3
Alex was up by 6:30, and down in the kitchen getting breakfast by 7:00. She waited for her bagel to pop up from the toaster while she sipped some hot coffee.
"Hey kid." Logan strolled in the kitchen.
She smiled, taking another sip of coffee.
"Y'know… I heard this crazy rumor goin' around… something about the Fantastic Four stayin' here for a while…" Alex rolled her eyes, stiffening her posture slightly. Logan knew full well it wasn't a rumor; he was just trying to get her going.
Rogue sauntered in with a smile "Y'want me t' beat his ass?"
Alex stared at the toaster, silently begging it to hurry up. "Listen. Could we please not discuss this?"
Kurt munched on his Captain Crunch, wagging his blue tail as he smiled at Rogue.
"He ees a ladies man you know. No doubt about it zat he could re-woo-"
Alex rested her hands on the counter, her eyes wide. "Oh… dear God! It's… it's six years ago!" She spun around dramatically to face everyone "My time machine worked!"
Her bagel popped up and she snatched it, plopping it on her plate with a smile. It was times like this that she acted like her old self. Times that the others tried to get a rise out of her that she drew upon her old sarcasm to yank her out of a tough spot. Any other time she was very prim and proper. Just the way the media liked it.
"Very funny." Rogue grinned giving Alexis a light shove as she passed.
"Alright. I'm off." Alex moved towards the door. "Lots to do…"
She spun around, nearly knocking into the giant rock standing behind her.
She gasped as he helped her stand and balance her bagel and coffee.
"Sorry." She smiled. "I didn't see you."
"That's a rare occurrence." Ben grinned. Alex let out a small laugh.
"I guess so." She offered a slight wave as she headed down the hall. "I'll keep my eye out."
---
After her appointments she went down to the sub basement to work with Hank.
She put a white lab coat on and opened the large, stainless steel door.
"Ah, Alexis! I was beginning to wonder if you had disappeared."
She smiled "It's been busy."
"So I've heard." He looked up at her from his computer. "It seems it got even busier when the Fantastic Four arrived…"
Alex pressed her lips together. "So I've been busy. Sue me." She said, moving over to the scientific equipment on the counter at the side of the room, watching some pink substance boil and bubble. "Have you had many patients today?"
Hank shook his head "No, it's been a quiet day so far; especially now that you're around to take care of minimal emergencies." He smiled at her.
Alex had been using her powers to heal cuts and scrapes, acting as somewhat of a school nurse to help Hank out.
She shrugged, sitting on the stool behind him. "No problem."
"How are you doing?" He asked, obviously sensing the stress in her tone.
Alex pressed her lips together "I'm fine. Really."
"You're sure." He spun around in his chair.
"Yes. I'm sure."
"So tell me Alexis," He turned around again, tapping some figures into his computer. "Are you planning on speaking to Mr. Storm?"
"Whatever would we talk about Henry?" She tilted her head with a smile. He chuckled and shook his head, continuing to type on his keyboard.
"I don't think now's the time. It'd be a little… inappropriate." She fidgeted with a few pieces of paper.
Hank nodded before looking at his watch. "Anyways, don't you have somewhere to go tonight?"
Alexis nodded and placed her hands in the pockets of the lab coat jacket. "Yes. I was just killing some time." She smiled lightly "Trying to keep busy."
She offered Hank a wave and made her way up to her room.
Hank was right. She'd better get going.
---
Johnny wore his sunglasses despite the fact that the sun had set well over a half an hour ago. It was from all the flashing bulbs. He flashed the crowd a heart stopping smile, his arm wrapped around a blonde's waist as he waved at the small crowd of paparazzi and fans that surrounded the entrance to the building. It was the first time that any super hero, let alone the first time a mutant, had so publicly supported the efforts of a potential Senator. A Senator that finally stood for something commendable, something that protected mutants' rights and held them in regards of being human. Sue and Reed walked behind the face of the group, wearing elegant evening wear. Ben ambled behind them in an oversized suit and tie.
"This is the most uncomfortable thing…" He muttered. Sue grinned and adjusted his lapel.
"I think you look handsome."
He rolled his eyes and motioned for her to keep going.
Once they were inside, Johnny took his sunglasses off and tucked them in the inner jacket pocket of his suit as he surveyed the foyer.
"Nice digs." He nodded his approval to the blonde in the red dress at his side.
Sue ran her hands along her deep blue dress. "How do I look?"
Reed lifted the corner of his mouth. As if she even had to ask.
An usher led them to the ball room.
"Really nice digs." Ben echoed as they looked around the large ball room, bustling with high society people.
Sue raised an eyebrow "Here goes nothing."
After a while of hobnobbing with the rich and famous and a few dances on the dance floor, an older man stepped on stage, tapping the microphone.
He cleared his throat.
"I am very pleased to see all of our esteemed guests here tonight. On behalf of our future Senator…" He smiled as the crowed broke out into applause. "I thank you. And now without further ado… the most praised up and coming politician in the United States… and a damn good lawyer at that… Mr. Derek Wilson."
A man, in his mid thirties stepped out onto the stage in an expensive looking suit, the woman holding hands with him wore a deep green strapless dress. She let go early and stayed in the back ground as he waved and stepped up to the microphone.
"Thank you… everyone. If it wasn't for your support and your dedication, I would not have gotten so far. I am your voice. The voice of what you all believe in. Thank you for believing in me." He nodded above the loud applause. "And I thank my beautiful fiancée Ms. Alexis Peters… for saying yes."
With a smile plastered on her face she nodded at the applauding crowd. Her golden hair was swept up in a loose twist. Johnny stared in disbelief.
His arm candy whispered something seductive in his ear and he didn't even notice. He was too distracted to notice.
Once Derek Wilson was finished his thank you speech, he began making his rounds, Alexis following him elegantly.
He stopped at the Fantastic Four with an award winning smile. Derek shook each one of their hands before Johnny nodded his head in Alex's direction.
"You're a lucky man Derek." He smiled "She's a beautiful woman."
"Seems to me that you're the lucky one." Derek grinned, elbowing him in the rib, eyeing the little blonde woman hanging off of Johnny's arm, causing the girl to titter. Before Johnny could say anything else, Derek had been distracted, striking up a conversation with Reed and wandering off.
Alex glided to a stop just as Derek left.
"Alexis, I had no idea you were engaged to Derek." Sue smiled. "Congratulations."
The plastic smile on Alex's face was quite convincing as she thanked her. But Johnny saw through it.
"So how long have you been together?" Johnny asked.
Alex blinked at him, the smile falling from her face slightly. She'd obviously been caught off guard.
"About seven months." She answered with a graceful nod.
"Wow. Less then a year." Johnny nodded with silent disapproval.
"So, you must be Bambi." Alexis grinned, holding out a hand to the buxom blonde in the tight red dress at Johnny's side.
"It's Candie." She grinned and shook Alex's hand "Nice to meet you."
Alex laughed and tossed her hand gently "I'm sorry… I get you all confused."
Sue perked her eyebrows and exchanged a look with Ben.
Derek and Reed returned after a short debate on something scientific. Derek grinned and asked Sue if she would dance. "If that is alright with you Reed." He asked politely.
Johnny couldn't help but notice how he didn't ask if it was alright with Alex.
Reed raised his hands "I have two left feet. Be my guest."
Derek touched Alex's arm "Why don't you dance with someone too? Mingle a little."
She nodded politely as they walked on to the dance floor.
The live band began playing Life House's 'You and Me'.
Johnny held out his hand with a charming grin "Care to dance?"
Alexis cleared her throat and shifted awkwardly. "I don't really dance Storm-"
"Don't worry. I'll keep my eye on him." Ben winked. Alex smiled at him before turning back to Johnny and nodding, moving past him, ignoring his extended hand.
He moved his hand around her waist and held her hand gently as they swayed to the soft music.
"Bring back memories…?"
"Johnny." She stopped him, the plastic smile still on her face.
"Simple question." He grinned. "Wow. Look at that rock…" He said, looking at the large three karat diamond on her finger that rested gently on his shoulder. He'd never realized how big it was.
"Why are you doing this?" Alex whispered through her grin.
"I'm just dancing with an old friend." He said easily. "No harm in that."
She fought the urge to frown. "You use the word friend loosely I assume…"
He smiled at her sarcastic remark. "I just can't believe…" He shook his head "Look at you. You've… grown up."
"I have." She pressed her lips together. "You should too."
"Now why do you keep saying things like that? I'm just trying to-"
"Because I know you Johnny. I'm nothing more than a challenge to you. One piece of ass you can't have. I wasn't born yesterday."
He squared his jaw. "You don't love him."
"You don't know that."
"Yes I do."
"How?"
"I know what you look like when you're in love." He raised his chin slightly. "Drop the trophy wife act Alex. It doesn't suit you."
Her eyes burned, despite the trace of a fake smile. "You don't know me at all. Not any more."
The song wasn't finished yet, but she was done. She pushed him back slightly before excusing herself through the crowd of people, heading towards the bathroom. She needed to be alone. Anywhere away from him.
Hope y'liked it! Keep the reviews comin' eh?
Merci!
---Kinetically Charmed---