On the third day Sarah was in the hospital, she woke up and began to take note of her surroundings. Gradually she became aware of pain in her muscles, a low throbbing headache, and finally of the ache in her heart. She sighed and turned her head to look out the window. The window revealed a gunmetal gray sky pregnant with impending rain. As she contemplated the weather and her loss, two figures darkened her doorway.
"Sarah?" one asked, "Do you mind if we talk to you for a minute? The doctor said it was okay so long as you're up to it."
Sarah turned her head and regarded the two people now advanced in her room. The girl didn't look very tall but her stature implied grace and passivity. Her deep red hair flowed around her and, to Sarah, seemed to cooperate like no one else's hair she'd ever seen. The boy was comparatively tall and wore sunglasses even though they were inside the building and the day hardly merited the shades. It was the girl who had spoken and so it was the girl to whom Sarah replied.
"Doesn't seem like I could stop you if I tried. If you're some sort of tag team counselors, save it because I don't want to hear it."
The girl shot her partner an apprehensive glance, drew a breath as if to speak, but let it out. The boy began to speak but Sarah leveled her stare on the girl until the boy tried to regain her attention.
"Sarah Jean," he tried again but was interrupted by Sarah's sharp words.
"Don't call me that. Don't ever call me that. You don't know me and even if you did, no one will ever call me that again." She turned back to the window to regain her composure and hoped that they'd leave on their own.
They didn't. "Sarah, I'm sorry." She turned back to the duo. "We'll respect your wishes but we do need to talk to you. Just hear us out for a minute and then we'll go."
The girl began to speak. "My name is Jean Gray and this is Scott Summers." Jean paused her to see if Sarah showed any reaction. There was none. "We're from Professor Xavier's institute in New York. Sarah, this is going to be hard to hear but we're mutants and so are you." Jean mentally winced waiting for the eventual blow up but there was none. When she spared a glance at Sarah, all she got was a raised eyebrow.
"That's it?" Sarah asked, nonplused. "You came all the way here to tell me that?"
Jean looked to Scott again, who shrugged. She turned to Sarah. "Well that and we want you to come with us." Jean was becoming short as her perplexity grew.
"Why should I do that? Why should I go to New York to be alone and a mutant when I could just stay here in Virginia and be the very same thing?"
Sarah's calm was freezing Jean out and Scott shifted uncomfortably. Jean forced herself to relax and try to make Sarah see her side of things.
"Well, there are other mutants there and we can teach you to control your powers. Plus, the Professor can probably help you continue your education, if that's what you want, or maybe you can attend a college nearby. Several of our high school aged students attend an area high school with mostly positive results." Jean seemed to hold her breath for a decision but Sarah felt obliged to draw it out more.
"Do the both of you attend college?"
Jean dropped her head and elbowed Scott, indicating he should answer the question. Scott cleared his throat and rubbed a hand across the back of his neck.
"Actually, were both still in high school."
This prompted a response from Sarah Jean. She raised her eyebrow.
"That's.interesting. Do you do well?" It was Scott's turn to drop his glance and Jean offered a small smile.
"Some of us do all right," She answered.
Sarah nodded and started to look out the window again. Jean saw this and started talking again to keep her attention.
"I know this is a lot to take in and I know you're still reeling from the death of you classmates and your mutation so you don't have to give us your answer now. We'll be in the area for a few days so when you're ready, we can make arrangements." Jean trailed off and waited again for Sarah to speak. Sarah sighed and closed her eyes for a minute. She began to talk before her eyes opened.
"They weren't just my classmates. Alyssa was my best friend. We've been friends since. I can't even remember when. She's always been my friend and we've always been together. David is.was.my first crush, kiss, love. He was everything and more. Their loss is not tragedy; it's devastation. Nothing will ever make up the hole the two of them left. Nothing can even come close.
My mother tells me the bodies weren't recovered so they're burying two empty caskets the day after tomorrow. If I come to a decision by then I'll let you know. Otherwise you can assume I'll just pretend this never happened."
"Sarah-"
"I'm tired," Sarah said, faking a yawn, "If you'll excuse me please, I need to get some rest or they won't let me out of here." With that she turned her back to them and pretended to sleep.