Quinn pulled her legs up to her chest as she sat outside on the balcony of her room. She had closed the doors behind her due to the snow that was slowly but thickly falling. She caught one on her bare palm at starred as it melted. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, dislodging a small pile of snow. "Aren't you cold?" She looked up to see Mark standing in doorway. She smiled slightly. "No." She watched his eyes take in her jeans and t-shirt. "Sure you aren't." He shrugged. "Well anyway, the Professor wants to talk to us. Well… you. He already talked to me."

"Of course he did," Quinn replied, standing up. "You're his new golden child." She passed him into her room. "What's that supposed to mean?" Mark asked. She shook her head. "Nothing. Where does he want to meet me? His office?" Mark nodded. "Yeah," he replied. He followed her out into the hallway, closing her bedroom door behind him. "So how you doing?" he asked. She shrugged slightly. "Alright I guess. I'm tired…"

"Then you should sleep tonight. Don't get up before eight." Quinn laughed harshly. "We both know that's not possible."

"Everything's possible. They said man would never fly, and then they said women would never fly. And look at you." Quinn rolled her eyes. "Do you know what the Professor wants to talk to me about?" she asked, changing the subject. Mark nodded and she glanced back at him. "What?" she asked.

"Yeah, I do," he replied. She stared at him expectantly. "School." She stopped walking. "What?"

"He wants to talk to you about school, and starting on Monday." Quinn froze, all her muscles tightening. "You're joking… right? Please. I promise I won't hurt you if you are. Just… please tell me you're joking."

"You knew this was coming 'mare," Mark replied, leaning up against a wall, arms crossed. "We talked about it on the way up here remember?"

"Yeah but I didn't think…" She let her voice trail off and she ran a hand through her hair. "Chill out," Mark said, stepping over and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "We'll be there with you. Caim, Jake, me, everyone else here. You won't be alone." Quinn hugged him and Mark was briefly startled, but hugged her back. Quinn leaned her head on his chest and squeezed her eyes closed. Mark rested his chin on her head, holding her tightly. "Are you ok Quinn?" he asked softly. Quinn nodded and stepped back, wiping her eyes, but not before Mark saw the glitter of tears in her red eyes.

"Yeah," she replied, her voice strong. "Fine. Just – ah – got something in my eye." She looked up at him with a small forced smile. Mark stuck his hands in his pockets. "Really Quinn?" he said softly. "Is that it?" Quinn frowned slightly and crossed her arms. "Or are you just going soft on me?" Quinn punched his arm lightly and he laughed. "Shut up," she mumbled, not meeting his dark skeptical eyes. Then she turned and started back down the hall.

Mark quickly caught up to her and followed her to Professor Xavier's office. "What do you think of it here?" he asked her. Quinn was quiet for a moment. "It's nice…" she replied, her voice trailing off. "I like it." She was silent for a second. "And I'm surprised." Mark's eyebrow met in confusion. "You didn't think you'd like it here?" Quinn shook her head and put a finger to her lips as they reached Professor Xavier's office.

"Mr. Xavier?" she called, knocking.

"Come on in Quinn." Quinn pushed the door open and stepped in with Mark behind her. Mr. Xavier sat behind his desk, a book his hand, a warm smile on his face. "Come take a seat. I'm guessing that Mark already told you why I wished to see you." Quinn nodded and sat on the edge of the seat, Mark moving to stand behind her, his arms rested on the top of the chair. "I asked him, he told me," she replied simply, shrugging. Mr. Xavier nodded. "So you are aware that I have enrolled you for school and that you are starting on Monday?"

"You already enrolled me? I thought this was going to be a conversation about whether I wanted to go or not?"

"Going to school is not an option Quinn," Mr. Xavier replied softly. "This conversation is about what elective classes you wish to take." Quinn grumbled and crossed her left wrist tightly with her right hand. "What choices do I have?" she muttered.

"Gym, art, dance-"

"Dance?" Quinn asked in disbelief. Mr. Xavier nodded simply. "Just tell me what you wish to take and I will let you know if that is available."

"How many do I get to pick?"

"Three."

"Gym."

"I guessed so, you're already put down." Quinn was silent and she looked up at Mark. "I'm taking art," he said. Quinn lightly glared at him and he laughed. "You did that 'cause you knew I'd pick what you did."

"That might have been part of it," Mark replied with a smile. Quinn rolled her eyes. "Fine. Art."

"Alright. And your third choice?" Quinn thought. Hell if she'd take dance, there was no way you'd catch her in tights and a tutu doing ballet in some mirrored up room with classical music blaring. She shivered. "Do they have…" She let her voice trail off, not even sure about what she was going to ask. "Are you into any other arts?" Mr. Xavier asked. Quinn shook her head. "Um…" She sighed and tried to think. She had never been to a real school. The orphanage had school in the building so she was kind of homeschooled. "Do they have auto-mechanics?" she asked, picking something out of a magazine she had read.

She looked over to see Mr. Xavier nodded. "Yes they do." Quinn smiled slightly. "Then there you go." Mr. Xavier smiled. "Fantastic. You and Mark, if he wishes, can go shopping tomorrow for school supplies." Quinn shrugged and stood up. "Fine by me," she replied nonchalantly, getting up from the chair.

"Brilliant," Mr. Xavier replied. "So I will see you here tomorrow morning?" Quinn blinked. "So I can let you know what you'll need for school," he explained.

"I know. I'm just wondering why we need to talk to you. I know I'm not stupid, though I'm not sure about Mark-"

"Hey!" Quinn laughed quietly. "So yeah. Why do we have to talk to you?"

"Alright," Mr. Xavier replied. "Then just pop by to let me know when you're leaving." Quinn nodded and turned to leave. "Cool," she said over her shoulder. "See you tomorrow." She left, with Mark following behind her, laughing quietly.

AN: Ta da. Sorry it was so long. Usually my chapter's are about 800 words... this was 1202... and more with this AN. Well I hope you enjoyed it!