Thank you to all of my reviewers!

Wen1: No Jean has not been raped, but you will find out in the next chapter what happened to her.

Mark C: Jean is going to tell Scott what happened to her, just not yet. Jean is willing to see where their relationship can go she just doesn't know whether or not she is ready. I don't know yet about my finals, but I did pass my HSPAs!

Slickboy444: I read the most recent chapter of "Hanging By A Moment" I can't wait for Jean and Scott to get their feelings out, the anticipation is driving me nuts. But that is what makes an excellent writer. There is going to be some mature scenes, but I'm still working them out. Don't be discouraged!

Amazing redd phoenix: Jean will overcome her fear eventually, don't worry you'll enjoy what I have planned for this fic.

Griffin 16 (): Jean doesn't exactly have past hardships, but I don't want to spill too much. I rate most of my stories mature because I never know what I'm going to come up with or where I take it, and as far as I know it could be mature material. Thank you for your support and please continue to read!

And thank you to Telepathic Angel, Diaz F, Summers Groupie, and Elizabeth!

Disclaimer: (Just covering my tracks!) I do not own X-Men: Evolution, it belongs to WB Fox, i take no credit for the characters, (although i do wish i could have Scott all to myself) please do not sue me!

Chapter 6: Flicker ToA Flame

Looking back on the last three months now I realize in what shape I had been in and now when I look at myself I see someone so much more confident. All it ever took was a simple "hi" and that allowed me to finally find some inner peace. He's been so wonderful and he's helped me so much, I owe him so much. I don't think I'll ever come down from this high whenI'm with him. It has just been so amazing. He's taught me to love and though I won't tell him this, I've fallen in love with him! I can now say that I do truly love him.

Jean let out a sigh as she wrote her daily entry. She stopped for a moment not knowing what to say next. But before she could record her next thoughts the presence of someone outside in the hall brushed against her mind. She recognized the warmth she suddenly felt with this person's presence. It brought a smile to her face. Jean shut her journal, placed it away in her desk, she would return it to its real hiding place later, then stepped in front of her mirror. She checked herself over. Good enough for me, Jean thought as she headed for her door. "Scott!" Her smile was ear to ear when she saw him. "Hey,"

"Hey, ready to go?" Scott asked as he adjusted the strap of his backpack onhis shoulder.

"Yeah, just let me grab my stuff." Jean turned back to her room to get her school bag. Scott had been driving her recently, but not for much longer Jean was going to be getting her own car soon.

Their drive to Bayville High was always somewhat quiet, Jean never really liked to talk much she just wanted to get in the car, get there, and get out. No point in making things personal if neither of them wanted to talk about it. As Jean got out of Scott's car one of his friends walked up to them followed by two more whom Jean could only assume were more "friends".

"Hey, Summers, what's up? Whose this little number?" Duncan Mathews, a fellow track team member, asked motioning to Jean.

"A friend, Jean."

"Mind if I steal her away for a few minutes?"

Jean looked up at Scott, who didn't even have time for an answer before Duncan grabbed Jean by her arm and dragged her off toward the school building. Jean looked back over her shoulder at Scott her face pleading for him to follow. Scott did, with someone else following him. "So, Jean."

"How do you know me?" Jean asked as Duncan led them down the hall.

"Scott talks about you a lot." Duncan explained as they stopped at his locker. He made it so that he was leaning against it with one arm and Jean's back to it. His explanation had made Jean blush. "You like Summers, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do." Jean admitted quietly with a smile.

"You're a very pretty girl, Jean. I'm surprised I never noticed you before."

"I keep to myself mostly."

"You shouldn't." Duncan reached out and stroked Jean's hair. "You're so beautiful." Duncan began to lean in and before he could Jean stopped him.

"I'm involved with Scott, Duncan."

Duncan pulled back. "You're involved with him?"

Scott watched them from around the corner making sure that if Duncan tried anything inappropriate he was there to stop it before it went too far. Suddenly Scott felt a tap on his shoulder from behind, it scared him because he had been so focused on Jean.

"Hey, Scott!" Taryn said excitedly as Scott turned around.

"Oh, hey, Taryn."

"Hey, watcha doing?"

"Looking out for my girl."

Taryn looked around the corner; she saw the normals, Duncan flirting with some decent redhead, and a few other couples making out. "What girl?"

"That girl." Scott pointed Jean out. Taryn saw the redhead.

"Jean Grey? You hooked up with Jean Grey? How come I haven't seen you two around school?"

"Because we haven't "hooked up" as you put it. She's a very good friend of mine. I'm just watching out for her, I don't want her to get hurt."

"Oh, good. I was thinking there for a second that you were going to break up with me to be with some trashy redhead. So, are we still on for the mall later?"

Scott turned on Taryn; no one insulted Jean and got away with it. But this was Scott, and Scott could hide his anger behind his glasses. "No, we're not. And for once, Taryn, you have something right, I think we should breakup."

"What? No, you can't break up with me."

"I just did."

Taryn was dumbstruck she stood there trying to recover while also searching for the right words. "Asshole. I knew you were a good-for-nothing prick." Taryn 'humphed' then turned on her heel and flounced off fake tears rolling down her cheeks as she was embraced by her girlfiriends who all threw dirty looks at Scott. Scott smiled back at them then turned back to Jean, who surprised him by being right there.

"You ok?" she asked when she saw the bemused expression on his face.

"Yeah, I wasn't expecting to see you there. Are you ok? I know that Duncan can be touchy feely."

"I'm fine, a little shaken, but fine. I'll see you later; I have to get to class. We'll talk about this at lunch. Bye." Scott watched Jean go; he could only guess where it would go from here.

"Hey, Jean, wait up!" Jean turned her head to look over her shoulder and saw Scott racing down the hall towards her. Jean stopped; arms folded across her chest watching Scott catch up with her. They had been meeting up everyday after school after their last period of the day for the past month now, ever since Duncan had made his move. Scott wanted to keep Jean close so Duncan couldn't try anything. He may have been Scott's friend but that didn't mean that Scott had to trust him, and he didn't. Jean had admitted to him that she thought Duncan was cute but he made her feel very uncomfortable. Scott had taken that very seriously, and from then on kept a close eye on Jean in school most of the time without her knowing.

"Hey, Scott." Jean answered as she linked her arm through his, a gesture that she used to show she was involved with Scott in one way or another. "I'm exhausted. I can't wait until graduation."

"I know, not long now, only a few more weeks."

"And then we are gone from this shit hole."

"Nice way of putting it."

"I know you just love the extensiveness of my precocious vocabulary."

"Yes, it is very cocky and flip."

"That's me."

Scott laughed, a laugh that made Jean smile, and when Jean smiled Scott couldn't help but smile in return. "Want to go out somewhere?" he asked when they had reached his car.

"Sure. Where did you want to go?"

"Back to the institute and just hang out by the lake in the gazebo."

"Sounds good."

But by the time that they arrived back at the institute, Jean had been wrestling with many scenarios in her mind, making decisions and answering mental questions. Scott opened her door for her, took her hand and led her to the gazebo. This was one scenario she had played out. They sat down. "Say it, Jean." Scott said gently to her. "I know you have something you want to say, I could tell when we first met up after school. Just say it, Jean." Scott squeezed her hand.

"I…I can't, Scott." Jean looked up at him with tears in her eyes then reached her hand up and stroked his cheek.

"What's wrong? Just tell me, I know you can." Scott thumbed away the tears that caressed Jean's cheek.

"Nothing…I…" Jean leaned up and kissed him, small and quick. "I love you, Scott. I have to go." Jean stood to leave but Scott grabbed her hand.

"No, you're not running again." Scott pulled her back down beside him holding her face in his hands and kissed her hard. Jean struggled against him; she didn't like this at all it scared her. Yet, she knew deep down that Scott would never hurt her; he had proven that more than once to her. Their kiss deepened and Jean relaxed. She suddenly wished they were upstairs in one of their bedrooms. Scott sensed the change in Jean and broke the kiss.

"Do you want to go upstairs?" he asked brushing a piece of hair behind her ear.

"Yes," Jean answered. Her lips lingered on Scott's. They engaged in one last fiery kiss before making their way back towards the mansion.

A/N: REVIEW PLEASE!