Strangers in the Dark
(Popularity is easy) Jean mused silently (Show up, smile, and laugh. Hang out with the popular crowd, be one of the three best cheerleaders. Dress in the right clothes, look pretty and sound self-confident. And never ever under any circumstances tell anyone the truth. The whole truth atleast. Never reveal to anyone that she; one of the girls elected possible Homecoming Queen, the soon to be cheer captain was unnormal. Was a- a mutant. One of the feared and hated-) A shiver ran through her and she frowned almost angrily (Stop it, Jean. Stop right there. Oh, my head hurts. Flits of thoughts still entering my head; can't seem to control it. Oh, god, I wish I weren't so alone)
"Do you agree, Jean? Jean? Earth to Jean Grey?"
She blinked hastily realizing she'd lost herself in her thoughts- again. She looked up at the girls at the table pulling up a faint smile. There were six of them. Across from her on the other side of the table sat Jennifer,
Jessica and Faith. Jennifer Pace had blue green eyes and a mix of blonde-brown hair. She was usually the sorta the really peppy one of them. Jessica Dual had golden blond hair that fell in spirals and bright blue eyes, she was a good cheerleader and wonderful pep leader, but sometimes lacked a little when it came to confidence. Faith Avin had straight black hair and these gray to violet eyes. She was the smallest and quietest of them all. When she said something they all stopped to listen.
Then on her side of the table it was her in the middle, Melissa sat at her right and Belinda on her left. Melissa Tryios was her closest friend at the school, but never her best friend. That was something she could never left Melissa be inside yet- not since Anne. Belinda Seymour, at her left, had long brown hair and these sparkling green eyes with little gold flecks. She was usually always what seemed too hyper to Jean.
"Jeannie? You okay?"
She blinked; that was Faith a slightly worried look on her face and Jean nodded, pushing her thoughts away with a cover;
"Yeah, hey don't worry, sorry my mind wandered and I was thinking about the ending I was making for the new formation Coach started us on. Where were we?"
"There's are soon to be leader! Always thinking ahead already. We were talking about the Homecoming Dance theme," explained Jessica," Belinda say says Marine Life, Melissa say 20's or something, Jennifer says something related to rare exotic flowers. And me and Faith, really don't have any ideas. We need money tight ideas, cause we haven't much to spend; what do you think?"
Jean watched Jessica closely as she spoke, but she was hearing two different sets of conversations. One was words, the other was thoughts. Jessica was helping Belinda's boyfriend, Matt to cheat on her. It had all been purely innocent at first; she'd only been tutoring him in Pre-Calculus and things progressed from there. She tried to push the thoughts away pulling on her thoughtful idea expression to cover her silence.
"Maybe something like an old fashion square dance or barn dance? I always like the old fashion ones sorta; they seem more realistic and romantic."
"Well, I don't know, what would we use for decorations?" asked Belinda.
"Umm, lets see, it's fall- we could……I know we could gather real leaves and spray paint them in all sorts of colors and hay bails and such?"
"Catering?" Jennifer added.
"Ahhh, we could make homemade snacks and such. Punch and sweets. Faith's mom is a baker; maybe she could make us a cake."
"Pictures, Jeanie? What would we do there??? Every dance needs photographs for memories," Melissa chimed in.
"We could- we could get the photojournalism group involved. Maybe even get it to be extra credit for them! And then- and then- we could use all the extra money we get and- and donate it to something good. Something like the Endangered Animal Fund," she smiled brightly as she finished it, "What do you think?"
"I love it!" Squealed Jessica.
"Me, too," Faith smiled.
"There three!" piped in Jennifer.
Melissa grinned, "You know I'm in for all of Jeannie' brainy ideas!"
"I think it's great, too," Belinda said.
"Well, then I guess I can call this meeting to an end;" Jessica said brightly as she started standing up and getting out of the table; "I hope to see you all tomorrow morning for early practice, remember we do have basketball game tomorrow night."
They all scattered suddenly with faint mummers of saying they'd be there. Jean slung her backpack over her shoulder, picked up her duffel bag and gathered up her books holding them to her and started walking out quietly. Melissa walked up nudged her shoulder with her shoulder, faint whisper;
"Who were you day dreaming about?"
"What?" Her eyes were on her books as she tried to not pay attention to the swirl in her thoughts.
"You can't play it off, Red, you know I won't let you. You've been lost and dreamy state for days now. What did you do? Did you kiss some full blown hottie and not tell me? Are you sitting and day dreaming 'bout some guy you can't tell me 'bout, Jeannie???"
Jean laughed suddenly unable to keep it in;" It's nothing like that, 'Lissa. You know if there was a somebody I'd tell you immediately."
"The guy?"
"There isn't one."
"Sure there isn't, Red. There must be one somewhere in that mind of yours. Come on, tell me bout him."
"Like you and Brad?" It slipped suddenly and a hand went to Jeans lips, because Melissa had never ever mentioned him outloud. She averted her eyes looking down, hoping Melissa had missed that.
"W-w-what do you know about Brad?"
Jean kept her eyes forward, dropping her books, duffel and backpack on the bench since they'd finally reached the front of the school, walking to the bars holding the front part up, one her hands on one. They always waited right here.
"Well, it's just I've noticed you get this dreamy look watching him and how you get when he's around the group. It's natural I've come to the conclusion you like him, 'Lissa, Not that there's anything wrong with him, he kind cute in that Devin Sawa look, I guess."
"Yeah, I guess I like him. There I've finally said it out loud. I still swear there must be someone you think about like that, too," Melissa replied walking towards the column nearest Jean and leaning against it, looking at her.
"I don't have time for romance yet, 'Lissa."
"And what all do you have standing in your way of romance?"
Faintest sigh escaped Jean's lips;
"First of all there's school, and my A average grades, which take tons of studying, homework and extra credit to keep up. Then there's cheerleading a practice, all the games, tumbling lessons and gymnastics for cheerleading, and soon all the extra work of being the Captain of the Cheer Squad. Then there's being a good daughter, chores, and all that. I don't have time for a guy in there, 'Lissa."
She frowned faintly, closing her eyes a second. (Not to mention my being a mutant who gets everyone thoughts stuck inside her head)
"Not even him?"
Jean opened her eyes suddenly at the words, looking around at all the sparse people walking around this late in the evening after school.
"Who?"
"Him." Melissa pointed almost directly in front across the parking lot, to one guy standing against a telephone pole, seeming to be waiting for something. "He's been watching us since we came out. But I think more that he's watching you."
Almost at that same second Jeans eyes landed on the guy and she a shiver ran down her back. It was him, again. The guy from the game a week ago almost. He was dressed in dark pants and the same trench coat. It was daylight and it still didn't seem any easier to make him out from so far away and at that second he looked up at her. Their eyes met again. She couldn't look away and he didn't.
Suddenly, a van drove up parking in her line of sight and she blinked confused a hand going to her head as kids started piling into that van.
"Jeanie? You okay?"
She looked up, Melissa was looking at her.
"Yeah, I- I'm okay."
The van door slammed closed and drove off, and she looked away, not even hearing
Melissa's words as her eyes fell on the form again. He wasn't alone anymore; three other people had joined him now. What were they talking about? A sudden car horn jarred her thoughts and she realized Melissa's mom was there to pick them up now. She jumped and jotted back, grabbing her backpack, duffel bag and her other books. And walking back, she glanced back one at the small group. He was talking seriously with them. She could tell from here, but about what? And who was he and why did he show up out of the blue? Did he go to her school?
********************************************************************************
"So then the radial under the square root box under division bar can be divided by the non-denominator, right? Even if it's another square root?"
Melissa looked up miserably from her math book where she was laying on Jeans bed and with a faint grins Jean looked back at her from her bed room window where she'd been staring out.
"Nope. Only the radical in the square root box over the division bar can be divisible by the non-denominator through the whole multiplication problem and when it's another square root it can only be reduced, not divided, 'Lissa."
"How do you keep it all straight, Jeannie??? I can't even understand my own words with all these terms, and I can see no way in hell to pass that test."
"Come on, you know it. You'll pass the test, don't worry so much."
"Melissa, Hun? Your mom's here."
They both looked at each other a second as Mrs. Grey called Melissa and they grinned lightly as Jean tossed their spiral in Melissa backpack and then Melissa took it placing her book in it. Melissa smiled lightly;
"Get a good night of sleep, Jeannie and I'll see you in the morning, okay?"
"Sure thing, 'Lissa, you, too"
They hugged each other for a second and Melissa walked out and left. Picking up her book as the front door slammed shut, and opened it reading one page. Then suddenly she shut the book, her mind wasn't on reading. She shifted positions and was lying on the bed with her head on her hands at the end of the bed and her feet near her pillows.
(Do I really want to be the Cheer Captain? God, do I really want to think about the point I'm probably going to end up Homecoming Queen too? How can anyone like me lead a normal life? Maybe I should tell 'Lissa. Would she understand? Or would she suddenly be afraid of me- her closest friend? I mean I guess I could understand part of it. I've kept this serious secret from her so long. She's be angry, but that would make sense. But would she understand? She's normal still, like I was 6 years ago. Before Anne died, before the depression, and before Doctor Xavier.)
(Popularity is easy) Jean mused silently (Show up, smile, and laugh. Hang out with the popular crowd, be one of the three best cheerleaders. Dress in the right clothes, look pretty and sound self-confident. And never ever under any circumstances tell anyone the truth. The whole truth atleast. Never reveal to anyone that she; one of the girls elected possible Homecoming Queen, the soon to be cheer captain was unnormal. Was a- a mutant. One of the feared and hated-) A shiver ran through her and she frowned almost angrily (Stop it, Jean. Stop right there. Oh, my head hurts. Flits of thoughts still entering my head; can't seem to control it. Oh, god, I wish I weren't so alone)
"Do you agree, Jean? Jean? Earth to Jean Grey?"
She blinked hastily realizing she'd lost herself in her thoughts- again. She looked up at the girls at the table pulling up a faint smile. There were six of them. Across from her on the other side of the table sat Jennifer,
Jessica and Faith. Jennifer Pace had blue green eyes and a mix of blonde-brown hair. She was usually the sorta the really peppy one of them. Jessica Dual had golden blond hair that fell in spirals and bright blue eyes, she was a good cheerleader and wonderful pep leader, but sometimes lacked a little when it came to confidence. Faith Avin had straight black hair and these gray to violet eyes. She was the smallest and quietest of them all. When she said something they all stopped to listen.
Then on her side of the table it was her in the middle, Melissa sat at her right and Belinda on her left. Melissa Tryios was her closest friend at the school, but never her best friend. That was something she could never left Melissa be inside yet- not since Anne. Belinda Seymour, at her left, had long brown hair and these sparkling green eyes with little gold flecks. She was usually always what seemed too hyper to Jean.
"Jeannie? You okay?"
She blinked; that was Faith a slightly worried look on her face and Jean nodded, pushing her thoughts away with a cover;
"Yeah, hey don't worry, sorry my mind wandered and I was thinking about the ending I was making for the new formation Coach started us on. Where were we?"
"There's are soon to be leader! Always thinking ahead already. We were talking about the Homecoming Dance theme," explained Jessica," Belinda say says Marine Life, Melissa say 20's or something, Jennifer says something related to rare exotic flowers. And me and Faith, really don't have any ideas. We need money tight ideas, cause we haven't much to spend; what do you think?"
Jean watched Jessica closely as she spoke, but she was hearing two different sets of conversations. One was words, the other was thoughts. Jessica was helping Belinda's boyfriend, Matt to cheat on her. It had all been purely innocent at first; she'd only been tutoring him in Pre-Calculus and things progressed from there. She tried to push the thoughts away pulling on her thoughtful idea expression to cover her silence.
"Maybe something like an old fashion square dance or barn dance? I always like the old fashion ones sorta; they seem more realistic and romantic."
"Well, I don't know, what would we use for decorations?" asked Belinda.
"Umm, lets see, it's fall- we could……I know we could gather real leaves and spray paint them in all sorts of colors and hay bails and such?"
"Catering?" Jennifer added.
"Ahhh, we could make homemade snacks and such. Punch and sweets. Faith's mom is a baker; maybe she could make us a cake."
"Pictures, Jeanie? What would we do there??? Every dance needs photographs for memories," Melissa chimed in.
"We could- we could get the photojournalism group involved. Maybe even get it to be extra credit for them! And then- and then- we could use all the extra money we get and- and donate it to something good. Something like the Endangered Animal Fund," she smiled brightly as she finished it, "What do you think?"
"I love it!" Squealed Jessica.
"Me, too," Faith smiled.
"There three!" piped in Jennifer.
Melissa grinned, "You know I'm in for all of Jeannie' brainy ideas!"
"I think it's great, too," Belinda said.
"Well, then I guess I can call this meeting to an end;" Jessica said brightly as she started standing up and getting out of the table; "I hope to see you all tomorrow morning for early practice, remember we do have basketball game tomorrow night."
They all scattered suddenly with faint mummers of saying they'd be there. Jean slung her backpack over her shoulder, picked up her duffel bag and gathered up her books holding them to her and started walking out quietly. Melissa walked up nudged her shoulder with her shoulder, faint whisper;
"Who were you day dreaming about?"
"What?" Her eyes were on her books as she tried to not pay attention to the swirl in her thoughts.
"You can't play it off, Red, you know I won't let you. You've been lost and dreamy state for days now. What did you do? Did you kiss some full blown hottie and not tell me? Are you sitting and day dreaming 'bout some guy you can't tell me 'bout, Jeannie???"
Jean laughed suddenly unable to keep it in;" It's nothing like that, 'Lissa. You know if there was a somebody I'd tell you immediately."
"The guy?"
"There isn't one."
"Sure there isn't, Red. There must be one somewhere in that mind of yours. Come on, tell me bout him."
"Like you and Brad?" It slipped suddenly and a hand went to Jeans lips, because Melissa had never ever mentioned him outloud. She averted her eyes looking down, hoping Melissa had missed that.
"W-w-what do you know about Brad?"
Jean kept her eyes forward, dropping her books, duffel and backpack on the bench since they'd finally reached the front of the school, walking to the bars holding the front part up, one her hands on one. They always waited right here.
"Well, it's just I've noticed you get this dreamy look watching him and how you get when he's around the group. It's natural I've come to the conclusion you like him, 'Lissa, Not that there's anything wrong with him, he kind cute in that Devin Sawa look, I guess."
"Yeah, I guess I like him. There I've finally said it out loud. I still swear there must be someone you think about like that, too," Melissa replied walking towards the column nearest Jean and leaning against it, looking at her.
"I don't have time for romance yet, 'Lissa."
"And what all do you have standing in your way of romance?"
Faintest sigh escaped Jean's lips;
"First of all there's school, and my A average grades, which take tons of studying, homework and extra credit to keep up. Then there's cheerleading a practice, all the games, tumbling lessons and gymnastics for cheerleading, and soon all the extra work of being the Captain of the Cheer Squad. Then there's being a good daughter, chores, and all that. I don't have time for a guy in there, 'Lissa."
She frowned faintly, closing her eyes a second. (Not to mention my being a mutant who gets everyone thoughts stuck inside her head)
"Not even him?"
Jean opened her eyes suddenly at the words, looking around at all the sparse people walking around this late in the evening after school.
"Who?"
"Him." Melissa pointed almost directly in front across the parking lot, to one guy standing against a telephone pole, seeming to be waiting for something. "He's been watching us since we came out. But I think more that he's watching you."
Almost at that same second Jeans eyes landed on the guy and she a shiver ran down her back. It was him, again. The guy from the game a week ago almost. He was dressed in dark pants and the same trench coat. It was daylight and it still didn't seem any easier to make him out from so far away and at that second he looked up at her. Their eyes met again. She couldn't look away and he didn't.
Suddenly, a van drove up parking in her line of sight and she blinked confused a hand going to her head as kids started piling into that van.
"Jeanie? You okay?"
She looked up, Melissa was looking at her.
"Yeah, I- I'm okay."
The van door slammed closed and drove off, and she looked away, not even hearing
Melissa's words as her eyes fell on the form again. He wasn't alone anymore; three other people had joined him now. What were they talking about? A sudden car horn jarred her thoughts and she realized Melissa's mom was there to pick them up now. She jumped and jotted back, grabbing her backpack, duffel bag and her other books. And walking back, she glanced back one at the small group. He was talking seriously with them. She could tell from here, but about what? And who was he and why did he show up out of the blue? Did he go to her school?
********************************************************************************
"So then the radial under the square root box under division bar can be divided by the non-denominator, right? Even if it's another square root?"
Melissa looked up miserably from her math book where she was laying on Jeans bed and with a faint grins Jean looked back at her from her bed room window where she'd been staring out.
"Nope. Only the radical in the square root box over the division bar can be divisible by the non-denominator through the whole multiplication problem and when it's another square root it can only be reduced, not divided, 'Lissa."
"How do you keep it all straight, Jeannie??? I can't even understand my own words with all these terms, and I can see no way in hell to pass that test."
"Come on, you know it. You'll pass the test, don't worry so much."
"Melissa, Hun? Your mom's here."
They both looked at each other a second as Mrs. Grey called Melissa and they grinned lightly as Jean tossed their spiral in Melissa backpack and then Melissa took it placing her book in it. Melissa smiled lightly;
"Get a good night of sleep, Jeannie and I'll see you in the morning, okay?"
"Sure thing, 'Lissa, you, too"
They hugged each other for a second and Melissa walked out and left. Picking up her book as the front door slammed shut, and opened it reading one page. Then suddenly she shut the book, her mind wasn't on reading. She shifted positions and was lying on the bed with her head on her hands at the end of the bed and her feet near her pillows.
(Do I really want to be the Cheer Captain? God, do I really want to think about the point I'm probably going to end up Homecoming Queen too? How can anyone like me lead a normal life? Maybe I should tell 'Lissa. Would she understand? Or would she suddenly be afraid of me- her closest friend? I mean I guess I could understand part of it. I've kept this serious secret from her so long. She's be angry, but that would make sense. But would she understand? She's normal still, like I was 6 years ago. Before Anne died, before the depression, and before Doctor Xavier.)
