A/N: Forgot to mention something in the previous chapter. This story is taking place after X-Men 1 and Logan – when he appears in the story – returns a few weeks earlier than he does in X-Men 2.

Disclaimer: All standard disclaimers apply. See first chapter for details and such 'n' such.

Chapter Two

"Throw Me a Lifeline"

My heart beats, standing on the edge
but my feet have finally left the ledge
like an acrobat
there's no turning back

They sat in silence. Scott stared out the front window, later on he had sometimes glanced over to Jaimi, concerned. He had seen the state of her clothes and her skinny frame. He had even wound down the window to get some fresh air as her smell cocooned the car. Jaimi, feeling painfully humiliated had turned her face to the window, ignoring him.

Right now the small pit of curiousness had grown in her stomach and she bit her lip watching outside as the city backdrop morphed slowly into the lush green countryside. Where were they going? Where is this school? How long until they get there? She voiced her questions numbly and Scott glanced at the radio clock of little, slightly blurred numbers; 10:47pm

He sighed, seeming tired, weary; much like he wanted to be home right now, "Urh, Westchester, New York. We should be there in about…half an hour"

She nodded wanting to ask more but deciding against it. Half an hour; so where is she? She could barely remember the names of the streets in which she lived in, let alone the area. It's all a blur and a distant part of her realized that she knows the area. She just wants to forget it.

Biting her lip she stared out the fairly tinted, black window. She then turned her attention to the inside of the car, running her eyes over the dark, clean dashboard. She identified the quiet purring as the car's engine and nearly smiles. She had always loved cars; she used to help her little brother, Samuel, with naming the parts of the car and remembered his first word was a slightly babyish, mumbled and distorted 'aksellerayta'. That was until she was forbidden to talk to him, or see him, hell she was forbidden to think of him by her father.

Her heart pumped painfully, and a lump rose in her throat, shaking her head she snarled at herself, trying to get back on to the same train of thought she was on before. The car looked expensive, really expensive and she is about to comment on it when a thought hit her.

"How'd you know where I was?" She asked, voice clipped with interest and Scott raised his eyebrow, as if surprised she is asking him that question. She doubts he was just walking around and happened to see her; a man like him didn't look like his hobby is walking down dusty lanes. She watches as he tapped the wheel for a moment, and then tilted his head slightly.

"Professor Charles Xavier, the owner of the school," He continued as she nods, looking straight ahead at the darkening road, "is telepathic. He's got this…enhancer that allows him to find mutants in need of help"

Jaimi couldn't help but wonder who this Charles guy is. By the sounds of him he was a decent guy, which was kind of unsettling.

"So…what does the school want with me?"

She looked up to him and sees he's frowning, biting the inside of his cheek. He sighed slightly and then rearranged his red tinted glasses.

"I'm taking you to the school because that's where you belong," He paused, shaking his head slightly and his hands relaxed, "Charles' wants to offer you a place in the school"

Her heart almost swelled in anticipation. In hope. At the thought of maybe...just maybe she'll amount to something. Anything.

And then the fantasy was killed as reality striked her on the head; she frowned, "But I can't afford it. I don't have any money or a place to live or clothes or-"

"In case you hadn't noticed, it's not an ordinary school. You don't need to pay for anything there; the whole place is privately funded. Charles knows you don't have anything; most students that come don't. You're not the only person to come to the school from the streets"

She raised an eyebrow, biting her tongue to keep back a sarcastic remark she knew she is about to blurt out and instead loosened up her neck and allowed her head to sway back into the black seat. She could feel sweat building up on the back of her neck and shivered as it ran down her spine.

"So what's the catch?"

"…catch?" Scott glanced at her smiling slightly, "You have to be the most cynical child I have ever met. There is no catch. No strings attached. Nothing. Of course you have to follow the rules, and go to school which I guess is a disaster in itself, but essentially, nothing"

"Almost sounds too good to be true" She muttered quietly, a poker face already in place though underneath it was a whole different matter. She's getting offered a place at a school? She's going to have a place to sleep that wasn't constantly wet from the rain? She's going to be able to eat without stealing? And if what Scott said is true…she wouldn't have to pay for anything? And she would be able to be around her own kind, she wouldn't have to lie or hide or anything?

And then she noticed the downside. She had never been good at following orders; and following others also wasn't her strong point. She wasn't good with talking to others, the conversation she is having with Scott would have to be the longest she'd had in a long time. And…trusting others. Opening up to others. About her past. About her family. About her. Why did she have to be so dysfunctional? Why couldn't she be a people person?

They retreated into a calming silence and she shifted on her chair as her back muscles start to cramp up and she looked at the time again. 11:02pm. Her eyelids were already starting to droop heavily but they shot dizzyingly open when she realized she has about ten minutes until they got to the school. Her stomach dropped.

"Hows your ear?" Scott's calm voice cuts through the suffocating silence and she jumps at the sound.

"What?" She is about to question when she remembered her ear and the dark red liquid and her hand flew up to feel her cheek, "oh…yeah"

"Did you hit your head or something?" He asked concerned and Jaimi can't help but feel a twinge of surprise. It had been a while since someone actually cared whether or not she was scared or hurt or cold or anything. She tilted her head sideways slightly thinking her world has changed a lot since this morning.

"No," She replied, confusing herself as she remembers running through the alley; she didn't…did she? "I don't think so…"

"Do you usually bleed from your ear?" He questioned, one eyebrow risen and he took a fleeting look at her.

"Yeah, it's a hobby of mine" She answered with a roll of her eyes, feeling a bit self conscious. She took a deep breath, and noticed as Scott glanced at the clock.

"Charles might be able to explain it. We'll be there in about five minutes, you can hold on 'till then, right?"

He sounded like he's expecting her to piss herself and Jaimi rolled her eyes at his tone, "Its fine. It's not even bleeding; besides, I've had worst"

"Yeah" He said and trailed off and for the rest of the ride they were both silent, caught up in their own thoughts.

Suddenly Scott pulled up in front of some ebony gates and Jaimi couldn't help when her mouth sculptured into a tiny, perfect 'o'. There was a large, brick fence showered with a million trees and falling leaves and vines creeping up the side, a gold plaque with elegant, italic 'Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters' engraved on it. As Scott moved the car past the gateway she caught sight of flat, neatly trimmed, bright green grass and basketball courts and clear little ponds that glimmered in the shadowed moonlight.

"Fuck me dead" She muttered in awe and Scott raises his eyebrows at her, a smile tugging the corners of his lips at her language.

"Come on, follow me"

She hopped out of the car and found herself walking beside Scott. She can't help but look at the corridors in awe as they pass room after room and door after door; glancing at the lone vases and tables in between the openings. Jaimi looked up at the roof and she saw the silvered moonlight shifting in from the windows dappled in the leaves. She could see colorful nameplates and plaques on doors, three at a time, and guessed they belonged to the numerous students sleeping inside.

She and Scott didn't see anyone else wandering the lone hallways and she assumed it's because it is about 11:20 at night and they would probably get screamed at by some Professor for staying out. Jaimi couldn't help but smile at the thought.

She stopped abruptly as Scott paused to open a dark, auburn, wooden door. She paused, uncertain, and then slipped in soundlessly; a trait she had picked up off the streets and the first thing she noticed is a well-aged, bald man, his slightly wrinkled face smoothed into a comforting smile. Beside him is a young, beautiful woman with mocha colored skin and brown eyes and plump lips.

The man smiled at her, his eyes warm and steady, nodding towards a seat. Jaimi took it gratefully; glad to get off of her suddenly shaking legs and stared at the new strangers under the glow of a cozy light. Scott, she noticed, doesn't sit down, instead leaning against the bench pushed up against a wall.

"Hello Jaimi, my name is Professor Charles Xavier," The man greeted kindly, and Jaimi doesn't even bother questioning how he knows her name. He is telepathic, it's pretty much expectant for him to know all about her, "This is Ororo Munroe, or Storm as she is more frequently called, and I see you've already met Scott"

She quickly glances at Scott, before nodding silently, lips glued together. Storm smiles at Jaimi sincerely, the corners of her eyes crinkling and dark lashes curled.

"If you don't mind, we would like to ask a few questions" Charles continued gently, and Jaimi nodded, muttering a quick 'sure'. She was expecting this; no way would they let someone in without first asking them a couple of stuff. Thing is; did she even want to be allowed in?

"You know you don't have to answer anything you don't want to?" Storm pipes up and Jaimi bites her lip, nodding a silent thanks.

"How old are you, Jaimi?"

"16"

"How long have you been on the streets?"

"Three years; after my parents threw me out" She replied theatrically and it's true. She has been on the streets for three years just the way she ended up on the streets is a lie. A stretched, fabricated lie, a lie that is a whole lot better than the truth but a lie nonetheless.

It continued on like that. They didn't ask personal questions; the ones she didn't want to answer. They were nice and as far as she could tell, Charles didn't swoop into her head and read her mind; and for the privacy she is thankful. It was more of a get-to-know-you conversation than a usual interview.

"What powers do you possess?"

Keep one a secret, Jaimi. Technically it's none of their business and she isn't even sure is she can trust them. They don't need to know.

Do they?

"I think you call them force fields"

"Scott tells me you were injured somewhat" Charles asked and she can only guess that what he meant by 'tells me' is actually him reading Scott's mind.

"Yeah," She answered, brushing the dried up blood on her cheekbone lightly with her fingertips, "but I didn't get hit. I know that. My ear just started bleedin'"

"And you say that this happens every time you use your power?" Charles continued, and Jaimi can tell by the undertone in his voice, if nothing else, he's confused. Or concerned. Whichever didn't matter, Jaimi decided and shakes her head.

"No, not all the time. I hit Roach this morning and I was fine"

Charles raised his eyebrow in silent amusement which is weird; Jaimi thought of him as a non-violence type of person. Storm is the one who responds first though, "Roach?" She questioned.

"Yeah, Justin, Roach, Roach, Justin; same thing. He was being an ass so I thumped him one" She replies distractedly. Where is Roach now? Did he survive the explosion? Did she care?

She had a feeling they were about to ask her when she used her power that afternoon, right before she bled, so she changed the subject fast. She didn't really want to be reminded she's a murderer. She also hopes Charles wasn't reading her mind.

"Do you know who made the explosion? Who blew up the old factory?"

"No," Storm replied slowly and glances as Scott who she sees nodding out of the corner of her eye. Did this have anything to do with the yellow eyed mutant she saw there? "You were there, weren't you? Did you see anyone?"

She bit the inside of her cheek. She guessed Charles would find out sooner or later about her secret but she wants it kept a secret for at least as long as possible, "Apart from a whole bunch of half-assed homosapiens, just a guy with weird yellow eyes"

Charles sighed wearily, ignoring her swearing and looked between Storm and Scott, "Mystique?"

"What's a Mystique?" She couldn't help asking. A person? She didn't even know why she wants to know. So she can thank it? So she can hit it? Or just so she knows who or what blew up all of her street 'friends'?

"Maybe another time, Jaimi," Charles finished the discussion, and Jaimi doesn't bother arguing; she knows she won't get far even if she did, "Now, I can't answer the questions to the bleeding, although, I do believe it has something to do with overdoing your power"

He smiled warmly, and Jaimi nodded. Charles then put his elbows on the wooden desk and Jaimi just noticed sharply that he's in a wheelchair.

"I would like to offer you a place in my school. I know you've already heard about what we offer from Scott, but I would like to add that the aim of my school is to help all young mutants learn more about their gifts; away from people that disregard mutants in the modern society. So here, if you would let us, we would like to help you control your force fields and expand your learning on them. Maybe even answer your continuing injuries?"

She opened her mouth to add something, but Charles held up his hand, "Before you answer; maybe you'd like a tour of the school? It's a bit dark at the moment so how about we find you a room, you can have a shower and tomorrow Storm can show you around?"

She felt an insult at the words 'have a shower' and stiffens, but then she sees Charles' kind eyes, and polite smile and she realized he's just stating the truth. Her eyes widened slightly as she heard his words again. She could sleep the night whether or not she is staying? Sleep in an actual bed?

She choked noticing that she's never good at expressing her feelings, "Urh, thanks"

"No problem. Storm would you please show Jaimi to her room?"

She stepped out of the shower, water running down her bare back and she tugged her towel tighter around her thin body. It's weird seeing her skin so white, so clean. When she had first stepped into the shower she had watched, disgusted, as the water immediately turned dark brown and tiny little flecks of dirt floated. She had massaged her head and used her nails to scrape off dried blood and mud. So at least now, she is noticeably cleaner, and she didn't smell like garbage thanks to some soap and shampoo.

Noticing that her clothes had gone she frowned; ignoring her shivering. Storm or whoever had been in here had replaced her old, worn out clothes with a gray sweatpants and a white wife beater. It wasn't the clothes that disturbed her. No; it was the fact that someone had been in here whilst she was showering. And worst, she didn't even notice.

She had always had good senses; eyesight, sense of smell, hearing. Heightened to living on the streets; she would have had to be aware of her surroundings. Not only that but she had always, subconsciously, noted the little details of people. How when she had shaken Charles' hand there was no callosities, it was smooth and clean; he wasn't a working man. How the awards behind him suggests he wasn't a violent person, a diplomat. How the small hand drawn pictures on his desk show that at least some young children look up to him. How the student assignments on his desk shows that he is a history teacher, as well as some other classes.

"Jaimi," She sighed to herself, "you need to get a hobby"

About to grab the clothes and get dressed, she caught sight of herself. She took a few steps back and stared at the reflected image on a mirror.

She could barely recognize herself. Sharp cheekbones framed with dark, russet brown hair ending in the middle of her back, frizzy and jagged with numerous split ends. Arched green-blue eyes, naturally thin eyebrows and a straight nose; her entire face was pale and thin. It wasn't her just physical appearance that had caught her eye; it's what was hiding in her eyes. Haunted eyes billowing in an emotion she knew all too well: hopelessness. She felt hopeless; and tired, and scared, and angry and most of all; she felt pain. An empty abyss of pain that's eating her up from the inside out.

She dropped the towel she was hugging to her chest and numbly ran her eyes over her body. Thin. Sunken. Bones poking out like needles under a piece of cloth. Purple bruises shaded her body and she cradled her stomach, or at least what was left of it. It was flat, hollowed. She didn't have a body that made people look at her, she didn't think herself so materialistic to care. But...she did care slightly, knowing she was no where near as pretty as anyone her age. If anything, she was ugly. Brutal, both in appearance and experience.

She watched herself bite her slim lips and run her fingers over her sunken cheek. A slender white scar ran across her left cheek like a highlighted line.

Jaimi pursed her lips staring at the scar; she didn't even bother looking down at her right arm to look at the other scar, she can already see the beginnings of it. It wasn't an accident, you can tell just by looking at it. She tore her eyes away from the right side of her neck and hurriedly got dressed, walking out of the bathroom; refusing to remind herself of her wounds.

She had already seen the room when Storm had first showed her so she didn't bother looking over the mahogany walls and wooden floorboards. She slipped into bed, pulling the crisp, cool sheets around her thin body and pulled her knees up to her chest like a little child. She closed her eyes, and slept.

"These are the basketball courts," Storm smiled ",and I think that's pretty much it"

Jaimi stayed quiet. Lips pursed in a thin line that showed neither contempt or disgust. Hiding deep underneath though, was the childish thrill that came with anything she was introduced to and run up her body with enthusiasm.

"Do you like the place?" Storm asked lightly, breaking the silence as they trekked back to the main hall.

"Does it matter if I do or not? I hardly have any where else to go"

Storm didn't reply to that, it wasn't entirely too. She could slip easily back into the streets but...it was hardly the same. "Perhaps, but it'd be nice to know you enjoy staying here"

Storm smiles at her and Jaimi stared at the floor, following the woman through the thickening maze of white and yellow flowers that stung her nose.

"So have you made up your mind?"

"About staying?" Jaimi watched, pausing slightly, as Storm nodded, "Yeah. I think I will, I mean, I can't go back to my suburb, I've lost all my stuff and it would take to much time to learn the tricks of a new area."

Storm glanced sideways at the young teenager beside her and tugs her long, white hair behind her ear. Jaimi hadn't really broken her poker face since she had been here, a rare smile and biting of the lip had broken through at times but nothing that really added to her personality and Storm had noticed. She's a mystery that didn't happen to be quite so silent, but forever guarded.

Jaimi stepped into a recreation-like room with a small kitchen and an island like bench and she suddenly felt slightly lost. It's a Saturday so all the students were out of their classes and going out and what not.

"I've got to be somewhere soon… so how about I leave you alone to explore? Maybe you could even meet some other students your age? The cafeteria at the moment should be serving lunch" Storm quips. It's harsh, and she knows, but Storm wonders whether or not throwing the girl into the deep end will end up being some personality.

Jaimi bit the inside of her cheek and was about to mutter a quick, soft, embarrassing 'Don't leave me alone!' but catches herself and instead nodded her head, agreeing. No way does she want to look weak in front of some stranger.

She bit the bait.

"Well, I hope you decide to stay, I would love to have you in my classes," Storm smiled encouraging, "maybe I'll see you later?"

"Yeah," Jaimi breathed, looking over the many students in the room, ", maybe"

She shifted from one to foot to the other as she watched Storm walk off, fighting off a smile as she sees the teacher yell at some godforsaken child that had broken some unknown rule. She tried to ignore the stares she knew she is receiving. She knew she didn't smell; she had another shower this morning. She knew her clothes weren't dirty; Storm had washed them and given her a standard school tracksuit in the mean time. Yesterday she would have received looks because of how she smelled and looked. Now she is receiving them based on why she is here and the fact that she was new. If she got any closer they probably stare because of her habits, her thoughts, her feelings.

Don't get any closer then, Jaimi mused, don't get close.

She glanced at the clock on a faraway wall; 1:04pm. Lunchtime. Cafeteria. Food. Eat.

She tucked her long hair behind her ear and slipped into the crowd, finding the cafeteria in relative ease. Jaimi stopped at the entrance to the dining hall and shifted on her feet again. An unexpected , overwhelming tide tide of emotions hit her before she had a chance to stop it and she bit her lip.

Her eyes swept over the crowds of noisy, chattering students and few Professors. On the streets people avoided her; they left her alone. Others she avoided, most she ignored and the rest she only talked to out of boredom; it wasn't anything deep. But everyone was someone she couldn't trust; an unlikely thief in disguise. That's the difference between here and there; there she was a loner by choice, not trusting anyone, here these people are supposed to be her friends; she's expected to be nice.

"Well to hell with that" She snapped quietly to herself. She isn't going to change just because her scenery did.

She noticed a food line and ambled silently and gracefully over there, grabbing a dark red tray, her knuckles turned white as she gripped it hard, standing stiffly in line behind some other teenagers and feeling more than a little left out.

And then the smell of food hit her and her stomach rolled over on itself and lets out a pitiful growl Almost. She rolled on the balls of her feet impatiently and eyed the steam rolling off of the trays and trays of hot food.

Before she knows what she's doing she's grabbed a plate of mouthwatering nutrients and found herself a lone white table where she can brood by herself. Sinking herself into the seat she automatically picked up the silver tableware to her side and dug in slowly, knowing from experience that forcing down too much food all at once will end up bad. She ends up savoring each bite slowly and ignoring the people and echoing mass of noise around her.

Slowly her train of thought went straight back to her newly found acquaintances. Storm, or Ororo Munroe's kind, she's welcoming. Jaimi had already seen how stern she is with the other children so she is sure she is a Professor here. Then there is Scott Summers – a married or engaged teacher (according to the ring on his hand) that drove an awesome car and seemed to be kind of lenient with the teacher duties. Let's not forget Charles Xavier, the all-knowing headmaster, who seemed to have an answer for everything. She'd also heard about Jean Grey, Scott's wife or fiancée but she hadn't seen the redhead as yet.

How the hell did they man the whole school on a four-staff teaching plan?

"Hey, my names Ethan and this is Trent and Crypto"

Jaimi looked up to see a redheaded boy with emerald green eyes smiling politely at her, shadowed by two teenagers whom she guesses is Trent and Crypto. She raised an eye, annoyed that she had to stop eating to talk to these people.

She chose to ignore them and reached for her glass to moisten her throat that had suddenly dried up. Ethan let out a small laugh and settled down in a chair opposite her, his companions taking a place beside him. "So what's your name?"

"Why do you care?"

"'Cause I haven't seen you 'round here before. You new?"

She rolled her eyes, stirring her suddenly less interesting food around in her plate. "Maybe. I don't see your fascination though. Kids come and go all the time"

This she wasn't quite sure. She had heard from Storm that people were welcome to leave, whether they did was another matter. On the streets she learn to bluff well, it seemed that trait followed her well.

Trent, a medium built Asian boy with dark eyes and small hints of stubble laughed suddenly, breaking his silence and he looked her in the eye, a smile playing on his lips. "Wow, you really aren't talkative"

"I just don't see the point in talking to you" She muttered darkly, not bothering to lower her voice.

Crypto had been staring at her the whole time and Jaimi shifted her attention to him and his set of shocking white hair with dark streaks of shady purple, his arms were folded accentuating his thick biceps. He tilted his chin upwards slightly, highlighting his prominent jaw line and asked, "What's your thing?"

"Thing?"

"Yeah. What can you do?"

"Do?"

"What's your power?"

She's shocked at the abrupt way he said it, like it is perfectly normal to ask a fellow mutant their power, and then she realized it is. Perfectly normal for them anyway. She remembered she's in a school that openly accepts mutants and their powers.

And suddenly she's angry. Livid. How dare they! How dare they ask someone like it's nothing! Like it's normal! Like it's welcome! It's not. We are not normal! We are not welcome! This isn't some dumb comic strip!They're not some super ass hero. For fucks sake, don't walk around like it's an everyday thing!

She bunched her fists together, feeling the same heat creeping up her palms and tingling her fingers with electricity. Don't.

Stop.

She stood up abruptly, banging the tray on the table loudly. She could feel the heat building up, her heart pumping, pounding. She turned on her heel, digging her nails into her palm so hard to draw blood. The liquid pools into her palm as she slips out of the cafeteria before Ethan had a chance to open his mouth.

Fuck.

It's an hour later. She wasn't exactly sure how she's going to spend the time. Should she go outside? She wouldn't mind playing basketball...But no. She didn't. She stayed in her 4 walled room and stared up at the roof. Just thinking.

She's not the best with people. She knew that. She's not the best with orders. She knew that too. She's not good with trusting people, opening up, or just generally being in the same room as people. She thought it's because, deprived of normalcy and human company, she didn't exactly know how to act. How to read what people where thinking, what the reasons were behind words that were spoken.

Funny, how the one thing she prided herself on ended up being her downfall.

Still, she's come up with a decision. She knocked on the door, more than aware of the students behind her in one of the living rooms. Talking. Laughing.

She hated it. She just knows she's going to end up hating them.

"Come in" A voice rung from inside the room and Jaimi pushed lightly, walking in.

"Ah, hello Jaimi" Charles smiled; looking up from his notes; could he hear what she was thinking? What she thought? Jaimi took a seat opposite him warily.

She blinks, "Hi"

"I assume you've come to a decision about your enrollment?"

Enrollment? He was acting like this was normal. Like she wasn't a freak going into hiding with a colony of mutants.

She stared at the laces on her black shoes, nonchalantly. "Maybe, depends if you accept my conditions"

"And that depends on what they are"

Freedom - ability to act freely: a state in which somebody is able to act and live as he or she chooses, without being subject to any undue restraints or restrictions. Yeah, that's what she wanted, for once, to be able to walk around and do what she wanted without some inappropriate limitation.

For once.

"I can leave whenever I want, right?"

"As any other student can also, yes"

"And I don't have to tell you about my past if I don't want to?"

Charles let go of the papers in his hand and looked her in the eye, "I don't agree with it; talking about your past is the best way to move on and trust is the foundation if we're to understand your powers completely but yes; privacy is one thing we offer all of our students"

Jaimi nodded, "I get that, but sometimes it's just easier to not talk about things. Easier to forget"

"Ignoring the problem won't make it go away; with time it'll just get worse"

"Somehow, I doubt that," She looked up at him, the iron lock on her emotions trembling under pressure and she changed the subject, "I want freedom. I want to be able to lock myself up in my room if I want. I want to be able to leave if I want. I don't care for your curfews to be honest. I just want freedom."

Charles sighed, "Believe it or not, even with a curfew some students are still allowed to roam. Those that cannot sleep, or choose not to. Those that prefer the dark to the light. I'm sure we can arrange something. Though I should advise, this still is a school. As much freedom as we give you, we are still allowed to take it back. This school, and I, more or less become your parent guardian"

Jaimi didn't respond. Charles didn't need her words to know that she was troubled. "Tomorrow we can assess the length of your power at it's present time. You should be able to start school Monday, Wednesday at the latest. That will give you time to collect the things required."

Jaimi blanched. School. Work. Of course. How could she forget?

Charles grinned, "I'm sure you'll enjoy school"

"I'd have a better chance if I wasn't so behind"

"I could always get someone to tutor you if you believe it'll be a problem"

She frowned, "And who would that be?"

"Probably Jean or Scott although I could always get one of your peers if you'd rather that?" At that Jaimi raised and eyebrow in mock disbelief.

He smiled kindly, understanding. "Jean or Scott it is. They'll most likely take turns teaching you different subjects, depending on how much you need help on. How about tomorrow we can see where you are at academically, after your physical test?"

She nodded and a few minutes later she is at the door after excusing herself but once there she paused; back to Charles. She tapped her fingers in rhythm on the door once before turning around.

What are you doing? Why are you asking this? You know you don't really want the answer.

No. But I need it.

"How much exactly do you know?" She asked.

He didn't need to ask to know what she is talking about, it's clear on her pale face what exactly she is asking and for a moment, Jaimi's glad she's got hold of the door because it feels like her legs are about to give out. Her stomach isn't settling and her other hand is shaking from it's position at her side.

Charles sighed wearily. "I won't lie to you; when I was using Cerebro to pinpoint your location I had to read your mind to note what kind of danger you were in so yes, I saw a glimpse of your past"

She nearly choked. Fuck.

"But believe me, Jaimi, I won't tell anyone and as I agreed, you don't have to tell me about it. But I would very much like it if you had a session with me next week; just for a talk"

"Like a therapy session?" She bit back.

"Think of it more like a friendly chat"

"So…like a therapy session?"

He sighed. "If you must call it that – but there's no pressure, like I said, you don't have to talk about it – we can end up talking about something entirely different"

"So I can talk about cereal brands and you won't mind?"

"I've always had a soft spot for Count Chocula" He smiled.

"What's the point in turning up then? I don't think spending an hour talking about cereal brands is going to help anyone"

"Because if you do, I'll give you full access to the Danger Room". He can read her already. Her thoughts, actions, mannerism. He didn't even have to use telepathy.

There's a heavy pause.

"What the fuck is a Danger Room?"

"Jaimi," He said sternly in response to her swearing, ", you'll find out tomorrow when test the extent of your powers"

She wanted to shrug, to appear nonchalant but all she managed to do was turning around and opening the door a faction. She bit her lip, pausing once again and ignoring the students still outside.

"Thanks Professor"

TBC

Lyrics: I Am Letting Go by Francesca Battistelli

A/N: Jaimi's got two powers but they kinda contradict each other but at the same time…they don't. There are two or more hints given in this chapter so you know, go treasure hunting :P Oh and sorry if this chapter is too boring or long or anything but I don't want a story that takes a long eight chapters or something to get the main character to school and such 'n' such. So yeah, sorry : ) Review! Thanks!

-J