Chapter 14

Today, the first week of August, was the day classes began and summer ended at the Xavier Institute, appropriately a Monday. Everyone seemed to be brimming with energy and the school was fuller than before, the students who had taken off for summer vacation now returning to complete the rest of their high school education. The halls were diverse with mutations, some visible, some not, but they all knew each other well.

Dee Bailey was inside Emma Frost's office, sitting in the plush chair in front of her desk and waiting. Emma had said that one of the teachers (she hadn't remembered who) had found something to restrict her power until she triggered it mentally, which had brightened her already stressful day. Emma reappeared through an adjoining door, carrying a white piece of fabric. Unpeeling what looked like a clear sticker with a chip on it, she warned her not to move as she placed it directly in alignment with her spine, at the base of her skull, where all the nerve endings were. The warning bell rang and Dee shot out to go to her first class, which was Algebra. The rest of the girls in her quad were in the same classes, making it easier to get to know each other, and to make sure they were all on the same level of education. Dee, only being eleven, didn't mind, however, because she had already been put in advanced classes, so this was nothing new to her.

Kat came into Algebra a full three minutes late, causing the whole class including their blue-furred, feline teacher, Hank McCoy, to gawk at her and even raised a few eyebrows. The front of her hair was pulled back into a barrette, while the rest fell past her shoulders in curls. Her blue eyes looked around for an empty seat and found one near the back, going there and sitting down. She wore a rose-colored halter top with blue jeans, exposing her muscled midriff along with a piercing in her belly button. Her black stilettos clicked lightly against the tile, but stopped as soon as she sat down, setting down her Louis Vuitton Cherry Blossom purse on her desk along with a designed notebook and a pen. The teacher cleared his throat as he began again to lecture about the class. She took out a compact and began to powder her face before she realized that all eyes were on her again. She snapped it close and put it back into her purse, before someone spoke out of turn. "Is it really a crime to look beautiful, Mr. McCoy?" The Algerian girl with raven hair and a perfect tan who had said it returned her expression to neutral, looking straight ahead as he turned around.

"No, Ms. St. Croix, but to use cosmetics in my class is particularly a sign of disrespect." There was a twinkle in his eye as he said it, knowing immediately by her voice that it was the being known as M. Though she was an excellent scholar, she was known to cause minor, girlish trouble, little more than annoyances, in class. He returned to his lecture, writing things on the board and hinting that the students should take notes. After class, the girl waited around for Kat, greeting her.

"Hey. I'm Monet St. Croix, but most just call me M. I could give you my full name, but I doubt you'd remember it." As Eve walked out of the classroom, M stuck her foot out subtly and Eve tripped over it, spilling her books everywhere. "Some people just can't seem to hold on to their things nowadays." She gave a small sigh, as if she really cared, her mocha eyes gleaming in delight.

Snickering as M tripped her roommate, Kat raised a fine brow. "I'm Katina Braddock-Worthington, but most just call me Kat."

Eve's face flushed in frustration, but she quickly returned to her usually bubbly mood as she stood, then bent over to pick up her books. A whoosh of air was felt against her cheeks and she looked up a moment, suddenly aware that a guy was standing there, holding out her books to her. She stood up fully again and took them, smiling in appreciation. "Thanks." He gave her a charming smile, shuffling a deck of cards in his hand.

"Oh, it's no problem. After all, there is no reason for me to exist if there is not a lady in need of my assistance somewhere." He never lost that smooth grin, and soon they both had the attention of every student in the hallway. "Name's Blitzkrieg. What is the name of the beautiful Goddess that stands before me?" She felt herself flush again, shaking her head lightly.

"My name's Eve Illusen." Her hazel eyes seemed to be at least a little bit curious.

"Who's that?" Kat asked with some interest.

"His name's Blitzkrieg. He's German." M smirked as she watched Eve stumble over words.

"He's hot. Why's he bothering with her?" Kat's eyes flashed with jealousy.

"Who knows. I have to get to French. See ya." M walked off.

Kat approached Blitzkrieg, leaning against the wall behind him. She tapped on his shoulder and he turned with astonishing speed. She allowed her heart-shaped lips to break into a smile. "Wow...Can you use your speed for anything?" She used a low, seductive tone that caused Eve to hurry up and join Kei and Cassie, slightly glad to get away from the situation. The warning bell sounded. "I have to go to English with Miss Frost...Think you can get me there on time, Blitz?" She asked, not without some helplessness in her voice.

"There's nothing I would rather do than escort a beautiful, lavender-haired enchantress to English class. Hold on tight." He scooped her up into his arms, running at top speeds, and getting her to the classroom in just a few seconds. As he set her down, her lips grazed his cheek, causing him to grin again.

"Thanks for the ride." She smiled and blew him a kiss as she walked into English class, Miss Frost raising a brow as the bell rang. "Hey, I wasn't late." She sat down in a seat near the back, again aware of her quad's presence there.