I know this took a while to put up, but you know how writer's block is...anyway I hope you enjoy it, and if it isn't too much trouble I really appreciate reviews.

As the black sedan pulled in through the gates of the Institute, Nicole's jaw dropped. The Professor had referred to her new home as a 'mansion', but this was incredible. The large Tudor style house was complete with a fountain, private balconies for the second story rooms, and it even had ivy climbing the walls.

"I do hope this suits you," Professor Xavier said with a kind smile, noticing Nicole's shocked expression.

"Yeah…" she mumbled, unable to speak in full sentences.

"Ah, here is the welcoming committee," Xavier said, referring to the two older teens that were approaching the car. Logan got out and went to get Xavier's wheelchair out of the trunk. Nicole's gaze turned to the two students which sent her into a deeper shock. They were perfect. The boy was tall with short brown hair and deep red sunglasses. Even though he wasn't her type, he was a good looking boy, and Nicole was sure that the popular girls from her other school would have deemed him cute. The girl was almost as tall as the boy, and she fit the part of a red haired Barbie completely from her flawlessly painted fingernails to her Abercrombie and Fitch wardrobe. They smiled at her which struck Nicole as funny, people like them usually never stooped down to her level. When the Professor had said that all students were mutants, they were not what she had in mind at all.

"Hello Nicole, I'm Jean and this is Scott. Welcome to the team," the girl said reaching out to shake Nicole's hand. Nicole pulled herself together and gave her a strong handshake. Scott smiled at Nicole, while he placed a hand on Jean's shoulder, his way of showing her that they were a couple.

"Well, let's show you around then, shall we?" Xavier asked wheeling in the direction of the mansion. Nicole pulled her duffel bag out of the backseat, and slung it over her shoulder, before following Logan, Xavier, Scott, and Jean to the house.

The long tour ended, leaving Nicole as breathless as she was when she had first arrived; from the Danger Room to the extended dining room the mansion was as overwhelming on the inside as it was on the outside. Jean and Scott had left Nicole to find her room on her own; she would be rooming with a girl named Tabitha. When Scott had told her this he had wished her good luck, so Nicole had no idea what do expect from this girl. Nicole stood in front of the door to her room at the end of the hallway. Loud music was blaring from inside and there were scorch marks on the door from what Nicole guessed was some kind of explosives. Deciding that knocking wouldn't do any good she opened to door and walked inside. Tabitha was sprawled out across her bed with a crazy smile and she was twirling a small needle in between her fingers. Noticing Nicole she sat up and gave her a big smile.

"Oh heyyy, they told me about you. Nicole, right? I'm Tabitha," she said turning of the music.

"Yeah, call me Nikki," Nicole said sitting her duffel bag down on the other bed in the room, and sitting down. All the excitement had taken a lot out of her.

"Well, Nikki, what is it you do?" Tabitha asked starting to play with the needle again.

"What?"

"You know…the freakish mutant powers that got you in this place."

"Oh…it's kind of hard to explain, but sometimes I can control shadows." Nicole said before realizing how stupid that sounded.

"Fascinating…" Tabitha drawled, rolling her eyes.

"Well what do you do?" Nicole asked.

"I was hoping you'd be able to do something exciting. I can make these awesome little bombs that I can throw at whoever, whenever I want," she said. When she talked about her powers her eyes gleamed with excitement, it was almost like she was a bomb herself, and her powers fit her explosive personality perfectly. From her fanned out blonde hair to the multiple piercings in her ears and the way she dressed it seemed like being able to throw bombs was a normal habit in the life of Tabitha Smith. Just to prove she wasn't lying, Tabitha held out her and, and a small yellow ball of light formed in it.

Before Nicole could say anything, Tabitha yelled, "Bombs away!" as she chucked the ball at their door where it exploded on impact, scorching the wood. Tabitha grinned and Nicole had the feeling that rooming with Tabitha would be anything but boring.