Just as I'm pulling on my left, black, converse, just as Nate walks in to the med wing. "Whoa, you've already been cleared to go?" He asks, sounding genuinely surprised.

I chance a glace towards the lab, where mom and Uncle Hank are talking, and then go back to tying my shoe. "Yep."

Nate raises his eyebrows in surprise, but then pauses. "Wait, you're lying."

I give him a 'No duh' look, before returning to my feet. "Well, someone left my clothes and myself unattended, so I'm taking that as permission to leave. Anyways, I'm fine."

I really did feel fine. I managed to sleep like the dead all of Tuesday. I woke up last night, at a bit and chatted some, then went right back to sleep. When I awoke this morning, I was totally fine and other than a little hungry, I woke up feeling normal – No head pain or dizziness.

Nate looks over to where mom is and then back to me. He shakes his head but says nothing. After getting my shoe on, I stand and run my finger through my hair before pulling it back into a ponytail.

"Did you bring my backpack?" I ask Nate, looking expectantly at him, as if he's going to pull it out of thin air.

"Umm, no. I ran into Storm near your room and had to side track. Your door has been removed for repairs and I think they're trying to keep gawkers away still."

I huff out a frustrated breath, "Bro, you're telepathic. You make her see an empty hallway and walk past. Seriously, our powers are wasted on you."

I chance one more look towards mom and Uncle Hank. I'm relieved to see that they're hunched over something in the lab.

"Welp, I'm off to get my bag. I have a pre-calc exam to attend." Nathan gives me a disbelieving look.

"You're sneaking out to take a math test?" He asks, falling into step next to me.

"I don't think it counts a sneaking when I'm walking out the door. And Hey- If I do well, I don't have to take the final. Besides, I already have plans for that day and need to keep it free." I say, defending myself.

"I don't want to know. The less I know about what you're up to, the better for us both." He says, his hands up in surrender.

Smiling at him, I stop and push the button for the elevator up to the main floors. "Wait, so why did you come down here if you didn't get my bag? You could have just told me." I say, tapping my temple.

"Oh, umm." Nate looks away from me and shoves his hands into his jeans. "You looked pretty bad the other night. Almost death like… and you slept all day yesterday.. So I just..." He trails off.

Breaking out into a smile, I throw my arm around his shoulder and pull him into my side. "Aww, my baby brother cares about me!" My cheek is squished into his shoulder, since he's already crazy tall, but his lanky arm goes around me in an attempt at an awkward hug, and his cheeks have a red tinge.

"No I don't" he says half halfheartedly.


Reaching the main floor, I turn left down the hall towards my room. I can see that Nate is right, Storm is standing near my room, as if to keep students from stopping near it.

I'm surprised Nathan is still walking with me, but decide use it to my advantage. As we near my room, Storm see us. There's a surprised, but happy look on her face. "My sleeping baby! How are you feeling?" She ask as she pulls me into a hug, and smothers the top of my head with kisses. Laughing, I hug her back and say, "much better."

Releasing me, she holds me at arm's length to assess me. When she decides that I'm going to live, she pulls me in for one more hug, and then releases me. "Antie O, really, I'm okay."

"Oh, I know. It's just been awhile since I've gotten to smoother you with love." Turning to Nate, she has a wicked smile on her face and says, "your turn Naty-poo."

Nates eyes widen in horror, and Storm and I both bust out laughing. Still smiling, she turns back to me, "I am glad to see you're doing better, my sweet girl. Where is your Mama?"

Not missing a beat, and with a smile still pastured on my face, I say, "Oh, she's working on something with Uncle Hank, so this is my escort." I give Nathan a slight shove, and he does a good job of hiding his surprise.

"Wait, no. I told you I don't want to be involved in your schemes!" He quickly says to me.

"Too late, Naty-Poo."

"Anyways, Antie O, I need to grab some stuff so I can get to Pre-calc." Starting to pass her, I give her one more quick hug and tell her I'll see her in History.

Nate is still yelling at me telepathically as we reach my room, but I don't hear him. Upon reaching the doorway, I freeze and stare at the contents within. Someone has pieced back together mine and Annie's room.

I remember Annie's desk being it tipped on its front, but now it's back, next to her bed, all the picture frames in place. The strips of wall paper that had been torn off are reattached with a few faint lines showing The only things missing are a few posters and the bedroom door.

I turn to Nate, confusion on my face. "What happened?"

He places a hand on my shoulder, but I shrug it off. Looking around, I locate my messenger bag placed back by my desk, as if nothing even happened. As I walk to it, Nate lets out a sigh. "Mom and Annie fixed everything yesterday. Well, dad had to patch a few holes in the wall, and a few of the posters couldn't be mended but other than that it's all back to normal.

"None of this is normal." I say it to myself, but when I turn I realize I must have said it out loud because Nate is looking at me with a worried look. Turning back to my bag, I grab it and sling it over one shoulder.

"Come on, we need to get to our classes."

Nate looks like he wants to say something, but instead turns and heads out. After a moment, and one more glance around, I turn and follow him.


I reach my math class just as the final bell rings. I quickly walk to my seat, and plop down, feeling eyes on me, but I don't look up.

"Hey, you okay?"

I finally look around, and locate Annie at her usual spot. I give her a weak smile and nod.

Annie came to see me, during the 30 minutes I was awake last night. She insisted that she wasn't upset about the room or that I threw her across it. Actually, she acted as if everything was fine and dandy. I'm the one who was awkward and weird.

"Thank you for fixing the room."

Annie returns a small smile of her own, and then looks down to the exam in front of her.

Just as she does, Mr. Wilson pauses at my desk, "I'm glad you could join us, Ms. Summers," He tells me telepathically, as he hands me my test. I give him a small smile back, and turn to my exam.

Just after I finish writing my name, another voice pops into my head, "Where the hell are you Rachel Anne Summers?!"

I jump a little at my mom's angry voice.

Right, I snuck out of the med wing. After I hem and ha over what to say back and finally go with, "Gotta take a math test, talk to ya later." and slam my mental shields shut. I have a feeling it's going to be a long day.


"Quake! Hey, Quake, wait up!"

I'm walking away from Pre-cal. My exam was a piece of cake, but I'm still getting a gnarly headache again. I'm on my way to the library to grab some materials for English, when I realize that someone is yelling at me.

Turning, I see that Lane kid from the other night. He's running down the hall, and stops once he reaches me, slightly out of breath. He's fixing the strap of his bag, as he smiles at me.

"Were you calling me Quake?" I ask him confused and slightly annoyed.

His smile only grows at this, "Yeah, you know, short for earthquake?"

I continue giving him an unimpressed look, as he continues, "I saw your room, and it looked like an earthquake happened, so I decided ima call you Quake."

Rolling my eyes, I turn on my heel and keep walking. Lane falls into step beside me and starts whistling a tune. "What are you doing?" I snap at him.

He shrugs and responds with, "whistling and walking at the same time. It's an advance form of multitasking many humans have yet to master."

"Okay asshole, I meant, why are you following me?"

It's his turn to look a little puzzled, "The professor said that you're supposed to show me around?"

Then he looks worried and I hear him thinking, "Oh, shit, was I reassigned to someone else? Dammit it Lane, I told you to check your email. Of course, they wouldn't keep you with the sick girl."

'Sick?' I really need to find one of my friends and find out what rumors are going around about me.

"Oh, right. Umm, fine, yeah, Professor X said that. Well, I'm going to the library, you're welcome to join. If not, our classes aren't that hard to find. They're all located on the second and third floors, right wing." I start to walk, but pause and look at him, "by the way, I'm not sick."

I'm browsing the historical section when he finally catches up with me. "So, you're a telepath?"

"Yep." I say to him, and keep searching for the books I want.

"And telekinetic?"

I finally see the book I need, on the top shelf, so I simply hold my hand up and the book shoots into it. Once I have it, I turn and look at him in response.

Lane nods his head, mouth positioned in an impressed way, and simply says, "Cool."

He continues, "Undersea adaptation'

When I don't respond, he continues, "you know, I can, like, breath under water, and handle weird pressure changes and temps."

"I know what it is."

I've officially checked my books out, and start down the hall towards Professor X's room, Lane still in tow.

"Right, sorry-" he trails off and is finally silent.

I realize I'm being a jerk, so I stop. "Do you like coffee?"

Lane, bumps into me, surprised. "Uh, yeah." Then he clears his throat. "actually no, it's disgusting."

I smile at that. "Tea?"

He smiles back, "now you're talking."


"Yeah, I had to learn from YouTube, because my parents wouldn't let anyone teach me." I say, as I finish pulling the shots for my americano.

Lane is at the counter behind me, in the personal kitchen, nursing his tea. "Impressive. So, you really just drink it black?"

I shrug, "I like the bitterness." I explain, as I quickly put all the supplies away, and rinse off the equipment. "Come on, we gotta get to English."

Lane gets a wicked smile at this, "Eh, I like a girl that makes me late to class on my first day."

Rolling my eyes, I say, "not happening water boy," and keep walking, even though a small smile tugs at the corners of my mouth.


Author Note:

Y'all, I have been in a different state for each weekend of this month. I just got back from Oregon and next weekend I'll be in Utah. I. Am. So. Tired.

Okay, that's all for my complaining. Sorry, I've been MIA. As I said, I've been traveling a lot and working like crazy. Here's a short chapter with hopefully more to come soon! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!