Chapter 2:
Surprise gone sour.

Madison awoke around 2 A.M., she couldn't fall back to sleep as hard as she tried.

She rubbed her face with her palm, and stood up to go grab a midnight snack. She knew she wasn't the only one with erratic sleeping.

She shuffled down the hallway and got to the refrigerator and pulled out a bag of chips and a generic brand of chocolate milk.

Madison sat down in a chair at the card table and munched away. Even though the milk wasn't brand-name it was acceptable compared to the nasty orange juice.

She heard footsteps behind her but paid no attention, she figured it was another student.

Madison heard the refrigerator open and light came from the kitchen.

A student with short black hair that was spiked up sat next to her.

She wasn't use to company and it made her uncomfortable. He didn't speak, just ate chips. His eyes looked like shark's eyes; black and cold. When he opened his mouth to shove a chip in she saw teeth that looked sharp enough to pierce flesh. His skin was oddly colored; he had black markings on his face and neck that seemed to be engraved into his skin.

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, "Yes?"

"Sorry." Madison said and got up and went back to her room.

She wrote in her diary,

Dear Diary,
Things have been incredibly hectic, people are almost worse than they were back home.
Today Hank asked me to show a new kid around,
I of course declined.
Because I'm really an outcast,
and I wouldn't want to make somebody else and outcast too.
I never told anybody this, but I'm worried if people
see I have friends, they'll think they're outcasts too.
And play mean pranks on them just because they like me.
I don't want that.

She closed the journal and put it back under her bed, thankfully the people who trashed her room didn't find it.

Tomorrow is her birthday, and she really expected nobody to remember; or even care.

She was turning 18, and she could leave and go anywhere she wanted. But she really didn't want to. It would be too hard to function, plus she didn't have anywhere to go.

She decided to keep at Xavier's school and get a college degree there; they offer it and it is free for students who attended the previous year.

Madison watched the digital clock tick, waiting for school to start.

"RIIING!" The alarm chimed, telling Madison to get ready for school.

At Xavier's school the dress code is very loose and flexible. Xavier says it gives the kids a way to express themselves; but if it got too crazy he'd talk to them in private telling them to change.

Madison slipped on some black thigh-high socks, and a t-shirt that was emerald green, like her eyes. She found some short pants and went to the mirror.

She brushed her hair, which took her a while because it was long, and put on some eyeliner and mascara, and grabbed her backpack.

Madison was usually the first person to Storm's class because she was always up early and other kids had trouble waking up.

She walked out of her room and closed the door lightly and began walking to Storm's class.

Storm was her home-room teacher, and she switched her job role about a year ago to power control.

Storm was already there, writing something on the chalkboard.

"Hey professor." Madison said.

"Hello, up early again huh?" Storm said, still facing the board.

"Yep." Madison sat down at her desk and put her backpack under the desk, "Do we have a new kid?"

"Hm?" Storm turned around.

"Well, last night while I was getting food, I saw a guy I'd never seen before." Madison explained.

"Hm…Oh! Yeah, I forgot." Storm set the chalk down, "Yes, his name is Shark."

'I figured as much…' Madison thought.

Storm turned back around and picked up the chalk.

Shark walked into the room, and looked tired, "Where do I sit?" he asked.

"Over there, behind Madison." Storm pointed.

"Okay." He said and walked over to his desk.

Three girls came in, giggling and standing uncomfortably close. The one that looked like the 'leader' was very tall and skinny with very little curves, the one on the right had brunette hair that was in a pony tail with a pink headband she was fairly shorter, and the one on the left had darker brunette hair than the last one and was the shortest and was a little overweight.

"Oh I love your shirt, Kelly!" The leader said to the pony tail girl.

"Oh my God, me too, Brenda!" They both giggled.

"Me three!" The short one said, feeling left out.

They all sat next to each other far away from Madison.

"AHEM." Storm cleared her throat and stared at the girls, "Once you're done, would you like to join the class? Or keep chatting and get detention."

Madison smirked; she didn't like them very much.

A short skinny boy walked in with another boy who was painfully tall, he had to duck to get into the class. They chatted about some game they played, exchanging cheat codes, and sat in the desks in front of Madison.

There was one more desk, next to the three girls.

An average height boy walked into the room with his hair tied back. He wore two shirts, one with long sleeves and one with short and green cargo pants.

The three girls giggled and the girl called Brenda pulled out his chair, "Hi, Chester." She said sweetly.

"Hey, Brenda. How you doin' baby?" He winked and sat down.

"Oh God…" Madison said quietly.

"IF YOU ARE ALL FINISHED…" Storm said loudly.

"Yes, sorry ma'am." Brenda said.

"So. Today's lesson is—"

"Storm?" Hank leaned into the room.

"…Yes what is it Hank?" she sighed.

"I need to borrow Madison for just a bit." He moved his hand in sight and pushed his fingers close together.

"Okay. Fine, just be quick about it. She needs to be back in time for Iceman's class." Storm said.

Madison stood up, grabbed her backpack, and followed him.

"This way." Hank instructed.

Madison followed, she figured out there were going to Xavier's office.

"Am I in trouble?" She asked, "Because if this is about the new—"

"You're not in trouble." Hank smiled and opened the door.

Xavier smirked and at his desk was a cake.

"Oh wow…" Madison said, astonished.

She walked into the room slowly, as if she thought it was a dream. Hank closed the door behind her.

"Happy birthday, Madison!" Xavier and Hank said.

"Awww! You guys!" Madison squealed.

"You're a good student, Madison." Xavier proudly said.

Hank patted her on the back, "You thought we wouldn't remember, huh?"

"I don't even remember telling you!" Madison laughed.

"You didn't." Xavier began, "We found out by your D.O.B."

"Awww, this is so sweet!" She hugged Xavier, then ran back over to Hank and hugged him too.

"Thank you so much!" Madison said happily.

"I'm glad you liked it!" Hank smiled.

"Me too." Xavier said.

"Thank you so much!" Madison repeated.

"Do you want to share the cake with the class?" Xavier asked.

Hank waved his hands as if saying, 'no, stop!'

Madison's smile weakened, "Um… Sure."

Xavier couldn't read her mind because she had manifested a barrier the first time she got into the school.

Madison walked over and picked up the cake, "Thanks again guys." She faked a smile.

Hank opened the door for her, and she headed back to class.

"She hates her classmates." Hank said.

"I didn't know. She won't let me read her thoughts." Xavier said gloomily, "Should I go tell her not to?"

"I don't think she'll change her mind." Hank sighed.

Meanwhile, Madison walked into the class, Storm looked up at her.

"A cake?" Storm asked curiously.

"Yeah, it's my—" Madison began.

"Oh how nice! You got us a cake!" Brenda squealed.

"What?" Madison asked.

"You got me and Chester a cake for our anniversary!" Brenda said loudly.

"…" Madison went quiet.

"How sweet, I didn't know you knew! You're always out of the loop." Kelly said.

"Oh my fucking GOD! You all are so fucking conceded! This is bullshit! It's my birthday you dumbasses!" Madison screamed.

Everyone stared at her, astounded.

"You know what, fuck it. Here take the damn cake. I don't give a shit anymore." Madison set it on Brenda's desk.

"Happy fucking anniversary!" Madison left the classroom.

She stormed down the hallway, angry and frustrated. She threw her door open and slammed it shut.

Madison leaned back on the door, sinking onto the carpet.

She closed her eyes and felt her heart beating fast in her chest. She'd always wanted to tell those stupid girls off, but it wasn't near as satisfying as she had hoped.

Madison began to calm down and breathing slower, 'I need to get over it.' She told herself.

She brushed her hair back with her palm and sighed.

"Knock knock"

Madison looked back at the door she was leaning on.

"Madison? You in here?" Storm called.

"No." Madison called back.

"Madison, please let me in, I need to talk to you." Storm said softly.

"I don't want to talk to anyone." Madison replied.

"Madison, isolating yourself is the worst thing for you." Storm sighed.

Madison stood up and peeked out the door, "What do you expect me to do?"

"May I come in?" Storm asked.

"Yeah." Madison pulled the door open and Storm stepped inside.

Storm hugged Madison.

"Am I in trouble?" Madison said.

"No, I fully understand." Storm shook her head.

"Who's watching the class?" Madison questioned.

"Xavier." Storm said.

"I'm very sorry." Storm rubbed Madison's back.

"I'm use to it." Madison said quietly.

"You know you're my star pupil." Storm smiled and touched Madison's nose.

Madison giggled, "Thanks."

"Are you going to be okay?" Storm said, concerned.

"I'll be fine." Madison said.