The Empathic Wind Rider

by: Savannah

Chapter 2: Love Lust and Anger Management

            The school bell rang signaling the end of sixth period. Savannah grabbed her make-up bag and stuffed it into her backpack full of books, papers, and other essential school items. Zipping it up, she hurled it over her back and rushed out the bathroom door.

            She felt a lot better. The sadness was completely gone now and she felt complete control over her emotions. The hustling and bustling of fellow students was in every hallway of the school. As she walked down the hallways she caught a glimpse of Kurt and Rogue talking near Kurt’s locker. Rogue was complaining about geometry as usual to Kurt and Savannah couldn’t help but over hear it as she passed by.

            “Man! Ah can’t believe it. Mr Burn gave me a “D-“ on that Geometry quiz. As if mah grades aren’t bad enough. Ah studied all night for this. It’s all because Ah’m-“

            ”Savannah!” yelled a voice in the distance. Savannah’s focus on Kurt and Rogue turned towards another figure down the hallway. It was a guy waving to her. She smiled and walked over to him.

            “Hey Matt.” she replied. An overwhelming since of happiness came upon her as she gave a smile to him; she felt as if nothing was wrong in the world and all was right with her life.

            “Hi Savy. So what’s up? I heard you got kicked out of Mrs. Perkins’ class today.” Matt stated.

            “Oh so it’s gotten around school already has it?” Savannah asked laughing at herself.

            “John told me. He’s in your class isn’t he?” Savannah nodded, “Yeah, I’m sorry about that. Just because you got a correct answer doesn’t mean you should be thrown out.” stated Matt.

            “It’s nothing really. Well I better be getting to class.” Savannah said trying to forget about the incident.

            “You have art right? I’ll walk you there if you don’t mind. I have history and it’s just across the way.” Matt informed her.

            Savannah smiled and nodded. The two began walking down the hallways towards their classes.

            “So uh, Savannah, I was wondering... you doing anything Friday? I mean if your doing one of your trainings then...“ Matt asked drifting off at the end of his sentence.

            “No, I’m free tomorrow why?” Savannah asked; her palms began to fell sweaty.

            “Well... I was wondering... if you wanted to...uh maybe go see a movie with me? Like maybe as a..........date?” Matt cautiously asked hoping he didn’t seem stupid for asking.

            “That would be great. I haven’t seen a movie for awhile. I don’t care what we see as long as I’m home by eleven.”

            “Really? Cool. Uh, pick you up around seven? We can see what movie plays around that time then.” Matt asked eagerly.

            “Yeah, I’d like that.” Savannah said, her smile growing wider and her face blushing.

            “Ok I’ll see you then.” Matt said as he walked off to his class. Savannah watched him in a daze like trance until, suddenly, she jumped at the sound of Jean Grey’s voice, knocking her books to the ground.

            “Look who’s got a date.” Jean taunted as she watched Savannah pick up her books.

            “How long have you been there?!” Savannah asked.

            “Not long. I just heard him say “pick you up at seven?” and that was all.” Jean replied as both she and Savannah walked into the art room and took their seats.

            “It’s about time you two went out. You’ve been eyeing him ever since last year, and so has he.” Jean said nudging Savannah in the shoulder.

            “Yeah. We’ve talked a few times her and there.” Savannah explained pushing back her hair. “ He was really nice when we came back to school after the mutant incident. He told me your still the same person powers or no powers.” Savannah said.

            “Awww how-“ Jean started to say, but the bell rang before she could finish and the teacher started talking.

            Savannah didn’t have to guess what Jean was trying to say. It was true. Matt was the only normal person who understood Savannah and the rest of the X-Men. He was like Amanda Sefton and didn’t hate mutants at all. He was one of the first friends Savannah actually made when she first came to Bayville (besides Kitty and Jean), and has been her friend ever since. Although they talked and hung out at school and the school sporting events, this was the first time he actually asked her out. Savannah wanted to ask Matt to the Sadie Hawkins dance once, but chickened out at the last minute. “It was alright though, I got sick anyway and couldn’t go.” she thought. She told him everything about the Institute, about their trainings, and what everyone’s powers where. “Everyone’s real lucky to have those powers, but I think yours is the coolest.” Matt had said to her. It made Savannah blush.

            “Would you stop that!? I can hear those thoughts so loud and I’m at the other end of the classroom sculpting!” Jean said in Savannah’s head.

            “Sorry.” Savannah thought back to her. She didn’t realize she was in such a deep thought.

*********************

            The last bell of the school day rang and Savannah rushed out of the classroom. She hurried down the halls and down a flight of stairs almost tripping over them. She stumbled on the last few steps and then turned sharply to her left.

            “Becky, c’mon!” Savannah yelled running up to her younger sister who was at her locker.

            “Just a minute. I have to put these books away and get some others for homework.” Becky replied as she put one book away. 

            “Could you be any slower? Anna’s waitin’ for us at my car. Pick up the pace.” Savannah commanded.

            “Just a minute!” Becky growled.

            Savannah was beginning to feel annoyed and angry at the same time.

            “Fine! I’ll meet you by my car. If you’re not out there in ten I’m leaving you.” Savannah told her and started heading out the main doors.

            “Fine then!” Savannah heard Becky say as she headed off.

*********************

            “HEY!” yelled someone and Savannah stopped in her tracks. A thud could be heard somewhere, but Savannah didn’t know where it was coming from.

            “I need my money you freak lover!” yelled a voice.

            “I don’t have it!” yelled another voice.

            Savannah recognized that voice and now this got her attention. She walked around a corner of the school that was completely isolated from public view. When she saw Sharla being pinned by another largely built man, she intruded.

            “Hey, Bryan what’s going on here?” Savannah said walking up to them.

            Bryan turned around to see Savannah standing there and he grunted.

            “This ain’t none of your business so get out of here you mutant!” Bryan yelled turning back towards Sharla.

            “I’m not going anywhere. What are you doing to Sharla.” Savannah asked getting a bit angry.

            “Stay out of this, I’ll handle it.” Sharla exclaimed.

            “Listen to the mutant lover before I have to hurt you.” Bryan yelled at her again. “Now I won’t ask again Sharly, where is my money.?”

            “You know the coach will not be happy when he hears about this.” Savannah said.

            “That’s it!” Bryan cried out. He let go of Sharla who hit the ground fast, and turned his full attention on Savannah. He raised his fists up to his face. “I warned you mutie! You’re goin’ down!” he yelled.

            Bryan charged at Savannah. His right hand extended, he tried to punch Savannah square in the face, but missed when Savannah ducked out of the way. He turned around and faced her, charged at her again, but Savannah did a flip over him and landed with her hands and feet. She got up and looked at him. Her eyes began to glow a slight blueish color. For some strange reason Savannah was becoming angry. Sure she might of been mad at Bryan, but she wasn’t. Deep down she wanted to peacefully resolve this, but something, or someone was making her angry for no reason.

            Swirls of wind began to blow around Savannah making the leaves rise around her in a spiral. She lifted off the ground a good inch with nothing but the wind supporting her.

            “That’s right, use your powers to attack me and then you’ll get suspended.” Bryan said putting up his fists again. He was ready to attack her hoping he could force her to use her powers against him. Savannah was really angry now. Her right arm was behind her back and in her hand was forming a small demi. Savannah had no idea though, and neither did Bryan.

            “Savannah.” a voice called out to her. Savannah’s eyes returned to normal, the wind died down, and the mysterious demi faded away. She turned her head to see Matt standing behind her. Savannah’s anger left her and she was back to her calm self.

            “What? I?” was all Savannah could say putting her hand on her head.

            “Go on Bryan. It’s over. Get out of here.” Matt said calmly.

            Bryan made a small grunt and turned to look at Sharla who had been standing there the entire time in a daze.

            “You may of gotten off easy this time Sharla, but you will pay me my money.” Bryan said. He took a quick look at Matt and Savannah before walking off.

            “You all right?” Matt asked.

            “Yeah I guess so. What was I doing? All I felt was anger inside me.” Savannah said. Matt wanted to tell her about the demi appearing in her hand, but didn’t. They both looked over at Sharla who just stared back.

            “You ok?” Savannah asked her.

            “Yeah, fine.” rebuked Sharla as she began to walk away.

            “Why did he want money from you? Is that the reason you where crying? Because you had to face him?” Savannah asked.

            Sharla stopped and clenched her fists.

            “Why can’t you just mind your own business mutant!! Stay out of it!! Go back to your little mutant hideout with the rest of the freaks.” she yelled at her, her face turning red. 

            “I’m just trying to help.”

            “Well don’t!”

            “Why did he call you a mutant lover?”

            Sharla’s eyes widened as she took a good look at Savannah before replying. Her eyes became soft and she looked down at the ground.

            “You wouldn’t understand.”

            “Try me.”

            “I’m no mutant lover I’m-“

            ”A mutant?”

            “NO! But... my family was.”

            “So he’s making fun of you because your family is a mutant?”

            “Something like that. My family was always a little weird, and I mean weird in their appearance. My brother had no pupils in his eyes, and my father’s skin was green and scaley. I could never bee seen with my brother and father. I never understood why my family was so different and why they possessed such supernatural powers. But it all made sense when the existence of mutants was on every news channel. I finally knew what my family was. A menace. They had to be taken care of. So I called the police. They took my family away from me, and put me in a special orphanage to make sure I didn’t become a mutant. I never saw my family again. I heard they did experiments on them and it killed them all. Bryan told me this. Bryan knows all about this because his dad was one of the scientists who experimented on my family. What is worse is that Bryan is the one who was assigned to “watch” me and make sure I didn’t become a mutant. He bullies me because I was related to mutants.” Sharla said bursting into tears.

            Savannah began to feel sad again and had to get out of there before she too began to cry. But the sadness went away when Sharla ran off.

            “Now you know why, so stay away from me and don’t try to help me. I can help myself.” Sharla had said as she started to run off. Savannah and Matt just looked at each other before finally deciding to go after her.