A/N: I just want to tell everyone that I'm putting this under the Jean/Scott section. I've been thinking of doing so since I started the third chapter, but just never did. However, I agree with bloodyrockgod in that it's more Jott than Romy, so just thought I'd fill everyone in on my plans.

Chapter 9

"Excuse me, Miss Trekker?" Taryn called sweetly, standing in the door of the administration office. Normally, she wouldn't be caught dead here, unless she was in trouble, but Scott needed to get his schedule. Going with him made her look like the sweet girl she liked to think she was.

The vice principal looked up in surprise, glaring at the young girl before her gaze turned to Scott. She irked a brow, not having seen him before. Ever since she started working here after the last vice principal quit, she'd seen most every student in this school at one point or another. She was beginning to wonder why she decided to take this career over that job on the CIA she was offered. The CIA looked less stressful every minute she was here.

"Yes, Miss Fujioka?" she asked with a long sigh.

Scott thought she looked like she was suffering, the way her face was drawn and tired. Really, she couldn't have been more than thirty-five, but she looked near sixty. He felt kind of bad for her; the kids must be really bad here.

"This is Scott Summers, the new boy," Taryn explained with little care as to the tone she used. She honestly couldn't care less about the staff at Bayville High. There was a strict rule for students not to worry about teachers here, and she was the last person that wanted to break that unspoken law.

Miss Trekker's eyes widened, and she smiled at Scott. Still, she didn't look as enthusiastic about getting a new student in the school as Scott was sure she should. It only furthered her belief that she was, more often than naught, seeing kids in here for less than impressive reasons.

"Ah yes, I heard about you. Come in, have a seat. Thank you, Miss Fujioka, you can go to class now."

"Actually," Taryn said with a sweet smile, "I was thinking about showing Scott around. I mean he is new here. Don't want him getting lost, do we?"

Miss Trekker sighed and shook her head. Rolling her eyes heavenward, she wondered again why she thought being a high school vice principal would be less stressful than a secret agent. High speed car chases, spying on corporate villains, taking down underground crime rings, getting shot at by the feds because they didn't know whom she was...it sounded more like a vacation since she started working here.

"Of course dear," she nodded. "I'll tell Principal Kelly about your kind act."

Taryn nodded, looking very pleased with herself. She winked at Scott, and went to wait in the hall. She eagerly awaited his return. Spending all that time alone with him, except for when they got to the classroom, sounded wonderful, and only got better and better every time she thought of it.

Scott forced a smile and watched her go. Relief entered his eyes, and he was thankful to be wearing his glasses. The professor said he'd told them Scott had an eye condition, and thus had to wear the glasses at all times. So, they shouldn't bug him about the eye wear.

He couldn't help but smile at how true that statement was. If they only knew what his eye condition was, he was sure he wouldn't be allowed on the school grounds! Jean had warned him that Principal Kelly was big time on the anti-mutant campaign, and he wasn't afraid to let it be known either. So, he would have to watch what he said around the man.

Scott thought it odd, as he often did, that so many people were so big on their 'destroy all mutants' campaigns. You would think the thought of people with 'superpowers' would make them hesitant about speaking their thoughts aloud – or mentally for that matter. Yet, there were still so many who seemed to think no mutant could touch them, and they could go right on bad mouthing all they wanted.

"Mister Summers?" the masculine voice made Scott turn. He smiled at the tall man standing on the other side of the principal's door.

"Yes?"

"I'm Principal Kelly," he introduced, holding out a hand. Scott stood and shook the appendage, walking into his office. "Please, take a seat."

Scott nodded and did as he was told. He smiled innocently at the man, but deep down was frowning heavily in distaste. Just one look, and Scott knew he didn't like Edward Kelly at all.

&&&&&&

"So?" Taryn smiled when he exited the office. Scott was studying his schedule boredly, one hand tucked into his jeans pocket while the other held the paper at eye level.

"I have Advanced Literature with Miss...Froo-tee-oka?"

"Oh!" Taryn giggled. "Jean has that class too. Her name is Froo-teh-okah. Fruteoka. She's from some far off country or something." she waved a hand to emphasize the 'far off' part.

"Jean has that class?" Scott asked. He pretty much stopped listening to whatever Taryn was saying when the redhead's name was brought up. Taryn frowned, but only briefly, before nodding.

"Yeah, I meet her outside the classroom. She's a nice lady, but really weird."

"Jean?"

"No, Miss Fruteoka. According to some of her students, she hates it when people dis any literature. Yet, she won't even like the book!"

Scott nodded. He could kind of understand that, but there was no reason to let Taryn know that. Even if one hated certain pieces of literature, one that truly appreciated the subject had to appreciate the genius behind all the works. Rather one liked them or not.

"I'll be sure to remember that," he said instead. Taryn smiled and they came to a stop.

"This is the classroom. I'll meet you here at the end of class?"

Scott desperately wanted to say no. He didn't really want to spend the whole school day with Taryn showing him around, especially when he was trying to woo Jean away from Duncan, but she looked so hopeful. He was flattered she liked him so much, and didn't want to hurt her feelings by rejecting her before he really even knew her.

"Sure, I'll meet you here."

Taryn grinned and happily walked – skipped was more like it – away. She was quite pleased with how well that turned out. It was even better than she anticipated.

"What are you smiling about?" Lily asked when she reached the gym.

"You remember that cutie that picked Jean up?" Taryn asked, grin widening. Lily nodded.

"How could I forget? He was totally hot!"

"Yeah, well, his name is Scott Summers. He just started school here today!" Taryn giggled.

"Let me guess, you're the lucky tour guide?" Lily smiled knowingly. Taryn nodded.

"I think he likes me too."

"What about Jean?" the blonde asked, flipping a strand of hair behind her ear.

"What about her?" Taryn shrugged. "She has Duncan remember? Besides, I doubt she'll even notice Scott once Duncan starts showing her how much he cares."

Lily joined the other girl in giggling. "Girl, you are good!"

"Don't I know it."

&&&&&&

"Scott!" Jean exclaimed when she saw him talking to her literature teacher. She hadn't seen him since arriving, and she was getting worried. Finally, she had no choice but to head for class.

He turned at the sound of her voice and smiled. It was rather forced, Jean noted with some confusion. She shrugged it away, however, believing it to be first-day jitters. She remembered those all too well.

"I was looking everywhere for you when I didn't see you by the door this morning!" she blushed when she realized she'd just interrupted a conversation. "Sorry for interrupting, Miss Fruteoka."

"Don't worry about it, Jean dear." the woman waved it away with a bright smile. "Are you enjoying the book I lent you?"

"Huh? Oh yeah," Jean smiled. "King Lear is wonderful. Tragic but wonderful."

She nodded in agreement before turning back to Scott. "Did you know this young man knows Shakespeare? He quoted Romeo when I first saw him! Quite impressive, especially for a teenage boy. I wasn't aware boys took literary works to heart anymore."

"No, I didn't, and they don't – usually," Jean joked, smiling at Scott. He grinned back.

"What can I say? I'm one of a kind." he shrugged nonchalantly, trying to look 'cool'. Jean and Miss Fruteoka chuckled, and the redhead went to her seat. Scott turned back to the teacher and began discussing what they'd been learning in class.

"You can sit next to Jean," she said suddenly, when their conversation had seemingly come to an end. She pointed to the desk next to the telepath, and Scott took it easily. "I'm so proud of you!" she said, turning to Jean. "Dumping that idiot for this one was a smart choice. He's going places! I can feel it!"

"What?" Jean yelped. Scott looked mildly confused, but rather pleased that even a teacher thought him better boyfriend material than Duncan. Then again, he frowned, that might not be a good thing. Miss Fruteoka didn't respond, however, as she was already out the door. Most likely going to get Scott a book.

The mutants stared at the empty space for a while, before deciding to just forget that little scene. Jean turned back to Scott, a questioning look on her pretty face. She kept trying to convince herself Scott just forgot he was going to meet her, but that became increasingly hard when she hadn't seen him wandering aimlessly in the halls.

"Where were you? We agreed to meet by the doors."

Scott shrugged. "Taryn wanted to show me around, apparently. Said you would probably get here close to when the bell rang, and you know I don't like being late."

Jean frowned and nodded. She had figured he was the punctual type, but so was she. If Duncan hadn't insisted on taking her to school that day, she probably would've gotten there before Scott. Or, even better, would've rode with Scott. Giving them more time to talk before they were forced to face the horror of hundreds of teenagers locked away in mosts least favorite place. School.

"Oh, so...I'll show you to your next class then?"

Scott started to agree, but frowned when he remembered Taryn already asked. He shook his head. Jean watched him decline, feeling slightly hurt.

"I would love that, but I promised Taryn to meet her after class."

"Oh."

Jean frowned and turned to face forward. Scott wanted to ask her what was wrong, but was cut off by the warning bell. Several students piled into the classroom, some giving Scott odd looks while others smiled at him. He nodded in greeting, and shot Jean one last look before turning his attention to the front of the class as well.

What was with her? She wasn't jealous or anything, was she? No, he crushed the hopeful feeling he was getting. Of course she wasn't jealous! She had Duncan. He sighed and waited for their teacher to bring him his new literature book. Feeling oddly rejected when Jean didn't look at him the rest of class.

&&&&&&

A/N: I lied! I'm updating sooner. I'm kind of scared that I'll lose my chapters again, so I'll just be updating each chapter as I go. Hopefully I won't get too far behind should I hit writer's block, right?