Part 3

They stare at me, of course. Not for how I look, however. It seems that everyone knows my mother; everyone knows and has an opinion. Everyone is watching me to see how I measure up. I do not think they like her.

The students stare openly and ask rude questions. I do not talk to my classmates; I never have. Teenagers are stupid, immature, evil, small minded, little slugs. I don't look at them with the contempt I feel, that would be rude. I will not stoop to their level. I smile softly, nod politely, sometimes even compliment the more revolting ones on their forms of dress. It saves having to listen.

The teachers are more difficult. They know my mother better. They have some right to ask things of me. I smile and nod but also have to listen. Listen to the blades below the surface, and the disgust behind their eyes. I have practice, however, for I went to school looking as I do now. The blades find nothing to cut. I do not fight them, I give in gracefully, perfectly. Soon they will give in and I will be left alone.

Yet that isn't true. They will leave but I do not think Mr. Summers will. Unlike my mother, who asks me every day after school how I am doing and then leaves me be, Mr. Summers sneaks up on me. He catches me in the hallway between classes. He knocks on my door after supper. He grills me, expecting more then I can give. What does he want? He confuses me. I almost feel afraid when I see him. When I fail will he tell my mother to send me away? Or did my mother even want me? Perhaps he found out about me and wanted to see her skeletons. Perhaps when he has learned what he wants he will discard me, and I'll return to the apartment, and a new housekeeper. It would be easier, I think. I will be glad when he is no longer stalking me.

Nicole's shell is as perfect as her crystal form. I can see no weakness, no way to get through to her. It's maddening! She wanders the halls with that damnable smile and smiles when you talk to her and says nothing, NOTHING, just murmurs polite responses. I am getting nowhere and losing more then I can afford to lose. I'm losing Emma.

The woman I love shut herself off even before Nicole got here. I'm not sure who she's more afraid of – Nicole or I. How can I get it through her head that I love her? If I could just get through to Nicole it might be okay, Emma would see that I love everything connected to her, but I'm getting nowhere. And Emma just smiles more and makes more nasty remarks to Kitty and I don't know what to do.

There goes the Mini-Ice-Queen. She's not in my Computers class, thank goodness. You'd think it was bad enough I have to deal with one of them but no, she comes and brings her progeny and Scott's just as brainless around the knock off. I don't know why everyone else doesn't realize he's brainwashed.

Cool it, Pryde. You've had a bad day and your being mean. You have no clue if the kid's as bad as the mother. The smile means nothing, you'd try to hide what you felt too, if everyone treated you like we're treating Nicole.

I should go say hi. Ask her how she's fitting in. Maybe I will.

I'm doing a very bad job of this. I'm colder towards her then I ever was before. I'll try again today. Actually listen to her answers instead of the mocking in my mind. I'll –

Katherine. She's headed towards Nicole. She's not treating MY daughter the way she treats me. Spoiled brat.

"Pryde, what a pleasant surprise."

Keep going Nicole, don't turn around.

"Frost, how good to see you."

"I see you've met my daughter. It's wonderful of you to notice another human being long enough to introduce yourself but I'm sure you have better things to do with your beloved computers."

She's watching us. Oh, Nicole, don't see me like this. Leave before one of us draws blood.

"Actually, I was just wondering if the little princess wanted an introduction to such an important part of all our lives. I noticed she didn't get the chance to join my class."

I need to walk away. As much as Logan's protégé deserves to be taken down a size, Nicole is being used as a weapon. That's the one thing I promised she would never be. Especially for a lowlife like Katherine.

"I'll be sure to talk to Scott about the horrible oversight. I'm sure it's impossible she simply wasn't interested. However, even if you aren't busy, I am. Come along Nicole."

You won't touch my daughter, Katherine Pryde. No one is going to touch Nicole.