The letters continued to come, once or twice a week. Every so often
there was a tape, one side filled with funny conversations, bits of songs and other
miscellaneous things on it, the other containing her spoken letter to him. He never sent a
tape back, as too hard for him to find something to record it with, and the privacy to do
it in. At some point, after being dragged out to town along with Bobby and Kurt by the two
girls, he found a carved wooden box, which he had bought with the idea of keeping the
letters and tapes in. After a few modifications (namely, a lock), it was perfect, and it
now sat on his desk – the center of some curiosity on his four friends' parts.
The collection had spread from letters and tapes, and the little box now housed a number
of miscellaneous trinkets and a few photo's. Over time, neither of them noticed their
easy transition into a special type of friendship. Neither found it odd when Rogue began
calling him sugah' or he calling her babe'. Their letters got
longer, and the topics they talked about grew wider in diversity. He kept her up to date
with the goings on at Xavier's Institute, while she described her city life in such
detail that St John felt like he knew all the people and places she talked about.
He'd taken to writing the letters in any spare moments he had, even when he was bored
in class. Sometimes his letters would be sent off on several pieces of scrap paper, or
even on sheets torn from his notebook.
Having just finished one letter, St John had gone to post it, and was
presently trying to sneak back into the school. Being a school night, he wasn't ment
to have been out of the grounds, but that had never stopped either him or Bobby before.
Entering through the kitchen, he was making his way back up to his room when he bumped
into Kitty.
"St John! Where've you been? The Professor just called a meeting he sent
us out to look for you." She said, while grabbing his arm and beginning to drag him
back downstairs.
"What?" He responded intelligently.
"Meeting! Prof's office!" She told him again, rolling her eyes.
"Honestly."
"Meeting?" He repeated, still trying to get his brain to catch up. "About
what?"
"We're getting a field trip! That's what Jubes says anyway She said
she overheard Mr Summers and Dr Gray talking about it. Just for us older kids – but
we get to go away for the weekend!" Kitty informed him excitedly, still dragging him
along. After a moment digesting this, he gave out a small whoop.
"Yes! Finally we get a holiday from this place! Where are we going?"
"We don't know yet. We've been waiting for you to arrive, so Professor
Xavier can tell us." She said, shooting him a meaningful look. He shrugged, and shook
her hand off.
"Sorry. Had to post a letter."
"You and your letters! Are you ever going to tell us who you're writing
to?"
"Yeah. Eventally." He said with a smirk. As they approached the Professor's
office, he saw Jubes sitting on the ground nearby. At their approach, she jumped up.
"Finally! Geeze Johnny, where ya been? We've been looking all over for you!
Where's Bobby? The others are waiting inside. C'mon! I want to know where
we're going!" She spurted out, hardly pausing for breath. Not giving them a
chance to respond, she pushed open the door, and the three of them walked into the
wood-encased office. Inside were several other students standing or sitting. Looking
around St John spotted all the seniors in the school, minus Bobby.
"Ahh. I see you found him girls. I'll contact Bobby." Xavier said kindly,
smiling at the three of them. St John ducked his head sheepishly, and more then one person
around the room rolled their eyes. "Bobby should be here in a moment. St John, I
trust there won't be any other unscheduled trips into town this week?"
"uh.. no sir course not." He got out. Jubes snickered, and St John
casually elbowed her. A few seconds later, Bobby entered the study and all other
conversations died as Xavier coughed for attention.
"Most of you have already found out what this meeting is
about," He began, and Jubes grinned. "and I think that you are all pleased with
the idea. We plan to give you the weekend off, and allow you a small break from the
school. This will, of course, be supervised – " There was a slight groan, but he
continued over the top. "by one of the teachers. We've made arrangements for you
at Cherry Tree Point – beside the beach. The weather is getting warmer now days, and
we felt it might be someplace you'd like to spend the weekend at." There was
some whooping and excited chatter for a moment, and Xavier beamed at the success of his
idea. After a few moments, he continued, bringing the students to a hush. "We will
make the last arrangements soon, and then you'll be given the final details later on
in the week." With that, Xavier seemed to be finished, and the room once again
descended into a buzz of noise.
"Oh yeah, oh yeah! Beach, here we come!" An excited Jubilee crowed while doing
an-on the spot dance. St John grinned and Bobby rolled his eyes. "Kitty, we have GOT
to go shopping for new swimsuits!" She exclaimed, grabbing hold of the other
girl's arm and wringing it up and down. Kitty smiled and tried to pry her off gently,
but ended up being dragged towards the door. Most of the other students were leaving as
well. "C'mon Kitty we gotta go decide what we're going to
taakkkeee!" Jubes enthused, still tightly gripping Kitty's arm and
dragging her steadily out into the hallway. With more rueful grins and shakings of heads,
people began to file out, including Bobby, Kurt and Evan. St John, however, remained where
he was standing, looking thoughtful.
"You comin' St John?" Evan asked, as the three paused by the door.
"Nah, I gotta ask the Prof. something. I'll catch up with ya later." He
replied. With a nod, the other boys left. St John waited until the last student had left
before stepping forward to the Professor's desk.
"Can I help you St John?" The older man asked. St John looked over at where Dr
Gray and Storm were still standing.
"Uh, yeah. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a sec." He said. Getting
the hint, the two women made for the door.
"We'll come back later Professor. Just call me when you're done." Dr
Gray said, closing the door behind her. Professor Xavier moved his chair so that it was
directly behind his desk and then looked up at St John, who was still standing somewhat
awkwardly before him.
"So, what would you like to talk to me about? I presume it has something to do with
the trip?"
"Yeah well, I dunno if you know this, but I've been writing to
Rogue." St John started, sitting down in one of the nearby seats. Professor Xavier
raised his eyebrows slightly, but did not comment. "And I know she doesn't want
anyone to know where she is, but she always says that she misses everyone from the school,
and well, I was kinda wonderin' if it might be nice for me to go and visit her."
He got out, somewhat hesitantly.
"Ahh. And you think that this weekend might be the time to do so?" The professor
asked. St John nodded.
"That was the idea. I know her address and stuff, and I'm sure she could put me
up for a night in her flat. I haven't really thought it out properly, but I
don't mind missing the beach-trip, and I'd like to see her again, you know?
"
"Hmm. I don't see why you can't. It's nice to know that she's
been keeping some contact with us, although I'm slightly surprised that it
wasn't Kitty or Jubilee that she wrote too." St John smirked.
"There is a reason for it, but it doesn't really matter now. So does that mean
you're going to let me go?"
"If you can work out more specific details, it should be fine. I will, however,
require you to give me her address in case anything should go wrong." Professor
Xavier said seriously. After a moment's thought, St John nodded.
"Yeah, OK. I'll see what I can get together, and come talk to you later. Thanks
Professor." He said, getting up.
"Oh, and St John?" The Professor called as he was leaving. St John turned
around, a questioning look on his face. "If you need to go into town again to post a
letter, tell me first, hmm?" The older man asked, raising an eyebrow. Looking
slightly sheepish, St John nodded.
"Yes sir!" He chirruped, before closing the door behind him.
Back inside the room, Professor Xavier smiled fondly, before turning
back to sheets laid out before him and mentally calling Jean Gray.