Fwee!! I don't own X-Men, so don't sue me! Sides, i have no $$ anyway... Ah, to all those who may be wondering, this is a rewrite of my old story. I deleted its stupidness and went more in dept with the character. Anyways... review if you like... review if you don't like! I like the ideas, just be nice! Oook... now that we got all that down... to the story!!

Mary Dawson groaned as her alarm woke her from her sleep. Her dreams were her only refuge these days. There, she was free from her parents, the kids from school, her life in general. She reached over and clicked off the screeching alarm, hoping it didn't wake her mother and father. She rolled out of bed quietly and stood in front of the full-length mirror. Her white and dark brown hair was askew and sticking up at odd angles. She ran her fingers through her two-toned hair, trying to flatten it a bit. She had recently gotten her white hair cut into bangs, but didn't like it too much and was now letting her hair grow out again. Needs to be a bit longer. She realized as she pulled her below-the-shoulder-length hair back into a ponytail and the white pulled free and fell to the sides of her face to a bit below her ears. Least when I wear it up today it'll cover my eye for the most part. Mary hoped as she noticed her eye was still a blackish color. Her father, in one of his drunken and angry stupors, had beaten her again a few nights ago.

After 15 years, Mary had gotten pretty good at dodging him and staying put in her room when he was like that. But two nights ago, he had stormed into her room and attacked her. She vaguely remembered him mumbling something about her being a 'disappointment, a fucking bitch with no purpose.' And him again declaring that it was a mistake for he and his wife to take Mary in when they had found her on their doorstep 15 years ago. The teen didn't say a word in response; instead she tried to defend herself without seeming like it. If Steve Dawson knew she was trying to protect herself, he would just beat her harder. Consequently, Mary had passed out and was left in her room by her father. Her mother, Sarah Dawson, had the same feelings for their adopted daughter, but wasn't as violent about it. Neither of the two loved her, and Mary had learned to accept it, even though subconsciously she wished they would at least pretend. She also had wondered why they had even adopted her if they hated her so much.

Sighing, she pulled her hair back down and headed for the shower. Minutes later she emerged from the bathroom, tiptoed back to her room and got dressed. "Something to offset the eye..." She quickly found her red top with black ripped sleeves, blue jeans with slashes in the knees, and favorite black Sketchers. After checking herself over in the mirror, she decided to take enough money for lunch, grab her bag and slip out quietly to her friend's house before her parents awoke.

Knock-knock

A somewhat groggy Charlie Forest answered the door. "Hey Mary." He greeted with a tired smile. "Hey Mr. Forest... is Amy up yet?" Mary asked hopefully as she stepped inside. "Umm..." Charlie started, scratching his head and yawning. "Yeah sweetheart, or at least she should be." Elizabeth Forest greeted as she walked around the corner. "Thanks Mrs. Forest." Mary chuckled as she watched Charlie stumble back to the kitchen no doubt for his coffee. "So how's it been goin' lately?" Elizabeth questioned as she ushered Mary to the table for a quick breakfast. "Pretty good." Mary lied, brushing her white hair behind her ears. Elizabeth's ice blue eyes quickly spotted Mary's bruised face and the woman raised her brow. "It's nothing." The two-tone spoke up quickly as she brushed her hair back into her face. The brunette reached out her hand to brush away the white locks, and Mary winced away on reflex.

"Its never just nothing." The older woman corrected as she reached again slowly and tucked the hair behind her ears. "Mary... I know you're parents are somewhat... violent people. But they can't hit you, yah hear me? Next that happens, you call us immediately." Elizabeth ordered sternly but softly and Mary nodded, her eyes avoiding the other woman's. There was a pause between the two before Mrs. Forest pulled the still quiet teen into a hug. She chuckled a bit as she realized Mary would have to stand on her toes; it wasn't that Elizabeth was tall; the younger girl was just short. Mary Dawson was 5'1 to be exact. "Go on Shorty, get Amy up before y'all are late." The brunette teased as she released Mary from the hug. "I'm not that short." She mumbled before walking down the hallway. "Yes you are!" Elizabeth's voice called behind her.

Mary pushed open Amy's door and chuckled. Her best friend had apparently fallen back asleep at the foot of her bed. The two-tone bent down and stared at Amy, taking in her features. Amy had lighter skin than most in Alabama, and neither one of her parent's could figure out why. She had straight dark brown hair that fell to the middle of her back, and had recently put red streaks in it. Her eyes fluttered a bit, but she didn't wake. In that instance, Mary glimpsed Amy's startling gray-blue eyes. Mary's own deep brown eyes traced their way to her friend's PJs and she began to giggle a bit; Amy was wearing her favorite Winnie the Pooh T-shirt that would completely destroy that tough girl image she had built up since Freshman year. "Come on Sleeping Beauty." Mary ordered as she nudged the sleeping girl slightly. The response was not one she wanted; Amy did nothing but mumble and roll over.

"Ok..." Mary shook her head; she knew it was nearly impossible to wake Amy Forest in the morning. Deciding in favor of extreme measures, Mary walked around to the other side of the bed, grabbed the mattress and lifted it up as high as she could. Thud "Holy crap!" Came a muffled cry as Amy face planted on the floor, her blankets and pillows burying her. "Awake yet?" Mary chuckled as the taller girl stood and glared. "Yes. Very." She replied crossly as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Well, I hope so, cause we have to leave for school in about 30 minutes." Mary pointed out. Amy's eyes widened in surprise. She growled a bit and ran for the shower, determined to speed it along.

About 20 minutes later, Amy emerged from her bedroom fully dressed and ready to leave. "So she's alive." Charlie joked as his daughter yawned and flopped down in a chair. "Mornin' Dad." She mumbled in response. "Oh, girls, did you see the fliers for the school carnival tonight?" Elizabeth questioned as she tossed an apple to Amy. "That thing? Gah, I wouldn't be caught dead there, it's going to be nothing but jocks and cheerleaders... the entire popular crowd." Amy explained in disgust. "Well what's wrong with them?" Charlie asked curiously. "Well one, they are too superficial for my liking." Mary started. "Two, they make fun of our hair." Amy cut in quickly. "Three, they pretty much don't like us period." Mary finished. There was a pause, in which Elizabeth looked between Mary and her daughter. "Ok... have y'all rehearsed that or something?" She asked them. The two sophomores shrugged. "Ok... don't go then. I just thought y'all might enjoy it." Charlie spoke up as he ran his hand through his sandy-brown hair.

Mary smiled and checked the clock on the wall. "Whoa... we need to get. Thanks for breakfast Mrs. Forest!" She called as she and Amy ran for the door.

"Whew... and why aren't they on track?" Charlie questioned as the front door slammed. "Because then they would be part of the popular crowd." Elizabeth snorted as she cleaned up plates. She didn't receive a response, and she turned her head expectantly and found Charlie digging at his fingernails. "What?" She asked curiously. "Well I was a part of the popular crowd." He mumbled defensively. Elizabeth snickered and tossed the drying cloth at him.