'Close enough.' conceded Sam, nodding and admitting defeat. The two blond teenagers giggled together companionably, before they heard Franky calling them all out for drinks and cookies.

They made their way into the kitchen where there was a huge family portrait, with a smiling son and two grinning parents each with a hand on either of the sons shoulders, but no daughter. Vixen smiled moodily at the picture, no hint of sincerity on her face except contempt.

'Vixy Babes?' came her brothers voice behind her, a little anxious. 'Sweety are you okay?'

'Am I a horrible person?' she asked turning around to look at him, with a worried look on her face.

'It's not your fault.' he answered quietly, smiling sympathetically. 'You've been hurt and you had to put up walls for your own protection.'

'It's easy to tell mom's a psychiatrist.' she laughed, her face lighting up.

'Shut up, I'm trying to make you feel better!' he replied jokingly. 'But yes.' he continued. 'You are a nasty person to new people.'

'To everyone.' added Jade coming up behind Franky and linking arms with him, Vixen looked at her in inquisitive surprise. 'Come on Vixen, you're mean to me all the time.' Vixen looked down at the floor a little crestfallen.

'I'm sorry…' she said slowly and quietly. 'I… I don't mean to be nasty… I umm…' there was a pause, Jade smiled down at her friend looking at her as though for the first time. Her long golden hair falling down in front of her face, her black and dark red x-suit; Jade watched as she pulled off her crimson gloves to reveal grubby nails at the end of her slender fingers, a bit of dark nail varnish still lingering at the tip.

Vixen looked up at them with a face which simply screamed guilt, her emerald eyes glittering up at Jade and Franky. Jade gazed at her and for the first time, saw past the cool, I-don't-give-a-damn attitude, and looked at her face.

She noticed a large lurker (it's a kind of spot which never actually comes to a head, but lurks just below the skin, glaring up at you in a red way. For more information read Georgia Nicholson.) on her chin and noticed that, apart from her eyes, she was actually not as incredibly stunning as she had believed. She hoped Franky wouldn't look at her like that and see what she really looked like.

'I don't mean to hurt any one.' continued the blond girl, still looking guilty and a little ashamed.

'I think people have learnt to ignore you by now, Vixen.' replied Jade smiling down at her, sort of enjoying seeing her uncomfortable for once.

'I really didn't wanna hurt you.' continued Vixen looking at Jade apologetically. 'Except when we were fighting…' Jade giggled nervously. She well remembered the deep cuts her friend had made in her chest and whose scars were still quite visible.

'Can we stop talking about how horrible Vixen is and start on these cookies?' came Scott's voice from behind Franky and Jade.

'Oh, yeah! Go nuts!' replied Franky looking vaguely over his shoulder. 'I don't think they have nuts in them… they're supposed to be chocolate chip. Organic, naturally.'

'Nice pun.' said Jade slipping her hand slowly down his arm and entwining her fingers gently with his. He smiled down at her adoringly.

'Thank you.' he replied, still with a charming smile across his face, 'It was intended… promise.' Jade giggled. 'Come on then you nasty person, come have some cookies.'

Vixen smiled and followed them back to the rest of the crowd where they all dug into the delicious cookies. Once they had all got into the x-jet and were on their way back to the institute, Franky singled out his sister.

'Hey, Sweety.' he said quietly so only she could hear him, sitting down in the free seat beside her. 'What's up with you and Kurt? You seemed so close when you were filming, and you haven't even spoken to him to my knowledge today. Did he do something to you?'

'No!' replied Vixen a little nervously, keeping her voice down as well. 'It's just that… umm…' she started uncomfortably, she had always been able to tell him everything. 'Well…' she lowered her voice to just over a whisper, just to make absolutely sure noone could hear (she also checked Jade was busy). 'The other day, you know when we had the dance… well, I kinda danced with him, not thinking anything of it… but then it turned into a slow dance and… we nearly… you know…' she finished awkwardly, shrugging and hoping Franky had got the drift.

'So?' he asked shrugging. 'Come on Vixy, you've done worse things in your life than kissing a guy.' he paused. 'You proved that just after the party with Pietro.'

'But he's my best friend!' she urged, still under her breath. 'And I think it's more than just a kiss…' she finished lowering her voice even more so that he had to lean in just to hear what she had said.

'What… you think you have… feelings for him?' asked the handsome young man incredulously. She nodded fervently. 'Well then. What are you waiting for?' he continued out loud, Vixen shushed him.

'What do you mean? And keep your voice down dammit.' she said curiously. 'I can't "go for it", he's my best friend. Doesn't that mean anything to anyone anymore?' she asked incredulously.

'Vixen,' started Franky again, smiling soothingly at her and taking her hand. 'Georgia.' Vixen coughed. 'Come on I can call you Georgia when noone's listening, right?' the girl glared. 'Maybe not.'

'Come on Franky.' she whimpered. 'I'm going out with Quicksilver, but I'm falling in love with my best friend… but I can't fall in love with him-'

'Why not?' he asked smiling disbelieving. 'Why have you got it into your head that you can't?'