~~~Prologue~~~

"Hey, hey. Listen to me, babe. You are going to be fine. John was a jerk but you can move past that. You deserve someone totally better! You don't need him. At all."

The sobs on the phone quieted. For a moment, both girls refrained from saying anything more. What could one say? It was a delicate moment. Then, the teenage girl sighed heavily in response.

"You're right aren't you?" Brianna whispered.

All of her dreams, her hopes, and her joys were suddenly crushed underfoot like a rose battered from a ferocious storm. They lay in dull bits and pieces, destined to remain forever broken and irreplaceable. Her pain was unmistakable. She was so close in her relationship to him, and then this had to happen. Kim began to feel exceedingly angry, but she pushed it away.

"You know it and I didn't even have to tell you," she replied just as quietly. The sound of Brianna's sniffles weren't very loud, but Kim could still hear them.

"You are right. You are always right. Isn't that funny how that works?"

Kim laughed in relief, happy to hear her friend's voice lighten up a score. She switched the phone to her other ear and leaned farther back into her pillows.

"Mhm. It's hilarious. I swear, I'm so wise that I scare my mom."

"Kim! That's outrageous! Your mom is the most fearless woman I know!"

Both friends laughed in unison and talked cheerfully after that. The mood of their entire phone conversation altered into a recognizable, friendly banter. Kim knew that Brianna was still hurting. However, her friend was bravely laughing along at Kim's jokes and funny stories and that made her proud. Kim knew that this was the first step to healing for Brianna, so she continued to avoid the topic and kept her friend talking about positive things.

"Aw man Kim," Brianna finally admitted. "I am so wiped out now. I just want to sleep."

A loud yawn made Kim's phone crackle; Kim smiled to herself and shook her head as she saw her friend yawning in her mind's eye. It would do her good to sleep. However, there was one thing that Kim couldn't resist doing...

"With all that crying Bri, I'm surprised you aren't sleeping like a bear now."

Kim closed her eyes and waited for Brianna's response. She was rewarded aptly.

"Hey! What is that supposed to mean? Do you want me to hang up? So much for talking with my best friend."

Kim laughed out loud. Score one for her! Quickly, she readjusted her grip on the phone and sat up in her bed.

"Of course not! Take the sarcasm, lady! It's what keeping women like you and me alive."

"Darn right girl. Well hey, I gotta go. I'm sorry I have to leave you so soon, but can you sit by me at lunch tomorrow? We need to catch up."

"I'll be there Brianna. You can count on it," Kim replied swiftly.

"Thanks K. For everything. I really appreciate you lending your ear to me. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Alright, lady. Get some sleep! And you are welcome. Nights."

"Night," Brianna clipped and the phone rang dead as she hung up. Kim pressed her's off and sighed. Man, did she want to beat some living man-flesh right about now.

Outside, the din of cars rolling past her house didn't seem to calm Kim as it normally would. The blackness of night had replaced its cheerier cousin (blue sky) and was making the glare from her lampshade more painful than necessary. The night's chilly shadows meshed effortlessly with Kim's boiling feelings. She allowed the cordless phone to slip from her fingers. Then she turned away from her lamp and rubbed her tired eyes.

I can't believe this, she thought. I just can't believe he would pull something like that. John, you freaking jerk. You'll wish you'd never taken the chance to ask Brianna out after I'm through with you.

Only, it wouldn't happen, because she had been raised to treat people better than that.

As a young toddler, Kim would never recall the memories of her abusive stepdad, and this was a blessing. The abusiveness was never directed in Kim's direction, her mom took the brunt of it. But it was still abuse, no matter what you named it. Conjuring up the courage she would require for such perilous a journey, Kim's mom finally made the decision to move away from her husband and live in Pennsylvania, a large number of miles away from their old residence. Once they arrived and settled in their quaint three bedroom house, Kim's mom insisted in enrolling her in some type of martial arts. There were quite a few to chose from. A few piqued her mom's interest, but none was more attractive to Mrs. Reid than Judo. A type of unarmed combat, Judo consists mainly of leg sweeps, pins, throws, punches, arm locks, chokes, grappling holds, and basically using an opponent's initial force against himself. Kim began this promptly and has stayed within Judo for twelve years. In this regard, she knew instinctively that John would feel it for weeks if she was permitted to lay her hands on him. She could just picture it, his face white with pain…

This is going nowhere.

Kim impatiently jumped off her bed. Judo wasn't meant to be abused. It would be a disgrace to her teacher if she used it in such a way. Still feeling a bit angry, she tore off her dirty basketball clothes and threw on a new pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and all before heading to the bathroom. She needed to get to bed because her first period was Mr. Demmel's class. Tomorrow.

Mr. Demmel was officially dubbed The Geometry Lunatic. It was amazing, but Kim actually had one of those teachers that hated her, no matter what she did. Mom believed her. Not only from Kim's annoyed testimonies but from what she experienced in his presence for herself, Mrs. Reid did not like the Math teacher and she kept close tabs on that class. However, there wasn't much else anyone could do. Kim would just had to survive through his 90min period and get out as quickly as possible. Tomorrow would be no exception.

Kim looked at herself in the mirror.

You can survive that, can't you? You'll restrain yourself enough not to pummel John when you see him. So why can't you get over the willies you get whenever you see this guy?

She gazed deeply into her reflection, as if waiting for an answer. Instead, she studied her five foot four tall frame. Judo had certainly given her balance and strength, but Basketball had helped build up her stamina. Kim wasn't stick thin, but her curves weren't too obscuring. Her flashing blue-green eyes sat on her face like two diamonds. They framed her angular face nicely, and were accentuated by her long brown hair. Other than her eyes, Kim thought she looked plain. Not bad, but plain.

She made herself open the mirror cupboard door and began to brush her teeth. Yet, her hand hesitated before turning on the bathroom faucet. She looked down at its shiny metal surface. It reflected the uncertainty that forced her lips into a tight line, also making her eyes round and anxious. Kim cursed her cowardice.

Just control it! It won't go crazy okay? You are just imagining it!

She still hesitated. Her hand almost started to shake from being stiff in the air so long. Abruptly, she heard footsteps in the hall and her hand fell, grasping the handle and turning it. Water began to gush forth.

Kim felt her stomach drop and she forced her toothbrush under the water. Okay! Turn it off! She thrust it off hard, the handle squealing. The all too familiar urge within herself, as her body sensed the water, rushed through her. Her mind called out, and she wanted to reach out her thoughts to make contact with the water. She wanted to mold it, shape it, distort it. Command it.

"Ugh!" she cried and brushed her teeth furiously.

When she was done, she didn't use water to rinse her mouth out. She tasted toothpaste that entire night.


Hey guys. ;) This went through some revision, but I like it better than it's first draft. It feels more complete to me, which of course makes me happy. Whatdya think? Pm me about your thoughts, favorite this , alert it, but most importantly ***review***! Reviews are an author's moderator, to see where he or she is going and how much he or she needs to improve.

Thanks for taking the time to read this! I sincerely hope that you enjoyed it. :)

~Merlin's Ward Jack


Disclaimer: I do not own "XMen Evolution" If I did, I'd be rich. Hopefully. It's a good show. ;)

And if you still couldn't tell, this is based off of XMen Evolution, not the movie. Sorry for the mixup! I should fix that one of these days. (^^)