I'm glad you all like the shorter chapters! I like them a lot too. I'm probably going to keep going with the short chapters as long as they work and keep being frequently updated. It really makes me feel good to update a chapter and see reviews. I'm a review slut, I think it happens to all authors with such loyal readers. Praise is addictive. Which also means I'll try to respond to your reviews from now on.

Deacon- Yep, it's really crazy fun. My personal subtitle for this chapter was "doom movie." LOL

Reikai Princess- Yeah, I hear that about crazy school. I just got out so I have time for chapters fanfiction and junk.

Kitrazzle Fayn- I personally love peach jelly beans but they didn't seem like Keyaira's favorites. I might bring those up again later.

Moonfire Goddess- Yeah......Pink is evil. Glad you liked the chapter.

The Unkown reviewer- I already covered that short chapter dilemma. They really are more fun.

Roguephoenix- Yeah, I kinda hear what you're saying about the guy you like. Unfortunately (for me), my guy has read this story and I told him to check it out online, so I'm deathly afraid he's going to put 2 and 2 together and get four. I just have to pray that he isn't that smart when I know he is. He's smarter than I am. Eeeekkkk.........

Dee Saylors- I'm glad you think so. Is this fast enough for you??

## The Xavier Mansion--- 2 hours later ##

Keyaira and Ryan entered the main lobby of the mansion bickering, as they were often found to do. Ryan stomped his foot down, spitting at her. "We'd have left a lot earlier if you didn't take so long to eat frickin' jelly beans."

Keyaira snorted and flicked at one of Ryan's feline ears. "Well, you just had to brush your ears and take up bathroom time." Ryan looked down sheepishly and gripped one of his ears. Keyaira instantly noticed her mistake. She leaned her forehead on his black-clothed shoulder and whispered, "Sorry. I know it was how you were born. Feline characteristics, cats are proud. You have reason to be proud. You're beautiful."

He peered over at her, smiling crookedly. "Then it was worth all the bathroom time?" She rolled her eyes and shoved him in the shoulder. He stepped back and cowered back in mock submission. Andrew and Kitty walked by, speaking techno-babble about the coding on Kitty's portable modem.

Andrew stopped and cocked his head at Keyaira and Ryan. "Where are you two going all dressed up for fun?"

Kitty looked over as well, smiling wickedly. "Ooooh. Is this a date??"

Identical looks of disgust from Keyaira and Ryan as Keyaira exclaimed, "Ewww, please! He's like my brother. My annoying brother I can't get rid of."

Ryan lolled his head in her direction and spat, "Oh, I assure you the feeling is mutual."

Kitty laughed hysterically as Andrew asked, "So what then?"

"We were gonna ask you lot if you wanted to movie," Ryan said amiably.

"Who is in this lot?" Andrew didn't flinch at the horrible grammar but Keyaira did.

"You mean you understand that nonsense he calls grammar," she asked incredulously.

Andrew smirked, turning towards her. "Key, I read code all day. I can decipher anything."

Kitty laughed. "Oh so don't be modest."

Andrew shrugged as Mike and Rogue entered the lobby, discussing the area of a pyramid. Mike glanced around. "OK, so what's the big hullabaloo I've been left out of?"

Ryan started, but Keyaira placed a hand over his mouth. "Ryan wants to go to a movie. Want to come?"

"If it saves me from more studying, then hell yes." Mike looked positively giddy. "Who else is gonna come?"

Keyaira shrugged. "We haven't asked their Majesties yet but they'll probably want to escape. Kitty? Rogue? Want to movie?"

Kitty smirked again and nodded. "As long as you stop using that word as a verb."

Rogue scowled playfully. "Ditto."

Mike tilted his head skyward, wincing. "OK, somebody go ask the Royalties."

"Why waste the effort? Nate has good hearing and you guys are just plain yelling." Mike spun around and gasped for dramatic effect. Nathaniel and Anastacia stood on the second step, smiling wickedly.

Mike snapped his fingers and slapped his knee. "Darnit, they're onto our dastardly plan."

Ryan clapped and rubbed his hands together. "Are we ready to go?"

Keyaira smacked his shoulder. "Be patient. If you can wait two hours for me to finish some jelly beans, you can wait five more minutes for them to get they're stuff together."

Anastacia laughed and collected her sleeveless white jacket and pulled the collar up to her chin impulsively. Nathaniel laughed and did the same with his brown leather duster. Anastacia noticed his antics and collapsed against his shoulder laughing.

Rogue tugged at her own collar and glanced out the window at the darkening afternoon. "Is this like a group thing? We all have dates?" Chatter around the room stopped as each teenager looked around almost innocently.

Anastacia peeled herself from Nathaniel and hopped over to Andrew. She bent slightly and flung her arms around his neck, smiling like a fool. "OK, then I get Andrew. This studly muffin is mine for the night."

Andrew chuckled. "Studly muffin?"

Anastacia nodded vehemently. "Studly muffin."

Rogue chuckled, declaring, "Then I get Chucklebrains over here."

Everyone laughed but Mike just chuckled. "Oh, Chucklebrains. That'll strike fear into the hearts of my enemies."

Keyaira snorted. "What enemies?" She and Kitty exchanged gazes quickly, and suddenly, Keyaira was overcome with this sense of horror. She wrapped her arms tightly around Ryan's neck, declaring possessively, "Mine." Ryan laughed but Keyaira buried her head in between his neck and shoulder, whispering, "She isn't your type."

Ryan stroked her back, smiling to himself. "Thanks for the concern."

Nathaniel met Kitty's eyes and rolled his. He fell dramatically to one knee and said in a false English accent, "Lady Katherine, would you allow me to escort you to this cinematic event?"

Rogue snickered but Kitty stood up straighter and held out her hand in a regal manner. "I would gladly accept you as my escort, Nathaniel." Nathan pumped his fist and hopped up, catching her around the waist and spinning her around in the air. She shrieked and he let her down softly.

Anastacia tapped her foot impatiently. "Are we done yet children?"

Nathaniel look humbled and hung his head in mock shame. "Yes, we're done."

Mike nodded. "And we're out of here."

## Brotherhood Boarding House ##

It was official. The Blob had been kicked out of the kitchen in favor of two skinny girls digging through the fridge and pantry. He didn't quite mind but it was the principle of the thing. Todd was watching cartoons and Wanda was reading the same musty old book she had been before the battle. Seyla and Daniel also occupied the couch, watching Todd's cartoons and snuggling. A glass shattered in the kitchen and nearly two seconds later, Anne was barreling down the stairs and into the kitchen for her share of the munchies, auburn hair flapping behind her. Fred plopped into his armchair and changed the cartoons to the Fairly Oddparents, much to the disappointment of Todd. Fifteen minutes into the story line, all three girls emerged from the kitchen with drowsy and well fed looks on their faces.

Denise, ever the chipper little deviant, bounced onto the couch and jolted Dan and Seyla from their cuddling. "Kitsune," she whined, "come to the movies with us girls tonight. Sans boyfriend. We can see Troy and drool over Mr. Pitt in a leather skirt."

Seyla nodded and smiled wickedly. "You had me at movies, but leather skirt just clinched it."

Anne gave a little whoop and turned towards Wanda. "You want to come?? It'll be guaranteed almost fun."

Wanda snapped the book shut and replied simply, "Sure."

Anne did a victory wiggle and dragged Wanda out of the chair and up the stairs. "C'mon, let's get ready and go NOW." Denise shrugged and pulled Seyla up in the same way, Daniel clutching at where his girlfriend had once been. He jumped up off the couch and scrambled to the bottom of the stairs just in time to see Seyla shrug.

A blur of color and there stood Pietro, his gaze traveling up the stairs as well. "We could crash their movie. Have some fun of our own."

Daniel wrinkled his nose but Havok's voice came from the doorway of the living room. "Yeah, come on. Don't be a bummer, man. Let's go have some contraband fun."

Daniel glanced back up the stairs. "I'm not paying for movie tickets." Havok crossed his arms over his chest.

"Bring money for chocolate or sweets. But yeah, screw the tickets. That's why it's good to be friends with a delinquent, Manchester United. I never need tickets."

Pietro smiled arrogantly. "Sounds like a plan."

Havok stopped, uncrossing his arms and smacking his forehead. "But what will I wear?!?!?" Daniel burst out laughing but Pietro just shook his head.

Amazing. It takes me two chapters to get these bums to the movies. I'm such a procrastinator. Anyway, continue reviewing, I'll continue writing. Actually, I'll keep writing if you don't review but it'll be bad writing. Tehehe. LOL, To the next chapter. Review please and thank you...