Author's Note: Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed! They're a great source of inspiration, so please keep them coming!

Oh, and much thanks to those who commented on my OC, Alana. I'm really glad she seems to meet your approval. I am making an effort to keep her as human and real as possible.


CHAPTER FOUR – Princess Cover Girl

A soft hissing sound signaled the arrival of another person at the X-Mansion's subbasement training room. Storm looked up from the clipboard she held her hands in time to see Logan walk through the door. As usual, the man had a half-interested expression on his face, as though he was just wandering about the house trying to find something worthwhile to do.

Logan's attention was immediately directed towards the main activity going on in the room. It would have been an extremely strange sight to an outsider who didn't know what the school is all about. At the center of the large, virtually empty room stood Alana Stratford, with her right arm held outstretched in front of her. She was pointing her hand in the direction of Peter Rasputin, who at that moment, was morphed in his steel form and floating in the air about five feet off the ground.

"That's pretty good," Logan admitted, crossing his arms as he stood next to Storm, who was monitoring the exercise purposefully.

Storm shook her head. "It's not just pretty good, she's entirely advanced!" she whispered back. "Over the past hour we've already gone through tests for strength, coordination, and accuracy."

"And," Logan prompted, leaning over to peer at the sheet of paper on Storm's clipboard. "How'd she do?"

"She can lift Peter's armored weight—500 pounds—up to a height of five feet," Storm began, reading from her notes. "She can juggle ten 5-pound weights in a perfect circle. And her accuracy in target shooting is about ninety-five percent."

She looked up from notes and gave Logan a meaningful look. "Not bad for a new mutant who claims she's never had much practice in the use of her powers."

"She claims," Logan repeated, stressing the word with a smirk. "Are we really going to give our trust to Princess Cover Girl that easily?"

Storm sighed. "We have no choice but to take her word for it," she said. "But if what she says IS true, Logan, then this is just the beginning stage of her mutant development. She's still going to learn and grow. Who knows what more she'll be capable of in the future, given enough time to progress?"

Logan shrugged carelessly. "Then we just have to make sure she's also taught to use her powers responsibly."

Storm grinned. "You know, that has got to be the most uncharacteristic thing I've ever heard come out of your mouth," she told him, poking his arm with her pen.

Logan held up his hands. "Hey, at least my mutation is stable," he retorted. "You know exactly what to expect from my powers."

"As for her," he went on, nodding in Alana's direction. "If she's got as much potential as you think she does, then we're definitely going to have to keep a close eye on her."

The conversation between the two instructors was interrupted by the sound of Peter falling back on the ground with a heavy thud. He had managed to land solidly on his feet, but his immense weight caused the floor to vibrate for a few seconds.

Storm quickly checked the time on her stopwatch. "Ten minutes and fifteen seconds," she announced, walking over to Alana and Peter. Alana was bent over, her hands resting on her knees, panting slightly from the exertion of her powers.

"Above average stamina. That's very impressive," Storm said, placing a hand on Alana's shoulder. "Now we just have one last test for your speed and reflexes. Why don't you sit down and rest for a while? Just take your time, and we'll wait till you're ready."

Alana nodded. "All right," she said, straightening herself and raising her hand to wipe a few sweat beads from her forehead. She glanced at Peter and smiled. "Thanks for being my guinea pig."

Peter laughed. "Anytime," he told her sincerely. "You did great."

Logan watched as the pair walked over to a bench at the sidelines and sat down. He then turned back to Storm. "How are you planning to do her speed test?"

"It's good you asked, 'cause I was planning to ask for your help with it," Storm replied with a smile.

She led him to a large crate that stood in the corner and opened it. Logan reached inside and pulled out a bright red dodge ball. He raised his eyebrow at Storm.

"You've got to be kidding."

"It's always been a great game for testing reflexes, and you know it," Storm told him. "You and Peter just throw these at her as fast as you can, and we'll see how well she can use telekinesis to block the shots and defend herself."

As Logan finally conceded and started to take unload the balls from the crate, Kitty came into the room, also curious about the progress of Alana's training.

"Oh, good!" Storm said, waving the girl over. "The more hands the better."

"More hands for what?" Kitty asked. Her gaze drifted over to where Alana and Peter were sitting to together, having a drink of water and laughing as they exchanged stories.

"Just a little dodge ball game to test Alana's telekinetic reflexes," Storm explained, oblivious to the girl's preoccupation. "You up for it?"

Kitty sighed. "Sure," she said, turning away from the sight of Peter and Alana to help Logan with the balls.

A few minutes later, Alana was back in the center of the training room floor. Logan stood at one side of the room, while Kitty and Peter were stationed at the opposite end.

"Use your powers to block the balls and stop them from hitting you," Storm instructed Alana. "If you can, try to make them fly back to the person who threw them. But the main objective is just trying not to get hit."

Alana nodded. "Got it," she said, genuine determination forming on her face.

At Storm's signal, the dodge balls started flying at Alana from both ends of the room. She managed to successfully block most of them, even sending a few smashing back against the walls. Some however, did manage to hit her. One of Logan's balls actually caught her solidly at the side of her head, causing her to lose her balance and crumple to the ground.

Storm immediately rushed over to Alana, followed closely by Peter who helped her sit up, keeping his hand on her back to support her.

"Are you all right?" he asked, brushing her hair aside gently to check for bruises. "That hit pretty hard!"

"I'm fine," Alana insisted, but with a scowl on her face. "I guess he just caught me off-guard."

"Hey, maybe you should ease up a bit, Logan," Peter told the man as he finally came over, with an almost too unconcerned expression on his face. "It's just an exercise, and it's her first day. There's no need to get rough on her."

"Why?" Logan retorted. "It's a test to see how well she can defend herself. We should be pushing it."

"It's okay, Peter. He's right," Alana said, as she slowly got to her feet. She glared at Logan. "Let him push it."

When they had made sure that Alana was really willing and able to continue, the test resumed. It seemed that her fall had strengthened her determination, since not a single ball managed to get near her. When one of Logan's shots came soaring straight at her face again, she flipped her hand at it. The ball immediately shot back in Logan's direction like a bullet, hitting him full force on the forehead. Logan crashed to the ground, stunned by the force of the blow.

Everyone but Alana cried out in surprise. Before anyone could make a move however, Logan had gotten back on his feet. His ferocious glare was directed at Alana, who returned it with an unfaltering stare. The smallest trace of a smug smile twitched at the corners of her mouth.

"Why you..." Logan growled, taking a menacing step towards her, fits clenched.

"Why you what?" Alana snapped haughtily, placing her hands on her hips. "You told me to defend myself."

"All right! That's enough," Storm said firmly, placing a hand on Logan's chest to keep him from advancing. She looked at Alana. "I think we're finished for the day. You can go clean up and rest now. I'll just see you again here tomorrow, same time?"

"Okay." Alana nodded. "Thanks," she said, offering her instructor a small smile before turning away to immediately leave. No one moved or said another word until the training room doors swished closed behind her.

When Alana was gone, Storm let out a big breath. "Peter, Kitty, could you give Logan and me some privacy please?" she told her former students calmly but firmly. The two nodded and left the room together without any arguments.

"That girl," Logan snarled, before Storm could get a word in. "Is a fu—"

"Logan, stop." Storm ordered, cutting him off. She sighed and shook her head. "I know you don't like Alana, but she's a student. You can't start fights with her every time she acts up and pisses you off."

"Acting up is for children," Logan stopped back. "She's a grown woman! It's time she got over her goddamn spoiled self and started acting like one."

"She will," Storm said firmly. "She's had a hard life, but I know there's a really good person underneath that entire attitude." She placed a hand on Logan's arm. "She deserves all the chances we can give her. You of all people should understand that."

"Fine," Logan muttered. He shrugged off Storm's hand. "But don't expect me to have anything to do with her training from now on. If she can't even appreciate the help, then there's sure as hell no way I'm going to insist on giving it to her!"


It was nine o' clock in the evening and most of the kids were already upstairs in their rooms. Excluded from the school's bedtime rule, Alana was enjoying her time alone at the recreation room that evening, curled up in the couch in front of the television. Using her powers to lazily flick the controls and surf from channel to channel, she barely noticed that another person had arrived and was standing behind the sofa.

"Anything good on tonight?"

She looked up with a start, but relaxed upon seeing Warren's face, kind and smiling down at her. "Is there ever? It's just the usual junk we all know and love," she said with a grin. She scooted over to one side of the couch. "Care to join me?"

"Sure," Warren said, taking a seat. "So how did your first day of training go?"

Alana sighed. "Pretty good, I guess," she answered. "Better than I expected at least."

"What did you learn?" Warren asked.

"That dodge ball is hazardous to my health," Alana said with a smirk. She pulled back her hair and turned her face to show him the dark bruise forming at the side of her right eye.

Warren's eyes widened. "What happened!" he exclaimed, reaching out to gently touch the side of her face.

"Logan happened," Alana said with a scowl. "I always got the feeling he didn't like me very much, but I didn't know he actually wanted to take my head off."

Warren frowned. "Well, Logan can go a little overboard on things," he said, shaking his head. "And he's not exactly the most responsible of adults here. But you'll just have to understand and forgive him. I'm sorry."

Alana grinned. "Apologizing for things you had nothing to do with," she said, patting his arm. "You're such a sweetheart." She leaned her head on her hand, turning to face him fully. "Have you ever had a girlfriend, Warren?"

"No," Warren answered unabashedly. "Why do you ask?"

Alana shrugged. "Just seems weird," she said. "A great guy like you…handsome, sweet, smart…"

"Mutant…" Warren put in with a rueful smile. "You missed that one out."

Alana fell silent for a moment. Her gaze fell to her hands. "Yeah," she said softly. She let out a short, bitter laugh. "Stupid me. How could I actually forget?"

At that, it was Warren's turn to be silent. Just by the light of the television screen he could already see that the look of sadness and pain had returned to the young woman's face. His heart went out to her, but he just couldn't think of anything else to say that would make her feel better.

Luckily, Alana decided to just end the conversation and went back to channel surfing. She stopped at a news show, and for a few minutes the two of them watched in silence. Finally, Warren spoke up, hoping to turn up the mood again.

"Hey, why don't we celebrate your first day of training with a special snack?" he suggested with a grin.

He was relieved when Alana smiled in return. "What did you have in mind?" she asked.

"Give me a minute." Warren told her, then got up and left the room. A quick while later, he returned carrying two bowls of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Alana's eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands in delight.

"You read my mind!" she exclaimed, as Warren handed her one pint and a spoon. "And here I was suffering such a craving!"

"Good," Warren said with a grin. "I thought you might be one of those super weight-conscious girls."

"Hey, I resent that!" Alana said, poking his shoulder playfully. "I have a right to my guilty pleasures too, you know!"

They settled back in the couch to eat their ice cream and continue watching the news, laughing and conversing comfortably the whole time. Then the showbiz news reports came on.

"…the latest update on American model and cover girl Alana Stratford, who was recently exposed to the public eye as being a mutant. Alana, who became one of the brightest young stars in the fashion industry due to her ground-breaking ad campaigns for Ralph Lauren and her endorsements for leading products such as L'oreal and Maybelline…"

Alana froze for a moment, the color suddenly draining from her face. Then just as quickly, she dropped her spoon. The volume of the television went up on her mental command, filling the room with the sound of the news announcer's voice…

"…she is currently residing at Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Children, a training facility for mutants, located at Westchester County, just a few miles outside of New York City..."

Alana gasped, as a video clip of the gates of the X-Mansion flashed across the screen. Powerful camera lens had been used to zoom into a shot of the inner grounds and the house itself, though it did not manage to capture footage of any of the students.

"… she is reportedly undergoing therapy for her mutant condition…"

Alana's hands shook as they clutched the pillow on her lap tightly. Even her voice trembled as she spoke. "I…I don't believe it," she whispered. "How…?"

Suddenly, the face of an all-too familiar man came onscreen. Dark and handsome, he spoke to the interviewer with a remorseful expression on his face. The label 'David Masters, Alana's ex-fiancée', flashed at the bottom of the screen.

"…I wish her all the best, of course. Alana will always be very special to me. I'm just hoping that she can recover from all this and find a way to become normal again, somehow…"

Alana screamed and threw her hands over her face. Suddenly there was a loud bang as the television exploded, bursting into flames and showing the floor with broken glass and parts.

Warren jumped up quickly and ran to grab the fire extinguisher. Alana just sat in shock as he put out the fire. At the same moment, Logan ran into the room.

"What the hell happened?" he demanded, looking from Warren to Alana. He stared at her accusingly. "What do you think you're trying to do?"

"It was an accident, Logan," Warren said, setting down the fire extinguisher. "She got upset and lost control."

Logan crossed his arms. "So are you planning to destroy something every time you feel like 'losing it'?" he sneered at Alana. "We'd better keep you away from all the good furniture then."

Her following reaction to his remark was something he did not expect. Bursting into tears, she jumped up from the sofa and just ran past him out the room.

"What's wrong with you?" Warren said angrily. "Didn't you see that she was already upset? Did you just have to make it worse?"

For a moment, Logan was taken back by surprise. Usually Warren was so quiet and soft spoken. He had never spoken to him with that tone of voice before.

"And do you have to give her special treatment, as if she weren't already so full of herself?" Logan snapped.

Warren's eyes narrowed. "You don't even know her!" he shot back. "You haven't even spent five minutes trying to get to know her."

"Oh, yeah? Well I already know she needs to be taught that everything doesn't revolve around her," Logan said. "And what she doesn't need is another drooling idiot throwing himself at her feet and making her feel like the queen of the world."

Warren stepped forward with a look on his face that almost made Logan think he was meant to pound him. But then, he just spoke, this time with an icy calm in his voice.

"It's not idiotic to show kindness to someone in pain, Logan," he said. "But maybe it's just too difficult for a guy like you to understand that."

With that, Warren picked up the fire extinguisher and started walking out. He paused at the doorway. "If you hate her so much, and can't give her the respect she deserves…then just stay away from her, Logan. It's as easy at that."

Logan glared at Warren's back until it vanished from sight. He stood alone in the darkness, silent for a moment, before leaving the room as well, muttering to the air.

"I don't think so."

To be continued…