Author Notes: Thanks for the feedback:) It's strange that you say Imogen is an unusual name, as it's quite common around my area. Must be a regional thing:)

Chapter 2

As the two girls walked away from the office, Kitty talked non stop, "So I can walk through walls, and my mutant name is Shadowcat. You'll soon see that everyone has two names – normal and mutant. Everyone's really cool around here, cept maybe Pyro, he tends to perve on some of the girls, 'specially Rogue, but she's Bobby's girlfriend, so Bobby tends to freeze him now and again, but it doesn't matter, coz they're still good mates, and all Pyro needs to do it melt himself. Peter's really cool, so's Jube, but the little kids can get a bit annoying sometimes. The Professor's really kind, and then there's Logan, he's another teacher. Do you have a mutant name?" Imogen opened her mouth to reply that she didn't, but Kitty continued, "Don't worry, you'll get one soon enough. This is our room, I sleep in the left bed; you can have the other. I said I'd meet Rogue for breakfast, so I leave you to get settled in. To get to the kitchen, you just go straight down the hall and down the east staircase. There'll be people at the bottom to point you in the right direction. See ya in a few!"

The door closed. Imogen blinked a few times, before flopping heavily down on her bed, dumping her rucksack by the bedside table. That girl was not natural - no one should be able to fit so much into so few amount of breaths. For a minute, Imogen just lay on her new bed, contemplating what she wanted most; to sleep, to eat, or have a shower. As eating would involve having to endure loud noises, and there was no way she would be able to sleep having skipped a night and stayed with the headache, she opted for the shower. This was getting more overwhelming by the second, and she had a horrible feeling that it was just going to get worse.

The sky was darkening into dusk, and Imogen sat with Kitty, Bobby, Rogue and John in a common room listening quietly to their easy conversation, but not joining in. The smaller children were currently being ushered to bed by Logan and Storm. Imogen winced as a loud bang above indicated that all were not necessarily willing. A loud argument from the entrance hall caused the four to cease their conversation; Rogue visibly tensed. It was Jean and that Toad man from earlier. They seemed to be yelling about whether he should be allowed outside. "Look, this bloody bracelet will stop me from going anywhere I shouldn't – I've had enough electricity to last me a lifetime."

"I'm not letting you go anywhere unsupervised!"

"Better let me go, or have one of yer kids wind up in a nasty situation!"

"Don't you dare threaten them Toad!" A sigh. "Fine, but if you go out, you stay out until I send Logan to collect you in the morning."

There was a pause, "I'm not a sodding cat, woman!" There was a slamming of the door to indicate that he had accepted her offer.

Bobby scowled, taking Rogue hand comfortingly, "I don't know why he's still here – he tried to kill half the teachers on Liberty Island!"

John nodded in agreement. Imogen paused, but her curiosity got the better of her. She had heard the odd story of what had happened, but hadn't been near a television at the time, "Sorry, but what did he actually do?"

She wished she hadn't asked; Kitty launched into a huge explanation, only to be stopped ten minutes later by Peter, who had come over to see what they were doing. He smiled, "So basically, Imy, don't go near him."

Conversation turned to lighter topics, but Imogen found she couldn't follow. Her head felt like it was splitting in two; she rarely put up with it this long. Finally, they began to make their way to bed around eleven. Bobby stayed – he had explained earlier that sometimes his power gave him insomnia, so he usually volunteered to watch over the other nocturnal kids. As they passed the entrance hall, Imogen gave the door a longing look. There was no way she could deal with another day of this headache – she might explode something expensive. Making an excuse that she wanted to get a drink of water and stay downstairs for a bit longer, Imogen waited until the others had gone. Silently, she moved to the door, unbolted it, and slipped outside into the weak light of the new moon.

Shutting the door, Imogen sighed as the night swept over her. For a moment, she shut her eyes, leaning against the wall, feeling the pain in her head ebb away as her brown hair made a smooth transition to a deep, coal black. Opening her eyes, she was rewarded with a view of the grounds as if she were looking on them in full sunlight. Suddenly feeling wide awake with her new state of mind, but not having any specific plans, Imy began to wander aimlessly. She wasn't worried about being seen – unless someone had night vision, she would just look like a shadow in the corner of their eye.

Toad was crouched up high in the branches of a withered oak tree when he saw the door to the Mansion open and light spill out onto the grass. He sighed, expecting to see the silhouette of the great hulking Wolverine, and so was shocked to see the slim outline of the new girl from earlier. He watched in curious amusement, blinking to focus his eyes, as the girl began to walk slowly around. He frowned; her movements seemed fluid, as if she was more supported by the air around her. He watched as her head turned, and she suddenly changed to a path with more direction – namely towards him. He wasn't bothered. There was very little light away from the school, and there was no way she would be able to see him. He smirked as she sat down at the base of the tree, plotting of ways to terrorize her, when, "Aren't you gonna say hello Toad-man?"

"Jesus!" He overbalanced and fell out of the tree – something he hadn't done since he was a kid.

Smirking wickedly, she looked down at his tangled form. He was quite young, but older than her. The oddest feature of him was the green skin and hair. He wore baggy clothes that shadowed his features, and a silver earring glinted from one ear. But his strange golden eyes, however hostile, confirmed that Imogen had not been wrong in coming over. He was wary, but not immediately violent. "No, I'm Imy, sorry to disappoint you mate."

It took him a moment to assimilate the accent, "Oh bloody hell, yer a scouser!"

She raised an eyebrow, "Have a gold star. You're a cockney – least you sound like one. Get over it. Besides, I haven't lived in Liverpool since I was ten."

"'Ow the hell did you see me?"

"My mutant gift is orientated around the night. I am night. It's what I do." Perhaps not the smartest idea, telling him that, considering she wouldn't be using her night gift in the school. "Look, I know you're a Toad, but I can't imagine flies taste that nice, so d'ya mind shutting yer mouth?"

His face immediately changed into scowl, "I'm outta here - you stay in your half of the grounds. I don't have the patience to deal with one of Wheels' pets."

"Aww, I love you too."

"Piss off!"

Imogen smiled sweetly, "So, what's your name, 'cause no offence, but the name 'Toad' is a bit crap."

He bristled, "Yeah? Well so's the name Imogen – bet yer parents are rich."

"Oh come on! Do these jeans look like they belong to someone with money? So, we know your surname, Toynbee; that just leave's the first name!"

"Are you here to just to be the bane of my existence of summit?"

"Well, least you've got some brain cells on you."

Toad looked furious, and then he grinned, showing flat yellow teeth, "Alright. If you can floor me, I'll tell yer me name – if not you leave me be."

Knowing she was walking into a trap, but intrigued, Imogen nodded, standing. For the next six hours, Toad constantly beat Imogen to the ground – not too hard, he didn't feel like facing Xavier's wolf, but with enough force to give her a lot of bruises. Much to his chagrin, however, Imy, although abysmal at any kind of fighting, was incredibly persistent. Near five in the morning, the first rays of sunlight began to shine on the horizon. Smiling, Imogen got up from the ground and brushed a leaf off her shoulder. She shook her head like a dog, and her hair returned to its normal brown. A slight twinge in her head confirmed that she could once again move things with her mind, but she felt fully refreshed as if she had slept. Brightly, Imy cast a wave at the other mutant, "See ya tonight Toad-man! I think I'm gonna enjoy our lessons!"

Toad blinked in shock, "No way, kid, I beat yer!"

"No, I just didn't floor you today – you never specified a time frame."

He scowled, "Wot makes you think I'll be here tomorrow?"

"Oh please, you honestly think I'd believe that you like it in that building! Of course you'll be here! 'Sides, you like me."

"Feck off!"

She waved a hand impatiently, grinning – she loved getting under people's skin, "Whatever mate – you and me are stuck in this hellhole together."

Before Toad could form a retort, Imogen waved, and ran up to her room before Kitty could realise anything, leaving the ex-Brotherhood member gaping after her.

To Be Continued…

Author Notes: Please review! You know you want to!