Life of a Mutant (X Men fanfic)

LOAM - Chapter 26

Dear Ms. Dixon,

Thank you for applying for the extra-curricular training course. The 6 month-long course will begin next week, on the 6th of February. We hope you will learn and gain many experiences from attending this course.

Kind regards,

A. Herrmann.

The letter slid neatly into place among others like it. I let out a calming breath and walked stiffly to my bed. In the dark, under the covers, I let out an excited squeal.

***

"Hey, there. Ready to go?" Peter pushed himself from the wall he'd been leaning against and slung his arm across my shoulders, causing my skin to prickle.

I shook my head no, and smiled up at him,

"No, I need five minutes. Is that ok?"

Peter scrunched up his face in pondering as we walked down the empty corridor.

"Maybe, depends if you'll come back or not." Peter squeezed my shoulders and laughed half-heartedly.

"Peter Mathew Lockhurst, do you really think I'd ditch our date?" I turned and raised my eyebrow accusatorially at him. As I grinned at his rose-coloured face, Peter withdrew his arm from around my neck and resorted to just walking beside me.

"How was detention? Horrible I hope." Peter nudged me cheekily, still blushing ashamedly.

"It was fine, actually." I bounced back, and our teasing continued on down the corridor towards my dorm.

***

Peter waited outside as I bounded up the stairs to our room. I found Lucy leafing through an article on Arabian horses in Pony Mag, and she grunted a greeting as I grabbed my purse and a jumper.

"Going on your date?" She huffed from the floor. I mumbled a 'yeah' and stepped over the crutches she'd laid on the floor next to her. As I hovered by the door unsurely, Lucie shuffled round to face me, uncast elbow propping her up.

"Second doubts?" she questioned softly. I looked at her sorrily.

"Probably more like third or fourth - what if it's awkward?" Lucie shot me a comforting smile.

"You'll get used to it pretty quick, now hurry up or you'll miss the bus!" I rushed down the stairs, apprehension forgotten for the time being, and greeted Peter enthusiastically before dragging him off towards where the bus waited.

We weren't late this time, I revelled to myself as I saw two younger girls clamber on, pigtails flying and cheeks flushed. On the journey into town, Peter and I discussed where we were going to have lunch, and what film to see.

"Despicable Me 2 and KFC. Obvious choice." Peter shrugged confidently, but I shook my head.

"Ah, but Finding Nemo just came out in 3D, didn't it? And McDonald's is much nicer." I argued, not wanting to eat Popcorn chicken and chips that were frankly pathetic.

"Is not! And Finding Nemo scared me as a child; I don't really want to go through that experience again." Peter said.

"You weirdo. Fine, we'll watch Despicable Me 2 and go eat at McDonald's. Happy?" I huffed, and stared out of the window. The bus was noisy as other people shouted and played games, while I just watched the hedgerow flash by.

Arriving some time later, Peter and I disembarked and went to check the film times at the cinema. As we walked over to the counter, the guy behind it looked at me funny. I tried ignoring him, but after a while, I just couldn't. I stared at him, making him step back in surprise.

"I remember you. You're that crazy girl who burst in here a few months ago, with that boy chasing you." I immediately blushed for so many reasons as I remembered that day, while Peter looked blankly between the man and I. I turned to him, shrugged, and mouthed 'it's nothing' to him.

We got our tickets for later, then went to McDonald's for lunch. Peter went to order while I found us a seat, but before he left, Peter grimaced and whispered to me.

"Hey, I hate doing this, but could you lend me the money for the food? I'll pay you back, I promise." I fished in my purse and found some notes which I gave him, "Thanks." He rushed off while I sat down and watched the outside. A woman with a pram strolled by, and cars honked and screeched their way down the road next to the building. People chattering and group of teenagers squealed and laughed inside.

I was wiping a dollop of ketchup from the table with a dirty napkin when Peter returned with a tray of food. Sitting opposite, he began to share out the food among the two of us.

"So..." I mumbled after five minutes of silent eating. Peter started.

"Sorry, miles away." he tugged the sleeve of his hoodie down, and smiled at me. "What have you been up to lately? Oh, do we have homework?" I smiled suspiciously at him.

"Where have you been? Of course we do; there's English, French, don't even get me started on the maths homework! I know we haven't been in the same classes lately, but surely you've gotten some homework too?" Peter seemed to remember something suddenly.

"Oh yeah. Guess I forgot..." I shot him a 'seriously?!' look before continuing to eat my chicken nuggets. Peter just itched his shoulder for the fifth time, and stared out of the window.

***

Popcorn crackled under our feet as we stumbled to our seats in the dark room. I savoured the taste of melting Minstrels in my mouth as the cinema began to fill. Peter munched on his box of salty popcorn, while my box of sweet popcorn lay at my feet. Adverts for other films, cars and phone companies played as we sat next to each other, unresponsive.

Soon the film began, and everyone was howling with laughter at the cute little yellow minions. I had to admit, I cried a little bit once. Peter chuckled occasionally next to me, but didn't seem to enjoy it I noticced when I glanced at him every now and then.

The bright sunlight dazzled me as we made our way outside after the film, and then on in the direction of where the bus would pick us up in a few minutes. I was just scraping at the bottom of my popcorn box as we walked.

"So, did you enjoy the film?" I asked Peter, who gave a half hearted nod in response, "You didn't look like you were..." Peter shrugged.

"I did, I'm just a little tired..." he said in a small voice. The red bus caught my eye a few metres away.

"Okay, then, good to know..." I bounded up the steps, followed by Peter, and then found a seat close to the front on the left side. Peter sat next to someone he knew on the right.

The ride back seemed shorter, as they always do, with people still screaming with laughter, annoyingly. My fingers fiddled with the clasp on my purse, opening and closing it.

Lucie was sitting in her bed reading a book when I got back, but she immediately turned to me.

"How was it? Did you have fun?" I sighed and thought about it for a minute. It hadn't been a good first date at all, to be honest. I went to our new, mini bookshelf on the wall and looked for something interesting. I picked out a book called 'The Pony Whisperer'.

"Yeah. It was great."

*****

Author's Note: Just to let you know, this chapter has 1205 words, excluding this author's note.

Thanks for being patient with me, I know this took a long time, you guys are great!

Opinions on the date?

EDIT: I've decided to post the next chapter when this one either gets 5 votes, or the entire book reaches 13,000 reads. Whichever comes first. :)