Fightin' Words

Posted on Tue Dec 19th, 2023 @ 4:07pm by Scott Summers & Tammy Thompson

966 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 3: X-Tra Ecclesiam
Location: X-Mansion | Garage
Timeline: August 21st, 1990

Scott had moved what belongings he was bringing with him down to the garage. Once that was narrowed down, he began stowing them into the cargo area of his Jeep. Hard footsteps fell onto the cement floor. Who was this?

"You really think you're getting away that easy? No way, José! We are going to have words and if you're lucky you'll leave unharmed! I am so mad right now! You lied to me! Said you'd never sleep with a student! You not only slept with her you knocked her up and married her! I trusted you were being straight with me. Obviously you were lying your ass off!!" Tammy said. Energy was crackling about her body.

This was one of the unavoidable conflicts that Scott was expecting. One of the things he knew he needed to face alone without Aurora at hand. "I never lied to you, Tammy. I confided in you, shared my struggles with you. I can't defend what I've done but it didn't go down how you think." He sighed and looked straight at her through his glasses. "I don't know whether that matters to you. I understand if it doesn't. I'm sorry for hurting you. It's another thing in a long list of regrets. And I'm sorry."

"Yeah, sure you didn't lie! 'Oh I'd never sleep with a student'! That's what you told me and yet you went right ahead and did just that! And to make it worse you got her pregnant! How am I supposed to feel about that huh? Sure feels like you lied to me! oh 'it didn't happen the way you think'. Sure, isn't that what they all say? Why should I believe you?"

"You have no reason to," Scott said with a weary shrug. "It's just the truth. I can tell you if you want to hear it because I know you've been hurt by this. But I won't demand it, Tammy. You're entitled to think what you want. I won't hold it against you."

Why did he have to be so reasonable? "Alright, let's hear it!" Tammy said.

Where to begin? Scott took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I know I don't talk about Jean much but...we were in love. One day we were going to get married, once the world slowed down. But then everyone went missing." The time for beating around the bush was over. It was time to be brutally honest. "I've never looked at another girl since Jean. When I confided in you, Tammy, it was because I didn't know what to do. Something happened between me and Aurora that I can't explain. We had a shared dream. That dream turned real. The next day, we learned she was pregnant. Now I'm doing the right thing. If I find love along the way...is that really so wrong?"

"Wait. Shared dream and she was pregnant the next day? That doesn't make any sense at all!"

"Sometimes all it takes is the first time." Scott shrugged. "I'm very sorry for betraying the school. But... Tammy... What happened with Aurora began on a telepathic level that neither I nor Aurora could control. It was something that couldn't have happened to us, Tammy. You and I wouldn't have become more than friends even if Aurora has never been here. Please don't hold this against her. She needs friends around her now more than ever."

"Wow! You really are clueless! First you tell me we could never be more than friends and then tell me to be nice to her? You have no idea what you're asking! I am not making any promises at all. I am still furious at you! MY advice is for you to get out of here before I forget that I am a decent person and decide to fry you where you stand."

Scott was trying to be understanding but there was only so much outright hostility he could stomach. "Look, Tammy. I know what I did was wrong. I'm owning that. If you think being cruel to a pregnant woman and her unborn baby is going to win you points with anybody, you've got another thing coming. I'll take your hard feelings. That's fair. But watch your mouth." He stepped into her personal space and drilled her with a hard stare through his ruby-quartz glasses. "I'm solar powered, so you don't scare me. I already told you I'm sorry. Now I'm telling you to back off."

"Fine! Just for the record, I never said I was going to hurt her. I'm not that kind of person! But I don't have to like her! Maybe I'll be nice but no promises! Maybe when I'm calm enough to think straight! Right now, I'm hurt and angry!"

"Yeah, okay." Scott backed down himself. This wasn't like him, bowing up and squaring off with students. Maybe getting out of there really was the best thing he could do. "I'm sorry. I've not been myself in so long that I don't know who I am anymore. Just... take care of yourself, Tammy, okay? I'm sure you'll do right by everyone else. You're a real peach."

"Yeah, yeah! Just go ok? I need to sort this all out and I can't do it with you around!"

Scott shook his head and scoffed. "I was packing up when you came out here. You're free to go back the way you came."

"Yeah, I'll do that!" With that she turned and walked back inside. This has not been a good day at all! She just needed to sort things out. She felt hurt and wasn't sure what to do about it!

That could have went better. Not for the first time that day, Scott didn't know what he could have done differently.

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