xp_logs | Cammie and Callie: Math and sunshine (backdated)

Callie stumbles across Cammie studying in the library and the two talk math and destruction.

There weren't many people in the library, what with it being summer and all, and for that Callie was thankful. Now that she knew that this power switch would be only temporary all she could do was wait. And while she was waiting she decided to tackle some of the homework assigned to her. She had spoken with her professors, and they were more than understanding over her missing a few classes due to her extraordinary condition, but that didn't exempt her from the work. Luckily, Xavier's had a decent library so she would be able to gather the materials she needed.

With books located and pulled off the shelves, all Callie had to do now was find a place to settle in and work. As luck would have it, her usual table was already occupied, by someone who appeared to be flustered with the work in front of them. Curious, Callie wandered over and peered at the paper. It was math, and she could instantly see the mistake that was being made.

"You can't factor that, you have to use the quadratic formula," she supplied helpfully. "It'll make the problem easier."

Cammie looked up, “Gee, thanks. I may never have solved that without divine intervention,” she returned. Her tone was snappy, but she had been trying to work on these all morning with little success. She hated math.

"You don't have to be so rude about it," Callie said, irritation creeping into her voice. "I was just trying to help. You looked like you were having trouble."

“Yeah, well some of us aren’t meant to get shit like this,” Cammie said, her left hand tangled in her hair as she looked down at the lines of practice problems Amara had given her. She wasn’t going to pass the fucking test. No matter how much she tried to cram into her brain.

"That still doesn't give you justification to be mean to people who are trying to help you. Geez." Callie rolled her eyes as she set down her books and sat across the table from Cammie. She pulled the top book off her pile and opened it, searching the index for the information she needed. With a gloved hand she flipped through the pages until at last she arrived at the one she needed and began jotting down notes.

“What’s with the gloves? Get attacked by a murderous plant?” Cammie asked, looking down at another problem with narrowed eyes. She despised Math. Maybe being torn limb from limb to finish high school on time would’ve been worth it. Maybe.

Without looking up, Callie responded with a terse "I put Julian in a coma and don't feel like reliving the experience." She paused, turned the page, and looked up at the girl across from her.

“Well, he woke up, so it’s not a big fucking deal or anything. Unless that’s Jake pretending to him,” Cammie returned, “So what’s the problem?”

"Because I don't want it to happen to anyone else," Callie raised her eyebrow. "It wasn't a fun time?"

“Of course it wasn’t. It never is, but he’s not dead,” Cammie pointed out, “And you’re going to get better.”

Callie sighed and smiled broadly. "Yes, but it's not yet," she explained in an overly cheerful manner. "And I could kill someone on accident and stuff. So hence for now I wear the gloves. Make sense?"

“Oh, I’m not questioning the gloves right now. The point is, you’re going to get better. And you’re not going to kill someone, short of someone falling on your face. So forget about it. For you it’s just going to be like a bad dream,” Cammie returned.

Of course she was going to get better, but they didn't know that initially. She had figured that she was going to be like this for the rest of her life. So when Jean announced that everyone would regain their powers eventually, Callie had never felt more relieved in her life. It caused a little guilt, but she couldn't change anything.

"Okay yeah, you're right. We know that now. But it doesn't change what happen. And I know what it's like, " Callie finally replied, "at least a little bit. So yeah."

“Not fun, is it?” Cammie said looking up. “Sorry you had to go through that.”

"Like you care," mumbled Callie under her breath. She continued to furiously scribble on the page in front of her. If Cammie cared she sure had a funny way of showing it.

“Believe it or not, I do. You’re lucky. You haven’t killed anyone. You’re not going to have to live that over and over again. Or know that it’s never going to go away,” Cammie said. “I envy one thing about what’s happened to you. You’re going to get better.”

Callie paused for a moment and thought about what Cammie had just said. Could it be possible that rough and tough Cammie Black was showing some sort of empathy and compassion? Usually encounters with ended up loaded with sarcasm and insults, not this. It was something Callie had never seen before, and it caused her to smile. "You know what Cammie," she asked as she looked up at the girl. "You're not as bad as you try to make yourself appear to be. Thanks."

“Yeah, whatever,” Cammie said, looking down at her work, or trying to…. If she did ever take over the world, Math would be the first thing to go, “Count yourself lucky, okay?”

"Thanks Cammie. I will." Pause. "I would hug you but with this whole thing... you know I'll just abstain."

“I don’t like hugging anyway,” Cammie said, considering sucking the ink out of this pen. It might be more productive than what she was doing.

"Well I'm hugging you in my mind," Callie replied with a smile. "v."

"Sure, whatever makes you happy," Cammie said, waving her off.

Callie gave her one last knowing smile before turning back to her stack of books. She felt like she had won a small victory with Cammie, getting through the girl's tough exterior. Maybe the older girl wasn't full of puppies and rainbows, but she had something soft and fuzzy in her. Of that Callie was certain. "I am. And if you need any help with the math I'll be here. Don't be afraid to ask."

"I tackle this shit on my own. I mean, anyone can graduate high school," Cammie said, shaking her head.

"Well if you get stuck, I'm here."