Disclaimer- I don't own the X-Men. They belong to Marvel Comics.

Mutant High Episode 1- "An Xtra Curricular Activity"
Chapter 2

Jean kept a steady pace behind Dr. Xavier. Her eyes darted back and forth, staring out the window mostly, but looking back to Dr. Xavier to keep from loosing direction. She wanted to avoid making conversation. Talking with teachers was always awkward for her, even when she was more confident.

No, it wasn't confidence. It was never confidence, it was naiveté. It was Jean refusing to believe that people could hurt her without her hurting them. At this point, teachers were figureheads, nothing more. It's so difficult to care about someone who could potentially determine your life after high school.

They had reached the far eastern exit of the building by that point, and now, Jean was confused.
"Dr. Xavier, where are we going?" She queried.

"Across the street. The meetings are held in my home," Dr. Xavier replied.

"You live near the school?" Jean asked, baffled. It was the first she had heard of it.

"Well, it's not as if you had asked where I lived." True.

Dr. Xavier's house was at the bottom of a driveway near the back of the school. It was well hidden from the everyday students, for sure. It was an extravagant home for a man living off of a teacher's salary. Though there was always the possibility his wife worked. If he was married, of course. Jean couldn't remember him ever having mentioned a wife. But it wasn't really her business to pry.

It was a warm beige color; ivy creeping along it's aged walls. The house seemed to travel forever in all directions. Jean stared up at the turret near the back; it's windows gleaming at her.

The pathway to the front door was just as nice as the house, a beautifully tended garden leading up to the door. Even while struck by the death of winter, Jean could imagine the brilliant rainbow of flowers in full bloom.

Five figures stood scattered about. Jean presumed them to be the other students. She recognized Ororo, who stood with her back to the wall, her white coat billowing slightly with the breeze.

There were a guy and a girl, throwing snowballs at each other on the left side of the house. She recognized the boy as Bobby Drake. He had shaggy blonde hair with a matching goatee, and a navy blue beanie that seemed permanently attached to his head. He laughed earnestly as a snowball hit him squarely in the chest.

She didn't recognize the girl, though she stood out intensely. She was much taller than Bobby, (which wasn't saying much, as Bobby was shorter than Jean by centimeters). She wore a dark black trench coat, decorated with an assortment of straps, buckles, and buttons. And her hair was something out of this world. It changed colors with each layer- A tangerine orange on top, a deep magenta in the middle, ocean blue along the tips, and a startling white in her bangs.

Her expression wasn't as carefree as Bobby's, either. She seemed much more aggressive.

At least Ororo and Bobby are okay, Jean thought. She had known Bobby since first grade, albeit not very well. And Ororo was as nice as you can get, though a bit conceited.

Of course, things can never go so well. Jean turned her attention to the snow-dusted bench next to the richly colored wooden door.

It was Scott.
There was no mistaking it. His intense, inviting, chocolate brown eyes. His soft, light brown hair, hanging almost in front of his eyes. His charismatic, heart-melting smile. He was tall and lanky, but by no means scrawny. Slim.

Gorgeous.

And it got worse.

There was a cigarette in one hand, and Scott's arm in the other. Head on shoulder. Jean almost sneered as a reflex.

Inside herself, she knew there was no hatred. She couldn't. As much as she wanted to, she knew it wasn't Remy LeBeau's fault that she and Scott broke up. It could have been any guy.

Yet, as much as she reminded herself of this, it didn't stop her from wanting to rip the safety pin out of his ear and shove in down his throat. No. His urethra.

"Bobby. Rogue. Stop that," Dr. Xavier reprimanded the pair playing in the snow. "Remy, I hope you plan to put that out."

Remy shrugged, crushing the cigarette against the wall. Bobby and the dyed girl seemed to reach a truce, and Dr. Xavier unlocked the front door.

Scott looked straight at her. She couldn't bring herself to respond. Say something. Be a cordial person. She didn't have to be friendly with him. Though more than anything, she wanted to be.

The door opened with a click, as the group headed indoors. As expected, it was beautiful- flawlessly decorated, impeccably clean. He must not have children.

Jean stared at the courtyard in the center, an incredible unbelievable extrapolation on the garden outside.

"You have a beautiful home, Dr. Xavier," She whispered.

With a sudden turn of his wheelchair, Dr. Xavier turned to face the students, who were in various states of undress as they deposited their winter clothing on the multiple hangers.

"Everyone, this is Jean. She is here to observe us today, for she is considering becoming a member."

Not if he's here, I'm not, she thought to herself. Especially not if they're together. I can't take that.

"Well, to the danger room, then?"

Jean was the last, following the rest of the group hesitantly. Remy chatted casually with the tall girl, throwing tasteless comments at her, while she threw threats back. Scott chuckled. Bobby roared, and threw in a diss of his own. More laughter. Ororo even smiled a bit.

I so don't fit in, Jean moaned to herself.

The "danger room" as Dr. Xavier had called it was in the basement. The ceiling rose high, supported by sporadically placed columns. There was a large glass sliding door on the backside, leading to a pool in the back. Behind that, a fence, and then what looked like miles of rolling hills and thick forest.

The room itself looked like a large gym, many weight machines and treadmills along the sides, the middle empty.

There was a bell as the elevator arrived, and Dr. Xavier wheeled himself into the room, heading towards the back of the room. In the corner, there was a small bar setting, though it had been heavily modified, a number of computer screens decorating the area.

He smiled at Jean as he passed her. "If you would follow me, Jean. I wouldn't want you being injured."

Jean's mind began to buzz. Injured? What the hell was going on here?

But she said nothing, and followed him to the bar as instructed. She took a seat on a stool and turned her attention to the other five students.

"Who would like to start today's drills?" Dr. Xavier queried. There was a silence among them.

Then Scott raised his hand.

"I'll start," he offered politely. Dr. Xavier nodded, and turned to the computer, as he began to click through programs.

Jean's attention shifted to the whirring noise behind her. A large, sliding closet door slid open, revealing a bevy of mechanical equipment. Out rolled what looked to be a ball feeder. For tennis.

The machine buzzed and beeped as it started up. Xavier turned to Scott. "Ready?"

Scott gave a thumbs up and a confident grin. Jean almost lost it. His smile. She loved his smile.

Dr. Xavier gave a push of a button. The barrel of the machine suddenly buckled, and a huge metal ball shot out, whizzing through the air at what seemed to be miles per second.

The other mutants had cleared to the side, and the shiny silver mass was now headed straight towards Scott. He squinted his eyes, furrowing his brow.

The glow was intense. No, glow couldn't even describe it. Scott's eyes blazed. The ruby red was more brilliant than anything Jean had ever seen. With overwhelming intensity, he fired, a brilliant crimson laser straight from his eyes, and with a thunderous crash and a ripping explosion, the orb fell to pieces, smoking.

Jean stood, awestruck. In all of her focus on their relationship, she had never, not once found out about his mutation via her telepathy.

The machine fired round after round, Scott blasting each one down each time. After a while, the others had dispersed, beginning their workouts on various machines.

"What do you think?" She was silent as she gathered her words. But almost nothing came. "It's incredible, Dr. Xavier."

The girl with multicolored hair had introduced herself as Rogue. Jean had thought it was a stupid name, but didn't question it. It was better than Apple, at least.

"So, Dr. X. What's on the slate for today?" Her voice was sweet, soothing. It had a hint of a southern accent. It was very charming. Much less harsh than Jean had expected it would be.

Dr. Xavier turned to Rogue, who was now sitting on the counter, her vibrant hair spilling over her red sweater.

"Well, Rogue. I was thinking perhaps you might train with Jean today, seeing as she is new. Perhaps you could run through your drills with her, and then maybe show her how to work some of the equipment?"

Rogue nodded. "Sure thing, Doc." Dr. Xavier smiled broadly at Jean. "Well, I'm sure you two will be fine. Trust me Jean, you are in very capable hands." Jean somehow doubted that. The girls' sullen expression had her nervous, if anything.

"If you would excuse me, I have to go check on the others. I shouldn't be long." Dr. Xavier wheeled out from behind the bar, heading toward Bobby, who seemed to have overestimated his abilities on the leg press.

Jean sat there, unsure and uncomfortable. It was Rogue who broke the silence.

"Well. I guess you're my buddy today," she stated as she slid off the counter into the stool next to Jean. "Yeah," she muttered in response. "What exactly do I have to do?" Rogue pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well. My power is… interactive. I need a person to practice it with. Its kind of… it's like absorption." Jean raised an eyebrow. "I absorb other mutant powers," the girl explained. "It will hurt a bit. But I promise I won't hold on for long."

Jean scoffed. "You're kidding, right?" Rogue shook her head. "Wish I was, kiddo. I really do. But not everyone can be Mr. Laser beams like Scotty." She pinched the finger of the leather glove on her right hand, and worked the glove off. Her skin was pale, and something about it seemed very exposed. Very vulnerable.

"Just put your hand on the table. Either one, it doesn't matter." Jean did as she was instructed, albeit not with any confidence at all. Jean looked directly into Rogue's eyes. Rogue blinked, and then closed her eyes, as if focusing. Her hand slid towards Jean's, and took it.

At first, she felt nothing; then, she felt everything. It was a terrible shock, as if everything inside her was being pulled out through the point of contact. She let out a whimper, and Rogue broke the connection. Jean yanked her hand away to caress it, but the pain was gone. If anything, she felt a bit drowsy.

Rogue blinked a couple more times, and then spoke. "Telekinesis, huh? Cool." Rogue extended her arm, staring at the treadmill across the room. She curled her hand, leaving her index finger pointed, and squinted her eyes in focus.

The treadmill sprang to life, the belt rolling in circles. Rogue stopped it, then started it again. Stop, start, stop, start.

Jean rolled her eyes. Though she had to admit, when she first found her telekinesis, she was just as enthralled as Rogue was.

Jean whisked her own hand forward and clicked the off button on the treadmill. "So is that it?" Jean asked. Rogue nodded casually, but her eyes were weary, nervous. Shocked.

"Listen, I gotta go to the bathroom real bad," said Rogue. "I'll be back, okay?" She grabbed her glove from the table and left. Jean stood. Now what? Dr. Xavier was talking with Ororo and Bobby.

In another corner were Scott and Remy, leaning into each other, kissing softly. Jean turned instead to the pile of exercise equipment. Standing, she approached the pile, and spent the time manipulating a medicine ball with her mind, trying to keep her focus away from the unusual situation she had been presented with.