I trudged onto the mutants' jet, last suitcase in hand, bundled in my white scarf striped with rainbow colors. Regardless of the summer weather, it made me feel safe, as if they couldn't tear my throat out as soon as I stepped on board… that and I had a dagger hidden in my boot.
The air conditioning inside the jet was turned on full blast, and it smelled of fresh leather and plastic. I had never been on an airplane before, and this wasn't been exactly how I had previously envisioned the moment I finally flew; In a high tech jet, full of dangerous mutants, who wanted to take me to a "gifted" school in New York.
I made my way to the seat in the very back, in a desperate attempt to keep distance between the mutants and myself. I watched as Xavier rolled into the jet and made his way to the copilot's seat. I found myself holding my breath as the door slowly closed, afraid to be sealed into a room with such dangerous people. Jean walked down the isle and sat on the seat across from mine. I felt a twinge of panic, suddenly feeling like a cornered animal. I jerked my head away and looked out the window at my house as the engine started up.
An agitated voice came from the pilot's seat, male, seemingly talking to himself. "So… we traveled across the country to give this kid a lift? She doesn't look very grateful."
No response from Xavier. Or Jean. There was a long pause broken by the gruff voice adding, "Yea, yea. Whatever."
The jet was soon in the air, and I was left staring at my house in the distance, suddenly regretting my impulsive decision to leave. A hand gently grabbed my shoulder, breaking me out of my trance, and causing me to jump.
"Lillian, I know it's hard, but you're going to love the school. There are lots of great people to meet, and the grounds always leave people in awe. You'll find something there, I just know it." It was Jean.
"No, I won't. And if I do, my 'awe' will be diluted by the fact that I'm surrounded by freaks." And that I'm a freak; I added mentally.
"Maybe you will, you just have to be a little… optimistic about it."
"I'm not an optimist."
"Try to be."
I turned my head at that. 'Try to be'? How ridiculous. Being optimistic in this situation would be to give in to my much-unwanted mutation. And I wasn't going down that easily. I was going to be pessimistic because the situation was so, not because I wished to change it. Jean was wearing a smile on her mouth, but something in her eye said that she wasn't very happy with me.
Her head snapped to the right, gazing at the door in the back. Giving a brief, "Excuse me," she stood up and walked over to it. She opened it only to have two kids, previously leaning against the door, fall on their faces. The first, a boy with light brown hair, looked up at Jean, smiling sheepishly as the other, a girl with dark hair, stood up and dusted herself off.
"Bobby, Amara, what are you doing?" Jean asked, putting her hands on her hips.
Bobby got up. "We were just curious! We heard you were picking up a new mutant and we just couldn't help it."
Amara interrupted, "We? I just came along to make sure you kept in line!"
"You liar! Don't try to blame this on me!"
"Well, it was your idea!"
"No way!" Bobby snapped back.
"You are both at fault here," Xavier was coming down the isle, "and I will discuss this with you both later, but for now, I suppose you should introduce yourselves."
"Alright professor." Amara sighed, "Nice to meet you, I'm Amara. I hope you enjoy the institute."
"And I'm Bobby! I can shoot ice from my hands and all sorts of stuff! What do you do, and what's with your eyes?"
"Bobby…" Amara whispered, "That's rude."
"Chillax hothead, I just wanted to know what her power was."
"Yes, Bobby, why don't you stop glorifying our freakish powers and just drop it." I said, making my frustration purposely obvious. If he was intimidated, good.
Xavier apparently decided to step in and try saving my first impression with these kids, "The fact of the matter is, Bobby, we aren't exactly sure of the nature of Miss Alber's powers, nor is she."
The kids went and sat down after that, and we rode out the rest of the jet ride in silence (much to my relief). It was still unnerving. So far they hadn't tried anything, but that just made everything tenser. I was unsure of their motives, which left me lost, confused, and terribly nauseous. When the jet landed, I felt as though I were crawling right into a shark's stomach, begging for a swift end, asking for my demise. As I walked out onto the grass surrounding the mansion that I assumed to be the institute, I felt as though I was being digested by said shark.
It was as I was stepping out of the jet that I finally saw the owner of the gruff voice from before. He was a tall man with a large, muscular build. His face was angular unwelcoming, and rough looking, like a killer or a criminal. "The name's Logan, runt, welcome home." Oh, I must have been staring at him. Crap, all the mutants I'd ever seen were pansies compared to this guy. He was scaring the shit out of me. If any of these people were to stab me, it would probably be him.
"Jean, I would like you to show Lillian to one of the empty girl's rooms and help her carry her luggage in." Xavier said.
"I'm on it Professor." Jean replied.
Jean led me up the marble steps, both of us carrying three suitcases each. Before she could open the door, I turned the doorknob with my foot and pushed it open. I have to admit; I was amazed by the inside of the mansion, but tried my best to look bored by it. Maybe I was being a bitch, but their opinions really didn't matter to me, besides, they weren't even human. I allowed her to lead me up the foyer stairs and into an unoccupied bedroom. I had to count my blessings; at least I didn't have to share a room with one of them.
Another girl behind Jean was walking down the halls nonchalantly, a yogurt cup in hand. Her eyes did a quick double take at us and she stopped, looking over Jean's shoulder into the room.
"Whoa, I didn't know there was a new arrival here today. Jean, why didn't you tell me I'm, like, totally in my pajamas. I'm Kitty by the way." She reached her empty hand through Jean. I had to admit; I was definitely surprised by that, my surprise taking the form of a grimacing face. I reached out my own hand halfheartedly, barely touching hers.
"Lillian" I mumbled, taking my hand back.
"Well someone's grumpy today." She said, taking her hand back and walking through Jean to face me.
I shrugged off her remark. I was grumpy, so I wasn't going to bother refuting that… However… "Listen, maybe you can waltz around, showing off your mutation like that, but to some of us it's just a slap in the face." I said. Jean gave an angry sigh and walked out of the room.
"Yea, well maybe some of us feel confidant about who they are."
"And maybe some of you are ignorant and don't understand the true implications of this situation we are in." Oh, this chick was going to be annoying, maybe more so than Jean. "It's mutants like you, going around and flaunting their freakish powers that will end up ruining everything in the end."
"And what tells you that?"
"Have you been paying any attention to the news? Ever since mutants have revealed themselves crime sprees have skyrocketed. Dangerous mutants don't feel the need to hide anymore, so they go around doing whatever the hell they want. Just. Like. You."
"Do you hear yourself? You're being a major, discriminating, jerk!"
Kitty stormed off just like Jean had, leaving me alone to unpack my things, organize my closet, fill up drawers with my jewelry, art supplies, school supplies, electronics, and my socks and underwear. As I did so, I went over Kitty and my conversation mentally multiple times, wondering if I had done the right thing in standing for my opinion. I stopped unpacking and leaned against the wall in the corner for what must have been hours, until I heard the door to the room next to me close.
I began to hear murmurs coming from my neighbor's room and leaned into the wall in order to listen.
"-and he totally like, flew right through the wall again." Sounded like Kitty.
"Really? That's the second time this month. He's going to be a master of masonry in no time." And that was definitely Jean.
"Totally."
"He's really gotta learn some self control. So, ya'll were going to tell me about this new recruit?" A new voice, distinctly southern.
Jean started, "Yes, well, she's strictly anti-mutant, so she's not the most sociable right now. She seems to forget she's a mutant sometimes, and calls us freaks and the like. Honestly I can't stand her; I'm usually a very patient person, but her attitude is infuriating."
"Woah."
"Yea, and she like, got into a huge argument from just meeting me. I phased through Jean and she totally had a cow!"
"Kinda funny how she's one of those anti-mutant folk. Serves poetic justice. But are you two sure it's safe to have her around?" The southern girl said.
"Totally. She's all bark and no bite." Kitty said, "Besides, watching her go crazy might be kinda fun!"
"Now you two, regardless of how mean she might come off, I'm sure she's just scared and confused. We still have an obligation to help her, it's the right thing to do."
"Jean, I don't know how you hold it together sometimes." Kitty remarked.
I stood up, walking over to my bed. Well, I could see that I had made quite the impression on them, but what did I have to do to get that Jean girl off of my back?
AN: Well, I hope you liked this chapter. I tried lengthening it a little, since my other chapters only felt like semi-chapters. Next chapter Lillian figures out just what her powers are and meets some more of the x men… Oh yea, I don't own x men, just in case anyone was dumb enough to assume I did.