I am so sorry this has taken so long. It floods near my place, I moved to Midland with my family, then I moved to Alpine for college, college started, and I completely forgot the binders with my paper copies of the chapters. But still, I finally got the binders and I'm back on track and releasing a new chapter for Silver Lining. Just remember, follow the RRE rule.

I do not own anything under the name Evanescence. I'm just a very big fan eagerly awaiting the new CD this October.

Silverdash

Chapter 3: New Arrival

The final bell had rung once again in Bayville High School, releasing the chaos known as students leaving school for the weekend. Rogue was wearing her traditional scowl as she made her way to her locker. Her best friend and roommate Kitty Pryde was waiting for her.

"Like, hurry up, Rogue." Kitty said in annoyance. "Scott's going to, like, leave us behind if we don't hurry, and I don't want to take the bus home."

"Quit whinin'." Rogue snapped at her, opening her locker. "Go wait with Scott an' the others. Ah'll be there in a minute."

At Kitty's hurt look, Rogue sighed. "Sorry, it's been a long day. Ah didn't get much sleep last night. Jamie had another nightmare."

Suddenly understanding, Kitty asked, "Is that why you two weren't in the Danger Room this morning?"

Rogue nodded, throwing her entire backpack into her locker. "We have to go down there this afternoon. Ah need ta ask Scott ta go pick up Jamie when we leave."

Rogue closed her locker and the two left the school. In the parking lot, a ruby red convertible sat with three people inside. In the front seat were two teens, Scott Summers and Jean Grey. These two had already graduated high school, and were attending NYU. They came back to Bayville every weekend, just in time to pick up their friends from school.

In the backseat sat their other friend Kurt Wagner. Seeing the two girls, he jumped up and yelled, "Hey, vhat took so long?"

"What do you think took so long?" Rogue asked as she and Kitty climbed into the car, giving Kurt a pointed look.

"Oh…ja." Kurt sighed.

Rolling her eyes, Rogue turned to Scott. "Scott, Ah hate ta ask ya ta play taxi service, but Ah need ya ta head ta the middle school."

He raised an eyebrow. "What's up with Jamie?"

"Logan wants him and me in the Danger Room today." Rogue said.

"Vell, that vill make Bobby happy." Kurt supplied as Scott started the engine and pulled out. "He vas ticked vhen he found out Jamie was sleeping in today."

"Okay, what's going on?" Jean asked.

Rogue sighed. "Ah woke up last night hearing Jamie scream. He's been having nightmares for a while now. Anyway, when I get over to the boys dorms, I found Bobby and Ray at Jamie's door, looking like they were gonna go in and beat the crap out of him for wakin' them up."

"What did you do?" Scott said, looking at Rogue from the rearview mirror.

The Goth shrugged. "The usual. A glare and a threat to go vampire on their asses. They high-tailed it back to their rooms and didn't come out again until Logan came to get them this morning."

Everyone laughed.

"Served them right, too." Rogue continued. "Bobby's more foulmouthed when woken up at midnight then at five."

Everyone laughed again. Smiling slightly, Rogue looked out of the car only to drop the smile. "Scott, pull over."

Scott complied, and Rogue got out and started walking to a tree, where Jamie was sitting. "Jamie?"

Jamie looked up, and Rogue saw the most brilliant black eye she had ever seen. "What happened, shugah?"

"Some of the bullies decided to get rough with me." Jamie muttered bitterly, wincing as Rogue touched his black eye. "And naturally, I multiplied. They told a teacher, and she gave me Saturday School. They didn't even give me a chance to say I can't control my power."

Rogue had to fight hard to keep from swearing. "Come on, shugah. We'll talk ta the Professah."

She led him over to the car, where Kitty jumped into the front seat so Jamie could sit in between Rogue and Kurt.

Scott turned n the radio, just in time to hear the DJ say, "That was Evanescence's new single, Call Me When You're Sober. Speaking of Evanescence, all our listeners have a chance to win a four pack of tickets to the Evanescence The Open Door Tour concert in New York City in two weeks. All you've gotta do is be the tenth caller to tell me who the guest singer is in Bring Me To Life, starting…now!"

"Scott hand me yore phone." Rogue said instantly.

Smirking, Scott obediently handed over his cell phone to Rogue. She dialed the station number and listened. Everyone noted with amusement that she was sweating with anticipation. Even Jamie giggled as she began to mutter under her breath.

"Hello?" she finally said. "Am Ah caller ten? It's over already? Wow, that was fast. Thank ya."

She calmly closed the phone and handed it back to Scott. Kurt sighed and covered Jamie's ears just as Rogue raised a fist into the air and began screaming profanities, causing many people to scowl in her direction. In the front seat, Scott, Jean, and Kitty were trying not to laugh.

She finally stopped and Kurt removed his hands from Jamie's ears. "Thanks." Jamie piped up. "Just warn me next time, or let Kitty or Jean do it. Your fur kept tickling my ears."

This proved too much for Kitty, who broke down into giggles as Rogue scowled darkly at the radio. "Turn it up, Scott." She said venomously. "Ah gotta find out who won so I can kill them on Monday."

"What makes you think it's a student?" Scott asked as he reached for the volume.

"What adult listens to Evanescence?" Rogue countered.

"You'd be surprised." Jean said, shuttering. "You haven't met my math professor."

"Hello, KGWB radio." said the DJ.

"Hello, am I the tenth caller?" came a voice over the radio.

"You are! Now, who's the guest singer in Bring Me to Life?"

"Paul McCoy of 12 Stones." Replied the winner.

"Correct!" yelled the DJ. "You won the tickets! What's your name?"

"Tyler Malone," said the other. Scott and Jean froze. "I'm headed to Bayville for a year, maybe more."

"That's great, man," said the DJ. "Listen, stay on the phone, and I'll give you more details."

"You've got it." replied Tyler.

"Great!" Rogue said. "Now I can kill him on Monday."

"I don't think so, Rogue." Scott said slowly. "I don't think he's gonna go to school here."

"Scott? Jean?" Kitty said, looking at their faces. "Are you two, like, okay?"

"Yeah, vhat's up?" Kurt asked.

"Scott, do you think…" Jean said slowly as the pulled into the Institute parking lot.

"I don't know," Scott replied as he parked his car, and got out, "but I hope so. Come on!"

He and Jean ran off, leaving the others to stare at them. "Okay, what just happened?" Rogue asked.

"Beats me." Kurt said as Kitty shrugged.

Rogue shook her head as she grabbed Jamie's hand. "C'mon, shugah. Let's go see Dr. McCoy before we go find Wolverine."

XM XM XM

After an unexpected, but not unpleasant, delay, a silver Ford Mustang pulled into the Institute an hour behind Scott and Jean. As the driver parked the car, the front doors of the Institute opened and four figures ran out.

"Tyler!" Next thing he knew, he was pulled into a hug from two women and had a kiss planted on each cheek.

He smiled. "Ororo, Jean, you two are as beautiful as ever. Scott, Logan, been keeping out of trouble?"

"Do you really need an answer?" Scott asked, shaking Tyler's hand.

"How ya doin', Silverspout?" Logan asked, arms folded, smirking at the silver-haired teen.

Tyler shrugged. "I'm okay, I quit my day job and I'm looking for a place to stay. Plus, I've been looking for a challenge for a while."

"You quit!" Ororo said in surprise, looking almost joyful.

"Yep." Tyler shrugged again. "I just couldn't take it anymore. Is your offer still open?"

"You bet." Scott said. The rest of the Institute will be happy to find someone who can give Logan a run for his money."

"Come on, Silverspout," Logan said, turning around and walking toward the Institute. "Chuck'll be happy to see you."

Still smiling, the five walked back indoors to find Professor Xavier.