A/N: Hey my lovely readers! Sorry it took so long for me to post this, but I was away on spring break, without internet access, and prior to that I had this major physics project due (who needs physics anyways?) and without X-men Evolution every other night (dang you cartoon network!!) I haven't been very inspired lately. Anyways, I hope you like this chapter! Feel free to review with any comments or suggestions!

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As time continued, Scott and Jean found they were on the way to becoming close friends. Each day, as Jean upheld her assignations with the Professor, Scott would disappear into the depths of the mansion with the elusive Logan. After their strenuous training, the two teens would meet again, either to relax or partake on some new endeavor of Jean's. Whatever they did it was always together. Though they had yet to truly confide in each other as true friends do, the night of the storm had created a bond between them – a bond of friendship so deep that not even the strongest hatred could break the hold.

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Red hair curling in wisps around a face taut with concentration, Jean squeezed her glimmering eyes shut, attempting to break the hold the professor had on her frail mind. Beads of sweat clung to deep folds in her brow, swimming together to form tiny rivulets trickling throughout her frustrated visage.

Gasping in effort, Jean's mind tried to writhe through the iron-clad encasing the Professor was holding against her telepathy. As her face contorted in a painful grimace, barely discernible objects began to rattle on the Professor's desk, slowly rising into the air, circling around the two telepaths' heads.

Giving out a yelp of surprise as a tea cup beat against his forehead, Charles Xavier unintentionally dropped the bind incasing his young pupil's mind. As the pressure dropped from Jean's mind, the many objects fell with a resonant clang to the office floor.

Watching the young girl panting from exertion, Xavier regarded Jean with concern. "I think that is enough for one day."

Smiling weakly, Jean nodded in agreement before ushering herself out the door, leaving the Professor alone with his perturbed thoughts.

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Half of an hour later, Jean Grey found herself standing once more before the Professor's closed office door, a look of perplexity clouding her face. She had spent the last thirty minutes tearing through the Institute, combing the grounds for any sign of her companion, but, to her dismay, had been unable to find the elusive Scott Summers.

Elusive. Jean allowed herself a smile, thinking of how well the word described both her friend and his instructor. She had been shocked when Scott had mentioned that Logan hadn't taken to him as he evidently had to Jean; the two were so secretive, so silent, they appeared to have so much in common – Jean couldn't imagine why the two men (if you could call them that) didn't bask in each others' company.

Tripping over her own feet as she tripped over the ideas occupying her mind, Jean found herself standing in the decorative hallway just outside hers and Scott's bedrooms. Furiously, she stretched her mind out, hoping to catch a glimmer of stray thoughts from her friend, but received nothing. Wherever Scott and Logan were they were either well shielded from her telepathy or too far for her mind to reach. Stomping her bare foot in aggravation, Jean turned on her heel and strode down the hall towards her room.

"Jean? Is that you?" A curious voice questioned from the far end of the hall.

Whirling around, Jean's fuming eyes landed on a disheveled Scott Summers – face glistening with sweat, bandage dropping lazily over his eyes – standing before a paneled wall signifying the end of the hallway.

"How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"You weren't there a minute ago!"

Scott tensed, realizing his fault, before shrugging it off only serving to infuriate the redhead more.

"Where were you? I've been through this entire mansion looking for you!"

"Maybe you didn't look hard enough," he shrugged once more.

"Maybe I didn't look hard enough?!? I bloody well looked hard enough! Unless you were training underground-"

Scott winced, afraid Jean had discovered one of the Institute's many secrets, but as she continued rambling on he knew Jean had no idea how close she had been to hitting home. "Jean," he interrupted, cutting off her rant, "I'm sorry, alright? I was training with Logan, that's all. What did you need me for, anyhow?" He could almost feel the blush rising in Jean's cheeks as he asked. Without even seeing her, Scott could tell Jean was beautiful. The way her bell-like laughter rang out whenever she was amused was proof enough of that. She spoke as thought she were insecure, but not as though she knew the world was unsatisfied with her appearance, it was more as though she was unsure of what others would think of her. She didn't want to be a "freak", Scott knew that, and he couldn't help but admire her for abandoning her old life in order to learn about her mutation while still maintaining a fairly optimistic attitude – a feat that would have crushed any normal girl. In spite of what he world might think, Scott was positive that Jean was one of the few truly beautiful people out there – not only in appearance, but in her heart and soul as well.

Jean placed her hands on her hips, sending Scott a scowl she knew he couldn't see. "I was looking for you because there is nothing else better to do around here." She stated defiantly. "I was merely looking to see if you wanted to join me outside, but if you're not interested-"

"Whoa, slow down, who said I'm not interested?" He teased insolently.

Jean had to restrain herself from flouncing off down the hall in a huff. "No one, but you're acting so, so-"

"Immature?" he supplied.

"YES!"

Scot almost grinned at her exasperated tone, picturing her frustrated face in his mind. "Just give me ten minutes to shower and change and I'll meet you here, okay?"

"Five, I think I've waited long enough."

"Eight,"

"Six,"

"Seven,"

"Done." Jean smiled, then gave Scott a telekinetic shove, ushering him to the shower.

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