Switching It Up

[Marcus Foster]

Marcus stepped onto the Bellefonte campus with plan. He'd worked for the Academy for almost a year now and this was a first. It wasn't his fault. He hadn't wanted to actually be a proactive, productive employer that did more than the bare minimum but circumstances dictated differently. The new year had brought a fresh batch of student to Bellefonte, a good portion of them in need of Marcus' services.

So much for taking a position that would afford him a lot of free time.

He considered Peyton Hobbs to be an exception case. In a world of misfits and freaks she had a tangible, visible reason to feel isolated. It frustrated Marcus that his more experienced and educated peers had failed to recognize when a simply needed someone to listen and be receptive to their thoughts and feelings as opposed to being analyzed and treated.

All of that and he still didn't know where his office was.

Marcus had the note requesting Peyton's presence sent out just before lunch. There was nothing special about the note. It was the same yellow slip of paper that was handed out to students for any number of administrative, disciplinary or academic reason.

With the note simply requesting Peyton to come to the counselor's office out, Marcus waited. He didn't bother leaving the main office as there was no intent to stay inside. Instead he took a seat in the lobby and pulled out his phone to pass the time until his newest charge arrived.

When the door opened and the blonde girl stepped inside, Marcus immediately got to his feet. The phone found its way into the pocket of his tan cargo pants and his t-shirt which proudly proclaimed his disdain for lettuce using a derogatory term made him stick out among his far more nicely dresses co-workers.

"Peyton." He said, forgoing the false formalities that came with using last names. He wasn't there to be a psychiatrist and if anyone expected him to be one was in for a bad time. "I'm your new counselor." It occurred to him he wasn't even sure if her last counselor had informed her of the switch. "I hope they told you about this..." Though he wouldn't be surprised if they hadn't.

[Peyton Hobbs]

Peyton was rather obviously a little confused when she received the notice to report to the administrative offices. As far as she knew she wasn’t in trouble and hadn’t done anything to warrant it. Still she knew not to keep the office waiting so once she received the appointment slip she gathered up her stuff and put it all in her bag before leaving the classroom.

Clutching her messenger bag to her, Peyton made her way to the offices only noticing when she was closer that it actually stated the counselor’s office. OK so that was a bit strange. She had weekly meetings with the counselor since arriving to see how she was adjusting. To say it hadn’t been well was an understatement.

Stepping into the main office Peyton ducked slightly to give her wings clearance. That had been one of the first things she had learned. Not that she needed to duck but it was just psychological. Seeing someone stand up as she entered Peyton looked over and saw a stranger. Certainly not the counselor she had been seeing and he certainly didn’t look like a teacher.

“Uh…” was about all she got out as he addressed her and told her that he was her new counselor. He had at least guessed correctly that they hadn’t told her anything before hand. “So uh.. Now what and what do I call you?”

Marcus Foster

[Marcus Foster]

Marcus let out a low sigh and shook his head. Of course no one had told her a damn thing. Sometimes Marcus believed if his Ranger battalion had been ran like some facets of the Academy they would have brought most of his friends, and possibly himself, back in body bags. If command could manage to keep their heads out of their asses long enough to actually get a battalion in place to see combat in the first place.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that." Marcus replied genuinely. He hated when the ball was dropped in the Army and he hated it here. It made everyone look bad, like they didn't give a damn and now he was the one who had to clean up the mess. "Anyway." He quickly straightened and waved a hand dismissively. The task at hand was far more important than his own bitching about semantics.

"Marcus." Came the abrupt answer. He'd long put his formal days of last names and titles behind him. "Just Marcus." He offered a half smile before moving passed Peyton to the door she'd just came in through. "We're going to have a talk over lunch." He said, pulling the door open and holding it for Peyton, politely gesturing for her to exit first. "I didn't read your last counselor's entries because, quite frankly, I don't give a shit what he has to say." Marcus spoke openly and honestly. His methods may have been unorthodox but he'd seen them work a thousand times before in much worse situations. "I thought we could have lunch and get to know each other." He paused then and turned, facing Peyton now. "By the way. When was the last time you got to leave campus?"

[Peyton Hobbs]

It wasn’t exactly her fault no one had told her. But she could adjust and deal with it at least. She stood and shrugged at his apology. It wasn’t his fault but she guessed it was some sort of reflex since he was supposed to be in a leadership position.

Peyton fell into step near him as he made his way out of the office. Having a talk over lunch with fine with her. “I can do that. It’s not so bad is it?” She was surprised by his words about not reading her previous entries.

When Marcus asked when she had last left campus Peyton lost a step, the weight of his words hitting her hard. “I uh… I haven’t. I mean since arriving I’ve never been off campus.” She couldn’t even imagine the idea right now of leaving campus. “I um, I was told I couldn’t because I can’t blend in.”

Marcus Foster

(sorry not my best)

[Marcus Foster]

"It won't be bad at all." Marcus confirmed with a nod. At least Peyton seemed a little more receptive to his early attempts to reach out. Most of the kids got this snotty attitude and acted like they were tough and too cool to need any sort of help in spite of the opposite being so painfully obvious.

He continued out of the office and cut through the courtyard, heading in the direction of the staff parking lot. He paused when Peyton went to stammer out an answer before a half smile slowly spread across his face. He had caught the flash of emotion his question has caused and it told him everything he needed to know. "Perfect." He said with a nod and turned back toward the parking lot. He fished a set of car keys from his pocket and pressed the button on the remote attached to the ring. The headlights of a large, muddy Ford Raptor sitting nearby flashed. "Then let's go."

[Peyton Hobbs]

Getting off the grounds would be absolutely amazing actually. Honestly, talking over lunch would be all the better knowing that fact. Honesty that was about the best news she had gotten in weeks.

When he pulled out his keys to unlock his car Peyton stopped when the lights on a nearby truck flashed in response. “Um” She just blinked for a moment looking between him and the truck.”This is what you’re driving? Not a van?” That sooo wouldn’t work, unless she rode in the truck bed. “I won’t fit. I mean.. It’s too small.” She gave her wings a little flutter to emphasis just how large they really were. They stuck out over a foot above her head after all. It was also oh so very uncomfortable to actually sit on her wings.Great way to bend or break a feather as well. Peyton could feel the small hope she had before slipping away. No doubt he was partial to his truck. The simple fact was she wasn’t built like a normal human anymore. Not when it came to vehicles and enclosed spaces at least.

[Marcus Foster]

Marcus glanced back to Peyton and slowed to a stop. A brow quirked as her wings shook to emphasize her statement. Her fears were warranted, of course, he wouldn't go so far as to dismiss them. "I know, I know." He said with a reassuring nod. "I did read that part of your file." he chuckled a little. "Look, it's a big-ass truck." He gestured to the dual-cab vehicle. "And if you sit in the back seat with the front seat down, you'll have plenty of room." He nodded again. "Trust me. But if it's still not comfortable, I'll steal one of the vans from the Academy lot."

[Peyton Hobbs]

She looked over at Marcus obviously not believing one word he said about her having plenty of room. Sure it was an extended cab but. Well, she would see. With that said Peyton moved to the passenger door and did as she was asked, lowering the front seat down and climbing into the back. She still had to sit sideways in the middle to make room for her wings.

Peyton wrapped her arms around her knees. She fit but she wasn’t sure on the comfort level. Not to mention the fact that there really wasn’t a lot of room afterwards. “So um, will this work?” Even if it didn’t, she would love for the chance just to get off the grounds for a bit.

Marcus Foster

[Marcus Foster]

Marcus watched for a moment as Peyton squeezed her way into the truck. It may not have been a perfect fit, but so long as she wasn't in pain it would have to do. He eyed wings as they stretched about the cab before his attention shifted to Peyton herself. "You tell me." He replied, already making a mental note to steal one of the duty vans from the Academy next time he decided to go rogue and take a student with huge-ass wings of campus. "We're only going about ten minutes away." He assured her.

After climbing into the driver's seat, Marcus started the truck's engine and carefully maneuvered it out of its space and through the parking lot. He stayed quiet until the truck made its way through the front gate of the Academy and was out on public roads. "Let me explain." He started, pausing just long enough to pluck a pair of dark sunglasses that had been resting in one of the cup holders of the center console and slip them on his face. "I didn't read your last counselor's notes because that was between you and him, and I think he's an idiot." Marcus was blunt, as always. "All I want to do is talk. Get to know you and see if there's any way I can help you."

Marcus' eyes, hidden behind the sunglasses, lifted to the rear view mirror to get a look at Peyton before dropping back to the road in front of him. "I've never bought into the effectiveness of sitting there and telling a stranger your innermost thoughts and feelings." He shrugged a little as he turned off the main road, slowing the truck as it rumbled along a narrow, unpaved trail. "So, if you like you're free to ask me a question for every one I ask you. The way I look at it, it's only fair." Again he glanced up into the rear view mirror at his passenger. "How about we start with you telling me how you ended up here at the Academy?"

[Peyton Hobbs]

She was unsure of the whole situation and for how long she could stay like. It wasn’t exactly comfortable. When he said it was only going to be about then minutes she gave a mental sigh of relief. “I can manage for that long. Just no off roading OK?” That being her own personal joke. Trucks like this would be used for off roading half the time back home.

Peyton listened as Marcus carefully drove and started to explain. Part of her was appreciative of him being careful. Part of her just found it annoying. “Does talking involve a mint chocolate shake?” It was kinda nice really that he was willing to draw his own conclusions and not rely on the previous counselors notes. Him being an idiot may be a different issue. Who was she to judge.

As he explained the process he was going to use and how different it would be, Peyton had to admit she was rather intrigued. Question for question? Really? His first question however just made her blink. “You’re kidding right? How I ended up here? Isn’t that rather an obvious thing?” OK maybe this guy was an idiot as well. Where else would she end up once her wings developed?

Marcus Foster

[Marcus Foster]

Marcus took it easy, driving carefully so to keep the truck from shaking and jolting too much. He glanced into the rear view mirror, considered Peyton's question then nodded. "Yeah. We can do that." He said a-matter-of-factly. "Anything else you've been missing that you can't get on campus?" Which was a valid inquiry. The entire point of this was to give her a chance to escape Bellefonte even for just a fleeting moment.

"Yeah, you've got wings, I turn into metal." Marcus replied without missing a beat. It wasn't his first trip to the rodeo and he'd dealt with all sorts of reactions over the years. Including ones given by those who obviously didn't understand the question. "I know the why, obviously." It didn't take a trained monkey with a Walt Disney imagination to know what brought the students and faculty to Bellefonte. "I know what your medical records say about your genetic mutation. I'm asking about how it came about. Where were you, how did you parents, friends, whatever, act. What was your first thought when you found out what you were?" He glanced upward into the mirror once more, studying Peyton as he guided the truck down the side road with practiced ease. "I want your take on the story."

[Peyton Hobbs]

She was thankful that he was willing to go along with her request. She didn’t want it to feel like she was weak but Peyton was barely able to fit in the truck just the same. The fact that he was willing to go along with the whole getting a milkshake was just a added bonus. What else had she been missing since being confined on campus? “Umm. I don’t know.” She was from a rather small town really. They didn’t actually have much in the way of anything back home. By not much of anything she meant even a stoplight.

Alright, she may have over reacted just a little at that. Maybe she shouldn’t have taken his question so literal. Also was it good or bad she didn’t react so much when he said he could turn into metal? “I uh was home. My horses noticed first actually. They reacted badly, shunning me at first. That was the first clue something was wrong with me.” She wrung her hands thinking back to it. “My parents tried to be supportive. My friends, they don’t know.” her voice became a whisper as she answered his last question. “I knew right away that I was a freak.”

Marcus Foster

[Marcus Foster]

Progress. Baby steps. Marcus was well aware Rome wasn't built in a day and he didn't suspect a simple trip off campus would instantly cure every ailment a student may have. But Peyton was talking and seemed somewhat comfortable with doing so. He wouldn't push or press for details. She'd tell him what she wanted him to know. His job was to help her get along at Bellefonte for the betterment of everyone involved, including herself. He wasn't qualified to go diagnosing anything or poking around in her brain to see what was going on in there.

He gave a slow, contemplative nod as she spoke. He cast a glance in her direction, studying her expression before turning his attention back to the road. "Are you still in touch with your parents?" He asked in a rare instance where he'd give a follow up question. He knew the importance of any sort of support structure while trying to adjust to a new life all too well. It didn't matter if it was family, friends, a church group, anything.

"Well, see?" Marcus gave a bit of a smile. The rare smile that wasn't sarcastic, goofy or alcohol induced but rather genuine contentment even for the small step that had been taken in getting Peyton to say even that much so quickly. Rare was the person who were comfortable with telling just anyone about how much of a freak they were made out to be. "That wasn't so bad, was it? That's as in depth and crazy as I'm going to get." He assured her with a nod. "And fair's fair." He reminded her. "You've got a question. Don't have to ask now, but keep track of how many you got."

[Peyton Hobbs]

She’d had a few weeks now to think on things and adjust to her living situation. She still hadn’t accepted everything about it but she was willing to talk. That was something wasn’t it? She couldn’t remain mute all her life. Now if he had come off as a typical shrink and just directly picked her brain, she would have clammed up faster than he could have blinked.



“I’ve um.. Called them to say hi and when I first came just to say I made it but… I don’t know what to say.” Part of her really didn’t want to know what she was missing back home. Part of her want to run home right now. She would admit to missing her family and friends. But she couldn’t stand the idea of her friends seeing her like this.



In depth and crazy? That was in depth and crazy? “Um if you say so.” She wanted to take his words at face value but she just didn’t know him yet. “Oh right.” he was doing that whole question for question thing. “Why are you doing this? I mean you don’t seem the counselor type.” He seemed more like the gym teacher type.

[Marcus Foster]

Marcus nodded faintly, listening carefully as Peyton spoke. The first few exchanges were key in building rapport and getting a good idea as to what made any given student tick. Many students who had come his way were stricken by very similar struggles. He frowned a little, mostly to himself when Peyton spoke of her parents. Family support was paramount in helping students adjust to their new environments.

An amused grunt followed Peyton's question. "You know, I get that a lot." Marcus replied with a chuckle. It had taken him six months before even other members of faculty stopped mistaking him for a maintenance worker. "Well, I don't want to put you to sleep so I'll give you the abridged version. I spent some time in the Army and what most people don't realize is a lot of the job as a leader there is helping your soldier adjust to new environments, changes in their lives, really a lot of the same things you guys go through." He paused a moment to let that sink in before finishing his answer. "And it's a lot less stressful than what I did before."

Marcus wouldn't elaborate unless pressed. He rarely spoke of his service even if his tattoos and habit of spewing profanity usually pegged him as a veteran. "Have you gotten to know any of the other students?" Marcus asked, countering with his own question. "Or anyone around you'd like to include in any of this?" He chuckled again. "Unless you'd want to hang out with me all the time, but I promise you, you'd get bored."