Bleak house...
Thursday 29th March
.............................
She'd been a little jealous when Michael had explained that they'd have to see the later performance of Bleak house. Thursdays was one of his team training nights and she couldn't help feeling envious that her friend has a privileged that she'd had removed from herself. Her parents had explained to her the reasons they didn't want her to continue on the school teams, but although she could understand their point of view she felt it should have been her decision to make. She hated the fact that she was still considered to be a child, she'd lived away from home for over half a year but she still felt as though her mother sometimes smothered her.
Paige hadn't been a planned baby, Megan had been in her late thirties when she'd fallen pregnant. When her youngest daughter had been born Meg's son's were already ten and twelve, leaving a big age gap between them and their sister. Being the youngest had led Megan and Sam to rather spoil their youngest child, especially since she was their only girl. Both their son's had moved out six years ago, leaving Paige to suffer the undivided attention and sometimes overpowering affection of their mother.
The young girl's nervous eyes scanned the entrance hall... Michael was no where to be seen. She'd rather been hoping that he might already be waiting for her, trying to avoid having to undergo other people wondering why she was standing by herself in the hall. A small part of her brightened at the thought that Max might walk by, Paige had almost forgiven him for his cruel words the other day.
Coming to a stop before the front door she glanced up the stairs hoping that she'd catch sight of Michael on his way down. Maybe he wasn't going to turn up.. that was the sort of thing she expected people to do to her. Please say he hadn't asked to go as a cruel joke. It sometimes felt too good to be true that she'd found someone as nice as Michael to be friends with and she couldn’t help thinking that something was going to go wrong. Not that they got to spend much time together once she'd left the medical bay. They didn't really take the same lessons and when they did it wasn't often they sat together. The only real time she saw him outside the classroom was his physio lessons and she always felt so guilty during them and he always looked so pained and exhausted that she didn't want to push him into small talk. She sometimes thought he must hate her for forcing him to do something she knew must be torturous to him. Edited by: HankMcCoy13 at: 11/1/06 2:25 pm
It was already time to be going, more than time given his less than startling turn of speed. Michael checked himself out in the mirror and sighed. He thought he looked about as tired as he felt and that was hardly a great way to be starting the evening.
Why did they have to have team training on a Thursday? The schedule hadn’t been finalised when he had asked Paige out and by the time he had got back from his holiday at Ben’s place it had been too late to do anything but grin and bear it. Though it hadn’t been easy. Still that couldn’t be helped. Considering he had been given time off to spend the long weekend with his friend he could hardly have asked to get out of training just because he had something planned and as far as physio went…….. Michael winced at the memory.
That too was something that only got harder the longer you put it off. And God knew it was hard enough as it was. Paige’s face during the sessions was testimony enough to that fact even if his body wasn’t constantly hammering home the point on its own.
Michael combed his still wet hair into place. He was conscious that as far as his appearance went there was at least some improvement , Ben’s mother having taken him to the local hairdressers in a vain attempt to make him look vaguely cared for. Michael smiled at the memory, the expression chasing some of the fatigue from his still too thin features bringing a ghost of Hood’s charm to his pale face. Ah well he would have to do. He just hoped he wouldn’t embarrass Paige too badly.
He had done everything in his power to make sure that he didn’t , choosing his clothes carefully from his rather limited selection. The blue shirt suited him, shifting his changeable grey eyes over to that colour. Nor did it hang too loosely on him, unlike most of his other clothes, while its long sleeves hid the embarrassing scars on his arms. His jeans too were a better fit or maybe they just looked it now that they were held up by a plain black belt rather than the hardly flattering piece of string he had made do with till recently. That had disappeared in Oregon being replaced by the aforementioned black one, apparently an old thing of Ben’s that had just been lying around if his parents were to be believed.
Michael had accepted it gratefully as he had all their other kindness, their obvious concern for him defusing what could otherwise have been an awkward situation. They could have made him feel like a charity case. Instead they had made him feel like a part of a family again, even if only for a little while and that was something he would never forget
It was one more step on the way to picking up the pieces of his life again. Just as this evening out with Paige was, though he had to admit that now it was here he was absurdly nervous about the whole thing. *That’s stupid* he told himself sternly as he threw on a casual jacket and picked up his crutches making his way to the door. After all what could possibly go wrong?
He had phoned the taxi previously, making sure it would be here in plenty of time, checking that crutches and a stiff leg wouldn’t be a problem. Just for once he didn’t want his handicap to be at the centre of everything, as it so often was , especially as far as he and Paige were concerned. Wasn’t that what tonight was all about? A chance to leave med lab and all its painful connotations behind them and just get on with being friends? It wasn’t a lot to ask. Surely they deserved that much?
The corridor was still busy as he made his careful way to the stairs, students threading their way to and from the dorms, many laden with books, others like himself on their way to meet someone. Some still looked worriedly in his direction as he started his precarious descent but for most he was just another student on his way out for the evening and that was exactly what Michael wanted.
Looking towards the front hall he could see that Paige was already there and while part of him was immediately guilty that he hadn’t got there in time to spare her the wait there was also a small rush of happiness. She had come and, although she shouldn’t have had too, she had waited. For him! Not because someone had made her but because she had wanted too! And that felt good he had to admit.
The pleasure sloughed the fatigue from him as effectively as a shot of adrenaline, filling him instead with a quiet anticipation of happiness that he realised he was beginning to get used to again after the trials of the past. Sure there were still problems to be dealt with and dangers to be faced but there were also moments like this and his weekend with Ben when life quite simply was good. And one way or another Michael was going to seize them
His contentment was obvious in his smile and his eyes as he approached Paige and if there were any curious glances thrown their way he was blissfully unaware of them. “Hi Paige”“ he said cheerfully, despite the apologetic look on his face “Hope you haven’t been waiting long.Not exactly white knight stuff leaving you standing here I know but then...” Michael's rueful smile deepened " it would have been worse if I'd come straight from training Talk about Beauty and the Beast. You'd probably have turned tail and bolted before I even made it down the stairs. At least this way we still have a chance to make it to the cinema together. Which is, after all, why we are here."
He offered her his arm, the gesture old fashioned and gallent despite the inevitable manipulation to keep the crutch in place as he did so "Milady. Our carriage awaits, or at least it should await, if all goes to plan. Will you do me the honour of accompanying me?"
Re: Bleak house...
The sound of Michael's rather precarious descent down the stairs caught her attention. She lifted eyes filled with relief to look up at him. There was a sudden leap in her chest ... he'd turned up! Not that she'd really thought he wouldn’t... but the seeds of doubt had been sown by his lateness.
She snatched her eyes back from Michael as she heard someone call her name. A pretty girl with brown pigtails waved at her as she started up the stairs passed Michael. Alyssa took several lessons together and the pair of them were on friendly terms. If only Paige put herself forwards a little more they could easily have become more than two people who sat together during class. The healing mutant could often come across as not being very friendly if people failed to realise it was mainly due to her shyness.
It would have been impossible not to return Michaels' smile. Paige made no effort to resist returning the friendly gesture with the curve to her own lips. “Hope you haven’t been waiting long. Not exactly white knight stuff leaving you standing here I know but then...” She shook her head in answer to his question, her eyes flickering to follow Alyssa's progress up the staircase. "it would have been worse if I'd come straight from training Talk about Beauty and the Beast. You'd probably have turned tail and bolted before I even made it down the stairs. At least this way we still have a chance to make it to the cinema together. Which is, after all, why we are here."
Paige blushed deeply, the comment about beauty and the beast catching her off guard. She didn't often come by compliments referring to her looks, at best she was usually referred to as being pretty. But beauty was something she never thought she possessed, unlike Lenora, Catherine or Dawn. She stumbled mentally, her brain hurriedly trying to catch up with what he was saying at the same time desperately hoping he wouldn't take the reddening in her cheeks the wrong way.
"Milady. Our carriage awaits, or at least it should await, if all goes to plan. Will you do me the honour of accompanying me?" She felt uncomfortable about breeching the distance between them in order to take his arm. In the med bay it was necessary for her to touch him, but now it felt very out of place. She hesitated for a moment, her hands clasped nervously on the black shoulder bag she'd brought with her.
Her small hand reached over to take his arm, her eyes looking everywhere else than at him. She wasn't really sure it was such a good idea him offering his arm to her, she didn't know how well it would work with him on crutches. She realised he was probably waiting for her to say something. Her cheeks felt as though they were burning as she desperately tried to think of something to say to him. He'd gone to the effort of asking her to come with him this evening, even though he had plenty of other, in her estimation probably more interesting friends to go with. She suddenly felt close to tears as she desperately tried to think of anything to talk to him about, to stop the increasingly silent void which seemed to be stretching out between them. Why should she have such trouble speaking to him now when she'd managed to have several intelligent conversations with him during the course of the day.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Bleak house...
There are some things you should never do when you are on crutches. God knows Michael had a long enough list of them, most of which he had discovered the hard way. And somehow he knew, even as the words left his mouth, that offering your arm to a girl and then trying to manoeuvre yourself down some stairs was way up there amongst the worst ideas ever! What had possessed him to do it he couldn’t even begin to imagine, though to be honest he had just hoped to make her smile! Yeah right! Like that had worked out so well!
Instead she looked at him as if he’d just suggested that she pick up a spider. Paige’s hands grabbed the strap of the bag she carried as if wild horses couldn’t drag them off it. Her embarrassment at the situation he had put her in was all too obvious. It was justified of course. He was way out of line. It had been clear between them from the start that they were just friends going out for an evening’s entertainment. And he was all too well aware of how desperately shy Paige was. Yet here he was attracting attention to them. Well even more attention that was, for even if he liked to think otherwise his crutches did still cause people to stare a little, even if he was sure that most people thought them a temporary measure.
He didn’t know if it was pride or shame that had kept him standing there until Paige timidly decided to put him out of his misery and move to his side. Even then her capitulation wasn’t a price he was willing to pay She couldn’t even look at him as she did take his arm and when he did eventually pick up the courage to look at her it was only to see tears standing in her eyes.
This was not how things were meant to be! There had been no distress on Paige’s face when he had crossed the hall to meet her. In fact he had actually thought that she was happy to see him. Until he had spoiled everything that was! Stupid! Words and actions that Hood could have carried off with ease but which he had transformed into a mockery. In the end though all that was his mistake. It wasn’t fair that Paige should pay for it. Could he still pull things back onto track? Retrieve something of the promise this evening had held? He didn’t know but he had to try all the same.
He managed to get to the door at least, saving face in front of the other students for Paige’s sake. But the steps… well those were almost a welcome obstacle now for they gave him a reasonable excuse to let Paige disengage her hold on him as she so obviously wanted to do. ”Hmmm” he said quietly as the expected taxi drew to a halt in front of them. “Maybe I overestimated my abilities after all.” All he could do now was offer her a smile that clearly took all the blame for what was to follow, letting her release his arm with grace. ” Ah well I had already failed in my duty as a knight. So I don’t suppose you’ll be too surprised if I admit to needing both hands free to negotiate the steps!”
Re: Bleak house...”Hmmm” With her head turned away, Paige blinked away the tears which were threatening to fall from her green eyes. It took her a moment or two to compose herself, feeling much better now Michael had bridged the uncomfortable silence which had been stretching out between them.
Her eyes flickered over towards his face, less glassy than they had been before. Perhaps it would have been better if he'd asked Ben or one other of his team mates to come along tonight, she knew she must be pretty poor company when compared to his other friends. “Maybe I overestimated my abilities after all.” She glanced down at the steps which flowed away under their feet. To her, the blocks of stone were no hindrance at all, however she could tell from the expression she sometimes saw on Michaels face that he dreaded steps. Paige wondered what it must be like to live your life in a body which inhibited even simple movements. She'd quickly come to realise the limits of Michael's abilities during the time she'd spent helping him with his physiotherapy.
Letting go of his arm, perhaps a little too quickly for common curtesy she glanced over at the yellow taxi which had drawn up near the foot of the stairs. ”Ah well I had already failed in my duty as a knight. So I don’t suppose you’ll be too surprised if I admit to needing both hands free to negotiate the steps!” She shifted away from him, giving him the space he needed to manoeuvre his way down to the waiting car.
'A knight?' Paige didn't understand what he was talking about. Perhaps he was alluding to Heath? She'd learnt all about her newest acquaintance from a girl in her Physics class. Unconsciously her hands moved back to the strap of her bag, her hands playing with the black material.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Bleak house...
Aaron Stepps took the profession of taxi driver very seriously. After all, he would declare in his warm chocolaty voice to all those women who deigned to listen;,apart from priests, who else was privy to confessions. Then he would laugh warmly and nine times out of ten they would melt into his equally chocolaty coloured arms.
Aaron was a large man, imposing enough to keep punks at bay as he navigated his way faultlessly through the less frequentable parts of New York city and yet soft spoken, discrete when he could be and above all impartial, treating the highest of high rollers and the lowest of lowlifes with the same easy grace. Always provided they could pay the fare.
That was why Kathy called on him whenever there was a pickup at Xavier’s Institute. When she could that was. Oh he had heard the stories. Who hadn’t. He just didn’t care. Well no That wasn’t true. Aaron had been brought up well. His grandma had been on the Martin Luther King marches, always reminding him of how things had been before. When people like her had been confined to the back of the bus. “This Charles Xavier” she had said, thrusting unceasing knitting needles into his face. "You wait and see child. One day he may have a national holiday named after him And the world will be a better place when he does!" And so he answered when called upon, passing neither judgement or comment on his sometimes unique passengers. Giving them the same respect he would have wanted his grandma to have received way back then.
Aaron smiled. Tonight was different though. Tonight Kathy had asked for him to go to Xavier's. But she had also taken the time to call him into the office and shyly ask him for a favour. And that was all good in Aaron’s books. Sweet That was the word she had used to describe this customer. And anyone who was sweet in Kathy’s books was all right by him
. “You take good care of him and his lady” she had said before he had set out. “Poor kid, he has enough problems without us adding to them!” Aaron had nodded in understanding, breathing in Kathy’s own sweetness like a morning breeze in a foggy city. She was one of the reasons he came to work in the morning, beating money and job satisfaction well into second and third places with an ease that he told himself couldn’t even begin to understand. Though in reality he understood just fine. So Aaron had many reasons not to care if this particular kid and his date were fluorescent green or sported four arms apiece, as rumours and his own experience said so many of Xavier’s students did. As long as they didn’t wreck the cab then he was cool.
He had to admit he had been curious at first as to why Kathy had been so won over by the phone call. She hadn’t taken long to explain though. “He needs lots of room” she had said, concern clear in her dark brown eyes.”He said his leg doesn’t bend and he doesn’t want to cause a fuss in front of his sweetheart. Its sooo sweet. And he has the cutest accent. And so polite I tell you we don’t get many like that in here. ”
Aaron could only smile and shake his head. There was little else any man could do faced with Kathy’s wide eyes. Even when she added… "Oh and I said we’d get them to the cinema and back for 18 dollars……. Well.. he has to buy her popcorn doesn’t he, and he only has twenty dollars to his name! “ Somehow lost tips didn’t seem to count where Kathy was concerned, so it was without any great expectations that Aaron had set out for the Institute that Thursday night. Still he had to admit, when he saw them at the top of the steps …
Kids…Neither of them looking as if they were really old enough to have been allowed out on their own. The boy, good looking he supposed in a quiet sort of way, much too thin for comfort and sporting the expected crutches! The girl, awkward, subdued, though the potential for prettiness was there. Aaron took note, having promised to give Kathy a blow by blow account of the proceedings over the coffee he had wanted to ask her to share with him for so long.
In his heart he was already predisposed to wish them well. Though, from the looks of things as he drew up to the front stairs the evening wasn’t exactly off to the best of starts! Sweethearts Katy had called them and though it pained Aaron to call her judgement into question, still that wasn’t what they looked like to him. And the boy! T
he crutches were there all right. No cast though and that was bad. Casts came off and hey presto things went back to normal. The way he had come to the steps though, his leg held stiffly in front of him. That spoke of deep hurt The kind you didn’t walk away from one day. And that was always sad to see especially in someone so young.Still….apparently he was dealing with it and that deserved respect. And from what Kathy had said he had charm on his side… or at least a disarming honesty that could sometimes amount to the same thing. It was just a shame that it didn’t seem to be working on his date.
Aaron would never have proclaimed himself an expert where women were concerned. He seriously envied any man who could. And reserved his god given right to proclaim them a liar. Never the less his chosen profession had made him a keen observer of body language. And what he was picking up from these two was anything but cosy.
For a start. the girl… well it was obvious she wanted nothing more than to drop his arm and run. “Oh man if I was you Id turn tail as fast as my crutches would let me and head back inside with my twenty dollars safely in my pocket” Aaron said to himself “Cos you sure as hell aint going to get anywhere near as far as popcorn tonight!” It did put him in a spot though. People didn’t always realise it but the reaction of a taxi driver could change the course of an evening. If, of course, they chose to intervene, that was.
Normally you didn’t. You were just part of the décor. A simple means of getting from A to B. Unless the client decided to turn you into something different that was. Human being! Temporary friend! ,Unexpected ,never to be seen again confident. He had played all those roles and more. But tonight he had to admit that he was at a loss as to what he should do in this pqrticulqr situqtion. Then, as he turned off the engine, he caught the boy’s voice with its suitably “cute” accent, through the open window and suddenly his options became clear. ” Ah well I had already failed in my duty as a knight. So I don’t suppose you’ll be too surprised if I admit to needing both hands free to negotiate the steps!”
It was a desperate attempyt at gallantry that Aaron wasn’t at all sure he could have pulled off especially not under the circumstances. It gave her a reason to let go of his arm that preserved his dignity as a man … or at least a man on a date, even if, it did mean admitting to a truth that was probably hard to bear! It earned him Aaron's respect. One man to another, faced with the eternal quagmire that was women.
“A knight? “ She had dropped his arm like so much hot coal but her interest was still engaged and that in itself was quite something given the circumstances. “ This is the first time I’ve ever asked a girl to go anywhere with me” the boy said astounding the taxi driver with his honesty
Wasn’t that what you were never supposed to say? If you were a guy anyway! Even if it was true, as it so obviously was in this case. It left you exposed, vulnerable. All those things you weren’t meant to be. But then again maybe this kid always felt like that. Maybe that was the price he paid for this almost painful frankness .
Aaron wasn’t sure if he wanted to cheer or disappear behind a convenient cushion as certain of his girlfriends had chosen to do at specific points in horror films,when the youngster went on. “I had hoped things would go better than this. At least at first. That I be wouldn’t be late or….stupidly say something I couldn’t live up too” The smile he gave the girl could in truth only have been described as sweet. Doomed, perhaps but sweet none the less.
“Oh Yes … the knight thing......" he went on "sorry it sounds silly I know but… hey….Lancelot crawled over swords to rescue Guinevere;………… even if tonight is just between friends I could have done better than this.” It was stupid and old fashioned and…………… he strongly suspected Kathy would say, romantic Even if apparently romance didn’t enter into this relationship. At least officially.
It drew Aaron out of his seat, to open the passenger door with what he hoped was a flourish. Hell the kid deserved at least that much even if there was no prospect of a tip. Not only because of Kathy but also in the name of men everywhere who wished him luck!Because from the looks of things he was surely going to need it.
Re: Bleak house...“ This is the first time I’ve ever asked a girl to go anywhere with me” Her pale eyes blinked in surprise at his words. For some reason Paige had gotten the theory that he had a girlfriend back in Scotland imbedded in her mind. She wondered where the idea had come from... thinking about it, he'd never told her that he was seeing anyone. For all the converstations they'd had she realised that apart from him aluding to Max the time Michael had met him that they'd never talked of anything to do with girlfriends and boyfriends. She'd never really thought about it before, but it surprised her now that they'd never really even touched upon the subject. The idea was now thrown open to her about who Michael liked at the school, he'd been here several weeks, there had to be some girl or other he was partial to.
She wasn't really sure which girls Michael talked to, she'd certainly never detected any signs that he liked anyone she'd seen him talking to ... but then perhaps he was too shy to show them. “I had hoped things would go better than this. At least at first. That I be wouldn’t be late or….stupidly say something I couldn’t live up too” He might like Macy. They all took English together and she was sweet as well as pretty. She could see the both of them getting on very well, Paige decided that next English lesson she'd make efforts to introduce the pair of them.
“Oh Yes … the knight thing......sorry it sounds silly I know but… hey….Lancelot crawled over swords to rescue Guinevere;………… even if tonight is just between friends I could have done better than this.” Swords? On occasions she couldn't help feeling a little stupid around Michael, he seemed to know so much more about things than she did. Perhaps if she took the time to think things through she'd realise that she knew just as much as him, only about different subjects.
Her hand reached out rather awkardly to gently touch the sleave of his shirt in what she hoped was a comforting gesture. He sounded really dejected and she didn't want him to feel that he'd rather have spent the evening in his room. 'I'm having a nice time.' She offered him a small smile as she spoke.
She still wasn't quite sure what he meant by "the knight thing" but she decided she wouldn't ask further. Instead her eyes travelled to the waiting taxi, unaware of the drivers thoughts about the pair of them. Turning her back on Michael she descended the stairs, stopping herself from staring back up at him. He probably didn't want everyone watching as he tackled the short flight of steps.
Paige pulled the ugly, bright green coat she was wearing closer around her as she nervously peered up at the man's face. She'd prefer it if the taxi company had sent a woman, but then she supposed she should had mentioned something to Michael about it. She couldn't help on occasions being nervous around humans, knowing how they could react to mutants.
Slipping into the taxi via the door he'd opened she concentrated all her attention on undoing the green toggles on the front of her coat. She glanced away, out the other side of the taxi in the hope that the taxi driver wouldn't pay her any more attention than he already had.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Bleak house...
Honesty is the best policy! Wasn’t that how the old saying went? And while Michael knew that, strictly speaking, that wasn’t necessarily always the case, that the cheerful ‘no I’m all right reallys ‘and the ‘Of course its not as bad as it looks’ were also part of getting through the day, on this occasion his frank admission of inexperience in all things date related had seemed to have the desired effect. If nothing else it had put an end to the awkward tension that had somehow installed itself between him and Paige. And for that he was truly thankful.
The fact that someone might think he was actually doing pretty well so far never crossed his mind but still someone did and Aarons smile broadened as the boy’s efforts brought their just reward. It might not have looked like much to anyone else, just one small hand reaching out to pat Michael’s arm gently and a few quiet words but hey…..! Moments before she had looked ready to bolt and now here she was telling him she was having a nice time, offering him a smile. If that wasn’t an achievement then Aaron didn’t know what was. For Michael though it was simply a reminder of why he was there, that glimpse of the kind caring person he knew Paige to be, so often smothered and held back by her shyness. A reminder too that he had to take things slow if he wanted to see it more often.
He couldn’t help but smile somewhat sadly as she turned and made her way towards the waiting taxi. Taking it slow was something he could do all to well. Maybe even better than most! Why hadn’t he learned that by now? He was never going to be the hero of the play like Max. Michael shook his head in confusion. Why had that name sprung suddenly to mind? Swiftly he closed off all thoughts of rumours he had heard as so much rubbish. After all Max had enough problems. Problems he wasn’t supposed to have been aware of! And as for Paige ………
Watching her demurely descend he steps of the institute Michael realised once again how absurd the stories concerning her had been.. And how insulting! To both parties! You only had to watch her shy movements as she made her way towards the waiting taxi to be convinced that it was all lies.
Somehow it made all the pain he had suffered defending her obviously untarnished honour worthwhile. Ok he would have stood up against bullies in any case. Because that was who he was and that was what he did But still. ……….. with his crutches already taken out of the picture and himself humiliated and helpless on the floor, it had been the need to protect her that had forced him none the less to keep fighting back and ultimately brought Alex’s wrath down upon him..
Paige may have paid for this excursion in monitory terms, but he had given all he could and more, to see that it came to pass. And if, in the end all he got from it was this timid acceptance of some transitory pleasure then so be it . It was enough. After all, had he really hoped for anything more?
Watching her retreat down the steps to the waiting taxi he had to accept that no! This had been the extent of his expectations, as it so clearly was of hers. One small touch offered, not demanded as he so unthinkingly had before. The faint prospect that she might actually enjoy , if not his company, then at least the distraction he offered her.
*She’s right* he told himself as he began to descend the steps *This is no big deal.. And we are sooo far from being Lancelot and Guinevere.”
And yet… for some reason the taxi driver was holding the door open for Paige as if she really had been a princess. Then she was inside and the man’s dark face was turned towards him with a large grin and a conspiratorial wink that forced a rather surprised Michael to smile back This had to be Aaron. Katy had told him she would make sure he was assigned to them and from the looks of things she had been as good as her word.
It was one of the things that drove the other members of his family crazy, Michaels apparent inability to carry out what they considered to be a simple transaction without turning it into a conversation. Whether it was in the supermarket or waiting for a bus he always seemed to end up talking to people. ‘To’ and not ‘at’ as so many gregarious people did! And while others shook their heads in disapproval, Michael rarely regretted doing it. Sure, sometimes, before the accident, he had ended up running errands for old ladies . But it also had its up sides. And from the looks ofxthings, Aaron was one of them. As was the car he was driving. Though Michael was too British to fully appreciate the effort that had been made on his account!
The typical New York yellow cab barely had enough room in the back for a normal passenger to sit comfortably ,never mind someone whose leg refused to bend. So it was fortunate indeed that he had specified his particular problem. in his all to revealing phone call. And even more so that he had found someone? not only willing? but able to help him out.
Unlike most cab companies? who would simply have told Michael ‘too bad you’ll just have to sit with it propped up on the back seat and to hell with dignity', SOS Taxi actually possessed something other than just the cramped vehicles the rest of them ran around in. Not many it was true. But enough to rise to special occasions like this one.Painted in the same garish yellow, it was none the less what Michael called a people carrier that awaited his slow arrival at the bottom of the steps. And that was an enormous blessing as far as he was concerned.
Aaron could see the relief in the boy’s eyes as he looked at the taxi, just as he had seen the barely hidden fear in the girls when he had ushered her into the cab, despite the reassuring smile he had offered her. Though, given the way she had lowered her eyes as she had passed him he doubted that she had ever noticed it. Was that just shyness or some deeper fear? Like that of being taken for a mutant? Aaron couldn’t be sure.
Certainly she looked as inexperienced in this field as the British kid who made his way, oh so carefully down the steps. If nothing else her choice of wardrobe slammed that home with a vengeance. Or maybe she just really wanted to put this guy off and was too nice to tell him straight out! Because no female who set out to impress would have chosen that coat to do it in! A
aron could get that, even if he didn’t have to like it. . Maybe she had accepted this date out of pity. Though that would have been one hell of a shame! Still….. Even if he wasn’t sure what the hell this did feel like, it didn’t feel like that. And anyway what business was it of his? When did he suddenly become so involved?
He supposed it was the moment when Katy had asked him and him alone to take the call. It had been a revelation. The realisation that he had somehow registered on her radar! And in a good way. That was certainly what had set him out with a spring in his step or in his case a foot on the accelerator. But even so…… .
Aaron’s obligation had ended with ‘turn up in the right car and be nice……….’It had been something else that had made him go the extra mile. The boy’s openness! The girl’s shyness! The awkwardness of the whole thing! It was doomed! Everyone could see that. There was no spark here. No hidden sexuality behind his crutches or her green coat. And yet…..
There was, despite everything; some connection. Something deep and sincere that united them. A reason they were both here, tonight, calling for a cab. However improbable that may have appeared. And Aaron’s heart responded to it.,generating, like a child looking for any god given signs before an exam, some weird hope that if this date wasn’t a complete disaster then maybe, just maybe, his would also go well
“You must be Aaron” the boy said softly,his arrival somehow taking the taxi driver unawares despite its tardiness. “Katy said you were nice. That’s why she sent you! And I really appreciate it!” Michael looked around taking in not only the cab but also somehow the gesture. “Would you thank her for all this? I know it wasnt easy to arrange given the circulstances"
“Sure! Don't sweat it” Aaron replied with a smile. ‘Katy’s one classy lady’ Michael eased himself into the proffered seat, for once without embarrassment, consigning his crutches to their rightful place, underneath his feet. “Oh I know that” he said . “After all.She’s like Päige “
Re: Bleak house...
Entwining her hands nervously in her lap Paige stared out of the cabs glass windows. Her pale gaze flitted from landmark to landmark, lingering for a moment on the silhouettes of a couple who were out for a walk in the school grounds. She felt a sudden longing stir in her breast at the sight of the pair, the sight reminding her Max hadn't spoken to her since the other day when he'd shouted at her in the medical lab.
She just couldn't understand what she'd done to make him shout at her that way. Sometimes it felt as if he didn't care for her at all. Perhaps she should find him and apologise for whatever it was she'd done to annoy him. A moment later she felt foolish for thinking so... she'd done nothing and as a result had nothing to grovel about. If Max wanted to talk to her again then it would have to be him who apologised to her. “Would you thank her for all this? I know it wasn’t easy to arrange given the circulstances" She didn't really understand what circumstances he was referring to. As of yet she didn't really appreciate the difficulties Michael faced with his leg on a daily basis. It never occurred to her that having a leg which didn't bend might make putting jeans on in the morning difficult or even sitting in the back of a taxi. If she'd seen the supports given to him in his room she'd easily comprehend things weren’t as easy for him as they seemed.
Her eyes shifted to peer out at the step, watching Michael's slow descent. She'd never really been in a taxi before, her mother had always been there to drive her wherever she desired to go. Having no idea the train that the man's thoughts were taking she eyed the back of Aaron's head, feeling slightly more confident now the human wasn't staring at her. It was easy for Paige to blend in as a non-mutant, but being picked up from Xavier's marked her as being mutant as clearly as being branded would. She'd had enough dealings with ordinary people to believe that they weren't all so accepting as they seemed. Her time in the Initiative cells had brought the idea home that she was practically defenceless if someone chose to attack her.
“You must be Aaron” His words caught her attention ... how come Michael knew the name of their taxi driver? “Katy said you were nice. That’s why she sent you! And I really appreciate it!” Katy? Paige didn't really know Michael well enough to know that his easy attitude towards people recommended him to almost anyone.
“Sure! Don't sweat it”.... 'Katy’s one classy lady’ Viewing the discourse from the corner of one eye while she pretended not to be listening to their conversation she found herself, again, wondering who Katy was.
“After all.She’s like Päige “ Cheeks flushing a scarlet colour at the unsuspected compliment she let her eyes meet Michael's for a moment. She couldn't deny she wasn't flattered, especially when all Max had seemed to refer to her as was *Bookworm.* Letting her eyes drop back down to her lap, her lips sporting a small smile she pulled her coat a little closer around her unsure if Michael required any sort of a reply form her.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Bleak house...
It was well done Aaron had to admit. A nice phrase delivered with perfect timing. And the most impressive thing as far as he was concerned was that the boy hadn’t even been trying place some clever line when he said it. It had just come naturally, as naturally as saying the grass was green or the sky was blue. Whatever she may be to anyone else Paige was a classy lady as far as Michael was concerned and he wasn’t afraid to say it.
What could she have done Aaron wondered, this quiet mouse like girl in the terrible coat, to have him think that about her? Then he looked down as he shut the door and saw her face colour and her eyes light up.*Well hey girl, that’s where you’ve been hiding yourself! * It was like a window opening to let in a breeze or a flash of lightening on a cloudless day. Suddenly she was alive, vibrant. Infinitely worthy of popcorn!
Aaron smiled as he closed the door and got back behind the wheel. Maybe the evening wouldn’t be as nig a disaster as he had previously thought. Katy surely would be glad to hear that.
………..
Unsuspecting, Michael turned as he tried to make himself comfortable in the car and caught Paige’s eyes looking for once directly at his. She looked happy! Suddenly, unexpectedly happy, the smile lingering even after she dropped her gaze once more shyly to her lap. Michael tried to think what had changed . What he could have said or done between that horribly awkward moment on the stairs and now to have pulled things around. But as usual he came up empty. Girls, even as friends, were a mystery he was sure he was never going to be able to solve. All he could do was keep plugging away and be stupidly grateful when things went right.
“Emm right” he said, unexpectedly thrown by Paige‘s sudden pleasure in the outing … “ So… we would like to go to the ABC cinema on …..” His mind, despite all his careful preparation went blank, unfamiliar American street codes suddenly out of reach “Hang on” he said desperately “I’ve got it written down here somewhere.” His hands fumbled in the pockets of his jeans looking franticly for the piece of paper he had written the instructions down on. “Hey No problem” came Aarons rich voice from the front seat. “ I know where it is.”
Michael felt absurdly grateful to the taxi driver . Ben had warned him that unlike in the UK most New York cabbies hadn’t the faintest idea of where they were going and depended on the passenger to know the way. Though, now that he thought about it he supposed the local cinema wasn’t exactly challenging. Still it wasn’t so much what was said as the fact that it had been said at all that mattered.
And there was more to come “ Besides,…. You told Katy just fine where you were going.”*She was right he is kind,* Michael thought, calming down. * At least Paige will know I’m not totally useless”
Aaron was still smiling as he pulled away. Once they got to the cinema they would be on their own but for in the meantime., he would do all he could to see that things went well. Which probably meant fading back into the décor! And that was fine with him, though one last remark wouldn’t do any harm. “Now you kids sit back and enjoy the ride.” he told them kindly. * and lets hope the evening turns out to be a good one*
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