The Wolverine & The Black Cat

23 // The Longshot Effect

C H A P T E R   23 :   T H E   L O N G S H O T   E F F E C T

He came in the cafeteria like a wrecking ball, that Longshot. Multiple hearts quickened. Several lusty sighs fell from eager lips. Plenty of fists and jaws clenched. Women and some men were bewitched; the others were left fuming.

I noticed all of this before actually seeing him.

"And so it begins," Alex muttered in between teeth, his whisper feeding off irritability, "the Longshot effect."

All the males at our table grimaced. Rogue and Kitty shared elated glances. Bianca choke on her orange juice and let her fork fall stridently to the ground. Some people were simply more susceptible.

I turned around and looked over my shoulder to find the source of such commotion. My eyes fell on a blond, blue-eyed man, and I couldn't help but to check him out. Most likely in his late thirties, he was tall, well built and handsome, no doubt. But there were other hunks in this school and they didn't cause this fuss. My eyes narrowed to examine him. My senses were telling me there was something else in his undeniable charm, as if it came with his power. 

Why did no one bother to warn me that this guy had superhuman attractiveness? It was a very pertinent information! How did they expect me to focus on my damn classes if he kept drawing me to him?

I swallowed. Ororo and Jean were beside him, both smiling happily, and I looked over at the table they were heading to. Logan and Scott were both there, looking miserable together. I couldn't help but chuckle, seeing them so cranky, and I watched in amazement as Logan's ears perked up at the sound of my voice and his eyes scanned the room in search of mine.

My heart contracted when his gaze fell upon me and I prayed he didn't notice it in between so many palpitating heartbeats. I had no idea Logan could recognize my voice so easily in the midst of a crowd.

But then again, couldn't I recognize his? That low, rough, husky voice that either bossed me around or stopped my fears from bossing me around. His voice was a thunder in between faint rain.

Logan gave me a short, almost unnoticed nod to greet me and I smiled. Suddenly Longshot didn't seem so attractive to me anymore.

Struggling to do so, I looked away from him and focused on my new teacher. He walked with all the confidence of someone who knew was a sensation and threw away dazzling smiles that instantly captured hearts. I felt the anger in me shot up: I didn't know if he was using his power intentionally or not but if he was it was a douche move.

"He's flirting with Storm, isn't he?" Bianca asked, her chin resting on her hand as she contemplated him dreamily. The action was repeated throughout several tables. Longshot had the sex appeal of a Hollywood heartthrob, an untamable rockstar and a wanted cowboy combined.

"Yes." Alex answered sulkily. "And she's flirting back."

"I always hate when he's around." Roberto confessed in the same tone. "Everyone either falls in love or in hate with him at first sight."

"Hmm... I don't." I retorted. "I'm Switzerland."

"Correction." Alex stared at me with a bantering smirk and I instantly knew there came trouble. "You're Loganland."

"Alex, darling." I smiled sweetly at him. "Do you by any chance want to get punched?"

His smirk shifted into a frightened expression in a blink. With great effort, Bianca diverted her eyes from Longshot and turned to me.

"Do you think he will flirt with you?"

"I'd like to see Logan's reaction to that." Roberto provoked, since Alex was too afraid to do so.