X-Men: Mutant Academy: Part 28 poster: nacey date: 4 August 2002, 11:08pm EST I smelt Sarah. My Sarah. And if she was out here, that was bad news. I also smelt Cammo, and I could smell adrenaline coming off him, like he was really scared or really worried. I didn't wait for Annie to collect herself. I ran over there, to where I could smell Cammo. He was just coming out of the woods. "What the hell is going on?" I shouted. "Mate, I just found her!" Cammo cried back, and I could smell his tears. They choked his voice too. "Man, she's really cold!" I forced back tears of my own, and I held out my arms. "Give her to me." Cammo did as I asked. He knew not to come between me and Sarah, and more importantly, I was warmer than he was. I took her into my arms, curling her up against me, holding her tight. I didn't say anything else. I turned and ran like the fuck. "Get JEAN!" I called to Cammo and Annie. It didn't take me long to get to the elevator to the sublevels. I ran down the main corridor to the infirmary, and on getting there I pounded on the door with my fist. "Is anyone there? Lemme in!" The door swished open, and behind it was the alarmed face of Dr. McCoy. "Max!" he said, a gasp in his voice. "What's wrong?" "Sarah went outside!" I cried, tears in my eyes now. "I dunno why but she went outside and she's cold! Help her... please help her!" "Bring her this way, Max." He pulled me into the infirmary and I laid Sarah down on the table. "I am going to pour her a luke-warm bath," he said. "Until then, I want you to lie down with her, and wrap yourselves up in a blanket." "Okay," I said, nodding. "Okay." I did as I was told. I lay there on the slim bed, wrapping myself about Sarah. She was so cold. The tears I was trying to withhold were spilling down my face now. I sank my face into the nape of her neck, letting them take over. I sobbed, holding her tightly in my arms. "Come back to me," I breathed to her. "I'll believe anything you say. You were right. I'm sorry I doubted you, I ... I won't again. Just... please come back baby." poster: Jen date: 7 August 2002, 12:18am EST Sarah moaned and tried to turn away from the bright light shining in her eyes. She tried to shield her eyes, but her arms wouldn’t move. She was immediately overwhelmed by panic: sobbing and screaming for someone – anyone to let her go. Two strong furry hands – one blue, one spotted started stroking her face and hair, promising that ‘everything was going to be ok’. “Noooo! Get these things off me! Please – let me go!” “I would be happy to release your restraints,” Hank pledged, ignoring Jean’s disapproving look. “But you need to calm down first.” “Let me go! Let me go!” Sarah sobbed over and over unheeding Hank’s verbal assurances as she tried to thrash herself loose. "Baby... I'm here. It's Max and I'm here..." He stopped for a moment and growled. "Why can't you just let her go?!" “They’re for her safety... and ours,” Jean said coolly. “Perhaps you should leave.” Max narrowed his eyes and growled at her very deeply. "She's hurting herself. Let her go, now." Jean huffed and started to say something, but Hank cut her off. “Sarah, I’m going to remove your restraints, but I need you to be still so I can get them off. Can you do that?” Sarah’s chest still heaved with sobs, but she stopped fighting and Hank’s large hands made surprisingly fast work of the buckles. "It's okay, Sare, I promise." Sarah’s sobs began to subside as soon as she was freed. Max hovered beside her, his relief clearly etched on his face. Within a few minutes, Hank disconnected all of the monitors and smiled down at his patient. “You gave us quite a scare, Miss Carmody.” “Sorry about that,” Sarah replied, giving a wan smile. “It must have been colder out there than I realized. Can I go now?” "I'll look after her," Max said. "I promise I'll keep her warm." “I’m sorry, Max. Dr. McCoy and I simply cannot allow a suicidal student to just walk out of med lab.” “I didn’t try to kill myself.” “It certainly appeared that way.” “Appearances can be deceiving.” “You don’t seriously expect us to believe this was an accident?!” Jean exclaimed. “What? Young mutants don’t have accidents with their powers? From what I’ve seen around here, it happens all the time. Or does The Professor just like replacing windows and repairing water and fire damage?” "She thought she could deal with it," Max said quickly. "We just had a fight, and she needed time alone, okay? Yelling at her isn't going to make this any better, Mrs. Summers." McCoy chose that moment to step in. Sarah was balling up her fists and Jean was getting that look in her eye that foreshadowed total inflexibility. “I think we could all use some rest before we discuss this any further,” he said. “You can go, Sarah, but, for my own reassurance, you need to have someone with you at all times until we can talk again.” “But-” Hank held up a clawed finger. “It’s either that or you remain here with us.” “Fine,” Sarah snapped, hopping off the table and stalking out of the med lab, not bothering to see if Max was following or not. poster: Allison date: 8 August 2002, 12:45am EST The sun shone in through the windshield and I groaned. Hangovers were shit, and hangovers when you have to get up, are shittier. I fumbled with the reclining lever on my chair, trying to sit up. I meant to rise slowly, instead I was launched forwards into the dashboard. “God damn piece of shit…” I grumbled, climbing out of the car. I swung the door shut and cringed as it slammed into place. I was three feet away from my car when last night’s events came flooding back to me, fighting with Sarah, going for a drive, getting piss drunk with Max, Cammo finding Sarah, not being allowed in the Med Lab, then somehow making it back outside to my car to sleep. I had to find Sarah, or Max, someone who could tell me what happened. On second thought, I’d get some water and take a shower first. I walked carefully back into the mansion, holding my head as I tried to stop the pounding. “I am such a fucking lightweight,” I moaned. I was practically at the door of my room when Sarah stomped by me, she wasn’t paying any attention to me until I grabbed her arm and spun her around. “You’re alive!” "Yes... and you've been puking on yourself." I shrugged, “Only that once, and I barely hit my shoes. But you, you practically died!” "It wasn't that bad," Sarah grumbled, avoiding Max and mine's gazes. He had come up behind me shortly after Sarah. “But it would’ve been all my fault,” I said softly, as I did my best to memorize the pattern of the carpet. This was what I had been afraid of all night, if Sarah had died; it would’ve been because my stupid mouth couldn’t stay closed, if it hadn’t been for all the alcohol, I would never have gotten to sleep. "Nobody's fault. I went for a walk and underestimated how cold it was. No harm. No foul." “If I hadn’t been an idiot, you wouldn’t have gone for a walk, you would’ve been inside with Max, and not outside pissed at him.” I had a feeling I should just let it go, but this was one worry I couldn’t bottle up and ship off to Malaysia. "I don't know about idiot. I'd go with bitch." Harsh, but not really seeing as I practically killed her in a round about way. Besides she’s smiling, she can’t be horribly pissed. “That too, and I’m sure if we tried even a little bit, we could come up with some more adjectives. But right now, I just wanted to say that I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, you guys are cute.” "Cute?" she looked skeptical at my word choice. I shrugged, “Last night it was schmoopy.” She looked at me like I was a nutcase, “But it’s true. He’s writing you letters after he’s been gone for a few hours, you practically fly out to the garage the second he gets home after being gone for four days. Cute, schmoopy even.” Sarah turned to Max and muttered," I think she's the one who needed the restraints." "I dunno. Schmoopy has a nice ring to it...” He grinned with a teasing twinkle in his eye. "Don't you two have classes to get to?" “I have to go talk with Hank, after I take a shower.” I was not looking forward to a lecture on the evils of drinking, last night while he was explaining to me that I couldn’t stay in the lab, he noticed the fact that I was less than sober. “And babe, I’m suppose to stick with you, remember?” Sarah hissed and gave Max a look I remembered quite well from the lawn yesterday. “Right well, I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone,” I said quickly before turning quickly into my room. Angelica was in the bathroom primping when I barged in. “Get out, I need to take a shower.” “You’ve been god knows where for the past two nights, and you suddenly show up smelling like that and order me around?” she wrinkled her nose distastefully. I glared at her; she was making my headache even worse, “That’s why I need the shower.” She shot me her version of a death glare before grabbing her brush and leaving in a huff. I just locked the door behind her as I climbed in the shower. poster: Angelface date: 8 August 2002, 12:57am EST I don’t know where that cretin gets the nerve to just barge in after two days absence and take over like that. This attitude has become far too common at this school. I brushed at my hair fiercely a few more times before pulling out my diary. Dear Diary, That savage Sarah, tried to kill me yesterday. She didn’t even say a word. She just attacked me. I have never been so scared in my life. I don’t think I’ve stopped shaking yet and the bruises she left on my throat are quite dark. I tried to tell Dr. Grey or The Professor and get that nutcase out of here before she does kill me or someone else, but they were out last night. I left a note saying I needed to see him first thing today. Unfortunately, complaining about her has not been successful so far. I tried every adult in this building the other night, all the way up to the Professor and not one of them would intervene. I thought The Professor might do something since he apologized and seemed quite sorry that I was being disturbed, but then he turned around and gave me earplugs. Earplugs! I’m afraid to tell him about this. If he doesn’t get rid of her, she’ll actually have a reason to be upset with me, but I refuse to be cowed by that savage. Sarah’s nighttime activities are, apparently, not highly unusual of students here. This is the second night in a row Annie hasn’t spent the night in her bed. I can only assume that she’s with Cameron. I’ll have to find a way to slip that into my conversation with the Professor as well. Angelica I closed my diary and glanced at the clock, I should probably head to breakfast now if I wanted to meet with the Professor before class started. poster: nacey date: 11 August 2002, 4:11pm EST Tonight, I directed Sarah to my room. I know she felt more secure in her own bed, but I figured that, ironically, the folks in charge would be happier this way. I was gentle with her, and quiet since she was angry. "Nearly there," I said, "And then we can catch some zees." "This is ridiculous." She snapped, stopping outside my door, arms folded, fire in her eyes. "I need to study and I need my lamp and I need five freaking minutes alone! I'm tired of you being right in my face all the time. " I sighed, tiredly. "Fine, we can go to your room then..." I ignored the comment about me being in her face. She knew me not being around wasn't an option, as much as I'd like to give her her space. "Not 'we'. Me. If you come with me I cannot vouch for your safety." I groaned, putting my face in my hands. "Don't do this to me, Sarah... pleeeease. You know what we were told." "Since when do we do what we're told?" I met her eyes, feeling tears burn my own. "Since you nearly died, Sarah. You nearly died. I nearly lost you." One of those tears spilled down my face. "I can't live like this." Tears welled in her eyes as well. "I can't." I frowned, trying to will my tears away. "You... you can't live with me? Feeling like this? Is that what you mean?" I think my heart was on the verge of breaking. "I can't live with you watching me all the time. Like you don't trust me. You watch me. The teachers watch me. The other students watch me. Everbody knows." Her tears flowed freely at this point. "I'm trapped and there's no way out. Can't you see being watched all the time just makes it worse?" I sighed, rubbing my eyes. "I don't watch you, I just want to be with you. I was scared out of my wits last night, baby. If you need time, I'll give you time, I promise." I put my hands on her shoulders, despite her need for space. "Just - don't shut me out. Please." I lifted my hand, to stroke her face with the back of my furry knuckles. "I didn't mean so scare you. I just... I just didn't want to hurt anybody else and now I'm being punished for it." She frowned, looking to her boots. I abandoned the knuckles and pulled her in for a hug. "I'll talk to Hank, I'll get the teachers to back off, okay babe? I will." I dropped a kiss to the top of her head and met her eyes. "You go sun yourself, relax, do what you need to." "Thanks." She swiped at her eyes and gave me a weak smile. "I promise I won't do anything stupid." I nodded. "I know." I stroked her face a moment, then gave an affectionate frown. "Hey..." She lifted a brow in response. "I always trusted you." She looked a little resentful. "Not about Annie." I sighed, nodding at that. "I know. I was wrong about that. I'm sorry." "I'm sorry for scaring you. I didn't mean.. I didn't think... I'm sorry." I shook my head, caressing her face and smiling a little. "Don't worry about it." I pulled her into another hug, and kissed the tip of her nose as I pulled away. "It's fixed. Kay?" "Kay. Hey," I stopped and looked back. "When you come back to check on me, could you bring me some tea?" I smiled. "Sure. I'll be back in a couple of hours or so?" There was a glint of a smile in her eyes. "I'll be here." So I left her in her room, and crashed in my room, utter exhaustion taking over. I missed her, even in the deepest of sleep, but I knew she needed this time to herself. After an initial bout of five hours sleep, I went to the kitchen and prepared a tray of tea for her. I walked past her room, sniffing gently. I smiled. Everything was fine. I put the tray on the floor, growling a 'hello' ruff, and stalked off back to my room for the rest of my sleep. poster: Allison date: 13 August 2002, 4:10am EST I spent most of the day trying to avoid people. Between the hangover and Dr. McCoy's guilt trip I spent the morning feeling like shit. Luckily, I didn't get grounded or whatever they made Sarah do; actually he was pretty cool about it, considering. It was fairly early when I decided to go to bed, but I was exhausted, I was so glad that tomorrow was Saturday and I could just sleep all day. I had absolutely nothing to do, it was nice. I was just about to doze off when I realized, I had two passes to Coney Island that would expire soon, and an outstanding debt to Cammo. It didn't really take a genius to figure out how to make the two work together, but there was a minor detail that hadn't been dealt with yet. I hadn't actually spoken to him, spare a few words last night that I could hardly remember, since yesterday morning. My memory of last night was hazy but I could remember Max telling me to talk to him, and I figured drunken advice was good advice so I climbed out of bed and ambled down the hallway. I paused in front of his door, feeling nervous and feeling stupid for feeling nervous. This was only Cameron, its not like I was about to knock on the door of a complete stranger. I bit my lip and finally knocked on the door, squeezing the hem of my She-Ra tee shirt for comfort. It took a moment but he finally opened up the door, he gave me a smile, "Hey..." he looked at my pajamas, "You back for another round of 'How Embarrassed Can I Get'?" I paused, “Erm, not really, but kinda…” He smiled again. "I'm kidding, dude. You wanna come in? Siddown, have a drink? I have some soda in my fridge..." Right, a joke, I know what those are. “Sure. Listen about yesterday, I’m sorry for freaking out like that.” "No, no, no, it's okay. Don't apologize." I gave a small smile, “I dunno, I’ve gotten kind of good at it today.” "I'm sure you have," he said, giving a wry smile. "But uh... you don't have to right now, okay? You don't have anything to be sorry for. I understand why you freaked. I think I would too if my friend had a..." He looked a little uncomfortable. "Yeah." I grinned a little, doing my best not to blush, "Yeah, so we're done with all the awkward shit, and we can go back to being friends?" "Sure," he grinned, offering me a hand, "Come in and get that soda." I grinned and felt myself relax, “Ok, what have you got?” "Coca cola, Seven Up, a couple of shades of Fanta and that weird cherry crap you guys like so much..." He looked over his shoulder and shrugged. "I got it before I embarrassed you, cause I figured I had friends now." “Of course you’ve got friends, and since I forced you to by the cherry crap, I suppose I’ll have some of that.” "You don't *have* to..." He dug about in the fridge some more. "Hey... leftover pizza... ew." “No, I like Cherry Coke… how can you even tell that was pizza?” I asked trying not to stare too much at his ass. "Don't know..." He looked about for a plastic bag in the small cupboard next to the fridge, and pulling one out he gingerly tossed the pizza in there and stuffed it into his bin, sealing the lid. "I think we probably need one of those properly sealed radioactive bins or something..." “At this school I doubt that they would be very hard to find,” I responded, sipping at my soda. He eyed me. "You don't know how close to the mark you are, man." “I don’t doubt it. So what are you up to tomorrow?” He sighed. "After some training in the morning, nothing until 10 when I get to go on night-shift with the team, flying about in the Blackbird till all hours." I was a little disappointed, “Only 10? It won’t be much of a night out if you have to get back so early.” He shrugged with a curious smile. "Night out, eh? Well I guess I could talk to Scott..." “You should try, or else we’re going to have to leave pretty early if we want to go on everything,” I was having fun dropping clues about my plan. Cameron patted his pockets in his pants, looking around. His eyes fell on the phone beside his bed and he traipsed over. Lifting the handset, he pressed a button, and waited. "Hey Cyke. Yeah. Grading papers again huh? Ouch. Yeah uhm... look, I know this is really rotten of me to ask you this, with the current situation and everything, but I was wondering if I could swap shifts tonight with another night..." He sighed a moment. "Yeah. I understand. Yeah. Oh... Annie just wanted to go o-” He stopped, looking incredulous. "What? You sure?" He laughed then, rubbing his eyeballs, "Dude, you are so... Sure. Thanks man. NO, no, I mean it. Yeah. It's cool. Seeya." I of course had been listening in, “So you got out of it?” "Yeah..." he said, putting the phone back and shaking his head in bewilderment. "He totally said no, and then I said..." He drifted off, blushing and shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Scott's cool like that." “Well good, I just hope you aren’t afraid of heights or anything.” He smirked. "You kidding? I lose count of how many times Cyke has tried to throw me out of the Blackbird." “Funny I never pinned him as a homicidal maniac.” "No, he's training me to be a vigilante, remember? Vigilantes do stupid things like that." I grinned, “That excuse only works when your training, how do you explain it the rest of the time?” "He's a maniac. Nobody knows but the team, and you." He walked up to her and wrapped an arm around me, a devilish look in his eyes. "I’m sorry, but now I have to kill you." I scoffed, “I’d like to see you try.” He laughed and wrapped the other arm around her, trying to heft her over his shoulder. I squirmed in his grip, “What this all you got?” I slipped out of his arms, using my powers to my advantage, and landed on his bed. He was still facing the other direction so I jumped on his back. He chuckled, flipping me over his head and onto the bed. With that he pinned me down and lifted a brow. "Is that all you got?" I grumbled, “No fair, you train for this stuff.” If this was my brother or anyone of our friends, I wouldn’t refrain from using any means necessary to break out of this, but I looked Cammo in the eye and became very aware how close he was. I could feel my face heat up and tried to convince myself that it was just the adrenaline from our play fight. "Well, you could too if you wanted." He lifted a brow. "Not join the X-Men, I just mean, to train. There are extra-curricular self-defense courses. So you can look after yourself when you get into the big wide world." “I don’t know, I did pretty well for two months on my own, and I know some stuff… I just don’t want to permanently scar you or anything,” I grinned. "Oh... right... yeah." He nodded with playful doubt in his eyes. "That's why I have you pinned underneath me, free to do... this!" He pulled up my tee shirt and blew a raspberry right on my belly. I am insanely ticklish; it’s ridiculously unfair that such a simple act can send me flying to pieces. “S-s-stop!” "Not until you yield!" He blew more on my stomach. "Say, 'Cameron is RIGHT!'" “Never!” I insisted between fits of giggles. "Yieeeeeeeeld!" Another raspberry. “Fine!” He paused expectantly, “Cameron is…..A TROLL!” "Wrong answer!" he cried, and grabbing me and he pulled me up over his shoulder and started whirling about in circles. “Wheeeee!” I cried as I grabbed him around the waist to keep my self steady. He stopped, sighed, and threw me back down onto the bed. "Fine! I give up." He threw himself down after me, landing on the bed alongside her and he wiggled his brows. "So, where are you taking your prisoner?" “Just going to test if you have an iron stomach to go with those abs of steel at Coney Island,” I grinned. He lifted his shirt and looked at his stomach. "They're steely?" I gave them a pat, “You bet.” "Ooh! Cold fingers." He grinned. “Baby,” I said stifling a yawn. "You're tired?" “Only a little,” I mumbled. It was something of an understatement, I had been tired before I came in here, and while the caffeine and adrenaline kept me going for a while, the need for sleep was finally catching up with me. "You should get some sleep then, Stretch-a-roo," he mumbled, smiling and pulling his shirt down. "You've had a rough two days." “Yeah, I suppose,” I replied propping myself up. I was moving slowly but eventually I rolled out of the bed. I was almost to the door, when Cammo stopped me. “Hey you might need these.” I caught the pillow but my blanket flopped onto the floor so I had to walk over and pick it up. “Night, Cammo.” “Night, Annie.” I gathered my things in my arms and walked out into the hallway, as I breathed in I realized my things smelt like Cameron, his soap and shampoo and his Cammo-ness, even after one day. It was nice. poster: cammogirl date: 26 July 2002, 10:49pm EST You know, I think I'm a very very lucky guy. The most understanding chick I have ever met happens to be the very girl I think I'm falling in love with. Possibly. Possibly falling in love with her, not possibly most understanding. Cause she is. I don't even get nervous at the thought of being around her now, where-as before I just wanted to puke. How did she do that? All with the green hair too. So, she was intent on taking me to Coney Island. Wow. I'd never been there. To be honest, the second I got here I threw myself into my training and I just didn't think about seeing the sights. Sure, I saw bits of Westchester; the malls and a couple of parks and so forth, and all the things one tends to see on night patrol, but that was about it. I remember briefly seeing the Statue of Liberty, all wrecked at the hand because of Magneto's mess. Xavier made some point of driving past and showing that to me on the way to the Mansion for the first time. He was a strange guy, but he had reasons for things, and I trusted him. So. Great girl wafted in and out of my room and made me smile. I really can't believe how lucky I am. I feel bad though, for Max and Sarah. I trust Sare when she says it was an accident. You trust your friends. At least, you do when you have them. I think I have friends now. Max, and Sarah, and Annie. I couldn't quite believe it. Things weren't blowing up in my face like I assumed things would, just because I was a 'freak' now. Some part of me still felt afraid of losing everything, just like I lost everything back home, but there was some security in my heart, something telling me it would be okay. Maybe it was just the Academy. It was strange like that, it grew on you, made you come out of yourself, made you do things you never expected of yourself. It made you more than you thought you could be. I was buggered, to be honest, and I thought catching a little sleep was a good idea. I shut off my lights, and after stripping down to my boxers and brushing my teeth, I slipped into my bed. Strangely, it felt weird to be in it alone. Last night I was alone in a waiting room on a chair, and the last memory I had of being in a bed was with a cute warm snuggly Annie securely in my arms. And now there wasn't one. My mind roamed, and settled on the gentle sensation of that warm morning, wrapped up in silky hair and soft girlish arms and the sound of light snoring. It may have ventured further, it may have ventured elsewhere entirely, I don't rightly remember, because I slipped off to sleep. poster: Jen date: 14 August 2002, 12:17am EST Sarah studied until her eyes were crossing. With a huff, she reached for the teapot only to find it empty. Sighing, she decided to call it a night, but house rules and her on cleanliness would not permit her to leave the tray overnight. Slipping on her boots, she took the tray down to the kitchen. She almost decided to ignore the rules when, as she turned the corner she felt Dr. McCoy’s unmistakable footsteps in the kitchen, but cleanliness overruled cowardice and she entered the kitchen with her head held high. “Good evening, Sarah. You’re up late.” “Yes sir. I’m just going to wash this and I’ll be off to bed, sir.” Hank nodded and began digging in the pantry. “Where is Max?” “Asleep, sir.” Sarah replied automatically, rinsing out the teapot. “Did we not agree that you’d be escorted until we could talk again?” “We’re talking now, aren’t we, sir?” Hank noticed Sarah’s stiffening and sighed. This wasn’t going to work if she was angry – and she always seemed to be angry. “I suppose we are.” Hank opened the box of Twinkies and inhaled deeply a look of utter contentment spreading across his face. “Join me?” He asked offering her one of his snacks. “No, thank you, sir.” Sarah sighed and refilled the kettle. She knew she’d have to talk to Dr. McCoyeventually and figured she might as well do it now. It wasn’t going to get any easier if she waited. “Would you like some tea, sir?” “These would go quite excellently with tea. Thank you.” Sarah busied herself preparing the tea, thankful to have something to do. She did not want to have this conversation. Not in the least. “Any difficulties maintaining you temperature.” “No, sir. Everything’s back to normal.” Hank nodded and opened another Twinkie as Sarah poured the tea. “I realize I do not understand your situation the same way Logan does, but if there is anything you wish to speak with me about, feel free." “I’m not much of a talker, sir. It only seems to get me in more trouble.” "I assure you, whatever is said here is strictly confidential." "Like what happened last night was?" "It was a matter of your safety. Believe it or not the people here do care about you." “They don’t seem to. Except for Max, no one here seems to like me at all.” "Oh? I was under the impression that you and Annie had become friendly." "So was I, but friends... you don't talk about your friends like that." "Ah, well she did not tell me exactly what was said, but she was quite remorseful about the consequences." “Before or after she puked on her shoes?” "I spoke with her about that as well, but I do believe she never wanted you to be harmed." Sarah nodded. Annie ran off at the mouth, but she’d never been deliberately mean, even before they had become friends. Thoughtless, annoying, infuriating –yes; deliberately-mean – no. “Maybe not her, but Angelica would sure have preferred I didn’t wake up. Not that I can blame her.” "Did something happen between you two?" "You could say that." Sarah replied, refilling his cup. "Do you wish to elaborate?” Sarah shrugged and started into her teacup, swirling it as if the leaves were her whole world. When she did speak, it was barely a whisper. “I tried to kill her. She started bitching at me again, and I tried to kill her.” “Oh my.” “Yeah.” "And would I be safe to assume this was the reason you ventured outside in such unsuitable weather?" Sarah nodded. "I didn't want to hurt anyone else." "So you chose to hurt yourself instead?" Sarah sat, contemplating her tea, his question hanging heavily in the air between them. “Yes sir. It… it seemed like the best solution for everyone.” She looked up, biting her lip. “Are you going to tell the Professor?” poster: Angelface date: 15 August 2002, 12:53am EST “Very good, Jamie,” Angelica praised, the young student. The girl blushed, “I practiced while you were gone.” Angelica smiled, “I could tell. Now you keep practicing, and I’ll see you next week.” Jamie packed up her things and thanked her again, scurrying off to join her friends at the weekly all morning cartoonfest going on in the rec room. Angelica shook her head and went in search of breakfast, which she missed because of the early lesson. While rummaging through the refrigerator for some lox or cream cheese to put on her bagel, she found the last quarter of what appeared to be coffee cake. Bagel forgotten, she pulled the out the plate and cut off a large slice. Cradling her prize and her glass of orange juice, Angelica considered her breakfast options. The noise from the rec room was formidable even at this early hour and the light frost on the windowpanes made the patio undesirable. And eating alone in the cafeteria was just too depressing. Sighing, she settled down at the island to eat. After a few minutes, the sleepy form of her roommate came shuffling into the kitchen. Apparently she had just awoken; judging by the ratty sweat pants and tee shirt Angelica knew Annie used as sleep ware. She didn’t say hello, but it didn’t seem that her eyes were entirely open. "Good morning. You look better than you did yesterday." And smell better too, she added under her breath. Annie jumped at the sound of Angelica's voice. "Huh? Oh yeah... Morning." "Are you planning to be in the room this afternoon? I need to practice." "Hmm, um, not really. I guess I should talk with Cammo about what time we're leaving," she seemed to say this more to herself than Angelica. Angelica wrinkled her nose. "You two are going out?" “Yeah, down to Coney Island… Is there any coffee cake left?” "Yes, I left a piece. It's really good, you'd better get it quick." “Thanks, I don’t feel like going all the way to the lab just so I can get some more.” "Why would there be coffee cake in the lab?" “It’s my new hiding place, I need one if I’m ever going to eat my stuff.” Angelica choked on her cake. "Your stuff? You made this?" “Mmm hmm, the other night,” Annie answered pouring herself a glass of milk. “Actually I’m surprised there’s any left at all.” "Me too,” she answered, eyeing the remains of her slice carefully, considering whether or not to finish it. Given the freak that made it, god only knew what was actually in it. Annie saw the look of apprehension; “It’s not poisoned or anything.” "And I'm supposed to take your word for that?" Angelica sniffed and pushed the plate away. “Oh no, you’ve foiled my top-secret plan,” Annie rolled her eyes. “I’ve spent most of my life baking just so I could come here, and make you sick with my coffee cake,” she snatched the last bit off of Angelica’s plate and dropped it on hers. "You are every bit as barbaric as your little friend," Angelica huffed getting up to wash her plate. Annie stood up with her plate, "Screw you, I'm going to go watch He-man." "Please do, maybe you'll learn something." "By the power of Greyskull! Roar!" Annie chanted throwing her free arm into the air, before disappearing. Angelica washed and dried her plate, placing it in the drainer before going in search of something to do this morning that didn't involve cartoons, another argument, or getting assaulted again, but her dream of redeeming her Saturday morning after the potential poisoning, but it was not to be. Angelica had just finished drying her hands when she saw Max coming at her through the door Annie had just walked out of. In the past year or so that she had known Max, he hadn’t been anything but nice to her, if they ever interacted, of course back then he wasn’t sleeping with a psychotic bitch. He grunted in her direction and headed straight for the refrigerator. After draining the rest of the milk from the carton he seemed suddenly wake up. "Oh, uh hi Angelica,” he said, sheepishly wiping the milk from his chin. Emily Post would’ve rolled over in her grave had she seen the state of etiquette in this school. “Hello, Max.” "Looks like you had a rough self-defense class," Max said pointing at the black and blue marks the silk scarf on her neck didn't quite cover. "I didn't get them in any class. These are the handiwork of your girlfriend." poster: nacey date: 16 August 2002, 11:40pm EST The accusatory nature of Angelica's tone really pissed me off. I turned, brows dipping down, forcing myself not to bear my teeth at her in anger, or wrinkle up my nose. I looked as laid back and sedate as I could. She could probably still see me bristling, or my ears going back. "What are you talking about?" "In the hall," she said, clipped tone. "Your girlfriend accosted me. Nearly killed me, in fact." Suddenly, Sarah slipping off into the woods made sense. I curbed a growl, and stepped forward, leaning a clawed paw on the counter-top behind Angelica, sandwiching her in between them, invading her personal space quite deliberately, the point of one of my canines flashing from under my lips. "Listen to me, Angelica," I said, and I pointed to her shoulder with a clawed fingertip. "Sarah doesn't do anything without perfectly good reason." I smiled then, and it was scary, and not friendly. "I don't buy your sweet-as-crumb-cake routine. I can smell what's really going on in there." I tapped the side of her head, and she narrowed her eyes hotly. "Yeaah, that's right. Sarah didn't nearly kill you. If she wanted to kill you, you'd be dead. The thing is..." I tilted my head and smiled wanly, a dangerous edge to the expression. "You nearly killed Sarah... you egged her on, you got her angry, and then you watched the results. And because of your bullshit, I nearly lost my girl." I smiled a little wider. "Don't ever let it happen again, Angie-girl. Or I'll not be happy." { Back }{ Next } { Home }{ Updates }{ Archive }{ Characters }{ Gallery }{ Other } The Golden Nox is part of The Ethereal's Den & Dungeon message forum. Owned and operated by Amezri, © 2001-2004 Astrumignis Productions.