Okay. Due to the insubstantial length of this chapter, I'm posting two at the same time. And Riley is NOT a Mary-Sue character. Just wait and see. First impressions COULD be deceiving...

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Rogue knew she should pay more attention to her lunch, and to her friends sitting around her, but she couldn't keep her eyes off the gaunt woman introduced to the students as Riley. From the parts of Logan she had absorbed, she felt a vague sense of recognition whenever she caught those weird eyes, but couldn't get the whole memory.

The Arabic-looking woman was sitting with Storm, watching some of the boys playing a basketball game, several of whom were using their powers to show off for her. She didn't blame them. There was something about her, an unspeakable grace in her thin frame, that enhanced her features to the point of beauty.

That bothered her, because she was using the part of her mind where Logan was imprinted, and she knew that was how Logan looked at her. Not that she was jealous, as everyone would assume. Everyone thought she was in love with Logan, even Bobby, despite all she could do to persuede them otherwise, and she'd given up trying. They could never understand what it was like to know a person so completely that you could predict their movements, their thoughts. She couldn't love Logan, not in the way they were thinking. But there was an affection there, as though they were older brother and little sister. Logan would protect her, and she would aspire to be just like him. That was how it worked.

As Logan's little sister, she wasn't sure if she liked the idea of Logan getting involved with someone she didn't know. She'd make a point of talking to her later.

Kitty nudged her arm and pointed. The red-head they'd saved was walking beside the Professor, using his chair as a support. Riley stood and walked over, concern and happiness fighting for position on her features. The Professor glanced over at Rogue, and she excused herself, jogging over.

"Rogue, I'd like you to meet Shay." Xavier mentally communicated that he wished for her to make the shy red-head feel welcome.

"Hi," Rogue said with her friendliest drawl, "I'm Rogue."

"I'm Shay. Call me Flash."

"You wanna come sit with us, Flash?" Rogue was aware of Riley hovering protectively in the background, and Flash glanced over at her before answering. Riley nodded, and Flash smiled hesitantly.

"Okay." She held out a hand, and Rogue took it, gripping her arm at the elbow for the extra support, wondering at the weakness in the teen's frame, compared to Riley's apparent health, but put it out of her mind.

"C'mon. I'll introduce you to everybody. Don't worry," she laughed at the flash of apprehension that moved across those delicate features. "They're all nice."

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