500 Miles
Complications II
By Princess Alexandria
"Well, I graded their tests." Christy swept into Emma's office and sat down with a sigh in front of Emma's desk. "Why I got a margin full of doodles on Jubilee's paper is a mystery, but I now know that she likes wolves and likes to draw people about to get an anvil to the head. We should limit her cartoon watching time."
"How did they do?" Emma set her own pen down and gave Christy her full attention. It was nice to be able to walk right in and talk to Emma for a change.
"Pretty good. Paige works too hard and writes too much for every answer and Angelo is the king of conciseness. Jubilee rambles off topic, but still gets all the main points…"
"So you seem to be getting pretty much what I do." Emma waved a hand at her papers. She picked up one thicker report. "I try to explain to Paige that more is not necessarily better, but she has yet to listen."
"What's that on?" Christy eyed the grading nightmare, glad it wasn't hers.
"Business." Emma sighed. If Christy got a report that large from an employee she would have sent it back. She didn't have time to read filler.
"Why don't you make her edit it?" Christy reached out to take the report from Emma's hands. "I would." She glanced at the report with Monet's name on it and it was not nearly this size. That girl always fulfilled all the requirements. "Tell her you won't grade this, just like if she was working for you, you wouldn't read it." Christy flipped through the pages of over explained paragraphs and then closed it with a sigh. "If this was a proposal I'd just say no."
"You seem rather upset about my workload." Emma chuckled.
"I assigned a report today and I don't want one of these." Christy shook the offending report.
"Paige is probably in the library right now." Emma took the report back. "Maybe you should talk to her. You might have better luck."
Christy got up and moved to the door a little faster than normal and she just grinned at Emma's laughing at her. She was going to stop that girl. First she went to her office and called Altered Realities. The fax machine hummed for a while before she grabbed the pile of papers and headed out the door.
"Paige?" Christy noticed the blonde girl's head over a book. A glance at the page showed that Paige was already working on the report for her class.
"Yes Ms. Taylor?"
"You like extra assignments don't you?" She sat down across from Paige and watched the curious expression in her eyes. "Do you think you have some time to help me out? I've been having a problem with my employees."
"This is for Altered Realities?" Paige sat up straighter. "How can I help?" It was no secret Paige was interested in business.
Christy hid a grin and set the two example reports she'd had faxed over on the table. "All CEO's have limited time to read reports. Mine is more limited than others." She held up the much larger report first. "My division supervisor sent me this." She waited until Paige had a moment to flip through the pages, before looking up with a confused expression on her face. "It's too big. If I sent that on to my partners they wouldn't read it and I wouldn't get the things she's asking for. I can't take the time to edit her work every month." Christy grabbed the larger report and had a look of disgust on her face. "This isn't what we do in business. She has all the details, she outlines her reasoning, the endless pros and cons. It's too much. She worked us right out of getting what she's asking for."
"She wrote too much? But how else will you know if what she's asking for is needed?"
"I have several departments sending me reports. Several departments asking for things, giving ideas, needing money." Christy held up the other report, the much smaller one. "A report like this one is what most CEO's will pick up first to read. I can take care of the needs of this department quickly and time is at a premium. If I got a pile of reports like this one and then one huge one I'd read the smaller ones first, between appointments and projects and approve them. Then when I had three hours in a row to kill I might attempt to read the larger report. That would be after everything else, and if I'd already used up the budget that report wouldn't get anything, regardless of the detailed explanations." She was exaggerating a little, but she could see Paige starting to think. "What I need is for you to compare these two reports and how they go about asking for what they need. Then I need a concise report explaining to my new supervisor why she needs to redo this and how she can go about doing it."
"You want me to do that?" Paige had a slight smile on her face.
"Yes. If we don't teach her she'll never go anywhere in business, and she'll never know why."
"Oh I will do a good job of this." Paige started to pull both reports closer.
"Remember, teach by example. Your report needs to be like what I'd expect of her."
"Oh it will be Ms. Taylor. Thank you so much for this opportunity to do something real."
"No problem. I knew you were the person to go to." Christy smiled and turned to leave. "Oh, and one more thing." She turned back. She paused for a second, to make sure she had Paige's full attention. She stared into Paige's eyes. "I know you're a very smart and dedicated student. That was obvious pretty quickly. Maybe you could practice concise writing in my class and I could check it for where you could make improvements. It would be a way of killing two birds with one stone. It's not like there will be a class offered in how to write just enough, and you need to know it if you plan to go into business."
"Thank you Ms. Taylor. I'll work on that." Paige looked pretty proud of her assessment, and it was true.
"Good." Christy smiled.
Four days later she got the reports for her class back and none of them were huge. She wandered past Emma's office and waved the small report in the door. "Its okay Emma, some people have it and some don't. No shame." She teased. "I think I'll go grade Paige's report. See you in ten minutes for dinner?"
"Gloating is a sign of poor upbringing Christy."
"Yes, but my classless ass has free time and you don't." Christy laughed and turned to go grade.
……………..
Christy stood on the balcony just outside of her office and took a deep breath of the clean spring air. She stared at the peaceful looking woods surrounding the school and listened to the soft chirping of birds. This was a nice place to live.
The girl's squeal and the shouts she could hear in the distance just made her smile. She could imagine what prank or other got that sound out of Jubilee.
"Charles just called me." Emma spoke and Christy turned to see the woman standing in the doorway, watching her. "There is a young mutant he picked up with Cerebro living in New Mexico. From her readings he thinks she's quite promising. I should be leaving soon to see if we can talk her into attending here."
Something that had been bothering Christy nagged her again. She spoke softly. "Emma, if I were a teenager I would never get an invitation to this school would I?"
Emma's eyebrows drew together for just a moment and the telepath took a step out onto the balcony. "What are you talking about?"
Christy turned to look out at where Jubilee was tossing small paffs at Angelo on the grass. "I'm just a beta, my double may have been an omega, but I'm just a beta, and I don't see any beta level mutants here."
"We don't screen beta level mutants out."
"Don't you? Would the Professor have been calling with such urgency if the girl in New Mexico could change the color of her hair with a thought, or could make shadow puppets on walls without a strong light? Would he have called for someone with glow bright eyes? No," Christy sighed. "I would never have gotten an invitation to this school."
Emma moved closer and stood beside her watching the children. "That isn't right." Emma spoke with some conviction. "You would have been a lovely student."
Christy smiled just a little. "Thanks."
"You have so much potential Christy. You have more than eyes that glow. Even as a beta level mutant, you can learn to use your powers in new ways. We could work on it."
"That would be nice." Christy crossed her arms in front of her, holding out the slight chill in the morning air. "But what about the other beta level mutants? Are they not worth the money it costs to teach them because they aren't potential Xmen?"
"You heard about Chamber's invitation?"
"Yes, they're recruiting on our campus. Why would they want us to have less than hero level students if they rely on us to hand over our kids?"
Emma was quiet and Christy just waited. The warmth of the sun was starting to hit her balcony and she felt it warm her skin. "You want us to expand our recruitment efforts? If we do that our student body will grow. We'll need more teachers." It sounded like Emma was planning out loud, not like she was shooting this idea down. "I don't see why we shouldn't. It will be harder to find them, but we do need to get more students in here." Christy felt the gentle touch on her arm and turned to see such pretty blue eyes looking at her with some understanding. "You really would have been a wonderful student. We can work on getting you caught up."
"Okay." Christy reached over and squeezed the hand on her arm gently in thanks.
"I'm going to head to New Mexico now, but when I get back we can discuss how we'll recruit more students. See if you can get the ones we have to actually sit through the test I had planned for today. I left it on my desk."
"I'll take care of it." Christy turned to stare out at the beautiful sky and smiled as she heard Emma close the balcony door. She was making a difference here. It didn't take much to get Emma to lower the entrance requirements.
………………
"Look who's all relaxed and smiling." Phil's voice interrupted Christy's staring out of Steven's office window. "Tell me her name."
"What?" Christy gave him a confused look.
"You're practically glowing, and not in that mutant way of yours. It's a woman isn't it?"
"No…" Christy's thoughts instantly went to the only woman in her life right now, Emma. "No."
"So what is it?" He moved to sit at the table as they waited for Steven.
"Nothing." She tried to wave it off, but he still stared as if he didn't believe her. "Things at the school are going well. Emma's decided to expand and she's taking my recommendation. I feel like I'm really helping her and the kids."
"Yes teaching must be very fulfilling to get that glow from you." He sounded doubtful. "How is Emma?" Phil didn't even know Emma, so it seemed strange he asked after her.
"She's doing well. I have no idea how she manages everything she does, she must be the queen of delegation." Christy smirked just a little. "She's demanding, intelligent, and actually very funny. It's nice working with someone with a decent sense of humor for a change."
"Oh, wound me when I'm being nice?" Phil put his hand over his heart. "How cruel."
He sat up and gave her a more serious look. "I've also heard you describe her as beautiful and caring. Are you seeing what I do?"
"What?" Christy felt a little uncomfortable.
"That the Christy I knew wouldn't have walked away from her office for just anyone. There is a woman."
"You're full of shit." She shook her head and half laughed.
"Okay, okay." He sat up straighter. "Try this. What did you do for the weekend?"
"Well, Emma and I went to…" the movies, she thought as her words trailed off. She could see the triumph in Phil's eyes.
"Yes. Of course there is no woman making you smile like a school girl in love. It was foolish of me to think that." He said teasingly.
"Emma and I aren't dating." Christy protested a little weakly. It was a nice thought though.
Steven came in and that line of discussion ended, since their partner had his arms filled with things he wanted to discuss. Christy felt uneasy for the rest of the meeting.
…………….
Emma came in and sat down heavily in the chair in front of Christy's desk with a sigh. "Finding people that CAN teach and also are interested in teaching young mutants, without revealing what type of school we are is quite a challenge." Christy set down the glass she'd been drinking from. "I'm working on the job announcement for the two new teaching positions" Emma's voice softened. "I was hoping those were the only positions I'd have to hire for. I won't need a new computer science teacher will I?"
Christy struggled with what to say. She'd only agreed to stay for the rest of the school year, and she was well into summer term now.
She liked the kids and she wanted to see the new students come to campus and have an opportunity she'd never had.
But her partners thought she was coming back at the end of the summer.
Still, she'd been able to keep the business running from here better than she'd thought she would. Her ability to delegate was improving and she hadn't noticed her business falling apart without her.
But it was her business. She had an obligation to it.
"I don't know." She finally gave up on trying to give Emma an answer right then.
Emma clearly didn't like that answer, but after a moment the topic changed to the new students they'd enrolled. The Massachusetts academy would start out the new school year with forty students. That was a large increase and half of those students were beta level mutants. Mutants that wouldn't have gotten the invitation if Christy hadn't spoken up, she was sure.
………………
Christy woke up suddenly, her sweat soaked body flinching away from some dreamed foe. She knocked a glass off her nightstand as she rushed to fill the room with light and make sure she was alone.
With her heart hammering she stared at the darkened corners until she was convinced she was alone. She still felt the fear and after a moment she recognized Emma's mental touch. It was hardly the first time the telepath dragged Christy into her dreams. It wasn't something that happened to anyone else around here either. Christy felt the fear and couldn't leave Emma in that nightmare.
She tossed her sheets off of her and grabbed the pajamas that she rarely wore to bed, pulling the large silky shirt over her head as she made her way to the door. Her bedroom was in the same wing as Emma's so the trip down the hall took no time.
"Emma." Christy called out as she knocked. "Emma." Christy felt the wave of disorientation and the panic faded. Emma was awake. She spoke one more time, knowing Emma probably didn't know what woke her. "Emma, open the door."
She could hear the woman moving across the floor and the link between them shut down. The sight of Emma in nothing but a sheet being held up by one hand was a surprise. "Yes Christy?" Christy was staring at Emma's sleep tousled hair and her beautiful, pale shoulders. "Christy?"
"Oh." Christy shook off her distraction and looked Emma in the eye. "I'm sorry to wake you, but your nightmare was too bad. I couldn't let you sleep."
"My nightmare?" Emma asked.
"I got your emotions again." Christy sighed. They'd talked about this a few times.
"I'm sorry for waking you then." Emma's voice was a little chilly.
"I don't care about that." Christy moved just a little closer to the opened doorway. "Are you okay?"
"You might as well come in if you wish to chat." Emma turned away and Christy was surprised to see the sheet drop to the floor. The smooth line of Emma's back and the firm roundness of her rear filled Christy's vision. So beautiful. Christy hit the door so that it would close, but didn't turn away from the view.
Emma glanced over her shoulder and Christy blushed as she noticed the mischievous grin. "I tend to sleep naked. Let me see if I can find my robe."
"Don't bother." Christy managed to get some words out of her throat. She gave Emma an evil smile of her own. Emma really was a goddess.
Christy forgot to breathe for just a moment when Emma turned to face her. "Thank you." Christy blinked at Emma's words, until she realized Emma was referring to her thoughts. Emma moved like a lithe cat seeing prey as she moved closer to Christy. "I know you sleep naked as well. There was no need to get dressed to come visit me."
"Emma?" Christy felt her heart pounding as Emma leaned in closer.
"I want you to stay." Emma whispered into Christy's lips. Christy moaned as she felt the warmth of Emma's breath. "For a lesbian you really don't catch clues very well." Emma's hand caressed her side. "Stay." She whispered and leaned forward, kissing Christy.
Her mind filled with lights, her body throbbed and Christy pulled Emma tightly to her, kissing her. Yes. My goddess, she thought and it felt like she'd finally come home. This is what her double fought so hard for, and it was worth it.
……………..
NINE YEARS AFTER NEW YORK
…………………..
"Phil." Christy glanced down at the report in her hand. "I was thinking we should buy a few new servers. The ones we have are starting to get old and we could use the speed."
"Makes sense." He didn't give her any argument about the money. He never did, not when it came to equipment. They continued the meeting quickly, having gotten used to how each other think over the years made things run so smoothly.
"Okay, well I think that's everything." She stood up and smiled at Phil and Steven. "I need to get back to work." She shut down the monitors and turned to grab her notes.
As she stepped out of her office she found Emma standing in the hall. "Well, love, ready to meet the parents?"
"Not really." Christy sighed. "I could have skipped having a parent teacher night."
"Couldn't we all." Emma leaned forward and kissed her softly. If Christy's arms weren't full she would have pulled her lover in for a more passionate kiss. "Later, I promise." Emma whispered and her sexy smile was all it took to make Christy's heart race.