Friday Continued

It's the perfect time of day
To throw all your cares away
Put the sprinkler on the lawn
And run through with my gym shorts on
Take a drink right from the hose
Change in to some drier clothes
Climb the stairs up to my room
And sleep away the afternoon
- Barenaked Ladies

"So, what happened?" Logan asked again.

"Allow me," Kitty said.

Flashback, at the restaurant

The six sat down together. "I can't believe we got kicked out of the mall," Jubilee said. "My sanctuary and it's gone."

"Just for six months," Remy said.

"Six whole months," Jubilee said dropping her head onto her hands and looking heartbroken.

"Hello, my name is Haley and I'll be your waitress, are you ready to order?" their blonde good-looking waitress asked approaching. The group ordered their food and the waitress left, after an attempt to flirt with Remy which only earned her a very pissed off Rogue. A few moments went by and Jubilee wouldn't talk to Remy.

"Look at it dis way," Remy offered. "You'll have more money de next time y' can go."

"That doesn't help," Jubilee sighed.

"Jubes," Rogue said finally. "How about this, Ah'll take ya to the mall in Jersey next weekend."

At this she perked up. "Really?"

"Yeah, Remy can drive."

"Merci," Remy said slowly.

"Anythang Ah can do ta help," Rogue grinned. She turned to Kitty. "Ah'm surprised you're taking this so well."

"Well, I'm not happy but I think it was sweet," Kitty said.

Remy smiled at that inclining his head to her. "Merci, chat." Their drinks arrived.

"Finally!" Pete exclaimed. He took a long drink of his scotch as Remy took a sip of his bourbon. "Want some, luv?"

Kitty smiled. "One: ewwe. Two: we've already been kicked out of one place. The last thing we need tonight is under-aged drinking."

"I forgot," Pete nodded. He paused for a second. "Ya know, that's what's wrong with your country."

"Mon Dieu," Remy groaned dropping his head to his hands. "T'anks, chat, Y' just had ta get him started."

"Hey, I'm serious!" Pete protested. "This is pretty much the only country where the drinking age is this high. An' you Yanks have one of the highest levels of violence. Wot does that tell you?"

"That you Brits are too drunk to kill each other?" Kitty offered raising her hand as though she were answering a question in class.

"You interrupted a perfectly good rant," Pete accused crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oh, damn," Kitty sighed. "How dare I?" Next came their salads and soups. The group was mostly quiet except a conversation between the girls about the movie Van Helsing.

"C'mon Hugh Jackson is so cute," Jubilee was trying to say.

"No way," Kitty said.

"Does he remind you guys of anyone?" Rogue asked. "Ah can't put my finger on it but he definitely reminds me of someone."

Kitty shrugged. "I don't know."

"Beats me!" Jubilee chirped. "Oh no." Everyone looked up to see Pyro as he walked in.

Present day

"Pyro?" Logan asked in shock.

"Yep," Kitty said. "He just walked right in."

"What did you guys do?" Logan inquired.

"We weren't going to do anything," Rogue said. "He did help us save Kitty. But then..."

Flashback thirty minutes ago

"I can't believe he came here," Bobby said.

"Jus' let it go, mon ami," Remy said. Instead, Bobby stood and stalked over to John.

"Oh no," Kitty said. "They're going to fight."

"Bobby wouldn't," Jubilee said sounding more hopeful then sure. At that moment Bobby shoved John.

"Please, don't let them break anything," Kitty prayed. John stated to just leave but Bobby grabbed his arm. John turned punching his former friend. Bobby stumbled back.

"Rogue," Remy said. "Get down." He went under the table just as Bobby tackled John sending both of them into the desert cart. The cart toppled throwing cakes, pies, and ice cream everywhere including on Pete, Rogue, and Jubilee. Remy was still under the table and Kitty had phased.

"Let's leave," Rogue said. "Now, before things get any worse." Both Remy and Pete threw down a fifty-dollar bill to pay for the meal that they hadn't ate and the trouble that the group was causing. They left with the two guys grabbing John and Bobby and dragging them along. They went to the van and Remy pushed Bobby inside before locking him in.

"What do you want, John?" Rogue demanded.

John glared at her. "I had a meeting with an editor, which I'm now going to ave ta miss."

"Sorry," Remy said. "Bobby's a little..."

"Touchy," Jubilee offered.

"Dat works," Remy nodded.

"No," John said. "Bobby's a little psychopathic, and comin' from me, that's saying something." Pete stared at John unsure of how to react to this man.

"How's life as a lackey?" Kitty asked.

"I could ask the same thing," John said.

"I am not a lackey. The Institute is a school-"

John snorted. "Save it, luv, I've heard it all before. A school. Right. Where ya all learn ta be good little X-Men and stay under the prof's rules. Humans will never accept us. Ya might as well get use ta it."

"John what happened to you?"

"Life, Sheila, it's that simple."

"You've become completely different."

"I'm still the same guy."

"The John I knew wouldn't follow a madman's tyranny."

He raised one eyebrow. "What do ya think I was doin'?"

"The professor isn't crazy!"

He snorted again. "When ya grow up a little, luv, call me."

Kitty's eyes darkened at that remark, she was furious. "Ditto." She turned to Pete. "Let's go."

"Wotever you say grasshopper."

John looked between them and to cover his hurt retreated to something more comfortable, anger. "This is what ya choose after me. Bloody pathetic. Didn't take ya too long, did it, luv?" Kitty winced.

Pete turned to John realizing that had hurt Kitty faced the younger man. "Listen, mate," he said calmly. "Kitty still has feelings for you, so I'm going to play nice but remember something. Bobby there, he's just a kid." His eyes glowed briefly. "Don't make me kick your arse." He turned to the others. "Let's go." They filed into the van and drove home.

Present day

"And that's what happened," Rogue said.

"You guys have the worst luck," Logan snickered.

"Keep that up and we're taking you next time," Kitty said.

"I need a shower," Rogue announced.

"Ditto," Pete said.

"Just take one here," Logan said. "You can wear something of mine." Logan was more muscular but other than that the two were the same build.

"Thanks mate," Pete said. "I really need to get clean." The group split up Pete going to Logan's room to use his shower, Remy waiting downstairs for Rogue, Rogue taking a shower in the girls bathroom, Bobby still trying to talk to Jubilee who was already cleaned up and sitting in the rec. room, and Kitty who was waiting in her room for Pete to get done. She turned on the radio and laid down on her bed. She had almost dozed off when Pete came in and laid down behind her.

"Hi," Kitty smiled turning and snuggling up to him. He gently kissed her forehead. "It's only five, and the evening was a complete bust."

"Not from where I'm sitting," Pete said. He rolled onto his back and Kitty cuddled up next to him. "See the way I look at it, any evening at ends with a beautiful woman lyin' in yer arms is a good one."

"Any woman?" Kitty asked her brown eyes flashing.

Pete merely grinned. "Do I look stupid enough to answer that?"

"Hmm..." Kitty mused, "let me think."

"Watch it, luv." She giggled and listened to the steady beating of his heart until it lulled her to sleep.