Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men, Angel, or any of their characters. Nor do I own Gwen. She belongs to the great Joss Whedon. This is just a random idea that popped into my crazy brain one day.

Check out my profile for the link to my Photobucket to see Gwen and the others!

Chapter 2: Home Away From Hell

I've been in this school for about two hours now, so I think now is a good enough time to wander. The place honestly can't even be called a school. There aren't even any students! Well, none that wanted to talk me anyway. During the grand tour, which was lacking in the grand department, Mr. Lensherr and Mr. Xavier assured me that they're just wary of new people. I know that's a lie. It's more than being cautious. The other kids can just sense that I'm different from them, dangerous.

Hell, my winter clothing in the middle of summer is enough to tell them I'm a weirdo.

Mr. Lensherr is very nice to me. He's like a father – a real father. Best of all, he can actually touch me! I freaked out when he took off my hood; I thought for sure he was going to get shocked for sure, but he wasn't. When I asked him about it, he said it was because his power canceled out mine and vice versa. I don't really understand, but it's great. He's the first person I've ever been able to touch. It's so freaking great! Mr. Xavier told me that Mr. Lensherr is to be my personal teacher when it comes to controlling my curse.

First step: Realize that my curse isn't a curse, but a gift. Good luck with that one.

I don't know why I'm so happy all of a sudden. This place is just going to end up like home and Gills Rock. I'll be gone in a week, I'm sure of it. The only thing is I'm not sure that I want to leave. I'm sitting outside by a fountain, contemplating my total lack of a social life outside an old man with a fetish for metals, when I hear footsteps.

"Hi!"

I look up to see a boy about my age. Besides his weird red glasses, this scene is all too familiar. I have to get away from him, now.

"I'm Scott Summers," he says, holding out his hand to me. Yeah, I've got to go. Standing up, I slowly back away from him. "Um, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I just…well, I have the room across from you, and I noticed that you were new and sitting alone out here. I just thought I'd come and say hi, so…hi," he says with an awkward smile and shrug, putting his hands in his pockets.

"I'm…I'm Gwen, Gwen Raiden," I say, moving close enough so he can't touch me. He's cute, and those glasses give him a sense of mystery. He seems nice, but what do I know? "Yeah, I'm new. I just got here a little while ago."

"Well, I saw you with Professor Lensherr earlier. Did he show you around?" So what if he did? I shake my head. "Come on, then! I'll show you around," he says, reaching out to grab my hand.

"NO!" I shout frantically, backing away from him. I look at him, terrified, and see he's blushing in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, it's just…I can't…I'm not allowed to touch people," I tell him quietly.

"It's okay. I can't see people," he admits, and I look at him in shock. Scott just smiles at me. "Well, not in any other color but red. If I ever take these off, I could fire a hole in the earth. Ocular energy beams and all," he explains. "These glasses Professor Xavier made me protect everyone around me."

"Same with my gloves, but they don't work very well." It's true. Sometimes I'll get so juiced up that a few bolts will just fly right through the gloves.

"What's your power?" he asks, leading me away from the fountain and back towards the school.

"I generate and manipulate electricity, " I answer, looking at the ground.

"Cool!" he says enthusiastically as we enter the back door and go down a hall, passing a group of kids in the living room playing games. "Anything else?"

"Well, I can create some pretty powerful and damaging electric blasts," I tell him shyly. Honestly, I'm a little shocked that someone finds my curse – sorry, gift – so interesting. "I can also manipulate and control whatever electronic devices I come in contact with, even suck the energy out of them."

"Not bad," he tells me, impressed. "More interesting than blowing things up." Scott smiles at me, and I smile back.

Scott didn't try to hold my hand for the rest of the day. He showed me around the school, and even introduced me to a few of the other students. One girl, Ororo Munroe, has the room next to me and can even create electricity, too. She's called the school's local Weather Witch, changing the weather whenever it suits the student body's or the garden's needs. She said that Professor Xavier has told her to stop, since sudden changes like that draw attention to other mutants, the kind that might hurt us.

"So, how long have you been here?" I ask him, sitting next to him at a table by ourselves for dinner.

"Almost a year. My brother, Alex, is eight and I just turned fourteen," he answers. Alex, that must've been the little blonde haired boy with little gloves covering his hands who waved at Scott earlier. "How about you?"

"I don't know how long I'll stay. I'm usually never in places like this for too long, but…I guess it's not all bad," I tell him with a small smile. "I won't be fourteen until next month."

"Hey, Gwen, do you…I mean, well, what I mean to say is, have you ever had a boyfriend?" Scot asks, looking around the busy cafeteria distractedly.

"No, why," I inquire curiously. Why would he ask that?

"No reason," he replies quickly, and I notice him smile a little bit. What is wrong with him? "This spaghetti sure is good, huh?" Before I could even answer, Ororo came over with a reddish-brown haired girl and sat down next to me. The other girl sat next to Scott.

"Hey, Gwen," Ororo greeted happily, "this is my friend, Jean Grey," she introduces, nodding to Jean, who nods back.

"Hi, I'm Gwen Raiden," I say, smiling at the redhead, happy at the prospect of a new friend.

"Hi," Jean greeted shortly, before looking at Scott. "Hello, Scott," she says dreamily.

"Hey, Jean," Scott replied, far too engrossed in his food to pay her any mind.

Ororo and Jean sat down, and I just went back to eating. After a few moments, I saw Ororo trying not to laugh and, wondering what was so funny, I gave my dark skinned friend a strange look. Ororo just nodded discreetly in Jean's direction, and that was when I saw Jean sneaking glances at Scott every now and then.

Jean has a crush on Scott, just like me. Why would Scott ever want me when he could have Jean, someone he could actually touch?

After dinner is finished, I go back to my room and set about my favorite pass time, drawing. Whenever I draw, I have to use rubber-encased pens. Something in rubber cancels out my lightning, but I'm not really sure what. Mr. Lensherr bought me some special pencils though, left them with a note on my bed. Back home, I could never draw in pencil because they would burn into cinders. Thanks to Mr. Lensherr, I can finally erase mistakes instead of starting over. I've been drawing the landscape outside my window until I hear a knock at my door. Why would anyone want to see me? Opening it, I'm a little more than shocked to find Scott on the other side.

"Hey," I greet confusedly.

"Hi," he replies, shuffling on his feet nervously.

"Is something wrong, Scott?" I ask uncertainly, looking at him oddly. "Is everything okay? Do you need something?"

"Sort of," he replies, though he still sounds nervous. "Um, Gwen, do you…um, would you be willing…I…what I'm trying to say is, would you want to go see a movie sometime, with me?" Scott looks at his feet, so he doesn't see me smile. He likes me! He likes me, not Jean! "God, what am I thinking? Of course you don't! You just got here and –"

"Scott," I interrupt happily, and he looks up, "I'd love to go out with you." Scott smiles and gives a breath of relief as I laugh quietly.

"Great! So, um, do you need any help unpacking?" he asks, pointing to the boxes still taped up.

"Yeah, Scott, that would be great. Thanks."

"Not a problem. It's what I'm here for, heavy lifting," he tells me jokingly and I smile back. He is too sweet!

P.S.: Four pages total.