Authoress's notes: well, here we are at the long-awaited chapter, finally the party. It came out much longer than I expected; it's in two parts, but even with that it's a bit long. More for you, huh? :P Here you go.

Reviewers' Response:

chelsey-pudge - :::giggles::: you know, I like the way you review. Not always a long and lengthy review, mostly short and to the point – but most of the time the point is that you like my fic, so, how could I complain?? :::hugs you:::

the littlest weasley – heeeeeeeere it is! Enjoy!

Pyro Lady – hmmm. More believable. Agrees with the movie. Yay! In answer to your question: yes, the other members of the Brotherhood are my own OCs. I've stated some of them in the first disclaimer. As for your other question ... so far, no. No-one for Pyro. He doesn't really get out much, y'see? He is rather misunderstood, I know... I still don't like him much. I think he's a jackass for leaving the X-Men and joining the Brotherhood.

I Stole Brad Pitt – heh, I like this name! Anyway, don't you worry your pretty name over it. He's right here! :::points down::: go read!

xImmortalx – meh, well. It takes time to grasp the mysterious ways of the computers. Sure took me long enough – does 2 years tell you anything? XD Anyway, yeah, that'll make for an interesting meeting...

flapjack101 – hey, welcome to VR! Hope you've managed to read chapters 9, 10, 11 and 12, cos here's chapter 13, and I hope you like it!!

Chapter 13: The Halloween Party:

Part I: Party!

The morning of October 31st found Amanda with the children of the Institute, decorating and laughing. They had cheered loudly during breakfast at Professor Xavier's announcement of giving them the day off of school, so that they could spend the day decorating the place and adding any finishing touches to their costumes, should they need any more time. The adults, meanwhile, prepared the gym.

Amanda dropped by at noon to help, chatting with Storm and Rogue. They carved pumpkins and placed them in the corners of the room, hung streamers of black and orange crêpe paper on the walls, and cobwebs from the top corners of the room. Storm came down from the ceiling with a grin on her face; it had been long since she'd enjoyed flying and doing something like decorating. Meanwhile, Rogue arranged the music and prices with the DJ. Bobby and Scott and Kurt set out the tables for food and drinks.

By the time five-thirty rolled around, Amanda was quite exhausted. She flopped back on her bed as soon as she'd closed the door behind her, only to have Kurt materialize in a whiff of blue smoke. "Guten Abend, Liebling."

Amanda groaned. "Where have you been for the past hour?" she said; for Kurt had disappeared over an hour ago, just before the whole DJ system collapsed and they could have used his help.

"I was arranging my costume," he replied.

Amanda rolled over on the bed and made room for him to set next to her. "So you've finally found yourself something, huh?"

Kurt nodded. "I admit, it's quite late to 'hit the stores' as you might call it, so I had to make do with what I could find here."

"What are you coming as?"

"Ach, I'm not telling you," said Kurt, grinning evilly. "I want it to be a surprise."

"A-ha," said Amanda, eyebrows raised. "Okay then." She stood up. "Now, I'm afraid you're going to have to skedaddle; I need a shower, and the party starts at seven. Us girls need time to prepare for something like this. Go on, shoo!"

Kurt smiled at her and teleported away. Amanda gathered a few items of clothing and her shower essentials and stepped into the bathroom, wondering about the blue mutant's costume.

-X-

Amanda grinned at herself in the mirror of the bathroom as she secured Mel's white-and-blue-checked halter top in place. She straightened her skirt and donned her old cowboy boots, placing Mel's also borrowed hat on her head.

She headed out the door, fiddling with her navel-ring -- she still didn't know what had possessed her to get it, but she was already used to it -- and switched the light off via telekinesis with a smile. This was even more fun than she'd thought. A low whistle escaped her lips as she walked down to the gym; the hallways were decorated in orange and black – bright streamers hung on the walls, black ribbons adorned the large staircase, and fake cobwebs hung from the ceiling. A number of pumpkins had been placed on the steps of the staircase, the candles inside their evilly-smiling-carved faces casting eerie glows across the large room.

She stepped into the gym and felt her jaw drop slightly. Despite the fact that she'd been among the ones who had decorated it themselves – she'd had a blast using her telekinesis to hold up streamers on the walls while Bobby would climb a ladder and pin them in place – seeing it darkened, with the DJ's yellow and orange lights flickering on the walls and the floor, mingling with candle-lights issuing from the pumpkins ... that was something else. The streamers hanging form the ceiling swung back and forth lazily in an ominous wind, and the pearly-white fog rolled on the floor (courtesy of Storm).

Most of the adults were already there; Amanda recognized Bobby, dressed in shades of green and wearing a green hat with a feather sticking up in it. Rogue stood next to him, in a dark-blue 16th-century-style dress.

"Robin Hood and Lady Marian," she said, eyeing them approvingly. "Nice."

"Thanks," Rogue smiled. "It was his idea."

"No it wasn't!" said Bobby, looking around quickly.

"Even though he's completely denying it," added Rogue, her smile widening. "Have you seen Scott?"

"No," replied Amanda, looking around. "Where is he?"

"Over there," said Rogue, pointing at a figure standing near the doors.

Amanda tilted her head to the left. "What on earth is he dressed as?"

Bobby snickered. "Why don't you go ask him yourself?"

Amanda raised an eyebrow at him. "I'll do just that, thank you." She said, and walked up to Scott. "Scott? Is that you? Scott, what on earth are you dressed as?"

Scott turned around so she could see his costume properly. Wide black pants, black boots, a white shirt with extremely wide sleeves, and a wide belt with a sword at his waist. A large black hat sat on his head, and Amanda half-expected to see a parrot perched on his shoulder.

"Well... you make one hell of a pirate, Shades."

Scott winced at the nickname. "Would you stop calling me that?" he said with a pained expression on his face.

"Aye aye, captain."

Scott grinned at the use of pirate slang. "Now ye've got it," he drawled. "Now, get ye to the dancefloor, lassie."

"Aye aye, Cappie!" she said again. She turned around to see Kitty and Melavina come up to the gym's doors, dragging a third, shy-looking girl between them.

"C'mon, Terry," Kitty was saying, "how do you expect to be friends with anybody if you haven't ever met anyone yet?"

The girl, Terry, gave a nervous little laugh. By then the three of them had entered the gym and were heading towards her. She smiled to herself. This girl was obviously new to the Institute; she looked downright intimidated, flanked by Kitty and Melavina. She decided to help her out a bit.

"Hi Mel, Kitty," she said as they reached her. "Let's see what you've got there. Terry, right?"

The girl nodded. She was dressed as a princess, in a shimmering blue dress with a small golden crown on her head. Her light-brown hair was long and curly, and her green eyes still looked frightened.

Amanda untangled her from Kitty and Mel, putting an arm around her shoulders. "Welcome to Mutant High, if you haven't been told so yet."

Terry gave a small laugh. "Yeah, it seems to be the school's most popular nickname."

"What's your mutation?"

"Um..." Terry looked at a loss. Mel stepped in.

"She's what you'd call an elemental," she said. "She can conjure up fireballs and waterfalls and ... and whatnot."

Amanda raised an eyebrow at the Playboy Bunny. "Define 'whatnot'."

"'Whatnot,' meaning she doesn't really have control over her powers yet," said Kitty. Terry nodded.

"Well then," said Amanda. "Don't think about that just now." She gestured around them, at the pumpkins lining the walls and at the fog rolling at their ankles. "We're at a party. We're here to have fun, take a load off. Enjoy it!"

Terry gave a small smile. "I suppose so."

"Ah, Terry, I see you've met Amanda," said a new voice behind them, and the group turned to see Professor Xavier in his wheelchair, wearing what seemed to be an old-fashioned tuxedo and a red cloak. "Outgoing, isn't she?"

Mel stared at him. "Professor Xavier? Is that you?"

"What –?" said Kitty.

"Dracula!" said Amanda. "Nice. Very nice, Professor."

"Thank you, Amanda," said Xavier. "I must admit, it's been quite a while since I've last worn a costume."

"Well, then it's time you let go and had some fun," she said, grinning. "And so do you, Terry. You may be the new kid, but I've only been here a month and I know the whole population of this place by name!"

Kitty placed a hand on Terry's shoulder. "Come on, Terry, snap out of the shock." She led her to the snack tables, handing her a cup of punch.

"I think you've overwhelmed her a bit," said Xavier.

Amanda grinned. "I suppose I can seem a bit intimidating at first... it's not my fault I'm outgoing."

-X-

"Kurt Wagner, is that you?"

"The one and only, Liebchen," said Kurt, turning around to face Amanda. He was wearing what seemed to be a white bed-sheet, draped around his body toga-like and fixed at the shoulder with a glittering gold brooch. A crown of gold-sprayed laurel leaves surrounded his head.

"Well, if it isn't Julius Caesar," she said, grinning. "Nice. Have you seen Scott?"

Kurt nodded. "I'd say he makes quite a pirate."

"Yeah, he does. And you make one hell of a Roman Emperor."

"Dankeschon," Kurt smiled and bowed. "I had to make do with what I found."

"Where'd you get the laurel?"

"There's plenty of it in the gardens," said Kurt. "It's part of a wonderful spice garden behind the main building. Have you not explored the outdoors yet?"

Amanda shook her head. "Not thoroughly, no. Would you show me around sometime?"

Kurt smiled at her. "Of course," he said, "I shall show you the school grounds gladly. I will show you all my favorite spots."

"Good then, I have another tour scheduled," Amanda grinned at him.

"Regular tour guide, isn't he?"

Kurt and Amanda turned around to see Logan, wearing his normal clothes and a pair of sunglasses. Amanda raised an eyebrow at him. "And you are...?" she said, gesturing at his clothes.

Logan tapped the sunglasses. "I'm Cyclops; can't you tell?" he said, an idiotic grin playing across his face.

Amanda laughed. "That's low, Logan ... it suits you."

Logan grinned at her. "Yup, just low enough for me."

-X-

The party went on quite enjoyably, for everybody. Bobby and Rogue got a few slow dances, Kitty and Mel somehow managed to get Terry to dance, and Kurt spun Amanda around, as well as Storm, Rogue, Kitty, Mel, Jubilee, and even Terry. It seemed that no female on the dancefloor could resist his charm. He revisited Amanda frequently, spinning her around or dancing regularly; either way, she was having the time of her life.

Kurt intrigued her: she did not know much of his past – and she still didn't know about the tattoos! She made a mental note to ask him sometime in the near future. She wanted to know his life story, and to share hers with him. Then a slow song came on, the Titanic Theme by Celine Dion. Kurt took her hand.

"Dance with me, Liebe" he said quietly.

Amanda blushed slightly and squeezed his hand, moving to the dancefloor with him. He put his arms at her waist while she put hers around his neck. They spun slowly around, moving lazily, oblivious to the whispers and giggles from the students. Even Xavier smiled, glad everyone was having a good time.

Only Logan seemed indifferent. He was only there because the professor had asked it of him, afraid something might happen; and Logan was only too glad to help, almost hoping someone uninvited would drop in. He flexed his fingers. He was thirsty for a fight.

He had not, however, taken in consideration that there would be romance blooming before his very eyes. Ever protective, he had almost growled at Bobby when he had taken Rogue's hand and pulled her onto the dancefloor; then he remembered the promise he had made to Rogue last year.

"I don't mean for you to leave entirely," she had said, looking timidly into his face, "but I am grown up, Logan. I'm nineteen years old; I'm not a little kid anymore. It's nice to know there's someone watching over me, someone who's always protecting me – but you don't have to act like a mom."

"If you're talking about –"

"I mean about Bobby. I really like him, Logan. You're just going to have to get used to that. I want to date, Logan, I don't want to be cut off all the time. I'm still a bit of a teenager; I need some space.

"Okay, kid," he had said, ruffling her hair and hugging her close. She smiled up at him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, careful not to touch him for too long.

"Thanks, Logan."

Logan was snapped out of his revive by an abrupt change in the style of music: a slow song came on. His eyes narrowed slightly as Bobby led Marie onto the dancefloor, putting his hands on her waist. He relaxed when he saw the look on her face. She truly was happy with the kid, then? He closed his eyes. Images of the sixteen-year-old at the bar when he had first seen her danced in his mind. Then he saw her in Magneto's hands, her hair streaking white as his hideous machine drew the life from her. He remembered the time he had stabbed her through the chest; he remembered how she had held onto him and absorbed his healing power, and the guilt he had felt after realizing what he'd done.

If this is what you want, kid, he thought to himself, then this is what you're gonna get. But I'll still be watching over you. Then a different image sprang into his mind: the image of a smiling, shiny-eyed face, surrounded by messy brown hair. Amanda. He almost chuckled as he though of her; of the way she always smiled and her quickness to laugh at any little thing. She truly was something special.

In fact, he wondered, could she perhaps be something beyond simply special? Then he saw her move onto the dancefloor next to Bobby and Rogue, her hand held in Kurt's. His eyes narrowed; she was slow-dancing with the blue elf? Well...

A moment of silence penetrated the music as everybody saw Melavina herding Scott to a dark, secluded corner. Logan nearly laughed at the look on his face... priceless!

Authoress's note: hehe, I'm cutting here. I'm sure the looks on your faces are priceless as well! XD But review quickly enough and I'll post the next chapter as well. So review!!