Logan turned and convulsed in his sleep. Nightmares again. Night after night they tormented him, waking him up covered in his own sweat and panting like an animal. The sheets and blankets always were thrown off and the room seemed to be so much hotter than when he had fallen asleep. He also had a tendency to lash out at whatever woke him up. The dreams and his reactions had gotten so much worse since Jean had died.

The light in the room was tinted a ghostly green. As usual, it wasn't from his point of view. It was a sort of omniscient being, looking on the scene however it wanted. In this case it gave the familiar view of Logan submersed in water, many slits open all over his body and the liquid admantium being poured in to conform to his skeleton. He cried out in pain.

He woke up still yelling. He had sat straight up. His claws were extended and his hands balled into fists, trembling with adrenaline. He closed his eyes, the energy of the dream flying out of him. He retracted the claws and brought his hands up to his face, letting his body fall back into the laying position. How had he let himself get this bad? He rolled onto his side, his arm extended above his head. He didn't know what to do with himself anymore.

As he closed his eyes, he thought of what had happened that day. Had Storm nearly kissed him, or had he imagined it? Of course he imagined it. Storm couldn't feel that way about him. She was beautiful, he hadn't lied to her about that, but him and her? He smiled inwardly. Maybe that wouldn't be too bad. It would probably be good for both of them. He decided then and there to let Storm know he was interested. He knew that they wouldn't go long term, that wasn't what he needed, but for now they could take comfort in each other.

He also needed to talk to Rogue. He knew she was worried about him, and he smiled inwardly again. She had no need, but how was she to know? And the new girl, Leah? He wouldn't mind getting to know her a little better. She seemed shy and probably had no idea of the limits of her powers. But, obviously, that was a bad idea. Angel obviously liked her a lot. It took quite a bit to get him to act that besotted.

But, as always, the incredible guilt began to work its way back into his thought. What about Jean? He pushed his face harder in the pillow. It was the past. He couldn't let go, but he needed to get himself in the present a bit more. The only problem was that no matter how gone or dead Jean was, he still loved her. Storm would be good for him, he decided. He needed someone who understood him and his grief.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Storm, a few doors down had heard Logan scream. She closed her eyes and felt the pain he was feeling. She wanted nothing more than to knock down her door and barge down the hallway into his room. She wanted to take him in her arms and tell him that it was only a dream, and it would be alright. She pulled the covers up closer to her chin. It would never happen. Who was she kidding.

Every time she heard him scream, she screamed too, inside. But she screamed for different reasons. She screamed in frustration. She screamed in terror of running the school herself. She screamed in loathing for what she had become. But tonight was different. She was finally accepting the fact that Logan could never be hers. It was painful, but it finally had dawned on her that he wanted nothing to do with her emotionally. A few tears squeezed out of the corner of her eye and wet the pillow. She buried her face, and somehow she felt better that she had in weeks.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Leah laid in bed, thinking of Angel and Logan and Storm.

Angel... she didn't even know what to think of him. He was witty and charming and angelic in every way, including his appearance. His blond hair and the light blue eyes... they could melt a girl into a puddle. And he nearly had. He always said the right thing, and did the right things, and acted the right way. He was utterly perfect.

What could she think about Logan? They say first impressions are very important, and he had pretty much failed. He hadn't been rude to her particularly, but... she could tell that they weren't going to get along particularly well. She would make all effort, sure, but she didn't figure it would do much.

Storm was utterly divine. Obviously much more experienced than Leah, she guided her sweetly without a condescending attitude. Leah loved it, and it seemed every moment she spent in Storm's company she adored her even more. What she wouldn't give to be as graceful and talented as Storm. She shook her head at herself. Her jealous nature was coming out again.

She couldn't help wondering about Logan's past. A story for another time? Though she never admitted it to anyone, she hated waiting. It was nearly as bad as an out of tune piano. She smiled. Tomorrow her lessons would start, teaching the children music, finally, instead of math. And when she raised her power to the full potential, she could teach students to do that, too.

She also wondered about the hospital wing where she would be working part-time. She had some past experiences as a nurse, which of course Storm found out about, and asked her if she was willing. Or course she was. She was in deep already, and was loving every second of it. The school already seemed like home.