I'm aware those of you who get notifications on this story are probably surprised and maybe a little irritated at this sudden influx of chapters. I was on a roll with writing and figured instead of making you wait forever I'd go ahead and finish the story before my semester gets bad again. Enjoy.

Chapter 11

She ran to the only room that she knew would be empty this time of morning, and began investigating parts of her blooming plan on the Internet.

Of course, all that Xavier would have to do to figure her plan out would be to check the history on his Internet browser. Laura did not erase it when she left in the hopes that he would, which would help her case significantly when he discovered his credit card was missing from his wallet. She set his wallet by the computer monitor on her way out just to make sure.

When the school-age residents of the mansion had left, Laura grabbed an orange from the kitchen and went into one of the girls' bathrooms. As she finished the last slice, she studied her reflection in the mirror. Tired, worry lines around her mouth, dirty. Laura sighed. She'd have to bathe first, before going out. The first step of her plan involved her looking normal and faking social skills, which would be difficult. She regarded this part of her plan as the hardest, though logistically the final part of it would be.

The problem with appearing normal was that Laura had no idea how to achieve the ultimate look of normalcy- it was the clothes, always the clothes. She understood how to wear them, but not how to get that look that normal people had- style. She plucked a little at her hair, frowning.

"Shampoo generally helps," Jean said from behind her. Laura turned, claws out, purely out of instinct. Jean stayed where she was, calm and collected, and above all, stylish. "You have no idea how loud your thoughts are when you're plotting. My apologies for butting in but there's no way you're leaving the grounds alone. Especially not by stealing my van."

Laura narrowed her eyes, frowning at Jean as she approached. "However everything you're up to today, I'm totally down for. Go shower and I'll get something for you to wear."

Laura didn't move. Jean's friendly smile faltered, and she looked away, abashed. "You kept yelling about being on the outside, how you didn't feel like you belong here. I know it's because of us. I'm really sorry." She paused, running her fingers through her hair, "I could have said something to the girls, or stood up for you, but I didn't. I consider this sort of my fault too."

"Why didn't you?" Laura growled, but rose from her defensive pre-attack crouch.

"Again, I'm sorry. I forgot that just because you look tough doesn't mean you don't have feelings too. You refuse help so much that I guess I decided you didn't need it." She raised her chin and looked firmly at Laura, "So I'm not offering. I'm going with you and we're going to fix this mess."

The mini-speech Jean gave, as well as the ensuing thinking it caused in Laura, were probably the only reasons she left the house in a pink shirt, jeans, and a pair of Kitty's Converses. Her hair was even loosely braided, which Laura objected to verbally but was fascinated by internally. Jean had insisted, once Laura explained why she wanted to appear normal.

The first few stores they stopped at were easy to rush through, since Laura's Internet research had helped her determine exactly what to get. The final stop took the longest by far. Laura walked up and down every aisle at the best nursery in Bayville (or so the Internet had told her it was), intently studying every plant and analyzing them with her recently-developed knowledge of gardening. Jean followed, pushing one large laden-down cart and pulling another behind her, reading off the list Laura had written.

"We pretty much have everything except the hanging baskets," she concluded as Laura tossed a few more handfuls of seed packets into the second cart.

"Got them already. Pay attention." Laura said, looking around slowly in case she missed anything.

"Okay, but there's nothing else on the list after the hangers." Jean surveyed the carts. "And probably nothing left in the checking account either once we leave."

"That is not my concern, I brought a credit card,"

"You mean you stole the Professor's credit card," Jean admonished.

"Same thing. I brought the card that I stole," Laura amended, too distracted to be angry as they started checking out.

"No, it's not- oh, whatever. Don't forget to give the Professor the receipt when you put the card back."

They somehow managed to squeeze all of their purchases into the car. Jean had to drive while balancing a plastic tray of flowers on her lap and Laura couldn't see out the front window due to the large Russian-nesting-doll-like tower of clay pots on her lap. Laura noticed that it was nearly three in the afternoon, time for part two of her plan. While they drove back, she called Logan and explained what she needed him to do.