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"Holy shit. It's like last night didn't even happen."

"Don't say it so loud, man! I don't wanna make everyone like… un-forget."

"You mean... remember?"

"Yeah. That."

"It's probably for the best. I mean, it was kind of a shitshow."

"Speak for yourself! I made so much cash."

"And didn't share none of it!"

"Duh. I pickpocket it, I keep it."

"Can you all shut up about it?!"

"…"

"Touchy much, Lance?"

"Fuck off, Pietro."

"Very touchy."

The whole incident was forgotten about rather quickly. Perhaps aided by the fact they were finding things to keep them busy. Lance was working stocking shelves at a local grocery store, and when he wasn't doing that, he was attempting to get Kitty to give him the time of day. Pietro had made it onto the senior basketball team and tried to steal Evan's apparent spot as the star player. At the school's requirement, Fred was doing extra literacy courses to catch up on credits. Todd, however, was, as far as Jacelynn could tell, the same as ever.

As for her, she was just sort of coasting. There was no figure looming over her shoulder, instructing her or preparing them for future events. They were not squaring up for a fight any time soon. So, there was nothing really for her, or any of them really, to do except being a normal highschooler for a bit.

Jacelynn and Fred went home early - she was just really not that wild about going to an assembly, all about how great Jean was. The others opted out - Pietro was at practice, and Lance was staying late for " none of your business" reasons, which was not so secretly code for something to do with Kitty Pryde. Todd was doing something, but he had said he'd be home not long after the school day ended.

"Do you have a four?" Jacelynn asked.

The two of them were sitting cross-legged on the floor of the living room, one of the less destroyed rooms in the house, for the sole reason of them not having enough money to replace the TV if anything happened to it.

Fred picked up his card, then paused for a moment, pondering over his next move.

"Do you have a seven?"

Jacelynn glanced down at the seven in her hand and then over to the numerous number of pairs Fred already had acquired. "...Go fish?"

The door to the house was at that moment wrenched open and then prompt slammed again. Since there was no door separating the living room from the hall, she had a clear view of Todd, leaning up against the door like it was the only thing keeping him upright. The mutant looked absolutely exhausted - his face was red, and he was panting like he had just run a marathon.

"Hey, Todd… Try out for the track team and forget to mention it?"

"Who…. Me? ….Never." he panted between breaths.

"Todd?" she questioned, "Are you good?"

"Me? Uh, yeah, totally. Cool as a cucumber. Chill as a … bean."

"A bean," she responded dryly.

"...I'm hungry, yo. I'm gonna go see if there are flies in the house." He sprung down the hall and out of sight just about as fast as he could manage.

"... Right," she said, mostly to herself. This was just yet another instance of Todd acting really strange - she was going to have to get to the bottom of this at some point.

"It's your turn to go, Jacelynn."

"Shoot, sorry, Fred. You have a three?"

The following morning was the charity fair, and Jacelynn was honestly pretty excited about it. She closed the door to her room and started to head downstairs, ready to face the day in her cute ass outfit (white t-shirt, black miniskirt with pockets and fishnets) when Todd came barrelling by her.

She didn't even have to turn around at the loud thud to know he had just hit the solid oak of Mystique's door as he came tumbling back down the stairs only a few seconds later.

That didn't stop him from trying a second time with the same amount of success, although this time Fred caught him in one arm before he hit the ground again.

"That door's gotta be made out of adamantium or something!"

"Hey, knock it off, Toad! Not that I like you or nothing, but I don't want to see you get hurt," chided Fred - although he was smiling affectionately.

"Mystique will kill you when she gets back if she finds out you busted into her room," reminded Jacelynn.

"Mystique ain't coming back yo, so let's see if she left any cash lying around!"

"She is coming back. She's not going to abandon us."

The others were silent. They were all convinced otherwise; she knew. But not her. Mystique had said she was her protege - she hadn't failed her badly enough for her to take off and never come back.

At least, she hoped.

"...I'm going to school." she finally said, turning and walking out the door.

She was pretty sure she heard the sound of Todd being thrown into a wall as she made her way down the steps of the porch.

At this point, it was fairly apparent that no, Pietro did not think these pickup lines were any good but was instead just enjoying the reaction it got from her. Sometimes she snapped off a witty comeback, sometimes she overdramatically pretended to swoon into his arms. Mostly all she did was drop her head into her hands and groan.

"On a scale of 1 to 10, you're a 9 because I'm the 1 you need," he said by way of greeting.

"I'm an 11 but continue,"

"That makes me a 12 then, because while there is no one hotter than me but you are a very close second."

"Such high praise."

"I try."

"Is that how you pick up girls? Boost your own ego and hope they buy-in?"

"I don't have to hope, 'Lynn," she rolled her eyes at the nickname, "I know."

"Sure, sure. Is this your way of telling me you're running off with the first pretty girl you see at the fair?"

"Aw, is that jealousy I hear?"

"Close - it's hope - I've got a bet with Lance going."

"Classy."

"Always."

"Speaking of the others, what the fuck is taking them so long?"

She shrugged. "Beats me. Lance might be on the phone with Kitty, though, so he's either gonna be five minutes or thirty."

"If we keep waiting, we are gonna get stuck in the lines!"

"I know! But like, what can you do."

"You know what, let's just go.'

"I think Lance will break all of the bones in my body if I even think about driving his jeep again."

"You're with me, 'Lynn. You don't need a car."

"Ohhh. Ok, in that case, sure!"

Pietro threw the front door open and yelled into it, " You guys are slow as fuck, we're going ahead." and shutting it back.

In the blink of an eye, she was suddenly no longer standing - he was holding her bridal style.

" You might want to hold on," was all he said.

"Wa-" was all she managed to get out before everything around them became a blur - and suddenly, she was rather concerned about what it would feel like to be dropped at high speeds. She threw an arm around his neck and shut her eyes - hoping she wasn't about to meet her end.

Then they were still.

"And that concludes your trip with the Maximoff speedway -we hope you enjoyed yourself."

"A little warning might have been nice!" she exclaimed as she set her own two feet back on the ground.

"Yeah, but where is the fun in that? Now come on - I'm not getting stuck in lines," He took hold of her arm and dragged her off into the fair space.


They're strapping themselves into the seat of the pendulum ride when Pietro turned to her and said, "Y'know, we are putting a lot of faith in a ride that was set up in one day."

'Little bit late to bring that concern up, don't you think?"

"I'm just saying."

She shrugged, "I mean, you are probably right, but like if we're about to be hurled to our deaths, so be it. What a way to go, right?"

"Fair enough,"

"Hey 'Lynn?"

"Yeah?"

There was a mischievous look in his eyes, "How fast do you think I can make this cup actually spin?" He gestured to the wheel in the centre of the bright yellow cup they were sitting in.

She grinned back at him, "Shit, man, I think we would just have to do it to find out."

It was a strange sight for any onlookers. Pairs or trios of teenagers, spinning normally, some talking more than turning - and one bright yellow blur whirling around at the speed of light, and occupants laughing the entire time.

The two of them stumbled out, still laughing, doing their best to attempt a straight line while walking.

"Holy shit, that was awesome, " Jacelynn said as she stumbled - holding onto a fence for support.

"I am so glad we haven't eaten yet."

"Holy shit," Jacelynn pointed to one of the many plushes dangling from the ceiling of the booths of fair game, "That's so obnoxious. I want it so badly."

The it in question was quite possibly one of the largest plushes Jacelynn had ever seen. It was a hawk - maybe done after their school mascot Harper - with a seemingly sewed jersey with holographic detailing.

"For real?"

"Abso - fucking - lutely." Jacelynn took one determined step forward before Pietro placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Not that I don't think you could win the thing, but this is a basketball game 'Lynn. This is my element. I got this,"

"Uh, knock yourself out then."

The pair walked up to the game. "How much for a go?" Pietro asked.

"A dollar for five goes," the carny replied, "Are ya interested?"

Pietro digs a bill out of his pocket and hands it over. After placing the bill into a container, the carny passes him the ball that he catches with ease.
It was almost effortless - he spun the ball once in his hands and tossed in a high arching shot that sunk neatly straight into the net. The ball even bounced off the slope of the game and right back into his hands. He shoots her a look, arching an eyebrow. "Impressive, right?"

"Maybe I'll be impressed if you manage to land the other four."

"Piece of cake."

True to the word, he sunk the next four and then tossed the ball back to the carny.

"Congrats! You can now pick from any one of the prizes," the man flourished a gesture towards a rack of … plush backpack keychains?

"But what if I want that one?" Pietro pointed to the plush monstrosity that had initially caught her eye.

"Ah, that my friend requires 3 rounds of perfect scores; I'm sorry about that. If you would want to take a try…?"

"You little rat!"

"Pietro," Jacelynn interjected, "It's okay, I can - "

"No, I'm emotionally invested now. Here are two more bucks. Let's go."

"Excellent choice," the carny smiled, placing the money in his container and passing back the basketball.

There is a look of focus in his eyes - and he doesn't bother with any theatrics this time. He sinks a basket, then another, and another. 11...12...13.. And then number 14 arches through the air but bounces off the rim.

"Ooh," the carny hisses, 'That's got to hurt. Sorry friend! If you want to try - "

"Here's the dollar, now stop talking."

'Pietro -"

"I got this, don't worry."

He's slower this time - and that was strange to watch. Pietro often grumbled about having to slow down to appear normal - for him to slow his actions even further was something she had never thought he would willingly do.

It pays off - when he sinks the last one, he made a sound of excitement and relief, and she couldn't help but cheer too.

"Congratulations! Now which do you - "

"That one," the silver-haired teen jutted a finger towards Harper. "We want that one."

The carny procured a hook and fished it down, handing it to him. "Here, ya go? Now, do you want to try for any other prizes?"

"Absolutely not. Let's go, Jacelynn."

He passed the plush over to her - and it was even more garish when it was right in front of you - and she squeezed it appreciatively. "You didn't have to go that extra mile for me, so thank you,"

He shrugged. "You seemed like you wanted it, so how else were you going to get it?"

'I mean, I was just going to force him to give it to me. It's kind of my whole thing."

He stopped mid-walk. "I… forgot you could do that."

Jacelynn couldn't help but laugh. "For real?"

"Yeah. Holy shit."

"Oh… that is unfortunate,"

"I can't believe I spent five bucks."

"C'mon - let's go get some food. My treat,"


"Damn," said Jacelynn as she tossed the remains of the free cotton candy she had coerced (re: charmspeaked) the attendant into giving her into nearby trash, "The lines for everything are suddenly long as hell.

"No kidding - and I'm really not the type for waiting in long-ass lines."

"Maybe there is something people are neglecting …. Oh! The Ferris wheel has no one at all." she pointed.

Pietro made a face, "Sounds boring."

"I mean, it's not my first choice for a ride either, but it's either that or nothing. Take your pick."

He pondered for a moment. "Well, Ferris wheel it is."

"I have to admit, this is a gorgeous view. I can see why it gets used in romance movies so often." Jacelynn comments. Their little capsule was currently making it's slow ascent to the top, with the newly acquired plush nestled safely at Jacelynn's side. There was not a lot of remaining sitting space, and the pair were squished together.

"I didn't know you were a connoisseur of romance movies."

She scoffed, "Hardly. But it's in every commercial for the damn things that they blast on tv."

"Ah, I get it now. You don't like romance movies because no one wants to date you in real life."

"That's bullshit, and you know it. Have you seen me?"

"On a date? No. And that's my point."

"You've never even asked if I have before!"

"Ok, well, have you?"

"I've messed around and gone on dates with p - guys, but I've only ever dated one person. It was nice, though. Have you?"

"Not me. When a guy looks like this, he can get whatever girl he wants. Why would I tie myself down? One date and on to the next one, you feel?"

There was a strange pang in her chest that felt a little too much like disappointment; she did her best to cover it up with an eye roll. "One date is all it takes for them to realize you're insufferable, you mean."

"You don't mean that 'Lynn."

"Pretty sure I do,"

"If I was that insufferable, would you be spending the fair day with me?"

...Well, he had a point. "I'll give you that,"

"Good to see you getting on board with the fact I'm always right."

There is a beat of silence - not awkward by any means, just quiet.

"You know 'Lynn - Jacelynn, I've actually been thinking," he starts, a hand sliding slowly over on the metal bar that secures them, "We are, objectively, the -"

She wasn't listening. She had been idly looking at the burnt remains of what was once their gymnasium, but something caught her attention. Movement? A quick movement, with purpose. She couldn't make out who the figure was… or was it figures? "Hey, hold up, I think there are people on the gym's roof," she leaned forward, straining against the bar holding them in, "Fuck, I hope the boys aren't doing anything stupid," she said, glancing at her friend. He jerked back - apparently, he had been closer to her than she had been aware of- and… was that disappointment on his face?

"I mean, they have two brain cells between the three of them, so don't hold out hope," he scoffed.

"Fair.. hey, were you talking to me? Like, two seconds ago?'

"You not hear anything?

"No, I got distracted; I'm sorry. What were you saying?'

He waved a hand. "Nothing important,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. It was stupid anyway,"

"I mean if you say so."

The rest of the ride was spent in silence.


It was just her and Lance in the living room, around a quarter to eleven. He was in the chair, strumming lazily on his guitar, and she was curled up on the couch with the blanket throw wrapped around her shoulders like a shawl.

"So you guys were trying to steal the money from the guy stealing the money?"

"Basically."

"Meta. Shame about the money, though,"

"Yeah, no kidding." Lance sighed, looking rather gloomy, "Anyway, did you have a good time?"

"Oh, totally. I ran around with Pietro, and it was great. Did some games, went on rides, charmed my way into free food."

He nodded. " Glad you two had fun on your date."

"It wasn't a date. We were just hanging out."

" Oh, of course. My bad."

"What," she questioned, " Is that look for?"

"Do you have a problem with my face Jace? I'm hurt."

"You look like you're about to start laughing or tell me how naive I am. Spit it out."

"Look, I'm no relationship expert, but… Are you sure you guys are just friends, and that totally wasn't a date?"

"What makes you think that?"

"First off, he flirts with you all the time, and you sometimes do it back," he said.

"We do not. The pickup lines are because he's an annoying little shit and is trying to prove a point.

"He is the only one you let call you Lynn."

"I don't let anyone call me 'Lynn. He is once again an annoying little shit and won't stop. If I berated him for it every time, I'd never get to say anything else."

"Okay, so if they are both things that annoy you, why haven't you made him stop?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like, think about it, Jace," he leaned forward, "That's your whole thing. You can make people do whatever you want just by telling them - so why have you never told him to stop? You haven't because you actually like it."

She sat there. Opened her mouth to say something, then closed it. Did she have anything to say to that? Was there anything to say to that? She couldn't even come up with anything that sounded like a convincing lie…

Oh, oh shit.

He was right.

Lance seemed to also be coming to the same conclusion, and he looked like he just found out Christmas was coming early. There was no way he wasn't going to use this as a way to get back at her for the months she spent tormenting him about Kitty.

She sat there, mostly in shock, deeply glad that her illusion did not showcase how red her face must have been right now…

And then there was a knock at the door.

'Saved by the bell,' she couldn't help but think, as Lance went over to answer it.

"Hey there," came a female voice. Jacelynn shot up in her seat. It sounded far too young to be Mystique… then who was it? She quietly got up and walked to the arch that led into the foyer.

The voice belonged to a blonde girl that Jacelynn was positive went to their school. She had a pink shirt, jeans, and a pretty full looking backpack slung over one shoulder. What was her name? Teri? Tamara?

The blonde looked directly over at her, "Hey, I didn't think there would be another girl here. Sick! My name's Tabby - and I love your skirt. How much was it?" she asked, smiling in a real, genuine way.

"My name's Jacelynn. And thank you! I stole it. It has pockets!" she replied.

Tabby laughed. "Right on!" Jacelynn couldn't help but smile - there was no mood booster better than a pretty girl complementing your outfit.

The other three roommates made their way into the foyer - but the new girl didn't seem phased at all.

"I need a place to crash, rooms upstairs?" she turned, directing her question to Fred this time, who could only nod.

They crowded around the bottom of the stairs as she made her way up.

"Go stop her," Pietro hissed.

"You go stop her," Fred shot back.

"Yeah, doesn't she know? No chicks allowed in the brotherhood house," Jacelynn smacked Todd's shoulder, and he sheepishly added, "Other than Jacelynn."

Pietro turned to her, "Jacelynn, you go stop her. You can actually make her leave!"

Jacelynn shrugged. "There are no available rooms 'Tro. She can stay the night on the couch if she wants, but she'll have to find another place anyway."

"Hey… this one's locked!" came her voice from upstairs. The following small explosion rocked the already old and precarious house.

The group quickly went upstairs after her to find the now open door to Mystique's room. And what a room it was - large, opulent, themed after cream, gold and royal purple.

"This will do," Tabby decided, tossing her bag onto what had to be a California king-sized bed, before turning her attention back to them, "So, stay out of my room!"

And shut the door in their faces.

Fred was first to break the silence. "What do we do now?"

"Jacelynn, you have to make her leave. We can't -" Lance started.

"Who says I have to do anything?" she placed her hands on her hips, "It'll be nice to have another girl around, and besides. It'll only be until Mystique comes back and reclaims her room."

"So… we have a new roomie now?"

"Yeah," sighed Lance, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I guess we do."