Generation X
Getting Better All the Time
They pulled into the garage, and went inside where Logan, Storm, and Professor Xavier were waiting for them.
"Everything all right?" asked Scott.
"Where were you two?" grumbled Logan.
"Didn't Rogue tell you? We went to Yale."
"Yale? Why?"
"I needed someone to talk to. I just got here, and the last thing any one wants is having someone else's problems dumped on them when the first meet the person," said Isabella.
"And why did you go, Scott?" asked Storm.
"I asked if there was anything I could do when she got into a fight with Jean today, and she said take her to Yale, she was joking, but I said I would."
"Jean was upset today after school," said the Professor.
"That's my fault. I blew up in her face, cooped up anger from years and years of hearing about how Jean was perfect, and how Ah wasn't," said Isabella.
"Are you better now?"
"Yes, sir."
He smiled.
"You can talk to anyone here, and they would understand and help. That's why we're here, to help, and receive help."
She smiled.
"Thank you, Professor."
"Now, you two go in and get some dinner, there are two plates in the microwave in the kitchen for you."
"Thank you, the kitchen is this way," said Scott, pulling Isabella behind him.
"Why do they do that, Charles?" asked Logan.
"What?" replied the Professor.
"Have to go to someone else instead of those who are here to help."
"She doesn't trust us yet. She has no trust for anyone unless she's known him or her for quite some time. She won't learn to trust us until we earn it, in her eyes."
In the kitchen, Isabella was pulling the aluminum foil off of Scott's plate.
"You have to take the foil OFF before placing it in the microwave."
She put the plate in the microwave, put a paper towel over it, then turned on the microwave.
"Oh," said Scott.
"C'mon am I the only one with common sense? Who cooks?"
"Storm."
"Okay, Are Storm and I the only one's with common cooking sense?"
"Yep, no one else can cook."
"Well, I might have to just help out in the kitchen, cooking and writing, the only two things I'm good at."
"Football," said Scott.
"Not really. I can hit hard, but that's because I've had to learn to protect myself, and I'm strong because of my mutation."
After they ate, they went to their rooms to do their homework. After that, Isabella grabbed a towel, and her shower stuff, and headed to the bathroom. She managed to get in just as Kitty came out of the bathroom. Isabella turned on the water, and made sure it was hot. She drew a bath for herself. Once it was ready, she turned off the water, and got in, pulling the curtain closed. She sat there for a while, then realized there were probably others waiting, so she washed her hair, and just as she was washing it out, someone knocked on the door.
"I'm hurrying."
"No, it's me, Kitty, can I, like, come in?"
"Sure."
She heard Kitty's footsteps, but the door didn't open or shut. Isabella looked around the curtain, and saw Kitty sitting on the chair meant for clothes and things instead of throwing them on the floor. Isabella was confused.
"Are you okay?" asked Kitty.
"How did you-the door didn't open-"
"Oh! That! I can walk through walls, that's why they call me Shadowcat."
"Oh."
She smiled.
"So, how was your frist day in Bayville?"
"I think I might need a longer bath."
She giggled.
"Yea, especially with the whole Jean thing."
Isabella washed her hair out, then put conditioner in her hair.
"What did she say?"
"Nothing, we only know what we've heard."
"And that is.?"
"Nothing really, just that you don't like her, and no one knows why."
"Kitty, Jean's my sister. Did you see that rag doll I had last night?"
"Yes, why?"
"It was my sister's. That's why I fainted when Rogue told me Jean Grey went here. The doll's name is Jean Grey. My mother named it Jean Grey, because my sister had named it Jean, and we'd have to specify which one we wanted. Jean, my sister, loved the Grey Poupon commercials, and the doll's dress was always gray after one week with my sister, so my mom named the doll Jean Grey."
"Okay?"
Kitty didn't follow.
"Jean is my sister, she faked her own death to confuse us after she became a mutant." Isabella finished her bath, and Kitty left the room, letting Isabella dry off. Isabella wrapped the towel around her, and came out of the bathroom. "I was the only one who knew, because I saw her powers surface. She'd had a fight with our parents, and she went up to her room. I went in to talk to her, and everything was floating in the air. I went back to my room and never told anyone. The hospital lost her body, saying she had gotten mixed up in a shipment to the local med school, and I didn't want to go lookin'. I was in charge of all the funeral arrangements and everything, and after the funeral, all the focus went from her virtues and talents, to my faults, and that's why all my anger was turned towards Jean. Years of pent up anger. Never good."
"I'm so sorry."
Isabella went into her room, changed, then Kitty came in and they talked. Around 9:15, someone knocked on Isabella's door.
"Come in."
Jean walked in. Isabella and Jean stared at each other for a few minutes, then Jean looked away.
"Um. I'll see you later, Isabella," said Kitty, leaving.
"Later, Kitty."
Jean shifted uncomfortably, and then sat next to Isabella.
"Scott's nice," said Jean.
"Yea, he is."
"So, Rogue says you went to Yale."
"Yea."
"Why?"
"I needed someone to talk to."
"You can always talk to the Professor, or Storm, or anyone here."
"Well, they don't know me, and I don't know them. And the last thing I want to do is dump all my problems on everyone who loves you."
"I'm sorry, Isabella."
"You didn't have to leave. I never told anyone."
"What?"
"I saw your powers emerge. I went in to talk to you, and everything was floating in the air. I went back to my room and never told anyone."
"You-you knew?"
"Yes, I was scared, I didn't know what to do, so I kept quiet. I could have told everyone, but I didn't!"
"I-"
Jean stood up, and walked out to leave.
"As soon as I get the hang of my powers I'll be out of your hair. I can't just leave now when I can't even control myself, so I'll stay out of your life, and after I've gotten control, you'll never see me again."
Jean walked out the door, crying, and so was Isabella. Isabella turned on her radio, and listened to music, singing, in the dark, until someone came in and turned on the light. Isabella was sitting on her bed, crying, in a little ball.
"Isabella." Isabella looked up, it was Storm. "Are you all right?"
Isabella nodded.
"'M fine."
"You don't look fine, and neither does your sister."
Isabella looked up.
"So everyone knows?"
"No, only Charles, Logan, Jean and I and anyone else you told."
"Kitty."
Storm came over and sat next to Isabella, hugging her, and letting Isabella cry.
"You will come to love your sister, or at least, not hate her."
"I don't know, all those years, and now, all you love her, and after today, my first day here, I'm a brat. I even took one of her boy toys on a road trip. I didn't know I would be a bad influence immediately upon arrival."
Storm laughed.
"You aren't a brat. You have every reason to be angry, and you're not a bad influence, we were just a little worried, that's all."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know it would take that long to Yale and back."
"That's quite all right, just tell us directly, first."
"Didn't Rogue tell you?"
"She mumbled something about you and Scott, and gone somewhere, but that's all anyone caught. So, what did you two talk about on the way there?"
"Nothing really, we got to know each other, that's about it."
"Well, Scott's down stairs deep in conversation with Rogue, who's not much of a conversationalist."
"Oh, and that. I told her to ask him out, because she likes him, and he's chasing Jean, so I told him to wake up, date around, and if he and Jean are meant to be, they will be."
"Well, I think your pep talk worked."
"Really?"
Storm nodded.
"I'll show you."
They left Isabella's room, and walked down the stairs to the library, cracked the door a little and watched. Scott and Rogue were talking, laughing and flirting.
"What are you two doing?" asked Logan, from behind them.
They jumped, closed the door, and faced him.
"Nothing," said Isabella.
He looked from one to the other.
"Storm, stop encouraging them to spy on one another."
"I'm not, that was Isabella's influence on the students, after one day."
Logan took a peek, then looked at Isabella, who was grinning.
"Charles is gonna have a time with you."
Isabella was a little taken aback, she bit her lip and looked to Storm, who smiled. Logan walked down the hall, laughing at the two of them.
"Well, I won't convince anyone to anything they don't wanna do deep, deep, deep, deep down."
"Why so deep?"
"Because most of the time, they don't know they want to."
Storm smiled.
"Hey Isabella, hey Auntie O," said Even, walking past.
"Hi."
"Hello, Evan, what are you doing?" asked Storm.
"Nothing, just walking," said Evan.
Storm raised an eyebrow.
"I will see you later, Isabella. Right now, I must speak with my nephew."
Isabella nodded and walked to the TV/Game room, she sat down on the far end of the sofa, and watched TV, until Professor Xavier called them out into the entrance hall. There were three guys standing there. Isabella looked around, and saw that most of her new housemates were about to attack the three newcomers. Isabella looked at the red- head in the middle.
"St. John?" she said.
He looked at her, then grinned.
"Bella!"
She ran past Bobby, jumped into St. John's arms, her legs around his waist, and he spun her around.
"What are you doing here?"
"Magneto's goin' away and he's stickin' us here til he comes back. How'd you get out of jail?"
Isabella covered his mouth.
"Shut up, stupid, no one knows about that," she whispered.
He laughed.
"Sorry. I didn't know that you were a mutant."
"I just found out, you never told me you were-"
"Would you have told me?"
"No, not really."
The two noticed everyone staring at them, shocked.
"We knew each other in New York," St. John informed them.
Isabella stood on her own two feet, and they stopped hugging.
"So, how have you been?"
"All right, I'm so much better now," he said.
He kissed her.
"You know you can't do that any more, Suga," said Isabella.
"And why not?"
"Do you remember that night at ALL?"
"Not really."
"I don't either, but I remember one part. We agreed to be JUST FRIENDS."
"No we didn't."
"Are you doubting my memory?"
"Yes."
Isabella laughed.
"I said that before we'd even started."
"Oh yeah! I remember now!"
Isabella laughed. Professor Xavier explained that St. John, Remy, and Pitor would be staying with them for a while until Magneto returned. Then, everyone returned to what they were doing, and St. John and Remy joined Isabella in searching for a game. Kurt popped up next to her, scaring her.
"Sorry," he said.
"It's okay, just give me a little more warning."
"Okay."
"Wanna play a game?"
"Sure, vhat game?"
Isabella looked through the games, and found one.
"Mexican Train Dominoes. My grandparents got me hooked on this game. We need at least four people."
"Like, I'll play," said Kitty.
"Me too," said Bobby.
"Anyone else?"
Jean walked in.
"Hey Jean, come play with us," said Kitty.
Jean looked at Isabella, who motioned to an empty seat. Jean smiled and sat down.
"All right. First, everyone must choose, fifteen tiles, and one small train." They all did so. "First, does anyone have the double twelve, the highest number?"
"I do," said Kitty.
"All right, put it on this tray there are nine slots in this thing, one for the double twelve, and others for our own little trains of dominoes. If you have two twelves, you can use one to start your own train, and the other to start a community, on which everyone can play. For example, if I put down a domino with a twelve on one end, and a two on the other end, and say. Jean has the double two, she can put it sideways and then make another play, and say it's to her own train, and not to the double two, then the next two people HAVE to put down a two, and if you don't have a play, pick one up from the pile, and if you can't do anything with that, you have to put your little train on your personal train of dominoes, and everyone can play, when you play on your own, then you can take the train down, and only you can play on it again. Any questions?"
"How do we decide who goes first?" asked Bobby.
"Whoever has the domino we start out with, this time it's Kitty, and since she's on my right, I'm next then St. John, then Remy, then Kurt, then Jean, then you, Bobby."
"All right."
Kitty put the double twelve down, and then a twelve on one side and a three one the other. Isabella put her twelve/ten down.
"Oh! And one other thing, you want to get rid of all your dominoes because you want the lowest amount of dominoes with few dots as possible."
They played for a while, Isabella winning one, Bobby winning one, Kurt winning two, and Kitty, St. John, Remy and Jean had not won any.
"Hey, you know, we're only a few hours from Pittsburgh, we could go visit everyone," suggested Jean.
"Oh, yeah, that would go over well. Aunt Dani! Uncle Donald! Hey! Oh, by the way, I'm not dead, and both Isabella and I are mutants!" said Isabella.
The others laughed. Jean and Isabella looked at each other and laughed.
"On second thought, we'd better not."
"Good, Sam and Carl are intensely annoying."
"Intensely? That bad huh?"
"You have no idea."
They played until Kurt won. They played until they got down to the double sevens and Professor Xavier said they had to go to bed. They put the game away, and went to bed. The next morning, Isabella brushed her hair, her teeth, put on her makeup, put on a pair of baggy, black jeans and a red tank top, and ran down the stairs, tripping. She landed mid- air, and everyone stared at her.
"I'm glad that I did that here and not at school," said Isabella, still floating.
"Morning Isabella, get a hang of your powers all ready?" asked Jubilee, sleepily.
"No! I'm stuck. I can't get down!"
Isabella was now upside down, and still floating. Then, she fell, and someone caught her.
"Good thing I walked by," said Logan.
"My hero!" she said, swooning, she hugged him.
Those around them laughed. He put her down.
"Hey, Isabella, you need a ride?" asked Kitty.
"Why?"
"Because Chris Jones is sitting outside waiting for you."
She looked outside and there he was, leaning against a blue Mustang convertible, holding a red rose. She grabbed her bag, and walked out of the door. Scott pulled his car around, and Rogue hopped in. Rogue smiled at Isabella, and Isabella smiled back. Scott waved, and Isabella waved back.
"Hey, Isabella," said Chris, handing her the rose.
She took it.
"Thank you. How are you?"
"I'm better now that I've seen you this morning. Would you like a ride to school this morning?"
She smiled.
"I'd like that very much, thank you."
He opened the car door for her, and she got in, putting her bag at her feet. He got into the car, and drove off.
"How about some breakfast?"
"Won't we be late for school?"
He looked at her, then back at the road.
"Wanna take a chance?"
She smiled.
"Why not?"
"All right, La Café du Paris, it is then."
"Chris, that's a French restaurant."
"So it is!"
She laughed.
"Why are you taking me to a French Restaurant for breakfast?"
"Because you wouldn't let me take you for dinner."
She laughed, as he pulled up in front of it.
"They're closed."
"Not for me."
He got out of the car, and ran around to open the door and help Isabella out. She smiled. He opened the door.
"Monsieur Jones! How may I help you?" asked the waiter.
"Well, Phillip, the lady and I are hungry for some breakfast."
"Zis way, s'il vous plaît," said Phillip showing them to their seats.
Chris pulled Isabella's chair out for her, she sat down, and he pushed her chair in.
"Thank you," said Isabella.
The waiter handed them menus, and brought them orange juice in wine glasses.
"What are you gonna get?" asked Isabella.
"Hmm. the strawberry bread sounds good."
"It does, I might have to get that too."
He smiled.
"Le pain au fraise, deux, s'il vous plaît."
"Oui, Monsieur."
The waiter took the menus and left. Chris smiled at Isabella.
"What?" she said, suspiciously.
"You're so beautiful."
"I just met you yesterday, how do you know that I'm beautiful? I believe beauty is on the inside, not outside, so how do you know?"
"Do you believe in love at first sight?"
"No. I believe the first sight gets you started, but after that, it's up to you and God."
He smiled.
"Well, let the first sight get started. Favorite movie?"
"Armageddon and Robin Hood Men in Tights. And yours?"
He laughed.
"Fast and the Furious. Favorite Song?"
"Evanescence Bring Me to Life. Yours?"
"No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn."
"Beastie Boys, nice."
"Favorite book?"
"Harry Potter, and Ella Enchanted."
"I like Harry Potter, too."
"Favorite food?"
"Pizza."
"Mine is spaghetti and Wedding soup."
"What's Wedding soup?"
"It's chicken noodle soup with meatballs, spinach and other stuff. My grandmother makes it."
"What's your favorite drink?"
"Mountain Dew. The effects are similar to alcohol when taken in large doses."
He laughed.
"Memory loss?"
The waiter brought out the food.
"Brain loss."
He laughed. They ate, and talked some more. When they finished, he paid and they went to school. They pulled up and got to school and they slipped into their classrooms just before the late bell. Isabella took her seat next to Scott, as the teacher entered.
"Where were you at breakfast?" asked Scott.
"Chris took me to La Café du Paris."
"For breakfast? Why?"
"He said that he was takin' me there for breakfast, cuz I wouldn't let him take me there for dinner. Did you get asked out?"
Ms. Beihauser realized she had a class, and began to teach, instead of staring at her coffee machine. Scott passed Isabella a note.
'No.'
'Oh, well, I heard something about you in the library last night.'
'Yea, well, I asked Rogue out tomorrow night. It WAS Rogue, right?'
'You know? You are a bright child!'
He tried to hold in his laughter, luckily, Isabella was the only one who saw.
"Who can tell me what the Pythagorean Theorem is?" asked Ms. Beihauser.
Isabella raised her hand, and Ms. Beihauser pointed to her.
"A2+B2=C2"
"Very good."
'Thanks, Isabella for hooking us up.'
'NP, babe, any time.'
Scott shoved the note in his pocket so Ms. Beihauser wouldn't catch them. After that class, she went to third period, Chorus, with Mrs. Lang, a small Asian woman about thirty, at the oldest.
"What do you sing?"
"Second Soprano."
"Can you sing for me?"
"What song?"
"Marry Had A Little Lamb."
She sang it with her mix of Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Jo Dee Messina and Mariah Carey voice.
"Bravo! Bravo! You're in that section, the one on my right, and sit in the middle because you're somewhat tall."
Isabella worked her way in and sat next to a girl with brown hair.
"I'm Isabella."
"I'm Meagan. Where'd you move from?"
"Raleigh, North Carolina."
"Man, that's a tough move."
"Yea, but I've got a friend at Yale, so it's not too bad."
"That's good."
"So, what are we singin'?"
"Friends, we're singing it for the seniors on senior night in a month."
"Isabella, do you know the words?"
"Is it the one that goes 'And friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of the- hem and a friend will not say never, 'cause the welcome will not e-hend.'"
"Yes that's it! All right one. two. three."
She played the song on the piano, as everyone sang it. Isabella saw a flash of red hair. She looked over and saw Jean. Jean was looking over at Isabella, and when they caught each other's eyes, they faced front again. They finished the song, and Mrs. Lang looked thoughtful.
"Isabella, Jean, come down here a minute. I think I may make your solo a duet," she said to Jean.
She played the song on the piano.
"And friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of the- hem and a friend will not say never, 'cause the welcome will not e-hend, but its hard to let you go, in the Father's hands we know that a lifetime's not too long. to live as friends..." they sang together Jean's soprano voice, and Isabella's second soprano voice.
"I think with your voice and your voice, we might have the next divas."
"B-" began Jean, but she changed her mind.
"Sorry to steal your thunder," muttered Isabella, passing Jean on her way beck to her seat.
They sang the rest of class, and after class she found Rogue.
"Hey, where's Mrs. Spaniel's History class?"
"Follow Kitty and Lance, they have her next."
"Okay, now where are they-Kitty! Lance!"
They turned around and made their way toward Rogue and Isabella.
"Hey Isabella, I wanna thank you," said Rogue.
"For what?"
"Scott asked me out last night."
"I heard."
"Who told you?"
"Scott."
"Oh."
"I'll see you at lunch!" said Isabella, walking away with Lance and Kitty.
Isabella sat behind Evan, next to Lance, and diagonal from Kitty. Mrs. Spaniel entered the classroom.
"The bird's back from her nest," whispered Evan.
Isabella had to suppress her laughter.
"She may have flown in on her broom," said Lance.
Mrs. Spaniel had a nose that somewhat resembled a beak, or an evil witch's nose, short blonde hair, and dark eyes.
"If she looks into our eyes, we won't turn into stone, will we?" asked Isabella.
"I don't know, but I wouldn't take that chance," said Kitty.
Mrs. Spaniel looked up at Isabella.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Isabella Sulinski."
"Oh yeah. Here's your book."
She passed a book back to Isabella and then she lectured the whole class, Lance slept, Isabella tried not to, and Evan and Kitty pretended to pay attention.
"Now! Who can tell me where the Revolutionary War started?"
Isabella wrote a note to Evan, Kitty, and Lance, who had now woken up at her shrill voice. 'it stared up her ass.' They all had to keep their laughter internal. The teacher's pet raised his hand, then Isabella raised her hand.
"There's an answer from the peanut gallery back there? Well, Miss Sulinski, where did the Revolutionary War start?"
"Lexington and Concord, officially." (A/N: Is that right?)
"Very good."
They went back to writing on the note. When the class was finally over they laughed about Isabella's comments to the note, then went to lunch. Isabella sat with Kitty, Lance, Evan and Kurt outside in the courtyard, waiting for Scott, Rogue, and Jean.
"And THEN! She stole my solo, now Mrs. Lang made it a duet," said Jean, facing Scott and Rogue, not seeing Isabella behind her.
"Well, I didn't CHOSE to!" said Isabella, angrily.
Jean spun around, shock on her face.
"Bella-"
"Don't you EVER call, me that!"
Isabella grabbed her lunch, and walked away. Kitty looked at Jean.
"You need to, like, give her a break, she's new, and we're like the only friends she has! I TOTALLY remember being new. And having you back in her life, that, like, makes everything worse," said Kitty, standing up.
She walked over to Isabella, who was now sitting under a tree, trying not to cry. Lance stood up and followed her.
"I wouldn't come over here if I were you, Kitty. You might loose the favor of the Queen," said Isabella.
"Don't let her bug you," said Lance. "She's not worth it. She may be perfect, but that just means she is unstable, you have nothing to worry about. You ignore her, and she'll leave you alone. However hard that may be, if you don't give the attention she needs, then you'll win."
Kitty and Isabella both stared at Lance, then Isabella nodded.
"You're right. I'm not gonna let her keep me away from ALL of my new friends."
Kitty smiled, and they went back to their group. Isabella ignored Jean all of lunch.
"You, like, have to watch out for Mrs. Spaniel, she can be real mean. Just stay under the radar, and you'll totally be fine," said Kitty.
"Thanks."
"That was funny in history, the Revolutionary war-" Lance broke off in laughter.
"Well, it looks like it did. That look on her face like there's something smelly around."
"Yea, she does have that look," said Evan, laughing.
"Lance, can I ask you a question?" asked Isabella, seriously.
"Sure."
"How come you live with the Brotherhood but here at school you hang around us, when it's common knowledge that y'all don't like us."
All of them looked at him.
"I invited him to hang out with us," said Kitty.
"Oh, okay, I was just curious."
Isabella went back to eating. Jean muttered something under her breath. Isabella closed her eyes and breathed deeply, to control her temper.
"That wasn't necessary," said Rogue.
"I told you that I would go, Jean. As soon as I could, and I will," whispered Isabella, standing up to throw her trash away.
They all looked from Isabella to Jean, and back.
"What does she mean she's goin'?" asked Rogue.
"She said she'd leave as soon as she was under control," said Jean, putting emphasis on 'under control.'
Isabella sat back down and they all stared at her.
"What? I can't stay any longer 'n 'at. I'll prolly just go back to NYC and find Misty. Tony's prolly in prison, so, I'll see if she still lives in her apartment."
"Who's Misty?" asked Evan.
"My friend from NYC, last November I went to NYC. I met this guy named Tony, and. I really don't wanna tell y'all until I know y'all better and vice- versa."
"Oh, man," said Kurt.
"I really don't wanna tell you stuff to scare you away."
"Well, whether you wait or tell us now, we'll probably be 'scared away' anyway," said Jean.
"I don't care what effect it has on you. If it scares you away, good!"
Scott sighed at the two girls. The bell rang for their next class. She went to English with Kurt. Chris walked in and sat behind Isabella, without her seeing him. The teacher was Mr. Moore. He walked in, and saw Isabella.
"Well! You must be Isabella! Welcome to Bayville High!" he said.
"Thank you."
Mr. Moore was an older man, bald, but a moustache, and he was very short. Chris put his arms around Isabella. She jumped, and turned around.
"Hey Chris," she said.
"Hello."
He put his chin on her shoulder and class began. They were discussing A Midsummer Night's Dream. At the end of class, Chris looked at Isabella.
"Where were you planning to go this afternoon?" he asked, walking her down the hall.
"No where in particular."
"Hey Isabella! You wanna go hang out with us this afternoon?" called Kitty.
"Now, I have plans."
"All right, well, I'll pick you up before school tomorrow."
"Maybe," she said, walking away.
She walked up to Kitty, and they walked to the local 'hang spot' where Scott, Rogue, Kurt, Evan, Jubilee, Bobby, and a few others from Xavier's were waiting.
"We're here!" said Kitty.
They sat down, and Isabella and Kitty got water.
"So, how do you like Bayville High?" asked Scott.
"It's all right. Not too bad. Cool teachers, nice people."
Kitty smiles.
"Has Chris asked you out yet?" asked Kitty.
"No, I won't even let him ask me to dinner."
"Why not?" asked Jubilee.
"We just met."
"So?"
Isabella laughed. After a few hours of talking, they went back to Xavier's. Isabella immediately changed for a session to learn to control her powers. She met Professor Xavier, Logan and Storm in one of the lower level rooms. Scott, Rogue, Kurt, and Kitty came to support her.
"All right, I'm ready," said Isabella.
"Good. First, we will work on flying. Storm will first lift you into the air, and you must try to stay up," said the Professor.
"Are you sure about this?"
"If you fall, I'll catch ya," said Logan.
"All right," she said slowly.
Storm put her hands out toward Isabella, and then upwards. Isabella felt the winds pulling her up off of the grounds. Isabella pictured herself flying. The winds stopped, but Isabella kept going, for a minute, then she fell. Logan caught her.
"Gotcha, Short Cake."
"My hero! Twice in one day! You must really like me, huh?" asked Isabella, winking and elbowing him a little. Then he dropped her. She landed on the floor, and he stepped over her. "I was joking."
They continued trying to keep her in the air for a couple hours until both Isabella and Storm were worn out.
"We made progress. The last couple of tries to managed to stay up for a few minutes, then you floated down instead of falling," said Professor Xavier.
Isabella smiled.
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Now, we will work on your strength. You have to hit this dummy until we get you down to able to a regular slap, instead of sending the dummy flying backward. First hit the dummy as hard as you can."
Isabella thought of Jean and her father comparing her to Jean. She punched the dummy so hard it flew across the room, and left a hole in the wall, and a dent in the wall in the next room.
"Oops, sorry."
"Quite all right."
Kurt transported into the other room, held on to the dummy, and transported back.
"Dat was one hard punch," said Kurt. "I love you Isabella, please don't ever get mad at me!"
He smiled at her. She smiled back.
"Now, Isabella, try hitting it a little softer."
She did it again, but it barely made it though the wall.
"Oops."
She had to hit it softer and softer and softer until she was barely touching the dummy, but moving it back a few inches.
"Very good, Isabella, that's all for today. We shall continue to work on it until you can be able to shake someone's hand without breaking it."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better?" Professor Xavier smiled. "OH! The Professor made a funny!"
Isabella laughed, getting it.
"You have to have a sense of humor when helping young mutants. Without it, it's just work, without a point."
Isabella smiled and hugged Professor Xavier.
"Thank you, Professor."
Then she ran up and got a shower. She worked on controlling her powers day after day, but she couldn't completely control herself. She wasn't the most graceful person in the world, but every time she'd trip, she'd float. Her relationship with Chris was heating up, now that she could hug him and not break him in two.
"Are you goin to prom?" he asked her, one night, at the doorstep of Xavier's Institute.
"Probably not," said Isabella, shaking her head.
"Why not?"
"Because no one's asked me yet. There's this guy in my history class who I wouldn't mind going with," said Isabella, looking up at the stars.
Chris looked at her, and saw she was trying not to grin. He tickled her and she screamed, and laughed.
"Oh really?" he asked, still tickling her, and she couldn't stop laughing.
She laughed and he stopped, she looked at him
"I was kidding."
"I know, will you go with me?"
She kissed him, and backed into the Institute.
"I'll think about it."
She went inside and closed the door, going up to her room. Rogue, Kitty, and Jubilee were sitting on her bed.
"So?" asked Jubilee.
"Did he ask you?" asked Kitty.
"Ask me what?" asked Isabella, brushing her hair.
"To prom!" said Kitty and Jubilee.
Isabella looked at Rogue.
"You don't seem as enthusiastic to know about tonight's events," said Isabella, laughing.
"I can take it or leave it," said Rogue.
Isabella smiled.
"Yes, he asked me."
"And you said." said Jubilee.
"She said yes, of course!" Kitty looked at Isabella, "Didn't you?"
Isabella grabbed her pajamas and went into the bathroom to change. She came back, and sat on her bad.
"I said maybe."
"Why?" asked Rogue.
"To play with him, he knows I'm going to say yes, but he thinks I'm just playin' hard to get, and it's fun, t' tell you the truth."
They laughed.
"We have to go shopping for dresses!" said Kitty.
"We need dates first," said Rogue.
"No problem, I know of a few guys who'd love to ask you. Jubi, Kitty, y'all have dates, right?"
The two nodded.
"I'm the only one who doesn't," said Rogue.
"As I said before, no problem. Now go to bed."
They pulled into the garage, and went inside where Logan, Storm, and Professor Xavier were waiting for them.
"Everything all right?" asked Scott.
"Where were you two?" grumbled Logan.
"Didn't Rogue tell you? We went to Yale."
"Yale? Why?"
"I needed someone to talk to. I just got here, and the last thing any one wants is having someone else's problems dumped on them when the first meet the person," said Isabella.
"And why did you go, Scott?" asked Storm.
"I asked if there was anything I could do when she got into a fight with Jean today, and she said take her to Yale, she was joking, but I said I would."
"Jean was upset today after school," said the Professor.
"That's my fault. I blew up in her face, cooped up anger from years and years of hearing about how Jean was perfect, and how Ah wasn't," said Isabella.
"Are you better now?"
"Yes, sir."
He smiled.
"You can talk to anyone here, and they would understand and help. That's why we're here, to help, and receive help."
She smiled.
"Thank you, Professor."
"Now, you two go in and get some dinner, there are two plates in the microwave in the kitchen for you."
"Thank you, the kitchen is this way," said Scott, pulling Isabella behind him.
"Why do they do that, Charles?" asked Logan.
"What?" replied the Professor.
"Have to go to someone else instead of those who are here to help."
"She doesn't trust us yet. She has no trust for anyone unless she's known him or her for quite some time. She won't learn to trust us until we earn it, in her eyes."
In the kitchen, Isabella was pulling the aluminum foil off of Scott's plate.
"You have to take the foil OFF before placing it in the microwave."
She put the plate in the microwave, put a paper towel over it, then turned on the microwave.
"Oh," said Scott.
"C'mon am I the only one with common sense? Who cooks?"
"Storm."
"Okay, Are Storm and I the only one's with common cooking sense?"
"Yep, no one else can cook."
"Well, I might have to just help out in the kitchen, cooking and writing, the only two things I'm good at."
"Football," said Scott.
"Not really. I can hit hard, but that's because I've had to learn to protect myself, and I'm strong because of my mutation."
After they ate, they went to their rooms to do their homework. After that, Isabella grabbed a towel, and her shower stuff, and headed to the bathroom. She managed to get in just as Kitty came out of the bathroom. Isabella turned on the water, and made sure it was hot. She drew a bath for herself. Once it was ready, she turned off the water, and got in, pulling the curtain closed. She sat there for a while, then realized there were probably others waiting, so she washed her hair, and just as she was washing it out, someone knocked on the door.
"I'm hurrying."
"No, it's me, Kitty, can I, like, come in?"
"Sure."
She heard Kitty's footsteps, but the door didn't open or shut. Isabella looked around the curtain, and saw Kitty sitting on the chair meant for clothes and things instead of throwing them on the floor. Isabella was confused.
"Are you okay?" asked Kitty.
"How did you-the door didn't open-"
"Oh! That! I can walk through walls, that's why they call me Shadowcat."
"Oh."
She smiled.
"So, how was your frist day in Bayville?"
"I think I might need a longer bath."
She giggled.
"Yea, especially with the whole Jean thing."
Isabella washed her hair out, then put conditioner in her hair.
"What did she say?"
"Nothing, we only know what we've heard."
"And that is.?"
"Nothing really, just that you don't like her, and no one knows why."
"Kitty, Jean's my sister. Did you see that rag doll I had last night?"
"Yes, why?"
"It was my sister's. That's why I fainted when Rogue told me Jean Grey went here. The doll's name is Jean Grey. My mother named it Jean Grey, because my sister had named it Jean, and we'd have to specify which one we wanted. Jean, my sister, loved the Grey Poupon commercials, and the doll's dress was always gray after one week with my sister, so my mom named the doll Jean Grey."
"Okay?"
Kitty didn't follow.
"Jean is my sister, she faked her own death to confuse us after she became a mutant." Isabella finished her bath, and Kitty left the room, letting Isabella dry off. Isabella wrapped the towel around her, and came out of the bathroom. "I was the only one who knew, because I saw her powers surface. She'd had a fight with our parents, and she went up to her room. I went in to talk to her, and everything was floating in the air. I went back to my room and never told anyone. The hospital lost her body, saying she had gotten mixed up in a shipment to the local med school, and I didn't want to go lookin'. I was in charge of all the funeral arrangements and everything, and after the funeral, all the focus went from her virtues and talents, to my faults, and that's why all my anger was turned towards Jean. Years of pent up anger. Never good."
"I'm so sorry."
Isabella went into her room, changed, then Kitty came in and they talked. Around 9:15, someone knocked on Isabella's door.
"Come in."
Jean walked in. Isabella and Jean stared at each other for a few minutes, then Jean looked away.
"Um. I'll see you later, Isabella," said Kitty, leaving.
"Later, Kitty."
Jean shifted uncomfortably, and then sat next to Isabella.
"Scott's nice," said Jean.
"Yea, he is."
"So, Rogue says you went to Yale."
"Yea."
"Why?"
"I needed someone to talk to."
"You can always talk to the Professor, or Storm, or anyone here."
"Well, they don't know me, and I don't know them. And the last thing I want to do is dump all my problems on everyone who loves you."
"I'm sorry, Isabella."
"You didn't have to leave. I never told anyone."
"What?"
"I saw your powers emerge. I went in to talk to you, and everything was floating in the air. I went back to my room and never told anyone."
"You-you knew?"
"Yes, I was scared, I didn't know what to do, so I kept quiet. I could have told everyone, but I didn't!"
"I-"
Jean stood up, and walked out to leave.
"As soon as I get the hang of my powers I'll be out of your hair. I can't just leave now when I can't even control myself, so I'll stay out of your life, and after I've gotten control, you'll never see me again."
Jean walked out the door, crying, and so was Isabella. Isabella turned on her radio, and listened to music, singing, in the dark, until someone came in and turned on the light. Isabella was sitting on her bed, crying, in a little ball.
"Isabella." Isabella looked up, it was Storm. "Are you all right?"
Isabella nodded.
"'M fine."
"You don't look fine, and neither does your sister."
Isabella looked up.
"So everyone knows?"
"No, only Charles, Logan, Jean and I and anyone else you told."
"Kitty."
Storm came over and sat next to Isabella, hugging her, and letting Isabella cry.
"You will come to love your sister, or at least, not hate her."
"I don't know, all those years, and now, all you love her, and after today, my first day here, I'm a brat. I even took one of her boy toys on a road trip. I didn't know I would be a bad influence immediately upon arrival."
Storm laughed.
"You aren't a brat. You have every reason to be angry, and you're not a bad influence, we were just a little worried, that's all."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know it would take that long to Yale and back."
"That's quite all right, just tell us directly, first."
"Didn't Rogue tell you?"
"She mumbled something about you and Scott, and gone somewhere, but that's all anyone caught. So, what did you two talk about on the way there?"
"Nothing really, we got to know each other, that's about it."
"Well, Scott's down stairs deep in conversation with Rogue, who's not much of a conversationalist."
"Oh, and that. I told her to ask him out, because she likes him, and he's chasing Jean, so I told him to wake up, date around, and if he and Jean are meant to be, they will be."
"Well, I think your pep talk worked."
"Really?"
Storm nodded.
"I'll show you."
They left Isabella's room, and walked down the stairs to the library, cracked the door a little and watched. Scott and Rogue were talking, laughing and flirting.
"What are you two doing?" asked Logan, from behind them.
They jumped, closed the door, and faced him.
"Nothing," said Isabella.
He looked from one to the other.
"Storm, stop encouraging them to spy on one another."
"I'm not, that was Isabella's influence on the students, after one day."
Logan took a peek, then looked at Isabella, who was grinning.
"Charles is gonna have a time with you."
Isabella was a little taken aback, she bit her lip and looked to Storm, who smiled. Logan walked down the hall, laughing at the two of them.
"Well, I won't convince anyone to anything they don't wanna do deep, deep, deep, deep down."
"Why so deep?"
"Because most of the time, they don't know they want to."
Storm smiled.
"Hey Isabella, hey Auntie O," said Even, walking past.
"Hi."
"Hello, Evan, what are you doing?" asked Storm.
"Nothing, just walking," said Evan.
Storm raised an eyebrow.
"I will see you later, Isabella. Right now, I must speak with my nephew."
Isabella nodded and walked to the TV/Game room, she sat down on the far end of the sofa, and watched TV, until Professor Xavier called them out into the entrance hall. There were three guys standing there. Isabella looked around, and saw that most of her new housemates were about to attack the three newcomers. Isabella looked at the red- head in the middle.
"St. John?" she said.
He looked at her, then grinned.
"Bella!"
She ran past Bobby, jumped into St. John's arms, her legs around his waist, and he spun her around.
"What are you doing here?"
"Magneto's goin' away and he's stickin' us here til he comes back. How'd you get out of jail?"
Isabella covered his mouth.
"Shut up, stupid, no one knows about that," she whispered.
He laughed.
"Sorry. I didn't know that you were a mutant."
"I just found out, you never told me you were-"
"Would you have told me?"
"No, not really."
The two noticed everyone staring at them, shocked.
"We knew each other in New York," St. John informed them.
Isabella stood on her own two feet, and they stopped hugging.
"So, how have you been?"
"All right, I'm so much better now," he said.
He kissed her.
"You know you can't do that any more, Suga," said Isabella.
"And why not?"
"Do you remember that night at ALL?"
"Not really."
"I don't either, but I remember one part. We agreed to be JUST FRIENDS."
"No we didn't."
"Are you doubting my memory?"
"Yes."
Isabella laughed.
"I said that before we'd even started."
"Oh yeah! I remember now!"
Isabella laughed. Professor Xavier explained that St. John, Remy, and Pitor would be staying with them for a while until Magneto returned. Then, everyone returned to what they were doing, and St. John and Remy joined Isabella in searching for a game. Kurt popped up next to her, scaring her.
"Sorry," he said.
"It's okay, just give me a little more warning."
"Okay."
"Wanna play a game?"
"Sure, vhat game?"
Isabella looked through the games, and found one.
"Mexican Train Dominoes. My grandparents got me hooked on this game. We need at least four people."
"Like, I'll play," said Kitty.
"Me too," said Bobby.
"Anyone else?"
Jean walked in.
"Hey Jean, come play with us," said Kitty.
Jean looked at Isabella, who motioned to an empty seat. Jean smiled and sat down.
"All right. First, everyone must choose, fifteen tiles, and one small train." They all did so. "First, does anyone have the double twelve, the highest number?"
"I do," said Kitty.
"All right, put it on this tray there are nine slots in this thing, one for the double twelve, and others for our own little trains of dominoes. If you have two twelves, you can use one to start your own train, and the other to start a community, on which everyone can play. For example, if I put down a domino with a twelve on one end, and a two on the other end, and say. Jean has the double two, she can put it sideways and then make another play, and say it's to her own train, and not to the double two, then the next two people HAVE to put down a two, and if you don't have a play, pick one up from the pile, and if you can't do anything with that, you have to put your little train on your personal train of dominoes, and everyone can play, when you play on your own, then you can take the train down, and only you can play on it again. Any questions?"
"How do we decide who goes first?" asked Bobby.
"Whoever has the domino we start out with, this time it's Kitty, and since she's on my right, I'm next then St. John, then Remy, then Kurt, then Jean, then you, Bobby."
"All right."
Kitty put the double twelve down, and then a twelve on one side and a three one the other. Isabella put her twelve/ten down.
"Oh! And one other thing, you want to get rid of all your dominoes because you want the lowest amount of dominoes with few dots as possible."
They played for a while, Isabella winning one, Bobby winning one, Kurt winning two, and Kitty, St. John, Remy and Jean had not won any.
"Hey, you know, we're only a few hours from Pittsburgh, we could go visit everyone," suggested Jean.
"Oh, yeah, that would go over well. Aunt Dani! Uncle Donald! Hey! Oh, by the way, I'm not dead, and both Isabella and I are mutants!" said Isabella.
The others laughed. Jean and Isabella looked at each other and laughed.
"On second thought, we'd better not."
"Good, Sam and Carl are intensely annoying."
"Intensely? That bad huh?"
"You have no idea."
They played until Kurt won. They played until they got down to the double sevens and Professor Xavier said they had to go to bed. They put the game away, and went to bed. The next morning, Isabella brushed her hair, her teeth, put on her makeup, put on a pair of baggy, black jeans and a red tank top, and ran down the stairs, tripping. She landed mid- air, and everyone stared at her.
"I'm glad that I did that here and not at school," said Isabella, still floating.
"Morning Isabella, get a hang of your powers all ready?" asked Jubilee, sleepily.
"No! I'm stuck. I can't get down!"
Isabella was now upside down, and still floating. Then, she fell, and someone caught her.
"Good thing I walked by," said Logan.
"My hero!" she said, swooning, she hugged him.
Those around them laughed. He put her down.
"Hey, Isabella, you need a ride?" asked Kitty.
"Why?"
"Because Chris Jones is sitting outside waiting for you."
She looked outside and there he was, leaning against a blue Mustang convertible, holding a red rose. She grabbed her bag, and walked out of the door. Scott pulled his car around, and Rogue hopped in. Rogue smiled at Isabella, and Isabella smiled back. Scott waved, and Isabella waved back.
"Hey, Isabella," said Chris, handing her the rose.
She took it.
"Thank you. How are you?"
"I'm better now that I've seen you this morning. Would you like a ride to school this morning?"
She smiled.
"I'd like that very much, thank you."
He opened the car door for her, and she got in, putting her bag at her feet. He got into the car, and drove off.
"How about some breakfast?"
"Won't we be late for school?"
He looked at her, then back at the road.
"Wanna take a chance?"
She smiled.
"Why not?"
"All right, La Café du Paris, it is then."
"Chris, that's a French restaurant."
"So it is!"
She laughed.
"Why are you taking me to a French Restaurant for breakfast?"
"Because you wouldn't let me take you for dinner."
She laughed, as he pulled up in front of it.
"They're closed."
"Not for me."
He got out of the car, and ran around to open the door and help Isabella out. She smiled. He opened the door.
"Monsieur Jones! How may I help you?" asked the waiter.
"Well, Phillip, the lady and I are hungry for some breakfast."
"Zis way, s'il vous plaît," said Phillip showing them to their seats.
Chris pulled Isabella's chair out for her, she sat down, and he pushed her chair in.
"Thank you," said Isabella.
The waiter handed them menus, and brought them orange juice in wine glasses.
"What are you gonna get?" asked Isabella.
"Hmm. the strawberry bread sounds good."
"It does, I might have to get that too."
He smiled.
"Le pain au fraise, deux, s'il vous plaît."
"Oui, Monsieur."
The waiter took the menus and left. Chris smiled at Isabella.
"What?" she said, suspiciously.
"You're so beautiful."
"I just met you yesterday, how do you know that I'm beautiful? I believe beauty is on the inside, not outside, so how do you know?"
"Do you believe in love at first sight?"
"No. I believe the first sight gets you started, but after that, it's up to you and God."
He smiled.
"Well, let the first sight get started. Favorite movie?"
"Armageddon and Robin Hood Men in Tights. And yours?"
He laughed.
"Fast and the Furious. Favorite Song?"
"Evanescence Bring Me to Life. Yours?"
"No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn."
"Beastie Boys, nice."
"Favorite book?"
"Harry Potter, and Ella Enchanted."
"I like Harry Potter, too."
"Favorite food?"
"Pizza."
"Mine is spaghetti and Wedding soup."
"What's Wedding soup?"
"It's chicken noodle soup with meatballs, spinach and other stuff. My grandmother makes it."
"What's your favorite drink?"
"Mountain Dew. The effects are similar to alcohol when taken in large doses."
He laughed.
"Memory loss?"
The waiter brought out the food.
"Brain loss."
He laughed. They ate, and talked some more. When they finished, he paid and they went to school. They pulled up and got to school and they slipped into their classrooms just before the late bell. Isabella took her seat next to Scott, as the teacher entered.
"Where were you at breakfast?" asked Scott.
"Chris took me to La Café du Paris."
"For breakfast? Why?"
"He said that he was takin' me there for breakfast, cuz I wouldn't let him take me there for dinner. Did you get asked out?"
Ms. Beihauser realized she had a class, and began to teach, instead of staring at her coffee machine. Scott passed Isabella a note.
'No.'
'Oh, well, I heard something about you in the library last night.'
'Yea, well, I asked Rogue out tomorrow night. It WAS Rogue, right?'
'You know? You are a bright child!'
He tried to hold in his laughter, luckily, Isabella was the only one who saw.
"Who can tell me what the Pythagorean Theorem is?" asked Ms. Beihauser.
Isabella raised her hand, and Ms. Beihauser pointed to her.
"A2+B2=C2"
"Very good."
'Thanks, Isabella for hooking us up.'
'NP, babe, any time.'
Scott shoved the note in his pocket so Ms. Beihauser wouldn't catch them. After that class, she went to third period, Chorus, with Mrs. Lang, a small Asian woman about thirty, at the oldest.
"What do you sing?"
"Second Soprano."
"Can you sing for me?"
"What song?"
"Marry Had A Little Lamb."
She sang it with her mix of Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Jo Dee Messina and Mariah Carey voice.
"Bravo! Bravo! You're in that section, the one on my right, and sit in the middle because you're somewhat tall."
Isabella worked her way in and sat next to a girl with brown hair.
"I'm Isabella."
"I'm Meagan. Where'd you move from?"
"Raleigh, North Carolina."
"Man, that's a tough move."
"Yea, but I've got a friend at Yale, so it's not too bad."
"That's good."
"So, what are we singin'?"
"Friends, we're singing it for the seniors on senior night in a month."
"Isabella, do you know the words?"
"Is it the one that goes 'And friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of the- hem and a friend will not say never, 'cause the welcome will not e-hend.'"
"Yes that's it! All right one. two. three."
She played the song on the piano, as everyone sang it. Isabella saw a flash of red hair. She looked over and saw Jean. Jean was looking over at Isabella, and when they caught each other's eyes, they faced front again. They finished the song, and Mrs. Lang looked thoughtful.
"Isabella, Jean, come down here a minute. I think I may make your solo a duet," she said to Jean.
She played the song on the piano.
"And friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of the- hem and a friend will not say never, 'cause the welcome will not e-hend, but its hard to let you go, in the Father's hands we know that a lifetime's not too long. to live as friends..." they sang together Jean's soprano voice, and Isabella's second soprano voice.
"I think with your voice and your voice, we might have the next divas."
"B-" began Jean, but she changed her mind.
"Sorry to steal your thunder," muttered Isabella, passing Jean on her way beck to her seat.
They sang the rest of class, and after class she found Rogue.
"Hey, where's Mrs. Spaniel's History class?"
"Follow Kitty and Lance, they have her next."
"Okay, now where are they-Kitty! Lance!"
They turned around and made their way toward Rogue and Isabella.
"Hey Isabella, I wanna thank you," said Rogue.
"For what?"
"Scott asked me out last night."
"I heard."
"Who told you?"
"Scott."
"Oh."
"I'll see you at lunch!" said Isabella, walking away with Lance and Kitty.
Isabella sat behind Evan, next to Lance, and diagonal from Kitty. Mrs. Spaniel entered the classroom.
"The bird's back from her nest," whispered Evan.
Isabella had to suppress her laughter.
"She may have flown in on her broom," said Lance.
Mrs. Spaniel had a nose that somewhat resembled a beak, or an evil witch's nose, short blonde hair, and dark eyes.
"If she looks into our eyes, we won't turn into stone, will we?" asked Isabella.
"I don't know, but I wouldn't take that chance," said Kitty.
Mrs. Spaniel looked up at Isabella.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Isabella Sulinski."
"Oh yeah. Here's your book."
She passed a book back to Isabella and then she lectured the whole class, Lance slept, Isabella tried not to, and Evan and Kitty pretended to pay attention.
"Now! Who can tell me where the Revolutionary War started?"
Isabella wrote a note to Evan, Kitty, and Lance, who had now woken up at her shrill voice. 'it stared up her ass.' They all had to keep their laughter internal. The teacher's pet raised his hand, then Isabella raised her hand.
"There's an answer from the peanut gallery back there? Well, Miss Sulinski, where did the Revolutionary War start?"
"Lexington and Concord, officially." (A/N: Is that right?)
"Very good."
They went back to writing on the note. When the class was finally over they laughed about Isabella's comments to the note, then went to lunch. Isabella sat with Kitty, Lance, Evan and Kurt outside in the courtyard, waiting for Scott, Rogue, and Jean.
"And THEN! She stole my solo, now Mrs. Lang made it a duet," said Jean, facing Scott and Rogue, not seeing Isabella behind her.
"Well, I didn't CHOSE to!" said Isabella, angrily.
Jean spun around, shock on her face.
"Bella-"
"Don't you EVER call, me that!"
Isabella grabbed her lunch, and walked away. Kitty looked at Jean.
"You need to, like, give her a break, she's new, and we're like the only friends she has! I TOTALLY remember being new. And having you back in her life, that, like, makes everything worse," said Kitty, standing up.
She walked over to Isabella, who was now sitting under a tree, trying not to cry. Lance stood up and followed her.
"I wouldn't come over here if I were you, Kitty. You might loose the favor of the Queen," said Isabella.
"Don't let her bug you," said Lance. "She's not worth it. She may be perfect, but that just means she is unstable, you have nothing to worry about. You ignore her, and she'll leave you alone. However hard that may be, if you don't give the attention she needs, then you'll win."
Kitty and Isabella both stared at Lance, then Isabella nodded.
"You're right. I'm not gonna let her keep me away from ALL of my new friends."
Kitty smiled, and they went back to their group. Isabella ignored Jean all of lunch.
"You, like, have to watch out for Mrs. Spaniel, she can be real mean. Just stay under the radar, and you'll totally be fine," said Kitty.
"Thanks."
"That was funny in history, the Revolutionary war-" Lance broke off in laughter.
"Well, it looks like it did. That look on her face like there's something smelly around."
"Yea, she does have that look," said Evan, laughing.
"Lance, can I ask you a question?" asked Isabella, seriously.
"Sure."
"How come you live with the Brotherhood but here at school you hang around us, when it's common knowledge that y'all don't like us."
All of them looked at him.
"I invited him to hang out with us," said Kitty.
"Oh, okay, I was just curious."
Isabella went back to eating. Jean muttered something under her breath. Isabella closed her eyes and breathed deeply, to control her temper.
"That wasn't necessary," said Rogue.
"I told you that I would go, Jean. As soon as I could, and I will," whispered Isabella, standing up to throw her trash away.
They all looked from Isabella to Jean, and back.
"What does she mean she's goin'?" asked Rogue.
"She said she'd leave as soon as she was under control," said Jean, putting emphasis on 'under control.'
Isabella sat back down and they all stared at her.
"What? I can't stay any longer 'n 'at. I'll prolly just go back to NYC and find Misty. Tony's prolly in prison, so, I'll see if she still lives in her apartment."
"Who's Misty?" asked Evan.
"My friend from NYC, last November I went to NYC. I met this guy named Tony, and. I really don't wanna tell y'all until I know y'all better and vice- versa."
"Oh, man," said Kurt.
"I really don't wanna tell you stuff to scare you away."
"Well, whether you wait or tell us now, we'll probably be 'scared away' anyway," said Jean.
"I don't care what effect it has on you. If it scares you away, good!"
Scott sighed at the two girls. The bell rang for their next class. She went to English with Kurt. Chris walked in and sat behind Isabella, without her seeing him. The teacher was Mr. Moore. He walked in, and saw Isabella.
"Well! You must be Isabella! Welcome to Bayville High!" he said.
"Thank you."
Mr. Moore was an older man, bald, but a moustache, and he was very short. Chris put his arms around Isabella. She jumped, and turned around.
"Hey Chris," she said.
"Hello."
He put his chin on her shoulder and class began. They were discussing A Midsummer Night's Dream. At the end of class, Chris looked at Isabella.
"Where were you planning to go this afternoon?" he asked, walking her down the hall.
"No where in particular."
"Hey Isabella! You wanna go hang out with us this afternoon?" called Kitty.
"Now, I have plans."
"All right, well, I'll pick you up before school tomorrow."
"Maybe," she said, walking away.
She walked up to Kitty, and they walked to the local 'hang spot' where Scott, Rogue, Kurt, Evan, Jubilee, Bobby, and a few others from Xavier's were waiting.
"We're here!" said Kitty.
They sat down, and Isabella and Kitty got water.
"So, how do you like Bayville High?" asked Scott.
"It's all right. Not too bad. Cool teachers, nice people."
Kitty smiles.
"Has Chris asked you out yet?" asked Kitty.
"No, I won't even let him ask me to dinner."
"Why not?" asked Jubilee.
"We just met."
"So?"
Isabella laughed. After a few hours of talking, they went back to Xavier's. Isabella immediately changed for a session to learn to control her powers. She met Professor Xavier, Logan and Storm in one of the lower level rooms. Scott, Rogue, Kurt, and Kitty came to support her.
"All right, I'm ready," said Isabella.
"Good. First, we will work on flying. Storm will first lift you into the air, and you must try to stay up," said the Professor.
"Are you sure about this?"
"If you fall, I'll catch ya," said Logan.
"All right," she said slowly.
Storm put her hands out toward Isabella, and then upwards. Isabella felt the winds pulling her up off of the grounds. Isabella pictured herself flying. The winds stopped, but Isabella kept going, for a minute, then she fell. Logan caught her.
"Gotcha, Short Cake."
"My hero! Twice in one day! You must really like me, huh?" asked Isabella, winking and elbowing him a little. Then he dropped her. She landed on the floor, and he stepped over her. "I was joking."
They continued trying to keep her in the air for a couple hours until both Isabella and Storm were worn out.
"We made progress. The last couple of tries to managed to stay up for a few minutes, then you floated down instead of falling," said Professor Xavier.
Isabella smiled.
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Now, we will work on your strength. You have to hit this dummy until we get you down to able to a regular slap, instead of sending the dummy flying backward. First hit the dummy as hard as you can."
Isabella thought of Jean and her father comparing her to Jean. She punched the dummy so hard it flew across the room, and left a hole in the wall, and a dent in the wall in the next room.
"Oops, sorry."
"Quite all right."
Kurt transported into the other room, held on to the dummy, and transported back.
"Dat was one hard punch," said Kurt. "I love you Isabella, please don't ever get mad at me!"
He smiled at her. She smiled back.
"Now, Isabella, try hitting it a little softer."
She did it again, but it barely made it though the wall.
"Oops."
She had to hit it softer and softer and softer until she was barely touching the dummy, but moving it back a few inches.
"Very good, Isabella, that's all for today. We shall continue to work on it until you can be able to shake someone's hand without breaking it."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better?" Professor Xavier smiled. "OH! The Professor made a funny!"
Isabella laughed, getting it.
"You have to have a sense of humor when helping young mutants. Without it, it's just work, without a point."
Isabella smiled and hugged Professor Xavier.
"Thank you, Professor."
Then she ran up and got a shower. She worked on controlling her powers day after day, but she couldn't completely control herself. She wasn't the most graceful person in the world, but every time she'd trip, she'd float. Her relationship with Chris was heating up, now that she could hug him and not break him in two.
"Are you goin to prom?" he asked her, one night, at the doorstep of Xavier's Institute.
"Probably not," said Isabella, shaking her head.
"Why not?"
"Because no one's asked me yet. There's this guy in my history class who I wouldn't mind going with," said Isabella, looking up at the stars.
Chris looked at her, and saw she was trying not to grin. He tickled her and she screamed, and laughed.
"Oh really?" he asked, still tickling her, and she couldn't stop laughing.
She laughed and he stopped, she looked at him
"I was kidding."
"I know, will you go with me?"
She kissed him, and backed into the Institute.
"I'll think about it."
She went inside and closed the door, going up to her room. Rogue, Kitty, and Jubilee were sitting on her bed.
"So?" asked Jubilee.
"Did he ask you?" asked Kitty.
"Ask me what?" asked Isabella, brushing her hair.
"To prom!" said Kitty and Jubilee.
Isabella looked at Rogue.
"You don't seem as enthusiastic to know about tonight's events," said Isabella, laughing.
"I can take it or leave it," said Rogue.
Isabella smiled.
"Yes, he asked me."
"And you said." said Jubilee.
"She said yes, of course!" Kitty looked at Isabella, "Didn't you?"
Isabella grabbed her pajamas and went into the bathroom to change. She came back, and sat on her bad.
"I said maybe."
"Why?" asked Rogue.
"To play with him, he knows I'm going to say yes, but he thinks I'm just playin' hard to get, and it's fun, t' tell you the truth."
They laughed.
"We have to go shopping for dresses!" said Kitty.
"We need dates first," said Rogue.
"No problem, I know of a few guys who'd love to ask you. Jubi, Kitty, y'all have dates, right?"
The two nodded.
"I'm the only one who doesn't," said Rogue.
"As I said before, no problem. Now go to bed."