"And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones."

"Maya."

Maya simply blinks once, pulling herself back from wherever she had just gone and focused on her teacher's voice. Looking around, she saw the entire classroom was empty, it was only her sitting in the back alone. She pushed papers off of her desk, dropping them carelessly in her bag and slung it over her shoulder. Her eyes remained straight, never completely acknowledging her teacher. Standing up, she walks to the door, face unchanging.

"Maya," her teacher calls again, so she simply stops at the door. "Listen, I know it's been hard on you since Marnie died, it's been hard on all of us. But, your grades are falling and I don't want to fail you this semester. Just try harder, okay? If not for yourself, for Marnie, don't you think that's what she would've wanted?"

She doesn't offer a nod or any signal of affirmation when she slips out the door, leaving her teacher alone.

Marnie. Why'd she have to mention Marnie? Why does everyone feel it's necessary to mention Marnie?

Her bag knocks lightly against her left leg, and it's comfortable again. Locking herself in her mind again, she exits the school, not turning her head to the whispers of her name. Strands of her red hair fight against the wind, but she doesn't make a move to fix it. She's off school grounds and taking the long way home. Maya really doesn't speak much at all anymore, she doesn't do much of anything. Not since Marnie died.

Marnie.

Some people thought it was just an excuse she was using to be lazy or not do anything. But, they weren't there, they didn't see what she saw.

They didn't feel what she felt.

It had already been 9 months, but in Maya's head it only felt 9 minutes. And that's how she lived. In a constant state of silence, of pure silence and anguish. It was never displayed on her face, never heard in her voice, but she felt it in her heart. That's where it mattered most.

Marnie was sitting in her heart, laughing and telling secrets, and batting her brown eyes. She talked about crushes and pink skirts, smiling all the while. So, Maya never understood how anyone moved on, how two month of grieving was enough. Nothing would ever be enough for her.

It's almost dark when Maya gets back home. Her parents sit at the kitchen counter, waiting for her to come home, in every sense of the phrase.

"Maya!" Katy exclaims, rising from her stool. Maya continues walking to the stairs, not even shifting her eyes away from the goal. "Where have you been? Your father and I were worried sick about you."

Still, Maya doesn't answer her. "Maya, Maya!" Shawn yells, coming from behind the island. "Didn't you hear your mother talking to you?" But, Maya keeps moving, walking up the stairs to her room, not slamming the door behind her.

Shawn didn't mean to yell at Maya, he wasn't an authoritarian, not in the least. He just wanted Maya to speak to him. They tried everything they could. They took her to her to the best therapists, which just ended up being 90 minute sessions of silence. Katy tried speaking to her alone, seeking some sort of emotion or response. Shawn drove with her, sometimes at night, hoping she'd open up. Then, they took her phone, then her computer, then her room door. It wasn't punishment, they just wanted something that would elicit some sort of reaction from her.

Instead of normal 'teenage' tantrums, she simply took a shower and went to sleep like she did every night since Marnie's funeral.

Maya followed her routine almost like a religion. She got up at 7:20 on the dot, took a shower, and put her black coat on over her clothes. She ate her breakfast, most times in complete silence. Then, she drifted through the school day without speaking, and came home, the long way. When she got home, she dropped her bag under her desk, took a shower and went to sleep.

Maya lived on an endless cycle, and it was the only thing keeping her sane.

That, and Marnie in her dreams.

As Katy turns to Shawn, eyes brimming with tears, he envelops her in hug. "I just want her back, Shawn."

"I know, me too. It's like when Marnie died, she took Maya with her." Katy's sobbing into his shirt when the house phone rings. Reaching around her, still cradling her in one arm, he answers the phone. "Hello?"

"Shawn Hunter." The voice is mature and strong.

"Yes? Who is this?"

"My name is George Feeny. I can help your daughter Maya."

"What? How do you know about Maya?"

"A colleague told me about her, and I believe I know how to help. I will be there tomorrow at noon, make sure Maya is there." He hangs up the phone without so much as a goodbye.

Katy lifts her head from Shawn's shirt, "Who was that?"

His face is wrinkled in confusion. "George Feeny."

"I've never heard of him."

"Neither have I. But, he says that he can help Maya."

"He can?" Katy's voice is hopeful, and she finally smiles genuinely at Shawn.

"He sounded pretty sure of himself. It's worth the shot."

Meanwhile, Maya stands in the shower, water pouring over her closed eyes. Behind her eyelids, she sees movies of her and Marnie, young and innocent. The steam fills the bathroom, as she cages herself in deeper, trying to keep it from happening again.

The bathroom products rise again, and the water begins to flow from the sink, rising upwards.

She searches for control, but all she can see is Marnie, so youthful and vibrant.

Items in the bathroom levitate now, even the water from the sink travels in the air.

"Marnie." She allows herself to say her name, crouching over in the shower almost breaking down. The water's flowing over her body as she sits on the floor of the shower.

Memories of Marnie rush in like a flood, and she knows she can't control it this time.

Laughter.

Her blue skirt, she loved that skirt.

Freezing cold, it's winter time.

Long way home.

Dancing around.

Squealing.

Car tires.

Marnie.

Maya forces herself out of that place, opening her eyes again. She struggles for air, and tries to regain her control, not wanting to slip again. Grabbing the bar inside the shower, she finally stands to her feet and turns off the water. Sighing, she pushes away the shower curtain to inspect the damage.

Thankfully, it's not too bad this time, just a few bottles gone and water on the floor, she can clean it up.

"Maya?" It's Katy, again. "Someone's coming to see you tomorrow." Her voice was hopeful, waiting for Maya's answer.

It wasn't going to come.

She hears Katy's footsteps padding away softly, as she wipes up the water on the floor and shuts the cabinets under the sink.

Honestly, she's confused. Nobody came to visit her, not since they realized there was no point. She wouldn't speak to anyone, not friends, not family, not even Marnie's parents anymore. Then, they just stopped coming altogether. They didn't ask for her on the phone, they didn't call for her when they visited, and she didn't try to make them come back.

Whoever they were, it wouldn't be any different, this person would be wasting their time, and hers, by visiting.

So, when she's called downstairs to meet this mystery visitor, she's not surprised it's two people she's never seen before. This was probably some unknown relative of hers or Marnie's believing that they could get through to her.

Stiffly, she sits on the chair next to the window, eyes zeroing on the two people sitting on the couch.

They both seem old enough to be her father, and their faces look as if they know a secret. Neither of her parents are in the room, but she knows they're close by, listening.

She doesn't know why they're here, especially if they already know that she doesn't speak to therapists. And she knows she shouldn't, but it's not exactly something she can help anymore.

Listening intently, she can hear their assessments of her buzzing around in their heads. "Very petite; redheaded; blue eyes; quite small; no clear reaction to or of us; stoic expression—"

"You know, Maya..."

The voice almost startles her, but her composure is something she's been able to train, so her face doesn't register surprise or shock.

"It's not polite to listen to my thoughts, or Mr. Brennan's, without our consent."

"You're not alone, Maya. See, George and I, exactly like you." The one that she presumes to be Mr. Brennan speaks to her, actually speaks. George, however, continues staring at her. She can no longer hear his thoughts, and she's able to block out whatever messages he might be sending to her. That much, she's been able to control.

Scoffing, Maya rolls her eyes at his statement. "Are you sure about that?" Her voice is raw, like she hasn't used it in months.

Demonstrating how wrong they were, she refocuses her energy and watches intently as Brennan's face changes to complete awe. Every car, lawnmower, garden gnome, and other objects left outside now sat at eye-level outside the window on the block. It doesn't take as much out of her as it used to, and she holds it for a minute more. George keeps himself focused on Maya. Everything outside crashes, as they return to their previous position, and Maya tilts her head slightly to the side.

Brennan turns his head back to her, wonder plastered clearly on his face. "She'd do well there, George."

"That she will."

"Well where?" She asks him, knowing he was waiting to hear her, like that, again.

"At a school, with people who understand, different abilities, but all alike in a sense. All mutants."

It's been more than difficult for Maya to be alone in this, in controlling things and reading thoughts. But, the word 'mutants' sounded disgusting, and she refused to think of herself like that.

"We can help you, there. You can learn to control this."

"You can help? You can't.. You don't know a thing about me, about my powers." She's more than reluctant to share more, but he has to know what he's getting into. "There's more to this, than you know. It's more than just the mind and other stuff, it's-it's—"

"Stronger than you could ever imagine."

"Yeah." She responds out loud accidentally, confirming what he said.

"We'll have to speak to her parents, George." Brennan breaks in the conversation, with physical words.

"They'll say yes." He sounds so sure of himself, Maya actually believes him.

It almost makes her smile.

Almost.

And it takes a bit, (a lot) of coaxing on Brennan's part, he was more the charmer, but they agreed to send her to the school. After promising it wasn't a nut house or mental institution or anything of the like, Shawn and Katy consented. But, not after talking about it with Maya, though it was more of a one-sided discussion.

"Baby girl, if you don't want to leave, please tell us, say something." Katy begged. Maya only sat on the couch, looking between her parents, legs crossed under her body. Shawn held Katy's hand tightly, hoping Maya'd burst out in tears, and say she wanted to stay. That, of course, didn't happen. Her suitcases sat packed right next to her on the floor, and a car waiting to take her to the school. "Alright, well, I guess you should get going." Katy gave up.

"I love you, Maya Papaya." Shawn calls her by an old nickname as Maya stands to her feet in front of her parents. "Please, take care of yourself. Please."

"I love you, baby girl." Katy quickly kisses her forehead, walking Maya to the door.

But, Maya hesitates with her hand on the door knob, and whispers back, "Thank you." She only hears Katy gasp when she finally pushes out the door, dragging her suitcases behind her.

The driver quickly comes out to Maya's side, helping her put her luggage in the trunk. Slipping in the backseat, Maya watches the home she's lived in for 15 years from behind the glass of the window. It grows smaller and smaller when they begin to drive down the road, yet, oddly, she feels completely serene.

"Miss Hart," The driver calls from the front. "I've been told to inform you that this will be a lengthy drive. And if, at any point in time, you should need something, just notify me." He returns his full attention to the road when Maya barely nods in reply.

Finally, she stretches out across the backseat a few hours into the drive using her black coat as a blanket and falls asleep. She dreams heavily, slow images, steady movies, all of her and Marnie.

Sometimes they're bad dreams, horrible, heartbreaking ones; other times, they're happy and blissful dreams.

However, when she awakes, like most nights, she can't remember it. It's often hard differentiating what's reality and what's not for her. What felt like minutes had actually been hours, when she sees the sky starting to tinge orange.

"Uhm, 'scuse me?" Maya starts, her voice is thick with sleep. Looking out the window she sees they're still driving out on some quiet road. "When will we be reaching the school?"

"In approximately 4 hours, M'am." He calls back. "Do you need anything?"

Taking in the scenery, she's tempted to ask where they are, still, she feels she has already spoken too much. The sun's just begun to set, and the sky's turning pink. It's so beautiful, she's overcome with the urge to draw it. She holds herself and watches the sun go down, taking the light with it.

Then, she's filled with the need to tell the driver to turn them around, and take her home. But, she then remembers why she's going to this school, so she can go home and tell her parents that she's alright, and that she's so sorry for everything she's put them through.

Truth be told, she's a little scared to control it. Up until Feeny had communicated with her mentally, it had always been up to her and her emotions. What she was doing wasn't exactly control, but at least her powers weren't going rampant in public. Anymore.

Yet, there was still one important aspect she hadn't been entirely able to reign in properly yet (two, actually).

She could hear things, things she had never wanted to hear, and it took most of her concentration to block it all out. That's why here grades were slipping, if you spend 90 percent of the class period blocking people out, you can't hear what's being taught.

That's why she needs this school, she needs help. She needs help from people who understand her.

So Maya swallows all doubt and hesitation, and relaxes the rest of the way. She spends the rest of the drive picturing the school and the students, and wondering where she would stay. She thought about the 'mutants' she would encounter. Logically, she knew they probably wouldn't have pink skin or purple eyes, yet she couldn't help the images filling her head.

Looking at the driver, she deduced that he was most likely a 'mutant' as well. There was no way any completely normal human could drive for over 13 hours without stopping. Or maybe he was just good? Impossible, he had to be a mutant of some sort.

Recalling what she had been told about the school, it was in the panhandle of Florida, and not able to be located without precise directions.

Of course it wouldn't be easy to locate, it was a school for people like her, it wouldn't have been safe. She's noticed that the entire route she had been awake for was all grassy plains, empty land. Not a single soul out there.

Running a hand through her wild red hair, she speculated that her hair might be part of it. It used to be a dark strawberry blonde, but as Maya got older it turned to an actual red.

As her powers developed it turned to an actual red. What if her body turned red? She's a 'mutant', it's possible.

She spends the rest of the drive trying not to think about that, choosing to focus on what would happen at this school.

Being a somewhat hidden girl, she's never really had to deal with bullies or anyone other than Marnie. Occasionally, she would hear a remark about her hair, but never anything really hurtful. At her school, she was basically ignored by everyone.

"Ms. Hart?" The driver interrupts her deep thinking, and she almost jumps. "We're here."

Inhaling deeply and gathering up her strength, she nods as the driver pulls up to a huge house.

It was a house, not a school.

Hundreds of thoughts slammed her at once about what could have been happening, and why she was here, and if the driver was actually who he said he was. But, when Maya saw Feeny and Brennan come through the front door of the home and relaxed a bit.

Even if they had tricked her, she knew she was more than strong enough to fight back.

Brennan came to her car door and opened it for her, gesturing her for her to get out. Stepping out cautiously, she gazed at the mansion before her.

It had to be at least 3 stories tall. The outside walls were a pale sandy brown, like beach sand, and it looked something like an old English manor. The lights were on in every front window and Maya felt like she had stepped into a different time period.

"Hello, Maya, I trust your ride her wasn't unpleasant." Without telling her to follow, Brennan walked back to the home, standing next to Feeny again.

As she got to the front door, she was bathed in light and it seemed like, indeed, every light in the house was on. With the high ceiling, chandelier, and the wooden banister on the winding staircase, Maya decided that it was an old English manor. It was just misplaced in Florida, and coincidentally became a school. For mutants.

Absently, she was walking directly behind Brennan, but she wasn't paying any attention to what he was saying. He was pointing and talking animatedly, but she wasn't really hearing him.

Instead, she was making her own observations about the place.

First, every single room was huge. Not one room he had showed her was of normal size, not even the kitchen. Second, the "classrooms", weren't actually classrooms. They were actually sun rooms with a some desks, chairs, and a chalkboard at the front. Third, the staircase to her room was exactly 54 steps, and it was exhausting.

Maya's room wasn't anything too grand, unlike every other room in the house. And she was actually happy that it was nearly the same size as her room at home. Her bags already sat by the door, and there's a basic grey sheet and blanket on the bed. The only sources of light in her room were the lamp on the desk, and the one in the ceiling, the walls were a boring taupe and in her head, she's ready to paint on the walls. Scenes of her and Marnie painting her bedroom walls quickly ran through her head.

"Maya?" Brennan calls her name and she looks back to his face. He's not old, but he's not exactly young either. But his smile is enticing, it's the most youthful thing about his face. It portrays a sense of mild rebellion, yet it's warm and inviting. It makes her want to smile as well, just for the sake of smiling.

Nodding, she signals that she understands, hoping it will suffice. When Brennan nods back, she exhales slightly. Turning her back to him, she looks at the window in the corner of her room.

Suddenly it opens and the chilly autumn air blows in. Whirling around her heel, she inspects Brennan once again, and the boyish smirk he gives tells her that was his doing. "Goodnight, Maya." The door shuts behind him and Maya's left alone in her room.

She takes a seat on her bed, allowing the days events to wash over her. Slipping off her black coat, she saunters over to the open window. The wind blows over her face in a cool rush. Stars she's never seen before greet her in twinkles, and Maya loves how they look. There's a fountain right in the middle of an open field of grass below her window, and the water blows in cool sprays on her skin. Sighing, she turns back to her room.

This will be her room. Part of her new life. A life where she will learn to control her powers. Then she'll be able to go back home and love her parents. She'll be able to tell them everything and they will forgive her.

So Maya decides to get started. Unpacking her bags is light work, she's filling drawers and hanging clothes for 15 minutes, and she's ready to hop in the shower.

In her bathroom, Maya stares at the handles for moments before turning on one and checking the temperature. After several seconds of cold water, she turns on the other one and waits for steam to fill the bathroom before undressing and stepping in. There's no bar in the shower she notes, as she surveys the small space. Exhaling slowly, she forces herself to wholeheartedly focus only on squeezing bath soap on to her washcloth. She lets the lavender aroma entrance her when the soap falls into the crevices of her body.

For the entire 11 minutes of the shower, Maya focuses on everything trivial: the color of the walls, the number of tiles in the shower, the water pressure. She does everything she can not to let the thoughts come back into her head.

Maya does everything she can not to think about Marnie. She fights it as hard as she can, but it still happens. She sits in it for a few seconds, but she feels herself getting too deep; so, she pulls herself out of the shower, wrapping a blue towel around her shaking body. The place is too unfamiliar to relinquish any kind of control for even seconds. The glass of the mirror is steamed up and she wipes some away to survey herself through the daze that always follows.

Red hair is stuck together in clumps falling down her shoulders. Her irises are tinged with a deep red and she stares intently at herself until it goes away. Once it does, she steps back into her room, and see nearly everything she had just put away, in a mess on the floor.

Throwing her head back with a deep groan, she picks her night clothes out of the pile and gets dressed again. Cursing under her breath, she refolds her clothing and places them back where they belong.

Shutting her closet doors, she pads back to her bed, laying down to face the window in the corner, which is still ajar. Tying her hair into a bun, she climbs underneath cold sheets, and does her best to fall asleep.

After a night of what felt like a completely dreamless sleep, she wakes up to her ringing alarm clock.

7:45 AM

Swinging her feet off her bed, a white paper on the floor in front of her door catches her eye. Lumbering over to the paper, words are written in black, cursive letters penned neatly across the page.

Good morning, Ms. Hart,

Before you can actually begin taking classes, there will need to be a full evaluation of your powers and abilities so there will be proper class placement. It is absolutely necessary that you showcase every ability you possess at this assessment. The evaluation will take place in the lowest level of this school, the Danger Room.

I will be the only one with you Maya, do not be afraid to reveal any power that you have. It would be in your best interest to do so.

With the proper class placement and regular sessions with me, we can help you control your powers.

There are, however, other students at this school. Therefore, at one point or another, you will have to verbally interact with people besides myself and Mr. Brennan.

If you truly want control Maya, you will receive it.

But, you must be willing to reveal every card you have.

We can help and will help you.

Sincerely yours,

George Feeny

So, just two things to note:

Not everything in this story will be entirely based off of every X-Men comic in existence. The story will frequently deviate from the traditional comics and such, the whole thing won't be parallels or this would be incredibly boring. A few things that don't belong in GMW (Maya's red hair) are because of the X-Men parallels, and things that don't belong in X-Men (Maya's blue eyes) are because of GMW. The comics and movies act as inspiration and a huge foundation for this story, but it will not be the whole thing.

Everything won't be entirely accurate. Uhm, I don't really think anybody knows the exact layout of the X-Mansion, so don't slaughter me if I rename things or put rooms in different places, or different GMW characters with different personality traits. And, more likely than not, powers will not be based on personality traits.

I think that's it.

Yep.

Also, I barely ever revise because this like 4,000 words and I really need a Beta. Like seriously. Any recommendations?

XOXO, - Minnie