She
She's figured out
All her doubts are someone else's point of view
Waking up this time
To smash the silence with the brick of self control
Are you wrapped up in a world
That's been planned out for you
Are you feeling like a social tool
Without a use
Scream at me
Until my ears bleed
I'm taking heed
Just for you
Green Day
Breman Academy loomed ahead of her in the distance, the school year had already started and Dana Scully would already be a month behind in her schoolwork. She had to be the only one that went here, Bill and Missy were already out of high school, and Charlie still attended grammar school.
Dana was flying solo on this one.
She marched to the ominous double doors of the gothic looking building, its four stories towering forebodingly over the impeccably kept lawn. She stood for a second, drawing in a deep breath and gathering her strength. So often she reached into her mind to hear her father's voice, he gently reassured her and she used these words to enter.
The school had the feel and smell of old money, the children walking these halls were children of long held privileges, and she in last years' fashions. The halls were immense, wooden planks covered the floors, polished to a high shine. This was definitely nothing like the other public schools she had been to. Dana had earned her education in a slew of places, but this school was something entirely different.
This school was way out of her league.
Dana made her way to the office on the first floor; she had to get her classes for the semester. The lady behind the desk smiled and handed her a print out of what she had to take. "Welcome to Breman Academy." She smiled through false teeth.
Dana snorted a reply, grabbed her schedule and headed toward first period.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chemical Calculus was so easy she couldn't stand it. She had more fun eyeing the gawking students who were lost in the simple equations. She smiled at the three 'perfect' girls in one of the front row who began to sweat openly when Mr. Richards mentioned the upcoming test.
History was next, not so much her cup of tea, but necessary for the early graduation she had been gunning for. Western civilization was not as boring as psychology, and Dana hated psychology.
She usually tried to plug into the back row, staying out of the fray of onlookers trying to get a feel for the new girl. She really hated being the new girl. History was not as easy as Calc, but she liked the teacher, Ms. Graff, a young blonde who smiled easily and told off color historical tales.
Her third period class was her hands down best subject, the placement tests she took before enrolling into the school placed her in third year biology, something very few freshmen had accomplished. She had been ready for stares and looks when she entered the classroom at third period, what she was not prepared for was who.
He smiled and waved at her patting the empty stool next to him. Cautiously, after scanning the room to see if there were any other empty seats, she grudgingly sat next to the boy from the beach.
"Hi." He offered, gracing her with a lopsided grin.
"So, what, you don't have a lab partner?" she asked
"Nah, they say I am incorrigible." He grinned.
"Mr. Mulder," Mr. Graves began, sauntering over to their lab table. "I hope Ms. Scully here can help you pass Biology this time." He snickered as if happy to see the young man fail again. "She is quite a science whiz."
Mulder looked at Dana as if he had never met her before. After Mr. Graves returned to his desk, Mulder grabbed her hand, in his and smiled. "Marry Me." He teased.
"Oh brother."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
She ended up spending the entire lab period trying to explain ATP and the electron transport system to him. Every time she thought he was getting it, he would ask her to go slower. They were right, he was incorrigible. "Mulder," she began "How are you going to graduate if you can't pass biology?" she laughed.
"Ah, ya see.." he hemmed. "I was hoping this short red head that landed on me the other day would take pity on a poor kid, maybe help me out, maybe a little extra study time.,."
"Short? Mulder I have better things to do with my time than try to pull your butt through Biology." She whined.
"Please," he begged offering her a look that she had only seen on puppy dogs trying desperately to get an extra treat. It was a look few were impervious to.
"I don't know…" she wanted to, she wanted to so very badly, but she knew better than to get herself into a situation where she would get to know him, she knew the feelings she had began having after their meeting on the beach would just get worse. Something she could not afford.
He grabbed her schedule off of her side of the table. "Ah ha!" he screamed like a mad scientist. "You have psychology, you are so in luck.'
"Who says I need help in Psych? I may be very good in it you never know."
"Is that why you have the skull and cross bones drawn next to the class?" he asked pointing to her little sketch of death. He laughed as her short little arms tried to steal back her schedule. They were laughing so hard and loud they did not notice that the class had stopped being taught and had watched them.
"Mr. Mulder, Ms. Scully, I would hate to have to separate the two of you, but in case you were too busy to notice, I am trying to teach a class here." Mr. Graves had a stern yet playful look on his face.
"Sorry," the two offered almost simultaneously ducking their heads in mock shame, all the while smiling broadly.
"So will you?" he whispered.
"Mulder…" She placated, damn he was throwing her that look again. "I have a really full schedule here, I am not sure if I have the time for charity work."
"Ouch. You wound me Dana…"
"Hmm, yeah I don't know if I am exactly comfortable with you calling me that…" She was trying so hard not to crack up.
He eyed her quizzically, "Really?" he asked, giving her a sidelong glance.
"Either I call you Fox, or…"
"All right Scully, I get the point." He threw his hands up; no way was she going to call him Fox, No Way. "So is this a yes?"
"Ok, Fine whatever, but I pick the times and locations, and you help me out with psychology when I need it, no matter what else, got it?"
"Aww, you mean if there is a Knicks game on I have to help you study?" he whined in disbelief.
"Especially if there is a Knicks game." She smiled reminding herself to get the Knicks schedule, oh yeah he was going to pay.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
He had to have fourth period lunch, she silently noted as they sat down together at a table in the far corner of the too formal cafeteria. Balancing both of their lunches on a tray, he guided her to his usual spot.
"So, where are you from?" he asked as they attacked the day's special.
"I think the easier question to answer would be where am I not from?" she mused out loud.
"Circus folk?" he asked with his usual I am teasing smile.
"No, Mulder I am not a Carney."
"Too bad, I was going to ask to see your scars. I should have known anyway, your teeth are too perfect. So I am guessing Military, right?"
"Your powers of deduction astound me." She monotones, sarcasm dripping off of every syllable.
"What's that like anyway? I always thought it would be fun to wake up in a different place every few months." Anywhere but home, he silently added.
"It sucks eggs Mulder. Every time I get comfortable in one place, we have to move. I hate it." She stabbed at the salad she had chosen for lunch, taking out her aggression on the hapless lettuce.
"Sorry, I…"
"Hey Spooky, " A tall brunette with long legs purred as she strolled up to him.
"Dianna, I have told you not to call me that." He tossed over to her without even looking at her.
"Aww come on Spooky, everyone calls you that, what you don't want your new little friend to know about your little—issues." She came to stand behind Dana, "And isn't she a bit young to be indoctrinated into the Halls of Spook?" she asked eyeing her three friends that had gathered around them. Dana recognized them as the upperclassman from her Chem. Cal class, the confused ones prone to sweating.
"What business is it of yours Dianna?" Mulder shot. "Don't you have a small animal somewhere to go devour." He asked turning back to Scully. "You have to excuse her, when God was handing out brains, she thought he said brains and ran."
"Fox," she purred his unwelcome moniker "This is why I dumped you in the first place, anything I may have done with you was out of pity anyway." She had leaned into his ear, purring sanguinely. "Everyone knows you are nuts."
What happened next happened so fast it would have surprised Dana, except she was the one having caused it. The soda can in her hand that she had been shaking since Dianna and her friends showed up at the table came to life when she opened it right by the hovering Dianna. "Oops," Dana sang too sweetly, "My bad."
Dianna's cashmere sweater now ruined from the explosion of Diet Coke. "You stupid Bi-"
Dana jumped out of her seat so fast, it knocked over. "Anytime, anywhere Dianna, "she yelled, not realizing the entire cafeteria was watching. "I'll mop the floor with you. Just me and you Princess." Her breath came fast, heavy and ragged. One look into the sea blue eyes and something there made Dianna and her friends back off.
"We'll get back to you Tubby." She shot over her shoulder as they left.
"Wow," Mulder said rubbing his temples. "That was surreal. Remind me never to piss you off."
"Ex girlfriend?" Scully asked gathering her things before the bell rang.
"Your powers of deduction astound me." He threw back at her in the same tone she had.
"Man, Mulder, I am surprised there is any part of you left…"
"Where did you learn all that anyway?" he asked marveling at the little pint sized spitfire.
"I have two brothers." She offered. "Any questions?"
An odd looked traveled over his face before he would smile, Scully was not sure but it may have been something sad. "No," he answered solemnly.
She almost asked him what was wrong, but the look on his face told her there was more to it than could be explained between classes.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
He waited for her outside of the giant double doors. Dana Scully was something he had never known before, raw strength, raw fortitude. She didn't take crap from anyone, and wasn't afraid of anything. In her eyes he saw answers to a million questions.
"Hey," he waved her over as she strolled out of the building,
"You waiting for me?" she asked eyebrow cocked and loaded.
"I thought I would make sure Dianna and her friends hadn't decided to try and kill you in sixth period study hall." He didn't want to tell her he felt compelled to look out for her, after all she had stood up for him, there was something to be said for that, no one had ever done that before, no one.
"Uh Huh." She ducked.
"And, I thought we could have one of our study sessions, maybe at your house?" he asked.
"I don't know Mulder; my house can be a real mad house."
"My house isn't such a good idea…" he trailed off without offering anything else.
They walked the mile to the Scully residence, fall had begun to make its appearance robbing the trees of their green foliage and causing rainfalls of brown and gold leaves. "Hey Scully, can we stop at my house first? There is something I have to do, its only three blocks from your…"
"Mulder, how do you know where I live?" she asked, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
Mulder shifted his feet, not sure how to go on from here, he had accidentally spilled a few more beans that what he had meant to. "I er…" he looked down at the pavement.
"You followed me from the beach didn't you?" she asked in disbelief.
"Scully, I just wanted to make sure you got home safe." He tried to explain, but the look on her face made him wish he had never met her that day. "I'm sorry." It was more a question than a statement; at that point he would have said anything to not be on the wrong end of her ire.
"Uh huh." She conceded following him to his house. It was a large old home with a widow's watch on the top. She marveled at the beauty of it, stood in the driveway gaping.
"If only it were this nice on the inside," he snapped as if reading her mind. "Can you wait here? I'd let you come in but…" He stepped into the back door after she nodded her agreement.
Dana silently wondered what the big mystery was with this guy; there was something there, always a sadness behind those beautiful eyes, even when he was laughing. She hadn't known him long, but she knew she could trust him, however, she doubted he trusted her.
He came out with his book bag and a handful of goodies. "Here," he said handing her three chocolate chip cookies, which undoubtedly came from a bag.
"Thanks," she offered taking the cookies and grinning. "Your mom doesn't cook huh? Or is she one of those career women?" Again the sad look across his face that she could not catch.
"Something like that." He answered vaguely.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Scully household was nothing like he was prepared for. There were kids and friends and in and out. The front lawn was strewn with an assortment of kid paraphernalia, bikes, skateboards, and the odd action figure.
"Wow, it looks like Toys R Us exploded in your yard." Mulder remarked taking it all in.
"Yeah that's Charlie, my younger brother." She smiled opening the front door. "Mom, I brought a friend home to study, ok?" she motioned for him to follow her in.
Maggie Scully had assumed that Dana would usher in a gawky teenaged girl with glasses and long braids, so seeing the tall older boy standing next to her fourteen year old daughter was a bit of a shock, but she covered it well. "Hello." She smiled.
"Mom, this is my lab partner, Fox Mulder,"
"Hi Mrs. Scully." He held out his hand to shake hers.
"Is he helping you with your class Dana?" she asked, as the two exchanged looks.
"Actually Mrs. Scully," Mulder began looking down again. "I am the one receiving the pity here," she smiled at his obvious discomfort. "This is my second attempt at this class, and if I don't pass I think I may end up on a milk carton." He grinned, though not as broadly as usual.
"You two can study in the dining room." Maggie offered. "I'll bring you in a snack in a few minutes."
"Wow," Mulder offered shaking his head in disbelief. "Your house is so noisy." He smiled.
"I warned you that here may not be such a good place to study…" she began cracking open her brand new Biology book.
"No Scully, noise is good; my house is so quiet I can't stand it.'"
"Mulder, before we get started can I ask you a question?"
"Scully, after what you did to Dianna today, I am pretty sure you can ask me anything. "He smiled opening his rarely used Biology book.
"What is the deal at your house? I mean I know that you and I don't know each other real well, but..."
"My sister went missing five years ago, and things have been weird there since." He said, not looking up from his book.
"Mulder," she felt tears welling up in her eyes. "I am so sorry, they never found her?"
"No," He didn't raise his head and she could tell that he wanted to change the subject. Fortunately Maggie entered with a tray of cookies and milk. "Home Made? Mulder asked a little too hopeful.
"Why, yes Fox." Maggie answered a little taken aback. This kid doesn't get taken care of, she thought to herself. This kid does the care taking. She smiled at his reverent deportment of her cookies; it was nice to have someone appreciate what you did. She found herself starting to like this kid.
They sat studying for three hours, Dana began to feel like she was getting through to him, and she learned something about Fox Mulder that she envied. He had a photographic memory, if he saw it, he remembered it. How he failed the first time she didn't understand. "Mulder, I have to ask, you have a photographic memory, right?"
"Yeah," he answered blushing, it was a little trick he tried to keep hidden.
"How did you fail this class the first time?" she asked in complete bewilderment.
He got that look on his face again, this time it sent shivers up her spine. "I missed a lot of days last semester of school. I was…sick a lot." He tried to offer her a smile but it came out all wrong, it came out as a grimace.
"Fox," Maggie poked her head out of the kitchen. "Would you like to stay for dinner?" She had hoped he would say yes, she figured the poor guy needed a real meal.
Mulder looked at the clock on the opposite wall and made a face of absolute horror. "No I can't Mrs. Scully, as much as I would like to, I can't." He clumsily grabbed his things together and shoved them into his bag. "I have to go now.' He mumbled.
"Ok," Scully offered trying to make things lighter. "But tomorrow we study Psychology, deal?" she asked
"Yeah Scully, right after Basketball practice I will be here ok? See you in class tomorrow." He was out the door and running at a fast clip.
"Strange kid." Missy offered watching Mulder run down the street.
"Not strange, he just has a lot of family issues." Maggie piped in. "Let's clean up for dinner ok? Dana go find your brothers, please."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hope you guys like this one...more to come real soon
Thanx for all the reviews keep it coming you know it makes me write faster...