Tyleen ran her three fingered hand though her course, indigo hair. She had hoped this wouldn't happen. In fact, she had relied on it. It was the secrecy of the situation that aided to it's completion.

"I wasn't expecting you back so soon," she said, trying not to sound concerned.

"Sit."

Tyleen sighed and sat next to Logan on the bed, the silk sheets folding and crumpling beneath her. The sunlight from the window fell across them like a theater spotlight. Time for your monologue, Ty. To bad you never thought to memorize your lines.

There was a long moment of silence as both of them struggled to find something to say. It was Logan who finally spoke.

"Jean said that she could sense that you were hiding something from me."

Tyleen heaved a sigh. Damn that telepath.

"Logan, I--" Tyleen began, but Logan cut her off.

"I found this when we got back. It's a letter from Berkley College expressing congratulations for receiving the position as a Zoology professor. Is this a joke?"

"I got the job?" Tyleen cried, her momentary excitement overriding her judgment. She snatched the letter out of Logan's hands and scanned over it, looking for any sign that he might be wrong. She found none. "I got the position. This is amazing!"

"Tyleen," growled Logan, wrenching her back to reality, "what's going on? How are you going to teach at a human school?"

"Logan, you know that it's been a dream of mine," said Tyleen.

"Yes, and I'm happy for you," Logan replied, "but I also know your fear of rejection because of your mutation."

"Logan, I can't discuss this right now. Hank and I are having dinner."

"Does he know?"

"Know what?"

"This big secret you're hiding."

"No. No one knows. It's between myself and the Professor. I'll tell you someday soon, Logan, I promise. Just not now. I need you to trust me."

"But you can't trust me?"

"It's not like that. I promise. The project is almost finished."

"What project? Why can't you tell me?"

Tyleen furrowed her brow and looked at the floor.

"Fine," she sighed. "I had wanted it to be a surprise. I've been training to appear human."

Logan looked shocked and rather confused.

"Ty, you can only turn into animals. The board at Burkley is going to be a little suspicious if a gorilla walks in on the first day of school."

"Ape is only part of it. There's also fox and canine."

"What are you talking about?"

"Combining traits of different animals to look human. It's basic, really. You just need to know what parts to put together."

Logan eyed her, skeptical.

"Show me," he said.

"I can't," Tyleen pleaded. "I'm not done yet. I want it to be perfect when I show you."

"Ty--"

"Logan, please."

The two stared at each other for a long time.

"Alright," Logan finally said. "I trust you. But you will show me when you're done?"

"I promise."

"Ok."

They kissed briefly, and Tyleen was happy to sense that all the tension in the room had almost entirely lifted.

"I should chang for dinner," Tyleen said. Logan grinned and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close into him.

"Would you like some help with that?"

Tyleen smiled back up at him. "I know you better than that. I've only got forty minutes until Hank is expecting me. That's not nearly enough time for you."

Logan kissed her again and released her.

"Then you owe me."

"Sure thing." She winked, and Logan threw her one last smile as he left the room. In no real hurry, Tyleen took her laying out her clothes for the evening. She knew Hank would feel insulted if she dressed up at all. Instead, she slid into a pair of kaki cargo pants that were just a little bit baggy. All of her bottoms had to fit that way or else there was no room for her tail. Feeling it was the only control she had over her appearance, she like to hide it whenever possible. Her brother, Curt, had never seemed to completely understand why she had this personal vendetta against herself. Then again, he had practically grown up here, in the safety of the academy walls.

With a deep sigh, she sat back down on the edge of the bed. She ran her hand over her purple stomach, up over her black bra to her scaled chest. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on her hand, and suddenly she was feeling through five points of contact instead of three. She opened her eyes and held her hand in front of her face. It was beautiful...pale...human. She stared at it for just a moment more, and then changed it back. She grabbed a black shirt, pulled it on, and left the room.