AN: PhoenixFire606: Thank you so much for the review and gratitude and compliments! Lovin' ittt :D Yep, Emma has a lot to redeem, but she's a stubborn girl. Thank you again for following this story and for your enthusiastic and super duper helpful feedback! Have a good one! Welcome to the world of fanfic accounts!
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Hope you lovelies enjoy! THanks so much for your time! SERIOUSLY!
Thrashing my limbs vertically across Xavier's Olympic sized pool.
The clean blue chlorine water reflects purple and lavender to me, the water is cool and glides past my body as I move down the pool.
Hit the wall, flip, turn, streamline, and swim forward.
After a good round of laps, I slip out of the water, hoisting myself on the wall with my arms.
A pair of bare feet are waiting for me, as I surface.
I look up long smooth legs, and see Emma up and appearing unscathed in a white swim suit.
No, I've been avoiding her.
Can't she understand I don't want to see her after everything that happened?
She shoves me back into the pool with an outstretched toe and crosses her arms haughtily "We're going to have to make amends and work together on the same team you know, may as well start now."
I climb back out and reach for a towel, rubbing myself down, ignoring her completely.
I sense her hovering behind me, watching my back.
She murmurs in a soft voice, "Scott..."
I growl, "Go to hell."
She chuckled, "Been there, done that. I'm not going back, I've been abandoned by the Hellfire Club, my alliances with Shaw are broken. I'm not saying accept me with open arms, but I want you to know, that you of all people, are one of the reasons why I would want to stay with you X-Men."
"What does that mean to me, I can never trust your words again, you're full of it, Emma. You may think I'm some kind of idiot but I won't stand for it if you ever try to harm Kitty or Jean again. What did you want with them?"
Losing my temper a little, my face aggressively neared hers, backing her up against the edge of the pool wall.
She fluttered her lashes down and said, "You're the only one I don't consider an idiot, I knew that right away. We wanted to recruit Kitty, she would have been useful for a new school I was opening up in the future. As for Jean...she may not know it yet but she hides a lot of power and further potential, she would be a useful telepath... Nova was strangely obsessed with possessing Jean. What is it about Jean that you hold so dear to your heart? Why is she so special to you? I can read your mind, if you don't tell me."
Her eyes follow a bead of water dripping down my chest.
I muttered, "The nerve you have! Okay, well, since you have no respect for privacy...It's my responsibility to care about each and every member on the team. Jean's just...Jean to me...I care a little extra for her. She's been here longest with me, we grew up together in some ways, she's my best friend. Before I came here, before I met her, I was nothing, I had nothing, I lost everything and I was an orphan living on the streets. I did despicable things you couldn't even imagine, just to get by, I lost myself, my brain was full of holes. Then I came here, I met her, and everything changed. She gave me a reason, a purpose to be alive and fight for good, and then of course Xavier's dream became another purpose for me to live. Jean's the best part of me. She made me a better person. If I lost her...the best part of me would die. It sounds dumb, but I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand."
Looking down, Emma replied, "I think I'm..beginning to understand...perfectly what you mean. Thank you for sharing that with me Scott."
She looked at me, her eyes a little softer, and she changed her tone, and swallowed, "I hope you get her someday, Scott. I really do."
Without a fight or snide remark, Emma dove into the pool, and I left to go get ready for the big dance tonight.
I hadn't even had time to think about the dance or school, with everything that's been going on.
The hallways were abuzz in the mansion, everyone's bedroom doors were open and kids were going in and out, changing and helping each other get ready.
Jean had started getting ready hours before the dance, I looked at the watch on my wrist as I strapped it on after a shower, I had an hour before I had to see Taryn.
Sprinkling a little bit of Ray's gel in my hair, I combed it back and added a little bit of after shave to make me smell nice.
I proceeded to put on my only suit, the one for special occasions, and checked my watch again.
Kurt burst into my room, his hologram disguise on, and proudly wearing a funny powder blue suit with a ruffled shirt under.
He twirled around, "Ta daa! Pretty cool, huh man? Look at ze blue fuzzy dude!"
I smirked wryly, "Amanda's a lucky lady tonight."
He jumped onto my bed that I had just made, and kicked around, "I'm zoooo ztoked! I had 10 pixie stickz and mein gott, do I love America for your sugary candy!"
Bobby walked in holding up two ties to his collar and asked, "Scott, this one, or this one?"
He held up a light blue silk tie and a black one, I laughed, and pointed at my eyes, "You really wanna ask the color blind guy? Blue would bring out those eyes."
Bobby laughed and thanked me, tying the blue one on, and then flopped onto my bed with Kurt.
"Hey Scott-Man, are you trying to get lucky with Taryn tonight? Man, you are so lucky you scored her! She is a fine upperclassman!"
Doing my cuff links, I scolded Bobby, "Girls aren't scores, Bobby. She is very pretty though. I'm not going to try anything, I barely know her, we're just going as date partners to the dance."
Bobby rolled his eyes, "Exactly. Date. Do you know what that is, Scott?"
"Scott vouldn' even know a girl liked him iv she hit him over the head vith a pan and dragged him down the aisle."
I shot Kurt a dangerous look.
Running downstairs, I found Ororo in the foyer putting out snacks for everyone. I held up my tie to her and asked apologetically, "'Ro, can you...?"
Laughing pleasantly, she grabs it from me and moves towards me, circling her arms around my neck and bringing the tie around my collar.
Expertly, she tucks the tie together into a graceful knot and smooths the length of my tie out, against my shirt. Sternly gazing her light sky colored eyes into my sunglasses, she said, "Always be safe, however, do not forget to have fun and relax Scott. You have grown into such a fine and good looking gentleman, be yourself with this girl and remember your manners. Respect a girl, just don't get carried away and make sure a girl respects you!"
I put my hand over her caramel-toned one on my heart and promised, "I solemnly swear to be on my best behavior...mom." I snorted out, rolling my eyes a little.
Storm leaned in and chucked my chin, chuckling good naturedly. Smiling a little sympathetically, she said in a lower tone, "If your mother could see her boy tonight, I know she would have as big a smile as I do. You must have inherited her beautiful smile, remember not to hide it! The girls must swoon whenever you smile at school. I don't know why you must frown so much. Why you hide yourself."
I sarcastically replied, "Defense mechanism? I don't wanna get hurt. It's an age old method the primitives used."
Sighing endearingly, she tightens my tie, "Ohh, Scott..."
As everyone's dates began to arrive, I picked Taryn up and brought her back where the rest of the X-Men and their dates were taking pictures.
She had hugged me when she got into my car, and I nervously smiled, "Wow." Was all I could say as she came out in a pretty orange dress and gold hoop earrings, her lush dark brown hair down. I didn't know too much about Taryn except what Jean's told me, but I knew she was a good looking girl, how did I get asked by her? Miss American Teen. A Bayville babe.
I can't deny that I do find her attractive, though intimidating.
I wish I were like Warren or Kurt or someone who was charismatic and could talk to girls and say cheesy lines easily.
Instead, I nervously put my hands around her waist as she throws her arms around my shoulders, and swing with her to the music in the dark gym, where strobe lights and streamers decorate the atmosphere.
I haven't seen Jean yet.
It felt incredibly awkward to be this close to Jean's best friend, a girl I had thought didn't even look at me twice whenever I came around her and Jean.
She is in my classes, and I'll make small talk with her once in a while, but that's the extent of our relationship.
Mutual friends of Jean. Was I supposed to talk to her while I danced? Was I not supposed to? Why didn't I think about this before? I could have asked Jean.
Where is she anyway? I catch myself looking around the crowded gym for her, not catching sight of her familiar red head.
Taryn squeals, "This is my favorite song!" She wraps herself close to me and I reflexively move with her.
She smells really good. I can't think of anything to say so I say, "Uh. You smell really good."
Giggling, she flutters her lashes and says, "Thank you, Scott. You smell really good too."
I blush, and grin, "It's my, um, after shave...I put some on..."
Looking at me intently, she asks, "Oh did you?"
I don't know why but I suddenly feel even more self-conscious, and just kind of move about with her on the dance floor. I wonder if she can see my peeling sun burnt skin on my nose.
Tabby is dancing in a group of people, going wild, and shaking her rocks off. I can see Lance scowling in the corner, wearing a black t-shirt with a fake tuxedo printed on it. His mullet is hanging down shabbily, but he has slicked his bangs back and is glaring at Kitty as she dances with Kurt and Amanda.
Clumsily charging like a typical quarter back in a suit, Duncan bumps into Kurt, almost knocking his hologram device off.
I hold my breath, that leader muscle in me spasming.
I let it out when I see Jean come behind Duncan, a vision in a light olive green dress.
The music speeds up and I turn my attention back to Taryn, to keep up. She's a very good dancer...
Smirking slightly, I chuckle when she does a cute little booty wiggle, catching my eyes and laughing with her dark hair whipping around her face.
Bending my knees a little, I let her grab my hands, genuinely having a fun time. Who knew dancing was such a great work out.
She pulls me into a whirlwind of dancing and I'm surprised at how natural it feels for the music to just flow though you.
We're slow dancing now and Taryn has her arms around my shoulders. She's looking into my sunglasses and murmurs with a smile, "You look handsome in your suit, Scott."
Grinning sheepishly, I nod, "Thank you, Taryn. You're...very lovely in that dress."
She cocks her head, "I figured orange wouldn't clash too much with your shades. How are you even seeing in this dark?"
I smile, daring to kid, "Super powers."
She puts a hand to her mouth and giggles prettily. I can see Jean standing in the corner, arms crossed and looking angry at Duncan who is fooling around with his buddies by the punch table, completely ignoring her. I frown, if I had Jean as a date, I wouldn't neglect her like that... Duncan's a fool. I guess girls like that though, right?
Sighing, Taryn says, "Jean really doesn't give you enough credit..."
I snap my head back to her, "Huh?"
Ray and Amara drift right by us, I see Sam standing by the wall, gangly in his white suit.
I whisper into Taryn's ear, "Can you wait one second please?"
I tap Ray on the shoulders and hand him Taryn, "May I cut in real fast?" He obliges, happy to dance with any girl and takes Taryn's hand as I move in front of Amara, leading her. She blushes and tightens her grip on my hands and declares, "Color me shocked, Scott Summers...I had no idea..."
Twirling Amara around, I nudge her towards Sam and ask, "Sam, ever dance with a princess?"
A beam breaks over his face as he shyly takes Amara and they dance off.
Having done one good deed for the night, I take Taryn back from Ray, and get in the spirit of the night with her. Trying to clear my head of the redhead always on my mind.
After a while, we take a break and Taryn's talking to her friends, taking pictures and I stand around, loosening my tie a little. It's gotten hot and crowded in here, the music is winding down as the night wears on.
My hair's a little ruffled from the exertion. Duncan is still with his friends, and I spy Jean look around one last time and stomp off, out the gym entrance.
My heart lurches, and my instinct is to go after her. I shake my head, no, she's not my date, I'm here with someone else, that wouldn't be fair to ditch her.
Duncan is Jean's date, this is something he has to solve and deal with. He needs to make this better for her.
That ass, I could deck him right now if I didn't have this damn self-control that makes everything I do a conscious choice.
Taryn looks busy...
She is one of Jean's best girl friends...she would care about this too..
Against my better judgement I go off, after Jean. I couldn't stand to think of her alone and upset. I know how she gets.
I power walk out the door, and am about to go down the stairs outside when I bump into someone abruptly.
Someone in white.
I stand up, shaking my hand off and help her up.
My next action isn't a conscious choice anymore, I become paralyzed and open my mouth, no words coming out for a minute. My heart beats faster out of fury and anger I think.
I flush, I'm that pissed off at the sight of her. I have to bite my bottom lip to hold back an impulsive compliment out of sheer reaction.
I know she can hear these thoughts, damn telepaths.
"H-hello Scott. I'm glad to see you..."
Distractedly, I regain my composure and explain, "I need to go, I was on my way to see someone."
"Please don't go just yet... I know you hate me, I can...feel it. It hurts, it hurts me, and I know how much it hurts you, and that pains me a little more. I can't explain it in words...I know you hate me because you cared about me, and that-that makes me sad Scott. I...don't like myself right now, and I can't explain this guilt from what I did to you, what I did to our friendship. Your company means a lot to me, I don't know...I don't usually feel remorse. Getting to know you was more than just a scheme, it became something else, and I hope you know what I mean too. I sound pathetic, and I don't remember sounding like this person in a long time, yet somehow you understand me more than anyone has. You appreciate me for my actual value. You make me want to be a better person, the kind I despised. Why do I care what you think about me so much? If you have it in you, please just tell me the truth... Is there something...there between us? Can I earn your trust back? I need you to talk to me again."
Long diamond earrings dangled from Emma's ear lobes, and her silvery blonde hair was smoothly tied back in a pony tail, and she wore some kind of glitter all over her collarbones and face, in a strapless white dress made of a very nice looking material. Gulping slowly, I said, "I'm sure you say this to every fool you've needed to trick or use for some petty reason or other. I know what you are now Emma, you showed me. I didn't believe or want to believe what I heard about you later...what I saw in the papers... I thought you were better than that...I was wrong, and I was easily deceived. You're not my type, you're a-a harlot! Jean's my type, she's the kind of girl I like. A decent, honest, and loyal girl."
Curling my fists up, I stomped past her, looking straight down.
"Oh yeah? A decent, honest, loyal girl who can't make up her mind about the amazing guy she has in front of her? A girl who treats you as her back up boy? Who would rather choose popularity over her true and honest feelings? I'm not perfect Scott, but you accepted me, and I will do right by you." Emma held her chin up, staring evenly at me.
Flaring up, I seethed, "If you were a man, I would shove you right now."
She hissed, "I take that as a compliment coming from you. I want you to be happy Scott...I...care about you. I think if you gave me another chance I can make you happy. It's strange, after everything that happened, I dreaded seeing you, I was so...ashamed, at the same time though, I dreaded not seeing you."
I flat out told her, trembling with rage, "You mean nothing to me. I need to go find Jean."
The parking lot of the school was lit up and quiet, only a few kids out to get a breath of fresh air.
I walked up the pavement to a bowed over figure, Jean in her dress, sitting on the curb with her arms over her bent knees.
I took off my jacket and swooped it down over her bare shoulders, sitting next to her on the curb.
She turned her face to me, startled, and her forlorn face broke into a smile. "Are you okay? I noticed you left off in a hurry..."
Nuzziling my shoulder, she sniffed, "You noticed...? I didn't think you saw me. Taryn and you looked cute...looked like you were having fun. I'm glad she got a great date."
I shrugged, "I'm no star football player though. I'm not a prize."
Burying her face in her hands, she moaned, "Stop it Scott, your modesty is so unwarranted. You shouldn't second rate yourself."
Did something I said upset her?
Kissing the side of my head, she laughed, "No, you didn't say anything to upset me Scott. You should go back inside, your date's probably waiting."
Mocking her, I cocked a brow, "Your date's probably waiting."
Taking a deep breath, Jean stammers, "Scott...there's something I have to confess. I was going to break up with Duncan, and ask you to be my date tonight...Then Taryn got you first and...I just...I feel so stupid, I waited too long to come out and finally admit it. I can't believe I just told you. I don't know what I expected, that other girls wouldn't notice what a catch you are? Do you hate me?"
My mouth hung open in shock for the second time tonight. Did I just hear correctly? Am I dreaming? I'm sure I've dreamt this before. "I could never hate you Jean..." Pulling myself together, I continue, "Why though...Why wait until tonight to tell me? Why did you put me through this torture for four years?"
I tug anxiously at my tie, staring at the asphalt ahead of us. Jean puts her head on my arm, and asks, "What are you thinking?"
Holy mother of...under a freakin' out parking lot light pole's LED glow, she can still manage to look so gorgeous. Her red hair looks soft to touch, her lips are worriedly curved at me, I love everything about her face.
Feeling a little out of breath, I loosen my tie some more, gasping, "I-I..."
She places an outstretched palm under my chin, and looks at my lips.
Summers, you're a dead man.
