-I-
Megan Gwynn's delicate translucent wings hung limply down her back, shimmering its multi-hued veiny pattern much like how a swimming pool often reflects its glowing and wavering ripples in clear blue-green mosaics on surfaces.
They fluttered briefly as if ruffling on their own nerves' accord, like the flutter of the pixie's wide heart.
She eyed the back of her best friend, Alison Blaire's head spitefully and concentrated in vain, on seeing it explode like a disco ball that was used as a pinata and shattered by Andy Flowers' Welsh cricket bat.
Her completely blackened, dark eyes shone like fuchsia-purple marbles, flashing the reflection of Alison's true-to-her-name locks dazzling in its sparkly golden-rod blond glory underneath the flattering string of tea lights she had positioned herself underneath to pull Mr. Summers into for conversation.
The pointy ears of the pixie mutant bristled at the familiar and now increasingly annoying sound of throatily flirtatious laughter coming from her best friend (BFF!) as she used her trade mark mysterious smile and devious eye contact with the red-eyed man. Megan rattled her drink in her hands, some cranberry and lime fusion juice with cubes of ice swirling and tinkling in her oblong glass. The cold sweat of the chilled glass moistened her palms, causing her to shift hands and wipe the dampness off on her impish high-waisted black shorts that stopped just centimeters from the hem of her black cropped tank top that had a picture of the Welsh music group U2 cut off at Bono's face.
Her twitchy and impish nostrils drank in the tangy smell of her cold fruit drink and she tried to think happy thoughts, not the searing jealousy burning through her core. This feeling seemed to happen a lot more to the originally cheerful and simply peaceful-minded Welsh girl since she began her friendship with her teammate Ali. Pixie knew that none of these envies were really realistic nor reasonable or based upon their friendship, yet it happened a lot with being the best friend to a superstar singer.
Megan had always admired Dazzler, never having dreamed that she would meet her celebrity hero. That was one of the few better things that her mutant powers had brought her since their manifestation. As it was though, becoming close friends with a diva and rock star was a completely different experience than watching them anonymously from the audience. It seemed that Megan's best friend got everything, even on top of her music and fame, she got cool sparkly powers and countless other luxuries that came with looks and stardom. Mostly, Ali could have guys drop at her feet in a heartbeat or sassy snap of her fingers.
The wavy, fuchsia-haired girl's shoulder blades flexed as her wings folded together, twisting in an anxious manner, and rubbing almost itchily at each other.
And that did not, in Megan's mind, not include Mr. Summers, the X-Men leader and impossibly reserved and just as impossibly-no, painfully-handsome headmaster of the Xavier's School for Higher Learning. Megan knew she had a fancy for him the minute she saw him, falling infatuated with his gorgeous sculpted face, perfect smile, chiseled body, and amazing hair. The man was a biscuit and she had almost as fierce an adoration for him as she did for a a pop star like Dazzler.
What made her want to scream it's not fair, at the world beyond how mutants were treated, how her life had twisted, and all that, was how Dazzler had managed to have even kissed someone like Scott Summers before!
Ali had everything from fame, looks, so many fans, wealth, spunk, and guys, and yet her good luck seemed almost excessive for her to even have had kissed Scott who was a prize especially because of his reputation for being stoic and indifferent, particularly to female charms.
Pixie had heard all the gossip and low downs of the residents of the mansion and the staff, and for quite a while it was quite a stir when Dazzler's recruitment had occurred. Apparently, she had been singing in a show one night and Cyclops as well as Gambit having been sent to recruit her, were blended in the audience. Some Hellfire people had attacked and tried to kidnap Dazzler, but Cyclops had saved her, and to the swoony star who was used to having everything she wanted, she repaid his act of heroism with a very inappropriate and spontaneous kiss. Which he would often remind his current girlfriend the fiercely cold headmistress Emma Frost, that it was so unforeseen and spontaneous he had not had time to react to it or fight her off. And that besides, this was a time when it was Emma Frost herself leading the Hellfire Club who had psychically manipulated and attacked the X-Men and Dazzler in the first place to have caused him to come to the rescue. To this, his girlfriend often became completely silent with slightly pursed pale pink lips and a dark look in her icy eyes as she would stare at him, and a gulp from him when he knew it was time to shut up.
Alison loved rehashing this story though, and it was no wonder that she was among Headmistress Frost's least favorite pupils, on which Kitty Pryde was top for a while.
It was so unfair that Alison could even have the unattainable.
Over underneath the tea lights, Dazzler was curling her long wavy blonde hair away from her head with a finger, slowly, letting the wound up strands sparkle to their own accord. It was as if she was begging for Mr. Summers to notice that she was not the same young and impulsive twerp with the strawberry blonde punky haircut anymore who had brashly kissed him, but she was now a more refined, confident and mature young woman, scoffed Pixie, rolling her eyes. As if he would notice her as other than one of his students. What, with a sex bombe like Emma Frost all over him? How dare Alison dream when Pixie could only resort to day dreams and shy looks during class.
She had some nerve, Alison, flirting with Mr. Summers at an X-Men barbecue, when Ms. Frost was somewhere within the premises, and also very able to hear Alison's obnoxious thoughts.
Megan looked around abruptly, almost wishing for the chilling former White Queen to materialize and take the headstrong Ali down in front of everyone.
Other team members and X-Women had dared to flirt with the man before, or pursue him, but had failed usually to a psychotic and possessive woman who had their claim on him, or simply because he walked around with an expression that was like, why would anyone possibly think of me that way?
Which was what made Pixie feel like he was different from any other man or mutant. Pixie couldn't help but draw similarities to one hot mutant who had struck a nerve with Scott and Jean and now Emma who acted stifled whenever she came around, such as the purple hair she and Betsy Braddock shared in similarity. Perhaps Cyclops had a thing for purple haired girls? Oh she only hoped.
He had been there when she was rescued from the torturous abduction from the Hellfire Cult, and in his presence he seemed to apologize for not being Logan, but she hadn't cared or minded one bit.
He had been so tender in his mannerism to her even if he was detached and professional, but the way he treated her and spoke to her as if she was an adult like him made her feel like there was hope and maybe under this man's care she would be okay after all.
"Why are you staring at Ali like you want to eat her?"
Northstar joined Pixie in her solitary stand by the punch table, a veggie burger and some of Hank's family recipe coleslaw on a plate in his hand.
Pixie took another sip of her drink and sighed dramatically, "Just wondering how the lass is lucky enough to even have dark roots in her hair look fabulous. She doesn't care to touch them up and still manages to be tidy!"
Julian narrowed his eyes subjectively and crowed, "I know, and how she fits a size double zero but eats everything? I have to do like hundreds of bench presses if I even eat half of her Michael Phelps diet, and I'M the one with the accelerated metabolism mutation. But psh, you've nothing to worry about Gwynn, you're tiny and you have natural purple hair, Ali looks like a punk goth kid from the Adam's Family when she tries to color her hair cool." He flipped his straight dark bangs out of his eyes and bit into his veggie burger.
Chomping hard, Julian muttered, "Gotta give that girl some props for her self esteem though. Where the Hell is Ms. Frost? How'd Ali get Cyke away from her for even a second? This cockiness is going to get her a psychic headache." Pixie did not reply, staring hard at the pair talking. Alison was her best friend and she knew that Megan had liked Cyclops from the very beginning, although that was not such a feat since most girls often had a crush on the fearless leader as soon as they saw him. But still, Pixie felt that a girl friend code was being violated even if it was an irrational one.
Julian sharply turned so he was facing close to Pixie who glimpsed the cause of his sudden attentiveness to her over his shoulder as the three-in-one seemed to be approaching them.
Julian mumbled under his breath, "So...Any cute guys lately?"
Megan caught on as well and conversed intently with her friend,both of them dreading the presence of the triplet psychic girls and their tendency to just...wander purposely.
None of the students appreciated having their company, as the girls were so exclusive, elusive, and strange, it was impossible to get them engaged in anything remotely normal.
"Not really... All the lads in the mansion are just...lads with powers, and all the boys back home are sheep herders. Or miners. What about you? Got your eye on anyone?"
His eyes underneath their shaggy dark bowl cut drifted to a blue-eyed X-Man who was having entirely way too much fun freezing Kurt's tail when he wasn't watching, causing the blue-furred teleporting mutant to jump up a couple feet yelping.
"Nah..."
Even though both of the young mutants were trying their best to ignore, a chill ran up their spines as three identical girls in school girl uniforms sashayed by, eyeing them. When the three devil spawn of Emma Frost wavered by their side, making it hard to ignore them and pretend to be immersed in a private conversation, Pixie could only nervously gulp from her glass as Julian tried in vain to have tunnel vision on her, not allowing room for acknowledgement or invitation to the three clones.
Of course it was hard to pretend to ignore telepathic girls who had no moral or human discretion.
"We could not help but hear in passing..."
"What both of you would like..."
"To do to our own Mister Summers..."
Guiltily, Julian looked up startled and blushed, then looked away from Megan who queried with a raised eyebrow at him, also blushing furiously.
Pixie momentarily shook her head and looked up above Julian's head at nothing, humorously wondering how she also had a gay Canadian extreme sportstar to compete with in thoughts of the fearless leader.
When neither spoke, the triplets cocked their head, "Oh we could tell Ms. Frost,"
"But what would be the fun in that?"
"If only Mister Summers could hear what she hears."
Julian snapped, "What are you, twelve? Who tattles? And who freakin' cares? Hasn't your dear mother taught you anything about manners and nosiness?"
The three blondes stiffened at the mention of mother, not ruffled by anything else.
Pixie snorted and looked around vacantly at the guests and other X-Men relaxing and mingling. Ororo was trying to teach a very attentive Cannonball and Gambit about the properties of her glass of rose wine, fermented herself, only to suffer their relentless good-hearted teasing that the mild-mannered weather witch was drinking -GASP- alcohol at an X-Men function where there were young mutants to see.
Warren was on his cellphone probably talking to a business client or partner or something, momentarily turning from a heated debate with Domino, Piotr, and Hisako.
The smell of burnt meat was in the air sizzling and simmering, making her wonder if she should go for a second hot dog. Or perhaps even better, a frankfurter.
Over the general noise of party ambience and festive chattering and eating, Amara could be heard exclaiming over it, "How was I supposed to know coals could explode?"
A set of hands snaked their way around the shoulders of Julian and Megan, wrapping around and carelessly hanging off their necks, Alison had slithered her way in between them and suspended herself by her arms, casually prompting, "What's up party people?"
It was always sort of a nice relief in awkward situations when Alison, the ever dazzling socialite impeded with her over the top confidence.
The triplets narrowed their blank eyes at the pop star mutant and Celeste announced, "We are getting head aches from certain girls' and boys' immature and yucky thoughts-"
"About our Mister Summers," continued Phoebe,
"And are now leaving to play with Cerebro." Winked Mindee.
The three retreated before another word could bet uttered, as if they knew it would from the fire cracker of a star Alison, who had popped open her mouth momentarily, eyeliner lined eyes rounded, at the retreating backs of the Three-in-One.
She closed her mouth and sheepishly teased, "So you two were fantasizing about 'Mister Summers'? Figures." She gave Pixie a sidelong glance to recover from her moment of shock and embarrassment, and held her knowledge of Pixie's crush over her to cover her own.
Megan stuttered and looked in awe at Alison, taken aback by the nerve of her best friend to imply such a sensitive topic in public and even dare to mock her about it when she had been fully supportive before.
Julian tried his best at discretion and pretended to not have noticed, or so Megan thought.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Scott standing where Alison had been talking to him underneath the glowing tea lights, his natural highlights caught in the dimly lavender spectrum.
Then she saw the cause for Alison's sudden interest in her friends and reason for ending her conversation with Cyclops and fleeing from him.
Headmistress Frost was tangled at the side of her lover, her arms wrapped around his strong lean left arm, as she perched her perfectly pointed chin on his broad shoulder and seemed to be speaking to him in private and in their heads.
Her lips were venomously curled into a satisfied smile so close to the curved ear of her lover, however her icy eyes told a different story as she seemed concentrated on him in a negative way.
She had chosen to wear a long white maxi halter dress held in the center of her chest by a silver loop with the straps connecting to it, and her platinum hair was swept back in a low tropical braided bun at the nape of her graceful neck.
As her hand swept up Scott's muscular chest languorously over his cotton t-shirt, Pixie caught a hint of apprehension and confusion on Scott's expressions as he tilted his face suddenly to look at Emma's face as if he had been caught off guard by something she said.
He quickly darted a glance over at the trio of friends where Alison was trying her best to pretend not to notice Ms. Frost's icy glares.
Julian chuckled under his breath, "Uh oh, you are in trouble, m' dear."
Alison sucked in a deep breath and shrugged it off, "Only if she catches me."
She patted her two friends briefly on the back before taking off, picking up her stroll to a brisk jog and disappearing into the thicket of mutants and streamers.
Megan watched and then turned back to Julian who smirked, "For someone with so much bravado and hype, it's incredible that she would be scared enough to run away from Ms. Frost."
While the party was winding down and night had come completely, Scott manned the barbecue grill, adroitly mastering the last of the patties and wieners, tempting the students and faculty alike for one last round of seconds or thirds or fourths and tenths in Logan's case.
After her sixth drink, Ms. Frost was nowhere to be found, and Cyclops was grimly and rather violently flipping his meats on the sizzling burner, the charcoal scented smoke representing his aggravation at the absence of his beautiful partner.
Megan wondered if Ms. Frost knew how lucky she was to have someone like Scott Summers care so much and be so loyal to her as to not even be able to enjoy himself when she was not around.
She probably enjoyed it, having this power over such a powerful man.
Megan bit into her succulent hot dog tearfully and murmured, "Bitch", even more touched at how delicious and tender and hot and juicy the sausage was.
Emma had daintily eaten Scott's vegetarian patty in front of him, much to his excitement and ego, as he proudly and eagerly watched for any sign of approval. She had sweetly wiped her mouth and pecked him on the corner of his lips, which grew into a happy smile and then he had tried to feed her a tongful of sliced Brazilian steak pieces to which she had grimaced and backed away, but then consented, adding even more to his smile.
Shortly after however, she had disappeared leaving her empty sixth glass with him, and a stifled appearance to his previously happy face.
Pixie chewed and gulped back tears as she thought at how the tiniest things that Emma did could make the solemn man so happy, when nothing else could, yet Emma probably didn't even notice or care.
She even felt guilty at the thought of the time Julian and Ali had taken her out drinking and she had stumbled home drunk to a waiting and seething Cyclops.
Megan looked down at her half-eaten dog through blurry tear-stained eyes and whispered to the mess on her paper plate, "I love him. I love him so much."
She sensed a pair of eyes on her and looked up to see Logan off to the distance looking sideways at her with curious and judging eyes, brows quirked. He looked away then to Scott grilling his meat, and rolled his eyes.