I do not own X men.

Claire was wandering slowly down the driveway of Xavier's School for Higher Learning when everything finally hit her. She stopped and stood staring at the mansion and all of the beautiful plants surrounding it. She thought about when she had stayed there and John staying there. She thought about how close they must have come to meeting so many times. She thought about him wandering the halls with his old friends and she thought about him lying somewhere, cold and alone.

Her eyes filled with tears and she let out a sob that shook her entire body. She stumbled to the side of the road and into the mansion's maze. She grasped for something to steady her but instead plopped to the ground in a heap, crying uncontrollably.

She remembered the first time that she had seen him, wandering down the halls at Xavier's school. He was with Iceman and Rouge, laughing. The picture of his head thrown back, laughing with them was forever ingrained in her mind. He sat a few seats to her right in her History class, but she had never tried to talk to him.

She knew that she would regret that for the rest of her life.

Her sobs were so loud she didn't notice the blond boy land a few feet from her and fold his large white wings behind him. She was cradling her head in her hands and jumped when he spoke to her in an urgent voice.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?!"

She looked up into his clear blue eyes with her red puffy ones. "Who...are you?" she hiccoughed.

"My name's Warren. Are you okay?" he asked again, looking her over for any injury.

"I'm Claire." she whispered, tears still streaming down her face.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I'm a mutant, I've come to the mutant school." she was trying to force herself into this conversation, trying not to think about John or anything that had to do with him. She would avoid the topic of her tears for as long as she could.

"You are? Really?!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah." she sniffed.

"Me too. I guess you could call me Angel then."

"Angel?"

"Yes."

"You mind if I just call you Warren?"

"No problem." he smiled. It was a nice smile. Very kind.

"So what are you doing out here?" he asked.

Claire turned away from him, suddenly confronted with the thought of John. John's smile. John's laugh. John's eyes as he made flames play in his palm.

"I am alone." she said simply, turning back to Warren.

He nodded, understanding. "Me too." he said quietly.

Warren walked into the Professor's study where some of the X men sat. Claire hung back in the doorway, not in the mood to have them recognize her just yet.

"Excuse me, I know this is a bad time but...I heard this was a safe place for mutants." Warren looked anxiously at the faces in the room: Ororo, Logan, Hank, Kitty and Bobby.

Hank spoke up first. "It used to be, son." his voice was solemn.

There was a long pause where everyone exchanged sad looks with the carpet.

What are they talking about? Claire wondered. Is the school not safe now? Is it closing? Where is the Professor?

Ororo's sad expression changed to one of determination. "It still is." she said, causing Warren to smile a little. "Let's get you two rooms."

A new hope? Just kidding, this is X men not Star Wars. REVIEW!