*Chapter 16*
~Tensions~
Kitty felt as if she were going to explode at any moment. Damn him! She thought darkly. Oblivious to her state of mind Bobby sat next to her smiling like a drunken fool. If only she could wring his neck right now, she could die happy. But she couldn't. So she had no choice but to tolerate his irritating presence. She leaned away from him and closer to the campfire seeking it's warmth to combat the unusually cool night. She glared across the fire at the owner of a pair of odd red-black eyes, her unwanted suitor's new partner, Gambit the Cursed.
True Gambit was something of a godsend to them. He could translate for them and was a master at gathering information. They spent half as much time in each village after Paris as compared to before. Gambit's only fault seemed to be his old stealing habits, but since he was never caught while they were in the village they were willing to let it go for the moment. But the French thief's collaborating with her unwanted suitor made him a hated enemy to her.
At first Gambit seemed to have an extreme dislike of the young English boy. But after the first week of traveling with them, the two formed a strange sort of friendship. Perhaps it was Gambit's appreciation for Bobby's talent for story telling or maybe it was just pity but the Frenchman took the boy under his wing so to speak. He began teaching Bobby how to charm women and be the perfect gentleman. Whenever he pushed her a bit to far he would back off and leave her be instead of blindly forging on ahead as he had done before. He was extremely polite and rarely flirted with girls anymore, at least not that she had seen. Every reason that she had given Jean why she disliked him no longer appeared to be accurate. Now Kitty had trouble finding a legitimate reason, if she could find one at all, to refuse him. Well there was one but she pushed it from her mind. For all she knew it might not even be true anymore.
She broke off her heated gaze and sighed in defeat. What ever did I do to deserve this? She thought miserably as she anxiously twisted her ring, one of the few pieces of jewelry that she regularly wore. Kitty glanced to her left only to see Bobby's smile broaden even more. She massaged her temples as she felt the beginnings of a headache forming behind her eyes. Why? She mentally cried. Why?
//Why what?// Jean asked curiously. The sudden mental intrusion caused Kitty to start in surprise, which in turn caused Bobby to become concerned.
"Are you alright?" He asked with polite concern.
"Yes, I'm fine, it's nothing." She sharply replied. Bobby looked unconvinced but let it slide.
//Don't startle me like that!// Kitty mentally snapped.
//Sorry, my fault. But why what?// Jean repeated.
//Why must Bobby keep trying to court me? And why did you help him?// Kitty demanded.
//Whoever said that I helped him?// Jean asked innocently.
//Why else would you volunteer to be paired with him?// Kitty countered.
//When did I do that?// Jean wondered.
//Back in Paris, did you think that I forgot that?// Kitty mentally growled.
//Yes, I was hoping that you did.// Jean sheepishly admitted.
//Well I didn't. Now tell me why.// Kitty commanded.
//Why not? Bobby really cares for you, he is a good young man, and I don't see why you consistently turn him down. So now I ask you, why?// Jean replied.
//I don't like him. I feel no romantic feelings for him whatsoever. This fact has not changed and it will not change. How many times must I say this?// Kitty mentally cried in frustration.
//Why don't you like him? And don't give me the same old reasons, he has worked on those and they really no longer apply.// Jean commanded. Kitty glared at the red-haired woman and growled softly. Unfortunately it was perfectly silent around the campfire everyone, not just Bobby, heard her.
"Kitty, are you sure that you are alright?" Bobby quietly asked.
"Of course I am; why wouldn't I be?" She replied in a strained voice.
"Well you've been staring off into space for a while and now you suddenly give Jean an evil look." Bobby answered.
"Just some woman talk." Kitty vaguely replied.
"You weren't talking to anyone." Bobby said looking as confused as he sounded.
"Yes I was. You just weren't meant to hear it." Kitty snapped.
"Well what were you talking about then?" Bobby asked curiously.
"None of your business!" She growled.
"Alright, I was just wondering because whatever it was that you were discussing seemed to be upsetting you." Bobby quietly replied shifting away from her slightly but not as much as Kitty would've liked.
"It's nothing." Kitty assured him. She turned back and faced the fire trying to calm herself and allow the pressure within her to subside.
"Is it nothing?" Jean asked aloud. "You still haven't answered my question."
"It doesn't matter." Kitty firmly asserted.
"Maybe to you it doesn't, but it might to Bobby." Jean countered.
"What might matter to me?" Bobby asked.
"Jean!" Kitty hissed. //What are you doing!//
"I asked you why you keep refusing Bobby and I think he would like to know more than I do." Jean evenly replied. //I really didn't want to press you on this but things have gone on long enough and I know that you've been hiding something from me, from all of us. Please just answer the question Kitty.// Kitty looked pleadingly at Jean but the older woman wouldn't budge.
"As I said before, I don't care for him that way. I wouldn't mind simply being his friend but anything beyond that is impossible for me." Kitty tiredly replied.
"But why?" Bobby asked mournfully. His expression reminded Kitty of a beaten puppy.
"Because I don't feel that way about you. I'm sorry but it's the truth." Kitty softly apologized. "I thought I made this clear several times before but it seems I was mistaken."
"Did I do anything wrong?" He asked sadly.
"No you didn't. You were just yourself and if you were anything other than that then it would be wrong." Kitty replied.
"Oh." He said softly.
"There's something else, isn't there?" Jean prodded. Kitty looked up sharply at the red haired mind reader.
"Whatever do you mean?" Kitty asked suspiciously. //What!// Kitty mentally shouted.
"I mean that there's something you haven't told us about yourself. I sensed it a while ago but decided not to press you on it. But now I have a feeling that whatever it is that you're hiding could be important." Jean replied firmly. Kitty could tell there was no escaping things this time, Jean wouldn't let her. And she could see no one else would either as she glanced around the fire. Remy looked mildly curious about the events that were unfolding before him. Logan looked impassive as usual but his gaze was unusually intense. Piotr looked at her very concerned, his worried eyes questioned her. And Bobby remained lost in a melancholic daze only partly aware of what was going on around him.
There was no way out for her. Kitty nervously twisted her ring a few times as her mind struggled to find a way to explain things. The popping and crackling of the fire sounded deafeningly loud in the heavy silence that fell over their camp. After a brief eternity, Kitty gathered her nerve, straightened up, and told them.