Chapter Eight: Keeping It on the "Down Low"

Tenseness and serious uncomfortable-ness was evident between Kitty and Lance the next day. Amara had been a bit obnoxious with her constant questions of "What is wrong? What's going on between you two?" Kitty ignored her and Kurt tried to convince the princess of Nova Roma that Kitty had had a rough night. She could barely concentrate on her studies.

Kitty walked down the steps of the school next to Kurt, thankful the day of teaching was over. When Kurt and her reached the bottom, they were met with Lance and Pietro standing firmly in their way. Kurt frowned.

"Vhat is vrong vith you guys? You have done quite enough to hurt Keety haven't you! Come on Keety, we should go."

"Hold on Kurt." She turned back to Lance "Lance…can I talk to you a minute?"

"Sure."

"Oooooh, Kitty-cat needs some 'private time' with Lance." Taunted Pietro

"Shut your mouth Quickie, or maybe I'll just have to tell everyone at the X-men about me landing in your lap. I think you liked it." She grinned, as he turned white. Lance flipped around and frowned at Pietro, with a "we need to talk later" look. Pietro rolled his eyes.

"Alright Pryde, I'm leaving." He took off and Kitty looked at Kurt.

"Uhh…Kurt?" He sighed in return

"Okay, Keety, but how are you supposed to get back to the Mansion?"

"I'll drop her off." Said Lance

"Oh, and that vill really look good, Lancey-boy dropping off Katzchen at the Mansion, on a veekday."

"Come on Kurt, if you're worried about getting in trouble; just tell Scott I found another way home."

"The Professor vill know…but fine. See you later, Keety." And with that, he teleported away. Kitty sighed and sat down on a ledge by the school. Lance walked over and sat next to her.

"So what's up Kitty?"

"About…yesterday afternoon/evening…well, I just wanted to clear a few things up." He nodded slowly, unsure of what she was going to say.

"Just…don't yell at me."

"I won't, I know it wasn't your fault. I…wasn't myself. It's hard to explain, but can we…just forget it ever happened?"

"I don't think I can do that, Pretty Kitty." She sighed heavily before continuing.

"Alright…how about we…not talk about it?"

"Was it that horrible Kitty?" He asked, tilting his head slightly. She stared at him with surprise.

"No, Lance, that's not it! It's just…I'm sort of embarrassed…and I don't want it getting around school…or even around the Brotherhood." She gazed at him levelly and he nodded.

"I won't tell anyone Kitty, but we can't just pretend like it didn't happen."

"Well…okay. But…I'm not going to be like that normally. You understand that, right?"

"Yeah. But I'm sure a good part of you wanted all of that to happen. It didn't come from nowhere."

Kitty didn't respond, looking down at the ground.

"Yes…um. Can we go to the mansion now?" Lance nodded and stood, helping Kitty to her feet. They walked to his jeep in silence, which was also how the drive to the mansion progressed. He stopped in front of the gates and turned off the car, turning to look at Kitty. She glanced back at him.

"Lance…I don't know if I can deal with this right now. Maybe…maybe we need a break." He stared at her in surprise. "It isn't your fault at all. It's me. I just…need to be on my own for a little bit. Just give me a day or two. Okay?"

"Sure Kitty. Anything for you." He smiled slightly, hiding the punch in the gut she'd just basically given him. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, then slid out of the car.

"Bye Lance…"

"Bye."

"Wow. That sucks. I can't believe it," said Kichi, wrinkling her nose at Shadowcat.

"I know! I'm, like, cursed or something!" She waved the piece of the paper clenched in her hand violently. Kichi grinned.

"Aw, no way. It really isn't your fault that you got stuck with a stupid research project on religions."

"But there we're so many better ones!"

"Yeah. But what are you gonna do? Plus, don't you have a book on Judaism already?"

"Yes. But I'm Jewish. I basically know everything. I don't want to have to research all the other ones. It's stupid!" They entered the cafeteria and headed over to their usual table. Kichi shrugged.

"Make it fun. Interview people. Do something crazy." She winked and Kitty giggled, sitting down and uncrumpling the paper, sticking it in her backpack before opening her lunch bag.

Lance watched angrily from his table with the rest of the Brotherhood. He couldn't believe what Kitty had said that last night. What sort of nerve did she have? Now she had been hanging out with Kichi a lot. The only good thing was she didn't seem to be flirting with Blue Fuzzball anymore. In fact, to Lance's pleasure, she seemed to be ignoring him mostly. But unfortunately, Kurt didn't seem to care. Or even notice. He talked to Kichi and Scott and Rogue.

Kurt sat down and grinned at Kichi. She smiled back, but continued her conversation with Kitty. Once they were done, Kichi stood.

"I just realized I left my lunch in my locker. I'm gonna go get. I'll be back, okay?" Kitty nodded as Kurt looked at her in concern

"You vant me to come vith you?"

"Naw. You just eat your food, 'Crawler." She ran her finger down his arm, rubbing the fur hidden by the holowatch. He beamed at her, then started stuffing himself. Kichi laughed and turned, walking towards the locker bay. "Be back in a sec!"

Lance saw Kichi leaving and leapt out of his chair. He had an idea.

"Hey, Sparks." Kichi turned to Lance leaning against locker near hers.

"Um. Are you talking to me?"

"Yep. I'm talking to the one who loves to blow things up." He gave her a lopsided grin and she closed her locker slowly, a confused expression on her face.

"Okay…"

"Look, Yumagu. I was wondering…you want to go to a party, or see a movie. This weekend?" Kichi blinked, when comprehension dawned on her.

"Aren't you with Kitty?"

"Nope. Apparently she's just a tease. She basically tried to force herself on me the other night, then pulled back at the last second." Kichi shook her head in astonishment.

"So…you're thinking that I wouldn't be a tease?"

"Well yes, but I'm not trying to get into your pants, if that's what you're thinking."

"I wasn't…I'm wondering why the hell you have an interest in me."

"I thought you were cool before I really met you. And you're very cute." He winked at her. She stared at him.

"Well. You sure are trying. But um…I'm pretty sure you're trying to rebound or something. And I don't really like you. At all. Kurt said-"

"Of course. The Fuzzball. Should've known. He's got Kitty wrapped around his little finger, and now he's got you. God dammit. I can't deal with this anymore." He growled and turned sharply, stalking down the hallway. Kichi watched him in silence. Kitty wrapped around Kurt's little finger? Is that what he said? Had he seen Kitty and Kurt lately? It seemed like they were being very cool towards each other.

Looking towards the entrance to the school, she saw Rogue standing near Remy, smiling slightly at him, a hand resting on his chest. He looked very excited. Kichi grinned, shaking her head. The goth didn't even need her help. She could handle her own.

And what was this about Kitty forcing herself on Lance? That's unbelievable. She wouldn't do that. Kichi was horrified that Lance would spread rumors like that just because Kitty had dumped him or something. She went back to the table and stopped a few yards away, seeing that Kurt and Kitty were the only ones at the table and they were deep in conversation. And, Kichi observed that Kurt looked deadly serious, which he did so rarely. Kitty looked sad. Kichi walked back slowly, hoping to catch a couple words that might explain what was going on.

"You asked for a break? Keety. You should have just gotten rid of him. Every time you are vith that guy, something goes vrong. Haven't you realized that by now?"

"But Kurt…I still like him." He glanced at her, hurt. She bit her lip, "Well…oh. I don't know! I just…want everyone to be happy!"

"Vell, you aren't helping vith that very vell."

"I'm trying!" She said, tears welling in her eyes. Kurt winced.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry Keety. I'll be patient."

"Hey guys!" said Kichi cheerfully, sitting down. The two looked at her in shock. "So it looks like you guys have patched up whatever problem there was."

"Uhhh…yeah. Kurt and I are fine now. Right Kurt?" asked Kitty, looking at him. He looked uncertain but forced a smile.

"Oh ja! Keety and I have…'patched things up'!" Kichi faked a grin and nodded, opening her lunch, starting to eat. She'd keep the rumor to herself for now. Maybe Lance had just mentioned it to her. Then again; maybe it wasn't a rumor.