When they were outside the school, Vixen suddenly stopped and started pulling her fingers through her long silky hair. Kurt stared at her in dismay.

'What are you doing?' he asked confused, 'You don't usually care what everyone thinks about how you look.'

'It doesn't matter,' she said quickly, not looking at him, 'How do I look?' she suddenly asked, looking expectantly at Kurt who jumped.

'Beautiful…' he said without thinking, then seeing her inquiring face rectified himself, 'Err… in my opinion… you… err… look… great?'

Vixen sighed in exasperation and turned to go inside. Behind her the teenage boy also sighed in regret.

'Just like all the other days… and nights.' he said nostalgically looking at her go up the steps to the door. Suddenly she turned around.

'You coming?' she asked smiling expectantly at him, 'Or are you just gonna skip classes? Cos if you're gonna, then I can too!' she laughed at his shocked face, then he laughed with her as he ran up to join her.

As they went in, they came across Rogue, Jade and Kitty chatting. The 3 girls went deadly silent as they walked past, but Vixen didn't seem to notice: she was scouring the hall way for someone.

'So where were you last night?' Kurt asked her as she stopped at her locker.

'Last night?' she repeated looking at him, 'Oh! I was with the Brotherhood guys.' she said as though it was no big thing, but Kurt gasped.

'What? Where? Why?' he asked inquisitively. She shrugged one of her pretty shoulders.

'At their place,' she said, 'and because I didn't wanna be hanging around the institute.'

'What did you do?' he persevered, pushing her to answer him. She smiled maliciously.

'We got really, really wasted.' she said still smiling naughtily, and raising an eyebrow as she loved to do. Suddenly she noticed who she was looking for over Kurt's shoulder. 'I gotta go.' she said before knocking her locker shut with her hip and sauntering off.

Kurt turned around and saw her walking towards the brotherhood boys. Scandalised he marched off behind her.

'You hang out with these losers now?' he asked irritably, looking from one to the other to another.

'Better than hang out with those losers.' she replied jerking her head in Jade's direction. Hearing that, the dark-haired girl looked outraged and Vixen smiled infuriatingly back at her. She was satisfied to see had a nasty black eye and large gashes all along her bruised cheek.

'Yeah, Bright-eyes.' said Pietro self-confidently, 'Back off.'

'Shut up Speedy.' said Nightcrawler, 'Vixen… I hardly saw you… will you come back tonight?'

'Sure!' said the girl smiling cheerfully, 'We'll do something fun together! Oh, but not at the institute.'

'Okay.' replied Kurt smiling back at her, 'See you later then! Or in class maybe.'

Whereupon the girl and the gang of boys ambled off down the hall way, away from him.

'So where's Blob?' asked Vixen, noticing the spaciousness of the hall without him.

'Oh him' said Lance smiling malevolently, 'He couldn't handle last night.'

'He got himself a nasty hangover!' said Todd coming and standing beside the girl.

'Really?' she asked smiling mischievously, 'I didn't even get a headache.' she said proudly, boasting slightly.

'That's my girl!' said Pietro putting his arm around her shoulders, she smiled a come-on-you-can't-seriously-believe-I'm-gonna-let-you-do-this? Smile and lifted his arm off her shoulders.

'Yeah!' cried Todd, 'She really got you, huh?!?' he punched Pietro's arm sportingly, but the taller boy just glared at him.

'Get lost slime ball.' he said coldly, smacking him around the face with the back of his own hand. The others all laughed at him and even he chuckled as he picked himself off the floor.

That afternoon, Vixen went back to the Brotherhood's place after class.
'So,' said Blob seeing them in with only a bath robe on, 'how was school?' as she walked past him, Vixen grabbed the rope holding the robe up and tugged.
'All the better for seeing you, Cupcake.' she said quietly, looking at him flirtily. Fred blushed wine-coloured and smiled sheepishly.
'Come on Vixen!' said Lance tugging her arm, away from the large boy. 'You know you drive Pietro crazy.'
Pietro smiled enticingly at her, and she returned it. They made their way into the lounge and Pietro, Vixen and Lance sat down on the couch together. Toad came in with a large tray covered in food.
'Dig in, people!' he said proudly handing the tray to Vixen who was sitting in the middle, Quicksilver and Avalanche leaned over her and took some of the cookies.
'Hey,' said the girl suddenly, 'Have you guys got any beer?' she asked looking from one boy to the others.
'No,' said Pietro disappointed, 'we drank it all last night. Especially you!' he looked at her smiling maliciously.
'Yeah, Vixen' said Lance smiling at her in the same manner. 'you were real hardcore.' the girl smiled guiltily.
'I've done it before.' she said shrugging, 'Dude, you can't be outta beer!' she said desperately. The boys shrugged. 'You got any vodka?' the boys shook their heads.
'Sorry Sweety.' said Pietro hugging her shoulders again.

'Hey!' said Avalanche suddenly, picking up a piece of cheese, 'This stuff is blue!'

'Oh my God!!!' cried Vixen jumping up and smacking her hand against her forehead. 'Kurt!!! I forgot!' whereupon she ran for the door. But Quicksilver intercepted her.

'Hey Baby,' he said leaning across the doorway. 'do you really wanna leave for that… guy?' he asked, pausing before saying the word "guy".

'Yes I do.' she said self assuredly. 'I promised him. Now get out of the way or I'll make you.' she looked like she meant it, so the young man stepped aside sighing.

'Will you come back?' he asked tenderly, quietly so the others wouldn't hear. She smiled sweetly at him.

'Can I bring Kurt?' she asked innocently, like a little girl might ask her daddy, knowing he would give her anything she wanted.

'What?' asked the boy smiling, 'You wanna bring your pet here? Won't he shed fur on the couch?' She looked at him incredulously and tried to push past him. 'Of course you can Baby, but I don't think he'll like it.'

'I'll bring alcohol.' she promised and they heard whooping from the lounge. She laughed and walked out.

Before she could even get past the gate Quicksilver sped up to her, took her around the waist and kissed her softly. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and ran her fingers through his blond hair.

'Come back quick, Sweety.' he said pulling away, leaving her with her lips slightly apart and her eyes still closed.

'I may not be as fast as you,' she said opening her sparkling green eyes, 'but I can still be pretty swift.' She smiled mischievously, morphed into a bird and flew off.