Generation X
Back from the Grave
Bobby ran over, and he lifted Isabella off the floor, and onto the sofa, putting her head on Kitty's knees, and Scott ran over.
"What happened?" asked the Professor.
"I just told her who Jean was and she fainted," said Rogue.
Jean carefully inched over, saw Isabella's face, put her hand to her mouth, and gasped.
"Jean, can you--" he saw her face. "Jean?"
Jean turned around and ran. Bobby gently slapped her face, and Isabella slowly opened her eyes.
"What-- what happened?" asked Isabella.
"You fainted," answered Bobby.
"Me? Faint? Why-it-it can't be," she whispered.
"What can't be?" asked Scott.
"Nothing, my imagination got away with me."
"That doesn't cause you to faint."
"I thought someone was someone else. It's nothin'."
"All right, but just in case, go get something to eat."
"Okay."
Bobby took Isabella to the kitchen, and they ate together, then he walked her to her room, where Rogue, Jubilee, and Kitty were waiting.
"Maybe I could give you the tour tomorrow?" he suggested.
"I'd like that. Good night, Bobby."
She went into her room. The three girls were sitting on her bed.
"So, we've heard all the rumors about you, so what's true and what's not?" said Jubilee.
"Way to be blunt " said Rogue, sarcastically.
Isabella laughed.
"It's all right, well, what have you heard?" said Isabella.
"That you used to date Bobby Drake," said Jubilee.
"Not true, we've been friends for a long time, and we'll never be more than that."
"That you threw you dad through a wall."
"Not true." The looked disappointed. "I pushed him through a wall, I didn't throw him, Suga."
They laughed. They talked and gossiped about everyone in school, until the three finally went to their own rooms. The next morning, she walked down the stairs, late, brushing her mid- back length dark red hair, her bright blue eyes shining, and saw Scott.
"Hey, you wanna lift to school?" he asked.
"Sure."
Isabella hopped into the car.
"You feeling better?"
"Well, I am kinda hungry."
"They have breakfast at school."
"They did that at my old school."
"Where are you from?"
"Raleigh, North Carolina, by way of New York City, by way of Boston, by way of Annadale-on-the-Hudson."
"Ah."
A few minutes later, they pulled up at Bayville High, and went inside for breakfast, then, she saw her. Isabella felt the anger rise in her face, she grabbed the closest thing to her and squeezed it, pretending it to be her head. Kitty came up behind her.
"Like, c'mon, Isabella, you can sit with us."
"Okay."
Isabella followed her, and she sat down, across from Jean, Scott and some others.
"Isabella, you know Scott, that's Kurt, that's Evan, you know Rogue, and Jubilee, and Bobby and Amara, and those down there are the Brotherhood, stay away form them," she whispered. "And there's Jean, she's the star forward on our soccer team."
"We've met," growled Isabella.
"Made a lasting impression, Jean?" asked a guy with silver hair at the other end with the Brotherhood.
"Bite me, Pietro," Jean said.
Everyone stared at her.
"So, playing Commie Kickball, now, huh? Being a perfect, clean, sweet, straight freakin' A student wasn't good enough for you," hissed Isabella.
"What is your problem?"
"Nothing, bitch, nothing."
Isabella stood up and left the cafeteria. Jean put her head in her hands.
"What was that about?" asked Scott.
Jean stood up.
"Nothing."
She left. Isabella went into the office.
"May I help you?" asked the secretary.
"I'm Isabella Sulinski. I'm new here."
"Yes, yes, Charles Xavier called, here's your schedule, and all your things to begin your education here at Bayville High School. Would you like a Sidekick?" she asked.
Isabella looked at her blankly. What the hell was a sidekick? The secretary reminded Isabella of Grace from Ferris Buller's Day Off.
"A what?"
"A sidekick, to show you around the premises, and to your classes."
"No thanks."
She probably needed one, but she declined out of worry she might get Miss Perfect.
She left the office and found Rogue.
"Hey, Ah see you got yer stuff," she said.
"Yea, hey, could you help me out finding all my classes?"
"Why didn't you get a sidekick?" Isabella looked at her, giving her the 'Why- the- hell- do- you- think?' look. "Oh."
"Yea, I've had enough of her."
"How do you know her?"
The bell rang to tell them to get to class.
"All right, first, I have Algebra II with.. Beihauser. room 312, where's that?"
"Follow Scott, that's the same class as his."
"Thanks."
Isabella saw Scott, and caught up with him.
"Hey Isabella," he said, seeing her.
"Hey Scott. Rumor has it, I'm in the same first period class as you."
He looked at her schedule.
"Yep, rumor's right, c'mon."
They made their way though the crowd, trying not to get separated, or Isabella would never find the classroom. When they got there, Scott sat in the back, and Isabella looked around for an open seat. Scott pointed to the seat next to him, and Isabella went and sat next to him. She pulled out a notebook, and a pen, her calculator, and a pencil.
"Thanks for lettin' me sit next to ya."
"No problem. You prepare much?"
"Habit."
The teacher walked in, and looked over her class, noticing Isabella.
"Hey! Are you supposed to be here?" she bellowed.
She was a small, stout woman of forty give or take, she had pale hair and eyes.
"Yes."
Isabella stood and gave her the sheet telling her about the addition to her class. She went to the computer and looked at something.
"Oh yeah, here ya go," said Ms. Beihauser, tossing a book to Isabella.
Isabella caught it, even though she hadn't been paying much attention. Isabella sat down in her seat, and the teacher continued. The class ended and she went to second period, Chemistry. Rogue and Kurt were both in this class. The teacher was Mr. Black, he was tall, and somewhat handsome, he had to have been right out of college.
"He likes to pull pranks, so be on your guard," warned Kurt.
"I will, Suga. So, what's this class like? As boring as Algebra II?" asked Isabella.
"I like to think not!" came an excited reply.
Isabella turned around.
"You must be Mr. Black."
"And you must be Isabella. Come up to the front."
The bell rang and everyone sat in his or her seat.
"All right class. What do we say before class?"
"I promise to never goof off with explosive materials and other chemicals. I promise to be careful at all times. I promise to wear my goggles and aprons during all labs. I promise to put my safety before my lab. I promise to listen to the teacher's instructions and follow them carefully," said the entire class, as though they were zombies.
"Now, everyone, we have a new member of our group." He looked at Isabella. "Now, tell us a little about yourself.
"Hi, I'm Isabella, and I'm an alcoholic."
"Hi Isabella," most said, laughing.
"I have been alcohol- free for three weeks, since I was arrested." They all laughed. "Naw, I'm kiddin' I'm Isabella Sulinski. I run Cross Country, and my favorite sport is football. I'm from Raleigh, North Carolina. Um.. What else is there to know?"
"What size bra do you wear?" asked a guy in the front.
"None of your business."
"Please take a seat next to Chris, in the back," said Mr. Black.
Isabella went and sat down. Chris was tall, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. She sat next to him, and got out her stuff for class, looking forward, at the teacher.
"I'm Chris Jones."
"Isabella Sulinski," she replied, not facing him.
"How do you like Bayville?"
"I dunno yet. I just got here yesterday. I'm staying at Xavier's institute."
"Oh, then you must know Jean Grey."
Isabella sighed.
"Yes, I know her."
He laughed.
"You two don't get along, all ready?"
"I've known her longer than anyone here, that's why I don't like her. It's a LONG story."
"Well. Maybe you could tell me one night over dinner."
Isabella laughed, still not looking at him.
"I think it's a little soon to be asking me out, don't you? I mean all I know about you is that you're in my Chemistry class, and your name."
"So?"
"So, we need to get to know each other before we start dating."
"Fine, I'll ask you later."
Isabella laughed, and Rogue and Kurt looked at her, she shrugged. After that class, she looked at her schedule, and talked to Rogue. "What's the school's schedule like? Even/ Odd days, or A/B days or all classes everyday?"
"Even/ Odd."
"All right, so I go to fourth period, which is Drama, because I've completed three years of a language, and I never wanna see a French classroom again!"
Rogue laughed.
"Ah'm in Drama, and so is Kitty, she thought it would be 'cool,'" said Rogue.
"All right."
They walked into the Auditorium where the teacher Ms. Xander was waiting.
"OH!" she said with great flamboyancy. "You must be Isabella! Welcome to our class!"
"Hi."
"Now, tell us about your greatest accomplishment in Drama.
"Well, I didn't take it last year, but as a freshman, I put my friend Mike, who was a senior at the time, in a headlock that he couldn't get out if. It was REALLY funny. We were playing a game. The one where two people act out a scene, and then someone watching says 'Freeze' and then takes one of the two people's place, but changes the scene."
"Oh yes! We've played that game!"
After that class, Isabella ate lunch with Rogue and Kitty. They sat outside on bench, in the sun. Scott passed by and waved to Jean. Isabella watched Rogue's expression of disappointment.
"Ask him on a date," said Isabella.
Rogue looked at Isabella, thinking she had been talking to Kitty.
"Huh?" she said.
"Ask Scott on a date," she repeated.
"What? I don't even like him!"
Another girl sat with them.
"Hey Rogue," she said, sitting down.
"Hey Misty, this is Isabella, Isabella, this Misty."
"Hey," they said at the same time.
"Rogue, he needs someone before he goes insane."
Rogue rolled her eyes.
"He loves Jean."
Isabella sighed.
"Everyone loves Jean. What does he see that no one else does that makes her so special?"
They three other girls looked at Isabella.
"Why don't you like Jean?" asked Kitty.
"Long story, I don't have enough time to tell it."
Isabella sipped her water, and finished her lunch. The bell rang and they went to class. Isabella headed off to Gym, and met her teacher, Coach Granger.
"Hi, I'm Isabella Sulinski."
"Yea, yea, yea. Can you play football?"
"Tight end is my best position."
His face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"We're playing today, care to join us?"
"No clothes, no shoes, I got my schedule today."
"Are you fast?"
"I run Cross Country, but I wasn't the fastest on the team there."
"Oh! You have endurance! Perfect, I believe one of the girls will have an extra pair of shoes, and socks, and here's your uniform. Do you run Track?"
Isabella took the uniform and looked at it. It was a gray shirt with BHS printed across the front, and the shorts had a hawk on the bottom of the leg, and BHS on the other leg.
"I used to, but I don't like runnin' around in circles."
"Understandable. Do any of your girls have extra pairs of shoes or socks?" called Coach Granger. Two girls raised their hands. Jubilee was one of them. "Can this young lady borrow them?"
"Sure," said Jubilee, running out of the gym with socks and shoes, the other girl hadn't moved.
Jubilee gave them to Isabella.
"Thanks, Jubilee."
"No problem."
Isabella went in and got changed, then came back out, pulling her hair up into a ponytail.
"All right, Sulinski, you're tight end on the gray team. Go!"
She walked over to the gray team.
"I'm y'all's tight end," she said.
Some of the guys raised their eyebrows, Scott included.
"Really? Well, I would love to show you around school," said a blond guy, putting his arm around Isabella's shoulder.
She pushed his arm off. Then he grabbed her around her waist.
"Duncan, leave her alone, you have Jean-" began Scott.
Isabella pushed him away from her.
"Don't touch me after you've touched her, that's nasty," said Isabella.
"She's over there, Isabella," said Scott, waving to Jean.
Isabella looked over her shoulder, and saw her, then looked at Scott.
"You're one of them. You're one of the guys who worship the ground she walks on. Focus Summers, we're playing football. I'm tight end on Offense, on Defense, I'm right guard."
"Okay," said Duncan.
They got in formation; the red team had the ball. After a while of playing, class was almost over, they hiked the ball to the quarterback, and then he passed it to Jean. Isabella grinned and ran after her, two- hand- touching her to the ground. Jean stood up, a little dirt on her uniform.
"That's it, Isabella, now, it's on!" shouted Jean.
"And it wasn't before?!" Isabella yelled back.
Everyone in class had gathered around them, waiting for one of them to throw a punch.
"Oh, but now, now it's far, far worse."
"And before wasn't bad? Well, why did you go?" Isabella muttered
"I HAD to go!"
"No you didn't! "
"Isabella-"
"I can't do anything, can I?"
"What? Of cour-"
"No, I can't I can't even leave home without YOU HAUNTING ME!!!!!!"
"Don't do this!"
"Why not? I've waited three years. Why wait any longer?"
"We'll talk about this tonight!"
"Fine! What's a few hours?"
Isabella turned and ran out of the circle the class had formed around them. She was crying, but she didn't want anyone to see. Scott looked from Jean to Isabella, back and forth. Duncan went to Jean, and she hugged him, crying on his shoulder. Scott ran after Isabella.
"Isabella-" he called after her.
"Leave me alone, Scott."
"Can I do anything for you?"
"Not unless you can take me to Yale."
"Why Yale?"
"He's the only friend I have in the state of New York."
"All right, I'll take you after school."
She looked at him.
"You don't have to, I know you'd rather be with Jean. Everyone would."
"No, Jean can wait, I'd like to get to know you."
Isabella looked up at him, tears staining her face.
"Really?"
"Yep."
"All right, class! I'll see you on Friday," said Coach Granger.
The entire class went in, showered and got dressed. After school, Isabella saw Scott out front. Jean was walking toward him.
"Hey, Scott! Waiting for me?" she assumed.
Isabella stood right behind her.
"No," Jean was shocked. "I'm taking Isabella to see someone."
"Oh."
Jean walked away, and Isabella walked up to him.
"You didn't have to do that. You could've said yes, y'know," said Isabella.
"I know, but I said I'd take you to Yale, and I will."
"Thanks, Scott."
"You're welcome, hop in."
They got in, and buckled up.
"Hey Rogue!" Scott called.
The Gothic southerner turned around, and approached the car.
"Yea?"
"Can you do me a favor? Can you tell Professor Xavier we went to Yale, and we'll be back later tonight."
"All right."
"Thanks Rogue," he said.
"It's okay."
Isabella had seen how Rogue looked at Scott, at lunch. She handed Rogue a scrap of paper, and Scott drove off. Rogue opened it, and read it. 'I'm not taking him, don't worry. I just needed someone to talk to. We'll be back later, and when we return, ASK HIM OUT!!!!!' Rogue looked in the direction they'd gone, and headed back to Xavier's.
"So, what sports do you play?" Scott asked Isabella.
"I run. And my favorite sport is football, but I could never play it."
"Why?"
"My dad. He said I would never have a boyfriend if I played football."
"Rough, well, at least you have your parents."
"No, I'd rather not, I'd rather love them dead than hate them alive."
"Well, I thought I was an only child until recently."
"Yeah, I heard."
"You did?"
"I had Rogue, Kitty and Jubilee in my room last night, catching me up to everyone's lives."
He laughed. She could see why Rogue liked him. He seemed perfect, but Isabella didn't find it appealing at all.
"Well, what did you hear about me?"
"You're the leader of the X-Men, you have a brother who lives in Hawaii, your parents died, saving you and your brother, and you seem to be perfect in everyway, except you're a little bossy. Have rumors begun to spread about me, yet?"
He laughed.
"I heard you slept with Pyro."
"Pyro?."
"Yes, St. John."
"Oh! Well, we fell asleep watching a movie once, but we've never had sex."
"Mmmmhmmm," said Scott, sarcastically.
"So why don't you go after someone instead of chasing after Jean? I know of several girls all ready who'd rather have you chase them."
"Who?"
"Can't say, she'd kill me, but I told her to ask you on a date when she sees you next."
"Well-Jean-"
"Is with Duncan."
"I know, but-"
"Just take my advice on this, Jean wants what she can't have. You being unavailable, will make her come after you, and plus, you need to get out more! This girl, she'd change everything about herself for you, and you can't see it! Just like Jean can't see the love you have for her. She's blind, you shouldn't be. If you and Jean are meant to be, y'all will get together."
Scott looked at Isabella for a split second, then back to the road.
"Tell me."
"No, she'd kill me. You have to keep your eyes open, and watch for her, and if she doesn't ask you on a date, then I'll do it for her."
"You'll ask me on a date?"
"For her, not me. I've all ready got a guy trying to get me to go out with him."
"Who?"
"You're worse than the girls. And if you must know-"
"I must! I must!"
Isabella laughed.
"Chris Jones. I sit next to him in Chemistry."
"Oh, he's cool."
"As in he hangs with Duncan, or he's a nice guy."
"Nice guy."
"Good. I don't like Duncan, he's a jerk."
"Yea, I know."
"I don't know what Jean sees in him. I thought she was smart."
Finally, they reached Yale, and the students were all over campus.
"Scott, you can go ahead back, I'll find a way back."
"No way! I'm not leaving you here!"
"Chivalry isn't dead after all!" He sighed. "Did you just roll your eyes?"
He laughed.
"How could you tell?"
"I couldn't I just guessed."
He laughed again.
"I'll wait here, walk around for a while, giving you a chance to talk, and you can come back here when you're ready."
She smiled.
"Thanks, Scott, you saved my life."
"How?"
"You kept me from killing Jean and/ or myself."
He looked shocked. Isabella smiled, and he relaxed.
"Okay."
"Come on in, I want you to meet him."
"Who?"
"My friend, Taylor Marcus."
Someone turned around, and walked toward the car, as Isabella and Scott got out.
"Did you say Taylor Marcus?" the guy asked.
"Yes, why?"
"That's my roommate. I'm Alex Hamilton."
"Hi, I'm Isabella Sulinski, and this is my friend Scott Summers."
"Hello," said Scott.
"Do you know where Taylor is now?"
"Where else would he be?" asked Alex.
"He's either running, or studying, or talking on the phone."
Alex laughed.
"You know him well, he's studying and talking on the phone, he's up in our room. C'mon, I'll show you."
Isabella nodded, and they followed Alex into a building, labeled "Building D", up to the second floor, and the third door on the right. Alex walked into the room, Isabella and Scott behind him. Taylor's back was to them, and he was sitting at a desk, a large book in front of him and a phone attached to his ear. Isabella came up behind him, putting her hands over his eyes.
"Hold on, Mom."
He turned around.
"Hi, Mrs. Marcus!" said Isabella. "Hey Taylor."
He stood and hugged Isabella.
"Mom, it's Isabella. I'll call you back later. I love you too, tell everyone I said hi."
He hung up the phone.
"How's your mom?" asked Isabella.
"She's great, she's been praying for you."
"Well, now's the time I need it most."
"What happened?"
"First things first. Scott Summers, this is Taylor Marcus, Taylor this is Scott."
They shook hands.
"Boyfriend?"
"Just friend."
"Okay."
"Hey, Scott, why don't I introduce you to the lovely ladies of Yale," said Alex.
"Will you be all right?" asked Scott, looking at Isabella.
She smiled.
"Yes, I'll be fine, you go have fun."
Alex and Scott left, and Isabella sat next to Taylor on his bed.
"What's wrong?"
"Well, I have come up here to go to Xavier's Institute, and I found someone that I hadn't seen in a long time."
"Who?"
"Jean."
"But I thought-"
"So did I. I got into a fight with her today, and I have no one there, so I came here."
Isabella began to cry, and Taylor hugged her. They didn't know that Alex and Scott didn't go anywhere except outside the door to listen in.
"It's all right. You'll be okay."
"I screamed at her, and I don't know what to do. I hate her for all the years of being told that she was better than me in every way. That I was dirt and she was an angel."
He hugged her and she cried there for a while, after an hour, she looked at the clock in his room.
"I have to go, we have to get back. Here's the address I'm at, and my e- mail address."
"And here's my e-mail address, if you need me."
"All right. Tell your mom and dad I said hi. And next time you talk to the Cross Country team or football team, tell them the next time they're up here to call me and stop by for a visit."
"I will."
They hugged.
"You take care, Taylor."
"You, too, and no fighting!"
"Fist fighting or arguing?"
"Fist fighting, you can't live without arguing."
Isabella laughed, reaching for the doorknob. She opened the door and saw Scott waiting for her.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"Yea, thanks, Scott."
"You're welcome. You needed it, it looks like."
"You have no idea."
They walked back to his car, and the drove back.
Bobby ran over, and he lifted Isabella off the floor, and onto the sofa, putting her head on Kitty's knees, and Scott ran over.
"What happened?" asked the Professor.
"I just told her who Jean was and she fainted," said Rogue.
Jean carefully inched over, saw Isabella's face, put her hand to her mouth, and gasped.
"Jean, can you--" he saw her face. "Jean?"
Jean turned around and ran. Bobby gently slapped her face, and Isabella slowly opened her eyes.
"What-- what happened?" asked Isabella.
"You fainted," answered Bobby.
"Me? Faint? Why-it-it can't be," she whispered.
"What can't be?" asked Scott.
"Nothing, my imagination got away with me."
"That doesn't cause you to faint."
"I thought someone was someone else. It's nothin'."
"All right, but just in case, go get something to eat."
"Okay."
Bobby took Isabella to the kitchen, and they ate together, then he walked her to her room, where Rogue, Jubilee, and Kitty were waiting.
"Maybe I could give you the tour tomorrow?" he suggested.
"I'd like that. Good night, Bobby."
She went into her room. The three girls were sitting on her bed.
"So, we've heard all the rumors about you, so what's true and what's not?" said Jubilee.
"Way to be blunt " said Rogue, sarcastically.
Isabella laughed.
"It's all right, well, what have you heard?" said Isabella.
"That you used to date Bobby Drake," said Jubilee.
"Not true, we've been friends for a long time, and we'll never be more than that."
"That you threw you dad through a wall."
"Not true." The looked disappointed. "I pushed him through a wall, I didn't throw him, Suga."
They laughed. They talked and gossiped about everyone in school, until the three finally went to their own rooms. The next morning, she walked down the stairs, late, brushing her mid- back length dark red hair, her bright blue eyes shining, and saw Scott.
"Hey, you wanna lift to school?" he asked.
"Sure."
Isabella hopped into the car.
"You feeling better?"
"Well, I am kinda hungry."
"They have breakfast at school."
"They did that at my old school."
"Where are you from?"
"Raleigh, North Carolina, by way of New York City, by way of Boston, by way of Annadale-on-the-Hudson."
"Ah."
A few minutes later, they pulled up at Bayville High, and went inside for breakfast, then, she saw her. Isabella felt the anger rise in her face, she grabbed the closest thing to her and squeezed it, pretending it to be her head. Kitty came up behind her.
"Like, c'mon, Isabella, you can sit with us."
"Okay."
Isabella followed her, and she sat down, across from Jean, Scott and some others.
"Isabella, you know Scott, that's Kurt, that's Evan, you know Rogue, and Jubilee, and Bobby and Amara, and those down there are the Brotherhood, stay away form them," she whispered. "And there's Jean, she's the star forward on our soccer team."
"We've met," growled Isabella.
"Made a lasting impression, Jean?" asked a guy with silver hair at the other end with the Brotherhood.
"Bite me, Pietro," Jean said.
Everyone stared at her.
"So, playing Commie Kickball, now, huh? Being a perfect, clean, sweet, straight freakin' A student wasn't good enough for you," hissed Isabella.
"What is your problem?"
"Nothing, bitch, nothing."
Isabella stood up and left the cafeteria. Jean put her head in her hands.
"What was that about?" asked Scott.
Jean stood up.
"Nothing."
She left. Isabella went into the office.
"May I help you?" asked the secretary.
"I'm Isabella Sulinski. I'm new here."
"Yes, yes, Charles Xavier called, here's your schedule, and all your things to begin your education here at Bayville High School. Would you like a Sidekick?" she asked.
Isabella looked at her blankly. What the hell was a sidekick? The secretary reminded Isabella of Grace from Ferris Buller's Day Off.
"A what?"
"A sidekick, to show you around the premises, and to your classes."
"No thanks."
She probably needed one, but she declined out of worry she might get Miss Perfect.
She left the office and found Rogue.
"Hey, Ah see you got yer stuff," she said.
"Yea, hey, could you help me out finding all my classes?"
"Why didn't you get a sidekick?" Isabella looked at her, giving her the 'Why- the- hell- do- you- think?' look. "Oh."
"Yea, I've had enough of her."
"How do you know her?"
The bell rang to tell them to get to class.
"All right, first, I have Algebra II with.. Beihauser. room 312, where's that?"
"Follow Scott, that's the same class as his."
"Thanks."
Isabella saw Scott, and caught up with him.
"Hey Isabella," he said, seeing her.
"Hey Scott. Rumor has it, I'm in the same first period class as you."
He looked at her schedule.
"Yep, rumor's right, c'mon."
They made their way though the crowd, trying not to get separated, or Isabella would never find the classroom. When they got there, Scott sat in the back, and Isabella looked around for an open seat. Scott pointed to the seat next to him, and Isabella went and sat next to him. She pulled out a notebook, and a pen, her calculator, and a pencil.
"Thanks for lettin' me sit next to ya."
"No problem. You prepare much?"
"Habit."
The teacher walked in, and looked over her class, noticing Isabella.
"Hey! Are you supposed to be here?" she bellowed.
She was a small, stout woman of forty give or take, she had pale hair and eyes.
"Yes."
Isabella stood and gave her the sheet telling her about the addition to her class. She went to the computer and looked at something.
"Oh yeah, here ya go," said Ms. Beihauser, tossing a book to Isabella.
Isabella caught it, even though she hadn't been paying much attention. Isabella sat down in her seat, and the teacher continued. The class ended and she went to second period, Chemistry. Rogue and Kurt were both in this class. The teacher was Mr. Black, he was tall, and somewhat handsome, he had to have been right out of college.
"He likes to pull pranks, so be on your guard," warned Kurt.
"I will, Suga. So, what's this class like? As boring as Algebra II?" asked Isabella.
"I like to think not!" came an excited reply.
Isabella turned around.
"You must be Mr. Black."
"And you must be Isabella. Come up to the front."
The bell rang and everyone sat in his or her seat.
"All right class. What do we say before class?"
"I promise to never goof off with explosive materials and other chemicals. I promise to be careful at all times. I promise to wear my goggles and aprons during all labs. I promise to put my safety before my lab. I promise to listen to the teacher's instructions and follow them carefully," said the entire class, as though they were zombies.
"Now, everyone, we have a new member of our group." He looked at Isabella. "Now, tell us a little about yourself.
"Hi, I'm Isabella, and I'm an alcoholic."
"Hi Isabella," most said, laughing.
"I have been alcohol- free for three weeks, since I was arrested." They all laughed. "Naw, I'm kiddin' I'm Isabella Sulinski. I run Cross Country, and my favorite sport is football. I'm from Raleigh, North Carolina. Um.. What else is there to know?"
"What size bra do you wear?" asked a guy in the front.
"None of your business."
"Please take a seat next to Chris, in the back," said Mr. Black.
Isabella went and sat down. Chris was tall, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. She sat next to him, and got out her stuff for class, looking forward, at the teacher.
"I'm Chris Jones."
"Isabella Sulinski," she replied, not facing him.
"How do you like Bayville?"
"I dunno yet. I just got here yesterday. I'm staying at Xavier's institute."
"Oh, then you must know Jean Grey."
Isabella sighed.
"Yes, I know her."
He laughed.
"You two don't get along, all ready?"
"I've known her longer than anyone here, that's why I don't like her. It's a LONG story."
"Well. Maybe you could tell me one night over dinner."
Isabella laughed, still not looking at him.
"I think it's a little soon to be asking me out, don't you? I mean all I know about you is that you're in my Chemistry class, and your name."
"So?"
"So, we need to get to know each other before we start dating."
"Fine, I'll ask you later."
Isabella laughed, and Rogue and Kurt looked at her, she shrugged. After that class, she looked at her schedule, and talked to Rogue. "What's the school's schedule like? Even/ Odd days, or A/B days or all classes everyday?"
"Even/ Odd."
"All right, so I go to fourth period, which is Drama, because I've completed three years of a language, and I never wanna see a French classroom again!"
Rogue laughed.
"Ah'm in Drama, and so is Kitty, she thought it would be 'cool,'" said Rogue.
"All right."
They walked into the Auditorium where the teacher Ms. Xander was waiting.
"OH!" she said with great flamboyancy. "You must be Isabella! Welcome to our class!"
"Hi."
"Now, tell us about your greatest accomplishment in Drama.
"Well, I didn't take it last year, but as a freshman, I put my friend Mike, who was a senior at the time, in a headlock that he couldn't get out if. It was REALLY funny. We were playing a game. The one where two people act out a scene, and then someone watching says 'Freeze' and then takes one of the two people's place, but changes the scene."
"Oh yes! We've played that game!"
After that class, Isabella ate lunch with Rogue and Kitty. They sat outside on bench, in the sun. Scott passed by and waved to Jean. Isabella watched Rogue's expression of disappointment.
"Ask him on a date," said Isabella.
Rogue looked at Isabella, thinking she had been talking to Kitty.
"Huh?" she said.
"Ask Scott on a date," she repeated.
"What? I don't even like him!"
Another girl sat with them.
"Hey Rogue," she said, sitting down.
"Hey Misty, this is Isabella, Isabella, this Misty."
"Hey," they said at the same time.
"Rogue, he needs someone before he goes insane."
Rogue rolled her eyes.
"He loves Jean."
Isabella sighed.
"Everyone loves Jean. What does he see that no one else does that makes her so special?"
They three other girls looked at Isabella.
"Why don't you like Jean?" asked Kitty.
"Long story, I don't have enough time to tell it."
Isabella sipped her water, and finished her lunch. The bell rang and they went to class. Isabella headed off to Gym, and met her teacher, Coach Granger.
"Hi, I'm Isabella Sulinski."
"Yea, yea, yea. Can you play football?"
"Tight end is my best position."
His face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"We're playing today, care to join us?"
"No clothes, no shoes, I got my schedule today."
"Are you fast?"
"I run Cross Country, but I wasn't the fastest on the team there."
"Oh! You have endurance! Perfect, I believe one of the girls will have an extra pair of shoes, and socks, and here's your uniform. Do you run Track?"
Isabella took the uniform and looked at it. It was a gray shirt with BHS printed across the front, and the shorts had a hawk on the bottom of the leg, and BHS on the other leg.
"I used to, but I don't like runnin' around in circles."
"Understandable. Do any of your girls have extra pairs of shoes or socks?" called Coach Granger. Two girls raised their hands. Jubilee was one of them. "Can this young lady borrow them?"
"Sure," said Jubilee, running out of the gym with socks and shoes, the other girl hadn't moved.
Jubilee gave them to Isabella.
"Thanks, Jubilee."
"No problem."
Isabella went in and got changed, then came back out, pulling her hair up into a ponytail.
"All right, Sulinski, you're tight end on the gray team. Go!"
She walked over to the gray team.
"I'm y'all's tight end," she said.
Some of the guys raised their eyebrows, Scott included.
"Really? Well, I would love to show you around school," said a blond guy, putting his arm around Isabella's shoulder.
She pushed his arm off. Then he grabbed her around her waist.
"Duncan, leave her alone, you have Jean-" began Scott.
Isabella pushed him away from her.
"Don't touch me after you've touched her, that's nasty," said Isabella.
"She's over there, Isabella," said Scott, waving to Jean.
Isabella looked over her shoulder, and saw her, then looked at Scott.
"You're one of them. You're one of the guys who worship the ground she walks on. Focus Summers, we're playing football. I'm tight end on Offense, on Defense, I'm right guard."
"Okay," said Duncan.
They got in formation; the red team had the ball. After a while of playing, class was almost over, they hiked the ball to the quarterback, and then he passed it to Jean. Isabella grinned and ran after her, two- hand- touching her to the ground. Jean stood up, a little dirt on her uniform.
"That's it, Isabella, now, it's on!" shouted Jean.
"And it wasn't before?!" Isabella yelled back.
Everyone in class had gathered around them, waiting for one of them to throw a punch.
"Oh, but now, now it's far, far worse."
"And before wasn't bad? Well, why did you go?" Isabella muttered
"I HAD to go!"
"No you didn't! "
"Isabella-"
"I can't do anything, can I?"
"What? Of cour-"
"No, I can't I can't even leave home without YOU HAUNTING ME!!!!!!"
"Don't do this!"
"Why not? I've waited three years. Why wait any longer?"
"We'll talk about this tonight!"
"Fine! What's a few hours?"
Isabella turned and ran out of the circle the class had formed around them. She was crying, but she didn't want anyone to see. Scott looked from Jean to Isabella, back and forth. Duncan went to Jean, and she hugged him, crying on his shoulder. Scott ran after Isabella.
"Isabella-" he called after her.
"Leave me alone, Scott."
"Can I do anything for you?"
"Not unless you can take me to Yale."
"Why Yale?"
"He's the only friend I have in the state of New York."
"All right, I'll take you after school."
She looked at him.
"You don't have to, I know you'd rather be with Jean. Everyone would."
"No, Jean can wait, I'd like to get to know you."
Isabella looked up at him, tears staining her face.
"Really?"
"Yep."
"All right, class! I'll see you on Friday," said Coach Granger.
The entire class went in, showered and got dressed. After school, Isabella saw Scott out front. Jean was walking toward him.
"Hey, Scott! Waiting for me?" she assumed.
Isabella stood right behind her.
"No," Jean was shocked. "I'm taking Isabella to see someone."
"Oh."
Jean walked away, and Isabella walked up to him.
"You didn't have to do that. You could've said yes, y'know," said Isabella.
"I know, but I said I'd take you to Yale, and I will."
"Thanks, Scott."
"You're welcome, hop in."
They got in, and buckled up.
"Hey Rogue!" Scott called.
The Gothic southerner turned around, and approached the car.
"Yea?"
"Can you do me a favor? Can you tell Professor Xavier we went to Yale, and we'll be back later tonight."
"All right."
"Thanks Rogue," he said.
"It's okay."
Isabella had seen how Rogue looked at Scott, at lunch. She handed Rogue a scrap of paper, and Scott drove off. Rogue opened it, and read it. 'I'm not taking him, don't worry. I just needed someone to talk to. We'll be back later, and when we return, ASK HIM OUT!!!!!' Rogue looked in the direction they'd gone, and headed back to Xavier's.
"So, what sports do you play?" Scott asked Isabella.
"I run. And my favorite sport is football, but I could never play it."
"Why?"
"My dad. He said I would never have a boyfriend if I played football."
"Rough, well, at least you have your parents."
"No, I'd rather not, I'd rather love them dead than hate them alive."
"Well, I thought I was an only child until recently."
"Yeah, I heard."
"You did?"
"I had Rogue, Kitty and Jubilee in my room last night, catching me up to everyone's lives."
He laughed. She could see why Rogue liked him. He seemed perfect, but Isabella didn't find it appealing at all.
"Well, what did you hear about me?"
"You're the leader of the X-Men, you have a brother who lives in Hawaii, your parents died, saving you and your brother, and you seem to be perfect in everyway, except you're a little bossy. Have rumors begun to spread about me, yet?"
He laughed.
"I heard you slept with Pyro."
"Pyro?."
"Yes, St. John."
"Oh! Well, we fell asleep watching a movie once, but we've never had sex."
"Mmmmhmmm," said Scott, sarcastically.
"So why don't you go after someone instead of chasing after Jean? I know of several girls all ready who'd rather have you chase them."
"Who?"
"Can't say, she'd kill me, but I told her to ask you on a date when she sees you next."
"Well-Jean-"
"Is with Duncan."
"I know, but-"
"Just take my advice on this, Jean wants what she can't have. You being unavailable, will make her come after you, and plus, you need to get out more! This girl, she'd change everything about herself for you, and you can't see it! Just like Jean can't see the love you have for her. She's blind, you shouldn't be. If you and Jean are meant to be, y'all will get together."
Scott looked at Isabella for a split second, then back to the road.
"Tell me."
"No, she'd kill me. You have to keep your eyes open, and watch for her, and if she doesn't ask you on a date, then I'll do it for her."
"You'll ask me on a date?"
"For her, not me. I've all ready got a guy trying to get me to go out with him."
"Who?"
"You're worse than the girls. And if you must know-"
"I must! I must!"
Isabella laughed.
"Chris Jones. I sit next to him in Chemistry."
"Oh, he's cool."
"As in he hangs with Duncan, or he's a nice guy."
"Nice guy."
"Good. I don't like Duncan, he's a jerk."
"Yea, I know."
"I don't know what Jean sees in him. I thought she was smart."
Finally, they reached Yale, and the students were all over campus.
"Scott, you can go ahead back, I'll find a way back."
"No way! I'm not leaving you here!"
"Chivalry isn't dead after all!" He sighed. "Did you just roll your eyes?"
He laughed.
"How could you tell?"
"I couldn't I just guessed."
He laughed again.
"I'll wait here, walk around for a while, giving you a chance to talk, and you can come back here when you're ready."
She smiled.
"Thanks, Scott, you saved my life."
"How?"
"You kept me from killing Jean and/ or myself."
He looked shocked. Isabella smiled, and he relaxed.
"Okay."
"Come on in, I want you to meet him."
"Who?"
"My friend, Taylor Marcus."
Someone turned around, and walked toward the car, as Isabella and Scott got out.
"Did you say Taylor Marcus?" the guy asked.
"Yes, why?"
"That's my roommate. I'm Alex Hamilton."
"Hi, I'm Isabella Sulinski, and this is my friend Scott Summers."
"Hello," said Scott.
"Do you know where Taylor is now?"
"Where else would he be?" asked Alex.
"He's either running, or studying, or talking on the phone."
Alex laughed.
"You know him well, he's studying and talking on the phone, he's up in our room. C'mon, I'll show you."
Isabella nodded, and they followed Alex into a building, labeled "Building D", up to the second floor, and the third door on the right. Alex walked into the room, Isabella and Scott behind him. Taylor's back was to them, and he was sitting at a desk, a large book in front of him and a phone attached to his ear. Isabella came up behind him, putting her hands over his eyes.
"Hold on, Mom."
He turned around.
"Hi, Mrs. Marcus!" said Isabella. "Hey Taylor."
He stood and hugged Isabella.
"Mom, it's Isabella. I'll call you back later. I love you too, tell everyone I said hi."
He hung up the phone.
"How's your mom?" asked Isabella.
"She's great, she's been praying for you."
"Well, now's the time I need it most."
"What happened?"
"First things first. Scott Summers, this is Taylor Marcus, Taylor this is Scott."
They shook hands.
"Boyfriend?"
"Just friend."
"Okay."
"Hey, Scott, why don't I introduce you to the lovely ladies of Yale," said Alex.
"Will you be all right?" asked Scott, looking at Isabella.
She smiled.
"Yes, I'll be fine, you go have fun."
Alex and Scott left, and Isabella sat next to Taylor on his bed.
"What's wrong?"
"Well, I have come up here to go to Xavier's Institute, and I found someone that I hadn't seen in a long time."
"Who?"
"Jean."
"But I thought-"
"So did I. I got into a fight with her today, and I have no one there, so I came here."
Isabella began to cry, and Taylor hugged her. They didn't know that Alex and Scott didn't go anywhere except outside the door to listen in.
"It's all right. You'll be okay."
"I screamed at her, and I don't know what to do. I hate her for all the years of being told that she was better than me in every way. That I was dirt and she was an angel."
He hugged her and she cried there for a while, after an hour, she looked at the clock in his room.
"I have to go, we have to get back. Here's the address I'm at, and my e- mail address."
"And here's my e-mail address, if you need me."
"All right. Tell your mom and dad I said hi. And next time you talk to the Cross Country team or football team, tell them the next time they're up here to call me and stop by for a visit."
"I will."
They hugged.
"You take care, Taylor."
"You, too, and no fighting!"
"Fist fighting or arguing?"
"Fist fighting, you can't live without arguing."
Isabella laughed, reaching for the doorknob. She opened the door and saw Scott waiting for her.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"Yea, thanks, Scott."
"You're welcome. You needed it, it looks like."
"You have no idea."
They walked back to his car, and the drove back.