xp_logs | Crystal and Lorna - First Day of School

After doing her best to avoid Lorna all summer, Crystal regrets her actions and decides that the best way to get over it is to take two classes with Ms. Dane and attempts to clear the air between them. Cooking has been forced on her; taking Geology is by her own choice.

It had been a mostly uneventful class period, just handing out the syllabus, going over expectations and requirements--the general housekeeping business of any start of term class. The pace she'd set was demanding but Lorna was a strong believer that students tended to rise to the expectations that you set for them. Which is why she blithely ignored the groans when the course schedule was laid out. She sat at the desk for the first time when class ended and bent her head over some minor bits of paperwork, waiting for the students to leave. It was a moment before she realized that she still wasn't alone and looked up to see Crystal. Lorna smiled, "Can I help you?"

Crystal hid her surprise at Lorna's reaction. She had expected that Ms. Dane would not look pleased to see her, and probably had not been very pleased to learn that she would have to deal with Crystal in two classes.

"Ms. Dane," Crystal began in a calm, clear voice. "I would like to apologize for my behavior this summer. It was rather silly of me to avoid the kitchen and the dining hall in order to avoid you. I said things that were not necessary, both to you and to other people, and I should not have done this."

"I agree." Lorna said but didn't lose her smile, "and I accept your apology. It's hard having to completely change your way of life, everyone here knows that. We all make mistakes and slip-ups while we're adjusting. No hard feelings." Lorna didn't have to like the girl in order to forgive her. She hadn't held it against her in the first place...much. "I was surprised to see you in Geology."

A slight smile escaped Crystal's lips. Of course Lorna would vocalize an acceptance of her apology. "Yes, I thought you would be surprised. I decided that instead of trying to avoid you, I should take one of your classes..voluntarily, that is." In Crystal's mind, Beginning Cooking or Remedial Cooking or whatever you chose to call it was not a real class, but she would not say that to the staff members.

Lorna blinked, "Well, that's..." totally the wrong reason to take a class, "nice of you. I hope you like the class. It's much revamped from the last teacher who taught it here." She smiled a bit more broadly, "I'm fond of it because it leads into my area of study."

Nice of her? Crystal nodded, sighing inwardly. Now she had to do the polite thing, which was to ask, "Oh? What is your area of study?"

Bother, she'd led her into that, hadn't she? Better not chatter at her too long. "Geophysics. Was there anything else you needed, Crystal? You're going to be late for your next class if you don't hurry."

Not the rudeness again! "Actually, yes," was Crystal's response. Looking Lorna in the eyes, she continued, "I would like to say that I sincerely hope we can put behind us the words we spoke to each other earlier this summer and maintain at least some semblance of a normal teacher/student relationship. I do not believe that you are the devil, and I am not the typical teenager you seem to believe I am."

Lorna repressed her automatic amusement. Of course Crystal wouldn't think she was typical. No teenager ever did and the royal element would make her thinks so even more. But that hardly changed the fact that there was much about Crystal that was wholly normal. "I think we can agree on that. There are plenty of people outside who don't like us. Better to not have enemies inside the school too."

The idea Lorna had just mentioned had not even been a part of Crystal's thought process in this conversation until now. She knew that the world as a whole was not particularly mutant-friendly, but she did not keep such thoughts in her mind. In addition, she had never thought of any of the teachers as her enemies, they simply confused her. She was sure they meant well, but...

Crystal simply nodded. "Thank you for your time, Ms. Dane."

"I'll see you later, Crystal." Lorna nodded pleasantly and privately reflected that this was going to be an interesting school year. She was not looking forward to Beginning Cooking.

After another nod to Lorna, Crystal turned around and left the room. She had said what needed to be said, and hopefully this year wouldn't be so bad after all.