Authoress's notes: I had so many déjà vu-s writing this chapter that I was sure I'd already read it somewhere. Other than in my notebook, I mean. It was freaky...
Reviewers' Response:
lea – Logan doesn't need a cool car; he's cool enough on Scott's stolen -- err, borrowed -- motorcycle
chelsey – love triangle... hmmm. :::thinks about it for a while::: I'd rather not say anything so early in the fic ;)
Moose the Ice Queen – nice change of penname, hehe. Glad you're lovin' it.
Silverone3 – Kurt? Blue? Tail? What's not to like?! . But I won't force him down your throat. Bobby... is just cute, in my opinion. Kind of goodey-two-shoes next-door sweet-guy cute. :::shrugs::: Every one and their own taste :P
LadyV77 – oooh, characterization! Haven't heard that one in my reviews for quite a while. Glad you liked it. I considered writing Kurt's accent, but it got too annoying so I dropped it and went for the German words here and there. :) M'fraid I didn't write the shopping scene itself... but I hope it's still okay.
Transcendental - :::squeal::: thanks for all the compliments! Have I managed to escape your wrath by not describing Scott' car?
Chapter 6: Shopping and Planning.
It was one of those dream-shopping-days like in the movies, where only snippets of the girls in different outfits are seen, having a blast, while music plays in the background. Storm and Rogue took Amanda to a long street full of shops, and they spent an enjoyable few hours walking from store to store, stopping at a juice-bar for a freshly-squeezed orange juice or lemonade, standing by the pretzel-stand waiting for the salty pretzels to finish. The day was warm and sunny, and Amanda quickly lost herself in the rush of shopping.
She had never been an avid fan of 'shopping-days', but today she was having a good time; Storm showed her the best shops and Rogue pushed her into the dressing booth again and again with pairs of jeans or shirts and blouses to try on. Though it was more than a bit exhausting, Amanda had to admit that Storm and Rogue both had quite good taste, and rightly judged her character and style of dress.
They returned to the Institute laden with bags; they exited the garage and came into the entrance hall to see Logan and Scott, standing ten feet apart, bellowing at each other. A young man of about Rogue's age stood a few feet apart from them both, running a hand through his curly, blondish hair with a bewildered look on his face as very rude words were exchanged between the older men.
"What is going on here?" demanded Storm, stepping in between them. "Why are you shouting at each other like this?"
Rogue went up to the curly-haired man and gave him a quick peck on the cheek – Not long enough to absorb anything, Amanda found herself thinking. That must be Bobby.
Her thoughts were confirmed when he smiled at her and then extended his hand and said, "I'm Bobby, or Iceman. You've got to be Amanda. Nice to have you here. Hope you feel welcome. And don't mind them," he jerked his head at Scott and Logan.
"I don't," she replied with a grin, "They're just big babies. I do feel welcome, thanks. I take it you're Rogue's boyfriend?" Amanda noticed her hand was rather cold, the hand Bobby had shook. Iceman indeed.
"Yeah," he smiled at her.
"Where are my car keys, you animal?!" bellowed Scott, ignoring them all completely.
"For the millionth time, One-Eye, I don't have them!" roared Logan. "Why is it that whenever something of yours disappears around here, I'm the first to blame?"
"Because it usually is you, Logan," said Rogue, fighting down a smile.
"You stay outta this, kid," Logan growled at her. Rogue simply grinned.
"Oh, but I know what this is all about," she said, nonchalantly dangling the aforementioned keys from her hand. The two men stared at her.
"You –" said Scott, dumbstruck.
Logan, on the other hand, started to laugh. Amanda was already doubled over, tears forming in her eyes. Logan ran a hand through his wild hair, saying, "I've been a bad influence on you, kid. Sorry, Scooter," he added to Scott, "but for once I really wasn't to blame." He ruffled Rogue's hair slightly and walked off.
"Not directly, at least," said Storm. She shook her head at his retreating form, as though thinking 'He's hopeless.' She turned to Scott. "I'm sorry, Scott; we took Amanda out to do a bit of shopping. She doesn't have any of her things here, not even clothes... She didn't have any time to pack, after all..."
Scott looked uncomfortable at this. "Oh. Well. I suppose it is out fault... Just ... warn me next time, ok?"
"Will do," said Amanda, giving him a mock salute and a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for being such a cutie." She gave him a smile and left for her new room, beckoning for Storm and Rogue to follow her. Scott stared at them, a bewildered look still on his face; Bobby was grinning.
"She's good," Rogue whispered to Storm.
Amanda laughed. "Why, thank you, Rogue. Years of charming the pants off your boss have to pay off sometime, in the long run... Is Scott always such a softie?"
"Actually," said Storm, "I think he's become a bit cold since ... since Jean. But let's talk about something else for now. Have you thought of a code-name for yourself yet?"
"No, not yet, I – ah! Kurt, you have got to stop doing that!" she said as he materialized before her, his usual cloud of blue smoke wafting in her face. She scowled at him. "Don't you use doors?"
Kurt grinned devilishly. "My apologies, Liebchen. But in Kitty's words: We have evolved beyond the need for doors and walls."
"Kitty?"
"Kitty Pryde," said Storm as she hung up a particularly nice blouse that she herself had convinced Amanda to buy and fully intended to borrow someday. "She has the ability to phase through solid things. She rarely uses doors anymore, except when the Professor's around. He doesn't like it when the kids use their powers too much around the school..."
"Oh, but he's allowed?" Amanda pointed at Kurt, who nodded. "Well, isn't that fair," she said sarcastically.
"Ah, but we are adults," said Kurt with mock seriousness. "We are responsible."
Amanda grinned at him. "Yeah, I'm sure you are."
Kurt merely smiled. "Did you have a nice shopping trip?"
"A-ha," nodded Amanda, and promptly emptied all her bags on the bed. "Storm and Rogue are the best fashion advisers I have ever had. Look here: I got four pairs of amazing jeans –" she pointed at the four pairs, "and some cool shirts –" she showed him her favorite, a light-blue one with an orange caricature cat that started with his tail and hind legs at the back and finished with his head and front legs at her stomach. In large orange letters above his head was 'I go all the way.' "Cool, isn't it?"
"I still don't think you really get what that means," said Rogue. "The Professor is not going to like this shirt... this is a school, after all."
"Aw, shut up, Rogue. I understand perfectly well what this shirt means. Keep in mind that I've been working at a bar for the past few years – I hear plenty of dirty talk all night. It kinda sticks with you..." she winked at Kurt.
"What is this...? Oh." Kurt promptly dropped the bra he had come across. "I see you had a 'girls' day out' in every way."
"Really, Kurt," said Amanda. "I don't have anything here with me! I need something to wear for my time here, at least until I get my old stuff – if I stay, that is."
"You are not staying for sure?" he asked, his tail swaying.
Amanda shrugged. "Who knows? So far, I like it here. Keep being nice and I'll stay." She smiled at him. "You need to introduce me to everybody I haven't met yet. Especially this Kitty Pryde... she could be trouble."
"Kitty, trouble?" said Rogue, raising an eyebrow. "Are you by any chance psychic as well? 'Cause you've just predicted the whole situation."
"Is she that bad?" Amanda grinned. "I have to meet here. Kurt, would you by any chance know where she is?"
Kurt nodded. "She likes to watch television in the second common room. Come, I'll show you."
"No, wait... can you teleport others?"
Storm and Rogue grinned at each other.
Kurt nodded. "Yes – would you like to try?"
"Would I? You bet your tail I would! What do I do?"
"Just... hold tight."
"Can do." Amanda clamped her hands around his shoulders, grinning as his tail wrapped around her waist as an extra precaution. "Ready when you are."
Kurt nodded at Storm and Rogue. "I shall see you at dinner. Here we go, Amanda."
"You can call me Manda," heard Storm and Rogue as the blue smoke enveloped the pair. "Oooh..."
Amanda opened her eyes and released Kurt from her grip. As the blue smoke disappeared gradually, she could see that they were indeed in a common room, one with a television, several computers, and a foozball table. Several children of various ages sat around the room, either at chairs in front of the computers or couches in front of the television – one particular girl stood out for the scowl she was wearing. (A/N: don't you find it strange that in X1 she was fourteen or so, and suddenly in X2 she's this 6-year old girl in a nightgown? I'm using a 16-year old version of her for this fic.)
"Kurt, I know you like teleporting around instead of walking, but why do you always teleport to that exact spot?" She pouted. "You're in front of the TV!"
Amanda raised an eyebrow. "Should I come and introduce myself some other time?"
The girl's face brightened as she noticed her. "No, no! Not at all – I don't mind the TV if there's someone new to explore. What's you name?"
"Amanda. Are you Kitty?"
"Yeah," Kitty grinned. "I walk through walls." She cocked her head to the side. "What do you do?"
"Not much, so far." Amanda sank into a pouf next to the couch. "Professor Xavier only brought me here today; I haven't had much time to learn anything... I'm a telekinetic and a telepath, but so far all I've managed it to move a glass of water. Kurt taught me." She smiled at him.
"Kurt?" Kitty looked at the blue mutant. "How did he manage that?"
Kurt shrugged, settling down in a couch. "Amanda convinced me that I could teach her. She claimed that I move myself with my mind when I teleport. I told her what I do when I teleport, and she tried it, and she succeeded. It was all to her credit."
"Hmm."
"Does that mean anything in particular?" inquired Amanda.
Kitty smiled at her. "It means I like you." She held out a hand. Amanda took it; but it slipped right through hers –
"Oh, that is cheating," she said, grinning. "I like you too. We'll make one hell of a team –"
"You mean, you'll wreck havoc on the school. Ach, I can see it coming already..."
"Shut up, Kurt, before I smack you," said Kitty, but she was smiling.
"Whatever you wish, Kätzchen."
-X-
"Hey, Kitty?"
"Yeah?"
"How does the schedule go here?"
"Easy. School – the classrooms are all on the second floor – school starts at eight-thirty. We go to the cafeteria at eleven – that's break. School's until two in the afternoon; then lunch is at three. (A/N: don't flame me about this one. I live in Israel; the school systems are different than the US. If anyone would like to contribute, I'll change it.) After then we can do whatever we want – usually, that'd be homework, but not specifically cause we want to."
"Are they that bad?"
"Yep. Anyway, we sometimes have organized games – basketball, baseball, soccer. The kitchen's open whenever, so you can search for snacks any time. Dinner's usually at eight, in the cafeteria. The kitchen, I repeat, is open 24/7, so midnight snacks are always an option – nobody seems to really sleep in this place."
Amanda grinned. "I'm going to like it here."
"Are you going to teach? Ooh, Ricky Lake."
"I really have no clue. I'll have to talk to Professor Xavier. He said I could teach if I wanted to... The thing is, I don't think there's anything I could... I don't have a teacher's degree..."
"What did you do before you came here?" Kitty had settled on Ricky Lake and would not relinquish the remote control.
"I worked at a boring, fancy restaurant during the day..."
"And at night?"
"I was a bartender."
"Cool!"
"Yeah." Amanda suddenly felt depressed. "I've only been gone today so far, and I already miss it."
"We could always have a party – a school dance, if you will. Maybe for Halloween."
"Kitty, that's a great idea!" cried Amanda. She then spotted the beginnings of blue smoke in the air in front of Kitty. "A bit to the left, Kurt!" she hollered.
"Huh?" said Kitty. "What – hey!"
The tiny whiff of smoke had disappeared, and with a larger one, a bit to the left, Kurt materialized. "Guten Abend," he said. "How did you I was coming?"
"I saw the smoke," Amanda said simply. "Hey Kurt, Kitty had an idea just now."
Kurt grinned at the girl. "Do I want to know?"
Amanda laughed. "Don't worry; it's nothing dangerous. We just want to plan a Halloween party."
"A Halloween party? Not a bad idea. We could take the children shopping. They do need to get out sometimes..."
"Amen to that!" said Kitty. "Then it's settled. I'll bring it up at dinner. Which would be in ... ten minuets," she added, checking the clock on the wall.
"Ten minuets?" said Amanda. "I'd better get ready, then. Kurt, would you...?"
"Of course, Fräulein. Hold tight," he held out an arm. Amanda took it and said, "Bye, Kitty!" before the blue smoke hid them from view.