Ch. 7
"Once upon a time in Jacksonville, North Carolina there lived . . . a girl. She was young and dropped out of high school. Stupid move really, she just . . . couldn't handle the things people were whispering behind her back or the torture at home. So . . . she left."
Rena's voice cracked. She wasn't sure she could go through with this. Somehow, Sandy had made it across the room and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, no one can hurt you here, I promise." Drawing another ragged breath, Rena continued.
"She hitchhiked from there until she came to Witchitaw (excuse the spelling), Texas. There she met Randy. Randy was strong, confident and charming. He swept her off her feet without effort. It wasn't long before they shared a home, then a bed." Rena's voice broke. Sandy took the initiative to put her arms around her and hug her. "After a while, the girl thought that she loved him, that she could tell him everything, including her secret. She told him she was a mutant." Unasked, Rena's powers formed the ordeal from her memories, Sandy watched as Randy went from being calm and loving to violent and angry. She watched as Randy hit the younger Rena again and again. "He hated mutants. He thought they were unnatural, an abomination. That's when Xavier found me." Now a picture of Xavier teaching Rena at his school, helping her get her diploma, joining the X-men.
"So," said Sandy, interrupting the beautiful scene, "Why leave? Why give all that up?"
"Because," her voice thick with tears, that day, I vowed to never bow to anyone, I would be my own person. I would never ever allow anyone to get that close again."
"I still don't understand."
"Xavier wanted me to become part of his X-men, his team of goody-goodies trying to protect a world that hates and scorns them. I didn't want to."
"Well, he doesn't sound like he'd force that on anyone."
"He didn't . . . it's just . . . I hated what he did to me."
"He didn't . . ." Sandy tightened her grip on her friend, "Serena, did he-?"
"What? No! Charles would never do that! He's a perfect gentlemen. I-"
"You what? What was so bad that you gave up the X-men?"
"I fell in love." Rena blurted it out, "I fell in love, with Charles Xavier."
The light of dawning crept into Sandy's eyes, "And, you wanted to make sure you couldn't get hurt again."
"Precisely. So, I broke off on my own."
"Did he ever know?"
"I don't know. He is a telepath and I don't shield very well."
"Oh, Rena." Sandy hugged Rena again. "But why?"
"I didn't want to hurt him. I didn't want to burden him with my problems. I didn't want to get hurt. Pick one, I've got so many more."
"Rena, I think Charles Xavier is the only man that can help you right now."
"But, after all this time-"
"Xavier doesn't seem to be the kind of man to hold grudges. Besides, we'll all be with you . . . I'll be with you."