Chapter Nine: Pretend You Like Me

Kichi noticed Kitty in a tree on the mansion grounds, typing on a laptop. She looked so forlorn that Kichi made herself walk over and call up to the girl.

"Hey Kitty!"

"Uh? Oh, Kichi! Hey!"

"I was wondering if you'd want to…watch a movie or something."

"Sure! Just let me finish this really quick." Kitty tapped a few more lines, then snapped the contraption shut and clambered down to join Kichi. They headed inside and into the TV room. Kichi popped in Pirates of the Caribbean and the two girls settled down to watch it.

About halfway through the movie, Kichi turned to Kitty. She just couldn't stay quiet.

"Hey, um, Kitty?"

"Yeah?"

"How are…things with you and Lance?"

"He's being stupid. We're on this break thing."

"Oh. Um. So you two are still kinda together?"

"I guess…" mumbled Kitty, leaning back and gazing at the ceiling.

"Well, uh, I want to be a good friend, so I have to tell you. Lance tried to ask me out today."

"What?" cried Kitty, sitting up abruptly and looking at Kichi wide-eyed.

"I said no of course! I think he was just trying to get you jealous. He also mentioned something about you being a tease. Don't worry though, I said he was stupid and totally shot him down."

"Thanks Kichi…" mumbled Kitty, calming down a bit. At least on the outside. On the inside she was thinking about how Lance Alvers did a crappy job of keeping things quiet. She should have just broken up with him.

After the movie, Kitty sighed and headed upstairs to her room. She flopped down on her bed when there was a knock at her door. She got to her feet slowly, stumbling to the door. Opening it, she gasped.

"Lance."

"Hey." He stood uncomfortably in the doorway, looking around anxiously.

"How…how did you get in?"

"Pulled a favor out of Gambit. I need to talk."

"We did talk Lance." She replied levelly, trying not to yell.

"Well, I didn't really get to say anything."

"That's strange, because the impression I got from Kichi was that you had no problem opening your mouth. Fortunately, she thinks you're being stupid and making things up. I can't believe you!"

"Kitty…listen to me. I…I need to know if we're together or not. Okay? I can't do this half and half crap."

"Lance…I don't know…" Kitty glanced at her bed, to see that the book was under her own pillow again. Rogue had apparently returned it. Maybe she'd finished it. That wouldn't be surprising, especially with how she had been acting. Kichi had mentioned something about Rogue actually having her hand on Remy's chest. Kitty wouldn't have believe it until she saw something strange with her own eyes that very afternoon. Rogue had been on the couch with Remy, doing some homework and at one point had let him kiss her on the cheek. Kitty wished her romantic life was so simple.

"I don't understand why you're trying to avoid me. It didn't even last a day when you were avoiding Fuzzball."

"Oh Lance…I just…"

There was a sudden sharp sound outside of the room, and some smoke appeared under the door. Kitty hurried over, opening it gingerly. Kurt stood with a wide-eyed look.

"Oh, sorry Keety! I vas playing a game with Ki. I think I von though." Kitty smiled slightly.

"Heh, that's great…"

"Who are you talking to Keety?" He looked over her shoulder and frowned. "Lance…vhat are you doing here? How did you get into the mansion?"

"I teleported," said Lance sarcastically. Kurt pushed past Kitty and stopped right in front of Kurt, crossing his arms.

"Who vould let you in?"

"Well, actually, Gambit let me in. And I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm just here to talk to Kitty. So why don't you go play with you're little sparkle girl!"

Kitty gazed quietly at her feet as Lance and Kurt both stared each other, eyes blazing.

I never meant for this to happen...she thought to herself, sighing slowly. It was just a book...it wasn't supposed to start this.

"Lance...just...get out!" Kurt yelled, then growled angrily.

"Aw fuzzy, not even going to call me Lancey-boy? I guess we aren't friends anymore huh?"

"Ve never were friends! Don't even be sarcastic about it! I vant you to get out, and stay avay from Keety!" Lance's eyes darkened, losing their smirking glare.

"You are not the one to be telling me that! You have Kichi! Why don't you just settle down with your stupid new mutant and leave my Kitty alone!"

"She sure isn't yours! And you leave Ki out of this!"

Kitty let out a cry that stopped both of the guys in their tracks and caused them to look at her with concern.

"Stop it! Both of you! Just stop! Lance, I want you to leave. Kurt, just go up to you room and stay!" They hesitated before Kurt sighed.

"Fine Keety." He walked closer to her and leaned over, whispering into her ear "Don't you dare let him sveet talk you, okay Keety?" He kissed her on the cheek before bamfing away. Lance glared at the smoke before looking at Kitty.

"Are you okay?" She nodded, holding back tears and replying quietly,

"It wasn't supposed to happen like this...I was just playing games...I'm so sorry..." He huffed slightly before responding.

"I thought you didn't want to play games." Then he turned and left, storming out. Kitty took a couple deep trembling breaths before she decided she had enough time to go for a walk. She waited for Lance to get into his jeep and drive off before running through the mansion, and phasing out the door and through the gates. She started walking, desperately trying to clear her head. She had gone about half a mile before she felt a whoosh of wind and a voice whispered in her ear.

"Hey Kitty-cat, what's going on?" she recognized the almost incomprehensible fast voice of Pietro. She stopped walking and turned to face him. Her head almost turned fuzzy, but she shoved the feeling away and smiled slightly.

"Just trying to think..." She remembered the time a little while ago when she had phased through the ceiling and landed in his lap. "Like, what are you doing? Stalking me?"

"Yeah right. It just so happens I'm going to meet someone at a club. I ran into you on the way, thought I'd be polite."

"A club? Another bimbo you just came across that totally threw herself at you?"

"Yeah, normal girls do. Apparently, you're abnormal Kitty-cat." Kitty paused before sighing, waving the white flag to herself. She gazed up at him, causing him to gulp before she said seductively,

"Maybe I, like, don't want to be abnormal tonight."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Do you hate me Pietro?"

"Not completely."

"You, like, didn't seem to mind me falling in your lap."

"Hey! That caught me totally by surprise!"

"What if it hadn't?" she muttered suggestively, moving closer to him. She didn't really think he was all that bad. Pietro grinned, but only to hide his nervousness.

"Does Lance know you're on a walk?"

"If you are suggesting that Lance would be mad at you, probably. But, like, only if he found out." She moved closer to the speed demon and murmured something.

"What was that?"

"I said; can you just pretend you like me for one night. Please? I need this. Someone besides Lance, and Kurt. In the morning, you can just forget you even met me tonight." Pietro swallowed before realizing that Kitty was trembling. He hesitated, then wrapped his arms around her as she collapsed against his chest.

"Sure Pretty Kitty..." She glanced up at him, teary eyed.

"What about your date at that club?" He shrugged in response.

"Whatever, she wasn't really that interesting anyway. Where should we go?" She composed herself quickly and grinned wickedly.

"I could sneak us into your room." The idea appealed to Pietro, especially since in was in the mood to piss Lance off and please his hormones in one night.

Lance growled angrily, sitting down onto his bed heavily. Kitty was so damn frustrating. She yelled at him for "playing games" then said she was doing it herself. And that son of a bitch fuzzy! He needed to stop playing the field! Blue had that stupid new mutant, who was hanging all over the idiot. She wouldn't even consider Lance. But Kitty...no! Kitty was playing with him! Toying with Kurt and his emotions! Which, truthfully...wasn't like her.

Avalanche stopped thinking when he heard quiet talking in Pietro's room. One voice was certainly a female. Which was strange, since Lance hadn't heard the front door open. He wondered if Pietro had discovered the hole in their wall that gave Lance the great opportunity to spy on Quicksilver. He moved over the wall next to his guitar and found the small hole, no bigger than a penny. Putting his eye to it, he was met with a surprise.

Kitty phased them up to Pietro's room, giggling quietly before collapsing onto his bed, looking at him mischievously.

"You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not." muttered Pietro uncomfortably, sitting on a chair. She lay down, stretching and squirming about, causing Pietro to stare at her wide eyed.

"Ugh, my mind is so tired of thinking, but my body's buzzing. Usually it's the other way around." Kitty said, grinning and turning onto her stomach before propping herself up on her elbows. Pietro's eyes widened even more and she giggled. "Pietro, you have the funniest look on your face. And why are you sitting over there? Come on," she patted the spot next to her "Sit here." He got up slowly, not noticing the angry eye spying from a peephole in the next room. The white haired mutant sat next to Shadowcat and sighed heavily.

"Not to be blunt Kitty-cat, but what is that purpose of you and I being here? You said something about just tonight, and I can forget about you in the morning, but I'm not sure if I understand." She winked at him.

"Come on Pietro, aren't you Bayville's most slept with mutant? I would have thought that you would at least have some sense."

"I don't think I follow." He said slowly. He did, but he couldn't believe that Kitty Pryde was asking him to do this. She flipped onto her back, sitting up sharply and glaring at him.

"I need to forget about today. Okay Blondie? Are you going to help or what? I need something that doesn't evolve, like, confessing feelings and emotion crap like that. If you're not interested, that's fine, but understand I am going to go find someone else." Pietro hit himself mentally. He couldn't let her go to some random guy on the street. But he couldn't...Lance would kill him..."But only if he found out." echoed Kitty's words in his head. "Pietro!" He glanced down at Kitty who was glaring at him.

"Am I staying or leaving?" He only hesitated for only a moment,

"Staying." She smiled at him.

"Good." she scooted closer to him, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Do you ever just want to forget yourself, and just...let everything go?"

"Yes..." And for some reason, Pretty Kitty, I want you right now. But not like this, not like this. For some reason...I don't want to be used. Which is pretty selfish if you think about it. I've used plenty of girls. This should be fair. And it is, with anyone but you Kitty. Not you.

"That's how I feel...I just want to drift away...forget everything...everyone...the world...the X-men...especially Kurt. And others, especially Lance. That's what I need you for, Pietro...I don't think there's anyone else I have to turn to."

"Is this because of...what happened with Lance...a couple nights ago?"

"That's what started it, yes. But that's not why I want to forget."

"Is this just some itch you need scratched? 'Cause I'm not doing that." She jerked back, eyes blazing.

"No! I just need comfort. In a different way than the normal, crying on your shoulder thing." The eye in the peephole disappeared suddenly.

"Okay Kitty. If you're sure."

"As sure as I can be these days." Her eyes soften as she reached for his neck, and he leaned down to kiss her softly. He tried to tell her in the kiss that he respected her more than this. But she ignored it, kissing him passionately, desperately. She deepened it even further, pushing him back on the bed forcefully. He didn't even try to resist. He was starting to understand. As he reached for her shirt though, he noticed she was trembling, and stopped, pulling back.

"Kitty, you're shaking."

"It's just from the emotion today." She lied, terribly. Pietro shook his head.

"I'm not doing this. I can't. Not with you. Not when you're like this." Her eyes teared up as she looked at him sadly.

"I understand Pietro...like you said, not with me. That's okay. Maybe I just need to walk and think some more." She moved to straddle him and he glanced at her with confusion. "Are you sure?" She leaned down towards him. He suddenly glared at her, grabbing her shoulders and flipping her over so he was straddling her.

"Kitty, think about what you're doing! This is going to make me sound so stupid, but you cannot do this. This is not in your personality. There is no way, in the future, that you are not going to regret this. As much as I want you right now Kitty...I can't let you do this. And that's my one lecture for my entire life. Ugh. I feel like an old geezer. Look what you've reduced me to Kitty." She grinned up at him, a sincere non-seductive smile.

"You're right Pietro. For once. Thanks..." She was quiet for a moment before whispering with a smirk "You want me?" He allowed himself a smile also. He leaned down to kiss her softly, when the door flew open.