Chapter Title: Chapter One: Ch-Ch-Cheater
Author: Zannna aka Lizzie aka Mellusene
Pairing: Liz/Logan
Rating: T: Language, violence, and mild smoochies.
Timeline: Roswell- Starts during Season 3 Episode 12 Ch-Ch-Changes, then goes very AU. I have made some changes to Season 3, but you should be able to pick them up as you read. X-Men- Starts after the first movie then goes AU.
Summery: When Liz leaves in Ch-Ch-Changes for boarding school she doesn't end up at Winnaman Academy. Liz Parker, welcome to Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Roswell belongs to Jason Katims et al. X-Men belongs to Marvel et al. I don't even own the idea for this fic as it is a challenge: Crossover Challenge # 16 by Jezebel Jinx. In this chapter there are lines of dialogue taken directly from Season 3 Ep.12 Ch-Ch-Changes. I do not own them. There are some direct quotes, and some altered quotes, and there is story around them. The sections of my story with these quotes will be marked with *** at the beginning and the end of each passage. I believe I marked them all, but if I didn't they are still not mine. The transcript I referenced was on crashdown(dot)com. The title of this chapter is a play on the title of that episode which I do not own. I also do not own the SyFy channel or any of their awesomely bad movies.
A/N: The beginning of this chapter starts during the scene at the football field on the bleachers at Roswell High when Max is trying to help Liz study for her Harvard interview in Season 3 Ep.12 : Ch-Ch-Changes. And, yeah, I lied! I said I wasn't going to update until I finished the whole story, but I finished Chapter One and I was so exited that I just have to post it! The next chapter, however, will take awhile to write and beta since I haven't started it yet. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter One: Ch-Ch-Cheater
***"Uhh, what is your greatest regret?" Max asked looking up from the book.
'Well lying to you and all my friends even after you told me your deepest darkest secret is definitely in the top five.' Liz thought to herself. But she didn't really even regret that. It was necessary.
When Liz didn't answer Max asked if she was feeling alright. "Kinda. You know what I really should get going. My dad is expecting me at the Crashdown. Thanks for your help, Max."
As Liz turned to leave Max grabbed her arm. Max said something, but Liz didn't hear him. With how sick and out of it she had been lately, she had been having trouble controlling her gift, and when Max grabbed her she was sucked into a detailed vision.
*Flash*
She was kissing someone ardently. As she moved down to their neck she caught a glimpse of their face. Pam Troy? What?
Pam let out a little breathy sigh "Max, you know just what I like."
"I should," I heard Max's husky voice reply, "We do this often enough."
"Why don't you dump that bitch Liz already? You know I'd make it worth your while," Pam said on a moan.
I pulled back and looked her in the face. "Liz is none of your concern, and if you want to keep up our little arrangement you would do well to remember that. Now where were we?"
*Flash*
As I came back to myself I realized that I had fainted, and I was lying in Max's arms. This was the first time my gift had ever worked on one of the Pod Squad, and I wished to heck it hadn't.
"You alright?" Max asked me.
I felt like I was going to puke so I went with: "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. I just think this flu is hitting me. I should go home and get into bed." I just wanted to get away from him before I completely lost it. I couldn't believe he had done it again. Part of me was beyond sad and betrayed, while another part was boiling with a rising anger that threatened to explode out of me. I had to get out of here.
I started hastily gathering my books trying to keep a lid on my emotions, but when I went to pick one up from the bench in front of me it burst into flames. I pulled my hand away and fell back with a little scream. Max got in front of me and put out the fire.
"I didn't do that," Max said. Um, duh you lying, cheating, man whore!Okay, I needed to calm down and get out of here.
"I did," I replied.
Max looked at me like I was insane. "That's not possible," he said. Has he always looked at me like I'm an imbecilic child? Was what I interpreted as adoration and love been condescension and possessiveness the whole time?
"Yes, it is," I told him. "You healed me and now I'm different."***
Well, more different anyway. What was happening to me? I was enough of a freak without mutating (HA!) into an Alien Hybrid. An alien mutant hybrid? When had I gotten sucked into a bad SyFy movie? As we left the football field, I looked behind me to make sure no huge weird creature was swiftly lumbering across the field and/or swooping down from the sky to eat me.
Things had been kind of tense around here, well more tense anyways, since Isabel had escaped. She wanted to go to college in Las Cruces, and after much drama, she actually went. At first Max was completely against it, and forbade her to go. She balked at his authority, but reluctantly agreed to stay in Roswell. After much huffing and rebelling, which included an ill advised liaison with an employee of her father's, Isabel went to her parents. She told them she got accepted to New Mexico State University and even got a scholarship, but Max didn't want her to go. She told them how guilty she felt, and that she didn't want to leave him, but she didn't want to be stuck in Roswell forever. And didn't they want her to be happy? One thing you should know: Isabel almost always gets what she wants. She has an amazing ability to get people, especially her parents, to see things her way. Once her parents started in on Max he didn't stand a chance. Max couldn't come up with a good enough reason for Isabel not to go, and with their dad already suspicious about them Max was painted into a corner. So Isabel basically told Max to 'Suck it!' and went off to college. Good for her, I say! She has lost enough, been through enough, and she deserves to have a life of her own. This of course got Maria thinking about the Abyss, and not wanting to be sucked into oblivion, she broke up with Michael. That added a bit more conflict into the group. Just a little. Which is why I don't want to bring her into this. She has somehow wiggled free of the Abyss, and I didn't want to drag her back in. And now she may be getting a contract with a record label. If she gets signed not only will she be living her dream, but she will be truly free of this mess. I am happy for her, it is her dream after all, but if she leaves me I don't know what I'll do! She is my best friend and I need her. I would never ask her to stay just because of me. Just the thought of being stuck between Max and Stonewall Guerin though. Alone. I'll be driven insane!
I just completely bombed my Harvard interview! Everything was out of focus, and spinning. I couldn't understand what my interviewer was saying. I just couldn't focus on anything and I completely freaked out. Maria was right! The Alien Abyss ruins everything!
After I got home from the interview, I was starting to feel even worse so I called Kyle, and he called Max after he saw my condition.
When Max got there I resisted the urge to throw a book at him. Where was Maria when I needed her? I couldn't confront him about my vision because he didn't know about my gift. If Maria were here I could tell her I had a bad feeling, and she would go 'Hurricane DeLuca' on Roswell until she found out the truth. Then I could dump E.T. and try to figure out what in the nine hells was happening to me.
Kyle told me to show Max, so I pulled up my sleeves and displayed the light show on my arms. They had arching bolts of what looked like green electricity dancing all over them. Every flash of green was accompanied by a feeling like a bad static shock. The effect was so constant I felt like I had a low current of energy moving through me continually. I wasn't even worrying about my gift anymore, I couldn't control it even if I tried, and besides I hadn't had a flash or vision since I had fainted earlier.
He put on his concerned/angst face as he examined my arms. Why had I let myself be blinded by him for so long? Had I loved the idea of us so much that I had only seen what I wanted to see? I felt like I was coming out of a fog since that vision of him and Pam. That I was truly seeing Max and myself clearly for the first time in I don't know how long. What had I let myself become?
I used to have dreams and ambitions. I was my own person. Now my dreams are shattered. Since the Alien Abyss had started I had been kowtowing to Max. I have been doing what he thought was best for us. Not what I thought was best for me. We never would have known about what Tess did to Alex if it had been left up to him. I was starting to think one of Max's kingly powers was blinding other people to his faults. Could he have somehow hypnotized us into doing what he wanted?Now that I think about it Isabel might do this too without even realizing it. It seems to only work on humans, or mutants like me. It must not work on their fellow aliens. That could be why I broke out of it, when this illness/transformation really got going.
I didn't know what was happening to me, but I knew it hurt, and that it was getting worse. Much worse very quickly. When I asked Max if I was going to die he didn't answer.
***Max, Kyle and I went out to the desert to see if Max could heal me. He said the translation of the book told him how to use the Healing Stones to amplify his healing powers.*** Being anywhere near Max right now was painful. And I'm not just talking about the green lightning. He was cheating on me. Lying to me. He says he loves me, would do anything for me, but he's not who I thought he was. He says he wants to wait to be with me until I'm ready, that he doesn't mind waiting. Then he goes off and screws Pam Troy behind my back.
I don't even know what I am to him anymore. Just some trophy hanging off of his arm that he can point at and say, "Look what I have. Isn't it pretty?" Am I just a possession to him? Is he just humoring me with a fake relationship so he can keep me on a leash? So no one else can have me? My heart feels constricted, like a huge fist is squeezing the life out of me. It burns with the heat of the anger that I am suppressing.
***After Max lays me out on the ground he arranges the healing stones around my head. He says with their help he should be able to wipe out whatever is making me sick. Well, more than one thing is making me sick, but here's hopping he can at least fix my Czechoslovakian problem.***
Max put his hand over my stomach and started to use his powers. At first it just felt weird. Like many waves of power rushing through me from all directions, but not that painful. Then the static shocks I had been feeling started to get worse. Instead of shocks all over my body it felt like the green lines were cutting into me like razor wire. As the pain increased I began to feel overly full. Like I was a balloon being filled with air and I was reaching my capacity. It felt like too much all of the sudden.
***I told Max he was hurting me, but he wouldn't stop. ***I was burning now. On fire. My skin felt like it was stretching to the breaking point. I was sure I would explode any moment, leaving pieces of scorched flesh all over the desert. ***I tried to tell Max to stop, he didn't.***
I started getting visions now.
*Flash*
I was looking at my wife Ava appreciating that I landed such a beautiful specimen from such a wealthy family. She would serve me well.
*Flash*
I was looking at a young Michael and Isabel. Michael had bruises on his arms but he said it was nothing. That he was fine. I knew he wasn't.
*Flash*
I saw myself through Max's eyes dancing at the Prom. He was thinking that he liked Tess' body better than mine. More curves.
*Flash*
Me and Tess were having sex. It was mind blowing. Amazing. I never wanted to stop. I could stay here with Tess forever.
*Flash*
Tess was walking towards me in my bedroom slowly unbuttoning her shirt.
*Flash*
Pam was screaming my name.
*Flash*
Some slutty tourist, that I had picked up at the UFO museum, and I were going at it in the back of my car.
*Flash*
I wanted it to stop! The pain was unbearable! My heart was burning with disgust and betrayal. My emotions were almost as devastating as what was being done to my physical body. My body felt like it was splitting apart and churning around like the glass at the end of a kaleidoscope. I knew I would fly apart at any second. I felt like an atom about to be split. There was potential for something vast and hideous building in my very DNA. I could feel my cells stretching, combining, changing. I was floating apart from my body as it fought to maintain cohesion.
***I begged. He wouldn't stop. ***I felt my whole person being ripped apart, cell by cell. Piece by piece. It kept building to a crescendo I did not want to see. There was so much pressure. A high ringing sound. For one millisecond everything stopped, and there was complete silence.
Then something deep within me snapped. Suddenly everything was moving again. Rushing onward. ***The stones exploded. I landed hard on the ground, and greedily sucked air into my lungs, I tried to shuffle away from the man I had thought was my soul mate. Something had changed. I felt different. Like I was in someone else's body.
"Just stop," I said to Max as he tried to come closer. "Stop hurting me."
"I wasn't trying to," Max said.
"No, but Max, you do. You always do. Why did you sleep with her? With them? Why?" I cried.
"Liz?" Max said confused.
"Every single time you mention your son, I am reminded of what you did to me. How you were unfaithful. How could you not know that? And after the flashes I just got how can you except me to ever trust you again?" I was distraught but not enough to give away the fact that I was a mutant. After the things I had been seeing on the news this was just self preservation at this point. I didn't even have to really think about it. Plus if there is one thing the Abyss has taught me it is how to lie on the fly, and under pressure.
Max scooted toward me and reached out. "Liz please."
I shuffled further back, "Stay away. You're doing this." I begged.
"No, I'm not. Liz please." He said, and reached out to touch my face.
It felt like my head was going to explode. I swear I felt my skull buckle and expand at the same time. I screamed. I would have given anything in that moment to make it stop. Then another vision hit.
*Flash*
I was standing in the park watching my wife pushing our son on the swings. I enjoyed the way the sun played off her golden hair, and how her crystal blue eyes sparkled with laughter. She still insisted on keeping her nose and eyebrow pierced, but looking at her glowing face, for once, I couldn't seem to mind.
*Flash*
Kyle was finally able to pull Max away from me. I collapsed in the dirt, and struggled to breath.*** I knew that had been a vision of the future. I didn't get them very often, I got them very rarely in fact, but I knew how to distinguish between past, present, and future visions. They all had a different feel to them, like I was using a different muscle for each. That was a vision of Max's future. Or a possible future. If Future Max had taught me anything it was that the future is not set in stone; It is in a constant state of flux. All the same I recognized the woman pushing the kid on the swing. It was Ava, Tess' Dupe.
I internally shook my head to clear it. Kyle helped me into his car, and drove me home.
***Kyle pulled to a stop in front of the Crashdown. "Need help getting upstairs?" he asked.
Kyle was such a good friend, and I loved him dearly. I was so thankful that I still had him on my side. "No," I said "I can make it on my own." Still I sat there starting at the doors to the café. "That really just happened didn't it?" I said quietly.
"Yeah it did," he said. "What did you mean when you said 'with them'? Didn't you mean her?"***
I took a deep breath. "Kyle, have I told you recently how lucky I am to have you as a friend? How grateful I am that you are always there for me, even when you're freaked out, and any sane person would run screaming?"
Kyle smiled a crooked smile at me. "It's always good to hear that I'm appreciated. I love you too little Lizzie." He said in an 'Oh, golly, gosh!' tone of voice. He then lifted his hand and chucked me gently on the chin. His face turned serious again," But you still didn't answer my question."
Oh well, it was worth a try. "I really don't want to talk about it right now, Kyle. But I promise I will let you know what is going on as soon as I figure a few things out for myself."
I leaned over the center console to give him a gentle hug. Funny how it didn't hurt me at all to be this close to Kyle. In fact it felt nice. "Goodnight, Kyle." I said softly.
"Night, Liz," he replied.
I carefully got out of the car, and headed upstairs to bed.
Maria showed up soon after I got into bed. We went outside and talked for awhile. After talking to Maria that night I realized I was being a bit of a hypocrite. I wanted her to fulfill her dreams, to take a chance, but I was just sitting around in this town, letting a boy and his issues, intergalactic though they may be, keep me tied down. My life only had two directions it could follow in Roswell: Stagnation or Annihilation. I would either be stuck with the status quo, and be completely unsatisfied. Or I would end up being destroyed in every way a person can be.
***As I walked into my room I saw Max sitting outside my open window. "Max," I said, "what are you doing here? You can't be here. I don't want you here."
"I've been calling," he said.
"Not that it's any of your business, but I was out with Maria" I replied.
"I thought something happened," he said.
"No, it didn't, but my dad is going to be up here in a few minutes." I had to keep looking away from him. I couldn't stand to look into his eyes. Those eyes I had loved, with everything I had for so long. Those eyes that had lied to me time and time again. He leaned toward me, and I felt the green lightning flash across my face in a web of pain. "Max, you need to go."
"Look, we'll drive to L.A. Langley will know what to do. He can fix it." Max pleaded. After the incident in the desert tonight, I really didn't think trying anything else Czechoslovakian-y would be wise. I don't think I could survive anything even remotely similar happening to me again. In my minds eye I could see all the atoms in my body vibrating until they lost cohesion, and I just dissipated into the ether. No, Max couldn't help me. I didn't even want him to help me anymore.
"Max," I said in frustration.
"Maria can cover for you. We can be back in two days." He was giving me his kicked puppy eyes. I could feel my heart wrenching in my chest.
"No!" I said forcefully.
"Please Liz," Max said, and he reached for me. I pulled away quickly, and he retracted his arm. He continued speaking in a pleading tone, "Everything you said tonight, we just can't pretend it didn't happened. We have to talk about it."
I didn't want to talk about it. I just wanted it to stop. I had loved him for so long, I didn't know who I was without that all consuming emotion. I started to shut my window, and it felt like I was severing my own limb by shutting him out. My throat felt tight, and I was trying very hard to hold back my tears. I could see Max was on the verge of tears as well. My heart was tearing in two.
"Liz, please don't shut me out. What are we going to do?" Max said in a choked voice.
"'We' aren't going to do anything. There is no we anymore. I have to figure it out. By myself." Tears fought their way free and slipped down my face. I shut the window. Max prepared to stand up, and we stared into each others eyes. I used to see lifetimes when I stared into his eyes. I would see us together and happy with kids running around us. I would see us growing old together, and still we would gaze at each other with all the love of the ages.
Still gazing into my eyes Max mouthed 'I love you.' He backed away, stood, and went to the ladder that led to the alley behind the Crashdown. As he prepared to descend he looked at me one last time. Then he was gone.***
After I pulled myself together as best as I could, I went downstairs to talk to my dad. Something had to change. I had to get away from here. I had to figure out what was happening to me. Something had changed in me out there in the dessert. Something fundamental, at the very core of my being. I was terrified, and I wished with all my heart that my Grandma Claudia was here to help me. But she wasn't, and there was only one other person I knew of that could help me.
My father looked up, and when he saw me he asked me what was wrong.
***"My life is out of control," I said. " I want to go to boarding school. I know you want me to go to Winnaman, but I think it would be best if I went to Xavier's. You wouldn't have to pay for it, Grandma left a trust with tuition money, in case you and mom changed your minds."***
"Well, we haven't. You're not going to that school." he said.
"Dad, what difference does it make what school I go to? I'll still be away from Max, and that's what you want isn't it?" I asked. He actually looked like he was thinking it over. He really did hate Max. "I know you don't want to talk about my gift, but it's part of the reason I need to go to Xavier's. I'm getting more powerful. I'm changing, and I need help."
My father looked at me with a torn expression on his face. "You know your mother and I love you no matter what don't you? We don't want you to get hurt, or to lose opportunities because of your mutation." He could barely choke out the word 'mutation.' "The world would not be kind to you if they knew. You've seen how the public reacts to mutants. That registration act almost made it into law. Your mother and I only want what is best for you." Here he paused to think.
"Nancy and I decided that we would only let you go to that school, if we had no other choice." He paused. "Maybe it's time for you to explore that side of yourself. It would be best if you did that away from home."
"You mean I can go?" I asked surprised. I had been afraid I would have to agree to go to Winnaman Academy, and then switch buses and sneak to New York.
"Yes, but I don't want you to bring any of that nonsense home with you. Is that clear?" he asked sternly.
"Yes, daddy. Thank you." I gave him a hug.
"Now go get some sleep pumpkin," he said softly and he let me go with a kiss on my head.
I went upstairs to my room, and made the phone call that would change my life. I found the number to Charles Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters in a letter Grandma Claudia had sent me years ago. Also included in the letter was the information I would need to get my tuition paid from the trust she had left me for this purpose.
I sat down on my bed with the phone in my hand and dialed the number. I knew it was late, after midnight here so it had to be 2 or 3AM in New York, but the letter said to call anytime if I needed help. The phone rang three times before it was picked up by a woman.
"Hello," said a smooth accented voice. "This is Ororo Monroe how can I help you?"
"Hi. This is Elizabeth Parker. I was told to call this number if I needed help." I cleared my throat "Help with my mutation."
"You have got the right number Elizabeth. What seems to be the problem?"
"Well, I don't know exactly. My gift is going haywire, and I feel really weird." Not a total lie, but close enough. "My Grandmother, Claudia Parker, was friends with Mr. Xavier before she died. She had wanted me to attend his school when I was twelve, but my parents didn't want me to go. Now that I'm having problems with my gift though, they have agreed that it would be best for me to attend there. Plus, I just really need to get out of Roswell."
"I take it Roswell is where you live now?" she asked.
"Yes, I've lived here my whole life." I replied.
"Are you in any immediate danger Elizabeth?" she sounded worried, but alert. Like she was ready to jump into action.
"No, no! I'm safe, Ms. Monroe! I just need to leave for personal reasons. Well besides the mutant reasons." I hurried to reassure her. "And please, call me Liz."
"Do you already have transportation sorted out?" she asked in a more businesslike tone.
"I'll be catching the bus in the morning, and I should be there in about two days. I just wanted to make sure Mr. Xavier would be able to accommodate me." I said.
"Charles is never one to turn away a mutant in need. I will let him know to be ready for you. Do you have a cell phone number, in case he wishes to speak with you?" she asked.
"Not right now, but I plan to buy one on the way. I'll call after I get a phone to let Mr. Xavier know my number." I responded.
"How old are you Liz? If you do not mind my asking?" Ms. Monroe inquired.
"I'll be turning eighteen in a couple of months." I answered.
"I will let the Professor know you called, and we'll be ready for you when you get here. Have a safe journey, and do not hesitate to call if you get into any trouble, or if you need anything." She said.
"Thank you Ms. Monroe, I will. Goodbye." I said.
"Goodbye Liz. See you soon."
I hung up the phone, and put it on my nightstand. Before I went to bed I decided to pack. I included a new dairy in my suitcase. I couldn't risk the old one being found and read by a curious roommate. I found my emergency stash of money, and packed some in my suitcase. The rest I put into my carry-on along with some books to read on the way. I had been saving money for awhile, and had close to $2,000. Plenty to last me several months at least. I packed some CD's and a couple of photo's into my suitcase as well. One photo was of Maria, Alex, and me when we were younger. And one of us just a couple of weeks before he died. I still missed Alex terribly. Out of all my friends he was the only one I ever came close to telling about my gift. I know he wouldn't have seen me any differently, and he would have gone out of his way to help me with it. I just never knew how to tell him. Then the Abyss happened and life was too complicated. Then Alex was gone.
I finished packing, and looked around my room. This room was full of my whole life up to this point. I knew the next time I saw it I would be a different person.
I decided to write Max a letter. I wanted him to understand where things stood between us. I think I owed him that much. I sat down and began writing:
*** Dear Max,
What's so great about normal? Do you remember when you asked me that? Back then the answer was nothing, because of you Max, because of how much you loved me. Now though, the answer is different. Normal is something I need, and that's why I have to leave. I have to figure out what my life means away from Roswell and away from you.
When you were trying to heal me in the dessert, I had flashes of you with other women. Tess more than once, Pam Troy, and some nameless woman you had picked up at the UFO museum. I loved you more than you could ever know. I gave you everything. I risked my life for you, and I kept your secret even at the risk of my future.***
I forgave you for letting Tess go. I even tried to help you find your son. Heck, I robbed a convenience store for you. I thought you loved me like I loved you, but now I see the truth. You were just using me. I was just some pretty trinket that you wanted to own. Like a selfish child that doesn't want his toy anymore, but won't let anyone else play with it either.
Well, I am done being your toy Max. It's over. For good this time. No amount of soulful puppy looks, and empty apologies are going to make me take you back. Your Kingly hypno-fog doesn't work on me anymore. You can't use your powers to change my mind.
You saved my life, and for that I will always remain loyal to Michael and Isabel. For them, and because you saved me that day, I will take your secrets with me to the grave. I am not your puppet anymore. I will no longer do your bidding. I am my own person, and I will make my own decisions. I will live my own life. A life you are no longer a part of, and have no place in.
Liz
As I reread the letter I realized it was a bit harsh. Okay very harsh, and Max was going to be pissed off when he read it. Luckily I was planning on being on the road before he got a hold of it. Besides, I didn't want to leave any doubt in his mind that, as far as I was concerned, it was over. I didn't want to leave any wiggle room whatsoever for Max to think he had any chance to get back together with me. I was hoping the letter was clear enough that he would accept it and move on, but somehow I feared he would still end up following me like a puppy.
With a sigh I folded the letter up and put it in an envelope. I wrote 'Max' on the front and set it on my desk. I was beyond tired at this point, and I changed and got into bed. My mind was buzzing with a million thoughts, but I was so tired that I was asleep within minutes.
The next morning I got up and got in the shower. When I was reaching for my regular vanilla shampoo I stopped. I was starting over, reinventing myself, and becoming a new person. Old 'Vanilla' Liz was boring. I decided to use the new shampoo, conditioner, and body wash that Maria had gotten for me. Coordinating scents of coarse.
Stepping out of the shower I was surrounded by Pomegranate and Sandalwood scented steam. It was certainly different, but it was a richer more mature scent, deep and earthy, and I loved it. I used the lotion that came with it before I got dressed. I double checked to make sure I had everything, packed my toiletries, and took my suitcase to the front room.
Mom was in the kitchen toasting some bagels for her and dad. Dad was sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. "Liz honey, you want one?" Mom asked.
"Yes, please," I replied. "But could me and dad get ours to go? I don't want to be late for my bus."
"Sure, honey. Get some juice to take with you, while I finish these." She said.
When my dad and me were armed with our breakfast and ready to go, mom gave me a lingering hug. "Be good, baby. Call us if you need anything, and be sure call us to check in once you get there. Remember to call us every couple of days so we know you're all right. If you don't like it there we can transfer you to Winnaman Academy no problem, okay? I love you" she said.
"Yes, mom. I love you too," I said hugging her back gently. We released each other and she touched my cheek with her hand.
"I'll miss you Lizzie," she said with teary eyes.
"I'll miss you too mama," I replied.
My mom kissed my forehead, and I gathered up me and my dad's breakfasts while he carried my bags. With one last look and smile to my mom, me and dad left, and she closed the door behind us.
I was sitting on the bus looking out the window at the world rushing by outside. I had this feeling of freedom in me that I couldn't describe. I was excited about meeting Professor Xavier, and the other students at the school. I just knew, somehow, that the Professor would be able to help me figure out what was happening to me.
I have read several of the articles he has published over the years since I found out I was a mutant. One of the other teachers at the school is a medical doctor, and a Geneticist. Dr. Jean Gray, I believe her name is. I have read a few of her articles as well. I'm sure that with her and the Professor working together we will figure out what is happening in no time.
From what Nasedo said at Eagle Rock when we went to rescue Max, all of their powers are human. Everything they can do humans will be able to do in a couple thousand years. My theory is that when Max healed me that day in the Crashdown, he jump started my physiology, and it's advancing very fast to meet the level that the Pod Squad is on. This, I think, is just an accelerated version of mutation. Mutants have the x-gene. A specific change in our DNA, a jump forward in the evolutionary process. I'm hoping that these processes are similar enough that the Professor and Dr. Grey won't be able to distinguish anything alien in me. I'm hoping they will think that I am just a unique mutant who's going through a-typical changes in my physiology.
My Grandma Claudia trusted Charles Xavier with her life. I hope I am doing the right thing in trusting him with mine.
