Chapter 10: Food & Fight
"Ooo Ravioli!" Kitty chimed and began filling up her plate. Rogue began doing the same. Alyce looked at her plate and to the mountain of hot steaming ravioli. How exactly did the Professor get so much food for all of the kids? Everyday? Three times a day? Not to mention a well stocked fridge? A mystery never to be solved. She moved away from the hot food, and grabbed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She grabbed an apple as she headed out from the kitchen.
"You forgot your soda." Rogue followed, handing over a warm Pepsi. "It's warm, I know. But that's what Bobby is for."
"Ok! Let's go get the regular table." Kitty walked out of the kitchen, pasta piled high and salad hugging the sides of her plate. Who knew such a tiny girl could eat so much. Alyce quietly followed the pair threw the crowded dining area, dodging the young kids who ran from all sides of the place. They arrived to a square table, in the very heart of the room. Alyce settled her tray down to the corner of the table, and noticed that a few trays already sat, food untouched.
Did they do everything together? Eat, train, class. Alyce wouldn't be surprised if at times they all slept next to each other. Alyce shuddered and sat down, she unwrapped her sandwich and began to take small rhythmic bites. Occasionally, she looked up from where she stared at the table to acknowledge the team as they came to sit.
Remy finally came to sit, his arm around Jubilee as she sipped on her soda. He looked over at Alyce and nodded his head, looking over to Jubilee. "Can't talk to you, because of her..." Was what the look said. Alyce shook her head lightly and smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "Ha ha~ Have fun!"
A silence loomed over the table as everyone began to eat. Everyone looked up however, when a strong voice broke the silence. "Kurt says you draw?"
Alyce chewed and swallowed, running her tongue over her teeth to get rid of any traces of peanut butter. "Mmmhmm." She responded, looking over to where the voice came from. Piotr Rasputin.
"Ah, I saw some of your artwork downstairs in the art room. Very nice."
"Thanks, you too." Up until now Alyce never knew how thick Piotr's accent was. But when he spoke more than one word it was noticeable. She also noted how calm he sounded. His voice wasn't aggressive as she had once thought. He was a big guy, very intimating, but it seemed he was just a calm, quiet and peaceful character.
"Hey, would you look at that..." John piped up, knocking his words into the conversation. "You two would get along great, I mean look, you guys barely talk. Maybe you guys together could string up more than a paragraph a day."
Piotr shot a glance over at John. Piotr mumbled something under his breath and continued eating his food. Alyce looked at him and decided Piotr was just a Zen Master. He had to be, if he dealt with John like that on a daily basis. She didn't even know John so well, but she knew he was a smart mouth. Alyce also shot John a glance, to which he returned a wink. She began to open her soda when Rogue stopped her.
"Let Bobby chill it for you." Upon hearing his name called, Bobby stopped in mid stride of placing a french fry in his mouth. He quickly stuck it in his mouth and chewed, his other hand reaching out and poking the bottle. Alyce watched as the bottle iced over instantly. "Thank..." Alyce muttered, Bobby not saying anything but continuing to eat his fries. Alyce took the bottle back from Rogue. I would've drank it hot...Alyce though, a bit sourly.
"I'm so sleepy!" Kitty yawned, patting her belly, which did seem to be a bit bigger. She leaned over on Piotr who blushed. Everyone could obviously tell they liked each other. So what was actually stopping them from being a couple? Alyce thought it was their age. Kitty being 15 and Piotr being 19. That being statutory rape. How did that saying go? Age was nothing but a number.
"We still have training." Kitty growled with dismay.
Upon hearing that, Jubilee shot a glance over to Alyce. She tried her best to ignore it, but the burning feeling of being stared at made her look up. She and Jubilee locked eyes. "Coming to training?" Jubilee suddenly spoke. Everyone at the table grew quiet. They all new Jubilee didn't like Alyce. Alyce shot a quick look at Remy, then to Jubilee. She casted her eyes down, nodding her head.
"You idiot!" Alyce thought. "Looking down is a sign of being submissive."
Jubilee smirked. "Was that a yes?"
"Ugh.." Bobby sighed, sipping his soda. "Just drop it, Jubilee."
"Drop what?" She asked, acting confused. "I was just asking a question."
Alyce began to boil. She didn't need Bobby sticking up for her. He didn't even want her on the tram. As much as she didn't want to start trouble with Jubilee, her patience was running thing. "It was a yes." Alyce muttered, trying her best to not explode.
"See?" Jubilee cautioned to Bobby. "Just a question."
John looked over at Alyce, smirking, flicking his lighter. "You know you just want to hit her." His face read. And she did, she wanted to reach over and punch Jubilee in the face. He knew she was angry. Alyce dropped her eyes from his fiery gaze. She got up and took her tray.
"Where are you going?" Rogue asked, alarmed.
"To...throw out my trash." Alyce chuckled.
"Oh...duh, right?" Rogue smiled, blushing lightly.
Alyce walked over to the conveyor belt and put her tray on it. She signed, taking in a deep breath to try to calm herself.
"Why so tame, Talon Girl?"
Alyce looked up, her eyes once again connected to Johns. "Well?" He asked, throwing his tray next to Alyce's. She just continued looking at him. She didn't know whether to ask what he meant or be mad at the fact that he called her Talon Girl.
"I don't know." She responded, she turned and made her way to the exit.
"Hey!" John ran up, grabbing her arm. "The table is that way." He jerked his chin in the other direction.
"I know...but training is this way." She smiled then, catching John off guard. He loosed his grip, staring at her as she walked off. John huffed to himself, smiling and running a hand threw his hair. "You're still a clawed thing..." He murmured. "With a beautiful smile..."
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Logan sipped his beer, taking each sip and savoring the brewed taste. God forbid should Professor X or Storm, or anyone, catch him drinking a beer. On school grounds. That was just asking for him to get in trouble. At least he was outside, but c'mon, a grown man needed a beer now and then. Even the little girl of a man, Scott Summers. He reached the bottle up to his mouth when the door that led to the day room slammed open, causing him to jump, his beer almost falling out of his hands.
He looked over, hiding the beer behind his back. "Whoa, kid."
Alyce looked over to him and took in a deep breath, pushing the hair from her face. Her face was red and she just looked downright angry. She shot an apologetic look to him and relaxed her face. "Sorry about that. Interrupting the happy hour?"
"No..." He answered, raising an eyebrow at her. "Look don't tell---"
"I won't. Promise." She answered, holding up her hand and placing the other over her heart. "You can finish, I'll just pretend to not be looking."
Logan chuckled. "So what's up? You're looking a bit annoyed."
"Do I? Really?"
"Yea, kid. The whole door opening, red face look pretty much gives it off."
Alyce sighed. "I'm not one to get angry quick, but lately I don't know. I feel like sooner or later I'm just going to go ape-shit."
Logan took a sip from his beer and thought to himself quickly. "Let me guess. Jubilee?"
"Oh God." Was all Alyce could muster up.
"She's a tough cookie that kid. I don't blame her, rough childhood."
"Sure."
Finishing off his beer, Logan looked over to Alyce who had sat down on one of the nearby lawn chairs. She sat gazing off into nothing, what she was thinking he had no idea. "Don't let it get to, ya kid. You're a strong girl."
"You sound like my mom." Alyce chuckled. "Are you sure you aren't her controlling Logan to give me a motivational speech?"
Logan smiled. Knowing her mother well, it was plausible. "Naw, kid. All me here. I'll see you in training."
"Wait.." Alyce called out, causing Logan to pause mid-stride on his way to the door. "I feel as if...I don't know..one day, boom. You know?" She didn't look up to meet his eyes, Alyce feared if she did, he would know everything that was in her mind. She took in a deep breath and watched as Logan came and sat next to her.
"Your powers?" He asked calmly, seeming very concerned.
Alyce dropped her head into her hands. "Lately, all the change, it's stressing me out. Then after the talk that the rest of them had with the Professor, they've all been acting completely different. I hear Jean often tell us that our powers are in sync with out emotions, true, sure. I don't know, if I get anymore stressed out I have no idea what could happen. I've seen my Dad get super whacked out, it wasn't pretty. I don't know what to do..." Alyce stopped in mid sentence.
Logan leaned back in his seat. "Off the record here, kid. I told you so. I told you to give it week before you end up crackin'."
"All it took was three days, or whatever."
"If you feel that way, I would say to talk to the Professor."
"And then what? So he can tell me I need to learn how to control my emotions and my abilities? Anyone could tell me that. What would you do, Logan?"
Logan looked over to Alyce. Her face was locked with sadness and desperation. She was almost like a niece to him, with her father being a close friend. He couldn't just not deny her his advice, or his help. Even though his way of doing things was never anything close to normal. "I would say, go somewhere. By yourself. Like, ask Jean to give you the training room to yourself, or go into the woods that's near the school. And then just let go."
"What do you mean?"
"Go ape-shit. Destroy some stuff, get your anger out. I've done it before."
"Is that why I often hear the sounds from the woods?" Alyce chuckled.
"Never knew anyone could hear me."
"I'm kidding." Alyce got up from her seat. Being at the school and away from her parents did take a toll on her, but oddly enough having Logan around kept her calm. Maybe it was because, in some way he reminded her of her father. She looked over at Logan and smiled. "Thanks. Sorry you had to bear with my little girly trauma."
"Heh, no problem kid. Rather have you be girly than suddenly ripping everyone to shreds."
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