Six o'clock the next night loomed. The clock in the front hallway chimed the hour with six dongs and there was still no group forthcoming. Logan waited as patiently as he could, seeing no one and feeling pretty foolish holding up an adorable outfit about Danielle's size and some makeup. He already received some questioning looks from the older students and even Alex, who raised an eyebrow before leaving with his date, another teacher on the staff he couldn't remember the name of. Sighing, Logan waited the customary five minutes he usually did not give people and was about to give it up when he heard footsteps above his head and coming down the stairs.
Relieved, Logan saw Danielle coming down the stairs, with Matthew, Jean and Ororo behind her. The dates that came along (Scott for Jean, Nightcrawler for Ororo and Jubilee for Matthew) did not seem so pleased being tagged along for this mission however. It made Logan's heart sink. The more people who knew, the lesser the odds that this would work. No matter, he was thinking as he handed Danielle the clothes and makeup without another word. He was going to get this plan to work, no matter the cost.
Danielle took articles with a confused face. "What's this for?" she asked Logan, not knowing what to think.
"Things I figured would make you blend in better," Logan pointed out. "I'm sure Jean, Storm and Jubilee would help you."
"What? No way!" Jubilee appeared outraged. "I'm not helping some kid get into this dance."
"You want things to keep mum, I think you'd better," Matthew said quietly.
Jubilee pouted for a minute, unsure of whether to say something or to run off with another guy for a date, but decided that the threat was real and that Matthew was not joking. Sighing with exasperation, she rudely took the clothes and makeup out of Danielle's hands and led her to the living room quickly, motioning for Jean and Storm and stand before the doorway and allow no one in. After a few minutes, when the noises from the other teenagers started coming closer to the landing, Jubilee emerged with Danielle. She, along with Jean and Ororo, escorted her to Logan for inspection. Logan had taken a good guess on the makeup coloring and clothing and thought he did a good job with the size and shade. Although in bell bottoms (which was a decade behind), a revealing top and appearing in some way like a clown, Danielle looked older and would have fit into the crowds perfectly. She just didn't appear the part though, the way her hazel eyes kept begging for help.
Logan grinned. "All right, let's get going," he suggested, watching as more teenagers descended and headed to the gym.
The group nodded. The six teenagers then circled around Logan and Danielle and led them down the hallway, following the exodus that was heading downstairs. Xavier had allowed Alex to open the indoor gym underground, although he blocked off the rest of it off and set a single line to the doors. Luckily, nobody was at the door to check everyone and ensure proper age range, so Logan signaled to Ororo and Jean as they neared, ignoring the music blaring from speakers inside. The two girls took that as their cue to take Danielle to the stage. Nightcrawler moved to help, but Ororo held her hand up. They both figured it less conspicuous if there was only two of them and not a large gathering around one person. With that in mind, Logan left the rest of them and made his way to the back of the gym, where Alex stood. His date was nowhere in sight, but Logan saw that Jean and Ororo beelined with Danielle between then to the stage. They were hidden well enough.
"What do you think?" Alex asked Logan without seeing what the older mutant did, taking a sip of something that Logan knew wasn't legal on school ground. "Think this was a good idea?"
"Handing me that glass would be better," Logan pointed out. Alex obliged, allowing Logan a sip before taking it back. "But yeah…yeah, I guess the kids are having a good time, although us being here spoils everything. They're forgetting that they don't have a home to go to and that this is their home for now."
"For the time being, Logan, I've put some music on instead of the damned machine. I know they'll warm up and start embarrassing themselves."
"Naw. Doubting that. We have some pretty talented people in the school."
"Well, you're right. At least they're not all getting drunk and doing it."
Logan had to laugh. "I bet some will sneak. We'll get 'em though."
Alex grunted, something akin to agreement too. It was odd, Logan had to admit, that he and Alex were on the same page. He normally did not bother the PE teacher and vice versa. However, it was nice to pass the drink back and forth and watch the kids for a while, even though who seemed nervous and unsociable. Music continued to play, participants of the dance started to get moving and the atmosphere seemed to ease up. After an hour of this, Logan was beginning to wonder when the Karaoke was going to be fired up when suddenly, the type of music seemed to change. Instead of being with lyrics, it was instrumental. Logan only had to look over, to where the stereo was, seeing Nightcrawler change the channels. The blue mutant put a thumbs-up to Logan and continued working the buttons.
Even slightly buzzed and still standing, Alex noticed the change. "You think they're ready?" he asked Logan, worried.
"Yeah, don't worry about it," Logan replied quickly…too quickly, he noticed. Alex looked at him strangely, but Logan reassured him with a smile. "I'll check up front, in case they're fooling around. You stay here and mind the back."
Alex nodded, emptying his glass and going for something non-alcoholic this time. Logan took this as a sign to escape. He ran towards the other side of the gym, but passed Matthew and Jubilee in the process. They too seemed positive and excited about something (Jubilee even seemed to have changed her tune). They too gave Logan some indication that this was going to turn out ok. However, when Logan passed Scott, the teenager stopped him, seeming to have a totally different story.
"Danielle is hyperventilating," Scott stated, almost sounding gleeful that it was happening.
"Is she ok?" Logan became concerned, despite the tone Scott said the words.
"Jean is helping her." The statement sounded a little tart, like Scott did not like the idea. "A few more minutes and she'll be ready."
"Good." Logan nodded, sending Scott on his way and trying not to appear suspicious, especially to one as sharp-eyed as Alex. He watched around the gym a few times, pretending to be watching the teenagers again (and ignoring the comments about smoking and going to McDonald's later in the evening) when a new song started and a shadow entered the stage.
It was Danielle. She did appear in every to have gotten over the panic attack Scott said she had, but she was dancing awkwardly to her spot in the center, where a microphone stood. On cue, she started to sing.
Moving forward, using
All my breath,
Making love to you
Was never second best.
I saw the world thrashing
All around your face,
Never really knowing
It was always mesh and lace.
I'll stop the world and melt with you.
You've seen the difference
And it's getting better all the time.
There's nothing you and I won't do.
I'll stop the world and melt with you.
By then, the attractive kid with the amazing singing voice got everyone's attention and nobody cared that she was younger than them by almost a decade and acting like she was older. Every face was turned to the stage, soon moving to their own kind of dance. By the refrain, everyone was singing along. The further Danielle went into the song and saw that people loved what she was doing, the more confident she was and the more she interacted with them. Even she started getting into the swing of everything.
(You should know better.)
Dream of better lives,
The kind which never hate
(You should see why.)
Dropped in the state
Of imaginary grace,
(You should know better.)
I made a pilgrimage
To save this humans race.
(You should see why.)
What I'm comprehending
A race that long gone by…
(I'll stop the world…)
I'll stop the world and melt with you
(I'll stop the world…)
You've seen the difference
And it's getting better all the time.
(Let's stop the world…)
There's nothing you and I won't do.
(Let's stop the world…)
I'll stop the world and melt with you.
The future's open wide…
(Let's stop the world…)
I'll stop the world and melt with you.
(Let's stop the world…)
I've seen some changes,
But it's getting better all the time.
(Let's stop the world…)
There's nothing you and I won't do.
(Let's stop the world…)
I'll stop the world and melt with you…
By then, Alex was next to Logan and squinting his eyes, apprehensive. "Is that…who I think it is?" he asked Logan, panic in his voice as his brother passed him without Jean and winked.
Logan shrugged his shoulders, trying to appear indifference and not involved in the ordeal. "I don't know. But whoever she is, she's pretty good."
Alex could not help but agree. It was obvious that whoever was singing on stage was not the age range at this dance and had snuck in with someone's help, most likely from many people actually. His mind soon fell on the person who changed the music from stereo to Karaoke (Nightcrawler) and whose date he was. Ororo Munroe was roommates with Jean Grey, the latter who was dating his brother (who came up to him to say that he should check the stage), and those two had a little girl who was rooming with them. And all of those links went all to Logan, the one who was helping that little girl named Danielle Mitchell.
The future's open wide…
"Logan, I can't believe you did this!" Alex immediately started for the stage, rubbing the side of his head. "Dammit!"
I'll stop the world and melt with you.
(Let's stop the world…)
You've seen the difference
And it's getting better all the time.
(Let's stop the world…)
There's nothing you and I won't do.
(Let's stop the world…)
I'll stop the world and melt with you.
(Let's stop the world…)
By the time Alex disappeared and the teenagers clapped, sang and hooted in approval as the song wound down, another adult appeared next to Logan mysteriously. He was older than the rest of the crowd, maybe in the early forties, and was interested in Danielle on the stage. He rubbed his chin, studying the girl carefully. The hairs on Logan stood on end. Clenching his teeth, he turned to the man, trying not to make a scene, and saw that the man noticed him first. He motioned to Logan with his eyes to Danielle, the cheeks on his face glistening with black diamonds on either side, grinning as the song ended and Alex was seen whisking Danielle away. The music from the stereo started up again, masking the applause and embarrassing scene afterward.
"You call this a show?" the man asked Logan eagerly.
Logan unsheathed his claws. "I would, but she's isn't some pet to be coddled with."
"Oh, no!" The man chuckled. "No, no, no. I think she's more independent than that, Logan. Or, is it James Howlett these days?"
Logan tensed. "Whatever my name is happened to be none of your damned business. What is my business is why you're here."
"Some call me a friend and a savior while others calls me a pervert and a menace." The man licked his lips, fingering a diamond on his right cheek. "Nobody has dared to cross me though. They call me Diamond Jack for many reasons and none of them for misguiding anyone."
Logan went to lunge at the man with the black diamonds with his claws out, but the mutant suddenly disappeared into thin air and Logan landed on the floor, shaking it. Using his other senses as he cracked his neck, he tried tracking down the mysterious man and found nothing nearby, which worried him immensely. Instead of being able to walk the gym and search, he had someone pull him from behind and up to his feet. Logan immediately turned around with his claws out still and faced an angry-looking Hank. He retracted them quickly, unsure of what the fuzzball wanted this time, especially at a time when he felt that there was threat to the school. He didn't think he would have to explain that to Hank though, by the way he was looking.
"Professor's office. Now." Hank's tone left no room for arguments.
Feeling like a punished student too, Logan slipped out of the gym with Hank without anyone seeing them. He followed the blue back upstairs to the main floor and down the hallway to Xavier's office, finding the door closed to them. There, the seven kids he got involved in this little scheme stood outside. The three couples appeared in every way to be guilty except for Scott (who Logan was suspecting to be the one who told his brother) and Danielle was close to tears. Logan immediately felt so sorry for her. He promised that she would have a good time. She did have one and was abruptly taken away at her one moment of triumph.
Logan wanted to comfort Danielle in any way he could, but Hank stood nearby, hovering around her in a parental way, his posture almost telling Danielle that what she did with Logan was wrong. Logan then looked upon her helplessly, hoping that his eyes conveyed how sorry he was about what happened and how they ended up outside of Xavier's office with Hank showing off that he would get into a rage at any time now.
Dammit.
Above lyrics from are from the Modern English song, "Melt With You".
