New chapter! I'm trying to give myself two days to complete each chapter. Expect the next one by January 8th. Thanks to people-who-reviewed! I'm SO sorry that I can't remember your names because for some stupid reason the site won't let me see my viewer's Pen names. TT. If you review, please tell me if I butcher the accents. I can't do them that well. Give me help on them if you can. Thanks! R&R!
PS: I know that I can do a line to separate, but I like a creative mark better. I'll use /\/\/\ for story and author's note divider and -(.)- as the time divider.
/\/\/\
Bell
Ally awoke the next morning and looked around the room. On her dresser there were three boxes and some clothes. She walked over and the clothes lifted off the dresser. It was a pink tank-top with a white v-neck sweater, cargo pants, and light blue flip-flops. She opened the first box and found some freshly washed undergarments. Ally dawned the trench coat and went to the showering area; taking the clothes and a set of undergarments with her. When she returned from the showers, she opened the second box. Inside was a black, spandex body suit. There was a wide purple stripe over the upper chest section and a purple pattern that was supposed to resemble a pair of shorts at the bottom. There was also a pair of purple boots and a black belt with a purple 'X' on the buckle. She opened the third box and saw a black cloth wrist watch. There was a note beside it.
Dear Ally,
Society is not so accepting of how some of our mutations affect our appearance. When you are not in the institute, please turn the knob on your image inducer so that your makings and brightly colored hair are hidden.
Sincerely,
Professor Xavier
Ally put on the watch, turned the knob and looked in the mirror. Her markings were now gone and her hair and eyes were brown. She blinked and turned to leave.
When in the kitchen, Ally walked over to Kitty.
"Thank-you for the clothes, Kitty."
Kitty turned around and smiled, "Like, no problem. Turn around so I can, like, see how you look." Ally did so and Kitty squealed. "Wow! You are, like, so my size! Amara, isn't it, like amazing?"
"Yeah, it'll make it much easier when we go shopping at the mall today." said Amara.
"Shopping?" asked Ally, "What items are we purchasing?"
"Like, clothes silly." Laughed Kitty, "You can't just have one outfit. I'll see if Rogue will come, Just in case you like her style." She scrunched up her nose a bit, "I kinda hope you don't. It takes, like, forever to put on all the make-up."
"I heard that." Called Rogue from the fridge, where she was getting some orange juice, "Besides, I don't wear that much any more." She waved a hand absently at Ally, whom nodded in return.
"Don't you, like, ever smile?" asked Kitty, crossing her arms and cocking an eyebrow at Ally.
Ally cocked her head to the side, "Why?"
Rogue snorted, "Finally. Some one in this house thinks like I do."
Kitty huffed, "Well at least she's not, like, sarcastic."
John had just walked in the room and leaned over towards Amara's ear, "The way they're goin at it you'd think the Sheila was their kid or somethin." Amara was soon lost in a fit of giggles.
-(.)-
"Hot Topic"
"American Eagle"
"Hot Topic"
"American Eagle"
"Hot Topic"
"AMERICAN EAGLE!" Kitty said, stamping her foot. Rogue, Kitty, Amara, and Ally were in the mall. To the right was American Eagle; to the left, Hot Topic. In the middle: war of the women. "Besides, do you want to be seen in Hot Topic with someone who dresses like that?" Kitty grinned in triumph when Rogue paused.
"Good point. Well, Ally, I guess we have no choice." Just as Kitty opened her mouth Rogue continued, "We'll just have to get you some dark clothes in 'Patriotic Tweety' first." And with that Rogue grabbed Ally's wrist and dragged her into American Eagle. Kitty stood there for a moment and then threw her hands in the air, sighing in exasperation before walking into American Eagle.
Rogue searched the racks, furrowing her brow and mumbling, "Don't they have anything that ISN'T light green, light blue, or pink in the size petite?" She found a navy polo shirt and shrugged.
"Ally." She turned around. "Where'd you go?" She walked around until she found the girl standing in front of a display. "What are you lookin at?"
Ally turned a pair of Jeans around in her hands. They were light blue hip huggers with bell bottoms and a bleached design on the right hip.
"I think I'll try these on." She added them to the pile she had slung over her arm and turned towards Rogue.
Rogue handed her the polo, "Here's a top, now let's go to the changing rooms so you can try all this on."
Kitty and Amara were already in the changing rooms. Kitty came out of a stall and saw Rogue. "Hey Rogue! Like, where's Ally?" As if to answer her question, Ally walked out of the stall wearing the polo and a pair of dark blue, boot cut, hip hugger jeans.
"Oo! That is, like, so cute on you! Amara!" she knocked on a nearby stall, "Come out and see Ally."
Amara poked her head out, "Huh? Oh, wow, that's a great outfit. Jeans are really your thing." Ally tried on the rest of the jeans, made her purchase, and followed Rogue out of the store. They went to the restrooms, Ally changed into the polo and black jeans, and they went to Hot Topic.
Rogue walked over to the tops, "Since you already have enough pants, let's see what kind of shirts we can find you." She held a few up to Ally, "I don't know. Nothing seems right…" Ally took a top from a nearby rack, looked at it, and showed it to Rogue. It was a long sleeve dark purple top. The sleeves had a piece of fabric that went over the top of your hand and a loop for your middle finger. "Say, good eye." She thumbed through some others, "There are lots of different colors for that and similar styles, too. I think we have a winner." They got a few more tops from the rack, made the purchase, and exited the store. As they were walking, Rogue's cell phone rang. "Hello?" she answered, walking off to the side, "Hi Kitty. Food court? Sure, on our way. Bye." She turned to Ally, "Hungry?" Ally nodded and they walked to the food court. Kitty and Amara waved them over and held the bags while Rogue and Ally went to eat. Rogue caught sight of a place called The Cajun Cookhouse and walked over, Ally at her heels.
They were looking at the menu when a voice said, "Nice to see you Cherie." Rogue's jaw dropped and Ally followed her gaze to see Remy- Remy in a white chef's hat and apron that said Cajun Cookhouse.
"I didn't know you had a job, Swamp Rat." Commented Rogue, raising an eyebrow.
"Remy hasn't got anything better to do, and besides," he flipped the spatula, "The fillies can't resist Remy's Cajun spice. Isn't that right Petite?" He winked at Ally, who just blinked. Remy frowned but said nothing. Rogue chuckled and placed their order.
-(.)-
Kurt had just finished buttoning up his long sleeve, white dress shirt when there was a knock at his door. "Come in."
Ally poked her head through the door, "May I talk to you about something, Kurt?"
"Sure. I'm juz getting veady vor a church service. Vhatz on vour mind?" Ally came in and closed the door behind her. She turned off the image inducer and leaned up against the door.
"Why must we were a disguise?"
"Ze vatch?" She nodded. "Vecause ve're different."
"But I've seen all sorts of people on my travels. Why are we any different?"
Kurt sat down on his bed. He rested his elbows on his knees and furrowed his brow. "Ve are unique; vone of a kind. Zere veally iz nozing vong vit us, vor God made us zis vay; and everyone iz special in 'iz eyes. But ve are a sinful people, so ve see different az bad. Zome people are accepting, vut the majority iz not. Zo ve must hide who ve truly are."
Ally hung her head, "You, me, and Remy; three of a kind in a world of many."
Kurt signed and got up, "Itz a zad truth." They both turned their heads when the church bells sounded. Ally walked out onto the balcony.
"Bells…" she mused, "A usually brass instrument with a clapper in the center which swings back and forth when shaken, producing sound waves that have a clear ring." She paused. "So many times in history have bells played an important role. They can tell you of an enemy, as well as the time of the evening meal or worship." She blinked, the wind blowing her hair, "Bell."
