As the Hellions scavenged the property in search of any members of the X-men or the Guthrie family Everett interrogated Shan. "You should sit down."
"Everett stop." Shan said firmly. "I'll be fine, just go help the others." Shan attempted to shoo him away.
"But you could have a concussion. Shaw is too strong, he shouldn't have done that. You need to go to a doctor." Everett continued.
"Are you feeling dizzy or tired?" Clarice inquired gently.
"Not at all." She answered dishonestly.
"She'll be fine Ev. Go join the other Hellions, I'll keep an eye on her. If you find anything I'll teleport us to where ever you are."
Everett conceded "Alright, that sounds like a plan." Instantly Ev's mutant aura flared up around him, reaching out for his other teammates. Once he found M he synched his aura with hers and flew away.
"Thank you Clarice, you're a life saver."
Clarice smiled shyly. Everett's heart's in the right place, I know how he can get. But you really should sit down, you're a terrible liar." Shan chuckled softly for a moment before her brow furrowed with thought. "What's wrong?" Clarice asked, concerned.
"Can we just sit and talk for a minute?" Xi'an asked.
Clarice nodded. "Definitely." She helped steady her friend as they picked a spot in the field to sit.
"This is a little awkward for me," Shan started. "I know this isn't the ideal time or place but all things considered it never really is the right time anyway. First I want you to know that I really like sharing a room with you and you're my best friend on the team."
This made Clarice smile again. "you're my best friend too."
Shan raised her hand to silence her the younger mutant. "As my best friend I owe it to you to be honest. I've been keeping a secret, not just from you, but from everyone."
"You don't need to keep secrets from us. The Hellions look out for each other. Except for Cordelia." Clarice briefly turned and stuck her tongue out in the direction of the house.
Shan giggled. "Mine's not a bad secret like her, just a little different. I'm gay, I like girls."
"Oh." Clarice said with mild shock. "That is different." She said nodding. "Is there anything else?"
"No." Shan answered nervously.
Clarice lunged at Shan, hugging her tightly. "Thank you for telling me."
"So you're ok with it? And we can still be room mates?"
"Of course. I wouldn't want to live with Monet and Jubilee never spends time in her room."
"You could get your own room. There are certainly more than enough."
"I'd be too lonely. The entire reason I joined the Hellions was so I wouldn't be lonely any more. Besides, you're not going to act differently now that I know than you did five minutes ago, you're still the same you."
"That's incredibly open minded of you."
"It comes with the purple skin." Both girls had a good laugh at Clarice's comment, cut short by a psychic interruption.
Can you birds hear me? Jono asked.
Go ahead Chamber. Shan responded.
We need Blink to get you to us ASAP. We've found someone in the back of the cattle pasture. M told them. Blink obeyed posthaste.