-MONTHS LATER-

"Okay, guys. Review time. Name some important revolutions in world history." I pointed to a student who had raised their hand. "Kitty?"

"American."

"Good. Now...Bobby!"

He blinked. "Um, um, French?" I nodded and pointed to another student.

"John."

"Dance-dance." This is our future…..

"John, detention this afternoon," I said. "Maybe you will have some time to study for your exam. Now-"

RING!

"See y'all next time. Now get out of here." The students grabbed their things and headed out the door. "And John, I expect to see you in detention or you will get a whole week for your little joke."

"Yes, ma'am…." he groaned.

I watched him walk out the door and saw Logan in the doorway.

"Goof-off again?"

I raised a brow. "What do you think?" Nervousness flowed from him. "What's up Logan?"

"You don't want to know, Ange." I glared at him and read his mind.

"Dammit, Logan." I said slamming my hand on the table.

Someone knocked on the doorframe. "Miss Angie?" Marcos asked. "Is this a bad time?"

"Kinda," I replied. "Catch up with you in a bit, okay?" He nodded in reply and ran off.

"Look," Logan said as he turned back to me. "I didn't know he was here until a few moments ago. And it's not like I can make him leave."

I shook a finger at him. "Liar. I told him to get lost and never come back. I don't care if he's an X-Man."

"Ange," he warned. "Don't say that."

"Why are you protecting him, Logan? You know what he did."

"Yeah, I do! But that is in the past."

I picked up my stuff and brushed past him. "Well, I'm sorry I don't see it like that." I bolted down the hall to check on Marcos.

"Hey, Angie!" Not now….

"Warren….." I turned around and faked a smile. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Had some business over this way. Thought I'd stop by."

"Great! Now leave." I turned and started walking away.

"Hold on a sec!" He followed after me. "That's a great way to treat a friend."

I stopped and turned back to face him. "I am being as friendly as I can right now, okay? There are far worse things I could say to you right now." I absentmindedly rubbed my shoulder. Some scars are less visible on the outside than they are on the inside.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"You-"

"Angie?" I spun around.

"Marcos! Hey, bud. I was just looking for you. How was class?"

Warren gave me a look. I shook my head, ignoring him.

"Well, um, we dissected a frog," He replied.

"Gross, wasn't it?"

He nodded his head. "Smelled like barf." He gave Warren a look. "Who's this?"

"Um, this is Warren," I replied.

Warren held out his hand. "I'm an old….friend of hers."

"Yeah, old friend."

"Wait…." his expression darkened. "Why are you here?"

"Um, visiting…." Warren replied.

(Spanish is bold.)

"Okay!" I grabbed Marcos and pushed him around us. "You, get to class. We will talk later."

"But.."

"Not buts. And who told-It was Logan, wasn't it?" When he nodded, I groaned. "Go, we'll talk later."

I turned back to the winged mutant. "What?"

"You told him!" he exclaimed.

I scoffed. "I never told him. He's my kid, he was bound to find out sometime. Better sooner than later."

"On that note: kid?"

"I took him under my wing a few months ago. End of story." I crossed my arms, jaw clenched. "Now, goodbye," I said, walking away.

Once I got to the stairs, he called out. "How long will it take you to let go of what happened?"

"I have let go of it," I replied. "I just have five painful reminders."

~:~

That night, I decided to take Marcos out for dinner.

"So, what's with the guy?"

God, I hoped you wouldn't ask. "Nothing for you to worry about, okay?"

"You told me we would talk about this!"

I shook my head. "We are, bud. I know you want to get back at him, but there's nothing to avenge here. There isn't anything to fix what's broken on the inside." He slumped in his chair and crossed his arms. "Marcos…."

"You're helping me get over my past," he said. "I just want to help you do the same."

I placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are….by just being you." I pulled him close and ruffled his hair.

As he held my hand against his chest, I could hear the chaos in his mind. I knew he wanted to fix this, but he couldn't get over the fact that I got hurt.

"Marcos, it wasn't your fault. It wasn't mine. It wasn't his. The person responsible is gone and will never come back. Now, let's help each other move on." Letting go, he nodded his head and went back to eating his food.

"So, in history we learned about this guy who…"

He proceeded to tell me how ridiculous this guys plan was and asked what I thought about it, which got into a heated history debate. Even after we got back to the school we were still arguing.

"No, Angie. There's still no way he would have won!"

I sighed, "Look it back over in your book, then we'll talk more." I pushed his towards the stairs.

"But…." he whined.

"Room, now."

I heard snickering in the background.

"Logan, I hate you so much right now," i said turning around.

He faked shock. "Why me? I am an innocent bystander."

I crossed my arms, jutting a hip. "You were the substitute U.S. History teacher, weren't you?"

"Touche." He came over and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, leading me up the stairs. "So what happened with Warren earlier? Marie told me she saw Marcos run into y'all."

"Yeah, he walked up on us," I replied. "I swear if i hadn't sent him on his way, he would have hurt Warren. Which reminds me…" I stopped in front of him and crossed my arms."You told Marcos about him? What he did?"

He sighed. "He overheard me and Ro talking about Apocalypse. And somehow we brought you up. He asked more and more until he got it out of us."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought you told him already."

I shook my head. "Remember when he accidently hit me with a beam a week ago? I told him the usual: ski accident."

"How'd he take it?" he asked, as we stopped in front of my door.

"Ticked I wouldn't tell him what actually happened." I said, shrugging. "There was a reason I didn't tell him Logan. I don't want him to grow up to be one of us. And I guess that ticked him off even more." I sighed. "Now, he just wants to protect me."

Logan smiled in reply. "Him and me both." I smiled back and opened the door. "He just wants to make you proud."

"When has he not?"I smiled. "Goodnight, Logan."

" 'Night. Just be careful with Warren, Ange. I don't want to see you get hurt again."

"I know, Logan. But how could I be me if I don't get a little beat up along the way? "

~:~