Chapter II
In five minutes she's going to leave her room and walk down the stairs. I know because this is the same thing she did last night, and the night before. I know where to wait. I try not to think about how this is a bit too much like an ambush. Scratch that, this is an ambush and I don't care.
She doesn't see me. She's looking back as she walks and runs into me with a little more force than I expected. For a moment I think she's going to scream. I suppose we'd both have some explaining to do.
"You scared me to death, Logan. Do you make it a habit to lurk around corners like that?"
She's truly startled and I almost feel guilty. But not quite.
"Where are you going, Jean?"
"Downstairs. To the kitchen. To have a glass of water."
"Is that so?"
I haven't moved since she bumped into me and I'm still standing close, clearly in breach of her personal space, my face a few inches from hers. She steps back with a pointed look.
"No. Not really. Good night." She tries to turn to face the stairs and I move to stand in her way again.
"I don't suppose you can spare a minute to tell me what the hell is going on, before you go on your merry way and continue doing whatever it is you're doing."
She doesn't answer, but she's not trying to get away anymore, either.
"Are you ill? Are you in trouble? Is there something wrong with the Professor? With the school? Is there some kind of mutant apocalypse coming? What's going on? I'm not snooping for the hell of it. I'm worried."
"I appreciate that. But I'm not dying. I'm not ill. I'm not especially bothered by anything right now."
"You say that like it's the most ridiculous thought in the world after seeing you walking around like a reanimated corpse since I got here."
"I'm not sure I know what you're talking about."
I won't lie; even though I'm getting more pissed off with every second, there's something about this that's too pathetic for me to feel anything else than sorry. She's brilliant at many things, but lying ain't one of them.
"Look, if you don't want to tell me, then don't. Just don't lie to me. Do me that favor, Jean."
After what seems like forever she takes another step back, and this time I don't stop her.
"Are you angry?"
Yes. All the time. "No".
"Logan."
"I said I'm not angry, Red. I'm worried."
"Don't be. Everything's fine."
"Yet there's something you're not telling me."
"Yes." She leans to kiss me on the cheek before walking away. "Good night."
tbc