Slice of Life
by Odeena Sabnach
Chapter 8: You're not crying, are you?

The car roars towards the Institute at top speed. I can feel tears running down my cheeks and drying in the strong air current, but I don't try and wipe them. Someone may notice that I'm crying, and I really don't want to look like a crybaby. So long as I keep quiet, I can sulk and sob as much as I like.

"Hey! You're not crying, are you?"

...Or not.

Bobby glares at me, and I can read concern in his eyes. I smile a little, "Not any more."

Bobby gently strokes my hair, "Don't worry, Crisp can be a real ass sometimes, but he's really a good guy", he whispers.

"Yeah", I answer. "Thanks."

...Before I know it, we reach Prof Xavier's school. Bobby's ice ramp is still there, though it's half-melted and water drops form everywhere. Although I'm wearing shades, I have to shield my eyes; Ray, however, without the relative protection of sunglasses, is instantly blinded and he closes his eyes, hitting the brakes at the same time.

"Oh, SHIT!"

I close my eyes, and, for the third time this day, I mutter a quick prayer. After what seems like forever, the car stops with a last engine rumble. The same instant, I jump out of the car and lean on Bobby's ice ramp. We stopped only inches away from it.

"Now that - was close."

Bobby also jumps out of the car, then shakes his head. "I'm never riding home with you, Ray. Never-ever-ever-ever. Not even if the fate of the Universe depended on it. Nope. Nah-uh."

More practical, the others use the doors. I can tell they totally agree with Bobby.

"Fine then", Ray growls, "you park the car." Without anything else, Ray goes and touches a small scanning screen next to the gates. An electronic voice says, 'Identity confirmed. Welcome, Ray Crisp.' The gates part, and he sets off towards the Institute.

"Well, that was really sweet of him", Bobby says. "Well now, Sam, park the car pretty please, won't you? I'll go reason with Scott."

"As if", I mutter.

"Exqueeze me?"

I blush a little, "Well, no matter what you tell him, we'll still get detention. One week if we're lucky."

"How much d'you wanna bet on that?" Bobby extends his hand. "One McBurger, hmm?"

I shake his hand, "You're on."

As Sam drives Scott's car to the garage, the rest of us start walking to the mansion as well. Seen in broad daylight, it doesn't look so creepy any more; but I still preffer my old house better.

"I hope Bobby can do whatever he does to get us out of trouble", Amara says as we enter.

"Do what?" Rahne looks resigned. "We're doomed."

"Well, in that case, I'll be in my room, waiting for the inevitable, 'Amara Aquilla, please report to my office'." Amara starts going up the stairs. "Oh, and tell Ray he's a maniac."

Rahne and I also head for our room. First thing I notice when we enter is that there are two beds now. I drop on one of them, close my eyes and sigh.

Rahne also drops on her bed. "Hey Elsie?" she tries timidly.

"Yeah?"

"Your eyes... they..."

"Glow. Yeah, I know." I take off my shades. "Look darn cool, don't they."

"Yeah, they do."

After five minutes or so, there is a knock on the door, and Bobby comes in without waiting for an invitation. "Victory", he says, beaming. "We're off the hook."

Rahne sighs with relief, "Thankies, Bobby."

Bobby turns to me. "You owe me a McBurger", he gloats.

"Uh... yeah. A bet's a bet. But what did you-"

"Oh, I told him I'd tell Jean about those love poems he wrote to her."

I loose my jaw. "Scott writes poetry?"

"Yup! Definately lame, too. 'You're the burning sun of my crimson horizon'? How pathetic is that?"

"I think it's nice", Rahne cuts in. "He really likes her."

"Yeah, but she likes Duncan."

"No she doesn't!"

I cut in, "Who's Duncan?"

"Big football star. Real jerk, too. Worse than Ray on a bad hair day."

"Wow." I definately can imagine that.

Suddenly, the PA sistem comes to life. "Elsie Wright, please come to my office immediately", Xavier's voice comes out.

I sigh and rub my forehead. Like I didn't know that was coming.