Chapter 7

Piotr stared at Kitty. He blinked once, twice, three times. He couldn't stop staring, gaping more like, at her. Stunned silence surrounded them, and he shook his head to clear the fog quickly taking over his mind. He couldn't believe what she just told him, what she'd done, said!

"Excuse me, Katya, but what?" his voice wasn't harsh, more surprised than anything. Still, Kitty winced at the tone and looked away in shame.

"I sorta told Lance we were dating," Kitty said sheepishly. "He didn't believe me, and I got so upset that he didn't think I could move on that I kinda sorta had Scott tell him we were too."

The silence continued. Piotr thought he knew Kitty, thought she was responsible, but this? He couldn't believe it! Part of him wanted to jump in joy that it was him she said she was dating, the other half, however, wanted to sit her down and scold her about her actions. He thought she knew, understood, why they couldn't be together, but this made him wonder if she really had any idea.

"Katya, I-I…" he paused, unknowingly making Kitty feel worse by the second. "I need to think."

He walked off before she could apologize further. He winced himself when he heard her sniffle, but he couldn't bear to turn and comfort her right now. Of course Piotr was thankful she told him the truth straight out, he would hate discovering the truth later, but still! She said they were dating as though it would only affect her and not him as well. He wasn't sure if he should be insulted or not, and that was why he needed to think. To figure things out.

Kitty watched him go, feeling guilt claw at her. She knew it was a bad idea to tell Lance they were dating, and she still did it! What had she been thinking? Piotr probably hated her now, never mind what Scott and Jean thought, and he wouldn't want to talk to her ever again! That thought alone made her sniffle back tears.

"Kitty?" Jean's soothing voice called a few minutes after Piotr's departure. "Are you okay? I saw Piotr leaving, and he didn't look so well – Kitty!"

The redhead rushed to her crying friend, wrapping her arms around Kitty immediately. She didn't know what happened, but she had a feeling Kitty just told Piotr what she'd done and he didn't take it too well. He wasn't the type to make a girl cry though, no matter how big the mistake. This changed her perception of the Russian big time! What a jerk she thought vehemently, unaware she'd done so with her telepathy.

Kitty pulled away from her and glared, tempted to slap the glare off her friend's face. She knew Jean only wanted to look out for her, but how dare she call Piotr a jerk? He hadn't done anything! Kitty knew deep down she would've acted the same way he did if he had been the one to say such a thing to his ex-girlfriend.

"Don't you dare call Piotr a jerk!" she growled dangerously. Jean jumped at the hateful look on her young face but kept her ground. Kitty's expression calmed and she slumped back next to Jean. "It isn't his fault. He just said he needed some time to think about it."

"Oh," Jean felt herself blush at this revelation. She really needed to work on that jumping to conclusions problem she had. She should've known Piotr would never make Kitty cry intentionally.

"He hates me!" Kitty wailed suddenly. "I just know it! Now, he'll never want to speak to me again! Hell, he'll never want to look at me again!"

"Kitty!" Jean gasped, unused to the valley girl cursing. Rogue cursed, Remy cursed, Amara cursed, John cursed like a sailor, hell even Scott cursed sometimes, but Kitty didn't curse! She had a strict 'no bad words' rule that she, and Jean, tried to uphold.

"What?" Kitty glared at her. "It's true, and you know it! Piotr will never forgive me for this! What was I thinking?"

Placing her head back in her hands, she let out a long, low cry. She felt so stupid. She ruined a good friendship all in the name of making her ex-boyfriend jealous! Honestly, she couldn't blame Piotr for hating her. He had every right too.

"Piotr doesn't hate you," Jean soothed. Rogue, she called mentally, can you please talk to Piotr? Kitty just told him, and now she thinks he hates her because he said he needed time to think.

Ah was busy ya know! Rogue replied, but her voice wasn't as angry as it normally was when someone contacted her mentally. Ah'll talk t' him.

Thanks, Jean sighed in relief. Then, turning back to the problem at hand, she tried to comfort Kitty. The girl just didn't want to believe that Piotr would never hate her. Jean hoped Rogue and Scott managed to push them together soon because she was beginning to think this was hopeless.

&&&&&&

Rogue found Piotr looking over the mansion grounds. She frowned as she neared, sensing the distress rolling off him in waves. One didn't need to be an empath to sense how upset he was. Creeping ever closer, Piotr jumped when Rogue placed a hand on his arm. He turned to face her, sighing when he saw Rogue. Rather it was out of relief or defeat, she couldn't be sure.

"Hey sugah, Jean asked meh t' talk t' ya." Rogue figured being straightforward was the best way to go about this. Piotr may not like to hurt people's feelings, but he was also an honest-to-the-bone man and didn't like to beat around the bush.

"I cannot believe what Katya did," he mumbled almost unwillingly. "I suppose I cannot be mad, but I thought she was more responsible than this!"

Rogue sighed and clapped his back gently. She smiled at him when he looked at her.

"Sugah, Kitty's American. We Americans ain't very responsible. Look at Remy!"

Despite his confusion over Kitty's actions, he couldn't help but laugh. Leave it to Rogue to point out her boyfriend's lack of responsibility before her own. Of course, both southerners could be responsible when they wanted too, they just usually weren't. His smile slowly faded and he looked back at the grounds, feeling the tranquility calm his tensed muscles.

"Look, Pete, Ah know Kitty did wrong sayin' that an' all, but look at it from her point o' view. Lance is a jerk, an' aftah th' way he's treated her he suddenly wants back in. Then, he don't b'lieve she can move on when she tells him she has. Ah cain't blame her fo' doin' what she did, even if Ah do think she shouldn't o' did it."

"I suppose you are right," Piotr sighed in defeat. "I am not angry, just surprised. It does not seem like something Katya would do."

"No," Rogue admitted, "it don't. Ah'll tell ya what, why don't you an' Kitty talk this out yaselves. Ah'll bet if you can pretend t' be her boyfriend an' get Lance off her back, she'll tell him th' truth an' this whole mess'll be straightened out."

"I cannot!" Piotr exclaimed. "The law clearly states that once over eighteen, you cannot date someone younger than eighteen."

"Nah, sugah," Rogue shook her head. "Th' law states that once ovah eighteen, you cain't sleep with someone youngah than eighteen. Don't say nothin' 'bout datin'. Lance is eighteen, an' he dated Kitty. Don't see him in jail (unfortunately) now do ya?"

"No," Piotr admitted, "I do not."

"Great!" Rogue grinned. "So long as ya'll don't do th' horizontal mambo, you'll be fine!"

"Horizontal mambo?" the Russian shot her a confused glance. Rogue smiled.

"Sex, sugah," she clarified, "sex."

"Oh," Piotr blushed, "right."

"Now, why don't you an' Kitty-cat talk this out, hm? She thinks ya hate her right now."

"Hate her?" Piotr looked shocked at this revelation. "I could never hate Katya! She is too special to hate. I mean…" he trailed off, blushing madly. Rogue merely smirked.

"Relax honey," she soothed, "Ah know what ya mean. Why don't you go tell her that though? Ah ain't th' one thinkin' ya hate her."

"I never thought I would be saying this, but you are right, Rogue." Piotr smiled gratefully at her and went in search of Kitty. At least, if they did act like they were dating, he could spend a few days – possibly weeks – as her beau. That would be plenty for him.

"Thanks," Rogue called after him. Then, catching the insult, she glared at his retreating back. "Hey! Ah'll get ya fo' that one day Russian! Ya hear meh!?"

Piotr only smiled and laughed. Somehow, he knew Rogue wasn't seriously angry. Though, he would watch his back for a few days, just in case she did decide to do something in retaliation. Better safe than sorry after all.

"Hm," Rogue chuckled, shaking her head. "Kids."

&&&&&&

"Katya?" Piotr called softly, stepping into her room. Jean left a few minutes ago with Scott, and Kitty wasn't in the mood for another chat. She jumped when she saw Piotr, feeling tears well in her eyes again. He hated her, had come to say he never wanted to see her again! She just barely stopped a long wail from escaping her lips.

"Yes?" she croaked, trying to sound mature. She missed by a lot, but Piotr only smiled sadly and stepped further into the room.

"I have just come to tell you that I will pretend to be your boyfriend," he said softly. Kitty turned away. She knew it! She knew he hated her! She knew he'd never want to see her aga…what?

"What?" she stared at him, utterly baffled. Piotr's smile turned slightly more amused.

"I said I will pretend to be your boyfriend. I realize Lance must have really put you in a rough spot, and I cannot sit idly by while one so sweet is pushed around by one so rough. I will help."

Kitty blushed when he called her sweet, ducking her head to hide the pleased smile on her face. "Thanks, Piotr! I owe you one – er…two!"

"Two?"

"One for this, and one for the ride." Piotr held up a hand.

"I have told you, Katya, I am glad to be of help. You owe me nothing. I should apologize, however, for my behavior. I am sorry to not hear you out before."

"No," Kitty shook her head, "I would've done the same had I been in your position. I think you should've acted the way you did! I should've thought about what I said before I said it."

"You really are more mature than your age," Piotr informed her, earning him a darker blush. He smiled and turned to leave. "I will be driving you to school tomorrow then, da?"

Kitty looked up, smiling brightly for the first time since Lance cornered her in the cafeteria. "Yeah, definitely!"

Piotr nodded once and started out of her room. Kitty's voice stopped him, however, and he couldn't help smiling and blushing at her words. Luckily, he kept his back to her, so she didn't see how happy he was by what she said.

"I'm glad you're pretending to be my boyfriend."

Kitty couldn't be sure if it was real or just her imagination, but she could've sworn she heard Piotr softly reply to her statement before the door closed behind him. Rather it was real or not, Kitty smiled all the same. His words echoed around her room, and she silently hoped it hadn't all been in her mind. Not the soft voice saying three words that made her heart skip.

"So am I."