-"That's all for today. Miss Lee, you stay."
Emma's gaze lingered at the paper young girls was holding. Having not done a single homework in quite a while, Jubilee has managed to get fifteen points for the test, instead of her usual thirty. Something Emma was not surprised by. That was exactly what she was aiming for after all. Now Jubilee was standing in front of her table, clearly not happy with the whole situation. Not that Emma cared.
-"I understand that it's too much to expect that you have read the school rules, miss Lee. In short your score is unacceptable. That means I'll have to waste my time to tutor you. And no need to thank me."
Or curse. Judging by emotions girls was radiating, the only reason she did nothing was her inability to decide whether to fry Emma with 'fireworks' or simply punch her. And that was called 'a proper training'! Thing certainly had to be changed.
-"Good. I'll be waiting for you here, tomorrow at six in the morning."
-"Six in the morning!"
At last something like a coherent reaction. The girl could be a little bit more grateful though. She was not the only one who'd have to stand up so early. That's what you get for helping others. One would think that was a lesson learned long ago.
-"It's good to know your hearing is fine, Miss Lee. You may go now."
Emma leaned back in her chair, making it clear the conversation was over. There was no way she was going to discuss her decision with anyone, especially the teenager it concerned. For once she was doing it by the Book. Jubilee must have read her expression correctly, for she turned around and headed to the door. Emma was not sure where did the girl learn all those words she was muttering under her breath, but the vocabulary was quite impressive.
Emma's relief from dealing with the problem was however very short-lived. Jubilee was a lot easier to deal with than she expected, but that still didn't mean she had nerves to spare. Certainly not when it came to dealing with Scott Summers, and especially not after last night. On the other hand she never ran away from her problems and she surely wasn't going to start now.
-"Emma? I hoped I'd find you here."
Emma really wanted to say she hoped for quite the contrary. Among other things. But acting impulsively last night was going to cost her too high as it was. There was no need to add another rash action to the list.
-"Where else could I be?"
Where else indeed? Not that she had anything to do except than to wait for another lesson to begin. And not that anyone was going to miss her. With mental effort Emma stopped her thoughts, which were clearly headed in the wrong direction. She had already decided that letting her control slip once was more than enough. Why did she have to keep repeating that to herself?
-"I don't know. Anywhere. That's not the point. About last night... Thank you for listening. And I'm sorry, I guess. I did hate you because of Jean's death, but that is in the past. It really is."
Pity. If she hated something more than she hated being vulnerable, it was being pitied. And by Scott Summers of all people. She had always known this man was nothing but trouble and problems. Well, so was she.
-"And it took you only ten hours to decide that. Should I be flattered?"
Even if she should, she wasn't. Instead she was angry. As Jubilee not long before that, Emma was torn between wanting to fry Scott's brain and wanting to scratch his eyes out. So what if his mutation made the latter completely impossible? One could dream.
-"As you wish. I thought you had to know, that's all. We can discuss it in full later tonight, I guess. If you feel like it, of course."
Emma could even imagine he really cared. If she forgot it was Scott Summers she was talking to. If she forgot he could never care about her. If she forgot he only felt guilty for not being perfect. She didn't need telepathy to know that. Emma only wished, her desire to forget all this wasn't that strong.
-"As much as I appreciate the offer to jump into the bed with you, Scott dear, I have to decline. Now close the door from the other side. I have work to do."
---
Emma did come to the kitchen this evening. Half-hoping she would find no one there. Half-hating herself for doing that. Drawn like a moth to a flame. She knew that but she couldn't stop.
That was exactly how Charles Xavier managed to persuade her. Emma had to be needed by someone. As much as she despised depending on someone, she tried to get others to depend on her. Tried and failed. It sometimes looked like if she would perish people would hardly even notice. And then she was offered teaching position in the Institute.
-"Emma. I hoped you'd change your mind."
Change her mind? Like she had any choice in that matter. That was probably what drug addition was like. She couldn't care less for Scott Summers and his life. It was just the feeling of someone waiting for her, actually needing her. It was just the feeling.
-"You hope too much, Scott. I'd advise to try some acting."
Emma took her already usual place at the table. Strange how it already felt as a routine. At moments like this she more than ever envied woman she had never seen. Jean Grey was loved, had loving family and somewhere to belong to. Jean Grey was someone Emma Frost was never going to be. Had a life she was never going to have.
-"So, Scott dear, what did you want to talk about?"
---
Emma had to literally scream at Jubilee, to get the girl out of bed. Telepathically scream, of course. Not that teenager appreciated that even a little bit. Right now she was staring into the book, clearly seeing nothing and counting seconds in her mind. Not exactly how Emma defined studying. But not an unexpected thing either.
-"Listen to me girl, because I am not going to repeat myself. You are going to forget the bigger part of this book content two minutes after the test and we both now it. But that is your problem entirely. The point of all this is to help you survive in the outside world. And for that you must at least learn how to think. Am I explaining it clearly enough?"
Emma was sure that wasn't exactly what Xavier meant. Or was exactly not what Xavier meant. She couldn't care less. And more importantly she actually seemed to get Jubilee's attention. Girl didn't say anything, but cautiously nodded.
-"Good. Considering your precious experience with humans, you should already know they don't like us. Hate us to be more precise. If you are thinking about ever living outside this school, you should remember that simple fact. And you should be better than them. Not stronger but better. Being smarter certainly comes in handy. And I'd really like to listen how are you intending to outsmart them, if you can't even understand what you are reading."
She fell silent. Jubilee's book lay on the desk forgotten, as its owner tried to think of some witty reply. Emma never loved pathetic speeches, but at least that one seemed to work.
-"You are talking like we are at war."
-"Because that's exactly how it is. Charles Xavier can dream of peaceful co-existence, but right now it is still war. Otherwise we would not be having this conversation, would we? Now, open your textbook and try to give it a chance. I really hate to have to wake up that early only to watch you daydreaming."
---
A/N:
Rift: Thank you, I'm trying. And unfortunately I don't have any English speaking friends, which makes it quitehardto find someone to check my grammar. Looks like you will have to suffer from my English. :)