psinex@yahoo.com Academia Book 1: Starting Block Chapter 9 by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: Everyone here is Marvel's. No money is being made off of this. Please don't sue. -------------------------------------------------------- 10/18/00: Forest Hills, NY: 06:00 hrs EST: -------------------------------------------------------- OWhhHH ... Forgot, I came home for the weekend ... nice to get out of the ivory summer home for a while ... don't HAVE to get up if I don't want. Who am I kidding ? I can't sleep. My enhanced eyesight's already latching onto the sunrise ... So I drag my aching butt out of bed - last set of reps last night in calisthenics did a number on me, don't lift SUVs without practicing with Dad's Volvo, I tell myself - and yawn. And open the shades, and I'm stunned: Sunrise in Suburbia CAN be enjoyable. May Parker, 13-year-old cynic. Don't believe it ? Ask my one-legged father. Or my mom, who's had to resort to wrinkle cream ads to keep us afloat, because the NYPD's "old-school" crime lab salary's been cut thanks to genescanners and other on-crime-scene tech, so Dad's not bringing home as much bacon ... I hate being a mutant teen. 'Specially when I'm the only one around to carry on the whole "great power/great responsibility" shtick. Into the shower - ow, OW, did Dad ever hurt this much when he was praticing his powers and he woke up in the morning ? - fast scrub, dry, dress - makeup is for prima donnas and people with real beauty, I'm tomboy from - Crap. I never noticed my eyes are so ... blue. Lord, I hope Mom's not holding onto those fashion agents' numbers. WNBA, Xavier's, tae-bo instructor from hell, Xavier's, Avengers, Xavier's ... I have other employment options. (I'm NOT living off of some trust fund for umpteen million years until my folks kick off. I don't even like thinking about them dying.) So, I'm out the door after a little breakfast, hug Mom quick, give Dad a little cheek-peck, grab the b-ball, and off to the neighborhood court. YES ! Davida, Courtney, Jimmy, Brad and Moose - - are staring at me like I'm an alien ... -------------------------------------------------------- "May," Davida Bradley said with a weak smile. "Dav, what's up !" May laughed, carefully hugging her childhood friend. The African-American girl returned the gesture, but May could sense her hesitance. "May ... long time no see," Brad called, looking at Moose and Jimmy with a questioning gaze. "I've been at school - head-trip city, but they're ... guys ?" May asked as she released Davida, looking from face to face. #Spider-sense is going berzerk ...# Courtney coughed, looking at the ground, and said, "May ... we know about your 'school.' And you." "Oh," May said flatly. "What do you know ?" "You're training to control your mutant powers," Jimmy Yama said, brushing black hair out of his face absently. "The X-Men are your teachers. You've got over a dozen mutant classmates. It's all up at the X-Men's unofficial website." "19, actually, not counting the Shadow Lass-wannabe calling herself my roommate," May tried to joke. "Soraya the Silent ... guys, I'm not sprouting four extra legs and a spinnerette, here. We used to be friends." "We still want to be, May. But YOU pulled out of here without even telling any of us, much less that you're a mutant !" Moose bellowed. "You just ditched the poor little humans without even a note goodbye !" "Oh for Christ's sake ... you think I've become Elitist Bitch Girl since I found out I have an x-factor ?" May said, starting to quake. Davida reached out to her, but relaxed when May broke into a grin. "Guys, it's ME ! Goof Queen, remember !?" May laughed. "I can stick to walls, for God's sake ! My precog's good for telling if my homework's late, I can't even dent titanium steel, and I'm nowhere near my - er, strike that last sentence ..." #After all, Dad's never been as open about his powers,# May reminded herself. #And I'm not about to ruin his retirement, low pay or not ...# "OK. So I've turned into a super-athlete with some TK and precog and super-senses," May said, smiling. "I'm not gonna forget you guys, OR my other friends. Heck, you'd probably like to meet them." "Maybe," Jimmy muttered. "Frank Richards must be so full of himself, with that gold medal ..." "You just hate athletes, Yama," Moose growled. "Frank. Full of himself. Shyeahhh, RIIIIGHT," May said in her best Valley Girl voice. "I'm, like, SO shure, dude. He's high on love, actually, but he's not full of himself." "You - and Frank Richards -" Davida gasped. May fell over, giggling. "N-no," she panted between howls of laughter. "Oh, that's GOOD - no, Frank's definitely taken. Oh, girlfriend, that was funny ..." She let Davida help her up and smiled as the others crowded around. "OK, Parker, spill," Moose asked. "What're they really like ?" "Well," May began, walking with her old friends, "I can't tell you tactical secrets, but I can give you personalities ... like this one who'd've grabbed you all by the iron in your blood just for acting freaked out because I'm a mutant ..." -------------------------------------------------------- NEXT: Passion. Fire. Ashes. Rebirth. Any questions ? -------------------------------------------------------- __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/ --- Sponsor's Message -------------------------------------- Play sports? How GOOD are you? Create your free personal Scorecard. Keep your sports stats online. 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