Disclaimer: I do not own X-men or its character (Though I wish I did) but Rayne and Ryder are my own characters as is Laura.
Chapter 2-Decisions
Bobby's smile disappeared from his face when he heard what Rayne was asking. The others froze as well, Jubilee shifted from foot to foot while Kitty turned away and Rogue put her head in her hands. They all had the same regretful look on their faces.
"Bobby, Where is he?" Rayne asked again this time with more anxiety in her voice.
"Rayne, I'm really sorry, but John's gone." Bobby whispered softly. "He left us at Alkali Lake with Magneto and Mystique to join the Brotherhood. The John we knew, no longer exists only the mutant Pyro."
"No. No, No, No!" Rayne cried, trying to deny it while her eyes filled with tears, "You're lying Bobby! You're lying!"
"I wish I was, Rayne but I'm not." Bobby replied quietly.
Ryder tried to comfort his sister, but Rayne just pushed him away and burst from the room. Ryder went to follow her but Piotr held him back. "I think it would be best to leave Rayne alone for awhile."
"Yeah Rye, You know how Rae can be when she's upset. We don't want to have to treat you for third-degree burns or completely crushed bones." Jubilee said, grabbing Ryder's arm and taking his to the couch. Ryder reluctantly followed.
"I'm sorry, but did I miss something?" Rogue asked.
"It's okay Rogue." Bobby said putting a hand on her shoulder. "It's something that happened between Rayne and John years ago."
"We were all really very close friends, you see, and well, Rayne and John just got even closer." Ryder said trying to explain.
"Just put it simple, Rye. You always make everything so complicated!" Jubilee complained.
"Fine! Well, Rayne and John had been dating when we left. Rayne still loves him very much actually. It killed her when I told her that we HAD to find Jamie before going back to our old lives, though now that I look back on those four years, I think it was a total waste of time." Ryder said bitterly
"She's that girl then," Rogue murmured, "She's the girl in the photographs on John's dresser."
"Yeah," Bobby replied, "John was so broken up when we found out they were gone, he would lock himself in our dorm for hours just staring at those pictures. I think it was the only time he was so emotional. After those few weeks he slowly became the asshole we know today."
"That's for sure." Kitty remarked, rolling her eyes. The others slowly agreed.
Rayne looked around the room in despair. Just as she remembered, the two beds, the two dressers and the entire extra stuff as well. Sure there were some changes, but it was still the same haven it had been those years ago. Rayne sat down on John's old bed, (the one closest to the window) her head spinning with emotions. The memories came flooding back to her as she lay down, breathing in the faint, and familiar ashy scent of John. She looked over to the dresser where the pictures of her and John sat collecting dust. She smiled as she remembered the time they had been on a fieldtrip and Ryder had snapped a picture when John had leaned down kissed her.
Getting up, she walked to the dresser and picked up the frame. As she stared at it, she felt her heart break and tears blurred her vision. The picture frame slipped out of her clammy hands and shattered on the floor. Rayne swore as she bent down to clean up the broken glass. She pulled the photo from the ruined frame suddenly noticing a small object in John's hand. It was his lighter. The one she had given him for Valentine's Day one year. Back then she could only manipulate flames, now she could create them. Rayne smiled sadly as she pulled out of her back pocket, a worn Zippo lighter. On the front was a picture of a rose and engraved on the back were the words John and Rayne always together: Love John.
As Rayne held the lighter, broken sobs that she had tried to suppress, escaped. A sudden knock startled her. Turning swiftly she saw Logan standing at the door. "You okay Kid?"
"Does it look like I'm okay?" She snapped.
"Whoa! Just trying to show some concern here. No need to bite my head off!"
"Sorry."
"Do you miss him?" Logan asked quietly. Rayne looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy from crying.
"I don't know, Do you miss Jean?" She retorted back sarcastically.
"Look, I didn't mean it like that. Could I at least get a straight answer?"
Rayne turned away from him then whispered emotionlessly," I was miserable those four years without him there. I was so excited to see him again, when we got back. But now that I know the truth, I feel like an empty shell."
Logan sighed then sat down on the bed next to her," You know, Storm had told me a while back, when John was still here, about how John came to be such a self -centered jerk and smart ass when you and your brother left. Yet when you were around, he cared about you the most. Considering how much he cared for you and you for him, maybe you should think about what you want to do. I'm not saying to go look for him, but maybe you shouldn't give up hope."
"Yeah, I guess so. Thanks Logan." Rayne smiled, standing up. She grabbed her lighter and the picture, "See you around Logan." And with that she left the room, her spirits up.
Ryder looked at the clock hanging above the fireplace. It was half past 5 p.m. about two hours since Rayne had burst out of the room and disappeared. Peter turned from where he was looking out the window to check on how Ryder was doing.
"Why don't we all go down to the kitchen and get some snacks. I'm sure we're all getting hungry."
Bobby, Rogue, Kitty and Jubilee all nodded in silent agreement. Then together they all walked down to the kitchen quietly conversing between themselves. Ryder following silently, wrapped up in his worry.
Rayne sighed as she looked around her room, her knapsack slung on her shoulder. She was ready to go.
'Just because you heard an idea doesn't mean you have to go through with it.'
'So...I can't just wait around hoping John will come back. He's too stubborn. Besides he probably thinks I'm dead.'
'You're better off without him anyway'
'Shut Up! Wait who are you anyway? And why am I having this conversation with you?'
'I'm you're conscious stupid.'
'Whatever. Shut Up.'
She went next door to Ryder's room. Placing the note she had written to Ryder on his bed, she returned to her room and grabbed her jacket from its hook. Rayne then left the room quietly then started down the more deserted halls. Finally she reached her destination: the garage. Where one Scott's cars lay forgotten, grabbing the keys she quietly started up the engine and sped out of the estate.
Ryder strolled down the hall to his room munching on some chips he had gotten from the kitchen. The light was on in his room and the door was slightly ajar. He smiled; maybe Rayne was ready to talk. Picking up his pace he reached the room in a matter of seconds only to find the room empty. Sighing he turned to leave but before he could something caught his eye. It was a note lying on his bed. Trembling he picked it up, dreading what it would say:
Dear Ryder,
When you probably get this I will be long gone. I'm sorry Rye, I had to do this, you know as well as I do how much I was suffering from being away from him. I've come to close to just sit here and suffer anymore. I beg you Ryder, Don't try to find me; I'll be fine on my own. You will just have to wait and pray for my safe return. I'm truly sorry, but I love him too much to lose him again.
Love you,
Rayne a.k.a Tempera
"Damn it!" Ryder cried out. He burst out of the room and tore down the halls to the professor's office. He soon entered the office breathlessly. Catching his breath he exclaimed "She's done it! Rayne ran away!" He gave the note Storm, who read it quickly, a frown forming on her face. The Professor and Logan looked equally worried.
"This is very grave news indeed." The professor stated as came up beside Storm.
"But didn't you know?" Ryder demanded harshly.
'I'm sorry Ryder but your sister seems to have blocked me out of her mind. so I didn't know about her departure." The Professor replied calmly.
"Where would she go anyway?" asked Storm.
" She went to go look for -" Ryder began but Logan interupted."She went to look for John."
"How would you know?" asked Storm suspiciously.
" I was telling her not to give up hope about him coming back, but I also told her not to go looking for him. I guess she decided to do it anyway." Logan explained with a groan.
"Grrr! Damnit Logan! How could you let this happen?"Ryder shouted scowling angerly at Logan.
"Look Kid, How was I suppose to know your sister would run off like that?" Logan retorted, " I'm not a psychic! No offence Professor."
"None taken Logan." The Professor sighed wheeling over to the two. " What done is done there is nothing I can really do now. If Rayne seriously does not want to be found she can make herself non traceable. All we can do now is hope she returns safely.
I'm Done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm really proud of myself! And you should be too. I made some changes like turning Skyla to a guy. It really just worked better in the plot. Please... PLEASE Review!!!!
Until Next Time!!!
Tempus Simia
