A\N: Hello there! This is my first X-Men story in a while. It's only the beginning, so bear with me here. I've been around the series forever and I adore it. Plus, even though he's kind of an arse and an idiot most of the time, I love Bobby Drake aka Iceman. Mostly from the original series because he was kind of an outcast and hates Cyclops. Hehe. So, enjoy while I try to present a worthwhile story.

"Hello? Jess, are you listening to a word I'm saying?"

"Huh? What?" Jessa McCormick snapped her head up off the cool desk top, her large blue eyes wide and alert. She turned in her seat to face Jean Gray who had an impatient look upon her face. Jean had never cared for the younger girl, but being her foster sister, she had to look after her.

"I was telling you that I want to introduce you to the professor after school today," Jean repeated sternly.

"I already told you, Jeanie, I don't want to meet some creepy bald guy in a wheelchair who runs a school full of mu—''

"Shut up!" she snarled, quickly peering around to see if anyone had heard. "I warned you not to talk about the 'm' word in public!"

Jessa rolled her eyes and began idly twirling a strand of short black hair around her finger. She really didn't see what all the big hairy deal was about people knowing she and her sister were mutants. After all, it wasn't like they wanted to hurt anybody. She had tried to explain this to Jean many times, but the older girl always insisted that it was better to just keep quiet about it.

"I have things I need to do after school today, okay? So maybe we can do this later. Or never. Does never work for you?" Jessa asked snidely, sneering at her foster sister and turning her back to look out of the large windows that lined the classroom wall. She watched a few burn-outs on the grass for a while, until she felt a sharp poke in her back. She whirled around and cried, "What the hell do you want, Jean? I told you I'm not going and that's…" her voice trailed off. The person standing before her was definitely not Jean Gray. He was tall and thin with short blonde hair. He had ice blue eyes that were surveying Jessa with slight amusement. She blushed and looked at her feet.

"Um, you're not Jean," she blurted stupidly. The boy laughed and shook his head. Then he stuck out his hand and said loudly, "No, not quite. I'm Bobby Drake; I live at the Xavier Institute with Jean, though. She's told us a lot about you. You're Jessa, right?"

Jessa blinked and tried to register this. Then she ventured slowly, "Yeah…I'm Jessa McCormick. You live at the institute, too? Why?"

"Well, see, a lot of kids live there. Kids who are…special. Who need someplace safe to go to help control what they can't. Like Jean. Like you," Bobby explained. Jessa narrowed her eyes and stood up as the bell rang.

"Look, I don't know what you're talking about. I have to go to class now."

"Wait!" Bobby grabbed her arm. Jessa's eyes flashed sharply; she hated to be man-handled. She tore away violently and scowled.

"I know about you, Jessa," Bobby said quietly. "I know about your powers. I know that sometimes you have a hard time controlling them. Professor Xavier can help you, we can all help you."

An image of her father suddenly appeared in her mind's eye. Standing above her his arm raised and telling her that she was worthless. That nothing could ever help a little monster freak like her.

"You don't know anything about me, and if you did then you would know that I don't need any help. Just leave me alone, okay?" she said angrily. She could feel the bubbling heat rising in her stomach, it was happening already. She had to get out of there.

"Just hear me out!" he begged.

She did not wait for him to finish. She whirled on her heel and bolted from the room, down the stairs and out of the building. The heat was unbearable now, it was burning her alive. She screamed as ruby red flames leapt all around her. She could feel her blood turn scorching hot and her heart threatened to burst. Then all was black, and she was falling.

A\N: Okay, so, they you are. The first chapter. If you haven't guessed, she's not the happiest person. Can Bobby help her with that? Who knows. And yes, her power is fire creation and manipulation. Like Pyro, only she's more powerful. Care to stick around for the next chapter? Sorry it's such a cliché cliffhanger.