Disclaimer: I don't own, that's it. Although, I wouldn't mind having a Nightcrawler. Might be pretty useful. And to GaredBattlespike (shout out to you, my first follower), I figured it out! My previous chapters have been fixed, or they should be, so now there're paragraphs. I also managed to figure out how to upload the entire chapter in one go so I'm very proud of myself right now.

Sorry this took so long to get up! This chapter seriously did not want to be written. I don't know how many times I stared at my screen for who knows how long before I just said 'Screw it' and did something else.

Quick question right now, what should Hope's codename be? I'm having trouble with that, so tell me in a review! I'm open to suggestions.

Here's the chapter, folks.

It had been a few months since the incident that caused me to run away. I had done some stuff I wasn't proud of in that time, but I had to survive.

There had been no sign of Sabertooth, Gambit, or Wolverine in that time, which I was thankful for. I didn't need any more crazy, thank you very much. I couldn't deal with anything else.

I stilled where I was leaning against a building in some trash strewn alley as a police cruiser went by. I was not taking any chances with them finding me. They would lock me away forever, or if I got REALLY lucky I could become a human lab rat. Note my sarcasm there.

I almost decided to skip town completely after I ran away, but something told me to stay where I was. The sense of familiarity was a comfort for me, even if I was living on the streets and eating out of McDonalds dumpsters.

The cruiser passed my hiding place in moments, apparently (and thankfully) not seeing me at all. The patrols used to not bother me, when a cop would randomly drive down my street. Now? It was quite possibly one of the single most annoying things, constantly having to duck behind something unless I wanted to be caught.

Honestly, I was surprised I had survived four, maybe five months out here on my own. Guess I just adapted easier than most people would. Although, the whole super strength thing really helped. I'd had to use it once or twice already on some punks that followed me for a few hours, back when I was first out here. I hadn't had any trouble since.

Something reached my ears, a slight shuffle somewhere in the alley. I looked around wildly, trying to find the noise. Nothing that I could see, but I still felt uneasy. It felt like someone was watching me, had been for awhile now. I felt like this sometimes, but I never got used to it.

I shook off the feeling, hoping I wouldn't regret that. I had more important issues right now, namely what I would eat for the day. I could try McDonalds again. I would just have to wait until after most of the employees were occupied, which wouldn't be for a few hours. I swear, those guys are like clockwork. I knew exactly when they would be off on a smoke break or too busy to notice a kid jumping in their dumpster.

I almost left to head over to the fast food joint, when something made me stop. To this day, I still don't know what made me stop. Maybe it was the Professor, maybe it wasn't. I'll never know for sure.

Something, other than me, was in the alley. I couldn't see it just yet, but I knew it was there. That's the good thing about living in alleys and constantly looking over your shoulder; you become more aware of your surroundings.

I looked around, slowly, trying to figure out where this person was, finally noticing the strange shadow by the dead end wall. Slowly, I bent down and grabbed one of the chunks of rock I kept near in case I needed a weapon. I chucked the thing, waiting only long enough to make sure it hit something. Part of the rock shattered into tiny pieces, while another part stuck almost an inch into the brick. I ran as soon as I heard the surprised 'Woah!'

Not many people were out on the streets, most either in school or at work. Unfortunately, that meant I would be easily spotted by my follower. The good thing was, I could all out sprint without running into too many people.

I headed for the park, there were a few trees and other hiding places I could use. That would be my best bet, considering I would fall over if I tried to go any farther than that. Of course, I might not even make it that far. I could trip and get caught by this mysterious person following me. Or I might just pass out on the sidewalk.

Yep, I'm a total optimist. Can't you just tell?

Thankfully, there was no passing out or tripping, and I made it to the park just fine. Of course, I never accounted for the helicopter or the guy in the wheelchair in my plan.

"Ah! Hope, I'm glad you made it here just fine." the guy in the wheelchair, how the heck did he know my name?, said pleasantly.

A woman in some strange suit with long white hair touched down on the grass behind me. Must've been another person like me.

"Storm." Wheelchair guy said in greeting. "Now, I'm sure you're wondering why you were led here."

I felt lightheaded. How could this guy know what I wanted to ask? This was more than a little freaky.

"Who are you?" I finally asked.

"My name is Charles Xavier. We're both like you, Hope, in the sense that we have special gifts like you do." Xavier introduced, looking completely at ease.

"Oh really? What can you do, then?" I asked.

"~I am a telepath, a mind reader if you will. Storm can, like her namesake, manipulate weather to her wish.~" Xavier's voice, strange and echoey, sounded in my head.

"How did you…what the…you just talked in my head!" I was so freaking over some random guy in my head. It was beyond weird and so not what I was used to.

"I trained to control my ability. In fact, I run a school for gifted people that desire to control their gifts so that they can help people." Xavier said, somehow weaving an offer into the explanation.

"So, this school of yours…where is it?" I asked curiously.

"Bayville. There are a few students your age there. Scott Summers, Jean Grey. I always have space for new students."

I spent a lot of energy thinking about what I was going to do. Stay here on the streets and starve? Or go to some school where it sounded like everything was provided for?

Yeah, that was a tough choice.

"Alright. What the heck, why not. Let's see this school." I said, walking a little closer.

And that, folks, is when I fainted from the exhaustion and lack of food and water. Great way to start off on this little adventure.

So, what do you guys think? Send me a review for codename ideas, please! I appreciate reviews, guys. You CAN send them in, they help me a lot. Tell me if you see a mistake, where I could improve, stuff like that. There's probably a time skip of a few years next. After this, it's probably just following the cartoon slightly. If you don't like that, sorry. No one is forcing you to read. Until next time.