xp_logs | Callie and a Townie

Things remain awkward as Callie meets up with her townie for another date.

Jackson whistled softly, staring up at the huge stuffed horse guarding the entrance to the stuffed-animal aisle. Somehow, his dates with Callie always seemed to end up with them doing something that would have been dorky even for elementary kids, but was still kinda cool. Playground last time, toy store this time.

"I'm not even sure what a kid would do with something this big," he said. "It's like, the size of a real horse. You couldn't fit this thing in my room."

"Probably climb all over it or lean against it watching television or something, " Callie replied after she had made her way over from looking at dolls. She was casually looking for a present for Valentia, though nothing as of yet had popped out at her as something the little girl would want. "Or you know just let it sit in the corner while they went to go play in large boxes." That's what she had done.

Callie laughed at the thought of bringing home cardboard boxes for her little charge, or rather at Manuel's reaction to the gift. He didn't seem like the type to appreciate how sometimes children could love the simplest of objects. She'd probably have to look for something a little more high tech.

"Don't knock the cardboard boxes." The taller boy drifted back her way, grinning. He had an easy smile for most occasions. "Those make the best Fortress of Solitude ever."

"I'm not!" Callie protested earnestly. "I used to play in them all the time. Or you know a chair fort? Three or four chairs and some sheets makes the perfect reading place." Or a place to hide from thunderstorms. "No. I'm kinda looking for something for Valentia, the little girl I babysit. She and her older brother live at the mansion, so I babysit when he goes out."

Jackson shook his head. "Every time you guys talk about your school, I feel like I missed something. Sometimes is sounds like, y'know, school and the rest of the time it sounds like a hotel or army training or something."

That caused Callie to laugh and drop the bear she had been holding back in its spot. "The mansion is completely unique. I mean I'm unsure of how to describe it and I live there." One thing she was always careful to mention, however, was the presence of the X-Men. "I mean there's the school, and there's a mutant studies program thingy for college students. And my Italian teacher, he runs a mutant centric NGO out of the boathouse. And there's always just random people so... it's pretty cool."

"Yeah, sounds like. But how's the school thing work? I gotta hard time seeing the cat-lady and Yvette in the same class with you and Keller."

"What do you mean by that?" Callie turned around and looked at Jackson, the confusion evident on her face.

Jackson had a look on his face that suggested he was tasting toes, or perhaps kneecap.

"Nevermind. It was dumb. So do you guys just all stay in the same class? There's got to be more kids, right?"

She shrugged and returned her attention to the wall of stuffed animals that was in front of her. "Well I mean we choose classes and we mix it all up? I mean in addition to like all the people in the play we have Nori, Tat, Inez, and we have a new student Fred. I don't know him very well." Callie reached up and picked out a white and round bear looking object. This was cute. "And so it depends on what level you're at. I mean because I'm doing two classes that are basically by myself. It's cool."

"Yeah, with the Italian guy? I think we talked about that last time." Jackson picked up a stuffed spider; it was wearing mittens on all eight legs. "Hey, can I ask you something? Did I like, say something to your teacher? Not Mister Sefton, the other guy. Because he keeps looking at me like I stepped in something."

"Mister Beaubier? I don't know did you?" Callie couldn't think of a reason as to why her teacher would act in this manner. Usually he was so friendly to everyone. "Are you sure it was directed at you?"

"I don't think so. He's usually working with the stage crew or adjusting the lights if the cat-lady can't reach. And yeah, I know it's at me. It's not like he tries to hide it."

"Her name's Catsye," she pointed out politely, hugging the stuffed animal closer. This was odd. "I'll ask him about it. He's usually pretty cool. I'm sure it's not you."

He laughed a little. "Catseye, right. Sorry about that. You'd have to be a real doofus to forget something like that, much as she says it, huh? Don't worry about Mister...Beaubier, right? Don't worry about it. Maybe he's just having a bad week or something." Jackson toyed with the spider a bit. "Think she'd like this? The little girl you babysit for, I mean."

Had what she told Jean-Paul about Cammie ruined his week? Was there something going on she didn't know about? Should she talk to him about it? I mean he was the teacher after all, and she was just a student. There wasn't much she could do to help in any scenario. "Hmmmmm?" Callie shook herself out of her train of thought and studied the spider. "Valentia? Possibly. It's cute. I was gonna get her this bear, but I don't see any reason why I can't buy her both?"

"You get the bear. I'll get Itsy Bitsy here. Call it a tax for being a dork, all right?"

"Awww, you don't have to!" Callie didn't want him to feel like he had to do this. After all, Manuel had been paying her quite well for looking after his sister at night, she could more than afford it.

"It's cool. Maybe I can drop it off in person or something? Or not, that's cool too. You can tell me if she likes it or not."

That was something Callie was quite unsure about. Manuel tended to be very protective of his little sister, but maybe if she asked he would agree. She quickly reached into her bag and pulled out her cellphone, and sent him a quick text. "Well I just sent him a text, Manuel that is, and if he says yes then I think you should be okay. And if not, I'll be certain to let you know if she likes it." She smiled broadly.