Kurt was suddenly in my room, and I dropped my cell phone in surprise as clouds of sulfur wafted into my face. He stood there, grinning at me, while I sat on my bed in pajamas I have had since I was eight years old. Quickly pulling my blankets over me, I hissed at him.
"Kurt, what the Hell??" I said softly, afraid that my mom could hear.

"So which side?" he said, eager and a little nervous looking.

"Why the Hell are you in my room?"

"Come on," he said, "I don't have all night."

"I could have told you on the phone," I muttered. "It's the X-Men, okay?"

He cheered and I shushed him quickly, looking worriedly at my door. "Sorry," he whispered.
"This is really the first successful reqruiting I've done. Scott can't hold it over my head anymore."

"Whatever," I said, rolling my eyes. "Now will you get out of my room? However you got in here?"

"Sure," He said, waving. "Auf Wiedersehen." The sulfur cloud appeared again and I coughed, covering my head with my pillow. What a weirdo.

O.O

Lance was right behind me when I turned away from my locker. I squealed and dropped my books. "Oh"
I said. "Lance. You scared me."

"Sorry," he said. "So which side are you on, Lai?"

I groaned in my head. Is that all these guys talked about? "Can we not have this talk right now?"

"Why not?" he said. "It's a simple question. Which side did you choose?"

I shook my head. "Please, Lance. Just leave me alone, okay?" He followed me as I walked down the hallway. "I don't want to talk about this right now."

"Just answer me." Lance took my arm firmly, turning me around. "Alaya."

I looked into his eyes for only a moment, my own wanting to fill with tears. I held them back, desperately brave against my best friend. "I... I..." I whispered, breath cathcing in my throat.

"You chose the X-Men, didn't you?" he said angrily. "Didn't you, Alaya?"

I nodded weakly, feeling a tear slide down, cooling my warm cheek.

He squeezed my arm and let go, looking upset and infuriated. "How could you?" He yelled. "How could you,
we're best friends! You can't be on their side!"

"I don't want to rule the world, Lance," I said quietly, looking down. "I just want to live in it."

"You sound just like them," he spat, turning around and storming down the hall as the bell rang.

"Lance," I whispered. "Lance, wait. Come back."

O.O

I spent most of the day dodging Lance and Kurt, not wanting to talk to either of them as Kurt tried to introduce me to his friends every time I turned around and Lance shot me death glares.
Lance truly hated me, I could see it in his face. Complete disgust. It made me want to scream.
He was my best friend, a true friend since we were little, and now he hated me. Maybe, I thought,
maybe I made the wrong decision.

Lunch would have been Hell had I not decided to leave the school. I didn't think I could take sitting alone and out in the open, dodging Kurt and having Lance stare at me. I suddenly had a sickening thought. "Pietro," I whispered to the sidewalk as I shuffled along. He must hate me too.

Just thinking that made the tears start again, hitting my shoes after rolling down my face. They would all hate me, I would never tell Pietro how I felt, not now anyway. Not now that I've screwed up my life for good. Maybe I should go back and tell them I changed my mind.

I jumped as a hand was suddenly on my shoulder, whirling around. Pietro smiled at me, blue eyes flashing and making my heart skip. "Hey," he said. "Where are you running off too?"

"Nowhere," I said. "Away from people."

"Yeah, people are nuts, right?" He sat on the sidewalk and patted the space next to him.

I couldn't stop myself from sitting down next to him, even as my chest was ready to explode.
"Right," I said softly, avoiding his gaze. "Nuts." I hoped he hadn't heard from Lance what side I was on. Maybe I could play like I was just kidding.

Pietro looked at me curiously. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," I said, giggleing nervously. Why was I such a dork?

"I like your hair," he said, running a finger down the white streak in my brown hair. "It's a good look on you."

I blushed and looked away.

"Don't be like that, Alaya," he said. "Talk to me. What's up?"

Another tear, I thought miserably. I can't believe I'm crying in front of pietro.

"Are you okay?" Pietro took my chin in his hand and turned my face to look at him. I shivered as my eyes were drawn to his so automatically. "Alaya?"

"I am now," I whispered, chest tight and face warm. Something was happening.

He leaned closer. "Really," he said, and I shuddered as he brushed away a tear.

I nodded. He was going to kiss me. Oh my God, I thought. "Pietro," I said weakly.

He pressed his lips to mine, and I wrapped my arms around his neck as I went completely numb in his hold. I can't belive this, I thought. I can't believe he...

Pietro jerked away, groaning and holding his head. "Ow," he said.

"Pietro?" I asked. "Oh man, I'm sorry..."

"It's fine," he said. "It's not your fault."

"You're not mad?"

"No," he smiled at me. "I'm not mad."

"And you still like me?" I was nervous, afraid that he wouldn't be interested if he couldn't kiss me until I learned control.

"Sure," he said. "Come on, we better go back to school."

I stood up with him, smiling. Then I frowned. "Pietro..."

"What?" he looked at me. "What's wrong?"

"I have to tell you... I'm with the X-Men," I said, looking away.

He nodded. "Yeah, Lance told me."

I brightened immediately. "He did??"

"Yeah," he said. "I don't care."

I grinned and followed him as he walked back towards the school. How I wished I could hold his hand. I had to remember to wear gloves from now on.

O.O

"I think it might work," Pietro said to Lance.

"It's wrong and you know it is," Lance growled. "How could you even try to manipulate her like that?"

"I thought you wanted her on our side," Pietro said slyly. He folded his arms. "I can convince her."

"By pretending you like her??"

"Sure," he said. "It'll work. Trust me, okay?"