Lucky Me
Chapter 057
"Let me go you bloody twits!" I cringed as I saw the new girl kick wildly as Mr. Bishop and Jean moved her down the hall. It was a week and a half after the 'lock-in' and I had gotten used to getting hugged in the hall by some of the girls from it.
"Who's that?"
Scott sighed, "A renegade mutant we located, she should be grateful we got to her before the authorities did."
Yeah, right.
"I don' wan' to be here! Just sod off!" Well she was definitely wasn't from around here. After they shoved her into this circle thingie on the floor, Mr. Bishop pressed some buttons on a keypad and a bright blue light swallowed her up. She banged, kicked, cussed and threatened from that cylinder. Apparently she couldn't get out of it.
"It's an inhibitor," Scott explained as if he read my mind. "It'll prevent her from hurting herself and others while the Professor works with her." He turned to go, and I followed him. It was my turn to play twenty questions.
"Who is she?"
Da-Sco-okay, he couldn't read my thoughts so I'd say it just once; dad gave me a funny look.
"We don't know and she isn't in any mood to answer our questions."
"Where'd she come from?"
"Why are you so inquisitive all of a sudden?" Scott (I told you it was only going to call him that other name once) gave me a lopsided smile.
"Well, gee, I wonder. You all go away for two days and then bring a Brit chick in here yallowing like an alley cat and expect me not to be a little bit curious?"
"Take it up with Adrian; he'll be getting fully briefed on the girl." I was not going to get mad, I was not going to get angry, and I was not going to get jealous! "She's going to be your new teammate as soon as she is stabilized."
For once since this switching of leadership took place, I was thrilled I wasn't going to be the one who had to 'bond' with that girl. It's the least of what Adrian truly deserved.
A day later, Miss Ororo (I was still flipping over getting her name right!) and I were 'cruising' down the main street in town. It was so true; she turned out to be an excellent teacher. She even finally buckled and let me get an Icee at the local gas station. When we were leaving, who else but the little human Alexis ran up to me.
"Hey, girl!" I sighed, she smiled at me, "What are you up to?"
"Driving lessons," I said nodding to the car. Miss Ororo was sitting in the passenger seat fixing her hair in the mirror.
"Yeah, I guess that's obvious." She was referring to the big yellow signs on the side of the car that screamed out Warning! Dual control. Student Driver thanks to Mr. Drake. He 'borrowed' them from the gym department. "Who's the sister with you?"
"Uh, you mean Miss Ororo?"
"Wow, cool name," Alexis gushed, "Can I ride around with you? I've seen this Aurora lady before around town and she always looked so cool."
I felt my blood sink to my feet. "I guess I could ask her."
Well, nartually Miss Ororo didn't mind. So pretty soon it was me, Miss Ororo and Alexis going down the road. I was so nervous with my friend in the car I was making dumb mistakes all the time.
About an hour went by and I finally had enough, Miss Ororo got behind the wheel and drove Alexis home (who never lacked in words, might I add).
This became routine for two days, until Miss Ororo said I would have to get a replacement driving teacher, her team was being called out to the field somewhere in France.
I was stuck.
But not to fear! Just like always in my life someone else took the lead and decided to answer the questions pertaining to my life. I was told to just show up at the usual time and place (the garage at four) and see.
What I saw was him leaning on the car like he was something hot. Yeah right! (Okay, so with the whole three buttons unbuttoned and part of his chest showing he was kinda cute and distracting).
"What are you doing here?" Dumb question, yes I know.
"I'm here to endanger the world by teaching you how to drive."
"Your confidence, it really touches my heart."
"You have one?" I bristled and felt my eyes prick with tears. He instantly showed regret, "Sorry Kerry, just a reflex."
"So if I hit you, can I just blame it on reflexes?" I got into the car and slammed the driver's car door. He got in a moment later. Drumming my fingers I sighed and turned toward him. "Okay, can we forget about, well, the 'whatever'? I don't want to fight with you all of time."
I missed my friend.
He gave me that smile again (I wonder if his girl friend who happened to be majorly crushing on him thought he had a gorgeous smile?), "I think I can handle that."
So to town we went, I was about sweating bullets because I was so freaked out that someone (namely his girl or one of the people she was buddies with) would see us and then I'd be busted. I'd probably get a bad reputation about being a, uh, 'loose' girl.
Which wasn't true!
I headed straight for Alexis' house, and then I remembered.
"Oh, no," I wailed.
"What? You're doing fine." He gave me a curious glance.
"I pick up Alexis everyday! Miss Ororo said it was to get me used to having people my age in the car with me!" I banged my head on the steering wheel. "I didn't call and cancel."
"That's okay, see?" I gave him a side long glance. Then I snapped up in my seat and gaped at him. "What? Too ugly?"
"You-you're using an image inducer?"
"Naturally, I'd hate for my-for her-" He didn't quite know what to say, so I said it for him.
"You're interest?"
Sheepish, cute grin (even with the image inducer on), "Yeah. Jealous isn't nice."
Bit my tongue, lip, cheek and anything else from gripping at him. When I made it to Alexis' house, I honked my horn and she came running out, paused and slowly made her way into the backseat.
"Who's this?" She asked staring at his face as though she'd never seen a guy before.
"Uh, this is Jack." Like you don't know Jack. Then a grin spread across my face, "Jack Little."
Apparently he caught my insult, even though I didn't know. "Thanks." 'Jack' muttered, "And you are?"
"Alexis Mickle." She smiled and then turned attention to me. "Where's Ororo?"
"Uh, out of town." That pacified my curious friend as the driving lesson started.
She studied him for a few seconds, "You seem very familiar."
Jack laughed nervously, "I get that a lot."
It was half an hour later before we stopped at a convenience store and 'Jack' went in to buy some 'treats'.
"You like him don't you?" My Icee suddenly burned in the back of my throat. Alexis gave me that 'I know you' look in the rearview.
"Uh, who?"
"Don't even play like that, girl!" I was really beginning to wonder if she knew my name or not! "You like that Jack guy, I got to admit, he's okay." Alexis poked me in the shoulder (she didn't hit my wing, it was really odd about how I had to shove them to the side and stuff) "You got it for him bad."
"Got for him?" I laughed, "Please! He has a girl friend, and has absolutely no interest in me."
"Liar."
"W-what makes you say that?" I demanded, what on earth was taking so freaking long in the store?
She gave me a laugh, "Oh come on! Do you think I'm dumb? You've been keeping your eyes more on him than on the road." I opened my mouth to protest, "And don't you deny it!" I shut my mouth. "This Jack guy's been watching you just as hard."
"It's not like that," I sighed, "At least not now."
She crawled between the two front seats. "So I was right?" Alexis smiled like a fattened cat, "What's going on between you two?"
"Nothing."
"Okay, what had been going on between you two?"
Dang, she was good.
"Nothing much, I mean I thought he liked me and even kissed me." She made a happy noise and said something about 'so sweet' but I just continued, "Then he got jealous for dumb reason and he-well, I guess forgot about me and went running to some other girl."
"You thought he liked you?" I nodded (what was he doing in that store? Robbing it?) "But—do you like him?"
"Uh," I started but then finally I saw 'Jack' emerge from the store carrying two bags of chips and coke bottles. "I'm pleading the fifth."
Alexis sat back with a pout. "Fine, girl, but you are going to tell me later. 'Cause I know how to ask on the third."
Yeah sure, just as soon as I figure out what she was talking about.
I knew everyone was dying to know what I told Chris after that really weird question. The truth was all I did was stand in front of him like an idiot and then, throwing up his hands, said to give him my answer later.
I stood there for five minutes.
And then I tore off to D-M's room.
She said, quite plainly, she was taking Adam to the prom. Why? Because Chris waited too long to ask her. I was kind of floored, the prom wasn't until April and it was just now in the middle of February. D-M asked if she knew who Chris asked, and in a small voice I answered me.
"It's your dream come true!" She laughed, like a mad woman who you shouldn't hang around any longer than usual. "Ah hope y'all have fun." When the accent came out that thick, it's time to book a one way ticket to Maui.
Then I went to Chris' room. I had to ask him why the sudden bust up with his 'leading lady'.
"She got something up her butt and dumped me." He sat like big chief in front of me, arms crossed and everything. "Don't ask me why, she just came up to me during the lock in and said 'we're through' like I even recognized we started!"
"But you liked her, right?" Chris glared at me. "I'll take that as a 'yes' but also as a 'don't you breathe a word of it'."
"Good choice." I got up to leave, "Have you made up your mind?"
"I have to go talk to one other person, I'll tell you then."
"Kookie, wait." I turned; he seemed to fight for the words. "Look, I know we don't get along and that's mainly because you're such a stuck up Scott drone."
"Thank you, you waste of mutant potential," I shot back.
He grumbled, "What I was going to say is forgetting that fact, maybe we could help each other at this dumb prom."
I cocked an eyebrow and asked for him to continue.
"You don't really want to go with me but," Dang, he got that word in before I could talk! "The people we do want to go with ditched us for another, so why not do our best to make them jealous and get them back?"
I did my wordless blinking again.
"Just think about it."
I went to go talk to someonebut I couldn't figure out whom. If I went to talk to Jean she'd tell me to go without a date or better yet, not to go at all! Scott was out of the question, Storm and her team (Mr. Bishop, Mr. Logan, Sam, Stacey, Miss Rogue, and Mr. Remy) were still out of town so I had to rack my brain to come up with an answer.
The only people I come up with were a) Paige, b) Dr. Hank, c) Professor, or d) Mr. Warren. Of course there was Stitch, but for once I actually needed to talk to someone who would talk back.
If Stacey was here I could ask her to just 'scan' me or whatever she does and to tell me if I really liked him, yes or no. Jean was so out of the question for something like that, even if it was in the mind. So back to my choices for counselor, I just busted out laughing at the idea of bringing my miniscule love life problems to the Professor. What would he say? 'You must work toward peace' or something cliché that the Professor likes to spout out like the modern day Shakespeare.
Paige? Paige was-I didn't know her that well. I knew she was a tree hugger and would probably fuss at me for having Stitch who was made out of non-recyclable materials or something weird like that.
Mr. Warren would probably get weird and say that I needed to go talk to one of the women.
That left Dr. Hank. I had never really talk-talked to him since-well, all of our conversations had to do with body functions and stuff so I guessed a real conversation was in order. He was always easy to find, if Dr. Hank wasn't raiding the 'fridge for last night's leftovers, he was in his lab playing doctor (which he was a doctor, so I guess he's not playing just being his normal questionable self).
I walked past the containment units where the fussy Brit girl was being held, she was quiet so I peeked in. Sitting crossed legged and looking rather bored with life in general on the floor she didn't notice me at first, but then my feathers ruffled.
"Wot you want?" She snapped. "Come to tell me wot a won-der-ful place this is, too?" Man, her sarcasm was almost as thick as her accent. When I didn't answer, her eyes narrowed. "Then sod off."
"What's your name?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Mary bleedin' Poppins." I couldn't help but give her a small laugh, maybe it was because I was so nervous about talking to Dr. Hank, I dunno. But I turned to go and I heard her say something.
"Huh?"
"My name's Julie. You're the firs' Yank to laugh at me." I was going to correct her and say 'with you' but I just shrugged it off.
"Why! Miss Summers! I see you have been able to strangle out a name from our new guest!" Dr. Hank came bounding in out of nowhere. "But I must advise you, my young friend, not to get too close to the dearly enchanting girl, or her powers might attack you."
I frowned.
"Thanks." I guess. "Dr. Hank, can I talk to you?" I heard this 'Julie' girl cry out in protest to being talked about like a 'bloody lab rat wi' two legs'. He brought me back to his lab and toyed with some blue stuff (looked almost like the stuff me and Bobby-Jerk broke last year-I still say it was all Bobby's fault).
"What is it you wanted to converse with me about, hopefully it is not yet another ploy of yours to obtain a processed sugar laden sweet from the adorable blue doctor before you." So this was where Adam was picking it up from.
"Uh, no, actually. I-" I thought of a way to make me sound less like a little girl with a crush (I think) and more like a teenager (with a crush). "I have a hypothetical question for you."
"Oh?"
That had to be the shortest question he ever asked me.
"Yeah, okay, well let's say-hypothetically that I, uh, a friend had this problem with this person. It's not like a fight kind of problem, more of the-" mad blush now showing on Kookie's face, "uhm, 'liking' of this person?" I heard him try to hide a chuckle. "Anyway so for about six months or so this boy kept leading this girl on, but never made anything permanent. I'm not talking like 'forever' but something like 'for now'. Like you know, normal dating stuff-" My face was on fire, I was so thankful he kept his back turned to me.
"So anyways this friend, the girl is innocently talking to another guy. The boy gets jealous and, uh, breaks up with her?" Even though we were never technically 'going out' in the first place. "Now the girl doesn't know if she wants to pretend to like him still, or ignore him, or whatever…I don't make much sense do I?"
He didn't attempt to cover up his laughter this time.
"My dear Miss Summers, I am shocked you'd come and talk to me about such things, but I will offer my professional advice." Please let it be in simple terms. "It seems to me that you do, indeed, care for this 'boy' or you would not get so green yourself. And he, I believe, is merely trying to hurt you because he is absurdly childish at times. Such as his childish barbs at the 'lock-in'?"
"Yeah, I guess-waitasecond! How'd you know about that?"
Now came a full laugh complete with amused grin.
"Why, my little apprentices tell me much of the gossip of the house. And although it is not popular knowledge, Daisy did find it amusing to fill me in on your particular problem. Though, I might add for the reassurance of your mind, I do not know who the young fellow is that has seemed to infatuate you."
Remember my homicide list? Yeah, well, Daisy just got added to it!
"So, do you know that Chris asked me to the prom? For revenge?" Chris didn't say it in quite those words, but it was what he meant. 'Cause it wasn't like we liked each other or anything, we were just a means to an end.
"Oh my, yes. But of course Kookie, revenge is a dish best served with Mary-Kay cosmetics and tuxedos."
"And where do you think you're going?" I heard Chris ask in his here-comes-trouble voice.
"Out, you know, on a date," Adrian boosted. And he seemed like such a nice and shy guy when I first met him. I just shrugged it off, and then a knock on my door shrugged it back on.
"It's open."
Adrian popped his head in, "Hey, Kookie, I'm going to town for a while, you're in charge." He was about to leave when he heard me say something so back in his head came (reminded me of a cuckoo clock bird). "You say something?"
"Yeah, I said something, like I don't want to be left in charge. It's your job to babysit us when the big wigs are gone." I crossed my arms and watched him from my computer chair.
"Oh come on, Kookie! It's not like anything big ever happens around here anyway when they're all gone." I rolled my eyes. "Besides, I want to go see Nikki-Jo before she dumps me!"
Like I was supposed to care?
"Not going to do it."
"Fine then, I'll leave Daisy in charge and you can suffer for it." I gritted my teeth and put myself right up in his face.
"Get it through your head, Corbo. I am not in charge, you are, and this isn't some dumb free ride on a power kick rollercoaster that you can inhale only when you want your ego to grow. It's a responsibility, they trusted you," by this time I was poking him in the chest with my index finger, "and you have to do it!"
"Or what?" He asked icily, "Are they going to fire me like they did you?" Okay, that was uncalled for. "Face it, Summers, you're just jealous because daddy doesn't need to spend any more time with you." Adrian glared at me for a good ten seconds and then suddenly paled, "I-I didn't mean it, Kookie."
I was starting to tear up, that was why he apologized. He kept trying to say how sorry he was and how he didn't mean it, finally I had enough.
"Shut-up." I snapped. "Just go out with your little girl-floozy and do whatever you dang well please."
Turning, I slammed the door in his face and marched around until I found Stitch were I had flung him after my last driving lesson (in my dirty clothes hamper).
What Adrian said wasn't true! Scott didn't only spend time with me because I was in that leadership class thingie with him, he spent time with because he wanted to—right?
Later that night, I was down in the kitchen with Adam as he tried (without luck) to explain just how the mind blocking thingamajigs worked. I smiled and nodded the whole time like I understood everything. The only thing I caught was baby words such as 'block' 'the' and 'wicked cool'.
I was making dinner for my team since everyone else wasn't around (including the fearless leader of the X-citers). Being the nice girl I was, or sometimes could be, I only charged everyone one buck per grilled cheese sandwich. Excluding Chris, his I was going to make free, and I told him as much in front of Miss Bloome.
I took out a frying pan, one that weighed more than I did it felt like and put it on the stove top.
Then the lights started to flicker.
I started to groan.
"Chris!" I shouted, knowing full well he couldn't hear me.
If he did, this was Chris and he would have ignored me anyways. He might want me to be team leader again, but until then he was going to ignore me at every turn.
"What is he doing?" Adam questioned, obviously upset that his projects kept dying and coming back to life like lightening bugs on the table.
"If I knew, I would tell him where to ram it."
Then the lights blinked wildly for a second, and then the entire room was pitch black.
"That -that-boy!" Then I heard something, something that made my blood freeze. "Uh, Adam, how long does it take for the generators to kick on?"
"Uh, about a minute and ten seconds, why?"
"Does it take that long all over the house?"
"'fraid so," then a new sound, a sound of a thick metal door being crushed like a Dr. Pepper can echoed like the scraping of Death's bony feet on cement.
It didn't take a Dr. Hank to come to the conclusion, in fact, I didn't even have time to come to grips with it before me and Adam both heard it.
"Here, birdy birdy. I've got a hunger for some black chicken."
Oh my—
Sabertooth was loose.
