Lucky Me

Chapter 028


I don't think anyone would have notice my sudden skittishness with Chris if I hadn't nearly jumped off the stairs when he walked behind me. I tripped and about took D-M down for the ride of twenty or so steps. When asked what was wrong, all I could do was laugh nervously and say he scared me. For that I was looked at weirdly and only Professor looked at me and clearly called me a 'liar'.

I didn't care.

That boy wasn't going to touch me, not that he ever did, but I distanced us now even more. It had been almost a week, and in Home Ec. we were told we would be cooking the following week and to get a list of recipes we wanted together. My group (two other guys plus Chris) flipped through the cookbooks, and then he got a paper cut. I was two inches from falling out of my desk.

He scared me.

I was scared of what he was, and I knew that it would make him feel horrible to know about my sudden lack of friendliness (if there ever was any) to him. No one had noticed anything more, I don't think, if it wasn't for our first Danger Room session after almost two weeks of leadership training with Scott and his odd methods of teaching me.

Being stubborn I still refused to wear the spandex thing that showed more than it covered, and was in the room wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt (borrowed, naturally, all my new ones were skin tight and I couldn't breathe in them!).

"Okay, simulation one, the plasma cannons. Adam you're in charge." And that was all you heard from the 'god voice' of the Professor from the Control room and then it was quiet. The stupid guns from before popped back out of their hiding spots and of course, started to shoot at us.

Talk about déjà vu, I was ready to throw D-M at the cannons, but remembered I hadn't gone black and therefore, no super strength, which was needed when picking up anyone. I took the 'sky'.

"Stupid thing!" Chris' shouted, as I looked on from my safety spot in the air. Adrian was attacking the cannons with his metallic arms; his ability was that he could turn his limbs into metal blades and other such things. My eyes nearly bugged out when Adrian accidentally cut Chris on his forearm.

"Kerry!" Adam screamed through the fog of fear that now clouded my mind.

"Huh?" The little badge thingie that I think they called a communicator blinked when he spoke up again. He wanted me to get Chris and bring him to the south side of the room, currently the boy was in the north.

Bleeding very slightly, but bleeding none the less.

I could see why they wanted him moved, Adrian (who came from Canada complete with the codename of Flex) had gone to the far side, and Chris had several cannons on him. I knew it hurt to be hit by those stupid things, and without anyone to throw in the path, he'd get it full blast.

But he was bleeding!

"KERRY!" I flapped my wings but I couldn't move forward.

He screamed, so loud.

The cannons had fired.

And all I did was watch him.


Did I get chewed out? Oh yeah. Big time, several times by different people and then sometimes by the same person twice. They were highly mad at me because I didn't rescue Chris in time to prevent him from being injured, even though he wasn't seriously hurt mind you.

"Why didn't you follow orders?" Was a popular start to a lecture, or even better, "You are supposed to help your teammates!"

They could try to lay on the guilt all they wanted; it still wouldn't have changed my attitude about the whole thing. He was bleeding, and I liked being me. That was, I liked being alive. I hid when things get too hard to watch or understand; they don't know I saw with my dad, what kind of things happened that night he died. They don't know how preciously I hold my own life, since I'd seen others snuffed out quicker than one of Mr. Logan's cigars.

"Kerry, in my office. Now," Professor ordered and like a little whipped puppy, with everyone watching me, I walked in behind his floating chair and shut the door. "Sit down, Kerry."

And I did, I was already pretty beaten up mentally by the words everyone kept throwing my way. I could see it the way they saw it, that I purposely let a member of my group get hurt when I could have—should have prevented it, but they didn't know my point of view.

"Why didn't you do as you were told by your group leader?" Professor, I learned, was never one for chit-chat.

I made a face, and didn't look at him, just turned away from his eyes and shrugged. That was a great answer, sheesh, never lie or avoid talking to a telepath, it's kind of pointless.

"I know you are scared of the things that have happened to you in the recent months, and we are trying to help you cope, but you must be willing to work with us as well." I rolled my eyes, yeah, I see you were trying real hard to help me cope, by driving me insane with work and responsibilities, oh sure I felt so in touch with the rest of the people.

"You know of Chris' past condition, do you not?"

My eyes bugged out, "How did you-?"

Dumb question. Extremely dumb question there Kookie, he was a telepath you moron, put the two together. Dummy!

"Your thoughts did give your knowledge away, but Cyclops warned me beforehand that you were getting files on your team, all the information we had them." His fingers did the funny steeple thing, as his eyebrows tried to become one in the middle of his forehead. "They were meant to inform you, not to scare you, child."

"I know." But it did. And I couldn't help it. And how come they only remembered that I was a child when I got freaked out? All the other times I was a 'young adult', whatever the heck that was supposed to mean.

"I will be here when you are ready to talk about it," Professor's voice had a soft, almost fatherly tone, which instead of comforting me, made me flinch. I didn't do father tones too well, not since Dad. Not since the night he died.

He hadn't acted much like a father that night.


That day I got out of Professor's office around an hour later, it was around seven and I missed dinner which I guessed in the long run wasn't such a bad thing. A co-leader letting her teammate fry didn't sit well with these people apparently and I didn't feel like having nasty looks or head shakings directed to me. It got old. I avoided the entire household the best I could for a week or so, ducking into the kitchen for a bite here and there.

I felt bad enough already so instead of facing anyone I kind of scampered (ran) up the stairs to the men's wing floor, and beelined for my room. Such was my practice for the week (unless school and training made me do otherwise, I skipped out of all the leadership classes though). Of course I wouldn't be as lucky as to have to be left alone to sulk.

"Hey, Kookie."

I sighed, "Hello, Mr. Summers." I didn't want to get chewed out anymore, but I figured he came to unlock my door, and I just showed up as he was leaving. And I was right, he brushed right past me, and I just shook my head.

Some great X-Man I was going to be. I collapsed onto my bed, and buried my head into my pillow. I was half asleep when I heard my door open again. Unless this place was also haunted (which I wouldn't doubt for a second) that meant someone came in.

"I brought you the food you seem to love so much."

Cookies? I sat up in my bed, and no, it wasn't cookie's but what was left of that night's dinner in Mr. Something-Funny-Is-Taking-Place-Here-Summers' hands. I looked at him, and looked at the food, and then back up to him.

What was up?

He put it down on my nightstand, and then grabbed my computer chair, brought it over to where I was and straddled it. This was unexpected, but as I stared at him with my expression clearly screaming 'what the heck is wrong with you?' he told me to eat, and I, not knowing what else to do, did.

I didn't talk, and Scott seemed to find looking around my room rather interesting entertainment. I was getting on edge and ready to flee, but then, of course, he decided to talk.

"It's hard." Was all he said. Don't ask me what he meant but that's what he said. "Sometimes."

Oh that made it clear. Yup, understood it completely now, thank you for making it so easy to understand-shessh.

"Aw, right," I answered stuffing my face with more food. Scott gave me a lopsided smile.

"Being a leader is hard," Co-leader! Why is everyone forgetting this? "I was a bit older than you when I was first put in charge of the original five. It was tough being the responsible one, but after a while, the others learned to treat me like just another guy—who could boss them around."

That clearly said : 'The power! The power!' followed by evil laughter.

"I messed up majorly," I lost interest in the food, remembering how Chris looked so bad in the med. lab, and whenever he was walking around the halls he'd glare at me and say 'thanks again'. "Maybe I shouldn't be in a leadership role."

"Those that think shouldn't be in charge are often the best to be in charge. They work harder to feel like they should be in the position, unlike someone who thinks they should be in charge and take the little things for granted."

Thank you for your input oh fountain of knowledge, I would be sure to log that away. I know he was trying for the reaching out stuff, but it was hard to reach back after getting your hand slapped after one mess up. Perhaps I was taking it a little too hard, but I know how much those dumb lasers hurt, they half bake you.

"Are you talking about personal experience or just in general?"

"General and personal," Scott seemed to study me for a moment, and then if I had still been eating, I would have choked with what he said next. Don't get all weird and think he confessed undying love or anything, no way! This was far more jaw dropping. "You don't like me very much, do you Kerry?" Tell me HOW exactly did one answer that without sticking one's foot in their mouth? It wasn't like I could tell the truth, because he would do something mean like making me lift about 200 pounds (which I could not do) next morning during our muscle-building time. And if I lied, he'd know it. Don't ask me how, but he'd know it. Probably the fact he had a telepath for a wife was a strong reason.

"Uh, well, it's-uh, just that, there's uh," Oh this would be something I would say in hopes of not sticking my foot into my big fat mouth. I felt my cheeks go bright red, just like Adrian when I walked out of the shower, with barely a towel on, and he was going-well, about to go to the bathroom. That was embarrassing! It wasn't like I knew he was going to be up at three in the morning!

Scott held up a hand, "It's okay, you wouldn't be the first, and no doubt won't be the last. Maybe Warren should be the one talking to you about this."

"Why him? Haven't I put him through enough? Or did he do something wrong and I'm his punishment?" Well, it's the truth; he had to put up with most of my whining and complaining since I came here because I had to learn to fly under him and such, figuratively not literally, but duh right? I thought so. Sheesh, I was rambling!

He laughed, not long and not loud, but the Mr. Straight-faced-Summers actually laughed. That was kind of relieving, and unnerving at the same time, "At least you're becoming more comfortable with us."

Not like I had much of a choice, now did I? Couldn't call mom to come pick me up from the slumber party gone bad or anything like. She'd sooner put a gun to my head than open her arms to hug me.

"It's hard, sometimes. And being a leader makes it harder." Co-aw heck, forget it. "But you have to put the team first in some occasions, like this one. What do you think would be better for the team, and for Chris?"

I mulled over it, and like I'd proven before, thinking and I didn't t mix. Another fine reason why I should not have been a leader. "I think it's really no one's business but Chris'."

He nodded halfly, "Maybe, but what if the others find out and act like you did? Wouldn't it be better to prevent that kind of catastrophe before it has a chance to arise?"

"What would you do?" Scott then got up to go, but before he did he added some oh so wise words to close the conversation.

"I'm not in charge of them. You have to decide what is best for the team and for Chris."

There goes my popular vote. But another thought struck me.

Why doesn't Adam do this hard stuff!?

Sheesh. If I didn't know any better I'd think the Adam-leader thing was a hoax, but they wouldn't do that.

I hoped.

Maybe I should asked.

But then again, I might get an answer I didn't want to hear.

Hello, dead end street!


"Miss D'mon, I don't allow daydreaming in my class!"

That'll snap you out of it in about two seconds; Mr. Poovey's face was blood red with irritation. What else could I do? I laughed nervously and turned a lovely shade of red myself. No one turned around to look at me, for that I was thankful. This guy even kept Chris in line.

Didn't mean I wouldn't hear about it after class. Before running off to Physical Science, I pulled my buddy aside, away from any eyes, ears, or eyebrow raising, smirking Daisy-Maes.

"You look happy."

Thanks for noticing. "You have no idea," I grumbled, "I have something to ask you."

"What's up, Kookie?" that must have been the question of the day, of course, again I could understand why it would be, and you would have been a complete idiot not to know. I was caught daydreaming in almost all my classes, and even had something thrown at me earlier to wake me up, of course that was compliments of Kenney. Lovely boy that he was-right.

"It's about the-uh, session two weeks ago." They even recorded the sessions! So they had proof I heard and did not respond to the command. They had that to hang over my head for as long as I was there. Wasn't that a joy to know? "What do you think I should do about it?"

"About what?" He asked, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and tipped his head to the side.

"Ya know, it."

"No, I don't." Okay, I know he had a brain, but he still didn't understand the guess-what-I'm-talking-about way of conversation!

"Oh forget it! It's not your problem, it's Adam's. I shouldn't have even dragged you into this!" I was flustered, sighed, and left to make it to science before the bell. Not that if I showed up late that woman would even notice, she didn't teach, only talked on the phone and made us do definitions to have something to grade. Of course she didn't even check the definitions, just put a 100 on top if you turned them in.

I was stopped, not by telekinesis (I hadn't made Mrs. Jean that mad yet) but by a hand on my elbow.

"Whatever it is, if it's about the-uh group then nobody can tell you what to do. Only you can."

Another dead end!


My head was still throbbing two days later, I had to resolve this or I'd get addicted to aspirin, which I kept popping every four to six hours as directed. I should have swallowed the whole flammin' bottle but Dr. Hank took it away and said that I had my limit…ten times over.

I reached a decision, but I had to get it okayed by Adam and Chris before I acted. I really didn't like being in charge, if it meant I was going to have a boot stuck in my rear by my teammates then I'd rather be a spectator (because it's hard to sit with boots stuck in an uncomfortable place).

"Why me?"

"Why not?" Oh, great, just the person I didn't want to see. I looked up, and yup, sure enough, it was Bobby-Pervert coming out of—Chris' room? "What you doing, Kookie? Hunting down the chocolate like a typical upset female?"

"Bite me."

"I only like to eat cookies with milk, sorry, Kookie."

Weirdo. Like I was disappointed. Honestly.


Talking. Number two thing that got Kookie into trouble. The first was thinking, but that got everyone into trouble at some point in time in their life, even more so if you lived with a bunch of telepaths. I didn't have the best way of getting my ideas across to people, in fact, I stunk at it. Darcy (my sister) told me this constantly when I tried to defend myself. What could I say? I just was not a fighting type person. I'd pitch my fits, but they were mostly laughed at (and got me nicknames apparently).

Instead of knocking, I banged my head against the door. No reply. Well, couldn't say I didn't try!

"He's in the Med. Lab."

Crap. Adrian, you're timing was horrible.

"Thanks, Adrian." I teased. Apparently Adrian was something of a jock. He played on the football team, and that was how he and K'yo knew each other. Wasn't that odd? Mr. Pacifist a big bad football player!

I made my way down to Dr. Hank's lab (aka drug central) and walked in without thinking about that, hmm, maybe there was something going on that I did not want to see.

Thankfully there wasn't anything like that going on (had you worried didn't I?).

"Congratulations, Mr. Bradley, you are still 100 percent clean," Dr. Hank about dropped his medical charts when he turned around to see a certain black feathered mutant (me) in the doorway. He wasn't slow to react though, "Kerry! You're not supposed to be in here-!"

"It's okay, Dr. Hank, I know." I held up Chris' folder, "I read."

"Wonderful," Chris muttered, "Now you got blackmail."

"Can I talk to Chris, please, Dr. Hank?" He looked between us, stated that he needed a drink to wash down the Twinkies, and that he'd be gone for about ten minutes.

"Man," Chris wanted to curse, that much I could guess.

"Don't think I'm thrilled about wanting to be alone in a room with you, buddy." No, this would typically not have been the way to start a 'heart-to-heart' but me and Chris weren't friends and weren't typical therefore this was the perfect way to start of a conversation of complication. "But we need to talk."

He glared at me, and I had to hand it to him, it was his best yet. "Maybe I don't want to."

"Good, then don't. Let me talk and you just sit there and be all dark and angry. Works for me." Harder glare from him and I shrugged. "Anyway, I came to apologize for that episode in the Danger Room, and letting you, you know, become crispy and all. But I also think that you should tell everyone about your—unique problem."

"Like hell I will!" Chris seethed, "I am not going to be waving around a flag telling everyone what I used to have!"

"I thought you were going to be quiet?" Darker look, man, he must have been taking lessons to do that or something, he was getting good. "Good boy. Now, as I was saying, either you or I am going to tell the others about this."

"Why? What's the point? So they can freak out and act like you?"

Time to try to be like Scott (that left such a bad film in my mind). "No, so they won't act like me when they find out, and they will find out. Even if neither of us, say anything, they'll hear about it from somewhere. Wouldn't it be better coming from you, rather than from someone else?"

Chris didn't say anything, but his knuckles were turning white as he gripped the side of the medical bed. Whoa, guess I struck a nerve, as long as he took it out on the bed and not out on me. I sighed, and told him to tell me what his choice was before the end of the week (it was Wednesday). Leaving out, I bumped into Scott and Miss Oreo (I was called Kookie, therefore, calling her a food product no longer bothered me).

"Uh," Not a 'hi' or anything, but an 'uh' someone shoot me before I become so dumb I couldn't remember how to breathe. Argh.

"Good job, kid," Scott complimented, and then walked away, toward the changing rooms.

"Yes, child, you did well handling the situation."

"Uh, thanks?"

"It appears we choose well."

Huh?


Chris gave me his choice later that night, had a few smart aleck comments to shoot at me, and I, being all co-leaderish, threatened to throw him out a window or put him in a blender at school. Just because I was 'co-leader' does not mean I'm mature. Didn't mean I had to act like I was an adult, I mean, look at Bobby-Jerk, today in his class he had us break up into teams and become pretend banks fighting over one client. He thought it would be funny to put me and Adrian as the loser couple looking for a loan. Jerk.

Oh, and then he announced that we were going to have a test next week on Friday. What a meanie head he was sometimes!

Back to this, Adam got all the people (me, him, Chris, D-M, and Adrian) into the study at the end of the men's wing with little complication (how he did it with little complication I didn't know, I would have had to tackle and hog tie them to get them to listen to me).

"This better be good, I'm expecting a call from Shane in about ten minutes." Shane? D-M had a guy? I thought she had a thing for Adam, and then Bobby-Jerk, couldn't this girl make up her mind who it was she's going to drool after?

"This is important, I think." That's convincing, oh great leader.

Chris glared at me, and sat down on the recliner while the rest of us skoowshed together on the couch. I looked back at him and balled my fists; Chris smirked and rolled his eyes.

"So, talk Chris. You're the reason we came here," Adrian prodded.

"No I'm not. I'm sittin' here about to talk to you because of Koo-key." He looked down, let out frustrated noise, and then looked up. "I guess there is one classic technique to do this. As retarded and dumb as it seems, much like the one who wanted me to do this." Kookie glare to Chris. "Hi, my name is Chris Bradley, and I am a mutant. I was diagnosed, and cured of, the disease known as the Legacy virus. How are you today?"


It was Friday! At last! Of course, that meant tomorrow was the hectic Saturday of Summers, as cruel and unusual as it was to get woken up at five on Monday thru Friday, the four o'clock Saturday wake-ups were much worse. Knowing this, I tried to get off to my room without getting caught by someone trying to teach me something. I was lazy, I liked to practice being lazy as often as I possibly could.

"Kookie!" Oh great, just when I thought I was going to be able to sneak off into my room for the rest of the day, I got caught by Miss Rogue. "Phone for ya, shugah."

Phone? That ringing thing I never used? "Okay, I'll-uh, get it in my room." If I could find it. I had to unplug it sometime ago because Chris kept calling my line in the middle of the night and then hanging up; I knew it was him because after I went next door and took his phone, the calls stopped. Of course he said he didn't do it, sheyeah right, I was so sure he was framed.

"I got it!" I screamed, listened for the click from the kitchen phone, and did what everyone does, "Hello?"

"Is this Kerry?"

It took all my strength not to drop the phone, my knees buckled, and all words left my brain.

"Hello?" That voice, it sounded so irritated. I swallowed my shock the best I could (which was better to swallow with a coke or something) and answered the question.

"Mama?"