Chapter Six – Eyes Open

After having spent an agonising thirteen minutes in silence, Evey thought it best to do a small cough that signalled Warren's attention.

"What?" He asked, looking up from the book he was reading intently. He pressed a fingertip under the word he was reading and looked back to Evey attentively.

"Maybe we had better go check what time dinner is or something? I just feel that we haven't socialised very much with these people. Well I haven't anyway," Evey explained stiffly, trying to avoid the whole Kitty conversation. She checked her watch nervously, it was approaching four.

"Yeah sure," Warren shrugged and gave a small sigh as he closed his book. "Since when do you worry about socialising anyway?"

"Well, since always thank you Warren," Evey said somewhat haughtily. "I do apologise if I didn't spend my youth binge drinking with idiots like someone who will remain nameless!"

"Jesus Christ," Warren sighed wearily. "Everything's a fight with you. Don't you know how to have a laugh at yourself?"

"I just don't like you saying I don't have friends when I do," Evey sniffed, wedging her giant volume back onto the bookcase. "Logan sure likes me a hell of a lot more than he likes you."

"Big deal," Warren replied, following Evey out of the library. "It's just because you're a woman whose good looking and got a pair of…"

"What?" Logan asked, cocking an eyebrow rather conversationally as the pair had came face to face with him upon exiting the library.

"When's dinner?" Evey practically yelled before giving a big grin and adding "Please?"

"I was just coming to tell you," Logan said slowly, taking his gaze from Warren and looking to Evey. "I thought you might be in your room but I found this. It's been going crazy."

Logan handed Evey her cell phone which was flashing and vibrating crazily. She looked at it grimly just as it stopped ringing. The screen told her she had twenty six missed calls.

"Thanks," Evey replied in a small voice. She pressed several buttons on her cell until she found the list of who had tried to call her. She gulped.

"Who's been calling?" Warren asked gently. Evey let out a small laugh.

"Work, some unknown numbers, Mother and your Dad," Evey replied. She pressed the 'off' button and tucked the phone into her pocket. She just wasn't ready to face reality with her parents just yet and the sick feeling in her stomach proved it.

"My Dad?" Warren repeated, shocked. "Why would he call you? Why would he have your number actually?"

"I don't know," Evey shrugged. She caught Logan's eye and had momentarily forgotten he was still standing there.

"Dinner's at five," Logan announced. "Though you look like you could do with something now. Or a stiff drink even," Logan added as he motioned the pair to follow him back down the hallway. They followed him in silence; Evey was watching her feet moving as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world and doing her very best to ignore Warren, though wanting him to look at her and see how much Logan likes her instead of him. It didn't work out.

"Hey Logan?" A small boy had run up to the three from further up the corridor. "Storm says you should come look at this."

The boy was young, perhaps ten and wore massive black rimmed glasses. He looked apprehensive about approaching the three and Evie could tell it was because of her and Warren.

"What? What is it?" Logan questioned, wondering what the hell Storm wanted him to look at.

"It's on the news, Magneto has attacked Alcatraz Island," the boy answered quickly, just wishing Logan would not question him further and follow to where everyone was watching the television.

Evey grabbed Warren's hand and he squeezed it hard. She knew exactly what he was thinking, who the hell is Magneto and Alcatraz Island is where his father would most likely be. After everything, he still remained Warren's family.

The pair followed Logan down the corridor until they reached the place where she and Warren had met Kitty and Peter earlier on. Most of the school by the looks of it had gathered around and were watching intently. Logan bee lined for Storm and they immediately began talking in hushed whispers.

"Your Dad," Evey managed as quietly as possible.

"I know," Warren replied, his jaw set hard. He took his hard gaze away from the TV met Evey's eyes. "I have to go back."

"Warren…" Evey began but what could she say? She knew Warren far too well and even after everything that had happened today, even she herself could not persuade Warren to stay away. It was the right choice to make and they both knew it.

"I think you should come too," Warren said and this took Evey by surprise. "You're much more capable than I give you credit for. If there's people hurt or whatever then you can help them."

"Warren, no!" Evey protested. "What about all this 'I'm no superhero' crap? We can't just fly in there and save the day, look at that!" Evey pointed to the TV which was showing scenes of fires and general destruction.

"I'm serious Evangeline. If my father is hurt then you can help him," Warren argued seriously. He moved closer to her and grasped the tops of her arms. "You can do this."

Evey didn't meet his eyes, she was thinking and biting her tongue with such force that it would in up in two if she didn't speak. "I'll come. But just you remember who your father is."

It was good enough for Warren so he didn't argue. He knew what she was hinting at but he didn't dare bite the bait in case she changed her mind.

The pair turned to Logan, who was still talking to Storm. Warren wasted no time in stalking straight over to the adults and clearing his throat loudly.

"Whatever your plan is, it involves me and Evey. My father is there and he needs our help," Warren declared and set his jaw as he waited for a reply. Evey had to roll her eyes at him, he was clearly a spoilt rich kid, no one could deny that.

"Look kid," Logan began, not enjoying being spoken to like that by Warren but Storm interrupted.

"You can come. We're going to need all the help we can get," She said darkly as her eyes flicked to the TV once more. "Logan, let's move."

Warren gave Logan a sarcastic grin before turning back and meeting Evey, who was standing alone and watching the news. She looked tired as she met his gaze with hers.

"Thanks for volunteering me for that Warren," She said, immediately on the attack and motioning to the news. "If you hadn't noticed by the way, I'm a vet. Not a miraculous healer! I don't even know if I can heal humans!"

"You healed me," Warren said, his voice was low. "When we were kids, you healed me. I know you wanted to be a doctor and now is your chance to finally help people. Don't be such a wimp."

"Wimp!" Evey exploded and Warren gave her a lazy smile, knowing he'd get a reaction. "I'm never listening to you again though. Never."

"Whatever," Warren replied, slightly sarcastically and took her hand, leading her towards Logan and Storm who were already making their way our of the room.

"Here we go," Evey breathed and couldn't help a little smirk as she and Warren swept past Kitty while he was still holding Evey's hand.