Ch. 6
"So . . . how was your tour of the X-mansion?" Rena sounded bitter.
"It was . . . interesting." Answered Sandy.
"Interesting? Interesting?"
"Serena, calm down." Said Jas from the corner.
"Shut up! Look, maybe you didn't understand the rules. Stay away from the X-men."
"I thought it was don't join the X-men." Sandy added a smile to lighten up the mood. But to no avail, Rena got up and left the room. "What's with her?"
"Well, she did have this thing with-" began Kota.
"It doesn't matter." Interrupted Hel, "It's over now . . . Let Rena deal with her own problems."
"Not when it involves me and my own. Look, you guys can keep your little secrets, but I'm gonna find out what's up."
"I wouldn't if I were you. Rena tends to be a little . . . emotional at times."
Sandy smirked, "I can take care of myself."
Without further discussion Sandy left the room to confront Rena.
**********
Several broken furniture pieces later . . .
Sandy found herself on the floor dazed and in a bit of pain. Rena was huddled in the corner with tears streaming down her face. The others? They knew well enough by now to stay clear for a good long while.
"So," said Sandy from the floor, "Who was that?"
"That would be my last boyfriend."
"Last? You dumped him?"
"In a matter of speaking?"
Sandy propped herself up by her elbows, "Mind telling me why he attacked me?"
"Well, it wasn't exactly him. It was one of my illusions."
"Oh, yeah, Figment, I forgot." Sandy pushed herself up to a sitting position. "So, why'd he attack me, then turn on you?"
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"Uh-uh. You damn well better talk about it. If I'm supposed to trust you, I need to know none of your illusions are gonna go AWOL."
"Randy, was my boyfriend."
"We've covered this, can we move on to why he attacked us?"
"Randy . . . he didn't like mutants all that much."
Sandy's lips formed a silent "o", "So, when he found out you were a mutant . . ."
"He beat the hell out of me. Sometimes, my powers get away from me. I'm . . . sorry. I didn't mean to . . . hurt you." Rena began to shed tears.
"Do the others know?"
"Yes, but they can't help. No one can."
"So you think it's better to just let illusion Randy have his way, huh?"
"I don't know what to do."
Sandy looked down at her feet and took a deep breath. "So, why did you leave Xavier's?"
"He . . . he wanted me to face my fears and become one of his little . . . puppets." Rena spat out the last word.
"I don't think they're puppets. They seem to have minds of their own."
"Look!" screamed Rena, "I don't need help and I don't want help!"
"Well damnit!" Sandy screamed back, "You need it! If you don't watch out your illusions are gonna get away from you and probably kill you! You think you're the only one who's had a problem with mutant haters? Well guess what sister, you're not! But, at least it wasn't your own father who beat you!" Sandy stopped, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She hadn't meant to say that. It was her secret, her dirty little secret that she would have gladly taken to the grave.
"Sandy. I-"
"Just forget it. Look, we've both had a lousy day. Let's talk about this later."
"Hey! You were the one who wanted to talk all this out!"
"I thought you didn't!"
"Yeah! Well now I do!"
"So why are we shouting!"
"I . . . don't know."
Sandy took a deep breath. "Well, do you want to begin?"
"Might as well. This may take a while."
"All truly meaningful stories do. How should we begin?"
"Once upon a time. In Jacksonville, North Carolina . . ."
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So, what do ya think? Serena not just a bitch is she? Now she has a reason. Yippee! Okay, R/R, please.
Oh, also special thanks to all my friends who have contributed to my writing here, Mandi, Jacks, Gladys and Meg. You are all in my heart (and writings.) ;)