Old School

NOTE - We've changed the past of the X-Men for this story. Scott, Jean, Rogue and Gambit all attended the same high school. Jean is a recent graduate of finishing school and posh, Rogue is terrified of her powers so covers up to extremes. Rogue and Jean are best friends. Scott is the typical oddball with one friend, a similarly odd person called Wilson. Wilsonis not a mutant and, along with the rest of the school, is oblivious of Scott's powers, or the others'. Gambit is the classic bully/chav (thug/yobbo etc) and is the head of the popular and thuggish gang. They are all 16 and starting a new school year - it is the first year when they are all in the same class. They are not, at present, familiar with Charles Xavier or the X-Mansion.

CHAPTER ONE - THE FIRST DAY

Rogue pulls up in front of the school drive with Jean in the passenger seat. She is dressed in a long sleeved, pink and tartan, weighty knee length dress. She is wearing thick black tights and cream cowboy boots. A thick black winter carf is secrured around her barely-exposed neck, and she has some tight white gloves on. Jean leaps out of the passenger seat, swinging her woven basket as she shuts the door. Jean is wearing a white, spotted orange and pink, knee length full bottomed dress. A chunky knit three-quarter length pastel pink cardigan covers her top, and a summery sunhat with orange flower is perched on her head. Her outfit is completed with a pair of fluorescent orange kitten heels.

Jean: Come on, Rogue, we're going to be late for our first class.

Rogue is rifling through the glove compartment for her biology textbook, but abandons it and steps out of the car. She locks it and she and Jean ascend the steps.

In the crowded corridors, they're recieving their fare share of smirks off many amused students. They are oblivious that they are being josled purposefully, and they cheerily greet anyone who does so. They enter their new classroom and make a beeline for the for the front row. To their dismay, the two seats are occupied. Wilson, Scott Summers's best friend is already seated in one of the chairs, his hand pointedly reserving the other seat which he has obviously dragged as close as he can to his own. Tutting, Jean and Rogue laughed cattily at the overly friendly pair. Unawares that they, as they advanced to two empty seats at the back, were currently the joke of the class. Jean sat closest to the back window, where Rogue's seat was adjascent to the neighbouring desk. Occupying these seats, were Gambit and his adoring servant Rob. Gambit wore a tight white ribbed vest with baggy denim three quarter lengths. He reclined in his chair and propped his trainer clad feet and lazily smoked an unfiltered cigarette. As Rogue and Jean enthusiastically unpacked their bag/basket, Gambit sighed. Without even noticing Rogue, he stubs his cigarette out on her tight covered thigh. Rogue looks both shocked and thrilled, assuming she's finally been noticed by her lifelong crush. Gambit crosses his arms and notices the back half of Jean partially concealed by Rogue. He moved his legs back to the floor, and looked past Rogue at Jean, a look of sheer delight on his face.

Gambit: (In Glee) Whe-he-hey! Mary Poppins has entered the building from the sky on her umbrella.

Jean looks up at Gambit and then over her shoulder as if she thinks he's talking to someone else. Gambit looks delighted as Jean looks tearful in realisation.

Gambit: How's it hanging Mary - hey, Mary poppins and Virgin Mary all in one!

He leans over to say this, balancing by leaning on Rogue's thigh. Her face is a picture of rapture, as this is as much attention she has ever had off Gambit. Noticing, he recoils.

Gambit: Sh*t! (He wipes his hand dramatically on his own leg) I've touched Lepra the Lepar, I'm infected.

He waves his hand tauntily in front of Rogue, who recoils in fear he might touch her exposed face.

Gambit: What's the matter, Lepra, worried I'll touch your diseased face? They have creams for that Sh*t you know.

Rogue stayed unresponsive and Gambit gave in, smirking. The teacher for their year entered the room and it obtained some calm. The class was relatively small, composed of Wilson and Scott, Gambit, Rob, Rogue Jean, and four of the classic, tarty snobs: Amber, Jenny, Shannon, and Yasmin. Scott scuttles in seconds later from the toilet. He's wearing a pair of oversized Ruby sunglasses, a mustard cord coat and hawaiian shorts, complete with long white socks and sandals. He is oblivious that his zipper is down and he is bearing his bright blue underpants to an amused class. Rogue and Jean have the cheek to laugh as they are usually the main joke of the class.

Teacher: Good morning class, today is the first day in my class, and I expect you to adhere to the standards we expect...

Rogue, Jean, Scott and Wilson listened intently whilst the others muttered amongst themselves. Gambit winked at Amber, who had waist length blonde straight hair. Rogue glanced enviously. She and Jean both had hair relatively long, past their ribs certainly, but Rogue's was naturally curly with streaks of white down the front. Distracting herself, she listened to the end of the teacher's speech.

Teacher: First period is a free to organise yourselves whilst some of the staff, including myself, have a briefing. I leave you in here expecting you to behave like adults.

The Teacher leaves the room. The students stop still for a moment, before erupting in glee. Gambit flicks out another cigarette and stands up. He struts towards the front desk, but pauses at Jean and Rogue's desk.

Gambit: My god, look, Mary's got a bl**dy basket! What you got, Mary, condoms?

Jean flushes a brilliant red and tries to stop Gambit seizing hold of her basket. He rips it from her grasp and peers inside. Under the checkered material lid are a collection of polished red apples.

Gambit: Oh my God, Mary's trying to kiss arse bringing us all apples!

The class scream in delight, but Jean unwittingly corrects him.

Jean: No! They're for the teacher!

The class laugh harder and Gambit and Rob seize an apple each, scattering many on the floor. Gambit takes an enormous, piggy bite and chews it, mouth open in Rogue's face spraying her with apple.

Gambit: Here, you pair should eat a few of these, shed a few of those excess pounds.

He storms to the front, mimicking Jean by poncing and skipping with the basket. He throws the basket 'elegantly' and it sails straight into the back of Wilson's golden, curly head. Wilson, who is holding hands with Scott under the desk (they think holding hands is the equivelant of girls linking arms) screams as his head fires forward and strikes the wooden desk. He shoots forward clutching his mouth, and Scott leaps to his feet, gasping dramatically.

Scott: You just hit Wilson. I'm telling.

Gambit faces Scott treateningly, before jabbing him in the forehead with two fingers, causing him to sit back heavily into his seat, looking shocked and rather terrified. Gambit swaggers away laughing, before reaching the CD player, which lies on the front desk that the teacher had confiscated earlier. Plugging it in, he turns the first track on full blast. MC Hammer's 'I like big butts' bursts from the speakers. Wilson is sobbing into his clutced hands, and Scott holds his arms protectively round him. Rob, Gambit and the four girls begin dancing jerkily. Gambit is the ringleader with Amber hanging off one arm, Jenny the other. Yasmin and Rob are entwined on the back desk. Shannon is on the desk dancing tartily. Rogue and Jean look uncertain.

Rogue: Come on Jean, if we're ever going to fit in we're going to have to join in.

Jean nods entusiastically, and they try to shoot up from their seats, faces a mask of nonchelants. Rogue bangs her knee on the desk but pretends she hasn't as she and Jean shuffle closer to the centre of the room. Once they reach their destination, they try out their 'best moves'. Jean begins pirouetting, Grade 8 ballet-style. Rogue begins a jerky box dance, stance stiff like a robot. Immediately the others stop dancing and dissolve in laughter. Rogue and Jean are oblivious and begin to get more wild, Rogue increasing the speed and Jean advancing to a run-spin. However, they notice that the laughs increase and they slow down until frozen. Suddenly, they dart back to their seats and try to look as if they didn't get up in the first place.

The door bursts open and the teacher enters, furious.

Teacher: What is the meaning of this?

Scott's hand shoots in the air.

Scott: Miss, Wilson's cut his tongue on his brace and having a nosebleed.

The teacher looks at Wilson, shocked.

Teacher: Who did this to Wilson? As if I can't already guess.

She looks at Gambit, who looks across at Jean and Rogue, shaking his head at them in disapproval as if they were the culprits.

Teacher: Detention, Gambit. If I catch you trying to blame other people for your actions again you will be suspended. Rob, Yasmin, stop that immediately. You're in a school, not a brothel.

Rob and Yasmin get up from their tryst, Rob smeared in burgendy lipstick. He gives Gambit the thumbs up, who looks disgusted and mouths 'Minger'.

------------------------------------------------------------

Cut to the corridors. The boys' toilet door is ajar, and Gambit and Rob can be seen flushing Wilson and Scott's heads down the toilet, sneering.

Wilson: (Lisping from his earlier injury) Reweasse me you sswyne (Release me you swine)

This causes hysteria between Rob and Gambit, who begin to flush more.

Wilson: I'm not joking, you ssstynking, ssslimy sskunk. I do ssso pity you, your jussst jealousse or our sssheer wit and intelligencssse. (I'm not joking, you stinking slimy skunk. I do so pity you, your just jealous of our sheer wit and intelligence.)

This simply encourages more jeers and flushing. Rogue and Jean pass the door, eyes set upon the 4 snobs in their class who are congregating beside their lockers. They're in a tight knit circle absorbed in conversation about 'Gambit is so fit'. Rogue and Jean shuffle towards them and attempt to join in, adopting a shrill, false laugh. The group stop and stare, and the two look sheepish.

Yasmin: What the hell are you doing? Did we look like we were in need of two losers?

Rogue: Yo, er....homies.

Jenny: Oh God, the southern accent is bad enough. Do you need to speak like a retard too?

Jean: (laughs shrilly) Good one, Jenny. (She looks apologetic to Rogue, who is trying to act cool, but is bright red in the face)

Amber rolls her eyes at the pair attempting to stand rap-style.

Amber: Look - Mary, Lepra, just run along to the nerd club or whatever.

Rogue: Amber, why are we nerds? What makes us so different from you?

The four girls shriek with laughter.

Shannon: Just look at you! For a start your wetter than a fish, and second...just everything about you. Mary, you look like a 50s nanny, and Lepra you look like you've stapled your duvet round yourself.

Rogue and Jean look down at their clothes nonplussed. Yasmin rolls her eyes in dispair and shakes her head.

Jenny: So if you don't mind, your using up our oxygen.

Rogue and Jean look dejected and wander out of the school towards Rogue's car. They suffer several jaunts as they pass some of Gambit's cronies - taking Jean's basket and scattering the contents and pulling at Rogue's gloves before mock-falling screaming 'I'm infected!'

They open the doors and get into the car. The CD player immediately starts playing the Backstreet boys, causing more laughter from the outside onlookers.

Jean: If its our clothes that makes us nerds, then we'll have to change them.

Rogue: I can't change, I need to keep my skin covered!

Jean: Then we'll find a compromise. To the mall!

The car speeds off.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cut to the next day, where Rogue usually parks her car. Her car does pull up, but Sysqo's 'Thong song' is blasting out instead of their ususal N'sync or Backstreet boys. The doors open and everyone peers over interestedly.

Jean is seen first emerging from the passenger seat. Her legs are squashed into a pair of flourescent pink lycra leggings, patterned with purple pawprints. Her top is smothered with a purple bomber jacket used mainly for skiing; splattered with hideous pinks and greens. She had customised her outfit with a pink tutu and a tight crochet pink beanie hat, complete with orange flower. Her arms are littered with bangles that jingle incessently when she walks. Her feet are clad in flourescent orange, plastic sheathed trainers from the market.
Rogue emerges seconds later. She is wearing the matching tracksuit bottoms to Jean's ski jacket. She is wearing a pink fluffly gillet, with a string, hooded top underneath. Clearly Rogue could not find a top she found covering enough, so she had borrowed a long-sleeved, floral beige tshirt of Jean's to wear underneath, complete with pink bow. She wore leather black gloves but with thick, cheap gold rings stuffed over the top. The hood is pulled up and her eyes are covered with bright pink rimmed sunglasses. Her trainers are the same as Jeans, but in a bright green. The pair of them are wearing lavatory chains around their necks, with dollar sign pendants dangling at the bottom.

The crowd are literally screaming with laughter. They walk, clutching stiffly at their crotches and greet their classmates with 'Yo what is up, homo' as opposed to 'homie'.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cut to classroom, the other are in their usual state: Wilson and Scott being harrassed and the girls clamouring for Gambit and Rob's attention. The door bursts open and Rogue and Jean launch into a rap-style, cupping chin with thumb and forefinger pose. Sadly, they miscalculate, and one of Rogue's fingers flies up her nose, Jean savagely pokes herself in the eye. Nose now throbbing red and an exceptionally watery eye, the other classmates stare.

Rogue: (nervously) Yo...yo...dogs....

Another pause, so Jean steps in.

Jean: Yeah, yoyo. Erm, we is just hanging....aboot.

Gambit: Ha ha you sound scottish. What's up Mary, you don't speak street?

Jean: (irritated) I bloody well don't, eleqution lessons were compulsary at finishing school!

The class laugh, so Rogue tries to save the situation.

Rogue: We're stil...yo yo...hip. We is, erm, going to smoke a....chop at break, in it?

Gambit: (crossing arms, smirking) Whats a chop, then, Lepra?

Jean: Its drugs isn't it?

Gambit: Its called a joint you spacks. As if you to are into grass.

Rogue: What?

Gambit: You know weed?

Jean: Oh no were into cannabis.

The class laugh.

Gambit: Well we will meet you two at 6th period and see what yourt made of.

Rogue: fine we'll be there. 6th period in the maths room.

Gambit:(sniggers) No dweebs thats not what I meant.

Jean: But We have maths 6th period.

Gambit: Yeah thats why its called bunking off. You can't smoke a joint in a maths classroom and get away with it you idiots.

Jean: Oh Yeah...erm...we thought you were challenging us to a maths quiz.

The whole class roar with laughter. Rogue looks startled and begins frantically returning her calculator to her bag.

Jean:(shouting over laughter) Well you said see what were made of at 6th period and 6th period is MATHS!!!!

Gambit doubles over in fits of laughter at Jean's outburst. He finally composes himself.

Gambit: God you pair are slow. We bunk off behind the bike sheds. Be there and we will see how much you can handle.

Rogue:(holds out a gloved fist) Fist me brother!(to Gambit)

Gambit barely registers and ignores the fist barging past her and out of the door. Rogue looks panick stricked as she holds out her arm stiff. Jean attempts to save her and quickly returns the fist.

---------------------------------------------------

Jean and Rogue decided to have an off-campus lunch away from the other students, who had decided to start calling them members of 'WHAM'. They were earning equally embarrassing jaunts of 'Bananarama' from passers by - so when a bald man in a wheelchair approached them they were skeptical.

The Man: Hello, Jean and Rogue.

Rogue and Jean looked startled, wondering how he knew their name. He smiled and handed them two leaflets.

Man: My name is Professor Charles Xavier, and I own a school for gifted youngsters like yourselves.

Rogue: Yo, man, we're not 'special' special.

Xavier smiles, and Rogue's head is suddenly filled with a bodyless voice.

Xavier: I understand that you both have powers such as my own. Cerebro detected them and I've been looking for the right moment to approach you.

The two are stunned, and Xavier smiles, knowing the two knew that he was referring to their mutant powers, and that they wanted to say 'yes' to his proposal.

Xavier: My phone number is on the leaflet; when you reach your decision please let me know.

-----------------------------

Rogue and Jean talk about their decision all the way back to school, but are interrupted by some students.

Student: Oi, WHAM, who were you talking to?

Rogue: (retalliating) It was Hugh Heftner!

Jean: (making a bad situation worse) Yeah, he's invited us to live at the playboy mansion!

The students laugh at their rediculous story as the bell rings for 6th period. Rogue and Jean look excitedly at each other as they make their way to the bike sheds.

--------------------------------------

Gambit and Rob are already behind the bike sheds with a cannabis joint when Rogue and Jean attemted to rap-walk towards them. Rob and Gambit hide thier grins and greet them and pass them the joint.

Rogue recieves it first and holds it warliy, uncertain what to do with it. She looks to Jean for guidance, who gives her the thumbs up. Rogue takes a bold drag from the smouldering end and tries to disguise the pain she feels as the tip burns her tongue. She passes it to Jean, who copies as Gambit and Rob snigger again.

Rogue: Yeah, hot, man.

Gambit: (looks puzzled as he takes the joint from her) What?

Rogue: The....drugs?

Gambit rolls his eyes at the sight of the two girls. Jean's eyes are watering as her breathing is increasing rapidly, and Rogue is turning a green/grey colour clutching her stomach. Gambit is about to take another drag when Jean's gasps turn into panicky, loud wheezes.

Jean: (in a state of panic) I'm....having....a......

Rogue heaves, and Jean falls into a full on panic attack, scrabbling in her schoolbag for a paper bag to breathe into. Rogue doubles over and is messily sick in Gambit's open bag. She drops to all fours gasping and still green. Jean collapses across her and is also sick in Gambit's bag. Gambit attepts to nudge them away with his foot cursing, as Rogue is then again sick over his trainer.

Gambit: You stupid f***ing....

Scott is seen scurrying past clutching his head as if he had a severe headache. Rob nudges Gambit and he is distracted from the heaving, gasping mess at his feet. Scott has his back to them andGambit scoops up a pebble.

Gambit: (to Rob) Let's see if I can get Scooter's sunnies off.

As Gambit is about to throw the stone, he felt the familiar tingle and watched in horror he saw the pebble glow and spark. Gambit cursed and threw it, hoping no one had seen. The pebble exploded at the bottom of Scott's ear, knocking his ruby sunglasses to the ground. He cried out as an enormous red beam shot out of his eyes. Rogue and Jean leapt up and Jean placed a hand at her temple and immediately a bolt of blue light shot forward and created a glowing blue bubble around Scott's head. The beams were contained and Jean grunted.

Jean: Rogue. get his glasses, I can't hold it for long, it's too strong.

Rogue leapt off the ground and flew in a blur towards the glasses. Scooping them up, she manoevred them carefully over Scott's eyes. Jean sighed as the blue faded and the beams were shut off. There was a silence as Rogue, Jean, Scott and Gambit realise that their secret had been revealed.

Rob: (who is both terrified and disgusted) Your a load of f***in' mutants!

He darted away, leaving the four looking worried and surprised at each other. Rogue and Jean knew of each others' powers, but had no idea Scott or Gambit were mutants. They glanced up to the windows to see eveyone in the maths room looking horrified at them. Knowing that they had to go, Rogue and Jean darted away, whilst Gambit scattered in the opposite direction.

Scott remained frozen, staring his best friend in the face through the maths room window.

Scott: Wilson?

Wilson looks blank, before turning his head in disgust. Scott drops his head sadly as he runs away from the scene before anyone reaches him.

-----------------------------------------------

School had ended hours ago and the sky was tinted orange. Rogue and Jean had changed back into their usual clothing and were sitting on the bonnet of Rogue's car. They had purchased an enormous slab of chocolate and were snapping bits off alternately, looking folorn. Across the grass, they spotted Scott staring into the distance under a tree.

Jean: We should go talk to him.

Rogue looks uncertain.

Rogue: Maybe he doesn't want to talk to us.

Jean: We can try. Maybe we can convince him to come and see that professor we met.

Rogue nods, and Jean slides off the bonnet and wanders towards him. Rogue watches her reach him and sit beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. As Rogue turns to snap another row of chocolate, she spotted Gambit walking towards her. At first he purposely makes no eye contact, but stops as a gloved hand shoots in front of his eyes offering a row of chocolate. Sighing, he takes the chocolate and sits on the bonnet silently. Gambit is fully aware Rogue is staring at him.

Gambit: (sanpping) Don't go feelin' sorry for me!

Rogue pauses.

Rogue: Why would I? I'm a mutant too - least your power doesn't stop you ever touching anyone.

Gambit looks up.

Gambit: I thought flying was your power.

Rogue: I absorb people's energy and powers; flight and superstrength are another story.

Gambit: So that's why you keep covered.

Rogue: Well observed genius.

Jean and Scott begin walking towards the car.

Scott: Thanks...for helping me earlier, Jean.

Jean: Hmm? Oh, no problem, Rogue helped.

Scott: I know, but thank you - you stopped me hurting anybody.

Jean smiles as she reaches the two sitting on the bonnet.

Jean: So what happens now? We can't come back to school again.

Rogue: Then I suppose we'd better go and see this Xavier guy.

The four climb into Rogue's car after Gambit offers to drive and Rogue declines. As the car begins to drive away, Gambit is heard

Gambit: Hope he's not a pervert.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Present day at the Mansion, and the four are sitting around the kitchen table sipping coffee after their reminicences.

Rogue: Oh, God.

Jean: That's just embarrassing.

Gambit: I can't believe we were such freaks