as she broke the rack on the table. "What do you think I should do?"
Rogue shrugged as she aimed her shot. "I think you need to get in contact with him," she replied as she hit the four-ball into a corner pocket.
Ali nodded. "I know that, but how? I don't exactly know his phone number or if he has an instant-messaging screenname," she replied as she sized up the table.
"True," Rogue replied. Both were silent as they continued to shoot the balls into the pockets, not really caring about what they were doing. Finally, Rogue spoke again.
"Ali, you're not allowed to go out alone," she said.
Ali narrowed her eyes. "I think we've already established that, Rogue," she replied sarcastically.
Rogue ignored the attitude and continued. "No, what I mean is, that you can't, but I can," she replied.
Ali's eyes widened. "You're right!" she cried excitedly.
"So what I can do, is find John, or one of the Acolytes, and fahnd out how to contact him," she explained.
Ali nodded slowly. "Kinda risky, Rogue," she said after a moment.
Rogue rolled her eyes. "I know, Al, but I don't care."
Ali sighed. "Let's save that for plan B," she replied.
Rogue groaned. "Whatever, Al," she said. "It's your fault if you don't see him soon."
*
Ali walked onto the basketball court on Tuesday, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline pumping through her veins. It was another basketball game, this time, at Bayville.
The team warmed up ten minutes before their game, shoot baskets from all around. Then the Raptors came onto the court and warmed up on the opposite end.
Ali stretched her neck as she listened to Coach Ryan's pep talk. The talk finished, and the girls walked out onto the court. Jean prepared herself for the jump, tensing her calves. Ali waited further behind, ready to jump if the ball came her way. The game took off at a fast pace, Bayville leading by ten points. By halftime, the lead had grown to twenty points.
"We're doing good," Coach Ryan said. "But we can't let ourselves be overconfident. Keep playing hard. Got it, girls?" she asked.
The team nodded, and Ali and Jean went back in. The game continued. The Raptors trailed behind all through the third and fourth quarters. The final score: 81-68. Bayville won.
The team all ran up to Amanda, who had scored the last basket, hugging each other uncontrollably. "We won!" they cried. The other team came over and shook hands with the Bayville girls and left.
Ali walked over to the bench, a feeling of satisfaction nestled on her mind. She picked up her bag and started to walk out when someone called her name. She turned around and froze.
It was John.
"John!" she cried.
John grinned. "Miss me?" he asked.
Ali smiled. "Yeah," she replied shyly.
"Good," John said. "Because I missed you, too."
Ali's eyes widened. She ran up to him and hugged him. "I can't see you at the mall anymore," she said. "Well, at least, not for two weeks."
John grinned. "Loop-hole," he replied.
Ali giggled. "Yeah," she said.
"Listen, I gotta make this fast, because I think Wolvie caught my scent when I came in earlier," he explained. "You did great in your game. I'm proud of you."
Ali's cheeks reddened. "Thanks," she said, looking at the ground.
John's grin widened. "I'll see ya around, sheila," he added before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Ali's eyes widened with surprise. The next thing she knew, John was gone.
Logan walked over. "C'mon, Spark," he grunted.
Ali nodded, feeling slightly numb. She had seen John, and she knew that she would see him again soon.
***
ok, finished this in about two hours or so. That is, with my little bro bugging me the entire time. But oh well. It's still good.
Now, to the two reviewers that I have who commented on this (I love you both, just so you know. Strictly platonically, of course):
Ivan Kitsune: well, how was it? Was this enough John/Ali? Tell me! And if you have any ideas, let me know!
damien455: thank you on the last chapter. I'm glad you liked it. Hope you like this one, too!
Well, I'm out for now. One chapter in a day is enough. Unless you all want more. Then maybe I can write more. Thank you to all of you who read my stories and review!!
~Jojo~