The "Art" of Self Expression

[Aqua]

"I can't believe Aideen is an X-Men," said Heather as she stopped sketching. She and Veronika headed back to their room after dinner and were enjoying each others company for the first time in a while. Kevin was always around, and when Heather came back the previous night to find her bed a mess, she wasn't exactly fond of the Acolyte anymore. Heather was very different from when she first came to the school, but that was another issue entirely.

She looked up at Veronika after fixing the still life image she was drawing with a pencil. It was a drawing of Veronika's vanity table, along with all of the cream and boxes and lotions that were on it. It was just like looking at a gray and white picture. However it was no where near done and Heather never liked showing her work if it wasn't finished. Plus she had to be satisfied with it herself. "I mean she definitely deserves it. But I never expected her to become one so fast. Did you?" The ceremony at dinner was very weird. But it didn't go on too long so Heather didn't get bored or anything like that.

She continued her drawing as she waited for her best friend's answer, thinking about how long the day was and how her tutoring session with Johnny went. It was pretty good and she could see him opening up with her a bit more. However tomorrow she hoped that more conversation would happen. She would ask him questions about him and where he was from since she was naturally curious and that was always a good way to have someone feel welcome.

[Allure]

From her bed, Veronika rolled her eyes as she flipped through the magazine. "Like it is such a big surprise, Cyclops just could not wait to get his precious Ember in the ranks of him. I know you like her, but it is a little disgusting how all of them fawn over her," she said with a roll of her eyes, The Notebook blaring on the television that had her look up every once in awhile and smile at the sweet and unrealistic storyline. "There are so much more interesting things to talk about than her, it is not like it was a surprise anyways. God I love this movie."

Veronika sighed happily and snuggled into her pillows behind her. "Isn't it wonderful about Ana and Jax? They are so adorable together, and my does our Ana got it bad for him, but he is not far off himself. Although him sitting in a puddle of drool over Ember was not acceptable at all," she said glancing over at Heather, a smile on her face nonetheless. "I for one am happy. I heard of the Chande family, my papa may have done business with them, but I am not sure. Nonetheless he is an excellent choice. He's rich, full of class, and not some harum scarum."

Veronika did indeed approve of the match, feeling thrilled that Ana found someone of equal class. The scene came on of Allie and Noah fighting and it made her giggle like nothing else. "They are worse than Allie and Noah though with the fighting. Did you see how he chased her after dinner? I bet if we open the door we can still hear them screaming at each other," she said with a laugh. Ana was notorious for a short temper and it amused Veronika more than once.

[Aqua]

Heather shaded in a side of the table and looked at the television. The Notebook was definitely a great chick flick and Heather was a fan of being a complete girl once in a while. The stories were very romantic and even though the New Mutant was realistic of things, sometimes a girl had the ability to dream. She was really happy for Ana and Jax, although it was still weird to see them together. Heather never suspected it at all since Ana claimed to have hated him. But they clearly got over that right away.

She giggled along with Veronika and shook her head. "Well I hope they make each other happy," she replied in a somewhat defeated tone. She couldn't help but think of her own happiness and of course Gavin. This really sucks, she thought to herself. She didn't like being distant from him or being mad at him. And even though he told her from the beginning that he wasn't really one for relationships, Heather allowed too much hope to get in the way, thinking that she could be the exception. All girls wanted to be the exception and unfortunately, it was a rude reality check for the water manipulator.

Heather looked back down at her drawing, trying to get her mind off of the winged mutant. She needed to have some real fun. If she were at home, her friends would have taken her out to a movie and bought pumpkin spiced lattes from their favorite coffee shop. Heather missed her girlfriends, especially Annie. They were like sisters. But she moved away shortly before Heather found out she was a mutant and had barely spoken since. Moving to the Academy was a big step, but Heather didn't regret it for a second. She loved that she was a mutant and loved what she had the ability to do. She was Aqua and Aqua was her.

[Allure]

Hours later, Veronika got engrossed in the story again, watching as the beautiful but slightly foolish Allie threw away a handsome, rich fiancée for a poor boy who worked at a sawmill. As nice as the story was, Veronika could not help but think how she would have done it all different. She was younger now than Allie was in the movie, and she would never look twice at someone like Noah. She wanted a man that was handsome and powerful, that walked into a room and demanded respect. It would work nicely with her own cunningness and power, and her ability to attract everyone's attention when she stepped into a room. Her mother had taught her never to settle, and she took that advice very seriously.

"So... that Johnny boy is very handsome don't you think?" Veronika said casually while keeping her eyes on the book that Emma Frost had them read for the book report. The Grapes of Wrath wasn't exactly the most exciting book, but she already had the cheat notes printed up from the internet and was merely skimming the chapters. She was pretty sure she could easily get the class notes from one of the guys and just go off that. "He's got a rugged look to him, but still retains that classic handsomeness. Do you not think so?"

Her sapphire eyes slid over to her friend as she settled into her lush, comfortable bed in her Victoria's Secret pajamas that she so adored. Veronika was glad that Heather didn't have a future with Gavin, as she felt from the start he wasn't good enough for her. She had higher expectations for the guy that someone from her inner circle would end up with, and it was certainly not someone with a physical mutation. Though she could tell from the state of Johnny's clothes that he wasn't rich, he at least looked normal. "You spent time with him today yes? What is he like?"

[Aqua]

Heather finished her drawing, finally content with the shading and angles. It was very good technique but she was wondering why she wasn't really drawing much designs anymore. The last article of clothing she actually drew in her design book was a pair of boots and it wasn't even an original idea. Her muse was at an all time low and that was because she wasn't allowing her mind to expand and look for something inspiring.

She smiled at her finished work, closed her sketchpad and then looked at her best friend. "Hmm? Oh yes I did. He's rather shy," she replied. "But he is really nice. At least he seems that way. I showed him around the school a bit too." She looked back down at her sketchpad and thumbed it. There was a lot of history within that book and the memories of her being around her old friends and old life were becoming vague. Heather liked her new life and even though there was much drama, it wasn't really anything different than regular high school. It was just that this time, powers were involved.

She thought about Veronika's first question, realizing that she ignored it without it being her intention. Not knowing exactly how to reply, other than in a casual way, Heather smiled and nodded in agreement. "He is handsome," she continued. She understood what Veronika was trying to do and she appreciated the fact that the Russian beauty was being a good friend. As much as Heather wanted to get over Gavin, she didn't think it was going to happen anytime soon; unless someone had the ability to make her.

She left it at that and then plopped her sketchpad on her nightstand. "I can't help but feel bad for the fiancee," she said while looking at the movie. "How can he be so understanding? Any natural man would be upset don't you think?"

[Allure]

"I imagine that he's not too disheartened considering his overall circumstances. He's a rich, handsome, eligible bachelor. It is not like Allie is his only choice, it was just a smart match for him, as she is young and pretty and comes from a wealthy family as well. BUT she is not the only girl that matches that description, so I imagine he will be just fine," Veronika said plainly turning to the last page of the chapter she was reading. "It is how the world of the elite usually work darling."

Veronika knew that she needed to educate Heather a little bit more about the world of the rich and elite if she EVER wanted to meet a handsome rich man or make a name for herself. She already got her own mother to help Heather get some of her designs and clothes out there, which meant that Heather would have a very busy summer ahead of her, but it was only step one. Veronika wanted to groom her best friend to fit into her world, a world where she belong in.

"I think it would do you good to spend time with someone as handsome as Johnny. It would do good for your mind and spirit. And for the record..." Her sapphire eyes looked over at her friend, holding her gaze for a moment as a sweet smile came over her face. "He is much better looking than Gavin. A much better body, that is for certain." She grinned at Heather, subtly and carefully moving her mind to the state she thought it should be in.

"Let's be honest darling, Gavin never treated you as you should be treated. You are a respected girl of class, and he flirted with every girl he could right in front of you! That was truly disgusting and disrespectful. You deserve someone much better than that, a true gentleman," Veronika said smiling sweetly at her friend and letting out a light sigh. "Come darling, no more talk of him. It is rather late, and I am tired of reading." She tossed her book on her nightstand and the two girls turned off the lights and talked and whispered into the night, unprepared for what events the next day would hold.