Obsidian Eyes

2.

"Are you miss Evans?" The office lady chirped, her blonde fringe bouncing as she moved to grab a file.

I adjusted the bag strap that hung heavily over one shoulder and replied "the one and only"

"Well then, welcome to Ellerslie high school! I have your new timetable right here, and if you'd take a seat we'll get someone to show you around!"
She smiled, her pearly white teeth were overwhelming compared to the Browns and Greys that surrounded her.

"No, I don't need a guide" i argued and tried to grab the timetable from the bench top.
"Well now! It's quite a maze out there, we'll get someone up here anyway?" She said, it sounded like a question but i could tell it was more of a demand as the woman took back the time table and motioned for me to sit.

I sighed. Tucking a strand of metallic hair behind my ear I strolled over to a small waiting chair, my red boots softly clicking along the floor.

Ellerslie high seemed a nice enough place. It was fairly large, but not spacious, and had open outdoor areas spotted with trees. But the library is what i wanted to see the most. That was what i would weigh the success of the school against, the size of their library.

I sat still for a few minutes, playing with a loose thread on my black shirt and scanning the surroundings. I watched as a young guy walked in, looking about enthusiastic as i was, and sauntered up to the front desk.

"You wanted to see me?" He asked begrudgingly.

It was the boy next door. Quite literally,  the guy I saw across from the Thompsons house standing at his mailbox. a rush of something went through and i narrowed my eyes at the boy. a heat rose off of him i knew no one else could feel. 

The blonde lady looked up abruptly, "oh yes, Scott! We have a new student today, I was thinking you might show them around huh?" She asked. From what i had gathered, this woman was extremely passive aggressive.

"We both know that's not a suggestion miss Shurley. Where is he?" i listened to Scott reply, smirking at his use of he.

"Well, she is right over there. Oh! And give her this timetable would ya? Thanks!" She chirped at him.

He blinked, sliding the timetable to him and scanning the room to find me.

I stood, grabbing his attention through my movement.
"lets get this over with, shall we."  

"hey, uh... Petra?" he replied, glancing at the name on my timetable before passing it to me.
"your the girl staying at the Thompsons hey?"

I narrowed my eyes. "how perceptive. yes, i do. And you live across the road"

"yeah.  Uh,  my names Scott. Scott summers" he introduced, holding out his hand.

I didnt take his hand. One parts because of the feeling that rose from his skin, another because i simply didnt want to. "pleasantries aside, please" 

The school was massive. So many different hallways yet identical, how anyone managed to find their way was beyond me. Although the tour with Scott was mildly awkward, I found the spaces in between his explanations calming.

We walked through the majority of the school tour before a shrill bell rang out, signalling like an alarm for me to expect the hoards of teenagers filling from each door in the long hallway.

The sudden loud noises emanating from each group was enough to make me uncomfortable. My hands curled into fists to calm myself.

This was a large school. The highest number of students than any other I'd attended. But this this will be different, I promised myself,  I will be different.   My memories of the past few educational institutions were not so peachy. I would get comfortable with each place, i would learn the names and the faces in feeble attempt to belong. i grasped at the idea of normality, but could never quite hold on. An incident almost always occurred. i was either found out and forced into the spotlight, or i simply gave in. Burn the place to the ground, figuratively speaking.

I heard Scott say something beside me that I could hear. 

"what?" I said loudly  over a hundred other voices.

He laughed quietly. "they're all pretty loud hey? I said you have cool hair" he told me.

I blinked at him. "i like it", the reply sounded defensive. Too much emotion in those three words. 

"does it wash out?" he asked,  brow furrowing.

Ah, there it was. The assumption. "No. It's natural" I pointed out,  knowing no normal person had hair this colour. Or the obvious yet small black stripes on my temples which i had noticed he did not point out, but absolutely had seen. everyone in the halls who looked my way zoomed in on these features. The marks of an outsider.

"natural?" he repeated, unabashedly looking at my metallic, ombre hair, and the marks they led to. I glared at him. 
He blinked, probably realising he was staring.
"uh sorry. I think that's pretty cool"

I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. Content with his opinion but now painfully aware of others noticing my appearance. I glare at them too, as they pass.

Mutants were known to the world now. After the incident with Magneto and the blue woman, mutants were common knowledge. The world was now aware of the supposed threat of mutated individuals.

People were on edge. I was on edge. Not so much because I cared what they thought about me, but what they'd do.  Most avoid those who don't fit in,  in fear of what they may be. Some decided to confront me.
As much as I enjoyed putting people in their place, it usually came with consequences.

"hey" Scott's voice rang out once more, "that's the tour done, It's lunch now" he told me.

"I havent seen the library" I frowned at him, looking around.

"ah sorry, maybe after lunch I'll show you.  You're new so I'll get to miss next period to show you" he said and started to walk off.

"hold up, mind showing me the way now? Im not hungry and i'd like to find a book" I asked him.

He faltered,  but complied nonetheless.  "yeah,  it's another building. See that door down there?" he pointed to a set of double glass doors leading outside.
"out there, to your left,  can't miss it" he told me.

I nod at him, adjusting my back strap and walking down the now empty hallway to the library.