The next day, everyone in the Institute was going partly insane. Emili and Mike ran around the Institute trying to find their backpack or sneakers or sweatshirt. Everyone else, besides Wolverine who had his fill of helpfulness the night before, was running around trying to help find this missing item, or giving the two misfits pep talks to help them calm down. When there was about a half hour until school began and everything that needed to be found was found, everyone went downstairs to eat breakfast. Xavier looked at his two new pupils. Mike was wearing a red flannel shirt over a Rolling Stones band tee with a pair of baggy jeans and black converse. Emili also was wearing the "grunge" look with a The Who tee-shirt over a white thermal shirt with ripped jeans and similar shoes. A knit cap was on her head. Xavier smiled at the kids, though it seemed neither of them wanted to do any smiling. "Come on, kids," Xavier said. "You have to get to school early for your first day."

"Woo," Emili said halfheartedly. The group piled into the van. The five minute drive to school was silent. Emili and Mike weren't even staring at each other, just at their feet. Once at school, everyone got out, and Emili, Michael, and the professor set out for the principal's office.

"Kids," the professor introduced once in the principal's office, "this is Principal Darkholme."

Principal Darkholme stood up to shake hands with the children. She smiled very friendly at the children, but the professor knew it was all a facade. Principal Darkholme was really the mutant Mystique. She was an evil shape-shifter, who hated Professor Xavier and the rest of the students. In fact, she tries to get to the kids at the Xavier Institute and tries to get them to go with her and join the Brotherhood, a mean bunch of mutant kids that live in the outskirts of Bayville. However, the professor did not want to tell the students that; he was afraid that they weren't ready to handle it.

So when the principal said to Xavier, "Thank you professor. I think we can take it from here," she in no way let on her true identity to the two new students. "Now," she said, sitting back down, after Xavier had left, "the professor tells me that you two had never had any formal education before." She noticed their worried expressions. "It's okay; many children who go here have been previously home schooled. Its all been taken care of." Mike and Emili sighed in relief. Principal Darkholme handed them each a piece of paper. "Now, here are your schedules. You are both in regular classes at the moment, but if you find that those classes are too simple for you, we can see if there is any space open in our honors classes." She looked at her watch. "You two better get off to class, you're late as it is."

Emili and Michael smiled as they left the office. "Thank you," they said in unison.

In the hallway, Emili and Mike turned to compare schedules. "Okay, first block I have study hall."

"Seriously? I have History," Michael huffed. "Do we have any classes together?"

Emili skimmed both schedules. "Yeah," she said, relived. "We have computer class and lunch together."

Mike smiled. "Alright... cool. So I guess I'll, uh, see you then."

"Yeah, I guess." Walking away from each other felt weird. It was like losing a limb; its been there for so long, and now, its gone.

Mike walked down a hallway near the football field... again. He was hopelessly lost. He kept thinking about Emili. Did she find her class yet? Were they nice? Were they horrible? Mike ran his hand through his brown hair and looked out at the gym class running around the field.

"Oh man!" he heard behind him. There was a girl with books scattered around her feet as she clutched onto a model of the Alamo. She was short with curly blonde hair. Her eyes were a very pretty color, pure blue.

Mike walked over to her. "Do you need some help?" he asked.

She looked at him and blushed slightly. "Um, yeah, thanks."

Mike picked up her books for her. The girl tried to take them back, but Mike shook his head. "No, I got it."

She smiled. "Its nice to know that chivalry isn't dead, thanks. Are you new? I've never seen you around before."

"Yeah," Mike said walking next to her. "Today's my first day. I'm Michael."

"Ashley," she said. "What class do you have now?"

"I'm trying to find History, but I've been wandering the same hallway for about five minutes now."

"I have history now too," Ashley replied. "Its difficult to find. You have to go threw another classroom to find it." She smiled at him again. She had such pretty smile. It made Mike want to smile too. "It's right through this classroom."

Mike held the door open for her as she walked in. "Mike!" a voice called. Mike knew that German accent. It was Kurt! "You are in zis class? Awesome!" Mike looked around. Evan and Kitty were in this class too and they waved at him.

"Settle down, people," droned the teacher. He had a shiny bald spot and thick glasses. He had a bit of a potbelly that he tried to hide under his tweed. "You must be our new student. Class, this is Michael Burns. He is new, so I want you all to treat him like a human being. Mike," he said, turning to him, "I am Mr. Wietrako. Please, take a seat next to Miss Pryde."

"Yes sir," Mike said. He made a pit stop to Ashley's desk. "I believe these belong to you," he said.

"Thanks," she said, smiling at him again.

A big jock put his arm around her. Mike, as tall and strong as he was, looked like a mouse next to this guy. He he was over six feet tall and was pure muscle. Bolder-kid had black hair and brown eyes, and when he spoke, his voice was deep and tough. "Yeah," he said, pulling Ashley close to him. "Thanks, pal."

Mike nodded and walked to his seat. Of course she has a boy friend.

At the opposite end of the school, Emili wandered the halls. She was not lost, she knew exactly where her classroom was. However, she did not want to go inside the classroom, so lingered as long as possible. When she felt as though she could not avoid the room anymore, Emili walked into study hall. What she found was organized chaos. Chairs were turned into beds holding sleeping students. Jock-types were yelling and pushing each other, and throwing paper airplanes into the air. Girls were gossiping in a corner, and the teacher, a kind-looking red head, was reading a book. When Emili entered, everyone stopped and stared at her.

Fantastic, she thought dryly.

"Hello," the teacher chirped, standing up to shake Emili's hand. "I'm Ms. Trevlig. And you are..."

Emili found her voice and answered. "I'm Emili Day. I'm new."

Ms. Trevlig smiled at her. "Nice to meet you Emili. Please take a seat anywhere you wish. Study hall is like school authorized chaos."

Emili moved to the back of the room, eyes watching her as she went. Emili felt the jock-types, especially checking her out while her back was turned. She sat down next to the one kid who was not looking at her. He had long brown hair and dark brown eyes. His skin was tan, and he was dressed like a thug. Emili took out The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and tried to read it, but found it impossible to concentrate with the eyes staring at her. Emili just stared at the book, and the class slowly turned into the insanity that it was before. Now, however, it was a little quieter, and the eyes kept over at her. She turned to the boy next to her and tried to make conversation. "So... is this class like this all the time?"

He looked over at her. "So you have permission to talk to me?" he said.

Emili was very confused. "Yes, why wouldn't I?"

The boy rolled his eyes. "You're an X-men, right?"

"A what-men?" Emili questioned.

"You go to the Xavier Institute?" he asked her.

"Yeah..."

"Then you're an X-men, the enemy," he said.

"I try not to be enemies with anybody," Emili said getting annoyed.

He rolled his eyes again.

Emili went back to staring at the book, fuming.

"Why were you trying to talk to me, anyway?" the boy asked her.

"Oh so now we're allowed to talk?"

"Just answer the question, princess," he said, crossing his arms.

"You were the only one not staring at me, and you seemed nice. And don't call me princess," Emili retorted crossly.

The kid chuckled. "I look nice to you?"

"I've met a lot worse dressed a lot better," Emili said, truthfully.

He smiled at her. It was a sly, devil-may-care grin, but he did smile nonetheless. "Your not so bad." He stuck out his hand. "The name's Lance."

Emili shook it tentatively, a bit suspicious. "Emili," she said, introducing herself. "So why are we supposed to hate each other?"

Lance shrugged. "Its this whole big song and dance. You guys said something that pissed us off, we did something to piss you off, that kept going until we just got to fighting all the time."

Emili wrinkled her nose. "I don't like fighting."

Lance shook his head and smiled. "So, why did you go to the Institute? Your folks flip when they found out you were a mutant?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Emili said quietly. "Mutant? Who's a mutant? Not this girl. Uh-uh, no way Jose, not me, no," Emili said, shaking her head.

"Relax, I'm a mutant too," Lance said holding up his hands. "Now tell me your story."

Emili looked down, having a mental debate whether or not to tell him. It was weird, but Emili felt like there was some... warmth in him, or something, and she wanted to trust him. She decided to tell him what she and Mike were telling everyone else. "I don't have any parents," she confessed. "The 'X-men' or whatever you called them found me and my friend Mike living in an abandoned house in the woods. We pretty much came for the hot food and free bed." Emili looked at him. "Don't you dare tell anyone. Pinky-swear to me you won't tell."

"No," Lance said, looking around. Pinky-swearing would apparently bruise his ego. Emili gave him a death glare. Lance looked around again and then quickly pinky-swore with Emili. "I know what it's like, you know, not having any 'rents. The Brotherhood, they're like the anti- X-men,"he explained at Emili's quizzical look, "they picked me up while I was living in a foster home. So if you ever need to talk, you've got me."

Emili looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Personality switch, much?"

Lance shrugged. "Hey, I got myself a reputation to keep up." Just then, the bell rang loudly, making Emili jump. "Hey, what's your next class?" Lance said, standing up.

"Uh... English," Emili said, looking at her schedule.

"I have Wood Shop across the hall. I'll walk you," Lance said, leading the way.

Emili smiled. "Thanks," she said, catching up to him. The weight that was in her chest since she woke up this morning vanished. She actually made a friend.