NOTE: Yay, Kietro! Okay, I made this a bit longer for you guys! Enjoy!
Kitty snuck a covert look down the hall, before grabbing the phone. It had taken some artful lying to convince Jean and Scott to leave without her. And even more lying to assure Jean that Kitty would transport the pies safely to the carnival. The newly finished pies would pass muster but Kitty was still nervous about Jean inspecting them. Sighing, Kitty dialed quickly. There were three rings before she heard the muffled voices of Lance and Pietro arguing. Then Pietro's smooth voice came over loudly, "Brotherhood Residence." Kitty smothered a smile at that.
"Pietro, it's me."
"Why, hello KITTY," Pietro said, putting a silky emphasis on her name, obviously to irritate Lance.
"Why would she even want to talk to you?" Lance yelled.
"THAT should be fairly obvious to even someone as thickheaded as you," Pietro snapped. "Now if you'll excuse me, my girlfriend's on the phone," Pietro retorted, as Lance cursed in the background.
Hearing her ex-boyfriend's muffled rants on her behalf had a deja-vu effect on Kitty. "Wow, from the sound of things, it looks like the plan is really working," Kitty mused, unsure of how she felt about any of it anymore.
"Yeah, looks like it. That's what you wanted, right?" Pietro asked her, his voice turning almost expressionless at her comment. Kitty bit her lip in frustration.
"That-that's what we both wanted!" Kitty said, sounding defensive despite her best efforts. What was Pietro getting at? He doesn't like Lance, so obviously he doesn't want to talk about him, Kitty tried to reason in her mind. That had to be it. Letting out a shaky breath, Kitty twisted the phone cord around her index finger, waiting for him to speak.
"So...was there something you needed?" Pietro asked, sounding almost bored. Kitty was surprised at the sting of hurt she felt at his tone. It was the tone he'd used with her when they'd first started the whole charade. For some reason, she had thought they had become closer in that time. Obviously I was wrong, Kitty thought, furious with herself for being so dumb. I bet he just can't wait to get to the Carnival and simper around Siren, begging her to ask him to Prom. And for some inexplicable reason it bothered her.
"I-....I need a ride to the Carnival, so we can transport the pies," Kitty said succinctly.
"Okay, I'll be right there," Pietro said, waiting a moment.
"Fine," Kitty said stiffly, and hung up the phone. She felt like sulking for a long long time after her conversation with Pietro. The last thing she needed was to carry on the stupid farce during some dumb Carnival. When had things gotten so complicated? A few weeks ago, everything had been so clear; Lance had broken her heart and she had wanted him back desperately. "And Pietro was supposed to be my answer...." Kitty whispered to herself. He had helped her ease the heartache in his own strange way, and each week she had spent with him, the less she had thought about Lance. And now, her feelings for Lance almost seemed like a distant memory. She wasn't even sure if what she felt for Lance was love or the affection lingering from old memories.
"Hey," Pietro's voice sounded softly behind her, startling Kitty out of her thoughts. The air crackled with the tension between them. "You ready to go?"
"Yeah, I just need to get the pies-," Kitty said, avoiding his eyes.
"They're already loaded into the car," Pietro said smoothly.
"Great," Kitty replied shortly, and brushed past him to walk out of the mansion to his car. The sooner she got to the carnival, the sooner she could see Lance and remind herself of why she'd gone through with the whole stupid plan. Pietro gave her a brief questioning look before getting into the driver's seat. Kitty resolutely stared out of her side of the window, but was unable to stop herself from sneaking glances over at Pietro's handsome profile. He was quiet too, and Kitty slowly mulled over how he'd changed in the past few weeks. Pietro was still confident, and charming, yet now he was calmer and just....nicer. He had started from a person she couldn't stand to someone she truly....liked, maybe even loved? No, Kitty thought desperately, I'm not in love with Pietro. The day before the Turn Around prom, and right when she was sure Lance was ready to dump Siren,.....this would be the worst time to fall for Pietro. Not that any time would be good to fall in love with him, Kitty amended hastily in her mind, feeling a burning flush heat her cheeks. Pietro chose that moment to glance over, a bemused look in his eyes.
"Uh, I think the parking lot is coming up on the left side," Kitty spoke up quickly, before Pietro could say anything.
After they had parked, Kitty anxiously ran around to the trunk to check on the state of the pies. They were stacked neatly, each pie wrapped carefully in tin foil...but something was wrong. "Pietro, we only cooked four batches of pies....there's six here," Kitty said, biting her lip in confusion.
Pietro glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "So? We have more to sell, we'll make more money. What's the problem?"
"Well...how'd there get to be two extra batches?" Kitty insisted, pacing next to the car. Pietro watched her patiently, leaning against the side of his car. Suddenly, it hit her....Kitty whirled around to face Pietro. "Wait, when you loaded the pies into the car, you didn't put mine in...did you?"
"What? What do you mean?" Pietro asked, a frown creasing his forehead.
"I meant, the two batches that I made by myself.....the ones that didn't turn out so well. They were on the windowsill. You didn't take those too, did you? Well?" Kitty asked anxiously, as she watched Pietro's expression turn uneasy.
"Well...maybe. I was in...kind of a rush. What's the big deal?" Pietro mumbled.
"What's the big deal?" Kitty asked incredulously, throwing her hands up. "The big deal is that those pies are horrible, and now they're all mixed up with the good pies. We'll never tell them apart, unless we taste them all!"
"Oh, no. No way, we're not doing that, my stomach isn't that strong," Pietro said, holding up both hands. He grinned apologetically at the glare Kitty shot him.
"We're ruined. The kids at the Carnival will get violently sick, I'll probably get locked up for attempted food poisoning, and look forward to Jean reaming me out afterwards," Kitty rambled, continuing to pace.
"Don't forget we'll be given fifty lashes each and forced to live out the rest of our lives underground."
"This isn't funny!"
"No, no, you're right. It's not," Pietro said, but Kitty had been around him to see that he trying not to laugh. But instead of making her irritated, she was perplexed to find herself grinning. She tried to turn away before he noticed, but it was too late. "Whoah, what's this? Kitty Pryde is smiling in the face of crisis? I must be rubbing off on you," Pietro teased.
"Yes indeed, I'll be sure to include this momentous occasion in my diary," Kitty replied dryly.
"Probably be the luckiest day of your life," Pietro joked, winking at her.
"Please, god help me if that day ever comes," Kitty retorted lightly, but began giggling as Pietro struck a pose.
"Am I really that bad, Kitty?" Pietro said, his voice serious all of a sudden.
"No, not really," Kitty said, trying to go for a glib tone, but her voice came out shaky. Pietro looked at her, his eyes still twinkling, and she felt slightly light-headed. Maybe he really was rubbing off on her. God, was she turning into one of his groupies? Was that what happened eventually to every girl after spending prolonged amounts of time with Pietro Maximoff? I'm not every girl, Kitty told herself vehemently. I'm in it to get Lance back, and once that happens I won't have to spend time with Pietro anymore, Kitty thought resolutely, and he can go back to Siren. The thought made her ill.
"Well, if it isn't the happy couple," Siren's syrupy voice interrupting her thoughts.
"Speak of the devil," Kitty muttered under her breath.
"It's showtime," Pietro whispered, and put his arm securely around her waist.
"Are those all your pies Kitty? I thought you would've sworn off cooking since the last time," Lance asked surprised, his eyes narrowing immediately at the sight of Pietro.
"You mean when she almost poisoned our home economics class with her brownies?" Siren asked derisively, laughing shrilly.
"Well, I guess it was lucky they had your disgusting cheese and tofu 'super' shakes afterwards to help speed them along to the emergency room," Kitty snapped, her eyes flashing. She thought she heard Pietro snicker quietly, but was quickly distracted by Lance stepping forwards.
"Now, now ladies, let's not fight," Lance said in a tone that sounded ridiculously like Mr. Rogers. Kitty fought the urge to roll her eyes, sternly telling herself that for once Lance was acting responsible. Even if his girlfriend was serially brain dead.
"Leave them alone, Alvers. It's not as if they're fighting over you," Pietro remarked coolly. Kitty put a hand on his arm, sensing an imminent clash between the two roommates.
"To answer your question Lance, they're not mine...they're Jean's," Kitty lied, with a quick glance at Pietro. "We're just bringing them to the Carnival."
"So why do you need him? I could have helped you," Lance countered, looking wounded. Kitty flushed. What was she supposed to say to that?
"Gee Lance, I didn't know you cared....especially since you dumped her," Pietro cut in icily, his blue eyes pinning Lance.
"I still care about Kitty, she doesn't need a self-absorbed jerk!" Lance lashed back.
"Right, which is why you're decision to dump her was best for everyone involved!" Pietro retorted.
"I know this is a novel concept to the both of you, but I think I can decide what's best for me without any help!" Kitty interjected angrily.
They both stared at her with surprise, completely oblivious to Siren who was turning almost purple with fury at being ignored. "If the next installment of 'Kitty and Friends' is over, I think I'll leave," Siren spat disgustedly, storming off haughtily in the direction of the carnival entrance.
"God she's such a drama queen," Lance muttered. "Don't let her bother you Kitty," Lance said with a comforting smile. Kitty mustered a small smile for his benefit. Maybe Lance was finally coming to his senses... "She has a few flaws in her.....probably scars from having dated Pietro," Lance continued, with a smirk at a seething Pietro. Kitty's smile faltered. Did everything have to turn into a rivalry? Did Lance truly care about her or just about one-upping Pietro?
"Please, every girlfriend of yours usually ends up running away," Pietro said archly. Kitty's stomach clenched when she saw Pietro glance after Siren's retreating form.
"Look, just leave Kitty alone!" Lance yelled, the ground rumbling slightly.
"What, you don't want her, but no one else can have her either?" Pietro challenged rapidly.
"Kitty will always love me....you're just a stupid distraction!" Lance spit out.
"Shut UP!" Kitty yelled, holding up a hand. "Both of you, just stop it!"
"But Kitty-," Lance protested.
"I don't want to hear it. I thought you were different, but you guys are both the same! Treating me like I'm some object to use in your infantile competition with each other!" Kitty cried, her eyes smarting with tears.
"Kitty, wait-," Pietro said quietly, his eyes pleading with her.
"You know, I really thought you'd changed," Kitty choked, turning to Pietro. "But I was wrong, like I was about everything else." And with that, she fled sobbing without a backward glance, left with the realization that she had gone and done what'd she'd sworn never to do; she'd fallen in love with Pietro.
Kitty snuck a covert look down the hall, before grabbing the phone. It had taken some artful lying to convince Jean and Scott to leave without her. And even more lying to assure Jean that Kitty would transport the pies safely to the carnival. The newly finished pies would pass muster but Kitty was still nervous about Jean inspecting them. Sighing, Kitty dialed quickly. There were three rings before she heard the muffled voices of Lance and Pietro arguing. Then Pietro's smooth voice came over loudly, "Brotherhood Residence." Kitty smothered a smile at that.
"Pietro, it's me."
"Why, hello KITTY," Pietro said, putting a silky emphasis on her name, obviously to irritate Lance.
"Why would she even want to talk to you?" Lance yelled.
"THAT should be fairly obvious to even someone as thickheaded as you," Pietro snapped. "Now if you'll excuse me, my girlfriend's on the phone," Pietro retorted, as Lance cursed in the background.
Hearing her ex-boyfriend's muffled rants on her behalf had a deja-vu effect on Kitty. "Wow, from the sound of things, it looks like the plan is really working," Kitty mused, unsure of how she felt about any of it anymore.
"Yeah, looks like it. That's what you wanted, right?" Pietro asked her, his voice turning almost expressionless at her comment. Kitty bit her lip in frustration.
"That-that's what we both wanted!" Kitty said, sounding defensive despite her best efforts. What was Pietro getting at? He doesn't like Lance, so obviously he doesn't want to talk about him, Kitty tried to reason in her mind. That had to be it. Letting out a shaky breath, Kitty twisted the phone cord around her index finger, waiting for him to speak.
"So...was there something you needed?" Pietro asked, sounding almost bored. Kitty was surprised at the sting of hurt she felt at his tone. It was the tone he'd used with her when they'd first started the whole charade. For some reason, she had thought they had become closer in that time. Obviously I was wrong, Kitty thought, furious with herself for being so dumb. I bet he just can't wait to get to the Carnival and simper around Siren, begging her to ask him to Prom. And for some inexplicable reason it bothered her.
"I-....I need a ride to the Carnival, so we can transport the pies," Kitty said succinctly.
"Okay, I'll be right there," Pietro said, waiting a moment.
"Fine," Kitty said stiffly, and hung up the phone. She felt like sulking for a long long time after her conversation with Pietro. The last thing she needed was to carry on the stupid farce during some dumb Carnival. When had things gotten so complicated? A few weeks ago, everything had been so clear; Lance had broken her heart and she had wanted him back desperately. "And Pietro was supposed to be my answer...." Kitty whispered to herself. He had helped her ease the heartache in his own strange way, and each week she had spent with him, the less she had thought about Lance. And now, her feelings for Lance almost seemed like a distant memory. She wasn't even sure if what she felt for Lance was love or the affection lingering from old memories.
"Hey," Pietro's voice sounded softly behind her, startling Kitty out of her thoughts. The air crackled with the tension between them. "You ready to go?"
"Yeah, I just need to get the pies-," Kitty said, avoiding his eyes.
"They're already loaded into the car," Pietro said smoothly.
"Great," Kitty replied shortly, and brushed past him to walk out of the mansion to his car. The sooner she got to the carnival, the sooner she could see Lance and remind herself of why she'd gone through with the whole stupid plan. Pietro gave her a brief questioning look before getting into the driver's seat. Kitty resolutely stared out of her side of the window, but was unable to stop herself from sneaking glances over at Pietro's handsome profile. He was quiet too, and Kitty slowly mulled over how he'd changed in the past few weeks. Pietro was still confident, and charming, yet now he was calmer and just....nicer. He had started from a person she couldn't stand to someone she truly....liked, maybe even loved? No, Kitty thought desperately, I'm not in love with Pietro. The day before the Turn Around prom, and right when she was sure Lance was ready to dump Siren,.....this would be the worst time to fall for Pietro. Not that any time would be good to fall in love with him, Kitty amended hastily in her mind, feeling a burning flush heat her cheeks. Pietro chose that moment to glance over, a bemused look in his eyes.
"Uh, I think the parking lot is coming up on the left side," Kitty spoke up quickly, before Pietro could say anything.
After they had parked, Kitty anxiously ran around to the trunk to check on the state of the pies. They were stacked neatly, each pie wrapped carefully in tin foil...but something was wrong. "Pietro, we only cooked four batches of pies....there's six here," Kitty said, biting her lip in confusion.
Pietro glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "So? We have more to sell, we'll make more money. What's the problem?"
"Well...how'd there get to be two extra batches?" Kitty insisted, pacing next to the car. Pietro watched her patiently, leaning against the side of his car. Suddenly, it hit her....Kitty whirled around to face Pietro. "Wait, when you loaded the pies into the car, you didn't put mine in...did you?"
"What? What do you mean?" Pietro asked, a frown creasing his forehead.
"I meant, the two batches that I made by myself.....the ones that didn't turn out so well. They were on the windowsill. You didn't take those too, did you? Well?" Kitty asked anxiously, as she watched Pietro's expression turn uneasy.
"Well...maybe. I was in...kind of a rush. What's the big deal?" Pietro mumbled.
"What's the big deal?" Kitty asked incredulously, throwing her hands up. "The big deal is that those pies are horrible, and now they're all mixed up with the good pies. We'll never tell them apart, unless we taste them all!"
"Oh, no. No way, we're not doing that, my stomach isn't that strong," Pietro said, holding up both hands. He grinned apologetically at the glare Kitty shot him.
"We're ruined. The kids at the Carnival will get violently sick, I'll probably get locked up for attempted food poisoning, and look forward to Jean reaming me out afterwards," Kitty rambled, continuing to pace.
"Don't forget we'll be given fifty lashes each and forced to live out the rest of our lives underground."
"This isn't funny!"
"No, no, you're right. It's not," Pietro said, but Kitty had been around him to see that he trying not to laugh. But instead of making her irritated, she was perplexed to find herself grinning. She tried to turn away before he noticed, but it was too late. "Whoah, what's this? Kitty Pryde is smiling in the face of crisis? I must be rubbing off on you," Pietro teased.
"Yes indeed, I'll be sure to include this momentous occasion in my diary," Kitty replied dryly.
"Probably be the luckiest day of your life," Pietro joked, winking at her.
"Please, god help me if that day ever comes," Kitty retorted lightly, but began giggling as Pietro struck a pose.
"Am I really that bad, Kitty?" Pietro said, his voice serious all of a sudden.
"No, not really," Kitty said, trying to go for a glib tone, but her voice came out shaky. Pietro looked at her, his eyes still twinkling, and she felt slightly light-headed. Maybe he really was rubbing off on her. God, was she turning into one of his groupies? Was that what happened eventually to every girl after spending prolonged amounts of time with Pietro Maximoff? I'm not every girl, Kitty told herself vehemently. I'm in it to get Lance back, and once that happens I won't have to spend time with Pietro anymore, Kitty thought resolutely, and he can go back to Siren. The thought made her ill.
"Well, if it isn't the happy couple," Siren's syrupy voice interrupting her thoughts.
"Speak of the devil," Kitty muttered under her breath.
"It's showtime," Pietro whispered, and put his arm securely around her waist.
"Are those all your pies Kitty? I thought you would've sworn off cooking since the last time," Lance asked surprised, his eyes narrowing immediately at the sight of Pietro.
"You mean when she almost poisoned our home economics class with her brownies?" Siren asked derisively, laughing shrilly.
"Well, I guess it was lucky they had your disgusting cheese and tofu 'super' shakes afterwards to help speed them along to the emergency room," Kitty snapped, her eyes flashing. She thought she heard Pietro snicker quietly, but was quickly distracted by Lance stepping forwards.
"Now, now ladies, let's not fight," Lance said in a tone that sounded ridiculously like Mr. Rogers. Kitty fought the urge to roll her eyes, sternly telling herself that for once Lance was acting responsible. Even if his girlfriend was serially brain dead.
"Leave them alone, Alvers. It's not as if they're fighting over you," Pietro remarked coolly. Kitty put a hand on his arm, sensing an imminent clash between the two roommates.
"To answer your question Lance, they're not mine...they're Jean's," Kitty lied, with a quick glance at Pietro. "We're just bringing them to the Carnival."
"So why do you need him? I could have helped you," Lance countered, looking wounded. Kitty flushed. What was she supposed to say to that?
"Gee Lance, I didn't know you cared....especially since you dumped her," Pietro cut in icily, his blue eyes pinning Lance.
"I still care about Kitty, she doesn't need a self-absorbed jerk!" Lance lashed back.
"Right, which is why you're decision to dump her was best for everyone involved!" Pietro retorted.
"I know this is a novel concept to the both of you, but I think I can decide what's best for me without any help!" Kitty interjected angrily.
They both stared at her with surprise, completely oblivious to Siren who was turning almost purple with fury at being ignored. "If the next installment of 'Kitty and Friends' is over, I think I'll leave," Siren spat disgustedly, storming off haughtily in the direction of the carnival entrance.
"God she's such a drama queen," Lance muttered. "Don't let her bother you Kitty," Lance said with a comforting smile. Kitty mustered a small smile for his benefit. Maybe Lance was finally coming to his senses... "She has a few flaws in her.....probably scars from having dated Pietro," Lance continued, with a smirk at a seething Pietro. Kitty's smile faltered. Did everything have to turn into a rivalry? Did Lance truly care about her or just about one-upping Pietro?
"Please, every girlfriend of yours usually ends up running away," Pietro said archly. Kitty's stomach clenched when she saw Pietro glance after Siren's retreating form.
"Look, just leave Kitty alone!" Lance yelled, the ground rumbling slightly.
"What, you don't want her, but no one else can have her either?" Pietro challenged rapidly.
"Kitty will always love me....you're just a stupid distraction!" Lance spit out.
"Shut UP!" Kitty yelled, holding up a hand. "Both of you, just stop it!"
"But Kitty-," Lance protested.
"I don't want to hear it. I thought you were different, but you guys are both the same! Treating me like I'm some object to use in your infantile competition with each other!" Kitty cried, her eyes smarting with tears.
"Kitty, wait-," Pietro said quietly, his eyes pleading with her.
"You know, I really thought you'd changed," Kitty choked, turning to Pietro. "But I was wrong, like I was about everything else." And with that, she fled sobbing without a backward glance, left with the realization that she had gone and done what'd she'd sworn never to do; she'd fallen in love with Pietro.