Chapter Seven:
Near the foot of the mansion's front staircase, Kurt paced nervously around, glancing every now and then at the large clock hanging on the opposing wall. Classes would be ending soon, and Kurt was rehearsing how to invite Storm to the gathering Remy had organized for this evening.
He knew he was being a little foolish; fretting like an adolescent about simply speaking to someone he had known and considered a friend for almost a year. But working up the courage to mention the small dinner party to Storm proved to be no easy task.
Kurt had been more than a little intimidated by her when they first met, considering she had knocked him from the scaffolds of his little church with a lightning bolt. Her strength, her beauty and her dedication to her cause had fascinated him. The more he got to know her, the more he appreciated her strengths and understood her anger. However, it was her kind heart and unwavering friendship that had made his attraction to her more obvious to himself...and to some others.
"Relax, already," an amused voice called from the staircase, "If you don't relax a little, you will wear a hole in the carpet, no?"
Kurt looked over toward the steps at Remy, who was reclining against a wall and lazily shuffling a freshly opened deck of cards, breaking them in a little for the night's poker game. The Cajun was shaking his head as he watched the other mutant walk anxiously back and forth between the front door and the main hall. Kurt sighed heavily as he fell into a crouch on the bottom step.
"Sorry," Kurt said, unconsciously curling his tail around the banister, "I just...I'm just...a little uncertain of...what to say to her when I see her."
Remy shrugged, "Well...just say, 'Hi, Storm, we're having a dinner party tonight and I though you would like to come.' Or, 'Good evening, Ms. Monroe, I was sent to invite you to a private get together this nuit.' Or you could be direct and say, "Six p.m.! Dining room! Be there! Or else!'"
Kurt shot him an amused glare, "Thank you, ami," he said in a fairly good impersonation of his Cajun friend, "...I know what to say...I just don't know what to say, you know..."
"No, "Remy said with a grin," But I do know that if you don't ask her, you will regret it later on."
Kurt sighed again and glanced shyly toward the classroom hall.
"It's not a date..." he muttered, trying to sound calm and normal, "It's just dinner...just dinner and a game of cards..."
Remy pointed a finger at him, "Make that last part very convincing..."
Kurt chuckled and looked over at the clock again.
"Still ten minutes until classes end," he said and stood up again, "I think she normally goes down to the lab before dinner, so she should pass by on the way to the elevator."
Suddenly, they both heard a soft hiss, and then Scott, Henry and Storm speaking quickly as they stepped out of the hidden door.
"That elevator?" Remy asked, and when he looked over at Kurt and saw a look of nervous shock on the blue mutant's face, he asked with concern, "What is it, ami? She's right there just..."
"No!" Kurt said and then began to whisper quickly, "She was supposed to be in class! I thought maybe if the students were around and she walked past this way I could invite her with people around me and it would not seem like I was asking her then I would not be so nervous and..."
"It's okay, ami," Remy replied, "Breathe. This may be better, no? I don't know how you would be able to think with all the petits running around, let alone speak."
Remy was peering carefully around the corner and Kurt ducked beneath him and also glanced toward the elevator. The trio of X-Men seemed to finish their conversation, and Scott went with Henry toward the garages as Storm headed toward the main staircase.
"Maybe this isn't a good time, they look busy," Kurt said softly, "I think I'll jump upstairs and..."
Remy grinned and clamped a hand down on Kurt's shoulder to keep him from teleporting away.
"Oh, no, you don't," he said quietly, and then pulled Kurt to his feet by the arm. "You're here...she's walking this way...a rare moment alone...it's perfect."
Remy straightened the lapels on Kurt's jacket and brushed away imaginary dust with a grin.
"Parfait," the Cajun remarked, "You'll do great..."
Kurt turned to wait for Storm to appear, still looking uncertain, so Remy could not help but leave him with one last thought.
"Besides...I think she likes you, too," he said over the blue mutant's shoulder.
"What?" Kurt replied, but when he looked back, Remy was nowhere to be found. Kurt blinked in surprise, and wondered how the other mutant had disappeared so quickly.
"Kurt?" he heard Storm's voice say, and he turned back toward her, "What are you looking for?"
He grinned bashfully and shook his head, "Oh...nothing. Just...looking..."
"Oh," Storm said, and then added with a playful smile, "Well, I hope you see something interesting while you're looking."
Kurt chuckled and then asked curiously, "No history class today?"
"The Professor asked Scott and I to meet him in the medical bay, so the kids had an extended study hall," she explained.
"Oh," Kurt replied and shifted nervously on his feet.
"I should check up on them though," Storm added quickly, holding his gaze, "to make sure no paper airplane wars broke out."
Kurt nodded, and Storm moved past him toward the classrooms. Before she took a dozen steps, Kurt called out to her.
"Ororo?" he said softly, the sound of her real name making his heart pound.
Storm glanced back at him and Kurt walked over to her.
"Remy and Bobby are trying to arrange a dinner party tonight for the teachers and staff," he said, surprised by the calm tone in his own voice, "I was wondering if you would like to go."
Storm stared at him for a moment, her eyes widening. Kurt could not tell by her expression what she was thinking, but then a small smile touched her lips.
"I'd love to," she replied, and then the smile faded slightly, "But, the Professor needs Scott and Henry and I to investigate a few disturbances near the county line..."
"Oh," Kurt said with disappointment, and then glanced up at her again, "Disturbances? Something dangerous?"
"That's what we're going to find out," Storm replied, a hint of regret in her tone as well.
Kurt nodded and then offered her a grin, "Duty calls sometimes."
"Or all the time," Storm replied, and then took a step toward him, "It's still early though. Maybe...we'll be back for dinner...or at least for the poker and dessert."
Kurt smiled and nodded, feeling disappointed about her absence but also elated by her response at the same time. She had said yes...then she said no...then she said maybe...
"You knew about dinner and the card game then?" he asked with a frown and Storm laughed.
"No," she replied, "But I noticed Gambit was avoiding conversation with me earlier. The reason just suddenly became clear. He didn't want a lecture, I guess. It's the gambling I don't like, but...unbeknownst and unfortunately for him, I am not a total stranger to the game."
Kurt laughed, "I'll save a hand for you then...for when you get back."
Storm nodded and said quickly before walking away, "Then it's a date."
If certain bone structures had not been present in Kurt's face at the time, his bottom jaw would have literally come in contact with the ground between his feet. Luckily, Storm was no longer facing him as she headed toward her classroom and she would not have seen the resulting mess.
Kurt watched her until she turned the corner and then took a few stumbling steps until he bumped into a wall. He stood stunned for a moment, staring straight ahead but really not seeing too much but the stars in front of his eyes.
"Bravo!" a voice announced and Kurt jumped as Remy suddenly appeared beside him again, "Congratulations, ami. It is a date, no? She said it..."
"Yes," Kurt said, looking dizzy, "It's a date...oh, I am going to be sick..."
Remy laughed and maneuvered his overwhelmed friend toward the stairs so he could sit. Kurt expression was a mixture of euphoria and apprehension as he contemplated what had just happened. He heard Remy speaking and tried to focus on the other mutant's words.
"And she likes poker, eh?" Remy said with a grin, "Seems we have a hidden shark in our midst. Tres bien...I can't wait to win her money."
Kurt glanced up at him with a grin, "No gambling, remember?"
Remy looked annoyed, "Oui, bien, whatever...but you have to admit playing for money would be more entertaining than what we'll be using..."
"And what is that?" Kurt asked with amusement.
"Swedish Fish," Remy replied unhappily, and then added tragically, "It's times like this I really miss New Orleans."