Disclaimer: The name of this fanfiction was first the name of a song called
"suckerpunch" by the band Five Iron Frenzy. I do not own the song and I do
not own the band. The names of all the chapters are also names of songs on
Tom Waits new album, "Blood Money". I do not own Tom Waits and I do not
own any of the songs or song titles on the album. This fi contains certain
characters that appear on x-men evolution, including places, etc. I own
none of them except for Simone Samson.
Authors note: Well, I hope you liked the last chapter. Sorry it takes so long to post chapter two. These are long chapters and I am trying to make them the best they can be. As many of you know, a good story does not write itself overnight. It takes a lot of time and a lot of hard work. Therefore, here we go. Enjoy. Get yourself another sandwich, its another long one.
Chapter Two: Misery is the river or the world
There was no way Pietro or Lance or Freddie were going to cut their morning short just to get Todd to school early. He would have to walk, or run, more or less. Running was not something he was accustomed to. When he had to get somewhere in a hurry, he usually hopped. He had better judgement than that though. Todd already got funny looks from the kids at school. He could not imagine how they would look at him if they saw him leaping down the road towards the school. He clumsily and carelessly threw his backpack over his shoulders. He didn't even bother to close the door behind him when he speed out. It was when he reached the sidewalk that he realized something.
**Hey, if I'm fifteen minutes early yo, then I'm ahead of all the other people who walk. There's no one around to see me yet.** His legs bent slightly then he sprung into the air, up and forward.
His hands didn't even hurt anymore when he used them to land after each jump. They used to sting when they hit hard pavement or rock. Hot sand wasn't much fun either. By now he was starting to develop calluses on his palms and fingers, like the kind a guitar player gets on their fingertips. They weren't very prominent or hard yet, which was good. He knew that if they became noticeable, people would ask about them. It'd be another reason for people to call him a freak show. Sometimes people called him a mutant, which was ironic. It almost made him laugh when they said it. They really didn't have a clue, and if they did, they wouldn't understand. He hated them sometimes, non-mutants. They were so insensitive, so afraid of what they didn't understand. He wasn't sure whether to hate them or feel sorry for them, because they didn't have to be that way.
Each leap covered about five feet. He was making good time. He stopped and straightened up when he was able to see the school. It was secluded. Except Simone.
She was standing at the top of the front stairs, leaning up against the brick wall next to the big metal doors. Her vibrant, purple bookbag slumped on the ground next to her and her hands were in the roomy pockets of a pair of overly baggy black pants. Her hair was the same as yesterday, but he really noticed it now. It was light brown, almost copper, and reached her waist. It had a neat part in the middle and was straight, no waves or curls. A simplistic beauty.
She had been looking at the road that Todd was now walking down. When he stopped and started walking, her gray eyes darted to observe the stone steps a few feet in front of her. He noticed this. It was like she had seen him hopping, but she didn't want him knowing she had seen. She had done the thing one often does when they are admiring a crush and the crush catches them. Although one knows they've been seen, they still try to make it look like they weren't spying, all in vain. Now, she was smiling. Not at the stone steps that she was looking at, but at some new discovered though, it seemed.
**I hope she didn't see me jumping, Todd thought. If she did, she'd be staring at me funny or something, yo. She probably didn't. I don't wanna worry about it.**
He walked at a reasonable pace towards the main steps. He tried not to look at her while he approached. Women were funny. He knew that if he looked at her, she'd take it as him checking her out. If he smiled at her, she'd think he was gonna make a move. If he looked unfriendly, she'd think he didn't like her, and that wasn't entirely true yet. He'd decide whether he liked her or not after today, after he talked to her a little bit.
He climbed the stairs easily and once at the top he muttered a meek "Yo".
"Hey", she replied quietly.
He dropped his bookbag on the ground next to hers and leaned against the door next to her, a foot or two away.
"I, I hope", she began in a small voice, "That it isn't a problem for you, I mean showing me around today".
"Naw, its no problem yo", he replied, attempting to be nonchalant.
"So, where you from?" he asked. He noticed her trying to make eye contact with him. She seemed so shy and introverted, very reserved.
"I'm from Phoenix. My parents sent me here about a week ago".
He had expected her to say what school she went to before now. He was a little shocked at her reply.
"When are they coming here?"
"They're not".
"Wait, so who do you live with?" He hoped the question wasn't too stalker-like. It sort of escaped his lips before he could really process it. Why would her parents have sent her here alone?
"My pet tarantula, Midori".
"I mean, like, do you stay with an aunt or a brother or sister or something?"
"No. I live in an apartment down that way"; she stretched out her right arm and pointed to a road going in that direction. "My parents send me money to pay the rent".
He had never met someone so honest. Anyone else in her place would probably make something up; like that, they lived with a big sister or something. However, this could be a lie too. She sure sounded like she was telling the truth though.
"Why did they send you here?" He hoped he wasn't prying too much, which was why he was actually a little relieved when he heard another voice coming towards them.
"Excuse me miss, are you Simone Samson?" it asked politely. Todd looked in the voices direction. He cringed a little when he saw who it was. Scott Summers and Jean Grey were now standing in front of them. Scott had asked the question. Todd must not have noticed them coming up the stone stairs.
"Y-yes", replied Simone nervously.
"Hey", Todd interrupted in a hostile tone, "Back off Shades"
Scott looked at Todd and frowned, "Tolenski, this doesn't involve you. Please stay out of it".
"Um, sir", Simone peeped, "Todd is my friend. Please don't speak to him like that. It isn't right to reply to harsh words using harsh words. It won't get you anywhere".
Scott didn't see what he had done wrong, but it would be best to let that one slide.
"Your right, I'm sorry", him and Jean both focused on Simone. Simone felt little sweat beads forming on the back of her neck. She didn't like being the center of attention. Todd folded his arms and huffed a little.
"Whatever yo", he mumbled.
"Miss Samson", Jean said very politely, "We would like to talk to you about something very important. We know a man named Professor Xavier and we're here representing him. He is the owner and founder of an institute called the Xavier institute. Its a special institute for gifted young people, like yourself".
Todd's eyes widened. The professor wanted Simone!? If the professor wanted her, it could only mean one thing. She must be a mutant. That explained why she didn't overreact when she caught him hopping towards the school earlier.
"Hey, slow down yo", he interrupted. He turned towards them and smiled slyly at Scott and Jean.
"Professor X can't have her", Todd stated, "Cuz she's with the Brotherhood".
Scott and Jean looked shocked, then Jean looked angry.
"He's lying", Jean said with slight irritation. Todd had forgotten that she could read minds.
Scott turned to Simone, "Simone, is Todd telling the truth?"
Simone had a look of sheer and utter confusion in her big gray eyes. She glanced at Todd, then at Jean, then back at Scott.
"Yes", she said so quietly that she was almost unheard, "I'm with the Brotherhood". Jean frowned and contacted the professor in her mind.
**Professor, she's lying too, but why? Why would she lie about being in the Brotherhood. She must not know what a bad group they are.**
**She knows, the professor promptly replied. Let her be. She has a good reason for this lie and a good purpose behind her actions. Leave her alone for now. Good job on your efforts.** The connection ended.
"Scott", Jean said with a thoughtful expression in her eyes, "lets go. She knows what she's doing". Scott sighed and both of them walked away towards a different entrance.
Todd stared at Simone, although he could tell she couldn't stand it.
"Is that why your parents sent you away; cuz you're a mutant?" he asked quietly.
"Well", the obnoxious ringing of the first bell interrupted Simones answer. By now, students had begun to congregate around the school entrances. The minute the doors automatically unlocked, Todd grabbed Simones wrist and pulled her inside, before the crowds could stampede its way into the school.
"Come on", he said to her as he half dragged her through the halls. "There's not much time before class starts and we have to get to our lockers and to first period class before the bell rings again. There's only five minutes between classes", he explained. Simone followed along willingly.
Todd went through this routine every day. It was a struggle getting to class in time when you were working against a mob of bigger kids. Sometimes he didn't make it. Today he just didn't want Simone being late for classes on her first day. He didn't want their teachers thinking she was a bad kid, like they thought he was. **Hey, why do I even care yo? Oh well, I guess there ain't anything wrong with doing something nice for somebody else every once in awhile. They say it makes you feel good about yourself. God knows that'd come in handy.**
When they got to the hallway, their lockers were in, they parted; Todd for his locker, and Simone for hers. For a few moments while they were shoving books into compartments, and throwing folders onto shelves, they lost sight of each other. Todd got finished at his locker first. He made the quick few steps to where Simone was. She was kneeling on the floor in front of her open locker. She carefully slid the last book into her purple bag and zipped it briskly. She threw the bookbag over her shoulders neatly as she stood and faced Todd.
"Which way?" she asked quietly. For a minute, Todd didn't know what she meant.
"What? Oh.yeah, which way to class. Um, this way". He started walking and she followed obediently, kind of like a little puppy. He had had a puppy once, when he was much younger, but he preferred not to think about its gruesome death at the hands of**...Yo, I gotta forget about that. That was a long time ago that that happened to Turbo. And I guess my mom got what was coming to her for it. **
Todd lead her down hallways and staircases for what felt like only a few seconds until he lead her into a classroom, they're first period, ninth grade English classroom. The classroom had a practical look about it, with a shelf in the back that held about thirty or more dictionary's and two sets of encyclopedia's. The teachers desk was in the front of the room, but it was vacant for now. The desks were arranged in rows facing the big desk. An aerial view would show four rows going horizontally, with seven desks in each row, there being twenty eight desks in all.
Todd's desk was in the back row, third from the end. There was only one vacant desk left and it was in the third row, third from the end, right in front of Todd.
"Come on", he said. He walked to his desk, staying on the outside of the maze of desks that he would've had to weave through if he were stupid enough to not go around. She followed and when he reached his desk, he pointed to the empty one in front of it.
"That's the only one left".
"Ok", she answered.
The minute they sat down the bell rang. Most of the students had arrived by now, but Todd smirked when he saw a small group of kids rush in at the last minute. He usually was with that group. **Wow, I'm not late for once. This chick must be good luck**
The teacher walked in. The teacher was a large woman with short black hair and big thick rimmed glasses. Her skin was dark and blemished with age and she wore an obviously fake string of pearls around her neck and a dull looking green dress with big shoulder pads. Over the dress, she wore a black, knitted vest with a smiling kitten on it. Simone smiled at the vest. She thought the kitten was cute. The teacher stood in front of her desk and faced the classroom. She looked at Simone and smiled, showing a set of perfectly white teeth.
"Hello Simone, I'm Mrs.Culler", the teacher said to her, as if the rest of the class wasn't there. Simone shrank into her chair a little when most of the other kids in the room turned their attention towards her.
"Hello", she almost lip synced rather than actually said. Todd was slouching in his seat behind her. He saw how uncomfortable she looked. In a way, it made him angry that kids were so fascinated with her when all she seemed to want was to be left alone. It was like they'd never seen a new kid before, or a gothic person.
A kid a few seats away made a fake cough and muttered the word "freak" in the middle of it. The other kids laughed. Todd wished he could see her reaction. He wondered if she'd be offended. In a way, he felt a little happy. Now, they were both "freaks", according to their classmates. Now they could identify with each other, but he was mad at whoever had said that.
If he had been able to see her, he would have seen a perfectly calm look in her eyes. She had ignored the label well, as if she hadn't even heard it. A couple of the kids around her wondered if she was deaf.
Mrs.Culler told the class to get out their homework assignments and pass them up. Simone didn't have one, obviously, but she would be excused for it because this was her first day here. Todd rummaged through his English folder and pulled out a piece of paper. It was in terrible condition. The handwriting was barely legible and the paper itself had big stains on it from water. He had left it on the kitchen table overnight one evening and the roof leaked on it. He was terribly embarrassed that Simone would have to see it. What would she think of him now? Oh well, she probably wasn't a big fan of English anyway. He handed her his paper and she handed it to the person in front of her and so on and so forth.
The teacher told the class to take notes. Simone pulled a notebook out of her vinyl purple book bag and set it on her desk. She pulled out a pencil. Todd did the same things. He usually didn't even take notes. He usually didn't care, but for some reason, he didn't want to look like a hopeless juvenile today, not in front of her. But, it would seem, he already did.
He noticed Simone carefully pulling a written on sheet of paper from her notebook. It seemed that she was trying to be as quiet as possible. He watched her fold it in a complicated pattern until it was a tiny square. As soon as the teachers back was turned, the little square of paper was on his desk. Simone had not even looked behind her when she flexed her arm to set the note, neatly, on the top right hand corner of Todd's desk.
He unfolded it discretely, so as not to attract attention from the teacher. He didn't want either of them getting in trouble. When the paper was unfolded, he first observed the handwriting. Simone had strange handwriting. It wasn't swirly and pretty like a girls, but not sloppy and too big or small like a guys. It was plain and simple, but a little unbalanced. He then read the actual words, it said the following;
"Todd, I was wondering what happened to your paper. I don't mean to be rude, but it was in slight disrepair. You ought to have rewritten it. But I'm not one to judge, the actual subject matter might have been excellent. Forgive me, but I'm a lover of English and it sometimes makes me sad to see how the English language has been slaughtered by today's casual grammar. Not to imply that you have any part in the degeneration of our language. Sorry for wasting your time. -Simone"
Any other time, Todd would have replied with a careless, "its none of your business", but he decided to react otherwise. **Its funny, what she said earlier when Summers was hassling me. She said for him not to speak that way to her "friend". I wonder if she meant that, if she really sees me as her friend. If she does, I don't wanna ruin that, not that I won't eventually anyway. And what if she does join the Brotherhood? I know I just said that so Shades and his woman would lay off, but what if she did join. I wouldn't want to have her stuck around and hatin' on me. I better just keep my cool, even if she does diss my paper**
He wrote a quick reply and when the teacher wasn't looking, slipped the re-folded note onto her desk. It said the following;
"Yeah, your right, sorry. I wanted to ask you about earlier. Are you really a mutant? And why did you say you were in our group when Shades and Red knew you were lying, You don't even know the Brotherhood." The handwriting was sloppy, although he did try to write neater. He watched her write a reply in between taking notes and acting like she wasn't up to something. In a few minutes, the note was in his hands again. He read her reply;
"I am a mutant, yes, but I think we should talk about all that later. I respect English greatly and I feel that the upkeep of this conversation during class time is deeply disrespectful." He replied for the last time;
"Yeah, your right. Sorry".
The rest of class seemed to drag by. Todd found himself becoming very bored and antsy, not to mention nervous and confused about Simone. She was very beautiful and he had a crush on her already.
**Yo, what's wrong with me? There ain't no way I got a chance with this chick. She's beautiful and I'm..well, kinda..not.so.beautiful. I'm the kid everybody makes fun off. I'm the kid with the nickname "Toad". Not exactly sexy. I'm just misunderstood. Nobody ever actually gave me a chance, nobody here anyway. But that don't matter right now. Why did she say she was in the Brotherhood? I mean, its great that she said that, but why did she? It don't make no sense yo. **
The next class was Algebra. Todd thought about the dog he used to have again when Simone followed him so intently. She stayed close and never stopped to talk to friends or anything. Then he remembered that she was new, and had no friends yet, except him. He felt bad comparing her to a dog in his head. He really had loved that dog though, heck, it never even got a chance to become a dog. It died when it was still a cute little puppy.** It died, yeah, like hell Turbo died. Turbo was killed. My own mother killed my puppy when I was seven, fricking seven. Yeah, I was seven, but I'm not anymore, so I shouldn't care.**
The Algebra classroom was set up almost identically to the English classroom, save for the bookshelf in the back which held math text books instead of dictionary's. Todd sat at the back right-hand corner seat. He preferred seats in the back, that way he could goof off and not pay attention, and the teacher would rarely even notice. Or, the teacher wouldn't care. Some of the teachers had given up on Todd Tolanski and he knew it. Sometimes it bothered him, but sometimes it didn't.
The only seat that was vacant was in the second row, and nowhere near Todd's seat. He had a good view of Simone though. He tried not to look at her too much during the class. She might catch him. He though about her though, most of Algebra, because he usually didn't pay attention anyway. He wondered about her powers mostly. She was a mutant, she had said so. And that meant she would have powers, but what kind?
**I don't think she can read minds like Jean. If she could, I'd be screwed. Hey, look over here Simone. Hmmm, nothing, nope. I don't think she's got telepathy. Maybe she's really fuzzy and blue, like that Kurt kid, but I think that professor X is the only person you can get those image inducing thing's from, and she ain't with the X-men. She ain't wearin' shades, so she probably doesn't have, like, eye lasers. What could she do? I can't think of much else.**
After Algebra had dragged by, the two faced Geophysics. Lance always said that he loved that class. It was no wonder why. Todd was surprised at how much there is to know about rocks. And he was amazed at how long a middle aged balding man could go on talking about them. That's all that ever really happened in that class, the teacher talked. Sometimes they did labs. Todd never had a partner for the labs, but he did now. There were a few vacant seats in that class, but Simone sat by Todd, much to Todd's surprise. **Probably just because she don't know anyone.**
"Class", the teacher began to drone, "take out your notebooks. Today were going to be talking about the Earth's polar magnetism". He picked up a worn down piece of chalk and began writing on the blackboard at the front of the room. His handwriting was in cursive and, therefore, difficult to read. He wrote down important points as he continued lecturing.
"Now, the earth has four poles, the geographic north and south poles, and the magnetic north and south poles. Today, we're talking about the magnetic poles..". It all faded off for Todd. He took the notes with little enthusiasm and barely paid attention to what he was writing. He was busy thinking about how pretty Simone smelled. Her scent was like that of a field of wildflowers, not that he had ever been in a field of wildflowers. He knew it was only perfume, but it was so enchanting. He was glad that he had decided to take a shower the night before. If she was going to be around, maybe he'd take them more often.
He tried not to look at her too much, or too obviously. But since she was right next to him, it was hard not to get in the occasional glance. She had nice hands, very long and thin. Her fingernails were painted silver and they matched the several silver rings on her fingers. Hmm, she must not like gold. She was wearing four rings in all, each very large. One which was on her index finger of her right hand, looked like a normal ring, just with a very big black stone on it. The other on that hand, on her ring finger, looked like an eagle with emeralds encrusted into the eyes. On her left hand index finger, was a big "S" with little diamonds all in it. But the one on her left ring finger, her wedding band finger, was a spider.
Todd almost jumped when the bell rang. It had caught him off guard. Quickly he jammed his notebook in his backpack, with his pencil along with it, and hastily zipped it. Simone followed suit only slower and much more calmly. She turned to Todd who was now standing and waiting for her. She stood and pulled her back pack up onto her back easily.
"Now where to?" she asked quietly. She still seemed so nervous. Her eyes were a little shifty and they didn't stay on him for too long at a time. But there was a paradox. She seemed calm.just, not like a people person. She seemed like an outsider, or an anti-social, but not like someone terrified of leaving the house.
"Lunch", he simply replied. He began walking towards the door and she followed. She was really less trouble than he had thought she'd be. Girls could be a hastle sometimes, if they were loud and obnoxious and annoying, but Simone was different, she was easy. She was quiet, and didn't demand too much attention. **Its probably just cuz' she's shy.**
She followed him too the lunch line.
"Um, where should I sit?" she asked. That was a good question. He wanted to talk to her about the whole mutant thing, and lunch period seemed to be a good time for that. But then he remembered who he sat with at lunch.the Brotherhood. He decided that he could talk to her and to them about her at the same time. He'd be killing two birds with one stone that way. Maybe he could convince them to let her join, although he knew that that part was really up to Mystique. He really wanted to see what Simone could do.
"Uh, alright, it's like this. Go out that door", he pointed to the door that went to the outside café with his index finger. "When your outside, look for a table with three guys sittin' at it. One if kinda built with longer, dark hair. The others the same only with short white hair, and the other one is so big you wont be able to miss him. Just sit at that table and I'll be out pretty soon".
"Ok, um.who are the guys?"
"They're the other guys in the Brotherhood".
"Oh, ok. Thanks". She quickly made her way through the huddled mass of kids in the lunch line, and out the big metal doors. **I woulda' told her that they were my friends, but after Pietro slappin' me last night, I'm not so sure about it. I wonder how he'll act today. Usually, after any of us fight, we sorta act like it never happened. But Pietro never slapped me before, and usually, there's no hitting involved, not like that anyway. He was angry when he did that. I could see it on his face. He was wearin it like a mask** Todd waited for the lunch line to move, although he wasn't very hungry anymore.
Authors Note: Dear readers,
This was a kind of boring chapter towards the end. I'm sorry readers. ^^;; I was going to have this chapter cover all of Simones first day, but then it would have been way too long so I decided to split it up. I will promptly begin work on chapter three. You may feel that Simone is very underdeveloped right now, but later, she'll really come out as a person. Don't worry, I've got everything from here on in planned out. It'll all be ok. So did you get another sandwich? I had a good sandwich today. It was peanut butter and marshmallow. Oh! You should try one! Here's how you make one: Ok, spread peanut butter on both slices of bread, then with a butter knife, cut a marshmallow into thin slices and place the slices on one slice of bread. Then, put them together and eat it! But remember, always get a parents permission before using a kitchen utensil, especially the ice cream scooper..its tricky. Well, On to chapter three!
Authors note: Well, I hope you liked the last chapter. Sorry it takes so long to post chapter two. These are long chapters and I am trying to make them the best they can be. As many of you know, a good story does not write itself overnight. It takes a lot of time and a lot of hard work. Therefore, here we go. Enjoy. Get yourself another sandwich, its another long one.
Chapter Two: Misery is the river or the world
There was no way Pietro or Lance or Freddie were going to cut their morning short just to get Todd to school early. He would have to walk, or run, more or less. Running was not something he was accustomed to. When he had to get somewhere in a hurry, he usually hopped. He had better judgement than that though. Todd already got funny looks from the kids at school. He could not imagine how they would look at him if they saw him leaping down the road towards the school. He clumsily and carelessly threw his backpack over his shoulders. He didn't even bother to close the door behind him when he speed out. It was when he reached the sidewalk that he realized something.
**Hey, if I'm fifteen minutes early yo, then I'm ahead of all the other people who walk. There's no one around to see me yet.** His legs bent slightly then he sprung into the air, up and forward.
His hands didn't even hurt anymore when he used them to land after each jump. They used to sting when they hit hard pavement or rock. Hot sand wasn't much fun either. By now he was starting to develop calluses on his palms and fingers, like the kind a guitar player gets on their fingertips. They weren't very prominent or hard yet, which was good. He knew that if they became noticeable, people would ask about them. It'd be another reason for people to call him a freak show. Sometimes people called him a mutant, which was ironic. It almost made him laugh when they said it. They really didn't have a clue, and if they did, they wouldn't understand. He hated them sometimes, non-mutants. They were so insensitive, so afraid of what they didn't understand. He wasn't sure whether to hate them or feel sorry for them, because they didn't have to be that way.
Each leap covered about five feet. He was making good time. He stopped and straightened up when he was able to see the school. It was secluded. Except Simone.
She was standing at the top of the front stairs, leaning up against the brick wall next to the big metal doors. Her vibrant, purple bookbag slumped on the ground next to her and her hands were in the roomy pockets of a pair of overly baggy black pants. Her hair was the same as yesterday, but he really noticed it now. It was light brown, almost copper, and reached her waist. It had a neat part in the middle and was straight, no waves or curls. A simplistic beauty.
She had been looking at the road that Todd was now walking down. When he stopped and started walking, her gray eyes darted to observe the stone steps a few feet in front of her. He noticed this. It was like she had seen him hopping, but she didn't want him knowing she had seen. She had done the thing one often does when they are admiring a crush and the crush catches them. Although one knows they've been seen, they still try to make it look like they weren't spying, all in vain. Now, she was smiling. Not at the stone steps that she was looking at, but at some new discovered though, it seemed.
**I hope she didn't see me jumping, Todd thought. If she did, she'd be staring at me funny or something, yo. She probably didn't. I don't wanna worry about it.**
He walked at a reasonable pace towards the main steps. He tried not to look at her while he approached. Women were funny. He knew that if he looked at her, she'd take it as him checking her out. If he smiled at her, she'd think he was gonna make a move. If he looked unfriendly, she'd think he didn't like her, and that wasn't entirely true yet. He'd decide whether he liked her or not after today, after he talked to her a little bit.
He climbed the stairs easily and once at the top he muttered a meek "Yo".
"Hey", she replied quietly.
He dropped his bookbag on the ground next to hers and leaned against the door next to her, a foot or two away.
"I, I hope", she began in a small voice, "That it isn't a problem for you, I mean showing me around today".
"Naw, its no problem yo", he replied, attempting to be nonchalant.
"So, where you from?" he asked. He noticed her trying to make eye contact with him. She seemed so shy and introverted, very reserved.
"I'm from Phoenix. My parents sent me here about a week ago".
He had expected her to say what school she went to before now. He was a little shocked at her reply.
"When are they coming here?"
"They're not".
"Wait, so who do you live with?" He hoped the question wasn't too stalker-like. It sort of escaped his lips before he could really process it. Why would her parents have sent her here alone?
"My pet tarantula, Midori".
"I mean, like, do you stay with an aunt or a brother or sister or something?"
"No. I live in an apartment down that way"; she stretched out her right arm and pointed to a road going in that direction. "My parents send me money to pay the rent".
He had never met someone so honest. Anyone else in her place would probably make something up; like that, they lived with a big sister or something. However, this could be a lie too. She sure sounded like she was telling the truth though.
"Why did they send you here?" He hoped he wasn't prying too much, which was why he was actually a little relieved when he heard another voice coming towards them.
"Excuse me miss, are you Simone Samson?" it asked politely. Todd looked in the voices direction. He cringed a little when he saw who it was. Scott Summers and Jean Grey were now standing in front of them. Scott had asked the question. Todd must not have noticed them coming up the stone stairs.
"Y-yes", replied Simone nervously.
"Hey", Todd interrupted in a hostile tone, "Back off Shades"
Scott looked at Todd and frowned, "Tolenski, this doesn't involve you. Please stay out of it".
"Um, sir", Simone peeped, "Todd is my friend. Please don't speak to him like that. It isn't right to reply to harsh words using harsh words. It won't get you anywhere".
Scott didn't see what he had done wrong, but it would be best to let that one slide.
"Your right, I'm sorry", him and Jean both focused on Simone. Simone felt little sweat beads forming on the back of her neck. She didn't like being the center of attention. Todd folded his arms and huffed a little.
"Whatever yo", he mumbled.
"Miss Samson", Jean said very politely, "We would like to talk to you about something very important. We know a man named Professor Xavier and we're here representing him. He is the owner and founder of an institute called the Xavier institute. Its a special institute for gifted young people, like yourself".
Todd's eyes widened. The professor wanted Simone!? If the professor wanted her, it could only mean one thing. She must be a mutant. That explained why she didn't overreact when she caught him hopping towards the school earlier.
"Hey, slow down yo", he interrupted. He turned towards them and smiled slyly at Scott and Jean.
"Professor X can't have her", Todd stated, "Cuz she's with the Brotherhood".
Scott and Jean looked shocked, then Jean looked angry.
"He's lying", Jean said with slight irritation. Todd had forgotten that she could read minds.
Scott turned to Simone, "Simone, is Todd telling the truth?"
Simone had a look of sheer and utter confusion in her big gray eyes. She glanced at Todd, then at Jean, then back at Scott.
"Yes", she said so quietly that she was almost unheard, "I'm with the Brotherhood". Jean frowned and contacted the professor in her mind.
**Professor, she's lying too, but why? Why would she lie about being in the Brotherhood. She must not know what a bad group they are.**
**She knows, the professor promptly replied. Let her be. She has a good reason for this lie and a good purpose behind her actions. Leave her alone for now. Good job on your efforts.** The connection ended.
"Scott", Jean said with a thoughtful expression in her eyes, "lets go. She knows what she's doing". Scott sighed and both of them walked away towards a different entrance.
Todd stared at Simone, although he could tell she couldn't stand it.
"Is that why your parents sent you away; cuz you're a mutant?" he asked quietly.
"Well", the obnoxious ringing of the first bell interrupted Simones answer. By now, students had begun to congregate around the school entrances. The minute the doors automatically unlocked, Todd grabbed Simones wrist and pulled her inside, before the crowds could stampede its way into the school.
"Come on", he said to her as he half dragged her through the halls. "There's not much time before class starts and we have to get to our lockers and to first period class before the bell rings again. There's only five minutes between classes", he explained. Simone followed along willingly.
Todd went through this routine every day. It was a struggle getting to class in time when you were working against a mob of bigger kids. Sometimes he didn't make it. Today he just didn't want Simone being late for classes on her first day. He didn't want their teachers thinking she was a bad kid, like they thought he was. **Hey, why do I even care yo? Oh well, I guess there ain't anything wrong with doing something nice for somebody else every once in awhile. They say it makes you feel good about yourself. God knows that'd come in handy.**
When they got to the hallway, their lockers were in, they parted; Todd for his locker, and Simone for hers. For a few moments while they were shoving books into compartments, and throwing folders onto shelves, they lost sight of each other. Todd got finished at his locker first. He made the quick few steps to where Simone was. She was kneeling on the floor in front of her open locker. She carefully slid the last book into her purple bag and zipped it briskly. She threw the bookbag over her shoulders neatly as she stood and faced Todd.
"Which way?" she asked quietly. For a minute, Todd didn't know what she meant.
"What? Oh.yeah, which way to class. Um, this way". He started walking and she followed obediently, kind of like a little puppy. He had had a puppy once, when he was much younger, but he preferred not to think about its gruesome death at the hands of**...Yo, I gotta forget about that. That was a long time ago that that happened to Turbo. And I guess my mom got what was coming to her for it. **
Todd lead her down hallways and staircases for what felt like only a few seconds until he lead her into a classroom, they're first period, ninth grade English classroom. The classroom had a practical look about it, with a shelf in the back that held about thirty or more dictionary's and two sets of encyclopedia's. The teachers desk was in the front of the room, but it was vacant for now. The desks were arranged in rows facing the big desk. An aerial view would show four rows going horizontally, with seven desks in each row, there being twenty eight desks in all.
Todd's desk was in the back row, third from the end. There was only one vacant desk left and it was in the third row, third from the end, right in front of Todd.
"Come on", he said. He walked to his desk, staying on the outside of the maze of desks that he would've had to weave through if he were stupid enough to not go around. She followed and when he reached his desk, he pointed to the empty one in front of it.
"That's the only one left".
"Ok", she answered.
The minute they sat down the bell rang. Most of the students had arrived by now, but Todd smirked when he saw a small group of kids rush in at the last minute. He usually was with that group. **Wow, I'm not late for once. This chick must be good luck**
The teacher walked in. The teacher was a large woman with short black hair and big thick rimmed glasses. Her skin was dark and blemished with age and she wore an obviously fake string of pearls around her neck and a dull looking green dress with big shoulder pads. Over the dress, she wore a black, knitted vest with a smiling kitten on it. Simone smiled at the vest. She thought the kitten was cute. The teacher stood in front of her desk and faced the classroom. She looked at Simone and smiled, showing a set of perfectly white teeth.
"Hello Simone, I'm Mrs.Culler", the teacher said to her, as if the rest of the class wasn't there. Simone shrank into her chair a little when most of the other kids in the room turned their attention towards her.
"Hello", she almost lip synced rather than actually said. Todd was slouching in his seat behind her. He saw how uncomfortable she looked. In a way, it made him angry that kids were so fascinated with her when all she seemed to want was to be left alone. It was like they'd never seen a new kid before, or a gothic person.
A kid a few seats away made a fake cough and muttered the word "freak" in the middle of it. The other kids laughed. Todd wished he could see her reaction. He wondered if she'd be offended. In a way, he felt a little happy. Now, they were both "freaks", according to their classmates. Now they could identify with each other, but he was mad at whoever had said that.
If he had been able to see her, he would have seen a perfectly calm look in her eyes. She had ignored the label well, as if she hadn't even heard it. A couple of the kids around her wondered if she was deaf.
Mrs.Culler told the class to get out their homework assignments and pass them up. Simone didn't have one, obviously, but she would be excused for it because this was her first day here. Todd rummaged through his English folder and pulled out a piece of paper. It was in terrible condition. The handwriting was barely legible and the paper itself had big stains on it from water. He had left it on the kitchen table overnight one evening and the roof leaked on it. He was terribly embarrassed that Simone would have to see it. What would she think of him now? Oh well, she probably wasn't a big fan of English anyway. He handed her his paper and she handed it to the person in front of her and so on and so forth.
The teacher told the class to take notes. Simone pulled a notebook out of her vinyl purple book bag and set it on her desk. She pulled out a pencil. Todd did the same things. He usually didn't even take notes. He usually didn't care, but for some reason, he didn't want to look like a hopeless juvenile today, not in front of her. But, it would seem, he already did.
He noticed Simone carefully pulling a written on sheet of paper from her notebook. It seemed that she was trying to be as quiet as possible. He watched her fold it in a complicated pattern until it was a tiny square. As soon as the teachers back was turned, the little square of paper was on his desk. Simone had not even looked behind her when she flexed her arm to set the note, neatly, on the top right hand corner of Todd's desk.
He unfolded it discretely, so as not to attract attention from the teacher. He didn't want either of them getting in trouble. When the paper was unfolded, he first observed the handwriting. Simone had strange handwriting. It wasn't swirly and pretty like a girls, but not sloppy and too big or small like a guys. It was plain and simple, but a little unbalanced. He then read the actual words, it said the following;
"Todd, I was wondering what happened to your paper. I don't mean to be rude, but it was in slight disrepair. You ought to have rewritten it. But I'm not one to judge, the actual subject matter might have been excellent. Forgive me, but I'm a lover of English and it sometimes makes me sad to see how the English language has been slaughtered by today's casual grammar. Not to imply that you have any part in the degeneration of our language. Sorry for wasting your time. -Simone"
Any other time, Todd would have replied with a careless, "its none of your business", but he decided to react otherwise. **Its funny, what she said earlier when Summers was hassling me. She said for him not to speak that way to her "friend". I wonder if she meant that, if she really sees me as her friend. If she does, I don't wanna ruin that, not that I won't eventually anyway. And what if she does join the Brotherhood? I know I just said that so Shades and his woman would lay off, but what if she did join. I wouldn't want to have her stuck around and hatin' on me. I better just keep my cool, even if she does diss my paper**
He wrote a quick reply and when the teacher wasn't looking, slipped the re-folded note onto her desk. It said the following;
"Yeah, your right, sorry. I wanted to ask you about earlier. Are you really a mutant? And why did you say you were in our group when Shades and Red knew you were lying, You don't even know the Brotherhood." The handwriting was sloppy, although he did try to write neater. He watched her write a reply in between taking notes and acting like she wasn't up to something. In a few minutes, the note was in his hands again. He read her reply;
"I am a mutant, yes, but I think we should talk about all that later. I respect English greatly and I feel that the upkeep of this conversation during class time is deeply disrespectful." He replied for the last time;
"Yeah, your right. Sorry".
The rest of class seemed to drag by. Todd found himself becoming very bored and antsy, not to mention nervous and confused about Simone. She was very beautiful and he had a crush on her already.
**Yo, what's wrong with me? There ain't no way I got a chance with this chick. She's beautiful and I'm..well, kinda..not.so.beautiful. I'm the kid everybody makes fun off. I'm the kid with the nickname "Toad". Not exactly sexy. I'm just misunderstood. Nobody ever actually gave me a chance, nobody here anyway. But that don't matter right now. Why did she say she was in the Brotherhood? I mean, its great that she said that, but why did she? It don't make no sense yo. **
The next class was Algebra. Todd thought about the dog he used to have again when Simone followed him so intently. She stayed close and never stopped to talk to friends or anything. Then he remembered that she was new, and had no friends yet, except him. He felt bad comparing her to a dog in his head. He really had loved that dog though, heck, it never even got a chance to become a dog. It died when it was still a cute little puppy.** It died, yeah, like hell Turbo died. Turbo was killed. My own mother killed my puppy when I was seven, fricking seven. Yeah, I was seven, but I'm not anymore, so I shouldn't care.**
The Algebra classroom was set up almost identically to the English classroom, save for the bookshelf in the back which held math text books instead of dictionary's. Todd sat at the back right-hand corner seat. He preferred seats in the back, that way he could goof off and not pay attention, and the teacher would rarely even notice. Or, the teacher wouldn't care. Some of the teachers had given up on Todd Tolanski and he knew it. Sometimes it bothered him, but sometimes it didn't.
The only seat that was vacant was in the second row, and nowhere near Todd's seat. He had a good view of Simone though. He tried not to look at her too much during the class. She might catch him. He though about her though, most of Algebra, because he usually didn't pay attention anyway. He wondered about her powers mostly. She was a mutant, she had said so. And that meant she would have powers, but what kind?
**I don't think she can read minds like Jean. If she could, I'd be screwed. Hey, look over here Simone. Hmmm, nothing, nope. I don't think she's got telepathy. Maybe she's really fuzzy and blue, like that Kurt kid, but I think that professor X is the only person you can get those image inducing thing's from, and she ain't with the X-men. She ain't wearin' shades, so she probably doesn't have, like, eye lasers. What could she do? I can't think of much else.**
After Algebra had dragged by, the two faced Geophysics. Lance always said that he loved that class. It was no wonder why. Todd was surprised at how much there is to know about rocks. And he was amazed at how long a middle aged balding man could go on talking about them. That's all that ever really happened in that class, the teacher talked. Sometimes they did labs. Todd never had a partner for the labs, but he did now. There were a few vacant seats in that class, but Simone sat by Todd, much to Todd's surprise. **Probably just because she don't know anyone.**
"Class", the teacher began to drone, "take out your notebooks. Today were going to be talking about the Earth's polar magnetism". He picked up a worn down piece of chalk and began writing on the blackboard at the front of the room. His handwriting was in cursive and, therefore, difficult to read. He wrote down important points as he continued lecturing.
"Now, the earth has four poles, the geographic north and south poles, and the magnetic north and south poles. Today, we're talking about the magnetic poles..". It all faded off for Todd. He took the notes with little enthusiasm and barely paid attention to what he was writing. He was busy thinking about how pretty Simone smelled. Her scent was like that of a field of wildflowers, not that he had ever been in a field of wildflowers. He knew it was only perfume, but it was so enchanting. He was glad that he had decided to take a shower the night before. If she was going to be around, maybe he'd take them more often.
He tried not to look at her too much, or too obviously. But since she was right next to him, it was hard not to get in the occasional glance. She had nice hands, very long and thin. Her fingernails were painted silver and they matched the several silver rings on her fingers. Hmm, she must not like gold. She was wearing four rings in all, each very large. One which was on her index finger of her right hand, looked like a normal ring, just with a very big black stone on it. The other on that hand, on her ring finger, looked like an eagle with emeralds encrusted into the eyes. On her left hand index finger, was a big "S" with little diamonds all in it. But the one on her left ring finger, her wedding band finger, was a spider.
Todd almost jumped when the bell rang. It had caught him off guard. Quickly he jammed his notebook in his backpack, with his pencil along with it, and hastily zipped it. Simone followed suit only slower and much more calmly. She turned to Todd who was now standing and waiting for her. She stood and pulled her back pack up onto her back easily.
"Now where to?" she asked quietly. She still seemed so nervous. Her eyes were a little shifty and they didn't stay on him for too long at a time. But there was a paradox. She seemed calm.just, not like a people person. She seemed like an outsider, or an anti-social, but not like someone terrified of leaving the house.
"Lunch", he simply replied. He began walking towards the door and she followed. She was really less trouble than he had thought she'd be. Girls could be a hastle sometimes, if they were loud and obnoxious and annoying, but Simone was different, she was easy. She was quiet, and didn't demand too much attention. **Its probably just cuz' she's shy.**
She followed him too the lunch line.
"Um, where should I sit?" she asked. That was a good question. He wanted to talk to her about the whole mutant thing, and lunch period seemed to be a good time for that. But then he remembered who he sat with at lunch.the Brotherhood. He decided that he could talk to her and to them about her at the same time. He'd be killing two birds with one stone that way. Maybe he could convince them to let her join, although he knew that that part was really up to Mystique. He really wanted to see what Simone could do.
"Uh, alright, it's like this. Go out that door", he pointed to the door that went to the outside café with his index finger. "When your outside, look for a table with three guys sittin' at it. One if kinda built with longer, dark hair. The others the same only with short white hair, and the other one is so big you wont be able to miss him. Just sit at that table and I'll be out pretty soon".
"Ok, um.who are the guys?"
"They're the other guys in the Brotherhood".
"Oh, ok. Thanks". She quickly made her way through the huddled mass of kids in the lunch line, and out the big metal doors. **I woulda' told her that they were my friends, but after Pietro slappin' me last night, I'm not so sure about it. I wonder how he'll act today. Usually, after any of us fight, we sorta act like it never happened. But Pietro never slapped me before, and usually, there's no hitting involved, not like that anyway. He was angry when he did that. I could see it on his face. He was wearin it like a mask** Todd waited for the lunch line to move, although he wasn't very hungry anymore.
Authors Note: Dear readers,
This was a kind of boring chapter towards the end. I'm sorry readers. ^^;; I was going to have this chapter cover all of Simones first day, but then it would have been way too long so I decided to split it up. I will promptly begin work on chapter three. You may feel that Simone is very underdeveloped right now, but later, she'll really come out as a person. Don't worry, I've got everything from here on in planned out. It'll all be ok. So did you get another sandwich? I had a good sandwich today. It was peanut butter and marshmallow. Oh! You should try one! Here's how you make one: Ok, spread peanut butter on both slices of bread, then with a butter knife, cut a marshmallow into thin slices and place the slices on one slice of bread. Then, put them together and eat it! But remember, always get a parents permission before using a kitchen utensil, especially the ice cream scooper..its tricky. Well, On to chapter three!