X-Men Evolution: Rogue Evolution

Family 10.3

Since the attic was reserved for things that weren't wholesale soul sucking and the library didn't have enough table space, so the dinning room table had become the go-to spot for all things homework. Even though dinner wasn't on the table, everyone filled their usual seats. Kurt and Evan were next to each other on Anna's right, and to her left sat Kitty at the head of the table.

Evan, pencil in one hand and another poised over a Ti-83 calculator, was hard at work doing two sets of algebra homework while Kurt watched him through sleepy eyes on a head propped up by a single curled fist.

Kitty was doing some sort of long-answer homework that involved writing a paragraph of text after each question. She had made it about half way though question one before completely emercing herself in some phone game that made loud chimes ever other second.

As for Anna, it was biology. The anatomy of the frog specifically. The grossest classic staple of any class. Thankfully, the schools in the area have at least evolved enough to swap out the formerly living frog cadavers for synthetic, reusable ones. Still, they were horrifically similar to their formerly living cousins and strangely just as slimy. Her homework page and notes from the dissection were still dotted with stains from the 'operation'. The image of tubes of pink and purple silly-string filled giblets stuffed inside a fleshy frog sock will haunt her till the next nightmare fueling image lurking in her biology text book.

There was a creak from somewhere nearby then Kurt lifted his head. "Oh, hey Scott."

Anna pulled her sweaty palm off her forehead and spotted her galngly mechanic buddy standing in the archway to the dining room with a single strap of his backpack looped over his shoulder. He waved his hand like it was full of stuffing and his forarms was just a stick someone was moving back and forth. "Hey, guys!"

Kurt rubbed his nose. "What's up? Something wrong?" He managed to say halfway through a yawn.

"Wrong? No. No, nothing's wrong." Scott scratched the point where the top of his shirt met his collarbone. "I was just wondering... if you guys wouldn't mind if I joined you."

It was Evan's turn to poke his nose up from his and Kurt's work. "Join us? Join us for what?"

"For, you know-" Scott waved his hand in the direction of the table. "Study group!" He cleared his throat. "If thats okay, I mean."

Evan's lips started to move with what Anna was sure was some other biting comment, but she beat him to the pass. "Of course you can, Scott." She fired a side-eye at Evan, then nodded at Scott's usual spot. "Pull up a seat. Study group was just starting to get good."

"Thanks! I mean, um, thank you, Anna." Scott carefully lowered his bag on the table, and when he made to grab his chair, she could see his hand was trembling.

She flashed him her best disarming smile. "Whatchya got today, Scotty?"

"Calculus," he mumbled and pulled a laptop out of his bag. "Shouldn't take too long, though."

"Calculus? Not take long? You sure about that?"

"Yeah. I've always been alright at math. I kind of like it." Scott pointed a chin in Evan's direction. "Algebra One was my favorite. I can help you guys out if you get stuck if you want."

Evan held up his hand with the flick of a wrist. "Yeah, think I got it, Scott. Thanks so much."

Scott eased his bag onto the floor at his side and scratched the back of his head. He lifted the computer screen open and keyed in a password.

"How are you with biology?" Anna felt her throat force a little laugh through her cotton mouth. "This stuff isn't exactly 'the hip bone is connected to the leg bone,' you know?"