Storms eyes shot open the moment the light hit her lids. Her mind was fuzzy at first unsure of its surroundings untill she felt Logan's arms around her. Turning back she saw that his eyes were open looking down upon her to see what her next move would be. She sighed wriggling her way from beneath his arms. "What time is it" she questioned. "Six" he answered. Ororo had just under an hour to get ready. Kissing Logan's cheek Storm whispered a thank you as she left to return to her room.
Opening her closet the woman snatched out a pair of black jeans and pink blouse which she set on the bed. Tying up her newly colored hair into a loose bun she made her way towards the bathroom to wash. Moving from task to task she tried to preoccupy her mind with work and preparation for the day ahead. If she could just keep moving maybe she would be able to outrun the fear that even then was fighting to overwhelm her.
It had been years since Storm had last drove. Most of her traveling had been with either the Xmen on missions or the students on fieldtrips on occasion she had even allowed Jean and Scott to drag her on a road trip or two but as she made her way towards the school she felt herself quickly losing steam. What was she going to do? Even if she did find out that Mr. Toler had indeed been reinstated at the school how was she suppose to find out about Fuzz without a single witness? Parking in the back of the school's lot she waited untill all the students had left the bus and went inside before getting out of her car.
The school hadn't changed much since she had last been there, other than a fresh paintjob it held no difference from the memories she had in her mind. This however was not a good thing. There was nothing there she cared to remember. Arriving at the office she signed a fake name on the visitors list for once relieved that the secretaries there were ignorant of background checks. Like the school the secretaries were aged, older versions of their original selves painted and clothed to fit into the present day. Ms. Carmichael a woman who had for most of Ororo's time at school referred to her as the old maid due to her white hair was oblivious to her identity as she scribbled down an authorization code on one of the badges handing it to Storm. The woman's nearly all white hair almost made Ororo smile. A far cry from the golden yellow locks she had been so proud of just years before. "Are the reports in yet".
Storm froze at the sound of a voice she had for the past month only heard in her nightmares. Even from the distance he stood from her she could smell his scent. A sickening mixture of thick cologne, mint and tobacco. Keeping herself turned away from Mr. Toler as he approached Storm busied herself with stabilizing her shaking hands as she pretended to write something down on the paper in front of her . "Oh yes sir" the woman responded. "They are on your desk". "Thank you Lucy" the man replied passing by the two women in front of him. "Oh and can you please call Brenda in, Its about time I checked in to see how she is doing". Tightening her grip on the pen in her hand Ororo tried her best not to turn to the man behind her despite the disgusting hypocrisy of the conversation at hand that was proving to be almost more than she could take.
"Oh no sir she's not here today" Carmichael replied. "Her uncle called her in sick just a few minutes ago". "Oh that's a shame" Mr. Toler responded. "Please tell him I hope she gets better soon". "Oh I will" the woman said sending a flirtatious smile in the direction of the man behind Ororo. Storm breathed a sigh of relief as he entered his office closing the door behind him. How many times had she breathed that same breath every time her name had been called during role during her years there. For a moment Carmichael sat staring at the closed door as if expecting something amazing to happen before reluctantly returning her attention to the woman in front of her. "Is that all miss…"? "Earnest" Storm lied. "And yes thank you very much".
Rushing from the office Storm ran into the nearest bathroom and hung her head above the open toilet. kicking the door closed behind her she gave several wet heaves releasing the contents of her belly into the open bowl below. Luckily she had not eaten much that morning and before long she was strong enough to lift herself from the floor leaning against the door for support. She needed proof before she could do anything and the only place she knew she could find it was in Mr. Toler's office.