Lindsay slammed the book closed quickly, but loudly, probably attracting Gracie's attention. "Hi Gracie. Good morning to you too." She said, nodding quickly.

Gracie cocked her head to the side slightly "What's in your book?" she asked, notcing the book.

Lindsay sighed, deciding not to put up a fight. She opened the sketch book, and gestured to Gracie that she could take a look. The pages were filled with black birds and silver wolves, but also of people too: Gracie petting a pink kitten, Ari waving around a stick , Nicolas grumpily standing in a corner, Kaja doing martial arts, Kate and Dylan holding hands, Proffesor X in his study, Logan, with his claws extended, Jean laughing , Jules fixing a car, Beast in his workshop, Rogue fingering her gloves, Iceman freezing everyones' bottles of water ticking everyone off. And there was one group picture. Everyone was in it, standing in front of the mansion: Rogue, Bobby, Natasha, Proffesor X-who was in his wheelchair- Jean, Logan, Jules, Beast, Gaetan, Kaja, Dylan, Kate, Ari, Gracie, Susannah, Nicolas, Angelique, Gambit, Nightcrawler, Angelina, Shadowcat, Cyclops. Lindsay smiled slightly at the picture. Everyone looked so happy. Then she turned to the page that she had been on. "Will..." She whispered, touching the face on the paper.

"Who's Will?" Kate asked, coming up behind Lindsey

God, I hate the library's Internet, so useless... :P Angelique, at the last moment, had forgone the decision to train. Instead, she decided to build up her stamina by jogging around the school, listening to her mP3 player which blasted My Immortal by Evanscence. Noticing Gracie, Kate, and Lindsay on the foyer the second-ish time around the school, she stopped. "Hey." she said to the group. "Everything alright?"

Gracie stared as she saw the pictures "Wow! You're really good!" she grinned at Lindsay before seeing the last picture "Who's Will?"

Lindsay swallowed, her throat hoarse. "My.. my brother." Her voice was shaky and scratchy and she hated how weak she sounded.

"Well, these are great drawings!" Kate said, trying to change the subject, realizing it was an uncomfortable topic.

Gracie nodded rapidly "Really great!"

"He wasn't as bad as you think." Lindsay said, mistaking their effort to change the topic, because they didn't like him.

"What was he like?" Kate asked

Lindsay smiled faintly. "He was awesome. He'd helped me with my homework, and protect me from bullies. He'd be there for me when my parents weren't, so he was always there for me." She sighed. "The one thing I don't get... is why he left me. All I know is that the night before he left, he was fighting with Mom and Dad about something, I think I heard my name once but I wasn't sure. Later he came into my room, carrying a duffel bag." Lindsay took out her knife. "He gave this to me, saying he hoped it would protect me. I remember being suprised because I hadn't seen it since he bought it for me at this gypsy shop in an alleyway. He got one too, one just like this one." She closed her eyes. "I begged for him to take me with him, but he refused." She shook her head.

"He sounds like a great guy," Kate said with a smile. "Except for the leaving you part. That was a jerk thing to do."

Jean walked down, hands at her temples, rubbing incessantly. She had another migraine today and they were becoming more frequent.

But once you get both of their points of view of their lives (Lindsay and Will) you'll notice that it seems........ confusing.

Gracie smiled "Sounds like he was pretty cool!" she giggled " 'til he left you...."

"Life goes on." Angelique said bluntly, recalling how Alain had more or less abandoned her plenty of times over the years, and while the recent abandonment hurt, it wasn't exactly unexpected either. "Ya can't press pause on your life waiting on somebody who ain't coming back."

Is anyone still here?

I am.

Lindsay nodded. "You're right... I just... miss him."

i am i'm just also doing laundry

So am I.

"That's normal, Lindsey." Kate said, comfortingly

Gracie nodded "I miss Cynthia...and Anna....but at least we all have each other!" she grinned.

Suddenly a wild Jules appeared, hugging Gracie from behind, "You got that right."

Gracie squealed slightly, giggling in Jules's arms. She hugged Jules's arms, smiling.

Lindsay shrugged, then a smile appeared on her face. "Hey! Who wants to play Capture the Flag?"

Jules grinned to herself as Gracie hugged back. She looked at the other girls sheepishly and then stopped as she saw Jean on the couch, violently rubbing her head.

Angelique instantly retreated into her shell. Physical contact in sports always made her aggressive and angry, as she'd said before, she hated to lose. "I'll referee or something."

Lindsay looked at Angelique and decided to explain further. "In the Danger Room. We'll all be on one side and the simulation the other."

Gracie grinned at Lindsay "That'd be fun!" she giggled, before looking up at Jules, before following her gaze to Jean "Jean, are you okay?"

Jules smiled and nodded, "Cmon, it'll be fun!"

Jean stopped and smiled at Gracie. She was trying her best to not cry out, "Yes Gracie, I'll be just fine, don't worry."

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