The funny thing about something fantastical happening to you is once it's over you realize how ordinary everyday life is. That was all Bethany could thing about as she meandered through her shift. So distracted that she about broke three different cups in the space of an hour. Sissy her superior eventually looked at her with a bewildered expression.
"Okay girly what is it that's got you so dreamy eyed." Bethany cocked an eyebrow at her and asked in a strange tone.
"What are you talking about?" Sissy leaned against the counter and looked at her like a mother would her daughter.
"Please I've been watching you sighing all day, either you've been smitten with someone or you've had a taste of something better than this." She emphasized the statement with a broad gesture to the small diner. Bethany gave a dry chuckle at the older woman's words but still thought about Kurt and his glowing eyes. Then she was startled out of her thoughts when the doorbell tinkled as someone sauntered in. Jim, was looking around the diner and his eyes lightened when they fell on Bethany.
Bethany fought the urge to groan as Jim sat down at his usually spot waiting for her to bring him his coffee. She'd been hoping that he wouldn't show up and she wouldn't have to deal with him for a while, if only fate were as kind. Reluctantly she grabbed a mug and a fresh pot and walked over to him. The man looked at her and smiled in a friendly way
"Good morning Beth." Grinning strainingly at him Bethany nodded her head to Jack before turning back to the kitchen. Before she could could walk away Jim grabbed her hand and spun her around.
"You know the most interesting thing was found. We went back to that old church you know what was there?" Bethany tried to look as bored as possible as she answered boorishly.
"Dust?" Jims smile widened and reaching into his bag pulled out a book and slammed it onto the tabletop. Bethany felt her eyes widen as she looked at the careworn cover of Pride and Prejudice and she looked back at Jims face.
"Had your name written in the cover." He gestured over to the t.v which was showing a local news story. But what was more important was that they were showing footage of a domestic house that was on fire.
"My house." Bethany whispered to herself in shock slowly she looked back at Jim who was just smiling quietly.
"I'll call the police." She whispered sounding a lot more confident then she was. Jim chuckled low in his throat and whispered back.
"And what will it do if we happen to have the commissioners son in our little club?" Stunned into absolute silence Bethany turned and grabbing her jacket and purse ran out of the diner like the devil himself were after her. She vaguely heard the other waitress on duty calling after her asking where she was going, but Bethany couldn't answer if she wanted to. Not stopping once to even breath Bethany soon found herself at the train station and shaking like a leaf she bought a ticket to Westchester, New York. The ticket broker smiled at her in a pitying way, probably thinking she was escaping some sort of domestic abuse.
On the train Bethany buried her head into the hood of her jacket and allowed herself to cry at what she had lost. It was a couple of hours before the train reached its destination, after disembarking Bethany found the nearest phone directory and looked for Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. On her cell phone Bethany prayed that someone would pick up. Thankfully someone was listening because after five rings the line picked up and woman's voice spoke. The voice was smooth and sounded calming.
"Xavier's can I help you?" Bethany took a moment to gather her thoughts before answering.
"I'm trying to reach Kurt Wagner please."
"Who's calling?" the woman replied sounding curious in an almost defensive way.
"My name is Bethany Hunter." The woman was silent for a moment before there was a gentle gasp.
"Oh, Bethany. I've heard of you. Just a moment." Bethany stood for three minutes tapping her foot nervously before a familiar accented voice picked up the line.
"Bethany! I vas going to try to veach you later. It's good to here from you." Hearing his friendly voice made Bethany finally break and she half sobbed into the mouth piece.
"Oh, Kurt you don't know how happy I am that I found you." When Kurt answered his voice was deeper and serious.
"Bethany, vhat is wrong, vhat's happened?" Running a hand through her hair nervously Bethany answered shakingly.
" I, I it's Jim he, he's gone crazy okay. He burned my house Kurt, my God he was smiling while my house burned."
"Vhere are you? Tell me your safe." Bethany nodded absently even though she knew he couldn't see her. I'm fine I'm at the train station here in Westchester. She thought she heard Kurt sigh on the other end of the line and then he spoke.
"Bethany do not move. Friends of mine vell be there soon to pick you up and bring you here."
"Ok, just hurry."
at the mansion
Kurt quickly explained what had happened to Bethany after he hung up and looked at Storm with a pleading look. Storm caught it in an instant but asked to clarify.
"So you want her to take a room here until she lands on her feet?" Kurt looked at his feet in a shy fashion. He was afraid for a moment that his request was denied, but looking up he saw Storm giving him a gentle smile.
"After all she did for you Kurt, of course she can stay here." Remy chose that moment to interject.
"Wait so we just going to take in this woman no questions asked." Kurt gave Remy an angry look that with his teeth looked like a snarl. The cajun held up his hands and tried to make his point known.
"I'm just saying, Kurt no offense but you want to believe in the best in everyone. What if this woman has been working with that Jim fella, she coulda been playin you." Kurt looked ready to yell at him but Storm spared him the trouble.
"Remy if your still so worried why don't you and Anna pick her up. You can both read her yourselfs." Remy looked ready to come up with an excuse to get out of it but was stopped by Anna's voice behind him.
"I think that's a great idea, I want to meet her myself. Kurt what does she look like." Take the chance to gather his thoughts Kurt told her what to look for.
"She is small, a little shorter than you and slender, wavy blond hair and brown eyes." Nodding Anna grabbed Remy's hand and dragged him off to the garage to go to the train station. When they were gone Logan walked up to Kurt and spoke him his usual blunt fashion.
"Look elf, I can read people too and if I smell any trouble from your little friend I will escort her out myself." Looking him in the eye Kurt stood tall and spoke in a deliberate voice.
"I can say assuredly that will not be necessary."
at the train station
Look around at station Anna tried to pick out any women by themselves that fit Kurts description.
"Do you think you see her?" Remy didn't answer but just kept scanning the crowd and then tapped Anna's elbow. When he had her attention he pointed to a bench by a pay phone where a woman sat looking at her shoes. The instant Anna saw her her heart went out to the woman. Her arms were wrapped around herself like she was fighting a chill and the bags under her eyes could be seen from where they were. If that didn't evoke sympathy the utterly degected look on her face did. Looking at Remy with a slightly annoyed scowl Anna asked.
"Does that have the air of a devious manipulative liar Remy." Remy looked at Anna and sighed, he didn't trust people but he trusted Anna. If her instincts said the woman wasn't trouble he believed her.
"No it doesn't, lets get her." So they walked up to the woman on the bench who looked at them with fearful eyes. Anna smiled at her in a gentle way before asking.
"Are you Bethany?" The timid lady looked between the two of them before responding so quietly they had to fight to hear her.
"Yes." Anna continued to try and exude an aura of calm and comfort.
"I'm Anna Bailey and this is Remy Lebeau. You don't need to worry we're friends of Kurt." The woman now identified as Bethany let out a choked sigh in relief.
"Thank you so much." Utterly convinced now that he'd heard her speak Remy held out his hand to help her up. Bethany took the hand and looked at Remy with trepidation and he said to her softly.
"Come on then, lets get home."
I'm Back Baby, hopefully I'll be able to get my momentum back and finish this story before next year ; )