X-Men: (Young)Xavier&OC (Just Another Mutant)

Chapter seven

         Chapter seven

   "Alright guys, this is Ash! Say hi Ash!" Tanya grins.

   "Hi," I mutter sarcastically at the group before me.

   "Little bit of enthusiasm wouldn't hurt," she laughs, rolling her eyes. "Ash, this is Daniel, Natalie and Max."

   "But of course we have our own little superhero names," Natalie laughs lightly, her voice rich and full. English. "I teleport. They call me Fade."

   As if on cue, she literally 'fades' out of existence, appearing a second later in the exact same place. She smiles, flashing white pearly teeth. Long, artfully twisted black hair, dark skin and hazel eyes. Something about those eyes spark something close to unease within me. I don't trust her.

   "Surge," Daniel states, holding out a hand for me to shake it. I raise an eyebrow, not sure I want to shake it. He nods his head and I take it. A small electric shock thrums from his touch, shooting through my body.

   I jump slightly in surprise and he grins. I hastily pull my hand back, uncomfortable from the touch and shock. Interesting though. Tall and well built, his hair short and blonde, swept slightly across his forehead. At least he looks a little more trustworthy than Natalie.

   "And I'm just Max," the other guy laughs slightly, sounding a little nervous.

   I eye him up. About my height, with almost ginger hair - or technically, strawberry blonde. Big green eyes and a few freckles splattered across his nose and cheeks. He smiles a little timidly.

   "And your power is?"

   "Max is a genius!" Tanya beams.

   Max shuffles awkwardly as Tanya begins to gush about how brilliant he is. How he can hack into any computer, just with his mind. How he can work out anything in just a split second.

   "What's ten thousand, six hundred and twenty two, times-ed by sixty thousand and ninety eight?" She questions sharply.

   "Six hundred and thirty eight million, three hundred and sixty thousand, nine hundred and fifty six," he grumbles after the slightest pause - almost as if he can't help it.

   "Cool," I shrug.

   "Cool? Ash, it's awesome!" She laughs.

   "Cool," I repeat, nodding my approval.

   "So what's your power?" Natalie asks, crossing her arms over her chest.

   I find myself unable to speak. I open my mouth and shut it, panic rioting inside of me. Questions, questions, questions - it's all I'm surrounded by. God damn, questions.

   "I -"

   "It's complicated Nat," Tanya states simply.

  "How so?" Daniel asks curiously.

   "It's private," I snap - harsher than I intend to.

   The silence hangs heavy and everyone remains awkward for a seemingly endless moment.

   "Well, that's interesting," Natalie laughs lightly - the only one there looking not awkward and out of place.

   "And it's also none of your business," I mutter.

   She opens her mouth but I notice Tanya shoot her a look so she shuts it. She lets out a small huff of annoyance but keeps quiet otherwise. 

   "Well... how are you enjoying it?" Max asks, his voice soft.

   "It's good," I reply shortly.

   Again a moment of silence passes as everyone searches for words. I just search for an escape route. I feel out of place, uneasy and extremely awkward. I want to leave the situation. Right now.

   "Would you guys mind if I borrowed Ash for a while?"

   Like an angel he appears out of no-where. Charles. I've never been so relieved as I turn to him, almost tripping over in my haste. I turn back with a strained flash of a smile.

    "Nice meeting you guys."

   "Yeah, we should, um, do it again sometime?" Daniel asks, looking like he'd rather stick his head into a fireplace than talk to me again.

   "Yeah sure," I mutter, having no intention whatsoever to even attempt to talk to them again.

   I wave a goodbye that lacks any emotion at all and turn to eye up Charles. He indicates for me to follow but doesn't say anything. So I just do exactly that, following behind him as we pass through the endless hallways. We reach my room and I stop, surprised.

   He pushes open the door and nods for me to head in. I do and watch as he shuts the door silently.

   "What are you doing?" He says eventually, frowning slightly.

   "What do you mean?" 

   "This is your chance. To make friends -Tanya's a great girl. Fair enough, she hangs with an odd bunch but you guys could all be friends."

   "Maybe I don't want to," I sniff.

   "Come on, we both know you do."

   "No, I don't. I don't want 'friends'...firends who are likely to betray me at the drop of a hat! Friends who I might have to eventually rely on - friends who will eventually let me down and disappoint me!" I almost snarl the words, each word getting louder and louder.

   "You don't need to feel like that anymore. You're safe here," he urges softly.

   "Don't tell me what to feel," I scoff. "You have no idea what I've gone through."

   "No, you're right, I don't know. So why don't you tell?"

   I glare silently at him. "Just leave."

   He tilts his head slightly, eyes disapproving. He wants me to what? Open up? Share all my troubles? Blub my heart out? No thanks.

   "Ash..."

   "I don't want to talk," I bark.

   He pauses, looking unsure. Finally he nods, his eyes soft and sad. Big puppy eyes. "Just... please consider it. Making friends. Settling in here. I want you to be happy."

   And with those words, he turns and goes, leaving me to sit and scowl, my thoughts returning to the way I'd usually get rid of these horrible emotions...