Girl 2.

            Time passes . . .

            It's been a week since we got back to New York, and Frosty has finally left us alone. I think she was doing stuff to help JJ through.

            She's also been trying to help me organise my life, with loads of talk about scholarships and internships. She said as soon as I get an idea what I'd like to do, she can get something organised to help me towards it. It got . . . kind of cramped, what with the White Queen running her business empire and my future in one room, and my junkie double throwing up and bitching in another, and Angelo and me not really doing anything. Emma and JJ have agreed that she should go back to school; the big disagreement at the moment is that Hank and Scott want her at the mansion, where they can keep an eye on her, and Emma thinks absolutely anywhere else on the planet would be better for her.

            Hank's been coming by most days, to check up on us. He and Ange hang out a lot – they've always got on well. Today, though, he comes over and sits next to me.

            'Emma mentioned you might be contemplating a career in the medical profession.' He says.

            'I was kidding. Would you trust me with a scalpel?' I was kidding, too. It's kinda flattering that Frost took me seriously.

            'Oh.' He looks slightly crestfallen. 'You understand, I had otherwise arranged for you to pass a brief time in the clinic supervised by the good Dr Reyes.'

            I'm soft-hearted. 'That'd be great, Blue. You wanna take me down there?' He smiles. I'm soft-hearted, but I'm also evil. 'Won't Bobby be pissed about you musclin' in behind his back, though?'

Girl 1

            I haven't been to school since my parents died.

            Back then I always cut half my classes, which Emma says is not an option, wherever I end up. She and Cyclops have had another argument, and now I'm going to have to go have a look at mutant school. Cyclops is telling me not to be shy, and to remember that the other students are no better and no worse than me. Emma adds – telepathically – that he's trying to find a tactful way to say that just because I used to be a hooker and they've all got super powers is no reason for me to feel inferior. I can't tell whether she's more amused by the situation in general, or Cyclops' embarrassment.

            Angelo volunteers to come along and hold my hand.

Girl 2.

            'So, I've been thinking.' I say. Hank and Cece are drinking coffee and Not Flirting with each other; I didn't even ask for a cup myself. A girl can get sick of hearing the word 'No.'

            'Yes?' Prompts Hank.

            'I might come back to the X-Men one day, if they'll have me.'

            'In a New York minute, my dear girl.'

            'But in the meantime I'm gonna start studying.'

            'For what?' Cece asks, lifting her drink.

            'You can't get the Professor's Dream by just beating up evil mutants and protecting innocent bystanders. I'm gonna be a lawyer.' And Cecelia Reyes sprays hot black coffee across Hank McCoy.

            'Honestly?'

            'Yeah. I think I'd be good at it, and we need lawyers at the mansion.'

            'Fraggin' A.' Cece puts in. 'An X-Man who might actually be a contributing member of society? Dios, but that's unexpected.'

            'You would certainly encounter little difficulty in the cut and thrust of legal debate. I imagine that your adversaries would often find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer weight of your verbosity.'

            'Yeah.' I say. 'Plus, when we're arguing in court, I'd just talk them to death. Okay, do you know any lawyers I can talk to?'

            'I know one.' Cece puts in. 'A good guy. He's cool with mutants.'

            'Indeed?' Hank asks. 'And who might this be?'

            'Used to be an ADA, but then he went private. Name of Murdock. You want I should call him, see if he wants some help in the office?'

Girl 1.

            It's big. That's my first thought when I see Xavier's. It's a great big mansion, in miles of countryside. I haven't seen this much nature since . . . ever. And they want me to go to school here.

            Well, I remember what it was like to be rich. It's just been a long time.

            My second thought? Shit, the circus is in town. Seriously. It looked like half the population belonged in a freak show. And if I go thinking thoughts like that when a whole bunch of them can read my mind, I might not last too long.

            Beside me, Emma smiles.

            'You'll get used to them. And they're used to bad first reactions, most of them. And the first thing I'll teach you is how to shield your thoughts.' Comforting. Not.

            'And if any of them try anything, Senõr Logan will kill them.' Angelo grins beside me. 'And I'll keep an eye on you. Es nada, 'Lee.'

            'Nothing. Right.' I glance at him. 'You're pretty weird looking yourself, Espinoza.'

            'You were cool with it first time you saw me.'

            'Yeah, well I was on the groovy part of the high just then. Is that an option here?' It's a joke. It says something about how well I'm doing that they both take it as such.

            Frost's limo stops, and I step out to face mutantkind.