The car stopped just outside the gate at 1407 Graymalkin Lane. The X-Mansion, located outside of Salem Center, Westchester County, New York; originally called Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, and now called The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning beckoned from just beyond the courtyard. Sarah Juran stepped out of the car and stared in awe at the distant statue dedicated to Jean Grey, erected in the center of the courtyard. Sarah turned and leaned in through the passenger side window. Letting out a deep breath, she said, “Thank you for bringing me here Auntie Kate”. Aunt Kate had raised Sarah since Sarah was two years old. Sarah’s father had been a fisherman and he and his wife were both lost at sea off the coast of Maine; during a storm. Aunt Kate was the only family that Sarah had known. Aunt Kate had been dreading this moment ever since Sarah had received the invitation to enroll at The Jean Grey School. Aunt Kate looked up at Sarah, her eyes welling up with tears and said, “Don’t be silly. Are you sure you don’t want me to come in with you and help get you settled?” “No, I’ll be fine” said Sarah. “Okay then I’ll be on my way. Remember call me if you need anything. Call me any time you want. I love you, Sarah” Aunt Kate said, no longer able to hold back her tears. Aunt Kate put the car into drive and slowly drove away. Sarah stood there waving until the car was out of sight. Sarah wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her t-shirt, picked up her bag and started walking towards the mansion.
Sarah had been looking forward to this day for weeks now. She was glad to be going to a place where she wouldn’t be considered a freak, a place where she could be herself without being gawked at and without hearing the thoughts of the townies back in Machiasport whenever she walked by them. Sarah was self-confident, strong willed and never backed down from a challenge; she was thrilled to have these powers/abilities awakening in her and couldn’t wait to explore them further. She stopped at the statue of Jean Grey and looked up, smiling she thought about all the possibilities that were about to unfold. Sarah continued to walk towards the mansion. She arrived at the door and with a quick exhale opened it and walked through into a large foyer. The foyer opened up to several rooms. In the room closest to the entrance, Sarah could see a man and a woman engaged in what seemed to be an intense conversation. The sound of Sarah closing the front door to the mansion caused the woman to stop speaking and look over at Sarah. Sarah recognized the woman from a few articles she had seen concerning the X-Men in the local Machiasport newspaper. It was Kitty Pryde, Head Mistress of the Jean Gray School. The man looked over, but Sarah didn’t recognize him. Kitty walked over and smiling offered her hand to Sarah. “Hey, you must be Sarah Juran. Welcome! We’ve been expecting you” Kitty said, warmly. “Yes, I am Sarah and thanks!” Sarah said, as she shook Kitty’s hand. Kitty turned to the man who had come up behind her and introduced him to Sarah. “Remy I would like you to meet Sarah”, Kitty said. “Sarah this is Remy LeBeau, otherwise known as Gambit”, she continued turning toward Sarah. “Hey”, Sarah said. “Hey yourself”, Gambit returned her greeting. Sarah could feel a slight niggle in her mind as her eyes met Gambit's, but she couldn't seem to read him at all. Kitty turned back to Gambit and said, “We can continue our talk later, right now I want to get Sarah settled in”. Gambit smiled, turned and walked away without saying anything. “Right then, let me show you your room and then I’ll show you around the place”, Kitty said, as she started walking towards the stairs. Sarah followed Kitty, still thinking about Gambit and how she couldn't quite probe his thoughts, as if there was some kind of interference protecting his mind. The fact that she was able to feel Gambit exert a brief bit of sway over her thoughts bothered her. She would have to work on that, both getting into Gambit's mind and keeping him out of hers. “Hmm, my first challenge”, Sarah said to herself as she started up the stairs.
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