Rose Malentire. That's her name. Supposedly.
Joseph isn't exactly one for etymology, and a Spanish student besides, but he knows that "mal" is the French word for "bad" or "evil." And "entire" really explains itself.
The name seems to suit its owner, with the combination of her good looks and sullen but oddly intense demeanor. Joseph doesn't dwell on her often, but she always manages to grab his attention whenever she's nearby. Something about her is vaguely disquieting: she's not frightening, per see, but an aura of dissonance surrounds her.
He never encounters any of Carol's visitors actually in Carol's room until his sophomore year, when he has to double-check her chart for that day. And who should be in that room with the unresponsive Carol but Rose Entirely Bad.
She's sprawled in a chair, not quite slouching, facing the bed, but diagonally forward to the door. As she watches the unmoving figure in the bed, the expression on her face flickers to take the semblance of tension: her jaw tightens, her muscles stiffen, and her eyes radiate anger, though its target remains unknown.
"Excuse me," Joseph says, entering the room, meeting her eyes only briefly. She doesn't dodge his gaze, only keeps her eyes trained onto his steadily, never flinching away from his scrutiny.
She sits there silently, gazing at him with just a hint of annoyance in her otherwise carefully blank face.
Her reaction unsettles him. Her unapologetically deadpan demeanor is mystifying for someone still in her teenage years. Furthermore, it isn't as if Rose is some foster kid who's raised herself on the city streets; her clothes and coat are obviously of quality, and she's always clean and fresh, with perfect makeup and an unblemished complexion.
Joseph finishes hurriedly and leaves the room, grateful to escape his somewhat creepy peer. When shifts change and another volunteer takes over the coma ward for him, Rose Entirely Bad has yet to depart from Carol's side.
A/N: Thanks to my lovely reviewers! Feedback is awesome.
Carol's visitors, in order: her parents, Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff), Wonder Man (Simon Williams), Iron Man (Tony Stark), Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), and Rogue.
I realize that I forgot about Captain America. I know that he had cancer and was frozen in the Evoverse, but in my fics, he's fine, kicking ass and taking names and leading the Avengers. Maybe I'll have him show up later in the story.