Disclaimer: X-Men belongs to Stan Lee, the genius. I just own Gwen and those people you may not recognize.

A/N: Is there no one who wants to add a character of their own making? NO ONE? Well, I guess I just have to be creative then . . . Poo . . . (that was a HINT, my friends :) )

Gwen woke early the next morning, before anyone else in her dorm. She had had trouble sleeping during the night, the ability to clear her mind had completely left her. As she sat up, she found that Rogue was curled up tightly on her bed, her blanket pulled up to just underneath her chin. Gwen dressed quickly and made her way through the silent halls. She hadn't checked to see what time it was, but guessed it was fairly early. The sun was just beginning to break through the windows, illuminating the halls.

"This place is huge . . . " Gwen mumbled to herself, her stomach growling, as she turned down yet another corridor that lead nowhere. The school was bigger than she'd realized, and Storm's directions to the kitchen, or at least one of them, were blurred in her mind. Her last conversation with Rogue ran over and over again in her mind. The thought of being cured had never even crossed her mind. Her mutation was something that Gwen had to live with, whether she wanted it or not. But, thinking about it, Gwen's mutation wasn't to awful and it hardly interfered with her life, especially now that she pretty much had control over her powers, but Rogue had said something about hers, something about when she touched people - "Oh dear god . . . "

"So, do you always talk to yourself?"

Gwen swung around, only to be confronted by John leaning against a wall, flicking his silver lighter open and shut. "What the hell are you doing out here this early in the morning!" Gwen asked, trying to recover from the surprise. She hadn't realized that she was spacing out, allowing her feet to lead her where ever.

John stood up straight, smirking, "I should ask you the same thing."

Gwen looked to at him, she had just noticed his accent for the first time. Quickly reverting her eyes to the floor, she replied, "I was hungry." She could feel his gaze burning into her skin.

"Look at that. So am I. Come on, it's this way." he answered, beckoning for her to follow.

For whatever reason, she didn't. John began to walk down the hall without her, not noticing the fact that she hadn't moved. Gwen was confused. Somehow, she wasn't scared to be around John, like she was with everyone else. She barely knew him, and yet, there was something about him that -

"Hey, what are you doing? Aren't you hungry?"

"Well, um, yeah, it's - it's just - "

"Nothing. It's nothing." John finished for her, "Come on, the sound of your stomach is driving me nuts."

After a moment, Gwen gave in, giving her stomach priority over her fears - is that what they really were, though? Honestly, she didn't know. Gwen walked down the halls in silence, pondering to herself, not wanting to wake anyone up. It took John a significantly shorter time to reach the kitchen than it ever would have taken Gwen.

"So," John started as he went straight for the fridge, "How did you end up here?"

"Long story."

"It's barely even 6:30. We have time." he said, placing a bowl and spoon in front of her, "What'll it be, Corn Flakes or Pops?"

"Doesn't matter."

"Okay." John said grabbing the Corn Pops and pouring some into his bowl, then passing the box to Gwen. He looked up, "Well, come on. Just one thing."

"Do you really want to know? I mean, do you really care that much?"

John sat down next to her, cereal in hand. He looked to her, and nodded; "Yeah, actually I do."

Gwen sighed, running her spoon through the cereal as it floated around in the milk; "Are you from Australia?"

"Hey, don't try to change the subject."

"Why do you care so much?"

"I'm just curious, that's all. You can't get all mad at me just for being curious, can you?"

"Try me."

"Damn, Bobby was right. You are stubborn."

Gwen paused, bringing her spoon to her lips, "I've never met my parents."

Pyro looked at her, "Really." It was a statement, not a question.

"I grew up in an orphanage."

"With other kids?"

"No," Gwen replied sarcastically, "All by myself."

"Well, how did you hide your - " Pyro pointed at Gwen's eyes. She raised her fingers to her face, and realized that she'd forgotten to put her glasses on. Gwen turned her eyes back towards her breakfast and sighed, "I usually wear sunglasses."

"Yeah, I remember. From yesterday, that is."

Gwen looked at him through the corner of her eyes, then looked away again.

"Do you not like them? Is that why you hide them?"

"I hide them because I have to."

"Well, I think they're cool."

"How kind of you." Gwen replied, not impressed, "Are you serious or are you just trying to make me feel better?"

"Take a stab at it."

"It's not making me feel any better."

John smirked again and returned to his breakfast; "I'm proud of you."

"What? Why?"

"Well, I asked you one question and got more information than I expected - especially from you."

"You barely even know me and you already have expectations of me? Good God almighty."

John smiled; "In reply to your question, I am from Australia. I was born in Sydney."

Gwen nodded, "I knew it."

"What, are you psychic?"

"You mean like the professor? No, I'm not. Wouldn't that be cool though?"

"So, why did you leave? The orphanage, that is."

Gwen stopped. She had avoided thinking about that day since she'd left, and preferably did not want to think of it at the moment. She especially did not want to talk about it with a boy she didn't know.

"Do you not want to say why?"

Gwen nodded slowly.

"Okay."

"Wait, you're not going to pester me for an answer?"

"No."

Gwen stared at him, amazed. John turned back to his food. "Thank you." Gwen managed to say.

John opened his mouth to reply, but was abruptly cut off.

"Oh, excuse me, I didn't mean to interrupt." the girl standing in the doorway said, grinning like a maniac. It took Gwen a moment to recognize her, as there was no entourage this time, she remembered as the girl from the evening before, Kate.

"What are you doing up this early, Windy?" John asked coolly, "Don't you actually need beauty sleep?"

The girl glared at John, "Having a little party, I see."

"Are you upset that you weren't invited?"

"You think I would have come?"

"What do you want, Blondie?" Gwen inquired, desperately wanting to be rid of the other girl's presence.

Kate tilted her hips, her steely eyes tearing a hole straight through Gwen; "You're just going to make this really difficult, aren't you?"

"I'm certainly going to try." Gwen said, draining her bowl of milk, "Don't you have someone your own hair colour to annoy?"

Kate glared at Gwen, "You are really starting to piss me off."

"Oh yeah? What else is new?" Gwen said standing up to take her bowl to sink. She had barely taken two steps when she suddenly felt short of breath. It became harder for her to breathe. She tried to take in deep breaths, but felt as if the wind was getting sucked out of her. Gwen suddenly recalled her conversation with John and Bobby from the evening before: "Kate has the ability to manipulate air. In other words, she could basically suffocate you where you stand."

"Oh, fuck." Gwen thought to herself. She looked up to Kate, who stood by the door, smiling maliciously. Gwen fought to breathe, her lungs beginning to collapse inside of her.

"Kate! What the hell do you think you're doing!" John yelled, standing up. Kate ignored him.

The bowl dropped from Gwen's hand, smashing on the floor. Gasping for air, Gwen looked up and, concentrating, disappeared right before Kate's (and John's) eyes.

Kate looked around, worried, instantly breaking her mental connection with Gwen; "Where the hell did she go!" she cried, walking over to Pyro; "What's her mutation!"

"I have no idea."

After catching her breath, Gwen began to move slowly towards Kate. "Maybe you should use that one brain cell and figure it out for yourself." Gwen said, her voice ringing throughout the kitchen.

"Transporter?" Kate guessed.

"No" Gwen said, drawing in closer to Kate.

"Coward, just show yourself." Kate attempted.

"You're calling me a coward?" Gwen replied, making herself visible behind Kate.

Kate swung around, only to be met with Gwen's suddenly visible fist.

Another A/N: I can't believe I forgot it for the last chapter! I meant to have Pyro have an Australian accent, like from the comics. I totally spaced out, hopefully I redeemed myself this chapter.

Remus Is Mine - No! Don't cry! I LOVE YOU! (platonically, of course) I'm glad you liked the Bobby stuff, I was thinking about your review as I was writing that chapter and thought, 'Hey! I'll put Bobby in here!' There, just for you! Happy Birthday, Happy Christmas, and everything else . . .

A Lost Soul - YAY! Cookies to the first guesser! And you guessed correctly too! No, Gwen is not telepathic as well, she only has the one power. Just curious, what made you think that she was telepathic as well?

ME - Thanks so much! I hope you liked this chapter!