Blink was all Sam could do as Ghost handed him the bags of condiments she was supposed to bring to the party. Well she brought them alright the only problem was that she handed them to Sam before he could object his hands already full from the stuff he brought along, “Your Welcome, and I have never met her before!” was all he could manage as he called out to Ghost as he watched her vanish as quickly as she appeared. Hands now full Sam sighed and continued to converse with Raina and Luke and a new girl who introduced her self as Fade.

Adding a quick hello to Luke’s introduction with Fade all that Sam felt was needed to add was a playful, “So your like old…” he cracked a grin a playful wink then turned his head to see the shouting Death Star better known as Layla, knowing the repercussions of calling her by her actual name Sam just waved to Layla and called out, “Hey DS, the dramatic yelling entrance was already used!” sighing slightly as he set down one of the bags Ghost handed him he waved to Death Star and then picked up the bag again.

It was then that more and more people decided to join in on the party, faces he wasn’t familiar with and faces he knew. A cool voice spoke as an excited chill ran down his spine as Alex joined the party saying hello to him and those Sam was currently talking to. Things were weirder than he would like between them, for one he had a girlfriend and for two Alex was topless in the pool and pressed up against him at one point which made the meeting by the pool all the more awkward for him. A brief second or two their eyes met but as soon as Sam thought about looking away Alex did. All Sam could muster was a small nod as more people arrived.

One of the new faces that Sam had never seen around before took the initiative and introduced himself as Alec, “Hey Alec, names Sam. I’d shake your hand but mine are full.” Grinning slightly he looked over to the area where Luke pointed out the grill and tables Sam turned and let out a small giggle at the sight of Sara in a suit.

Letting out a small wolf whistle he laughed and said, “So cats can swim? Guess I have to see if you’re as fast as in the water!” Sam then nodded to Sara and said, “Yeah I was about to ask what are we doing for music…” shrugging as he made his way over the table Sam asked, “Maybe he takes requests?” wanting to get to know everyone he had never met before Sam reluctantly walked behind his station as he set all the bags on the tables.

Plates and the plastic ware Sam brought went at the end of the table where the line would hopefully begin so the party could avoid mass chaos when it came down to the food. Setting up the condiments quickly and efficiently Sam emptied all the bags he brought and was given. “Now my apron!” Sam said as he let out a smirk as he donned the ‘Kiss The Chief’ apron. Summoning up an Ice minion Sam and the minion went to work on gathering the dogs and burgers and sorting them out on the grill.

As soon as the first round of meats were on the grill Sam snapped his fingers and the minions shattered into little ice bits and melted into thin air. All that was left to do was man the station and sing the cookers tune which for the time being was Journey’s ‘Anyway you want it’ which included an occasional dance and burger flip.

It had been a long night and Streak had spent it in the War Room. He was tired and wanted to sleep. When Jonathan finally relieved him at 5 o'clock Streak headed straight to his second bed that Sam and him had created in their office. Streak had managed to get at least a few hours of sleep before he was woken up by the commotion outside. One thing they didn't do with this place was make it sound proof. There seemed to be plenty of commotion for a morning, more so than usual. With only a few hours of sleep he managed to drag himself out of the bed and walk up to his room. On the way there he passed a few fliers that caught his attention. With everything that he'd been up to he'd completely forgotten about the pool party. Huh. Maybe I should go to that instead of sleeping. I'm sure I'll have plenty of time for that later. Streak thought.

Since he was moving around he was feeling more awake. Pretty soon he figured that it couldn't hurt for him to hang out at the pool. There seemed to be plenty of people already down there so he quickly changed into his blue swimming trunks with green designs on the sides. Streak threw on a shirt and he didn't really care what it was because he was probably going to take it off almost as soon as he got down there. As soon as he was ready he left his room and headed down to the pool. Once he was close enough he saw Luke, Raina, and Sam were there. There were also a few girls that he didn't know. Man how long have I bee locked down there. I don't recognize many people and the chicks sure are hot. He thought. He walked past some of them and right up to Raina and Luke. "How it goin' guys?" he asked putting a smile on his face. It was a nice day and it seemed that everyone was having fun already. By far the funniest sight he'd seen so far was Sara in a swimsuit. There was probably no funnier sight he'll see all day than that sight.

Well even though she had been a bit emo since having been abandoned by who was supposed to be the love of her life, Arielle had slowly began to sink back into her old habits. Yes, that meant this morning, she would wave up sprawled across her bed, still wearing the dress she had worn to the club the night before, her hair a tasseled mess of bed head and she wreaked of vodka thanks to the 6 or so cosmopolitans she had downed last night. Definitely not the most flattering way to wake up but eh, everyone had their flaws and hers was that she was just a party girl. Speaking of party...

"What the hell?! I'm trying to sleep. Dang..." she moaned as she could hear the commotion going on outside. She cracked an eye open and glared over at her clock that read 9:47am. Indeed, what the hell was a worth question because it was not the right time for this much racket to be going on. Then she remembered what today's even was and she shot up from her bed and bolted for the bathroom. After a hot shower, Arielle stepped out in her bathing suit and white heels and a white sarong to wrap around her waist. Her hair was slightly damped and curled back to it's natural black color. She decided she would sport it that way for another week before going back to her preferred blonde coloring.

Now was for the final touches, a pair of white D&G shades, her little white bag and of course her boom box because there was no way to have a party without a little music to get things jumping. Making her way to the pool Arielle paused in front of Luke, Raina, Sam, and Streak with narrowing her eyes at the four and putting a hand to her hip while the other held the boom box.

"How dare you start a pool party without the water queen herself present? I am hurt. I am outraged!...but I still brought the music so we can shake our booms booms and get down with the get down, ya heard?" she said raising the boom box. Then upon reading Sam's apron, she grabbed the Ice Mutant and planted her lips on his, pulling back a second later. "Just obeying the words of your apron. Don't get mad and don't act like you didn't like it either." she shot before he could even respond. Then she turned to grab Shawn and gave him a peck too. "I wouldn't forget my Streaky-boo." she smiled and gave him a playful tap on the behind. Yes, Arielle was single again, back on the prowl, and she could feel that today would just be awesome.

"Awww, hell. Now I done seen everything." she said shaking her head at the Werecat in a bathing suit. Indeed this would be a fun and interesting day.

What was a girl to do when she didn't know what to wear? Call in the shock troops. That's right, Ghost did it. She invited over her teenage neighbors.

"I wish I were as tall as you."
"Dude, you have a tattoo?"
"Ohmigawd, you're going?"

Ghost could only answer one out of every three questions, they were spitting them out so fast. "Why wouldn't I go?" Ghost was putting on the bikini. They'd taken scissors to her old suit so that she now had no choice. It was for her own good, they'd said. Was she really such a stick in the mud?

One of the girls, Chloe -- Ghost thought her name was, squealed past her braces. It was a sound that made Ghost stop and worry about the girl's physical health. "Only like the Mansion's hottest guys will be in attendance." She gasped. "Would you, like, take us?"

"What do you mean, isn't everyone invited?" Ghost inspected herself in the mirror. This was as good as walking around naked. She was built like an ironing board with half as many curves. In fact, an ironing board may have had more boobs. Ghost went for one of the scarf-like things the girls brought over.

"Well yah, technically, but if we go with you, you're like an Xman and you can introduce us to Alec." Sighs all around the room. Thoroughly creeped out, Ghost turned away from the mirror she was using to tie the wrap around her neck like a bandana. "Who's Alec?"

***

One neck wrap, large straw hat, pair of sunglasses, and larger skirt wrap later, Ghost was escorted by a gaggle of teenage girls onto the Mansion's back lawn. In a way she appeared like a movie star, the glasses and hat made it almost impossible to tell who she was. If it weren't for her paper white skin, only proved to be more alive by the contrast of her actually white hair, Ghost may have slipped through the crowd without anyone the wiser. Her bikini was almost entirely covered up by the neck scarf and wrap around her waist. The only proof that she was even wearing a bikini was the smooth white skin of her back and belly that were exposed to the air. The only mar on her exposed skin, a tattooed number from Hawaii.

There was hardly time to wave to her friends or many of the new faces, the gaggle escorted (more like shoved) her toward the one they had all deemed Hott Alec. Dang. They needed more imagination. "Ah, hi there." Ghost waved from behind her large lensed sunglasses to the group of conversers she'd been deposited into. Luke, Raina, the red-head Ghost had teased CS about hitting on who Chloe had informed her was called Fade and was an Xman before Ghost ever was, and the man that had to be Hott Alec. She got a "friendly" nudge from behind to remind her of her duties, payment for having them help her get over her bikini nerves.

"Uhh Alec, right?" Her cheeks were pink. This was embarrassing because it was so middle school. Weren't these girl's old enough to talk to their own crushes? "I'm Ghost and these are my hall-mates Madison, Oliva, and Chloe. Uhm, they wanted to invite you to see a movie with them in the girl's hall some day. What?" Chloe was whispering under her breath and had to repeat the last thing she was feeding Ghost to say because Ghost didn't believe it. A soft groan. "They also want you to know you're really cute." Ghost frowned as Madison teleported herself away. Suddenly abandoned the other two girls split as well. Running wasn't advised around the pool area.

"Uhm, nice to have you back Fade. Chloe uhh-- has a good memory." Ghost waved again to the redhead. "Raina, Luke." Ghost waved to each in turn and then wished she could be buried in a very deep hole somewhere. Her cheeks were pink as any sunburn even before she'd gotten one.

Deathstar smiled as her x-mates respond to her rants, "Hey Sami!" she waves back at Cold Steel pulling her shades down to her nose, she noticed Sam and the other guys at the party looked very different without their x-men uniform, so many guys, so little time, Deathstar thought, I'd better go introduce myself to the new crew. Deathstar walked over near Fade to inquire about the guy that just waved to her, "hey girlie, who was that? he's kind of cute, can you be a good girl and introduce us", Deathstar said in a soft tone so that others won't hear her.

Kasumi opens her eyes and sees more people coming in not anyone that she knows. Soon she takes her sun glasses off. She lets out a soft sigh. She moves to her bag. Well it is a good time to get a tan before anyone that she knows moves in. Soon she gets out her tanning oil she is so pale almost white. Kasumi starts to rub the oil all over the front part of her body.

Kasumi sees Sara she does not know her yet Kasumi waves to her just to be nice. Felling so alone right now. Soon she sees the other girl kissing the guys. She lets out a small laugh and shakes her head. Kasumi is not like that she is far to shy well the guy she deeply wishes was here is not. Soon Kasumi lets out a sigh as she shakes her head. She closes her eyes. She will let herself bake in the sun for a while. She was not sure what to do. First poll party and all so sun bathing seems to be the thing to do right now.

Kasumi always loved the smell of the tanning oil she smiles at the sent that is on her skin now. It will always make her think of the Beach. She wonders how many more will show up to the poll party today and how it will be. She will have a tan this year also so she will not be so pale also. She has to work to get a tan but that is ok.

Now that the party was getting into full swing it was dividing into two very noticable areas. The grill area was set up at the end of the pool. Along with the various tables and food stuffs there were also plenty of chairs for those that wanted to sunbathe.

The pool area itself seemed to be the place for people to just stand and chat before finally diving into the water. Thus far noone had distrubed the pool of crystal clear water but there was no doubt that the stilness would soon be broken by swimmers, divers, and who knew what else.

(OOC: In order to make things a little easier to follow we'll be breaking this up into two threads for the time being. This thread will be reclassified as the 'pool area'. The new thread is quite obviously the grill area.)

It was amazing just how quickly the pool area was filling up. Both people Luke recognized as well as complete stranger were slowly making their way out to join in the festivities.

"It's nice to meet you Fade. Glad you could make it out." Luke said with a smile before turning to the other stranger. "And it's nice to meet you to well Alec. I'm Luke."

Suddenly Luke's attention was yanked away by the arrival of one particular kitty. Normally the blind man could stare at someone all he wanted thanks to his sonar but Sara was deffinately one of the acceptions. After "seeing" here, Luke quickly pulled his sonar in so that it wouldn't bug the kitty cat while he gave her a quick nod and smile. "Sara... you're looking sleek as always."

The laughter and awe from two of the guys as they saw Sara was obvious and Luke couldn't help but playfully elbow the two men in the ribs. "Watch yourself guys. She is a friend after all."

Turning away from the group, Luke waved to Ghost as she finally walked up to the pool. He did his best to hide the self-satisfied smile on his face as he walked over to the grill area where Raina and a few others had begun to gather.

Hymn decided to stay at the swimming pool area. Seemingly lots of people where having fun there and she was having one of her calm days, as she called it. It ment her powers where lazy and didn't do much exept maybe pick their nose or play card games with each other, she didn't know the latter for sure. Not that it mattered, they where on relax mode and it came at a good time aswel.

She couldn't swim though, which ofcourse would pose a problem at a swimming pool. She stood at the edge watching down the deep pool with big eyes. What was she going to do, the pool was to deep to stand in and if she would jump in she would drown. Not a very fun thing to do on a fun day.

She decided it was best to just stick her feet in. She climbed down the edge to sit on it with her feet in the water. She swung them around a couple of times making splashes as she looked around the crowd. She didn't know that many people though, she had seen some of them before.... somewhere. The water was cool and tickled her feet as she splashed around. It was fun as in water could be fun. She just couldn't swim so she just played with it a bit.

As more people began to fill up the pool area, Fade watched each person walking in as if they would cause everyone's heads to turn and say 'holy crap! You be lookin' fine in that swimsuit!' Pft, she should have known, pool parties were the biggest gathering of flirts on the face of the Earth. Unfortunately, her bright attitude and joking may be taken as flirting, but she was hardly the type to bat her eyelashes and press herself into a man's chest, begging for his attention. The mysterious girl loved her power of invisibility, she was never the type to announce her arrival as a few others had done so upon entering the party, including her best friend, Death Star.

The first flirtatious comment hit her like a brick as she turned to see who had complimented her legs and found Alec. It brought a smile to her face when she remembered the night he had picked her up drunk off the side of the road after splashing her with water from his car. He had given her his dry shirt and since she had no dry underclothes, she just turned her legs invisible. Sense of humor, always respected. "Thank you," there was nothing she could really say back to him, it was a pool party, she had seen him without a shirt before.

Just as he had passed, a group of giggling girls flooded up to him and began introducing themselves through a friend. The way they seemed to be biting their nails and watching him like some sort of supermodel made Fade start to laugh. That must have been the 'middle school' era, something that of course, the homeless girl had never lived through. Though she had seen her share of girls walking home from school, giggling and following boys. Yes, giggling and poofing away and hiding behind another girl is the best way to pick up a guy, it seemed, since they had so much luck with getting his attention. Maybe Fade should try it...or be normal and not.

A few people did actually recognize her and she replied with a simple "nice to see you again," for she was becoming confused with the sudden multitude of people entering the pool area. Just as she was ready to head over to the pool, Deathstar showed up, turning her flirt on for Alec. Surprised by the familiar face suddenly in front of her, Fade just smiled and said "I hardly know him, go work your magic girl, I know you got it," she joked, her face turned to a challenging one, as if she was asking Deathstar if she had lost her touch, all in good fun, of course.

Marley had been for the most part a complete no show to most of the mansion activities that they had held from time to time. His excuse for not going…..Well he really didn’t have one. Maybe his laziness was to charge or maybe it was that the oversized Jamaican was homesick either way he had missed out on a lot of fun and exciting times. He would often hear the funny stories, the embarrassing stories, and the boring stories all were interesting. Well he wanted a story that he could tell every once and awhile. The next planned event was a mansion wide pool party and Marley had plans on making it too this one. So when his alarm had went off in the morning he had quickly risen from his bed like an eager school child prepping his self for a school trip. He had first changed into his Ed hardy swimming trunks, next he put his dreadlocks into pigtails just for a different kind of switch up, and finally he put a pair of white thong sandals. He picked up his white wife beater, but swiftly discarded it feeling bold enough to go shirtless.

The islander now sat on the edge of his bed in thought of who was going to be there. He knew Sam would just because he was such a social butterfly. Even though he had briefly met ghost she didn’t seem like the type to make appearances at a pool party. Tythan he wasn’t sure, that guy was a tossup. Who else did he know? Gabe uh……He really didn’t know, but was sure he possibly would show up, and Arielle of course she would be there. After making his short assessment of whom he knew. The large figure had then set his course for outside to the pool party.

When Marley had arrived outside he began to make his way over to the pool area and even more specifically over to Sam speaking to the ice mutant directly, ”Whah it is ice cohld my mon.” Marley had said standing next to Sam. His focuses had then strayed away from his coolly companion to all the rest of the bodies at the party, ”Whoah I nevah seen dese peep-pul beh-fore?” He almost said in a low tone, but it still could be heard by those within ear shot. He had seen Ghost, but she looked busy so her hello would have to wait. He then saw Arielle who looked good as always as he shot her a look over then spoke, ”Hey.” Marley Jamaican accent had cool tone resonating in it. He kind of felt self-conscious and was hesitant to just start introducing himself to everyone there. So he stood in an awkward silence.

Brushes bristled against the wood floor of the shop. Swish, scritch, he scooped the little mountain of dust into the pan and dumped it into the trash. In the background of Full Circle, a mellow melody strummed out on banjo. Pure and strong, it was one of Aurum’s favorites:Paranoia in B Flat Major”. He turned the hand broom twice in his hand, examining it for any stray puff of lint.

A door swung open in the back. He looked up through the hay-colored bristles. Shin barreled around a bookcase, face red and out of breath. His jaw was unshaven, his hair a fluffy mess. The brush struck out like a karate chop to cut his bolt short. A customer glanced up from his newspaper at the scruffy Asian stopped by the hand broom drop-gate. Aurum arched an eye.

"You look like Hell." He stated flatly. “What have been up to?”

Happy music bounced in the background as Shin recounted the tale. “Alarm clock broke first thing in the morning. I overslept… didn’t have time to shave, missed the bus. Had to run. Heat frizzes up my hair, and…” He slumped forward in defeat. “I’m late today, aren’t I? Ghost’s gonna kill me… where is she, anyways?" He looked over his shoulder as is some devil paper fan would smack down on his shoulder blades any minute.

"She had the day off today," Aurum replied. He crossed his arms, arching his eyebrow even higher if that was possible. Did he really forget? He'd been bopping around about it all week, and... Aurum shook his head. "She has the day off. You do, too. Pool party?" He held his breath, waiting for Shin's reaction as realization spread over his face like a red pot boiling over. Any moment, steam would shoot out of his ears...

"Huh!?" And there it went. "P-pool party? That was today!? Aw, man. Stupid alarm clock. And my hair... and my face, and..." His hands shot to the fluff-factory on his noggin, trying to impose order, but it was no use. He ran a hand through the rough start of a beard, thinking. “So, I don’t have to work today, and the party is…”

“Right now.” Aurum looked at him blankly.

“Oh right.” Nervous laughter escaped Shin’s lips. “Then I should be…” He took a few steps towards the door, back bent over like a rubber band still stuck to a nail. His face waited, focused on Aurum for some answer to an unspoken question, and…

“There.” Aurum lifted the gate. Nail released, Shin shot out the revolving doors and stumbled into the street.

He shook off the mid-morning grog, looked around for a taxi, and hauled his thumb back through the air. A black and white yellow-jacket cab hopped the curb. “To the Xavier mansion and step on it!” He dove for the backseat. Tires squealed. He jerked the side door shut as the taxi veered haphazardly into traffic.

A half-hour later, he tore towards the main gates and punched in a code. “C’mon… c’mon, C’MON!” Fierce foot tapped as the door swung open slowly. He burst across the front lawn and made a beeline towards his room.

~*~

The back yard was packed. People crowded around the barbeque, while others lined the side of the pool. One girl swung her feet through the water, splattering the concrete around her as she went. Another stood by the grill, talking to Raina and Luke. She had sleek fur and a red one piece... and was that Ghost in a bikini? He hadn't figured her for the bikini-girl type. Other girls were spread around the pool as well. He waved to Alex and Raina, nodded to Ghost.

His ears caught the sound of Sublime turning to Journey, and he glanced at the source appreciatively. Good music and hot dogs. That was a winning combination.

Shin’s eyes fell on Kasumi, sunbathing by the pool in a bikini… and that was a good combination, too. He flopped down next to her, crossing his legs.

He wore a pair of black cargo trunks with a white line down the side. His face was still scruffy. In his haste to sun-lotion up and get pool-side, he'd omitted that one step. Still, he figured the most important thing was being here.

Because, hey. As the Buckaroo states, 'No matter where you go, there you are'. And here he was.

"Hey."

Kasumi has not moved her eyes are still closed after a half of hour in the sun her skin is starting to tan her spots are taking up more of an opaque look. Her eyes open up as she hears Shin she could not help it she jumps out of her chain she soon hugs Shin "Hey! I missed you!" She did not care about he looked Shin is here that made her happy she smiles as she looks at him with her happy eyes "About time you got here Shin."

Kasumi could not help but to be happy when she sees Shin well she is always happy when she sees him. Now she is not alone she for got that she had tanning oil on her but over the time most of it is gone now leaving her skin soft that was about all. She giggles some as she looks at him "You slept in eh?" Kasumi smiles to Shin "You work to hard you need to have fun and that is what I am here for." She beams as she kisses him on the cheek and winks. She stands up as she offers her hand to Shin.

Streak smiled and kissed Arielle's cheek whenever she came over to him. "Hmm. Streaky-boo or Streaky-poo. I'm not sure which one sounds more manly." He said more to himself than anyone. Of course he didn't mid either of them since both names came from attractive women. He went over to a chair, took his shirt off and set it down there. He saw a few more people had shown up. He almost didn't recognize Ghost when she walked up to the pool surrounded by a gaggle of girls. It was evident that the girls didn't want to stay here for the party. Although there were still plenty of girls here that were close enough to Streak's age that it didn't matter to much.

Shin showed up later and pretty soon Streak was beginning to think that this had turned into almost exclusively an X-men pool party. Streak looked around for more people that he knew and hadn't said hi to yet. As he scanned the growing crowd he saw Fade. They'd met only once before at night but she seemed cool enough to hang out with at the party. He walked over to her and the other girl that was next to her. She was also someone that he hadn't met before. Perhaps they'd all get introduced to each other once he made it through gathering group. Once he was close enough he said, "Hey Fade, lookin' good." and waved to her to make sure she could see where his voice was coming from.

Fade looked over to a short haired blondish white haired girl who seemed to share her very frustration with the giggling gaggle of girls (try saying that five times fast). Feeling that she could easily relate to the blondish white...head, there had to be a better word for that, she turned her attention to her and began to walk her way, motioning for Deathstar to follow but she turned around immediately at the sound of a familiar voice. Streak came into the scene, ever so dashingly, might she add. Now she wasn't a babbling bafoon of a flirtatious girl, but she could definitely tell when a man was attractive and when he was not.

"Why hello there. I almost didn't recognize you with my eyes completely wide open," she smiled. He was another night owl, but what the hell were they both doing awake at this hour? Then again, she could not speak for him, but she knew she should not be awake. Bed time is whenever she falls asleep, Up time is whenever she finally gets out of bed to go to the bathroom and drags herself into the shower. Another thing different about this encounter, they were both only partially clothed. How come this seemed to happen often to her these days? Fade loved clothes too much to go partial coverage. Not like she was complaining at the sight.