Disclaimer: Guess what? I own everything! Ha ha, um, just kidding. I just own Gwen and her story.
A/N: If you really want to find out what her power is, read (or reread) chapter 4, there are massive hints . . . The answer is coming soon . . .
Storm had stopped by the room a little later with hand-written schedules for Gwen and Rogue both. They quickly compared agendas, finding that they had two classes together: History and Science. That left four classes where, so far, Gwen didn't know a soul. The thought haunted Gwen all morning. She was paranoid about the idea of the whole school ordeal, never wanting to return to the hell she'd experienced before.
They had spent the morning in their dorm, talking mostly. Both kept their secrets, neither giving away more information than was needed to be said. Gwen told Rogue about the orphanage, and how she came to be at the school, but didn't say anything about her old school or her so-called 'friends', never revealing the bruise that lay behind her curtain of hair. She didn't want to seem vulnerable to this new person, wouldn't drop her guard for anything, didn't want anyone to see how weak she really was.
Gwen and Rogue briefly met their dorm-mates before their secound period class: Jubilation Lee, preferably called Jubilee, an outgoing girl with dark hair; Kitty Pryde, who was a tall, shy girl with short brown hair; and Franka Clancy, a brunette with red streaks running the length of her hair and a think Austrian accent. All three were nice and open to the newcomers, but Gwen was still nervous in their presence. Rogue was more open to their friendly smiles, though she too seemed to be holding back. Gwen felt better, knowing that Rogue was just as uneasy with them as herself, though Gwen knew it was only because Rogue was scared of the fact that she could do more harm to them, not vice-versa, as Gwen feared. Though Jubilee, Kitty and Franka seemed nice, Gwen feared what they could be hiding, what their secrets were, what they could do to her.
"Oh, that's our bell," Jubilee's voice broke Gwen's train of thought, "We'll see you guys later."
Gwen looked up as the girls exited the room, smiling and laughing amongst themselves. She felt so insecure, and could do nothing to stop it.
She felt a hand on her shoulder all the sudden, and looked up into Rogue's brown eyes.
"Hey," Rogue started, "are you okay? You looked a little freaked out or something."
Gwen paused, looking at Rogue, "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I'll be okay."
Gwen's first class that day was History, third period. The last place she wanted to be was in a classroom; it only brought back memories, bad memories. She walked into the classroom by herself and took a seat in the back of the room. She ignored the other students as they filed into the room and took their seats, staring at her the whole while. Gwen, who had never met another mutant before Xavier's school, was genuinely surprised at what she saw as she surveyed the room as it filled with students. Many of the students looked like "normal" people, they looked like those people that she went to school with. Just thinking about her old school brought back old memories, old fears. She glanced around the room, wandering which one of them would come for her first -
She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, and a soft voice reached her ears, "Morning, Gwen, how are you doing so far?"
Gwen looked up, relieved to see Storm smiling at her, "Not bad. Just a little nervous, that's all." she lied.
"You ready for some history? Best subject in the entire school, if I do say so myself."
"As long as it's not US History, I can't wait." Gwen replied, attempting a smile.
"No US history, not yet, we're in Ancient Rome, right now."
"Oh, very cool."
Storm smiled, "Good morning, Rogue."
"Hey," Gwen started as Rogue sat down next to her, "Welcome to Ancient Rome."
"Kitty! Look who I found!" Gwen turned slightly, to be faced with the smiling face of Jubilee, with Kitty right behind her. The pair took their seats on the opposite side of Gwen as the bell rang and Storm began her class.
"The roman empire," she started, "for centuries, they persecuted and ostracized the Christians, and then, almost over night, their religion rose to become the dominate faith of the empire. Does anyone know what suddenly caused the Christians to become accepted? Anyone?"
Gwen looked around, noticing that no one was raising their hand. She slowly raised her hand, a light coming instantly into Storm's eyes.
"Yes, Gwen."
"Didn't the emperor become a Christian?" she answered, feeling everyone's eyes upon her.
"Exactly right," Storm said, addressing the rest of the class, but she turned back to Gwen, distracted by something, "Gwen, do you mind taking your glasses off?"
"What?"
"Your glasses, would mind taking them off?"
"Uh, actually, I would," Some of the class snickered at her response, others seemed appalled that someone would talk back to a teacher. "I'm not trying to be a smart-ass or anything, but you probably don't want me to do that. It's just - it's just that, my eyes, you see - " Gwen stopped, Storm was looking straight at her, along with the rest of the class. Reluctantly, Gwen reached for her glasses, slowly taking them off; "They tend to creep people out."
There were a few gasps in response, while others leaned in for a better look. Gwen cowered in her seat, hating all of the attention. She looked up to Storm for comfort; she just smiled, and then continued with her class.
"Come on, now, everyone. We were discussing what?"
A few hands went up; "Yes, Jubilee."
"Constantine's conversion."
"Yes. Emperor Constantine and his ruling class all converted to Christianity,"
Gwen was suddenly distracted by Kitty, who poked her in the arm, nodding towards Rogue. Gwen nudged Rogue slightly, directing to attention to Kitty, who suddenly didn't seem so shy; "Hey, you know that guy you came in with?" Kitty began, making sure Storm didn't hear her, "Does he really have steel claws that come out of his hands?"
Jubilee look to Rogue, an expression of mixed emotions on her face, "What kind of a mutation is that?"
Rogue just turned away, disregarding their comments about Logan, whoever he was. This time there was another distraction. The boy sitting right front of Gwen and Rogue and had created a fireball, right in his hand. Gwen leaned forward, fascinated by the whole thing. She'd never seen anyone else, other than herself, use their powers before. She was impressed, though it was plainly obvious he was trying to show off, but in that moment, it didn't matter really. Gwen could hear Storm discussing Constantine and his army invading Italy and Constantine's vision of a glowing cross, but her words simply went in one ear and out the other.
Suddenly, from the other side of Rogue, a stream of what looked to be frozen air came shooting towards the boy's fireball, freezing it instantly. The ice fell from the boy's hand and shattered on the floor, making him jump in his seat.
"John." Storm said, turning from the chalkboard to face him, "What did I tell you?"
"Sorry." he replied, tucking his lighter into his pocket.
The rest of the class seemed to drone on, with information Gwen had learned at her old school and the Ice-boy (whose name turned out to be Bobby) flirting with Rogue, giving her an ice rose.
"Alright, tomorrow, be prepared for a quiz." Storm said, the students packing up their things and leaving.
"The lesson wasn't too painful for you two, I hope." Storm said, once everyone had left, leaving Gwen and Rogue behind.
"No." Rogue answered, Gwen just shook her head as she replaced her glasses.
"Good."
"Storm?"
"Yes, Gwen?"
"Why did you make me remove my glasses? You could tell it was uncomfortable, I know you could."
Storm put her hand on Gwen's shoulder, looking directly into her pale blue eyes, "Gwen, you're safe here. No one's going to hurt you," she said with the utmost sincerity. Gwen looked to her; a feeling of security overwhelmed her for the first time in a very, very long time. She felt safe around Storm, her words comforting Gwen's feeling of being lost and in constant danger.
"There's nothing here you have to hide."
Oh, one more A/N: Thanks for all your reviews! Just as a side note, I want to try and get some random mutant teens at the school mentioned in this fic. If you want to send me a character by email or put the suggestion in a review (hint hint), I'll put them in. Mostly, it will be kind-of filler characters maybe reoccurring friends or something like that, but at least Gwen won't have every class with Rogue.
Weirdsista - Thanks, I'm glad you like it! And, yes, I am a girl - no worries
Adeline - Sorry, but you'll have to wait to find out.
Liliput83 - Thank you! It's always nice to hear that! I had to make it sad for her so that things will come together better later . . .
ME - Sorry about that, I accidentally posted two of the same chapter, my computer is crap. It's fixed now! Was this update okay?
StarfireFan101 - Uh, no, Gwen isn't me. And, I spelled Mississippi right., sorry I don't want to sound mean.