The Red Star

Chapter 25

As the children filed into the school and into their rooms, Crys walked over to Jay and said,
"We have to talk."
Jay drew her brows together and stepped away from the kids. She places her hands on her hips and asked,
"What's wrong ?"
"I--"
Crys was cut off by Bucky calling for them. Two made their way over to him and Charles, who watched Crys with his clear blue eyes.
"What's going on?" Crys asked.
"Eric," Charles said, "he got away."
"Shit." Crys said, " I meant to get back to him....but, I .....I guess I forgot."
"Yes, it would seem that you did." Charles replied.
There was a silence throughout and Crys looked down at her feet.
"I would have easily forgotten about him." Bucky added, "She was focused on doom. As were the rest of us, Eric must have just slipped away."
Crys gave Bucky a look of thanks which he replied to with a nod of recognition. Jay, however, was looking down the road at the approaching bus.
"Is that our other bus?" she asked, pointing down the road.
"That it is." Charles said.
The bus came to a stop and the older students and teachers all piled out, Steve being the last. He marched up to them with an anxious look saying,
"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I could have helped."
"Barnes and Bluejay were closer." Charles replied.
"Well was anyone hurt?" Steve asked again, this time crossing his arms impatiently.
"Well," Charles began.
"Crys was knocked unconscious." Jay said quickly.
"That she was." Charles said with a silent tone, glancing at Jay.
Immediately Steve began to roll call Crys's functions and whether or not she was in pain. Bucky grinned and looked at Jay.
Despite what had just happened, he was still bothered by the lack of Jay's response to his question. He desperately wanted to know. If he knew this, he would know if he could tell her. A familiar pain ached in his chest and he crossed his arms, glancing at the ground. Letting out a breath, he looked up.
Jay saw his state of uneasiness, but before she could move beside him to ask what was wrong, Steve posed an important question.
"How did Doom create clones that have his powers?"
"I didn't even realize that it was not Doom until after he fell." Charles said,
"It explains why I was unable to get into his mind."
"What do we do?" Crys asked.
"For one thing we need to examine that pile of crap once known as Doom-Clone." Bucky added.
Jay was happy to hear Bucky talking again. She hadn't heard him say much of anything since the incident on the bridge. This then led her to remember the episode at the diner.
"That's it!" Jay thought to herself.
That was why he was acting so down. The question he asked her then came to mind and a twisting feeling turned in her gut. She wasn't prepared to answer that question yet.
Someone nudged her and she returned to the previous conversation that she was in.
"So he wants your power?" Steve said worriedly.
"I looks to be that way." Jay answered. "I don't see what the big deal with me is."
"We've been over this," Charles said, "you are extremely powerful. You just haven't found your true potential yet."
"Well have I?" Crys asked.
"You and I both know that that question is unanswerable right now." Charles retorted, " But I have my suspicions."
"Then tell me!" Crys suddenly raised her voice. "If you know what is happening to me, then tell me!"
"Why are you yelling? Calm down." Jay said.
"Don't you tell me to calm down oh All Powerful One! You don't know shit!" Crys pointed her finger angrily at Jay and everyone became severely nervous.
"Crys," Steve said gently, "What are you doing?"
"You all know nothing!" Crys shouted.
This caught Logan's attention and he hurried out asking,
"What the hell is going on?!"
"Crys just started shouting." Jay said.
"You!" Crys pointed at Charles and shouted, "You know what's going on and you're not telling me!"
She was a mess of emotions then. Afraid, confused and angry. She was beginning to scare herself, and she did not want to hurt anyone. Especially not Steve. She looked at him painfully then said,
"Forget it! None of you will ever understand."
With that, she marched up to the school leaving the rest confused, and worried. Steve made it up to her before Logan had a chance to think and he stopped her before she walked into the doorway.
"Crys please," he said, "talk to me. I want to help you."
Crys smiled painfully, tears in her eyes. She put her hand on his face then said,
"You're so sweet," she sniffed as a few tears escaped her eyes, "But you just wouldn't understand." She stepped back then slipped beside him saying, "I'm sorry Steve."
Steve watched her with a heavy heart as she made her way down the hall, wiping her eyes and letting out silent sobs. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned to see Bucky.
"Just give her some time. She's just pressured by Charles. She'll come around."
With a sad smile, Bucky left
Steve in the doorway, confused and hurt. He turned and looked at Charles, a brooding anger suddenly in him for the Professor.