Okay here's another. I just finished my English final and I thought I would and another chapter. I only have about an hour so, It'll be kinda short.

This Chapter's Jam list- Goo Goo Dolls- Black Balloon, Iz- Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Hot Hot Heat- In the Middle of Nowhere, Jimmy Eat World- Pain

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Chapter Five

Hank McCoy was getting quite frustrated. He never remembered Quinn being so good at hiding from him. He would try to catch her right before meal times, and everytime, fresh food would already spread on the table, dishes would already be clean, and she wouldn't be in her room.

He refused to snoop again, but this was odd. Where was she going all the time? Even the students hadn't seen her since Evan saw her in the laundry room. He had heard him tell the story several times now. Had twenty years really caused that big a change in her?

"Yeah, so like, no one has seen her? Not at all? Is she like those Harry Potter house elves?" Everyone turned to Kitty with odd stares. "You know, they make all the food and stuff, but you never see them. You just know that they're there because the food is made everyday. You only can see them is you call them forth and stuff." Rogue laughed.

"So she's like Beetlejuice now? Just yell her name three times. Cook Lady! Cook Lady! Cook Lady!" Rogue told her mockingly. Several of the students laughed, but only momentarily before their laughter was cut short.

"Someone rang?" The white swing door opened and Quinn stepped out, with a large plate of cookies in hand. She set them down in the middle of the table and turned to walk out.

"Quinn, please join us." Xavier asked. She looked at him and nodded. She sat down uncomfortably in between Kurt and Hank. Hank noticed that even though she was still wearing the same tattered and worn clothing that she brought with her, they fitted her better, color was coming back into her cheeks. Her hair was no longer tied back in a bandana, but loose and to her shoulders, the red had faded out a little, turning to light blonde.

"You are quite the elusive one aren't you? The students are dying to get to know you. It seems that only Evan here has had the joy of getting to know you." Xavier told her. "You may not realize it, but you are just as much a part of this group as anyway." Quinn nodded but didn't say anything. She turned and watched Kurt go through his fifth cookie since she sat down.

"It's good to know that my cooking is well appreciated." Xavier nodded and introduced everyone to her. She politely listened to everyone's introduction before politely excusing herself to wash the dishes.

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Hank waited until everyone has dispersed a little before he excused himself to go find Quinn in the kitchens. He walked inside to find her shoulder deep in soapy water. She saw him and quickly pulled out a crock pot out of the rinse and set it on a drying rack before drying her hands on her apron.

"Hey, what's up, mate?" she asked as she leaned against the counter top.

"Where've you been going all the time?" She looked at him strangely.

"Working and I guess I've been doing a lot of walking around. This place has a beautiful campus." She reached under her apron to tuck her hands deep into her pockets. "That and I've been doing a lot of thinking." Hank raised an eyebrow.

"Thinking about what, per say?" She laughed a little. He just realized that she had been back for almost a week and not once had her heard her do that deep laugh that he remembered best.

"Oh, everything, I guess. I miss New Zealand. I miss Dale. Look I know you must think that I'm avoiding you, you know since I got back here. I've made no effort to talk to you since I came begging for a job." Hank nodded not knowing where she was going with this. "I miss you. I do. I just don't know how to pick back up and start back up where we left. We left off on a really odd note."

"What do you mean and odd note?" he was beginning to get angry. "You just left. You just disappeared. No phone calls, nothing. Do you have any idea what it was like for me? Knowing that you mostly hitchhiked of the wrong person and you were lying dead in a ditch. You know they hung your picture up in the grocery store. I had to walk by it every time I went home!"

"Yes, I bet you were so worried while you were here at Mutant High. It took me ten years of living like an unwanted freak to find out what I really was!"

"Maybe if you would stop running from everything and everyone then you would have learned sooner!" Quinn glared at him as reached behind her and untied her apron. She threw it carelessly behind her. It skidded behind her and fell in the sink. She turned on one heel to leave the room. Hank hastily grabbed her forearm and pulled her close to him. He leaned in close and whispered to her.

"Stop running, Quinn. You're safe here. You have answers here. You have me, now." He whispered. She yanked her arm free and leaned in close to him. Their faces haven't been this close since she kissed him goodbye all those years ago.

"What makes you think I need any of those things?" She spat and then she blinked once and turned, throwing the door forward, it swung back forcefully just before he caught a glimpse of a confused looking Rogue. He gave a sigh and placed his knuckles on the ground and ran after her. He wasn't going to let her disappear again.