“I think I’d be worried to have someone shrink my shoes,” Allegra said. “What if they un-shrink them and they don’t fit anymore. No, I think I need a much bigger room. I read on the school’s website that they will make accommodations for people with special needs. I think having as many shoes as I do should give me a special accommodation, don’t you?”

“Thanks, I really miss Angelique,” Allegra said. “I sometimes think my mom is mean to me but it’s true my sister was so much better than me. Sometimes I think I deserve what I get.”

Allegra was excited when Derek said he could give her pointed on communicating with animals. “I think it’d be great if I could communicate with my dogs better. I guess when you think about it, we’re so different from animals that it’s almost like we’re from different planets but we still get along great. Sometimes I like being with animals better than people. Dogs make more sense in a lot of ways. And they’re not as mean.”

“Maybe you can look at some of the designs I’ve drawn,” Allegra asked Derek. “I don’t have any training or anything. I just drew pictures of stuff I think would be cool to wear. And you’d be the perfect vet. Do you have any idea how scared my babies get when we take them to the vet for their yearly check up. You could naturally calm them down. When I was a kid, I thought about being a veterinarian but, you know, science and math. Ick! Not fun. I’d rather just play with the dogs.”

“You’re not that much older than me, not that I’m pushing,” Allegra said. “I think it's great we're becoming friends and I'm not looking for anything more. I guess it’s hard when I see all my friends dating and then my mom telling me I’m ugly and I’ll never get a guy. Of course, she couldn’t make things work with my dad so I guess she’s not the expert on relationship, huh?”

“Sounds awesome not having someone else tell you who you are,” Allegra said. “I should be the same way.” She didn’t sound too confident. All of her life, she depended on the approval of others. She wasn’t sure she could reinvent herself without someone else telling her how to do it and that it was okay.
“What the hell is wrong with being black and gay? I think anyone who judges you for that is not only a backwards racist pig. They have serious problems of their own.”

Allegra noticed she didn’t mention how it was okay for Derek to be a mutant and was wondering if she had problems of her own.

“Look, you can’t help how you are born but it’s what you do that’s important.,” she said. “There are wonderful people that just happen to be gay and some awful people that just happen to be gay. Their gayness doesn’t mean anything. It’s how they treat others that really matters. I don’t care if you’re black, white, green, straight or whatever. That’s just how you were born and being gay is no better or worse than being straight. But you’ve made me feel so much better and you’re been so nice to me. That’s who you truly are. And who you are is so incredible.”

Derek laughed, shaking his head. "No, no. That's not considered a special need. You might need to go for a different route in order to get a bigger room. Maybe ask for a bigger room because you feel cramped in the one you have now." He offered with a shrug of his shoulders.

Derek was sad that Allegra felt that way about yourself. It wasn't right to put yourself down even if what she was saying was true. "...You might need to see the school guidance counselor or somethin'. The way you feel isn't healthy for your mentality."

"Yeah, I have to agree with you on that. Animals aren't self serving as humans are. And if they are, it's because they need to survive." Derek moistened his lips and looked around the garden. "Yeah, the science and math part I wish I could just pass through, but I have to go through the steps." Which he didn't want to do, but y'know. That's life. "And I'd love to be able to see your designs! When we go back in you can show me." He smiled at Allegra.

Derek had to chuckle at the last part. "You are not ugly. Come on, you know you're not ugly. You have blonde hair, green eyes, fair, skin, a nice posture. Honestly, you can get any heterosexual guy in the world." And Derek meant that.

"And I agree with you. They are racist pigs, but that's just the fact of being here being in America." Derek huffed and tried to come down. "Sorry. I don't mean to whine and complain. Sometimes I'm just tired." And he sounded tired too.

Derek looked at Allegra smiled widely at her. "Thank you, Aphro-- I mean Allegra. Sorry." He shook his head. "Sorry, sorry." He laughed and slowly stood up. "Well, that was very emotional."

Allegra thought about what Derek said. If her shoe collection didn’t constitute a special need, she didn’t know what did. But his suggestion made a lot more sense. Why not just ask for a bigger room? Genius!

“Good idea. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll just tell them that my shoes are claustrophobic and they just cannot live like that. It would be cruel and unusual punishment to coop them up like that."

Derek was right that her self image wasn’t healthy. “Maybe I should talk to a school guidance counselor,” she said considering his suggestion. “My mom makes me see a shrink but it doesn’t do any good. I just go to make mom happy. It just makes her feel good for me to go. She’s paying someone to care for me so she doesn’t have to. Maybe if I see someone on my own terms, it’d be better.”

“You’re right about animals,” Allegra said. “They’re so full of unconditional love. You can totally trust them. They don’t even think of backstabbing. It must be really cool to be able to communicate with them on a deeper level. I don’t think I’d be much help with science or math but if you need a study buddy, I’m your gal. I need somebody to help motivate me to study more.”

“Aw thanks,” Allegra said when Derek complimented her. It was hard for her to believe that anyone would be attracted to her. She had gone her whole life being told otherwise. She needed to try to change that.

“You're not whining and complaining, Derek. People have obviously said hateful things to you and no one should have to listen to that; least of all someone as wonderful as you. I can’t know what you are going through but I’ve had to deal with bullies and yeah, it gets tiring. But anyone who tries to hurt you has problems of their own. You can’t let pathetic people drag you down. Tell you what. Anyone says anything to you and they’ll have to mess with me. “

Allegra smiled. “Don’t believe me? A football player dumped one of my best friends so I let him have it.” She shook her fist in the air then smiled again. “Hey, I watch out for the people I care about. I just look incredibly stylish while I’m doing it.”

“Yeah, you’re right that was very emotional but if you ever need anyone to vent to, I’m here, okay? Don’t think anything of it. So, what do you say we have some fun around here? It’s warmed up quite a bit since yesterday. What do you think about checking out the pool? Warm sun. Relaxing beach chairs. Maybe some hot boys in speedos. C’mon you know you want to.”

All Derek could do was laugh in response to Allegra. "Oh, my God. You can't say that your shoes are claustrophobic!" He exclaimed with a wide smile on his face. "M-maybe just say you're claustrophobic and need a bigger room. And if you do that, you better hope no one can detect lies in there or you're screwed." Derek had finally stopped laughing. He couldn't remember the last time he laughed this much.

Derek nodded his head and looked at the garden again. "When you go on your own accord, you're more likely to actually participate." He admitted. He knew for him, going to church every Sunday was something that he saw as more ritualistic than something that he was supposed to do in order to grow spiritually.

"Sounds like a plan." Derek smiled. "Also, animals make perfect cuddle buddies when they want to. Though, I won't be snuggling up with a black bear anytime soon." He laughed a bit. "What grade are you in? Ninth? Tenth?"

Derek smiled at Allegra. "Thank you for the support, Allegra. It really helps that I have someone here who has my back."

"Really? Well, he was stupid." Derek scoffed, "he doesn't know what he's missing out on."

Derek thought about it. "Mmm...alright, let's go. You had me at 'hot boys in speedos'." He joked as he stood up and looked down at Allegra. "This is a good first day."

"Hey!  Shoe Claustrophobia is a very serious condition! Stop laughing," Allegra answered laughing even louder than Derek. "My god, do you think the staff here would be so inhumane that they'd let me and my shoes suffer."

Derek had a good point that if Allegra sought therapy on her own that she would be more likely to participate and to get more out of it. "I am going through a lot," she said. "I think I could really use some counseling. If my life wasn't crazy enough, it'll probably get worse once I start school here."

"I really miss snuggling with my babies," Allegra said thinking about her dogs. "Could you snuggle with a black bear using your powers or would there be a danger of it attacking you?"

"I'm a freshman," Allegra answered his question. It made her feel so young since Derek had most likely been out of high school for a few years. She hoped he didn't consider her an immature kid. "Are you in college now? It seems like things are a little different here. They don't seem to be divided by age or grade. In my one class , there were a couple kids younger than me and some older. Oh, and there was a robot too. That was different."

"Of course I'm here for you, Derek," Allegra said. "I look out for my friends no matter what. The people I care for are more important than anything."

"I kind of figured that the idea of hot boys in speedos would be enough to motivate you," Allegra laughed. "I bet it'd even get you to do homework, Note to myself. Rent some hot boys so Derek will do my homework for me. Ok, I'm gonna change and I've got to get my phone then let's meet at the pool in about 20 minutes."

She was tempted to ask Derek to come with her to get her phone but she felt that scary mutants; even buggy mutants were something she had to get used to. She couldn't hide behind Derek or anyone else.

"So how's that sound?"

"Yeah, I'm in college now. Well, not right now. I was. I'm thinking about starting back up, though, at NYU so I'm excited about that." He answered with a grin. "And being a freshmen is great. You have so many opportunities to grow and get a good GPA." He encouraged with a grin. "You have your whole life ahead of you!"

Derek smiled at Allegra. She was a really good friend.

"Or in tight shorts." He added with a chuckle. "Tight shorts are more likely to get my attention." Derek stretched a bit before nodding his head to Allegra. "Twenty minutes sounds good to me. See you there!" He waved as he walked back into the Mansion and up the stairs.

"That's two votes for tight shorts then," Allegra laughed. "See you there.

Before heading to the pool, Allegra knew she had to get her phone back or she'd go crazy. She ran to the counselor's office where they had her phone waiting for her. Apparently the mutant bug woman had turned it in. Even more thankful, the mutant bug woman was in the counselor's office and Allegra didn't have to face her.

Allegra took a handkerchief out of her purse and covered her hand before taking it. She'd have to wash her phone off for fear of getting mutant bug cooties.

She shuddered at the thought but tried to calm herself by remember that soon she would be relaxing by the pool with her new friend. 


ooc: wrap for Allegra