Theo was late to school that morning. Which wasn't much of a surprise. It'd taken her a while to get ready after the... incident. What was a surprise was the hostility that she was greeted with when she got there. Eyes followed her down the school corridors and whispers dogged her steps. During lunch Shay approached her cautiously.

"Hey Theo," she said. Theo looked up startled. Shay was the only person so far today who'd spoken to her directly. And it wasn't even like she'd done anything! Probably some jealous senior bitch thought Theo was on to her boyfriend or something.

"Hey Shay. You would not believe the morning I had! First I had shit at home, then I had to walk to school and then when I got here it was like I'd slept with the swim team or something." Theo's eyes caught Shay's. The person looking out wasn't here friend.

"Or something," was all Shay said, her eyes were cold. Theo was about to ask what she meant when Meg, the youngest member of the team, bounced up.

"Hey The', you cool for the game thisarvo? We missed you 'smorning," Theo looked over at Meg with a smile.

"Yeah I'll be fine, just had some problems at home, s'all." Meg smiled

"Cool, well the game's on in an hour, so we better head down to the locker rooms to get ready." Theo wondered if her bruise was coming through. Turning to see if Shay was coming she found to her surprised that she'd already left. Theo couldn't suppress the surge of hurt she felt. Shay was her best friend. They'd shared everything. But apparently not anymore. It couldn't have been what happened yesterday... could it?

As the girls walked down towards the locker rooms Theo let Meg's inane chatter fill her ears until one word caught her attention.

"What did you say?" Theo demanded. Meg looked around guiltily.

"I... I'm sure its not true or anything Theo, its just what I heard some guys saying this morning, that's all."

"What!?"

"They're just rumours is all, really Theo you don't have to be upset it's-" with a growl Theo slammed Meg up against the lockers hard enough to make her wince.

"What, the fuck, did you say?" Meg was gasping, and there was real fear in her eyes.

"There's a rumor going around that you're some kind of freak. A mutant." Theo dropped Meg like she was on fire.

"That's bullshit. You know that. You know me."

"Yeah, I like so totally agree. You know I'd never believe that shit." She gave a high-pitched little giggle, but her eyes held within them a hint of fear.

Logan made his way to a seat in the bleachers and waited for the game to start. He was glad he'd decided to arrive early. There was still half an hour to go but the stadium was already three quarters full. Marching bands from both schools were moving around the field making a lot of unnecessary, unpleased and excessive noise. They were dressed head to toe in their schools colours and Logan though personally that they resembled rather strange pieces of fruit. Suddenly a roar erupted from the crowd. The cheerleaders from both teams were making their way into the grounds. 'Girls and short skirts' thought Logan wirily, did it every time. It was just a pity they didn't sell beer at these games.

Theo really didn't want to go out there tonight. She had no choice. But it still didn't stop her from not wanting to go out. She was tired, sore, expecting her period and was being stared at. Constantly. It was getting on her nerves. But it was too late to say anything now. She'd have to squash the rumor after they won. Everyone would be in a better frame of mind then anyway. Not that she was counting on that. She wasn't a Mutant. And her friends just needed to realize this. What happened yesterday was just... weird. That's all. And it wouldn't happen again. That didn't make her a Mutant. Not at all. A small part of Theo hoped her friends would be easier to convince than she was.

As the night progressed Theo found herself enjoying the game more and more. She was able to put everything that had happened in the past couple of days out of her mind. However it all came rushing back at half time.

"Okay girls." Theo stood addressing her team members on the pitch. "We had a great first half and the second half's gunna be even better. So I want you to all take a break, have a drink, something to eat. But not too much." The last comment got some laughs and a few smiles. Everyone remembered what happened to Jill. "I'll see you all back here in a half hour, 'kay guys?" a chorus of agreements came back and the girls started wandering off in ones and two's.

The canteen was well and truly packed by the time Theo got off the field. She was just contemplating going in search of a vending machine when someone grabbed her arm, pulling her out of the mass of people and into the shadow of the bleachers. Theo yanked her arm back angrily.

"Danny that was not funny!" she snarled. Only the boy, man, who's grabbed her wasn't Danny.

"Who are you?" Theo whispered.

"I'm a friend. Listen kid, I saw what happened yesterday, I-" Theo cut him off, her voice strangely high pitched.

'What do you mean!? Nothing happened yesterday! Nothing! Do you hear me!?" She tried to leave but the guy grabbed her arm again and pulled her full against his body.

"I know what you are." With a scream Theo managed to pull an arm free, and with a cry she raked her nails across her assailants face. It didn't seem to faze him, and as Theo watched the bloody slices close she understood why.

"You're a mutant." It was a statement, not a question.

"So are you."

"No."

Theo jerked as the buzzer for the second half sounded. She almost hit the wall as the guy let her go. Suddenly she was on her ass with her wallet in her lap. The guy was nowhere to be seen.

With a sob of frustration she legged it back to the pitch.