Disclaimer: Okay, as you all know I don't own the X-men or anything in this thing but Tiger.

(And yes I know its been an ungodly amount of time sense I last put up a chapter. To those who have been so wonderful and been reading and giving me reviews thank you! And I'm sorry you had to wait so long. Hopefully you haven't given up on me. I'm still here!)

Chapter Three: Fire and Ice, Lighting and Beast

As if feeling the eyes as they turned to study him, John glanced momentarily at the youth before him. The spark of displeasure clear upon his face. His mask of indifference unmistakable to anyone, let alone one who could with the senses of Tiger. His fingers played with the silver shark face painted lighter with ease him seeming to have no interest in the class.

She quickly turned away. Correcting her slouched position back to an upright perfect posture of her days of being the perfect student remodel.. Pyro sitting behind her made it difficult to study him, and Tiger suddenly saw a lot more reason to be interested in the class. Though they as well seemed somehow more difficult to understand, feeling the presence of the fire wielder now lounging lazily behind her. Animal senses tingling the entire time at the danger that was behind her. Fire. Fire. Fire. Now the tiger in her screamed warning.

John watched her, one leg thrown up over the top of the desk, though he tried to distract himself watching Bobby, the other boy was too busy to notice play the good student and taking notes. John made an extra note in the back of his mind to steal them later and make a copy, having a feeling he wouldn't really have any way of concentrating in the class that day. He was right.

The entire hour flew by as he sat there lost in thought. Watching the fire orange hair ripping with lighting of black tiger markings and white tips like an animals underbelly. He tried not to think about it, but his mind lingered to the question again and again, "why wasn't she there?" His fingers tapping against the hard desk in a drumming pattern having even forgotten his beloved lighter this once staring up at him as if ready to strike.

John let his eyes wonder over the shark, hand painted. Let his fingers trail over it as his mind only seemed to wandered again. Memories of his life before all this. The cold on the streets and the way of life. It took a strong will to survive. One that not everyone such as Bobby would understand. He felt the cold of the metal on his finger tips through the paint snapping him out of the dreary of thought. This girl was having the wrong kind of affect on him. Bringing up things Pyro would rather liked left forgot.

The last minute clicked away its seconds on the clock and the double sessions of studying the genetic codes of the human body, and the mutant body finally reached an end. John rose before Storm had even finished excusing everyone. He missed her words about a paper due next week comparing the two codes, and the understanding of their own personal mutation. He was out the door before his mind could reregister any of it. Bobby soon followed, after making sure he got all the dates and lengths down for the assignment to tell his friend later smiling as if not noticing his roommates fowl mood, though catching his eyes a moment before he left Tiger was sure that he did.

That boy…who smelled of winters night, why did Pyro hang out with him so much? Why where they friends? Completely opposite they seemed to be the best of friends. Tiger wondered to herself if that was possible. More then likely it was a friendship that both of them would someday regret, like the friendships she shared with the popular girls back at her old school. If any of them knew she was a mutant…a freak child mutated from birth they would have never befriended her. Maybe them not knowing what ever became of their friend Shawn Phillese was the one thing Tiger could be glad for. If they had known would they not shun or even hate her for what she was now. What she had been born.

Thinking of this, she watched the two leave before rising herself and following Jubilee like an obedient child. Silent, still in thought of the concept. Bobby Drake she had noticed always smiled, despite his powers being involved with eye he always held such warmth and caring for others. John always seemed so much more uptight and bitter in compare. He was guarded and like he hid behind the abilities of his powers to burn whatever dared to come too close. Had Fire and Ice really become friends?

Jubilee smiled looking back at her and stopping in mid stride to nudge her friend the look of joy never leaving her face. Come to think of it their choice of friends really didn't seem that different, Tiger thought giving her the usual look of seriousness. Jubilee, though fragile and somehow strong at the same time, managed to take care of most of the younger students much of the time Tiger had learned from the take they had had the night before. She was very bubbly and almost hard to keep tabs on, but knowing this she could also turn on a whim. One moment smiling and laughing, the next quite and trying to keep to herself.

The taking in of breath told Tiger she was about the say something, and the bit of a laugh in her tone told her she wasn't going to like it. "A few of the girls where talking last night…"

"And?" Tiger lifted an eyebrow curiously, knowing she wouldn't want her friend to really finish.

And…we where thinking" Changing the pace so she was walking facing the other as her smile widened, "To steal you this weekend and maybe go see a movie. Off Campus?"

Tiger shook her head. They wanted to throw her a welcoming party? That was a first. And on the other hand she was still confined to the school until it was proven she wouldn't run away.

"Can't. Sorry"

Simple put, the other girls face fell. "Please? I'll talk to the professor…there has to be some way" The sudden weight of the other girl flinging herself against Tigers arm caught her off balance slightly causing her to stumble, and prevent them both from falling by slinging an arm around her in return.

She didn't want to. Every part of her only wanted to be alone this weekend without the classes and the noise. Maybe even work on a way of getting out should she ever need it. The wild beast in her however, could not resist the instinct or the idea of leaving the cage.

"Fine, I'll do it. Talk to the professor, and if he says its okay for me to leave…"

Her words where cut off as the other girl once again surprised the anti-social creature in a tight hold forcing her to jump up and down as well in the middle of the hallway. Tiger looked around studying the amused faces as she struggled away with a sigh. She was already regretting this.

There it is everyone. Sorry I know it took me WAY late to get this out. I seem to have fallen into a year long writers block of anything I wished to get out. So, good news that its out! I can write again. And I've got nothing to do lately sense summer just started. So more good news…expect more soon, like real soon. I'm starting chapter four now in fact. See you later! Thanks again for all who have reviewed. It really helped me get my inspirations back finally. Enjoy!