Disclaimer: The characters and events depicted in this story are fictional. Any similarity to any actual person, living or dead, or to any actual events, firms and institutions and other entities is coincidental and unintentional. The story is based on Dokyusei written by Nana to which permission to use its plot has been granted by the author. All characters used are the legal property of Marvel and its constituents.
Attitudes & Feelings, Both Desirable & Sometimes Secretive
Chapter II : Cool Jerk
Kitty did manage to get to her class, and in no time at all was standing at the front of the blackboard while her homeroom teacher, Ms. Monroe, introduced her around.
"Well, Ms. Pryde, you may sit down. You can choose one of the vacant tables at the back," said the teacher.
Kitty made her way to the back of the classroom amidst curious and interested murmurs.
She finally sat down near a girl who had dark burgundy hair and the strangest white bangs. Even wearing the standard uniform, she looked odd, the dark blue plaid skirt was dyed black and black knee high socks extended over black tights so no leg was showing. She was also wearing black opera gloves which stopped just below her white blouse sleeves. The combination of dark eye shadow and burgundy lipstick made her look menacing until she grinned.
"Hey, new girl. It's nice ta have yo' with us," said the Goth with a surprising southern drawl.
"Please, my name's Kitty," returned Kitty, smiling, appearances could be deceiving.
The girl smiled back. "Ah'm Rogue."
They didn't have much time to talk, as Ms. Monroe took out their textbook and started the lesson by scrawling across the blackboard. The hushed atmosphere didn't last, however, when the door to the room suddenly slid open. Kitty turned to the direction where all heads had swivelled, and felt her mouth open in surprise. There, framed against the doorway, was the strange boy she had seen earlier. Kitty stared at the newcomer in surprise. He stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets, appearing unmindful of the uneasy whispers starting in the classroom. Awake, he appeared totally different. Watching him now, Kitty wondered if the boy she had seen earlier was but a figment of her imagination. There was nothing peaceful or still about this person. Everything about him, from his stance to the startling color of his eyes, a curious shade of stormy blue, suggested the brooding presence of a restless, dangerous predator. Kitty turned to Rogue in even greater surprise when she heard the girl sigh and arched a manicured brow.
"Late, as usual," announced Rogue, cupping her chin in one hand. Judging from her bored tone, this spectacle was nothing new or remarkable.
Ms. Monroe was equally unimpressed. "Mr. Wisdom, if you persist in coming in late, I suggest you do not come to class at all," she said in a weary voice with her hands on her hips.
The guy shot her a dry look before smirking. "Who's makin' me, anyway? Definitely not you, innit?" he said, derisively in a British accent.
"Sit down!" shouted Ms. Monroe, having just had enough.
The boy leisurely detached himself from the doorway and slouched to an empty chair on a far corner of the room, several seats away from Kitty and Rogue. Having settled down, he continued to stare broodingly at the back of the chair before him.
Ms. Monroe ignored him and proceeded with the lesson as though there had been no interruption of any kind at all.
Kitty shook her head in disbelief. "Is he like for real?" she whispered to Rogue.
"Well, Pete might think he's all that an' more, but basically he's okay," Rogue said, shrugging. "A word of advice, sugah, the people to watch out for in this school are those way up there who appear quite prim an' proper an' who appear to follow the rule book word fo' word. Believe me, they're the ones who are pullin' the strings backstage."
Kitty was not sure what to make of this, but she had no choice but to contain her curiosity until the break.
Rogue was kind enough to offer her a quick tour around the school during their break time, and tried to answer her questions one by one. She was also not a native New Yorker, having moved when she was twelve from Mississippi.
"So, Rogue, is that like a nickname?" asked Kitty as they walked down the hallway.
"Kinda, ah got it in middle school an' it stuck," answered Rogue but changed the subject. It also turned out that Rogue belonged to the track and field team, and was quite an accomplished runner.
"Oh no!" cried Kitty. "Does this mean we won't be having gym together?"
"'fraid not, sugah" said Rogue. "Ah'm also exempted from the electives – home economics classes an' the like, but ah'm sure ya'll do fine. Ah mean – picture it Kit, meh, in cookin' class? Ah can't imagine!"
Kitty had to smile at her friend. "I'm not that good either."
Rogue walked on, chattering and pointing to the various club offices on the second floor of the main building. They slowed down when they neared the room marked "DEBATE TEAM". The door was open, and just inside, they could see a couple of girls giggling over someone sitting behind the main table.
A pleasant sounding male voice was admonishing, "Now, now chères, don't worry! Everyone's goin' to have her turn. Remy'll be right with yo'."
A squeal of excited laughter.
Kitty could briefly see a guy with shaggy dark brown hair tied at the back in a tiny ponytail wearing sunglasses bent over the table. A moment later, somebody moved over to block her view completely.
Kitty saw Rogue's face screw up in disgust. "Do yo' remember what ah told ya earlier about bein' careful of certain people in this school?" she asked Kitty.
"Yeah," replied Kitty.
"Well, ya'd better be careful of that guy," a jerk of Rogue's thumb indicated the guy inside the Debate Team room, "because he's a certified lech."
"What's his name?" Kitty wanted to know.
"Remy Lebeau," replied Rogue shortly, curling her mouth in disgust. "He's a senior, an' recently got elected as debate team president."
"I heard Xavier Institute has got a very good debate team," Kitty said. "They won the regional championship last year, right?"
"When ya get to know this guy, ya'll find out why," answered Rogue dryly. "He's a real snake charmer, alright."
Kitty stared at Rogue for a moment, but decided wisely not to press the matter further. After all, it wasn't her business to know why Rogue apparently had her knife into the guy.
They crossed over to the other end of the corridor, and Rogue went pass the central student committee office so fast Kitty thought she was running a race. It was just a stroke of bad luck, though, that she was spotted anyway.
The door opened, and somebody said quietly, "Rogue, how very nice of you to come by. We need to talk."
Kitty watched as Rogue froze. The tall, dark boy who emerged was surely a senior. It was also evident by the way he carried himself that he was somebody to reckon with. He was also quite handsome in an eerie way. His wavy dark hair was cropped short and made him seem very pale and the regular features of his face were serious as he regarded the fuming Rogue.
"I just want to wish you good luck in your upcoming race," he said, "and I hope your team has settled its internal problems sufficiently to ensure that you guys be able to concentrate in winning us a victory this time."
"Oh, there's no internal problem," piped Rogue a little too sweetly. "The problem is all external, as yo' very well know."
But the boy was no longer interested in Rogue. He turned to Kitty.
"I believe I have not seen you before," he said, extending his hand. "New student?"
"Y-yes. My name is Kitty, I mean, Katherine, Katherine Pryde."
"Katherine. Welcome to the Xavier Institute." His handshake was firm and cold. "I am Nathaniel Essex, president of the CSC, at your service. Be sure to let me know if you have any problems settling in."
The girls walked back to class in silence. Obviously, something had upset Rogue, as the girl was no longer as talkative as she was before. She merely shook her head when Kitty asked what was wrong.
"It's really nothin'," said Rogue. "Listen, Kit, do you mind if you go ahead to lunch later? Ah promise ah'll catch up. Ah just need to do somethin' first."
And so that was how Kitty ended up having to spend her first lunchtime in the school by herself.
'Oh well…Rogue won't take long,' she thought as she crossed the wide lawn to the other side of the school where the cafeteria was situated.
She was nearing the trees now, and despite herself, she briefly wondered if she was going to see Pete Wisdom again.
Much to her disappointment, he was not there, but a moment later, it did not matter anymore, as she had other, more urgent matters suddenly in mind. A pair of hands reached out from behind the tree and grabbed her by the arm. Before Kitty could register what was going on, she was pinned to the trunk of the tree, a hand on either side of her head, and found herself face to face with a pair of ungainly punks leering at her.
"Woohoo! Lookie what we have here! Man, the boss is right. She really is a beauty!" whistled one cheerfully as the other kept a lookout. The two didn't seem to be much older than she was. One had a Mohawk hairstyle and was huge, while the one talking to her had this shabby hairdo to match his shabby, partly open uniform and torn slacks.
"Who are you?!" gasped Kitty, outrage slowly starting to seep in.
"Now don't you worry, we're not going to do anything, the boss says not to scare you. We just wanna know your name, boss's orders," said her captor. "Now you be a good girl and –"
"Since when," said a cold voice behind them, "did that wanker of a boss of yours need help gettin' a chit?"
The boy holding Kitty against the tree sprang back, alarmed.
"Wisdom!"
Kitty turned to see him leaning against the tree, very near her. He had his dark gaze on the two cowering kids.
"Hey, l-listen man, I think we've got a major misunderstanding here!" cried Mohawk.
"Y-yeah!" cried Shaggy. "We're not bother-ACK!!!"
They turned to flee as Pete advanced menacingly.
He stood there a minute longer, and Kitty could hear him muttering under his breath, "That stupid Alvers…"
And then…
"What do those guys want from you?" he said to her, turning towards her.
"Where do you like get off? I was handling it."
"Well, what did you expect? Out alone in this area – I've got half a mind to let Alvers have you, you half-wit."
"What?"
"I mean honestly, what kind of retard let's herself wander out back by herself?"
"I was just trying to get to the cafeteria."
"Well, ask someone, you moron, and on the way, if a stranger offers you candy, don't get in the van!"
Kitty's eyes widened at that outburst, then suddenly she let fly something of her own.
"I have a name, KA-THE-RINE! And I am not a moron!" Kitty continued, "And what do you think you were doing, frightening people like that?! Why do you need to shout, you jerk!"
Pete recovered slightly, and without so much as an apology, he walked off.
"Hey!" cried Kitty, an angry vein popping at the side of her head. "Hey! Like where are you going?! We're not yet through here! HEY!!!"
And she began to follow him to the other building.
To be continued…
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- Swing
Chapter Track: Cool Jerk - The Capitols (Dance the Cool Jerk)
French Lexicon
chères – dears