Chapter 3
When we returned to the Institute I explained everything from the start of why I had to go back. The whole thing took forever. We only took a brake for diner then they were drilling me again. I've almost been there for a whole year and well I guess you can say this is the first time that I talked to them calmly and with out lying. This was weird to me. I never let anyone know what I felt before I met these guys. And now, eleven months after meting them I'm just starting to tell them the truth.
At the end of telling them everything I got up and walked over to the window. "You are the first group of people that have gotten past the first layers of me. Only one other person has gotten past that. You should feel lucky." That was the last thing I said to them that night. Sure I knew they had questions but I would not answer them tonight. It was too late for all the questions to be asked. So I didn't take the time to do it now. Later they will want the answers that are needed. Then I will give them to them. Not sooner then it is needed.
"Ann you don't have to tell us if you don't wanna." Scott told me.
"I know, but when the information I hold is needed I will tell you guys. Not before, and no sooner then needed." I told him. I walked out of the room to get some rest. I guess jet lag was caching up on me. I always knew that I would have to get to them.
When I fell a sleep I saw a guy in my dreams who was looking at the moon. "Ann you will find me when you can truly trust me."
"Who are you?"
"Ann why does it matter who I am. Its not who but where and its not were its why. It doesn't matter where you go in life but whom you are with. It was a wise choice to go with the X men." He said.
"What do you mean?" I asked I could see where I was. I was back in New York City. I was on one of the twin towers he was on the other. I had a feeling that I knew him. It was like that warm fuzzy feeling that you get when with the people you love in an outfit that makes you look great in and fits like a dream. I just knew him.
"I think you know."
"I won't say… now. You must find the right path from your friends and you. They think of you much higher then you think they do. Open your heart to trust them. They are your best link to yourself." I saw my sister and I in our dresses that we wore to see Rent the May before I was found out. What can I say? I had to where a dress. It was my friends. Then I saw everything that lead up to joining. I was no longer in New York City anymore.
All of a sudden I woke up with Scott shaking me and everyone looking concerned. "She up." Kitty said.
"Ann what happened you were screaming something about someone?"
"It was just a dream. It was just a bit weird but don't worry about it. Sorry for waking you." I said. I wasn't sure what to make of the dream. It didn't sink into my mind yet. I lied back on the pile of pillows and answered their questions the best I could. Even if I couldn't figure it out fully. Everyone went back to bed and I was left to wonder why did I leave home in the first place. Everyone else can do something cool like walk threw walls or shoot eye lazars. What can I do? See what's going to happen to us. I wanted to be back home with my friends more then anything, but I knew I was here for a reason. Sure I didn't want to harm any one if my powers got to strong but I wanted to go back to the being the girl on the Track team that had the grace to be able to fall off the metal bleachers onto pavement and do a dive roll and run. Now its study and train my powers. Where did that girl go?
I look the same as I did last year, but now I'm a whole new person. Because I was at the Institute it was hard to fit in, it will be easy to get on the track team but when on it the fun was missing. I needed Ronny and my friends to make it fun. Doing Shot Put and Discus were no longer fun. I needed to have them to be behind me chanting. I was sure I was going to go crazy with out them.
I knew that soon they would see that I yearned to be normal and that I didn't care if it was a gift I want to be normal. With my power I can see what will happen and when it will happen. It is my choice to tell people what will happen. Truth be told I was always called 'Weird' and 'slut' (yes in my school you were a slut if you always had leather gloves, black jeans and a long sleeve shit on) but all I wanted to be was to be normal. I decided that I would go out for the track team.
Now here's the BIG problem, the people on the track team call us freaks and stuff like that. I knew this wouldn't be easy, but I have to do this. I know I can do it, now I just have to try out for the team. I knew the test would be hard but I didn't care. 'I have to get on the team. Even if it kills me.' I thought as I fell back asleep.
I woke bright and early the next day and took a five mile run before anyone else was awake. When I got in Scott was just coming down stairs. "Morning Scott." I said almost in a run past him.
"Why are you awake so early? Why are you in a hurry?" He asked in his asleep tone of voice.
"If I'm going to join the track team I'm going to have to get back into my old habits of getting up at 5:30 and running five miles." I said walking past him up the stairs. There was a lot to do that day so I needed a clean mind and body. I found a bathroom that wasn't in use and took a shower.
With the water running over my body I zoned out. I heard nothing but the running water. I was alone with my thoughts for once. Then I saw it. I saw a car crash. It was Scott's car or a car a lot like it. I had to cut my shower short and tell him. So I grabbed my bathrobe and ran down stair.
"SCOTT!" I screamed as I went down the stairs.
"Ann what is it? I'm right here."
"You can't drive your car today, or let anyone dive it."
"Why?"
"It will crash into a bus when the brakes fail on the corner of main and Savage." I was in full panic mode.
"Alright Ann you win I won't dive today. Now go get changed. You're shivering."
"Alright. I know it was you in that car. I saw your glasses on the ground broken. Just don't go driven in your car today." I had that same worry as I did as I did the day that two jets crashed into the world trade center. I knew that there was something he would do to get out driving, come on this was Scott Summers. That should say it all. I walked up stairs and took care of the morning stuff. Then went down for some coffee before I left for school.
When I got down their Scott had his keys in his hand. He did his toss into the air to check it. My eyes saw it and it flew over to my hands. "Scott, you can't go driven today. Your car is not aloud to leave."
"Why? How did you?" he said in broken words. I didn't know how his keys got into my hands. I was just a freaked out as he was… but I could hid it better.
"Scott, I told you what I saw. I just don't want 2 more of my class mates dead."
"Ann what did you see?" Prof. Xavier said coming into the room.
"I saw Scott and someone riding in his car. They came to a corner and had the right of way, a bus was coming at full speed, Scott tried to stop the car but couldn't. Then I saw his sunglasses on the floor and a girl's hand near it. The hand was lifeless. There was someone talking over them. They said 'two down eight to go.'" I was talking really fast again. I guess the Jersey girl was coming out. "Then I heard a voice that I know from somewhere but can't put my finger on it said. 'Too bad, she was pretty good.'"
"Ann calm down, you're talking too fast." Prof. Xavier told me.
"I know what she's saying," Evan said. "A girl I once knew spoke about that fast."
"Then what did she say?" Rough said in her normal P.M.S tone of voice.
"She said Scott and some one went for a drive and they got into a car crash and some one said 'two down eight to go.' And someone that she can't figure out who said 'Too bad, she was pretty good.' Its easy to figure out."
"Thanks Evan, you're a big help." I said.
"Don't mention it," he said. "Any way, we all know how to talk that fast at home." he said just as fast as I would say anything. We smiled evilly at each other.
"Everyone hear me now, if you see Scott or anyone driving his car stop them at all cost. I know this one is real. I felt the pain for some reason. No one I mean no one can go in a car with Scott or let him drive." I had to get this point into there minds. I had to find a way to get them to listen to me.
"Ann, I believe you." Jean said to me. "I'll stop him."
"Thanks." I said. Then I remember. "What time is it?"
"9:15." Cert told me.
"I'm late. I got to get to school."
"Ann it's Saturday. There is no school." Scott said.
"It's the track try outs. I have to go be there by 9:25. So I can stretch and get some more training in before my races." I said running out and almost running Mr. Login over. "Sorry Mr. Login I'm running late."
"Watch it kid." Was the last thing I heard when I was in the main house part of the Institute? I ran straight from the main house down the driveway, past the gate and straight to the school. All while I was carrying my track bag. It had my running shoes, water bottle, snack and some other crap that lives in that bag in it.
I had gotten to the school before everyone accepted the team Captain. His name is Steve Thompson; he's a junior (And REALLY HOT). He had to have been one of the cutest guys in the school. I had put my stuff down and put my running shoes on. I guess it made a difference on how I ran. These shoes were signed by my old school shot put, discus, 100 meter and long distance teams, we were all on the same team but I guess we just broke off to be one with our selves.
"Hey are you here for try outs?" Steve said to me walking over to me.
"Yea." I continued to tie my old sneakers.
"Who signed those old things?" he asked. I couldn't believe that he was being so nice to me.
"Part of my old school track team."
"Which parts?"
"The shot put, discus, 100 meter and long distance."
"So why are you trying to join the track team?" he asked me.
"Since I moved here, and stopped running 6 miles after school, life has been off."
"What do you mean 'off'?" I didn't know what he meant so I just was guessing.
"Well for two years I ran 6 mile on the schools cross country and track teams. Now that I'm not on the team, I guess I'm just missing that thing."
"Were all these people your friends?" he asked in wonderment.
"Most of them. They took these out of my gym locker and passed them around the team and gave them back to me the day I left home."
"Where was your home before here?"
"West Brunswick New Jersey." I started to stretch.
"Wait a second. That's were the want to be samurai struck!" he said in pure feared shock.
"Yea, that was Larry my ex-boyfriend. He killed our friends and Krystle. I want to go back to the school on better terms so I'm joining the team, if goes well I get to go with the team to the Meet of Champions in West Brunswick."
"I remember you now. You were the head Shot Putter in the girls division."
"Yea, but I haven't practiced in over a year so I'm not sure I can still get 49 feet 11 ½ inches."
"Our schools best in 22 feet even."
"I know I can bet that." I said. "Do you mind doing something for me?"
"Yea sure."
"Time me for your choice of event."
"Mile." He said.
"Alright give the words." I took my spot in lane one.
"Ready?" I nodded. "Set?" he waited for a signal. I gave none. "GO!!!!" I took off running faster then I thought I could. I remembered everything Mrs. Year told the mile team at West Brunswick High.
'Concentrate on one thing, the mile will fly if that's all you think about. Remember to breath. There is nothing that you can't do if you put your mind to it.' I thought as I ran. When I finished running the Time was under 6 minuets. I stood on the grass trying to cheat my breath. I had over done it again. I wasn't taking in enough air.
"I think you'll be able to get on the team." He said to me. I just smiled. "Ann, you want to go back for something else don't you?"
"What do you mean?" I had caught my breath by this time.
"I could tell by your running there was something else besides just going back to your old school."
"Okay you got me. I want to see my old friends and teachers. They were the best. I wish I could still be there. But if I was there and not here I would never get to beet them from another school."
"You want to show up your old friend?" he thought it was the weirdest thing.
"Yea, that's just the way we worked. Since I came here, I've wanted that kind of friends. Because of our friendship Sarah was sent to privet school."
"Why? Or do I not want to know?"
"Trust me with all the fucking shit we pulled, the police should have known us by name... no wait they did."
"What shit did you guys pull?"
"You know the looting of stuff, the normal shit.
"Is shit your favorite word?"
"No fucking way. Its Hell."
"I see."
"After tryouts you want to come hang out at the pizza place?"
"I'll see if the nuts in hell are going to through some sort of 'Fuck the Track Team' party." There was a slight moment of silence. "Question, what are the best records for the year for Shot Put and Discos?"
"Shot is about 22 like I said. Disk is doing a lot better for girls we have it being 66… can you beet it?"
"We'll have to see. Won't we?" I smiled. I could feel the presents of some one I knew around. I didn't care if this was the first time that I had smiled with a soul behind it. Sure I smiled for parties, but those were painted smiles. This was a real smile.
When we returned to the Institute I explained everything from the start of why I had to go back. The whole thing took forever. We only took a brake for diner then they were drilling me again. I've almost been there for a whole year and well I guess you can say this is the first time that I talked to them calmly and with out lying. This was weird to me. I never let anyone know what I felt before I met these guys. And now, eleven months after meting them I'm just starting to tell them the truth.
At the end of telling them everything I got up and walked over to the window. "You are the first group of people that have gotten past the first layers of me. Only one other person has gotten past that. You should feel lucky." That was the last thing I said to them that night. Sure I knew they had questions but I would not answer them tonight. It was too late for all the questions to be asked. So I didn't take the time to do it now. Later they will want the answers that are needed. Then I will give them to them. Not sooner then it is needed.
"Ann you don't have to tell us if you don't wanna." Scott told me.
"I know, but when the information I hold is needed I will tell you guys. Not before, and no sooner then needed." I told him. I walked out of the room to get some rest. I guess jet lag was caching up on me. I always knew that I would have to get to them.
When I fell a sleep I saw a guy in my dreams who was looking at the moon. "Ann you will find me when you can truly trust me."
"Who are you?"
"Ann why does it matter who I am. Its not who but where and its not were its why. It doesn't matter where you go in life but whom you are with. It was a wise choice to go with the X men." He said.
"What do you mean?" I asked I could see where I was. I was back in New York City. I was on one of the twin towers he was on the other. I had a feeling that I knew him. It was like that warm fuzzy feeling that you get when with the people you love in an outfit that makes you look great in and fits like a dream. I just knew him.
"I think you know."
"I won't say… now. You must find the right path from your friends and you. They think of you much higher then you think they do. Open your heart to trust them. They are your best link to yourself." I saw my sister and I in our dresses that we wore to see Rent the May before I was found out. What can I say? I had to where a dress. It was my friends. Then I saw everything that lead up to joining. I was no longer in New York City anymore.
All of a sudden I woke up with Scott shaking me and everyone looking concerned. "She up." Kitty said.
"Ann what happened you were screaming something about someone?"
"It was just a dream. It was just a bit weird but don't worry about it. Sorry for waking you." I said. I wasn't sure what to make of the dream. It didn't sink into my mind yet. I lied back on the pile of pillows and answered their questions the best I could. Even if I couldn't figure it out fully. Everyone went back to bed and I was left to wonder why did I leave home in the first place. Everyone else can do something cool like walk threw walls or shoot eye lazars. What can I do? See what's going to happen to us. I wanted to be back home with my friends more then anything, but I knew I was here for a reason. Sure I didn't want to harm any one if my powers got to strong but I wanted to go back to the being the girl on the Track team that had the grace to be able to fall off the metal bleachers onto pavement and do a dive roll and run. Now its study and train my powers. Where did that girl go?
I look the same as I did last year, but now I'm a whole new person. Because I was at the Institute it was hard to fit in, it will be easy to get on the track team but when on it the fun was missing. I needed Ronny and my friends to make it fun. Doing Shot Put and Discus were no longer fun. I needed to have them to be behind me chanting. I was sure I was going to go crazy with out them.
I knew that soon they would see that I yearned to be normal and that I didn't care if it was a gift I want to be normal. With my power I can see what will happen and when it will happen. It is my choice to tell people what will happen. Truth be told I was always called 'Weird' and 'slut' (yes in my school you were a slut if you always had leather gloves, black jeans and a long sleeve shit on) but all I wanted to be was to be normal. I decided that I would go out for the track team.
Now here's the BIG problem, the people on the track team call us freaks and stuff like that. I knew this wouldn't be easy, but I have to do this. I know I can do it, now I just have to try out for the team. I knew the test would be hard but I didn't care. 'I have to get on the team. Even if it kills me.' I thought as I fell back asleep.
I woke bright and early the next day and took a five mile run before anyone else was awake. When I got in Scott was just coming down stairs. "Morning Scott." I said almost in a run past him.
"Why are you awake so early? Why are you in a hurry?" He asked in his asleep tone of voice.
"If I'm going to join the track team I'm going to have to get back into my old habits of getting up at 5:30 and running five miles." I said walking past him up the stairs. There was a lot to do that day so I needed a clean mind and body. I found a bathroom that wasn't in use and took a shower.
With the water running over my body I zoned out. I heard nothing but the running water. I was alone with my thoughts for once. Then I saw it. I saw a car crash. It was Scott's car or a car a lot like it. I had to cut my shower short and tell him. So I grabbed my bathrobe and ran down stair.
"SCOTT!" I screamed as I went down the stairs.
"Ann what is it? I'm right here."
"You can't drive your car today, or let anyone dive it."
"Why?"
"It will crash into a bus when the brakes fail on the corner of main and Savage." I was in full panic mode.
"Alright Ann you win I won't dive today. Now go get changed. You're shivering."
"Alright. I know it was you in that car. I saw your glasses on the ground broken. Just don't go driven in your car today." I had that same worry as I did as I did the day that two jets crashed into the world trade center. I knew that there was something he would do to get out driving, come on this was Scott Summers. That should say it all. I walked up stairs and took care of the morning stuff. Then went down for some coffee before I left for school.
When I got down their Scott had his keys in his hand. He did his toss into the air to check it. My eyes saw it and it flew over to my hands. "Scott, you can't go driven today. Your car is not aloud to leave."
"Why? How did you?" he said in broken words. I didn't know how his keys got into my hands. I was just a freaked out as he was… but I could hid it better.
"Scott, I told you what I saw. I just don't want 2 more of my class mates dead."
"Ann what did you see?" Prof. Xavier said coming into the room.
"I saw Scott and someone riding in his car. They came to a corner and had the right of way, a bus was coming at full speed, Scott tried to stop the car but couldn't. Then I saw his sunglasses on the floor and a girl's hand near it. The hand was lifeless. There was someone talking over them. They said 'two down eight to go.'" I was talking really fast again. I guess the Jersey girl was coming out. "Then I heard a voice that I know from somewhere but can't put my finger on it said. 'Too bad, she was pretty good.'"
"Ann calm down, you're talking too fast." Prof. Xavier told me.
"I know what she's saying," Evan said. "A girl I once knew spoke about that fast."
"Then what did she say?" Rough said in her normal P.M.S tone of voice.
"She said Scott and some one went for a drive and they got into a car crash and some one said 'two down eight to go.' And someone that she can't figure out who said 'Too bad, she was pretty good.' Its easy to figure out."
"Thanks Evan, you're a big help." I said.
"Don't mention it," he said. "Any way, we all know how to talk that fast at home." he said just as fast as I would say anything. We smiled evilly at each other.
"Everyone hear me now, if you see Scott or anyone driving his car stop them at all cost. I know this one is real. I felt the pain for some reason. No one I mean no one can go in a car with Scott or let him drive." I had to get this point into there minds. I had to find a way to get them to listen to me.
"Ann, I believe you." Jean said to me. "I'll stop him."
"Thanks." I said. Then I remember. "What time is it?"
"9:15." Cert told me.
"I'm late. I got to get to school."
"Ann it's Saturday. There is no school." Scott said.
"It's the track try outs. I have to go be there by 9:25. So I can stretch and get some more training in before my races." I said running out and almost running Mr. Login over. "Sorry Mr. Login I'm running late."
"Watch it kid." Was the last thing I heard when I was in the main house part of the Institute? I ran straight from the main house down the driveway, past the gate and straight to the school. All while I was carrying my track bag. It had my running shoes, water bottle, snack and some other crap that lives in that bag in it.
I had gotten to the school before everyone accepted the team Captain. His name is Steve Thompson; he's a junior (And REALLY HOT). He had to have been one of the cutest guys in the school. I had put my stuff down and put my running shoes on. I guess it made a difference on how I ran. These shoes were signed by my old school shot put, discus, 100 meter and long distance teams, we were all on the same team but I guess we just broke off to be one with our selves.
"Hey are you here for try outs?" Steve said to me walking over to me.
"Yea." I continued to tie my old sneakers.
"Who signed those old things?" he asked. I couldn't believe that he was being so nice to me.
"Part of my old school track team."
"Which parts?"
"The shot put, discus, 100 meter and long distance."
"So why are you trying to join the track team?" he asked me.
"Since I moved here, and stopped running 6 miles after school, life has been off."
"What do you mean 'off'?" I didn't know what he meant so I just was guessing.
"Well for two years I ran 6 mile on the schools cross country and track teams. Now that I'm not on the team, I guess I'm just missing that thing."
"Were all these people your friends?" he asked in wonderment.
"Most of them. They took these out of my gym locker and passed them around the team and gave them back to me the day I left home."
"Where was your home before here?"
"West Brunswick New Jersey." I started to stretch.
"Wait a second. That's were the want to be samurai struck!" he said in pure feared shock.
"Yea, that was Larry my ex-boyfriend. He killed our friends and Krystle. I want to go back to the school on better terms so I'm joining the team, if goes well I get to go with the team to the Meet of Champions in West Brunswick."
"I remember you now. You were the head Shot Putter in the girls division."
"Yea, but I haven't practiced in over a year so I'm not sure I can still get 49 feet 11 ½ inches."
"Our schools best in 22 feet even."
"I know I can bet that." I said. "Do you mind doing something for me?"
"Yea sure."
"Time me for your choice of event."
"Mile." He said.
"Alright give the words." I took my spot in lane one.
"Ready?" I nodded. "Set?" he waited for a signal. I gave none. "GO!!!!" I took off running faster then I thought I could. I remembered everything Mrs. Year told the mile team at West Brunswick High.
'Concentrate on one thing, the mile will fly if that's all you think about. Remember to breath. There is nothing that you can't do if you put your mind to it.' I thought as I ran. When I finished running the Time was under 6 minuets. I stood on the grass trying to cheat my breath. I had over done it again. I wasn't taking in enough air.
"I think you'll be able to get on the team." He said to me. I just smiled. "Ann, you want to go back for something else don't you?"
"What do you mean?" I had caught my breath by this time.
"I could tell by your running there was something else besides just going back to your old school."
"Okay you got me. I want to see my old friends and teachers. They were the best. I wish I could still be there. But if I was there and not here I would never get to beet them from another school."
"You want to show up your old friend?" he thought it was the weirdest thing.
"Yea, that's just the way we worked. Since I came here, I've wanted that kind of friends. Because of our friendship Sarah was sent to privet school."
"Why? Or do I not want to know?"
"Trust me with all the fucking shit we pulled, the police should have known us by name... no wait they did."
"What shit did you guys pull?"
"You know the looting of stuff, the normal shit.
"Is shit your favorite word?"
"No fucking way. Its Hell."
"I see."
"After tryouts you want to come hang out at the pizza place?"
"I'll see if the nuts in hell are going to through some sort of 'Fuck the Track Team' party." There was a slight moment of silence. "Question, what are the best records for the year for Shot Put and Discos?"
"Shot is about 22 like I said. Disk is doing a lot better for girls we have it being 66… can you beet it?"
"We'll have to see. Won't we?" I smiled. I could feel the presents of some one I knew around. I didn't care if this was the first time that I had smiled with a soul behind it. Sure I smiled for parties, but those were painted smiles. This was a real smile.