Thank you xmen4life for my first review!
Now, on with the story.
Willow left the room feeling dazed. The Professor had told her that he had sent his team… his 'X-Men' to fetch her and make sure she wasn't booked. Once the police discovered her mutation, she would be forever marked in the system- a constant threat to humanity. So, the professor sent her knight in shining armor, . oOr redheaded woman in leather. He admitted he was more than curious regarding her mutation, and promised he would begin to train her soon. He explained his use of Cerebro to locate her. Apparently, he had been keeping tabs on her for a while. She couldn't believe there was a whole school full of freaks like her. She felt bad for the ones who could not so easily conceal their aberration.
She was wondering around looking for a door that would take her outside. It was time for a cigarette. She came across one that looked promising, and she was correct. She stepped outside, embracing the cool weather. She leaned against the brick before fetching her pack from her pocket. She took a cigarette out and placed it between her lips before searching for her lighter. Crap. She couldn't find it. She grabbed the stick between her fingers and rested her head against the wall letting out a long sigh. So close and yet, so far away.
"Need a light?" A deep voice startled her, causing her eyes to fly open. The speaker of the voice was close to her, and she idly wondered how she didn't hear him approach. He had a cigar hanging from his mouth and his eyes were creased at the corners. His hair was wild and he seriously needed to shave.
"Yes, please. I seem to have misplaced my lighter." She responded, praying this man wasn't about to attack her. He smiled before tossing her a box of matches. She looked at them, dumbfounded. Who carried around matches? C'mon. As if reading her thoughts he elaborated.
"Lighters ruin the taste." He smirked, pointing to his cigar. She slid the box open and fetched a match before placing her unlit cigarette in her mouth. She stuck the match on the side of the box and once it caught fire she stuck the end of her cigarette up to the flame… and it went out. Well, shit she thought. She snuck a peak at the mystery man only to see he was laughing silently… at her most likely. She bashfully fetched another match and tried again, with the same result. She stared at the match, willing it to burst into flames (no pun intended). Now, the man's' laugh was audible and her cheeks filled with heat.
"You're smothern' the flame, darlin'." He took the box from her hands. Taking a step closer to her, he began to demonstrate. "Gotta let it sit for a second," he said, cupping his hand around the flame and moving it closer to her face. This time her cigarette lit and she closed her eyes to exhale. She stood like that for a moment, before opening her eyes… only to find no one was there.
An hour later she was in search for food. Damn, I'mshe was hungry. When was the last time Ishe ate? She eventually passed Oreo… or whatever her name was and sucked up her pride to ask.
"Hey, Or…um." Willow began, the intimidating woman looking at her expectantly. "I was wondering where I could get something to eat?"
"Just heading that way myself, you're free to tag along." The darker woman spoke before continuing on the path she had been on before Willow interrupted. As it turned out, Willow had been within 10 feet of the kitchen the entire time. She walked into the room to see that they weren't the only two hungry ones. Jean, Scott, the man from earlier, and a few younger looking people were all seated at a table laughing. She continued to follow the woman to the fridge to peer inside.
She grabbed a pizza box, obviously left over from a previous meal, and loaded up a plate of cold cheese pizza. She made her way over to the others before sitting down next to the mystery man. Jean stopped talking and began to introduce Willow to the group.
"Guys, this is Willow." A chorus of hi's erupted from the table. Jean pointed at Scott and began. "Well, this is Scott, although I believe you already met. And we have Rogue, Bobby," she was pointing to a young couple, "Pitor, Ororo- who you met last night, and Logan." She looked to the man next to her. Ah, so his name was Logan.
They began talking before the young girl, Rogue, was it? started asking about her infamous jail break with Jean. It was then Logan piped up and asked the question she was hoping to avoid answering.
"Why were you at a jail in the first' place?" he smiled, obviously sensing her discomfort. She was really starting not to like this guy.
"Those cops had nothing better to do then arrest an innocent pedestrian." She replied, glancing at Jean who was smiling.
"I'm pretty sure it was a bit more than that…" She trailed off. Willow suddenly realized that Jean knew what had happened. She sighed before deciding to share the previous nights' events.
"Well, my mutation played a part in it, kinda. I have this ability to be very persuasive, although it takes a lot of focus for me. I can affect someone's judgment, sway their emotions. Sometimes, when I drink too much… well… I malfunction." She paused, allowing for Logan's roaring laughter to die down.
"Anyway," she continued. "I was drinking with my roommate at our apartment, took a few hits off her… um… cigarette, and eventually I decided I just had to make myself some eggs. You know how the munchies are…." One glance around the table told her that no, they did not know how the munchies were. "Anyways, our fridge was empty. Like any other, normal, sane person would do… I decided to go to the corner store to buy some. Of course, this involved dressing up a bit," never knoew who you could run into, "so I might have been dressed a bit provocatively- heels and all." Logan snorted at this, earning a glare from Willow. "However, when I was ready to check out, I realized I had left without my wallet. There was this old lady waiting behind me, tapping her foot, and I could feel the disproval rolling off her. I tried to use my mutation on the cashier; however, they ended up escorting me outside instead. Do you know how embarrassing it is to be escorted out of a convenient store? I mean, come on! It's not like I was a threat. I was fuming when I started walking back to my apartment… and then my heel breaks." Willow scoffed, remembering the feeling of utter exasperation. "So, I took off my shoe and threw it down the street." She stopped, feeling as though this was explanation enough.
"So, you were arrested for throwin' your shoe?" Rogue asked, confusion clouding her features. Willow closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"I ended up throwing my shoe through the front windshield of a cop car. Apparently, I didn't learn my lesson with the clerk at the store, and attempted to talk my way out of it. I was arrested for destruction of property, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest… and solicitation." Willow finished, wondering how long it would take for this story to make its way around the student body. The thought of so many people judging her before meeting her made her frustrated.
Logan burst into laughter along with several other people at the table. Rogue spoke up between burst of giggles.
"I'm sorry… it's just…so…absurd…" she finished, tears making their way down her face. Willow frowned before rolling her eyes and laughing slightly as well.
The next few days were uneventful. She had met most of the student body, impressed with Professor Xavier for making something like the school possible. She could only remember a fraction of their names and even less of their faces. Logan had definitely gotten on her bad side with his smartass nature and elephant-sized ego. Who doesid this guy think he iwas? She was still wary of Storm, although she did finally learn her name. The older woman reminded Willow of her mother, and that just didn't sit right.
She was starting to like Rogue more and more, however, she could tell there was something going on between her and Logan. This gave Willow even more reason to not like him. What kind of man indulgesd in such a relationship with a seventeen year old girl? The whole thing made her skin crawl. She had also picked up on the attraction between Rogue's boyfriend Bobby and Kitty. She was unsure on how to approach Rogue on the subject, finally deciding it wasn't her place.
Willow and Jean were on thin ice with each other. Willow knew that if it wasn't for her increasing attraction to Scott, something she couldn't help, the two women would get along much better.
She had been there a week before the professor called her into his office again, probably to discuss how they would go about developing her mutation.
Willow sat in the same chair she had a week prior during her first meeting with the professor. Her shoulders were hunched and her hands were grasping her knees as sweat began to break out on her upper lip. She was becoming more frustrated with each passing moment. Tell me what I'm feeling, he had asked her.
"You're blocking me out," she repeated for the twentieth time. She discontinued her efforts and sat back in the chair exasperated. "You're using your mind-powers against me!" The professor neither confirmed nor denied her accusation.
"You need to learn how to feel the emotions of your opponent. Otherwise, how will you know where to start in controlling them? You need to become them, using your mind." His coaching made Willow annoyed beyond belief.
"I have no problem using my mutation out in the real world. You're blocking me out. I can't feel a thing." Willow felt as though she was talking to a wall. How could he, the telepath, not understand the concept of mind blocks?
"Willow, you have only exercised your mutation against unsuspecting humans. They had no concept of your power and wereare easy targets. The only reason you cannot feel me is because I am aware of your powers. I am prepared mentally, as your opponent is sure to be." Willow's face heated at his words. His tone wasn't condescending, however she felt shameful. She had been thinking very unflattering thoughts about him for the past half-hour. "You have an extreme amount of potential, Willow. You are fully capable of this. The only person standing in your way is you." His statement made her eyes water. When was the last time someone actually believed in herher? It hadn't been since that teacher in high school she had heard any words of encouragement.
"Alright," Willow began, feeling more confident, "what do I do?" It was such a simple question, she thought.
"Don't try to pinpoint a single emotion, just feel." He replied. "What am I feeling?" Willow adjusted her position in her chair and closed her eyes. Alright, just feel. She imagined reaching out to him with her mind, like a fog. It was so faint; she thought maybe it was just her mind playing tricks on her. There is someone there, she thought. She couldn't physically see him, but she could pinpoint where his body was. A smile broke out on her face, elated that she had made some kind of progress, however small. It was then she felt a familiar prick. She could almost make out what he was feeling… it was… pride.
Hope you enjoyed this one. (:
