Sorry it took so long, but here it is!! Yipes, late for work, gotta run!!!
Update: Ugh, I HAD to fix some spelling mistakes, they were killing me! Anyway, I'll say it now, thanx to everyone who reviewed!!! You guys are who keep me writing! Anywho, I'm working this one out, but it's still a little tough. I may not post for a while, because I may want to just write the whole rest of the story now before I post anything further. Anyway, you guys let me know! Review!
Disclaimer: "Don't use that tone with me! That sarcastic, contemptuous tone that means you know everything, because you're a man, and I know nothing, because I'm a woman!" "You're not a woman" "OH! You BASTARD!"
~&~
"Excellent work Torey. Keep up that concentration."
Torey stood, concentration etched on her face, eyes closed. Her body glowed with electricity as the light bulb before her dimmed.
"Good girl," the Professor praised. "Now, I want you to stop, but hold on to the energy. Let go of the light bulb."
Torey grunted slightly as she let go of the light, but tried to keep control of the energy within her. Jeez, it was difficult.
"Very good. Now channel the energy, Torey. See if you can use it. Try to hit that mark over there." Torey looked at the mark on the other side of the Danger Room. She outstretched her arms, and then looked to the Professor, very unsure. He nodded for her to continue, so she closed her eyes again, concentrating as she released her balled fists, in an attempt to hit the target. Instead of an intended beam of electricity, there was a erratic spray, hitting random spots all over the room. Torey dropped her head shamefully. "Sorry."
He wheeled closer to her. "It's quite alright, my child. We've only been working on this for a week. Don't get so disappointed, you are doing wonderfully. But what is the most important thing to remember?"
"Con-" she began slowly, sounding out the word. "Con-cen-tra-tion."
"Excellent. Now, it's nearly time for your speech lesson with Ororo. You run along and get changed."
She smiled at the Professor and waved goodbye as she ran back to her room. It had been a very eventful week for her. She had been doing intensive, two hour training sessions with the Professor twice every day, while also working on her language skills with Ororo. She was almost able to form complete sentences and was incredibly proud of herself. Kurt had been visiting her in her room daily, when he came home from school, and he had eventually convinced her to meet the others. He was right, they seemed very nice, and were very happy to meet her. But she still preferred the privacy her room awarded her. She was still taking her meals in her room. It wasn't that she was afraid of the others, anymore. She just didn't know how to speak to them yet. When she got better with her language, she thought, then she'd make friends.
Torey walked into her bathroom, and turned to her reflection in the mirror. It thrilled her to no end to see herself. There were no mirrors at the facility, and she remembers how shocked she had been upon first seeing herself again. She looked older than she remembered.
Memories weren't coming as easily to Torey as speech and control of her power was. The Professor said it was because the collar had been on for so long, that her brain has forgotten how to retrieve them. She didn't exactly understand that, but didn't question it, nonetheless. The Professor had full confidence she would regain her memories, it was just a matter of time. But Torey didn't like waiting.
She stepped out of the shower and picked out a shirt and pants to wear. She checked the clock. Ororo would be expecting her. She hurriedly put on her clothes and towel dried her hair. A loud 'BAMF' startled her.
"Late again, eh?" Kurt asked, hanging from her ceiling.
"KURT!" she threw a pillow at him, angrily. "I could have be naked!"
"If only I were so lucky!" Kurt sighed, dramatically. Torey giggled as Kurt leapt down from the ceiling. "Miss Munroe is waiting for you downstairs."
"I know," Torey walked with Kurt to the door. "You take me?"
"But of course, mien liebchen," Kurt grabbed her arm and ported her to the library, where Ororo was waiting.
~&~
The lesson went very well. Ororo told her she was doing wonderfully, but she didn't feel that way. She thought she should be far more advanced at this point, and it frustrated her that she was moving forward so slowly. Torey spent some time with Kurt after the lesson, mainly watching TV or talking. Evan joined them to watch "The Simpsons", which made Torey slightly unnerved. Dinner time was approaching, and she was preparing to go back to her room. She stood to say goodbye to Kurt and Evan, when Kurt grabbed her arm.
"Where are you going? There's still another episode," Kurt told her.
Torey just shook her head and motioned toward the stairs. She pulled her arm from Kurt's grasp, only to have Evan catch her other hand. "Yeah, chill for a while!"
She withdrew her hand from him sharply. Evan, feeling as if he had crossed some unspoken line, apologized.
Torey sighed and shook her head. She forced a smile and waved at the two, walking toward the door, to see Kurt already standing in her way.
"Torey, you can't hide in your room forever." She tried to walk around him, but he blocked every way out. "Come on! You've met them all already, what's the big deal? Just come and eat with us!"
"No," she whispered to him.
"Why not?"
"No," she repeated, looking nervously toward Evan. "I can't."
Kurt sighed. Stepping to one side, he said. "We all want to be your friends, Torey. You just have to let us."
~&~
Torey lay in her room, thinking over what had just happened. She really shouldn't be hiding like this anymore. She wasn't afraid of them, that wasn't the problem at all. She was just embarrassed about her abilities. Very embarrassed. She could barely make a sentence! How would they react to that? She could only imagine. She glanced at her clock. Dinner would be ready any minute. Oh God, could she do it?
Torey rolled over again, fighting a battle in her head. If she did go down there, what could happen? They could laugh at her, for not being able to speak like a human being. But they didn't really seem like the type to do that. Ok, what else could happen? Well, being around so many people, anything could happen. What if she accidentally drained someone? That wouldn't be good. But, then again, she had been working so hard with the Professor, that that was not a likely scenario. So, what was she so afraid of?
Nevertheless, she was terrified. Torey got out of her bed and looked into her mirror, working up the courage. She was going to do it.
~&~
"Yo, K-man, what's with the chica?" Evan asked as the two made their way to the dining room. "She always seems so scared of everyone."
"I dunno," Kurt answered. He didn't want to break Torey's trust by telling Evan anything. "She'll come around eventually, I guess."
Everyone was already waiting in the dining room for them when they entered and found their seats.
"Way to be on time, guys," Kitty jeered.
"Well, we heard you were cooking, so-" Kurt started, only to receive a punch in the arm from Kitty.
"Well, now that we have all arrived-" the Professor started.
"We can eat!" Bobby reached over and laid claim to the mashed potatoes.
Ororo pulled them away. "Why don't you let me serve them, Bobby? I guess I'll have to make a plate for Torey again tonight. Kurt, would you-" Ororo stopped as she glanced toward the doorway. They all looked up to see Torey standing there.
The Professor broke the silence. "Well, it's wonderful of you to join us tonight, Torey."
Torey gave a nervous smile and looked around the table at the others. They were all smiling warmly at her.
"Yeah, like, grab a seat!" Kitty said, patting the one next to her.
Torey inched towards it, finally sitting down. She looked over to Kurt who was smiling at her. He gave her a wink and she smiled. 'Ok,' she thought. 'This is it! You're here. Now don't do anything stupid.'
"So, Torey," Jean said, as she passed the chicken along. "How have you liked the mansion so far?"
Torey just nodded and smiled. Jean raised her eyebrow slightly.
"Torey, language, remember?" Ororo admonished. "Use your words."
Torey sighed. She was not getting out of this easy. "It's good."
"Yeah, the mansion is great," Kitty began. "There's even, like, a swimming pool in the back for when it gets warmer, of course."
Torey just smiled and started on her meal. There was a bit of silence, then Scott spoke up.
"Are you going to be starting school soon?"
"Uh," she began. She looked to the Professor for help.
"Torey is not yet ready for public school. She still has a ways to go with her language skills before she can attend." he explained.
"Well, I wouldn't say a ways, Charles," Ororo spoke up. "She's really been doing marvelously. You should be very proud of yourself, Torey."
"So, what, you can't talk or somethin?" Rogue asked, picking at her food.
"I don't..talk..good," she managed to get out, shakily.
"Yeah, well, like, neither do Evan or Kurt," Kitty quipped.
"Hey, it's not my problem your language is completely backward," Kurt responded.
"And, like, Kitty, like, you're like, not one to, like, talk," Evan added, giving Kurt a high five in the process.
Torey giggled as Kitty slumped back in her chair angrily. Evan was funny. She tried to relax as the meal went on. She even participated in some of the conversation, although very limited.
"Hey, you guys," Jean stood up to bring her plate into the kitchen. "I rented a few DVD's, and they're due back tomorrow."
"Alright, movie night!" Bobby cheered as he cleared his own place.
The other got up and began clearing the table. Torey stood shakily, and followed them into the kitchen. They laughed and joked as they cleaned up after dinner. Torey watched, helping dry the dishes. They all still made her slightly nervous.
"So, Torey, you gonna watch movie's with us?" Kitty asked as she put away the glasses.
"Uh." she stammered looking from person to person. They seemed to want her there. But was she ready to really hang out with them all? Her eyes fell on Kurt. He gave her a pleading look. She sighed. For him, she'd do it. "Ok. I will."
~&~
She had fun. Actually, she had a great time! Evan and Bobby made funny comments all night, annoying Kitty and Jean. Finally, Jean telekinetically threw the bowl of popcorn at them, and this started a huge fight. Just popcorn and couch cushions flying everywhere. It was broken up when Logan arrived.
"Ok, that's it, bed!" He ordered. The kids all scampered upstairs hurriedly, hoping not to be singled out for an early morning training session.
Torey collapsed on her bed, still giggling from the nights happenings. She turned over, about to get up and get changed, when she was greeted by a familiar 'BAMF'.
"I told you they were fun!" Kurt said to her.
She just laughed in response. She hadn't ever had so much fun in her life.
Kurt moved closer. "Now, aren't you glad you decided to join us?"
Torey nodded. "I have fun."
"Very good, mien liebchen. Now, off to bed with us, eh?" Kurt was about to port away, when Torey threw her arms around him.
"Thank you, Kurt," she said, her eyes tearing slightly. "You my best friend."
Kurt smiled and hugged her back. "Anytime, fraulien."
~&~
"Mutants are a menace to society!" Logan scowled at the image of Senator Bradley on television. He just couldn't seem to get away from the man lately. He was even on the cover of the newspaper again today.
"Ah, is our dear friend on television again?" The Professor asked, wheeling himself into the kitchen for his morning coffee.
"Yup, man I'd love to meet him," Logan replied, brandishing his claws, menacingly. "I'd show him a menace."
Charles chuckled. "Somehow, I don't feel that that would aid our cause, my friend."
Torey walked sleepily into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. Suddenly, she heard a voice. A voice she had never heard before, but somehow sounded familiar. Her eyes snapped open, and focused on the TV, just as the Professor shut it off.
"Well, good morning, Torey," he greeted. "You slept well?"
"Yes," she nodded, going to the cupboard for some Fruit Loops. She sat down at the table with a bowl and poured herself some cereal. She stopped dead when she saw the newspaper. The man on the cover. There was something about him. She felt something in the back of her head, the tiniest glint of recognition. Why did she know him? She focused on him further, when the Professor reached over and grabbed the paper away, dropping it in the trash can.
"Foolish people make foolish statements," he said. "It's best we just ignore them."
Torey nodded, thinking about the image she saw. Who was he? And why was he so familiar?
"Yeah, and Bradley's about as foolish as they come," Logan added.
The Professor glared at Logan for a second, as Torey took in the name. Bradley, that was definitely familiar.
'It's not important, Torey,' she felt the Professor say to her inside her head. 'He is just another anti-mutant rallier. Don't waste your time thinking about him.'
Torey narrowed her eyes a bit. Here there was something that was sparking memories in her, why would the Professor want to hinder that? Her thought were broken as the rest of the institute wandered in for breakfast. She returned to her own, but still wondered.
~&~
The plot thickens! This is the longest chapter yet, and it took forever. Oh, and Neva, remember when I said no Anti-Xavier?? Well, let's just see. My ideas for this story have changed.......REVIEW!!!!!!
Update: Oh yes, Neva.....they have changed.....
Update: Ugh, I HAD to fix some spelling mistakes, they were killing me! Anyway, I'll say it now, thanx to everyone who reviewed!!! You guys are who keep me writing! Anywho, I'm working this one out, but it's still a little tough. I may not post for a while, because I may want to just write the whole rest of the story now before I post anything further. Anyway, you guys let me know! Review!
Disclaimer: "Don't use that tone with me! That sarcastic, contemptuous tone that means you know everything, because you're a man, and I know nothing, because I'm a woman!" "You're not a woman" "OH! You BASTARD!"
~&~
"Excellent work Torey. Keep up that concentration."
Torey stood, concentration etched on her face, eyes closed. Her body glowed with electricity as the light bulb before her dimmed.
"Good girl," the Professor praised. "Now, I want you to stop, but hold on to the energy. Let go of the light bulb."
Torey grunted slightly as she let go of the light, but tried to keep control of the energy within her. Jeez, it was difficult.
"Very good. Now channel the energy, Torey. See if you can use it. Try to hit that mark over there." Torey looked at the mark on the other side of the Danger Room. She outstretched her arms, and then looked to the Professor, very unsure. He nodded for her to continue, so she closed her eyes again, concentrating as she released her balled fists, in an attempt to hit the target. Instead of an intended beam of electricity, there was a erratic spray, hitting random spots all over the room. Torey dropped her head shamefully. "Sorry."
He wheeled closer to her. "It's quite alright, my child. We've only been working on this for a week. Don't get so disappointed, you are doing wonderfully. But what is the most important thing to remember?"
"Con-" she began slowly, sounding out the word. "Con-cen-tra-tion."
"Excellent. Now, it's nearly time for your speech lesson with Ororo. You run along and get changed."
She smiled at the Professor and waved goodbye as she ran back to her room. It had been a very eventful week for her. She had been doing intensive, two hour training sessions with the Professor twice every day, while also working on her language skills with Ororo. She was almost able to form complete sentences and was incredibly proud of herself. Kurt had been visiting her in her room daily, when he came home from school, and he had eventually convinced her to meet the others. He was right, they seemed very nice, and were very happy to meet her. But she still preferred the privacy her room awarded her. She was still taking her meals in her room. It wasn't that she was afraid of the others, anymore. She just didn't know how to speak to them yet. When she got better with her language, she thought, then she'd make friends.
Torey walked into her bathroom, and turned to her reflection in the mirror. It thrilled her to no end to see herself. There were no mirrors at the facility, and she remembers how shocked she had been upon first seeing herself again. She looked older than she remembered.
Memories weren't coming as easily to Torey as speech and control of her power was. The Professor said it was because the collar had been on for so long, that her brain has forgotten how to retrieve them. She didn't exactly understand that, but didn't question it, nonetheless. The Professor had full confidence she would regain her memories, it was just a matter of time. But Torey didn't like waiting.
She stepped out of the shower and picked out a shirt and pants to wear. She checked the clock. Ororo would be expecting her. She hurriedly put on her clothes and towel dried her hair. A loud 'BAMF' startled her.
"Late again, eh?" Kurt asked, hanging from her ceiling.
"KURT!" she threw a pillow at him, angrily. "I could have be naked!"
"If only I were so lucky!" Kurt sighed, dramatically. Torey giggled as Kurt leapt down from the ceiling. "Miss Munroe is waiting for you downstairs."
"I know," Torey walked with Kurt to the door. "You take me?"
"But of course, mien liebchen," Kurt grabbed her arm and ported her to the library, where Ororo was waiting.
~&~
The lesson went very well. Ororo told her she was doing wonderfully, but she didn't feel that way. She thought she should be far more advanced at this point, and it frustrated her that she was moving forward so slowly. Torey spent some time with Kurt after the lesson, mainly watching TV or talking. Evan joined them to watch "The Simpsons", which made Torey slightly unnerved. Dinner time was approaching, and she was preparing to go back to her room. She stood to say goodbye to Kurt and Evan, when Kurt grabbed her arm.
"Where are you going? There's still another episode," Kurt told her.
Torey just shook her head and motioned toward the stairs. She pulled her arm from Kurt's grasp, only to have Evan catch her other hand. "Yeah, chill for a while!"
She withdrew her hand from him sharply. Evan, feeling as if he had crossed some unspoken line, apologized.
Torey sighed and shook her head. She forced a smile and waved at the two, walking toward the door, to see Kurt already standing in her way.
"Torey, you can't hide in your room forever." She tried to walk around him, but he blocked every way out. "Come on! You've met them all already, what's the big deal? Just come and eat with us!"
"No," she whispered to him.
"Why not?"
"No," she repeated, looking nervously toward Evan. "I can't."
Kurt sighed. Stepping to one side, he said. "We all want to be your friends, Torey. You just have to let us."
~&~
Torey lay in her room, thinking over what had just happened. She really shouldn't be hiding like this anymore. She wasn't afraid of them, that wasn't the problem at all. She was just embarrassed about her abilities. Very embarrassed. She could barely make a sentence! How would they react to that? She could only imagine. She glanced at her clock. Dinner would be ready any minute. Oh God, could she do it?
Torey rolled over again, fighting a battle in her head. If she did go down there, what could happen? They could laugh at her, for not being able to speak like a human being. But they didn't really seem like the type to do that. Ok, what else could happen? Well, being around so many people, anything could happen. What if she accidentally drained someone? That wouldn't be good. But, then again, she had been working so hard with the Professor, that that was not a likely scenario. So, what was she so afraid of?
Nevertheless, she was terrified. Torey got out of her bed and looked into her mirror, working up the courage. She was going to do it.
~&~
"Yo, K-man, what's with the chica?" Evan asked as the two made their way to the dining room. "She always seems so scared of everyone."
"I dunno," Kurt answered. He didn't want to break Torey's trust by telling Evan anything. "She'll come around eventually, I guess."
Everyone was already waiting in the dining room for them when they entered and found their seats.
"Way to be on time, guys," Kitty jeered.
"Well, we heard you were cooking, so-" Kurt started, only to receive a punch in the arm from Kitty.
"Well, now that we have all arrived-" the Professor started.
"We can eat!" Bobby reached over and laid claim to the mashed potatoes.
Ororo pulled them away. "Why don't you let me serve them, Bobby? I guess I'll have to make a plate for Torey again tonight. Kurt, would you-" Ororo stopped as she glanced toward the doorway. They all looked up to see Torey standing there.
The Professor broke the silence. "Well, it's wonderful of you to join us tonight, Torey."
Torey gave a nervous smile and looked around the table at the others. They were all smiling warmly at her.
"Yeah, like, grab a seat!" Kitty said, patting the one next to her.
Torey inched towards it, finally sitting down. She looked over to Kurt who was smiling at her. He gave her a wink and she smiled. 'Ok,' she thought. 'This is it! You're here. Now don't do anything stupid.'
"So, Torey," Jean said, as she passed the chicken along. "How have you liked the mansion so far?"
Torey just nodded and smiled. Jean raised her eyebrow slightly.
"Torey, language, remember?" Ororo admonished. "Use your words."
Torey sighed. She was not getting out of this easy. "It's good."
"Yeah, the mansion is great," Kitty began. "There's even, like, a swimming pool in the back for when it gets warmer, of course."
Torey just smiled and started on her meal. There was a bit of silence, then Scott spoke up.
"Are you going to be starting school soon?"
"Uh," she began. She looked to the Professor for help.
"Torey is not yet ready for public school. She still has a ways to go with her language skills before she can attend." he explained.
"Well, I wouldn't say a ways, Charles," Ororo spoke up. "She's really been doing marvelously. You should be very proud of yourself, Torey."
"So, what, you can't talk or somethin?" Rogue asked, picking at her food.
"I don't..talk..good," she managed to get out, shakily.
"Yeah, well, like, neither do Evan or Kurt," Kitty quipped.
"Hey, it's not my problem your language is completely backward," Kurt responded.
"And, like, Kitty, like, you're like, not one to, like, talk," Evan added, giving Kurt a high five in the process.
Torey giggled as Kitty slumped back in her chair angrily. Evan was funny. She tried to relax as the meal went on. She even participated in some of the conversation, although very limited.
"Hey, you guys," Jean stood up to bring her plate into the kitchen. "I rented a few DVD's, and they're due back tomorrow."
"Alright, movie night!" Bobby cheered as he cleared his own place.
The other got up and began clearing the table. Torey stood shakily, and followed them into the kitchen. They laughed and joked as they cleaned up after dinner. Torey watched, helping dry the dishes. They all still made her slightly nervous.
"So, Torey, you gonna watch movie's with us?" Kitty asked as she put away the glasses.
"Uh." she stammered looking from person to person. They seemed to want her there. But was she ready to really hang out with them all? Her eyes fell on Kurt. He gave her a pleading look. She sighed. For him, she'd do it. "Ok. I will."
~&~
She had fun. Actually, she had a great time! Evan and Bobby made funny comments all night, annoying Kitty and Jean. Finally, Jean telekinetically threw the bowl of popcorn at them, and this started a huge fight. Just popcorn and couch cushions flying everywhere. It was broken up when Logan arrived.
"Ok, that's it, bed!" He ordered. The kids all scampered upstairs hurriedly, hoping not to be singled out for an early morning training session.
Torey collapsed on her bed, still giggling from the nights happenings. She turned over, about to get up and get changed, when she was greeted by a familiar 'BAMF'.
"I told you they were fun!" Kurt said to her.
She just laughed in response. She hadn't ever had so much fun in her life.
Kurt moved closer. "Now, aren't you glad you decided to join us?"
Torey nodded. "I have fun."
"Very good, mien liebchen. Now, off to bed with us, eh?" Kurt was about to port away, when Torey threw her arms around him.
"Thank you, Kurt," she said, her eyes tearing slightly. "You my best friend."
Kurt smiled and hugged her back. "Anytime, fraulien."
~&~
"Mutants are a menace to society!" Logan scowled at the image of Senator Bradley on television. He just couldn't seem to get away from the man lately. He was even on the cover of the newspaper again today.
"Ah, is our dear friend on television again?" The Professor asked, wheeling himself into the kitchen for his morning coffee.
"Yup, man I'd love to meet him," Logan replied, brandishing his claws, menacingly. "I'd show him a menace."
Charles chuckled. "Somehow, I don't feel that that would aid our cause, my friend."
Torey walked sleepily into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. Suddenly, she heard a voice. A voice she had never heard before, but somehow sounded familiar. Her eyes snapped open, and focused on the TV, just as the Professor shut it off.
"Well, good morning, Torey," he greeted. "You slept well?"
"Yes," she nodded, going to the cupboard for some Fruit Loops. She sat down at the table with a bowl and poured herself some cereal. She stopped dead when she saw the newspaper. The man on the cover. There was something about him. She felt something in the back of her head, the tiniest glint of recognition. Why did she know him? She focused on him further, when the Professor reached over and grabbed the paper away, dropping it in the trash can.
"Foolish people make foolish statements," he said. "It's best we just ignore them."
Torey nodded, thinking about the image she saw. Who was he? And why was he so familiar?
"Yeah, and Bradley's about as foolish as they come," Logan added.
The Professor glared at Logan for a second, as Torey took in the name. Bradley, that was definitely familiar.
'It's not important, Torey,' she felt the Professor say to her inside her head. 'He is just another anti-mutant rallier. Don't waste your time thinking about him.'
Torey narrowed her eyes a bit. Here there was something that was sparking memories in her, why would the Professor want to hinder that? Her thought were broken as the rest of the institute wandered in for breakfast. She returned to her own, but still wondered.
~&~
The plot thickens! This is the longest chapter yet, and it took forever. Oh, and Neva, remember when I said no Anti-Xavier?? Well, let's just see. My ideas for this story have changed.......REVIEW!!!!!!
Update: Oh yes, Neva.....they have changed.....