WOW I feel like a jerk taking so long. Super busy and I fell out of interest for a bit then got back into it stronger than ever! Here's Chapter 8! Hope you like it! Sorry for the MASSIVE delay! I wrote a bit a while back but it wasn't done so I didn't upload it, but now this chapter is done!
Chapter 8:
Kurt knew this was going to be quite the experience. He felt more out of place than any possible analogy could compare him to. The X-students walked up the cement steps helping Kurt the whole way like an injured teammate. Stares and unspeakable comments followed behind as every step he took gave way to more annotations and spectators. Different waves of feelings overcame his thoughts. Ashamed of who and what he was, embarrassed to have his friends aiding him so closely, and annoyed at the display of ignorance by his peers.
Walking down the hall seemed to have gone by in slow motion. Students stood by their lockers as the Xavier students made their way through the crowd. Scott and Jean lead as Rogue and Evan stood at either side of Kurt and Kitty kept the rear. Kurt looked up to the cluster of lockers where his stood as well as a group of familiar mutants.
Did they really need to follow me all the way to my locker?
"What the hell are you staring at?" seemed to be Rogue's choice of words that morning.
"Well I'm not really sure. I see four mutants, a skunk and… I'm not too sure what that blue thing in the middle is." Pietro jeered.
"This is your entire fault, you know!"
"Oh, I see little Kitty-cat has a bit of a temper. And I'm pretty sure it's not my fault. I'm not the one who gave birth to a blue devil. No matter. I'm not too bothered by all of this anyway. Not to mention that your attempt at intimidation is about as effective as that stupid inducer of blue boy's."
Kitty was getting all riled up and let Pietro know it, just adding more fuel to the fire. She clenched the straps of her backpack and pouted. Her baby like features made her look like a little kid about to throw a tantrum.
"Oh, she's gonna blow!" Fred jested.
"Leave her alone." Kurt stated quietly, gesturing towards Kitty.
Kitty was shocked that of any day in Kurt's life for him to be sticking up for someone else, he did, and for her no less. She felt sick in the stomach and embarrassed that in Kurt's most vulnerable state, he stood up for her.
"Or what?" Todd asked.
It didn't take long for Pietro to chime in. "I'd be careful with what you say, Toad. Wouldn't want him to sick one of his little hellhound friends on you."
Kurt's expression grew cold as he gritted his teeth.
"If he is considered a demon, then what does that make you?" Scott interjected.
"Um, I'd say I'm closer to being a human being than he could ever dream to be. Do you honestly think I care what you think, Summers?"
"Obviously not or else you'd know better."
Pietro's attention was taken off the little verbal skirmish as a swarm of students began to form but keeping their distance. He smirked.
"I'm done here. I need to save my good material." He snapped his fingers and the Brotherhood group moved down the hall as students backed out of their way just in time for the first bell to ring.
"Well, this is it buddy. Are you going to be alright on your own?" Evan put his hand on Kurt's shoulder.
"Don't really have a choice do I?"
"You made your choice, remember?" Rogue wrapped her arm on Kurt's other shoulder.
"I'm starting to wonder if it was the right one."
"Hey, no matter what happens today, you've already gone further than any of us would."
"Thanks Rogue." Kurt reached for his locker and let out a little chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Kitty asked.
"I never thought I'd see my real hands opening a combination lock at school."
The Xavier students exchanged confused glances. Not sure whether to laugh or not. Jean was about to speak then stopped as the morning announcements began to sound through the hallway.
"Kurt Wagner to the main office please."
"Are you kidding me?" Kurt threw his head back and let out an exasperated sigh.
"I'll go with you." Jean put her hand on Kurt's. He looked back up at her and suddenly felt calm as she smiled a hopeful smile.
"Thanks, Jean."
Kitty felt a ping of jealousy.
"I can come too..."
"I've got first period spare. Also, I was hoping to get a mental reading on Principal Kelly. 'See if he's got something up his sleeve." Jean's voice reverberated in Kitty's head.
"Oh… Okay."
"Don't worry, you'll get your turn."
Kitty could almost see the wink in the tone of Jean's mental voice and blushed.
"Thanks, Jean. But I can go by myself, really." Kurt reluctantly mumbled.
"Well too bad." She smiled.
Kurt twitched a faint smile and grabbed his books and slammed his locker door. For a second the common banter between friends took him away from his current reality. It was as if the whole world was intentionally trying to make him walk around in public as much as possible. More walking through the halls meant more gawks and stares.
Well in about an hour everyone will have got a glimpse at the freak.
"Now you know how the Mona Lisa feels with people scrambling to get a good look every day."
"Jean!"
Jean smiled. "I'm sorry, just trying to lighten the mood."
"How long were you listening for?"
"I've got selective hearing for those kinds of things."
They exchanged smiles as Jean opened the door for Kurt while giving disappointed stares to spectators. The secretary's office was a fishbowl cramped with an over cluttered desk, three wooden armchairs and a side table complete with two large windows for passersby to gawk at students waiting to see the principal. As Kurt entered the office he caught the scent of Mrs. Harris, the school secretary's, perfume. She was a short, plump woman in her mid to late forties with a pleasant face and short blonde hair. She looked up at the door over her glasses. Kurt cocked his jaw and sucked in his bottom lip expecting a gasp and a clutch at her heart, but was pleasantly surprised.
"Good morning. Just have a seat." She said with a genuine smile. No fear whatsoever.
Kurt quietly set his books on the floor and sat down, pulling one knee up close to his chest.
"Jean, do you not have a class, honey?"
"I have a spare but I just wanted to make sure he got here alright."
"Jean, you can go." Kurt muttered.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'll be fine." Kurt whispered like a child urging for their mother to leave.
"Okay. See you in a bit." Jean close mouthed smiled and walked out.
Kurt watched her head down the hallway then found his gaze met with Mrs. Harris who was smiling at him with an almost maternal expression. Mrs. Harris' muted blue eyes sparkled with a content look before turning to irritation as she looked towards the window and stood up.
Kurt slowly turned his head towards the window as Mrs. Harris made her way over before noticing four teenage boys staring and laughing through the window. Kurt looked away and put his elbow on his raised knee whilst covering his face with his hand like a celebrity avoiding paparazzi. He was getting more aggravated now rather than depressed.
"Stupid kids. They have no respect." She muttered as she shut the blinds. "They're going to end up sweeping the floor of those halls one day. It's all they'll amount to."
Kurt smiled to himself and had a brief moment of satisfaction. Just as Mrs. Harris was about to speak, the second bell rang, indicating students to already be in class. As it ended, the door creaked open as Principal Kelly stood in the doorway.
"Ah, Kurt, I'm glad you decided to come to school today. Please step into my office."
Kurt stood up, tucked some hair behind his pointed ear, and smiled weakly at Mrs. Harris as he entered Kelly's office.
"Close the door behind you, please." Kelly said as he made his way behind his desk.
Kurt complied.
"So..." Principal Kelly smiled slyly as he motioned for Kurt to take a seat.
"I'll stand."
"Very well. I called you in to see if you actually came to school today or not and I'm surprised to see you turned up. Good for you."
"Is that all you wanted me for?"
"Not completely, Kurt. I want you to know that I expect this to be a permanent decision. Not just in high school, but for post secondary as well. Don't think that you can finish these last months and go back to living the little lie you fooled us all with. Fellow students will recognize you and most likely notify proper authorities and they might not be so forgiving."
Kurt idly stared right back at him not saying a word.
"So, as some incentive to get through this first day, I would like you to report back to my office at the end of each class to prove to me that you went."
Kurt took a deep breath and let his stare fall to the floor.
"And if you fail to do this, then the other offer still stands."
"Which offer?" Kurt jerked his gaze back to Mr. Kelly.
"The one where Xavier's other students, along with you, will be expelled from Bayville High"
Kurt stared daggers back. His embarrassment and hatred for himself was quickly growing more and more into annoyance and frustration with the ignorant people of the school.
"Do we have an agreement?"
Kurt said nothing, he just stared back at Kelly and bit the inside of his cheeks.
"Did you hear me?" His voice filled with condescension.
"…Yes." He gritted.
"Excellent, so I will see you after first period. I believe that is with Mr. Butler. See you in an hour."
Kurt wasted no time exiting Principal Kelly's office. The other students would already be at their desks beginning class. Kurt would have to walk into the room and interrupt the lesson which was awkward even for someone like Duncan Matthews.
As he heatedly rushed through the secretary's office, Mrs. Harris came trundling out from behind her desk.
"Oh sweetie, you forgot your books."
"Oh, thank you."
Kurt reached for his books and Mrs. Harris looked affectionately at Kurt's outstretched hand, particularly focusing on his three fingers.
"See you after first period, hon." She smiled.
Kurt smiled back. Having just one person at the school, even if it was a staff member look at him without any fear or reluctance gave him the faintest glimmer of hope that he might be able to get through the day.
As a bonus for being an asshole and taking the world record for longest update gaps, chapter 9 is up!