Disclaimer: I don't own. I have a low amount of money since the windshield accident. I wouldn't recommend sueing. Tara and the currently unpresent Nanaki are property of Takamo while Julius and the currently unpresent Natasha belong to another friend, Fallen Angel Hell's Gate(until she changes it again). I own all others that are unrecognizable.
Four-Thirty p.m. (REMAINS OF THE FOOTBALL/SOCCER FIELD)
"I can't believe we honestly have to do this," Landon scowled, using the mouth of his shovel to pack the crack between two large pieces of the field back together. He hit it several more times then tried jumping on it; it had no effect. "You'd think we committed a crime or something."
"Less talking and more working would get it done faster." Tara tossed a handful of dirt in his direction and hit him in the back of the neck. She returned to her shovel, digging at a lump of rock that was buried beneathe the ground.
He mumbled something but otherwise made no comment, returning to his work.
"At least we're outside in the fresh air." Julius grinned from down the field on the repaired half where he was busy painting the stripes down the field as told. He pushed the machine along, whistling to himself. "We could be sitting in detention with the others."
"Don't try to cheer me up."
"I wouldn't dream of it, Tara," he replied before smugly taking off down the field with his 'toy'. He finished the next couple of stripes without commenting to them beyond, mumbling to himself.
Jax appeared out of nowhere followed by the one person no one wanted to see-Nanaki Creed. Her expression was rather amused but it also said that she would happily kill them all later, if given the chance. No one wanted to give her the chance.
"Hi, Nanaki." They greeted her as a group by stopping their progress.
Nanaki just shook her head, giving them all a look that was far too reminiscent of her uncle. "What game did we play this time, my little deliquents?" she asked, fixing her gaze on the two who had come up with the idea, Russ and Landon. She shifted to look at Angel who was trying not to laugh. "Something funny, Angel?"
"No, nothing," came the response as she looked down, guiltily.
"That's what I thought. I thought you guys agreed to behave, or was I mistaken?" She recieved no answer. "Here's an easier question. Why were the majority of you absent from Damien's class...?"
Landon almost cursed when Angel was honest. He decided quick, fast, and in a hurry that he'd have to explain things to her later.
"I promised not to show up."
"Anyone else..?"
"The same."
"Ditto."
"I was sitting in Kelly's office for arguing with a teacher."
"I fell asleep in the bleachers."
"Angel, Tara, Landon, you three are off the hook since that's Damien's fault. He made a deal with you about now showing up, didn't he?" Nanaki asked but turned away after noting their nods and guilty expression. Only Nanaki could b ring guilt down on them. "Julius, you're not supposed to argue with the teacher unless they're wrong and Kellie, stop sleeping in the bleachers."
"What about me, Nanaki?" Natasha asked from where she was lounging against the ground. She had sat down and stretched out her legs, attempting to avoid the teacher's expression.
"Don't get me started on you. When you're finished with this...go straight home all of you. Jax will tell me if you don't, agreed?"
"Yes, Nanaki," they choursed with little effort, knowing Jax would indeed tell her if they went home or not. They also knew that if the need rose he'd walk each one of them home, considering Landon was staying with him and Julius tonight.
Nanaki nodded and hung around a few more moments to watch their progress then left, saying something under her breathe that only Angel heard and that probably wasn't through speaking. She'd probably listened to their teacher's thoughts and knew what was going to be said before it was.
"Can we just get this on with...? I have to find someone to help me with my homework...."
Seven-Thity p.m. (PARKING LOT OF FOOTBALL/SOCCER FIELD)
"Will you apartment be unlocked in a couple hours? I need to go study with a friend."
Jax saw through the words, knowing it would just be a walk around town. It seemed to be the only freedom his friend got since he'd started staying with them. He didn't let on that he knew the lies behind it but instead handed over one of the duplicated keys to him.
"I might not be there, but Julius should. Just unlock the door and take up your normal residence...if Julius gives you a problem, hit him. I'll vouche for you," he said before pulling his hood up to cover the scales running in patterns across his head and his slitted yellow eyes. He looked out with only his eyes showing. "Don't do something stupid, Landon."
Landon laughed, bitterly. "I did my last stupid thing, of that variety, when I was a kid. I don't plan to hurt anyone unless they provoke me first, Jax...then it's self-defense."
"Does that mean you plan to wait for something...?"
"You know me better than that. Make sure everyone else gets home and tell Angel I'll stay with her night after next," he said then vanished, digging through one pocket and lighting a cigarette. The lighter's glow stayed with his shadow then he vanished without another word.
Jax shook his head and walked back to the others.
"Landon stays with you night after next, Angel."
"That's fine..."
Tara hesitated when the others started to walk off. "Will he be alright...?"
"Leave him alone, Tara. He needs to sort things out on his own."
EIGHT p.m. (XAVIER'S INSTITUTE, ROGUE AND KITTY'S BEDROOM)
Rogue closed her eyes, trying to tune out the sound of Jean's singing from down the hall. The headphones she'd been wearing were hanging around her neck since the battery had killed over some point between the first chorus of 'Angel' and the secoind to last chorus of 'Toxic'. Her head was pounding and no amount of pillows over it could stop the noise pollution.
She got up and walked into the hall, kicking one of Kitty's shoes in the process but stumbled out anyway, banging her fist against the bathroom door. "Hey, Princess! Who's cat are ya killin' in there? Some of us have better things to do than to hear ya audition for American Idiot," she called through the door before stalking back into her room, or more limping thanks to Kitty's shoe. She flopped down on her bed to stare at the ceiling. "Ah hate people raght now."
"Hey, Rogue! Rogue! Rogue, I know you're up there!" Something small and round hit the window then bounced off. The gesture repeated several times before she lost her patience and and went to the window, fighting with the latch until it clicked out of place.
Rogue shoved her window up and looked down, half-expecting to see her cajun stalker. She didn't see him but instead the shadow of another guy with a cigarette, Landon from her class. He appeared in the process of throwing another rock but instead dropped it, offering her a brief wave.
"I need your help with my homework!"
"Ya th'owin rocks at mah window after hours to get mah help with ya homework? If ya can get inside...ah'll help you. Otherwise, figure it out for yourself." She slammed the window shut, knowing he wouldn't find a way in.
Serves him raght for botherin' me. Ah have better things to do then help strange guys with the homework that ah ain't even done mahself.
Rogue laid back down on her bed, thumbing through one of the novels she had picked up off the floor. It wasn't that interesting and she quickly lost interest, taking up one of the many magazines that had been left in Kitty's wake. Even when the younger girl was gone she left the room surrounded by her very prescence.
Ah bet this thing doesn't even got one interestin' article, she thought, flipping the pages but stopping to scribble out different advertisments with a black pen. She colored over all the things that reminded her too much of Risty and even the things that reminded her of herself. Ah hate magazines.
Jean's singing had quit, but she still wasn't sure if the first year college student was out of the bathroom yet. She was known to spend several hours in ther, working on her face and brushing her hair, though Rogue had never bothered to find out if they were true.
Her door creaked open and she sighed," Leave me alone, Kurt. Ah don't need to talk about what's wrong with me 'cause there ain't nuthin'."
"It ain't Kurt, whoever that is." Landon closed the door and came over, looking down at her with obvious amusement. His gaze circled the room, examining every corner with little interest and heavy amusement toward her. "I found a way in."
She sat up, frowning. "And so ya did. What subject, Landon?" she asked before leaning down to get her school stuff off the floor. She stared at the jumbled mass of binders, books, and writing utensils.
"English. I hate the entire subject and language...that book we're reading. Explain it to me."
Rogue just raised an eyebrow, waiting for something, obviously.
He noticed and mumbled,"Please."
"With pleasure," she said then spent the next hour and a half trying to explain the symbolism and themes addressed in A Seperate Peace. She talked through the character relationships, explaining everything from Gene's jealousy to the way Finny protected Leper against the others jokes. She explained details on the setting in an all white, prepatory school where going against the crowd wasn't ones safest bet. "Do ya understand, Landon, or are ya preoccupied with oogling Kitty's bed...?"
Landon scowled, looking away from the bed. "I was just thinking. Do you actually like this kind of stuff, Rogue? I thought you hated the class since I noticed you left for no reason...I had a reason."
"Why ah left ain't ya concern. Anythang else ya need or are ya ready to leave and let me get some sleep...?"
His expression changed into a smirk. "I think I'd much enjoy sleeping with you, Rogue."
She had just opened her mouth to say something and her hand to hit him when there was a knock on her door. Both froze when the voice spoke from just outside the door.
"Hey, Stripes. I told you to stop talking to yourself." There was silence for a moment then the sound of Logan's blades coming out and he knocked again. This time it wasn't gentle or even friendly. "Who's in there with you, Stripes?"
"Uh...Kitty?" she offered then remembered, too late, that her room mate had gone home for a family member's funeral. She swore under her breathe, motioning Landon toward the window.
"Half pint's out. Who's in there? I'll break this door down, Stripes."
"Go ahead. Then ya can pay the Profess'r for the damages," Rogue hollered back, walking with Landon to her window and shoving it up. She motioned out the window. "Leave before Logan gets in."
"Logan. Logan. Logan. He's the guy that walks around snarling isn't he?" Landon climbed through the window and balanced there for a moment.
"He's not a dog. Good-night, Landon." She smiled for a moment then shoved him off the roof, smiling when he lost his balance and fell. His curse could be heard even up at her window.
Logan kept his promise just then and slammed one of his hands through the door, splintering the wood. He turned the lock then withdrew his arm, entering moments later. His expression was bordering on explosive especially when he noticed that the window was open and that she was still standing beside it.
"Do ya need somethin', Logan?" Rogue asked, polietly, trying to keep the smug smirk off her face and failing. She returned to her bed and picked up her books and binders, dropping them on the dresser in a large pile.
"Who was here, Stripes...?"
"Mah split personality. He said to tell ya hi!" She finished the sentence with a high pitched greeting and a sunny smile then dropped it, scowling.
"We're not playing irritate Logan tonight. Who. Was. It. Stripes?" Logan demanded, coming over and standing so he could glare at her. It had no effect except earning his an equal glare from the girl; he gave in, stalking out of her room.
Rogue smirked at her reflection in the the mirror. It was more often used by Kitty to check that her appearance was perfect, for Lance's benefit.
"Landon must be desperate to ask for mah help. Ah wonder if any of what ah told him is honestly true..."
TEN-THIRTY p.m. (XAVIER'S OFFICE)
"I'm sorry about my students, Charles; even more so that one of our teachers would support and supervise the event. I'll have a talk with Damien and Nanaki, too. Margolian hasn't caused a...uh, a problem, has he?" Katherine tried not to voice exactly what problem she meant but was sure he already knew. She nervously tapped her fingers against one knee, watching the white nails flash under the light.
"Margolian hasn't caused a problem. Neither has Nanaki. It is my reasoning, that the students from Ripley are simply pushing the limits in order to see what they can get away with. Once they realize that their antics, shall we say, aren't being tolerated, they'll straighten up. We've had far worse at Bayville, Katherine," he said, speaking quietly in an attempt to calm her. He must have fallen short at some point because she nodded, but her expression lost none of it's tension. "Would it make you feel better if each student were given, kind of a mentor?"
She hesitated then shook her head. "It wouldn't work. These kids have been alone or close to alone for as long as they can remember...it would cause more problems."
"What would your suggestion on how to help your students be?" He waited a moment then stopped speaking, opening the door to his office with one hand. He sighed when several of his newer students fell through the door, landing in a heap. "Bobby, Rahne, Amara, was there something one of you needed? Something that required you to listen outside my door..?"
"Logan's on the rampage, Professor. He and Rogue have been...uh, at it. Yeah, at it. It started 'cause he thought there was someone in her room but it turned out there wasn't," Amara announced all in one breathe then looked down at her friend's strange looks.
"Is that the truth, Bobby, Rahne?"
Bobby nodded.
Rahne hesitated then shook her head. "We were sneaking around and wanted to know what happened in your office after lights out. It didn't really sound like that interesting a conversation..."
"Rahne!"
Katherine smiled, trying not to laugh at their antics. She'd grown used to having someone easedrop on every conversation and didn't say anything important unless it was determined that the school or wherever was empty.
"What are you opinons of the new teachers...?"
Amara's expression brightened. "The French teacher is rather cute."
"The guy with the sunglasses is a bit depressing and that chick...? I haven't really heard her say much to anyone at Bayville except for yelling or lecturing some kids," Bobby said then shrugged. Rahne made no comment.
There was an audible sigh. "I expect all of you to report to your rooms and stay there. Logan and I will have a talk in the morning...good-night."
"Good-night, Professor," the three mumbled like scolded children then retreated, leaving the sound of their feet echoing behind them.
Charles shook his head, frowning. "I'm sorry about that interruption. I've noticed that the thoughts and images I recieve from Landon are rather depressing...would you talk to him about coming to stay at the institute or just give it a trial run?"
"You make it sound like AOL messenger or something, Charles. This is one of these kids' lives that we're talking about; Landon has been alone since before he entered our school district. He was thirteen when he arrived, but God only knows what he did before that," she said, staring down at her nails once again. They'd begun to tap against her leg.
"Katherine, I don't want to hurt him but it's unsafe for him to be wandering around on his own, living wherever's convenient for the night."
She sighed. "I know, but he's not going to accept charity..."
Charles was silent a moment then nodded. "I may have someone that can help him. I'd like to have one of my students, another reluctant mutant, speak with him about everything," he said, thinking over the possibilities. He knew one student would be able to talk on a level that Landon would respond to. "Leave everything to me, Katherine..."
Random Line from The Next Chapter:
Jean cleared her throat then looked around the circle of students, trying to think of where to go next. "Why don't we all tell each other our names?" she asked with the quiet voice of someone talking to a room full of alcoholics or little kids. Her gaze went to Scott and he nodded to show things were okay.
"Rogue."
"Remy LeBeau."
"Angel."
"Julius."
"Kitty."
"Lance."
"Rahne."
"Ray."
Four-Thirty p.m. (REMAINS OF THE FOOTBALL/SOCCER FIELD)
"I can't believe we honestly have to do this," Landon scowled, using the mouth of his shovel to pack the crack between two large pieces of the field back together. He hit it several more times then tried jumping on it; it had no effect. "You'd think we committed a crime or something."
"Less talking and more working would get it done faster." Tara tossed a handful of dirt in his direction and hit him in the back of the neck. She returned to her shovel, digging at a lump of rock that was buried beneathe the ground.
He mumbled something but otherwise made no comment, returning to his work.
"At least we're outside in the fresh air." Julius grinned from down the field on the repaired half where he was busy painting the stripes down the field as told. He pushed the machine along, whistling to himself. "We could be sitting in detention with the others."
"Don't try to cheer me up."
"I wouldn't dream of it, Tara," he replied before smugly taking off down the field with his 'toy'. He finished the next couple of stripes without commenting to them beyond, mumbling to himself.
Jax appeared out of nowhere followed by the one person no one wanted to see-Nanaki Creed. Her expression was rather amused but it also said that she would happily kill them all later, if given the chance. No one wanted to give her the chance.
"Hi, Nanaki." They greeted her as a group by stopping their progress.
Nanaki just shook her head, giving them all a look that was far too reminiscent of her uncle. "What game did we play this time, my little deliquents?" she asked, fixing her gaze on the two who had come up with the idea, Russ and Landon. She shifted to look at Angel who was trying not to laugh. "Something funny, Angel?"
"No, nothing," came the response as she looked down, guiltily.
"That's what I thought. I thought you guys agreed to behave, or was I mistaken?" She recieved no answer. "Here's an easier question. Why were the majority of you absent from Damien's class...?"
Landon almost cursed when Angel was honest. He decided quick, fast, and in a hurry that he'd have to explain things to her later.
"I promised not to show up."
"Anyone else..?"
"The same."
"Ditto."
"I was sitting in Kelly's office for arguing with a teacher."
"I fell asleep in the bleachers."
"Angel, Tara, Landon, you three are off the hook since that's Damien's fault. He made a deal with you about now showing up, didn't he?" Nanaki asked but turned away after noting their nods and guilty expression. Only Nanaki could b ring guilt down on them. "Julius, you're not supposed to argue with the teacher unless they're wrong and Kellie, stop sleeping in the bleachers."
"What about me, Nanaki?" Natasha asked from where she was lounging against the ground. She had sat down and stretched out her legs, attempting to avoid the teacher's expression.
"Don't get me started on you. When you're finished with this...go straight home all of you. Jax will tell me if you don't, agreed?"
"Yes, Nanaki," they choursed with little effort, knowing Jax would indeed tell her if they went home or not. They also knew that if the need rose he'd walk each one of them home, considering Landon was staying with him and Julius tonight.
Nanaki nodded and hung around a few more moments to watch their progress then left, saying something under her breathe that only Angel heard and that probably wasn't through speaking. She'd probably listened to their teacher's thoughts and knew what was going to be said before it was.
"Can we just get this on with...? I have to find someone to help me with my homework...."
Seven-Thity p.m. (PARKING LOT OF FOOTBALL/SOCCER FIELD)
"Will you apartment be unlocked in a couple hours? I need to go study with a friend."
Jax saw through the words, knowing it would just be a walk around town. It seemed to be the only freedom his friend got since he'd started staying with them. He didn't let on that he knew the lies behind it but instead handed over one of the duplicated keys to him.
"I might not be there, but Julius should. Just unlock the door and take up your normal residence...if Julius gives you a problem, hit him. I'll vouche for you," he said before pulling his hood up to cover the scales running in patterns across his head and his slitted yellow eyes. He looked out with only his eyes showing. "Don't do something stupid, Landon."
Landon laughed, bitterly. "I did my last stupid thing, of that variety, when I was a kid. I don't plan to hurt anyone unless they provoke me first, Jax...then it's self-defense."
"Does that mean you plan to wait for something...?"
"You know me better than that. Make sure everyone else gets home and tell Angel I'll stay with her night after next," he said then vanished, digging through one pocket and lighting a cigarette. The lighter's glow stayed with his shadow then he vanished without another word.
Jax shook his head and walked back to the others.
"Landon stays with you night after next, Angel."
"That's fine..."
Tara hesitated when the others started to walk off. "Will he be alright...?"
"Leave him alone, Tara. He needs to sort things out on his own."
EIGHT p.m. (XAVIER'S INSTITUTE, ROGUE AND KITTY'S BEDROOM)
Rogue closed her eyes, trying to tune out the sound of Jean's singing from down the hall. The headphones she'd been wearing were hanging around her neck since the battery had killed over some point between the first chorus of 'Angel' and the secoind to last chorus of 'Toxic'. Her head was pounding and no amount of pillows over it could stop the noise pollution.
She got up and walked into the hall, kicking one of Kitty's shoes in the process but stumbled out anyway, banging her fist against the bathroom door. "Hey, Princess! Who's cat are ya killin' in there? Some of us have better things to do than to hear ya audition for American Idiot," she called through the door before stalking back into her room, or more limping thanks to Kitty's shoe. She flopped down on her bed to stare at the ceiling. "Ah hate people raght now."
"Hey, Rogue! Rogue! Rogue, I know you're up there!" Something small and round hit the window then bounced off. The gesture repeated several times before she lost her patience and and went to the window, fighting with the latch until it clicked out of place.
Rogue shoved her window up and looked down, half-expecting to see her cajun stalker. She didn't see him but instead the shadow of another guy with a cigarette, Landon from her class. He appeared in the process of throwing another rock but instead dropped it, offering her a brief wave.
"I need your help with my homework!"
"Ya th'owin rocks at mah window after hours to get mah help with ya homework? If ya can get inside...ah'll help you. Otherwise, figure it out for yourself." She slammed the window shut, knowing he wouldn't find a way in.
Serves him raght for botherin' me. Ah have better things to do then help strange guys with the homework that ah ain't even done mahself.
Rogue laid back down on her bed, thumbing through one of the novels she had picked up off the floor. It wasn't that interesting and she quickly lost interest, taking up one of the many magazines that had been left in Kitty's wake. Even when the younger girl was gone she left the room surrounded by her very prescence.
Ah bet this thing doesn't even got one interestin' article, she thought, flipping the pages but stopping to scribble out different advertisments with a black pen. She colored over all the things that reminded her too much of Risty and even the things that reminded her of herself. Ah hate magazines.
Jean's singing had quit, but she still wasn't sure if the first year college student was out of the bathroom yet. She was known to spend several hours in ther, working on her face and brushing her hair, though Rogue had never bothered to find out if they were true.
Her door creaked open and she sighed," Leave me alone, Kurt. Ah don't need to talk about what's wrong with me 'cause there ain't nuthin'."
"It ain't Kurt, whoever that is." Landon closed the door and came over, looking down at her with obvious amusement. His gaze circled the room, examining every corner with little interest and heavy amusement toward her. "I found a way in."
She sat up, frowning. "And so ya did. What subject, Landon?" she asked before leaning down to get her school stuff off the floor. She stared at the jumbled mass of binders, books, and writing utensils.
"English. I hate the entire subject and language...that book we're reading. Explain it to me."
Rogue just raised an eyebrow, waiting for something, obviously.
He noticed and mumbled,"Please."
"With pleasure," she said then spent the next hour and a half trying to explain the symbolism and themes addressed in A Seperate Peace. She talked through the character relationships, explaining everything from Gene's jealousy to the way Finny protected Leper against the others jokes. She explained details on the setting in an all white, prepatory school where going against the crowd wasn't ones safest bet. "Do ya understand, Landon, or are ya preoccupied with oogling Kitty's bed...?"
Landon scowled, looking away from the bed. "I was just thinking. Do you actually like this kind of stuff, Rogue? I thought you hated the class since I noticed you left for no reason...I had a reason."
"Why ah left ain't ya concern. Anythang else ya need or are ya ready to leave and let me get some sleep...?"
His expression changed into a smirk. "I think I'd much enjoy sleeping with you, Rogue."
She had just opened her mouth to say something and her hand to hit him when there was a knock on her door. Both froze when the voice spoke from just outside the door.
"Hey, Stripes. I told you to stop talking to yourself." There was silence for a moment then the sound of Logan's blades coming out and he knocked again. This time it wasn't gentle or even friendly. "Who's in there with you, Stripes?"
"Uh...Kitty?" she offered then remembered, too late, that her room mate had gone home for a family member's funeral. She swore under her breathe, motioning Landon toward the window.
"Half pint's out. Who's in there? I'll break this door down, Stripes."
"Go ahead. Then ya can pay the Profess'r for the damages," Rogue hollered back, walking with Landon to her window and shoving it up. She motioned out the window. "Leave before Logan gets in."
"Logan. Logan. Logan. He's the guy that walks around snarling isn't he?" Landon climbed through the window and balanced there for a moment.
"He's not a dog. Good-night, Landon." She smiled for a moment then shoved him off the roof, smiling when he lost his balance and fell. His curse could be heard even up at her window.
Logan kept his promise just then and slammed one of his hands through the door, splintering the wood. He turned the lock then withdrew his arm, entering moments later. His expression was bordering on explosive especially when he noticed that the window was open and that she was still standing beside it.
"Do ya need somethin', Logan?" Rogue asked, polietly, trying to keep the smug smirk off her face and failing. She returned to her bed and picked up her books and binders, dropping them on the dresser in a large pile.
"Who was here, Stripes...?"
"Mah split personality. He said to tell ya hi!" She finished the sentence with a high pitched greeting and a sunny smile then dropped it, scowling.
"We're not playing irritate Logan tonight. Who. Was. It. Stripes?" Logan demanded, coming over and standing so he could glare at her. It had no effect except earning his an equal glare from the girl; he gave in, stalking out of her room.
Rogue smirked at her reflection in the the mirror. It was more often used by Kitty to check that her appearance was perfect, for Lance's benefit.
"Landon must be desperate to ask for mah help. Ah wonder if any of what ah told him is honestly true..."
TEN-THIRTY p.m. (XAVIER'S OFFICE)
"I'm sorry about my students, Charles; even more so that one of our teachers would support and supervise the event. I'll have a talk with Damien and Nanaki, too. Margolian hasn't caused a...uh, a problem, has he?" Katherine tried not to voice exactly what problem she meant but was sure he already knew. She nervously tapped her fingers against one knee, watching the white nails flash under the light.
"Margolian hasn't caused a problem. Neither has Nanaki. It is my reasoning, that the students from Ripley are simply pushing the limits in order to see what they can get away with. Once they realize that their antics, shall we say, aren't being tolerated, they'll straighten up. We've had far worse at Bayville, Katherine," he said, speaking quietly in an attempt to calm her. He must have fallen short at some point because she nodded, but her expression lost none of it's tension. "Would it make you feel better if each student were given, kind of a mentor?"
She hesitated then shook her head. "It wouldn't work. These kids have been alone or close to alone for as long as they can remember...it would cause more problems."
"What would your suggestion on how to help your students be?" He waited a moment then stopped speaking, opening the door to his office with one hand. He sighed when several of his newer students fell through the door, landing in a heap. "Bobby, Rahne, Amara, was there something one of you needed? Something that required you to listen outside my door..?"
"Logan's on the rampage, Professor. He and Rogue have been...uh, at it. Yeah, at it. It started 'cause he thought there was someone in her room but it turned out there wasn't," Amara announced all in one breathe then looked down at her friend's strange looks.
"Is that the truth, Bobby, Rahne?"
Bobby nodded.
Rahne hesitated then shook her head. "We were sneaking around and wanted to know what happened in your office after lights out. It didn't really sound like that interesting a conversation..."
"Rahne!"
Katherine smiled, trying not to laugh at their antics. She'd grown used to having someone easedrop on every conversation and didn't say anything important unless it was determined that the school or wherever was empty.
"What are you opinons of the new teachers...?"
Amara's expression brightened. "The French teacher is rather cute."
"The guy with the sunglasses is a bit depressing and that chick...? I haven't really heard her say much to anyone at Bayville except for yelling or lecturing some kids," Bobby said then shrugged. Rahne made no comment.
There was an audible sigh. "I expect all of you to report to your rooms and stay there. Logan and I will have a talk in the morning...good-night."
"Good-night, Professor," the three mumbled like scolded children then retreated, leaving the sound of their feet echoing behind them.
Charles shook his head, frowning. "I'm sorry about that interruption. I've noticed that the thoughts and images I recieve from Landon are rather depressing...would you talk to him about coming to stay at the institute or just give it a trial run?"
"You make it sound like AOL messenger or something, Charles. This is one of these kids' lives that we're talking about; Landon has been alone since before he entered our school district. He was thirteen when he arrived, but God only knows what he did before that," she said, staring down at her nails once again. They'd begun to tap against her leg.
"Katherine, I don't want to hurt him but it's unsafe for him to be wandering around on his own, living wherever's convenient for the night."
She sighed. "I know, but he's not going to accept charity..."
Charles was silent a moment then nodded. "I may have someone that can help him. I'd like to have one of my students, another reluctant mutant, speak with him about everything," he said, thinking over the possibilities. He knew one student would be able to talk on a level that Landon would respond to. "Leave everything to me, Katherine..."
Random Line from The Next Chapter:
Jean cleared her throat then looked around the circle of students, trying to think of where to go next. "Why don't we all tell each other our names?" she asked with the quiet voice of someone talking to a room full of alcoholics or little kids. Her gaze went to Scott and he nodded to show things were okay.
"Rogue."
"Remy LeBeau."
"Angel."
"Julius."
"Kitty."
"Lance."
"Rahne."
"Ray."