Pietro's #1 Crush – Chapter 05
(See Chapter 1 for full disclaimer and legend)

"I think Scott… likes you…" The words hung in the air between them and Lance took a moment to process the information. He was surprised that he wasn't disgusted by the thought of being with another man. The thought had often come to mind every now and then, and to be truthful with himself, he was curious, but he had no interest in Scott, and it pained him to have to turn the guy down. His found his thoughts wandering back to the previous night when he'd caught Pietro giving him looks while were watching Star Trek. 'Could Pietro...? Nah!' Lance quickly dismissed the idea. They were all good friends, and besides; he liked Kitty. It was safe to like Kitty. Anyways, it was obvious that she was interested in him. He just couldn't shake the feeling he got whenever he flirted with her. It was as if he didn't mean the words he was saying, but said them anyways because it was what was expected of him. 'Jesus,' he sighed mentally. 'Scott is definitely not my type… and neither is Kitty…what the hell DO I want?'

Rogue was staring at him, an anxious look on her face. "Look, er, just forget it, okay?" 'Maybe Ah made a mistake in tellin' him.'

She turned to leave, but Lance held her arm firmly. "No, Rogue. Wait," Lance thought for a minute. "I'm not… Scott just, well… I guess he's not my type."

Rogue turned to face him; she was both relieved and defeated. "Okay… could you not tell anybody about this? Ah don't think that Scott would like me tellin', ya know?"

Lance smiled and nodded in agreement. "Sure thing, Rogue."

They held each other's gaze for a few moments before Lance turned away. "I gotta go," he said, looking towards the path. "The guys are probably looking for me."

Rogue nodded, not moving her eyes from Lance's retreating back. 'Oh, Scott,' she thought, empathizing with her friend. 'He doesn't feel the same way,' she wrapped her arms around her thin frame in an effort to comfort her own aching heart. "No one should have to be alone like Ah am."

x-+-x

Dear Diary,
Today was a completely horrible ordeal that I hope that I never have to endure ever again. The classes were far too basic for someone of my intelligence. Oh yeah, and apparently I live with a bunch of Trekkies, but that's okay because they got me hooked on it too. Well I thought I caught Lance checking me out a couple of times last night while we were watching our Star Trek fest. Stupid me, I actually thought that I might have a chance with him. As it turns out, I was being too hopeful because today Lance was flirting with Kitty… again! I know he does it almost every day, and I complain about it every day too… but it hurts. Today I had a realization that made the whole thing all that more annoying. I cannot compete with Kitty Pryde. Lance is so in love with her, he barely acknowledges my existence. God, this is so frustrating. How do I fall out of love with someone?

Pietro paused in his writing to gaze out the window; the sun was shining brightly and a cool breeze blew in, causing a few strands of his downy hair to fall into his eyes. He tossed his head to one side, effectively moving the offending hair out of his vision and closed his eyes, enjoying the cool air as it breezed over his face.

The silver haired youth got up to open the window further but paused when he got to the opening. Something on the lawn caught his eye and he quickly ducked to avoid being seen, peeking out over the frame to see what was going on. He felt kind of weird spying on his friends, but he knew they would ask him why he ditched the rest of school and wanted to avoid their questions. He gazed lovingly at Lance, the older mutant, who was leaning into his Jeep to retrieve his school stuff and completely unaware of his audience. Pietro licked his lips while admiring the view. A few moments passed before movement out of the corner of his eye drew his attention away from Lance's ass.

Todd and Freddy were having a very animated argument. "Uh-huh. I bet I can!" Todd was overheard yelling before Freddy suddenly picked up the short amphibian and hurled him at the house. Pietro let out a startled cry before diving out of the way as Todd flew through the open window.

"What the hell are you doing?" Pietro yelled.

Todd looked up from where he fell on the floor, a dopey grin spreading across his features. "Hiya, 'Tro! Me n' Freddy were finishing yesterday's argument," he hopped to his feet in one graceful leap. "Whatcha doin'?" he asked, looking to the bed where an open book lay.

"Nothing!" Pietro said a little too defensively. He zipped over to the bed and slammed the book shut.

"Okaaaay," Todd said, suspicious of Pietro's secrecy. He wanted to press the issue but instead changed the subject. "Well, why did you ditch school then?"

"I just felt like being kind and sparing Daniels the embarrassment of losing to me in gym class," Pietro lied, hoping Todd would buy it.

'Something is definitely going on here!' Todd thought as he grinned, nodding his head in agreement. He then excused himself, saying that he had to find Freddy to finish their argument and hopped back out the way he had entered.

Todd clung to the wall just beneath Pietro's window, praying that the speed-demon would not check to make sure he'd gone. He waited a few minutes before peeking over the frame. Pietro was writing something in the book. 'What the… a diary? He didn't seem like the type to keep one,' Todd suppressed a giggle and quickly hid again, hoping Pietro hadn't heard him.

He looked down at Freddy who was waiting impatiently on the lawn. He motioned for the large youth to wait a minute more before risking another peek into Pietro's room. He was rewarded with the sight of the slender youth stuffing his diary in between his mattresses. 'All I needed to know,' Todd thought as he released his grip on the brick and kicked himself away from the structure, landing gracefully on the ground.

"So, what'd ya find out, Todd?" Freddy asked. He didn't like spying on his friends, but Todd had convinced him it was to help Pietro.

"Oh, man. You're never gonna guess what I just saw, yo!" Todd was having trouble speaking through his laughing fit. "Pietro… has… a diary!" Todd exploded into a fit of laughter, falling back on the grass and holding his sides.

Freddy looked at his friend, confused by his behaviour. "What's so funny, Todd? I have a diary. It helps me sort out my thoughts so that I can solve my problems without losing my temper and making them worse," he cringed inwardly as he recalled how he had handled his crush on Jean Grey. "Uh, hey! Maybe 'Tro uses his diary for the same thing. Maybe we can find out what's bugging him!"

Todd's laughter had died down considerably, and now he laid on the grass, staring at the clouds, a plan forming in his brain. "Freddy," he got up, looking around to make sure they were alone. "You're probably right, yo! And I got a plan. You distract Pietro while I get his diary. The answer's gotta be in there."

End Chapter 5