''Hey Shal.''

Brennan chirped happily as he walked towards his friend with a couple of drinks in his hands. The tall, hansom Elemental looked great tonight. Wearing a pair of stylish patterned jeans, with a funky, white and grey top that he adored. Though, Shalimar always observed that Brennan looked good pretty much all of the time. He was one of those people. The guy could roll out of bed, slap on some pants and a shirt, and he would look good!

        That thought though, wasn't really on her mind right now. In fact, she hadn't even registered him yet. Instead, her eyes were strained towards the dance floor. From the high terrace the club had, she could see everything. The entrance, the bar, the seating downstairs, and the dance floor. Up here though, it was secluded, quiet, a little darker. For people who needed to be alone to talk, or just sit and think.

''Shalimar?''

Brennan called a little louder this time, over the music of the place. Frowning, he took in her posture. She held a rather unusual scowl. One he'd never seen on her. Her distant, brown eyes were narrowed slightly, definitely watching someone down there. Her blonde hair fell forwards slightly, but she didn't seem to notice that either.

        The Feral too, looked stunning. She'd decided to wear a long black skirt with a long slit up one of the sides. He'd seen her in it before, and it did do her justice. Along with that, she wore a strappy black top, the bottom of it cut into a triangle to expose her sides, and a small section of her stomach and back. The outfit certainly hadn't failed to impress a lot of guys in the club. But Brennan had watched her turn down every single one. Not even a dance or a drink.

''Hey, Shal. You okay?''

This time, as Brennan sat down across from her, he prodded her shoulder. Instantly he got a reaction. She looked around quickly; eyes returning to normal as she held a confused look over her face. As her senses hit back home, she realized someone had nudged her. Preparing to brush off another guy, she turned to instead see that it was Brennan. He looked at her with a concern in his eyes, something he'd always held for her. She'd noticed the different looks for different members of the team.

''Ya, I'm fine. Sorry. Just thinking.''

She smiled warmly towards him, and even though he knew that wasn't all of it, he felt easier and he smiled back charmingly. Pushing the drink over the table towards her, he let his smile turn into a grin.

''Here you go!''

He began to chirp again. She looked at the cocktail, interest swimming in her eyes. Then confusion again, as he began to get up.

''Where you going?''

She wondered. Brennan shrugged happily.

''Oh you know, around! The drinks are from Emma though, she's nipped to the bathroom but she's coming to sit with you.''

He explained. After that, Brennan turned to go. And as he said, Emma was making her way over to the table. She smiled at him sweetly as they passed, and then grinned at her blonde friend as she slipped into the chair he'd just vacated.

''Hey. Having a good time? Up here? Alone?''

Emma wondered, raising an eyebrow with an edge of sarcasm to her voice. Shalimar hesitated for a moment, uncertain of Emma's intentions. The Feral had been tiptoeing around the telempath for a few weeks now. Trying to train herself not to think about the frustration she'd been feeling lately. Constantly Emma had asked her if she'd needed to talk about anything, so she didn't know whether it was working or not. Emma was a highly sensitive person, with or without her ability.

''Yeah, no guys following me around. You having a good time?''

She asked breezily as she flicked her hand and looked back down to the dance floor. She smirked lightly as she saw Jesse dancing with a brunette he'd been meeting for a while now. He looked happy dancing with her. She was nice. A New Mutant too, so there was no need to hide every single detail about themselves from her. Made it that much easier for Jesse.

''Do we have to do the small talk?''

Shalimar whirled her head around at that, eyes widened in surprise. Emma only gave her a resolved look that told her she knew something was wrong as she tipped her head to the side. Shalimar sighed, slumping slightly before she took a drink.

''Am I that obvious?''

She grumbled unhappily. Emma smirked as she shook her head.

''No. Not to anyone but me anyway. Why have you been avoiding me?''

God, when did Emma start being so cut throat about her questions? Again, Shalimar just looked off towards the dance floor where Brennan had started dancing with the girl he'd been chatting up all night. She was into him, Shalimar could tell. She was pretty much an expert on body language, but the girl was playing coy with him. And he was loving it! Typical of Brennan!

''I haven't been.''

Shalimar responded finally. Emma just scoffed at her, running a hand through her now red hair. Shalimar liked the new look. No actually, she loved the new look. It really suited Emma. Showed her off even more. Not that she'd needed to change to be accepted as beautiful. She always had been. Tonight she looked in her prime. Wearing a tanned knee length skirt with a blue/purple shirt, short sleeved and low cut, that she'd nabbed from Shalimar's wardrobe earlier!

''Do we remember who I am? Your best friend not to mention a telempath. Shalimar, all I've been sensing from you is frustration. Every time you look at me, you have this weird squiggle between your eyes.''

Emma waved her hand between her own eyes and did the expression she'd seen on Shalimar for a while now as an example.

''You've been turning around every time we're heading the same way. You keep turning down offers to hang out, meditate, dinner, god even training. I'm beginning to think its me.''

She couldn't help but let her own frustration boil over into her ramble of a speech she'd managed to push out in one breath. A frown covered her own face now, and a slightly hurt and worried look glinted in her eyes, as well as spilled into her tone. Shalimar looked at her again, guilty for even getting Emma this worked up. Evidently, her plan had made things worse. Great. What was she supposed to do now?

''Emma no, it's not you. I didn't mean to make you think that.''

The sincerity in Shalimar's voice, her eyes, relieved Emma enough to let out a small sigh. Shalimar looked at the table for a moment. Her stomach was nearly in her mouth, her heart pounding like she was in a fight for her life. She still hadn't figured everything out in her head. Never mind talking to Emma about it. But she knew that's what Emma was after. And she knew she deserved the truth too.

''Then what? I'm worried Shal. Because you normally talk to me. You know you can trust me, don't you?''

Her question hung in the air like a knife ready to fall. Spoken with such a vulnerability and fear it almost reduced her to tears. Now Shalimar felt even guiltier. She'd never intended on Emma doubting that. She was a good friend. The best she could wish for actually.

''I trust you Emma. Please don't doubt that.''

She pleaded. Pushing her blonde hair out of the way to give Emma a begging look, she felt a decision being made in her. Whether it was the best or not, she made it.

''Then why have you been avoiding me?''

Emma demanded. She resisted the urge to stamp her foot for affect! Instead just chose to give Shalimar a half glare, simply because she'd never truly managed a full one at her!

''Because.I didn't want you to read me. I mean, I know you don't go about reading us, but I know you can sense what we're feeling, and I know you can pick up other surface emotions. I was worried. That you'd sense that erm.that my feelings have shifted. That.that I'm attracted to someone in Mutant X. More than attracted actually.''

She explained uneasily. Emma looked at her in surprise. So a little bit of her plan had worked! Leaning forwards, the redhead took a drink and then looked down on the dance floor. She narrowed her eyes a little, thinking about who it was.

''Shal, you could've easily have said something. It's not like I was gunna run off and tell him.''

Shalimar nearly dropped her jaw at that.

''Tell who?''

She demanded. Emma just grinned.

''Jesse! You've been starring at him for ages!''

She observed, pointing down to the dance floor. Shalimar shook her head so quickly that Emma expected it to fall off! As well as that the Feral shook her hands in the air for added affect.

''No, no! God no! Jesse's like my brother!''

She corrected. Damn! She'd gotten it wrong! But that left Brennan! In one way, Emma couldn't blame Shalimar for that. Brennan was cute, in a very manly way. She wouldn't have picked him out herself. Only the time that she did because she sensed he was special like her, back when they first met. But that had been pretence. On the other hand, she didn't know why Shalimar had picked Brennan. Not when there was already someone who liked her.

''Okay, then that leaves Brennan. But you're gunna hafta go down there and stake your claim before that chick does!''

She smiled affectionately. Shalimar just looked towards the table again.

''It's not Brennan either.''

She muttered. Emma dropped her jaw. No way! It couldn't possibly be!

''But that only leaves Ad.''

She didn't get any further as Shalimar looked up, focusing on her eyes intently.

''You. It leaves you.''

She'd come clean. No taking it back. No laughing it off. No forgetting about it. The stakes were even higher, considering that she'd never even told anyone from Mutant X that she'd had her fair share of boyfriends.along with her fair share of girlfriends too. She didn't even know why she hadn't told them. She didn't feel ashamed exactly. Not for the way she was. More the fact the way she acted with it. The self loathe she could feel in herself that drove her to do things with people that she knew she would be better off not doing. And now liking Emma. Her best friend. Her best, straight, friend. Who was so sweet, and innocent, and delightful and elegant. Why even if there was any chance that Emma could return her feelings, would she choose her? After the amount of ex's she'd piled up, because she couldn't stop herself from liking the pain they brought her?

        Emma stopped midway through her sentence. She didn't know what to say. Or what to think. But she did understand why Shalimar hadn't talked to her about it. It's not like it was the easiest thing to say. But it had been so unexpected. Her jaw dropped slightly, as she looked down with a frown across her face. Possibly not the best way to react. Looking so stricken. Shalimar made one swift movement to stand up and clear herself from the table. Grabbing her coat she took off quickly and was heading down the stairs by the time Emma had a chance to move again. Looking around, she was about to call her name but there was no point.

''Shal? Where you going so fast?''

Jesse wondered lightly as he crossed her path on the way to get drinks. Shalimar could see how much of a great time he was having. And how sweetly unaware he was of anything. She did love him like a brother. He'd been there for her so many times. Yet she'd left him in the dark too. Like all her friends.

''I'm not feeling so hot Jess. I'm taking off. You guys stay here, have some fun. But if you need me, tell Brennan he'll know how to get hold of me the fastest. But not unless you have to okay?''

Jesse frowned as concern washed over his features.

''What? When did you start talking in riddles? I don't understand.''

Shalimar just smiled with a nod.

''I know you don't Jesse. Just go have some fun with Clara okay. Tell her I said I'll see her later.''

After that, she walked around him and headed for the door. Looking at it for a moment, Jesse shook his head and continued on towards the bar. He didn't get her sometimes. Her reasoning, her mysteries. Especially not her brooding! But that's why he loved her.

''Jess! Jesse.what did she just say to you?''

Jesse had hardly made it to the bar before Emma screeched to a halt by his side, looking somewhat frantic!

''Huh?''

Was his best answer. Emma flailed at him desperately.

''Shalimar. What did she say? Did she tell you where she was going?''

She demanded. Jesse was getting the distinct feeling that something was going on! Must have been a girl thing, but considering Shalimar was speaking in riddles and Emma was flailing at him, it must have been serious.

''Sorta. She said she wasn't feeling well and heading home. But if anything happened Brennan could get to her faster. But I don't know what she meant.''

He told her what Shalimar had told him. Emma frowned as she began to turn around.

''I do. It means she hasn't gone home at all. She's gone out on her own.''

Jesse followed Emma through the crowds towards Brennan. He still didn't know what was going on, but it was enough for him that Emma was worried. The way the Feral had stalked out of here hadn't given him any good feelings about the situation either. And if she was upset, or in trouble, he wanted to be there to help her.

''Shalimar's gone. Where?''