48 A trapped Phoenix (Interlude)
Jean Grey was... Currently having a bad day, no, she was having a bad week
It wasn't about how she wasn't making much progress in controlling her power, and neither was it the horny thoughs that most guys had when they saw her
It was much worse than that, she was still concerned about Asterios' wor-
"Student Grey, are you paying attention?" A stern voice snapped her out of her musings
Jean's dazed green eyes turned to the teacher who called out for her
"Sorry teacher" She replied in a small and tired voice
"Haah, make sure to pay attention next time. It would be bad for this to reflect on your grades"
"Yes teacher" She once again voiced out unconsciously, mostly ignoring his words
The other students.... Some looked at her in concern at her behavior, some frowned at her.... And others, mostly girls jealous of her, were smiling, happy that Ms. Perfect finally slipped up and did something not so perfect
She could feel all their negative emotions.... The happiness they felt at her minor slip up, the satisfaction at the fact that her grades are slowly getting worse, and the hope for this to keep happening
"Psss Jean, are you okay? You look exhausted..." The girl who was sitting next to her, her fellow mutant and friend, whispered at her in concern
She wasn't wrong, she had black circles under her dazed and hazy eyes, her hair was barely presentable, and her face and body language reeked of exhaustion
"I'm... Fine, Kitty. I just didn't sleep well last night" She reassured her friend, Kitty Pryde, with a stiff smile
"Are you sure? This has been going on for two weeks now? Should we consult professor Xavier?" Kitty suggested, with a concerned expression still on her fa-
"NO!" Jean abruptly snapped back at her, slapping her hand on the table and standing up from her seat
The class was suffocated in silence by her unforeseen and illogical action
She flinched as she felt the gazes and emotions of her classmates with her uncontrolled empathy
"S-sorry" She meekly apologized, sitting back down on her seat
...
..
.
Jean sighed, deep in thought as she walked in the hallways of the Xavier school for the gifted
Maybe.... The Admin's words affected her more than she thought... Especially when he said those things about Professor Xavier
She couldn't believe that Professor had done those things-! No, there was no chance that the professor has ever done such vile acts!
Professor Xavier took her in when her powers went out of control, and he took care of her ever since she started becoming part of the X-Men
Obviously, Adam is either lying about this, which she doubts seeing as so many members have genuine trust in him, or this is a future of 'A Jean Grey' from another universe which had nothing to do with her
.... But what if it's true? What if this is actually her futu-!?
"Jean, are you okay?" A worried voice once again interrupted her musings
Jean flinched as her gaze met the goggled eyes of one Scott Summers, which she could tell that underneath his goggles, his eyes showed worry for her
Was he... Concerned about her? She felt slightly happy at that thought, maybe she can tell him about her worries?
[Asterios: By the way, be careful of your own thoughts. I remember some Sinister guy planted suggestions on your mind so you could fall in love with that douche Scott. That villain wanted the two of you to have a powerful child or something]
She flinched (Again!) at the unexpected private message
She read the message quickly... she clenched her fists tightly, but she quickly controlled herself so she didn't show it on her face
"Um, I'm okay Scott. I just can't sleep well recently" She replied to him hurriedly with an excuse
"I see, the professor sent me to check on you. But as long as you are fine..." Scott sighed in relief as he off handedly mentioned
Her eyes widened at what he revealed-
"Hey Jean, want to go and-"
"No! I have something to do! Bye Scott!" She hastily interrupted him as she rushed off away from him
"Wha-!?" Scott didn't get to voice his opinion as she dissapeared from his view
...
..
.
Jean hurriedly slammed the door behind her as she entered her room
... She didn't want to be anywhere near Scott right now, or any of her friends, for that matter
She knew the Admin is saying the truth now, she felt it when Scott talked to her. She felt touched at the thought that he was concerned about her well-being, but now after Asterios snapped her out of it and Scott himself said that the professor sent him to her.... She felt stupid for thinking that
If it wasn't for the existence of the Chat Room, she would probably fall in love with Scott, and adding to the fact that her future husband had intimate moments with her clone and also had a Psychic affair with another telepath.... Scott is most likely this future husband
.... Now she felt disgust at the mere thought of dating Scott
She also didn't feel safe in this school anymore, although she previously didn't fully believe Adam's words, it still made her uneasy and uncomfortable when she stayed here
But now... How did the professor know that she was worried and tired? Jean hid it pretty well, so If he could know what she felt, then what if he can do more than that? What if he could breach her mind and read her thoughts?
If what the Admin said regarding someone planting suggestions in her head to fall in love with Scott is true, and also the fact that Scott, her future husband, would cheat on her (Twice!) after her supposed deaths(Multiple!). Then what about what he said about the professor?
Professor Xavier is an Alpha level telepath himself, and he is even more powerful and experienced in that regard, so why didn't he teach her how to use her own powers? Why didn't he even give her advice on how to control her uncontrollable empathy? Surely he could aid her so she wouldn't feel and hear all the thoughts and feelings of those around her, but why didn't he?
What if it was all true...?
... She didn't want to believe it, she hoped it was just an alternate versi-!
[Jeeeeaaannnnnn.....]
She flinched (Once again!) at the drawn out voice that reverberated inside her head
Jean fell on her back on the bed, curling herself with her head on her knees as she hugged herself
"W-who are y-you?" She asked in a barely above a whisper voice, hoping for an answer from the voice in her head
.... But she received no reply
"Hic-!"
Tears fell out of her misty eyes as she started crying by herself
In Xavier's school, the safest place that housed mutants and her genuine friends, a place supposed to be a safe haven for people like her, she started crying
Because... For the first time since her powers awakened, Jean Grey felt trapped
...
..
.
Jean stared ahead blankly as tears fell from her swollen eyes
She couldn't tell professor Xavier about this, she was sure that he would do something worse to her mind
And she couldn't bring this up to her friends, as the professor would instantly know about this when he reads their minds
Although the Professor might have good reasons for doing this to her... Jean couldn't bring herself to trust him anymore
She felt trapped in this place... She could tell no one about her worries, she couldn't bring up her problems to someone else, and she didn't want to meet professor Xavier himself as he can simply read her mind
She didn't know what to do.... She doesn't know what to do anymore....
[Asterios: Hey? You okay? Although it was just a warning, I still expected a response... Or at least another question]
...
Light returned to her dull eyes as she received his message, along with a warm feeling on her chest that she perceived as hope
[Tragic Phoenix: Can y-you... Please help m-me?]
[Asterios: .....]
Jean bit her lip enough to draw blood as she waited for his response. She trembled, knowing fully well that they were just strangers and that her request was so unreasonable that he would most likely refuse-!
[Asterios: Sure. Although I don't know about your current problems, I'm willing to listen and give you advice where I can]
"... What?!"
She read his message again and again, trying to confirm that he accepted her request for help
And as Jean comprehended that, a bright smile adorned her face, although it was a strained smile, it was one full of joy at finding hope in the Chat Room members
...
..
.
**
AN: An unstable Jean Grey with a crazy split personality is vulnerable... and very dangerous, wouldn't you say?
