Chapter 9: End of Summer Blues
The next month of training went much smoother. Because it was summertime, regular classes hadn't started yet, but the students at Xavier's School for the Gifted continued regular training session. Que had several more individual sessions in the Danger Room and then moved on to working outside. They initially started with Charles assisting Que in her mind, and he would help her find the control she needed before they started.
Next, she moved on to stopping her powers herself, and he only had to intervene a few times. Still, it was nothing like the first time when she had been completely out of control in the Danger Room.
Que was now working on channeling her energy manipulation to actually make it useful. They also discovered she could manipulate the energy currents in water, which made for some exciting surf in the lake.
Out in the mid afternoon sun, Que was out by the lake practicing hitting a target with the lake water.
"Hey Que! How's it going?" Que heard from off to her left. Jean was strolling across the lawn toward her. Que smiled at the young redheaded woman. She had gotten to practice with Jean as well and often enjoyed her company. Even though she had different powers, Jean could relate to and do similar things as Que.
"Pretty well! Here, check this out!" the fourteen year old called as she shot a blast of water straight towards Jean. Naturally, Jean stopped it just before it hit her face. Instead, she hurtled it straight back at Que. Que didn't have enough control over the element to stop it and laughed when it hit. She, Jean, Storm, and some other students had played a game of water dodgeball a few times before, but Que could never seem to get the drop on Jean.
Wiping her face, Que showed Jean the progress she'd made on hitting the target using multiple elements.
Jean remembered the first time Que had attempted hitting the target with water. The trial resulted in lake water exploding everywhere and soaking everyone within a twenty feet radius. Que had stormed off, angry and cursing, but she kept control of her powers. Even though she wasn't able to get the water part right, there was barely a breeze, which was definitely a small victory. The Professor and Jean were the only ones who realized at the time and shared it with her later once she'd cooled off.
Jean could tell Que had finally grown more comfortable and even a little proud of her gifts.
"Que, the Professor wants to talk to you after lunch about classes for the upcoming year," Jean told her while Que continued to make small waves in the lake. Immediately, her water fell with a splash. She looked at Jean quizzically.
"Jean, I don't need that. Couldn't I train and help around or something? I haven't been to school in years. I know what I need to know. Why do I have to attend classes? Also, why didn't he just instant message me himself? Could have saved you a trip, especially since I give the whole thing a big fat no," she said giving a thumbs down in Jean's direction.
Que sat down and started picking at the grass.
"Well, you know the Professor's going to want to talk with you either way, and you can still come eat lunch with me. Come on get up." Jean said giving Que a telekinetic shove. Que had to catch herself so as to not fall head first in the water.
"Hey! No fair!" she laughed, splashing at Jean
Que got up and the pair continued chatting as they headed toward the mansion.
"You do need to learn more and grow in other ways. He understands your level of technical intellect and wouldn't put you in studies you don't need. Besides, school here is different from regular public school. Also, I asked to come out and tell you so I could see you practice. Plus, I figured your reaction would be pretty funny," She said elbowing the youth and laughing at the exaggerated accusatory expression on Que's face.
After a nice grilled cheese for lunch, and some prompting from Jean, Que headed to the Professor's office. It was just beyond the kitchen and pasted the main entrance.
"Come in," the Professor called as
Que held her hand just above the large oak paneled doors to knock.
"You know that's creepy Professor," Que said as she closed the door behind her.
Jean put her in a good mood, Charles thought as the youth founced into an armchair across from him.
"Sorry old habit. I'm sure Jean told you what I want to talk about today, and I already know your feeling towards it." He said as Que grimaced and squirmed in her seat.
"But what if… I mean I don't…really," she stammered before he cut her off.
"Now I'm going to tell you this upfront. Getting out of classes is not an option Que," Charles said firmly.
Que slouched in her chair dejected. She refused to meet his eyes, and Charles was slightly amused that she was pouting. She hadn't had set rules or even guidelines to follow aside from her own in a long time, and for the first two weeks she was at the mansion everything was business formal. He was glad she had loosened up and felt like she could actually be a broody teenager now.
"Look Que, I understand you are very bright in many areas, but there is still a lot you need to learn. If anything, I would like you learn how to cooperate better with your peers. So far, you've made friends with Jean, Hank, and Storm, but you still need to learn how to work with others your age. Most of the time you avoid the other students or start arguments with them."
Some papers rustled as a small breeze arose in the room. She was very uncomfortable because they both knew he was right. They also both remembered the third day after Que had arrived. She had gotten in a nasty quarrel over breakfast that rocked the mansion and left the kitchen in quite a mess.
The Professor continued on "Classes would be a good structured environment for you to get to know the other students better and practice cordial interactions with them over already given topics."
They sat in silence for a minute or so. Slowly Que gave in and met his gaze. He had that always gentle smile on his face, and his stupid, blue piercing eyes that seemed to know everything, were on full blast in her direction. It may have been in her head, but Que thought she saw just a hint of smugness to his expression this time.
"Fine." She finally replied. "What will I need to take?"
"Well, that is what I would like to discuss. When was the last time you were in school and what did you take?" Charles asked.
Que had already been contemplating this since Jean told her at lunch. It was so hard to remember what school was like.
"Mathematics wise I've got a fair grasp on most things through Calculus. I've also learned a good bit in Physics, Chemistry, and some Biology. I can read and write I guess. I don't know," she said.
"When was the last time you attended an actual school?" Charles asked.
"When I was five or six years old. Then, I had a great deal of private lessons. I have been self taught for the past four years," she fidgeted with the arm rests of her chair.
Charles found it interesting that she separated the past four years and wondered if that was how long she had been alone. Learning how to take care of yourself fully at nine or ten years old was no small task. He did not make a point to flesh out his students' histories, some were truly tragic, but he did begin to wonder just where Que had come from and where she'd been.
The pair continued chatting and decided she'd need more history and literature classes at this point. This wasn't a surprise, and as the Professor explained the classes, Que eased up. She agreed to start next week with everyone else, so she wouldn't be the odd new kid starting late. Next, they created and went over her schedule, the classes, expectations, and material outlines for each.
She would start off with a history class with Storm, a biology class with Hank, a literature class with himself, and some assigned time to work in the workshop with a small group of students under Scott. The last was more like an extracurricular class that she and the Professor came to a compromise on. It was either shop, art, or music. Que enjoyed music and art, but classes were completely out of the question. She de-stressed that way and did not like the idea of sharing that time with others.
Four classes were enough with time for some extra help if she needed it. The more she thought about it, she realized she had to be careful, or she might actually start to feel a bit excited about her "first day of school."
