X-Men: New Class

by Ambaryerno

Set in the Earth-10005 Universe, a new class of students arrives at the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. Inspired by Agents of SHIELD, X-Men: New Class loosely adapts Kyle and Yost's New X-Men as a hypothetical live-action television series. (Note: This story only accounts for up to X-Men: Days of Future Past, and will not be updated for Apocalypse)

3. 1x03 - Downtime

1x03

Downtime

###

Act I

###

The drive up to the school from the main gate hadn't changed all that much in the past decade. Well, that wasn't exactly true. The student body certainly had. Those familiar faces that remained would be standing in front of the class now rather than sitting listening to the lectures, and they would certainly be a good bit older, and that would just serve as a reminder of how many had moved on as she had.

Jubilee deftly maneuvered her car along the drive, skirting children throwing around a football, walking together on the grounds, or chatting in the courtyard while taking in the crisp autumn afternoon air. She smiled at the memories, most of them pleasant, though the dark few days she spent with the other frightened children, locked in cages to become an unwilling part of the experiments of Colonel Stryker, continued to loom over her. Those memories of fear and helplessness never quite went away, but they did get better over time.

She turned off the main drive and into a visitor's lot on one side of the school, and found a place to park. The fall breeze tugged at the tail of her long wool coat, and the sun glinted off the mirror-finish lenses of her Oakley Radars as she stepped out of her car and started across the lot towards the main building. She smiled at the students she passed, many of whom were not yet in grade school when she was enrolled at Xavier's by her caseworker.

As she passed through the courtyard and stepped into the entrance hall she pushed her sunglasses up on top of her head and out of the way. Like the drive up and walk across the grounds, entering the school reminded Jubilee how little was different. The same décor, the same sights, sounds and smells, almost everything was just as it was the last time she had been here, barring a few pieces of furniture that needed replacing over the years and some updated technology. That sense of sameness was comforting, and she couldn't help but smile at the memories that echoed in the halls of the mansion.

Jubilee stuffed her hands in the pockets of her coat and hurried along the entrance hall, keeping to one side to clear the path for the flow of students making their way past her. Friday afternoons meant the end of classes for the week, and trips into Salem Center or even New York City. She turned right at the sitting room, giving a quick look up the grand staircase towards the dorms on the second level as she passed, steps she'd climbed up and down she couldn't remember how many times. A fair-skinned girl with black hair—and wearing Logan's old biker jacket, she realized, which looked ridiculously oversized on her petite frame—sat on the top step off to one side watching the flow of traffic below, and Jubilee couldn't help but feel as if the girl had taken particular notice of her the moment she came into view. She ignored the uneasy feeling of being watched, and continued on her way.

She passed through the library, which was mostly deserted now with the student body more concerned with getting to the night-life in town than their studies. Two of the kids, a boy and a girl, sat at one of the tables looking over a pile of notes, their proximity suggesting something a little more intimate between them than just class work. Both looked to be about seventeen and both were golden-haired, the boy rather absurdly good-looking, the girl pretty and giggling shyly at something he said. Jubilee smiled at them as she made her way to Xavier's office. Yes, some things never changed.

Jubilee reached the door and was about to knock when she heard the Professor's voice.

"Come in," he said.

Jubilee turned the handle and stepped inside.

Speaking of things that never change…

Professor Charles Xavier looked exactly as she remembered him, from his bare head to his fine suit, and whether through lifestyle, genetics, or just sheer good fortune the man didn't seem to age at all, and he smiled at her with the same welcoming smile he always wore when greeting one of his students. Jubilee smiled back.

"Hello, Professor," she said, quickly crossing the room and enfolding him in a hug.

"Jubilation Lee," he said, giving her a powerful squeeze back, impressive considering his lack of leverage from his wheelchair. "It's good to see you again, and I'm glad to see you received my letter."

Jubilee mentally cringed at his use of her full name. She still didn't know what her parents were thinking when they named her.

"I did, and it's good to see you, too. I'm sorry I haven't been back sooner," she said as they parted.

Xavier motioned to the conversation circle, and he wheeled himself in that direction. "Please, have a seat."

Jubilee took a seat in one of the chairs, arranging herself comfortably as Xavier positioned himself so they could speak. "How have things been here?" she asked as she got settled.

"Quite well. The politics of course have been as tenuous as ever," he said. "But aside from a few loud voices such as Stryker we've mostly been left alone since the Registration Act failed."

She shuddered at the mention of that name, the memory of the cages in that cold, dank dungeon beneath Alkali Lake flashing through her mind. "I'd still like to know how he managed to get away. I don't mean with his life, but how he didn't end up in jail after what he did to us."

Xavier sighed. "Unfortunately, for Stryker to be prosecuted it would mean the government acknowledging that his project even existed. Despite all the prejudice mutants continue to face, if the government admitted that the United States military was condoning experimentation on children the outcry would have been deafening."

Jubilee gave him a bitter scowl. "So instead they give him a quiet medical discharge and none of the kids he hurt get anything out of it but an 'Oops' and a bit of hush money."

He raised an eyebrow. "Is that part of why you moved back to California after graduation?"

She folded her arms across her chest and nodded. "After what happened… It was just hard to stay here. I mean, you guys were the first family I really had since my mother and father died, but I think I just needed some time away from it all."

The Professor nodded in understanding. "And I hear you've been keeping quite busy the last few years you've spent away," he said.

"You've been keeping tabs on me?"

"I try to keep up with all of my children," he said. He smiled slyly. "The old-fashioned way, of course."

Jubilee chuckled. Cerebro was as poorly-kept a secret among the students as the Blackbird, but she knew the Professor would only use it at need and not for casually checking up on her. Most likely the Professor inquired about her through one of the other members of her class she kept in contact with over the years. "Of course. I just thought with all the help you gave me here I ought to try giving back, you know?" she said.

He steepled his hands in front of him. "Yes, I heard you spent some time as a social worker. Quite admirable considering all the trouble you gave us when you arrived here."

There was no recrimination in Xavier's voice, only amusement at the memory. She nodded, quirking a smile at his dry humor. Bouncing between orphanages, foster homes and the streets certainly made adjusting to a structured environment challenging. "I understand how hard it is to be in that situation, so I figured that would be as good a place to start as any."

"Indeed. But tell me, what led you to resign? I took the liberty of requesting your work history from the agency you were with, and you were certainly doing a wonderful job there."

Jubilee raised an eyebrow at that. The Professor appeared to be working a particular angle here, and she suddenly felt his invitation to visit wasn't quite as innocent as he made it seem. "Well… I don't know," she said. "I liked being able to help those kids, especially because I know what they've been going through, but…" She sighed. "I don't know, I was making a difference but I'm not sure that it felt like where I should be."

Xavier nodded a bit and stared off somewhere past her left shoulder. Jubilee watched him, his eyes thoughtful, and she knew something was turning in there. "Why is that?"

She considered a moment before responding. "I'm not really sure. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy what I was doing, but…" She let herself trail off, not entirely certain what she felt on that matter.

He seemed to reach a conclusion to whatever he was mulling over, and he looked back at her, his eyes fixing on hers. "It wasn't quite home," he said, as if finishing for her, and she nodded her agreement with the sentiment. "Jubilee, what would you think about returning here, to work for the school?"

Jubilee blinked. "Here? You mean, like, as a teacher?" She laughed a bit at the absurdity of that suggestion. "I don't know, considering the trouble I was, I'm not sure I'd be teacher material. And with my problems with numbers can you really see me teaching math?"

Xavier smiled back at that and chuckled as well. "What I had in mind was something not too different from what you have already been doing. You know as well as anyone that many of our students have no family beyond these walls. Whether because they were orphaned, or abandoned, or otherwise driven out by their families because of what they are. There are many, I suspect, who are in need of someone they can turn to for guidance."

She weighed that for a moment. "Don't the teachers normally take care of that? At least, that's the way it was when I was a student. I've kept in touch with Kitty, Peter and Marie after they accepted postings and I know they've still been doing a lot of that already."

He nodded. "Yes, they do. However with their other responsibilities they often don't have the time to fully devote to it. This would be strictly an advisory role, providing the students with a mentor they can come to for help and advice beyond just their class work."

Jubilee sat back in her chair and stared at her lap in silent thought. Xavier watched her, expectant but without making her feel as if he was pressing her while she considered his offer. The truth was she was sorely tempted. The school had been the only place that felt like home to her since her parents died, and most of her closest friends had come through it with her. A few were even still here.

She looked back at him. "Can I have a few days to think it over?" she finally asked. "I'm sorry, it's just that I just got in, so it's been a bit of a long trip and I don't know if I'm ready to make a decision like that yet."

"Of course," Xavier said, and smiled. "Take all the time you need to get settled in, in fact I think there is a guest room available if you need somewhere to stay, I wouldn't dream of you staying at a hotel during your visit. You can also take some time to get to know some of our new class of students before you make a decision."

Jubilee laughed a bit and shook her head. "You're acting like I already have," she said. "But thank you, I will."

With their business concluded for now, she rose and stuffed her hands back into her coat pockets. "I should probably grab my bag and see about getting cleaned up, I've had a bit of a drive."

"Of course," Xavier said. Jubilee stepped forward and embraced him once more.

"Whatever I decide, Professor, I want you to know it really is good to be back. I've missed you."

###

Act II

###

Saturday was, without a doubt, the best day of the week.

His iPod blasted through his headphones as Mark danced his way along the dorm room hallway and down the staircase to the sitting room below. Most of the mansion still slept, though it was now past 9 o'clock, and the handful of students actually up watched as he slipped among them, smiling and laughing at the sight as they cleared a path for him. Mark didn't care what they thought; he heard music and had to move with it however it drove him, though that didn't mean he couldn't pick the direction.

He turned right at the landing and danced into the lounge, past tables, chairs and couches, past the television set—it was on and there were a couple students gathered around it, though he was so engrossed in his music he didn't pay much attention to who they were or what they were watching—and into the empty dining hall. He danced past the long table lined with chairs and into the kitchen, and danced as he put his breakfast together, then retraced his steps.

Back out of the kitchen, through the dining hall and into the lounge, across the floor past tables and chairs, and ending with a flourish when the song came to an end just as he reached the TV, where Cessily, Sooraya and Laura sat with their own morning meals. The former two laughed and applauded, and he thought he caught a trace of amusement lighting up Laura's face for just a moment.

"Good morning, ladies," he said as he shut off his iPod and hung his headphones around his neck. Mark dropped lightly onto the couch next to Laura, brushed a hand through his shaggy mop of hair, and flashed her a smile and a wink. "Hello, Laura." A spoonful of cereal paused halfway from her bowl, and the corners of her mouth twitched up ever so slightly in response. Well, I could almost call that a smile.

"Good morning, Mark!" Sooraya said. "You are certainly in a good mood this morning."

"It's Saturday, and music makes me happy," he said with a broad smile. "And you look positively radiant this morning."

Sooraya smiled behind her niqab. "Why, thank you, Mark."

He turned his smile on Cessily, who watched the exchange with amusement. "And how are you doing this morning, Cessily?"

"Wonderfully, thank you for asking," she said cheerily.

Next he looked at Laura. Her attention was turned back to the television, which was playing some cartoon she watched with almost childlike fascination while she ate.

"Good show?" he asked, a trace of a smirk playing across his lips. Laura shrugged, not taking her eyes off the television as she continued to eat her breakfast.

Mark's smirk returned to a full, amused smile and he shook his head. "You know, one of these days you'll put more than two or three words together for me. It will absolutely make my day to have an actual conversation with you."

He turned his attention back to Sooraya and Cessily. "So, what do you ladies have planned this fine morning?"

"We're thinking of catching the shuttle into Salem Center," Cessily said. "Laura's spent the last two weekends hiding out on the grounds and we thought it would be nice to bring her along."

Laura tore her attention away from the television and looked doubtfully at them. "I still prefer to stay here." she said.

"Nonsense!" Sooraya said. "It will be good for you to get away for a bit. You can't spend all your time cooped up inside the school."

"Especially if it means getting you away from Julian for a little while," Cessily added.

Mark rolled his eyes. "He's still giving her a hard time, huh?"

Cessily nodded. "I wish he'd just grow up and give it a rest, but you know Julian. Santo can be just as bad."

He looked at Laura again, whose green eyes returned to the television. He heard the Beep! Beep! of the Roadrunner as Wile E. Coyote continued his vain pursuit of breakfast and watched along with her for a moment. The cartoon ended with the hapless coyote swinging down from a log with a javelin in hand, only to smack right into a truck driving the opposite direction.

"Everyone could use a break from Julian now and then," he said. "That's probably why Sofia breaks up with him every other week. It's all a brilliant scheme to get some time off. One of these days someone will need to teach him a lesson on how to treat a lady, though." He made a show of popping his knuckles, but the girls knew the gesture was just for their entertainment.

Sooraya chuckled behind her niqab, accompanied by a slight wrinkling of the corner of her eyes as she smiled. "You would be welcome to join us, of course, unless you have other plans already."

Mark quirked a grin. "I was actually going to see what Santo and Victor were up to today, but you three make for much prettier company." He winked at Laura again, and he thought he saw a hint of color appear on her cheeks.

"Wonderful!" she said.

"Maybe we'll even get her to actually have a good time." He gently nudged Laura with his elbow. She didn't say anything in response, answering him only with a doubtful look.

###

The library was not somewhere Julian liked to be on a Saturday morning. But Sofia wasn't in her room and this is where Laurie said she went, so…

Santo and Victor tagged along behind him and ignored his hints he wanted some privacy. He threaded through the tables and searched the aisles until he finally found her working at a computer terminal in one of the back corners. Julian motioned for the other two to hold back, and crept up behind her and enfolded her in a surprise hug.

Sofia giggled. "Good morning."

"Hey," he said, and kissed the back of her head. "What are you doing in here this morning?"

She squirmed out of his arms and returned to work. "Research. I have a report due on Tuesday."

Julian leaned his hip against the desk and looked over the computer monitor. "What's it on?"

Sofia picked up her notebook and flipped to the first page, making a show of reading the assignment. "Compare and contrast the key events, methods and goals of the following social movements with the contemporary Mutant Rights effort: Women's Rights in the United States from the nineteenth through twentieth centuries leading to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. The American Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s and its connection to Reconstruction-era politics."

Julian gave a low whistle, picked the notebook out of her hand and flipped through it, not really bothering to actually read any of her notes. "Pretty heavy subject."

She snatched her notebook back. "Yes, it is, so if you don't mind I'd like to get back to work."

He gave her a hurt look. "Aw, I was coming to see if you wanted to head into Salem Center with me, Santo and Victor."

"I'd love to, baby, but I've got a lot to do."

Julian knelt beside her so he could look at her from relatively eye-level. "I could always ditch those two losers and stay here to help," he said with a grin as he threaded an arm around her shoulders.

Sofia favored him with an amused look. "Oh, I don't think so. It will never get done, then."

He pouted. "What, you don't think I can do research? I can Wiki with the best of them."

"Oh, well that encourages me. I thought you spent most of your time on Wikipedia putting cute comments about other editors in the articles? But no, it's a sociology project, Julian, not an anatomy lesson. And I know if you stay and try to 'help' it's just going to turn into the latter and I won't get anywhere."

"You know, you take all the fun out of 'study date.'"

She raised an eyebrow. "Because I actually focus on the study part?"

He gave her a quick kiss. "Spoilsport."

Sofia laughed again, then nodded to Victor and Santo. "Go on, go outside and play with the other children and let the grownups work."

"I'll see you tonight, then. Unless you're still in here. This place gives me the creeps on weekends."

She gave him an impatient look. "Have fun."

Julian gave her a lingering kiss on the mouth. "Well, it won't be as fun, but I'll try."

He reluctantly pulled away from her and returned to Victor and Santo, leaving Sofia to work. Santo smirked at him as he fell into step beside him. "Julian and Sofia, sittin' in a tree…"

"Oh can it, rock pile," Julian said.

"She's not coming?" Victor said.

Julian sighed, he could still taste her lipstick. "No, she's got that big project due on Tuesday. Which means I'm stuck with you two most of this weekend."

Victor made a show of clutching his chest. "Ouch, that hurts, Julian. I mean I'm seriously wounded, here."

They left the library and passed the stairs leading up to the dorms. Kevin was leaving the lounge, a brooding black cloud heading the opposite direction with his jacket flapping about him and his hands stuffed in his pockets where he couldn't accidentally touch anyone, and they met him in the middle of the hall.

"Hey," Santo said.

"Santo. Victor. Julian," he replied, nodding to each in turn.

"Hey. Headed into Salem Center with the rest of us?" Julian asked.

"Not today," Kevin said, his hair falling across his eyes when he shook his head. "I've got a piece being displayed in that festival downtown and they're judging today."

Julian grinned. "Well, if you sell that thing I hope you remember me and Sofia for inspiring you when the check comes."

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Please, that wasn't you two. I've had another one in mind that's more fitting, anyway. I'm thinking of calling it The Fight. You two have given me plenty of inspiration."

"Funny. By the way, remember we're starting a new Team Fortress bracket tonight. No skipping out last-minute and letting Nori sub David in this time."

Kevin started backwards up the stairs. "Right, just remember I still get a share of that prize from the last one."

"You and Alleyne can split it," Julian called back. Kevin made a rude gesture and turned around as he hurried the rest of the way up the stairs. "Hey, I saw that! And here I was about to wish you luck today."

Julian glared at his back as he disappeared from view down the hall, then shook his head and turned to the other two. "Well, I guess it's just the three of us."

He turned down the entry hall and made his way towards the front of the school, Santo and Victor trailing along behind him.

###

Kevin left Julian, Santo and Victor behind as he proceeded up the stairs and down the hallway towards the dorms. A couple students hanging out chatting in the hall scattered to give him plenty of room to pass, even though his hands were back in his pockets after his less-than-polite farewell to Julian. He ignored them and continued on his way, stopping at the door to the room Laurie and Sofia shared.

He hesitated for a moment, mulling over whether to continue with what had brought him, before slipping a glove on over his hand and knocking on the door.

"Just a minute," Laurie said, her voice muffled by the wall between them, and then the door opened a crack and her face appeared in the gap. She gave him a friendly smile when she saw him. "Hey."

"Hey," he replied. Laurie didn't open the door the rest of the way.

"Where…um…where have you been hiding? I haven't seen you much lately." She hugged herself shyly. He knew it wasn't out of discomfort from being around him. Laurie was one of the few people who didn't run screaming from him the moment he came into view. Well, at least she didn't when her power was under control and she wasn't desperately trying to escape everyone around her.

Kevin shifted self-consciously, and gave her a sheepish grin. "I'm sorry," he said. "I've been kind of busy." Well, that wasn't the only reason, but he couldn't really tell her that. "Is…uh…Josh around?" That was certainly uncomfortable to ask.

"No," she said, and he let out the breath he'd been holding. "I think he was helping Dr. McCoy again this morning. I can let him know you were looking for him."

"I wasn't," he said. Kevin leaned against the door frame, careful to keep any bare skin from touching the wood.

"Oh," she said. If she was beginning to catch on she didn't show it. Laurie chewed her lower lip for a moment and stepped out into the hallway.

He shifted uncomfortably. "I uh… Ms. Guthrie was running me over to the city today for that art festival she entered my work in. They're judging today, and I'd like it if you could be there."

Laurie's face colored and she covered her mouth with both hands. "Oh! Oh, Kevin, I'm so sorry, I forgot that was today! Josh…uh…Josh was taking me to Salem Center this afternoon. I'm sorry."

A knot formed in Kevin's stomach, and he couldn't keep the resignation off his face. "Oh. Well, that's ok, then. Maybe another time."

Laurie reached out to touch his arm and caught herself before she could make contact. Kevin cringed inwardly at that. It was only his bare skin that was the problem, but people were so frightened of his power that most were afraid of touching him at all. Laurie, of course, erred on the side of caution and let her hand drop short of his arm. "No, it's…um…it's not ok," she said. "This is a big deal for you. I mean, I'm sure you'll have another piece on display sometime, but still."

"No, really," he said. "If you already have plans it's not a big deal."

She shook her head. "What time were they announcing the winners? Maybe…um…maybe Josh and I can drop by then?"

Another sock to the gut, but nonetheless Kevin reached into his jacket, pulled a pamphlet from an inside pocket and handed it over to her. "The awards are being announced at seven o'clock tonight."

"I'll…uh…I'll try to be there."

Kevin nodded and sighed. "Ok. I hope to see you there. Have a good time today."

He started to walk away, when a touch on his arm stopped him and brought him up short. Laurie only tentatively reached out to take hold of his arm through the sleeve of his jacket, and quickly snapped her hand back as if that simple contact burned her fingertips. It didn't, of course.

"Kevin, are…are you ok?" she asked, frowning slightly as she looked into his eyes.

He knew she could easily catch him in any lie he might try to tell her if she relaxed her hold over her power, but she wouldn't. Laurie feared herself almost as much as the other students feared him, and he doubted she would deliberately try to read him.

"I'm fine," he said after the barest of pauses. From the doubt in her blue eyes he realized his hesitation in responding hadn't gone unnoticed. Sometimes you didn't need to be able to empathically read someone's pheromones to know they were lying.

"Kevin…" she started, a hint of admonishment in her voice, but he waved her off.

"No, really," he said. "I'm fine. Anyway, I need to get going. Ms. Guthrie is waiting."

"Ok," she said doubtfully. "Good…good luck today, I hope I can make it."

He gave her a small smile he wasn't really feeling, and started back down the hall towards the stairs again. He stripped off his glove and stuffed it and his hands back in his pockets, and anyone still in the hallway cleared a path for him once again. Kevin sighed and ignored them as he slipped past them, and headed for the courtyard.

###

The air was cool and crisp, and a carpet of reds, golds and oranges appeared overnight to cover the grounds surrounding the school as the trees shadowing the paths leading between the mansion, the gates, and its various outbuildings began to shed their leaves. Jubilee lowered her Oakleys as she stepped out into the morning sun, and pulled her jacket tighter around herself against the chill before stuffing her hands in her pockets.

A small knot of students gathered around the shuttle to Salem Center, a full-sized white Ford E-series van with "Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters" printed along the side in simple, black block text, and the school's seal affixed to the driver's and passenger's side doors. Although the kids stood together she noticed they appeared to separate somewhat into two groups; one led by a rather handsome black-haired boy, accompanied by the massive stone body of whom Jubilee guessed could only be Santo Vaccaro, and a smaller, leaner student with reptilian features. The other two must be Julian Keller and Victor Borkowski.

The other was fronted by a Muslim girl, her black abaya brushing the ground and billowing freely around her in the morning breeze. Another black-haired boy, somewhat shorter than Keller and with a pair of headphones around his neck stood between her and a girl with metallic silver skin and red hair pulled back into a simple ponytail. Sooraya Qadir, Mark Sheppard and Cessily Kincaid. Hanging to the edge of the gathering, but apparently part of Qadir's group, was the small girl she noticed the afternoon before, shrinking into Logan's voluminous biker jacket with her fishnetted legs sticking out from what appeared to be a rather inappropriately short skirt. And that must be Laura Kinney.

"Good mornin'," came a familiar voice from her side.

Jubilee turned her attention away from the kids—that was an amusing thought, considering they were not much more than ten years her junior—and smiled at Anna Marie. Her former classmate, now a teacher at the school alongside Kitty Pryde, tugged her own jacket closer around herself. Her long, dark brown hair, marked by a distinct broad white stripe that had never grown out since the events at the Statue of Liberty a dozen years before, was pulled back casually, and as always she wore a pair of gloves covering her hands.

"Good morning," Jubilee replied.

"So how's it feel t' be back?" Marie asked in her slight southern drawl.

"Kind of strange, really," she admitted. "Things aren't quite the same, but they also are. The hardest thing to get used to is being on the other side of the classroom."

Marie chuckled. "Tell me about it. So do y'know yet if you're goin' to take the Professor up on his offer?"

Jubilee shrugged and leaned against the side of the building, watching the knot of students as they squabbled over seating in the van. Santo's rocky body blocked the rear door—just how the big mutant expected to fit with the rest of his friends had Jubilee stumped—while the others tried to decide among themselves who would sit where. Laura kept to the outside of the group, clearly disinterested in involving herself in the confrontation.

"I'm still not sure," she said. "I know it's not much different than working with those kids back home in California, but none of them could alter the fabric of reality when they had a bad day."

Marie nodded. "Well, that certainly makes it more challengin', but ain't that also what makes it more rewardin' in the long run?" She grinned. "And it's certainly more entertainin' to watch."

Jubilee laughed. "Oh god, if I do accept I hope none of these kids are in the habit of giving the staff the same sort of trouble we did."

"What d' you mean we? I think you spent more time in detention than the rest of us put together."

"Yeah, well, you blew up the Statue of Liberty."

Marie laughed out loud at that. "I did not! First of all it was just th' torch. An' second that was Magneto's machine that did it. He may have stuck me in there but it was still him powerin' it through me. An' if we're talkin' about destruction of property, who was it that jus' about burned down half of Salem Center one year on the Fourth o' July?"

Jubilee smirked. "Oh come on, it was just the park and was an accident, anyway. And besides, the local boys sure got a kick out of it."

Marie rolled her eyes. "No accountin' for taste," she said with a grin. "I do hope you decide to stay, though. We've missed you bein' here to liven things up. We haven't had a good explosion in a while."

"I promise, my control's a lot better now. And I've missed you, all of you, too."

The debate between the students started to turn a little bit more heated, and Jubilee saw Julian's hands begin to glow as Mark stepped in between him and Laura. Mark's headphones were now in place on his ears.

Marie rolled her eyes in exasperation. "C'mon, I need to get them packed up and movin' into town before they kill each other. Not sure how the driver keeps 'em in line. I'd appreciate the help."

Jubilee smirked. "Sure. Who'd have ever thought we'd turn into responsible adults."

They both shared a laugh at that. "No kiddin'."

###

Act III

###

Downtown Salem Center stood on the East end of the Titicus Reservoir, at the intersection of the East-West running NY 116/Titicus Road and June Road, which bisected it from the North and South. Well, at least what passed for its downtown area did. Mostly a wealthy collection of large estates as part of New York City's sprawling surrounding suburbs, Salem Center was not significantly developed, most prominently the cluster of government buildings at the very end of the reservoir housing the North Salem Supervisor, Fire Department, Town Court, and the Ruth Keeler Library, and about half a mile further east at the shuttle's destination, the "heart" of Salem Center itself.

On the Southwest Corner of the intersection was the North Salem Market, the post office, bank, and Luz's Deli and Pizzeria. The North Salem Highway Department headquartered itself on the Northwest corner, while a nursery school and Episcopal Church occupied the opposite side of June Road. In the Southeast corner, and Sooraya's destination as she and her classmates unloaded from the shuttle van—an incredibly uncomfortable ride with Santo crammed between Victor and Laura on the rear bench (Allah bless them for their small frames, otherwise they might not all have fit)—was the Grind Stone Café on Titicus road between a small movie theater right at the corner, and a strip mall further east housing a few shops and other diversions built to take advantage of the frequent visits by students of the Xavier School.

Sooraya eased out of the shuttle's door behind Cessily, Mark and Julian, adjusting her abaya around herself and stretching her legs. Victor slipped out once she was out of the way, and Santo somehow managed to squeeze from the back to follow. Laura sprung lightly out behind him, seemingly untroubled by having been wedged between the bulky, rocky mutant and the side of the van's interior. The day was cool but pleasant, and her loose-fitting abaya was sufficient to protect her against the bite of the fall breeze.

"Ugh, finally," Santo said, his stone body cracking as he stretched his limbs. The drive was not a long one, but the cramped cabin did him no favors.

"After all the complaining and seat-kicking you did I vote next time you walk," Julian said irritably.

"What? They were crowding me."

Victor rolled his eyes. "Oh give me a break," he said. "You were practically sitting on my lap the whole way."

Santo flashed him his best trying-to-get-under-his-skin flirty grin. "Just admit you enjoyed it, honey," he said, throwing an arm around the much smaller mutant. For his part Victor took the ribbing in stride and pushed him off with an elbow to the gut that had no real effect on Santo otherwise.

"What I enjoy is breathing. Having every bone in my body from the waist down ground into dust by your rocky ass, not so much."

"Children, can we please get along for at least a few minutes," Sooraya said with a roll of her eyes at Santo's and Victor's routine banter.

Mark smirked at her. "Great, now they'll be at it all day just to spite you," he said. He shut the van's passenger door once they were all out. The shuttle driver honked the horn and waved to them, then started off down Titicus to head back to the school. He would return in a few hours with another load of students and to pick those up who were ready to come back.

Sooraya shook her head helplessly. "The things people do to entertain themselves…"

They stood on the Southwest corner of the intersection next to the theater, a modestly-sized brick building with a retro-styled marquee announcing the day's showtimes. A few cars were parked along the sidewalk or in the lot across June, and a handful of people were abroad. The locals were largely accustomed to their presence so for the most part they managed to avoid calling a great deal of attention to themselves, though Victor, Santo and Cessily still drew a few curious looks.

It was a strange sensation whenever she was able to make excursions in public with the trio. Usually her adherence to hijab made her the focus of much curiosity and scrutiny, and events abroad the past decade had proven a two-edged sword as it brought her faith to the forefront of public consciousness (she did not mind the healthy and respectful curiosity some displayed about her beliefs. Unfortunately, it also drew the attention of many who were far less enlightened). In the company of the others she at times was made to feel, well, normal as they drew the looks and questions away from her. She did not take much pleasure in it, though, knowing it only came at the expense of her friends.

Julian edged towards her, watching Laura with a frown as she swept her green eyes across the center of the town. Her expression was wary and alert, and it seemed as if nothing on the streets escaped her notice. "Keep an eye on her," he said in a low voice. "Not that I wouldn't mind seeing her wander off and get lost somewhere."

Sooraya gawked at him, appalled. "Julian!" she said.

"Don't tell me she doesn't creep you out, too."

She scowled at him behind her niqab. "Perhaps you should take some time to actually get to know her, rather than judging her out of hand."

"What, does that do you any good?"

"At least I make an effort. This is not one of your high-society 'cliques' that you can scorn anyone who does not fit your lofty standards. With how you treat her I find it little wonder she is afraid to befriend anyone else."

Julian watched as Mark and Cessily headed over to keep Laura from wandering too far from the group alone. "Yeah, well, sorry. I've got my hands full of enough crazy between Santo and Victor. So you can have fun with Maleficent over there."

He started away from her towards the other two, who were engaged in a mock shoving match and trading insults. "Hey, Victor! Rock pile!" he called. "Knock off the PDA and let's hit the arcade."

"Oooh! Gonna win me a teddy bear at skee ball?" Santo called back.

"I'll use you for a skee ball. I could probably ramp you into the reservoir from here."

"Twenty bucks on it," Victor said. Julian fell into step with Victor and Santo, and the three started up Titicus Road towards the strip mall.

Sooraya sighed and shook her head at Julian's back as he walked away. Mark and Cessily led Laura over, and Cessily looked between her and Julian with a frown. "What was that all about?" she asked.

"Nothing," Sooraya said, not quite able to eliminate the irritation of dealing with Julian from her voice. Cessily raised an eyebrow, but did not interject. Laura studied her closely in a way that she had to admit she found somewhat unnerving, but brushed the discomfort aside and smiled. "Well then, now that we are here we should show Laura around. I thought we would start with the Grind Stone."

Cessily's face lit up. "Ooh, I hope Luna has those new cherry tarts again." She took Laura by the arm and led her towards the café. "You have to try them, they're incredible."

"Only if you don't eat them all first," Mark said as he took Laura's other arm. "For someone who never needs to eat you've got one hell of an appetite for sweets. Not that it ever shows, of course." He tossed Cessily a wink as a bewildered look passed across Laura's face for a moment at finding herself pulled along by the two, and Sooraya nearly laughed aloud at the sight.

"Be careful you don't pull her in half!" she said as she hurried after them. "And you will not all fit through the door like that!"

The Grind Stone Café was a two-story Colonial-style brick storefront, with a large glass window looking out onto Titicus Road decorated with the stylized picture of a steaming coffee cup and the café's name in white block letters. A patio with a wrought iron railing fronting the second-level dwelling where the owner lived overlooked the street. It sheltered the entrance and the four outdoor tables on either side of it from the weather, and lent an old-fashioned touch to its façade.

As they reached the entrance (with Laura still haplessly dragged along between the two, though for her part she seemed to find it at least passingly amusing) Mark released Laura's arm and opened the door to the chime of an electronic bell, and ushered the three girls in with an exaggerated bow and sweep of his arm. Cessily played along with his show of gallantry, while Laura only blinked in confusion at the treatment.

"Thank you, Mark," Sooraya said, smiling into her niqab as she passed him, and he followed her inside.

While the exterior was quite traditional, inside the Grind Stone was trendy and upscale. The checkerboard tile floors were kept clean and polished, and the white walls were hung with photos of both locals and high-profile visitors. The counter at the back-left corner of the dining room and all of the tables and chairs spaced around the floor were of hardwood, and at the far end opposite the counter was a low stage set up for karaoke most nights, or the occasional live performance. Everything about the décor, from the light fixtures to the designs of the tables and chairs was hip and ultra-modern.

As was the owner and proprietor.

Luna DePaula stepped around from behind the counter where she was chatting with a couple other patrons as the four entered, her light brown hair worn in a simple but fashionable style. A black apron embroidered with the same logo as the window over her left breast covered a neatly-pressed white button-down shirt and knee-length black skirt. She was about the same age as Ms. Pryde and rather attractive, and approached them with a welcoming smile which made her quite popular among students accustomed to being met with suspicion or fear.

"Good morning," she said, her voice colored by a hint of a Brooklyn accent. "How are you kids doing today?"

"Just fine, thanks. You?" Cessily said.

"Can't complain. Your big rocky friend isn't with you today, is he? I'll need to get the cook working double-time for that boy's stomach."

Cessily shook her head. "He, Julian and Victor were headed to the arcade. I don't know what they had planned for lunch, though, so they may be back later."

She chuckled. "I'll have Rick stay prepared just in case." Luna smirked when she saw Mark. "Well, hello Mr. Sheppard, how's my favorite heartbreaker?"

Mark gave her a sad look. "I'm afraid I have bad news for you today, Luna, because my heart now belongs to another."

Luna made a show of her fake sigh of disappointment. "Oh dear, and just who is the lucky lady this week?" Her brown eyes fixed on Laura, who during the exchange was sweeping her gaze across the café and everything—and everyone—inside it.

"Could it be this pretty little thing here?" she asked as she gave Laura a quick looking-over. "I don't think we've met, I'm Luna DePaula, proprietor of this establishment." She extended her hand in greeting.

Laura's green eyes snapped back to Luna, and she looked at the proffered hand for a moment before cautiously reaching out and shaking it, but did not offer her own name in return.

Sooraya chuckled at the look of rejection on Luna's face. "Luna, this is Laura. She does not speak much to any of us, either, so please don't be offended, I am sure that is not her intent."

Luna gave her another quick appraisal as Laura shrunk into her jacket. "Shy, huh?"

"Just…silent."

She offered Laura an understanding smile. "Seems more than a few of you kids come to the school like this. It's a shame really." Luna's smile brightened again and she motioned to one of the tables. "Well, have a seat and I'll be with you in just a minute." She turned her eyes on Cessily and winked. "I've got something for you especially, hon'."

The four seated themselves around one of the tables, and a moment later Luna returned with a tray laden with cherry tarts, which she set on the table along with a drink menu. Cessily squeaked excitedly. "Oh, Luna, I love you!" She grabbed one and stuffed it in her mouth. "I don't know how it works, but thank god I still have a sense of taste," she said around a mouthful of tart.

Luna just shook her head, and glanced at Sooraya with an amused twinkle in her eye. "Oh, and don't worry, the baker says he doesn't use anything haraam in the recipe, so the only thing you have to worry about is your figure if you eat too many."

Sooraya smiled behind her niqab and bowed her head. "Thank you, Luna. Your consideration is always much appreciated." She picked up one of the tarts herself and slipped it beneath her niqab with practiced ease for a bite. The pastry was light, crumbly and slightly sweet, contrasting with the tanginess of the cherry filling, and she decided she had to agree with Cessily's appraisal. "Wonderful!" she said, waiting to finish before she spoke.

"So what can I get you all today?" Luna asked, pulling a notepad and pencil from the pocket in her apron. Laura picked up the drink menu and started to look over it, with Mark peeking over her shoulder while fiddling with his iPod.

"I think I'll have the caffé macchiato today," Cessily said, not even needing to bother looking at it herself.

Luna jotted down the order. "With cocoa?"

Cessily smiled. "Of course!"

Luna chuckled back and looked to Sooraya. "The usual? Turkish, orta şekerli?"

"Yes, thank you!" she said, lifting another bite of her tart to her mouth.

Next she turned to Laura, who was studying the list of available beverages with a look of deep concentration on her features. "And you, sweetie?"

Laura didn't answer, and Cessily frowned when it became clear she was having some difficulties with the menu. "What's the matter?" she asked.

"I have not had coffee before," Laura said.

Luna looked at her with some amusement. "Ah, a virgin, huh?"

Laura looked at her with an odd expression. "No, I am not," she said flatly.

The bite of tart Sooraya was chewing did its absolute best to choke her as she realized just what Laura said, and Mark nearly launched his iPod across the café, juggling it several times before he regained control of it again. Cessily's eyes widened in surprise, and even Luna gawked. Laura looked between them all in bewilderment.

Sooraya coughed to clear her throat of pastry, Mark blushed fiercely and had to look away, halfway between wanting to laugh out loud at the remark and sheer embarrassment for her, and Cessily was the only one able to find her voice. "Um, no, sweetie," she said, thoroughly discomfited by Laura's response. "She…uh…she was talking about you not being a coffee drinker."

Realization settled over her in belated understanding of Luna's meaning. The cues as to what Laura was feeling at any given moment were typically quite subtle. Even the slightest twitch of her lips could mean the difference between a smile or a frown, and so far Sooraya found it incredibly difficult to interpret her moods most of the time. The expression she wore now was probably the closest to outright mortification she could imagine the other girl showing.

"Oh," she said in embarrassment, her voice almost a whisper.

Luna gave her a sympathetic smile, though she also couldn't quite hide the trace of amusement at Laura's candor about such a completely unrelated subject. "It's alright, hon', believe me I hear worse than that day in and day out. As for your order, just trust me and I'll take good care of you."

Laura nodded and folded her hands in her lap, and tried to disappear as far into her jacket as possible. Sooraya expected it would be quite a while before they would get another word out of her.

###

Julian took careful aim, lined up the dart, eyed the path between his hand and the board, cocked back and released. The dart sped through the air, and landed well below and left of the bull's-eye. His other two were scattered as far from each other as was possible within the confines of the board.

"Dammit."

The arcade was less a dedicated video arcade than it was a full-blown amusement center targeted towards teenagers and young adults. Among the rows of game cabinets along the walls were pool, foosball and air hockey tables, dart boards, dining tables and a dance floor all surrounding a snack bar in the center of the room. A big screen TV surrounded by couches and chairs dominated one corner, which during peak hours would typically be turned to whatever sporting event of the day was called for. It was also set up with all the game consoles Julian could name, from current PlayStation and Xbox machines all the way back to an old Atari 2600 lovingly and painstakingly restored to pristine working order and rigged to work on a modern Hi-Def television. Speakers mixed in with the lighting fixtures blasted the current song selection from a jukebox near the bar. Santo was playing something now, vainly trying to entice a couple girls from the North Salem High School to dance. A few other locals were present, most gathered around the television while the rest were occupied at the arcade machines.

He and Victor were making use of one of the dart boards, where Julian was quickly finding himself being thoroughly humiliated. He muttered a stream of curses under his breath as he reached out with his power and retrieved his darts, not even bothering to make the walk of shame across the floor to do so himself.

Victor smiled victoriously. "Nice grouping on that last one," he said.

"Just admit you've got an unfair advantage already, Mr. Enhanced-Agility-and-Coordination."

"It's more fun watching you get angry about it. If it makes you feel better I can make my throws from the other end of the hall."

He jerked his thumb over his shoulder and indicated the far wall behind him. Julian grabbed his soda off the table beside them—Coca-Cola from a glass bottle, as it should be served—and took a swig. "Just throw. I should have known better than to agree to No Powers Darts with you. Cheater."

Victor flashed him a smirk, took aim, and deftly speared the bull's-eye with three quick tosses. "Who's cheating? That's pure skill right there."

Julian rolled his eyes as Victor retrieved his darts. Santo, finished making a fool of himself with the girls, lumbered over.

"So did you have any luck?" Julian asked unnecessarily. Santo was certainly big and powerful, but had pretty much nothing else going for him that girls actually looked for.

Santo grunted and folded his arms across his chest. "Nope. Not one phone number, though one asked if she could touch my arm."

Julian groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Please tell me you didn't try the 'rock hard' line again."

"Give me a little credit, geeze. I learned my lesson after the first three or four times. I did tell them I'm the star quarterback at school…"

Victor blinked at him. "The school doesn't have a football team," he said. "We can't even get through a game of touch during class breaks with each other without someone using their powers, can you imagine competing for real with teams of normals?"

"I still say that using your tongue to tag me from ten feet away doesn't count as a legal touch. Actually, I think I'd have a case for sexual harassment…"

"Neither does rocket-punching someone when they're about to enter the end zone for a touchdown, while you're standing at the Fifty Yard line. It's a good thing Jay has a Healing Factor or he'd probably still be unconscious."

Santo glowered. "What touchdown? He was flying, so I'd call that out-of-bounds to begin with. And you have to admit that was a great shot."

Victor rolled his eyes. "It was football, not skeet shooting."

Julian smirked as he took a drink from his bottle. "Looked more like duck season to me," he said. "The best part was the cloud of feathers when you hit him." Julian mimed an explosion with his hands. "Poof!"

Even Victor finally cracked a smile at that. "And it took a week for them to start growing back in, too. Jay looked like he had a pair of frozen chicken wings on his back. Not that you still didn't deserve an earful for that."

Santo slapped his knee, sounding for all the world like two boulders smashing together, and broke out into laughter as well. "Yeah, his sister let me have it for that. Ms. Guthrie was mad."

"Lucky for you Jay was able to calm her down before she could actually tear your head off and punt it somewhere," Julian said around another swig of his soda. "I don't know if you saw it, but she was getting ready to transform and kick your ass. Too bad, too, because that would have been hilarious to watch."

Santo shuddered. "I hate it when she does that. There's nothing sicker than someone who changes what she's made out of by ripping off her own skin."

Julian set his bottle down and took aim at the board again. "Yeah, that's just nasty. Though I imagine there's worse ways to manifest. She could have turned out looking like you."

"Hey, I've got the body of a Greek statue."

Julian released one of his darts and cursed as it struck well below the target. "I don't think when people say that they're talking about what it's made from. You're more like something a kindergartner made in art class." He scowled at the dartboard. "Oh to hell with this." His hands glowed green, and as he released the next two darts in quick succession he nudged them with his power to plant them both in the center of the target."

Victor shook his head and chuckled. "Now who's cheating?"

The door chime sounded before he could deliver a suitable retort, and Julian looked over to see a large group of kids about their age—mostly boys, though there were a few girls as well—enter the arcade. Most were wearing combinations of red and black. He spotted at least one letterman jacket on a rather large boy with a cute blonde on his arm, one sweatshirt with "Governors" printed across the front in bold letters, and several wore some sort of face paint. There were more kids milling about outside, and a few additional cars and at least one school bus were parked along the sidewalk.

Julian picked up his soda and took a drink. "That's right, there's a football game over at the high school today," he said. Victor and Santo looked the newcomers over, the latter folding his arms across his broad chest. He set his bottle back down and retrieved his darts with a brief surge of his power. "Your shot, Victor."

"So I guess we can forget about no powers from here on out, right?" Victor said as he lined up his own shot, threw his three darts in rapid succession and scored the bull's-eye on each one.

"I don't see why you're complaining, you've hit the center on every throw."

"I'm telling you, it's pure—"

Victor was cut off by a voice behind them. "Hey, did anyone else know the circus was in town, too?"

And here we go.

Julian sighed. The locals got along well enough with them, accustomed as they were to forays by the students into town on their downtime. Professor Xavier called it a model example of what the relationship between mutants and normal humans ought to be.

"Must be," another voice added. "Someone let the freak show out of their cages."

Unfortunately, visitors to the North Salem area were another matter.

Julian looked between Victor and Santo and rolled his eyes. "He must have been held back a few years," he said, without turning around but loud enough to make sure his voice carried. "That one's right from My First Book of Mutant Insults."

Santo smirked. "That's the one that's mostly pictures, right?"

"And really big letters," Victor added.

Santo took another look over Julian's shoulder at the newcomers. "I think the big one's eyeballing me."

"Maybe he likes you," Victor said.

"Aw, don't be jealous, sweetums. You know you're the only man for me."

Victor rolled his eyes. "Keep that up and I might start hitting on girls."

"You'd probably have better luck at it than him, too," Julian said.

Julian heard footsteps behind him and casually turned around, leaning against the table next to him and picking up his soda for a drink with one hand, while he nonchalantly put his darts into orbit around himself with his power. The boy approaching him was on the large side, with an ugly mashed-looking face, and wore the DeWitt Clinton letterman Julian noticed in the crowd. The kid looked between him, the darts, Victor and Santo, and scowled.

"I didn't think they served your kind in here."

Julian raised an eyebrow. "'Your kind?' Hey Victor, did we just teleport to 1960s Alabama?"

"I don't think so, my TARDIS is in the shop, the DeLorean is out of gas, and I don't think there's anyone at school who can jump through time. Are you going to throw or not?"

"Yeah, yeah, don't go climbing up the walls." Julian casually flicked his free hand while he took another drink, and the three darts spinning around his head sped off one by one to each strike the bull's-eye of a different target. That earned him a few dark looks from the newcomers, and the arcade went silent. The local kids looked away from their own activities to see what was happening, but recognizing they were outnumbered by the visitors at the moment decided not to involve themselves.

"Are we supposed to think that's impressive, freak?"

Julian regarded him with a sly smile. "I don't care what you think it is. I'm just surprised your Neanderthal brain is able to string more than two words together."

"That's cute, mutie. You think just because you can do a few magic tricks you're smarter than me?"

"No, I think I'm smarter than you because I'm not the one harassing someone who can hang you from the ceiling by waving my pinky. Don't get me started on what he could do." He jerked his thumb at Santo, who folded his arms across his broad chest and grinned.

"That's enough!" interjected another voice, and the arcade manager, an older man who looked a lot to Julian like Stan Lee, appeared from the back room with one of the staff—a girl who had been working at the snack bar—trailing behind him. "I don't want anyone harassing my customers."

The big kid looked at him incredulously. "Customers? You mean you let these freaks in here? What are you, a god-damn mutie lover?" A low laugh rippled around the group, and the older man glared.

"You watch your mouth, kid. These boys are paying just like everyone else, and are doing it without causing trouble to anyone. If you can't do the same then I'll have to ask you all to leave."

The kid flashed Julian a vicious smile, pulled out his wallet, and shoved a few bills into the managers hand. "Dr. Pepper. There, now we're paying customers."

He handed the bills over to the girl and nodded for her to get his order, then turned his attention back to the group. "This is my place and I'll admit who I please. You kids go about your business, but I don't want any trouble. From any of you." He fixed everyone—the Dewitt Clinton kids, and Julian, Victor and Santo—with a glare before turning and leaving the floor. The snack bar girl returned a moment later and handed the kid his soda.

"Come on, Julian, Victor said, "let's get back to our game. Just ignore them."

The kid grabbed Julian by the arm as he moved to turn away, and stepped up into his face. He could feel and smell his breath. "You don't belong here," he said, his voice quiet and menacing. "You and all of your kind should be rounded up and walled off where the rest of us don't have to look at you." He turned his attention on Victor and Santo. "Especially the ones that look like you. Bunch of horror movie rejects. It's disgusting."

"Now that just hurts my feelings," Santo said.

"Be smart," Julian said, and his eyes narrowed as he drained the last of his Coke and set the bottle on the table hard enough to make an audible thud. "I'd hate to embarrass you in front of your girlfriend."

The kid looked over his shoulder at a blonde.

"Hey, she's pretty cute," Santo said. "Wonder what she sees in you, you're not even half the size of the guys I wrestled against when I was still able to compete." Julian noted for the first time the wrestling patch on the kid's jacket. Of course Santo noticed that one.

"I'm All-State, you freak," he said, stretching to his full height but still barely reaching to the level of Santo's shoulders.

"On what, the girl's squad?" He smiled over at the kid's girlfriend. "You should call me if you want a real rock solid man, baby!"

Julian chuckled under his breath and Victor rolled his eyes.

"Are you going to let those freaks talk about me like that?" she said, and Julian saw his free hand ball in response.

"Do you think that's funny?" the kid asked, and roughly shoved Julian. Santo and Victor caught as he staggered back a step, and he gathered his power as his temper got the better of him.

"No," he said, reaching out and telekinetically ripping the bottle of soda from his hands. The kid yelped in surprise and froze uncertainly as it hovered between them, shaking violently. Julian gave him a wicked smile, and with a flick of his wrist popped the top and sprayed the agitated beverage all over him, his girlfriend, and the front row of kids surrounding them. "But that is."

For a moment silence hung over the arcade as everyone processed what had just happened.

And then the swinging started.

###

Act IV

###

The morning passed quietly, and the Grind Stone remained largely empty until closer to noon when a few locals filtered in for lunch. Some greeted the kids politely, and Cessily drew a few curious looks, but otherwise they were left alone.

Laura remained quiet after her strange comment earlier, listening to the conversation at the table but not contributing anything herself. It was hard for Mark to tell if it was out of embarrassment from her earlier comment, or just her typical silence. The exception was when Luna brought out their orders, and the childlike curiosity that lit her face as she sniffed at her cup and took an experimental drink. She wouldn't say whether or not she liked it, but it seemed to Mark as if it was the experience of something new that mattered most to her, and for her part she seemed content to nurse her cup while the others talked.

Of course, he wasn't content with that.

"So how is it?" he asked after several minutes of watching her drink in silence. Sooraya was venting to Cessily over her latest frustrations with Nori, and for the moment they were the only two not otherwise engaged in the conversation.

Laura shrugged noncommittally and took another sip.

Mark regarded her with some amusement. "I'm going to get something out of you today. At least a smile, maybe even a word or two." He smiled at her, but she didn't respond. So instead he sat back in his chair and looked at her thoughtfully. Laura watched him back, and he felt as if her green eyes—they really were a striking shade, too—would bore a hole clear through him. He wasn't quite sure what to make of it, but it seemed everything she looked at was closely scrutinized and analyzed, and he could see…something…turning behind those eyes.

He smiled broadly at her again as a thought came to him. Mark left the table, drink in hand, and headed for the stage. Sooraya and Cessily both saw him get up and stopped their own conversation to watch him curiously. Luna looked away from her work at the counter, and could only roll her eyes as she pieced together what was about to happen. He plugged his iPod into the sound system used for karaoke, powered everything on, found the song he was looking for on his playlist, and grabbed the microphone.

"Good morning, Grind Stone Café!" he said, his voice filling the room. Cessily covered her face, and what Sooraya was thinking was hidden behind her niqab. Laura's green eyes were fixed on him, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. "There's a little lady out there in the audience today who's been given a bit of a rough time lately, and I think she could use some cheering up. So this one's for you, Laura." He winked at her, and even from the stage he could see a hint of color warming her pale cheeks. Sooraya gave her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, and Cessily was laughing into her hands.

Mark hit play on his iPod, and the synth and piano introduction characteristic of Sammy Hagar-era Van Halen boomed from the café's speakers as "Love Walks In" began to play, and as the intro concluded and Sammy's powerful voice entered with the lyrics Mark sang along.

###

There were few things Santo loved more than watching a good fight. One of them was participating in a good fight. Unfortunately, because of the strength and mass of his rocky body since his power manifested there were very few of his friends, and even teachers, at school who he could actually spar with and not fear mashing them into a bloody smear. Trying to fight against normals was pretty much out of the question altogether.

So when that DeWitt Clinton wrestler took a swing at Julian, Santo resigned himself to watching from the sidelines.

The kid launched a vicious right cross that caught Julian across the jaw before he could react, and it quickly turned into a brutal exchange of face and body-blows until Julian finally seized him by the letterman jacket and pulled it over his head hockey-style to tie him up, and threw him off with a sharp uppercut that knocked him into his friends. The front rank collapsed into the second, and that set off the entire group. They surged forward in a mob, and both Julian and Victor—who happened to be closest when the swinging started—were both swept up in it.

Santo was left on the outside, doubled over with his hands on his knees and laughing uproariously when Julian threw up a shield around himself and Victor, and used it to knock several of the kids flying off of them. The locals fled in a panic, and the girl manning the snack bar ran for the back room. Free of the tangle of bodies trying to bear them down, Julian was back on his feet and fighting back, slamming into one of the wrestler's friends and driving him to the ground. The kid shielded himself against a rhythmic pounding from Julian and managed to deflect most of the blows while another circled behind him to drag him off. However as he raised his hand to take Julian by surprise he was jerked off his feet as something whipped around his wrist and yanked him backwards. Victor's tongue snapped back into his mouth, while at the same time he dodged between two others trying to gang up on him.

"Ha!" Santo shouted over the commotion. "Way to slip 'em the tongue! Just make sure you get his number later!"

Victor ducked a wild haymaker from one of his attackers and used the opening to slip behind him, throwing him into his companion and sending them both crashing into one of the tables, which broke beneath them. A third coming to their aid with a sharp left hook was left spinning as Victor unexpectedly vacated the spot he had been occupying with a leap several times his own height straight up in the air to cling to the ceiling. "You could do something to help, you know," he said, swinging back down to drop lightly behind Julian to better cover him as the boy he was pounding finally managed to throw him off and break away.

"We don't want to actually kill them," Santo retorted. A sharp crack split the air, and Santo dully felt the sensation of something striking him across the lower back. He turned to see the wrestler had gotten back to his feet, and now stared in surprise at the broken remnants of the pool cue in his hand. Santo stretched to his full height over the kid and smiled down at him.

The wrestler's face paled. "Oh shit," he squeaked.

"Boo!" Santo said, and laughed as his opponent fell over backwards in his haste to escape, and scrabbled away on his hands and knees.

"Knock it off! God damn it! Knock it off!" a voice cried out, and Santo followed the sound to the arcade manager, who was rushing across the floor to try and break up the fight. However by now mob mentality had set in entirely, and the DeWitt kids turned on him as well. Only Julian's quick thinking saved him when he threw a kinetic shield up between the old man and the angry kids, the latter bouncing off and toppling to the floor. Unfortunately that distraction was enough to take his focus off the fight, and he soon found himself ushered towards the window looking out over the sidewalk.

Before Santo could even think of doing anything Julian was thrown through it and out onto the sidewalk with the crash of shattering glass. As Julian rolled around on the ground in a daze and more DeWitt kids outside gathered around him at the commotion, all thoughts of enjoying the fight disappeared from Santo's mind and anger took control. With a bellow of rage he charged after Julian, a quarter ton of living stone scattering everything in his path.

He was dimly aware of Victor calling his name as he burst through the window, but his words fell on deaf ears, as Santo's only thought was for his fallen friend. People bolted in panic as he emerged from the arcade with a roar, mingling with the anger of the kids involved in the fight, and anarchy took control.

###

The music built to a crescendo, and Mark's voice built with it, following Hagar's lead through the final chorus. As the song wound down the patrons of the Grind Stone burst into applause, Cessily's wolf-whistling carrying loudly over the rest. Mark sketched an exaggerated bow, and Cessily and Sooraya both jumped to their feet, clapping wildly. Laura remained seated, but he saw the hint of a smile on her lips. Mission accomplished he grinned back, and was reaching to unplug his iPod when a panicked knot of pedestrians about their age, most dressed in red and black, ran into the café.

"Take cover, mutant riot!" one of the newcomers shouted. Immediately Sooraya buried her face in her hands, and Cessily tried to drop as low into her seat as she could. The locals just stared in confusion. People were running past the window headed west on Titicus, most of them more teenagers dressed like the group that just burst in, and he heard the wail of a siren as a police car rushed by.

Luna was moving quickly, hands planted on her hips and glaring at them. "What the hell do you kids think you're doing screaming riot? Is this some kind of joke?"

"It's no joke, a bunch of them just busted up the arcade down the street," another replied.

Oh crap, what's Julian done now…

A third caught sight of Cessily, her liquid metal skin unmistakable, and pointed and yelled. "There's one of them now!"

"Hey, wait a minute—" Luna tried to keep between them and their table as they surged forward, her protests lost in a chorus of some of the most vicious and hate-filled epithets he could imagine. The crush of people quickly overwhelmed her and she was nearly trampled beneath them, only barely managing to crawl out of the way as the crowd made for Cessily. Her eyes widened in panic, but she had nowhere to run. Sooraya and Laura attempted to interpose themselves between her and the crowd but Mark knew that neither girl could hold back the mob.

"That's enough!" he snapped into the microphone, the roar of his voice over the sound system bringing the front row of the press up short. He glared at what stood for the leaders of the group and fixed them with as menacing a glare as he could manage.

"She's one of them," one of them said. "I bet those other two are mutie-lovers or worse, too!"

"No one lays a hand on any of those girls while I'm here, now back off or I get mad."

Mark quickly thumbed through his iPod, and a smirk crossed his face as he found the perfect song.

"Mark, get down from there!" Sooraya hissed at him. "Don't be a hero, let's just get out of here."

"You're not going anywhere, mutie-loving camel jockey. We don't need you terrorists here as it is, but now you're in with those freaks?"

As soon as it became clear the crowd was about to rush forward again Mark hit play, and the opening of "Blaze of Glory" blasted across the café. He jumped down from the stage and strode forward, arms held loosely at his side as he felt his power build with the music, and he clenched his fists. Time to rock and roll.

"This is your last chance, redneck. Back off," he said, his voice dangerous. All eyes were on him and the kid in front of him, a big blonde guy who probably outweighed him by a good twenty pounds of muscle.

"Mark, don't!" Cessily said.

"Make me," the big kid snapped, and started for Cessily again.

"I wake up in the mornin' and I raise my weary head," John Bon Jovi's voice cut in over the speakers, and Mark threw his hands forward as he unleashed his power. A blast of tightly-controlled energy rippled from his hands, fed by the music as it slashed across the café and slammed into the big kid's chest, blasting him backwards several feet both into and knocking down half the mob he'd entered with.

"Anyone else feeling stupid?" Mark barked as the big kid, dazed but not seriously injured—he had held back and not given him the full force of the blast—groggily rose until he was sitting upright, supported by his now very terrified friends. Only the music answered him, feeding his power and building for another blast if needed. More people were running by outside, and the sound of sirens grew louder.

"Mark, time to go!" Cessily said, and took off after Sooraya, who was rushing for a door behind the counter leading to the kitchen in the opening he created. Mark vaulted up onto the stage and grabbed his iPod, killing the music. The energy built up and waiting to be unleashed was cut off as the music died, and he bolted for the back, vaulting over the counter at a dead run and following Cessily and Sooraya as they darted through the kitchen and out a back door Luna, a bit disheveled but otherwise not seriously hurt, held open for them.

"Thanks for the tarts!" Cessily said as she rushed past her.

"Lovely to see you as always!" Mark added as he followed.

The trio found themselves in a lot out back, and now that they were outside they could clearly hear the sounds of panic and anger on the streets. Mark stuffed his iPod in a pocket as he joined Cessily and Sooraya, and suddenly he realized someone was missing.

"Oh shit," he said. "Where's Laura?"

Cessily's eyes widened in alarm and even Sooraya's fear was evident behind her niqab. "I thought she was right behind me!" Sooraya said.

"We can't just leave her here, that crowd is likely to tear her apart," he said. However before they could do anything else the sound of a police car signaling for their attention cut across the lot, and the trio turned to watch a North Salem cruiser headed their way along the back wall of the café and strip mall with his lights flashing.

And that's when they saw the big Chevy pickup barreling in reverse towards it from where it was parked on the opposite side of the lot.

The rear bumper slammed into the cruiser's fender with a deafening bang, and rubber squealed against asphalt as the truck continued backwards, wedging the cop car against the rear wall of the strip mall. The truck accelerated forward again and swung towards them, and as the driver slammed the brakes and skidded to present the passenger's side doors to them, Mark was stunned to see Laura in the driver's seat.

"Get in," she barked, and with the growing sounds of conflict on the street none of them found themselves able to voice their objections to committing grand theft auto. They all piled on: Cessily and Sooraya on the truck's rear bench, Mark springing into the front passenger's seat and pulling the door shut behind him. Laura slammed her foot on the gas and the truck lurched forward.

###

Julian was back on his feet, dazed and cut up from having just been thrown through a window, but otherwise not seriously harmed.

"Mutie freak!"

"Kick his ass!"

"Tear them apart!"

That, and the chorus of other much more obscene and threatening curses and shouts quickly reminded him that was unlikely to last much longer. Only the telekinetic barrier he'd thrown up around himself, and Santo standing over him roaring furiously, kept the crowd back. It didn't, however, stop the hail of rocks, bricks, trash and other assorted missiles plinking off his shield. Trying to hold back Santo at the same time to keep him from hurting someone for real didn't help matters much, either, and he already felt his control weakening.

"Anyone got any bright ideas?" he shouted, the strain of holding his shield up against the barrage evident on his voice.

Victor crouched behind him and Santo. "I'd suggest talking to them, but that's how you got us into this mess in the first place!"

More and more of a crowd was gathering, a mob of red and black pressing closer around the three mutants as they plucked up their courage in the face of the roaring mountain of rock towering over them. Sirens wailed and he could hear police in the back trying to get the crowd under control, and some fighting was breaking out between the visiting DeWitt Clinton kids and their familes, and the locals.

Then came the blast of a car horn, and suddenly the crowd on one side parted as a big Chevy pickup mounted the sidewalk, scattering pedestrians on both sides of the building riot with cries of alarm, nudging a patrol car out of the way, and squealing to a stop between the three and the rest of the crowd. A rear door opened and Cessily peeked out.

"Julian!" she called, beckoning him. None too soon as his control over his power was exhausted

"Cessily?!" he said in disbelief at what he was seeing, and the sight of the truck plowing through the crowd (miraculously avoiding actually hitting anybody) snapped Santo back to his senses.

"Come on!"

"Right." He turned to the others. "Let's go, you two in the back."

Julian scrambled forward and vaulted into the cab, and Santo clambered up into the bed and hauled Victor up behind him. While the rescue was certainly welcome, what he did not like seeing was who was behind the wheel. What the hell does Laura think she's doing?!

Mark was in the passenger's seat fumbling with his iPod and plugged it into the truck's stereo. "Hang on hang on," he was saying as Julian dove inside, "I gotta do this." And as Julian slammed the door shut behind him the screaming voice of Brian Johnson filled the cab as AC/DC's "Shoot to Thrill" began to play. "Ok, now we're ready to go," Mark said. Laura looked at him and a small, amused grin appeared on her face in response.

"Where the hell did you get this?"

"Behind the Grind Stone," she said as she floored the gas and slammed one fist on the horn. The truck accelerated suddenly, throwing the occupants backwards into their seats. Pedestrians cried out in alarm and scattered as she dismounted the sidewalk and swung west on Titicus.

"You stole a car?" he shouted back incredulously.

"We needed transportation," she said flatly.

"So you stole a car."

"Maybe they won't know it was us," Santo said through the open rear window, a stupid grin on his face as the truck forced a path into open streets. Already Julian could hear the sound of sirens as the police got back in their own cars to give chase.

Julian beat the back of his head against the bench's headrest in annoyance at that comment. "We're in a stolen pickup occupied by a walking statue, lizard boy, and the T-1000. Who do you think they're going to confuse us with?" He glanced at Cessily. "No offense."

"None taken," she said, holding for dear life to the seats in front of her as Laura accelerated, exceeding the speed limit on Titicus by what seemed to him to be 60 miles per hour and weaving like a maniac past pedestrians and other traffic without slowing like some real-life game of Grand Theft Auto.

"You should buckle your seatbelts," she said offhandedly, her petite frame already secured in the driver's seat by her own harness. Up ahead Julian saw a highway patrolman's car barreling right towards them trying to cut them off as the North Salem cops got on the radio to coordinate the pursuit. "Oh, shit. Shit. Shit!" he said.

Laura braked and cut the wheel hard to the left, sending the truck into a skid and turning down Turkey Hill Road without stopping. Sooraya's shoulder was slammed hard into the side of the cab, Cessily nearly ended up in her lap, (and Julian in hers), and somehow Victor and Santo managed to avoid being thrown from the bed entirely. They flew over the bridge crossing the end of the Titicus reservoir where it met the confluence of the Titicus River and Crook Brook, wove around a delivery vehicle, the police still in pursuit and the wailing sirens growing closer.

She cut hard to the right onto Mills, the truck's tires squealing in protest as she took the corner far faster than it was intended to be, and scattered pedestrians and traffic alike. Mark gave a howl of excitement as Angus Young's guitar wailed over the stereo. Laura flashed him another small smile, and behind him Julian could hear Santo having the time of his life as he was thrown around the bed of the truck.

With a long, straight stretch of road ahead of her Laura's foot put the pedal all the way to the floor and Julian felt the truck surge forward. Even with Santo's weight the big diesel V8 had no problems, but the lighter patrol cars were still gaining ground. She wove past the occasional slow-moving vehicle, darting around oncoming traffic and using both shoulders to avoid a collision without slowing. Sooraya's face was a sickly color and her eyes were squeezed tight in prayer. Cessily held the backs of Laura's and Mark's seats in a death grip in the middle of the bench, and Julian's heart was threatening to climb out of his throat and jump screaming out the nearest window.

Mills Road took a right turn and Laura followed it, the truck swerving into the opposite lane and sending a van coming the other way off the road to avoid slamming into it and the pursuing police. Julian looked back to see it halfway off the shoulder. Laura weaved past another few cars, the sirens of the police in pursuit ever growing closer. Up ahead Mills took a sharp left at nearly a right angle to avoid the shores of the Titicus Reservoir and the large estate along it, but Laura showed no sign of letting up on the gas.

"What the hell are you doing? You can't make that turn at this speed!" he shouted. Laura looked over her shoulder at him. "Watch the road! Watch the road!" His voice squeaked in panic as somehow Laura had just enough of an eye on the road ahead of her to dodge past a stalled SUV in their lane.

"How much can you lift?" she asked, her voice eerily calm.

Julian's jaw dropped. "What."

"How much weight can you lift?"

The realization of what she intended him to do struck him like a sledgehammer to the gut. "Are you out of your damn mind?" He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Wait, wait. Don't…don't answer that."

"Uh… What's going on?" Cessily asked.

Mark looked over the back of his seat and grinned. Julian gawked at him. He was actually enjoying this. That settled it, Mark and Santo were both officially insane. "Spread your wings and prepare to fly, baby!"

Cessily sunk down as far into her seat as she could and Julian heard her whimper in fright.

Laura's eyes were back on the road, with the turning of Mills approaching at a very unsettling speed. "Now, please," she said, her voice never rising in pitch above a conversational tone.

"Sooraya, I sure as hell hope Allah is listening over there," he said as his hands began to glow and he gathered his power around him. He reached out to the truck, the immense weight of its chassis and occupants heavy in his mind. He'd never lifted anything this freaking big (or fast-moving) before. Julian fought to drive the distraction of the sirens growing louder behind them and the terrified pounding of his own heart from his mind, and started to lift.

At first nothing happened, and the truck barreled for the corner of Mills Road, the vibrations of the wheels on pavement transferred into the body of the vehicle and the seats of everyone within.

Then suddenly the rumbling was gone as the truck lifted into the air, and he heard Mark howling in approval like a maniac.

###

Behind them the highway patrolmen and North Salem police could only slam their breaks to avoid plowing into the lawn of the house at the corner, and gawk in disbelief as the pickup they were pursuing lifted into the air and continued on its way across the reservoir.

"Uh, dispatch," one of the troopers said into his radio. "You're not going to believe this…"

###

Act V

###

The group made their way on foot up the drive from the front gate. Laura insisted on ditching the stolen pickup shortly after Julian landed them on the far side of Titicus Reservoir—a bumpy one when his concentration failed out of sheer exhaustion from manipulating that much mass through the air—and they walked the rest of the way back to the school when they refused to allow her to "procure" (as she put it) another vehicle. By the time they finally reached Graymalkin Lane where it turned off of June between Deveau Road and the Tiny Hearts Farm it was late in the afternoon.

The grounds were largely deserted and quiet, and the shadows were growing long as the sun began its westerly descent. Up ahead the lights of the mansion were on and beckoning invitingly, and Julian's mind was on food, a shower, and Sofia in that order.

"Alright, everyone remember," he said as the front door came into view, "If anyone asks we don't know anything."

Laura bunched her eyebrows as she processed that. "Irrelevant, they will ask why we walked."

Julian looked over his shoulder at her. She followed along with the group, surprising them all by showing no more sign of how long and tiring the walk back to school from the North side of the reservoir had been than Victor and Santo. What the hell is she, anyway? Laura stared back at him, sending a shiver down his spine. "In fact, you don't say anything. We might actually be able to pull this off."

"Pull what off, Mr. Keller," the absolute last voice Julian wanted to hear queried.

There in the main entrance in his wheelchair sat Professor Xavier. A young woman of Asian descent, maybe a dozen years older than them and with a distinctly rocker-chick style stood behind him with the late-afternoon sun glinting off the Oakley's masking her eyes and expression. She'd helped Marie load them up in the shuttle that morning, but none of them caught her name. There was no anger Julian could see on the Professor's features, but the stern expression as he regarded them was probably worse. "I'd like to see you seven in my office, please," he continued. The woman wheeled him back inside, leaving them with no doubt that he meant now.

We are so screwed.

###

They gathered in front of Xavier's desk, at which he was sitting with his hands folded in front of him. The woman stood at his shoulder, her sunglasses pushed up on top of her head and watching them with what looked to be a faint smirk of amusement on her face.

"Do you want to be alone?" she asked the Professor.

"No, Jubilee," he said, "That won't be necessary." Then he turned his attention to them. "I don't suppose you realize just how much trouble you're in," he said. "Do you, Mr. Keller?"

Julian swallowed and fought to keep his anxiety off his features. "No, sir," he said, and swallowed, knowing Xavier could easily catch him in any lie he told if he desired.

"Really," he said, and tapped a button on the touchscreen computer display on his desk, swiveling it around for them to view. Melita Garner stood in front of the wrecked arcade with microphone in hand. The glow of a patrol car's lights flashed across her and the ruined storefront, with police tape cordoning off the area around it.

"…where police are currently investigating a riot that occurred earlier this afternoon in Salem Center, New York. Interviews with local residents indicate that the altercation began here, when a fight began between students of the local Xavier School and DeWitt Clinton High School in Brooklyn, who were visiting for a scheduled football game against North Salem…"

Xavier shut off the monitor and regarded them each searchingly. "Do any of you know just how much trouble you are in?"

Before anyone could even think of stopping her, Laura answered him:

"Assault, destruction of property, disturbing the peace, grand theft auto, assaulting a police officer, destruction of police property, speeding, evading the police, failure to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, failure to stop at an intersection, and multiple counts of vehicular endangerment," she said. Xavier buried his face in his hands as she casually rattled off the list of offenses, and Jubilee's smirk grew more and more amused with each one. Julian's face just turned redder as Laura's confession sunk any hope of them avoiding jail time, much less detention, and the others mirrored that sentiment.

"Thank you, Laura," he said tiredly. "Is there anything else you would like to add?"

"I do not have a driver's license," she said, completely missing the sarcasm in his voice. Jubilee couldn't quite stifle a laugh at that, and Xavier fixed her with a rather ineffective glare that did little to wipe the mirth from her features.

"I'm sorry, Professor," she said, wiping the tears from her eyes that formed in her effort to keep a straight face. "But I think I like her, can we keep her?"

Xavier sighed heavily and mopped his face. "I have already had a long conversation with the police during your walk back to school," he said after a moment to collect his thoughts. "Fortunately, most of the witnesses are claiming that it was the visitors who instigated the fight so you may not have to deal with legal charges if a plea deal can be arranged."

Julian released the breath that he had been holding, and his shoulders sagged a bit in relief.

As if noticing the reaction Xavier fixed them all with a disapproving look. "But even if so that does not absolve you of responsibility for your part in this altercation. I am disappointed in all of you. You know that you are not to use your powers against other people as you have today. The residents of Salem Center have come to accept us because we have been able to prove to them over the years that we are no threat and are as much a part of the community as any other residents, and it is vital that we do not lead them to believe that trust is misplaced.

"I will be discussing the legal matters further with our lawyers, and I may request you speak with them as well if it becomes necessary, but for now you seven are not to leave the school grounds for the next two weeks, and the weekends will be spent in detention. Is that understood?"

A smattering of "Yes, Professors," followed.

He eyed them for a moment, then nodded curtly. "Good. Now go on, get cleaned up and find something to eat. We'll talk about this again later."

###

Jubilee watched them go, despite the circumstances still not quite able to wipe the amusement from her face. Xavier turned his attention to her but even that couldn't stop the enjoyment she found in the whole situation.

"Well," Xavier said. "I'm not quite certain if they're up to your level of mischief yet, but they seem to be well on their way."

She smirked. "I'm actually impressed by the footage of that girl's driving," she said. "Where did you say she was from?"

"I didn't," he said. "Laura is an unusual case, and she in particular I feel is the most in need of guidance. I assume you've given my offer some thought?"

Jubilee nodded. "I have. I was planning to take the whole weekend, but seeing you, the kids, Marie and Kitty again… And watching the news of that little adventure, there, it's the most at-home I've felt since I left. And it's certainly entertaining, as well. I think I'll take you up on it."

Xavier smiled, and a hint of amusement finally appeared on his features. "I'm pleased you've agreed," he said. "Well, I think it only appropriate that since you found the antics of our little band of criminals so enjoyable, perhaps you should begin your tenure by overseeing their detention the next two weekends. They might appreciate the stories you have to tell of your many stints there."

Jubilee's mouth dropped open, but found she had to laugh. "I guess I did put my foot right into that one, didn't I." She shook her head. "And to think we used to say you didn't have a sense of humor."

Xavier's response was only a soft chuckle.

###

Mark followed the rest of the group as they filed out of Xavier's office into the library. Julian mopped his face, Santo and victor were noticeably subdued, and even Cessily and Sooraya were downcast. Only Laura seemed generally untroubled by the development.

"Two weeks of detention," Julian said as they made their way along the hall. "Two damn weeks. Sofia's really going to love that. I need to go find Josh to see if he can fix me up before she finds out I was fighting."

"Yeah," Santo said. "She's the only one allowed to give you a black eye. That was a pretty good fight until they put you through the window."

Julian glared back at him. "Where were you during that?" Then he turned and scowled at Laura. "And didn't I tell you to keep your mouth shut?"

"Do not talk to her like that," Sooraya said. "I do not think you were entirely innocent in starting that fight."

"Yeah, well, she didn't have to steal a car. And then give the Professor an entire police report." Julian rubbed his jaw, where a nasty bruise had been forming throughout the afternoon. "I'm finding some ice and Josh. Maybe in that order."

Julian stormed off, and the rest of the group gradually broke up to go to their rooms or find something to eat, until Mark was left alone with Laura.

"Well, not exactly the kind of day I was hoping for," he said with a wry grin.

Laura shrugged. "I did enjoy it, nonetheless," she said quietly, her hands stuffed in the pockets of her oversized jacket, and she managed as full a smile as he had seen from her. "Thank you."

Mark grinned at her. "You look so pretty when you do that. You should smile more often."

Laura's cheeks colored slightly, but the smile didn't go away.

"I'm going to grab something to eat, are you hungry?"

She nodded, but didn't say anything else as the smile faded back into her typical stoniness. Mark offered her his arm, which she regarded with a raised eyebrow, and he merely shrugged when she didn't take it. He started down the hall and Laura fell into step beside him.

"Maybe you'd like to tell me where you learned to drive like that," he said. "I'd love to hear about it."

"I would not," she said.

Mark chuckled. Well, it was worth a shot getting her to share something about herself. "Baby steps. You actually smiled today, so I think that's a victory. Just remember I'm going to keep working on you."

There was a sparkle of amusement in Laura's green eyes at that, and they continued down the hall together without another word.

---

A Note From The Author

So in this episode we get a little action after the more character focus of 1x02, as well as the first appearance of Salem Center, the Grind Stone, and Luna DePaula, which will of course be semi-regular fixtures in this series. I really wanted to use the actual Salem Center, NY as it really exists, however as I started doing a bit of research I discovered that—and no offense to anyone reading who's actually IN the North Salem area—there's…not much to it. Likewise, my main source on the books didn't have much to offer about the area as depicted in the comics, either. So I settled for a little bit of artistic license by adding the movie theater, Grind Stone, and the strip mall containing the arcade to the Southeast corner of June and Titicus, which is undeveloped according to Google Maps (in fact it looks like it's part of somebody's really big back yard).

For those not aware, DeWitt Clinton High School is an actual school in the Bronx. In fact it's the alma mater of Stan Lee himself. I'm just going to pretend that I was aware of this bit of trivia all along and that it wasn't entirely a coincidence it's the school I happened to pick to be the antagonists in this episode.

I also want to note that I grew up on the 90s X-Men 'toon, so when the film came out I was a bit surprised and disappointed to see Jubilee relegated to a cameo, and her relationship with Wolverine given to Rogue instead. I realized that I should probably have a "main" adult character for the kids to interact with on a regular basis since the budget probably couldn't afford to have Patrick Stewart, Anna Paquin, or Ellen Page show up regularly, so Jubilee got the call. Obviously, there's no Decimation event in this 'verse and I won't be having vampires, so Jubilee gets her normal power set again. So rather than having her run a home for depowered mutants, she became a social worker in California, which I felt worked with the spirit of the character's history in the books and set up a nice nod to her back story. This is not the character I mentioned is still waiting for an appearance in the note for the last episode, though. Like Wither, Jubilee was sort of a late addition.

And yes, I'd totally want to have Stan Lee play the arcade owner. Finally, for the sharp-eyed reader the cartoon that Laura was watching is an actual Roadrunner short. See if you can guess which one.