March

Therese sat cross-legged on her bed; her wet hair unbrushed, straggly clumps dripping water down her pyjama top. She cuddled a large teddy-bear to her chest; her long since spent tears still glimmering on its fur.

"I don't want to hurt you,"
"Then don't."
"Give us the girl."
"You know I can't. I have to protect her."
"Then join us."
"I can't; I'm so sorry."

Memories resounded in her head, images spinning like a giant tornado; a tornado that would never stop and would wreck everything in its path. Voices talked in her head; voices that weren't her own.

She clamped her hands to her ears and tried to block out the students thoughts as they ran through the school, unaware the toll their thoughts were taking on her. The skill she'd developed over her life of blocking unnecessary noise out was slipping away from her.

She buried her nose right into the bear's fur, intending to scream to block out the sound when she felt a jolt; an old memory flooded her mind, shutting everything out.

"That one," Therese pointed at the giant teddy on the top shelf, "Get me that one."

"That one? I'd have to knock down all the bottles to get it!" a male voice replied, "Are you sure you want that one?"

"Yeah," Therese folded her arms and pretended to pout. She looked up at John, "You promised me a teddy & that's the one I want."

John growled playfully and took aim. He flung the first ball and knocked the top three bottles over. His next shot knocked over two bottom ones. He drew his arm back and aimed carefully. The last ball just missed the final bottle causing it to wobble. "Damn!" he cried, just as the bottle toppled over and fell off the stand.

He glanced at Therese just as she broke her stare from the stand and smiled at him. He leant towards her, "You cheated."

"Whatcha gonna' do?" she winked and took the teddy in her arms and smiled at the stall-owner, "Thanks."

"I thought we weren't supposed to use our powers in public," he said, when they had walked a little away from the crowds.

"Nobody noticed."

"That doesn't matter. You know it's dangerous."

"Jeez, you sound like me."

"And you sound like me!"

Therese turned to face him and put a hand on his arm, "Just chill out Tiger. No-one noticed so we're okay."

"But what if someone had?" John caught her hand, "I don't want you to get hurt. I couldn't forgive myself."

"I know. But you don't want me to get hurt and then you have no regard for yourself? If you were to… I care about you to much."

"You what?"

"You heard me Tiger…"

John reached a hand and swept her hair out of her face. His hand slid down along her cheek and his other arm snaked slowly around her waist.

She stepped closer; close enough to feel his warm breath on her face. They leant towards one another and her eyes slid closed, waiting for the impending kiss.

"Hey guys!" They pulled apart at the sound of Bobby's voice, "Wanna' go on the Waltzers with us?"

Therese was pulled from her memories by the gentle rhythm of a brush running through her hair.

"You know if you don't do your hair after you wash it, it won't sit right and it'll annoy you all day." Therese's brow furrowed as she listened to voice behind her. She wrenched away and twisted to look at the voice's owner.

Jean smiled at her, "Where were you? You were lost somewhere."

Therese sprang off the bed and backed away from the woman on her bed, "What? How? You…" She stared at her. "You're dead!" she blurted out.

Jean smiled and shook her head, her now long, wavy hair swinging softly, "No, not dead. Just… absent."

"But how… I don't understand."

"You don't need to understand, just know." Jean motioned for Therese to sit back on the bed.

"You've been through many trials in the past years, and for the most part, you appear out the other side relatively unscathed." Jean combed Therese's hair slowly, the tips trailing along her scalp and back, "But this time, you are heavily wounded and before this year is out you will have scars on your very soul."

She set the comb down, "Just remember that I am with you."

Therese heard someone call her name. Jean gripped her shoulders from behind, leant towards her and whispered, "When you need me, just call."

"Therese! Therese!"

"How long has she been out?"

"I don't know; I found her like this, writhing and muttering."

"I'm going to get the Professor."

"I'm fine!" Therese opened her eyes and looked at the heads appearing to float above her. Marie, Bobby and Tara all looked at her with concerned-filled eyes.

She sat up quickly and immediately regretted it. Her head spun and her eyes slipped out of focus. "Whoa…" she murmured, holding her head.

"Are you okay?" Marie crouched beside her.

"I'm going to get the Professor." Bobby repeated.

"Bobby, don't." Tara said, "You'll just worry everyone."

"Tara, she passed out; she needs to see the Professor." Bobby replied.

"You know what, I think Bobby is right." Therese said.

"I am?" Bobby asked surprised.

"Yeah," she grabbed a fleece jacket and jumped up, "I need to see the Professor."