*Author's Note: Starting with this chapter, we'll be getting into events that happened the same time as things in the movies. So some scenes will be incorporated but of course expanded on. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 4: Bad Day
John was right. The field trip already sucked.
John flipped his lighter lid open and closed while he sat on the bus the teachers had rented out for the trip. In the seats in front of him, Bobby and Rogue were in some conversation but he didn't bother to listen or give a damn. The bus seat beside him was empty though he really wished it was Kitty sitting there. Now he'd have to spending the whole day listening to the sickening romantic ramblings of Bobby and Rogue and their attempts to grow closer without actually touching. He closed his eyes as the rumblings of the moving bus settled his mind.
After a long while, the bus came to a halt and John opened his eyes to the words of one of his instructors, Scott Summers, standing up at in the middle of the bus, looking around through his ember sunglasses at all of the students.
"We're going to be splitting into two groups. Half of the class will go with Storm and half will go with Jean and I. You are to stick with your group at all times."
John had to snicker to himself at that. Like he'd want to spend the whole day looking at fossils with a bunch of kids. That would just be the icing on this already perfect day…
"Okay, let's go." The students all began to pile out of the boss, Scott waiting at the door as each kid stepped onto the sidewalk. When John climbed down the bus stairs, Scott looked up at him. "And remember…best behavior."
John gave a mocking salute as he stepped past, picking up his pace to catch up to Bobby and Rogue. Better to hang out with people he mildly enjoyed talking to than a bunch of snot-nosed kids. Some would consider Bobby his best friend and John sometimes wondered if he was. They sure argued like best friends would, making up the next day as if nothing had changed between them.
But he didn't really care all that much. The only person he gave a rats ass about in that school was Kitty…and she was nowhere near being in sight.
They entered the museum and John saw all the usual crap he'd seen at every other science museum: dinosaurs, bugs, and boredom.
Bobby and Rogue walked next to him, almost look like Siamese twins by how closely they were connected, of course Bobby was being careful not to make contact with any of her skin though. John sometimes wondered what that would feel like…probably like getting your spine ripped out and then having no powers for awhile.
John played around with his Zippo awkwardly as the trio followed the rest of Storm's group of students through the museum. Time seemed to go by at a snail's pace but in this case, it was the slowest snail on the planet. Minutes felt like years and with each snap of his lighter shutting, John grew more and more agitated. He turned to Bobby and Rogue who were too busy lovingly staring into each other's eyes to be paying attention to Storm either.
"Guys," John whispered. "Let's go get some lunch or something."
Bobby looked at him as if he had just suggested mutiny. John sometimes forgot how much of a goody two shoes Bobby was and was reminded why their personalities didn't always jive. Rogue, on the other hand, looked surprised but not quite as dumbstruck as her boyfriend, being able to at least produce a word.
"But…they told us to stick with our groups."
John almost broke out laughing but caught himself, sneaking a glance at Storm who was enthusiastically talking about early mammals.
"We're the oldest students here. Do you really think they shouldn't trust us enough to go grab some food? What's the worst that could happen? And hell, if you're that worried about it, we can come back after we eat. She might not even notice we left…"
"That's a lot of ifs." Rogue said, uncertainly, Bobby's eyes trying to signal her to reconsider her curiosity. "But…yeah, I'll go."
"What?" Bobby muttered, but a really loud mutter like a scream. "I can't believe we're having this conversation. Scott told us to stay in our groups. That's what we should do."
"Have fun then."
John smirked, slipping away behind a pillar, Rogue following him but looking at Bobby with an apologetic expression. Bobby stood silent for a moment before groaning, giving one last nervous look at a distracted Storm before going to catch up with them.
They easily found the food court and found a table amongst the crowd. Rogue sat at the circular table between the two of them as Bobby kept looking around anxiously, as if thinking Storm could throw a lightning bolt at him at any moment. After eating, John reached back into his brown leather jacket and pulled out his lighter, flicking it on and off in his usual manner. The three of them just talked about random stuff for awhile with Rogue asking John about Kitty a few times, making him grow a bit more sad and bitter that she wasn't there. Bobby seemed to mellow a bit, growing less twitchy.
Suddenly, two young men approached the table, eyeing John.
"Hey, bud. Mind if we borrow your lighter? We just want a smoke." One of them said, with a tone a bit too forceful for John's liking. And hell he was in a bad mood already. Time to take it out on someone.
"Nah. Find someone else, bud." John said, emphasizing the last word mockingly.
The anger on their faces grew more apparent.
"Why not?"
"Maybe because it's my lighter and I really don't give a shit if you guys want to smoke. Should've brought your own."
Bobby and Rogue watched, the latter seeming to enjoy John's knack for sticking it to them while Bobby looked very concerned.
"Why are you being such a dick?" One of them hissed.
John flipped open his Zippo in front of them, staring into the flames, blocking their voices out. He knew he could roast both of them with ease if he wanted to but that was "frowned upon" by Xavier.
"My brother asked you a simple question." The first said.
"Why are you being such a dick?" The second repeated his question.
"Yeah why are you being such a dick?" The first repeated again for added effect.
John snapped his lighter closed.
"Sorry can't help you out, pal. Hahahaha." He began to laugh, really enjoying how much he pissed these guys off.
This was just what he needed to get him in a better mood. This day seemed to finally be brightening.
"Why don't you stop showing off?" Said Bobby, clearly not amused.
John was a bit taken aback by his friend and decided to engage him in his apparent desire to argue.
"I can't help it if your girlfriend's getting excited." John said, his annoyance at being the third wheel brimming to the surface.
"Oh I don't think she's getting excited." Bobby replied.
Out of nowhere, taking advantage of the distraction, one of the punks snatched John's Zippo from his hand.
"HEY!" John roared.
No one took his lighter…especially not these assholes.
John rose to his feet but the second guy stood in his way, blocking his route toward the thief, who was lighting a cigarette bud with John's lighter.
"Oh that's real cute man." John said coldly.
"What are you going to do?" The one in his face seethed. The smoking brother blew a large puff of smoke into John's face. "Suddenly you're not so tough."
That was it. No one, especially not them were going to judge how tough he was. Time to teach these assholes a lesson they wouldn't forget.
John laughed, his face suddenly shifting into one of happiness, with a large smile. He stared at the tip of the cigarette, where there were small embers burning as the punk smoked. John concentrated on the tiny flames, feeling a connection in his head and then, with a confident grin, winked at them.
The small flames suddenly exploded into large ones, engulfing the smoker's shoulder and arm, catching onto his clothes. He tumbled onto his back in shock and John started to laugh harder than he had intended to, finding himself very satisfied with all of this.
Bobby leapt to his feet, raising his hand out and a blast of cold air shot from his palm. The cold air put out the fire and covered the young man in frost, a look of shock still pasted onto his face and stayed there….for far too long.
The whole food court went silent, everyone suddenly no longer blinking or moving in the slightest for that matter.
"Bobby, what did you do?" Rogue asked nervously.
"Not this…"
John waved a hand in front of a nearby person's face, just as stunned as his friends at this strange event.
"I did." A confident voice echoed.
Professor Xavier rolled up in his wheelchair, staring them down. John knew that Xavier would never hurt one of them, but this whole freezing people into place thing was just another reason why John knew that he wasn't someone you wanted to mess with.
"And the next time you feel like showing off…don't." Xavier said sternly, his eyes locking with John's.
Before he could continue, Scott called the professor and everyone, John included, looked curiously over at one of the food court's TV monitors. On the screen, was a headline that described that there had been a mutant attack on the White House, an attempted assassination attempt.
John, hands on hips, swore to himself. Great timing…attack a guy with your powers after a mutant tries to kill the president…genius.
Later, they returned to the mansion, everyone in a much somber mood than before. John especially felt like an ass but he'd never let anyone see it. That guy deserved to be lit on fire…he was the real ass. John made sure to retrieve his lighter before they had all quickly left the museum and now held it nestled safely in his hand. He broke off from Bobby and Rogue who went towards the living room where most of the students were crowing into, wanting to see more about the president attack. John was heading for his room though, not wanting to put up with all the craziness.
As he passed the living room, he caught a glimpse of Kitty sitting on the arm of the couch, watching the TV. She greeted Bobby and Rogue but looked past them and she caught John's gaze but he quickly picked up his pace down the corridor. He walked up the stairs toward his room but he heard footsteps running behind him.
"John!" Kitty's familiar voice called from a little ways behind.
John had been wanting to hear that voice all day but at the moment, really didn't want to see her. All this was just way too embarrassing and all this shit with the president just made it worse.
"Talk to me tomorrow." John called back, not even turning to look as he opened his door. She was right behind him now but he still shut the door behind him. Harsh, yes. But he'd prefer that than to have to face her.
He threw himself onto his bed and waited a moment, enjoying the silence before opening his eyes to his room, seeing Kitty standing in front of the door.
"Did you actually think a door was going to stop me?" She smiled.
"It was worth a try."
She walked next to the bed and just crouched, her face now beside his. They were almost nose to nose but half of John's face was rested against his pillow. He stared into her eyes that he loved so much.
"So you lit someone on fire?" She said, a bit surprised but also laughing a little.
John groaned but was actually really happy to be with her again.
"It's just been a rough day."