Chapter 1: The Begining
Before I forget DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own X-Men Evolution Plot, Story, Characters, just my own. =]
A beam of butter-yellow light drifted through the bedroom window. It settled daintily onto Kim's oak desk. She tossed everything that dealt with school or her pen-pals on there. Scattered across its smooth surface were papers, assignments, class notes, and a letter or two. Right now the desk sat alone. It gazed at the sleeping form of its owner, as if keeping silent vigil.
As Kim slept on, the sun touched the trees that reached high into the crystal blue sky. Their leaves caught on fire in the light; the pigments of fall had finally brushed away the gentle green. Kim might notice them briefly before hurrying off to her set destination, but she would undoubtedly miss the beauty of fall that passes by so quickly. Downstairs, a hint of toast and frying eggs floated temptingly through her floorboards. A minute passed and Kim blinked her eyes slowly, just before her alarm clock went off...
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Brreep Brreep Brreep! BRREEP!
Kim's sea colored eyes flew open. The loud clamor from the alarm assaulted her ears without mercy. Desperately, she fought against the sound of her heart drumming in her ears and threw her hand outside to slam the snooze button. Frosty air bit into her warm skin.
COLD! HOLY CRAP.
Kim punched the snooze button and burrowed under her covers. Yet, it was too late. The warm air in her cocoon receded as a strong, bitter current of chilly air invaded.
Kim cursed under her breath.
XXXX
I just feel sick. What happened yesterday? Brianna called, we talked about-oh yeah. Good. She's through with him. That's not what's bothering me though. Man. I wish this head ache would split...
"Morning," a warm voice said. It belonged to Kim's mom, a woman who was as comfortable in her skin as a fish in water. Those piercing brown eyes settled on her and Kim stilled. She relaxed under her mom's examination, letting the confident thirty-three year old see the layered Eskimo Kim had become. Over her thin pajamas were two layers of hoodies, socks, pants, and adorable pink slippers.
Pink Bunny slippers.
"I see you are having a tough time waking up pumpkin," the woman mentioned slowly.
"Yeah," Kim mumbled."I feel like my head is turning inside out."
Darn it. What is wrong with me? I just can't think straight...
"I'm sorry baby. Here, I made some egg sandwiches. Eat it up and take some aspirin. I have to get ready."
Kim allowed her mom to steer her despondent form toward the table. She sat down and stared at the egg sandwich steaming before her. Usually the smell of creamy butter and cooked egg awakened her hearty appetite. Yet, in that very moment a knot twisted in Kim's stomach. She looked up to say so to her mom but the woman turned around and walked out, leaving her alone. Kim closed her eyes.
I'll just wrap it up and eat on the bus, she reasoned sadly.
Twenty minutes elapsed and Kim was inside her room, fresh from a hot shower. Bent over from the stomach Kim pulled her thick hair into a ponytail. She gazed critically over her faded jeans and sneakers and the feeling of frustration swelled.
Whatever. I'll just have to look like crap today. Maybe now Brianna will shop with me for some new winter clothes.
The prospect actually made her smile. It would be fun to actually shop with her best friend. It had been a while...
Then, she felt guilty. Brianna had made time for her. Even though John was beginning to occupy a majority of her time, they would hang out for a couple of hours at school every day and every other weekend. Brianna had this incredibly caring and devoted nature. Not even a boyfriend could keep her from seeing her best friend. Even so, Kim still felt like she had been abandoned. She could never tell Brianna that because it would just break her heart, something that definitely could not happen right now.
A bout of jealousy pierced through her guilt. Brianna was so caring and loyal; Kim knew she wasn't like that. Maybe that's why they got along so well. If only-
Okay. I gotta stop thinking in that direction. I'm only hurting myself and I'm getting no where.
Kim finished twisting the rubber band and straightened. She grabbed her heavy back pack off her desk chair and jogged out of her room.
"You're going to be late!" her mom called.
The picture of a gigantic elephant came to mind as she tromped even faster down the stairs. It was so loud.
Clomp!
Clomp!
Clomp!
Apparently, her mom had been thinking the same thing. When Kim arrived at the bottom she was met with an amused grin. The older woman was gorgeous. Kim's mom had been the teenager with funky braces and eye glasses, but now she used contacts and her teeth were straight. She wasn't a super model by any means, and she was roughly a little taller than Kim, but she was utterly elegant. Right then, she was dressed in her running outfit and running shoes, a bottled water in her hand. Kim looked away from her smile and her eyes were drawn to the water bottle. As soon as she made contact with it, a feeling of stark apprehension stopped her cold.
Last night. That's what happened last night. I was brushing my teeth and the water-
Her chest constricted at the memory. For a split second, her head ache emerged from its dark depths. From far away, she vaguely realized her heart was kicking up to speed...
Then, everything returned to normal. Kim felt like she was going to fall over. She made a fist with one of her hands and dug her nails into her palm. The pain distracted her successfully. Luckily for her, she didn't have to worry if the water was contained or subdued in containers. One of the only lucky breaks she owned.
Breathe...
"Kim?" Her mom gazed down at her with a worried frown. "Are you alright?"
"Perfect," Kim replied instantly. "Never been better!"
The frown didn't disappear, but her mom didn't press any further.
"You took your aspirin right? And is it working?"
Kim nodded.
"Yeah it is. Thanks! My headache is actually almost completely gone."
Liar.
Kim masked her face despite the waves of pain. She stared into her mother's doubtful expression until she thought her eyes would burn up. The woman remained skeptical but she exhaled and examined Kim from top to toe.
"Alright then. You better get out there. You can't miss the bus today. You look warm enough."
"Mom, I'm fine. I'll see you tonight, okay?" she said.
Mrs. Reid nodded and glanced down at her watch.
"Okay. See you soon babe."
Kim kissed her lovingly before stepping around her and sprinting off. Each step she took that lead her further away from the problem, constricted her chest still more. That was when she finally noticed that her palms were excessively clammy.
That was close, she thought with a shiver. Way too close.
Suddenly, something occurred to her, triggering another important memory.
"Mom!" she called, turning back to the house. The woman turned from locking the door.
"What's up?"
"Am I cooking tonight or are you?"
Kim's mom paused, her keys just inches from falling inside her pouch.
"No, it's your turn babe!" she replied loudly. "I'm at a late meeting. Make sure to make something hot because it's supposed to get close to freezing tonight."
"Alright," Kim affirmed, waving her hand. "Have a good day at work! I'll see you later!"
"Study hard girl!" Her mom shouted before getting into her BMW. As she drove away, Kim heard the squealing pistons and the ominous roar of her bus. She twisted around to see the giant yellow worm roll quickly along the sidewalk. It stopped with a huff at her feet. Gathering up some determination and trying to put behind her feeling of sickness, Kim boarded onto the bus. The wave of many different voices was like music to her ears. Finally, she was going to sit with Brianna. It was the first time in six long months. Even sweeter? John wouldn't be present. The guy was nice enough, but he'd always seemed a little off to Kim. Sometimes, he would smile at her and she would get the creepiest feeling.
Okay, everything's settling down. Just find Brianna and-hey! There she is.
She spotted Brianna near the front, where they always sat, and smiled.
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"Hand sanitizer? Again? I thought you had stopped using that?" Brianna stared at her best friend, a perplexed yet amused look on her face.
"No, I haven't. And it's better than the crappy soap in the bathrooms anyway." Kim rubbed the gel vigorously on her hands and felt the sanitizer dry. It was a weird sensation, like there was a cold tingling all over her hands. She had grown to like it.
"Man. I have the dorkiest friend in the world. Next, you'll be telling me to bring Kleenex packets to school!" Brianna waved her hands in the air in pretend exasperation. Kim ignored her. Even though Brianna was her best friend, she had a feeling she would never understand some of the secrets Kim kept inside of her. Such as...
No, don't think about it.
"Hey...Kim? I was joking. It was a joke, alright?" Brianna was biting her lip, anxiousness darkening her carefree expression. Kim immediately dropped her hand sanitizer into her pocket and gave Brianna her full attention. She felt horrible.
"Yeah, I know," she reassured. "And it's okay. I just-just couldn't sleep last night."
Brianna's eyes glazed over and she looked away.
"Neither could I," she responded quielty.
Kim felt her heart tear at her friend's expression. She reached out and squeezed her arm but Brianna kept walking.
"Thanks Kim," she said quietly, forcing the girl to keep up with her. "But I really don't want to cry in school. Let's talk about something else?"
Kim exhaled and nodded.
"Yeah! Sure. Whatever you need."
She searched her brain to come up with anything new but Brianna beat her to it.
"They should make it illegal for teachers to give us three 5 lb books and a laptop for all in the same backpack. This is brutal," she said, scrunching her nose.
Kim shouldered her own and her duffle bag, silently agreeing. Mom was considering getting her a rolling back pack and she cringed at the idea. I hate those colored wheels…
Crowds of students surrounded them, so Kim grunted when another girl slid past her, pushing her roughly against the wall.
"Hey!" she exclaimed, but the girl didn't stop and turn around. Her crow black hair disappeared into the mob, along with her goth-like black dress and clunky boots. Kim frowned irritatedly in her direction. "Did you see that?" she asked loudly. There wasn't a response and when Kim turned her head? She was surprised to see Brianna was traveling back to her. She had walked on without her and apparently hadn't noticed the girl.
"Kim! What are you doing? We're going to be late." Brianna stared into her face worriedly. Kim stared back and then glanced down the hall again.
"You didn't see her?"
"See who? All I knew is that you weren't right beside me anymore. Then I noticed you by the water fountain."
Kim felt the blood drain from her face and her thoughts screech to a halt.
"The wha-" she choked. But she couldn't get it all out. Another guy, who was three feet away, bent down on top of the water fountian and pressed the button that releases the water. Kim watched it squirt out like a firework and pour into his mouth as he took a drink. The world suddenly wanted to spin.
"Oh no," she whispered, dropping her duffle bag.
"Kim? Kim! Hey! What's wrong?"
Kim closed her eyes and felt the pull. This time it was strong. She didn't want to, but her thoughts immediately poured out of her, searching for the source. Every effort she put into blocking them, placing up a strong mental wall against the ebbing tide, refused to work. They all crumbled and she felt the surge she usually managed to suppress grow. Suddenly, it burst and the living, roaring power coursed through her. Here it comes, she thought weakly.
Impulsively, she clenched her fists shut and the whole top of the water fountain faucet sent off a ear piercing shriek as screws began popping off. The guy's head shot up in shock and he backed away hastily as the shriek rose in momentum. Around Kim, everyone began talking louder and plugging their ears. They didn't know where the sound was coming from but Kim did. No, she thought as her last reserves... broke. The entire top the fountian popped off and landed on the floor with a loud clang. Water began shooting crazily.
The hall was in instant chaos.
"Kim!" she heard Brianna shout. But it was too late.
This was it.
Her long awaited nightmare had finally come true.
Somehow, it was a little relieving. Maybe after this, she wouldn't have to worry anymore. Maybe she would miraculously lose everthing and become normal-"Kim!"
The antagonized female voice brought her back to conciousness. Kim gasped when she realized that her eyes were closed. She opened them and saw the water. Her heart plummeted at the sight.
Shoot! I have to freaking stop! She woke herself from her daze and locked her eyes on the water. With angry desperation she attempted to open her wrists. Searing pain ran raced up her spine and throughout her body as her power fought and struggled. Agh...c'mon! More anger, like a putrid flame, grazed within her. Then, to her relief, she won out. All of the water shot straight up as one and swirled to the right, crashing through the high window and pouring outside. The water would dampen the garden that was fortunately right below, and wouldn't even touch the inside of the high school. She began to shake from the pressure of holding it this way and the screams and voices around her clouded her head.
You can do this! Hold it just a little longer... until they shut it off!
The water surged even more, as the pressure from the unclosed pipe let out the unreleased energy. Kim felt her knees buckle and she sank against the wall, but she kept her hands open, willing the water to stay on its course. She felt exhilirated and terrified all at the same time. Brianna's hand clamped on her shoulder and she screamed painfully, in Kim's ear.
"Kim! Are you alright? You've got to move! You've got to move Kim!"
The water was slipping out of her grasp and she saw the train of it falter. Kim bit her lip, fighting for breath. C'mon, c'mon!
Just as she was about to lose it, the water fountain suddenly gave a loud groan, and the water fell to the floor with a splash. Everywhere, students got soaked and girls squealed, holding out their hair and clothes. Guys muttered angrily, some laughing at the distraction. No-one probably had this much excitement in a long time. Kim sighed heavily and slid to the floor. Her legs and arms were shaking.
The principle, a usually cheerful plump woman clipped into the hall. "Alright everyone! Back to your classes! Those of you, who need a change of clothes, get to the nurses office! Let's move! NOW."
People groaned and began to disperse. In the quieted hum, Kim felt a hand grab her arm and pull her up. Brianna stood next to her, quivering.
"Babe?" she whispered. "What happened to you? Will you be okay? I know you hate water!"
Kim's teeth clattered.
"I'm-I'm okay," she shivered. In a haze she let Brianna lead her into the crowd and soon they were seated in a very loud classroom. Their English teacher, Mr. Viau was talking urgently to one of the students who was soaked thoroughly. Kim felt her eyelids grow heavy and she lay on her desk, trying desperately to catch her breath.
"Oh my gosh," she heard Brianna utter. She opened one eye to find her friend staring at her, frightened.
"What?" Kim croaked. "What's wrong?"
Brianna touched her sleeve.
"Kim, you are so dry…."
Kim couldn't bare it and closed her eyes.
What is wrong with me?
A big thankyou to you guys who reviewed. =] It really means a lot to me and I appreciate it. I'm sorry I'm taking sooo long to update! I'm trying to find the time between school. I need to make a date for my new chapter, and pace myself. You guys totally deserve more to read.
Anyway, Adios and wish me luck!
-Merlin