Author's Note: Okay random poll time. How many of you reading this ficton
are from the the United States? Actually, I would like to know where each
of my readers are from.
Disclaimer: Don't have anything to say
Interesting Fact: The X-Men, the most influential comic in history, was created out of lazyness. Stan Lee simply ran out of ways for people to recieve strange powers (ie-radioactive spiders) and decided to say that some people were just born that way (Source: DVD extras)
The Damned, Episode 1 Chapter 9: Mal-adjusted
Marie sat cross legged on the soft bank of the river, her river. She allowed her mind to tangle with the soft sounds of the rushing water. Each molecule of water seemed to have something new to tell her, show her. Marie knew where the water had been, it had come from the mighty Arkansas, crept through the curves of the rocky shores and followed its predecessors to the great state of Mississippi where it found solitude. However, Marie knew that the river, however content it may be in her world must continue its journey towards its destiny, passed New Orleans, to join its brother in the Gulf.
Thoughts like these only managed to depress the girl, she knew that only change was constant, that was the famous quote after all. Marie loved to sit in her yard for hours at a time, it was the only place she didn't feel judged for her thoughts and feelings. It was as if the river bank was giving her sanctuary from the real world. She knew that her mother and Irene would never judge her for the way she thought, she even knew that Erik would welcome any of her ideas, but somehow she felt as though she would be violating them.
She reached for her diary, sitting only a few feet away. She began to write out her frustration.
* * *
Pietro grinned as he glanced at the girl sitting only inches from him. He had been invited to hang out with a group of kids from school, they were all at the local park just lounging in the grass. Pietro knew only a few of the people in the group but that didn't matter.
"Sarah," a girl said, "could you pass me a Snickers?"
Sarah, the object of Pietro's undivided attention, obeyed.
"So, Sarah," Pietro piped up.
Sarah looked at him, shyly, "Yeah."
"I couldn't help but notice the way your brown hair compliments your eyes."
Oh brother, Dominic thought as Sarah blushed. he had been invited too but had only come along because he had heard that Mica would be attending the little gathering. So far he had been forced to sit through tons of idle chatter in hopes of catching a glimpse of his lady love. No such luck.
"So then I told Marie that Robert totally liked her and she totally didn't believe me...."
Dominic perked up at the approaching voice, it could only be one person.
"Mica, no way, Robert totally is head over heels for that foreign exchange student..."
Dominic was on his feet in a matter of seconds, "Hey Mica."
Mica's face brightened, "Dominic! I'm so glad you're here."
"I'm glad too. That you're here I mean," Dominic added quickly, feeling his ears burn.
Pietro observed Dominic. Geez he needs to be a little more smooth, Pietro thought to himself. A light went off in his wicked head. Apologizing to Sarah, he sauntered over to Mica. "Wow Mica, you look so very ultracool today."
"Thank you Pietro," Mica said with a giggle.
"And you have the most pretty smile, it makes my heart just melt," Pietro gushed all the while ignoring the daggers being shot at him by Dominic.
Mica giggled again.
Dominic attempted to regain control of the situation, "Mica would you like to take a walk around the lake? I know a pretty path, almost as pretty as you," he added shyly.
Mica looked at him apologetically, "Oh Dominic I would really love to but I need to get home. But," she added coyly, "I could use some company getting back home, I hate to walk alone."
Smiling, Dominic and Mica left. Pietro stood in their dust, smirking. How he loved to play with thier little crush
* * *
"So," Mica began boldly, "Tell me all about yourself."
Dominic looked her in surprise, "Um, sure. I was born and raised in Florida where there really wasn't much to do then I came here."
"Where are your parents?" Mica asked.
"They're," Dominic paused, "dead."
Mica's hands flew up to her mouth, "Oh, I'm so sorry I wouldn't have asked if-"
Dominic stopped her, "You didn't know, I just get a little uncomfortable talking about it."
"That's fine, we can change the subject."
"So how about you? What's your story?"
"Not much to tell," Mica admitted, "I grew up here."
"But no accent?"
"Oh my family is originally from Chicago, we moved here when I turned two and have lived here ever since."
Dominic stared at the sides of the road as they continued walking. "So do you have a, um..." he trailed off.
"Do I have a what?" Mica asked hopefully.
The boy could feel his face turn red, "Nevermind, it doesn't matter."
"Oh," Mica looked a bit crestfallen.
A few seconds of silence passed before Dominic spoke again, "So where's Marie?"
Mica perked up at the name of her best friend, "Oh she didn't really want to hang out today, said she needed some alone time."
"Does she do that a lot, spend time alone I mean?"
"Not really," Mica told him, "Usually we hang out every day, its just that sometimes she wants to be alone. Why do you ask?"
"She just seems so silent all the time. I mean, I live with her and she barely ever talks to me."
"She's just a little shy, she doesn't ever really talk to anyone unless they make the effort to talk to her." After a few seconds she added, "Its worth it."
"What's worth it?"
"Being friends with Marie. She's a nice person with so much to say. Her imagination is so big and all of her dreams are amazing." Mica stopped, "I'm not sure she would want me telling anyone about her though."
Dominic nodded, "So how did you get to be friends with her? You two seem like complete opposites."
Mica looked at Dominic, "Just because we're different doesn't mean we can't be best friends. To tell you the truth she's the only person I've ever thought was worth my time. I mean I've lived in Caldecott for years and the only friend I ever really had was my cousin and he doesn't live here anymore. Its just that no one was all that interesting until I met Marie."
"I wish she would talk though," Dominic told Mica, "I'm sure we could have some interesting conversations."
Mica stopped, "Well this is my house."
Dominic looked at her, "I guess it is."
"You could stay for a little if you want to, my mom likes having guests over for dinner."
* * *
Raven hung up the phone. "Erik make that dinner for six, Dominic is having dinner at a friend's house.
"Dominic has a friend already?" Erik asked from the kitchen.
"Yeah, Mica Goodes."
"Marie's friend?"
"Yup."
Marie listened from the top of the staircase and rolled her eyes. Mica was so boycrazy it was sure to get her into trouble someday. Oh well, Marie thought as she went on scribbling thoughts down in her diary.
"Marie what are you doing?"
Marie looked up into Irene's eyes, "Just writin'"
"Mind if I join you?"
Marie shrugged, "Go ahead."
Irene sat next to Marie with a notebook of her own and to Marie's surprise pulled out a box of colored pencils.
"Ya draw?" Marie asked.
Irene nodded.
"What do ya draw?"
"The future." Irene said with a calm that amazed Marie.
Marie knew that Irene was a precog though she never talked about it. "Is it the stuff ya see in ya visions?"
Irene nodded, "Yes, I like to keep track of what I see, it helps me keep things straight."
Marie thought for a second, "Irene, if ya can see the future...do ya evah try ta change it?"
Irene shook her head, "Marie, honey, my gift is just that, a gift. It is God's choice to change the future, we can't change his will."
The little girl spoke, "Is there anything about me in there?" Irene nodded. "What does it say?"
"Marie if I told you then life wouldn't be exciting."
She couldn't argue with that logic.
"What are you writing about sweetie?"
Marie grinned, "Can't tell."
"Why not," Irene feigned a whiny voice.
Marie giggled at the tone, "Because diaries are foh secrets and things lahk that."
Irene sighed dramatically, "Alright but if you're writing about me in there then I'll just have to steal the diary and read it for myself." Marie giggled again.
* * *
Lets see, is there anything about me.
Dominic searched through the pages of Marie's diary. He had already read all of her important entries and skimmed the short, boring ones. Now he was searching for anything about himself and Mica.
Okay diary, so Mica has a crush on a new boy at school.
Dominic smiled.
His name is Jason Metly.
Dominic frowned.
But that girl is so boy crazy. It gets kind of annoying at times but I have to tell you it kind of feels good being the level headed one. I get to give her advice and all that great stuff.
Dominic looked at the date on the entry, it was before Mica had met him. he skipped ahead.
I think Mica is getting yet another crush, this time on one of the boys that lives here, Dominic. What's worse is that I think he likes her too. Its not that I don't like Dominic, I just get the feeling there are things he isn't telling us. But really who am I to talk. The only person, or object that really knows everything about me is a notebook full of paper. I guess he'll come around to talking to us when he's comfortable. He really doesn't talk much, he seems like the silent type. Again, who am I to talk. I think the only person I talk to a lot is Mica. I just with Dominic would talk to me more, I can't tell him that though, I'm too shy. Yes I'll admit it, I am shy. I just feel so emmensly stupid when I'm talking to people, like they couldn't care less what I'm saying. Dang it, its dinner time. Adios.
The boy skipped ahead to the current date.
I realized today that I can never tell anyone about anything that goes on in my head. I'm sure my family would listen, Raven, Irene, and Erik love me, I know that but I feel like I would be violating them if they knew what I thought about. I have such negative feelings all the time, I feel like everything is coming to a close, like everything is going to come crashing down at any second. I don't know what triggers all of these feelings, I wish I did, maybe I would just be normal. It is really hard to explain. Sometimes I'll be sitting in the middle of class or dinner or something and a thought will cross my mind, something disturbing. Today I was just talking to Mica after school and a thought of her dead on the side of the road flashed across my eyes. It disturbed me so much I had to tell her that I need to be alone. Or just yesterday at dinner I was eating and I suddenly wanted to cry, I pictured my mommy and Irene splitting up and Erik taking me away because my mommy and Irene couldn't take care of me anymore. Usually when I get these kinds of thoughts I go to the river in the backyard, it makes me feel better. I can't explain that either, it just does.
Sometimes I wake up in the morning and wonder what I'm doing here. Its like nothing is worth getting up for. I just can't think of a reason to go to school. Sure it educates me but then what? After college I get a job, get married, raise kids and die. Yeah now there's some great motivation. And you know what? In this society it doesn't go like that anymore. Its more like get a job, get laid off, get a crappy job, get married to a loser, get divorced or take his crap, try to raise kids in an abusive household or on your own, and die from violence, if you are lucky. My generation is so screwed for a normal life. I heard a song on the radio the other day and it was talking about how every generation blames the one before, it could have been a Phil Collins song but I'm not sure. Anyway, that is not the point, the point is it is true. I blame adults for this screwed up world because it is their fault, they took a crappy world that was given to them and made it worse. Why they can't just make it better I'll never understand.
Now we have stupid violence over gang colors and music and people killing for expensive materials. Its all so stupid. Is this really the world I want to live in? Could you really tell me death wouldn't be better than to be raised in Bush's New World Order. That's right, New World Order. The man is power hungry. How else could you explain his foreign policies. Frankly the man is just an idiot. Why would he promise the American people no new taxes when he knew, as a politician, that that just wasn't possible.
Alright now I'm just going way off track. The world has been so very corrupted that I just want to slap those stupid beauty pageant contestants who always say that they wish for world peace. People wishing for world peace are just as stupid as the girls who like to think of themselves as princesses. Don't they know that princesses don't hold power in modern monarchies? Royal families are only kept around for tradition's sake. Off track again. People who wish for world peace don't take into realization that world peace would hurt most economies. I shouldn't know about any of this, I know that logically, all they teach us in school are the basic facts but I like to read deeper materials. World peace would send the weapon industry into a tailspin, killing a major part of economy, especially because most economy is technology based and most technology is developed for weaponry. On top of that, competition is the only thing keeping the economy of several different nations afloat, of course most of that comes from World War I but that's not an important point right now. World peace bad, war good. Too much war, like Bush's war can be a killer in every sense of the word.
* * *
"Momma you're going again?" Marie asked.
"Yeah sweetie, I have some more things to take care of in New York." Irene told her.
It was early morning and Marie had come into her parents' room to say goodmorning when she found Raven packing.
"Can't you just let the mutants in New York handle their own problems?"
Raven smiled, "Sweetie I wish it was that easy."
Irene, who was already dressed, frowned, "I just wish you wouldn't help Essex, I don't trust him."
"Who's Essex?" Marie wanted to know.
"Just a man who is helping me fund our project, no one to worry about."
Marie decided to drop the subject, "What's for breakfast?"
Irene spoke up, "I'm making pancakes and bacon."
"Thanks Irene," Marie smiled and left the room, almost colliding with Erik.
"Woah kid, sorry." He looked into Raven's room, "Are you ready to go?"
"You're going too?" Marie asked, disappointed. Usually when Raven went away she had both Irene and Erik around.
"Yup, I have to make myself useful."
Marie wondered if Erik's kids knew he was leaving.
* * *
Wanda pressed her forehead against a window in Irene's car. She could hear Pietro and Dominic arguing in the backseat. For a second she couldn't help but feel sorry for Marie who was sitting back there with them. At the thought of the other girl, Wanda frowned, there was something about Marie that made her slightly nervous. She didn't know if it was the fact that Marie barely ever spoke or if there was just something very...wrong with her.
Marie noticed Wanda's frown even from the back seat. I wonder what's bothering her, she thought, maybe I should ask. A second later Marie told herself it was none of her business and that Wanda didn't seem like the type to want other people nosing around in her business.
"Dude, Pietro I am telling you I could beat so beat you in the fifty yard dash!"
"No you couldn't, trust me."
* * *
All through English, Wanda entertained herself with her own thoughts. I wonder what would happen if I shot one of my orbs into that blonde boy's hair.
"Wanda Lensherr, please report to the principal's office," a voice came through the PA.
A collective "Ooooo!" came from the class.
Wanda grabbed her backpack and did as she had been instructed. All the way there she couldn't help but wonder why she was being called up. She hadn't done anything wrong, at least nothing she was aware of.
She sighed as she approached the principal's office and reached for the doorknob.
* * *
"Has anyone seen Wanda?" Irene asked.
Pietro, Dominic, and Marie sat dumbly, watching MTV.
"Oh for the love of..." Irene stepped in front of the television, "Have any of you seen Wanda?"
All three shook their heads.
"She's probably up in her room," Pietro told her.
"No, she's not," Irene replied, "does she have any friends that she might be hanging out with?"
Pietro chuckled, "My sister? Friends?"
"No need to get smart Pietro."
Wanda came barging in through the front door at that exact moment.
"Wanda where have you been!" Irene exclaimed, "I was so worried, its already eight in the evening." Wanda looked so close to tears that it broke Irene's heart. She put her arms around the girl, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Wanda broke out of the hug and ran up to her room leaving the three preteens and Irene looking on with bewildered expressions.
* * *
Dominic curled up in his bed with his required reading for his english class. Unfortunatly it was an incredibly boring book and was only suceeding in proving that it was the cure for insomnia.
I have to get done with this chapter, Dominic told himself, just three more pages to go, three more pages until I can read something more interesting.
Half an hour later Dominic had managed to get through his three pages. Smiling widely, he pulled out Marie's diary.
* * *
Marie awoke with a start. She had had a horrible dream, a reocurring dream. She noticed the beads of sweat dripping from her forehead. Breath, she told herself.
Slowly she arose from her bed, the only thing that ever calmed her down after dreams like this one was a nice big glass of cold water. Her feet touched the floor silently, thanks to Erik's lessons she had learned to walk without making a sound. She made her way down the hall and was about to descend the staircase when she heard sniffling coming from Wanda's room.
Strange.
Marie found herself being pulled to Wanda's door. She entered without thinking and saw Wanda curled up on her satin sheets, crying. Marie crept up next to Wanda's bed, "Wanda are ya okay?"
Wanda sat up in surprise, "I'm fine," she said sourly.
Marie gathered up all her courage, "No ya aren't. Do ya wanna t-talk about it?"
The expression on Wanda's face hardened, "I told you I'm fine." She buried herself under her sheets, "Go the hell away."
Marie surprised even herself when she grabbed the sheets and threw them off of Wanda's bed. "No, ya need ta talk 'bout it, so talk."
Wanda was so surprised she couldn't get any harsh words passed the barriers that were her lips.
"Ah'm waiting," Marie said with false courage.
"Alright," Wanda said with a sniffle, "But it might get kinda long and you might need to sleep for school."
Marie thought about sleep and then about the dreams she had been having, "No, Ah've got all night."
Wanda patted a spot on her bed and Marie hopped onto the queen canopy. "Today I got called into the principal's office," Marie nodded in encouragment, "And the principal wanted to know about some graffitti."
"Graffitti?" Marie asked puzzled.
"That's what I said. He said he got word from some of my classmates that I was responsible for not only a large amount of the graffitti in the bathrooms and courtyard but he heard that I was also responsible for a lot of the more recent property damage to the school."
"That's rediculous."
Wanda nodded. "I denied doing any of it but he didn't beleive me. He gave me detention for the rest of the week."
"But he couldn't prove any of it."
Wanda laughed humorlessly, "I think that's why he didn't expell me. But that's not the worst part. When I left school after detention I ran into this group of girls. I think their 'fearless' leader was named Stacy." Wanda's eyes clouded in anger, "And they kept teasing me about everything, the way I dress, they made fun of the fact that I didn't have a mom and they surprisingly knew a lot about me and my brother, especially about our time in the hospital."
"What did ya do?" Marie asked in a small voice.
"I tried to walk away but this girl with long brown hair stopped me and told me I had better take the blame for everything the principal said I did or they would beat me up." Wanda sighed, "I told them to go away but the brown haired girl laughed and threw me into a tree. When I tried to just ignore them and get up and get home they wouldn't let me. They beat me up and stole my necklace, my mom gave me that necklace." Tears formed in the corners of Wanda's eyes.
Marie placed a hand on Wanda's,"Don't worry 'bout any of it. Ah know those gals and they're mean to everyone. Chances are they'll forget about ya in a few days and everything will go back to normal. As for the principal, Mr. Buchanan, he's a real ass and those gals suck up ta him, he believes their every word." At Wanda's fallen face she quickly added, "But we'll be outta middle school and inta high school soon enough and we wont haveta see him evah again."
Wanda nodded and tried to blink away her tears, "Marie, did they ever pick on you?"
Marie nodded and told Wanda about the first few times Stacy and her gang had tried to pick on her and Mica. "They were just cruel little gals. Don't pay them any mind."
"Thank you Marie, you're the first person I've been able to talk to that wasn't paid to listen to me."
Marie gave the girl a sad smile, "Anytime."
* * *
Dominic was only a few rooms down reading Marie's diary.
Diary I think I know exactly why Wanda's the way she is. I think she has all these pent up feelings left over from being in the mental hospital that need an outlet. Sooner or later she is going to find that outlet and when she does I'm willing to bet she'll be incredibly confused about it. Someone should really talk to that girl, make her feel better about herself, understand what she's going through.
I also think someone should talk to Pietro. His attitude has to be a result of the same thing. I mena, the boy never shows his weakness, that can't be healthy, not at his age. Dominic is the only one of tehe four of us that isn't completly screwed up, maybe that's why Mica likes him more than Pietro, more than she likes me. That's a sad thought isn't it? That I'm losing my best friend to some temporary crush. Mama was right, life does just get more confusing.
Speaking of Dominic, I want to know what the deal is with him. He can't be as normal as he is pretending to be. I mean other than the fact that he's a potential mutant, there has to be something else going on with him.
Potential mutants (don't you just love my erratic thought process?), Pietro and Dominic are both potential mutants. I wonder what they will be able to do. Wanda is already some kind of mutant although I'm not really sure what she does. Mama, Irene, and Erik say that her powers manifested themselves earlier than usual and now they are making her take more lessons than the rest of us, power control or something like that.
Enough of other people's issues, I need to write down some of my own. I keep having this dream, its not like other dreams though. This one I keep having over and over again, each time I have it the dream goes a little further. The first time that Mastermind character was playing with us all like puppets, the second time I saw Mama cut the strings only to fall into a pit of flames. Everytime after that it just progresses to more and more sick and twisted events. Last night I had my limbs torn from my body only to have them replaced with these tentacle things made of lead. I don't know what's going on, why am I having these disturbing dreams?
Dominic frowned, on a few occasions he had heard Marie wake up in the middle of the night, it must have been from the dreams.
I would really like to talk to someone about these dreams but I'm afraid they would lock me up in some mental hospital or banish me for thinking such thoughts. I wonder if this is how all those sick serial killers started out.
* * *
"Well, well if it aint our local psychopath."
Wanda turned around to see Stacy and two of her lackies taunting her. "What do you want?" Wanda asked in a strong voice.
Stacy's lackies stood on either side of Wanda and Stacy got in her face, "Did ya think about what we said?"
"About what?" Wanda played dumb. It was a passing period between classes and there weren't many people in the hall, Wanda realized she wouldn't have much backup.
"Girls," Stacy addressed her friends, "Maybe we should give little Miss Scarlet here another lesson in southern hospitality."
Wanda felt her pent up anger begin to burn through to the surface. Although the three bullies couldn't see it, Wanda's fingers began to glow a deep scarlet.
"Girls is there a problem here?"
Wanda was almost sorry a teacher had caught them arguing in the school halls. How she would have liked to give these ignorant girls a little demonstration of her powers.
Stacy turned a sweet smile to the head of the science department, "Not at all Mr. Swenson, we were just getting to know a new student."
Mr. Swenson frowned, unconvinced, "Well I suggest you all get to class," He turned to glare at Stacy, "especially you."
Wanda stood with the teacher as the the other three scattered, she then walked to her science class.
* * *
Marie looked at the empty seat in front of her anxiously. Usually Wanda sat there but it for some reason it was vacant. What worried Marie was that she had overheard some of her classmates talking about Stacy's "new target." From all the gossip, Marie had heard that Stacy was planning something today and probably against Wanda.
As the final bell rang Wanda burst through the doors to the science class. She gave Marie a tight lipped smile and quickly took her seat.
"Alright settle down," the teacher was saying, "Today we begin our introduction into the atom."
Wanda saw a piece of paper flutter onto her desk. Her first instinct was to pass it to however was in front of her, however, this note had her name on it. Opening it she began to read:
Wanda, I heard Stacy was planning on doing something to you today, be careful. Or is that why you were late?
The scarlet clad girl wrote back: Yeah, Stacy tried to start something in the hall but Mr. Swenson stopped it. I almost wish she would have kept going because I was planning on...Never mind I shouldn't write it down, I'll tell you at lunch.
Satisfied with the letter, Marie folded it back up and put it in her folder.
* * *
"Marie," Wanda said in a hushed tone, "I was so ready to use my mutant power on them."
"But the adults said..."
"I know, we shouldn't ever use powers in public, but you have no idea how much power I would have over them. They wouldn't be able to stop me no matter what they tried."
The two girls were sitting at a lunch table in the courtyard, Marie and Mica's usual table.
"Wanda, maybe ya should talk ta Irene about this. Maybe she could give ya better advice than me."
Wanda was about to reply when she heard Mica's voice, "Hey all, what's going on today?"
Wanda noticed Marie's face brighten when she saw Mica.
"Hey Mica, Wanda's gonna eat with us today," she looked at Wanda hopefully.
Wanda looked from Marie to Mica and suddenly felt like an outsider, "You know what? I think I have some homework to look over for next period, I'll see you all later."
"Wanda," Marie protested in vain, Wanda simply walked away.
"What was that about?" Mica asked.
* * *
Okay so Wanda needs more attention, I can live with that. But I can not just ignore Mica to make Wanda more comfortable.
Dominic knew he should be waiting for nightfall to read the diary but his curiosity was getting the best of him. He had seen Marie writing in the diary down on the back porch. She had finished and ran up to her room then left the house, probably to go to Mica's house, and Dominic took that as the perfect time to read what she wrote.
I want Wanda to be my friend but she is as hard to get close to as I am. Maybe this is a case of the blind leading the blind. Maybe I should just get Mica to spend time with Wanda without me around. Do you think that will help? Man I must be losing it or something, trying to get advice from a bunch of bound papers.
Dominic could almost see the young girl sigh in aggravation.
This reminds me a lot of this book Irene gave me to read. It was a brilliant novel by an Austrian author. He drew parallels between the friendships between younger girls and animals. To him the friendships were very possessive and territorial. It makes perfect sense, I mean just look at Stacy's clique.
"Ahem."
Dominic was still smiling at the analogy when he looked up to see Marie's fist come closer to his eyes and slam into the very structure that was his face. The force of the punch knocked him clear off his bed and onto the hard wooden floor.
"How dare ya!" Marie's eyes were filled with a fury, a passion, Dominic had never seen in her before. "How dare ya read mah personal thoughts, invade mah privacy!"
Dominic got to his feet, "Look Marie it isn't what you think, I was only trying to find out what Mica thought of me!"
Marie hopped across the bed and punched him again, this time adding a knee to the stomach, "Oh so because ya got the hots foh my best friend Ah should just let this go!" She kicked him in the groin and Dominic let out a yelp of pain. "Ya are so very disgusting Dominic! Is that what they taught ya in Florida?! That it's okay to invade privacy foh self gain!" Dominic looked up and was surprised to see the hurt and tears in Marie's eyes.
"Marie I.."
"Save it!" She grabbed her diary, punched him again just for good measure, and stormed out of the room, tears running down her face.
* * *
Marie scribbled in her diary again that night, writing about what she had discovered when she had entered Dominic's room.
I mean I just went in there to ask if he had any gum or anything and what do I find? I find that he's read my deepest thoughts, the thoughts I wanted to save for myself. I feel so very violated, like he raped me. I feel dirty just writing in a diary now, knowing that my sacred thoughts were desecrated. This might be the last time I write in you. I have to find another diary now, one that wasn't invaded by that scum of the universe, Dominic.
Marie stopped writing when she heard a tentative knock at her door. She opened it and found the scum of the universe at her door. "What do ya want?"
Dominic looked at her pathetically, "Marie I know I read your diary without your permission but I swear I didn't do it to hurt you."
"Whatevah," Marie was about to close the door but Dominic kept talking.
"My intentions were very selfish, I'll admit, but they were because I had a crush, a stupid, childish crush."
Marie did try to close the door this time but was stopped by Dominic's foot.
"Marie, I don't think you're going insane. I think you need someone to talk to."
She looked into his eyes through the narrowly opened door and saw something she hadn't seen in a long time, an earnest pair of eyes staring back at her.
"Please Marie, I want to be your friend," he whispered, "let me in."
"Alright," Marie said just as quietly and she opened the door.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Alright readers, another chapter from yours truly. I have to tell you though that this chapter would not have been made possible if it weren't for some childhood memories that chose tonight to resurface.
REVIEWERS ROCK!
LiLRoguE: Oh yeah, he got his ass handed to him but I think Marie made the right choice in the end. ::Look of horror places itself on Pookie's face:: No! don't cut the internet cord! I swear I'll update soon! I swear!
StormII: Ah those comics were way too focused on making the stories seem as dramatic and soap opera-ish to focus on the positives of Rogue's and Mystique's relationship. Grrrrr those writers!
Rogue151: I think that even if the state hadn't forced a diary on her she would have began to write in one anyway. I tried to keep a diary but I just didn't have the time to write in it all the time. I think there are like only a few entries a month. And About the Darie being a spinoff thing- yeah I was surprised when I was watching Beavis and Butthead a few years ago (I was babysitting, I really don't like that show much) and Daria was one of their classmates. It was really funny seeing her drawn in the same style as the two main characters. Also, I think Lance is a real jerk but Dominic is more human. Thank you for all of your kind words!
ishandahalf: Yeah! Down with Dominic! Well not really but he got what he deserved, phyisical punishment! Regarding Marie's grasp over the english language, I just thought she needed more depth than the comics ever gave her. Sure they made her into a strong willed, independant woman but where is the depth? That's what you get when you leave a whole storyline up to men ::shakes head:: kidding, eh. (Sorry I read your bio)
Tammy: Well now you've seen how Marie delt with Dominic, tell me what you think she should have done.
Panther Nesmith: Yeah the more technology they put out there the more problems I seem to have. Anyway, I didn't get to fit London Calling anywhere in this chapter but I can promise you I will plug it into the next ::wink wink:: Don't ask, I'm tired. And hey the eighties managed to produce me too and I can gaurantee I am way more worthwhile...he he he just kidding around. Tell me what you thought of how I decided to deal with the Rogue/Dominic drama!
Alright that's the sad end of this chapter. Next time: Find out just what Raven and Erik were doing away from home! And what else will develop between those crazy kids? And what about Irene? Should she get more screen time? Will she? All this and more next time right here on fanfiction.net!
Disclaimer: Don't have anything to say
Interesting Fact: The X-Men, the most influential comic in history, was created out of lazyness. Stan Lee simply ran out of ways for people to recieve strange powers (ie-radioactive spiders) and decided to say that some people were just born that way (Source: DVD extras)
The Damned, Episode 1 Chapter 9: Mal-adjusted
Marie sat cross legged on the soft bank of the river, her river. She allowed her mind to tangle with the soft sounds of the rushing water. Each molecule of water seemed to have something new to tell her, show her. Marie knew where the water had been, it had come from the mighty Arkansas, crept through the curves of the rocky shores and followed its predecessors to the great state of Mississippi where it found solitude. However, Marie knew that the river, however content it may be in her world must continue its journey towards its destiny, passed New Orleans, to join its brother in the Gulf.
Thoughts like these only managed to depress the girl, she knew that only change was constant, that was the famous quote after all. Marie loved to sit in her yard for hours at a time, it was the only place she didn't feel judged for her thoughts and feelings. It was as if the river bank was giving her sanctuary from the real world. She knew that her mother and Irene would never judge her for the way she thought, she even knew that Erik would welcome any of her ideas, but somehow she felt as though she would be violating them.
She reached for her diary, sitting only a few feet away. She began to write out her frustration.
* * *
Pietro grinned as he glanced at the girl sitting only inches from him. He had been invited to hang out with a group of kids from school, they were all at the local park just lounging in the grass. Pietro knew only a few of the people in the group but that didn't matter.
"Sarah," a girl said, "could you pass me a Snickers?"
Sarah, the object of Pietro's undivided attention, obeyed.
"So, Sarah," Pietro piped up.
Sarah looked at him, shyly, "Yeah."
"I couldn't help but notice the way your brown hair compliments your eyes."
Oh brother, Dominic thought as Sarah blushed. he had been invited too but had only come along because he had heard that Mica would be attending the little gathering. So far he had been forced to sit through tons of idle chatter in hopes of catching a glimpse of his lady love. No such luck.
"So then I told Marie that Robert totally liked her and she totally didn't believe me...."
Dominic perked up at the approaching voice, it could only be one person.
"Mica, no way, Robert totally is head over heels for that foreign exchange student..."
Dominic was on his feet in a matter of seconds, "Hey Mica."
Mica's face brightened, "Dominic! I'm so glad you're here."
"I'm glad too. That you're here I mean," Dominic added quickly, feeling his ears burn.
Pietro observed Dominic. Geez he needs to be a little more smooth, Pietro thought to himself. A light went off in his wicked head. Apologizing to Sarah, he sauntered over to Mica. "Wow Mica, you look so very ultracool today."
"Thank you Pietro," Mica said with a giggle.
"And you have the most pretty smile, it makes my heart just melt," Pietro gushed all the while ignoring the daggers being shot at him by Dominic.
Mica giggled again.
Dominic attempted to regain control of the situation, "Mica would you like to take a walk around the lake? I know a pretty path, almost as pretty as you," he added shyly.
Mica looked at him apologetically, "Oh Dominic I would really love to but I need to get home. But," she added coyly, "I could use some company getting back home, I hate to walk alone."
Smiling, Dominic and Mica left. Pietro stood in their dust, smirking. How he loved to play with thier little crush
* * *
"So," Mica began boldly, "Tell me all about yourself."
Dominic looked her in surprise, "Um, sure. I was born and raised in Florida where there really wasn't much to do then I came here."
"Where are your parents?" Mica asked.
"They're," Dominic paused, "dead."
Mica's hands flew up to her mouth, "Oh, I'm so sorry I wouldn't have asked if-"
Dominic stopped her, "You didn't know, I just get a little uncomfortable talking about it."
"That's fine, we can change the subject."
"So how about you? What's your story?"
"Not much to tell," Mica admitted, "I grew up here."
"But no accent?"
"Oh my family is originally from Chicago, we moved here when I turned two and have lived here ever since."
Dominic stared at the sides of the road as they continued walking. "So do you have a, um..." he trailed off.
"Do I have a what?" Mica asked hopefully.
The boy could feel his face turn red, "Nevermind, it doesn't matter."
"Oh," Mica looked a bit crestfallen.
A few seconds of silence passed before Dominic spoke again, "So where's Marie?"
Mica perked up at the name of her best friend, "Oh she didn't really want to hang out today, said she needed some alone time."
"Does she do that a lot, spend time alone I mean?"
"Not really," Mica told him, "Usually we hang out every day, its just that sometimes she wants to be alone. Why do you ask?"
"She just seems so silent all the time. I mean, I live with her and she barely ever talks to me."
"She's just a little shy, she doesn't ever really talk to anyone unless they make the effort to talk to her." After a few seconds she added, "Its worth it."
"What's worth it?"
"Being friends with Marie. She's a nice person with so much to say. Her imagination is so big and all of her dreams are amazing." Mica stopped, "I'm not sure she would want me telling anyone about her though."
Dominic nodded, "So how did you get to be friends with her? You two seem like complete opposites."
Mica looked at Dominic, "Just because we're different doesn't mean we can't be best friends. To tell you the truth she's the only person I've ever thought was worth my time. I mean I've lived in Caldecott for years and the only friend I ever really had was my cousin and he doesn't live here anymore. Its just that no one was all that interesting until I met Marie."
"I wish she would talk though," Dominic told Mica, "I'm sure we could have some interesting conversations."
Mica stopped, "Well this is my house."
Dominic looked at her, "I guess it is."
"You could stay for a little if you want to, my mom likes having guests over for dinner."
* * *
Raven hung up the phone. "Erik make that dinner for six, Dominic is having dinner at a friend's house.
"Dominic has a friend already?" Erik asked from the kitchen.
"Yeah, Mica Goodes."
"Marie's friend?"
"Yup."
Marie listened from the top of the staircase and rolled her eyes. Mica was so boycrazy it was sure to get her into trouble someday. Oh well, Marie thought as she went on scribbling thoughts down in her diary.
"Marie what are you doing?"
Marie looked up into Irene's eyes, "Just writin'"
"Mind if I join you?"
Marie shrugged, "Go ahead."
Irene sat next to Marie with a notebook of her own and to Marie's surprise pulled out a box of colored pencils.
"Ya draw?" Marie asked.
Irene nodded.
"What do ya draw?"
"The future." Irene said with a calm that amazed Marie.
Marie knew that Irene was a precog though she never talked about it. "Is it the stuff ya see in ya visions?"
Irene nodded, "Yes, I like to keep track of what I see, it helps me keep things straight."
Marie thought for a second, "Irene, if ya can see the future...do ya evah try ta change it?"
Irene shook her head, "Marie, honey, my gift is just that, a gift. It is God's choice to change the future, we can't change his will."
The little girl spoke, "Is there anything about me in there?" Irene nodded. "What does it say?"
"Marie if I told you then life wouldn't be exciting."
She couldn't argue with that logic.
"What are you writing about sweetie?"
Marie grinned, "Can't tell."
"Why not," Irene feigned a whiny voice.
Marie giggled at the tone, "Because diaries are foh secrets and things lahk that."
Irene sighed dramatically, "Alright but if you're writing about me in there then I'll just have to steal the diary and read it for myself." Marie giggled again.
* * *
Lets see, is there anything about me.
Dominic searched through the pages of Marie's diary. He had already read all of her important entries and skimmed the short, boring ones. Now he was searching for anything about himself and Mica.
Okay diary, so Mica has a crush on a new boy at school.
Dominic smiled.
His name is Jason Metly.
Dominic frowned.
But that girl is so boy crazy. It gets kind of annoying at times but I have to tell you it kind of feels good being the level headed one. I get to give her advice and all that great stuff.
Dominic looked at the date on the entry, it was before Mica had met him. he skipped ahead.
I think Mica is getting yet another crush, this time on one of the boys that lives here, Dominic. What's worse is that I think he likes her too. Its not that I don't like Dominic, I just get the feeling there are things he isn't telling us. But really who am I to talk. The only person, or object that really knows everything about me is a notebook full of paper. I guess he'll come around to talking to us when he's comfortable. He really doesn't talk much, he seems like the silent type. Again, who am I to talk. I think the only person I talk to a lot is Mica. I just with Dominic would talk to me more, I can't tell him that though, I'm too shy. Yes I'll admit it, I am shy. I just feel so emmensly stupid when I'm talking to people, like they couldn't care less what I'm saying. Dang it, its dinner time. Adios.
The boy skipped ahead to the current date.
I realized today that I can never tell anyone about anything that goes on in my head. I'm sure my family would listen, Raven, Irene, and Erik love me, I know that but I feel like I would be violating them if they knew what I thought about. I have such negative feelings all the time, I feel like everything is coming to a close, like everything is going to come crashing down at any second. I don't know what triggers all of these feelings, I wish I did, maybe I would just be normal. It is really hard to explain. Sometimes I'll be sitting in the middle of class or dinner or something and a thought will cross my mind, something disturbing. Today I was just talking to Mica after school and a thought of her dead on the side of the road flashed across my eyes. It disturbed me so much I had to tell her that I need to be alone. Or just yesterday at dinner I was eating and I suddenly wanted to cry, I pictured my mommy and Irene splitting up and Erik taking me away because my mommy and Irene couldn't take care of me anymore. Usually when I get these kinds of thoughts I go to the river in the backyard, it makes me feel better. I can't explain that either, it just does.
Sometimes I wake up in the morning and wonder what I'm doing here. Its like nothing is worth getting up for. I just can't think of a reason to go to school. Sure it educates me but then what? After college I get a job, get married, raise kids and die. Yeah now there's some great motivation. And you know what? In this society it doesn't go like that anymore. Its more like get a job, get laid off, get a crappy job, get married to a loser, get divorced or take his crap, try to raise kids in an abusive household or on your own, and die from violence, if you are lucky. My generation is so screwed for a normal life. I heard a song on the radio the other day and it was talking about how every generation blames the one before, it could have been a Phil Collins song but I'm not sure. Anyway, that is not the point, the point is it is true. I blame adults for this screwed up world because it is their fault, they took a crappy world that was given to them and made it worse. Why they can't just make it better I'll never understand.
Now we have stupid violence over gang colors and music and people killing for expensive materials. Its all so stupid. Is this really the world I want to live in? Could you really tell me death wouldn't be better than to be raised in Bush's New World Order. That's right, New World Order. The man is power hungry. How else could you explain his foreign policies. Frankly the man is just an idiot. Why would he promise the American people no new taxes when he knew, as a politician, that that just wasn't possible.
Alright now I'm just going way off track. The world has been so very corrupted that I just want to slap those stupid beauty pageant contestants who always say that they wish for world peace. People wishing for world peace are just as stupid as the girls who like to think of themselves as princesses. Don't they know that princesses don't hold power in modern monarchies? Royal families are only kept around for tradition's sake. Off track again. People who wish for world peace don't take into realization that world peace would hurt most economies. I shouldn't know about any of this, I know that logically, all they teach us in school are the basic facts but I like to read deeper materials. World peace would send the weapon industry into a tailspin, killing a major part of economy, especially because most economy is technology based and most technology is developed for weaponry. On top of that, competition is the only thing keeping the economy of several different nations afloat, of course most of that comes from World War I but that's not an important point right now. World peace bad, war good. Too much war, like Bush's war can be a killer in every sense of the word.
* * *
"Momma you're going again?" Marie asked.
"Yeah sweetie, I have some more things to take care of in New York." Irene told her.
It was early morning and Marie had come into her parents' room to say goodmorning when she found Raven packing.
"Can't you just let the mutants in New York handle their own problems?"
Raven smiled, "Sweetie I wish it was that easy."
Irene, who was already dressed, frowned, "I just wish you wouldn't help Essex, I don't trust him."
"Who's Essex?" Marie wanted to know.
"Just a man who is helping me fund our project, no one to worry about."
Marie decided to drop the subject, "What's for breakfast?"
Irene spoke up, "I'm making pancakes and bacon."
"Thanks Irene," Marie smiled and left the room, almost colliding with Erik.
"Woah kid, sorry." He looked into Raven's room, "Are you ready to go?"
"You're going too?" Marie asked, disappointed. Usually when Raven went away she had both Irene and Erik around.
"Yup, I have to make myself useful."
Marie wondered if Erik's kids knew he was leaving.
* * *
Wanda pressed her forehead against a window in Irene's car. She could hear Pietro and Dominic arguing in the backseat. For a second she couldn't help but feel sorry for Marie who was sitting back there with them. At the thought of the other girl, Wanda frowned, there was something about Marie that made her slightly nervous. She didn't know if it was the fact that Marie barely ever spoke or if there was just something very...wrong with her.
Marie noticed Wanda's frown even from the back seat. I wonder what's bothering her, she thought, maybe I should ask. A second later Marie told herself it was none of her business and that Wanda didn't seem like the type to want other people nosing around in her business.
"Dude, Pietro I am telling you I could beat so beat you in the fifty yard dash!"
"No you couldn't, trust me."
* * *
All through English, Wanda entertained herself with her own thoughts. I wonder what would happen if I shot one of my orbs into that blonde boy's hair.
"Wanda Lensherr, please report to the principal's office," a voice came through the PA.
A collective "Ooooo!" came from the class.
Wanda grabbed her backpack and did as she had been instructed. All the way there she couldn't help but wonder why she was being called up. She hadn't done anything wrong, at least nothing she was aware of.
She sighed as she approached the principal's office and reached for the doorknob.
* * *
"Has anyone seen Wanda?" Irene asked.
Pietro, Dominic, and Marie sat dumbly, watching MTV.
"Oh for the love of..." Irene stepped in front of the television, "Have any of you seen Wanda?"
All three shook their heads.
"She's probably up in her room," Pietro told her.
"No, she's not," Irene replied, "does she have any friends that she might be hanging out with?"
Pietro chuckled, "My sister? Friends?"
"No need to get smart Pietro."
Wanda came barging in through the front door at that exact moment.
"Wanda where have you been!" Irene exclaimed, "I was so worried, its already eight in the evening." Wanda looked so close to tears that it broke Irene's heart. She put her arms around the girl, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Wanda broke out of the hug and ran up to her room leaving the three preteens and Irene looking on with bewildered expressions.
* * *
Dominic curled up in his bed with his required reading for his english class. Unfortunatly it was an incredibly boring book and was only suceeding in proving that it was the cure for insomnia.
I have to get done with this chapter, Dominic told himself, just three more pages to go, three more pages until I can read something more interesting.
Half an hour later Dominic had managed to get through his three pages. Smiling widely, he pulled out Marie's diary.
* * *
Marie awoke with a start. She had had a horrible dream, a reocurring dream. She noticed the beads of sweat dripping from her forehead. Breath, she told herself.
Slowly she arose from her bed, the only thing that ever calmed her down after dreams like this one was a nice big glass of cold water. Her feet touched the floor silently, thanks to Erik's lessons she had learned to walk without making a sound. She made her way down the hall and was about to descend the staircase when she heard sniffling coming from Wanda's room.
Strange.
Marie found herself being pulled to Wanda's door. She entered without thinking and saw Wanda curled up on her satin sheets, crying. Marie crept up next to Wanda's bed, "Wanda are ya okay?"
Wanda sat up in surprise, "I'm fine," she said sourly.
Marie gathered up all her courage, "No ya aren't. Do ya wanna t-talk about it?"
The expression on Wanda's face hardened, "I told you I'm fine." She buried herself under her sheets, "Go the hell away."
Marie surprised even herself when she grabbed the sheets and threw them off of Wanda's bed. "No, ya need ta talk 'bout it, so talk."
Wanda was so surprised she couldn't get any harsh words passed the barriers that were her lips.
"Ah'm waiting," Marie said with false courage.
"Alright," Wanda said with a sniffle, "But it might get kinda long and you might need to sleep for school."
Marie thought about sleep and then about the dreams she had been having, "No, Ah've got all night."
Wanda patted a spot on her bed and Marie hopped onto the queen canopy. "Today I got called into the principal's office," Marie nodded in encouragment, "And the principal wanted to know about some graffitti."
"Graffitti?" Marie asked puzzled.
"That's what I said. He said he got word from some of my classmates that I was responsible for not only a large amount of the graffitti in the bathrooms and courtyard but he heard that I was also responsible for a lot of the more recent property damage to the school."
"That's rediculous."
Wanda nodded. "I denied doing any of it but he didn't beleive me. He gave me detention for the rest of the week."
"But he couldn't prove any of it."
Wanda laughed humorlessly, "I think that's why he didn't expell me. But that's not the worst part. When I left school after detention I ran into this group of girls. I think their 'fearless' leader was named Stacy." Wanda's eyes clouded in anger, "And they kept teasing me about everything, the way I dress, they made fun of the fact that I didn't have a mom and they surprisingly knew a lot about me and my brother, especially about our time in the hospital."
"What did ya do?" Marie asked in a small voice.
"I tried to walk away but this girl with long brown hair stopped me and told me I had better take the blame for everything the principal said I did or they would beat me up." Wanda sighed, "I told them to go away but the brown haired girl laughed and threw me into a tree. When I tried to just ignore them and get up and get home they wouldn't let me. They beat me up and stole my necklace, my mom gave me that necklace." Tears formed in the corners of Wanda's eyes.
Marie placed a hand on Wanda's,"Don't worry 'bout any of it. Ah know those gals and they're mean to everyone. Chances are they'll forget about ya in a few days and everything will go back to normal. As for the principal, Mr. Buchanan, he's a real ass and those gals suck up ta him, he believes their every word." At Wanda's fallen face she quickly added, "But we'll be outta middle school and inta high school soon enough and we wont haveta see him evah again."
Wanda nodded and tried to blink away her tears, "Marie, did they ever pick on you?"
Marie nodded and told Wanda about the first few times Stacy and her gang had tried to pick on her and Mica. "They were just cruel little gals. Don't pay them any mind."
"Thank you Marie, you're the first person I've been able to talk to that wasn't paid to listen to me."
Marie gave the girl a sad smile, "Anytime."
* * *
Dominic was only a few rooms down reading Marie's diary.
Diary I think I know exactly why Wanda's the way she is. I think she has all these pent up feelings left over from being in the mental hospital that need an outlet. Sooner or later she is going to find that outlet and when she does I'm willing to bet she'll be incredibly confused about it. Someone should really talk to that girl, make her feel better about herself, understand what she's going through.
I also think someone should talk to Pietro. His attitude has to be a result of the same thing. I mena, the boy never shows his weakness, that can't be healthy, not at his age. Dominic is the only one of tehe four of us that isn't completly screwed up, maybe that's why Mica likes him more than Pietro, more than she likes me. That's a sad thought isn't it? That I'm losing my best friend to some temporary crush. Mama was right, life does just get more confusing.
Speaking of Dominic, I want to know what the deal is with him. He can't be as normal as he is pretending to be. I mean other than the fact that he's a potential mutant, there has to be something else going on with him.
Potential mutants (don't you just love my erratic thought process?), Pietro and Dominic are both potential mutants. I wonder what they will be able to do. Wanda is already some kind of mutant although I'm not really sure what she does. Mama, Irene, and Erik say that her powers manifested themselves earlier than usual and now they are making her take more lessons than the rest of us, power control or something like that.
Enough of other people's issues, I need to write down some of my own. I keep having this dream, its not like other dreams though. This one I keep having over and over again, each time I have it the dream goes a little further. The first time that Mastermind character was playing with us all like puppets, the second time I saw Mama cut the strings only to fall into a pit of flames. Everytime after that it just progresses to more and more sick and twisted events. Last night I had my limbs torn from my body only to have them replaced with these tentacle things made of lead. I don't know what's going on, why am I having these disturbing dreams?
Dominic frowned, on a few occasions he had heard Marie wake up in the middle of the night, it must have been from the dreams.
I would really like to talk to someone about these dreams but I'm afraid they would lock me up in some mental hospital or banish me for thinking such thoughts. I wonder if this is how all those sick serial killers started out.
* * *
"Well, well if it aint our local psychopath."
Wanda turned around to see Stacy and two of her lackies taunting her. "What do you want?" Wanda asked in a strong voice.
Stacy's lackies stood on either side of Wanda and Stacy got in her face, "Did ya think about what we said?"
"About what?" Wanda played dumb. It was a passing period between classes and there weren't many people in the hall, Wanda realized she wouldn't have much backup.
"Girls," Stacy addressed her friends, "Maybe we should give little Miss Scarlet here another lesson in southern hospitality."
Wanda felt her pent up anger begin to burn through to the surface. Although the three bullies couldn't see it, Wanda's fingers began to glow a deep scarlet.
"Girls is there a problem here?"
Wanda was almost sorry a teacher had caught them arguing in the school halls. How she would have liked to give these ignorant girls a little demonstration of her powers.
Stacy turned a sweet smile to the head of the science department, "Not at all Mr. Swenson, we were just getting to know a new student."
Mr. Swenson frowned, unconvinced, "Well I suggest you all get to class," He turned to glare at Stacy, "especially you."
Wanda stood with the teacher as the the other three scattered, she then walked to her science class.
* * *
Marie looked at the empty seat in front of her anxiously. Usually Wanda sat there but it for some reason it was vacant. What worried Marie was that she had overheard some of her classmates talking about Stacy's "new target." From all the gossip, Marie had heard that Stacy was planning something today and probably against Wanda.
As the final bell rang Wanda burst through the doors to the science class. She gave Marie a tight lipped smile and quickly took her seat.
"Alright settle down," the teacher was saying, "Today we begin our introduction into the atom."
Wanda saw a piece of paper flutter onto her desk. Her first instinct was to pass it to however was in front of her, however, this note had her name on it. Opening it she began to read:
Wanda, I heard Stacy was planning on doing something to you today, be careful. Or is that why you were late?
The scarlet clad girl wrote back: Yeah, Stacy tried to start something in the hall but Mr. Swenson stopped it. I almost wish she would have kept going because I was planning on...Never mind I shouldn't write it down, I'll tell you at lunch.
Satisfied with the letter, Marie folded it back up and put it in her folder.
* * *
"Marie," Wanda said in a hushed tone, "I was so ready to use my mutant power on them."
"But the adults said..."
"I know, we shouldn't ever use powers in public, but you have no idea how much power I would have over them. They wouldn't be able to stop me no matter what they tried."
The two girls were sitting at a lunch table in the courtyard, Marie and Mica's usual table.
"Wanda, maybe ya should talk ta Irene about this. Maybe she could give ya better advice than me."
Wanda was about to reply when she heard Mica's voice, "Hey all, what's going on today?"
Wanda noticed Marie's face brighten when she saw Mica.
"Hey Mica, Wanda's gonna eat with us today," she looked at Wanda hopefully.
Wanda looked from Marie to Mica and suddenly felt like an outsider, "You know what? I think I have some homework to look over for next period, I'll see you all later."
"Wanda," Marie protested in vain, Wanda simply walked away.
"What was that about?" Mica asked.
* * *
Okay so Wanda needs more attention, I can live with that. But I can not just ignore Mica to make Wanda more comfortable.
Dominic knew he should be waiting for nightfall to read the diary but his curiosity was getting the best of him. He had seen Marie writing in the diary down on the back porch. She had finished and ran up to her room then left the house, probably to go to Mica's house, and Dominic took that as the perfect time to read what she wrote.
I want Wanda to be my friend but she is as hard to get close to as I am. Maybe this is a case of the blind leading the blind. Maybe I should just get Mica to spend time with Wanda without me around. Do you think that will help? Man I must be losing it or something, trying to get advice from a bunch of bound papers.
Dominic could almost see the young girl sigh in aggravation.
This reminds me a lot of this book Irene gave me to read. It was a brilliant novel by an Austrian author. He drew parallels between the friendships between younger girls and animals. To him the friendships were very possessive and territorial. It makes perfect sense, I mean just look at Stacy's clique.
"Ahem."
Dominic was still smiling at the analogy when he looked up to see Marie's fist come closer to his eyes and slam into the very structure that was his face. The force of the punch knocked him clear off his bed and onto the hard wooden floor.
"How dare ya!" Marie's eyes were filled with a fury, a passion, Dominic had never seen in her before. "How dare ya read mah personal thoughts, invade mah privacy!"
Dominic got to his feet, "Look Marie it isn't what you think, I was only trying to find out what Mica thought of me!"
Marie hopped across the bed and punched him again, this time adding a knee to the stomach, "Oh so because ya got the hots foh my best friend Ah should just let this go!" She kicked him in the groin and Dominic let out a yelp of pain. "Ya are so very disgusting Dominic! Is that what they taught ya in Florida?! That it's okay to invade privacy foh self gain!" Dominic looked up and was surprised to see the hurt and tears in Marie's eyes.
"Marie I.."
"Save it!" She grabbed her diary, punched him again just for good measure, and stormed out of the room, tears running down her face.
* * *
Marie scribbled in her diary again that night, writing about what she had discovered when she had entered Dominic's room.
I mean I just went in there to ask if he had any gum or anything and what do I find? I find that he's read my deepest thoughts, the thoughts I wanted to save for myself. I feel so very violated, like he raped me. I feel dirty just writing in a diary now, knowing that my sacred thoughts were desecrated. This might be the last time I write in you. I have to find another diary now, one that wasn't invaded by that scum of the universe, Dominic.
Marie stopped writing when she heard a tentative knock at her door. She opened it and found the scum of the universe at her door. "What do ya want?"
Dominic looked at her pathetically, "Marie I know I read your diary without your permission but I swear I didn't do it to hurt you."
"Whatevah," Marie was about to close the door but Dominic kept talking.
"My intentions were very selfish, I'll admit, but they were because I had a crush, a stupid, childish crush."
Marie did try to close the door this time but was stopped by Dominic's foot.
"Marie, I don't think you're going insane. I think you need someone to talk to."
She looked into his eyes through the narrowly opened door and saw something she hadn't seen in a long time, an earnest pair of eyes staring back at her.
"Please Marie, I want to be your friend," he whispered, "let me in."
"Alright," Marie said just as quietly and she opened the door.
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Alright readers, another chapter from yours truly. I have to tell you though that this chapter would not have been made possible if it weren't for some childhood memories that chose tonight to resurface.
REVIEWERS ROCK!
LiLRoguE: Oh yeah, he got his ass handed to him but I think Marie made the right choice in the end. ::Look of horror places itself on Pookie's face:: No! don't cut the internet cord! I swear I'll update soon! I swear!
StormII: Ah those comics were way too focused on making the stories seem as dramatic and soap opera-ish to focus on the positives of Rogue's and Mystique's relationship. Grrrrr those writers!
Rogue151: I think that even if the state hadn't forced a diary on her she would have began to write in one anyway. I tried to keep a diary but I just didn't have the time to write in it all the time. I think there are like only a few entries a month. And About the Darie being a spinoff thing- yeah I was surprised when I was watching Beavis and Butthead a few years ago (I was babysitting, I really don't like that show much) and Daria was one of their classmates. It was really funny seeing her drawn in the same style as the two main characters. Also, I think Lance is a real jerk but Dominic is more human. Thank you for all of your kind words!
ishandahalf: Yeah! Down with Dominic! Well not really but he got what he deserved, phyisical punishment! Regarding Marie's grasp over the english language, I just thought she needed more depth than the comics ever gave her. Sure they made her into a strong willed, independant woman but where is the depth? That's what you get when you leave a whole storyline up to men ::shakes head:: kidding, eh. (Sorry I read your bio)
Tammy: Well now you've seen how Marie delt with Dominic, tell me what you think she should have done.
Panther Nesmith: Yeah the more technology they put out there the more problems I seem to have. Anyway, I didn't get to fit London Calling anywhere in this chapter but I can promise you I will plug it into the next ::wink wink:: Don't ask, I'm tired. And hey the eighties managed to produce me too and I can gaurantee I am way more worthwhile...he he he just kidding around. Tell me what you thought of how I decided to deal with the Rogue/Dominic drama!
Alright that's the sad end of this chapter. Next time: Find out just what Raven and Erik were doing away from home! And what else will develop between those crazy kids? And what about Irene? Should she get more screen time? Will she? All this and more next time right here on fanfiction.net!