Disclaimer: I even had to reference this chapter! But always, just the plot is mine.
Ch7
I wanted to rest during class break. But someone had different plans for me. Make that several someone's.
"Alice, can you explain to me the thirteenth sonnet?" Bobby asked when he saw me in the library. I read it through thrice then turned to him
"Um, it's basically about how a person is reflected on their descendants. The phrase "were yourself" refers to a father or a past tense, see how at the end it says: death, father and son. While we live we want to still be later when we are no more in our kids" I said. He read it through once more.
"Sweet, got it. Up to which sonnet should be understand?" he asked me.
"Hmm… I think he said the fiftieth" he swallowed nothing.
"God that's a lot" he told me. I nodded. I then followed to cuddle back to rest a few minutes. He started rereading them.
"Alice" I heard again, less than two minutes after I closed my eyes. I lazily opened only one eye. I saw face to face with Kit. She was sitting on the other side of Bobby. She smiled at me.
"What was the ideal gas formula?" she asked. I thought Mr. McCoy said it only about twenty times.
"P V equals n R T" I filled in. "Which means?" she pushed on.
"Come on, Kit. I'm tired" I tried to avoid a yawn. "The pressure times the volume is the same as the mass in moles times the absolute temperature and the R constant that depends on the units." I said. So much for trying to sleep.
"And R is, like, 0,082 when we have, like, Pascals?" she went on.
"Nop, if I remember correctly the constant is 8,3141 for Joules over moles and time. When you're dealing with Liters and atmospheres over temperature and moles you use 0,082. But we should check the book on that." I said. I pulled a semi heavyweight book from the bag on the floor next to me and pulled it up to her.
"Yes, you're right," she rummaged and quickly landed on the chapter she wanted.
"Alice" Oh shit, I had been planning to avoid that voice all day long, hell, all weekend long.
"Yeah?" I looked up to see Logan.
"I need to have a word with you" he said to me. I looked attentively at him. "In private" not good.
"Sure," I pushed my sweater back into my bag and pulled it over my shoulder quickly. I followed him out. He led me to an empty classroom. He closed the door behind me after I entered.
"Before you say anything," I started to say.
"No, you listen. I talk" Yes, sir Mr. Caveman, I thought to myself.
"First off, you weren't even trying today during danger room session." I was about to protest when he shushed me.
"Secondly, it was wrong of you to leave as you did" I should've have snuck out, but I so didn't want a confrontation.
"Alice" he said to me. I stopped looking at a desk with a swear word written across it. "You can be a girl all you want, but keep in mind that it's teenage boys you're dealing with. Maybe you think that the best way to fight is to go for a weak point, and yeah, that's a good strategy. But I think you know just as well as I do that John didn't even want to fight you." He said it straight. I wanted to respond.
"Do me a favor and don't go for the groin again" he asked me. "Clear?"
"Yes, sir." I was suddenly relieved that he didn't mention my… umm, thing.
"And the next time you feel horny in the middle of the class simply excuse yourself." I flinched, off course he wouldn't just ignore it.
"How did you know?" I asked him, just to be polite, I was sure he could smell better than anyone.
"Come on, the way you and Pyro were fighting. Neither really doing anything but sweating and looking at each other." He told me. Yikes. That sucks… and the worse thing is that Warren got to see the show.
I clenched my fists.
"Just to set the record straight: He started it" I defended myself. Just then the door opened and the sophomores that had class with Ms. Monroe right now started pouring in.
"But he sure as hell was not the one to end it" he responded and started walking away.
"It's not my fault" I said straight over the noise. He ignored me. Ugh. I followed him out.
"I guess I have to tell someone anyways." I said once I reached him.
"What?" he asked me. "I think I'm developing" I said continuing to walk at his side.
"What? You got your period?" why did people automatically say that when I said that?
"No! Why do guys think that? Ugh! I got my period seven years ago!" I said. A bit loudly a few people turned their heads. "My powers" I told him. He simply kinda growled.
"I'm serious." I told him.
"Talk to a teacher about that" he said to me and continued on.
"Um, I thought I was doing that just now" I retaliated.
"Right…" he said.
"I'm feeling what people around me are feeling" I said it quickly, the halls were once more empty as classes had started again.
"Like empathy?" he said to me. I nodded. "Talk to Remy about it, he should know if it is or not" he said and pushed the elevator button to get downstairs.
"I did, that's why I'm telling you know" I said. He rolled his eyes and got in.
"Look, kid, I'm not really one to talk about this. You should go to the professor. I ain't really the type to talk to" he said to me.
"Don't try to be condescending. I know you care just as much as anyone else" I told him. He looked at me.
"Are you trying to get inside my mind?" he asked me. I shook my head.
"I don't have to do that to see that you're a softie. And don't look so shocked" I told him. Sure, he loved to work thinking that he inspired fear from those around him. But not me.
"Right" he walked to the second garage in the basement. The class was still waiting. "Shouldn't you be in class?" he finally asked me.
"I am" I answered, a bit puzzled.
"Right, you're in mechanics too" he told me. I went over to Warren, he was sitting in the back of the "class" We both knew hardly anything about motors.
On the other hand, Bobby and a few others that were sophomores which I didn't remember their names were dangerously close to an engine.
"Can't believe him" I said.
"Who?" he asked me.
"Logan" I said.
"What did he do?" he asked me.
"What didn't he do" I whispered. "He first says I wasn't even trying at DR session this morning! Which I was!" I said.
"I've seen better, he told me."
"Yeah, I'm not going to kick around a real person the same way a go at a CGI."
"But you should" he told me. "I can't hit a guy Ix know." I replied.
"I mean, would you hit me?" I asked him.
"Well, if it was just for training purposes… I wouldn't actually hurt you" he said. "My point exactly.
"Have you spoken to him?" he asked me.
"Hell, no" I said. Not even thinking it through. "You mean John, right?" he nodded.
"I'm not ready" I said.
"What do you have to be ready for?" he asked me. I paused, I tried to form a thought.
"Come on, I hit him in the crotch, I don't think he'd be precisely happy to see me" I replied.
"You've got a point. But you can't simply avoid him" he told me.
"Watch me" I dared.
"I'm serious. You can't avoid him forever" I nodded.
"Nah, not forever, just for today." I smiled at him and slunk back to rest on the wall. My arms were resting behind me.
"Okay, settle down class" the guys went back to sit on the stools that were scattered around the garage. Bobby on the other hand sat down on Scotts second bike which he had tampered a lot and had soon claimed as his own.
"Um, today we'll be doing oral calls" he told the class. A few girls groaned. The guys smirked between themselves. I looked at Warren. We were both unaffected by whatever was the plan for the lesson.
"Warren, you first" he called to him. Warren looked at him.
"Stand up and come up here" he said to him. Warren quickly stood and went, a bit boringly. I appreciated the view… until Bobby saw what I was doing. I winked at him and then sat up straight.
"What's the first step in fixing this?" Wolverine gestured towards a complex machine that I had no idea what it was that was now sitting between the two openhooded cars.
"Choose the right tools to fix it" he said. He observed for a few second. "The bench grinder seems to have a bit stuck on the motor, so the best way to fix it is with a bit of steel wool to unhook it and then grab it." he answered after much thought.
"Fair enough" he said.
"Petra" he called. She stopped giggling and paid attention to him. She looked up and went besides him.
"What do you think is wrong with this machine?" he asked her.
"Um, it's got a bit in it's motor?" she said.
"What if I said that Warren over there was wrong?" he said.
"Um…" she seemed to be lost for words.
"That's what I thought."
"JeanPaul" he spoke next. The blonde his stuck out his chest as he marched towards him.
"What's wrong with this?" he seemed to hope this was the last time he asked.
"It's the coolant, Mr. Logan" he said. "It broke down."
"Correct." He said. He looked around the class again. I looked up from the notebook I was taking notes on.
"Alice" he said.
"Coming" I flipped the notebook shut and went towards him.
"How do you suggest we fix it?" he said. I observed the machine keenly, I was pretty sure that it couldn't be as simple as: replace the coolant.
"Well, firstly, if you want to replace the coolant you have to make sure that the machine is unplugged and that you have the replacement ready. With the adequate drill you can disarm and the coolant easily enough to replace it. You might, while the coolant is out check the motor for bits and clean the inside, with steel wool off course" I though I'd covered most of it.
"Okay" I went back to my seat.
"Bobby, get me the spare coolant. You two" he pointed at some guys I didn't know. "help him"
"Danielle and Petra, if you don't stop giggling I'm kicking you out" he said sternly. They tried to control the laughter. JeanPaul looked at the two and rolled his eyes. I suddenly had a feeling that he was anything but pleased that those two were in this class. He noticed me looking at the two girls two. We locked eyes for a few seconds. He had penetrating green eyes and too many freckles for my taste, but I didn't sense attraction from him, rather disgust towards me.
"Alice, do you think he's gonna make us fix it?" Warren asked me. I finished my leering battle with the guy and turned to him. I whispered in his ear.
"I certainly hope not" and then smiled. "There are experts for that kinda stuff, that is way beyond our level. And I don't think Logan trusts us enough to go something of the sort to that important equipment." He laughed a bit.
"Too true" he said. While he laughed his hand found my thigh. I laughed too, the idea of us changing that thing… Anyways. "Can you imagine the two girls changing it?" I whispered in his ear. His arm surrounded me and pulled me near to whisper again.
"Come on, it's as if they're not here, anyone can see they're just here to have a chance with the other boys… but they're too busy checking you out" I laughed.
"Warren! That is so out of place!" I laughed again. Bobby was coming back. Wolverine looked over all of us. Danielle and Petra had resumed giggling and not so whispering. Jean Paul was quite uninterested, and yeah, was watching Warren and me. The other three set the piece in front of Wolverine and sat down again. We stayed stopped laughing, but his arm was still around me and my hand was still on his leg, not that I was complaining.
"Danielle and Julian bring forward the rest of the necessary equipment." They both went. Julian smiled at her, but she quickly looked away, rudely ignoring him. He was a bit depressed that she didn't even look at him.
"He likes her" I said below a whisper.
"Who?" Warren asked.
"Julian likes Danielle" I repeated.
"How do you know?" he seemed astounded.
"Just the look he gave her" he said, but no, it was the emotion that I felt from him.
"Well, gather round so you can see how it is done" Wolverine called for all of us. Everybody came closer. He did it so quickly I barely had time to jot stuff down as I watched him work.
"Done. Any questions?" he said.
"Me" I said quickly. He looked at me. He had been hoping to simply dismiss the class now. "What happens to the coolant now?" I asked him.
"Um, I guess the hardware store might find a way to fix it" he said. Huh, not so smart.
"Are we ever going to do that?" Julian was still processing.
"Are you crazy?" for a split second I felt it was strange that I said what I was thinking, but it was Danielle who said that. I laughed.
"Yeah, that's our final exam, Danielle" I laughed.
"No" Wolverine ruined my fun, that seemed to be a recurring theme. "But I expect a write up about what we did today. A protocol on safety measures and procedure for what we did today. To hand in a week from today" a few groaned, including Warren.
"Class dismissed." He said. Everybody started to walk away. I got my bag and went out with Warren.
"I hate doing protocols" he said to me.
"Though luck, sugah" I answered and smiled.
"Join me for lunch?" he asked me.
"Join us?" I said. "Promised Rogue" I restated.
"Sure" he said. The elevator was full when we got there. Bobby gave us a puzzled look as he was the last one in.
"We'll wait" Warren said as the doors closed.
"Or we could take the stairs" I said.
"Yeah…" he said. "But I'd rather not."
"Come on" I said, pulling him a bit.
"Al…" he started.
"Okay…" I said. "See ya upstairs I said and walked towards the unused stairs that led to the hidden passageway to the first floor. It was not so far away or anything. I was starting to push the door open when he called to me.
"Wait, Alice" he told me.
"I knew you'd come round" I told him and started up the stairs.
"You're manipulative, you know that?" he told me.
"I never said you had to come!" I exclaimed and continued up the stairs.
"Wait" he said. I stood in mid stairs waiting . Eventually I was standing two steps ahead of him and we could see eye to eye, no looking up for me as was usual and no looking down for him. I laughed.
"It's a nice change, seeing eye to eye like this" I said.
"Aw, it's not your fault your short," he teased. He got a step closer. I stood on my tiptoes, just to show him that I could be a bit taller. He laughed. "It's not so bad, actually, it makes you more huggable" he told me. I laughed and turned to continue upstairs.
But I had a restraint, his arms were around me and his wings were spreading halfway.
"You know Alice," I turned again.
"Yes?" I was suddenly all to aware how exposed I felt, hugging in the empty stairs.
"I think I've never met someone as understanding as you" he told me. Uh.oh. How do I get myself out of this.
"Thanks," I found myself saying. He let go of me, but his wing were still kinda encircling us.
"You're a great friend" I smiled. I was suddenly relieved, he was grateful, he had always been uneasy as a kid with his parents not liking his mutation and so many people he couldn't be himself around. He wasn't the longing type anyways.
"You too" I said to him. "Even when you're mortifying the people around you" I joked. He looked into my eyes. I don't want any trouble, I repeated to myself. I don't want any trouble.
"Well, you're just as nice when you're talking to someone while checking out somebody else" he taunted. Well, I had eyes, might as well make good use of them. "Let's go" he said and went besides me to the next few steps. I stopped him by holding down his wrist.
"Warren," for some reason I was about to explain myself. His brown eyes looked into mine. "This is gonna sound silly," I found myself looking at the floor. He came back a few steps again.
I felt him so close to me, I found myself feeling warm again, but not like this morning. This was different. I suddenly remembered what it was like to have a crush and not just infatuation.
"What?" he asked. I fooled myself again, suddenly I was reaching up to him and kissing him. My lips pressed against his and after a few seconds we had shifted and he was kissing me deeply too. My lips opened a bit for air, but as he did likewise I attacked his mouth. I was smiling and my hands were around his neck. But suddenly he was pulling back.
"Allie.." he started. I stopped and bit my bottom lip. "I shouldn't have done that" I offered.
"No, no. It's okay" he said. "I'm the one that's doing something bad here." It was my time to be puzzled, what did he have to be ashamed of?
"What's that supposed to mean?" I said.
"Look, you're sweet and nice and everything. But I feel this is wrong when I know how John feels about you" he said. "And when I don't feel the way he does" he said.
"You're saying that you like me only as a friend, I'm okay with that" I replied.
"No, I'm saying that John likes you a lot more than me… and, I don't want him to lose somebody again" he told me. "What?"
"You probably don't know this, and hell, I wouldn't know this if he hadn't told me himself" he sat down and I did likewise. "Before there was Bobby and Rogue, he liked Rogue. A lot" he said.
"I've heard the stories, but then he left." I said.
"Wait, he left because of two reasons. One of them was that she had chosen Bobby over him, the other one is the one most people take for real one." He said to me.
"While with the Brotherhood he didn't really have anybody with him. Now that he's back here he's trying to be a good guy, change his ways." I listened.
"He just wants someone to like him, he's been second in line for so long. He's my friend, he tells me stuff and can't be a Bobby repeat." He told me.
"I understand" I said. "Listen, I know commonly this is the part where I pour my heart out, but trust me on this, you don't want to hear about my past." I knew that the best thing we could both do was ignore this ever happened.
"Sure, how about lunch then?" he suggested as he stood up. I nodded and stood up myself, refusing the hand he was offering to help me up, I'm not really one for chivalry.
"Come on, Angel" I called to him. I don't know if he was suddenly having second thoughts.
"Yeah" he said and was at my side again. We walked to the cafeteria.
That don't mean that I won't need a friend
You and me, we're in this 'til the end
I think we're on our way
To better days, better days
-Christina Aguilera
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