Alright, I'm tired of waiting and I know you all are too! So, I'm continuing – computer or no. This fic is mostly done, and I refuse to wait any longer for it to be finished just because I can't get a decent hard drive. Now, with my ranting out of the way, I have a question for anyone willing to read an A/N. A vote really. Do you all think I should make this a Matchmaking Series, or just keep it to one fic? I've been thinking about making it into a series, but I want your opinions.

Sorry, this chapter probably won't be at its best, but after so much time away I have to get back in the groove. Hope it's not too disappointing. While it might not be the longest chapter I've ever written, I hope its length will make up for some of the time.

Chapter 14

Misery was undoubtedly Scott's best friend lately. Rogue and Remy couldn't figure out what was wrong with him, nor could Amara and John. True, they'd been spying on Taryn for a while now, but when she didn't try anything for a while, they began to take breaks. As bad luck would have it, they'd been making out in a corner on the other side of the school when Taryn put her plan into motion.

Jean was extremely distant and frosty to Scott when she did talk to him, which was rare these days. It was only a week since Taryn's kiss, but it felt like much longer to Scott – and Jean, though she tried to act like she hadn't noticed. Every time she saw him, her heart shattered into a million pieces and left her weeping in her room late at night. If anyone heard, no one said anything for which she was grateful.

Taryn enjoyed the show quite a bit. Whenever she saw Jean in the hall, she would shoot her superior smirks and strut past as though she owned the school. Jean thought it was because she had won Scott and knew it, but she had not idea the brunette was still trying to catch his attention – which was completely on why Jean was so pissed at him.

Duncan chuckled when he saw Scott's forlorn expression. Jean had been with him more and more lately and she'd stopped wearing that horrid scarf. He thought she might've burned it, but somehow he knew he wasn't that lucky. Didn't mean he couldn't hope though, right?

Monday morning donned bright and early, bringing wakefulness to the students at Xavier's. Scott groaned and rolled over in bed, pulling the comforter over his head. He didn't feel like getting up – school or no. With Jean mad at him, Bayville High just didn't seem as interesting. It was just another school now, and Scott hated it.

Unfortunately, he was brought forcedly back to consciousness by a loud knocking. He knew that knock well by now. Grumbling, he climbed out of bed and opened the door to allow Rogue entrance. She didn't bare pancakes as usual; Scott made it clear he was too miserable to eat more than necessary two days back. Instead, she was smirking triumphantly at him with her hands on her hips.

"What?" he asked nervously. He'd learned the expressions the other students wore, and this was something usually found on Amara or John's face when they had a particularly dangerous plan. It was no different for Rogue.

"Sugah, Ah've got an idea!" Rogue exclaimed happily. "A way t' make Jean fo'give ya."

"Really?" the hope in Scott's voice broke Rogue's heart, but the smile never left her lips. She might not have known what happened, but she knew it concerned that Taryn girl and, most likely, Jean's idiot of a boyfriend.

"Really," Rogue grinned and stepped into the room. "Wanna hear it?"

"Yes!" Scott exclaimed loudly. He didn't care how enthusiastic he sounded right now; getting Jean back was his only priority. He pulled Rogue into the room and closed the door.

"Well, it's like this…"

&&&&&&

Amara grinned at the nervous brunette. Taryn knew Amara Aquilla well, and while she had been rude to the girl before, the announcement that she was a princess a few months back had made her antsy whenever the girl was around. She knew the ebony-skinned beauty didn't like her in the least, and seeing her smiling at her like that was just…creepy.

"Can I help you?" she asked as calmly as she could. Amara's grin grew when she heard the slight stutter. John, standing beside her, wrapped an arm around her waist. Taryn's nervousness grew. While the cute Aussie was unknown to her, she could feel an aura of insanity and danger surrounding him. It freaked her out to be honest.

"Actually, yes you can," Amara said. She gestured towards the chair in the empty classroom she'd led Taryn into. "Have a seat Miss Fujioka. This will be quick if you cooperate."

Taryn gulped. That didn't sound good. She nodded hesitantly and took a seat.

"So," Amara said conversationally, "what did you do to Scott and Jean? They're absolutely miserable!"

"Really?" Taryn pretended to check her nails. "I'm sorry to hear that, but I don't know anything about it."

"Don't lie to me," Amara said harshly. Smiling again, when she saw Taryn was even more afraid, she hopped onto the dusty teacher's desk and clasped her hands in front of her. "As I'm sure you know, I don't get along with Miss Grey very much either. I just want to know what you did, so that I might compliment you on a job well done."

Taryn frowned. She was getting bad vibes about this, but she also knew Amara wasn't lying. She'd seen the way Jean and Amara acted around each other. While they were civil, there was always the sense of dislike between them. It wasn't strong, but it was there. With a sigh, she figured Amara was telling the truth, and it never hurt to get compliments from a princess.

"Well, I asked Scott if I could talk to him," she began slowly. A smirk slid across her face as she thought about all that had happened. "Duncan and I have been trying to separate Jean and Scott for a while now, but this was the only plan that we, I, hadn't tried yet. I pulled him to a deserted corner and kissed him, only when Jean was watching, and then pulled away. He told me he didn't like it, of course, but with Jean now out of the picture it'll only be a matter of time before he's all over me."

A high pitched giggle escaped her and made Amara and John cringe. The princess smiled sadistically at the brunette and hopped off the desk. When Taryn was standing, Amara shook her hand.

"Thank you for that," she said, leading her to the door. Taryn nodded, still chuckling at her own genius, and left the room. Once she was gone, Amara closed the door and leaned against it with disgusted look upon her face. She rubbed her hand on the door, as though trying to get off some unseen slime.

"Get all tha', love?" John asked. He'd been there for 'muscle', and had desperately hoped Taryn might try something so he could burn her. Her lack of struggle was a putdown for him, but he supposed it was worth it. Amara grinned and held out a small tape recorder.

"Every last word."

&&&&&&

Jean frowned when Amara and John stopped her on the stairs. Homework weighed down her messenger bag and she wanted to get it done before her date tonight. Duncan was taking her out to some restaurant, which reminded her far too much of Scott than she cared to admit, but who was she to say no to a sweet gesture? Now, these two were in her way.

"What do you two want?" she asked. Even Jean had to admit her tone came out harsher than intended, but she didn't plan on apologizing to the pyros. They'd caused her too much trouble in the past to really deserve an apology now.

"Snippy, snippy," John admonished, wagging a finger through the air. He wrapped his arm around Amara's waist, as the two grinned down at her. "We got somethin' for ya, Red. A surprise o' sorts."

Jean grimaced. It was never a good thing when they had a 'surprise'. She could already picture her whole room aflame, or scorched so badly she wouldn't be able to tell what the wall was and what her bed was. She shuddered at the thought and glared at them.

"I don't care to see your surprises."

The redhead intended to stalk past them, go into her room, and either be pleasantly surprised by its wholesomeness or unpleasantly un-surprised by its new burnt look. Instead, the couple moved in front of her again. She went to the left, only to have them follow. Amara pouted.

"Oh come on now," she whined, "please, just listen to our surprise."

"Fine," she sighed in defeat. She would never get past them if they didn't want her too. Knowing them for as long as she had, Jean knew they could very well continue to cut her off every time she tried to pass them well into the night. They were just that annoying.

"Goody!" Amara squealed. Grabbing her wrist in one hand, she pulled her up the stairs and into her room. Jean was vaguely aware of her door shutting behind her as John entered, but she was too happy to see her room in whole to really worry about the need for privacy.

"So," she finally snapped, "what's this surprise?"

Amara grinned and held out a tape recorder. Jean frowned.

"What's that got to do with anything?" she asked baffled. Amara and John rolled their eyes.

"Just take it and press play," Amara snapped. Glaring at her tone, Jean took the recorder with a grumble. Pressing the required button, the sound of Taryn's voice filled the room. Green eyes widened when she heard Taryn explain her and Duncan's plan. By the time the tape ended just a minute or so later, Jean was red in the face.

"So…" John said hesitantly, seeing the look on her face. She'd never looked that angry with them! "Shall we?"

Amara, also noticing the unhealthy coloring Jean's face, nodded and looped arms with John. The two started at a slow walk towards the door, which turned into a full out run when they got into the hall. The door slammed behind them, but the following yell could still be heard throughout the mansion.

"I'M GONNA KILL HER!"

&&&&&&

In the garage, Rogue and Remy looked up from their respective bikes. Sharing a knowing smirk, they set back to work. It seemed Rogue's plan had worked. Now, they just had to wait for Scott and Jean to make up and all would be as it should.

&&&&&&

Scott frowned when he heard the loud yell. He knew he should be worried about the poor soul that made Jean so angry, but something deep down was telling him to be happy. Despite his attempts to continue frowning, he couldn't stop a smile from forming on his face. Something good was about to happen, he could just feel it. The knock on his door brought him back to reality, and he exchanged the, undoubtedly goofy, look on his face for a more serious one.

"Jean?" he asked, seeing her at his door. She smiled softly at him, lowering her head so tendrils of red fell in her face. His breath caught at her sheer beauty in that moment. The purple scarf, he briefly noted, was being twisted between her fingers.

"Scott, we need to talk."

&&&&&&

Duncan straightened his tie and smiled in his rearview mirror. Shining teeth grinned back at him, and he ran a hand through his blond locks. No way would Jean be able to resist him tonight. Not when he looked this sophisticated. He chuckled at the thought of Scott's face should he see her leave with him tonight. Undoubtedly, the boy was already bawling his eyes out for losing the girl. But that's just how it was. The strongest, best looking guy got the girl, and Duncan knew he was far better looking and far stronger than Scott.

He stepped out of the blue convertible and strutted confidently up to the gates. He hated coming here really, but he knew it would make Jean happy if he picked her up instead of making her meet him somewhere. Besides, there was always the slight chance Scott would be the one that had to let him in, and if that were the case…well, Duncan would be getting a very interesting show of teary-eyed pretty boy in just a few moments.

The box buzzed and a female voice sounded through. He squashed the momentary feeling of disappointment that Scott wasn't the one there. Instead, he smirked and leaned against the fence casually.

"I'm here to pick up Jean," he said easily. "So, let me in."

"Say please," the voice said. It sounded oddly familiar, like that Pryde girl. He frowned but decided to do as she bid. The faster he got in, the faster he could rub it in Scott's face he was taking Jean out.

"Please," he said sarcastically. The gates swung open suddenly, surprising him and making him fall. Luckily, it hadn't rained in a while, so his suit didn't get more than a little dirt on it. Standing, he muttered curses and promised to get revenge at school sometime later. He dusted off the brown flecks on his black jacket and strutted to the door of the mansion.

Before he could knock, the door swung open. His jaw dropped when he saw the beauty standing there. 6' of nothing but legs and chest, he recognized her as the girl that had taken Jean and Scott from school once. She smirked when she saw him.

"Dumb Kid!" she greeted. "Welcome t' our humble abode."

Duncan frowned. "My name is Duncan," he said tightly. Maybe the girl wasn't that pretty. She waved him off, and instead stepped aside so he could enter.

"Hang on a sec, Ah'll get Jean."

Duncan nodded, fully expecting her to run upstairs and tell his girlfriend her date was here. He wouldn't be surprised if a series of squeals followed either. He'd certainly gotten dressed up, and he knew how much girls liked to fawn over boyfriends that got fancy for their women.

"JEAN!" Rogue yelled instead, "DUMB KID IS HERE T' PICK YA UP, SUGAH!"

Glaring at her, the jock straightened his jacket and willed away the red spots on his cheeks. Didn't she hear him when he said his name was Duncan? Stupid bitch he thought irately. She frowned at him, as though she'd heard his thoughts, but she didn't comment. His attention was soon drawn from her to Jean as the redhead descended the steps – with Scott at her side.

"Duncan," Jean greeted merrily, looping her arm with his rival's. "Scott and I have something to tell you."

"Jean?" Duncan frowned. Rogue seemed content to watch, but a quick look from Scott had her leaving the room with a grumble. She glared at him, but he merely smiled cheekily in reply.

"It's about yours and Taryn's plan," she said simply. Duncan felt his breath catch. She knew about their plans? That…that wasn't good. Jean grinned when she heard his thoughts. No, she thought cruelly, it really wasn't good at all.

&&&&&&

10 minutes later

Duncan ran from the room as fast as his legs could carry him. The sound of Jean's yelling could still be heard from the mansion as she and Scott stood in the doorway. Scott's arm was wrapped smugly around Jean, but Duncan was too busy running from the angry redhead to care.

"AND IF I EVER SEE YOUR FACE HERE AGAIN," Jean yelled, "I'LL SICK AMARA AND JOHN ON YOU!"

He didn't know who John was, but he figured Amara was that insane princess with a thing for fire. The way she said it though, he figured it would be best not to test her. Maybe he could talk to her at school sometime later…much, much later he thought as a vase flew over his head. He ran out the gates and clambered into his car before Jean could try bettering her aim with him as a target again.

As the car sped off, Scott smiled down at his angry girlfriend. He leaned over to kiss the top of her head, chuckling when he felt her tense shoulders relax almost immediately. Tomorrow they could deal with Taryn, but for now he just wanted to spend time focusing on Jean.

"So," he started, biting his lip, "since you're all dressed up…wanna go out?"

Jean blinked up at him, smiling nervously and blushing. She pulled at the hem of her light purple skirt and nodded.

"How about Rosario's?" she suggested timidly. "I have someone I need to talk to there…"

Eleanor deserved thanks after all. Jean figured she could always thank Rogue later, since they lived in the same place. Scott grinned and nodded. As the two walked out of the mansion, four eavesdroppers high fived each other at their accomplishment. It was about time.