Author's Note: Okay here's the deal, my computer crashed at the end of last
month because of a virus and its taken this long to get it reformatted.
Unfortunatly none of my fanfiction files that I had saved on my computer
were rescued, I was able to rescue a ridiculous picture I saved to a paint
document though. I had written the eighth chapter to this story but since
it wasn't saved I had to rewrite it. I hope that I improved on the original
chapter, although I don't remember everything I wrote in it. Also, I
haven't been able to reinstall Microsoft Word so I'm using a second rate
wordprocessor without a spellcheck. I'll try and check my own spelling but
I'm sure I'll miss some. Oh yeah and becuase I'm using this wordprocessor I
can't put anything in italics or bold so I can't really distinguish between
thoughts and other things. And forget any kind of formatting, it just kind
of does what it wants....
Disclaimer: I have a lovely bunch of coconuts.....
Interesting (not X-Men) Fact: Daria, MTVs popular antisocial cartoon, was a spin off of Beavis and Butthead.
The Damned, Episode 1 Chapter 8: Boys and gals
"Who's the finest of them all?" Pietro cooed, looking in the bathroom mirror. "Of course you are," he told his reflection.
He ran a comb delicately through his shock white hair, sighing contently as he found an absence of split ends.
"Pietro," a muffled voice yelled through the door, "Get out of the freakin' bathroom."
"There are other bathrooms in the house you know. Go use the one down the hall."
"Pietro you've been in this bathroom for forty minutes, get out now!"
Pietro opened the door, revealing an angry boy, "Dominic you have got to chill."
Dominic responded by pulling Pietro out into the hall, stepping into the bathroom and slamming the door.
"Sheesh," Pietro muttered, "You'd think people could have a little more courtesy."
Inside the bathroom Dominic was relaxing in the hot tub. He took in the scent of the strawberry bubblebath. He had just had a grueling session with Raven, or Mystique as she liked to be called during sessions. In the two weeks he had been living in the Victorian house, he and the other three pre-teens had been taking lessons from their gaurdians. His sessions with Mystique had been his fourth installment in selfdefense. The children had been told that these lessons were to make sure they were able to fend for themselves if they ever needed to.
As grueling as the sessions were, Dominic didn't mind, it was a definite step, no, leap from his residency in Florida. If having Erik as his guardian meant he had to take several lessons in self-defense and yoga, then so be it. In exchange he was given a home, a real one.
Dominic stared at the white ceiling, roses were etched in the edges where the pure white of the ceiling met the pink tinted walls. If his friends in Florida could see him now they would say he'd gone soft, lost his true street edge. Well fuck'em, Dominic thought vehemently, they've never done anything for me. I don't owe them anything.
"Dominic."
He winced at Wanda's voice. "Um, yeah?"
"Did I leave my charm bracelet in there?"
He looked around, "No."
From the silence he guessed she had left. He silently thanked God. He was sure Wanda was a good person but she had scared the Hell out of him since he had met up with her and her twin just three weeks ago. She wasn't the same person he had known three years ago. Something was gone, the spark that used to attract people to her had long since vacated her eyes and left her with only intimidation.
Dominic looked at his fingers, good and pruny. He got out of the tub, marvelling at the feel of the marble floors on his bare feet. He envied Marie for having spent the last few years of her life here. Drying himself off with a soft cotton towel he wondered about Marie. She was just as odd as Wanda. She had an intimidating quality about her but it was more from the shy presence she brought to any space. Dominic couldn't put any one of his pruny fingers on it but he was certain there was something wrong with Marie.
As he changed his clothing and rushed to his room he could hear the wrethched sounds of the New Kidz on the Block coming from Marie's room. As her room was next to Dominic's, he could hear all of it. Honestly, Dominic would never have pegged Marie for a bubblegum pop fan. He would have pictured her more punk, rock and roll, not New Kids and Madonna.
After several minutes of attemtping to baracade his thoughts from the music, and failing, he got up and went to her room. Without knocking, he doubted she'd be able to hear it anyway, he burst right in. "Marie could you kindly..." his voice trailed off as he found himself stairing into the most beautiful pair of brown eyes he had ever seen. "Hi."
"Hi," Mica replied softly from where she had been standing.
Marie piped up, "Can Ah do somethin' for ya?"
"Yeah," Dominic snapped back to attention, trying his hardest to avoid the eyes of the raven-haired beauty. "You could turn down that horrible music."
"Hey the New Kids are not horrible," Mica told him.
No accent."They are if you just had a workout and are trying to get some rest," Dominic responded.
"Alright," Marie sighed as she reached over to turn the sound down on her tape deck.
* * *
As soon as the boy left Marie looked at her friend, "You were sayin'?"
Mica looked at Marie blankly, "About?"
Marie sighed, "Befoh Dominic came in-"
"Is that his name?" Mica cut in.
Marie perked an eybrow, "Yes and he's available."
"What?"
"You were starin' at him so hard Ah thought the po' boy was gonna..." Marie shook her head, "nevah mind."
"Tell me about him," Mica urged. The only thing Marie had told her to this point was that three children, all under Erik's care were going to live in the house with Marie's own family. Mica knew that Pietro and Wanda were twins, Erik's children, and knew all about Wanda's moodiness and Pietro's extroverted personallity, what she didn't know was anything about Dominic.
"Alright, if ya insist."
Mica scurried over to the bed as if it were time for some magical tale.
"Ah don't know much about him but Ah do know that he's from Florida and Erik had to take custody of him for some reason. Ah know that he's Greek and loves to eat," Marie paused, "He's really into punk an' rock an' all loud music."
Mica's eyes twinkled.
"Ah really hope ya ain't gettin' a crush on him."
"Me? Never?"
"Oh no," Marie muttered to herself.
* * *
"Now the Good Lord came down..."
Dominic pulled on his tie, the thing was going to choke him. This was his first time attending Our Lady of Victory Baptist/Protestant church, and frankly he didn't like it. The temperature was so high in the chapel it seemed like the congregation was being prepared for a lifetime in Hell. He felt the rivers of sweat run down his back as the ceiling fans spun in their futile efforts to cool everyone off. He could practically hear the fans screaming for some help.
Next to him, Pietro looked bored. The service was passing by so slowly, why did they have to listen to the pastor go on for hours about the same thing? Hurry up, he willed, I need to check on my hair. If so much as one hair is out of place I'll just die!
As Dominic swam in his own sweat and Pietro prayed for the service to end, Wanda sat patiently in her scarlet dress. She had the gift of patience, even in the most aggravating situation she could hide inside herself and wait for it to finish, the correctional facility had taught her this. She'd been sent to shock therapy so many times she eventually got tired of the screaming. It seemed as though even her eardrums were tiring from having to report to her brain that she was sending vibrations out into the air. The doctors weren't sympathetic, just yelled at her to stop. Wanda had found that by clearing her mind and finding a spot inside of her where they pain didn't reach she could pretend she wasn't there. That's what she was doing with the service. She understood what the pastor was telling them quiet well, she knew Pietro did too, the correctional facility, New York Correctional, had a small church on its grounds that they were forced to go to every Sunday, only those who were criminally insane stayed in the confines of the hospital.
Marie was oblivious to everyone else's suffering. Church to her was great. Where else could she go where people would tell her free stories about the past and teach her what being alive was for? Growing up in St. Mary she had never been taught a thing, it seemed church held all the answers to everything she had wondered. She especially loved the choir, their singing reminded Marie to let her spirit soar. It allowed her to let her voice mingle in the air with other voices, each trying to find eternal salvation through the words of their Lord.
After two hours the children were all released from their respective Hell and Heavens. Marie immediately found Mica in the crowd. Dominic watched the two walk out of the church together.
Erik noticed his staring, "Dominic why don't you go play too?"
Dominic looked at the older man in surprise, "Play?"
"That's what the children do here after service, they play while us adults talk."
The young boy began to walk towards the door when he felt Pietro's hand on his shoulder. Dominic winced, Pietro was like a cigarrette in a junkie's mouth, a real drag.
"Where you going?" Pietro asked.
"To see what the rest of the kids are up to."
"You mind if I come with you?"
Dominic knew better than to think it was a real question.
* * *
Marie sat high up in a tree watching some of the other kids look for her. She grinned, hide and seek was so much more entertaining now that she could scale trees in her church attire.
"Marie where are ya?" Rachel, a local girl, called.
Carefully, Marie climbed down the tree and made a mad dash for "base."
"There she is!" Mica yelled.
All of a sudden there were several children chasing her.
Marie kept her focus on base, a tree stump, and made sure no children were close enough to actually get her. Almost there, almost there, almost there. Huh? What just....
She felt a hand on her shoulder and a calm voice say, "tag." Looking up she saw Pietro grinning.
"Marie you really have to be faster than that."
Mica caught up and held up a hand signifying that she had to catch her breath. After a moment she spoke, "Pietro right?" After he nodded she gushed, "Wow you are so fast! We didn't even see you coming."
"He's not that fast," a voice said, with a little jealousy.
Pietro looked past both Marie and Mica to see Dominic. "I am so."
Dominic chose to ignore his white-haired aquantance, "Hi, I'm Dominic."
Mica took his hand, "I'm Mica."
"I'm Pietro," Pietro took Mica's hand from Dominic's.
"Um hi," Mica blushed a little.
Marie looked at Dominic's face, if looks could kill Pietro would be stabbed, shot, and buried under ten feet of horse manure. "Mica don't ya wanna go play over there?" Marie pointed to a random direction.
"Huh?" Mica was a little dazed.
"Come on," Marie pushed her.
* * *
"Man, I so had her!" Dominic exclaimed angrily.
"No way man, she was totally diggin' me," Pietro shot back smoothly.
"Hi boys are ya'll gonna play or what?"
The turned to see a red haired girl in a flowery dress smiling at them.
"Why hello," Pietro started, "My name is Pietro, what's yours?"
"Rachel."
Dominic couldn't stand Pietro's lame flirting anymore so he just turned and ran into Wanda. "Sorry."
"No prob," Wanda told him in her flat voice. "What are you guys doing?"
"Just trying to get to know people," Dominic told her.
"Why?" Judging by her voice, Wanda thought that was the dumbest thing she had ever heard in her eleven years existence.
She is just as annoying as her brother. "Because we have to live here anyway, we might as well get to know people. Besides we are starting school tomorrow, I'm willing to bet these people will be in our classes."
Wanda rolled her eyes, "Whatever, where's Marie?"
"I think down closer to the river, knowing that girl anyway."
Wanda nodded, Marie did have an odd obsession with the Mississippi. "Dressed from head to toe no doubt."
Dominic nodded, "You'd think the heat in the church would've killed her."
* * *
"Marie," Mica hissed, "Why'd you pull me away? They were both so cute!"
Marie sat her down next to the river, "Ah have ta live with 'em Mica. They already don't lahk each othah, last thing Ah need is ta haveta listen to them bicker about gals too."
"Why didn't you tell me both of the guys in your house were cute?"
"Mica did ya hear a word of what Ah said?"
"Oh yeah, sure, bickering, gals, got it."
"Mica they are not cute, get over 'em." Marie tried her hardest to be stern but she started to giggle. "Did ya see the look on Dominic's face?"
Mica joined the giggling.
"What are you two laughing about?"
Mica looked up to see a girl dressed in a scarlet dress glowering down at them.
"Nothin' really Wanda, just your brother and Dominic."
Wanda rolled her eyes, "They are such idiots."
Surprise etched itself on Marie's face. This was the only thing she and Wanda had said to each other the whole time Wanda had been in Mississippi. Mica looked even more surprised, Wanda and Pietro were siblings? They were so different.
Why is she looking at me? Wanda felt herself getting angry. Doesn't she know its rude to stare?
"So," Mica said uneasily, "you and Pietro are siblings?"
"Twins," came the curt reply.
"Oh."
After several moments of uncomfortable silence, Marie spoke, "Wanda do ya wanna join our conversation?"
Wanda walked down to where they were seated as if she were doing them a favor, "I guess. What's the topic?"
"Boys of course," Mica answered marrily.
* * *
"Pietro."
"What?" Pietro had been enjoying listening to his favorite mixed tape before his sister had to ruin it. He looked over at his now open doorway.
"Dinner." Wanda left.
He sighed, his twin definately had to work on her people skills. In seconds he was downstairs at the dinner table. He smiled proudly to himself, he was running so quickly lately he was thinking about joining his new school's track team, if they had one anyway.
"So, who is going to lead in the prayer?"
The children all shied away from Raven's question. Raven sighed, "fine I'll do it."
Everyone bowed their heads. "Lord thank you for everything you've given us, the food, home, and especially our family, as unique as it may be. We would especially like to take time out on this sabbath day to thank you for helping us all overcome obstacles, whether they be historic," Erik visible stiffened, "Or personal," Wanda couldn't help the shudder that crawled up her spine, "You have always been there when we need you and we know we can continue to count on your giving nature as our futures begin unfold. Amen."
* * *
"Dominic Szilard Petros."
"Here."
The girls in Dominic's homeroom felt their hearts beat faster. They just could not believe their luck, the new guy was not only some mysterious creature from out of town but he had the smoothest olive skin and eyes to match.
Wanda sat in the back of the room, disgusted.
"Wanda Lensherr."
"Here." Even in one sylable she managed to voice her aggressive nature.
She immediately began to recieve odd looks from the rest of the class. The girls couldn't beleive she actually dressed like that purposely. Crushed scarlet and black velvet, was she crazy? Didn't she know that style was totally not in? The guys were strangely fascinated. Wanda was to them what Dominic was to the girls, a mystery.
"Welcome to your new math class," The teacher, Mr. What's-his-face, was saying but neither Wanda nor Dominic were really listening. They were simply trying to adjust to their new atmosphere.
* * *
"Marie," Mica hissed.
"What?" Marie asked, trying to put her books in her locker.
"Dominic was totally in my math class."
"That's great," Marie told her half-heartedly.
"Why aren't you more excited?" Mica asked.
Marie took a break from trying to fit her books in her locker to look at her friend. "Mica we are in the sixth grade, about ta go on ta seventh, are ya really trying to hook you a boyfriend this early?"
"Yup!"
Bring!
Mica looked startled, "Man that was totally the beginning of seventh hour! I'm so late!" She ran off.
Marie sighed, she was late too, but there was no way she was going to be able to fit those damn books in her locker. With a growl of aggravation she watched as most of her books fell to the floor.
She heard a low whistle. "Dominic don't ya need to git ta class?"
"Don't you?" he was on his knees helping her gather her books.
"Yeah, after Ah get all this crap in mah locker."
Dominic handed her the books silently before asking, "So what's with your friend Mica?"
"Ah knew that was why you were helping me."
"So distrustful. Not everyone was a motive for helping you, you know."
"Mica is mah best friend, Ah ahm not gonna help ya'll two with your little schemes."
"Two?"
"You and Pietro."
"I knew he was after her," Dominic fumed.
"Her and every othah gal in this city."
That seemed to put Dominic at ease, "So its just that ego at work huh?"
Marie finally succeeded in putting her books in her locker and slammed it shut, "Bye Dominic, you're late for class."
He barely registered Marie's words. As she left he had his eyes on one thing. He bent down and picked up a small red book, opening to the first page he recognized Marie's handwriting. Interesting, a diary.
* * *
Love is a limitation of expression. Telling someone that you love them can mean a variety of things. For example, one could simply mean that they love someone because of what that someone can do for them. Or love can mean that one would gladly give their life for their loved one. But is this a reaction to the purity of their love or simply a momentary reaction to an erratic feeling?
Dominic held the diary as if it were the novel of the century. He could not believe that the quiet girl had actually written this. Actually, in the last twenty minutes he had found out things about Marie that he never would have related with her. He found out a lot about her career goal, to become a geneticist, he knew everything about the people she could, and couldn't, stand at school. Dominic even found out that she was in fact a fan of pop music but preferred the beat of rock and roll, the enthusiastic sound of new wave and punk, and was even drawn into the rising sounds of hip-hop. Marie tolerated most pop music for her friend Mica, and Mica knew this.
Mica. The four letter name was mentioned only once up until this point. The boy of Greecian decent was driven almost crazy with curiousity. Shouldn't Marie write more about her best friend anyway? Patience, you are still at the beginning of the diary, I'm sure there's more about Mica in here somewhere.Dominic continued to read the diary.
You know diary, you are only the creation of the Mississippi State Court, they are making me write in you. Apparantly my pschologist wants to make sure I have a healthy means of communication. Hah! Shows what they know. I communicate quite well thank you very much. My level of english skill mastery is incomprehensible to the small minded that insist on surrounding me. I can twist these poor little enlgish words to say and mean whatever I need them to and in my opinion, the language arts are the finest form of expression. I guess my psychologist would know that about me if the asshole would bother getting to know me. I guess that's why my momma hates my going to that office, she knows it won't help but its the only way she can keep me. Of course neither momma or Irene or Erik will ever tell me they hate the psychologist, they're too busy making sure I get better to say anything negative.
Get better? What's wrong with her anyway? Other than being shy she seems alright.
Oh well, when the world gets to be too crazy at least I'll always have Mica to turn to.
Mica.
Mica is the nicest person I've ever met. She's really funny and energetic..
And beautiful and smart.
..and so truthful. Oh, its getting to be really late, I should go to sleep. Good night.
As Dominic finished reading the entry he looked at his own clock, 11pm. If any of the adults found him awake he would be in trouble so he put the diary in his drawer and turned off his light. He had decided to slip the diary back into Marie's backpack at school so she wouldn't get suspicous. He later found it under her bed when she had gone to sleep and began to read it. His plan was to read only recent entries from the last week to find any mention of Mica but he'd read the first page and gotten hooked. Who would have thought the southern belle had a truly poetic soul. Dominic knew of some people back in Florida that would have loved to read her writting.
The boy stretched in his bed. He would put the diary back under Marie's bed the next morning, before she awoke and borrow it again later in the evening. Dominic yawned. Maybe living in Mississippi would be more interesting than he thought.
* * *
Ta da! Another chapter!
Reviewers you all rock...steady (sorry I've got my Cd player on):
Elrohirthewriter: You would think a woman that can see the future would actually get a lot of screen time. Ah well, she'll go down in history as the most ignored of all Marvel villians. Pietro and Wanda thank you for your concern, they didn't get a lot of that in the hospital. Irene would like to remind you that she is a very strong woman and can handle anything the world, or a crazed writer, throws at her. ::rubs hands together evilly:: We'll just see about that. ::cue lightening and thunder::
ChaosCat: Rogue and the Brotherhood have always been featured in the most unflattering ways. I wonder why all the writers in the 80s were so sure that there was a thick, bold line between good and evil. and Yeah, Claremont got all of us. he promised a chapter in the X-Treme X-Men where we'd get to see Rogue and Remy back in action, he lead us all to beleive that the two mutants would be together. Tsk, tsk Claremont. At least he didn't write her character in as the whiny southern girl he liked to write so much. Maybe the other writers threatened to kick his butt if he reverted her back to that.
LiLRoguE: Dude I haven't been able to read your fictions in so long its been driving me crazy, as soon as this chapter is posted I am reading more of your writing!
Panther Nesmith: Man, poor Irene, blindness from her own powers. I love the irony in it though. I wish I could continue with the quick updates but my comp was being really schitz.....long story. I hope you are still interested in the story!
April: I've Updated! I've Updated! I've Updated! I've Updated! ishandahalf: You know the funny thing is I consider this fiction to be one of more light stories. I'm glad it sparked emotion though! Alright I'll give some poor bunny crack and maybe I'll be able to update faster.
Tammy: Why do most authors insist on throwing Rogue into the world without any friends? I never understood that, I mean even Logan has friends and he's downright disagreeable. Woah, woah, Irene wrote the diaries as a child? I wasn't aware of that. I guess that means my story is way off the mark. ::slaps forehead:: Actually its off the mark in several different ways. Whew, I'm saved.
Disclaimer: I have a lovely bunch of coconuts.....
Interesting (not X-Men) Fact: Daria, MTVs popular antisocial cartoon, was a spin off of Beavis and Butthead.
The Damned, Episode 1 Chapter 8: Boys and gals
"Who's the finest of them all?" Pietro cooed, looking in the bathroom mirror. "Of course you are," he told his reflection.
He ran a comb delicately through his shock white hair, sighing contently as he found an absence of split ends.
"Pietro," a muffled voice yelled through the door, "Get out of the freakin' bathroom."
"There are other bathrooms in the house you know. Go use the one down the hall."
"Pietro you've been in this bathroom for forty minutes, get out now!"
Pietro opened the door, revealing an angry boy, "Dominic you have got to chill."
Dominic responded by pulling Pietro out into the hall, stepping into the bathroom and slamming the door.
"Sheesh," Pietro muttered, "You'd think people could have a little more courtesy."
Inside the bathroom Dominic was relaxing in the hot tub. He took in the scent of the strawberry bubblebath. He had just had a grueling session with Raven, or Mystique as she liked to be called during sessions. In the two weeks he had been living in the Victorian house, he and the other three pre-teens had been taking lessons from their gaurdians. His sessions with Mystique had been his fourth installment in selfdefense. The children had been told that these lessons were to make sure they were able to fend for themselves if they ever needed to.
As grueling as the sessions were, Dominic didn't mind, it was a definite step, no, leap from his residency in Florida. If having Erik as his guardian meant he had to take several lessons in self-defense and yoga, then so be it. In exchange he was given a home, a real one.
Dominic stared at the white ceiling, roses were etched in the edges where the pure white of the ceiling met the pink tinted walls. If his friends in Florida could see him now they would say he'd gone soft, lost his true street edge. Well fuck'em, Dominic thought vehemently, they've never done anything for me. I don't owe them anything.
"Dominic."
He winced at Wanda's voice. "Um, yeah?"
"Did I leave my charm bracelet in there?"
He looked around, "No."
From the silence he guessed she had left. He silently thanked God. He was sure Wanda was a good person but she had scared the Hell out of him since he had met up with her and her twin just three weeks ago. She wasn't the same person he had known three years ago. Something was gone, the spark that used to attract people to her had long since vacated her eyes and left her with only intimidation.
Dominic looked at his fingers, good and pruny. He got out of the tub, marvelling at the feel of the marble floors on his bare feet. He envied Marie for having spent the last few years of her life here. Drying himself off with a soft cotton towel he wondered about Marie. She was just as odd as Wanda. She had an intimidating quality about her but it was more from the shy presence she brought to any space. Dominic couldn't put any one of his pruny fingers on it but he was certain there was something wrong with Marie.
As he changed his clothing and rushed to his room he could hear the wrethched sounds of the New Kidz on the Block coming from Marie's room. As her room was next to Dominic's, he could hear all of it. Honestly, Dominic would never have pegged Marie for a bubblegum pop fan. He would have pictured her more punk, rock and roll, not New Kids and Madonna.
After several minutes of attemtping to baracade his thoughts from the music, and failing, he got up and went to her room. Without knocking, he doubted she'd be able to hear it anyway, he burst right in. "Marie could you kindly..." his voice trailed off as he found himself stairing into the most beautiful pair of brown eyes he had ever seen. "Hi."
"Hi," Mica replied softly from where she had been standing.
Marie piped up, "Can Ah do somethin' for ya?"
"Yeah," Dominic snapped back to attention, trying his hardest to avoid the eyes of the raven-haired beauty. "You could turn down that horrible music."
"Hey the New Kids are not horrible," Mica told him.
No accent."They are if you just had a workout and are trying to get some rest," Dominic responded.
"Alright," Marie sighed as she reached over to turn the sound down on her tape deck.
* * *
As soon as the boy left Marie looked at her friend, "You were sayin'?"
Mica looked at Marie blankly, "About?"
Marie sighed, "Befoh Dominic came in-"
"Is that his name?" Mica cut in.
Marie perked an eybrow, "Yes and he's available."
"What?"
"You were starin' at him so hard Ah thought the po' boy was gonna..." Marie shook her head, "nevah mind."
"Tell me about him," Mica urged. The only thing Marie had told her to this point was that three children, all under Erik's care were going to live in the house with Marie's own family. Mica knew that Pietro and Wanda were twins, Erik's children, and knew all about Wanda's moodiness and Pietro's extroverted personallity, what she didn't know was anything about Dominic.
"Alright, if ya insist."
Mica scurried over to the bed as if it were time for some magical tale.
"Ah don't know much about him but Ah do know that he's from Florida and Erik had to take custody of him for some reason. Ah know that he's Greek and loves to eat," Marie paused, "He's really into punk an' rock an' all loud music."
Mica's eyes twinkled.
"Ah really hope ya ain't gettin' a crush on him."
"Me? Never?"
"Oh no," Marie muttered to herself.
* * *
"Now the Good Lord came down..."
Dominic pulled on his tie, the thing was going to choke him. This was his first time attending Our Lady of Victory Baptist/Protestant church, and frankly he didn't like it. The temperature was so high in the chapel it seemed like the congregation was being prepared for a lifetime in Hell. He felt the rivers of sweat run down his back as the ceiling fans spun in their futile efforts to cool everyone off. He could practically hear the fans screaming for some help.
Next to him, Pietro looked bored. The service was passing by so slowly, why did they have to listen to the pastor go on for hours about the same thing? Hurry up, he willed, I need to check on my hair. If so much as one hair is out of place I'll just die!
As Dominic swam in his own sweat and Pietro prayed for the service to end, Wanda sat patiently in her scarlet dress. She had the gift of patience, even in the most aggravating situation she could hide inside herself and wait for it to finish, the correctional facility had taught her this. She'd been sent to shock therapy so many times she eventually got tired of the screaming. It seemed as though even her eardrums were tiring from having to report to her brain that she was sending vibrations out into the air. The doctors weren't sympathetic, just yelled at her to stop. Wanda had found that by clearing her mind and finding a spot inside of her where they pain didn't reach she could pretend she wasn't there. That's what she was doing with the service. She understood what the pastor was telling them quiet well, she knew Pietro did too, the correctional facility, New York Correctional, had a small church on its grounds that they were forced to go to every Sunday, only those who were criminally insane stayed in the confines of the hospital.
Marie was oblivious to everyone else's suffering. Church to her was great. Where else could she go where people would tell her free stories about the past and teach her what being alive was for? Growing up in St. Mary she had never been taught a thing, it seemed church held all the answers to everything she had wondered. She especially loved the choir, their singing reminded Marie to let her spirit soar. It allowed her to let her voice mingle in the air with other voices, each trying to find eternal salvation through the words of their Lord.
After two hours the children were all released from their respective Hell and Heavens. Marie immediately found Mica in the crowd. Dominic watched the two walk out of the church together.
Erik noticed his staring, "Dominic why don't you go play too?"
Dominic looked at the older man in surprise, "Play?"
"That's what the children do here after service, they play while us adults talk."
The young boy began to walk towards the door when he felt Pietro's hand on his shoulder. Dominic winced, Pietro was like a cigarrette in a junkie's mouth, a real drag.
"Where you going?" Pietro asked.
"To see what the rest of the kids are up to."
"You mind if I come with you?"
Dominic knew better than to think it was a real question.
* * *
Marie sat high up in a tree watching some of the other kids look for her. She grinned, hide and seek was so much more entertaining now that she could scale trees in her church attire.
"Marie where are ya?" Rachel, a local girl, called.
Carefully, Marie climbed down the tree and made a mad dash for "base."
"There she is!" Mica yelled.
All of a sudden there were several children chasing her.
Marie kept her focus on base, a tree stump, and made sure no children were close enough to actually get her. Almost there, almost there, almost there. Huh? What just....
She felt a hand on her shoulder and a calm voice say, "tag." Looking up she saw Pietro grinning.
"Marie you really have to be faster than that."
Mica caught up and held up a hand signifying that she had to catch her breath. After a moment she spoke, "Pietro right?" After he nodded she gushed, "Wow you are so fast! We didn't even see you coming."
"He's not that fast," a voice said, with a little jealousy.
Pietro looked past both Marie and Mica to see Dominic. "I am so."
Dominic chose to ignore his white-haired aquantance, "Hi, I'm Dominic."
Mica took his hand, "I'm Mica."
"I'm Pietro," Pietro took Mica's hand from Dominic's.
"Um hi," Mica blushed a little.
Marie looked at Dominic's face, if looks could kill Pietro would be stabbed, shot, and buried under ten feet of horse manure. "Mica don't ya wanna go play over there?" Marie pointed to a random direction.
"Huh?" Mica was a little dazed.
"Come on," Marie pushed her.
* * *
"Man, I so had her!" Dominic exclaimed angrily.
"No way man, she was totally diggin' me," Pietro shot back smoothly.
"Hi boys are ya'll gonna play or what?"
The turned to see a red haired girl in a flowery dress smiling at them.
"Why hello," Pietro started, "My name is Pietro, what's yours?"
"Rachel."
Dominic couldn't stand Pietro's lame flirting anymore so he just turned and ran into Wanda. "Sorry."
"No prob," Wanda told him in her flat voice. "What are you guys doing?"
"Just trying to get to know people," Dominic told her.
"Why?" Judging by her voice, Wanda thought that was the dumbest thing she had ever heard in her eleven years existence.
She is just as annoying as her brother. "Because we have to live here anyway, we might as well get to know people. Besides we are starting school tomorrow, I'm willing to bet these people will be in our classes."
Wanda rolled her eyes, "Whatever, where's Marie?"
"I think down closer to the river, knowing that girl anyway."
Wanda nodded, Marie did have an odd obsession with the Mississippi. "Dressed from head to toe no doubt."
Dominic nodded, "You'd think the heat in the church would've killed her."
* * *
"Marie," Mica hissed, "Why'd you pull me away? They were both so cute!"
Marie sat her down next to the river, "Ah have ta live with 'em Mica. They already don't lahk each othah, last thing Ah need is ta haveta listen to them bicker about gals too."
"Why didn't you tell me both of the guys in your house were cute?"
"Mica did ya hear a word of what Ah said?"
"Oh yeah, sure, bickering, gals, got it."
"Mica they are not cute, get over 'em." Marie tried her hardest to be stern but she started to giggle. "Did ya see the look on Dominic's face?"
Mica joined the giggling.
"What are you two laughing about?"
Mica looked up to see a girl dressed in a scarlet dress glowering down at them.
"Nothin' really Wanda, just your brother and Dominic."
Wanda rolled her eyes, "They are such idiots."
Surprise etched itself on Marie's face. This was the only thing she and Wanda had said to each other the whole time Wanda had been in Mississippi. Mica looked even more surprised, Wanda and Pietro were siblings? They were so different.
Why is she looking at me? Wanda felt herself getting angry. Doesn't she know its rude to stare?
"So," Mica said uneasily, "you and Pietro are siblings?"
"Twins," came the curt reply.
"Oh."
After several moments of uncomfortable silence, Marie spoke, "Wanda do ya wanna join our conversation?"
Wanda walked down to where they were seated as if she were doing them a favor, "I guess. What's the topic?"
"Boys of course," Mica answered marrily.
* * *
"Pietro."
"What?" Pietro had been enjoying listening to his favorite mixed tape before his sister had to ruin it. He looked over at his now open doorway.
"Dinner." Wanda left.
He sighed, his twin definately had to work on her people skills. In seconds he was downstairs at the dinner table. He smiled proudly to himself, he was running so quickly lately he was thinking about joining his new school's track team, if they had one anyway.
"So, who is going to lead in the prayer?"
The children all shied away from Raven's question. Raven sighed, "fine I'll do it."
Everyone bowed their heads. "Lord thank you for everything you've given us, the food, home, and especially our family, as unique as it may be. We would especially like to take time out on this sabbath day to thank you for helping us all overcome obstacles, whether they be historic," Erik visible stiffened, "Or personal," Wanda couldn't help the shudder that crawled up her spine, "You have always been there when we need you and we know we can continue to count on your giving nature as our futures begin unfold. Amen."
* * *
"Dominic Szilard Petros."
"Here."
The girls in Dominic's homeroom felt their hearts beat faster. They just could not believe their luck, the new guy was not only some mysterious creature from out of town but he had the smoothest olive skin and eyes to match.
Wanda sat in the back of the room, disgusted.
"Wanda Lensherr."
"Here." Even in one sylable she managed to voice her aggressive nature.
She immediately began to recieve odd looks from the rest of the class. The girls couldn't beleive she actually dressed like that purposely. Crushed scarlet and black velvet, was she crazy? Didn't she know that style was totally not in? The guys were strangely fascinated. Wanda was to them what Dominic was to the girls, a mystery.
"Welcome to your new math class," The teacher, Mr. What's-his-face, was saying but neither Wanda nor Dominic were really listening. They were simply trying to adjust to their new atmosphere.
* * *
"Marie," Mica hissed.
"What?" Marie asked, trying to put her books in her locker.
"Dominic was totally in my math class."
"That's great," Marie told her half-heartedly.
"Why aren't you more excited?" Mica asked.
Marie took a break from trying to fit her books in her locker to look at her friend. "Mica we are in the sixth grade, about ta go on ta seventh, are ya really trying to hook you a boyfriend this early?"
"Yup!"
Bring!
Mica looked startled, "Man that was totally the beginning of seventh hour! I'm so late!" She ran off.
Marie sighed, she was late too, but there was no way she was going to be able to fit those damn books in her locker. With a growl of aggravation she watched as most of her books fell to the floor.
She heard a low whistle. "Dominic don't ya need to git ta class?"
"Don't you?" he was on his knees helping her gather her books.
"Yeah, after Ah get all this crap in mah locker."
Dominic handed her the books silently before asking, "So what's with your friend Mica?"
"Ah knew that was why you were helping me."
"So distrustful. Not everyone was a motive for helping you, you know."
"Mica is mah best friend, Ah ahm not gonna help ya'll two with your little schemes."
"Two?"
"You and Pietro."
"I knew he was after her," Dominic fumed.
"Her and every othah gal in this city."
That seemed to put Dominic at ease, "So its just that ego at work huh?"
Marie finally succeeded in putting her books in her locker and slammed it shut, "Bye Dominic, you're late for class."
He barely registered Marie's words. As she left he had his eyes on one thing. He bent down and picked up a small red book, opening to the first page he recognized Marie's handwriting. Interesting, a diary.
* * *
Love is a limitation of expression. Telling someone that you love them can mean a variety of things. For example, one could simply mean that they love someone because of what that someone can do for them. Or love can mean that one would gladly give their life for their loved one. But is this a reaction to the purity of their love or simply a momentary reaction to an erratic feeling?
Dominic held the diary as if it were the novel of the century. He could not believe that the quiet girl had actually written this. Actually, in the last twenty minutes he had found out things about Marie that he never would have related with her. He found out a lot about her career goal, to become a geneticist, he knew everything about the people she could, and couldn't, stand at school. Dominic even found out that she was in fact a fan of pop music but preferred the beat of rock and roll, the enthusiastic sound of new wave and punk, and was even drawn into the rising sounds of hip-hop. Marie tolerated most pop music for her friend Mica, and Mica knew this.
Mica. The four letter name was mentioned only once up until this point. The boy of Greecian decent was driven almost crazy with curiousity. Shouldn't Marie write more about her best friend anyway? Patience, you are still at the beginning of the diary, I'm sure there's more about Mica in here somewhere.Dominic continued to read the diary.
You know diary, you are only the creation of the Mississippi State Court, they are making me write in you. Apparantly my pschologist wants to make sure I have a healthy means of communication. Hah! Shows what they know. I communicate quite well thank you very much. My level of english skill mastery is incomprehensible to the small minded that insist on surrounding me. I can twist these poor little enlgish words to say and mean whatever I need them to and in my opinion, the language arts are the finest form of expression. I guess my psychologist would know that about me if the asshole would bother getting to know me. I guess that's why my momma hates my going to that office, she knows it won't help but its the only way she can keep me. Of course neither momma or Irene or Erik will ever tell me they hate the psychologist, they're too busy making sure I get better to say anything negative.
Get better? What's wrong with her anyway? Other than being shy she seems alright.
Oh well, when the world gets to be too crazy at least I'll always have Mica to turn to.
Mica.
Mica is the nicest person I've ever met. She's really funny and energetic..
And beautiful and smart.
..and so truthful. Oh, its getting to be really late, I should go to sleep. Good night.
As Dominic finished reading the entry he looked at his own clock, 11pm. If any of the adults found him awake he would be in trouble so he put the diary in his drawer and turned off his light. He had decided to slip the diary back into Marie's backpack at school so she wouldn't get suspicous. He later found it under her bed when she had gone to sleep and began to read it. His plan was to read only recent entries from the last week to find any mention of Mica but he'd read the first page and gotten hooked. Who would have thought the southern belle had a truly poetic soul. Dominic knew of some people back in Florida that would have loved to read her writting.
The boy stretched in his bed. He would put the diary back under Marie's bed the next morning, before she awoke and borrow it again later in the evening. Dominic yawned. Maybe living in Mississippi would be more interesting than he thought.
* * *
Ta da! Another chapter!
Reviewers you all rock...steady (sorry I've got my Cd player on):
Elrohirthewriter: You would think a woman that can see the future would actually get a lot of screen time. Ah well, she'll go down in history as the most ignored of all Marvel villians. Pietro and Wanda thank you for your concern, they didn't get a lot of that in the hospital. Irene would like to remind you that she is a very strong woman and can handle anything the world, or a crazed writer, throws at her. ::rubs hands together evilly:: We'll just see about that. ::cue lightening and thunder::
ChaosCat: Rogue and the Brotherhood have always been featured in the most unflattering ways. I wonder why all the writers in the 80s were so sure that there was a thick, bold line between good and evil. and Yeah, Claremont got all of us. he promised a chapter in the X-Treme X-Men where we'd get to see Rogue and Remy back in action, he lead us all to beleive that the two mutants would be together. Tsk, tsk Claremont. At least he didn't write her character in as the whiny southern girl he liked to write so much. Maybe the other writers threatened to kick his butt if he reverted her back to that.
LiLRoguE: Dude I haven't been able to read your fictions in so long its been driving me crazy, as soon as this chapter is posted I am reading more of your writing!
Panther Nesmith: Man, poor Irene, blindness from her own powers. I love the irony in it though. I wish I could continue with the quick updates but my comp was being really schitz.....long story. I hope you are still interested in the story!
April: I've Updated! I've Updated! I've Updated! I've Updated! ishandahalf: You know the funny thing is I consider this fiction to be one of more light stories. I'm glad it sparked emotion though! Alright I'll give some poor bunny crack and maybe I'll be able to update faster.
Tammy: Why do most authors insist on throwing Rogue into the world without any friends? I never understood that, I mean even Logan has friends and he's downright disagreeable. Woah, woah, Irene wrote the diaries as a child? I wasn't aware of that. I guess that means my story is way off the mark. ::slaps forehead:: Actually its off the mark in several different ways. Whew, I'm saved.