"I heard you saw your family." Professor said. Taryn had come by his
study to apologize for being late, and hoping he wouldn't fault the others,
if fault needed to be given. Taryn nodded.
"Yeah. It was great seeing them. It was a bit of a shock to find out they knew about me for a while."
"Some parents always know their children very well." He smiled. Taryn looked at him.
"So, am I in trouble, for not coming back with the others?" She asked. The Professor smiled and shook his head.
"Of course not. Family is always important." He said. Taryn smiled.
"Thanks." She said. She went to leave.
"I expect you will be calling them, right?" He said. Taryn looked at him.
"If it's all right." She said.
"Yes. Of course." He said. "And I hope you might consider letting them visit you here. Your parents most likely want to see where you are, make sure everything is fine." He said. Taryn looked at him.
"Using your gifts again?" She grinned. The Professor laughed.
"Just intuition." He said. Taryn laughed and left the room. She walked down the hall, running into Logan.
"Hey. Thanks for agreeing to stay with us at the mall." She said. Logan looked at her.
"It was nothing." He said. Taryn nodded, knowing he wasn't one to get into mushy displays of gratitude. He looked at her. "You're lucky, you know." He said.
"How's that?" She asked.
"You've got a family who accepts you for who you are. Some kids don't have that." He said, remembering how the Drake family reacted to finding out Bobby was different.
"I wish I wasn't lucky. I mean, family's family. It shouldn't matter if a person can do certain things or not."
"In a perfect world, that would be the case." He said.
"But we don't live in a perfect world." Taryn concluded for him. He nodded. He went to go outside and smoke a cigar. Taryn turned to him. "By the way, I saw you smiling before, when you saw me with my family." She grinned. Logan turned to her. "You should do it more often, it looks good on you." She smiled. Logan offered her a half smile and continued walking.
"It's rare to see someone get that out of him." Came a voice. She turned to see Scott leaning against a wall. Taryn looked at him.
"Any chance I'll have the same affect on you?" She asked. "Don't think I've seen you smile since I got here." She said. Scott looked down.
"Sometimes it's hard to smile." He said softly. Taryn felt like she was overstepping some boundaries and decided not to push him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry or anything." She said. "Just think that sometimes a smile might make a dark time not seem so dark. I know I sound like some annoying optimist." She said. Scott shook his head.
"No, it's all right. The world needs optimist sometimes." He said. He stood up straight and walked away.
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Taryn walked to the front lawn and saw Piotr and Bobby playing Hackensack, also attempting to teach Rogue how to play. Taryn walked over. Piotr saw her let the sack hit the ground.
"Hey, everything OK?" He asked. Taryn nodded.
"Yeah. I talked to the Professor; he was cool about it all. Said I could call and like invite them over here."
"That's great." Bobby smiled. Rogue and Piotr nodded their agreement. Taryn smiled. She felt like today was the best day of her life. She spent time with her new friends, saw her family, saw that her family still loved her, and the Professor said he would allow her to call and invite them over if she wanted. Nothing could make this day better. Taryn cast her eyes at Piotr, who was smiling warmly at her. _Well, maybe one thing....No, no, can't think that...._ She thought to herself.
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"Rogue." Taryn whispered as she and Rogue lay in their beds that night. Taryn couldn't sleep. Her thoughts filled with Piotr, her family, everything. "Are you awake?" She whispered. Rogue turned to her.
"Yeah, what's up?" She asked.
"I just wanted to ask you a question." She said.
"Ask away."
"Well, how do you do it?" Taryn asked.
"Do what?" Rogue questioned.
"Be with Bobby. I mean, isn't it total hell knowing you can't touch him or anything?" She asked. Rogue looked down.
"Yeah. It hurts a lot of times. Sometimes I wonder if it's all even worth it. But...then I look at him, see how he's being understanding and everything, and I know that being without him completely would hurt even more." Rogue said. "We did kiss once. A little while ago, he just pulled me close and we kissed. It was fine, normal, I thought maybe we'd found some loophole and could make contact. But then we tried it again..And he almost passed out." Taryn looked at her friend, feeling sorry for her.
"Oh, wow. I'm sorry." She said. Rogue gave her a smile.
"It's OK. At least I know what it feels like." She laughed softly. Taryn grinned.
"How was that?" She asked.
"Hot wouldn't even begin to describe it." Rogue said. "Anyway, why are you so interested in me and Bobby?" She asked.
"Just curious I guess. I mean, I find it really admirable how you guys can be together, despite of the big wall between you." She said. Rogue smiled.
"Thank you. But I don't buy it. What's the other reason?" She asked. Taryn sighed.
"There might be...A person....Who I....Would like....to uh...Get close to." Taryn replied hesitantly.
"Pete." Rogue said.
"No, no." Taryn lied. Rogue saw right through it.
"I know it's Pete, don't deny it." Rogue grinned.
"It's not Pete." Taryn insisted.
"OK, ok, it's not Pete." Rogue said. "Even if it is." She grinned. Taryn grabbed one of her pillows and hurled it at Rogue. Rogue laughed.
"Shut up!" Came Kitty's annoyed and groggy voiced. Taryn and Rogue giggled.
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Bobby groaned and glared at Piotr, who had been keeping him awake by his non-stop talking about Taryn.
"Man, if you don't shut up, I'll freeze you solid." He grumbled. Piotr looked at him.
"Hey, when Rogue first got here and you guys met, you kept me and John awake for about a week talking about her." Piotr pointed out. The two paused at the mention of John.
"Yeah...Well.." Bobby stammered, knowing he had no grounds.
"You don't have a leg to stand on, Stumpy." Piotr replied. Bobby laughed.
"Go to sleep!" Said one of the boys in the room.
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The next morning was Taryn's first day of classes. Since the glasses were separated by ages, Taryn knew she'd be with her friends. She couldn't help the little thrill she got knowing she'd be able to spend the day around Piotr. Taryn sighed and waited in line for the bathroom. She was finally up next and waited for Jubilee to exit the bathroom. After 10 minutes, Jubilee walked out in her towel, carrying her things. Taryn sighed greatfully and got into the bathroom, locking the door.
Taryn was busy washing the shampoo out of her hair when she heard a noise on the other side of the bathroom. Taryn poked her head out of the curtain to see Kitty using the toilet.
"Hey, the door was locked for a reason." She said.
"Sorry, really had to go." Kitty apologized. Taryn sighed and went back to washing her hair.
"Fine, just don't flu...AIEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Taryn screamed and stumbled back as the water got hotter. "KITTY!" Taryn yelled.
"Sorry, forgot." Kitty winced. She phased out the door.
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Taryn got back to the room and dressed in wide leg jeans and a long sleeve formfitting shirt she had bought on the shopping trip. She put her hair into a French braid. She walked out of the room, heading down to join Rogue, who had been first in the shower, and the guys for breakfast. She grabbed a pair of black leather gloves she had bought the day before. She pulled them on as she climbed down the stairs. Piotr caught sight of her and couldn't help the smile that came to his face at the sight of her.
"Morning." She said as she slid into a chair at the circular table of the dining room next to Rogue and Piotr. "Sorry I took so long. Had a bit of an accident in the shower."
"Accident?" Rogue asked.
"Kitty phased in and flushed." She said. Rogue, Bobby and Piotr couldn't help chuckle. "Oh yeah, it might seem funny, but you try showering and the water suddenly becoming scalding, see if you're still laughing." Taryn said. "Be right back." She said. She got up and went to the kitchen to get some breakfast. Piotr watched her disappear behind the swinging doors of the kitchen. He turned back to his friends to see Bobby and Rogue looking at him with smiles on their faces.
"What?" Piotr asked.
"You should really ask her out." Rogue said.
"Ask who out?" Piotr asked.
"Kitty." Bobby said. He chuckled. "Taryn, you dolt." Piotr blinked and shot Bobby a look as if to say _Don't tell her best friend I like her, you moron!_ Rogue caught the look and laughed.
"Pete, don't worry, he didn't tell me. It's not like you do a very good job at hiding it." She smiled.
"What do you mean?" Bobby asked.
"Well, the whole grinning like a five year old on Christmas morning when you see her is pretty much a dead give away." Rogue said.
"Plus, your insistance to spend time alone with her yesterday wasn't very discrete." Bobby added.
"I told her you guys wanted to spend time alone." Piotr admitted. Rogue sighed.
"Ask her out already." Rogue said.
"Ask who out?" Taryn asked as she sat back down with a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. She poured herself some orange juice from the pitcher in the center of the table. Piotr gulped.
"..Uh.....Jubilee." He lied. Taryn looked at him.
"You like Jubilee?" She asked. Piotr nodded. Taryn looked down. She felt her heart sink a little. She blinked and looked at him, giving a smile.
"Well, I think Rogue's right, you should so ask her out." She said. Piotr looked at his plate of food and picked at it nervously.
"Right..Thanks for the advice guys." He said.
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The several teen students all sat in one of the classrooms as Ororo taught them about ancient history.
"Now, who can tell me how the brain was removed prior to mummification?" She asked. Jubilee raised her hand. "Yes, Jubilee."
"The Egyptians used tools to remove it through the nose." She said. Ororo smiled.
"Very good, Jubilee." She said. Taryn rolled her eyes and leaned in her chair over to Rogue who was sitting next to her.
"She's cute, perky and smart. No wonder Pete likes her." Taryn groaned bitterly. Ororo looked at her, hearing her say something.
"Is there something you'd like to share with the class, Taryn?" She asked. Taryn looked at her and shook her head.
"No." She said. "Sorry." Ororo looked at her and turned back to the chalkboard, writing something down. Rogue cast her a sympathedic look. ()()((()(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))) ))))))((((((((((((((())))))))))(
The teens filed into the Professor's study for English class. Rogue and Bobby sat together. Taryn took a seat by them. Piotr sat next to her. Taryn looked at him and stood up, moving to another seat. Piotr watched her move and sighed.
"Why is she suddenly avoiding me like the plague?" He asked. Rogue sighed.
"Think of it as karma's way of telling you it's not good to lie." She said.
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After classes were over, Piotr found Taryn walking around the lawn.
"Taryn! Hey, wait up!" He called. Taryn looked at him. She really didn't want to face him right now, but she knew it would look suspicious if she just walked away.
"Hey." She said as he approached her.
"What was that all about in English?" He asked. Taryn looked away.
"I thought you'd want Jubilee to sit next to you." Taryn shrugged.
"What? Why? You're my friend, of course I'd want you to sit next to me." He said.
"Well, since you're in to Jubilee, I just thought.." She said, her voice trailing off. She sighed. "I have to go." She said. She turned and walked away. Piotr jogged after her and stood before her.
"Why does who I like affect your attitude towards me?" He asked.
"It doesn't." Taryn said. "But, I mean, I figure, if you ask her out, you'd want like alone time with her and junk. No need for little annoying me to hang around." She went to step past him. Piotr gently took her arm to stop her.
"You're not annoying. And I do want you to hang around." He said softly. He looked down at her. Taryn looked up at him. He stared into her smoky gray eyes as if he was studying some important ancient text. He lowered his face to hers. Taryn was stunned to say or do anything. She blinked and quickly stepped back.
"Are you totally mentally retarded!?" She yelled, pushing him back. "What part of 'no touching' isn't understandable!?" She turned and jogged away from him. Piotr sighed .
"Apparantly, I am mentally retarded." He said to himself.
"Yeah. It was great seeing them. It was a bit of a shock to find out they knew about me for a while."
"Some parents always know their children very well." He smiled. Taryn looked at him.
"So, am I in trouble, for not coming back with the others?" She asked. The Professor smiled and shook his head.
"Of course not. Family is always important." He said. Taryn smiled.
"Thanks." She said. She went to leave.
"I expect you will be calling them, right?" He said. Taryn looked at him.
"If it's all right." She said.
"Yes. Of course." He said. "And I hope you might consider letting them visit you here. Your parents most likely want to see where you are, make sure everything is fine." He said. Taryn looked at him.
"Using your gifts again?" She grinned. The Professor laughed.
"Just intuition." He said. Taryn laughed and left the room. She walked down the hall, running into Logan.
"Hey. Thanks for agreeing to stay with us at the mall." She said. Logan looked at her.
"It was nothing." He said. Taryn nodded, knowing he wasn't one to get into mushy displays of gratitude. He looked at her. "You're lucky, you know." He said.
"How's that?" She asked.
"You've got a family who accepts you for who you are. Some kids don't have that." He said, remembering how the Drake family reacted to finding out Bobby was different.
"I wish I wasn't lucky. I mean, family's family. It shouldn't matter if a person can do certain things or not."
"In a perfect world, that would be the case." He said.
"But we don't live in a perfect world." Taryn concluded for him. He nodded. He went to go outside and smoke a cigar. Taryn turned to him. "By the way, I saw you smiling before, when you saw me with my family." She grinned. Logan turned to her. "You should do it more often, it looks good on you." She smiled. Logan offered her a half smile and continued walking.
"It's rare to see someone get that out of him." Came a voice. She turned to see Scott leaning against a wall. Taryn looked at him.
"Any chance I'll have the same affect on you?" She asked. "Don't think I've seen you smile since I got here." She said. Scott looked down.
"Sometimes it's hard to smile." He said softly. Taryn felt like she was overstepping some boundaries and decided not to push him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry or anything." She said. "Just think that sometimes a smile might make a dark time not seem so dark. I know I sound like some annoying optimist." She said. Scott shook his head.
"No, it's all right. The world needs optimist sometimes." He said. He stood up straight and walked away.
()))))))))))))))(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))) (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((())
Taryn walked to the front lawn and saw Piotr and Bobby playing Hackensack, also attempting to teach Rogue how to play. Taryn walked over. Piotr saw her let the sack hit the ground.
"Hey, everything OK?" He asked. Taryn nodded.
"Yeah. I talked to the Professor; he was cool about it all. Said I could call and like invite them over here."
"That's great." Bobby smiled. Rogue and Piotr nodded their agreement. Taryn smiled. She felt like today was the best day of her life. She spent time with her new friends, saw her family, saw that her family still loved her, and the Professor said he would allow her to call and invite them over if she wanted. Nothing could make this day better. Taryn cast her eyes at Piotr, who was smiling warmly at her. _Well, maybe one thing....No, no, can't think that...._ She thought to herself.
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"Rogue." Taryn whispered as she and Rogue lay in their beds that night. Taryn couldn't sleep. Her thoughts filled with Piotr, her family, everything. "Are you awake?" She whispered. Rogue turned to her.
"Yeah, what's up?" She asked.
"I just wanted to ask you a question." She said.
"Ask away."
"Well, how do you do it?" Taryn asked.
"Do what?" Rogue questioned.
"Be with Bobby. I mean, isn't it total hell knowing you can't touch him or anything?" She asked. Rogue looked down.
"Yeah. It hurts a lot of times. Sometimes I wonder if it's all even worth it. But...then I look at him, see how he's being understanding and everything, and I know that being without him completely would hurt even more." Rogue said. "We did kiss once. A little while ago, he just pulled me close and we kissed. It was fine, normal, I thought maybe we'd found some loophole and could make contact. But then we tried it again..And he almost passed out." Taryn looked at her friend, feeling sorry for her.
"Oh, wow. I'm sorry." She said. Rogue gave her a smile.
"It's OK. At least I know what it feels like." She laughed softly. Taryn grinned.
"How was that?" She asked.
"Hot wouldn't even begin to describe it." Rogue said. "Anyway, why are you so interested in me and Bobby?" She asked.
"Just curious I guess. I mean, I find it really admirable how you guys can be together, despite of the big wall between you." She said. Rogue smiled.
"Thank you. But I don't buy it. What's the other reason?" She asked. Taryn sighed.
"There might be...A person....Who I....Would like....to uh...Get close to." Taryn replied hesitantly.
"Pete." Rogue said.
"No, no." Taryn lied. Rogue saw right through it.
"I know it's Pete, don't deny it." Rogue grinned.
"It's not Pete." Taryn insisted.
"OK, ok, it's not Pete." Rogue said. "Even if it is." She grinned. Taryn grabbed one of her pillows and hurled it at Rogue. Rogue laughed.
"Shut up!" Came Kitty's annoyed and groggy voiced. Taryn and Rogue giggled.
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Bobby groaned and glared at Piotr, who had been keeping him awake by his non-stop talking about Taryn.
"Man, if you don't shut up, I'll freeze you solid." He grumbled. Piotr looked at him.
"Hey, when Rogue first got here and you guys met, you kept me and John awake for about a week talking about her." Piotr pointed out. The two paused at the mention of John.
"Yeah...Well.." Bobby stammered, knowing he had no grounds.
"You don't have a leg to stand on, Stumpy." Piotr replied. Bobby laughed.
"Go to sleep!" Said one of the boys in the room.
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The next morning was Taryn's first day of classes. Since the glasses were separated by ages, Taryn knew she'd be with her friends. She couldn't help the little thrill she got knowing she'd be able to spend the day around Piotr. Taryn sighed and waited in line for the bathroom. She was finally up next and waited for Jubilee to exit the bathroom. After 10 minutes, Jubilee walked out in her towel, carrying her things. Taryn sighed greatfully and got into the bathroom, locking the door.
Taryn was busy washing the shampoo out of her hair when she heard a noise on the other side of the bathroom. Taryn poked her head out of the curtain to see Kitty using the toilet.
"Hey, the door was locked for a reason." She said.
"Sorry, really had to go." Kitty apologized. Taryn sighed and went back to washing her hair.
"Fine, just don't flu...AIEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Taryn screamed and stumbled back as the water got hotter. "KITTY!" Taryn yelled.
"Sorry, forgot." Kitty winced. She phased out the door.
()))))))))))))))))))(((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) )))))(((((((((((((((((((()))))))
Taryn got back to the room and dressed in wide leg jeans and a long sleeve formfitting shirt she had bought on the shopping trip. She put her hair into a French braid. She walked out of the room, heading down to join Rogue, who had been first in the shower, and the guys for breakfast. She grabbed a pair of black leather gloves she had bought the day before. She pulled them on as she climbed down the stairs. Piotr caught sight of her and couldn't help the smile that came to his face at the sight of her.
"Morning." She said as she slid into a chair at the circular table of the dining room next to Rogue and Piotr. "Sorry I took so long. Had a bit of an accident in the shower."
"Accident?" Rogue asked.
"Kitty phased in and flushed." She said. Rogue, Bobby and Piotr couldn't help chuckle. "Oh yeah, it might seem funny, but you try showering and the water suddenly becoming scalding, see if you're still laughing." Taryn said. "Be right back." She said. She got up and went to the kitchen to get some breakfast. Piotr watched her disappear behind the swinging doors of the kitchen. He turned back to his friends to see Bobby and Rogue looking at him with smiles on their faces.
"What?" Piotr asked.
"You should really ask her out." Rogue said.
"Ask who out?" Piotr asked.
"Kitty." Bobby said. He chuckled. "Taryn, you dolt." Piotr blinked and shot Bobby a look as if to say _Don't tell her best friend I like her, you moron!_ Rogue caught the look and laughed.
"Pete, don't worry, he didn't tell me. It's not like you do a very good job at hiding it." She smiled.
"What do you mean?" Bobby asked.
"Well, the whole grinning like a five year old on Christmas morning when you see her is pretty much a dead give away." Rogue said.
"Plus, your insistance to spend time alone with her yesterday wasn't very discrete." Bobby added.
"I told her you guys wanted to spend time alone." Piotr admitted. Rogue sighed.
"Ask her out already." Rogue said.
"Ask who out?" Taryn asked as she sat back down with a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. She poured herself some orange juice from the pitcher in the center of the table. Piotr gulped.
"..Uh.....Jubilee." He lied. Taryn looked at him.
"You like Jubilee?" She asked. Piotr nodded. Taryn looked down. She felt her heart sink a little. She blinked and looked at him, giving a smile.
"Well, I think Rogue's right, you should so ask her out." She said. Piotr looked at his plate of food and picked at it nervously.
"Right..Thanks for the advice guys." He said.
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The several teen students all sat in one of the classrooms as Ororo taught them about ancient history.
"Now, who can tell me how the brain was removed prior to mummification?" She asked. Jubilee raised her hand. "Yes, Jubilee."
"The Egyptians used tools to remove it through the nose." She said. Ororo smiled.
"Very good, Jubilee." She said. Taryn rolled her eyes and leaned in her chair over to Rogue who was sitting next to her.
"She's cute, perky and smart. No wonder Pete likes her." Taryn groaned bitterly. Ororo looked at her, hearing her say something.
"Is there something you'd like to share with the class, Taryn?" She asked. Taryn looked at her and shook her head.
"No." She said. "Sorry." Ororo looked at her and turned back to the chalkboard, writing something down. Rogue cast her a sympathedic look. ()()((()(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))) ))))))((((((((((((((())))))))))(
The teens filed into the Professor's study for English class. Rogue and Bobby sat together. Taryn took a seat by them. Piotr sat next to her. Taryn looked at him and stood up, moving to another seat. Piotr watched her move and sighed.
"Why is she suddenly avoiding me like the plague?" He asked. Rogue sighed.
"Think of it as karma's way of telling you it's not good to lie." She said.
())))))))))))))))))))(((((((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((( (((((((((((((((((((((((((())))))
After classes were over, Piotr found Taryn walking around the lawn.
"Taryn! Hey, wait up!" He called. Taryn looked at him. She really didn't want to face him right now, but she knew it would look suspicious if she just walked away.
"Hey." She said as he approached her.
"What was that all about in English?" He asked. Taryn looked away.
"I thought you'd want Jubilee to sit next to you." Taryn shrugged.
"What? Why? You're my friend, of course I'd want you to sit next to me." He said.
"Well, since you're in to Jubilee, I just thought.." She said, her voice trailing off. She sighed. "I have to go." She said. She turned and walked away. Piotr jogged after her and stood before her.
"Why does who I like affect your attitude towards me?" He asked.
"It doesn't." Taryn said. "But, I mean, I figure, if you ask her out, you'd want like alone time with her and junk. No need for little annoying me to hang around." She went to step past him. Piotr gently took her arm to stop her.
"You're not annoying. And I do want you to hang around." He said softly. He looked down at her. Taryn looked up at him. He stared into her smoky gray eyes as if he was studying some important ancient text. He lowered his face to hers. Taryn was stunned to say or do anything. She blinked and quickly stepped back.
"Are you totally mentally retarded!?" She yelled, pushing him back. "What part of 'no touching' isn't understandable!?" She turned and jogged away from him. Piotr sighed .
"Apparantly, I am mentally retarded." He said to himself.