Disclaimer: I own nothing Rating: PG 13

The Hearts Choice

Chapter three

The danger room was cold and empty when Jean and Scott walked in. They had both gotten changed into their uniform and were now standing by the closed metal doors.

"So what was it you wanted to talk about?" Scott asked after a few moments of silence. Jean looked up at him, finding his eyes from behind his visor. She shrugged looking down at the floor.

"About what you asked me earlier today."

"What about it?"

"It was kinda random and well I have been thinking about it and I don't know Scott, you are my best friend, if we broke up and I lost you ."

"Jean, stop worrying. If you don't want to do this then tell me and we can call it off, but I really doubt that we would break up. If you don't want to then we wont, but wont you at least consider it? I think we could be something really great."

"Really?"

"Yeah, just give us a chance."

"It was still rather random though, I was kinda shocked when you asked me".

"Why?"

"Because I didn't expect it, it came right out of the blue"

"Jean, I have been trying to bring up the courage to ask you out for years"

"Ready you two?" Logan called from the room above. Jean and Scott looked up at him, seeing him through the glass windows.

"Ready" Jean called back. "What?" she said turning back to Scott.

"I have wanted to ask you out for years, but just never knew if you would want to." She looked at him blankly.

"I didn't know that".

"Really?" he said shocked at first, "I thought every one knew, especially you. Every one talks about it."

"Well I didn't know.," she said. Suddenly machines' started appearing out of the walls and firing brightly coloured lazier shots at the two.

"Can we finish this later?" Scott asked jumping out the way of a lazier. Jean nodded doing the same and the two set out dodging attacks and using their powers to destroy the attackers.

Logan sat and watched his two eldest students fight their way through an hours training session. Once the hour was up he pressed a few buttons and made his way down to the danger room doors.

"Good, that was a good session. I reckon I could put you two up a level." He said as the doors opened and Jean and Scott strolled out of the room. Jean smiled wiping sweat from her brow with the back of her hand.

"Alright, consider your punishment over, but don't always expect to get off so lightly, miss another one and you will regret it, now go and get yerselves cleaned up."

Jean walked ahead, eager to get up stairs. She was confused at the fact that Scott said his feelings were obvious but she never saw them.

"Jean wait up" Scott called after her. She could hear him jogging behind her, but she did not turn around, instead she walked on.

"I'm sorry if I have upset you Jean. I really thought you knew. We can call this off if you don't want to" his voice was calm and gentle. She looked at him.

"No, I don't want to call it off. I want to give us a chance. I think this could be something great too" she said with a smile.

That night Jean tossed and turned in her bed. She lay awake, her eyes hidden behind her closed eyelids. She couldn't get over how one night would change the way you felt about a person. She had always liked Scott, but those feelings had kind of died down or at least she thought they had and now she did not know what she was feeling. With a small groan she opened her eyes. She allowed her imagination to wonder about what it would be like to have Scott for a boy friend. She wondered how long they would last, how it would effect every one else and then her thoughts traveled to Duncan and she frowned. She had forgotten about him. Rolling onto her side she hugged the pillow close to her and closed her eyes. Maybe this would turn out better than she thought.

The sound of the alarm clock was like a bad disease ripping Jean out of her peaceful and simple dreams. Her tired eyes fluttered open and she squinted over at the alarm lying on the bedside table, its numbers flashing 6:30. She moaned burying her face into her pillow. How she hated Mondays, not only was it the first day of school, but the weekend jetlag that came with it. Stretching she turned onto her back and looked around the room. Pulling herself up into a sitting position she rubbed her eyes with her palms and sighed swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

Walking over to her dressing table she took the white towel into her arms and glanced into the mirror. She held her breath, her eyes going over the sentence written in red lipstick.

'Date with Scott'

Suddenly she remembered writing it out of excitement. Though why she didn't just write it on a piece of paper she didn't understand. Slipping into her dressing gown she left her room and made her way down to the shower. It was typical Monday morning, as usual she saw Kurt walking up toward her, toothbrush in hand and a damp towel in his arms.

"Guten morgan" he greeted with a smile.

"Good morning Kurt" Jean replied with a smile passing in. She passed Evan's room where he was still sleeping and would be until the last minute. As usual when she arrived at the bathroom Rogue was standing outside, her back pressed up against the wall, her arms folded and a towel hanging over her shoulder.

"Hey Rogue" she said with a small smile standing next to her.

"Hey yerself" she said giving her a side-glance.

"Kitty in the shower?"

"Yeah and has been for the past 15 minutes". Jean rolled her eyes leaning against the wall.

She felt Scott before he actually appeared and looked in his direction. He came strolling fully dressed and washed. His hands were in his pockets and a towel round his neck. Jean felt her heart speed up as he approached.

"Morning ladies" he said to both her and Rogue as he past. Jean grunted and sighed hearing Rogue do the same.

"Kitty hurry up!" Rogue yelled hitting her fist against the hard wood of the door. She growled pushing herself up off the wall.

"This is ridiculous, ah am going down to the guys, some of us want to be ready some time today" she said with a scowl walking down the hall where Scott had just come from. Jean raised an eyebrow and smiled to herself. The click of the lock caused her to turn toward the door and Kitty came out looking annoyed. Her hair was dripping and muffled, the material upon her shoulders becoming wet. She let out a groan and stormed up to the girl's hallway. Jean shrugged and walked into the bathroom.

Scott reached over his desk and grabbed his car keys swinging them around his index finger. Walking down the hall he made his way down to the kitchen for breakfast. The aroma of freshly cooked sausages and bacon and pancakes filled his nose as he approached the doorway to the kitchen.

"Hey Scott, Wait up man!" Scott turned to see Evan chasing after her still in his dressing gown and pajamas.

"Evan man we are leaving in 10 minutes" he said gesturing to his form of dress. Evan shrugged stopping beside him.

"Good news, Kurt got three tickets to the new Terminator movie tonight at 6. You up for it?"

Scott frowned and shook his head.

"Sorry I can't"

"What? Why not? This is Terminator 3 Scott, I don't think you understand. Think before you say no man. Explosions, guns, girls and did I mention explosions and girls?"

Scott rolled his eyes walking into the kitchen and pulling out a plate from a cupboard. Evan followed close behind him.

"Sorry Evan"

"Ah man! What is wrong with you, this is Terminator 3, the film you have been waiting forever to see and now you are saying no? did I tell you that they are premier tickets?"

"Evan I can't I have plans."

"Better than two hours of explosions and girls?" Evan asked. Kitty who had been sitting at the table with a bowl of cereal grunted and rolled her eyes. Evan turned and glared at her.

"Actually yes" Scott said helping him self to some sausages and walking past Evan to the table taking a seat next to Kitty. Evan followed.

"What? Tell me what could be better than Terminator?" he pulled up a seat next to Scott and stared at him. Scott smiled bringing a piece of meat to his lips and eating it.

"So.Spill Scott what can you possibly be doing that's better than this?" Scott looked at him and swallowed.

"Evan, you need to find yourself a girl" he said mockingly. Kitty who had a mouthful of sugar puffs put a hand over her mouth to stop herself from spitting it out with laughter. She began coughing and giggling, averting her eyes to the bowl in front of her.

"Man this blows" He complained pushing the chair out from under him and standing up.

"So a girl is a good reason not to go to the movie? There will be girls in the movie! Does this mean you have a girl?" he asked childishly. Kitty had stopped giggling and was now listening intensely. Scott shrugged taking another bite of sausage.

"You do have a girl! Way to go" he said sitting back down again his mood suddenly lightened. Scott smiled not looking at him.

"So like who is she? Do I know her?" Kitty asked suddenly turning to them.

"Excuse me but when were you in this conversation?" Evan said. Kitty glared at him poking her tongue out at him before standing and taking her bowl to the sink.

"So who is she?" Evan asked. Scott rolled his eyes.

"Evan we are leaving in five minutes, I think you better get dressed".

Evan stood up and turned and walked out of the room.

"Fine, but don't think this is the end" he murmured before disappearing out of the room.

Kitty walked over behind Scott and sat in Evan's chair.

"So like who is she?" she asked.

"Kitty I didn't tell Evan and I am not going to tell you, come on we are leaving in a minute," he said standing up and taking is own plate to the sink. Kitty pulled a face standing up.

"Jeez what is up with every one today? You are all totally cranky" she moaned as she walked out of the room.

The drive to Bayville was in silent. Jean and Kitty sat in the front with Scott and Rogue, Evan and Kurt in the back.

"So are you gonna tell us now?" Evan asked.

"Ya Scott who is she?" Kurt said leaning forward in his seat. Scott sighed.

"Why are yall so interested anyway?" Rogue asked folding her arms over her chest. Scott offered her a smile.

"Oh like come on Scott" Kitty moan.

"What's going on?" Jean asked.

"Scott's got himself a big date tonight" Kurt said. Jean raised an eyebrow, her heart skipping a beat.

"Has he now?" she said. Scott glanced over at her and smiled. She smiled back. Kurt raised an eyebrow and leaned over to Evan whispering something in his ear. Evan looked over at Scott who now had his eyes on the road and the to Jean who was looking at him. He smiled.

"Right I get it now" he said aloud. Kurt winked.

"What?" Kitty asked looking over her shoulder at Evan who nodded his head toward Jean. Kitty followed his nod and looked at Jean. Jean's eyes were on Scott, a faint almost invisible smile on her lips.

"You!" Kitty squealed. Jean jumped her eyes snapping to Kitty who was giggling. Her gaze wondered to Evan and Kurt who were laughing as well.

"What?" she asked.

"I understand if you didn't hear me as you were so in to what you were looking at before." Kitty said gesturing to Scott who hadn't looked around. Jean bit her lip feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment and bowed her head.

"This is sooo great!" Kitty said. In the back Rogue rolled her eyes and shook her head.

The school halls were crowded with students walking to their lessons or to their lockers. Jean on the other hand was on a mission to find Duncan. She weaved in and out of people trying to get down to her first class, which she had with Duncan. The bell sounded and rush hour began.

By the time she had walked through the door almost every one had taken a seat. She looked to the back of the class where she and Duncan sat, both seats were empty. Walking down the small isles of desks she slid into her seat and pulled out her books. A few minutes after the second bell Duncan came walking through the door and gave her a small wave as he found his way to his seat.

"Hey Jean" he said placing a small kiss on her cheek. Jean gave him a wry smile and watched him sit down.

"Duncan listen" Jean began her voice in a whisper. He turned to look at her a huge grin on his face.

"Man how good was that pass I threw?" he asked ignoring her last sentence. Jean frowned shaking her head.

"Coach said that I have to spend more time training now for the big game and he has written a note to all the teachers telling them to go easy on the homework" he said proudly. Jean rolled her eyes. She hated the fact that Duncan used sport as an excuse to get good grades and no homework while every one else had to work hard to get theirs.

"Man and there is going to be a huge party after I win the big game. I told Simons we would come"

Jean raised an eyebrow.

"You're conceited" she told him. He looked at her blankly and she shook her head, "You didn't even ask me if I wanted to go, did it not occur to you that I might have plans of my own?"

"Yeah but I thought."

"Listen Duncan I don't think this is going to work any more" she said dryly, feeling her irritation beginning to rise.

"What? The party because we don't have to go if you don't want to, we can do some-"

"No Duncan, us. I don't think this relationship is working any more". He stared at her for several seconds in silence.

"Please say something"

"Why not?" he asked frowning. She shrugged.

"I'm just not getting any where in this. I need time to be on my own."

"But we were supposed to sleep together the night of the party" he said

"What?! I never said I'd sleep with you and you didn't even ask me if I could go you just assumed I would drop everything for you. Duncan it takes two people for a relationship to work and I don't want to be in it any more"

Duncan raised an eyebrow.

"Ok let me put this into terms you will understand. I am breaking up with you"

"Are you gay?" he asked. Jean threw her arms into the air.

"What! No!! and I cant believe you would even ask me something like that! I just do not want to be with you any more, I'm sorry but I don't"

"Huh" he groaned looking forward at them empty teachers desk, "Where is the teacher?"

"Don't change the subject" she said. He looked down and shrugged.

"You were a lousy lay anyway"

"Duncan I have never slept with you!" he glared at her.

"You were a lousy girlfriend too" he complained. Jean frowned turning away from him. "You were a teas and led me on" he growled. Jean looked forward, keeping her eyes on the black board at the head of the class trying not the let the words phase her. She could sense the stare of every one else in the room burn through her skin. Her cheeks began to colour with embarrassment. Still she looked on while Duncan told her how bad a girlfriend she was and all the things she had done wrong to him. Her eyes stung with tears of embarrassment and anger and she blinked them away refusing to let herself go.

"I never liked you anyway, you were just -"

"Stop it Duncan!" she growled. "I don't care what you think of me or thought of me or will think of me, you're just trying to make yourself look good after your shameful kick to the curb! Sorry I dented your ego but you should be thanking me really because it was way too big! You are way to self centered to make any relationship work, you could have one with yourself!"

Sounds of laughter went through the other students. Duncan's cheeks flushed bright red and pursed his lips. With a growl he stood up so fast that his chair toppled over and he stormed out of the room. As soon as the door clicked shut the rest of the people in the class to laugh and shout words of praise to Jean. Glancing over at the others she could see the guys looking at her obviously taking into account what Duncan had said. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as the words of praise began to change to whispers and snickers of mockery. Biting her lip Jean stood up and walked out of the room. There was no teacher any way so what was the point of listening to them.

Walking through the silent halls was a change. Breathing in deeply she stopped in her tracks leaning up against the locker. She closed her eyes trying to steady herself and hold back the tears that threatened to leak from underneath her closed eyelids. Why should she care about what other people thought or what Duncan said, she knew it wasn't true. Wiping her hand over the skin below her eyes she sighed and composed herself. She stood there for several minutes listening to the silence and staring at the wall in front of her.

The bell rang loudly through the empty hall way. Jean pushed her self off the lockers and began strolling down the hall and out into the court yard. With in seconds the grounds were filled with bodies flooding the court yard and lunch hall. Finding her self an empty bench she sat down with a sigh. She looked around all the faces around her. Suddenly she was so aware of all the couples in the school. She watched them as they would walk past her hand in hand. Her ears twitched and she turned her head to the back exit. Duncan and his crowd of jocks came out laughing and joking as usual. She bit her lip averting her eyes to the ground. She hoped that they wouldn't see her.

"Hey Jean" a voice came from behind her. She jumped spinning around startled.

"Sorry" Scott chuckled holding up his hands. "Are you ok?" he asked seeing her eyes sparkling with what looked like un-cried tears.

"Yes" she said with a smile. Scott walked around taking a seat next to her and placed an arm on her shoulder. He looked into her sparkling eyes and frowned.

"You're not are you?" he said shaking his head.

"Yes I am Scott, I'm fine." She said dropping her gaze down avoiding his eyes.

"Hey Duncan, look who it is" the call wasn't so distant from where they were sitting. Both Jean and Scott looked up to see Simons. A guy with mousy brown hair and a broad body stood before then dressed in jeans and a soccer jacket. His hands were deep into his pockets and he wore a half smile. Scott raised an eyebrow and watched as the rest of the jocks walked over. Jean frowned seeing the same expression on each of their faces. Duncan grunted and turned his nose up at them attempting to walk on, but was pulled back by Simons.

"Is it true, that you and Jack Nerdly did it in his mum's wardrobe?" he asked laughing. Jean's mouth dropped open. Jack Nerdly was a member of the science club, she had a project with him. Simon's broke out into laughter at her response. He was a tall and lanky figure who wore glasses that magnified his eyes and made them look twice as large as they actually were. He was known for his lousy dress sense and horrendous ties. How ever whilst Jean was working with him they became close friends.

"What?!" Scott began standing up. Jean's eyes dropped to her knees in embarrassment.

"Yeah Summers didn't you know? She did it in a wardrobe with the biggest geek in school!" he said laughing again.

"He is not a geek; he happens to be a very good person and is better than you would ever be!" Jean shouted feeling her rage begin to boil. Simons stopped laughing and held up his hands with an insulting expression on his face. Behind him all the jocks were chuckling and whispering. Jean but her lip nervously feeling the attention of every one else in the court yard drawn to them.

"That is not true!" Scott spat clenching his hands into fists.

"Oh really? Well maybe you hadn't heard? Oh I am sorry" Simons mocked crossing his arms over his chest. Jean could feel rage flooding off of Scott.

*Don't let him get to you Scott* Jean said mentally looking up at him.

"He is really asking for it" Scott replied under his breath. Jean looked forward to Simons who was imitating her. She felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She heard Scott growl and he gritted his teeth.

"Hey Simons!" the call drew her attention back to the guys in front. Suddenly a tall and lanky boy was pushed through the small crowd into Simons who caught him. He gripped the shoulders of his shirt and shook him.

"Jack" Jean said frowning. Simons laughed looking from Jean to Jack and suddenly pushed Jack to the floor. Jack fell on to his front and let out a moan as Simons pressed his foot into his bony back.

"What's that matter Jean? Am I hurting your boyfriend?" he said mockingly.

"He is not my boy friend and you know it! This is just some sad attempt to get some pride back from when I dumped your pathetic leader!" she barked. Simons growled raising his leg and kicking Jack hard in the side. Jack let out a cry of pain clenching his side. Jean gasped as did every one watching.

"What are you doing?!" she yelled standing on her feet.

"What does it look like?" he asked coldly kicking jack again.

"Leave him alone!" she yelled fighting back tears.

"Admit it!" he yelled the smile now back on his face.

"Admit what?" she asked back. She flinched as Jack took another blow from Simons.

"You know! Admit that you had sex with him!" he yelled. Jean swallowed suddenly feeling sick. The court yard was silent and all eyes were upon them.

"Simons this is bullshit!" Scott hissed taking a step forward. Simons shrugged bending down and picking up Jack by the color of his shirt. A tear trickled down Jean's cheek. Jacks glasses were broken, his shirt stained with mud and grass, a huge bruise had began to form on his arm and his side.

"Stay out of this Summers!" Simons yelled, "Come on Jean, admit it! You cheated on Duncan with his loser!" he barked shaking Jack.

"Duncan?" Scott asked looking at Jean and saw the tears in her eyes. He turned back to Simons and growled taking a step forward.

"No Scott don't!" Jean began grabbing his arm. Scott froze and looked at her raising his eyebrow.

"Why not?!" he asked.

"I don't want you getting involved in this." She said looking up at him, a pleading look on his face.

"Admit it Grey!" Simons yelled shoving jack to the floor again. Jean winced watching Jack helplessly.

"I slept with Jack" she murmured under her breath looking down to the ground. Simons crouched down over Jack and lifted his head up by his hair.

"What?" he asked. Jean but her lip rolling her teary eyes, "I'm a little deaf, shout it to me!" he said. Jack yelled out in pain as his hair slowly began to be pulled out of his scalp.

"I slept with Jack Nerdy!" she yelled feeling her anger begin to bubble.

"What? No!" Scott yelled looking from Jean to Simons who was still bent over Jack with a satisfied grin on his face.

"Drop him Simons" Scott yelled. Simons turned to him and frowned. He released his grip on the boys head and stood up.

"You gonna do something about it Summers?" he asked walking in front of Jack who was now crippled on the floor.

"I might"

"I don't see why you would want to defend that little whore any way" he sneered. Scott's eyes widened behind his glasses.

"What?" he asked his rage boiling over. Simons chuckled.

"Don't ever call her that! You don't know a thing about her!" he growled.

"Yeah and I don't need to know her to know she is a slut"

"Say that again" Scott growled.

"She is a slut!" Simons said again. Scott gritted his teeth and leaped toward him, landing punches where ever he could. Yells and cheer came from the people watching and a circle of people formed around Scott and Simons cheering them on as they watched the two hit each other.

"She is not a slut!" Scott yelled as he threw his fist into Simons' cheek.

"Stop it!" Jean yelled running though the circle of people and in between the two guys. She stuck her arms out looking at Scott.

"Stop it both of you! Get a hold of your selves!" she yelled looking from to the other.

"Jean move out the way" Scott said wiping away a trace of blood from his now cut lip. She shook her head putting her hands on her hips.

"No! I am not going to stand here and watch you two kill each other. Scott they are bastards, just leave it."

Simons growled and jumped on her back grabbing her hair. Jean yelled out in pain using her powers to fling him backward. "Don't touch me!" she screamed. Simons went flying backward hitting the trunk of a tree. The crowd of people watched with open mouths as Jean calmed herself down, rubbing her scalp. Sniffing away tears she walked over to Jack who was staggering to his feet behind every one. She put a hand on is shoulder.

"Are you ok?" she asked. He shrugged off her touch brushing himself down.

"Yeah, never been better!" he said his words dripping with sarcasm. He turned and walked away leaving her with a scowl as he looked over his shoulder, "Thanks a lot jean" he murmured. A silent tear trickled down her face as she turned away and walked through the crowd and stood beside Scott.

"Lets go" she whispered. Scott nodded lightly touching her arms and following silently beside her.

A/N: well sorry I took so long, school and that is such a drag and takes up so much time. But I have work experience for two weeks which will take up even more time. But reviews are still wanted!