My very first X-Men Evo fic! Please don't laugh. I'm trying to improve my
writing. I don't own X-Men characters or anything.
Chapter One: Fateful Encounter
"Hey Toad, get up!" Pietro was struggling to pull Todd out of bed.
"No!" Toad yelled grabbing the bed frame. "I don't want to go to school today!"
"Come on man!"
"No way!"
"We don't have anything better to do and besides," Pietro grunted, tugging with every word, "I..... wanna..... trash..... on the..... X-Geeks..... TODAY!!" Pietro tugged harder and harder until finally the bed frame broke. Pietro and Todd (still holding the bed frame) flew backwards through the door and tumbled down the stairs yelling and cursing each other.
They fell out into the living room where Lance and Fred were waiting. Lance looked at Todd. "Hey man, you better hurry up or we're gonna be late."
Todd looked around. "Uh, where's Tabby?"
Lance frowned at him. "She got tired of waiting so she already left."
Todd covered his face and groaned. "Why do we need to go to school?"
Pietro smiled. "Kicks man. Can you think of anything better to do?"
"Yeah, how about we go swimming in an intoxicated lake and play Frisbee in the forest?"
Fred scowled at him. "Stop foolin' around and go get dressed."
Todd hopped back upstairs. "No! You can't make me!"
"Toad, get back here!" yelled Lance running after him followed by Fred and Pietro. They looked into his room just in time to see him crawl out the window. The three ran outside and saw Todd standing on the roof. "Toad!" Lance yelled, "If you don't get your slimy butt down here I'm gonna-" Todd spat out slime that nearly hit Lance in the face. "Gaaah! Alright that's it!" Lance causes a tremor that causes Todd to lose his balance and fall off the roof and land flat on the ground. He groaned having the wind knocked out of him. The three carried him inside.
"Aw man, I told you guys I don't wanna go!" Todd whined.
Lance got him to his feet and shoved him towards the stairs. He was a little upset. "Well that's just too bad. Now go get dressed or I'll tell everyone about you-know-what."
Todd looked at him startled. "You wouldn't!"
Lance looked hard at him. "Wanna make a bet?"
"Ack! Okay, I'm going! I'm going!" The three watched Todd hop up the stairs.
Pietro looked at Lance. "Exactly what is the you-know-what?"
Lance smiled and shrugged. "Heck if I knew."
Pietro smirked at him. "Nice one!" He slaps Lance a high-five.
After a few minutes Todd came back down dressed and ready. As ready as he could be anyway. "I still don't get why you guy's wanna go," he complained. "There's nothing for me there. It'll just be a long, meaningless day!"
Pietro zoomed by Todd giving him a soft slap on the back. "Hey, I'm sure you'll find something to occupy your time over there. Oh and by the way can we borrow some slime from you?"
Todd looked at him curiously. "What for?"
Pietro smiled. "You'll see." He checked himself in the mirror, and then turned to the group. "Okay boys. Let's go!"
Todd was walking in the hallways when he spotted some jocks. He decided since it was allowance day he would take his chances. He walked by one of the jocks and slipped out his wallet. "Heh, cake." Todd thought he would make a clean escape until the guy yelled, "Hey my wallet!" Todd broke into a run with the jocks running after him. He ran down the hall, through a class room, and down a corridor. He stood behind the corner listening.
"Where did that slime go?" an angry voice asked. "I think he went this way."
Todd peeked around the corner and watched the jocks head down the opposite hallway. He laughed to himself. After they were out of site, he ran back the way he came and passed through the main hall. He turned a corner and, "Ouch!" ran smack into something, knocking him down. Papers flew every where. Todd looked at what he had bumped into. It was a girl with long dark brown hair. She was on her knees picking up her papers. He bent down to help her. "Uh, s-sorry about that." She looked up at him and smiled looking a little embarrassed.
"It's okay." Her voice was soft and delicate.
Todd looked at her. "I've never seen you around before."
"Yeah, I'm kind of new here. I was looking for my 4th hour class and I got lost."
He helped her pick up the fallen papers wondering vaguely why she didn't notice how badly he smelled. Then without thinking he said, "Um, I kinda know this place. If you'd like I could show you around later."
She smiled brightly at him, her blue eyes sparkling. "That would be wonderful." He stood up and handed her the papers. "Thank you."
He looked away. "Uh, no problem."
"Well.... bye." She walked off.
Todd stared after her. Before she turned the next corner he called out, "Hey! W-what's your name?"
She stopped. "Oh, Serena. Serena Hallow."
"Mine's Todd Tolansky."
She smiled. "Well, I guess I'll see you later.... Todd." And she walked out of site around the corner. He stared after her for a while, then he walked off.
Todd made his way to the lunchroom. He spotted the rest of the Brotherhood sitting at a table in the far corner he went to join them. When he sat down they looked at him.
"Man where have you been?" Lance asked.
"Ahem, I would like to say that you have missed a very entertaining afternoon."
"What did you do?" Todd asked.
"Well..." Pietro started but was interrupted.
Principle Kelly stormed in the cafeteria covered in whip cream, honey, syrup, slime, and cornflakes. Most of the students were trying so hard not to laugh, that there shoulders were shaking. Others were hiding there faces or looking away.
"ALRIGHT! WHO'S RESONSIBLE FOR THIS!?" He pointed at himself. "COME FORWARD NOW AND THE PUNISHMENT WILL BE FAR LESS SEVERE!" Nobody moved. He pointed a shaking finger to the students. "I will find out who did this! And when I do, the ones responsible will be very sorry indeed!" He rushed out.
After he left the lunchroom exploded with laughter. Todd looked at Pietro. "Are you giving Principal Kelly a hard time?"
"Yep."
"Isn't it fun?"
"Join us. Were planning to leave a surprise in the girl's locker room next."
"Can't yo. I'm busy."
"Busy? Whadaya mean busy?"
"Yeah weren't you the one who didn't want to come to school? The one who said he wouldn't have anything to do? The one who screamed and whined and complained-"
"Alright I get it yo! Look I'm sorry I made you chase after me."
"Sorry?"
"Lay off Pietro." said Fred in between mouthfuls. "He said he was sorry, just leave it at that."
"Yeah whatever. So what are you planning to do during lunch?" Pietro said skeptically.
Todd shrugged, "I dunno. The usual I guess."
"Fine but I warn you, you'll be missing out."
"That's okay, go head without me."
"Fine." He gestured to the other two. "Let's go."
"Seeya later Toad." Both Lance and Fred said together. The three left.
Todd waited for 5 minutes, then went to look for Serena. It didn't take long for him to find her. She was waiting for him near a set of lockers. "Hey, Serena!"
She turned around. "Oh. Hi Todd."
"So, you ready?"
She nodded. Todd showed her where all her classes were. He also showed her where to find the library and the computer lab. After he was done showing her around they decided just to walk around. The two walked down the hall for a while, not saying a word to each other. Todd decided to break the silence.
"So, I guess it must be ruff," Todd said, "being at a new school and all."
"You don't know how hard. I have moved almost every year ever since I started school."
"Geez, why do you have to move every year?"
"My mother has trouble finding a job."
"Oh. What does your mother work as?"
"A veterinarian. What about you? What do your parents do for a living?"
"Uh, I don't really have parents."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"It's just so hard." She said suddenly. "When I finally get some close friends by the end of the year, I have to say good-bye. And at my new school I'm always the new girl, the outcast, the one nobody knows." She sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if I was meant to be alone."
Todd looked at her. He knew exactly how she felt. He remembered how miserable he was living with his parents. How alone he felt living out on the streets. He would always wonder if he was meant to live a lonely life with no friendship what so ever. But then he got his powers and Mistique took him in.
Suddenly the bell rang. "Um, I'd better get to class." Serena told him.
"You want to hang out again sometime?"
"Sure."
"Well, then I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
She smiled at him. "You can count on it."
It was Thursday and Todd was on his way to the lunchroom once more. For the past couple of days he spent his lunches with Serena, showing her around and talking about random things. He spotted the Brotherhood sitting at a table obviously waiting for him.
"Man where have you been?" Pietro asked him.
"Around." Todd said simply.
"So are you going to join us for our afternoon ritual of causing mayhem?"
"Can't yo. I'm busy."
"Again?" Fred said confused. "What have you been doing this whole week."
"Ah, y' know the usual."
"And yet you can't find time to hang with us?" Tabitha asked.
"What do you got a date or something?" Lance choked on his macaroni. "Good one Pietro. Todd on a date, now that would be something." "Can you just see it?" Both of them started laughing.
Todd looked down in embarrassment. He decided not to them the truth. At least not now anyway.
"So what are you doing at lunch?" Pietro said skeptically.
"I, uh..." Todd's mind raced. "I have uh, lunch detention. Yeah."
"Bummer." Tabitha said.
"Yeah but I think I'll survive." "Can't you just ditch?" Lance asked.
"Nah, I can't." Todd said.
"Well maybe tomorrow then." Pietro said. He gestured to the rest. "Let's go."
They all left Todd sitting at the table.
Todd looked after them. "Yeah, maybe."
Serena walked down the hall to her locker. "Let's see know which one was it?" She reached into her bag. "Oh no, I lost my schedule! Wait, maybe I left it in chemistry class." She went over to the chemistry room and reached for the door handle. The door suddenly flew open and someone ran into her.
"Ouch!" she yelled. She looked to see a long, dark haired boy.
"Oh, Entschuldigen."
"Huh?" she asked a little confused.
"Sorry, I was in a hurry."
"Oh," she says and smiles at him, "that's alright."
"You're new here right?"
"Yes. How'd you know?"
"I've seen you a couple times in class. We have biology together."
"Oh, weren't you the guy who was eating in class?"
"Eh heh heh, yeah that was me." He said a little embarrassed.
"What's your name?"
"Wagner. Kurt Wagner."
"Mine's Serena."
"Serena. That's a very nice name." he said smiling.
"Thanks." She looked at her watch. "Shoot I gotta go." She took off down the hall. She yelled to him, "It was nice meeting you!"
"Tchus!" He yelled back waving.
He walked over to his locker, put in the combination, and opened it."
BOOM!
"AAAAUUUUGGGHHH!!!"
Todd met up with Serena who was having trouble with her locker. "Darn it!" She banged on the locker hoping for it to open but it didn't.
"Looks like you could use a hand there." Todd said.
"Do you think you can?"
"Sure." Todd took a pick out of his pocket and picked the lock. It clicked and then opened.
"Thanks." She said grabbing her notebook out of the locker.
"It was nothing."
"So where do you want to go?"
Todd thought. There was no football or cheerleading practice today. "Lets go outside."
They went out into the bright sunshine. There were only a few other people outside. They started walking across the field when Todd saw Lance, Fred, and Pietro coming out. He panicked. Grabbing Serena he said, "Let's go under the bleachers, its way too bright out here."
She looked a little surprised but said, "Oh. Okay."
He made sure they were out of sight before he sat down. "So," he said casually, "what's up?"
"Nothing," she said shrugging, "that's the problem."
"What do you mean?" He asked curiously.
"I feel like I'm not living my life to the extreme. I need more action."
Todd didn't know what to say at the moment. If she knew....
She sighed. "I just wish something exciting would happen every once in a while."
Lance, Pietro, and Fred walked down the halls looking very pleased with them selves. "So how are we doing?" Lance asked Pietro.
"Let's see," he pulled out a notepad and started checking off names. "So far we've keyed Summer's car and filled it with slime, generously given by Toad, filled Red's locker with kiwi Jell-o, planted a cheese bomb in the elf's locker, and filled Daniel's gym shoes with cottage cheese topped with ketchup and relish. Yep, I'd say we're doing pretty good so far."
"Don't forget the favor we did for Kelly." Fred pointed out.
"I hope I didn't forget anything." Pietro said a little worried.
"Well let's see," Lance counted on his fingers, "you rigged the door, you rigged the rug, the desk drawer, the window. I'd say you've gotten about everything done."
"ALVERS!"
They turned to see Scott, Evan, and a cheese-covered Kurt moving towards them looking very upset. Pietro was smiling broadly.
Lance smiled too when he said, "Yeah, what can I do for you?"
"Don't play dumb!" Scott yelled. "For the past week someone has been filling my car with slime and there are scratches all over it!"
"My gym shoes are ruined!" Evan complained.
"My fur!" Kurt whined.
Lance was trying hard not to laugh. He pulled a straight face and said, "I am truly sorry for your misfortunes. If I find the scum that did it, you'll be the first to know."
"Don't even!" Scott fumed. "I know you did it!"
"Well, nothing gets passed you Summers."
"Hey, hey!" Pietro piped up. "Don't take all the credit! We helped too."
"You better knock it off!" Scott threatened.
"Or what?" Pietro sneered. "You gonna do something about it?"
"That's it!" Evan shot spikes out of his arm. Pietro sped out of the way and Lance ducked. Some people looked over at them not seeing Evan's spike attack.
"You want a fight? You got it!" Lance stretched out his arms and the ground starts to shake.
There was a tremble. The bleachers were shaking hard. People were screaming. Todd grabbed Serena. "Hurry!"
They ran under the bleachers. They were almost out when Todd heard a loud rattling sound. He instinctively held on to Serena and gave a huge leap. They rolled onto the grass and the bleachers collapsed.
Serena was lying on the ground stunned. "Well, you got your wish." Todd said trying to inject some humor into the matter. She didn't laugh. Todd looked around and saw the cause of the damage. Lance and Scott were in a heated conversation and looked as though they were ready to kill eachother. He looked back at Serena.
"Are you alright?" He asked. She stared at him breathing heavily. He felt the pressure under her gaze and knew he had risked nearly exposing himself. After a minute he stood up and brushed himself off. Serena was still on the ground. "Let me help you there." He held out his hand. She looked at him for a second, then took it. She flung her arms around him.
"You saved my life! Thank you!" Todd looked startle. She let go of him and they stared into each others eyes for a second. Todd looked away.
"Uh, no problem."
Teachers were rushing out onto the field trying to find out what had happened.
"Well I'd better get going." Todd said. He started to walk away.
"Thanks again." Serena said.
He paused for a moment. "Yeah." He said, and continued on his way. He decided to leave school while every one was busy with the wreckage. Todd walked down the street deep in thought. He just couldn't stop thinking about the way she looked at him. When he looked into her face for that split second, he had noticed that one of her eyes was crystal-like blue, while the other one was and oceanic green. And the way she smiled at him.... "No one's ever looked at me that way before." Todd thought to himself. The boy walked to the house wondering all this. It seemed to take him no time at all to get from the school to the house. He went inside, up to his room, and collapsed onto his bed. After the shock of what had happened and thinking so much, he realized he was tired. He fell asleep almost instantly.
Somebody knocked on the door. Todd woke up and rubbed his eyes.
"Hey Toad?" It was Pietro. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah sure." Todd said gloomily. Pietro zipped in and sat next to Todd's bed.
"What's with you man? I havn't seen you ever since you left the lunch room earlier today."
"Mmmm-mmm." Todd mumbled.
"What's bothering you?"
"Nothing."
"Come on. Tell me your secret."
"No."
Pietro started zipping around Todd. "Whatsthesecret? Whatsthesecret?"
"Nothing!"
"Yourelyingwhatsthesecret? Yourelyingwhatsthesecret? Yourelyingwhatsthesecret?"
"Fine!" Todd yelled in frustration. "Fine! There's this girl--!"
Pietro insantly stopped when he heard the word 'girl'. "Are you kidding me!?"
Todd instantly regretted telling him. "Well see.... I met this girl at school and-"
"Ah-ha! So that's what you've been doing during lunch and after school!"
"Yeah yeah. So what?"
"But wait a minute, is she that great?"
"I just can't stop thinking about her!" Todd burst out. "She's like something I've never seen before. Her hair flows like a dark cascade, her eyes sparkle like jewels. Her voice is like a song. Her touch has the gentle warmth of the sun, and her smile.... Man it's incredible!" Todd flopped back on his bed. Pietro gave him a weird look.
"Do you have to gush like that? Geez, you're starting to sound like rock- head mooning over Kitty."
"I don't know what's wrong with me. I... I just can't get her out of my mind!"
"Well that's simple to explain. You're obviously digging this chick."
"Uh..."
"In other words, you're in love."
"I am?"
"Don't tell me you've never been in love before!"
"Well, not really. I've seen girls I think are good looking from time to time but...."
"Oh my gosh," Pietro sounded exasperated, "look, the only way to cure this is to tell her how you feel."
"What!?" Toad yelled. "No way man!"
"Oh come on."
"I can't."
"Well, this weekend there's a party going on. Why don't you invite her? Then you can make your move."
"I don't know man."
"Hey, don't sweat it. I'll get you all ready, and we'll all be right there if you need us."
"Well..... I guess."
"Good. Now stay up here for a while."
"Why?"
"Me and the others are gonna have a group discussion."
"Oh. Okay."
"Now you be a good little Toad and stay here."
"Fine."
Pietro zipped back down stairs. He took a deep breathe. "BROTHERHOOD MEMBERS...... ESSEMBLE!" He looked around. "Hey. Where is everybody!?"
"Hey Quickie you don't have to yell." Came Tabitha's voice from the kitchen.
"What are you guys doing? Never mind I probably don't wanna know. Now you three get in here."
"What's up?" Lance asked.
"I'll tell you as soon as you get in there. Everybody on the couch. NOW!"
"Okay, geez." Said Fred putting down what he was doing.
"Okay, now we have a major situation on our hands, so unnerving, so incredible, so unbelievably-"
"Oh, not this again." Lance groaned.
"Look Quickie, just skip the drama and tell us what the deal is." Tabitha said.
"Fine," Pietro said agitated, "Our dear friend Toad has fallen in love."
It was all of the sudden very quiet. Tabitha was the one who broke the silence. "I should probably get a hearing aid. Did you just say little Toddles is in love?"
"That's right."
"With whom? What's she like?"
"Don't know. But I don't think Todd could wait for the wedding the way he was talking about her."
"Nuh-uh! No way! We are not having Sasquatch come to live with us here! I mean this is TOAD we're talking about here. Who knows what he finds attractive!""
"Oh come on Rocky," Tabitha said skeptically. "Todd may be a hyper-active frog boy, but he still has good taste."
"Yeah right."
"What makes you say that?"
"Well he fell for you didn't he?"
Tabitha stood up looking very angry. "HEY! YOU DIE!"
Lance stood up too. "Bring it on!"
"Hey people!" Pietro zipped in between them. "We have enough to handle without you two sniping at each other."
"What do you know about this girl?"
"Well I've never actually seen her, I mean, I just found out about her. But Todd has agreed to ask her to the party this weekend being held up in the mountains. If we see her fit to date one of the Brotherhood members then she can stay."
"Sounds good to me." Lance said. The others nooded their heads in agreement.
"Oh and also, we need to get up early in the morning to help Toad prepare. You know, freshen him up a bit."
"If you mean giving him a bath, forget it. I've been through that nightmare before. In fact, I'M STILL HAVING NIGHTMARES!"
"Oh, so that's why I hear you screaming bloody murder at night."
"Was I really?"
"Enough to wake the dead."
"Relax. He's planning to take a shower before we leave. He might even use soap."
"Dang, he must really like this chick."
"Who's hosting the party?"
"Some jock said he had a huge cabin in the mountains that his family goes to during the summer. It's about thirty miles away."
"And people are going to this?"
"A lot of people are. People always go to the jocks' parties."
"Well I'm game!" Tabitha said.
"So we're all agreed?" Pietro asked them.
"Sure. Why not?" Fred said.
"Well," Lance considered. "Alright I've got nothing better to do."
"Alright!" Pietro said. "Meeting adjourned."
Chapter One: Fateful Encounter
"Hey Toad, get up!" Pietro was struggling to pull Todd out of bed.
"No!" Toad yelled grabbing the bed frame. "I don't want to go to school today!"
"Come on man!"
"No way!"
"We don't have anything better to do and besides," Pietro grunted, tugging with every word, "I..... wanna..... trash..... on the..... X-Geeks..... TODAY!!" Pietro tugged harder and harder until finally the bed frame broke. Pietro and Todd (still holding the bed frame) flew backwards through the door and tumbled down the stairs yelling and cursing each other.
They fell out into the living room where Lance and Fred were waiting. Lance looked at Todd. "Hey man, you better hurry up or we're gonna be late."
Todd looked around. "Uh, where's Tabby?"
Lance frowned at him. "She got tired of waiting so she already left."
Todd covered his face and groaned. "Why do we need to go to school?"
Pietro smiled. "Kicks man. Can you think of anything better to do?"
"Yeah, how about we go swimming in an intoxicated lake and play Frisbee in the forest?"
Fred scowled at him. "Stop foolin' around and go get dressed."
Todd hopped back upstairs. "No! You can't make me!"
"Toad, get back here!" yelled Lance running after him followed by Fred and Pietro. They looked into his room just in time to see him crawl out the window. The three ran outside and saw Todd standing on the roof. "Toad!" Lance yelled, "If you don't get your slimy butt down here I'm gonna-" Todd spat out slime that nearly hit Lance in the face. "Gaaah! Alright that's it!" Lance causes a tremor that causes Todd to lose his balance and fall off the roof and land flat on the ground. He groaned having the wind knocked out of him. The three carried him inside.
"Aw man, I told you guys I don't wanna go!" Todd whined.
Lance got him to his feet and shoved him towards the stairs. He was a little upset. "Well that's just too bad. Now go get dressed or I'll tell everyone about you-know-what."
Todd looked at him startled. "You wouldn't!"
Lance looked hard at him. "Wanna make a bet?"
"Ack! Okay, I'm going! I'm going!" The three watched Todd hop up the stairs.
Pietro looked at Lance. "Exactly what is the you-know-what?"
Lance smiled and shrugged. "Heck if I knew."
Pietro smirked at him. "Nice one!" He slaps Lance a high-five.
After a few minutes Todd came back down dressed and ready. As ready as he could be anyway. "I still don't get why you guy's wanna go," he complained. "There's nothing for me there. It'll just be a long, meaningless day!"
Pietro zoomed by Todd giving him a soft slap on the back. "Hey, I'm sure you'll find something to occupy your time over there. Oh and by the way can we borrow some slime from you?"
Todd looked at him curiously. "What for?"
Pietro smiled. "You'll see." He checked himself in the mirror, and then turned to the group. "Okay boys. Let's go!"
Todd was walking in the hallways when he spotted some jocks. He decided since it was allowance day he would take his chances. He walked by one of the jocks and slipped out his wallet. "Heh, cake." Todd thought he would make a clean escape until the guy yelled, "Hey my wallet!" Todd broke into a run with the jocks running after him. He ran down the hall, through a class room, and down a corridor. He stood behind the corner listening.
"Where did that slime go?" an angry voice asked. "I think he went this way."
Todd peeked around the corner and watched the jocks head down the opposite hallway. He laughed to himself. After they were out of site, he ran back the way he came and passed through the main hall. He turned a corner and, "Ouch!" ran smack into something, knocking him down. Papers flew every where. Todd looked at what he had bumped into. It was a girl with long dark brown hair. She was on her knees picking up her papers. He bent down to help her. "Uh, s-sorry about that." She looked up at him and smiled looking a little embarrassed.
"It's okay." Her voice was soft and delicate.
Todd looked at her. "I've never seen you around before."
"Yeah, I'm kind of new here. I was looking for my 4th hour class and I got lost."
He helped her pick up the fallen papers wondering vaguely why she didn't notice how badly he smelled. Then without thinking he said, "Um, I kinda know this place. If you'd like I could show you around later."
She smiled brightly at him, her blue eyes sparkling. "That would be wonderful." He stood up and handed her the papers. "Thank you."
He looked away. "Uh, no problem."
"Well.... bye." She walked off.
Todd stared after her. Before she turned the next corner he called out, "Hey! W-what's your name?"
She stopped. "Oh, Serena. Serena Hallow."
"Mine's Todd Tolansky."
She smiled. "Well, I guess I'll see you later.... Todd." And she walked out of site around the corner. He stared after her for a while, then he walked off.
Todd made his way to the lunchroom. He spotted the rest of the Brotherhood sitting at a table in the far corner he went to join them. When he sat down they looked at him.
"Man where have you been?" Lance asked.
"Ahem, I would like to say that you have missed a very entertaining afternoon."
"What did you do?" Todd asked.
"Well..." Pietro started but was interrupted.
Principle Kelly stormed in the cafeteria covered in whip cream, honey, syrup, slime, and cornflakes. Most of the students were trying so hard not to laugh, that there shoulders were shaking. Others were hiding there faces or looking away.
"ALRIGHT! WHO'S RESONSIBLE FOR THIS!?" He pointed at himself. "COME FORWARD NOW AND THE PUNISHMENT WILL BE FAR LESS SEVERE!" Nobody moved. He pointed a shaking finger to the students. "I will find out who did this! And when I do, the ones responsible will be very sorry indeed!" He rushed out.
After he left the lunchroom exploded with laughter. Todd looked at Pietro. "Are you giving Principal Kelly a hard time?"
"Yep."
"Isn't it fun?"
"Join us. Were planning to leave a surprise in the girl's locker room next."
"Can't yo. I'm busy."
"Busy? Whadaya mean busy?"
"Yeah weren't you the one who didn't want to come to school? The one who said he wouldn't have anything to do? The one who screamed and whined and complained-"
"Alright I get it yo! Look I'm sorry I made you chase after me."
"Sorry?"
"Lay off Pietro." said Fred in between mouthfuls. "He said he was sorry, just leave it at that."
"Yeah whatever. So what are you planning to do during lunch?" Pietro said skeptically.
Todd shrugged, "I dunno. The usual I guess."
"Fine but I warn you, you'll be missing out."
"That's okay, go head without me."
"Fine." He gestured to the other two. "Let's go."
"Seeya later Toad." Both Lance and Fred said together. The three left.
Todd waited for 5 minutes, then went to look for Serena. It didn't take long for him to find her. She was waiting for him near a set of lockers. "Hey, Serena!"
She turned around. "Oh. Hi Todd."
"So, you ready?"
She nodded. Todd showed her where all her classes were. He also showed her where to find the library and the computer lab. After he was done showing her around they decided just to walk around. The two walked down the hall for a while, not saying a word to each other. Todd decided to break the silence.
"So, I guess it must be ruff," Todd said, "being at a new school and all."
"You don't know how hard. I have moved almost every year ever since I started school."
"Geez, why do you have to move every year?"
"My mother has trouble finding a job."
"Oh. What does your mother work as?"
"A veterinarian. What about you? What do your parents do for a living?"
"Uh, I don't really have parents."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"It's just so hard." She said suddenly. "When I finally get some close friends by the end of the year, I have to say good-bye. And at my new school I'm always the new girl, the outcast, the one nobody knows." She sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if I was meant to be alone."
Todd looked at her. He knew exactly how she felt. He remembered how miserable he was living with his parents. How alone he felt living out on the streets. He would always wonder if he was meant to live a lonely life with no friendship what so ever. But then he got his powers and Mistique took him in.
Suddenly the bell rang. "Um, I'd better get to class." Serena told him.
"You want to hang out again sometime?"
"Sure."
"Well, then I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
She smiled at him. "You can count on it."
It was Thursday and Todd was on his way to the lunchroom once more. For the past couple of days he spent his lunches with Serena, showing her around and talking about random things. He spotted the Brotherhood sitting at a table obviously waiting for him.
"Man where have you been?" Pietro asked him.
"Around." Todd said simply.
"So are you going to join us for our afternoon ritual of causing mayhem?"
"Can't yo. I'm busy."
"Again?" Fred said confused. "What have you been doing this whole week."
"Ah, y' know the usual."
"And yet you can't find time to hang with us?" Tabitha asked.
"What do you got a date or something?" Lance choked on his macaroni. "Good one Pietro. Todd on a date, now that would be something." "Can you just see it?" Both of them started laughing.
Todd looked down in embarrassment. He decided not to them the truth. At least not now anyway.
"So what are you doing at lunch?" Pietro said skeptically.
"I, uh..." Todd's mind raced. "I have uh, lunch detention. Yeah."
"Bummer." Tabitha said.
"Yeah but I think I'll survive." "Can't you just ditch?" Lance asked.
"Nah, I can't." Todd said.
"Well maybe tomorrow then." Pietro said. He gestured to the rest. "Let's go."
They all left Todd sitting at the table.
Todd looked after them. "Yeah, maybe."
Serena walked down the hall to her locker. "Let's see know which one was it?" She reached into her bag. "Oh no, I lost my schedule! Wait, maybe I left it in chemistry class." She went over to the chemistry room and reached for the door handle. The door suddenly flew open and someone ran into her.
"Ouch!" she yelled. She looked to see a long, dark haired boy.
"Oh, Entschuldigen."
"Huh?" she asked a little confused.
"Sorry, I was in a hurry."
"Oh," she says and smiles at him, "that's alright."
"You're new here right?"
"Yes. How'd you know?"
"I've seen you a couple times in class. We have biology together."
"Oh, weren't you the guy who was eating in class?"
"Eh heh heh, yeah that was me." He said a little embarrassed.
"What's your name?"
"Wagner. Kurt Wagner."
"Mine's Serena."
"Serena. That's a very nice name." he said smiling.
"Thanks." She looked at her watch. "Shoot I gotta go." She took off down the hall. She yelled to him, "It was nice meeting you!"
"Tchus!" He yelled back waving.
He walked over to his locker, put in the combination, and opened it."
BOOM!
"AAAAUUUUGGGHHH!!!"
Todd met up with Serena who was having trouble with her locker. "Darn it!" She banged on the locker hoping for it to open but it didn't.
"Looks like you could use a hand there." Todd said.
"Do you think you can?"
"Sure." Todd took a pick out of his pocket and picked the lock. It clicked and then opened.
"Thanks." She said grabbing her notebook out of the locker.
"It was nothing."
"So where do you want to go?"
Todd thought. There was no football or cheerleading practice today. "Lets go outside."
They went out into the bright sunshine. There were only a few other people outside. They started walking across the field when Todd saw Lance, Fred, and Pietro coming out. He panicked. Grabbing Serena he said, "Let's go under the bleachers, its way too bright out here."
She looked a little surprised but said, "Oh. Okay."
He made sure they were out of sight before he sat down. "So," he said casually, "what's up?"
"Nothing," she said shrugging, "that's the problem."
"What do you mean?" He asked curiously.
"I feel like I'm not living my life to the extreme. I need more action."
Todd didn't know what to say at the moment. If she knew....
She sighed. "I just wish something exciting would happen every once in a while."
Lance, Pietro, and Fred walked down the halls looking very pleased with them selves. "So how are we doing?" Lance asked Pietro.
"Let's see," he pulled out a notepad and started checking off names. "So far we've keyed Summer's car and filled it with slime, generously given by Toad, filled Red's locker with kiwi Jell-o, planted a cheese bomb in the elf's locker, and filled Daniel's gym shoes with cottage cheese topped with ketchup and relish. Yep, I'd say we're doing pretty good so far."
"Don't forget the favor we did for Kelly." Fred pointed out.
"I hope I didn't forget anything." Pietro said a little worried.
"Well let's see," Lance counted on his fingers, "you rigged the door, you rigged the rug, the desk drawer, the window. I'd say you've gotten about everything done."
"ALVERS!"
They turned to see Scott, Evan, and a cheese-covered Kurt moving towards them looking very upset. Pietro was smiling broadly.
Lance smiled too when he said, "Yeah, what can I do for you?"
"Don't play dumb!" Scott yelled. "For the past week someone has been filling my car with slime and there are scratches all over it!"
"My gym shoes are ruined!" Evan complained.
"My fur!" Kurt whined.
Lance was trying hard not to laugh. He pulled a straight face and said, "I am truly sorry for your misfortunes. If I find the scum that did it, you'll be the first to know."
"Don't even!" Scott fumed. "I know you did it!"
"Well, nothing gets passed you Summers."
"Hey, hey!" Pietro piped up. "Don't take all the credit! We helped too."
"You better knock it off!" Scott threatened.
"Or what?" Pietro sneered. "You gonna do something about it?"
"That's it!" Evan shot spikes out of his arm. Pietro sped out of the way and Lance ducked. Some people looked over at them not seeing Evan's spike attack.
"You want a fight? You got it!" Lance stretched out his arms and the ground starts to shake.
There was a tremble. The bleachers were shaking hard. People were screaming. Todd grabbed Serena. "Hurry!"
They ran under the bleachers. They were almost out when Todd heard a loud rattling sound. He instinctively held on to Serena and gave a huge leap. They rolled onto the grass and the bleachers collapsed.
Serena was lying on the ground stunned. "Well, you got your wish." Todd said trying to inject some humor into the matter. She didn't laugh. Todd looked around and saw the cause of the damage. Lance and Scott were in a heated conversation and looked as though they were ready to kill eachother. He looked back at Serena.
"Are you alright?" He asked. She stared at him breathing heavily. He felt the pressure under her gaze and knew he had risked nearly exposing himself. After a minute he stood up and brushed himself off. Serena was still on the ground. "Let me help you there." He held out his hand. She looked at him for a second, then took it. She flung her arms around him.
"You saved my life! Thank you!" Todd looked startle. She let go of him and they stared into each others eyes for a second. Todd looked away.
"Uh, no problem."
Teachers were rushing out onto the field trying to find out what had happened.
"Well I'd better get going." Todd said. He started to walk away.
"Thanks again." Serena said.
He paused for a moment. "Yeah." He said, and continued on his way. He decided to leave school while every one was busy with the wreckage. Todd walked down the street deep in thought. He just couldn't stop thinking about the way she looked at him. When he looked into her face for that split second, he had noticed that one of her eyes was crystal-like blue, while the other one was and oceanic green. And the way she smiled at him.... "No one's ever looked at me that way before." Todd thought to himself. The boy walked to the house wondering all this. It seemed to take him no time at all to get from the school to the house. He went inside, up to his room, and collapsed onto his bed. After the shock of what had happened and thinking so much, he realized he was tired. He fell asleep almost instantly.
Somebody knocked on the door. Todd woke up and rubbed his eyes.
"Hey Toad?" It was Pietro. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah sure." Todd said gloomily. Pietro zipped in and sat next to Todd's bed.
"What's with you man? I havn't seen you ever since you left the lunch room earlier today."
"Mmmm-mmm." Todd mumbled.
"What's bothering you?"
"Nothing."
"Come on. Tell me your secret."
"No."
Pietro started zipping around Todd. "Whatsthesecret? Whatsthesecret?"
"Nothing!"
"Yourelyingwhatsthesecret? Yourelyingwhatsthesecret? Yourelyingwhatsthesecret?"
"Fine!" Todd yelled in frustration. "Fine! There's this girl--!"
Pietro insantly stopped when he heard the word 'girl'. "Are you kidding me!?"
Todd instantly regretted telling him. "Well see.... I met this girl at school and-"
"Ah-ha! So that's what you've been doing during lunch and after school!"
"Yeah yeah. So what?"
"But wait a minute, is she that great?"
"I just can't stop thinking about her!" Todd burst out. "She's like something I've never seen before. Her hair flows like a dark cascade, her eyes sparkle like jewels. Her voice is like a song. Her touch has the gentle warmth of the sun, and her smile.... Man it's incredible!" Todd flopped back on his bed. Pietro gave him a weird look.
"Do you have to gush like that? Geez, you're starting to sound like rock- head mooning over Kitty."
"I don't know what's wrong with me. I... I just can't get her out of my mind!"
"Well that's simple to explain. You're obviously digging this chick."
"Uh..."
"In other words, you're in love."
"I am?"
"Don't tell me you've never been in love before!"
"Well, not really. I've seen girls I think are good looking from time to time but...."
"Oh my gosh," Pietro sounded exasperated, "look, the only way to cure this is to tell her how you feel."
"What!?" Toad yelled. "No way man!"
"Oh come on."
"I can't."
"Well, this weekend there's a party going on. Why don't you invite her? Then you can make your move."
"I don't know man."
"Hey, don't sweat it. I'll get you all ready, and we'll all be right there if you need us."
"Well..... I guess."
"Good. Now stay up here for a while."
"Why?"
"Me and the others are gonna have a group discussion."
"Oh. Okay."
"Now you be a good little Toad and stay here."
"Fine."
Pietro zipped back down stairs. He took a deep breathe. "BROTHERHOOD MEMBERS...... ESSEMBLE!" He looked around. "Hey. Where is everybody!?"
"Hey Quickie you don't have to yell." Came Tabitha's voice from the kitchen.
"What are you guys doing? Never mind I probably don't wanna know. Now you three get in here."
"What's up?" Lance asked.
"I'll tell you as soon as you get in there. Everybody on the couch. NOW!"
"Okay, geez." Said Fred putting down what he was doing.
"Okay, now we have a major situation on our hands, so unnerving, so incredible, so unbelievably-"
"Oh, not this again." Lance groaned.
"Look Quickie, just skip the drama and tell us what the deal is." Tabitha said.
"Fine," Pietro said agitated, "Our dear friend Toad has fallen in love."
It was all of the sudden very quiet. Tabitha was the one who broke the silence. "I should probably get a hearing aid. Did you just say little Toddles is in love?"
"That's right."
"With whom? What's she like?"
"Don't know. But I don't think Todd could wait for the wedding the way he was talking about her."
"Nuh-uh! No way! We are not having Sasquatch come to live with us here! I mean this is TOAD we're talking about here. Who knows what he finds attractive!""
"Oh come on Rocky," Tabitha said skeptically. "Todd may be a hyper-active frog boy, but he still has good taste."
"Yeah right."
"What makes you say that?"
"Well he fell for you didn't he?"
Tabitha stood up looking very angry. "HEY! YOU DIE!"
Lance stood up too. "Bring it on!"
"Hey people!" Pietro zipped in between them. "We have enough to handle without you two sniping at each other."
"What do you know about this girl?"
"Well I've never actually seen her, I mean, I just found out about her. But Todd has agreed to ask her to the party this weekend being held up in the mountains. If we see her fit to date one of the Brotherhood members then she can stay."
"Sounds good to me." Lance said. The others nooded their heads in agreement.
"Oh and also, we need to get up early in the morning to help Toad prepare. You know, freshen him up a bit."
"If you mean giving him a bath, forget it. I've been through that nightmare before. In fact, I'M STILL HAVING NIGHTMARES!"
"Oh, so that's why I hear you screaming bloody murder at night."
"Was I really?"
"Enough to wake the dead."
"Relax. He's planning to take a shower before we leave. He might even use soap."
"Dang, he must really like this chick."
"Who's hosting the party?"
"Some jock said he had a huge cabin in the mountains that his family goes to during the summer. It's about thirty miles away."
"And people are going to this?"
"A lot of people are. People always go to the jocks' parties."
"Well I'm game!" Tabitha said.
"So we're all agreed?" Pietro asked them.
"Sure. Why not?" Fred said.
"Well," Lance considered. "Alright I've got nothing better to do."
"Alright!" Pietro said. "Meeting adjourned."