By Little Tree
I
remember watching the car peel out of the garage and drive away, I didn't
understand what was going on. I walked out of my bedroom and down the hall. I
could hear Papa crying that wasn't a good sign. I stood in the doorway and
waited to see if he would notice me. He did. He came over and scooped me up,
plastering on a fake smile and carried me back up to my room. "You should
be in bed chere." He said putting me on my bed and covering with my duvet.
I smiled up at him, if he was happy I was happy. He kissed my forehead gently
and turned to walk out. "Why did mama leave papa?" I asked. A foolish
childlike question from a foolish child. He just turned around and the smile
faded. "She don' love us anymo." He said, another tear slipping down
his face. I didn't like seeing my Papa cry so I got out of my bed and wrapped
my tiny arms around his legs. "I love you papa!" I said shooting him
a smile. He crouched down and hugged me. "Love you too chere, what do you
say we take a trip?" he
asked. I nodded enthusiastically. So we packed a few essential things and
hopped on Papa's motorbike and drove all the way here.
Chapter
1: Just Another Day In Paradise
"Kaley
you little brat!" Jubilee said and ran after me down the halls of the
X-mansion. I laughed out loud and out ran her. Looking back I saw her trying to
catch up with immense amounts of determination, so I didn't see the large
obstacle looming before me. Before I knew it I was flat on my ass, looking up
at a familiar smile.
"Remy, your daughter stole my journal!" Jubilee whined once she
caught up to us. Papa laughed at her. "It's not funny!"
Papa helped me up. "Dis true chere?"
I looked down and scuffed my shoe against the hardwood. Refusing to look at
either one of them.
"Gimme de journal." Papa said and held out his hand. I reluctantly
pulled the journal from my back pocket and placed it in his palm. Papa threw it
to Jubilee who thanked him and walked off in a huff. I glared after her.
"You be getting' me trouble here chere!"
I shrugged and started to walk away. He walked after me and picked me up.
"Papa! I'm almost 14 years old I don' need t' be picked up!"
"You don' be actin' like you 13, you be actin' like you still be 5."
He said putting me down. I glared into his red/black eyes with my own. He
smiled and pulled a deck of cards out of nowhere. "You game chere?"
I happily walked beside him to a table where we could play a game of poker. It
seemed like so long ago mama had left us, and we had come to the mansion. I grew
up in this place. True Papa had a house in New Orleans, where I was born, but
he sold it. Too many memories, he had said. So when mama left that October he
brought me here, knowing he couldn't take care of me by himself. Professor
Xavier gave him a job in the mechanics lab, teachin' kids about bikes with
Scott. And I got a free education.
Sometime before mama left, Papa got his powers back, maybe that was the reason
she left us. It didn't much matter, we were doing just fine without her.
"Is that all you two do?" Scott asked as he waltzed into the living
room where we were playing. I glanced up at him and grinned. A grin that
everyone says I got from my papa.
"Could be." Papa said laughing with his friend. He stopped laughing
as I laid down my cards, a full house.
"Oh, Kale, the professor is looking for you." Scott said. I nodded,
ever since my 12th birthday my powers had been immerging. Nothing major just a
few fires set by accident. So I made my way to his office.
"Come in Kale." Professor said, so I entered his office and sat in
the chair across from his desk. "Well Hank and Jean have gone through your
scan numerous times and it seems that your mutation is just starting. Which
means you still have a long way to go."
I sighed and put my head in my hands. It was so frustrating having something
you can't use because you can't control it. "Dis sucks."
The professor laughed. "I know it does Kale, but you're just going to have
to give it time. One a brighter note your birthday is coming up and we're all
awaiting a gift list." I grinned at the bald-headed man.
"I don' wan' nothin'." I said grinning happily. And it was true,
there's nothing that I needed, therefore nothing that I wanted. Papa and I
stayed in the guesthouse on the edge of the property, I had friends, a huge
family and a guitar that Slash would be jealous of.
"I'm sure that there is something you would like to have, think about it.
In the meantime try to focus your energy on controlling your pyrokinesis. So we
don't have another mishap like last week." Professor said, refering to
when I set my desk on fire, along with my homework. I think we both knew that
wasn't entirely an accident. "And you still owe Ororo your essay."
I nodded and got up to leave. Seeing long white hair walking towards the office
and turned and walked the other way as quickly as possible.
"Oh Kale!" Ororo said, hurrying to catch up with me. I turned around
reluctantly and smiled at her. "Is your essay completed?"
"Not quite yet." I said sheepishly, truthfully I hadn't started at
all. "I was jus' gon' go work on it." I said and turned to walk away.
"You are your father's daughter." Ororo said laughing. I turned and
grinned, pushing my reddish brown hair behind my ear.
"I'll take dat as a compliment 'Ro." I said before turning down
another hallway and walking towards the back door. I saw Jubilee sitting on a
lawn chair by the pool and sighed. I walked over to her and sat on the chair
next to hers.
"What do you want Kaley?" Jubilee asked. It was clear to me that she
was annoyed.
"I came t' apologize Jub'lee. I shouldn't have taken de journal." I
said. A smile spread across her face and I nodded before walking away.
"A boy came by today." Jubilee called after me. I stopped, turned on
my heel and walked back.
"An' which boy was dis?" I asked. My heart was pounding in my chest
as Jubilee grinned at me. If Papa saw Luke here, he would definatly have a fit.
"I wasn't gonna tell you, since you stole my journal and all."
Jubilee explained. My eyes pleaded with her and she finally gave in. "It
was Luke."
My heart skipped a beat. "What did he wan'?"
"Well he said he wanted to talk to you about next years courses, but I
think we both know what he wanted." Jubilee said in a weak attempt to make
me blush. I grinned wider and walked away.
"Den' I best go see dat he's satisfied non?" I asked over my
shoulder, laughing when I heard Jubilee gasp.