That is, everyone except Toad had gotten sick. The little guy in fact, aside from his usual greenish complexion, seemed perfectly healthy. He gave Celeste a wave before sneaking the Bento boxes inside and going back to whatever game they had been playing.

Celeste sat down on the curb and laced her skates up, humming some J-pop tune as she did so.

Well... I'm still alive. That that Scott. She fist pumped the air, acting tough before giggling to herself, a sunflower blooming a little ways off.

"Hey, no... Shhhhh..." She reached out and calmed the little guy from growing any further, "This is getting out of hand." She mumbled to herself, looking at her hands.

~ The Next day, Celeste went to school early, having had no room in her bag to take it home, she sat counting in Japanese in front of her locker.

Not too far away there were sounds coming from the gymnasium. A bit off for this early.

Celeste having finished her homework, headed slowly to the gymnasium, curious at what the sound was.

Pietro had set up a punching bag in the small excersize room attached to the gym and was going at it at super speed. He wasn't currently wearing a shirt while doing it either which meant his slim physique was in full view. That, and a whole slew of bruises that had not been there at school the day before. There were several along his back, mostly going up his right side and down his right arm. The most distinctive being what was clearly a large hand-sized one on his forearm.
He was actually sweating from the effort it took and after a few moments he slowed to a stop, panting. The growl from his stomach could practically be heard from across the room.

Celeste adventured forward, her briefcase in one hand as she slipped into the glass room. What had happened to him? What-... Celeste felt a pit growing in her stomach, Toad had mentioned Pietro's father yesterday. Could that be where he got the bruises?!

And from the sound of that grumble, he was far from being full. She did had three riceballs she'd made for breakfast. She stood in front of the door, trying to figure out how to approach him.

She took a deep breath and hesitantly called out, "Pietro-san?"

Pietro startled and turned sharply which, in his less than stable state was enough for him to stumble into the punching bag. He caught himself with his right arm and winced, "what the hell?!" He snapped, particularly when he saw who it w as. He wasnt impressed.

"Sorry..." She said softly, holding a hand out. "I was just finished my math homework and I heard some noise and..." She looked around, no one was around, "Do...Would you like that healed up?" She asked timidly.

Pietro put a hand around his stomach, as if that could hide it. Then in a flash he had his shirt on to cover it properly, "I'm fine. Didn't I make it clear enough for your thick skull yesterday? I don't need your help."

Celeste sighed and without warning tackled Pietro to the floor, straddling him. "Just be quiet and let me heal you.. Not like I'm going to advertise it." She slipped her watch off and her hair morphed back to its normal bright pink colour, complete with matching freckles.

"What the hell do you think you're-woah" pietro blinked at her new appearance, then remembered he was angry and tried to shove her off but he wasn't exactly in great shape at the moment. He was half starved, bruised and exhausted from the punching bag-not to mention he hadn't exactly slept well the night before which was why he was there so early in the first place. It was a little pathetic how hard he tried to struggle with such little to show for it. "Get oofffff"

((WOAH! You look AMAZIng)

Especially when Celeste had such a small framed for a young teenager. She caught one of his hands in hers, "Enough." She said softly, giving him a look that meant he wasn't going anywhere.

She placed her free hand on her chest, which began to glow the same colour as her hair as well as her whole body. She took a deep breath and placed her other hand onto his captured one and slowly hovered it downward. Her hair, covered in the same glow, looked like it was in a gentle breeze and was it her powers or did her outfit appear to be different as well?

A warm, fuzzy feeling began to flow through Pietro. The kind of feeling a warm hug or snuggling into some fresh sheets would make one feel. It was soothing and relaxing, and almost made one feel.... safe.

As her hand traveled to his chest, he would be able to feel parts of his arm didn't hurt as the skin returned back to it's pale white colour. Finally, she brushed his bangs out of the way and placed a gentle kiss upon his injured brow.

Before Pietro realized it, Celeste was by the door. When had she gotten off of him? "There is no weakness in asking or receiving help... only strength, Pietro-san." She said, setting the container of rice balls and a juice box on a bench near the door. And without demanding he owed her or asking for a thank you or anything of the sort she headed out the door.

((^_^; thanks))

Pietro's eyelids grew heavy as his arms fell back to his sides. He must have drifted to sleep at some point during the process, it was just so relaxing and he was so tired. It felt like he only blinked and yet suddenly she was off of him and by the door. He sat up, expecting to wince but it didn't hurt, nothing hurt anymore aside from his stomach that was chewing itself out. Although even though he hadn't eaten since the day before (which is similar to not eating for three days for an average person), he just didn't feel like eating. The thought of food made his mouth run dry and his empty stomach churn.
"You're better off eating that yourself" he replied, though his tone held much less anger this time. More like he was stating a fact.

She didn't retort to his words, just gave a small nod before heading off. Probably meaning something like, Save it for late, then.

She was about halfway across the gymnasium, her hair and freckles no longer pink, when she stumbled sideways into the bleachers. She caught herself and it appeared she was took several deep breaths before pushing herself back up and heading out of the gym.

He did, at least, drink the juice which made him feel slightly better. At lunch he gave the rice balls to his three friends who knew better than to ask questions about it. By the time Math came around, Pietro just walked in, sat in the back and closed his eyes for a nap.

The snapping of a ruler, hitting a desk rang loud and clear through the almost empty classroom but it wasn't Pietro's desk the ruler hit. Though another juice box had magicly appeared on his desk.

"Miss Ambrose, really..."

Celeste sat up with a jerk, her books falling to the floor, "Huh what?" She was much paler than usual.

"Are you feeling alright?" The teacher asked, a little worried as Celeste was one of those goody two shoe students.

She smiled, "Yes, I'm fine. Sorry, sir." She said, picking up her books off the floor and began to write all the new problems off of the board.

Pietro cracked an eye open briefly before closing it again. About ten seconds later the juice box was empty.

"Pietro-san?" A voice called to him and a hand gently shook him. "Class is over." A coke had replaced the empty juice box.

"Hmn?" Pietro startled, blinked a few times and shook his head. "Oh... cool" he gave a yawn and got up to leave. The coke mysteriously disappearing from the desk and into his pocket.

Celeste returned to her desk and picked up her books. She had made it into the hallways before stumbling sideways into the lockers. She didn't look so hot.

Pretty much none of the x-men had come to school that day so there wasn't really anybody around to help, or notice as Pietro came over and leaned on the lockers in front fo her. "You're an idiot, you know that?" he told her, "I would've healed just fine but you just had to do something about it and now you're falling all over the place. What's wrong with you?"

"Won't be the first time I've been called that." She turned and slid down the locker. "It's been a long time since I've used my other powers... out of practice I guess..." More like her powers couldn't be channeled properly due to the lack of having a familiar which resulted in her powers taking it out on her body.

"Besides, it won't be any fun... if you couldn't manage to fill my locker with watermelon jello... I believe that's way over due."

Pietro gave a half-hearted laugh and leaned his head back on the lockers as well, "yeah, well... I'll probably have to use that on someone else actually."

"Too bad... I do enjoy me some jiggly jello..." She closed her eyes, a half smile on her lips. She could just fall asleep here... too bad Polly wasn't here. She'd give her a piggy back ride.

She started saying something in Japanese as she slid sideways into him, her books falling out of her arms.

Pietro looked down at her. He wanted to hate her still but all the anger had worn him out. Plus, his father might actually kill him if he actually hurt her. With a weary sigh he picked her up and a few moments later, set her down just outside the gate to the institute. "Stupid cotton candy brain" he mumbled before leaving her there. It was close enough.