UNEXPECTED MEETING
Part 3: Spreading Her Wings
written by
Jenni
Spreading her Wings
(part 3 of the Songbird Saga.)
by Jenni
SUMMARY: Marie is finally at the school, but her welcome is less than
warm. Will any of them actually accept her? Or will she be forced to
leave...
DISCLAIMER: I only own the character Marie, cause she's supposed 2 B
kinda be me ^-^. (that was a cool C-Fan challenge) Gen X is owned by
Marvel so please no one sue me. I always wondered how Gen X would react
to a new, powerful person, who already had a way in and never had to
worry. Plus I also thought that if Monet hated Jubilee so much then
she'd have to something to her occasionally...
_______________________________________________________________________
The first thing I noticed as I stepped into the gates is the space.
Even though I only lived in the burbs, its still a shock to see all of
this. Bobby already ditched me here, so there's no turning back. The
face of that Asian girl in the window doesn't look too friendly though.
As I walk up the step, I notice some sparrows fly by. First chance I
get, I'm gonna slip away and go flying for a while. Well, now I'm
here, just press the doorbell. Just breathe. Wait, I'm starting to
sound like Drew Barrymore. K, here i go.
"Hello..." I started.
"Oh, you're the new impresso power girl who's Iceman's cousin. Gee,
however did you get accepted?" said a short, asian girl who couldn't
have been more than 13. I guess she must be Jubilee, who used to be
with the X-men.
"Yeah, I'm Marie." I smiled at her. She just looked me up and down.
"You won't last the week." She walked away down the hall. Yeah right,
like she knows anything. Well, guess I should find the headmasters.
"Well well, you certainly look different Chica." I turn around. At
least I found a familiar face. Angelo seemed cool enough at the mall
that time. He should be nice enough.
"Hi!" I smile and walk up to him.
"And why didn't you tell me you was a mutant? And that you were comin
here?" His face turned sour. Great, my one hopeful ally and he decides
to desert me. well, I gotta defend myself, don't go to a Chicago high
school for three years and not learn a few things about facing off.
"Yeah, thats just how I start a conversation. Hi, nice to meet you. I'm
a mutant. Wanna be my best friend for life now? Yeah, I'd make a lotta
friends that way *Amigo*."
He looked at me and mumbled something in Spanish. Guess he thinks I'm
not smart enough to know Spanish. I glare at him and mentally project
an equally nasty remark back at him. He turns to start something, but
I turn away and walk up the stairs. According to his memories, the
office should be the next door on the left. I know its wrong to read
people's minds for no reason, but sometimes I can't help it.
"Hello?"
"Ah Lass, glad t'see ye got here in one piece. With Bobby drivin, ye
never know. Did ye meet any of the other kids on yer way up here?"
An older man with fiery red hair gazed at me warmly. Glad to see
someone wants me here. I can see that after a while the accent is
gonna get real annoying.
"Yeah, I saw Angelo and Jubilee on the way in." No need to worry him
with what they think of me. Better if he finds out on his own.
"Yes, Mr. Espinosa met you back in Chicago. Was he happy to see you
again?" A tall, blond woman walked in. Emma Frost.
"I guess you could say that..." I turned my head away.
~Never try to lie to another telepath.~ I forgot that was her power.
~Well, I didn't exactly lie...~ I shot her my most innocent look, and
saw her smirk.
"Well, I'll call Paige Guthrie to show you to your room in the girl's
area. Mr. Cassidy had your boxes sent there already. We will formally
introduce you to the other students tonight at dinner." Said Ms. Frost.
A few seconds later, a blond girl appeared at the door. She looked
at me, which I took to mean as a gesture to follow her. Can't believe
Angelo flirted with me when he's dating her. I really have to learn to
stop reading what's at the top of people's minds when I'm bored too.
"Ah wanna tell you one thing." She kept walking, never turning to look
at me. "Ah know you had your eye on Angelo an you flirted with him in
Chicago, but let me tell you one thing," I heard a ripping sound and
saw her turn to me. Her fist was in my face and it was now made of
granite. Her eyes squinted as she looked up into my eyes. "He's mahne."
"I get the point." Best not to make her mad. Even though the healing
factor would take care of me, I don't think it's good etiquette to
beat up someone you just met.
"Good." She lead me to a room in the left wing of this mansion. "Here,
enjoy." She walked away.
I sigh and walk in. My first day and so far I'm batting a thousand.
Now I didn't do anything to Jubilee, but I did insult Angelo, and I
really wanted to hurt Paige. This isn't going well. And I don't really
wanna unpack either. I used my power and I have my mind beams put
everything where I want it. Then I collapse on the bed. Maybe I should
let my mind wander. I close my eyes and let my consciousness slip. I
wonder what the other students are doing.
...my astral form floats to where they all have gathered in a forested
place...
"She won't last the week." Jubilee sat cross legged next to a bald
African American boy. Angelo is hanging from a tree limb and Paige is
reading a book under a tree. I see a girl in red in the background.
An African American girl is hovering above all of them.
"Isn't that harsh Lee? You just met her."
"Nah Ev, she's right, cept I'm not sure she'll make it past the first
training session." Angelo said as he pulled out a cigarette and started
to light it.
Paige stopped him and crushed the cigarette against the ground. "You
know you're up to a half a pack a day. Ah'm sayin she'll quit after
dinner, if...."
"If?" Jubilee and Angelo said excitedly in unison.
"I do not understand why you children are so threatened. Just because
she is X-men potential like me and not an X-baby like all of you..."
"Monet, maybe it would be best not to interupt." Ev looked up at her,
then back at the others.
~I 'ave t'agree with the princess fer a change.~ A voice, but, then,
its more like a telepathic message. It's not Ms. Frost's, it seems
darker. A man stepped out of the shadows near more trees.
"Sparky, don't start." Jubilee shot at him, then looked at all of them.
"Now, its one for all, and all for one. Everyone for driving her out,
say ay."
"Ay."
"Ay."
"Ay."
Jubilee elbowed Ev.
:sigh: "Ay"
"All opposed?"
"Nay."
~Nay.~
Jubilee smiled. "Motion carried. Now what should we do?"
The voices fade, and I wake up. I wipe a tear from my cheek. Maybe this
was a mistake.
___________________________________
I walk down to the dining room like I'm going to my last meal before
the chair. In a way, I guess I am. They're waiting for me. And they're
wearing smiles. I know that smile. Its the one a cat wears as they
toy with a mouse before crushing it. Well, here goes nothing.
"Well, Lass, these are your new teammates. I'm sure ye'll all be best
friends before ye know it. I'm sorry, but I haveta do some work in my
office. Ms. Frost should be here any minute to introduce ye." Sean
Cassidy smiled. God, I can't believe that he's what, 40 some years old
and still this naive.
"Don't worry Ese," Angelo never let his grin fade.
"Yeah, we'll take good care of her." Jubilee has on the same smile.
"Marvy then. Take care." I am so dead. Maybe if I just sit down and
shut up I can avoid what's coming.
Thwack.
A glob of mashed potatoes landed in my hair. I gently pull it out and
look up. No one owns up to it. I start to eat when I hear them start
whispering about me. Just pretend I don't hear.
Plop.
I sigh. Turkey this time. Just be patient. I put up with Kirk, I can
put up with them.But at least I always knew Kirk was kidding.
I hear Espinosa insult me in Spanish again. I look up, and glare at
them, but end up with fireworks going off right in front of me.
"My eyes!" I put my hands to them. I feel the pain, but I also feel
my healing factor kicking in. If I didn't have it, there could have
been permanent damage.
"Now Ms. Lee, that really was uncalled for." Its Monet talking. At
least one of them is saying something. That means they didn't plan this
at least.
"Well she has a healin factor." Paige is talking now. Well, I guess
the one they all also dislike is the only one with any pity.
~It was wrong, irresponsible, and uncalled for gel.~ Its the voice of
the man who Jubilee called Sparky.
I pull my head into my hands and hunch my back over. I feel a hand on
my shoulder. "Are you alright? Don't worry, I mentally summoned Emma."
Someone is actually being nice to me.
"I got your hail Monet what, Marie? What happened here?" Ms. Frost
walked in.
I raise my head up and open my eyes. I see her clearly. I then look at
the four students still seated at the table. I then look at Monet and
the man in black, the shadow. Why am I starting to cry? I can't look
weak in front of them. I, I have to leave. I fly out the closest
window. Too bad it was still closed. I hear the glass shatter. I hear
the whistle that Angelo lets out. But there's one thing I know I'll
always remember hearing. It was something Paige said.
"Told ya she'd quit after dinner."
_________________________________
I don't remember how long I was gone. I flew until the tears stopped.
I finally landed by a small stream on the edge of the property. Then
I just wandered around. Part of me wanted to see where it lead, the
other just didn't want to go back and face the real world yet. And
now here I am. Standing right in front of a clearing. I walk over and
sit down on a fallen tree. Why me? I run my hands through my hair and
push it out of my face. Someone's here, watching me. It's the shadow
man.
~Everyone's searching fer you Sunshine.~
"Yeah, I'm sure they're looking really hard." I meant for it to sound
harsh and uncaring, but it came out weak and defeated.
He looked around at nothing. ~Aren't you cold? Y'ran out in a t-shirt
in forty-five degree weather.~
I keep staring at the stream. "I'm not cold."
He walks over and drapes his black jacket around my shoulders. ~They're
jus a little scared, once they get used t'you, then you'll think of
them like family.~ He sat down next to me. ~Yer not gorra give up, are
you Marie?~
"That would mean they won. I'm not gonna let them win." Somehow saying
this gave me more strength. He nodded. Somehow, I could tell he
understood.
~Curfew's in ten minutes, you gorra be alright t'walk back on yer own?~
He looked at me. I think his eyes actually showed concern.
"Naw, I think I wanna fly back. Got some things I have to sort out." I
look at him and smile. "Thanks for actually caring." I hand him back
his jacket, then take off.
___________________________________
"AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! Who put blue food coloring in my lotion?" Jubilee
yelled.
I rolled over and smiled. It may be wrong to bother people on the first
day of attending a new school, but the second day is an entirely
different matter...
Knock knock
"Yes?" I asked.
Monet walked in. "You did that?" She asked with a smile. I nodded. She
nodded back. "This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
"AAAAAAAAAA! Pikachu turned pink!!!"
I looked at her.
"Actually, I did that yesterday, her room is so bad that I guess she
just found it now."
