Jean looked at the girls sitting on the couch outside Professor Xavier's office.
"Hi," one of them said softly looking up and waving at Jean.
"Hi," Jean replied. "Are you all waiting for Professor Xavier?' she asked unable to figure out any other reason they'd be here, unless they had been hanging around Bobby and Jamie too long and were eavesdropping.
"Nope, Ms. Thorne," a different girl answered. Jean recognizes one of the girls as Kristen Gardener, the girl she had driven home from school yesterday.
"How long have you four been out here?"
"About an hour," Mona answered as the other nodded in agreement. It had been a long hour for them and they had finally run out of things to do.
"Ms. Thorne doesn't want us interacting with any of you people. She wouldn't even let me go study with Mr. McCoy," Candie said sadly looking at the floor through her bubble.
"And she practically tore Amber away from that boy with the spiky skin," Mona added.
"Evan?"
"Yeah," Amber said wincing slightly when Mona bumped her hand a little. Even though Dr. McCoy had released her from the infirmary for now, Amber was still in a lot of pain and Evan stayed by her side at almost all times. No one was sure if it was because of guilt or something else.
"But you girls are all talking to me."
"I don't think Ms. Thorne is right about this, any of this," Amber stated getting a glare from Mona, but ignoring it.
"You don't agree?"
"I don't know. Things are really different here Ms. Grey. I miss being able to fly around and not have to deal with the stares from your teammates. I know they try not to, but you know as well as I do that they think I'm freaky looking," Mona stated, gesturing at her wings and orange and black patterned skin. Jean opened her mouth to defend her teammates, but Mona's orange eyes met hers and she just looked at the floor.
"It's not your fault, Ms. Grey," Candie said putting one of her hands on the wall of her bubble and wishing she could really put her hand on Jean's shoulder and comfort her.
"Girls! What are you doing talking to one of Charles's students?" Saretta yelled walking out of Xavier's office. Charles was right behind her.
"She's nice," Amber said.
"She's a telepath, and probably has been brainwashing you against me!"
"Saretta, I assure you, Ms. Grey was doing nothing of the sort. I really wish you'd stop believing these paranoid ideals you have about my students, staff and school."
"They're not paranoid Charles. I know for sure you want to make my innocent girls into, into X-Men, make the fight to 'protect' humanity. How many humans, how many innocent humans get hurt in your little fights?" Candie, Mona and Jean watched their teachers fight. Kristen had curled up and gone to sleep and Amber had taken advantage of the situation to sneak off to find Evan.
"At least my students know how to defend themselves and that there is evil in the world. You keep these girls of yours so sheltered. I could hardly believe that neither Annabelle or Gillian hadn't attended a public school. Have these girls had any interaction with the world at all?"
"Of course, and that world treated them so horribly, several of my girls have emotional and mental trauma. Look, Charles, I have my style of teaching and you have yours. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to help Candie and Mona with their packing." Saretta spun around and motioned for Kristen, Mona and Candie to follow her. At first the girls stood completely still, and then slowly Kristen and Mona moved towards Saretta.
"Candie." Saretta called looking over at the last girl. Candie looked back and then at the floor shifting her weight slightly as she thought over the decision she was about to make.
"I don't want to leave. Dr. McCoy wants me to be his assistant. I'll never have another chance like this at some hotel or at the Academy. I'm staying here," she stated walking over to Jean and Professor Xavier. Saretta blinked in disbelief. Out of all her students she had never expected Candie to talk back to her like this. Usually she was too shy to even speak up for herself.
"Fine, stay here, but if you get sick again, it'll be your own fault," she snapped storming down the hall with Mona and Kristen following behind her. Charles, Jean and Candie watched her until she disappeared around the corner.
"I know the timing isn't too great, but welcome to the X-Men, Candie," Jean said smiling at the younger girl who bit her lip and then with a nod returned the smile.
"Thank you, Ms. Grey."