54: Chapter 54 Clouds and Rain

The room was so quiet that only the sound of their intermingled breathing could be heard.

Felicia and Peter surrounded Jean in the middle, their behavior having long since crossed the boundaries of ordinary friends.

The alcohol stripped away all inhibitions, and an ambiguous, intimate atmosphere spread uncontrollably through the night.

They were all so immersed in this out-of-control atmosphere that they didn't notice the door being gently pushed open.

The red-haired girl, Mary Jane, stood at the doorway. The moment she saw the scene inside, her green eyes widened and she froze in place.

She gasped, watching Peter tangled up with another red-haired girl while his girlfriend watched from the side.

Her body tensed uncontrollably, and she subconsciously squeezed and rubbed herself.

She watched Jean lean down to kiss Peter. Her gaze was transfixed, unable to look away, and for a split second, an absurd thought uncontrollably flashed through her mind: she wanted to join in.

Mary Jane's face suddenly burned. Snapping back to her senses, she hurriedly and quietly closed the door.

She stood leaning against the door outside for a long time, her heart filled with a mixture of complex emotions she couldn't quite define.

...

The next morning.

"Morning," Jean mumbled, reaching out to pull him and Felicia toward her, before opening her emerald-green eyes. "Do you... remember last night?"

"Some of it," he replied, spotting Felicia's underwear hanging from the bedpost. "Probably."

"Me too." She looked around. "It's six in the morning."

"What time did Xavier say he'd pick you up?"

"Eight," she mumbled, snuggling into his chest. "Still have time."

"Hmm. Let him wait." Peter pulled her closer and kissed her forehead.

"You don't need to worry, Pietro," Jean said suddenly.

"Worry about what?"

She looked up. "Worry that Felicia will leave you. Last night, I... couldn't completely control my abilities. I was unconsciously scanning your minds... Do you know what she kept thinking about over and over again?"

"What?"

'She was thinking about how much she loves you,' Jean's voice echoed directly in his mind. 'And about how far she traveled before she found you. You are her anchor, Peter. Don't worry, she will never leave you... especially not for someone like me.'

Peter's heart skipped a beat. "It's not that... I'm just not sure, Jean."

"I know." She propped herself up to kiss his cheek. "I understand. Relax, she's yours."

Eventually, they got up to get dressed. The image of a naked Jean Grey would be forever burned into Peter's mind—she didn't have many curves yet, but she still made his throat go dry.

He tried to wake Felicia, but she didn't budge. When he went to Mary Jane's room to call her, he happened to walk in on her changing.

"Ah!" She covered her upper body with her shirt.

"Sorry!" He cursed himself as he closed the door. "Just wanted to say we're leaving soon. Xavier will be picking Jean up shortly."

"Okay, okay, I'll be right out," Mary Jane replied through the door. A naked Jean, a half-naked Mary Jane... This day was off to a great start.

He went back to his own house to take a quick shower, trying his best not to wake Uncle Ben and Aunt May. When he returned to Mary Jane's house, Jean and Liz Allan were already in the kitchen, each holding a cup of strong black coffee.

"Morning, Peter," Jean smiled. "Did you sleep well last night?"

'Liz thinks you went home,' she added telepathically.

He smiled. "Pretty good. How about you guys?"

"Please, keep it down," Liz Allan groaned, holding her head. "So loud... My head..."

Peter laughed at her incoherence. "That's why you shouldn't have drunk so much."

"Morning, Peter. Morning, Jean." Mary Jane came downstairs, already showered and changed. She glanced at the kitchen and sighed. "What do you guys want to eat? I can make waffles."

"I'll help." Peter pulled out the waffle maker and plugged it in.

"Can we make blueberry ones?" Jean asked. "I like those."

"Do we have blueberries, Mary Jane?" Peter asked.

"Huh?" Mary Jane was distracted by Jean's curious gaze. "Oh, yes, in the fridge."

He nodded and went to get them. Liz Allan smirked, "I've always wondered why your butt is so toned, Parker. Now I know."

"You can look, Allan, but looking is all you can do." Felicia walked downstairs, her hair still wet, wearing the same clothes as yesterday.

"Morning." Peter gave her a quick kiss. "Sleep well?"

"What do you think?" She sat down lazily, her voice sounding like she was acting spoiled.

"Oh my god!" Jean suddenly gasped.

"What's wrong?" Peter asked.

"Nothing! It's really nothing!" Mary Jane suddenly grabbed Jean and dragged her upstairs. "I need to give her something! Be right back!"

Peter blinked. "What's wrong with her?"

"I think she's gone crazy," Liz Allan groaned. "Are you making waffles or not, Parker?! I'm starving!"

"You should have eaten before you got hungover," Felicia laughed.

Peter started cooking. As the warm aroma wafted through the air, Liz Allan finally lifted her head. Her hair was a messy nest and her makeup was smudged, but she finally seemed to have some energy.

By the time he had made a three-foot-high stack of waffles, Jean and Mary Jane finally came down—Jean looking smug, and Mary Jane looking utterly embarrassed.

"What happened?" Felicia asked.

"Nothing!" Mary Jane shouted. "It's really nothing!"

Jean smirked. "Just getting Mary Jane to agree to something very important."

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Alright... anyway, dig in, girls!"

"All of this is for us?" Liz Allan blinked. "Peter, we can't finish all this."

"Oh, please," Felicia scoffed over her coffee. "You have no idea how much this guy can eat. His stomach is a bottomless pit."

They sat at the table and dug in. Jean kept winking at Peter and Felicia, while Felicia could only blush and look away—clearly still processing everything that had happened last night.

After breakfast, they packed up and set off. When they arrived at Jean's house, they met her parents. The two of them behaved distantly; their only daughter becoming a Mutant had turned their World upside down, leaving them at a loss for what to say or do.

The luggage had already been packed yesterday. They carried the bags to the roadside just as a luxury sedan pulled up.

Logan got out of the driver's seat, and Ororo helped the Professor out of the car. Xavier smiled at them. "Are you ready?"

Jean nodded. "Yes... just give me a moment, Professor."

"Of course," he smiled, retreating back into the car.

Logan and Peter helped put the luggage into the trunk. Jean hugged everyone one by one.

"Take care of yourself," Liz Allan hugged her tightly. "Remember, don't talk to us about complex philosophy. A five-year-old wouldn't understand it, it's too boring."

Jean laughed. "Alright, I promise." She turned to Mary Jane. "Don't forget. Go do it, I'm sure they'll agree."

"I'll try," Mary Jane smiled. "Take care, Jean."

"I will." She hugged Felicia next without saying a word—they were likely communicating telepathically.

Finally, she hugged Peter, her voice echoing directly in his mind: 'Don't worry about anything. I'll be fine, Peter. Oh, and by the way, Mary Jane has a bit of a crush on you. Just thought I'd let you know.'

He chuckled telepathically: 'I know. It'll fade after a while.'

Jean rolled her eyes. "For the smartest teenager on Earth, you really are quite foolish, Peter."

"Heheh!"

She stepped back and smiled. "I promise, I will never forget any of you."

Felicia and Peter exchanged a look, knowing smiles on their lips. Mary Jane looked conflicted, while Liz Allan looked heartbroken. They stood by the roadside waving as the sedan drove away. As the car turned the corner, it was time for them to go their separate ways.

Felicia and Liz Allan took a cab back, while Mary Jane and Peter walked. It wasn't far, and he didn't want to go home right away either.

"What did you say to Jean?" he asked.

"She... wanted me to try something stupid," Mary Jane shrugged. "It's not important."

"Alright... I'm going to miss her."

"Me too."

"I just hope she doesn't suddenly turn into some World-destroying cosmic monster one day."

Mary Jane paused in her tracks.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, just an inside joke."

Peter smiled and caught up, pushing that ominous thought back down into his heart for now.