BACK TO SCHOOL
CHAPTER 7: ONE LONG DAY
-NYU-
Jean was just going to her first class it was a genetics course as she walked into the room. It was the usual type of class room with multiple levels with rows of seats. She breathed a sigh of relief as she felt that most of the students didn't even know who she was.
She felt no fear, hatred or bigotry from anyone or any of the looks she got in Bayville. She nearly felt like crying at being just a normal student again. She felt a few curious looks and guessed that they might know who she was, when your face gets plastered on the news a few times people tended to notice.
She sat down at an empty seat and took out her books she didn't notice who was the teacher at the moment but she was looking forward to this. "Hey this seat taken?" Came a friendly voice and she looked up at a brown haired teen that seemed kind of familiar but she couldn't place him.
"Oh no, please have a seat," She said happily as he sat down next to her. 'Why does he seem so familiar?'
He noticed her looking at her, "What? I got something on my face?" The boy asked her with a smile.
"Oh sorry," She hadn't realized that she had been staring, "It's just that you seem kind of familiar."
He looked at her and then snapped his fingers, "Oh yeah. You and the others were at the science showing with Doc Connors." Then it was Jean's turn to remember that day. It was when Amanda got her powers, Rogue gained control, they met that new hero Spider-Man for the first time and Doc Connors had turned himself in that Lizard creature. Then she remembered this person there taking pictures, she remembered because he didn't seem to have a problem with mutants.
"Oh yes, I'm sorry but…What was your name again?" She felt a bit bad at not remembering.
He only laughed and smiled at her extending his hand for a handshake that she eagerly took, "Peter Parker."
"Jean Grey," She smiled back and shook his hand. "So do you know who we have for out teacher?"
Peter only smiled at her, "Oh I think you know him." She was puzzling over that when the teacher stepped in and her jaw dropped. It was Doc Connors, the same scientist that Amanda's parents knew and missing an arm.
'It figures that even out of high school my life wouldn't be normal,' Jean thought to herself. Having a professor that could turn into a rampaging lizard monster was definitely something she had not expected to happen. She was just glad that the only other person she met was normal at least. She wondered how the others were doing?
As for the others, Scott wasn't doing to bad in his first class. So far he got a few looks but that might be from his shades, plus a few girls might have just thought he was cute or something. It was just so odd for him to be considered a 'normal' guy again. It was kind of making him uneasy as she kept expecting the other shoe to drop. For Forge he was having a pretty good time, sure he was younger then everyone else there but he had been meeting a few people and when they got talking about science and technology he had finally found some people who were actually understanding what he was talking about for once.
Plus the fact that they seemed to take him as some genius kid (which he was) was kind of cool to have people respect his mind. Then there was something else, sure his old 'disco ways' as some of the others made people think he was slightly odd. But at least now he found some people that he could start to relate to a bit more. He already had plans to talk with a few of his classmates during lunch to talk about a few theories and stuff. Sufficient to say Forge had never been happier.
As for Warren he was learning the usual business stuff. Although he wished he didn't have to share classes with that Emma Frost woman. He had been extremely surprised to see her there from the when she walked into the room. He didn't start something but he would tell the others about this, he didn't trust this woman at all. Other then that he pretty much kept to himself a bit, he had a break during classes so he was walking around campus getting used to the place although his wings were getting a little cramped.
He had hidden them under clothing like usual after tying them down but it still bothered him, he couldn't wait to get back to the mansion and let them loose maybe go for a little flying during lunch or something just to loosen them up at least. He was too deep in thought to look where he was going that he nearly walked into a woman as she came out of a corner right in front of him. "Whoa, sorry." He said jerking back just in time.
"Hey no problem…Warren!" She asked him and Warren's eyes widened in surprise at the beautiful woman with long dark hair, in a nice skirt and blouse number.
He couldn't believe it was her, it was Candy Southern a girl he used to date at a private prep school before he was switched to another one. She had grown in those years and he swore she looked even better then ever and that she actually could recognize him, "Candy? Wow it's been a long time."
She smiled at him, this was certainly something she never expected to happen. "Yeah I'll say, you just kind of disappeared one day."
Warren felt bad about that, when his wings had started to grow it was getting harder and harder to hide them. So he had left and one of the things he regretted was never telling her he had just thought that it would be easier. He lowered his head a bit, "Yeah…sorry about that but…well…things kind of happened and…"
She cocked her head at him, she had never seen him like this before. It was obvious to her that something had changed him he seemed different, "Hey Warren are you okay?"
"Yeah, well kind of…it's complicated." He still couldn't believe it was her.
She linked her arms in his, "Well then you can at least make it up to me by telling me what you have been up to all this time."
He really did want to tell her, hell he missed her after all this time he still missed her. But he didn't know how much he should tell her and how she would react to him being a mutant. She could see him thinking things over, you didn't spend so much time with someone and not get to know them. "Hey come on, you know we were close and I thought we used to tell each other everything?"
He sighed, she always did know how to make a point. "I want to, and trust me it killed me not telling you what was going on…But I had some very personal thing to take care in my life. Even my parents didn't take the news to well when I told them."
Candy looked at him strangely, "Oh god you're gay aren't you?"
"What?"
"I never knew why I didn't see it, I mean the sighs were all there."
"What signs?" Then he saw her smirking and even he had to laugh, "Damn it, I hate it when you do that you have too good a poker face until the end."
She laughed at him and he had to admit it was nice hearing that laugh again. "Well come on, we can talk and you don't have to tell me at least not now. Then later on you can buy me lunch."
"Buy you lunch?" He asked amused at her.
She rose and eyebrow, "Well you better. I was first worried sick and then pissed at you for months when you just left like that. No word, no forward address, so you better start making it up to me."
"So buying you lunch will make you forgive me."
"Hell no," She told him but then gave him a small smile, "But it's a start."
-Bayville-
Paige so far was finding high school a bit intimidating but given all that she had been through in the past few months this wasn't so bad. So far she shared at least a few classes with Jamie so they sat together in it. Although she did try and make some friends it wasn't easy, she put her stuff away in her locker as she went for the lunch break. She checked her jeans for some cash for the cafeteria and made her way there.
While walking the halls she saw Jamie there walking the sides trying to avoid al the people. She smiled seeing him and also felt a bit bad how he had to keep avoiding people in case he hit them too hard. Sure his powers were fun but it was at times like this seeing how hard he was working in not hitting anything hard with she saw just how hard a time he had with it sometimes.
She walked up to him, "Hey Jamie," she said smiling at him.
Jamie smiled broadly seeing her. So far he had worse days but this hadn't been that good either. A few teachers he didn't like and of course some hit him with a spit ball making him split in class. Thankfully he pulled himself together for the teacher saw him when his back was turned. But seeing her again really helped. He still couldn't believe he had a girlfriend and a cute one at that, she was really fun too.
"Hey, how was the day so far with you?" He asked her and heard her sigh, "Ah, sounds like my day too."
"Well then let's get some lunch at least." She told him and gently took his hand. He blushed a bit but held it back. They were just nearly on their way there when a large person with short red hair got in their way.
"Well look here, the runts of the litter," Beef of the Hellions said with crossed arms and grinning at them.
"What do ya want?" Paige asked him harshly knowing that with him it wouldn't be something good.
"Spunky little one ain't ya?" He said to her as he towered over the two of them, "Well how about your lunch money and I won't pound ya both into next week?"
"You wouldn't dare use your powers," Jamie said standing up to him.
He just laughed, "Have you two seen yourselves? I don't need my powers unlike you two runts."
Paige went to grip her arm but Jamie stopped her and shook his head. He knew she was going to make her arm into something hard but he really didn't want to get in trouble on the first day like this. Beef made a move to them when he stopped a bit and looked curious at them. "Ah who the hell cares, this isn't much of a challenge anyway."
He walked away leaving them stunned and then they saw someone else walking up to them. They saw Gale there and wondered if the blue haired empathic healer had done something to him. Gale had seen Beef there but no one else was around. She didn't want there to be any trouble and she knew that powers in school weren't allowed but this was a special case.
Since her empathic powers weren't noticeable she had to try it. So she sent as much sensations in his head to make him just really bored with bullying those two. It gave her a bit of a headache to try it though. Xavier and Jean had been telling her that over time her powers could get stronger and more refined. Even though she was just starting to know how to mess with the emotions of others, it was still a major strain for her.
"Hey you two okay?" She asked them feeling the pain in her brain start to go away already.
"Oh yeah," Jamie spoke up first, "Did you do something to him?"
She just shrugged, "Just made him a bit bored is all."
"That is so cool," Paige smiled at her. Gale smiled a bit, she preferred the more peaceful ways anyway. Even though she was learning to use self-defence she preferred to use violence as a last resort. Also she had started a few training regiment now with fighting sticks by Vince and Kai since those two were helping with the martial arts training now.
She didn't like to cause pain in others but she knew how to be practical too, that didn't mean she liked it. Gale wanted to help people and not harm them. "Well let's go and meet the others for lunch, what do you two say?"
They didn't have a problem for it. Along the way thought Gale noticed someone else, the familiar blond hair of Amy McKnight. She felt a little pain seeing her talking to a few other girls but was thankful that she didn't notice her. They had been kind of giving each other their own space since Amy wasn't up to coming out as gay.
It sill kind of hurt but not so much as the last relationship Gale had ended thankfully. She pinched the bridge of her nose for a moment, "Hey you okay?" Paige asked seeing her do that.
Gale nodded her head as she composed herself, "I'm okay…Just…felt a bit of pressure on my mental walls. Haven't been in a building with so many people for so long and it's just kind of building a pressure up in my head."
"Oh, is it bad?" Jamie had seen from the past that mutants with mental powers had a hard time. He remembered seeing Jean with headaches now and then through the years.
Gale sighed, "Not too bad…Other then I pick up a few of the more nastier emotions around here."
All three mutants walked on in silence as both Paige and Jamie felt a bit bad for her. They could see it when someone was scared of them, hated them or just didn't care. But for Gale to actually feel it had to be even worst since it had to be much more personal. They couldn't even begin to imagine what it had to be like for her at times like this.
Gale tried not to feel what they were feeling but being so close didn't help. She wasn't sure what she hated feeling more from people, their hated or their pity.
-NYU-
Later that day Jean was on her way to meet Scott for lunch in the quad, she was alone in a small path to it when she saw a couple of guys moving towards her. From the negative thoughts they were projecting she knew there was trouble. "Hey there red, me and my buddies here herd you were a mutant, tell me that true?" The one in the middle asked as and the look and creepy smile on his face made Jean's face darken.
She was tempted to just throw them aside but she had to restrain herself she couldn't bring too much attention to herself. Besides all that hand to hand training Logan put them through was for a reason as she shifted her weight. "That's none of your business, now let be through."
"Oh yeah she's one of them all right," The one on the left with an Anarchy T-shirt on. "Now why would they let mutie trash like you in here is beyond me."
"Maybe we should send her the message that we don't want her kind here?" The other in a jacket said and then they started to move on her.
"I'm warning you, keep away from me," She figured she had to give them one warning but she also wasn't going to be intimidated by people like this for the rest of her life. One of them grabbed her arm an she quickly kneed him in the groin knowing that would keep him down for a bit.
"Get her!" The middleman shouted and one of them managed to grab the ring on the chain she kept on her. It broke off and she saw him take it, the ruby ring that Scott had given to her. She felt her anger rise up and went to take it back when the last one came up from behind her and grabbed her arms.
"Let me go!" She shouted out struggling and was about to use her powers when the one that grabbed her ring necklace was turned around and then hit across the jaw by a new comer. Both Jean and the man holding her froze a moment when they saw a handsome man with long dark hair and very fine dark clothing had just knocked the man out with a single punch.
Jean realized that the one holding her was stunned and then stomped on his foot. He yelled out as she managed to get a arm free and then elbowed him in the gut. He fell to his knees grabbing his gut as he started coughing. The man that had come to help her gently took her arm, "I believe we should leave now."
Jean didn't want anymore trouble and quickly gathered her things but it was a moment before she remember something, "Oh god my ring, I have to go back for it."
The stranger stopped her gently and smiled at her, "No worries I have it, I figured it had to be yours." He opened his hand and she was happy to see it there. He gave it back to her and Jean was very relived to have it back. "That must mean a lot to you."
Jean nodded her head, the chain was broken but she could get another one, "Yes it does. Thank you for everything."
He nodded his head like a gentleman towards her, "It was duty…and my pleasure, miss…"
"Oh Jean, Jean Grey…and you are?"
He gave a small bow with a hand over his stomach, "Shinobi Shaw," He introduced himself and took her free hand and brought it up to his lips to kiss it. "And I am just glad that you are unhurt. Men like that give the rest of us a bad name and I hope on behave of my gender you accept my apology."
His voice was silky smooth and his movements were so refined. Jean actually found herself blushing a bit from him kissing her hand a bit but composed herself. She looked into his eyes and features and found that he was a very handsome man indeed and a gentleman too. She quickly pushed such thoughts aside her heart belonged to another. But there was something about this man that held an allure that much she would admit.
"Well anyway thank you again and don't worry I'm well aware that not all men are like that," She smiled as they walked on.
Shinobi smiled at her with his best one, "Ah I take it there is a man in your life then? Well if so he is very lucky. I can tell you are no ordinary woman, with beauty and brains."
She looked at him confused, "How could you know that?"
He pointed at her books, "Not everyone takes medicine as their major." Jean blushed feeling a bit of a fool not thinking of that. "So tell me about yourself miss Grey, I'm new to the area had I wish to get to know a few other people."
For a minute Jean considered this but he had helped her out and he seemed like a very nice man. And truth was she could use more friends outside of the Institute as her friendship with Taryn was still rebuilding. So Jean decided to give this strange man a chance. Little did she know that under that pleasant face and his under his strong mental shielding, he was grinning to himself.
He had paid those fools to attack her, he made it worth their wild to get a little roughed up so they wouldn't go to the authorities. He just needed an opening with her and he got it. He had to admit this was very fun and she was a very beautiful woman. Perhaps she could eventually drive her away from that boy Emma seemed infatuated with and to him? He wouldn't be opposed to having a woman like her in his life that was for sure, plus it was always good to get a foot in the door of your enemy's home as well.
Scott was sitting in the quad waiting for Jean, he wanted to hear her day was going when he felt someone near him. "Well out here alone are we darling? Where is that so called girlfriend of yours?" He knew that voice it was Emma Frost his own personal stalked it seemed.
"I prefer predator then stalker," She told him and he scowled at her. She was of course dressed to kill and all in white as usual.
"Stay out of my head," Scott threatened her.
She just smiled and leaned down a bit showing a bit more cleavage then he was comfortable with, "Oh don't be like that I just want to be friends with you Mr. Summers."
He somehow thought that her definition of 'friend' might be different then his own. "Yeah like those little attacks of yours?"
"Okay I'd admit that was over the top but they weren't my call," She told him with a serious expression, "The people that fund us and that Selene woman wanted to test the Hellions against some of the best and that's you. I must admit you people really did a lot better then I'd thought. I underestimated you and I must admit you are one very good leader."
Scott wasn't sure if he should be flattered or not by this. With Lance he had known where they had stood, they didn't like each other and that was it but with Emma it was much more complicated. "And Selene took it upon herself and just between you and me…I never liked that woman. I really wish someone else had been put in charge but you can't pick who you work for there." She sighed and sat down next to him, "I'm not such a bad person you know. I too don't like what's happening out there with mutants now, I'm sure you've seen some of the news."
Scott nodded he had and some of it sickened him, "But we fight for peaceful coexistence with humans and mutants."
She gave him a pity smile that you'd use for children who just didn't get the truth of something, "That's a nice dream it really is but that's all it is. A dream, I'm a realist Scott and I just want to make sure we survive the twenty first century. I want to stop innocent mutants getting murdered in the streets and I will stop it Scott. Now we have different points of views and ways of going about it but we both fight for mutants."
"I don't work for some single man trying to conquer the world under an iron fist like Magneto. We're just doing what you can't or won't do. I know how that sounds but there have to be two sides to everything, the world isn't black and white…there is a LOT of grey area out there," Emma looked past Scott and smiled.
"Well speaking of Grey…Looks like your 'girlfriend' there has met a new man in her life."
Scott whipped his head around and saw Jean being pretty friendly with this other man. He didn't really like how close he was to her and when Jean laughed at something he felt a bit of jealously at that moment. Emma grinned as she gently 'pushed' a few emotions in Scott nothing major just a little and very lightly. Especially the ones that he was already feeling at the moment.
"Well now isn't he a very handsome fellow, careful darling or someone else may come in a sweep her off her feet." Emma grinned as she left him alone. She noticed Shaw made his excuse to leave and Jean actually looked a bit sorry to see him go. She knew that the red head would, Shinobi was very good at charming women but he always just used them and even when you thought you meant something to him then you find out you didn't.
'Well no matter, while he works on her I'll work on Scott and I'd say this was a very nice start.' Emma thought as she walked away from it all.
-Outside of Bayville-
Later that day in the middle of the night several tanker trucks were going through Bayville and no one really noticed them at all. No one would seeing as they were just ordinary trucks and the only markings were of Spears Inc. It was the same company that Guy Spears owned and operated.
At the moment they were heading towards the Bayville water treatment center, it was the main part of the city's water system. It was used to clean and filter water from the sewers as well as pressure measurement. The trucks were lead through the main gate as they headed towards the facility.
They followed the lead truck as it headed to a main water line on the far edge of the place. They trucks stopped and the men got out of it. They wore the simple uniforms of Spears Inc.
"Hey what are in these things anyway?" One of them asked taking out the connecting hose as he attached it to the tanker and his partner helped him carry the heavy hose to the main line to the sewer system.
"I have no idea, all they said was that we were treating the water with a new solution."
"You mean like how the government spikes water supplies with stuff to help keep people healthy?" The first one asked as he started to open the security seal on the pipe.
"You mean like fluoridation?"
"Huh?"
"It's kind of what we're doing."
The other one just shrugged, "Hell if I know, all I know is that we're getting paid overtime for this and that's all I need to know." They continued working as another truck went to pump their contents into the clean water being pushed out into the city. None of them knew exactly what they were pumping but no one really cared. They were just being paid for a job and thought nothing of it.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 8: TROUBLE IN BAYVILLE