The car was hidden behind bushes and was under a tree. Holly and Toad sat there in silence. Toad had his hands on the steering wheel. Holly was starring at her hands in her lap. Neither spoke or even knew what to say. Holly looked at the radio clock. It said 12:00. "So…is this it?" Toad asked, just looking straight ahead. "Huh?" Holly said looking up at him. " Look, your back home. I did what you wanted me to do. So is this it? After you get out of this car…" He looked at her. "..Will I ever see you again?". She didn't know what to say. "Do you want to see me….or did you just need a ride?" He asked. "I'm not sure" She said a little above a whispered. "Not sure about what exactly? I mean you've kissed me twice….All I want to know is why. Why, Holly? Just tell me" He said. She said nothing. "I've killed people." Toad said. "Did the X-men tell you? I'm one of the bad guys, Holly. You and I shouldn't even be together like this." Holly looked at that mansion. She thought of her 'new' room. Three days…in only three days she wrecked it all. She looked at Toad. "No, we shouldn't….but we are." She looked into his eyes. "Now what?". "Now you get out of the car, walk away and forget about me." Toad said. "Is that what you want?" Holly asked. "No, but it's what's going to happen." He said. "So why ask? Why not just say goodbye and save yourself the heartbreak." Holly said. "Heartbreak?" He laughed. "It was just a kiss, Holly". "Two kisses and if it was 'just a kiss' you wouldn't be making such a big deal about it" She said. Holly leaned closer to him. He got tense. "What's wrong?" Holly asked him. "Just go" He said through clenched teeth. "Why?" She asked. "Because I know what your doing" He said. "Really? What am I doing?" She asked. "Look, Holly. I did what you wanted now, go!" He said. "What is it with you? I mean haven't you ever been in a relationship before?" She asked backing up. "No" He said plainly "No, I haven't". Holly regretted saying what she had said. She looked down. "I'm sorry. I didn't know.". He looked at her. He searched her face. "Will I see you again?" Toad asked. She thought. "Yes". "When?" He asked. "Whenever" She said. "Tonight." He said. "Tonight? What time?" She asked. "8:00. At the park" He said. She kissed him. "I'll see you then.". She opened the car door and got out. Waved and ducked under a bush.
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"You could have called." Scott said. He was leaning against Professor Xavier's desk. "I said I was sorry. I was too busy trying to figure out a way back there." Holly replied. She was sitting in a chair that faced the middle of the desk. "If you would have called we would have picked you up." Scott said. "Where were you anyway?". Holly thought fast. "I was…I'm not sure where I was. I'm not sure how I got there. I just woke up…in…no…on a…a….a road. A dirt road. I think they expected me to die there." She said. 'Smooth. Real Smooth' She thought to herself. "Where there call boxes?" He asked. "I..um… can't remember." She said. Scott stared at her. He knew she was lying, he just didn't know why. He looked at the Professor, who hadn't said anything the whole time. The Professor had his hands folded on his desk. He was looking at Holly, but not like Scott. "Professor?" Scott said. The Professor turned his head to look at Scott. He then looked back at Holly. "All that matter is that you here now, Holly." He said. Cyclops frowned, but said nothing. Holly was surprised by the Professor's unquestioned trust. "You may go back to your room now" He said. "Thank-you, Professor." Holly said as she got up. She left the room smiling.
Holly walked down the hall thinking of what she might wear later to her 'date' with Toad. "Holly!" She heard someone call out to her. She turned and found Iceman running up to her. "Hey" he said. "Hi" She said. "What's up?". He hugged her. Holly just stood there not sure if she should hug him back. She was just too caught off-guard to really respond. He stepped back from the hug. "What happened? Did you get taken by the Brotherhood?" Iceman asked. "um…a…"Holly said still confused about the hug. "I was…I woke up on a dirt road." She said. "A dirt road? Like a field or like what people drive on?" He asked. "Like what people drive on." She said. She hated lying, but it was somewhat true. She did walk on a dirt road before she went running back to Toad. " How far away was it?" Iceman asked. Holly thought quick, not sure if she should make something up or just say she didn't know. "Um…I'm…not sure" She said. "You know, I have a headache so I'm just going to go back to my room." She turned to walk away. Iceman turned with her. "I'll walk you." He said. "I'm sorry about the questions…it's just that, well, I was worried about you" He said as they walked. "Well, I'm fine" Holly said. She was starting to only half pay attention. She was really thinking about Toad. "I felt somewhat responsible for you disappearing." He said. "Why?" Holly asked. "Well, you're the new to all this and Scott was Jean's back-up and I should have been yours." He said. "It was my fault though, I saw Scott in trouble and tried to help. There was nothing you could do that would have changed it." Holly said trying to make Iceman feel better. "But I should I been there to help Scott. I should have stopped you…"Iceman said. Holly started to walk a little fast. She was starting to feel real guilty. Iceman was feeling bad because he thought, Holly went through some traumatic ordinal and in reality she had been safe with Toad. "Well, there's my room" Holly said power walking over to it. "Holly…" Iceman said walking over, but more slowly. "yea?" She asked opening the door. "I…I want to make it up to you." Iceman said. Holly frowned. "Make it up to me? You don't have too" She said. "But I want too" He said insisting. "um…ok." She said putting half her body into the room. Iceman smiled. "Ok, so then Tonight. How about dinner?" He said. "What?! Tonight?!" Holly said not realizing how loud her voice got. Iceman jumped back in surprise. "Is something wrong?" He asked. Holly felt his heart beating very fast. "Sorry…it's just…I'm not sure if I'm up to it. I mean, I have this killer headache. I'm sorry" She said. "Oh, of course. I understand." Iceman said looking disappointed. "Well, I'll see you later" She said closing the door.
Holly looked into the mirror. She had on a black dress with small heels. Her dark brown hair was pulled back from her face, but not in a pony tail. It was pulled back in the middle and the rest was down. She hadn't done her make-up though. She was going to do it in the car. She figured that if anyone saw her they wouldn't suspect anything. She had a plan for getting out of the mansion. She was going to wear a coat with a hood, so then her hair wouldn't be seen either. She threw on the coat and grabbed her purse from the bed. She put her ear to the door. She heard nothing and opened the door to peek out. She could hear talking and laughing coming from the rec room, but saw no one in the hall. She stepped out and with his left hand still in the room, she flicked off the light. She pulled the door closed. She walked down the hall quickly, but not too quick. She walked downstairs looking to the side of her, to see if anyone was watching her. There were people just hanging out, but they didn't notice her. She made it to the bottom of the stairs. Her nerves were starting to relax. All that was left was to walk straight to the door. She took one step and heard "Holly". She winced and turned to see Jean on the top of the stairs looking down at her. Jean walked down the stairs. "Going somewhere?" She asked. "I was going to go for a walk" Holly said. "Iceman told me and Scott you had a very bad headache." Jean said crossing her arms. "Well, Yea, that's why I'm going for a walk. I'm trying to clear my mind." Holly said gesturing to her head. Jean looked at Holly's shoes. Holly winced again. "It's, um, all I have" Holly said explaining. "What happened to the shoes you had on before ?" Jean asked. "They were holey from earlier." Holly said quickly. Jean just stared at Holly. "You know, Holly, we don't judge. You don't have to lie." Jean said. "Ok" Holly said. "Can I go now?". "I don't think that's a good idea." Jean said. "Why not?" Holly asked frowning. "Because if the Brotherhood did do something to you, you would be an easy target." Jean said. "But they didn't do anything to me! I wasn't even with them! I woke up on a dirt road!!" Holly protested. Jean shock her head. "Maybe tomorrow, Holly." She said and walked away. Holly called Jean a name under her breath. She went over to the door and turned the knob. It opened but then felt heavy. Holly let go and it slammed shut. She tried to open it again, but it felt like something very big was holding it back. "Arg!" She groaned. She looked back and saw Jean's shadow in the nearest hallway.
