Attonement II

"I grew up half my life in Mexico until I travelled to New York to live with my father. I didn't have much money then, Ray, we didn't".

Veronica sat next to me with a sight of what I believed was self-reflection. I didn't say anything and just listened to her.

"You know, I thought money was everything… I thought I would be happy if I had it. But in the last few years, it has only made me more miserable. *sob* truthfully, I... don't know what to do anymore".

She broke up before me, and I didn't know what to do or say. Did I feel pity for her? No...

"…"

"I wanted to have you, but your father didn't; it wasn't for money originally... I loved him. I only wanted to have you if we were together, but he didn't want that, I was in his way... that man loves his workshop, he loves women... they were all just sugarcoated manipulative words, they always are" She grimaced and bit her lips, wrath.

"So…?"

"So I hated you," Veronica glared at me, clenching her fists and crying out in silence.

"You don't need to bottle anything in, you don't need to put up with shit you don't want to. I'll be moving out of this house soon," I declared; the moment I got my money, I'd start looking for places.

!!!

Her expression changed immediately: disbelief, automatic anxiety. She bit her lips again, harder, and her countenance rose.

"That's what I felt... but I have come to know that even though I have hated you. You are the only one who has ever been there for me. I want to change, and I hope you will forgive me".

"..." I didn't expect that. Did Jonathan give her some advice before breaking up with her or something? This has happened dozens of times. What would make it this different?

"I hope you will forgive me, but if you don't want to, you have your right. I have treated you like garbage, and I haven't paid enough attention to you. Surely, at this stage, you don't even need me; if you're suggesting moving out, then you must have money; you're a smart boy, so you must have the means to be independent. Only, if you ever do need me, I want you to know that I will be there for you, okay?"

There was so much hope in her voice, begging me to fill a void in her heart. It is a pity she has asked the wrong person, I'm nothing... I can't fill the void in anyone's heart. 

I didn't agree or disagree; it was too late for that. The opposite of love is not hate; it is indifference, and that's what I felt for her... indifference. What made me help her every time and be considerate was not love but a scattered humanizing nature left over in some corner of me.

I have become capable of doing whatever shit is necessary to achieve a goal, but I at least hoped that part of me capable of helping someone in need didn't completely disappear. 

"That's all I wanted to say. If you choose not to forgive me, you're on your right, Ray" She stood up and walked to the door; my silence seemed to tell her everything she needed to know. 

"A-Are you going to stay up late?" she asked me.

"Yes, I have some things to do. Thank you for sharing your troubles with me anyway, Veronica".

**

**

The lady sighed and left the room, Ray thought it was over, he went back into his research but Veronica came back roughly ten minutes later. She took it and put it on his desk, surprising him.

"If you're going to stay late at night, this may help you, son... good night"

The door closed softly and she was gone for the evening. The subtle smell of coffee enters his nostrils. Ray took a sip.

"It is nice... and warm"

A helpless smile entered his face as he continued looking on the internet for information regarding Kingpin, Magneto, Mystique, the Hellfire Club and everything he could find related to mutants until it was time for his early routine, gym and then school. 

He heard some rustling before Veronica knocked on the door to tell him she was leaving for work and that she left breakfast. She, however, found he was going to the gym and realised she didn't even know he usually went to the gym.

"Thank you, have a good day" They were simple words, but they seemed to be enough for her. One action at a time. 

'I'm the one that made a mistake... so it is me who has to gain his trust back' That's what she thought and marvelled at how unexpectedly light and better she felt the next morning despite not having slept nearly enough. 

Ray watched Veronica go to her model agency with a smile on his face, she drove off her Porsche like a new woman.

That same morning, he received a message from Emma about an account in Bank of America. After finishing his morning gym routine, he went back home, took a shower, and logged into the bank account she had provided. 

There were twelve million dollars, not one dollar more or less. He felt ecstatic, never having dreamed of having this much money; it was clean... tax-free, and ready to use. 

'That's your laundered cash and the payment from yesterday's operation. Don't worry about money when you hang out with me <3' < em>

She sent him that message.

Ray had thought about moving out of that apartment right away. But after what happened yesterday evening, he started to consider it and give it some time... perhaps Veronica could change.

Some people in this world deserve a second chance.

But some others weren't fated to receive it.

…

He left for school and went to Jean's first to pick her up. It wouldn't be like that usually, but after having out often, they agreed to it.

"Hey! You came!" The redhead greeted him at the bus station. Usually, he'd take the train instead of the bus since his house was farther from school than Jean's. Taking the bus meant he'd have to leave earlier and arrive later but since he already woke up quite early due to the gym, that was not an issue. 

Concessions were made for the redhead's sake. 

"Didn't we agree I'd come to pick you up?"

"You could always avoid your promises; I feel like you're that kind of guy~" She jested, punching his shoulder lightly with a giggle. 

"You feel I'm a dishonest person?" He frowned, not blaming her for that. 

"I don't know about dishonesty, but you're shady, that's for sure".

"You don't respect your friends at all, Jean".

"So you acknowledge we're friends?~"

"I have never seen anyone so proud of being in the friend zone".

"You narcissist..." She pouted and blushed, 'It is not like I'm proud... but you're always so distant, at least you acknowledge this'.

Bantering back and forth on the bus made a few of the youngsters jealous. Not only jealous of Ray but also of Jean... the girls knew who he was... the one that knocked out Walter. The school's lone wolf.

Mysteriously, he didn't look that unapproachable when bantering with Jean. They arrived in no time; it felt like a flash. Annie was there at the gate waiting for them. She lived in the opposite direction, something she lamented. 

"Ray!"

"Hi, Annie".

She jumped to greet him, making Jean again pout at being ignored. 

"I'm here too, you know?".

"Of course I know! We're besties. So, did you arrive home safe, Ray?".

'Ugh!' Jean groaned inwardly as Ray got swiftly stolen and pulled into the school, all the way to the classroom... into his seat until the lecture started. Annie wouldn't stop!

During midtime break, she pulled Ray to the rooftop to have lunch, where once again she talked about stuff, mostly asking Ray questions about the many subjects she felt troubled with. Jean couldn't believe how shrewd Annie was being. 

'She knows he will always answer those types of questions! It doesn't matter... once school is over, it will be just the two of us again'.

...

"Why don't we study in Jean's house? Since we have a new topic in math, wouldn't it be better to go over it now that we have the chance?~" Annie suggested after school hours. 

The redhead gasped in disbelief, 'M-My house? You're arranging meetings in my house!?'

'Decline!' She hurriedly sent Ray a mental message, earning the boy's attention.

'Why? You don't want to study math?'

'It can be just the two of us today... then, during the weekend, we can invite her over. I want to talk about our powers and stuff, she can't be there' She hurriedly made an excuse, feeling like shit for excluding her best friend like that. 

Ray scratched his head and thought about it; Annie was fun to hang out with. Jean's intentions were clear, so he didn't know what to do as his plan was to start to research what to do with all those millions, to research what he should invest. Perhaps Jean could give him some ideas. 

'Or I could get Jean involved in those investments too; it could help her...' He thought.

Sadly, as much as he liked Annie... there would always be that barrier since she wasn't a mutant. 

"Sorry, Annie... It will have to be another day; I have some stuff to do back home" He apologised, much to the girl's sadness.

"It is alright, I'll see you tomorrow, okay? get home safely. You too, Jean!".

"Bye, Annie!".

Jean clenched her backpack against her chest, watching Annie go... feeling really bad after the deed was done. But deep inside, she felt Annie had a way stronger chance with her than Ray. She was a lot more proactive and fun to hang out with.

'He will pick her and not me' At least that's what she thought, unaware of this selfish dark spot in her heart that burned like a black flame. 

"You coming or not?" Ray said, already far enough that his voice could barely reach her. 

"Wait for me!".