"Well, what do you think?" Professor Xavier asked as he strolled along with Jess and Jimmy, Jean and Storm following close behind. "Do you feel this is the right place for you, James?"
"It seems okay." Jimmy shrugged. He didn't want to admit it, but this school did seem pretty good. He felt like he could fit in there, and since everyone else was a mutant, even the teachers, no one could single him out for that. It was almost good enough to make him forget the feeling of abandonment he got when Jess mentioned their trip to the school.
"It's beautiful." Jess replied. "The building, and the grounds.." she looked around, and then looked down at the man beside her. "I'm a little worried about how much this would cost though.."
"I did not open this school to make money, Mrs. Bowden." Xavier answered with a smile. "I opened this school so that mutant children could get a good education without having to worry about the bullying and torment they would find in a public school."
"I wish I'd known about this place when I was in high school." Jess laughed nervously.
0This all seemed too good to be true. A seemingly great school, friendly staff and not having to worry about paying out more in tuition than she made in six months? There had to be something...
"The dorms." Jimmy mumbled as a pretty blond girl walked by, smiling at him.
"Separate boys and girls dorms." Xavier chuckled. "Strictly monitored."
"I'd hope so." Jess said, sending a sharp jab into her brother's side as he continued to look after the girl. "Close your mouth before flies go in." she whispered. I'm starting to sound like grandma, she thought to herself.
"Jean and Storm are in charge of the girl's dormitories, and Scott and Logan are in charge of the boy's." Xavier explained.
"They're both trustworthy." Jean assured Jess, able to read the look of concern on the woman's face. If they didn't even show up to a meeting with a potential new student, how much attention did they pay to what went on in the dorms?
"They're coming." Xavier said. "You can meet them both and then I'm sure you'll be a bit more at ease."
"All I'm saying is that if you're going to take the bike, each time without ever asking I might add, the least you could do is make sure you've replaced the gas you used." Scott Summers said as he briskly walked along, a half-laughing Logan close behind.
"I didn't realize you couldn't read a fuel gauge." Logan responded. "The 'E' means empty, the 'F' means full...there are little lines in between..."
"Good morning, gentlemen." Xavier said, fixing them with the stern look a father might give to bickering children that almost read "Keep it up and I'm turning this car around!"He waited for the two men to be quiet before going on. "I would like you to meet Mr. Ronson and his sister Mrs. Bowden." he looked to the brother and sister. "This is Scott Summers, and Logan."
"Logan?" Jess asked. "No last name? Kinda like Cher?"
"Yeah, pretty much." Logan nodded. "Just without the giant, feathery headgear."
"I hope that's not the only thing in her wardrobe you go without." Jess laughed as she held her hand out and shook each man's hand.
"So, you're the new student?" Scott asked Jimmy.
"I guess so." Jimmy shrugged, looking around at what he could only assume would be his new home.
"Yes." Jess nodded as she looked at her brother. "He is. If the professor will have him, that is."
"I see no reason why not." Xavier smiled.
"Great." Jess said nervously, feeling a mixture of relief and sadness well up within her.
"Yeah." Jimmy said distractedly as the blond girl made another pass by. "I think I'm gonna go try to meet some people...." he mumbled as he headed off in the direction of the girl.
"Jimmy!" Jess called after the boy.
"It's quite alright, Mrs. Bowden." Xavier laughed. "That is a good sign I think."
"That he'll ignore all of us to chase after some girl he doesn't even know the name of?" Jess asked. "True. Very normal of a hormonal teen-aged boy."
"Is there any other family that we should keep up to date on James' progress?" Xavier asked as he began to move his chair along again. "Will your husband be joining you on your next trip?"
"No, we're divorced." Jess answered. "And other than some cousins we haven't spoken to in about ten years, there's no one else but us."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Xavier replied.
"Is there anything vital that we should know about him?" Jean asked as she walked along beside Scott. "I think I heard something about a stolen car."
"I don't know where that one came from." Jess sighed. "His reason for doing it, not you hearing about it." she said, clearing up what she thought might be confusing.
"And setting a teacher on fire?" Storm asked.
"That wasn't his fault!" Jess quickly replied. "He studied really hard for this math test, he passed, doing really well for him in math, and the teacher accused him of cheating." she explained quickly, speaking so fast the others had some trouble keeping up with the flow of words. "Jimmy said he didn't, that he studied a lot, the teacher called him a liar, and Jimmy got upset, and when that happens, he doesn't have very good control of his powers..and that's how it set the teacher's pants on fire."
Logan tried to hold back his laughter as he pictured the scene. The others gave him a look that said they didn't find it too amusing and Jess, oblivious to it all as she continued to defend her brother, went on.
"That's another reason I thought this might be a good place for him." she slowed her speaking so that she was easier to follow. "To learn how to control his power no matter what his mood might be."
"I agree." was Xavier's simple reply.
"I know you must be nervous about all of this." Storm said to Jess. "But don't worry, your brother will be very well taken care of here."
"I hope so." Jess smiled nervously. "I figured things can't be any worse then they were at his old school."
If only Jess knew what was to come.