I remember the first time it happened, I was only six. the way she looked at me, like there was something wrong with her only child, like she wanted to run, and she did, she grabbed Rosie and told her to clean it up and tell no one, then just stared at me again, before bolting away from my room.
I couldn't help it, I didn't mean to, I swear it was an accident. She just wouldn't stop yelling at me! I was sitting in my room playing with my toys, Rosie, my nanny, the only person in this place that acknowledged me most the time, getting my clothes ready for school tomorrow. Rosie's always been pretty, with her long dark hair, slim figure, navy blue eyes and caramel skin. Then she just barged in, the overly skinny, fake breasted, peroxide blond drunk, I call mother. Screaming at me for spilling my orange juice on her Persian rug, scotch glass in hand. I don't know what happened, but as she threw her glass at the wall I just looked at the pieces and the next thing I know the glass is formed into a beautiful, oddly shaped dagger, aimed at my mothers throat. I wanted to kill her, for always yelling at me, for never being there, for never even trying to help me, but as I looked past her to Rosie she shuck her head, and the glass became broken shards on the floor again.
After mother left Rosie ran to me and held me as I cried. I couldn't understand how she wasn't terrified of me, when my own mother was, when I was. She just held me close and whispered sweetly in my ear "it's ok, mi chica, it'll be our little secret. We wont tell." I clung to her and sobbed "but what about Mother?" she stroked my hair lovingly "she wont tell. She's to scared, but I'm not. I know you are special and that's a good thing. Rosie's here, I'll take care of you." I latched onto her every word, and just like she promised mother never told, in fact she barely ever looked at me again and when she did her eyes held nothing but fear.
The next time was in school, I was twelve. I hated my school, full of snobby, nasty girls who hated me for nothing but my families money and my differences. Casey Kendal was the nastiest girl I'd ever met, she made my life hell. One day she just pushed to far, we were in the play ground, I was just reading under a tree, trying to stay out of everyone's way. Then she came over and snatched my book, it was my favourite, Alice in Wonderland, a gift from Rosie on Christmas. She called me a child and stared ripping out pages. Thorned vines shot out of the ground and rapped themselves around her legs, arms and throat, the sharp points slicing into her fragile skin. As she dropped the book, I clutch it and the freed pages to me tightly and the vine's realise her, while I run as fast as my feet would carry me. I moved schools after that, mother told father that it was slowing me down, holding me back and that she had found a better suited school for me, I never saw Casey again, but I heard she moved state, I'm guessing mother paid them off to save face.
This time was different than the last, I couldn't make it stop, I tried, I did. Father found out about the incidents, he had Rosie fired and she had to move down town. To a grotty, roach infested hellhole. I was bed ridden for three weeks after, the Kendal's reappeared, demanding more money. When I was healed enough to walk, I found out that Rosie's apartment had been broken into, her life seemed to be worth a TV and $600. I never cried so hard in my life. Father scoffed at the news and laughed when I asked for money to give her a proper burial, knowing her family was poor and could barely afford food, let alone a funeral. I couldn't help it, I didn't want to. I was his fault! the flames came out of nowhere, the curtains and mothers Persian rug went up instantly. He grabbed mother and his prised, priceless coin collection and ran, I ran upstairs and grabbed my only thing of true value, the Alice in Wonderland book Rosie had given me, the pages taped back into place.
After they put out the fire we were send to a hotel, father was happy of the insurance clime, but neither of my parents looked me in the eye after that.
The day of Rosie's funeral, that I'd threatened out of Father, her mother, Lolita, held my hand, her brother, Eli, looked down to me and smiled sadly as he gave the eulogy
"Rosie was the most loving, kind and giving person I ever knew. She never married or had kids, but she said she already had a daughter, Bethany, you may not have been hers but you were her world. When I first heard about my sisters job, I was mad, because I had this idea that she would be used as a slave for some snotty rich kid, but then I saw you two together. I'd never seen such love or devotion for someone who was just a maid, I know it wasn't your fault, that she loved you more than anyone and that you loved her just the same. So thank you, for giving that love to her, for making her so happy. I'm in your debt for that." he got of the stand and hugged me, with sadness and gratefulness "thank you" I cried.
At the wake Lolita pulled me aside and smiled "I have something for you" she pulled out a small silver box and placed it in my hand with care. I gasped in surprise as I opened it, finding ruby flames in the centre of a open silver circle, dangling from a sliver chain "it was meant for your birthday, she was so excited to see your reaction." I can feel silent tears fall from me "I cant accept this!" she took the necklace and fastened it to my neck "it is her final gift to you, so you must. With it remember my Rosie, our Rosie." I smiled to her as we cried together.
That night, returning to the hotel, I found my parents, a guy with red glasses and a woman with white hair standing in the parlour. They went quite as I entered the room "mother, Father what's goin on?" the strangers gave me weary, kind smiles and father said, emotionless "this is Mr Scott Summers and Miss Ororo Munroe. They are teachers at a school, for special children, like you." it clicked in my brain, their sending me away. I just nodded slightly and looked the two over, they seemed nice enough "bout time. I'll go pack." I walk into my room, not seeing the confused looks from the teachers, who expected me to make a fuss and not want to leave, or relived sighs of my parents for finally being free of the mutant child.
Ten minutes later I walked back into the parlour, an old gray duffle bag, a blue suitcase and my prised book. I went over to the two and sighed "ready, lets get goin." they looked at me oddly and Ororo asked sweetly "don't you want to say goodbye to your parents" I gave her a blank look "not particularly" and walked out, they followed and led me to the car. I fell asleep instantly and dreamed of a Rosie, my best friend.
When I woke it was to Miss Munro waking me gently "we're here sweetie, Scott's taking your bags to your room, while you and I go meet The Professor." I just nod "sure miss Munro" she smiled as I got out of the car "please call me Storm" I smile back and follow silently follow.
We get to the Professors office, Storm explaining to me who he is on the way, and I smile kindly to the man, taking the seat he offered "hello Bethany, welcome the Xaveir's school for the gifted. Now before you get settled we must establish what your mutations are, your accommodations, schedule and the rules " I give a fake smile "my mutations are glass control, earth control and I can create fire." he smiles kindly, grabs a red binder and hands it to me "good, well then, this is your criteria and you will be rooming with Kitty. Her mutation is the ability to walk through sold objects" I smile, flipping through the binder and sigh "that's fine" he nods and continues "alright, rules. Curfew is at ten o'clock sharp, no leaving the grounds without supervision and no use of abilities on other students or faculty, understood?" I nod again "you got it" he smiles and Storm shows me to my room. Its not to bad, two beds, two cabinets, two shelves and one bathroom, all equal. I unpack and shower quickly, I look myself over in the mirror, my milky skin contrasting with my dark, chocolate, collar bone length curls and my icy blue eyes, my curved hips and large chest announcing my womanhood, my petal pink lips matching my cheeks, I cant help but smile, I'm not a little girl anymore, I hope Rosie is proud, and head for the dinning hall with the map I was given in the binder.
As I sit in the Hall, people are staring at me as I try and eat my fries, all wondering about the new kid. Suddenly three students walk over to me, a girl, with a while streak in her hair, gloved hands and arms, about my size, a cute boy with sandy bland hair and ocean blue eyes and another boy, brown hair gelled back, his eyes a deep blue, I can see he doesn't care who I am and smile. They sit with me and the girl smiles "hi, am Rogue, this is Bobby and John. Welcome to Xaviers." I smile back "hi am Bethany" John scoffs, playing with a disposable lighter. I cant help the bitterness in my voice "you got'a problem?" he shakes his head, but before he can say anything a girl comes over a plasters a smile, a load of other girls standing behind her "OMG! I totally love those shoes they must had cost you a fortune." I look down to my feet and see a pair of sandals I stole from mother, just out of spite. I look up to the girl and shrug "don't know, their my mothers" she sits with me and the others look away, all but john who glares at us with hatred "well they are totally cute! Btw, if you want to avoid total social decapitation, don't hang with these losers." I look over and can see the hurt look on Rogues face.
I turn back and smile bitterly "what's your names?" she smirks triumphantly "am Sarah, this is Jubilee, Kitty and Hannah" I glare at them and bend down and take of the shoe's "you like the fucking things so much, have em, but if I ever hear you talking about them like that again, I'll make you eat your own intestines! Now fuck off!" I throw the shoes across the room and they glare at me before leaving. Rogue and Bobby smile at me, John roles his eyes
As the conversation went on john remained quite, whilst Bobby, Rogue and I talked. Then Bobby asked "so what's your mutation?" I smile and answers "Glass and earth control and I can create fire." they looked shocked and John spoke bitterly "create fire?" I nod lightly and he storms off. I look to the remaining two "what's his problem?" Bobby smiles sweetly "I can create ice, Rogue can drain and copy powers, but John can only manipulate the fire, he cant make it." I sigh in understanding. I feel for him, but hey at least he can control it, I'm a human lighter with some perks. I cant help but hate him a little for it, for the control I don't have.