Getting to know you
Mattie, Paige, Jubilee and Tabby trailed round after Jean, Scott and Emma.
"So. Do you think she, like telepathically read our minds?" Jubes asked.
"You mean does she know all the mean stuff that we were saying about her?" Tabby asked.
Jubilee nodded. "Yeah, that's pretty much my question."
Paige looked sheepish. "Is anyone else feeling really guilty?"
Mattie watched Emma. She was feeling extremely guilty about what they had said about Emma. Which was making her feel guilty for feeling guilty. Because the only reason that she was feeling guilty was because she may have got found out. And really if you were only feeling guilty for what you did because there was a possibility you were going to get caught, that was kind of wrong. You should feel bad because you felt bad. Not because you got caught.
"So if you have any questions just ask." Jean said. "And we'll leave you with these guys for now." She turned and smiled at the other girls.
"I'm so out of here." Tabby smiled brightly and headed off. Jubes gave an apologetic smile and followed suit.
Paige and Mattie exchanged glances.
"Be nice." Mattie muttered out the side of her mouth.
Paige glared at her them smiled at the approaching Emma. "Hi, there."
Emma smiled back. "We have home room together don't we?"
Mattie nodded. "Yeah, so how was your first day?"
Emma made a face. "You know school. Not exactly the highlight of anyone's day."
Paige grinned. "Ain't that the truth."
Slightly more relaxed now the two students showed Emma to the Rec room.
"So how come you're not living here?" Mattie asked. "I thought it was pretty much mandatory."
Emma shrugged. "My parents are moving into town so I guess there was no need for me to move in. I take it you guys all have homes somewhere else?"
Both girls nodded, Paige with particular vigour.
"So where do you live?" Paige asked.
"We're still looking." Emma told them. "So at the moment we have the penthouse at the Strand."
Mattie and Paige's eyebrows shot up. "You're living in the penthouse?" Mattie asked incredulously.
"Talk about dream come true." Paige added.
Emma shrugged. "It's alright. Doesn't ever feel like home though. You know what I mean?"
"Can't say I've ever had the chance to find out." Paige said with a grin.
"You so have to have us over some time." Mattie said.
"Way to go, Mattie." Paige laughed at her room mate's lack of tact. "Invite yourself why don't you."
Mattie grinned back at her. "I was just saying what you were thinking." She turned to Emma. "Back me up here. She was thinking that, right?"
Emma shrugged.
"Come on." Mattie argued. "You do that, right? The whole reading minds, seeing what people are thinking. Must be kinda cool."
"I don't just go around reading everyone." Emma said. "But it can come in handy when I'm talking to people. What they say and what they're thinking is usually totally different."
Paige screwed up her face. "That must suck. Hearing what's really going on inside people's heads."
Mattie nodded. "Like when I pretend to be interested when Paige tells me about her dreams."
"Hey!" Paige threw a cushion at her.
"So can you make people think things? Like the Professor can?" Mattie asked.
Emma nodded. "But I'm nowhere as good as he is. Mostly I can make taxi drivers think that I've paid." She grinned. "Or teachers think that I've handed in my homework already."
"I want that power." Paige sighed.
"So what about you." Emma gestured at Paige and Mattie. "I'm guessing that you both have your own skills."
Mattie nodded. "Watch." She raced across the room and back in a blur. "Cool, hu?"
Paige rolled her eyes. "Fishing for compliments, much?"
Mattie stuck out her tongue at her. "Go on then, Husk. Impress us."
Emma's brow furrowed. "Husk?"
"Code name." Paige explained. "Didn't the Professor give you one?"
Emma shook her head.
Mattie shrugged. "Maybe you can come up with one yourself."
"What's yours?" Emma asked her.
"Chase. Pretty self explanatory really."
"Mine's Husk, cause I can do this." Paige ripped the skin off the length of her arm to reveal grey granite underneath.
Mattie wrinkled her nose. "It's a bit much when you're not expecting it."
Emma struggled to regain her composure. "Next time, could you warn me."
"It can be anything." Paige said. "Gold, marble, glass, diamond, stone."
"Now who's showing off." Mattie said, rolling her eyes. "We get it. Your power is cool."
Paige grinned at her then turned to Emma. "You're turn. What am I thinking right now?"
Emma gazed at her for a moment then smiled. "You want chocolate ice cream."
"What a fantastic idea." Paige agreed.
"Last one there gets the leftovers!" Mattie yelled as she dashed out the room.
Paige started after her, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Emma was following. "If we don't get there soon the speed demon will have scoffed the lot."
On the way they past Jaime who was picking hiselves up off the floor. "Why is Mattie in such a hurry?" He asked.
"Chocolate ice cream." Paige told him.
Mattie was already tucking into the Ben and Jerry's when the other two girls reached the kitchen. But she had thoughtfully laid out two extra spoons on the side.
Paige snatched the tub out her hand and offered some to Emma. "You'll have to excuse her manners, Mattie become a little feral when it comes to chocolate."
Grinning, Mattie growled.
"Nut." Paige told her, taking a spoonful of the ice cream.
Kitty phased straight through the kitchen wall making Emma jump. "If Lance calls, I am so totally like not here." She said continuing on her way, straight through the opposite wall. Emma stared after her like she'd seen a ghost. A bust of sulpha announced the appearance of Kurt, Rogue had her gloved hand on his shoulder.
"Katzchen?" Kurt asked.
Mattie pointed a chocolaty spoon at the far wall and Kurt and Rogue disappeared in another cloud of sulpha.
Emma turned to them. "Does this ever become normal?"
Paige and Mattie exchanged glances. "Yes."
"And much soon than you think." Paige reassured her.
Besides, it's kinda cool really." Mattie added. "Being able to just do what we do. Without having to hide it."
Paige nodded at Mattie. "Yeah, I noticed you were a little speedy at school today."
Mattie frowned. "It just seems so slow. Good think we didn't have track today." She glanced over at Emma. "Do you ever have trouble hiding you're thing?"
Emma shook her head. "Not really. Mostly I just have to make sure that I respond to what people say rather than what they are thinking."
Paige threw her spoon into the melting ice cream. "Where is Bobby when you need him?"
Mattie shrugged.
Emma put her spoon down. "I'd better be going anyway. Thanks for showing me round."
"Well we didn't really." Paige said.
"Next time we'll do a better job." Mattie promised.
The two of them showed Emma out to her car, a light blue convertible.
"Love the car." Mattie, ran her hand over the body-work. "I bet it goes well, too."
Paige rolled her eyes, but she was staring admiringly at the car as well.
Emma slide in behind the wheel. "I'll have to take you guys out in it some time."
She started the car and waved as she drove off. "See you at school."
"Well?" Mattie demanded as she and Paige waved goodbye.
"I might have judged her harshly." Paige conceded. "But you have to admit that the girl we just chatted to is very different to the girl from the mall."
Mattie nodded as they headed back inside. "True. But I guess we act differently when we're here to how we do anywhere else. Maybe she acts like that when she's nervous."
"That's her nervous?" Paige asked incredulously.
"She's a telepath. Picking up on people's feelings. Maybe it's a way to deal."
Paige frowned. "I'm not sure. But I'll agree with you that she's not as bad as I thought she was."
X
Bobby sat in his History class. Not much longer now. Only five minuets left. He could last that long. Five minuets left till this torture was over and then it was lunch. He could barely believe that it was only the second day back at school. Already it felt like years. The teachers droned, the seconds dragged and the homework was stacking up.
Across the room he could see Emma. Mattie had filled him in on what she and Paige had found out about her. He'd got the general feel that the girls we're overly keen on Emma. But then he could see how she might have got their backs up. It was hard not to notice her. The boys certainly noticed her. And the girls noticed the boys noticing her. Plus she was a telepath. So the chances were that Emma herself noticed the boys and the reaction it created in the girls. It would take a lot of self-control not to play with that. But then that's what the Institute was for, to teach self-control.
Emma's head was bowed over her book studiously. Busy ignoring Lance Alvers who was blatantly trying to attract her attention. After a quick glance at the teacher Lance leaned over towards Emma, whispering her name. Emma turned away from him her eyes darting away from any eye contact. She caught Bobby's gaze. Bobby looked away quickly, embarrassed to be caught staring.
Well that was friendly! He chastised himself, looking over at Emma again and giving her a quick smile. Emma rolled her eyes in Lance's direction. Bobby gave her a sympathetic smile. Lance was a pain at the best of times, even worse when he was attempting flirtation. Attempting being the operative word.
The bell rang for the end of class and the classroom erupted into noise as the students all made a break for freedom.
Outside the room Lance was waiting for Emma. "Hey. I was wondering if you wanted to do something after school." He said falling into step with the blonde.
"I think you'll find I'm busy." Emma told him.
"What about tomorrow?" Lance asked.
"Busy." Emma replied.
"Day after?"
"Busy."
"Weekend?"
"Busy."
"I think you're boring the lady, Alvers." Bobby said, stepping up behind him.
"Back of Iceprick." Lance glared at him.
Bobby rolled his eyes. "And just how long did it take you to come up with that one?" He gave a sigh. "You just can't get decent repartee these days."
"I ain't interested in talking to you."
"Well I can't say I'm interested in talking to you either."
"So back off, this has got nothing to do with you."
Bobby glared at him. "It's the second day. Could we not let this go."
"You wanna go?" Lance growled, his fists clenching. Bobby felt the now all to familiar trembles that indicated Lance's power. He glanced around him. People were everywhere. Nobody had noticed anything yet, but that would all change if Lance really decided to kick off. He tensed, he had to stop it before it got that far.
Lance scowled, but he must have caught something off Bobby's look. He glanced around him, then relaxed his posture slightly. "This ain't over." He said glaring at Bobby and giving Emma one last look, then he stalked off.
"Thanks." Emma said. She looked up at him. "You're one of Xavier's lot aren't you."
"I'm Bobby."
"I hadn't realised he was a mutant." Emma said staring after the departing Lance.
Bobby checked around him to see if anyone had heard her.
Emma clamped a hand over her mouth. "Sorry." She too looked around to see if she'd been overheard. The rest of the student body past them by. Totally uncaring. Emma smiled at him. "I guess now I know where to go when I need a knight in shining armour."
Bobby grinned. "Anytime."
They started walking, Bobby leading the way towards the canteen. Emma sighed. "Next time I'll be more careful before I piss people off."
"Well I might not always be about to do my noble knightly duty." Bobby said with a smirk.
"I'm not a complete damsel in distress." Emma told him. "I could have made him think that he was a toad. Half the work was done for me in any case."
Bobby chucked. "Now I'm sorry I interrupted. I would pay good money to see Alvers hopping around."
"So I'm guessing that he doesn't live with you at Xaviers."
Bobby shook his head. "Thank god."
Emma glanced around at the now all but deserted hallway. "But you are…" She looked at him, a mutant. Her sentence finished in his head.
Bobby blinked in surprise, then he reminded himself that she was a telepath after all. He nodded. "Iceman. Guess what my power is?"
Emma smiled. "The key is in the title."
"So have you got a name yet?"
"Not yet. I can't think of one that suits."
"What is it with you telepaths?" Bobby asked. "I mean the Professor is just the Professor. And Jean is Jean. You're Emma. Is it something about reading minds that stops you coming up with a code name?"
Emma shrugged. "I don't know. I'm sure I'll come up with something eventually. I just don't want anything lame. You know."
The walked into the canteen and were hit by the wall of sound. The student body of Bayville High discussed the topics of the day.
Mattie spotted them and waved. Bobby grinned while Emma waved back.
"I see you've already met Mats then."
Emma nodded. "She and Paige showed me round a bit."
"With Mats talking nineteen to the dozen I'm betting." Bobby said with a smile.
Emma studied him for a second. "Girlfriend?"
Bobby flushed slightly. "That obvious?"
Emma shrugged.
"You get that from in here?" Bobby tapped his head.
Emma gave him a smile. "You kinda project it actually."
Bobby hung his head in mock shame. "Don't tell the guys. I'll never live it down."
Emma smiled. "My lips are sealed."
They made their way over to the table where the other squeezed up to make room for them.
"Good day?" Bobby asked Mattie as he sat down.
"Oh, you know." Mattie shrugged. "Second verse…"
"Same as the first." Several of the others chorused before turning back to their own conversations.
"How was yours?" Mattie asked Emma.
Emma shrugged, watching Mattie help herself to Bobby's fries. "Still a bit strange really."
Bobby slapped Mattie's hand away. "She had an encounter with Lance."
"He wanted to go on a date with me." Emma said.
Mattie made a face. "As if."
Emma nodded. "Pretty much my reaction too. But Lance took offence to that."
"You know what he's like." Bobby said.
Mattie nodded. "The Brotherhood are so very lame."
"He stepped in to see Lance off for me." Emma told her.
Mattie beamed at Bobby, clasping her hands together in mock rapture. "Our hero!"
Bobby shoved a handful of fries in her mouth. "Only way to shut her up." He told Emma while Mattie glared at him.
X
His lungs were bursting. But he never even thought of stopping for a second. His hand tightened on Abby's to keep her with him. He didn't need to turn to know that it was still coming after them.
"Michael." Abby gasped, pulling at him, slowing him down.
"Abby! Come on!" He glanced back at her, to see her face, to encourage her to run.
"Michael!"
Too late, he missed her warning and tripped on the curb. He went down hard on his ankle, his own momentum forcing him over.
"Shit." He tried to stand and yelped in pain.
"Michael. Are you okay?" Abby was beside him in an instant.
"Abby, go! You have to keep going."
She shook her head furiously. "I'm not leaving you." She told him firmly, her eyes shifting rapidly from purple to brown and back again.
Michael leaned on her as he struggled to pull himself up. Behind them they heard the thud of a footstep.
Abby's eyes flashed white. "We have to run."
They ran again, Michael leaning heavily on her, his arm draped across her shoulders. They were going too slow. He could hear the thud behind him. If she left him… She might have a chance.
"Abby. You have to leave me here."
"Don't be stupid." She didn't stop running.
"Abby, it is going to catch us. If you go you stand a chance of getting away."
"Shut up."
"Abby. Listen to me. You have to leave me here."
"Shut. Up."
He focused on running, forcing himself to go faster despite the pain. He realised he couldn't hear anything behind them. Was it possible they had outrun it?
"Destroy."
It loomed in front of them like something out of a nightmare. Easily six feet tall, red eyes glaring at them.
"Designation mutant. Destroy." A bolt of energy shot out at them. They split apart, diving for cover.
Michael scooted backwards on his hands, trying to get some distance. The red eyes swept over him. Then moved to his right where Abby lay. Her eyes met his, this time they were red. When would they ever fix on a colour? Were they red now to match the ones staring at her? Or was there something else that decided the colour? Sometimes he could almost work out a pattern. They were nearly always purple when she was angry with him. Brown when she was scared. Other times… They seemed to change almost on her whim. He shook himself. Now was not the time to be wondering.
He watched Abby's red eyed glare meet the uncaring stare.
"Designation mutant. Destroy."
"Abby!"
She rolled. Just in time she rolled out the way. The blast of energy scorching the ground where she'd been.
"Abby." He reached out for her, she was closer to him now. Brown eyes met his. Dark brown, she was so scared. And there was nothing he could do. Grabbing the wall he forced himself to stand up.
"Michael." She sprang to her feet beside him. "It's after me."
She was right. He shook his head. "No."
She nodded. Green eyes, that meant trouble. "Run. I'll distracted it."
"Abby!" He grabbed for her but she was already gone. Jumping and waving her arms, calling out to attract it's attention.
Another blast. He threw himself at her, knocking her out the way. It hit him. Pain shot across his side. They landed in a heap, he couldn't even move to get off her. She was pinned underneath him, staring up at him. Her eyes shifted colours. "Michael!"
Mutant. That was what it kept saying. He stared at her. Mutant. That would explain her eyes.
"Destroy."
It was all the warning they had. And it wasn't enough.