I don't own X-men:Eve kies? N.E.wayz, this is going to be mostly about Todd, not much RxL, trust me it was hard as hell to not make the entire fic about them but they only have two or three chaps about them in this thing. Sorries to fans! But if you're a Toad fan than u'll luv it!^^
*Love is Blind*
-Hey, yo I don't even know you and I hate you
See all I know is that my girlfriend used to date you
How would you feel if she held you down and raped you?
Tried and tried, but she never could escape you
She was in love and I'd ask her how? I mean why?
What kind of love from a nigga would black your eye?
What kind of love from a nigga every night make you cry?
What kind of love from a nigga make you wish he would die?-
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEE-SMASH!!!!!!* Lance glared at the offending alarm clock with his fist half way into crush into the innocent machine. He groaned and turn on his side taking the cover over his head with him.
"PleasebeSaturdayPleasebeSaturdayPleasebeSaturdayPleasebeSaturday." He grumbled before peeking an eye out from a crack in the sheets. Sure enough on the hot rod calender was an x-free friday mocking him. He groaned and rolled his eyes before propping himself up having the pleasure of hearing his back crack along the way.
"Auh Fuck!" He mumbled crankily as the delicious blackness of sleep waved goodbye to him.
Fridays, normally he loved Fridays. They were the night of parties, the night before the weekend, the day to stare dreamily at the clock and aimlessly ignore the teacher. But not anymore. Now that Mystique had gone the way of the scaly shemale things had been shoved into their arms. So far it had been going smoothly, most of them with exception of Todd and Freddie.
Lance had gotten a job as a bartender at BAD, it was his favorite bar to hang out in. Unfortunately it was the same place where Rogue waitressed. He was shocked when he saw there to say the least. But then again he shouldn't have been surprised, she had a job when she was with the Brotherhood too. She always felt she had to earn her keep, apparently that feeling was still there even when living with a millionaire. They fought constantly and often had to spare a few of their wages to pay for some dishes Rogue would throw at him. They both still worked there, each of them to damn stubborn to back down.
Pietro had gotten a job helping a track trainer after school. Big surprise there. For some reason though, beyond Lance, Pietro hated it. He was always complaining about how slow they were and having to keep his power down while the coach lectured and bragged on how many marathon medals he'd won and how much they sucked. Lance would just roll his eye as Freddie ignored him and Todd would tell Pietro to kick his ass.
Lance ran a hand through his dark hair as he managed to blindly throw his normal garb on. He gave one last vengeful glare at the tear off calendar before dragging himself out of his room.
**********
Todd glanced around munching on some jam toast he managed to snag before Freddie got a chance to put it in his mouth with everything else. Pietro frantically finishing his history project, at the last minute as usual, and Freddie,big surprise, was shoveling in his fourteenth strudel. Habit made him look across from Lance's normal seat. He stared down at the empty seat for a while thoughtfully. Lance took it hard when she left. He got drunk and took off. After a week Todd finally found him on the edge of Bayville in some parking lot. When he took him back he locked himself up in his room for days and was as irritable as hell. Even got in a fist fight with Pietro a couple of times. After that he had just said that he was pissed now that the X-freaks had a one of *their* own. Pietro and Freddie bought, mostly because Lance would never goad himself over a girl. But Todd had a feeling he knew the real answer
A few stomps and grumbles brought the room's attention to a *very* unhappy Avalanche. His brows were crossed, eyes half lidded, and a back only slouched *that* much when it was broken.
"Hey little miss mary sunshine!" Pietro gritted in a high pitched preppy voice.
Lance just passed him a deadly sleepy glare and sat down laying his head in his arms.
"Fuck you."
"Sunshine woke up on the wrong side of the bed I see."
Lace glowered at him before closing his eyes again not having the energy to argue.
Todd looked between them. Seeing the mischievous expression of Pietro and the exhausted pissed off on on Lance's, this couldn't end without destroying something that can only be replaced with money that they didn't have.
"Better eat somthin' ,yo, your stomach's gonna be growling during class."
Lance nodded through closed eyes with his head still in his arms before snatching Pietro's cereal.
"Hey that mi-" He didn't get a chance to finish as Lance snaked his foot around Pietro's chair leg flipping it over.
Todd cringed as gravity claimed another friend. Unfortunately it didn't take long for the speed demon to get his barrings and attitude back.
"Damn whats up *your* ass!??" He shouted towering over the sitting dark haired boy.
Lance frowned and gritted his teeth in annoyance finally standing up over Pietro.
"Right now your head! Mind getting it outta there!!?"
Now even Freddie had taken his attention away from his food to watch the two stubborn boys stand eachother down. Todd looked at both of them nervously. They didn't have time to nurse both of them back to health and expect to get to class on time. Normally he wouldn't care but the new principal was starting to have it in for them lately.
"Pietro its 7:45, yo!" Todd yelled
His head whipped in the smaller teen's direction with frantic horror.
"Ah shit!" He yelled jumping back in his seat momentarily forgetting it was still tipped over. Which one him and extra visit to gravity. He mumbled franticly pulling it up and scribbling down the rest of his history report. Pietro quickly allowed himself the one second break of getting a bagel from the counter. He looked up to the greasy microwave in mid snatch.
"You're full a crap! Its only 7:15!" He said turning to look at him.
Todd looked back a sheepish smile on his face.
"Sorry, yo. The one looks like a four from here."
Pietro rolled his eyes and got back to his report at a bit of a slower pace.
Lance glanced at Todd with a knowing yet questioning look. Todd just shrugged and popped the last piece of toast into his mouth before hopping up taking his small back-pack with him. He made his way to the door just opening it before turning around.
"C'mon Pietro you can do that in the car,yo."
Pietro didn't even look up.
Lance sighed irritatedly and poured out the rest of the cereal. He started walking toward the door grabbing Pietro by the collar and dragging him along.
"NONO!!AlmostdoneAlmostdoneAlmostdone!" He shouted writing fast enought to give friction burn.
"You can do it in the car."
"NO I CAN'T!"
**********
Todd leaped out of the beat up Wrangler and launched himself onto campus the other's dragging behind. Well, Lance dragging Pietro behind.
"I'm almost *done*!"
"For christ sake's just finish it in class!"
"Mrs.Bitch dragging rip it up!"
"Then don't get caught!"
Todd rolled his eyes. No use waiting for them. Three in detention is better than four. He glanced at his watch and hopped faster into the school.
"5"
Go
"4"
Now!
"3"
Faster!
"2"
Not gonna make it!
"1"
*BRRRRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!*
Todd allowed himself a quick 'yes!' as he skidded into his first period class just before the bell rang. Mr.Jhones frowned in his direction eyeing him as he ducked into his seat. The Biology teacher cleared his throat and stood infront of the class.
"Do to the pep rally and busy schedule, this period will be cut in have. You will leave at 9:45 if you have your tickets. Now lets begin before we waste anymore time." He muttered the last statement turning to the board.
Todd would've thrown himself out of his seat and done back flips if he knew how! He hated pep rallies, or as Lance called them 'prep rallies', but it was a way to pick up a little extra cash. He was supposed to go job hunting this afternoon but that didn't mean he could get paid *now*. He waved his head happily in his seat for a while before Mr.Jhones gruff voice and glare jerked his attention. He watched the teacher scribble a few notes of genetics on the board before beginning his staring contest with the clock.
*****
Todd was now slumped over his desk staring helplessly at the clock silently begging it to turn just one more minute like a dying man begging for water. Normally he would've found something to occupy his time but his excitement to get out of this class was destroying brain cells fast. The damn block schedule always had away of screwing him over. He telepathically bribed the ticking machine with oil and gold rimmed frames if it would just move that extra minute. It was always the last minute that was the longest. The last second until freedom! Well, an hour of freedom at least. But still! Todd's yellow eyes followed the second hand eagerly. It was mocking him! It had to be! The whole thing was some friggin' conspiracy!! His short attention span was rudely torn away by an extremely loud sound of wood connecting with wood.
His head snapped to attention seeing a very frustrated Mr.Jhones and ruler on his desk probably leaving an indent.
"Is the clock superior to your future,or lack there of, Mr.Tolansky?"
Todd cringed desperately thinking an answer. He hated this teacher, he was worse than the german teacher that was rumored to throw desks at students.
"Um, I couldn't see the board so I was looking at its reflection in the clock." It was a lame excuse with a hint of sarcasm and tad of hope that he would believe it.
Mr.Jhones glowered down at the small boy his eyes narrowing practically into slits.
"Tomorrow, front row third desk, your permanent seat, perhaps that will help you see better." He said before walking back to the board.
Todd turned around and placed his slightly webbed hands on the back of his chair.
"No head rest. I should sue for whiplash, yo."
**********
Lance sat unbelievably bored in the stands. The prep rallies had to be the stupidest thing known to the teenage world. He groaned letting his head slack back.
"One.Whole.Fucking.Hour!"
"Ow! Watch it!!"
Lance's head snapped down in the direction of the voice. He chuckled at the site. Well now an hour of *this* *was* worth it. A few rows down sat Rogue in between Kitty and Kurt who were in between Jean and Scott. There she was as Kurt tried flirtatiously to impress Kitty by doing minor circus magic tricks, some which ended up with Rogue falling to the floor or getting hit in the eye. Then there was Jean and Scott using her as their personal mail woman to deliver little love notes back and forth. Lance put his head behind his hands and kicked back a little. Oh this was definitely worth it.
"Rogue vould you move back a little please?"
She rolled her eyes and leaned back while Kurt put his hands out in front of Kitty. She watched irritatedly as Kurt rolled the marble in his hands a few times before flipping his wrist. Kitty watching it as if turning away would mean sudden death.
"Nothing up my sleeves see? And vatch!" Sure enough the marble *did* disappear.
Kitty giggled like and idiot and clapped her hands. Kurt smiled broadly and struck his arms out for a fake bow. Much his dismay striking Rogue in the face also also. She let out a startled yelp as her chin snapped up before falling off the bleacher shocking a blond guy behind her into dropping his soda. By now pretty much everyone within a twenty yard radius was staring at her. She shakingly swiped the extra large coke cola cup from head revealing extremely angry green eyes. She glared molten daggers at him for a few minutes as he whithered considering with would throw his life away more. Teleporting out or staying? Rogue launched herself at him yanking him by the collar fist raised.
"Hey hey! C'mon Rogue it was an accident." Scott said in his concerned boyscout voice.
"Ah know. So was this!" She said reeling her fist towards its terrified blue haired target.
Kurt winced his eyes shut praying for pain to his so fast he wouldn't even feel it. Like tying your loose tooth to a door nob! Wait a minute. He was thinking. He actually *had* time to think! He cracked a weary yellow eye open. Kurt let out a sigh of relief as Scott and Rogue struggled for control of her wrist.
"Rogue knock it off he apologized-"
"NO HE DIDN'-"
"I'm so so sorry Rog-"
"-AND IT WOULDN'T MATTER IF HE DID!"
Lance couldn't hold it in any longer. A roar of laughter started in his stomach and wrenched out of his mouth.
Rogue whipped her head up angrily to see Lance Alvers gripping his sides and laughing so much she could feel sound vibrations. It wasn't so much as him catching her eye other than the empty seat next to him. She hopefully looked around for similars. Nope. She muttered some a few curses and jerked her wrist away from Scott.
Lance's laughter died down to a low chuckle as he watched the angry two-toned girl shove people out of her way as she made her way up to him. Was she trying to knock him out too? She was now standing directly infront of him towering over him with a glare in her eyes that made her look like one of those sacrificial god's.
"I think that guy wants you to pay for his drink." Lance snickered
Rogue smirked turning her head and snapping it back. Lance shouted as he was showered with the brown liquid.
"The hell's wrong with you?!! That time of the month or something?!"
"Shut up Alvers." She grumbled grudgingly throwing herself in the seat next to him.
"You start attracting mosquito's and you're going back to fuzz ball." He said frowning at her out of the corner of his eye.
Rogue just shook her head exasperatedly and looked back to the basketball game. It wasn't always this way. When she was with the brotherhood Lance and her were practically joined at the hip. Had been *since* she joined. They finally had someone to relate to. True there were other's in the brotherhood. But it just wasn't the same. They always looked out for eachother. Not that they didn't for the rest of the team, but this was different. Both knew what it was like to be abandoned, to be proclaimed as a freak, to be isolated from everyone because you're different. She often regretted telling Lance some of the things she did. Just fear of him using that information against her. But so far neither of them had brought up any of the harsh memories they shared. Sometimes she wished she could go back, Rogue hated be on this bad of terms with him.
"If you fall asleep don't expect me to drag your ass back."
Rogue was jerked from her thoughts and rolled her eyes.
"Don't flatter yourself."
**********
Todd happily flipped through the money he'd *made* at the pep rally. Hell he even managed to get a few off Duncan! He almost laughed as he remembered the frantic angry expression on Mathews face when he realized he was broke. Todd leaned against the campus fence waiting for Lance to get his ass out of there, Pietro to get changed from the game, and security to drag Freddie out of the lunch room. He frowned and shook his head.
"I ain't waitin' that long,yo." He muttered as he began hopping towards home.
Suddenly he felt a large hand snag the back of his shirt yanking him to the ground.
"Hey Tolansky, whats up?"
Todd fearfully stared up at the upside image of Duncan Mathews and his lackies. By some sort planetary force the system managed to screw him over again.
"H-hey Duncan." He stuttered. Ugh this couldn't be good. Duncan could never have a fair fight with anyone. Always needed his little jock crowd backing him up.
"Ya know Tolansky, the freakiest thing happened at the rally today. One minute my wallet's got enough for a few fast food places, next thing ya know its empty. weird huh?"
"Yeah, well I saw Summers eyeing your back pocket so-" He was interrupted as his little body was slammed against the fence. He cringed and a furious Duncan Mathews was jammed in his face.
"Dont fuck with my Tolansky! Now this is whats gonna happen. #1: I'm going to get my money gave with severe interest. #2: I'm going to kick your sorry slimey-"
"Yo You Duncan Mathews?" Came a feminine voice.
Duncan glared even more fiercely at Todd.
"Back off I'm busy!" He said raising his fist.
"*Hello*! I *said* 'Are you Duncan Mathews?'?"
Duncan growled and whipped around still pinning Todd to the fence.
"Yeah what the hell do yo-OOOMPH!!"
Todd looked up and scrambled away as he realized his feet were touching the ground. Even more because so was Duncan's entire body. He looked over to see a girl around his age standing over him lowering her fist. Todd stood up and looked down as the larger boy tried desperately to gasp for air and sooth the searing pain in his groin. The other jocks were slowly backing off not willing to do *that* much for their captain. The snorted looking down amusedly at a helpless Duncan.
"Well there's another one for the testicle retrieval ward." She jeered before picking up her mini-back pack and strolling away.
Todd watched her for a while and looked wearily as the jocks tried to help up the blond, before taking off after her.
"Hey! Wait up yo!" He called jogging after her. He could've caught up in a single leap but he wasn't going to look like a freak in front of *her* too.
She turned around and looked at him waiting for him to catch up. He stopped just infront of her sizing her up first to make sure he wouldn't end up like Mathews. He had no idea how a girl her size could knock the living crap out of such a big guy. She was practically *his* height for god's sake, she might've had a centimeter or two on him but not much.
"S'up, you ok?" She smiled at him. Good, that meant she came in peace.
"Yeah, thanks for back there yo." He said gratefully.
"That? Pfft, no prob. When being a girl one's gotta know how stick up for herself. Like daddy always said, if ya can't take 'em to court, let your knee be the judge!" She grinned proudly.
Todd chuckled nervously and nodded with a smile sticking out his hand.
"Name's Todd Tolansky."
She smiled and shook his hand, he had to admit, the chick had one hell of a grip!
"Cool, for some reason I haven't met a Todd since the second grade." She chuckled walking off.
Todd stared at her expectantly. Wasn't she going to tell him her name? weird personality to go for weird looks he guessed. Although *he* shouldn't be talking. She really didn't look like any other girl in Bayville high though, infact he'd never seen her around anywhere before. Todd looked her odd attire over. Dark shoulder length chocolate hair with light honey brown dyed chin length bangs and the ends of her hair were dyed the same color. She had a pretty nice tan and sort of brownish green eyes. Her attire was pretty tomboy itself. Long sleeved black shirt that met above her belly button with a white stripe going along the sides and a pair of black baggy 'princess in training' pants. Also a black bandanna covered the top of her head and showed of a crystal studded smiley face in the back. Also Todd noted looking down, was a small slightly bigger than a quarter sized yinyang tattoo on her left side a little above her belly button. On her right ear was a medium sized silver hoop earing with two diamond studs going across, the same for the left ear minus the hoop.
"Nice tattoo yo." He admired pointing.
She looked down and nodded.
"Yep, got it to piss the nuns off."
Todd looked up and raised and eyebrow.
"Huh?"
"I don't go to this school. I got the all girl's catholic boarding school a little ways away from here."
He blinked unbelievingly. A girl who just punched a guy in a place that god intended only for kindness was going to a *catholic* all girls *boarding* school?
"Seriously?"
"Yeah thats what *I* said when my brother told me *I* was going there." She grumbled.
"So what're you doing here yo?"
"I work here, duh."
"You work at Bayville?" Todd asked confused. The girl laughed a little and shook her head rolling her eyes.
"No, I work around here, gotta get a little extra cash *somewhere*. Ugh, speaking of which I better go or sister mayer'll be riding my ass all semester! And it looks like a guy's already gonna be riding *your* ass." She stated jogging away.
"What?" Todd turned around to face an irritated and impatient Pietro, Lance and Freddie honking at him from the car.
"Todd unless the chick's got a fatal disease she'll be there for you to hit on her tomorrow! So get your ass in the car!!" Pietro called impatiently.
He blushed five shades of red and turned around to see a snickering bandanna girl jogging off.
"I'll prolly be hearing here comes the bride all the way home too yo." He muttered hopping over to the car.
*Love is Blind*
-Hey, yo I don't even know you and I hate you
See all I know is that my girlfriend used to date you
How would you feel if she held you down and raped you?
Tried and tried, but she never could escape you
She was in love and I'd ask her how? I mean why?
What kind of love from a nigga would black your eye?
What kind of love from a nigga every night make you cry?
What kind of love from a nigga make you wish he would die?-
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*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEE-SMASH!!!!!!* Lance glared at the offending alarm clock with his fist half way into crush into the innocent machine. He groaned and turn on his side taking the cover over his head with him.
"PleasebeSaturdayPleasebeSaturdayPleasebeSaturdayPleasebeSaturday." He grumbled before peeking an eye out from a crack in the sheets. Sure enough on the hot rod calender was an x-free friday mocking him. He groaned and rolled his eyes before propping himself up having the pleasure of hearing his back crack along the way.
"Auh Fuck!" He mumbled crankily as the delicious blackness of sleep waved goodbye to him.
Fridays, normally he loved Fridays. They were the night of parties, the night before the weekend, the day to stare dreamily at the clock and aimlessly ignore the teacher. But not anymore. Now that Mystique had gone the way of the scaly shemale things had been shoved into their arms. So far it had been going smoothly, most of them with exception of Todd and Freddie.
Lance had gotten a job as a bartender at BAD, it was his favorite bar to hang out in. Unfortunately it was the same place where Rogue waitressed. He was shocked when he saw there to say the least. But then again he shouldn't have been surprised, she had a job when she was with the Brotherhood too. She always felt she had to earn her keep, apparently that feeling was still there even when living with a millionaire. They fought constantly and often had to spare a few of their wages to pay for some dishes Rogue would throw at him. They both still worked there, each of them to damn stubborn to back down.
Pietro had gotten a job helping a track trainer after school. Big surprise there. For some reason though, beyond Lance, Pietro hated it. He was always complaining about how slow they were and having to keep his power down while the coach lectured and bragged on how many marathon medals he'd won and how much they sucked. Lance would just roll his eye as Freddie ignored him and Todd would tell Pietro to kick his ass.
Lance ran a hand through his dark hair as he managed to blindly throw his normal garb on. He gave one last vengeful glare at the tear off calendar before dragging himself out of his room.
**********
Todd glanced around munching on some jam toast he managed to snag before Freddie got a chance to put it in his mouth with everything else. Pietro frantically finishing his history project, at the last minute as usual, and Freddie,big surprise, was shoveling in his fourteenth strudel. Habit made him look across from Lance's normal seat. He stared down at the empty seat for a while thoughtfully. Lance took it hard when she left. He got drunk and took off. After a week Todd finally found him on the edge of Bayville in some parking lot. When he took him back he locked himself up in his room for days and was as irritable as hell. Even got in a fist fight with Pietro a couple of times. After that he had just said that he was pissed now that the X-freaks had a one of *their* own. Pietro and Freddie bought, mostly because Lance would never goad himself over a girl. But Todd had a feeling he knew the real answer
A few stomps and grumbles brought the room's attention to a *very* unhappy Avalanche. His brows were crossed, eyes half lidded, and a back only slouched *that* much when it was broken.
"Hey little miss mary sunshine!" Pietro gritted in a high pitched preppy voice.
Lance just passed him a deadly sleepy glare and sat down laying his head in his arms.
"Fuck you."
"Sunshine woke up on the wrong side of the bed I see."
Lace glowered at him before closing his eyes again not having the energy to argue.
Todd looked between them. Seeing the mischievous expression of Pietro and the exhausted pissed off on on Lance's, this couldn't end without destroying something that can only be replaced with money that they didn't have.
"Better eat somthin' ,yo, your stomach's gonna be growling during class."
Lance nodded through closed eyes with his head still in his arms before snatching Pietro's cereal.
"Hey that mi-" He didn't get a chance to finish as Lance snaked his foot around Pietro's chair leg flipping it over.
Todd cringed as gravity claimed another friend. Unfortunately it didn't take long for the speed demon to get his barrings and attitude back.
"Damn whats up *your* ass!??" He shouted towering over the sitting dark haired boy.
Lance frowned and gritted his teeth in annoyance finally standing up over Pietro.
"Right now your head! Mind getting it outta there!!?"
Now even Freddie had taken his attention away from his food to watch the two stubborn boys stand eachother down. Todd looked at both of them nervously. They didn't have time to nurse both of them back to health and expect to get to class on time. Normally he wouldn't care but the new principal was starting to have it in for them lately.
"Pietro its 7:45, yo!" Todd yelled
His head whipped in the smaller teen's direction with frantic horror.
"Ah shit!" He yelled jumping back in his seat momentarily forgetting it was still tipped over. Which one him and extra visit to gravity. He mumbled franticly pulling it up and scribbling down the rest of his history report. Pietro quickly allowed himself the one second break of getting a bagel from the counter. He looked up to the greasy microwave in mid snatch.
"You're full a crap! Its only 7:15!" He said turning to look at him.
Todd looked back a sheepish smile on his face.
"Sorry, yo. The one looks like a four from here."
Pietro rolled his eyes and got back to his report at a bit of a slower pace.
Lance glanced at Todd with a knowing yet questioning look. Todd just shrugged and popped the last piece of toast into his mouth before hopping up taking his small back-pack with him. He made his way to the door just opening it before turning around.
"C'mon Pietro you can do that in the car,yo."
Pietro didn't even look up.
Lance sighed irritatedly and poured out the rest of the cereal. He started walking toward the door grabbing Pietro by the collar and dragging him along.
"NONO!!AlmostdoneAlmostdoneAlmostdone!" He shouted writing fast enought to give friction burn.
"You can do it in the car."
"NO I CAN'T!"
**********
Todd leaped out of the beat up Wrangler and launched himself onto campus the other's dragging behind. Well, Lance dragging Pietro behind.
"I'm almost *done*!"
"For christ sake's just finish it in class!"
"Mrs.Bitch dragging rip it up!"
"Then don't get caught!"
Todd rolled his eyes. No use waiting for them. Three in detention is better than four. He glanced at his watch and hopped faster into the school.
"5"
Go
"4"
Now!
"3"
Faster!
"2"
Not gonna make it!
"1"
*BRRRRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!*
Todd allowed himself a quick 'yes!' as he skidded into his first period class just before the bell rang. Mr.Jhones frowned in his direction eyeing him as he ducked into his seat. The Biology teacher cleared his throat and stood infront of the class.
"Do to the pep rally and busy schedule, this period will be cut in have. You will leave at 9:45 if you have your tickets. Now lets begin before we waste anymore time." He muttered the last statement turning to the board.
Todd would've thrown himself out of his seat and done back flips if he knew how! He hated pep rallies, or as Lance called them 'prep rallies', but it was a way to pick up a little extra cash. He was supposed to go job hunting this afternoon but that didn't mean he could get paid *now*. He waved his head happily in his seat for a while before Mr.Jhones gruff voice and glare jerked his attention. He watched the teacher scribble a few notes of genetics on the board before beginning his staring contest with the clock.
*****
Todd was now slumped over his desk staring helplessly at the clock silently begging it to turn just one more minute like a dying man begging for water. Normally he would've found something to occupy his time but his excitement to get out of this class was destroying brain cells fast. The damn block schedule always had away of screwing him over. He telepathically bribed the ticking machine with oil and gold rimmed frames if it would just move that extra minute. It was always the last minute that was the longest. The last second until freedom! Well, an hour of freedom at least. But still! Todd's yellow eyes followed the second hand eagerly. It was mocking him! It had to be! The whole thing was some friggin' conspiracy!! His short attention span was rudely torn away by an extremely loud sound of wood connecting with wood.
His head snapped to attention seeing a very frustrated Mr.Jhones and ruler on his desk probably leaving an indent.
"Is the clock superior to your future,or lack there of, Mr.Tolansky?"
Todd cringed desperately thinking an answer. He hated this teacher, he was worse than the german teacher that was rumored to throw desks at students.
"Um, I couldn't see the board so I was looking at its reflection in the clock." It was a lame excuse with a hint of sarcasm and tad of hope that he would believe it.
Mr.Jhones glowered down at the small boy his eyes narrowing practically into slits.
"Tomorrow, front row third desk, your permanent seat, perhaps that will help you see better." He said before walking back to the board.
Todd turned around and placed his slightly webbed hands on the back of his chair.
"No head rest. I should sue for whiplash, yo."
**********
Lance sat unbelievably bored in the stands. The prep rallies had to be the stupidest thing known to the teenage world. He groaned letting his head slack back.
"One.Whole.Fucking.Hour!"
"Ow! Watch it!!"
Lance's head snapped down in the direction of the voice. He chuckled at the site. Well now an hour of *this* *was* worth it. A few rows down sat Rogue in between Kitty and Kurt who were in between Jean and Scott. There she was as Kurt tried flirtatiously to impress Kitty by doing minor circus magic tricks, some which ended up with Rogue falling to the floor or getting hit in the eye. Then there was Jean and Scott using her as their personal mail woman to deliver little love notes back and forth. Lance put his head behind his hands and kicked back a little. Oh this was definitely worth it.
"Rogue vould you move back a little please?"
She rolled her eyes and leaned back while Kurt put his hands out in front of Kitty. She watched irritatedly as Kurt rolled the marble in his hands a few times before flipping his wrist. Kitty watching it as if turning away would mean sudden death.
"Nothing up my sleeves see? And vatch!" Sure enough the marble *did* disappear.
Kitty giggled like and idiot and clapped her hands. Kurt smiled broadly and struck his arms out for a fake bow. Much his dismay striking Rogue in the face also also. She let out a startled yelp as her chin snapped up before falling off the bleacher shocking a blond guy behind her into dropping his soda. By now pretty much everyone within a twenty yard radius was staring at her. She shakingly swiped the extra large coke cola cup from head revealing extremely angry green eyes. She glared molten daggers at him for a few minutes as he whithered considering with would throw his life away more. Teleporting out or staying? Rogue launched herself at him yanking him by the collar fist raised.
"Hey hey! C'mon Rogue it was an accident." Scott said in his concerned boyscout voice.
"Ah know. So was this!" She said reeling her fist towards its terrified blue haired target.
Kurt winced his eyes shut praying for pain to his so fast he wouldn't even feel it. Like tying your loose tooth to a door nob! Wait a minute. He was thinking. He actually *had* time to think! He cracked a weary yellow eye open. Kurt let out a sigh of relief as Scott and Rogue struggled for control of her wrist.
"Rogue knock it off he apologized-"
"NO HE DIDN'-"
"I'm so so sorry Rog-"
"-AND IT WOULDN'T MATTER IF HE DID!"
Lance couldn't hold it in any longer. A roar of laughter started in his stomach and wrenched out of his mouth.
Rogue whipped her head up angrily to see Lance Alvers gripping his sides and laughing so much she could feel sound vibrations. It wasn't so much as him catching her eye other than the empty seat next to him. She hopefully looked around for similars. Nope. She muttered some a few curses and jerked her wrist away from Scott.
Lance's laughter died down to a low chuckle as he watched the angry two-toned girl shove people out of her way as she made her way up to him. Was she trying to knock him out too? She was now standing directly infront of him towering over him with a glare in her eyes that made her look like one of those sacrificial god's.
"I think that guy wants you to pay for his drink." Lance snickered
Rogue smirked turning her head and snapping it back. Lance shouted as he was showered with the brown liquid.
"The hell's wrong with you?!! That time of the month or something?!"
"Shut up Alvers." She grumbled grudgingly throwing herself in the seat next to him.
"You start attracting mosquito's and you're going back to fuzz ball." He said frowning at her out of the corner of his eye.
Rogue just shook her head exasperatedly and looked back to the basketball game. It wasn't always this way. When she was with the brotherhood Lance and her were practically joined at the hip. Had been *since* she joined. They finally had someone to relate to. True there were other's in the brotherhood. But it just wasn't the same. They always looked out for eachother. Not that they didn't for the rest of the team, but this was different. Both knew what it was like to be abandoned, to be proclaimed as a freak, to be isolated from everyone because you're different. She often regretted telling Lance some of the things she did. Just fear of him using that information against her. But so far neither of them had brought up any of the harsh memories they shared. Sometimes she wished she could go back, Rogue hated be on this bad of terms with him.
"If you fall asleep don't expect me to drag your ass back."
Rogue was jerked from her thoughts and rolled her eyes.
"Don't flatter yourself."
**********
Todd happily flipped through the money he'd *made* at the pep rally. Hell he even managed to get a few off Duncan! He almost laughed as he remembered the frantic angry expression on Mathews face when he realized he was broke. Todd leaned against the campus fence waiting for Lance to get his ass out of there, Pietro to get changed from the game, and security to drag Freddie out of the lunch room. He frowned and shook his head.
"I ain't waitin' that long,yo." He muttered as he began hopping towards home.
Suddenly he felt a large hand snag the back of his shirt yanking him to the ground.
"Hey Tolansky, whats up?"
Todd fearfully stared up at the upside image of Duncan Mathews and his lackies. By some sort planetary force the system managed to screw him over again.
"H-hey Duncan." He stuttered. Ugh this couldn't be good. Duncan could never have a fair fight with anyone. Always needed his little jock crowd backing him up.
"Ya know Tolansky, the freakiest thing happened at the rally today. One minute my wallet's got enough for a few fast food places, next thing ya know its empty. weird huh?"
"Yeah, well I saw Summers eyeing your back pocket so-" He was interrupted as his little body was slammed against the fence. He cringed and a furious Duncan Mathews was jammed in his face.
"Dont fuck with my Tolansky! Now this is whats gonna happen. #1: I'm going to get my money gave with severe interest. #2: I'm going to kick your sorry slimey-"
"Yo You Duncan Mathews?" Came a feminine voice.
Duncan glared even more fiercely at Todd.
"Back off I'm busy!" He said raising his fist.
"*Hello*! I *said* 'Are you Duncan Mathews?'?"
Duncan growled and whipped around still pinning Todd to the fence.
"Yeah what the hell do yo-OOOMPH!!"
Todd looked up and scrambled away as he realized his feet were touching the ground. Even more because so was Duncan's entire body. He looked over to see a girl around his age standing over him lowering her fist. Todd stood up and looked down as the larger boy tried desperately to gasp for air and sooth the searing pain in his groin. The other jocks were slowly backing off not willing to do *that* much for their captain. The snorted looking down amusedly at a helpless Duncan.
"Well there's another one for the testicle retrieval ward." She jeered before picking up her mini-back pack and strolling away.
Todd watched her for a while and looked wearily as the jocks tried to help up the blond, before taking off after her.
"Hey! Wait up yo!" He called jogging after her. He could've caught up in a single leap but he wasn't going to look like a freak in front of *her* too.
She turned around and looked at him waiting for him to catch up. He stopped just infront of her sizing her up first to make sure he wouldn't end up like Mathews. He had no idea how a girl her size could knock the living crap out of such a big guy. She was practically *his* height for god's sake, she might've had a centimeter or two on him but not much.
"S'up, you ok?" She smiled at him. Good, that meant she came in peace.
"Yeah, thanks for back there yo." He said gratefully.
"That? Pfft, no prob. When being a girl one's gotta know how stick up for herself. Like daddy always said, if ya can't take 'em to court, let your knee be the judge!" She grinned proudly.
Todd chuckled nervously and nodded with a smile sticking out his hand.
"Name's Todd Tolansky."
She smiled and shook his hand, he had to admit, the chick had one hell of a grip!
"Cool, for some reason I haven't met a Todd since the second grade." She chuckled walking off.
Todd stared at her expectantly. Wasn't she going to tell him her name? weird personality to go for weird looks he guessed. Although *he* shouldn't be talking. She really didn't look like any other girl in Bayville high though, infact he'd never seen her around anywhere before. Todd looked her odd attire over. Dark shoulder length chocolate hair with light honey brown dyed chin length bangs and the ends of her hair were dyed the same color. She had a pretty nice tan and sort of brownish green eyes. Her attire was pretty tomboy itself. Long sleeved black shirt that met above her belly button with a white stripe going along the sides and a pair of black baggy 'princess in training' pants. Also a black bandanna covered the top of her head and showed of a crystal studded smiley face in the back. Also Todd noted looking down, was a small slightly bigger than a quarter sized yinyang tattoo on her left side a little above her belly button. On her right ear was a medium sized silver hoop earing with two diamond studs going across, the same for the left ear minus the hoop.
"Nice tattoo yo." He admired pointing.
She looked down and nodded.
"Yep, got it to piss the nuns off."
Todd looked up and raised and eyebrow.
"Huh?"
"I don't go to this school. I got the all girl's catholic boarding school a little ways away from here."
He blinked unbelievingly. A girl who just punched a guy in a place that god intended only for kindness was going to a *catholic* all girls *boarding* school?
"Seriously?"
"Yeah thats what *I* said when my brother told me *I* was going there." She grumbled.
"So what're you doing here yo?"
"I work here, duh."
"You work at Bayville?" Todd asked confused. The girl laughed a little and shook her head rolling her eyes.
"No, I work around here, gotta get a little extra cash *somewhere*. Ugh, speaking of which I better go or sister mayer'll be riding my ass all semester! And it looks like a guy's already gonna be riding *your* ass." She stated jogging away.
"What?" Todd turned around to face an irritated and impatient Pietro, Lance and Freddie honking at him from the car.
"Todd unless the chick's got a fatal disease she'll be there for you to hit on her tomorrow! So get your ass in the car!!" Pietro called impatiently.
He blushed five shades of red and turned around to see a snickering bandanna girl jogging off.
"I'll prolly be hearing here comes the bride all the way home too yo." He muttered hopping over to the car.