While April and Bryce slept, Skyler had finished her morning routine and proceed to read quietly in an armchair as she waited for her companions to rouse from their sleep. April and Bryce were not exactly morning people. Actually, Skyler wasn't much of a morning person either. She preferred the hours of dusk to dawn than the hustle and bustle of the morning and afternoon.
Skyler continued to read her book when she suddenly felt as if someone was watching her. Looking up she became startled at a very groggy April looking back at her. April's hair looked like a cross between cousin It from the Adam's family and road kill. Smiling inwardly, Skyler greeted her friend.
"Good morning April. Did we have a refreshing slumber?"
April said nothing and continued to stare at Skyler. Skyler returned the gaze and a staring contest ensued. Bryce had woken up at this point and became amused by the staring contest that was going on between April and Skyler.
"Isn't a little early to be having a staring contest?" he asked.
"It is not a staring contest." April replied.
"It isn't?" said a bemused Skyler.
"Nope. I'm attempting to slap you with my mind."
Bryce laughed at April's remark. "You do not have telekinetic abilities April. So good luck with that." Bryce swung his legs over the bed and stretched the remaining sleep from his muscles. "I will leave you two to fight while I go take a shower."
In a rare display in athletic ability April sprung from her bed, threw a pillow in Bryce's face, and sprinted towards the bathroom door. A very confused Bryce was distracted by this spontaneous action long enough that April successfully made it to the bathroom. Bryce looked at the door in bewilderment as Skyler laughed.
Still looking at the bathroom door Bryce made a comment to Skyler. "You know…April looks sweet and innocent, but now that I have got to know her I have realized she has an evilness that lurks beneath that genial exterior."
"She's very grumpy in the morning and will do anything to have a hot shower."
"Will the hot water go out?" Bryce became suddenly concerned that he would have a cold shower.
" I don't know. It could."
Standing up, Bryce stomped over to the bathroom door and shouted through the door " There better be hot water left when you are done!"
"Or you will do what?" A cocky April replied.
"I will….I will do something…that you won't like" Bryce stuttered in response
Skyler shook her head. "Weak Bryce." Apparently April thought the same thing because she began to laugh.
" I have superhuman strength!" Bryce said in a vain attempt to add strength to his threat.
Again April laughed. Bryce sighed and turned his attention to Skyler who was still reading her book. "What are you reading?"
"On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin." Skyler replied simply.
"Oh, so some light reading. What's next Theories in Quantum Physics?"
"Maybe." Skyler ignored Bryce's friendly teasing. Yes, On the Origin of Species was a little thick to read, but if you want to understand evolution than this book is a must read. And as a mutant understanding evolution was essential in understanding why you are the way you are.
By 10am April had finished getting ready and Skyler had put her book away. Now they were waiting for Bryce to finish .
" Is he ready yet?" Skyler asked as she was packing her backpack. Today they were going to the mall. The three of them rarely got this chance to have a normal teenage day. Living on the streets meant they spent most of their time finding food and a place to sleep. These stresses of living on the street can slowly break anyone's spirit. A chance to window shop and gossip like normal teens helped relieve this stress.
April walked to the bathroom door and knocked on it. "Are you almost done?"
"Almost. Give me five more minutes."
"I swear he primps more than a girl going to her prom" April says as she shakes her head.
" I heard that!" Bryce says through the door.
Skyler can't help but laugh at this playful exchange of words. "Okay. April you stay here with Bryce and once he's done applying his make up meet me in the parking lot. I'm going downstairs and to reserve our room for one more night."
A mocking laugh came through the bathroom door. "How many more remarks can you guys make about me being a girl? Your attempts to emasculate me will not work!"
"Oh, but Bryce we have at least four more jokes equating you to a girl." April teased Bryce.
" I really need some guy friends." Bryce replied.
"Ok, you two stop bickering and meet me in the parking lot in five minutes." Skyler picked up her backpack and headed out the front door.
Skyler took a deep breath and waited until everyone had left the lobby before she approached the man at the front desk.
"Good morning Ms. Jones. Did you sleep well?"
" I slept very well. I slept so well I want to book another night." Skyler appeared to be focus and did not take her gaze away from the man.
"Ok. Give a moment and I will put you into the computer." The man typed away and yet Skyler did not remove her gaze. "Will that be cash or card?"
"Cash." Skyler replied as she pretended to hand cash to him.
"Ok, $72.23 out of $100. Your change is $27.77" The man handed her the money.
"Thank you."
"Would your children like some lollypops?"
Skyler smiled. "Yes, That is very kind of you to offer." Skyler took two lollypops from him and left the lobby. Once she reached the parking lot she was relieved to see both April and Bryce. She was sure she would have to go back to the room where she would find both of them fighting over some trivial.
"Do we have the room for another night?" Bryce asked eagerly.
"We do have the room for another night. Oh, and I was given these for my two children." Skyler held out her hand that had two lollypops in it.
April let out a squeal of excitement and took one of the lollypops. Bryce on the other hand was not amused.
"I am not a child!"
"For someone claiming he is not a child he sure whines like one." April says punctuating her point with her lollypop before putting in her mouth.
Bryce reluctantly takes the lollypop. "Alright let's go. It will take awhile to get to the mall."
Ok that is chapter two. Sorry it took so long for me to post again. I've been really busy. Chapter 3 will not take as long. In chapter 3 the x-men will appear. Yay.