Writer's Note: I'm not quiet sure if I have to put this or not, but I don't own any of the X-Men characters or franchise. Also, please leave comments! If I get positive reviews, I will continue the story and add more chapters.
Warning: In this chapter there is some minor violence, cursing, one small sexual reference, and offensive language, so I apologize if I offend anyone.
Today was not a good day so far.
Not in a long time had the young mutant's hair been so dark or her skin so white. Her ponytail bounced from left to right as she struggled to keep up with her youth group while at the same time trying to keep a safe distance away from them.
"J.R."
The brunette almost snapped when she felt a hand on her shoulder, but as she whipped around she realized it was her best friend, possibly her only friend, Honey. The Jamaican's dark face showed signs of deep concern. "J.R, babe, you don't sit with me on the bus, you don't talk to me. What did that jackass do to you this time?" With the back of her hand, Jackie wiped a tear from her eye and smiled weakly. "Donald tried to…" Not being able to finish her sentence, Jackie made hand motions. Donald was a delinquent in their youth group who didn't take no for an answer. "Oh no, J.R, my baby! That boy would do farm animals cause' he can't get any other girls. He just can't accept the fact no woman will every get with him." Honey engulfed her in a hug. Jackie leaned into her friends body letting her warmth takes over her. Color returned to her cheeks. "Thanks, Hon, you always know the right thing to say." The two best friends broke apart. "That's why I'm here. Now, to get your mind of Donald, we are going to the aquarium. I heard there's going to be another youth group there. You can talk to boys, while I talk to Joey." Jackie broke into a smile. "I think I'd have a better chance with the fish." She murmured. Honey and her boyfriend, Joe, where the only ones who knew of her secret. "C'mon." The Jamaican tugged at her friends' hand pulling her along as they tried to catch up with their youth group.
It took only one sentence from the plain tour guide to drive Jackie, Honey, and Joey away. The trio hid in a small crevasse between two large fish tanks. Plopping down on the floor, Jackie pulled out her sketchbook and pencil and tucked her long legs under her chin. A certain red-head standing on the other side of the tank caught her eye. Knowing that he couldn't see her, Jackie started sketching him. The tank obscured most of his features so Jackie used her imagination to fill in the blanks. Honey was leaning against the adjacent tank with Joey towering over her curvaceous body. Trying but failing almost completely, she tried to divert her eyes from their gentle caresses and soft kisses. Sometimes Jackie forgot Honey was nearly two years younger than her.
"Are those air-breathers… mating?"
Slowly turning, Jackie noticed a clown fish looking back at her. "I'm... not sure how to answer that." She thought. A grin tugged at the edges of her cherry red lips.
"You… you can understand me?"
The clown fishes pupils widened. Jackie nodded slightly. "I'm Jacqueline, what's your name?" Large eyes shifted from side to side.
"Name? What is a name?"
The confused fish asked curiously. Before Jackie could answer, she heard someone clear their throat. Within seconds the fish disappeared, leaving a trail of bubbles. Slowly, her blue eyes panned to see a butch bleach blonde with a skin color not found in nature standing in front of her. Numbness spread throughout her limbs.
"Hello, Donald."
Jackie set down her half-finished sketch of the ginger and stood. Her offender crossed his burly arms and smiled smugly. "Hey, toots. I had a good time earlier today; think we can go another round?" Honey and Joey and since pulled themselves apart. "Fuck off, Don." The African-American's voice was flat, edged with acid. "I wasn't talking to you, nigger." Honey gasped, "Oh no you didn't, you cracker I'm going to bust your ass open." She lunged for Donald, but within seconds she was on the ground with a bloody lip. "Stay down, girl." Don bellowed.
"Get the hell away from them."
Jackie hissed through clenched teeth. That good-for-nothing could use her, insult her, but the second he laid a finger on her friend, Jackie broke. As she seemingly grew with new-found confidence, water started to seep from her fingernails. "Damn girl, you're getting the whole floor wet." Donald gave a Cheshire-cat-like grin.
An upper-cut sent him flying across the aquarium, crashing into an octopus tank.
Heads turned. Jackie's arms, which had transformed to look like rushing water, barely contained within her own control, extracted and turned back to normal as if the whole thing had been a mirage. The husky blonde, now soaked and sprawled on his back struggled to stand.
"You… you're a…" He waved a thick finger at the shocked girl,
"You're a mutant! A freak!"
Coldness set deep with Jackie's soul. For the first time she had been called what she truly was, and it sent her into a shock. A crowd formed around the brunette.
"Monster!"
"Abomination!"
Honey, now on her feet, grabbed Jackie by the shoulder and with force embraced her friend, kissing her forehead. Joey, bless his soul, stood in front of them protectively.
"Go back to your activities; there is nothing to see here. Disperse."
A man with a thick English accent pushed through the crowd in a wheelchair. "Go, please." Shamefully, people started to walk away. Two teenagers, around Jackie's age, followed closely behind. Peeking over Honey's shoulder, Jackie got a view of the men. She recognized one to be the red-head she had been drawing and quickly stuffed her head back in Honey's shoulder. As quickly as he could Donald ran away from the scene, so fast one could assume he had ants in his jeans. "Look, she did it in self-defense!" Joey said. "Don't worry, Joseph, I'm not here to hurt Jacqueline. I just want to talk to her." Joey looked to both Honey and Jackie and then looked back to the mysterious man. "How do you know our names?" The man in the wheelchair chuckled. "I know a lot about you three, especially you Jacqueline. Leaning to the side, the man tried to get a view of Jackie's face. Peeling herself from Honey, she stepped forward. Peering into the man's face, Jackie tried to think if she recognized him.
"I know what you are. You are a mutant, Jacqueline Ruth Matheson, so am I. So are they. I must be honest; it was a surprise to find you here."
Jackie stared at the man in disbelief. Did she just hear him speak in her mind? And how did he know her name, her full name?
"Okay, you must be confused…" Jackie started to step away. "No, I am Professor Charles Xavier. I run a boarding school called Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, a school for mutants like you." For the first time, her eyes met those of the younger mutants. The ginger gave her an encouraging smile, and the other, a blonde resembling James Dean, just studied her. "So, you want me to… join your school?" Jackie asked in astonishment. The professor nodded. "Yes. It's here in New York, just a couple hours away. I could call your guardian, or talk to your counsler." He explained.
"J.R! That means you'd have to leave." Honey protested. Jackie frowned, "He... he said it's in New York, I could visit you on the weekends?" This was all happening too fast for Jackie. Almost slipping on the floor, Jackie's counselor clomped towards her. The obese woman's combat boots screeched on the wood floor.
"Miss Matheson! Donald just informed me what you did to him, I will…" Counselor Watson turned to notice the professor. "I apologize, were these trouble-makers bothering you?" She asked in a shrill voice. "No, actually the opposite. I am Professor Charles Xavier; I am here to offer Jacqueline an opportunity to join my school for gifted youngsters'." Counselor Watson's beady eyes widened. "Oh… are you here to take this sweet girl away?" She asked innocently, smashing Jackie into her side. Forcing a smile, the professor nodded. "Yes, I can fax you the legal papers." The brunette's eyes widened, she hadn't even agreed yet to go with him. "That would be just dandy!" Counselor Watson shrieked in false excitement. "Jacqueline, would you be ready to leave now?" Before she could answer to the professor, Counselor Watson shoved her forward. "I'll send you her cloths and personal effects." The professor motioned for her to follow him. Jackie turned to look at her friends. Tears rose to both of their eyes. Quickly, Jackie ran to give Honey one last hug. "Here." Joey handed Jackie her sketchbook. Smiling weakly, Jackie pulled Joey into a group hug. "We should go now, before security comes." The professor said/
The next hour was a blur. Earlier today she'd been fighting off Donald, now she was in a limousine being hauled off to a boarding school. This was unreal.