Disclaimer: I own nadda, make zippo.

A/N: I hope you guys liked the last chapter, if not, whatever. If so, cookies to you! Oh, and this chapter, sorry it took forever, working on other stuff . . .

A shorter, slender woman slowly opened the door to Professor Xavier's office. Inside, in the far corner, lay a fold out bed with a girl curled up on her side. Her long, black hair was obscuring her pale features. The woman could see Gwen's steady breathing as the hair over her face slowly rose and fell with every inhalation she took. She slowly approached the teen, not wanting to frighten her. "Gwen?" the woman said as she placed her hand on the girl's arm.

Gwen opened her eyes, and, for a moment, forgot where she was. Starting to panic, she shot out of the bed. She didn't get too far though, an instant throbbing in her head made her sit back down, holding her head in pain. "Are you all right?" the woman asked gently, squatting down in front of Gwen. "I think so. It's just a headache, I've been getting them a lot lately."

"I'm sorry if I startled you."

Gwen slowly looked up at the woman's pleasant looking face. Her white hair fell down over her shoulders and greatly contrasted with her smooth, brown skin. There was a sweetness in her big brown eyes that made Gwen feel comfortable – as comfortable as she could feel. There was something about her that Gwen automatically liked. "Oh, it's no big deal, I just forgot where I was for a minute there. I got here this morning."

"I heard about that." The woman smiled. At first glance, everything about this stranger seemed so perfect – 'Why?' she wondered, 'Why can't my life be happy? The way hers seems to be?' Then, for the bazillionth time, it hit her hard – 'Nothing about my life has been, is, or ever will be perfect.'

"By the way, my name is Storm." She said holding out her hand. Gwen rose and took it, absentmindedly running her fingers through her hair – a weak attempt to make herself look presentable, but at the moment, it was all she could do. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Storm."

"I'm sorry for waking you so early, given that you came so late, but the Professor needs his office."

"Oh, geez . . . "Gwen replied looking down at the things she'd simply thrown on the floor without a second thought, "I wasn't even thinking, I'm sorry."

"It's not bad," Storm replied reassuringly, "I'll let you get dressed while I go to get someone to help with the bed."

"Okay."

"I'll be back in a minute." She said with a smile.

Storm slowly closed the door behind her. Gwen pulled out some clothes and quickly changed. She made sure that her sleeves covered the pink scars on her wrist. She ran her brush through her hair then threw everything back into her duffel. There was a knock at the door just as she finished zipping up her bag.

"Come on in."

The door opened as Storm and the woman from earlier that morning entered the room.

"Gwen, this is Jean Grey." Storm said introducing them.

"Yeah, I saw you this morning, with the Professor."

"That was me." Jean said with a smile, "It's nice to meet you Gwen."

"Likewise." Gwen replied. There was something about Jean that struck her, something she couldn't explain. 'Maybe time will be nice for once and tell me what it is.' She thought. Storm and Gwen folded up the blankets and sheets, grabbed the pillow and stepped back as the two women folded the bed in half and began to carry it out of the room.

Gwen hoisted the sheets over her shoulder as the three walked down the halls. Gwen felt a strange bond between herself and Jean, though she didn't know why. It was like they'd met before, a long time ago, but she couldn't remember when or the circumstances. Afterwards, Storm showed her to the room that she would be in; "I hope you don't mind sharing a room with a few other girls your age."

"I grew up in an orphanage, I think I can handle it."

"An orphanage?"

"Yeah, I was dumped there when I was a baby."

Storm paused for a moment, "I'm sure they had a good reason."

"A good reason for not wanting their own kid? Please, enlighten me."

"Maybe you were in danger," Storm suggested. Gwen rolled her eyes, "Right. In danger of what? I doubt they even wanted me."

"Gwen . . . "

"I'm sorry, I get a little testy about my parents, or lack there of."

"It's alright. Most of the children here know exactly how you feel."

Gwen turned her gaze to the ornate floor beneath her feet; she didn't look up much until she reached her room with Storm.

"Well, here you go. I hope you like it. You're in the last bed."

Gwen looked in the room, it was vacant save for one girl who looked to be about Gwen's age. She had long brown hair that fell over the game of solitaire she was playing on her comforter. The girl looked up and smiled, "Morning, Storm." Gwen noticed a slight Southern accent.

"Morning, Rogue." Storm replied, "Feeling alright?"

"A little tired." the girl named Rogue replied, "How's Logan?"

Gwen stood there, completely out of the loop. Was this Rogue person sick? Is that why she was tired? How long had she been at the school? It didn't seem like long, but she and Storm seemed to know each other. And, who the heck was this Logan character?

"I'm not sure." Storm answered, "I haven't seen him since last night. He's getting some medical attention right now, as I understand it."

The Rogue girl nodded. Gwen looked from her to Storm and back again. Was this Logan dude sick too?

Storm turned to me, a smile gracing her lips, "I have to go, Gwen. I'll let you settle in then we'll figure out your classes. If there is anything else you need, I'm sure the other students will be happy to help you out."

"Thanks a lot." Gwen replied, wondering about the whole class thing. The last thing she wanted was interaction with the other students. Her paranoia slowly began to set back in. She didn't even notice Storm walk off until the Rogue girl growled. Gwen walked over to the last bed and set her things down. The bed was definitely not her style, what with a white headboard decorated with gold flowers, if that was bad, the comforter was worse - bright buttercup yellow.

Gwen rolled her eyes and looked over to Rogue, who was becoming very frustrated with her game; "Need some help?" Gwen offered, having learned to play solitaire during many hours in sitting in detention for no reason.

"I think I'm stuck. Probably lost," Rogue said, an annoyed tone escaping from her lips, "again." She turned to her bedside table and grabbed a pad of paper. There were two columns: one was labeled WINS and the other LOSSES. There were considerably more losses than wins, probably close to triple the amount of wins.

Gwen looked over the game, then leaned over, "Uh, do you mind?" Rogue looked up at her, "Oh, no. Please."

After a few moves, Gwen had won the game and drew an imaginary check in the WINS column.

Rogue smiled, "Wow. Thanks!" she said, "You're good at this."

"Nah, I'm just observant." Gwen replied, "I'm Gwen, by the way."

Gwen reluctantly held out her hand, but Rogue didn't take it, she simply looked at it with a sort of longing. Gwen pulled her hand back, "Hey, it's okay. I don't have, you know, cooties or anything."

Rogue smiled, "I'm sorry. It's just when I touch people . . . I don't know. The Professor said something along the lines of 'being incapable of physical human contact'." Rogue turned and pulled some elbow length black gloves off her nightstand.

After putting them on, she stood and held out her hand, "Rogue. If you hadn't already heard, you know, from Storm." Gwen took it for a short handshake.

"So, when did you get in?"

"At about one this morning."

"I came in a couple hours before you."

"Oh good, another new person. Where from, if you don't mind my asking."

"Well, I came here from Lotham City, in Alberta."

"You're Canadian?"

"No, I sort-of ran away from home. I'm from Mississippi." She did not seem happy at the thought of her old home, so Gwen didn't ask.

"Oh, that makes more sense." Rogue looked at Gwen; "I noticed the slight accent."

Rogue nodded.

"So," Gwen began, "is Rogue your real name?" Rogue looked at Gwen again, a smile in her eyes. "I'm sorry, It's been a while since I've met anyone new. Besides, it seems like a lot of people around here seem to have some sort of nickname – well, at least one." Gwen sunk onto her bed, her head in her hands

"It's okay. And no, my name's really Marie."

"If it counts for anything, Gwen's not my real name either. It was changed when I was a baby."

"What's your real name?"

"Jade. My real name is Jade."

ROGUEVAMPYR - I'm glad you think so! Here's an update.

DANI - Thanks! You'll find out what her power is soon, there was a hint in one of the earlier chapters.

REMUS IS MINE - Sorry this took so long. I thought it would be something fun to add into the chap.

FREELANCER88 - Thanks so much! Sorry this took forever.