I only got one review for chapter 12. :(. Can I please get at least two or three for this chapter? If you are reading this, review. Just one or two words will do it! I really don't want to submit chapter 14 until I have at least 30 reviews total.
Also in this chapter, I want to get into the POVs of characters that I haven't covered much, so I will be doing that. Review, and enjoy.
"Come in, Elementro, have a seat." The Professor sat across from the couch in the library, hands folded under his chin. The rest of the students were in the Danger Room or relaxing, so the large room was empty, making the Professor look more intimidating, sitting in the soft glow of a lamp, eerie shadows casting on his face.
Elementro slinked into the room, hands in his pockets, head down. He sat down on the couch, pressing himself as far away from the Professor as possible. He looked at the floor, knowing and dreading what was coming.
Why is this happening to me?
"Elementro, what happened in your Danger Room session today?" Elementro flinched as the question was asked. "I could hear Mandira's distressed thoughts all the way from here."
"Well..." Elementro muttered, his voice cool and quiet, "I...don't know what happened. It was like something took over, and I just couldn't help it." he looked up briefly. "Not that I'm trying to make excuses."
"I know. But this is worrisome. Luckily, Mandira wasn't hurt. But it doesn't take a telepath to realize that something is bothering you, Elementro." The Professor said gently. "So what is it that's distressing you?"
Elementro didn't answer. Should he tell the Professor about his nightmares? If he did, then the Professor would probably want to probe his mind for the cause. If he did, he might be able to discover some of the secrets of Elementro's past. But at the same time, Elementro wasn't sure if he wanted the Professor to know every secret of his.
"Elementro, you must learn to trust me." The Professor said, interrupting his thoughts. "You have to know that we are only here to help."
Did Elementro believe him? Would he let the Professor, someone who he hadn't known for more than a week, into his head?
The truth? Part of him believed the Professor, but the other part, the dark, brooding boy who didn't trust anybody, didn't. Recently, the other part of him had been breaking through a little, such as when he made the earth slide. But he was still unconvinced. Was he ready to overcome his reluctance and get the help he needed? Elementro was about to find out that the first step was always the hardest...
…...
Scarlett Hamilton, aka Prana, sat in the room of her new bestie, Holly Storm, aka Portalle. As was the routine now after Danger Room sessions, the new girls in the institute gathered in Holly's and Mandira's room and hung out.
"These Danger Room sessions get more difficult every time we do them." Cassie complained, stretching out her back. "My muscles are constantly sore."
"I know." Mandira agreed, rubbing her neck. Days of training had left all the girls slightly sore, but they knew it would wear off after they'd gotten used to it. "It's almost like Wolverine's trying to make this as difficult as possible for us. The guy's a lunatic."
"By the way, speaking of guys..." Holly spoke up, her wide blue eyes glittering mischievously. "Anyone here notice any since we got here? Particularly hot ones?" She turned her gaze toward Ivana. "Like Mason?"
The blue-eyed girl looked at her lap and blushed scarlet. "Mason and I are just friends, that's all." she muttered defensively. Holly rolled her eyes.
"Mmm-hmm. I've heard that one before. How long can a girl and a guy stay 'just friends?" Holly winked at her. Ivana blushed harder and stared at the floor.
"But seriously, Ivana, I know how you feel. I mean, Mason's totally hot, nobody can argue with that." The blond girl looked around the room. "Anyone else have their eye on somebody?"
"Yeah!" Scarlett piped up, her dark eyes sparkling. "Did anyone notice Elementro? I know he's like, quiet and moody, and he's always lashing out, but he is pretty hot."
Mandira felt uncomfortable. She found talking about boys shallow and silly. On top of that, she had had an unpleasant confrontation with Elementro in the Danger Room, so this was increasingly awkward for her. She was also aware of the fact that Elementro would not appreciate being talked about in that way. While the other girls were distracted discussing Sean's 'guns', she pulled her headscarf on and slipped out of the room. She knew that Elementro wouldn't appreciate these girls talking about him; she knew she wouldn't like it if it were the other way around. School was going to start in a week, and Mandira wanted to clear her head before she became more stressed. Maybe she could go talk with Storm. Anything to relax herself. But as she walked out, she didn't notice Sandy, Roxaya's dog, staring intently at her back, fixing her with her chocolate brown gaze.
…...
Wanda Maximoff pinched the bridge of nose with her thumb and forefinger. The sharp beginning of a migraine was blooming between her eyes, all thanks to a certain crazed mutant. Having Pyro was a full-time job. Toad and Freddy were still annoying, and Lance was just...Lance. Pietro was still whiny and nagging, and Wanda suspected that he was using her eyeliner and foundation. All in all, she almost couldn't wait for Mystique to return, being the leader of the Brotherhood was no easy task, and Wanda was exhausted. She decided to go out for a bit, maybe head to the mall and get away from the guys. As she stood up, she heard a loud, 'BOOOOOM!' followed by a muffled scream. Wanda raced down the stairs to see what happened.
What did Pyro do now? He's already blown up the stove, melted the windows, charred the curtains, incinerated the fireplace, and singed most of Freddy's hair off.
Wanda got her answer as she reached the living room, the source of the commotion. There was Pyro in front of a twisted metal frame that used to be the ratty couch. He, the floor, and the ceiling were covered in soot. She heard a muffled groan above her head and looked up. There was Toad, half-buried in the ceiling. It was if someone had thrown him, and his whole front was embedded in the ceiling. Pyro stood there, looking stunned. Then he started laughing hysterically, and then dropped onto the floor, rolling around, laughing to the point of tears.
Wanda sighed, canceling any plans of relaxation of the day.
…...
Elementro sat across from the Professor, growing more uncomfortable as the bald man's piercing gaze burned into his skull. Inside, he was at war with himself: Should he accept the Professor's help, or try and figure it out on his own? In the end, his old self won over.
"I think I handle it, Professor." Elementro stood up. "But, um...thanks anyway." Without looking back at the Professor, Elementro turned and walked out of the library. He turned into the hallway and collided with somebody approaching from the opposite direction.
"Oof!" Mandira grunted as slammed into Elementro. "Why do we keep running into each other?" She asked, trying to lighten the situation.
"How should I know?" Elementro asked irritably. "You should watch where you're going." Shoving past her, he stormed upstairs. It occurred to him he was rude to Mandira, and normal protocal would be to apologize, but he was in no mood to talk to anybody right now. He went up to his room and slammed the door, throwing himself down on his bed.
"Hey, 'Mentro, what happened to you?" Elementro hadn't noticed Mason standing in front of the closet, digging through his clothes. Elementro buried his head under his pillows, not even bothering to tell Mason to stop calling him that annoying nickname he'd come up with. Elementro might have thought of Mason as one of his only friends, but right now, he just wanted to be alone. Mason picked up on this and walked out of the room. He was confused, sometimes Elementro seemed ready to open up and relax, but then he'd slip into his moody, grim self and completely blow everyone off. Which was a pity, because Mason thought that Elementro was one of the people in the institute he had the potential to become friends with. The Professor might try and work with him, but with Elementro, that might not be easy. It was clear that Elementro was carrying a terrible burden, and Mason couldn't blame him for being so antisocial. But at the same time, Mason wished Elementro would at least let the Professor try to help.
Mason headed downstairs, where he saw several other students gathering by the front door.
"What are you guys doing?" he asked, scanning the throng of students. There were both boys and girls, all of them new students.
"We're sneaking off to the mall," Sean told him, zipping up his sweater. "Want to come?"
"What do you mean, 'sneaking off'?" Mason asked. Sean sighed patiently.
"'Sneaking off' as in leaving and nobody knows." he answered. "None of us are sixteen, so the Professor would never let us go alone. That's why we have Cassie here-" he gestured to the white-haired girl, who was slipping into a light purple jacket. "To hide us from him. So, are you coming or what?"
"Sure." Mason hurried to join them. He wasn't wearing a jacket, but there was not time to go grab one. He and the others piled into the X-Van, which was parked in the garage.
"How are we going to drive this thing?" Yokiku asked, seating himself next to Mason. "If you haven't noticed, the keys to the van aren't exactly lying around the Institute."
"Leave that to me." Kavin, who was settled behind the drivers' seat, touched a finger to his temple, and in response, the car started up. Cassie was holding on to the doors, keeping them and the car hidden.
"What about Paul?" Mason noticed the young French wasn't in the van. "Shouldn't we get him, too?"
"Too late." Sean replied. "Besides, you know how timid he is. He would never break the rules like this."
"Maybe." Mason muttered. But inside, he knew it was wrong. Kavin gripped the wheel and backed the van out of the garage, (which he had also opened), and they drove off, on their first official joyride.
…...
Paul Keller sat in the community room. He knew the other students had left without him, he had heard them making plans. It had hurt him that they hadn't bothered to include him, but he was worried about getting caught.
Well, he reasoned, There are other things to do here. Not everyone left.
And with that thought, he made his way up to Mason's, Nik's, and Elementro's room.
At least Elementro's still here.
Sorry it took me so long to write this. Now I'm a freshman in high school, I'm way busier that I used to be. So I might updating only once or twice a week. So PLEASE PLEASE bear with me. Review, but please no flames. They make me mad.