Disclaimer- I don't own the X-Men. They belong to Marvel Comics.
Mutant High Episode 3- "Shades of Red"
Chapter 3
"How's the first day back at the sweatshop been for you?" Duncan asked Scott as he sunk his canines into his steak sandwich.
"Eh," Scott answered, half shrugging. "Nothing major to report. Stat seems like a big joke. How about you?"
Before Duncan could respond, Paul and Taryn approached. Taryn clearly had news for the two of them.
"Have you seen Jean, Scott? Whatever you told her when you dumped her must have done a number on her- she looks awful."
"Hey, Jean dumped me. What are you talking about, anyway?"
"She's bald, Scott," interjected Paul. "I didn't even recognize her. She was in Physics with Taryn and me second period, and it wasn't until the teacher called her name I knew who she was."
Scott's jaw dropped.
"You're kidding, right?"
"No! So, you're her ex. What do you think happened?" Taryn pressed.
"I have no idea, I already told you. I haven't spoken to her since we broke up, and that was at least halfway through the summer. So it's been at least… I dunno, a month?"
"Why'd she dump you again?" Asked Duncan. Scott shrugged.
"She said something like, 'I just think we're going in different directions, and there's no point in dragging out something that's going to end anyway.'"
"That sounds like bullshit. It's a shame man. She was really hot."
"Not anymore," said Paul. "She looks like a cancer patient now."
"Maybe that's it," suggested Taryn. "Maybe she has cancer."
"Maybe it's none of your business," Scott snapped. "Can we please stop talking about Jean?"
"Why are you so touchy? Having you're period?" Duncan laughed. Scott let out a forced snort.
"Nah. I guess I'm just a bit pissed off about being back in school."
"Amen," Paul agreed.
"Oh my god. I'm so sorry, Scott," exclaimed Amanda, Scott's lab partner.
"At least you had a quick recovery," offered Jake, who sat in the seat in front of him. Scott smiled.
"It's not like I'm blind or anything. It's just that some things are a bit harder for me to make out. And I'm a lot more sensitive to light than I used to be," Scott lied. "So you're gonna have to take care of all the careful measurements today, alright Amanda?"
She smiled. "No problem Scott. I'll take care of whatever you need me to- that must be so hard on you."
Really, it's fine. You don't need to keep pitying me.
"I heard you and Jean broke up. I'm sorry about that," Amanda said, smiling sincerely. Scott forced a grin.
"Whatever. Relationships come and go. Dwelling won't change anything, and besides, we've been apart for a while now. I'm over her."
"What did you say to her when it happened, anyway?" asked a boy at the bench behind Scott. Chris, maybe?
"I don't see how it concerns you," Scott grated.
"I dunno. I just thought maybe you knew something about why she chopped all her hair off."
"I couldn't tell you for the life of me what happened to her, I haven't seen her all day."
Why does everyone assume it has something to do with me? Maybe her dad died. Maybe she does have cancer. She did dump me, after all.
Salad? Sure. Why not.
Scott stared into the salad bar. The lettuce looked red. What didn't?
On the bright side, the glasses made the cherry tomatoes look a bit riper. Nevertheless, Scott didn't want to take his chances. He pinched a large quantity of lettuce and dropped it into the Styrofoam bowl, before heading to the croutons.
"These tomatoes look good," remarked Bobby, as he casually slid up beside Scott. Shifting his gaze to make sure nobody was looking, he formed a tiny icicle between his forefinger and thumb before using it to impale one of the tiny tomatoes. He popped in his mouth and smiled broadly.
"Dee-licious. As only the cafeteria can provide, eh?"
"Yup. What's the dressing?"
"Looks like Caesar."
Scott took the bottle and poured a liberal amount onto the salad. He headed to the cashier, Bobby in tow behind him.
"Is that cinnabon all you're getting?"
"No. I have to stop at the vending machine for a soda."
"Real healthy, Bobby."
"When have you cared so much?"
"Since you've started getting so fat, porky." Scott punctuated his jab with a pair of oinks.
"Oh Scotty. You break my heart with your hateful words. I may just die from sadness."
There was a silence before the two of them burst into laughter as they settled into a table.
"So where's Assface today?"
"If by 'Assface', you mean Remy, I think he's got a bunch of frees today. He's probably out right now."
"Lucky punk. I'm so not looking forward to next period. I think I have a Spanish quiz."
"On your first day back?"
"Nobody's ever accused Senora Grudleman of being a rational woman."
"Very true."
Bobby stared at his cinnabon for a second.
"Shit. I forgot to get that soda. I'll be back. Don't touch my cinnabon." With that, Bobby popped up from his seat and strolled across the cafeteria. Scott speared a clump of salad on his fork and brought it to his mouth. As he chewed, he glanced across the cafeteria, over at the table he used to sit at.
"What do you have next?" Paul asked as the quartet stood with the bell.
"French," moaned Duncan.
"I've got English," offered Scott.
"Me too. Who with?" Taryn asked.
"Um…" Scott paused to check his schedule. "Donner."
"Oh hey! We're in the same class!" exclaimed Taryn. "We'll just have loads of fun, won't we?"
"As much fun as you can have in school, I guess."
Scott slid into his seat inconspicuously, waiting as students slowly filtered in. His eyes darted about the room, looking for ways to occupy themselves. He stared intently at one of the posters hanging over the chalkboard. There was a photograph- a troop of snow monkeys, sitting in the hot springs. Bright blue text exclaimed "We're all in this together!"
Scott's eyes wandered to Taryn. She was trying not to look at him, he could tell. But he knew she had seen him. And he knew what she was thinking.
What happened to him?
Mrs. Donner enthusiastically leaned over the edge of her podium, her furrowed brow holding her glasses in place as she overviewed the class syllabus.
Scott felt a touch on his back. He turned to Taryn, who had rapped his shoulder with her red manicured nails.
"You going drinking this weekend?" She mouthed.
"Probably," he mouthed back.
"Wanna ride with me?" she offered.
"Sure."
If only he had known what she had in mind for their ride.
"Look at Scott," gestured Paul.
"What tacky shades," commented Taryn.
"Make him look like a total fag," Duncan decided.
"Well, he is, isn't he?" said Paul.
"I wonder why he's wearing them. I bet something happened."
"You're such a gossip Taryn."
"You complaining about that, Duncan?"
"No. I rely on you to keep my day interesting."
"Boy do I feel sorry for you," interjected Paul. The three of them shared a laugh.
Katherine Summer's picked her head up at the sound of the front door opening.
"Scott, is that you?"
"Who else would it be?"
"I don't know. A robber?"
Scott came into the kitchen, where he approached his mother and gave her a hug.
"So tell me, Scotty. How was the first day of your junior year?"
"Fine- um, mom, we need to talk."
Katherine's smile dropped. "Alright Scott. Is something wrong?"
"No, no," Scott reassured her.
"No new mutations?"
Scott laughed nervously. "Nothing like that."
There was silence between the two for what seemed like ages.
"Mom, I'm gay."