This isn’t Goodbye

Posted on Sun Jul 21st, 2024 @ 9:31pm by Kennedy Kelly & Shinobi Shaw

2,812 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 5: Days of Fortune Past
Location: Mansion
Timeline: October 10, 2024

After the house meeting ended, Kennedy lingered in the parlor so she could review her community service needs with Jean. So it wasn’t a surprise that it took her a little bit longer to finally arrive at Jace’s bedroom. A girl in the boy’s dormitory was forbidden but Kennedy didn’t really seem to care anymore.

The door to Jace’s room was open so she knocked on the frame and lingered in the doorway. “Hey…” Kennedy’s tone was somber and a frown appeared on her face when she saw that he was actively packing “Wow, you aren’t wasting any time.”

"Nope," he said. He had just removed the shoebox with the cellular phone, Hogarth's business card, and his birth certificate from the wall. He placed it in a suitcase and covered it with some of his newer and more decent shirts. The rock motif T-shirts stayed in the drawer along with the tattered jeans.

"Thanks for coming. I know it's frowned upon, but I could care less about that anymore." He sat down on the edge of the bed and motioned for Kennedy to take a seat next to him. "Come on, let's talk. I know it was sudden and for that, I'm sorry."

“No, it’s okay.” Kennedy said with a small shrug as she entered his room and sat down next to Jace. “You have to take care of yourself, no one else is going to look out for you the way you look out for yourself.”

She looked down at her shoes rather than at him before Kennedy tucked her blonde hair behind her ears and she nodded in agreement with his comment with a need for an explanation. “Yeah, yesterday some of my baggage came out suddenly. I owe you an apology and an explanation as well.”

Jace shrugged. "Everybody has baggage Kennedy. This school is full of mutants with so much baggage it could fill a cargo jet. That said, any apology is already accepted." He smiled kindly as it had to be a painful topic to broach.

“My father is…was… Senator Robert Kelly, the biggest advocate for mutant segregation and containment. I was exiled from his life, my life, when it was discovered I was a mutant. Xavier took a huge risk in letting me stay here and we agreed that my identity should be downplayed for my safety and his.” Kennedy huffed in defeat “Now he’s the martyr that fueled the Mutant Registration Act.”

She wiggled her toes in her shoes and watched the fabric move as she did so. “When I first got here Bobby was really interested in me, but his behavior was so erratic that we would fight at the drop of a hat. But we both had heartache about our dads and we connected because of that. Then he stopped talking to me and it became pretty clear that his thoughts were someplace else… I’m sorry I didn’t mention it earlier. To be honest with you, I’m not even sure what it was.”

Kennedy leaned back on her elbows and she finally looked up at Jace. “And then I met you and we had fun together. Conversation is easy and I feel like I can be myself around you. You make me feel normal again.” It was a strange compliment at face value but in the context of their chaotic lives it meant a lot. “I didn’t mean for things to sour between you and Bobby. I didn’t think he’d actually leave because of it. So I’m sorry for dragging you into a mess you were unaware of.”

"That Kelly family, okay," said Jace. 'I can't empathize because I've never experienced anything remotely like that before. But I'm truly sorry you had to see it. Your secret, though, is safe with me." He noticed that she still kept her gaze away from him for now. And that was fine. Things like this could be hard for people to do.

Jace shrugged at the mention of Bobby. "Sounds like it was a rough go with the off again, on again stuff. But whatever it was, it's in the past." He wasn't quite sure what else to say regarding Bobby and his interest in Kennedy. Bobby was gone, Jace was here now, and that's all that mattered. And to be honest, he didn't want to dwell on it. "Thanks for letting me know. But now that it's out, we can put it behind us."

"We do have a lot of fun, some we, Hey, I want you be yourself around me and feel comfortable," said Jace. It wasn't lost on him that Kennedy was looking at him now. "Feeling normal again isn't something we should shy away from just because things change drastically."

"And I'm sorry for the things I said and the way I talked about you yesterday," he continued. "I let Bobby pull me into a fight and fed off of his anger."

“He does the same to me.” Kennedy admitted. “I understand how in the heat of the moment people say stuff they don’t fully mean. I’d be lying if I didn’t own that and a hypocrite for not showing compassion over it.”

She was quiet for a minute while she thought about current and past events in her life. “I just hate feeling like a pawn. My whole life I’ve felt like just another piece in someone else’s game. Other people’s plans for me with their predetermined roles and expectations, I once loved them. It’s been really scary but also kind of liberating to be free of them. So when people touch on what they think I should be doing it hits a nerve in me that didn’t previously exist.”

“Self discovery is a trip.” Kennedy sighed and then laughed. “So what are you going to do in New York? What’s this business that’s so time consuming that you have to leave?”

Jace sighed. He knew he had to tell Kennedy something, but not everything. At least not yet seeing as how it still needed to be officially settled with him. "Legal stuff," he said. "Sometimes being eighteen isn't all it's cracked up to be. And these things can take a long time."

He paused a moment and thought back to the weekends when Troy would teach him how to play chess. "You know that if a pawn reaches the eighth rank, it can be exchanged for a more powerful piece," said Jace. "Maybe someday you'll beat the odds and cross over."

“Legal stuff?” Kennedy furrowed her brow at his response. The nuisances of chess didn’t seem to matter because she was still fixated on what Jace had said. “That’s it? I told you I’m on probation and my dad was a high profile senator and the best you can give me is legal stuff.”

"That's my bad," said Jace. "Playing things close to the chest is an old habit from the streets. I have several of those - old habits - that I need to break. Just, it's nothing grandiose. It's just about me."

He took a deep breath as he steadied himself. "I'm adopted, Kennedy. Everything I've ever known for my entire life has been a lie. The parents, a lie. Siblings, a lie. Home state of Oregon, a lie. One big damn lie. So, legal stuff...adoption agencies, sealed records, court dates, lawyers, foster homes, and things like that. The only part of my life I consider real is my time living on the streets and my time here. And of course, you."

Kennedy’s expression went from endearing to shock as the gravity of his words sunk in. “Holy shit Jace! You mean they never told you?! You found out just now?!” She sat up from her reclining position as she continued to process what this meant for him. “Do you know who your parents are?! Does the Professor know?”

Jace chuckled at the barrage of questions as the revelation started sinking in for Kennedy. "Nope, they never told me. Assholes. And yep, found out recently. But the rest of it, that's why I'm leaving and going up there for a while. I need to find out the answers to all those questions. As far as anyone here, you're the only one that knows this much. And until I can find out more, it'd mean a lot to me if you kept it between us." He put a hand on her knee. "Please."

“Of course.” Kennedy placed her hand over Jace’s. “I won’t tell anyone. I understand more than most, who you’re connected to could have serious ramifications.” Her eyes found his before she continued, “I’m just going to miss you while you’re gone.”

"Thanks." Jace gazed into Kennedy's blue eyes just as he had back in the Savage Land at the pond. "I'll miss you too," he said and then leaned in to press a kiss to her lips. "A lot," he continued as he leaned back out. "Hey, if you don't have anything planned for the rest of the afternoon, would you drive me into Salem Center? I was just going to walk or hitchhike. We could squeeze every minute out that we can."

“Yeah…sure.” Kennedy seemed disappointed by his eagerness to leave. It felt like Jace couldn’t get away from this place fast enough. She didn’t blame him, aside from his legal troubles the house seemed pretty upset that Bobby had left. Thankfully no one really seemed to notice her discomfort over the news or his bruised face. The fact that they didn’t put two and two together was probably for the best.

“I have to log the car out in the garage before we go.” She stood up and prepared to do just that. “I’ll let you finish packing and I’ll meet you in the garage, okay?”

Jace grabbed her hand. "Hey, I'm not good at expressing certain emotions," he said quietly. "And even less so at picking up on them. You're...you're the best thing that's come into my life in a very long time and I don't want to loose you. This isn't goodbye, I swear. The plan was for me to take a taxi into town tomorrow morning and the agency would send someone to pick me up. Now, I'll have a whole afternoon and night to relax." He paused and met her gaze. Hesitantly, he asked, "Stay with me?"

“I don’t know Jace, I could get in a lot of trouble for breaking curfew.” Kennedy thought about all the soap opera drama that occurred around them and how much was forgiven. She wouldn’t get kicked out of the mansion for something like this, especially if she left a note, right?

Kennedy looked down at his hand and saw the sincerity in his eyes. Jace had made her feel wanted and needed, he made her laugh and he helped her feel like she did before she came to Xavier’s. Jace had defended her and stood up for her, he was the closest thing to love she had felt since Kennedy was abandoned here.

“Yeah, I’ll stay with you.” She nodded her head in agreement and suddenly things felt very real between them. “I’ll pack my own bag and I’ll leave a note.”

"Yeah, a note is a good idea," said Jace. "I don't want you to get into trouble. If something were to happen...I don't know.... You could even let them know you'll be back tomorrow. Maybe that'll make it a softer blow."

He let go of her hand and was about to watch her leave. "A note! That reminds me." He went to the dresser and took an oddly shaped envelope off the top. "Yesterday while I was tooling around outside after everything, a messenger service delivered this. He said it was for you but he didn't want to search the grounds for you. I told him I would give it to you. He said to make sure to hand deliver it to you. So, here it is."

Jace handed her the envelope addressed to Miss Kennedy Kelly. The calligraphy on the envelope looked as if it had been carefully handwritten.

“An invitation?” Kennedy examined the red envelope, it was thick paper that indicated how expensive it was. Once upon a time she had received invitations like this one regularly but those days had passed.

“To what?” She flipped it over and ran her fingers across the wax seal that had been used to close the envelope, a large capital ‘H’ with a trident behind it. Kennedy cracked the seal and opened it. The invitation inside was made of the same expensive cardstock as the envelope. She read it out loud so Jace would know too.

Dear Miss Kelly,
You are cordially invited to attend the most exclusive event of the season: the Hellfire Gala Masquerade. Prepare to be whisked away to a night of mystique and marvels, hosted by the illustrious Hellfire Club.

Date: November 2,1990

Time: 8:00 pm

Location: Hellfire Club, 220 Central Park South, New York City

Dress Code: Masquerade attire required

Join us for an evening of intrigue and elegance, where masks unveil secrets and every glance holds a story. Indulge in exquisite cuisine, enchanting music, and the company of the exclusive Hellfire Club. As the night unfolds, immerse yourself in the enchanting ambiance of mystery and allure.

Your place is among the elite guests at this extraordinary affair. We eagerly anticipate your presence at the Hellfire Gala Masquerade.

Yours sincerely,
The Inner Circle Club

“I’ve heard of the Hellfire Club” Kennedy acknowledged who the invitation was from, the name didn’t seem to alarm her. “Some of them have homes in Boston. But it’s strange that they would still be interested in me… especially after everything.” She thought about the reason why for a little bit longer and attempted to find her own answer.

“November second is my birthday, my eighteenth birthday, maybe that’s why.” It was a date she had been dreading for a multitude of reasons. Kennedy had been preparing herself to ignore it all together but this invitation to a party, it made her smile and filled her with a touch of hopeful optimism.

“Oh, I missed something...” Kennedy turned down the corner of the invitation where a note had been written in the same elegant script as her name on the envelope.

Please dress in white attire so that you may coordinate with the evening’s events

“That’s wild.” She said in amazement as she ran her fingers over the broken wax seal “Do you think I should go?”

Jace watched as Kennedy examined the red envelope and then listened as she read its contents aloud. "Wow, just, wow. I've never really heard of them before. But from the looks of that envelope and the sound of the invitation, they're pretty high end," he said. "Oh, uh, happy early birthday, by the way. And yeah, I think you should go, have fun. Enjoy your birthday and rub elbows." He smiled, hoping that this Gala event would make her forget some of what she'd been through. Even if it were just for a few hours. "And then tell me all about it. Okay? Oh, if there are pictures, I'd like to see you in this 'white attire' they mentioned."

“These sort of things usually have hired photographers.” Kennedy examined the invitation once more. Her mother had occasionally mentioned the Hellfire Club and she knew it was by invitation only that people were admitted. Maybe this was the start of something more for her? She had been removed from society but this could be her way back in. The idea of going back to the life she knew, the life she expected to have, it made her smile a little.

“Thanks for accepting this invitation, Jace.” She seemed a little happier than earlier. “I’ll definitely go and tell you all about it.”

Kennedy hugged the envelope to her chest as she made her way towards the door. Her mood had lightened and there was a spring in her step. “Let’s both finish packing and get out of here.”

Thank you for accepting the invitation, he said in the back of his mind. "No problem. And yeah, I'll meet you in the garage once I'm done. We can paint the town red." He still needed to give her the address of the hotel where he would be staying until he was picked up in the morning, but that could wait.

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