A/N: I'm sorry. I think I made a mistake in one of my earlier chapters. I referred to Scott as being Jean's husband, when actually they're just engaged. :shamefaced:

It was the morning after the museum food court incident. The day before, the group had left the museum in a hurry before people figured out what they were. A news brief displayed on the museum television had also set off a warning. A mutant had attacked the president!

Luckily for Pyro and the others, this new problem gave the professor something else to think on, leaving them, for the time being, unpunished.

---

It seemed like the beginning of any other day. Apparently, there had been no class assignment involved with the museum trip. However, an essay on what they'd 'learned' was for extra credit. No one really bothered to do that though.

John was outside in the garden, singeing flowers and thinking about Mary. He so badly wanted to talk to her, or just to be around her, but Jubilee and Kitty weren't making it easy for him. Whenever he came around Mary, in their presence, they'd send him knowing looks and smiles or winks. To be honest, it made him feel slightly uncomfortable having his feelings so 'exposed'; except when he was around Bobby and could gloat. Pyro was still going over the options in his mind: should he give in to his feelings for Mary and give his all for her, or should he continue shielding himself the way he always had.

John set a flower on fire, then slowly smothered the flame. The petals were almost all gone, and what was left was blackened and scorched. Destroying beauty. Was that all he was capable of? He knew everyone in the mansion always expected the worse from him; for him to slip up. At times, it could make a person justwant to give up. But it wasn't hisdestiny to be the worst one, or was it?

---

Meanwhile, Mary and Jubes were sitting in an upstairs study room, not studying, but talking about the recent events. Kitty was elsewhere with Siryn, keeping the girl company, since Siryn so often seemed alone.

After Mary had recounted the full food court scene to Jubilee, who found it thoroughly amusing, Mary diverted the conversation to the President's attack. As Jubes made jokes about it, commenting on what she would've done had she been the mutant making the attack, Mary began to think about her own exploits.

It was trueMary felt very safe at Xaviers', but she also was beginning to feel strange. She knew he was a psychic, so how far was he delving into her mind? Originally Mary had wanted to honour her parents' instructions of staying out of 'mutant mischief' and not overusing her powers, but ever since the professor had mentioned their being another facet to her mutant powers, she'd wanted to explore it.

Watching the boys display their powers at the museum had also brought back memories of when she and her friends made attackson humans. A part of her wanted to feel that power again; that feeling of dominance. What was holding her back; her parents' wishes; Xavier's school; the knowledge that if she overdid it, she could kill herself?

"Mary?" asked Jubes. Mary slowly drifted back to the current conversation.

"Mmhmm?" She smiled, sheepishly.

Jubes laughed. "I was just saying that wouldn't it be awesome if that mutant showed up at our school."

"Perhaps." But Mary's mind was already beginning to slip away from Jubilee's chatter and for some reason, she began to focus on Jubilee's energy, her aura, her mind. Mary couldn't read thoughts, but she could read emotions and play with the senses. Without really realizing it, Mary began focusing harder and harder on Jubilee's energy. Mary wasn't aware when Jubilee paused talking and held her head.

"Argh….I have a headache," said the Asian girl. "Suddenly, I feel kind of sick. I have to go lie down."

"Huh?" Mary looked up, from the small side table she'd been staring at intensely. Her concentration on Jubilee was broken. Jubilee was already making her way out of the door. Mary got up and went to her. "What's wrong?"

Jubilee frowned. "I felt sick…but…now I feel a bit better." Mary nodded slowly, her eyes widening a bit. Jubes didn't seem to notice for she was holding a hand against her head.

"I'm going to lie down anyways. If you see Kitty, I blame her cookies."

A couple of days earlier, Kitty had baked a batch of cookies that Jubes had claimed 'unsafe for human consumption'. However, she'd snuck a few and now she was sure the cookies were the problem. Mary knew better.

---

For a while, Mary stood at the doorway by herself, watching Jubilee disappear down the hallway. Perhaps she should've felt guilty about testing her powers on a friend, but at least nothing bad had happened.

Mary opened the palm of her hand and a small silver orb appeared. It seemed to flicker, fluctuating in its size, and it felt cool, yet tingly and warm in her hand.

"Mary!" Mary stiffened slightly and put out the orb in her hand. Mary turned around guiltily to face Storm. "Mary…you know the Professor told you not to." So Storm had seen.

Mary nodded, then shrugged. "But it's not fair. Everyone else gets to practice their powers, what's so different about me?"

"Overusing your powers could kill you!" said Storm. She looked so worried and concerned that Mary feltsorry and fell quiet, not wanting to pester about it anymore. She could sense Storm's distress about the matter.

"Look Mary. It's not that we don't want you to experience your powers…we just don't want you to get hurt in the process." Storm put a hand on Mary's shoulder and smiled at her. Mary smiled back, feeling a bit better. At least she figured that Storm was 'semi-on her side'.

"Now, Mary, what I really need to ask of you…and the other older students when I get a chance to see them, is to be good examples for the younger kids, okay?"

Mary thought about the museum ordeal and nodded. "Sure." She still wasn't quite sure why Ororo was bringing this up now, then…

"Jean and I are going to Boston, and the professor and Scott will be busy later today too." Mary nodded. "Walk with me," said Storm heading down the hall towards the stairs. Mary kept up beside Storm.

"What's in Boston?" she asked, curiously.

"A mutant." The tone in Storm's voice told Mary not to question any further. "So…hopefully we should be back sometime tomorrow. It all depends on…" Storm paused and looked at Mary, awkwardly.

Mary stared blankly at Ororo for a moment, then nodded suddenly saying, "I understand and I'll do my best not to let you down." Storm smiled and gave Mary a hug.

As they continued down the stairs, Mary spotted Bobby and Rogue talking to a strange, gruff looking man.

"Look who's come back, just in time," said Storm, walking briskly towards the trio. Mary followed silently. Rogue looked happy about something, yet Bobby looked less pleased.

"For what?" asked the man. His eyes caught sight of Mary's blue hair and he arched an eyebrow. Mary noticed this and gave him a slightly challenging look.

"We need a babysitter," said Storm.

"Babysitter?" The man didn't seem too thrilled about the idea.

"Nice to see you again, Logan." Storm grinned. Logan… Mary stared at him for as long as she could without him noticing. He seemed different from the other mutants, if he was actually a mutant, but she figured he was. This Logan, character, appeared very strong and under other circumstances Mary might've been intimidated by him. All else aside, Logan was kind of handsome; a rugged handsome.

Mary noticed people looking towards the stairs and she turned her head.

"Hey Logan." It was Jean.

"Hi Jean," responded Logan. Mary suddenly felt like there was something going on between them, but what about that Scott guy?

"Uhh…" Storm took a step back from their little huddle. "I should go…get the jet ready." Then she walked out of the room.

"Yeah, well, it was good to meet you," said Bobby to Logan, then to Rogue, "Come on, let's go." He began walking away and pulling her by the sleeve of her shirt. To Mary, his voice sounded a bit strained.

"Bye Logan. I'll see- I'll see you later!" said Rogue.

"Okay," answered Logan.

Mary guessed this was her queue to leave as well, but something was making her stay. Jean was off the stairs and coming towards Mary and Logan. Mary found herself staring at Logan, and he at her.

Jean looked amused and started the introductions. "Logan, this is one of our new students. Mary Connelly, from the UK." Logan nodded, then proceeded in saying. "Mary, I'm Logan, or Wolverine as they say here." He held out his hand and she shook it firmly.

"A pleasure," she said, taking a slow step backwards. "Um…I have things I need to get done. I'll see you later, Logan!"

Mary turned and scampered out of the room, making her way towards the kitchen for some water. This was brilliant. With all the main adults out of her way, perhaps she could finally get some practicing in. But she was going to get more than practice soon and nothing would be as it was.

A/N: Haha, another cheesy ending line. I can't seem to avoid them. Anyways, sadly I must announce that this story will not be getting updating until sometime late July, or early August. I'm going to a distant realm where internet does not exist. Hehe. So I'm asking you a favour, if you read this chapter- please review it. I just want to see how many people are actually reading it. And reviews always pump me up to write more! Yay! Thank you...