Thanks to all my reviewers.

I still don't own the X-Men, just Mattie

Life And The Day To Day

Brown? Blonde? Light brown? Dark blonde? Dark brown? No. Light brown with dark blonde streaks? Or maybe Dark blonde with light brown streaks?

"Hello? Earth to Mattie. Can you hear me?"

Mattie blinked and stated at Paige. "What?"

They were stretch out in the garden, enjoying the sunshine. Paige stood over Mattie with her hands on her hips. "And where were you just now? Cause you were not revising for the math test with me."

Mattie squinted up at her, the sun blinding her so that Paige looked like she was surrounded with a glowing aura. She also looked mightily pissed off. This may have been because Mattie kept letting her brain wander.

"What colour do you think Bobby's hair is?" Mattie asked, frowning in concentration.

Paige gave a cry of frustration. "That's it! I give up!"

"No, no." Mattie grabbed hold of her arm. "I'll concentrate. I promise."

Paige eyed her suspiciously.

Mattie nodded encouragingly and pulled the text book closer to her. Paige settled back down, they fired math questions at each other for a few minuets before Mattie asked: "So really. What colour do you think his hair is?"

Paige threw the book at her in response.

X

Bobby watched Paige hurl the text book at his girlfriend. His girlfriend. Strange really, Mattie being his girl. Considering the lengths they'd gone to annoy each other. Who would have figured that they would turn out like this? Well, Jubes, obviously. But it had certainly never registered with him, he hadn't even noticed his feelings for her. It was like they'd appeared over night. Although if her thought about it, he had thought that she was hot that day that he'd first met her. So hot that he'd just had to dunk her in the pool, he thought with a grin.

He watched as Mattie zipped in front of Paige and started pleading with her to come back. Paige, busy ignoring Mattie looked up at the mansion. She spotted him staring out the window at them.

Ouh oh.

He stepped back away from the window, but it was too late. Paige turned back to Mattie wrathfully. It looked like he'd been the cause of the argument. Again. Only last night Paige had taken him to task about the fact that it was now almost impossible to get Mattie to concentrate on anything for more than a matter of minuets. Bobby had replied that he couldn't help being irresistible and Paige had looked like she was about to commit murder right there and then.

Paige pointed up at him, while shouting at Mattie. Mattie saw him and grinned, she gave him a wave. Paige threw her hands up in the air in disgust. Mattie grabbed her before she could leave and was clearly trying to calm her down. Bobby grinned as her saw Mattie doing some pretty fast talking. And nobody could beat Mattie at anything involving speed. Paige sighed and let Mattie drag her back to the books. She glared back at Bobby. Bobby smiled brightly at her and waved. Paige's response was not so polite. He let his gaze wander over to where Ray and Sam were playing ball. He wanted to join them, but he had to get his homework done. He gave one last look to where Mattie and Paige were. Paige was by herself, Mattie had gone. A light kiss on the back of his neck told him where she was.

"That had better be you Mats or I'm in serious trouble." He murmured, turning to face her.

"No kidding." She grinned at him her eyebrow arched meaningfully.

Bobby leaned forward and kissed her. It was all he wanted to do. All the time. Kiss her, touch her, be near her. She drove him wild.

"So, what's up? He asked when he had finally managed to make himself let her go.

Mattie shrugged. "Paige figured the only way to get me to concentrate was to get you out my system."

"Really?" Bobby grinned, trailing an arm down her left side. "How's that working out for you?"

He knew the answer by the way that Mattie had started to bit her bottom lip. She gave him a small smile.

"Not so good." She stood on her tip toes and planted a kiss on his lips. "But I really have to revise for this test."

Bobby sighed deeply. "Then I guess I better let you go." He put both hands behind his back. Mattie made no move to go. Grinning he kissed her again.

Eventually Mattie stepped back. "Okay, now I really have to go."

Bobby nodded; he turned her in the right direction and gave her a push to get her started. "Go. I'm not having you blame me for you poor grades. And I definitely don't want Paige blaming me."

Giving him one last kiss Mattie headed off, Bobby watched her walk. It wasn't perving if it was your girl.

Mattie glanced over her shoulder. "Bobby? What colour is your hair?"

He frowned. "Brown." Surely she could see that.

Mattie rolled her eyes. "Boys!" She sighed.

Before her could ask her what that was supposed to mean she had put on a burst of speed and disappeared from sight.

X

"So? How'd it go?"

Mattie looked up to find Bobby leaving back against her locker. "Okay. I think." She shrugged. "I can never tell with tests, you know?"

Bobby nodded, taking her things as she handed them to him, and then giving them back to her as she rearranged her books in her locker. Sometimes he wondered how she'd managed this little performance before he had started showing up at her locker. Maybe she could move the books so fast that they didn't have time to fall. Or maybe she'd got some one else to help her. He pushed that thought away. One downside of dating Mattie, he discovered, was the jealously and protectiveness that went with it. He watched her fix a strand of her deep honey brown hair behind her ear. He ran an appreciating eye over her petite frame. She was stunning, coupled with her bubbly, fun personality... Well, he'd seen guys looking.

"You free for lunch?" He asked.

Mattie nodded, digging around in her bag for her Math book; thankfully she wouldn't need it for a whole three days.

Bobby slipped his arm around her as they made their way through the packed corridors. A familiar bubble formed in Mattie's stomach. It was so stupid; she still got excited every time he put his arm round her.

Outside they could see most of the members of the Institute sitting in the shade under a tree. Sam gave them a lazy wave as they headed over.

"And how are the Siamese twins today?" Tabby asked from where she lay, opening one eye to see if her little dig had annoyed them.

"Fine thanks." Mattie and Bobby answered in perfect synchronisation as they sat down.

Everyone groaned at them.

"Sickening really." Jubilee said.

"You can talk. You started it." Ray reminded her.

Jubes held up her hands in admission of guilt. "Forgive me. I knew not what I did."

"Well look at the X-freaks." A sneering voice called out. "How cute, a family picnic."

Mattie looked up to see the Brotherhood. Todd and Fred laughed at Pietro's comment. Lance smiled and waved at Kitty.

"Hey Kitty."

Kitty rolled her eyes. "Oh, like, get over it would you."

Lance scowled.

The peaceful mood broken, the members of the Institute regarded the Brotherhood quietly. Not moving, but tensed.

"Did you want something?" Kurt asked.

"Or are we the only people who'll even acknowledge your existence?" Paige asked.

"Hey shut up, yo." Todd snapped.

"Well?" Tabitha asked.

"God, you really have nothing better to do with your time do you." Bobby said.

Pietro and Lance glared at him, and then they turned and stalked off with as much dignity as they could muster, Todd and Fred trailing in their wake.

Kurt shook his head sadly. "I wish we could help them. They just seem so lost."

An apple came streaking through the air towards them, headed in the direction of Paige, Jubilee and Tabitha. It moved so fast that it was almost on them before they noticed. All three girls tried to dodge, bracing themselves for impact. It never got to them. Leaping to her feet Mattie snatched the apple out of the air, inches from Jubilees leg. Then she dodged to the side as three more projectiles whizzed through the air at them. Kurt bamfed himself out of the way of one. Bobby created an ice slide, sending one soaring into the air, it landed somewhere in the tree. Kitty lunged forward and phased Sam so that the third past harmless through him.

"Maximoff." Sam muttered as they all glanced anxiously around them to see if anyone had noticed their power display.

"Oh yeah, they're lost souls, Blue." Tabby said, frowning after the Brotherhood.

Mattie glared into the distance, her mouth set in a firm line. "Maybe I should give him a taste of his own medicine."

She drew her arm back. Bobby caught hold of it. "Not to disparage your aim or anything. But, there are loads of people out here. What's to stop you hitting one of them?"

"So they get away with it and we can't do anything?" She asked, her eyes sparkling with anger.

"Yep, that's pretty much how it goes." Ray told her.

"All part of being on the good side." Paige said with a grin.

Bobby drew Mattie back down and gave her a hug. "Don't worry. We'll get him later."

Tabitha turned to look at them. "Oh yeah. If you two teamed up, it would be like the most ultimate prank team ever. You'd be better than Punk'd."

Bobby grinned. "And way cuter than Ashton Kutcher."

Mattie rolled her eyes, at him. "I don't know what everyone is talking about. You don't have a huge ego at all."

"They weren't talking about my ego." Bobby replied with a grin.

There were assorted groans. "Way to like lower the conversation, Bobby." Kitty told him.

"I can show you what all the fuss is about if you want." Bobby whispered in Mattie's ear, loving the way that she blushed.

"That's okay." She told him with a bright smile. "It's not like I haven't someone with a huge appetite before."

They all laughed at Bobby's nonplussed face.

Mattie turned wide innocent eyes on him. "Why, Bobby, what were you talking about?"

"Minx." Bobby muttered, tickling Mattie until she begged him to stop.

X

"Paige?"

"If you ask me what colour I think Bobby's toenails are, I will not be held responsible for my actions."

Mattie grinned at her. "No. I just... I wondered if you were okay. You seem a little... I don't know. Down?"

Paige sighed. "I didn't think anyone would notice."

"Paige. I'm your room mate. I noticed."

"Yeah, but you're off in Bobby land most of the time."

"Don't dodge the question."

"Much as I hate that most of life's issues revolve about men, there's this guy."

Mattie didn't say anything, just nodded for her to continue.

"And... I don't know. The usual. I'm not sure how he feels about me. Things like that."

"You wanna tell me who?" Mattie asked.

Paige shook her head. Then she grimaced. "It's Ray."

"Ray?" Mattie asked in astonishment.

"For how long? I mean... How long have you liked him?"

"Ages." Paige shrugged. "I mean, I don't really know when, but even before you turned up."

"Seriously." Mattie stared at her incredulously. "I never noticed. Anything."

Paige shrugged again.

"So, why now? Why the depression?"

Paige smiled at her. "I guess you getting together with Bobby reminded me how much I want that too."

"Sorry." Mattie offered.

"Hey. It's not like it's your fault." Paige grinned. "Who knew, right?"

"I should of."

"I got pretty good at hiding it."

"We'll think of something."

Paige nodded, although Mattie could tell that she didn't believe it.

That night Mattie's brain worked over time trying to come up with a plan. It didn't help that she had no idea what Ray was thinking. She'd never paid that much attention to the way that he treated Paige. She fell asleep still trying to think of something.

X

The next day she watched Paige and Ray. Trying to see if there was any indication of their feelings. Nothing. Even though she knew Paige's feelings, she couldn't see it at all. It was all just so normal. If Ray had any feelings for Paige then he was hiding them just as well. It was enough to discourage her completely. But Mattie had decided to work on this, and she didn't give up lightly.

Bobby noticed that her attention was drifting elsewhere.

"Mats." He rumbled in her ear, sending a shiver running through her body. "Should I be worried about competition?"

"No." She looked puzzled. Cocking her head to the side, like a little bird. It assured Bobby that she was telling the truth, no one could fake a look that innocent.

Wrapping an arm around her, he pulled her back to lean against him where he sat on the sofa. Mattie snuggled into his warmth.

What would work on Paige and Ray? She wondered if she just put the suggestion in their heads, like Jubilee had done. On the other hand, Paige already knew that she liked Ray. It was Ray she had to work on. Great. Boy brains had never been her forte. Little miss no brothers. She would have liked to ask Bobby what he thought, but she wasn't going to betray Paige's confidence like that. She would just have to think of something on her own.

X

"Hello there."

Mattie sighed, she been hoping that he'd got bored. "What do you want Maximoff?"

The fair-haired speedster didn't answer her, just leaned back against the lockers, watching her. This was odd behaviour for him. According to the others at the Institute, Pietro never shut up, he always had some cutting remark to make. His silence was weird and Mattie didn't like weird behaviour, it meant something was up. She wished she know why he was following her around. He'd started doing it since the Brotherhood had interrupted their picnic. He never gave her a reason. Just hung around for five minuets, annoying her.

"I mean really." She turned to stare at him. "If you want a re-match, I'll more than happily stomp all over your arse again."

"Yeah, like you could beat me. You only got in that lucky punch because I didn't know what you were capable of." He snapped back at her.

"Yeah. And you still don't. So back off and leave me alone."

"Don't flatter yourself. I'm not following you because I want to." He told her.

"Why then?" Mattie asked. Finally she might be getting somewhere.

An icy hand landed heavily on Pietro's shoulder.

"You bothering my girl, Maximoff?" Bobby asked.

Pietro shrugged his shoulder out of Bobby's grip and put on a burst of speed to move out of striking distance.

"I ain't interested in your leftovers Drake." He shot back.

"Hey!" Mattie's eyes flashed and Bobby growled and lunged at him. Mattie stepped in front of him, giving Pietro time to escape.

"Don't." She soothed. "He's not worth it."

"Little piece of shit." Bobby muttered still glaring darkly after Pietro. "Why's he hanging around you anyway?"

"He's probably just never met anyone with the same power as him. It is pretty random. Us both doing the same thing and both living here."

Bobby shrugged. "I guess."

X

Pietro slipped a quarter into the pay phone and tapped in a number. He stood tapping his foot impatiently, while the phone rang.

"Hey. It's me." He murmured. He listened to the reply.

"No I haven't found out yet. I don't know okay? It's not like I came come right out and ask her. You told me to be subtle."

The person on the end of the phone responded.

"Well I can't keep following her around. She's getting way to suspicious. And Drake is always with her. I'm not exactly his favourite person."

Again he waited for a reply.

"No. Get someone else to watch her."

The response to this comment was not good. Pietro actually cowered despite the fact that the other person couldn't see him.

"Okay, okay. I'll think of something."

The other person gave him another lecture.

"I said I think of something didn't I."

He listened to the response, his attention distracted by a group of girls walking down the hall.

"Yeah, yeah. I got it." He said absently. "I'm on it." Then he hung up.

He smiled charmingly at the girls. "Ladies. And how are we on this fine day?"

X

"So?" Bobby asked.

"So what?"

"So are you up for this party or what?"

Mattie sighed. "I guess so."

"You guess so." Bobby frowned at her. "This party is going to be ace!"

Mattie managed to raise a smile. "Great."

Bobby gave her another look; the halls were emptying as people left the school. End of the day, game over.

"What's up?"

"You know." Mattie shrugged. "Birthdays. You have one every year."

"Yeah." Bobby grinned, trying to make her laugh. "I'm told that's how it works." They headed out the building and Bobby could see the usual rabble by his car. Ray and Sam were tormenting Paige; he could see that she was about too loose her temper with them.

"So when's yours." He asked, still trying to shake her out of her sudden gloom.

"July 12th." She replied without thinking.

"What? That's like tomorrow!" Bobby spluttered. "We've got to do something. Left it a bit late but I bet we could think of something. I'll tell the guys and..."

"No!" Mattie stopped in her tracks, staring up at him. Her eyes wild with fear. "No! Don't tell them! Please. Forget I told you."

"What?" Bobby stared down at her. "Mattie I don't understand."

"Please." She gazed imploringly up at him. "Please, Bobby. Promise me. Promise me you won't tell them. That you won't tell anyone."

"But..."

"Promise me." Mattie begged him.

"All right. I promise." He said at length. "I don't get it. But I promise."

"And you won't mention it. Not at all. It will just be a normal day. No one will know anything."

"On one condition." He said.

She met his gaze steadily. Waiting to hear him out.

"You have to tell me what's going on."

She sucked in a breath, and then nodded. "Later."

Bobby nodded his agreement, and they made their way over to the others.

Mattie threw herself into being as bright and happy as she could be. Bobby kept one eye on her as he drove. She flashed him a dazzling smile as she shot a comment at Ray, causing Sam and Paige to whoop in delight.

When they got out the car he wrapped his arm around her, she was extremely tense. Stiff and ridged in his arms. Something was seriously wrong. His normally, happy go lucky girlfriend was freaking out big time. What was the problem? Everybody loved birthdays. Didn't they? Why was Mattie so upset? And why didn't she want anyone to know that it was her birthday tomorrow? Surly a party was in order? She was acting crazy and he fully intended to find out why.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

So Paige and Ray. Who knew? Certainly not me. Any ideas guys? Does anyone have an information on Ray. I can't seem to find much. Any help would be warmly recieved.

Sorry that this chapter was so bitty, there wasn't really any one thing to concentrate on.

On to the next chapter. Yay!