A/N: Sorry I've been missing for a bit again. I've been pretty busy but fortunately for you all I got sick recently which left me with free time to work on this. Hope you enjoy! I'll be here drinking tea til I explode.
"Erik's been having a temper tantrum because Charles wants to let humans in the school," Annie said rolling her eyes as I sat down across from her in the cafeteria.
"A temper tantrum?" I asked arching a brow imagining our German teacher throwing himself down on the floor like a toddler. I stifled a laugh. "I had my reservations about the idea too though," I said tentatively. From what Annie told me she was super excited about the idea and I wasn't quite in the mood to get another speech on how it was for the greater good. "I mean obviously I'm not super against it or anything. I just don't think it's such a great idea to jump into it so fast."
"Just think about what it would do to bring the next generation of humans and mutants together. It can't be too bad if Charles thinks it's a good idea as well, he wouldn't try anything like this without weighing the risks and benefits," she responded with as much fervor as Charles himself.
"I know. I know. I don't know. I mean obviously there's nothing I can do about it but I'm not going to lie and say I'm 100% comfortable with the idea," I said squirming. "It's just that I'm not sure if I want the world to know about here. This is like a safe haven for people like us. Sure our families are ok with how we are but that doesn't mean everyone is, you know."
"I get that. I'm excited about it but it's terrifying. It isn't definitely going to happen yet so we really have nothing to worry about. Erik just likes to overreact and get dramatic. It must be a German thing," she laughed it off. I let a small laugh escape before the conversation turned to a different subject. I was grateful for a change from the slightly tense atmosphere of before into something light and silly. It was rare that Annie and I didn't see eye to eye on something.
Before long, Annie and I had chatted the night away and it was nearing eight. Charles had been unhelpfully vague this morning telling me simply to "meet him later tonight" so I figured now was a good time as any to go.
"Well lady, it's been fun but I have to get going," I said rising from the bench.
"But I thought we were going to watch Golden Girls in my room," she pouted. "I feel like I haven't seen you in ages."
"I have to get some work done for Char- Professor X," I amended considering the cafeteria had gotten very crowded.
"Yeah, I bet," she smirked.
"Oh, shut up!" I said hitting her lightly before hugging her goodbye and promising to reschedule the Golden Girls marathon. I made my way down the familiar hallway to the headmaster's office. I knocked solely for the illusion of keeping up appearances.
"So I heard your buddy isn't too thrilled about your plan for integration," I said by means of greeting.
"He's being so immature about it!" Charles said frustrated immediately latching on to my neck.
"I don't know about that. I'm sure he has his reasons," I mused while Charles began quickly unbuttoning my shirt. He immediately stopped.
"Is this about this morning?" he sighed.
"I told you I wasn't completely thrilled with the idea," I said letting some of the annoyance seep into my voice. I thought we went over this. I said I would be willing to support him even if I wasn't completely sure it was a good idea. "Besides, Annie told me it might not happen for a while yet anyway," I said shrugging it off.
"I guess I'm just surprised you're defending him," he said now visibly in a different mood. Something tells me we weren't going to have a repeat of last night.
"I just feel like he's the only one thinking of the possible consequences."
"Consequences?" he laughed bitterly. "Erik's reasoning has nothing to do with the consequences that might come from integration. At least you have a solid reason! Erik's reasoning is pure elitist nonsense! He wants to keep the mutant community completely separate from the human community."
"And is that such a bad thing?" I let slip. Charles' whole face changed. I knew saying it was a mistake.
"So you're with him?" he said shaking his head in disbelief.
"I'm not WITH anyone," I sighed. "I just think there is kids in this school that benefit from being away from humans. Not everyone is nice to people like us. Some of the children in this school have mutations that aren't easily kept hidden and are ridiculed because of it."
"And this is exactly why we need to integrate the school. If we integrate the school humans and mutants will grow up together and-"
"Yeah, yeah. Charles we've been over this. 'Humans and mutants will grow up together and learn to see each other only as children.'" I said in mocking his accent. "What about the people my age? They're set in their ways Charles and I can't help but think if you let the wrong people in here, people will be targeted."
Charles looked shocked. "You seemed okay with the idea this morning."
"Yeah, well, I lied!" I said finally bursting. "I'm sick of everyone trying to tell me I'm being ridiculous for feeling this way. Obviously I'm not the only one!"
"Maybe it'd be best if you left," Charles said darkly.
"I was just thinking that," I said before re-arranging my shirt and stomping out the door. Between him and Annie I was having pro-integration propaganda shoved down my throat. I was now even more lost on where Charles and I stood. Should I come try to see him again tomorrow? I pushed it aside just trying to find a means of distracting myself. I briefly considered going to visit Erik but decided against it. Going to see him certainly wouldn't help whatever I had with Charles and I didn't know how Annie would react to me visiting him after hours. I meandered my way outside and sat on one of the benches. It felt nice to be away from everything.
"Hey!" I heard a familiar voice call. Whipping around I saw Darren coming down the path from the school. Normally I didn't really talk to him because I always found his personality slightly obnoxious but he seemed like welcome company now that I was slightly annoyed with the people I was usually closest to.
"Hi Darren," I said pulling my sleeves down over my hands. I cursed myself for not thinking to grab a jacket before wandering out here.
"What are you doing out here?" he said confused. It was a little bit cold for November and most of the student body was content to stay inside where it was nice and toasty.
"I could ask you the same," I fired back.
"But you're cold," he said simply.
"Yeah, forgot a jacket. I sort of just stormed out here."
"Here," he said shrugging off his jacket and placing it around my shoulders. "I don't need it really. I guess I'm more tolerant to the cold because of the ice and all." I tried to suppress rolling my eyes. It was clear Darren was hoping to get closer to me. Normally I'd never give him the time of day but for some reason he seemed more tolerable tonight. "So how come you stormed out here?"
I launched into the whole story about Charles wanting to integrate the school and how I felt like I was one of the only ones not fully supportive. I of course left out the part where I was in Charles room with the intent to fuck him. Surprisingly, Darren listened supportively the entire time. Had I judged him too harshly or was he just telling me what I wanted to hear to get in my pants.
"Want to head up to my room?" Darren said after a while. It was nearing midnight and all the night time creatures were beginning to show themselves. I had never been one for bugs or anything else that went bump in the night so I immediately agreed. I knew what this probably meant but it wasn't as if I was going to be getting any from Charles tonight. It's not like we were exclusive anyway and if it made him jealous, all the better. Darren really was sort of handsome.
"I'd love to," I said taking his hand and sealing my fate.
