Episode 747: Anything For Love

"So," Xavier said, "here I am to ring in the New Year with my adopted family, and my favorite family member has been nowhere to be found. It’s kind of a bummer. I was getting a little worried out there, kid; usually you can’t wait to greet me."

"Sorry," Tansy sort of sighed as she slowly sat up. "Hi."

"Well, that’s better, but still… I’d think you’d be more chipper since winter break is on, but every time I’ve seen you over the holidays you look more and more glum."

"Every time you see me, I’m that many more days closer to school starting again."

Xavier sat on the edge of Tansy’s bed and gave her fuzzy sock a squeeze. He hadn’t intended to get this close to anyone again, but this kid had seriously wiggled her way into his heart, he cared about her more than he had the words to say.

"No one at school is beating you up or threatening to, are they?" He asked her.

"No. It’s just words."

"Words are still pretty rough to deal with," Xavier said, "especially all on your own. You’re still not ready to tell me everything?"

Tansy shook her head.

"But, you’re not upset you’d do something scary, like hurt yourself?"

"No."

"Promise."

"I promise."

"Good. If you do start to feel that way you come to me, I’m a good listener, and I swear I will find a way to help you no matter what the problem is, I’d even expose my old identity if it meant my celebrity would impress someone into actually doing something to fix your situation."

Tansy must have realized just how sincere he was since she threw her arms around him in a tight hug.

When the hug ended, Xavier stood, intending to leave her to her solitude as she seemed to want, but then he noticed an unopened Christmas gift on Tansy’s desk. He feared it was something horrible from someone horrible and that’s why she’d left it unopened. "Is that from someone who’s mean to you at school?"

"No, it’s from my counselor. It’s a pity gift. She knows something’s wrong so she’s trying to make friends with me."

"Take her up on it, Tansy. I like the idea of you having someone at school in your corner since your mom and dad and I can’t be there." Xavier just hoped that between all the concerned adults in Tansy’s life, they might help her safely navigate whatever was going on with her. Xavier knew very well how bad it could get when you’re just a kid and your life skids out of control.

Episode 748: Just The Two Of Us