xp_logs | Independence Day -- Kevin and Terry

At the BBQ, Terry chatters with Kevin. Together they notice the start of something big.

Terry licked butter off her fingers and dropped the corn cob into the trash before bouncing over to where Kevin was sitting. "Isn't it great?" she asked cheerfully, her hair tied back in a high ponytail. She looked around, taking in the patio with the grill, the pool where several kids were working up appetites, the lawn where a spontaneous game of touch football was heating up and finally back at the new kid, sitting quietly by himself in the corner, covered from head to toe despite the heat. "I love this holiday. It makes it really feel like summer."

Kevin wiped the sweat off his forehead and then shook his hand in the air, trying to rid his gloves of the liquid. It was days like these that he desperately wanted to wear shorts. Or go swimming. Something cool, really. Instead, he avoided the crowd and sat off to the side, watching the other students. He was just starting to daydream when the redhead approached. What was her name, Terry? He flashed her a small smile and sort of wished that she would leave him alone. "I think it's the heat that does that."

"Nah," Terry flopped into the lounge chair next to him, "That's just a change in the weather. Summer is a whole change in attitude. Even the adults feel it. You saw the way they were having fun today at the race." She grinned at him, trying to see if she could get more than just a little smile out of him. She was betting that with a little work there would even be laughter.

Kevin shrugged, shifting his weight in the chair. "You can wake me when it's winter. I'm burning up here." He glanced over his shoulder, back at the adults and the students. "They do this every year? This whole…party thing?"

"Every year. There's a smaller one for Labor Day and a big dinner for Thanksgiving but the fourth is the big barbeque." Terry glanced away and located her boyfriend across the patio, catching his attention, then fanned herself like she was melting from the heat before turning back. "You should get Forge to design you something that's lighter weight. Even Rogue doesn't bundle up like that."

"Think he could?" Kevin asked, looking down at his shirt self-consciously and then back up at Terry. He momentarily pictured himself in cooler clothing and accidentally turning someone to dust. Kevin made a note not to see Forge. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. "It's got character. I'm the human popsicle. Melting. Constantly."

"He designed the collars that Rahne and Catseye wear for when they shift. I'm pretty sure he could come up with something for you." Terry grinned and then shivered as Bobby wandered over to respond to her silent plea. Ice cold fingers trailed over her neck as the air temperature plummeted around them. Bobby stole a kiss then wandered off with a grin and a wink. "He's so useful."

"Like a human air conditioner." Kevin admitted with a slight grin, seeing a lead-in for a change of subject. "I bet he's pretty popular during the summer." He swiped some hair out of his eyes, considering getting it cut, at least while it was still hot out.

Terry smiled fondly, her gaze following him, expression utterly besotted. "He's a great guy." As she watched, Bobby was stopped by Scott who spoke to him with a serious face and words so quiet even Terry couldn't pick them out over the chatter and noise of the party. She frowned. "He's popular a lot of the time. I've known him for years."

Kevin followed her line of sight, watching with interest as Mr. Summers stopped Bobby in his tracks, looking as if something had gone wrong. Kevin leaned forward slightly and squinted, curious as to what was happening, but realized that whatever was going on, he probably wasn't going to find out. "Must make you feel lucky." He replied with an absent mind. "Did you guys start here around the same time?"

Bobby turned at gave her a grim look then took off, back into the house moving with a purpose that made Terry's stomach twist. Scott had moved on to Lorna and her smile wavered slightly. Terry looked away deliberately. "I've been here since I was eleven. Bobby started a year after me. Kitty and I have been here longest."

Kevin watched as Scott moved through the crowd, speaking only to certain people. During each quiet conversation, the happiness seemed to drain right out of the person as they left the party. Kevin was only half listening to Terry as she spoke. "At least you've got instruction for longer, I guess." He continued to watch Scott. "I'm not the only one seeing this, right?"

Terry shook her head, "It's okay. They're...just going to work." X-men. Scott was pulling X-men one by one, a silent exodus of solemn faced individuals that barely seemed noticed by the rest of the students. Terry took a breath and mentally offered a quick prayer.

Kevin blinked and caught sight of the look on Terry's face. "I'm guessing 'work' isn't the typical thing?"

She bit her lip. So many. What was going on? "They're..." she looked over at him, "It's sort of hard to explain. The school isn't just a school. I'm sure you've noticed that. The teachers...most of them also have this other job as X-men. It's basically...they're kind of like heroes in comics. You know, flying off to right wrongs and triumph over evil."

Kevin had very little trouble believing that since he knew that quite of few of them could actually fly. Why not fight crime too? He watched as the group made its way back into the house and unconsciously, he began to gnaw on his lower lip. "So, something's happening." He looked around for Mr. Summers. "They'll take care of it, though, won't they?"

Scott was talking with Ororo, both scanning the party. Terry bit her lip. "Sure they will. That's what they do. They'll be back before breakfast." She turned back to Kevin and forced a smile, "Don’t even worry about it. They know what they're doing."

Kevin eyed Mr. Summers, wondering what was so serious that it required them to leave instantly. Had there been some sort of terrorist attack? A hostage situation? Kevin mentally went through his list of worst case scenarios. "You've got a lot of faith in them." And you care about them a lot too. Kevin could see the worry on her features.

Terry nodded without having to think about it. "Aye. I've been here since I was eleven after all. They always come through. And they always come back." Not always. her conscience reminded her. Not always. She shivered. "Do you want a drink? I'm going to get a drink."

Terry seemed more upset than she was a second ago and that made Kevin nervous. Although, he wasn't sure why he should be. After all, he was still new to the school. He knew people, but not really. If something happened to them, it would not be lifelong friendships that he lost...it would just be people that had accepted him for the way he was. "Yeah, I think I do." He started to rise from the chair, feeling like insects were squirming around inside his guts.

"You don’t have to get up. I'll get it." Terry bounded to her feet, all nervous energy. "What did you want? Soda? Water? I really only drink water."

Kevin fidgeted with his gloves and sat down again awkwardly. "Water's good." Relax. He told himself. He took a scan of the area, trying to see who had left, but he didn't know everybody so he had trouble picking out missing faces.

Terry nodded sharply. "I'll be right back." She dashed off. If she kept moving, then she wouldn't wonder. And if she didn't wonder, she wouldn't worry. Besides, they'd be okay, right? It was just another mission.

Kevin got up from his chair after she ran off and ran a gloved hand through his hair, sighing to himself. As awkward as it felt to admit it, this place was starting to feel more and more like a home. All he could do was hope that nothing ruined it.