It was almost eight o' clock by the time Laura and Jullian left the movie theater. The sky was dark and street-lights up and down the street illuminated the sidewalk in white circles. Laura felt a need to shiver, with her legs exposed to the cold air. She resisted the urge and glanced at Jullian, who seemed very cold. It was obvious he hadn't been nearly drowned in an ice-bath until he didn't feel at the age of six. Laura shook the memory from her head. What?

Jullian had worn a green t-shirt and dark skinny jeans to the date with Laura. He had tossed a sports coat of matching color over his shirt to show he had gotten dressed, just not too dressed. They had sat silently throughout the movie, Laura relishing in the new taste of popcorn. It was fattening and not good for her, she could tell just by the taste and the over-saturated buttery smell, but she had enjoyed the taste anyway.

Just as with the popcorn, the movie had made no sense to her. It had been an action-romance movie. The lead female detective had been resistant at first to the assistance of a handsome and charming lead male reporter, but they had eventually admitted their feelings, had sex, and solved the murder. Laura could tell the sex scene hadn't been what Jullian had had in mind, because his heart started racing. Laura had taken no purpose from the movie and hit had only been halfway entertaining, yet she had found herself laughing alongside Jullian for no apparent reason.

Laura brushed her brown hair behind her ear, some was blowing into her face, and she turned to Jullian with a smile. Both were speechless again. Jullian's dark hair moved in the wind and Laura had the overwhelming urge to grab it, twist it in her fingers. She resisted this urge as well. Jullian shoved his hands in his pocket.

"Thanks for coming." He said.

"Thank you for inviting me." Laura smiled. She wanted this boy to like her.

Jullian grinned. "Well, I just had to show you off."

Laura almost thought he was referring to her as property, much as her HYDRA leaders had (once again, what?), but then she realized he was complementing her and smiled even broader in response.

Speechlessness again. Laura held her wrist with her hand. Finally she broke the silence. "I had a good time, but I must be returning home." She said.

Jullian nodded. "Yeah, uh, see you Monday?"

Laura smiled and nodded. She turned to go when Jullian's hand grabbed her arm and spun her, jerking her back towards him. She felt him press his lips to hers, placing his hands on the lower part of her back. She was completely taken off-guard. She had never kissed anyone before. Jullian's kiss lasted only a moment, then he broke apart, studying her to see if he had stepped too far. Laura grabbed his face with both hands and pulled him in, kissing him. It was a little messy at first, but then she figured out how it went and kissed him hard, passionately. Jullian's hands found the bottom of her back again and arched her body into his. The two finally broke the kiss, staring at each other.

"Wow…" Jullian whispered, staring at Laura. She blushed sharply, realizing she had just had her first kiss and understood why it meant so much to people on television and to the girls at the Institute.

"Do you, um, want me to walk you home?" Jullian asked.

Laura almost said yes, but this would lead him to the Xavier Institute and reveal her status as a mutant, something she wasn't ready to reveal yet.

"Thank you, but I will be fine." Laura smiled.

"All right, text me tomorrow!" Jullian waved.

Laura waved back and headed towards the Xavier Institute, turning on her comm-device on her way. She had turned it off during the movie, not wanting anything to interrupt her date. She couldn't wait to tell Rogue about it for some reason. The second she flicked the device on, she was met with a sharp trill to the ear. She cringed and clutched her ear. She almost cursed, but didn't. She accepted the transmission.

"Wildecat." She reported.

"Laura!" Amara exclaimed. "Where the hell have you been? We've been calling you for two hours!"

"I was…preoccupied." Laura replied. "What is the situation?"

"What's the situation? What's the situation?" Amara exclaimed. "The traitor took out Ms. Marvel and half of the X-Men on the Golden Gate Bridge!"

"Is Rogue all right?" Laura asked, her thoughts immediately going to the Belle.

"That's the thing, Laura." Amara said. She stopped for a moment.

"What? Is she all right?" Laura demanded.

"Laura, Rogue was the traitor."