Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter 8

Over the next few days Jean spent most of the time avoiding students, who had heard bits of what had happened between her and Storm, and where filling in the gaps. Fortunately no one had guessed the real reason for Jean's breakdown, but there were a lot of wild guesses. Marie was one of Jean's protectors. She over heard Bobby and Pyro discussing the matter and it made her actually laugh for once.

"Have you seen Storm's face, man? It's nearly all purple!" Pyro looked half disgusted but half amused.

"Yeah you seen the Danger room? That's where Jean blew up at her, mind you Jean ain't looking much better!" Bobby was also grossly interested in the matter.

"But why would Jean do that? I mean I know she's been sulking around her for the past 3 weeks but I didn't think she was capable of something like that!"

"I heard that she had a secret plan to rule the world and Storm found out! So she decided to take out the only object in her way!" Marie decided to step in before this got out of hand.

"Boys, do you really think that Jean wanted to take over the world?! I mean come on! Plus if she did, do you think her and Storm would be such good friends now? It was probably just a misunderstanding, Jean has been a little stressed lately." Bobby flushed red from embarrassment at being caught discussing the subject while Pyro looked away.

"I still would like to know what happened" remarked Pyro.

"Yeah well its got nothing to do with us and you had better make sure the other students know that too, ok?" Marie stood hands on hips.

"Ok." Bobby said mutely, with a still red face.

"Pyro?" Pyro looked at Marie defensively but soon backed down under Marie's glare.

"Fine." He muttered. "I suppose it's got nothing to do with us" Marie watched as the two boys sulked off, shaking her head and chuckling to herself. Plot to take over the world? Really! The fact that she knew why Jean had attacked Storm, because she had been about to go into the Professor's office when they were having a meeting about it, she was not going to say. She respected Jean's privacy and besides she wasn't actually supposed to hear, she just arrived at the wrong time.

That meeting had been one of the worst meetings of Jean's life. As soon as she had entered the Professor's office, all eyes were on her. She had decided that this meeting should take place. She thought that her best friends, the ones she called her family, should hear what had happened from her. She also hoped that it would make the future a little bit less awkward. She was getting sick of the glances they kept giving her, she knew they where only checking to make sure she was alright and that they cared but it really irked her. That was why she had been spending most of her time with Storm, she knew what Jean was going through, and didn't pity her or make her feel overprotected. She was always there for her though. Just like she was there for Jean when she started to talk at this meeting, she reached over and just gently put her hand over Jean's. Jean looked down at Storm's hand over hers and saw the friendship between them. Jean drew strength from this, and as she began to talk her voice was a lot steadier because of it.

"You all know that about 3 weeks ago, now, I was raped." She didn't even hesitate over the words now.

"I hope that this won't effect our friendships and I can get on with my life as normal. I would like your support but I could not handle it if I get your pity." There was silence and then each one of them came over and gave her a hug. She could not have asked for more, words didn't say it so her friends said it with hugs.

"thank you." Jean's eyes were shiny with tears but on her face was the only true smile she had had on her lips for weeks.