48 ISSUE # 48

The following days were nothing special, After NorthStar's funeral things just seemed to be going back to normal... At least as much as they could. Ian returned to his classes, if anything he wanted to at least finish the school year, first. He was only a junior and needed to at least get his high school diploma before he could even think about doing anything else.

The weeks came and went by with nothing else happening, Ian finished his final exams, passing each of them with the highest scores and now that everything was over for the year, it was time for the students to begin for the festivities that came with it.

Ian walked into the cafeteria and was immediately beset upon by Julian and the Hellions.

" Hey! Man, what's up?" Julian asked.

" Not much, Julian. What's going on?" Ian asked.

" Dude, you've been avoiding the hell out of us. What's going on man?" Julian asked.

" Yeah, dude. You haven't said a word to anyone in a long time. You doing, okay?" Brian asked.

" Yeah, I'm fine man. I'm just ready for the year to be over with. I don't really feel like talking to anyone." Ian replied.

" Dude, I know everything has been pretty wild. But we're your friends man. You can talk to us if you need to." Brian told the man.

" Yeah, I know guys. I've just... Had a lot on my mind." Ian replied.

" Well, you know what might help you out with that?" Julian asked.

" What's that?" Ian responded.

" The school dance!" Julian exclaimed.

" I don't know, Julian." Ian replied.

" Come on, man! Look, Cessily is going alone, man. I know you've been down in the dumps, but this is your chance to move on and I know Cessily would really like to have someone to look forward to dancing with." Julian whispered in Ian's ear.

" Yeah, man. You know, Cessily used to have that big crush on you. Maybe this was all just a sign." Santo exclaimed.

" Guy's, I appreciate you, trying to help me out. But I'm not ready for another kind of relationship. I just want to get through this school year, before the next one starts up." Ian told the group; he then walked past the three boys and went to sit alone at a table across the room.

" Look at him."

" What a joke."

" Can't believe, Miss Sinclair."

" Can't believe I thought he was cool."

" What a waste."

Ian heard the voices, the murmurs throughout the entire cafeteria. And he had finally had enough.

He slammed his hands down on the table and stood up.

" I hear you bastards. You want to talk about me? Fine go ahead! But let's talk about yourselves too! None of you bastards! Not a single one of you ever took the time to talk to me until I became this. So, go ahead you fake bastards. Speak up! Who's got something they want to say out in the open?" Ian asked. " No one? Not a single one of you wants to make your opinions known. You're all just gonna sit there like a bunch of cowards? I thought so." Ian exclaimed. He picked his shit up and left the cafeteria.

" Raaaagh!" Ian screamed as he flung his bag against the wall. He flopped down on his bed and grabbed his face. He was starting to hyperventilate. He reached for his phone and immediately tried calling Rahne's number again.

" The number you have dialed is unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone."

" Hey, Rahne... it's me again. I... I uh, I really need tae speak tae you." Ian gasped. " I need you, Rahne. I... I just... I need you! Please, say something to me! I've missed you so much and I... it's just been so chaotic, and I don't think I can handle it, Rahne. Please just... Just give me a minute to speak with you. There's a dance tomorrow night, the school one. Please, I don't care about it... I just want to see you again, Rahne."

" If you are satisfied with this message press one."

Ian pressed one and then hit pound and sent his message to Rahne, hoping for her to return just so he could see her one more time. But even in his heart he knew, that might just be wishful thinking.

The Next night.

It was time for the dance, Ian got up and put on his dress suit. He wore a simple black tuxedo with his hair slicked down.

When he walked, downstairs people were surprised to see that he had even gotten dressed up at all, because he had been avoiding people, even his friends, all this time.

" Hey, man. So, you decided to come after all." Julian exclaimed. He was excited to see his friend finally coming back out of his shell again. " So, what are you doing man?"

" I'm going to wait for someone, Julian. I don't know if I'll be dancing yet." Ian told the boy.

" Dude, you can't be serious. Come on, man. Let's just go inside. I've got a date with the stepford sisters. I'm sure one of them would love to dance with you." Julian told the boy.

" No, I'm gonna go outside and wait for a bit. But thank you, Julian." Ian told the boy. He walked past Julian and walked out of the Insitute's doors and sat on the steps. And there he would wait.

Ian sat there for an hour, just waiting, hoping for Rahne to suddenly appear. But as he did, the rain began to come down and within his heart and mind, Ian knew that it was really over.

" He! Hehehehehe! Hahahahahahahahah!" Ian began to laugh hysterically as the rain fell down his face, or was it tears? He couldn't tell. " What did I expect?" Ian asked himself. He got up from the porch and walked inside to prevent himself from getting too wet.

He was bitter, uncaring, and angered. So, much so that he just didn't care anymore. Ian walked into the school's gymnasium, where the dance was being held.

" Ian, so you came after all." Dani exclaimed. She was happy to see the boy finally opening up once again and enjoying himself.

" Yeah, I did, and you're here with Agent Pierce?" Ian asked the woman.

" Why is that a problem?" Pierce asked with a grin on his face. He was trying to be funny, but Ian didn't care. " How've you been kid?" Pierce asked.

" Go fuck yourself, Pierce. We aren't friends. And besides I've got something I need tae do." Ian told the man. He pushed past Dani and Pierce and walked over to the Hellions.

" Ian! About damn time, man. What took you so long?" Santo asked.

" Yeah, man. It's good to see you." Brian spoke.

" Dude, are you okay? You're wet man." Julian asked.

Ian ignored the three boys and instead went up to Cessily.

" Hey, Cess. You look real beautiful tonight." Ian told the girl. " Would you mind giving me this dance?"

The Hellions were taken off-guard by Ian's sudden interest. But no one was more shocked than Cessily.

" Heh, Ian why... Uhm where'd this come from?" Cessily asked.

" Well, I was hoping to have a good time tonight and I can't just let a beautiful woman like you not have a single dance." Ian replied. " Besides I've had a rude wakeup call and I don't think sitting around and hoping for something that isn't going to happen will make me very happy. So, how about it Cess? Want to try and make the best of this night?" Ian asked the woman.

Cessily smiled and nodded, she placed her hand in Ian's outstretched hand and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor.

" Whoa, I gotta admit, I didn't see that one coming." Brian exclaimed.

" Neither did I. And I'm the one who suggested it." Juliain stated. " Hey, girl's do you mind excusing me for a moment?" Julian asked the three stepford sisters.

" Of course, Julian." The girl's all replied.

" Thank you, ladies." Julian said to the three of them. he then slipped off to find Sofia.

Meanwhile Ian and Cessily were enjoying themselves.

" So, Ian, How are you feeling?" Cessily asked.

" Well, I won't lie Cess. I'm not doing too good. But right now, I don't care. And I don't want to worry about it. Right now, I just want to focus on you." Ian told the girl. " You look good in black."

" Heh! Thank you." Cessily replied Nervously.

" Don't mention it. I couldn't just sit aside and let you such an opportunity go to waste. You've been good to me, Cess. For a long time." Ian told the girl.

" I knew how you felt. At least a little anyway. To be looked at differently than other people. Because you're not like them. I know it hurts." Cessily told the man. She looked down upon the way she looked because she was so visibly different than most of everybody else. Her entire being was metal. The only piece of her that was still normal was her red hair. But other than that, everything else had changed. " Ever since I've come here all I could think about is one day waking up and seeing myself normal again. To be rid of my powers and be able to just be a normal girl again. I just want to be happy."

" Hey, Cessily. You shouldn't think like that. Who cares what other people think about you. Who cares what they say. I know I don't. And I don't know if it means anything to you or not, but I think they're wrong. because you are one of the most beautiful ladies in this entire school. And I don't just mean that because of your appearance. But because of your heart." Ian told the girl.

Cessily felt so warm inside, for the first time since her powers awakened. She smiled softly and leaned into Ian's chest as they slow dance. Her hands rested gently on his strong back, while his hands held onto her waist.

The two young mutants enjoyed themselves together, while their friends watched them, and danced the night away.

A little later after having walked Cessily back to her room and having said his goodnights. Ian made his way to the Stepford sister's room and knocked on their door.

" Oh, hello Ian. What can we do for you?" The three girls asked.

" You girls are telepaths like Miss frost, right?" Ian asked.

" Yes, we are." They all replied.

" Well, I want you to teach me how to keep telepaths out of my mind. Can you do that for me?" Ian asked the girls. his attitude had completely changed from how it was earlier.

" Yes, we can." They replied.

Ian thanked the girls greatly and as he was walking away, he smiled to himself.