Chapter 11: Making Amends

"Aasir, I'd like to speak with you first. Que, if you will please have a seat in the hall with Hank, I will speak with you soon," the Professor said sternly.

Storm headed in with Aasir, closing the door behind them.

"Do you need anything Hank?" Scott asked.

"No we're fine. I will see you later," Hank replied as he and Que sat down on the couch across from the Professor's study. Scott headed off toward the garage and left the two sitting in silence.

Que sat fidgeting anxiously, and she realized that there was something warm trickling down the back of her head. It must of been from when she'd hit it on a rock while tussling on the ground with Aasir.

There was still a fair amount of breeze in the hall, but thankfully the tremors had stopped.

"Stay here," Hank instructed as he got up and disappeared into a room down the hall. When he came back, he was draped in a towel and held four fresh ones and a first aid kit. She was still sopping wet from the lake and realized Hank was a bit damp from the encounter as well. He gave her a towel and set the rest on the couch next to him.

"Let me check the cut on the back of your head. It was bleeding something awful when we were walking in," Hank said in a flatly. He took out some antiseptics and starting cleaning the cut. It wasn't deep, so she didn't need any stitches but it was starting to throb. Still, it wasn't enough to keep her mind off the issues at hand.

As the minutes ticketed by, Que started feeling guilty. She couldn't stop thinking about the terrified look on Aasir's bloody face. She had been the one who started the fight in the first place. She was the one who screwed up, not him. He probably had never even gotten into trouble like this. It was her fault.

As this thought settled in her mind, the hall breeze grew eerily still and the air grew slightly chilly. All of her energy was zapped, and she was horrified at what she had done. She felt sick, like she could puke her guts out, and it still wouldn't be enough.

Just then, the door opened.

"Storm if you will help Aasir get cleaned up please," the Professor called as Aasir and Storm came out. Hank handed them the towels and they thanked him. Before Aasir could leave, Que grabbed his arm so he had to look at her. She looked straight into his deep brown eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered sincerely. Aasir noticed that her face was clammy and her hand felt like ice, but he said nothing as he turned and walked off with Storm.

"Hank you may go if you wish. Que, please join me in my study," Professor Xavier said.

Charles and Que sat across from each other in silence for several moments. Charles noticed a distinct difference in the atmosphere when Que had walked in. Not only did the temperature of the air around them literally drop, but somehow he felt no emotion coming from her. He knew it was there. It was written all over her face, the shame, guilt, worry.

"Aasir didn't do anything. It was my fault," Que suddenly said in a rush, breaking the silence. "So… when do I need to have my things packed?" She said looking away. Charles realized instantly that Que thought she was being expelled.

"Que, there are consequences for your actions, but I am not expelling you," he said gently. Que looked up confused. He continued "As for entirely your fault, I wouldn't go quite that far, but why don't you tell me what happened. Aasir has already given me his account, and I'd like to hear your side."

"I attacked him. I confess. I'm guilty. What more is there to tell?" she asked confused.

"Start from when you left my class. I know he tried to call after you, but you left," he said patiently.

"I don't know. I went to go eat lunch," she hesitated trying to find the right words.

Charles knew from the limited time he had spent with her that as smart she was, when it came to self expression and communication, she had some deficits, especially when under stress.

"You could try to show me if you'd like," Charles offered, though he knew that might not be possible depending on if she could ease up her mental defenses. "Just focus on the memory and relax the best you can."

She looked at him skeptically.

"Okay, I think I can do that. It's not going to be like the first time in the Danger Room is it?" she asked.

Charles could tell what she was getting at. She wanted to make sure he only had limited access.

"Que, I will only see what you want me to see. I promise I am not going to go snooping through your your thoughts. I made that promise from day one," Charles assured her seriously.

She nodded her consent and Charles position his chair in front of her, looking directly into her blueish- grey eyes. "Just close your eyes and think of the memory," he said as he gently placed a hand on the side of her forehead.

With that, she showed him the memory in very precise detail. He felt what she felt in the moment. Her anxiety and anger all rushed forth in the extreme. For someone who put on such a steely exterior, the emotions that ran beneath were abnormally intense.

When the memory ceased, the pair opened up their eyes. Aasir had chosen to show him as well, but the emotions were a bit different in his perspective.

"Now that I have seen both sides, I have a question for you. Aasir is really trying to be your friend, and he was very offended by your attitude. That doesn't excuse him for what he said, but why are you pushing him away? The other students here understand more than you think Que. You just need to give them a chance. You can't go on forever blocking people out." Que shrugged and refused to meet his gaze.

"Well, there isn't much more for me to say. Your actions today do have consequences. You and Aasir will wash and polish the X-Jet together once a week for the next two months. If you have a problem, I urge you to please come to us. That is why we are here.To help you.There will be no more fighting as well. Are we clear?" he said in a serious tone. "I understand," Que said. There was a pause as Charles waited to see if she would say anymore. Ques stayed silent, so he resigned himself and continued in a gentler tone.

"Also, I would like for you to meet with Storm and I twice a week to check in with you. Storm will be more for combat training and checking how your abilities are developing. I will be checking in with you on the more complicated things, such as your school work and general well being. This second part is a bit more optional, but I really think it will help with some of the stress you've been under lately. I thought giving you some space for would be best, but I was wrong. I should have been checking in with you more from the start. Adjusting to living with others and going to school again has been tough, I'm sure. Que, I also know there have been things going on that you haven't told me. You have been a bit breezy in class and have avoided me because of it."

Charles paused as she looked up inquizatively toward him.

"I have worked with teenagers for a long time Que," he said in a lighter tone with a smile. Que gave him a sheepish half smile back and replied "I can do that. When would we meet?"