Author's note—This story is very important to me, because I am sick of people writing fics about blind/visually impaired people being weak and dependent. I am legally—but not completely—blind. Though I can read large print and see fairly well for about a foot in front of me, I still use a lot of the same methods other blind people do and I have many friends who are totally blind or close to it. I hope this story helps people see that blind people aren't what those other stories depict. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 1: Seven Hundred Hours

Seven hundred hours is a lot of time. By Rogue's estimation, that was nearly one third of her summer break. Twenty-nine days of time that she could spend doing whatever she pleased, but instead she would be spending that time working as a janitor at the Xavier School For the Blind. Rogue never did anything all that amazing with her summer breaks—normally, she just watched TV with Kurt and slept in—but damn it, she didn't want to spend it like this!

Rogue stared out of the car window at the massive estate-turned-school. The main building was an impressive Georgian style mansion complete with stone pillars and a fountain out front. Two smaller building flanked the original structure. Perfectly manicured lawn stretched out as far as the eye could see. She knew that the school was relatively new, and that everything had been donated by a rich, dead guy named Charles Xavier. The name was fairly famous around Bayville. He had been some kind of big shot philanthropist. Judging by the look of the school, Rogue didn't doubt that the man had lived in style while he was alive and kicking.

As if reading her mind, Raven leaned over toward the window. "It's just as nice on the inside. All of Xavier's possessions, including the artwork, were left for the school. Irene's been on a big conservation kick," she commented.

"That's real nice," Rogue drawled. "Ah bet the floors Ah'll be cleanin' are just beautiful."

Raven's dark eyes hardened. "You dug this grave for yourself, little girl. I won't feel sorry you."

Rogue followed her mother into the main building with her arms crossed sullenly. Her mother hadn't lied—the interior of the mansion was beautiful—and there were plenty of hardwood floors for Rogue to clean. If it hadn't been for the situation, she would have taken the time to look around the place, but at the moment she was too busy brooding. Rogue stared at her shoes defiantly. She wasn't about to admire anything about the school. Down the hall, Rogue heard approaching footsteps, and she looked up to see a boy about her age.

Now, he was worth looking at. The boy was tall and lean. He had dark, auburn hair and strong, angular features. His clothes were very basic—khakis and a blue t-shirt—and dark, red-tinted sunglasses sat on his face. Rogue had to admit that he was hot…not her type, but still very good looking. Though he walked without a cane, it was fairly obvious that he was blind. Between the glasses and the way he seemed to follow the sounds around him by cocking his head, Rogue was certain that he couldn't see. He must be a student here, she thought, but why is he still here in the summer? Rogue's mother must have caught her staring, because she gave her one of her classic "knock-it-off" looks. The boy seemed to zone in on their location, and he came to a stop near them.

"Hi, Scott. How are you?" Raven greeted.

Scott smiled. "I'm good. How about you, Ms. Darkholme?"

The older woman laughed. "I'm doing just fine. Please, call me Raven. And this is my daughter, Marie."

The smile on Scott's face slipped just a little, but then in a flash he was back in super-polite mode. Oh, Rogue could tell he was an ass-kissing, good, little boy. Suddenly, he was even remotely attractive to her anymore. She glared at him uselessly.

"Nice to meet you, Marie." Scott offered his hand. Rogue would have ignored it, but her mother jabbed her in the ribs.

"Yeah, same to you," Rogue murmured as she shook his hand. She noticed that as soon as her hand touched his, he covered it with his free hand as well. He also held on to her way too long for her tastes. It just weirded her out, and Rogue didn't want any part of it.

"Irene's in her office, if you two are here to see her," Scott told them.

"That's just what I was about to ask you," Raven confirmed. "I told her we'd be here around noon, and we're a bit early. Well, I think we are going to go ahead in. Have a nice day, Scott."

He nodded. "It was good seeing you again, Ms. Dar..Raven. And I'm sure I'll be running into you again all summer, Marie."

Rogue rolled her eyes. "Great."

As soon as Scott was out of earshot, Raven took her battle stance—one hand on her hip and her lips in a firm line. "Do you always have to be so rude?"

Rogue shrugged. "What? Was Ah supposed to kiss his butt jus' because he's some blind, pretty-boy? And he didn't seem all tha' excited to meet me, either."

"That because he knows you vandalized his school. Rogue, you are going to have to face the fact that you have to make it up to Irene and Scott, and to the rest of the school." Raven gestured to the walls around them. "And, for the record: no, you don't have to kiss his butt because he's a blind, pretty-boy. You should treat him with the same respect that everyone else deserves."

Rogue frowned. God, she hated it when her mother got all high and mighty. "Fine. Ah'll play nice."

Irene's office was like any other principal's office that Rogue had ever been in complete with meaningless degrees hanging on the wall. She sat facing "the Batwoman" in a semi-comfortable chair with her mother beside her—just like so many other times, in so many other principal's offices. Neither of the older women acted like they even knew each other, let alone were lovers.

Irene leaned forward. "Well, Rogue, I'm glad you were here early today. I'm sure Logan would appreciate the same respect tomorrow."

"Who's Logan?" Rogue asked feigning interest.

"He's our groundskeeper, maintenance man, and sometimes security guard. You'll meet him tomorrow. He'll be showing you around and telling you what needs done," Irene explained.

"Jus' wonderful. So why am I here now?"

Irene seemed to be annoyed with Rogue's attitude, but didn't say a word about it.. Her lips remained in a firm line. "I thought it would be best if we discussed what kind of schedule we could work out."

"How abou' you two discuss it and tell me what Ah'll be doin', cause that's what's gonna happen anyways?" Rogue stood up so quickly she sent one of the chairs falling to the ground, but she didn't look back to retrieve it. She was out of there! There was no way she was going to listen to anymore of that crap.

Rogue raced back the way she had come in, and rounded a corner…WHAM!