Chapter Ten: Dance With Me
A/N: Whoa, guys, thanks for all the reviews! I really do appreciate it. Tell you what, if I some manage to get 10 reviews for this chapter, I'll post the next chapter up as soon as I hit the 10th. How does that sound?
Just a quick clarification: Sean does not have any sort of romantic feelings for Tobi. I see him as the sort of guy who's trying his chances, and he's just as likely to try and flirt with Raven as he is with Tobi. There's no serious feelings on his part at all and he only sees her as a friend - who he might try and hook up with if he can get lucky, but otherwise he doesn't want to date her or anything. Just to clear things up :)
Tobi quickly became aware that she and Alex weren't the only ones with a developing relationship. There was definitely chemistry between Raven and Hank, although theirs was a cute crush rather than the twisted whatever-it-was that Tobi and Alex experienced.
Tobi watched the following morning with a smirk as Raven sat down on a clearly flustered Hank's lap, observing DNA through a microscope. Her DNA. Tobi refrained from laughing aloud at the stunned look on Hank's face, instead continuing outside.
"Tobi, wait for me!"
She turned to see Hank following her. Today, Sean was going to be jumping off the top of the satellite dish to fly. Tobi thought it would be amusing…that was, if Sean didn't kill himself doing it. Hank smiled a little nervously at her and Tobi gave him the thumbs up.
"Nice. I saw you and Raven back there."
"You…you did?" Hank stammered, his eyes widening, "Oh, well, umm…"
Tobi laughed. "Relax, Hank. I'm not going to tell anyone. I just think it's sweet."
She and Hank clambered up the rungs of the steel ladder that led to the top of the satellite. Sean, Erik and Charles were already waiting and by the time Tobi reached the top, her breath was burning her lungs and her legs were weak as jelly.
"You truly believe I'll fly this time?" Sean still sounded concerned and Tobi could see why. Last time he'd thrown himself from a window and landed in a heap. While bruised and battered, he'd been fine – but if he stuffed up with the satellite, it would be bye-bye Banshee.
"Unreservedly," Charles answered firmly.
"I trust you." Sean jabbed a finger in his direction.
"I'm touched," Charles murmured.
"I don't trust him," Sean pointed at Hank this time.
"Say nothing," Charles warned a bewildered Hank.
Sean was breathing heavily as he stared down at the grass far, far below. He tried to take deep, calming breaths…only it wasn't working. He glanced at Charles and threw up his arms in despair.
"I'm gonna die!"
Charles placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Alright. Look, we're not going to make you do anything you don't feel comfortable with…"
"Here, let me help," Erik interrupted, losing his patience and giving Sean a shove in the back.
Sean screamed as he tumbled through the air, loud enough to make it sonic. The sonic waves pushed him up off the ground and he cheered and whooped loudly as he passed them by.
Tobi was grinning as Charles turned and offered Erik a look of resignation.
"What?" Erik shrugged, "You know you were thinking the same."
Tobi stifled a laugh, knowing that she had definitely been considering using the same strategy that Erik had employed.
Tobi stood in between Charles and Hank, feeling very uncomfortable. She didn't dare look across the bunker at Alex as he stood there, tense. She had made sure that she'd hadn't run into Alex all day, except when Charles had called the pair of them, along with Hank, down to the bunker, she hadn't had a choice.
"Alright, Alex," Charles called down the bunker. Alex was wearing a makeshift contraption on his chest which would help him direct the rays of energy that burst from him. "I want you to aim for Tobi and try not to hit me. There's a good chap."
Alex looked shocked and his eyes widened. "You're serious?"
A terrified look came over Hank's face and Tobi realized that he hadn't been told about this plan, either.
"I'm very serious," Charles replied, looking directly at the reluctant Alex, "I have complete and utter faith in you."
The horror written all over Hank's face said that he felt very differently indeed. Tobi rolled her eyes, dearly hoping that Charles was right to put his trust in Alex. She didn't want to be responsible for any deaths, especially not her own. So far she'd been fast enough, but could she manage to avoid a beam aimed right at her?
Alex tensed his shoulders and the muscles in his arms tightened as the red energy blasted across the bunker – missing both Charles and Hank as Tobi managed to use her enhanced speed to duck out of the way just in time. Alex observed his handiwork and threw up his arms, laughing in sheer relief and triumph. Tobi couldn't help but smile despite herself. Charles and Hank moved back across, with Hank glancing across at Alex.
"Am I still a bozo?" he asked.
"Yes Hank, you're still a bozo," Alex called back, but then noticing Tobi's fierce glare, added, "But nice job."
Alex didn't understand himself anymore. As he sat down for lunch, he deliberately avoided meeting Tobi's eyes. Why did he feel this way? Was Tobi's power strengthening, enabling her to influence his emotions without her having to touch him? After he'd eaten his sandwich, Alex crossed over to Tobi and gripped the back of her chair, forcing her to turn around and stare up into his angry blue eyes. She didn't look smug. In fact, she looked surprised.
"I need to talk to you."
Tobi exchanged an unreadable glance with Raven, before she nodded and got to her feet. For some time, she and Alex remained silent as they walked outside until they were both alone out in the middle of the grass where no one could disturb them.
Tobi watched as Alex ran his hands through his blond hair, clutching it in fistfuls before he turned back to face her with accusation in his expression.
"Are you doing this to me?" he demanded of her.
Tobi was confused. "Doing what?"
Alex bared his teeth. "Making me feel…like this."
Tobi shook her head fervently. She wasn't influencing Alex's emotions, but now she was curious as to what he was feeling. She reached out imperceptibly and found a whirlwind of emotions so strong that she couldn't make sense of it at all. Alex was really confused right now.
"No. What are you feeling?"
Alex clenched his jaw. "It's probably best that I don't say."
Tobi raised her eyebrows disbelievingly and folded her arms across her chest, indicating that she wasn't going to budge on the matter until Alex gave in and told her what the matter was. He sighed heavily and relented.
"Alright, fine. But don't judge me. After I kissed you in the gym the other day…I feel so many things. I know you understand me and it makes me angry for reasons I can't comprehend. You're my friend and I trust you. But…"
Tobi nodded, biting at her lip. She reached out to touch his arm, but Alex staggered back as if her hand was a spider.
"No. Don't influence me. I need to do this myself." He took a deep breath. "Partofmewantstohavesexwithyou."
Tobi was puzzled. "What?"
Alex heaved an impatient sigh. "I want you. Well, um, part of me does."
Tobi was still a little baffled, not really understanding what Alex meant. "Want as in…"
Alex lowered his head so that Tobi wouldn't see his cheeks burning red with embarrassment and shame. "As in, you know, the way Sean wants every girl in the vicinity."
"Oh." Tobi's laugh was brittle. "Right. You see the thing is, I don't have a problem with Sean because I know he's only messing around and he doesn't pretend to be anything else. Whereas you, Alex…I still haven't figured you out yet."
Tobi turned to walk away, but Alex grabbed her by the arm and spun her back around.
"Wait. You got to ask your question, so now it's my turn. The other night, when we were playing Truth or Dare…there was one question you didn't exactly answer."
By the way Tobi's eyes widened, she knew exactly which question Alex was talking about. Then her mouth screwed up in disgust and she yanked her arm from Alex's grasp.
"You disgust me."
She'd completely taken things the wrong way.
"No, Tobi…" He reached for her again, but she kicked at his shin.
"Don't touch me! What's it you whether I've had sex or not? Oh wait…I think I already know the answer. Just piss off. You're like any other teenage guy, Alex. Thinking with your dick and not your brain."
Alex was frustrated as he watched Tobi walk away. That hadn't been what he'd tried to imply at all. Yeah, okay, he did want Tobi in his bed. But he wasn't vulgar enough to say that to her face, not outright. Only…he kind of just had. Then he'd asked the wrong question at the wrong time and she'd assumed…Alex kicked at the grass and swore bitterly.
Alex didn't want to wait for things to just cool down between he and Tobi. He felt the need to explain himself, but he wasn't quite sure how. They found themselves once again in Raven's room with the leftover bottles of vodka, drinking probably more than they should have. Everyone apart from Alex was in a giggly mood.
Tobi tilted her head back and allowed the alcohol to drizzle down her throat. Raven had started up the music and had started dancing on the table, fast at first, but then as the song changed into a slow, sultry one, she slowed down her pace. Tobi giggled and clambered to her feet, the bottle tipping precariously in her hand. Sean snatched it from her grasp and Alex watched, entranced, as Tobi ran her hands slowly through her hair, her hips swaying bewitchingly.
"Sexy," Alex muttered hoarsely, unable to take his eyes off her. On the table, Raven had jumped down into Hank's arms and was laughing her head off. Tobi smiled seductively as she crossed the room towards Alex. Man, he wished that sometimes she could be like this when she wasn't drunk.
"Dance with me," Tobi whispered in his ear, draping her arms around his neck. Alex hesitated, unsure whether he should behave properly or give in to his desire for once. He was so serious all the time – and he wondered whether it was time to let go. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around Tobi's waist and pulled her closer.
"Oooh, look here!" Sean crowed, jabbing a finger at Alex and Tobi, "Seems like you two can't resist each other."
"Totally," Alex mumbled under his breath, wondering if it was actually true.
It would seem that Tobi was a flirtatious drunk. She pressed her lips eagerly to Alex's, and he felt slightly guilty that he responded to her fierce kiss. His hands slid down from her waist, down to her hips. Tobi's green eyes were alight with mischief as she broke away from Alex and he found himself toying with the zip at the bottom of her shirt.
"No." Alex released Tobi and forced himself to step away. She was bewitching almost, but it made him frustrated that the only time Tobi craved his attention was when she was intoxicated. Why couldn't she show him any affection when she was sober? He felt almost used and he shook his head sternly. "Not when you're drunk, Tobi. I shouldn't have kissed you."
Tobi pouted and tossed back her bronze hair as she turned away from him, instead taking Sean's hand and laughing as he twirled her in dizzy circles. Alex watched the four of them, so caught up in their world of innocence. It would be nice to let go and have fun…but Alex didn't want to, because he was afraid of what he might do.
"Loosen up, Havok," Raven called across to him, waving the bottle of vodka tantalisingly over his head.
Alex's face hardened and he now observed his friends with disdain. Folding his arms, he sat down heavily on one of the chairs and remained there for the next half hour as the music continued to blare.
Things got a little awkward when Hank and Raven started kissing wildly, but when Alex looked around for Sean and Tobi, they were nowhere in sight. Swearing in irritation, Alex got to his feet and stalked across the room, throwing open the door – and freezing.
"Jeez, Sean. I said no."
Tobi and Sean stood in the corridor. Sean had his arms tight around Tobi and was attempting to kiss her, clearly drunk out of his mind. Tobi was obviously pretty intoxicated if she hadn't kicked him in the balls yet. She was wrinkling her nose and attempting to push him away from her.
"Come on," Sean slurred, "Just one kiss. I'm not gonna bite you. I would try with Raven, but she and Hank…"
Tobi squirmed and pushed Sean's roving hands off her with a frown. He didn't seem to get the message, though. "Stop it. You're being pathetic."
Something snapped inside Alex and he marched towards the pair of them, blue eyes flashing danger. His hand curled into a fist and he swung forward, landing a magnificent punch in the side of Sean's face. The other boy staggered away as Tobi clapped her hands to her mouth in shock.
"What the fuck, Alex?" she shouted at him, watching as Sean nursed his jaw and got up from the ground, staring incredulously at Alex as if he wasn't sure what to expect. Alarm was written all over the red-haired boy's face.
"Touch her again," Alex seethed, jabbing a finger accusingly in Sean's direction, "I dare you."
"Stop being a prick," Tobi snarled at Alex, digging her fingernails into his arm, "I could have dealt with him myself, okay?"
Alex rounded on her, but there was no sudden violence as Tobi had feared. Instead his eyes flashed once and he scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder. Tobi kicked at him and thumped her fists, but Alex wasn't relenting.
"I think we need to have a talk, Tobi."
"What the hell was that all about?" Alex demanded as he slammed the door to Tobi's room. He was so annoyed that he didn't even care anymore what the others might think. So let them think he and Tobi had done kinky crap once he'd come out of the room. It wasn't like Raven and Hank weren't.
"Are you my father or something?" Tobi demanded from where she lounged on her bed, "No. Stop being so bloody over-protective. We just went into the corridor and we were dancing and shit, just mucking around…then Sean tried to kiss me. It's not anything serious. You know how Sean is, it could easily have been Raven he tried to hook up with."
Alex sat down on the end of Tobi's bed with a sigh, pressing his face into his hands. Why exactly was he acting like this? He and Sean were normally good friends and now he'd probably damaged that friendship by punching Sean. Tobi was right, it really had been none of his business.
"I told you the truth about what I was feeling," Alex said sharply to her, "But you keep avoiding the questions I ask you. How is that fair, Tobi?"
Tobi folded her arms across her chest and glowered.
"Alright. Fine. You want to know the truth? I'm not a virgin. I was thirteen years old. Happy?"
Thirteen? Alex cursed under his breath. Tobi had been so young, but then again, she had led a pretty substandard life by anyone's opinion. A horrible thought came to him and he stared at her.
"You weren't raped, were you?"
Tobi gnawed at her lip and then shook her head. "No. Look, I don't really want to talk about it, alright?"
Alex wasn't having any of that. He grabbed Tobi by the arms and shook her like she was a ragdoll, his teeth gritted in frustration.
"I told you all about Shae. I trusted you. Don't you think it's about time you trusted me?"
Tobi sighed heavily and squeezed her eyes shut. In reality, she was afraid of what Alex might think of her…but he was right. He'd opened up and now it was her turn to do the same.
"Like I said, I was thirteen years old. I'd only just got out on the streets and I was faring pretty badly. It was hard to get food and a lot of the time I had to steal. I was always so scared that I was going to get caught, but…this one time there was someone who offered to help me. To make it better."
Tobi licked her dry lips nervously, avoiding meeting Alex's eyes.
"I don't know what his name was, but he was about eighteen. He offered me some money – two hundred, I think it was – if I had sex with him. I'm not sure if he thought I was a prostitute…but I acted like one, Alex. I knew that I was going to starve, so I did it because I got the money. It was after that…well, I decided to be a boy. I never wanted to feel that disgusting or low ever again."
Alex didn't speak. He wasn't quite sure what to say. He didn't think badly of Tobi because of what she'd done – in fact, she felt sorry for her. How trapped she must have felt, where sex had been her only way out.
"Alex?" Tobi sounded quiet and vulnerable. "Please say something."
Alex cleared his throat. "I…I think I should probably get out of your room now."