by
ETHERCOOKIE
Marie's Diary - August 31
It's been an uneventful summer so far. Oh - god, listen to me. What a boring way to start a diary entry. Let me rephrase. It's been as dull as boring as hell around here, and as of today, things get even worse. I'm not sure whether to be happy something is finally happening, or to take a break in writing to go lose my lunch. This morning, at breakfast, Storm pulled me aside before I could even sit down at the table. I thought it was something about my attitude. Between the heat, Kitty's drama-queen routines, and the fact that we never do anything around here anymore, I guess I've been kind of grumpy lately. Logan called me a "sourpuss." Ha. Ha. Ha. Anyway, while I watched Kitty hog the last good cereal, Storm quietly informed me that she and Professor X. have "made a decision about my future in the Institute, and we hope it works out best for everyone," and blah blah blah. For a moment there I thought I was getting kicked out or something. Kitty and Kurt stopped eating just to listen in, little sneaks. Then Storm told me that she and the Professor had decided that I should teach a self-defense class this semester.
No, I'm not making this up.
How I wish I was.
Apparently, Logan (backstabber) has been watching me train every day. You know, I took up some karate and whatnot, just to keep myself from dying from boredom around this prison complex. Logan told Storm that I have "natural talent" - thanks bunches, pal. Storm, being the busybody that she is, decided that I should be the one to teach the new self-defense class the Institute is holding this semester. Me. Marie. Teaching?! After I got over the initial shock, I refused. Loudly. Storm had to take me into another room - I made sure to give Logan the dirtiest look I could manage as we left. He just winked. Bastard. Once we were in private, Storm rambled on and on and on about what a great opportunity this was, how I could make new friends, how a whole lot of first-years would be glad to have someone their age for an instructor, how it was for the good of the school, how I would be helping everyone defend themselves against danger, and so on and so on and so on. A bunch of typical adult bull. One, I do not need to make new friends, thanks very much. Two, I do not intend to spend every Wednesday afternoon from four to six teaching a bunch of girly-girls and bratty boys how to lunge punch. What do they need defending from, anyway, around here? I told Storm no. No way. Not over my dead and broken body.
Yeah.
Well.
To make a long story short, I am now the youngest teacher at the Institute. I start in a week.
I hate myself for buckling in so easily.
And Logan! Well, he's never getting a friendly greeting from this girl again.
I'm surrounded by busybodies.
In other news, Kitty turns seventeen tomorrow. She's having a big birthday party. I managed to get a dentist's appointment tomorrow. Lucky me. I really don't feel like a lot of pink balloons and frosted rosebud cakes and ten thousand verses of "Happy Birthday To Kitty." I don't want to play spin-the-bottle, and I don't want to watch a truckload of silly new releases. Really. I don't. I'm much happier getting my teeth cleaned. But, seeing as Kitty is my roommate and everything, I felt kind of bad not getting her a present. So I went to amazon.com and fiddled around and I found this great book. Thirty percent off and everything. Spells And Hexes Every Witch Should Know. I know Kitty isn't really into witchcraft. She'd probably have liked a Bobbi Brown book or a chick flick soundtrack. But that's what I bought her, and if she doesn't use it, I can always borrow it for myself. Evil laughter.
It's getting late - I hear Kitty skipping up the stairs. More later.
Marie looked up from her bed. Her side of the room was dark and shadowy, thanks to the tightly drawn drapes. The only light came from the dim, blue glow of the lava lamp on her dresser. Marie put down her novel. "Shut the door behind you."
Kitty, cheeks flushed, obediently pushed the door closed. "Wow." She flopped down on her bed. "That was, like, maybe the best birthday party I've ever had."
"Glad to hear it." Marie went back to her book. The Fuck-Up.
"You totally should have come." Kitty looked over at her roommate. "I mean, like, even you would have enjoyed it. I promise. It was just fabulous."
"Wow." Marie turned the page. She was wearing her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, with a streak of dark lipstick and black plaid pajama pants. "Great."
"Everyone came."
"Mm-hm."
Kitty went back to the bed and began putting away her presents, in silence. Marie watched her out of the corners of her eyes. A pink sweater. A handful of charm bracelets. A lilac hoodie with Hello Kitty on the front. Five or six CDs. A flower pendant. Lipgloss. Pink capris. Marie watched as Kitty carefully folded her last present, a scarf with a pale pink border, into her dresser drawer and then turned around. She caught Marie looking at her.
"So," said Kitty, brightly, "how did you dentist appointment go?"
Marie looked at her, surprised and a little suspicious. "What? Why?"
"Like, I'm just asking. Don't get so defensive."
"It went OK," Marie said, softening her tone a little. "Ah mean, Ah just got them cleaned."
"Let's see," Kitty said.
Reluctantly, Marie opened her mouth, displaying a row of white teeth against her purple lips. Then she snapped her mouth shut, looking a little sheepish. "Satisfied?"
"Pretty," Kitty approved. She was wearing a faint dab of blush and a coat of purple eyeshadow, in honor of the occasion. "But you always had a great smile, Marie. I mean, like, when you want to show it."
Marie put her book down. "OK, Kitty. What is this all about?"
"Um . . ." Kitty couldn't keep a secret to save her life. She was transparent as crystal, carrying her secrets around with her like a sandwich board. Now she blushed and looked down at the floor. "Like, it sounds stupid. But when you weren't at the party and all - like, it's just, Storm asked me to like - be nice to you or whatever."
Marie bristled. "Be nice to me? Like Ah'm some kind of dangerous snake or something?"
"No! No! It's just, like - they're worried about you. Or whatever." Kitty seemed a little nervous and embarrassed. "I mean, Storm said you were - like - smoking."
"Hmph." Marie shrugged and went back to her book.
Kitty waited a moment. At last she couldn't stand the curiosity anymore. She cleared her throat. "So. Like, are you?"
"Am Ah what?" Marie asked calmly.
"Smoking."
Marie set her book down with a sigh. "Yes, when Ah'm not raping babies and clubbing seals for fur. God, Kitty. Don't sound so serious. This is smoking we're talking about. Nicotine and Virginia Slims. Not murder or sex or something. You're seventeen now. Act it."
Kitty considered this. "So you are."
Marie just looked at her.
"Funny. Like, I always figured you'd be a Camel girl, not Virginia Slims."
A smile tugged at the corner of Marie's mouth in spite of herself. "Pall Malls, actually."
Kitty sat down on the edge of her bed. "But, like, why? I mean, it's know not as bad as a lot of other things you could be doing. But - like - it's dangerous."
"So's getting in the car and driving to school."
"You know what I mean, Marie. Don't, like, play around." Kitty drew her knees up to her chest. "Storm said you smoked because you felt unhappy here."
"What does she know about mah motives?" Marie grumbled. "Besides, it's just like one or two a day. Ah'm not addicted yet."
"Yet?"
"Well, look. In two more months Ah'll be eighteen, Ah won't even have to lie to buy them. Then it will be totally mah concern and none of you will have to worry over it." Marie sighed. "Tell that to Miss Storm."
"Like, we're just concerned, Marie. I mean, that's totally why they gave you the teaching job. To, like, give you a focus and something to do."
"And to feel good about mahself and to make new friends and blah blah blah. Well, Ah appreciate it, but all Ah really need to be happy is to be left alone." Marie scowled across the room. "Tell that to Storm, too."
"Look, like, I'm sorry I brought it up. I mean, to be honest, I guess I think they're overreacting too. It's not like you're a little kid or something. Like, you can totally make your own choices now." Kitty got up. "I'm sorry for everything."
"Wasn't your fault," Marie said, gruffly.
Kitty looked down at her roommate, feeling a little awkward. "Well," she said after a moment, "aren't you, like, gonna wish me a happy birthday before I go to bed?"
"Oh. Speaking of that-" Looking sheepish, keeping her face hidden, Marie got up and opened her sock drawer. When she turned around, she was holding a hastily wrapped present, flat and rectangular, with a red bow on the top and no nametag. "Ah - Ah bought this for you, you know, because Ah thought it might hurt your feelings if Ah didn't. Here. Happy birthday." Marie thrust the package awkwardly at Kitty, who took it, her eyes lighting up.
"Wow, Marie. Like, I totally didn't expect it." Making a mental note of Rogue's upcoming birthday, Kitty tore the balloon paper off the present and stared at it, face blank. It was a large heavy book, with a glossy cover and an image of a cauldron and a broomstick. SPELLS AND HEXES EVERY WITCH SHOULD KNOW. For a moment she didn't say anything at all.
Marie, palms sweaty in spite of herself, cleared her throat. "Ah know you probably won't like it, you don't have to keep it if you don't want it. Just hide it somewhere or use it as scrap paper or something. Ah won't mind if you-"
But Marie was cut off by a sudden squeal from Kitty. Before she knew what was happening, the other girl has tossed the present onto her bed and then launched herself at Marie. "Oh, my god!" Kitty shrieked, hugging Marie tightly. "This is, like, totally the coolest present I've gotten all year! How did you know I wanted it? Thank you, thank you, thank you! Like, wow!"
Marie was in a state of mild shock. After a moment, her body caught up with her mind and she gingerly hugged Kitty back. "Oh - well - Ah'm glad you like it -" she managed to say. And found, to her surprise, that she was glad.
Kitty released the blushing Marie and swept back down on the book. "Like, I had no idea you knew I wanted to get into witchcraft, Marie. This is so cool! I always thought you'd, like, make fun of me or something. And now this - totally awesome." Kitty opened the book and began flipping eagerly through the pages. "Oh, wow - love potions - curses - this is excellent -"
Marie wasn't sure what to say next, so she picked her book back up and continued reading.
There was silence for several minutes.
"Hey, Marie?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you help me with some of these? Like, if you have time and all."
"Sure," Marie agreed, barely believing her luck. "If Ah have time."
"Thanks." Kitty beamed. "I just found a fabulous spell to get someone to call you."
"Wow." This wasn't exactly what Marie had been thinking of, but it was Kitty's book now.
"Oh, and Marie?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm, like, the first student enrolled in your class. And Kurt, too."
Marie wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. She settled on a kind of dry smile. "Ah look forwards to it."
"So do I," Kitty chirped, and leaned back against her pillow with her new spellbook.
Within an hour, both girls were fast asleep, open pages still in their hands.