Did everyone enjoy my little cliff hanger? God, I'm good. And so evil. Just kidding. I won't make you wait any longer if you even bothered to read this little intro. Enjoy!

This is an AU fic for the X-men movie characters. I don't own any of the Marvel character. Though, I do own John's sister, Dad, and the character Blade.

Chapter 10

I grumbled and cursed under my breath as I stuffed a pair of jeans in my backpack. Of all the dumb things to do . . . Letting out a growl that even Logan would've been proud of, I threw my shoe across the room. It hit the wall with a resounding 'thud'. The noise echoed through my near-empty room. Next door, someone stumbled outside and knocked on my door.

"Not right now. Busy hangin' myself." I called.

A gasp and someone ramming their shoulder against my door. I stifled a chuckle and made my way slowly over. Flipping the lock, I pulled the door open just as they were charging. Bobby fell into the room, landing face first at my feet.

"Please, won't you come in?" I asked dryly.

Bobby levered himself up and dusted off his pants. He glanced around the room. Probably looking for a knose. The boy fixed me with a level glare.

"Don't even joke about that kind of thing, John. You have us all worried."

I shrugged and went back to packing. Bobby moved over to my side and watched silently for a few moments.

"You leaving?" His question escaped in a hushed whisper.

"I wish." I moaned, zipping up the pack with a sense of growing dread. "I gotta go off with some freak-show. Intensive learning, or something like that. More like cruel and unusual punishment, if you ask me."

The boy quirked an eyebrow, waiting for me to explain further. I sighed and let my knees buckle. I fell onto my bed, the air rushing out of the mattress with a 'fwhoo'.

"I have to spend a week or so up in this cabin in the forest. With some chick, I don't know and don't particularly want to know."

"What for?"

I paused and snapped my head around to stare at Bobby. My heart rate quickened as I realized how close I was to telling the boy everything. Letting him see the real me. I recovered eventually, securing a cocky grin on my face. I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively.

"Don't really know. Maybe this won't be so bad. Girl? In a secluded place? And me? Sounds like a grand ol' time."

Bobby rolled his eyes, feigning disgust. "Okay. As long as you aren't really gonna hurt yourself, I'm going back to studying. I'll see you later?"

I shrugged again, trying to act casual. "Yeah. Whatever."

The boy gave me a half-hearted wave over his shoulder and left the room. I hurried to shut the door and then flopped backwards on the bed. Jesus. Talk about close calls. It's almost too easy to screw up around here. I don't care what the hell they think. Wish they'd all just leave me alone. 'Specially Xavier and his little crew of do-gooder teachers. Pushing myself into an upright position, I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. My hands twitched, longing for a lighter. The touch of cool metal on my increasingly sweaty palms. I never shoulda come here. It was all a big mistake. They don't want me here, either. That's why their sending me away to this cabin with Blade. I let a humorless laugh leak from my chest. She probably hates me the most. Plus, she's gotta deal with me all the time now. That's gotta suck for her.

Another knock exploded on my door before it was thrown open. Blade leaned her head in, fixing me with an icy glare.

"Come on. I want to get this thing over with. Sooner we get there, the sooner you learn, and the sooner we can come home."

"Home? Where's that again?" The woman settled back on her heels at my questions. "This is just a fuckin' school." Just like all the rest.

Blade's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I thought I told you to watch your mouth, kid."

"And I thought I told you to fuck off."

I could practically hear the sharp intake of air as my words hit her. Then, before I could react, she sprang forward and shoved me to the ground. Straddling my waist, the woman held a knife against my throat. I froze, my breath caught in my chest. She seemed to fight to gain control of herself. Her eyes were a wild, golden yellow that bore into my soul. She squeezed them shut, seeming to battle with something internal. When she finally opened them again, they had returned to their usual brandy-brown color. Blade sat back, shifted her weight and removed the dagger. A small droplet of blood snaked its way down my neck. The very tip of her knife musta broke the skin. Flicking her eyes from the scratch to my face, Blade gracefully flipped backwards away from me. I fought to draw in a deep breath.

"I said, come on. Don't make me tell you again."

I nodded dumbly, scrambling to my feet.

"This is going to be a long week." I heard her mutter as she stalked out of my room. You have no idea.