psinex@yahoo.com Academia Book 1: Starting Block Chapter 3 by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: Everyone here is Marvel's. No money is being made off of this. Please don't sue. ------------------------------------------------------ 9/2/2000: X-Mansion, Men's Wing: 08:30 hrs EDT: ------------------------------------------------------ Chuck shivered again, sitting up with a fearful expression. #What've I DONE ?# he thought, wiping his eyes. #I am a brat - I hurt Mom, I yelled at my friends ...# He stood, taking a deep breath, and opened his door with a resolute expression. "Mom ?" he called, looking down the hallway. "She went cryin t'de kitchen. Any p'rticular reason ?" #Not him. Not NOW ...# Chuck thought, closing his eyes and refusing to turn around. "LeBeau, don't bother me. I have to go apologize to Mom for being a jerk," the boy said in a controlled tone. "Well, at least y'r remorseful," Gambit replied amicably. "Nice trait." Chuck started downstairs without another word. #I will NOT let him jerk me around, I will NOT let him jerk me around ...# "Charlie ?" Rogue asked, meeting him at the bottom of the stairs. She flinched when he looked at her, tears welling up in his eyes, and he slipped into her arms. "I'm sorry," Chuck mumbled into Rogue's shoulder. "I was cruel and mean and cold. I'll stay grounded if you want me to." "Ya ain't grounded - ah overreacted," Rogue said gently. "This teenager thing's new t'me too. Ah went from kid t'terrorist in five seconds, after all - didn't leave me much time f'r adolescence." They looked at each other, and Chuck smiled weakly. "Maybe, but I can be a real dip when I want to be," he said. "Mom ... what I said about you and ... Gambit, it's not my place to judge. It's your life ..." "Ya're my life, honey," Rogue said. "But thank ya. An' if ah do ever remarry, ah want it t'be with someone who'll accept ya." Chuck hugged her again, then let her go. "I should go apologize to the others," he said, looking at the floor. "I'll ... try to get along with the Professor. I know he doesn't want to hurt me ..." "But it's hard t'trust th' man who opposed your pa for years," Rogue said. "Ah know, Charlie. But Charles Xavier must have some good traits - remember, ya've got his name." Chuck smirked and looked at her, then gave a quick nod and headed for the nearest elevator. He froze when Gambit called, "Chuck ?" "Yeah ?" the boy called back over his shoulder, trying not to glare. "I promise ya, homme, I don' want t'hurt y' or y'r mere," Gambit said, walking down to stand beside Rogue. Rogue looked at him, smiling faintly, and looked at Chuck. "I'm holding you to that," Chuck said, nodding quickly again. He stepped into the elevator, closing his eyes as the doors slid shut. #Because if you DO hurt her, I'll hurt you back.# ------------------------------------------------------ He swallowed hard as the elevator doors opened on the War Room, letting him walk through it to the Danger Room control room entrance. #Suck it up, Chuck,# the boy told himself, opening the door. He tried not to flinch when the others looked at him, some with obvious concern. "Guys, I'm sorry I yelled," Chuck said, steeling himself. "I was a jerk." "A 'jerk,' Charles, would have not come back and apologized," Xavier said, turning to face his namesake with an arched eyebrow. "Your demerit is rescinded. However, I would ask that you be the next one through the Danger Room, if only to try out this new scenario I have developed." ------------------------------------------------------ "SHEESH ! Flying pigs !?" Bill snorted after the kids had gotten cleaned up and headed for the classroom. "I couldn't see where I was goin' through all the flyin' bacon." "The Prof's got a weird sense of humor," Ray agreed, digging out her algebra book. "Frank, can you make heads or tails of this stuff ?" "'Fraaaank, can you do my nails' ?" Sarah teased, drawing laughter from the others. "Where's the wedding ring, Ray ?" "Har DE har har," Frank smirked, sitting beside Ray as Xavier entered the classroom. "All in good time, 'Marrow'." "An intriguing observation, Franklin," Xavier said. "Sarah, would you like that as an official codename ?" Sarah pouted, opening her textbook, and said, "I just want to fit into society, Professor." "Sarah, I didn't mean -" Frank began. The pink-haired girl held up a hand to Frank's lips and smiled, shaking her head. "You're OK, Frank - I can take a little teasing," Sarah said. "It's just ... a little lonely, sometimes ... can we talk about this later ?" "We do have a lesson to proceed with," Xavier agreed, sliding his hoverchair beneath the enlarged desk. #But you need to talk to someone, child,# he thought sadly, sensing the raw pain coming off of Sarah. Chuck's mind was seeping unease from beneath his psi-screens, and the others were on edge. #Maybe more than one of you do ...# ------------------------------------------------------ NEXT: Going to pieces ... ! ------------------------------------------------------ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints! http://photos.yahoo.com ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics