Disclaimer: All I own is Megan/Songstress/Voice Box.
My afternoon classes went smoothly. It was almost as if I had always been there. At dismissal, I got my things from my locker and headed outside to walk home. They make it look like a long way in the show, but really it wasn't.
At home, I started on my very little homework. Since both of my parents worked, I had to watch my little brother. But he comes home an hour after me, so for now, the place was blissfully silent.Ten minutes later, my homework was done. Feeling bored, I took my CD player outside.
There was a swing hanging from the tree in our absolutely HUGE back yard. The tree was in the far back, so I had to do a little walking to get there. I sat on the swing and plugged my CD speakers into the player and hit PLAY. The sound of Hillary Duff's music floated up from it. I set the player and speakers on the ground and began to sing. Closing my eyes, I lost myself in the music, in tune with the melody.
"Let's go back
Back to the beginning,
Back to when the earth, the sun, and the stars
All aligned...
'Cause perfect didn't feel so perfect...
Trying to fit a square into a circle
Was no life...
I defy...
Let the rain fall down,
And wake my dreams,
Let it wash away,
My sanity...
'Cause I wanna feel the thunder,
I wanna scream,
Let the rain fall down...
I'm coming clean,
I'm coming clean...
I'm shedding,
Shedding every color,
Tryin' to find a pigment of truth
Beneath my skin...
'Cause different,
Doesn't feel so different,
And goin' out is better
Than always stayin' in!
Feel the wind!
Let the rain fall down,
And wake my dreams,
Let it wash away,
My sanity...
'Cause I wanna feel the thunder,
I wanna scream,
Let the rain fall down...
I'm coming clean,
I'm coming clean...
I'm coming clean
Let the rain fall,
Let the rain fall...
I'm coming clean...
Let the rain fall down,
And wake my dreams,
Let it wash away,
My sanity...
'Cause I wanna feel the thunder,
I wanna scream,
Let the rain fall down...
I'm coming clean,
I'm coming clean...
Let's go back...
Back to the beginning..."
I vaguely heard a dull THUD, but dismissed it as a door in a house across the street closing.
"Hey, new girl, could you get our kickball?! It's in your yard!" a guy's voice cut through the music. I jumped and paused the music.
"Huh?"
"Our kickball." The guy, Bobby, pointed to the opposite side of the yard from behind a wire fence. An old ball was, indeed, sitting there. Getting up, I went over to get it. It felt slightly warm. I threw it back to him.
"Thanks!" Bobby said sincerely. I nodded.
"Yo, Bob, you get the ball or what?!" another guy yelled.
"Yeah, I got it. Dude, you hear this girl sing?! She sounds awesome!" I didn't hear a reply. Bobby ran back to his friends. Watching him go, I wondered if I would ever be able to make friends with them.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
Almost a year went by since the day we moved, and soon it was my birthday. Kitty and her friends were all really nice to me and I actually felt accepted in their group. They were comfortable with their powers around me but I had never cone into the Institute. Of course I could never REALLY fit in with the group... We all passed the year with flying colors.The Prep Squad always tried to harass me for hanging out with the 'freak shows' but I managed to disgrace them all by making the solo in chorus every time. Well, back to the birthday thing.
This year my birthday was on a Saturday. Of course, Kitty and her friends were invited. Then there were my friends from back at my old home...We'd had a pool installed in the spring, so this was a pool/karaoke/sleepover party.
When everything outside was all set up, I went and sat in the front yard, waiting for Alex and Adrianne. It was like 10:30 in the morning and the party was at 11.
My cat, Sincerity, and her twin, Tranquility, were on my lap, one on each side. I was absently petting them, daydreaming. I didn't even hear the cars pull up. Sincerity and Tranquility jumped off my lap. That jerked me out of my thoughts. I looked around and saw a short, brown haired girl with blue eyes trying to scare me.
"Aw, how'd you do that?" she said.
"Al, you know you can't scare me." I said, identifying said girl as Alex.
"But I can, Megan." came Adrianne's voice from behind me. I jumped and turned to see a Hispanic girl with frizzy hair and brown eyes behind glasses. They both put their sleeping bags and duffel bags in the house.
"Yep, you can, Adri. Oh, and Al? No ogling at the guy next door, I know you know him."
"So when do the other people get here? Or is it just us again?" Alex asked as she sat down next to me.
"Nope, not this year. This year there's about three times as many people as usual."
"And that would be...how many?" she said.
"Oi, how'd you get to tenth grade?!" Adrianne asked jokingly.
"You guys." Alex responded. I just sat there listening to them chatter.
"Oh my god, you guys, you have NO idea how much I missed talking like this to you. The computer is just not as good as this!" I said, initiating a small group hug. The two complied and we proceeded to squeeze the life out of each other. As we parted, I checked my watch. The party was at 11 and it was 10:50.
"You guys, the others'll be here any time. Head to the back. I'll be right out." I said. They nodded and went through the house. Within seconds, I head Alex yell 'Cool, a pool!' and two splashes, signaling them jumping in. Grinning, I turned back to the front, waiting for Kitty and the others. I didn't have to wait long, I could see them coming down the hill. Within minutes, they were here.
"Finally! You guys are here!" I said. Once everyone's stuff was in the house, the party began.Five hours and two bottles of sunblock later, my dad called us inside for dinner. He had made buffalo chicken strips and we were all starving. Mom gave us our plates and we ate outside. When we finished our food, I stood up and faced my guests.
"Ok, people, before the karaoke, we'll open presents." I said. Everyone murmured their agreement. My parents brought out the packages and I picked one out. It was from Kurt. I glanced at him with a slightly worried expression then slowly opened the gift. When it didn't explode, I looked at it.
"What, did you think it was going to explode or something?" Alex asked. I looked at her.
"Yes I did." Everyone laughed. Kurt looked a little embarrassed through his image inducer, but laughed with us. I turned my attention back to the gift. He had given me a new case for my glasses.
"Because you broke my last one?" I asked. He nodded. I smiled and thanked him. Alex had given me a new microphone with volume control and echo for my karaoke machine; Adrianne, a CD of karaoke songs. Kitty and Amara gave me a joint gift; they gave me a gift card of $200 to Borders Bookstore. My eyes widened and my brain was already thinking of things to spend it on. Bobby and Evan each gave me a gift card of $50 to Barnes and Noble Bookstore.
"Ok, you people know me FAR too well." I said, grinning. "Now, ON WITH THE KARAOKE!" I said. I plugged in my new microphone and handed it to Kitty. "You first." Shrugging, she put in the CD and chose a song.
"I want to change the world
Keep on holding on your desire
You will get that shining love
That you can't wait to know
If you go on to get your goal
It's Wonderland!
I felt so worried when I spout out the time
Thinking of the future it lies
Cause I knew that there's nothin'
That I really want to know
And then I met you
So I could feel what you should know
I finally find a love
And now I'm really feeling her right
Cause the matter is gone
This is the way to love you
I want to change the world
Walk again, never miss the way
Don't be afraid I'm with you
And we could fly away
If you could stay with me forever
Change my mind
Won't get lost if your passion's true
I'm gonna fly with you again
So you could spread your wings
And you will fly with me away
It's Wonderland!
Every single thing
The time and the flyin'
Til the day, I won't let you go
You will see that your desire will be granted again
It's just the feeling
You understand the travel life
It won't be to bad to face
And then it probably you will see will not be to heart
If we could walk beside you
I want to change the world
Walk again, Fire against the wind
Don't be afraid to be true
Cause now you have to bring
The power of your smile in your face
Change my mind
Keep on holding on your desire
You will get that shining love
That you can't wait to know
If you go on to get your goal
It's Wonderland!
I want to change the world
Walk again, never miss the way
Don't be afraid I'm with you
Now we can fly away
If you could stay with me forever
Change my mind
Won't get lost if your passion's true
I'm gonna fly with you again
So you could spread your wings
And you will fly away with me away
It's Wonderland!"
All of clapped. Then Alex went up.
"Ooooooh...
It's the song that never ends...
It goes on and on, my friends!
Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was,
And now we must keep singing it forever just because
It's the song that never ends...
It goes on and on, my friends!
Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was,
And now we must keep singing it forever just because
It's the song that never ends...
It goes on and on, my friends!
Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was,
And now we must keep singing it forever just because
It's the song that never ends...
It goes on and on, my friends!
Some people started singing it-" I had to run up and slap my hand over Alex's mouth to shut her up. Everyone was laughing their heads off.
"Typical Al." Adrianne said. Alex wriggled away from my hand.
"Oh, yeah, you're one to talk. What're you gonna sing?" Alex shot back. Adrianne smirked and took the mic.
"I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves,
Everybody's nerves,
Everybody's nerves!
I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves,
Everybody's nerves,
Everybody's nerves!
And this is how it goes:
I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves,
Everybody's nerves,
Everybody's nerves!
I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves,
Everybody's nerves,
Everybody's nerves!
And this is how it goes:
I know a song that gets on everybo-"
"Oi, stop it!" I said, taking the mic. "My turn." I said. The guys cheered and the girls clapped.
"Izzat for me stopping her or me about to sing?" I asked.
"Stopping her." The girls said.
"Singing." The guys all said at the same time as the girls. I rolled my eyes, put in my song, and set the microphone to 'echo'. I closed my eyes and waited for my cue to start.
"There's nothing wrong
With tradition...
But tell me where it says not to
Follow our hearts...
That's why so many of us
Are so confused
And will never live up to
Your rules...
My religion doesn't hate,
It will never turn you away,
It always understands...
My religion won't condemn,
Always lends a healing ha-a-and
It's love...
My religion's love...
All it takes is to be willing...
A too sacrificeful soul is one
Who is in need...
Then we can begin to
He-eal again,
And love will sweep through and...
My religion doesn't hate,
It will never turn you away,
It always understands...
My religion won't condemn,
Always lends a healing ha-a-and
It's love...
My religion's love...
My religion...
My religion...
My-my-my religion...
My religion is lo-ove...
That's why so many of us
Are so confused...
And will never live up to
Your rules...
My religion doesn't hate,
It will never turn you away,
It always understands...
My religion won't condemn,
Always lends a healing ha-a-and
It's love...
My religion's love...
My religion doesn't hate,
It will never turn you away,
It always understands...
My religion won't condemn,
Always lends a healing ha-a-and
It's love...
My religion's love...
My religion's love..."
I lost myself in the melody like always, but this time, something was different. It was like I WAS the melody, not just singing it. Like my voice was calling out to something. What ever it was, I felt like I wasn't myself anymore.
I opened my eyes to find that the three boys were being held back by the girls. It looked like they were in a trance or something. Once the echo faded completely, the boys snapped out of it, as if nothing happened.
"Dude, what just happened?!" I asked.
"I don't know, it was like they couldn't keep their eyes off you then they tried to jump at you!" Alex said. "It was freaky! And it was only them affected too!"
"What are guys TALKING about?" Evan asked.
"You mean you, like, don't remember?"
"Remember what? Her voice? Yeah, her singing's awesome, but what do you mean?"
"You all went all spacey and tried to jump at her. We all had to hold you all back." Amara answered.
"Ve did?!" Kurt said, as if remembering.
"Yah." Adrianne said. That's when my mom came out.
"Meg, there's someone here to talk to you." We all looked at each other with one collective thought: 'The professor...' I nodded and, tying a sheer wrap around my waist, followed everyone inside. All of my friends went upstairs to my room while to went the opposite way into the living room. And we all thought right; the professor and Jean were in the room with my parents.
"Ah, there you are, Megan. My name is Professor Charles Xavier. I have something I wish to tell you." The professor said. I glanced at him then to my parents, silently asking if this was all real. Misinterpreting my glance, my mom said, "You can trust these people, honey." Jean took it from there.
"You have a special gift, and we would like to help you harness it." I looked up.
"It's my voice, isn't it?" I asked. The professor looked startled.
"Yes, I believe it is."
"I think that because we were doing karaoke and when I sang, the guys went all spaced out, like in a trance." I explained.
"May I have a demonstration?" The professor asked. Nodding, I wracked my memory for a song. Unbidden, the words came to my lips:
"Why not,
Take a star from the sky...
Why not?
Spread your wings and fly...
It might take a little,
It might take a lot.
But why not, why not?" I looked at the professor. He seemed mesmerized by my voice. Kurt, Bobby, Evan, and my little brother were all standing in the door, all trying to get through the doorway at once. I cut off my voice and they all went back to normal.
"I see. I'll have Kitty bring you to my office you tomorrow so we can think about this more thoroughly." He said. I nodded. My parents thought about it and agreed. The professor left, Evan, Kurt, and Bobby following. They weren't staying for the sleepover. I headed upstairs where I found my friends gathered at the top stairwell.
"Eavesdroppers!" I accused, laughing. They all raced to the ladder from the ceiling that led to my room. (AN: yes, her room is where the attic would be.)
I followed them and was the last into my room. My friends all looked around as if seeing a room like this for the first time. I looked at the clock on my desk. 7:45
Four hours, fifteen minutes, and ten soda cans later, we were all crowded around my TV watching InuYasha.
"Oh my god, Sesshomaru is SO hot. And he has a voice that just makes you wanna roll over and just listen to him talk all night!" I said.
"Nah, Kouga's better. He's all kick-ass and takes no crap from anyone." Adrianne said.
"Miroku's best. He's all sweet and cute." Alex argued.
"And a pervert!" Amara said. "I agree with Meg on Sessho-sama."
"No, you can have Inu-chan. I call the older, hotter, Lord of the Western Lands." I said.
"Just like Hiei?" At that, I made my voice sound like Gollum from LoTR.
"My Hiei... Miiiiiiinnnnnnne... My preeeeeecioussssss... My preeeecioussss..." Alex backed away.
"Creepy!" My voice went back to normal. After the show, we all got into bed.
The next day
I followed Kitty through the halls of the Insitute.
"And where'd you think you're goin', Half Pint?" a gruff voice asked. Kitty stopped.
"I'm taking her to see the professor like he asked, Mr. Logan." She answered.
"Oh, yeah? And what's her power, then?" the man, now identified as Logan, looked at me.
"M-my voice. Something happens to all the guys around me when I sing." I said after some hesitation. Logan looked at me, thought about my answer, and nodded for us to keep going. Kitty kept walking and I kept following. We reached the professor's office within minutes. Kitty then left me outside the door. I raised my hand to knock then hesitated.
"Come in." the professor called. I opened the door and walked in. He motioned for me to sit on the leather chair in front of his desk. I did so.
"So, about your gift." He said. "Would you mind if I probed your memories of yesterday to see what happened?" When I shook my head he smiled. "Thank you." he places his hands on either side of his head and I felt the sensation of someone lightly poking me, except in my head. After about a minute, the feeling stopped.
"It seems your ability is enchantment. Do you read ancient mythology?"
"Yes, I love mythology."
"Then you know what a siren is. Your voice is like a siren's voice. You and enchant men by singing." He said. I nodded. "You'll have to stay here to learn to control that so it won't happen." I nodded again. "I'll have Logan escort you out." A minute of silence passed. Logan walked in and I stood up.
I followed Logan through the Institute's many hallways. It was silent until-
"So you gonna be livin' here, are ya?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Rule one, I'm not a person to mess with. Rule two, you WILL learn how to defend yourself."
"I'll remember that."
We walked until we met up with Rouge.
"Rouge, let Voice Box out." He said. I jumped at the nickname he had given me. Voice Box? Rouge nodded.
"Come ahn." She said.
"So what's your powah, sugah?"
"Voice enchanment."
"What's that mean?"
"I can control guys with my voice."
"That'll come in handy."
"I hope."
"See yah tomorrow, then."
"Bye."
I left the building feeling happier than I had in a while.
