Conflict

Jinx began attending classes the next day. It was an interesting set-up. She attended the two classes Jean taught, chemistry and biology, and after those two classes she'd wait until Jean had a free period. Then, the two of them sat next to each other at a table in Ororo's classroom. If Jinx had something to say, she would telepathically tell Jean, and Jean would answer for her. Naturally, all of the students thought Jinx would just be using Jean to cheat. Not surprisingly, a lot of tension built up towards Jinx, unbeknownst to her. This tension came to a head after her first week of lessons.

Jinx was sitting outside Professor Xavier's office, waiting for Jean to finish the meeting she and the Professor were having with a prospective student. Rogue, Jubilee, Kitty, Bobby, and Piotr walked by her chair. Rogue stopped abruptly and turned to face Jinx.

"I'll bet it's real nice having Jean cheat for you in class," she said snottily.

"Rogue, leave her alone. Jean'll be mad," said Bobby, nervously.

Jinx just looked at Rogue; she had no clue what cheating was.

"I certainly don't know why that bitch puts up with your creepy ass. There are other people in the school, you know," Rogue continued. Rogue's feeling towards Jean had been influenced by the love she felt in Wolverine for the older woman; part of Rogue was quite smitten with Logan. She also did not fully understand the situation with Jinx.

Rogue continued hurling a volley of insults at the confused girl. Jinx didn't understand why Rogue was mad at her, but she understood the choice words that Rogue was using.

As the insults flew outside the office, the Professor and Jean were speaking to 16 year-old Anna Marina and her parents. Suddenly, Jean's head jerked up and she sat perfectly still. She heard Phoenix's voice in her head saying, "Pay more attention to your charge!"

Jean stood and moved to the door, ignoring The Professor's surprised look. She flung the door open just in time to see Rogue leaning towards Jinx, peeling her gloves off: "If I had your powers, would I be special, too?"

Rogue reached for Jinx's face. She couldn't see the fiery blue wisps of angry power rising off of the other girl's body, but Jean could. The pure hot energy rose from the girl's body in a pulsating forcefield, this energy was more dangerous than any force field.

Jean pushed Rogue's hand out of the way just in time, ignoring the brief shock as skin met skin. She stared into Jinx's eyes.

Jinx was trembling, her unchecked powers flowing over every inch of her body. Her face, though raging with anger was oddly blank at the same time. Her green eyes were turquoise with the blue Furie flames.

"Jinx, snap out of it!" Jean urged, to no avail.

So, she tried again, making her voice more forceful as she said, "Whiplash! Stop this now!"

Again, there was no reaction, so she let Phoenix try: "Furie, release the girl!"

Jinx blinked, but she was not released. The power continued to seep from her body. In her close proximity, Jean could feel the heat the girl was generating.

It was clear to Jean that the only way to break the trance was physical contact. She hoped that Furie would not be allowed to hurt Phoenix's host or the crowd that had gathered to watch the altercation.

"Sweetie," she said soothingly as she slowly reached for the girl, "I'm going to touch you, okay?"

When she came into contact with the sheets of power pouring from the girl, she felt a searing pain in her fingertips and smelled the acrid stench of burning human flesh. She jerked her hand back quickly.

The crowd around was watching semi-eagerly, but most concerned, as Jean pulled her leather uniform gloves out of her pocket. She slipped them on, wincing slightly.

Once again, she reached forward. This time the heat was dulled slightly and she was able to make contact with Jinx's skin. As she did there was an intense flash of heat, coupled with a bright flash of light and she went flying backwards into Xavier's office. Her shoulders connected sharply with the edge of the desk and she slumped to the floor. The lamp on the desk wobbled dangerously before falling and connecting with her left eyebrow.

She looked out the office door and saw a terrified Jinx standing there with faces poking around the edge of the door. Rogue's was right near the middle. Her voice shook as she said, "Jean, I'm so sorry!"

She let her eyes rest on Jinx. The girl's five foot six inch frame was trembling, and for the first time, Jean saw how thin the girl was. Too thin.

Tears welled dramatically in Jinx's eyes, until they threatened to spill over. She licked her lips and parted them. The sound that then emerged from between her lips could hardly be categorized as a voice. However, the sound landed upon Jean with such a force that she, too, felt moved to tears. The girl rasped, "S . . .sorry."

Then she turned and bolted down the hall. The crowd before her parted out of her way like she was carrying a plague.

Jean felt a stab of pain dash through her mind, leaving a void in its wake. Jinx was gone and Jean was . . .dizzy. She scrambled to her knees and crawled haltingly to the door, she peered around the jamb and could just see Jinx's form rounding the corner.

Did Jean eat that day? She couldn't remember as she emptied the contents of her stomach. She tried to go after Jinx but the damn room would not stop tilting and spinning. She crawled, abashedly to the elevator across the hall, and descended into medical ward.