10- Chapter 10.
Laura approaches the table full of kids, a week later, her nose twitching. She can already smell the slightly revolting scent of eggs and seafood, and feels discouraged about eating. She does, however, want to claim her empty
seat beside the boy. Even though she hadn't understood everything that had transpired that night between them, she has felt…a sort of peace, a sense of tranquility whenever she is near him, caused by his presence.
"Crustacean omelet," she comments, peering over Julian's shoulder. Beside him, Loa glances at her.
"Hey, Laura," she says, easily.
"Hello." Laura reaches over and pokes her finger at Julian's untouched food, which he is staring at. The consistency is rubbery, and she watches it rebound from her touch.
"Food's hit a new low," he says. "I asked for cereal. I don't think those are even eggs."
"They are." Laura pauses, her keen eyes noting something. "I think one of the crustaceans are alive." She has caught sight of several minute legs moving in the egg, and flexing the zooming muscles in her iris, has confirmed this.
"…" Julian shoves the plate far away from himself. "Holy shit, who the hell is cooking this?"
"I dunno, but they should be thrown overboard," Santo says, from the end of the table. "This is the crappiest cereal I've ever eaten. If it's not my cornpops, it at least better be pizza!"
Laura slips in beside the boy, and puts her hand on his knee, as has become routine. "Are there any wheat products?" she asks, meaning pastries.
"No." Julian leans on his elbows. "I'm so hungry I could eat an elephant."
"There is food right in front of you," she says.
"I want to see youeat that."
Laura wrinkles her nose, then nods and reaches for the plate. All eyes turn to her, as no one has dared to sample the disgusting concoction.
"I was joking," Julian says, watching in sick fascination as she picks up a fork and knife. "Seriously…we can go for breakfast somewhere else—"
She takes a bite, considers it, then reaches for a napkin and politely expels the sample, as she'd learned at her aunt's when she hadn't liked the food put on the table. "Where?" she asks him calmly.
"There's a IHOP near the harbor," Cessily speaks up, breaking the spell of fascinated horror Laura has created. "I saw it with Loa the other day."
"Last one there eats this," Julian says, extracting himself from the table. There is a scramble to go find Cyclops; he is located quickly, and almost overwhelmed with demands to allow them to visit the mainland to 'find real food'.
"Hepzibah worked reallyhard on that," Cyclops scolds, but then he smirks and tells them to be back by three in the afternoon (or at least to check in), as he hands out the holographic cloaking programs to students like Victor and Santo.
The boat going to the mainland is barely big enough to accommodate everyone, but they fit somehow.
…
Laura is squashed in the middle of a booth, a large plate full of waffles, eggs, sausage and hash browns before her. There is a lot of talking going on around her; no one talks to her, as they don't have anything to say, although Julian is involved
in four different conversations (some from the booth behind him) as he works his way through pancakes with fruit, whipped cream and syrup, as well as a milkshake. Laura is surprised the other students can decipher what he is saying at times,
since he is forced to talk with his mouth full. Their mouths are also full, so it makes for a confusing, unintelligible conversation.
"Ant ome?" he asks her suddenly.
Laura looks at him questioningly. He struggles to swallow. "Want some?" he manages, making a face of pain.
"Is it unpleasant?" Laura asks, raising her eyebrow. Judging by the faces he is making, she doesn't want any. He pounds the table with his fist, twice, and rubs his head. "No. Brainfreeze. DAMN! No, it's good, want to try it?"
Laura remembers her cousin's similar reaction to cold foods, and smiles slightly. "Okay." She takes the offered glass and takes a sip through the straw; she makes a favorable expression and has more, then tries to hand it back to him.
"I've got a refill coming. You can finish it," he says. He leans over and kisses her cheek, lightly.
"GET A ROOM!" Santo bellows from the other table. Julian rolls his eyes. "It's almost like he's watching us," he mumbles. "Otherwise…how the hell does he manage to catch us every time?"
"It's Santo," Cessily says flatly. "He's big, he's dumb, he interrupts every private moment and picks on every flaw…and he's a traitor, to boot. I used to like him because he was loyal. But now…"
"Yeah," Julian mumbles. "Things haven't been the same since Brian…and, well…" He doesn't say Kevin's name, but Cessily looks as if he has. She directs her eyes to the table.
"If you ever want to talk…" Julian says, putting his hand on her shoulder with a kind of slap! "Oops, sorry. Still getting used to this thing."
Cessily smiles weakly. "Thanks. Maybe someday." She looks up again, and studies her friend. "I'm happy for you, at least. I've been waiting for this for a long time." Her eyes move to Laura, who has just taken too large of swallow of the
milkshake herself, and is making a horrible face, complete with tears.
"Wow," Julian says, distracted. "Glad I can take her places."
"How arethings, Laura?" Cessily asks.
After a few moments, the girl responds. "I am…well."
"Is Julian treating you well?" Cessily prods.
"Hey!" he says indignantly.
Laura is not certain how to respond to this, so she nods slightly.
"If he ever disappoints, you let me know. I'll kick his butt for you." Cessily grins.
"I'm sitting right here," Julian says. "Besides, I really doubt she'd need help to do that. Not that eitherof you could, of course."
"You are overconfident. I could kill you almost by accident." Laura realizes what she has said, and covers her mouth. The table falls silent for a moment, and many disturbed pairs of eyes turn to her. Then Cessily begins to laugh. She finds this
hilariously funny, especially given the girl's flat, serious tone; the next few minutes are spent trying to decipher what she is trying to say between gasps of air.
When they are finished eating, the children pair off into groups, still having a few hours left before they need to check in. Cessily and Loa join them in the parking lot, along with Santo, surprisingly. Julian gives him a questioning look.
"There were waffles," Santo grumbles. "With strawberry syrup."
"He's so loyal," Cessily comments.
"Dude, my priorities were different before we were locked up on that island!" he protests. "And they started lettin' the alien cook sea critters as our food staple. It's a lot harder to be loyal on an empty stomach!"
"You're contradicting yourself," Loa points out.
"No I ain't!" Santo jams his large hands in his pockets. "So what we doin'? I'm bored."
"We invited you?" Julian asks.
"Yeah. We're old buddies." Santo sighs. "Oh come on. I have to get on the X welcome wagon if I want to hang with my pals? That's the way it is? What about our years of friendship?"
"I dunno, you tell me," Julian says.
"I don't give two shits about X, to be honest," Santo says. "She's creepy, but hey, she can't even kill me. Nori's the one with the big flamin' grudge. Cyclops also listens when she makes a suggestion to bring in some real food. He laughs in my face."
"It's up to you," Julian says, and Laura realizes, with a start, that he is talking to her.
"Do you mind if he's with us, Laura?" Cessily asks.
"No," Laura says.
"Great." Julian rubs his hand against her lower back.
"So?" Santo demands.
"Uh…" Cessily thinks.
"I need new headphones," Loa says.
Cessily brightens. "SHOPPING! You're a genius, Al. Let's go!"
"No shopping!" Santo says. "Wait, is Rockband III out yet?"
"Think so," Julian says. He looks excited for a moment, then it fades. "Oh."
"Hands?" Santo grunts.
"Money." Julian eyes his friend. "I've got like ten bucks. You?"
"Two." Santo looks put out. "God damnit!"
"I have money," Laura speaks up.
All eyes turn to her.
"I wouldn't want to take your money," Julian says. "Rockband's like two hundred dollars."
"I have approximately two hundred thousand dollars," Laura says. "I also have some investments. The purchase would not cause me financial hardship."
The kids stare at her.
"Have I said something wrong?" Laura asks finally, to Julian, with puzzled eyes.
"Where'd you get it?" Julian asks.
"Employment. And my mother. She…willed it to me." Laura pauses. "Logan also gives me an allowance."
"Does he know you're that rich?" Santo blurts.
"I am not rich." Laura protests. "I am saving."
"…for?" Julian asks.
"One day I may want it." She smiles slightly. "Would you like to borrow the money?"
"Uh…" Julian rubs his neck.
"YES!" Santo bellows. "Dude, you'd be like my best friend ever!"
"Beast did say I should play video games. For my hands, you know," Julian says.
"Let's go!" Cessily snaps.
…
Santo refuses to let go of the Rockband box as Laura pays for it, embracing it in a bear hug, his expression one of complete and utter contentment.
"I think you've got yourself a friend for life there," Julian murmurs to her as she hands over her credit card, smiling at the clerk. He takes her wallet from the counter and studies her ID. A driver's license, several credit cards, a checkbook,
and a few store cards, all bearing the name 'Laura Howlett'.
Outside the store, he takes her aside. "I thought your name was Kinney."
"It is." Laura pauses. "Logan helped me create an identity, by adopting me. So the facility could not track me so easily. It is not foolproof, but if I do not use it too often, it will not be noticed." She pauses. "He also assisted me in investing
my money wisely."
He looks at her carefully. "Are you planning for the future? Like, kids?"
"I don't know." Laura smiles at him, slightly, and he gives her an uneasy smile of his own. He's never really thought about the future for himself; only that he wants to make it big, and be recognized. He wonders if she actually has a fantasy
so normal and girlish such as having a house, and children.
"I prefer to be prepared. In case the X-men dissolve again, I would like to be able to fund my own expenditures, and work as a mercenary, not forsomeone else. I am…trying to break away from being a weapon that is owned by others."
So much for that thought. He kisses her lightly.
"JEEZ! Every time I look at you!" Santo barks, exiting the store.
"Don't look at us, then," Julian comes back.
"So…what are we waiting for? We got the Rockband, let's head back," Santo says.
"We need to find the others first," Julian reminds him. "Laura, can you track them?"
"If we go back to the food court, yes," Laura says.
After a few minutes they find Cessily and Alani in a Claire's outfit, looking at jewelry. Laura peers in their shopping basket, and picks up a small bottle of color. She looks at Cessily questioningly. She had seen the bottles on Megan's dresser, but
had not been with her long enough to see it used.
"Nail polish," she says. "For your nails. Oh, Laura, you should get some!" She pulls the girl to a rack full of colors and starts pulling them out, telling her what she should go with, as Julian and Santo glance at each other edgily.
"Look, we should meet the others," Julian says. "I've got some assignments, so does Santo."
"Fine," Cessily says. She pulls a kit off the rack and hands it to Laura. "That'll be great, it's got everything you need for starters…even comes with a few primary colors."
Laura peers into the kit, then follows the girls to the register. Cessily ends up purchasing the kit for the girl, telling her she owes her a birthday present.
"What?" Julian asks, overhearing. "When is it?"
"I was delivered on November 7," Laura says.
Julian relaxes. There's plenty of time to think about what he should do. He should do something, seeing as it's his responsibility now; he decides to talk to Cessily about it. For now he's got to concentrate on getting the girls out of the store.
At the dock, an hour later, the group is waiting for the boat to be ready when they are approached by a few of the rough-looking men that are clearly working for the FoH.
"He with you?" one grunts, looking at Santo, who is still wearing an image inducer.
"Yeah," Julian says.
"You them kids from that island?" he asks, his sandy voice growing louder.
"No," Laura says. "We're here on a field trip."
"Where's your teacher?" the man demands.
"In the office, signing papers," Julian says. They have a pre-arranged lie to tell if they are caught by this group, and questioned. "Not that it's your business."
"Hrrrmmmm," the man grunts. He lifts his rifle up and moves to poke Santo in the ribs; it hits his rocky exterior about a foot beyond the image.
He raises his eyebrows. "How bout that, son."
"Er," Julian says.
The man puts his hand into his pocket. Laura reacts before he can withdraw it, suspecting either a communication device or a weapon. She swings her knee into his groin and brings her elbow down on his head in one move, causing him to
crumple to the ground. She is about to draw her foot claw against his throat, then stops herself. The others will not understand, and Cyclops would not approve.
"Shit," Julian says, looking around. There are more men approaching, many more. Surrounding the group of students. Behind them is water.
"I say we kick their asses," Nori says, electricity crackling around her. "You knowyou want to, Keller."
"Sounds like a plan," Julian says, grinning. "They don't stand a chance."
"No." Laura looks strained. "Cyclops—"
"Fuck Cyclops! Do you do everything you're ever told?" Nori asks her, then pauses. "Oh wait, yeah, you do. You even kill when told. Well, clone…fetch! Kill!"
Julian glares at her. "Hey, Ashida, you might want to shut up. Before I make you."
"Oh come on. We're in the middle of a fight," Nori says. "Defend us and worry about your pet girlfriend later."
Suddenly Julian picks up the students, all twenty of them, and raises a shield as the FoH begin to fire their weapons.
"Let us go! Asses need kickin'!" Santo yells.
"KELLER! Put me down THIS INSTANT!"Nori shouts.
There are other complaints. Julian ignores them and sweeps towards Utopia, dragging the students behind him (Nori he drops underwater). As they land, she comes up sputtering and covered with seaweeds—and looking quite furious.
"You—fucking—piece—of—SHIT!" She screams the last part, and a lightning bolt roars towards him; Laura sees it coming. She has been just watching the situation escalate, but now she acts, shoving him out of the bolt's way. It hits her and
she's down, her flesh scorched and skin melting under the heat.
"What—" Julian picks himself up, and stares at Laura, horrified. She pushes herself up from the ground, wincing, and her flesh slowly smoothening out, although her hair remains frizzled.
Nori stands stock still, her face very pale. The kids have fallen silent, uncertain of what to say. Everyone knows she has overstepped her bounds, and the bolt probably would have killed him, or at least damaged him, if he couldn't react in time.
It had come very fast.
She turns and runs towards the main building, towards the dorms, and nobody stops her.
"Daa-yumn," Santo says, still hugging his game box. "Hey, ya think the electricity was bad for my Rockband?"
"Oh, god, Santo, you're such a jerk," Cessily moans. "This is really serious."
"Rockband's really serious! And yeah holy fuck! She nearly killed X!"
"I am alright." Laura reaches up and tries to smooth her frizzled hair.
"Want me to go beat her up?" Santo offers. "I owe ya."
"No."
"Good, coz I really want to go plug this baby in," Santo says. He notices Cessily's glare. "Geez, look…X is fine. I don't think it's great she got zapped, but—"
"I am going to kill Nori," Julian announces suddenly, as he marches towards the dorms.
"Uh-oh," Cessily says.
"No!" Laura follows him. "The X-men do not kill. You told me this yourself."
"This is different—" Julian tries to say.
"We will tell Cyclops," Laura says firmly. "Do not pursue her. I am ordering you to stand down."
"You can't—" Julian says, but he stops. "Fine," he says a few moments later, his eyes looking towards the dorms bitterly. Laura suspects he is saying this to appease her, and will go later.
She trades worried glances with Cessily, who is nearby and watching him with the same worried expression.