"Do you know what day is today?" Bobby asks me as we prepare for today's afternoon training session.

"Thursday." Ow. It hurt saying that. Come to think of it, it hurts saying anything. My head feels like it's about to go boom.

"Wrong!"

"Okay then, it's Friday." And I honestly don't care.

"No, it's Thursday."

I was right. Yay. Insert sarcastic laughs here.

"It's Danger Room day!"

"OW! Bobby, not so loud!"

Bobby makes a face. "Um, sorry. Anyway. I meant that we have a session in the Danger Room today!"

"Okay." Stop talking, Bobby... please... just stop talking... my head can't take any more of this. I need to sleep above all... teach me to do white nights. Especially with...

No. Not gonna think about that. Nnnnooo...

"Elsie? You okay?"

"Nope." I groan. "Must sleep."

And stop thinking about Pietro. He's one of the bad guys, right? Riiiight.

But in the end, what really happened last night? Nothing! He just gave me a little peck on the nose, like any friends would do when saying goodbye. So are we friends then? Hard to say.

"Pay attention, kid!"

Huh? Oh, that must be Logan. Wait... where are we? Big metal room with an attached control room... cool!

Hold it.

What are we--

The Danger Room.

Oh no.

"Understand?"

There goes logan again. "Yes, mister Logan", everyone chimes together. Ow... that hurt.

"Okay. Ready--"

"Bobby, what do we have to do?" I hiss quickly.

He glares. "Get there from here", he says, poinging towards a red flag. "All of us. Teamwork."

"Set--"

"And dodge all weapons."

"Go!"

Get there from here... easy! There is is, my own personal opportunity to shine! In an instant I feel revived. Screw sleep! Full speed ahead!

"HEY!" A tentacle springs from the floor... dodged it. Here comes another! Dodged it again.

I hear a scream behind. One of the tentacles got Jamie. I rush to the rescue, but he simply multiplies, and the Jamie that's been grabbed by the tentacle disappears. I give Jamie the thumbs up, and he grins. I'm ready to do the same, when something hits me from behind. By instinct, I fly away and dodge the big bad tentacle. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rahne and Sam reaching the flag. And there goes first and second place.

"Aaah!"

I turn around. Ray stepped on a trap door, and surely enough, he's on the bottom of a pretty big hole. He tries to get out, cursing all the way. No good.

"Hold on, I'm coming!" Again, Elsie to the rescue! All I need is a cape!

"Boy, you're heavy", I gasp as I lift him.

"Thanks a buch!" he shouts back. And finally, we cross the finish line, long after everyone else. The simulation ends with a beep.

"Not bad", says Logan, clapping his hands quietly. "Crisp, be more careful with trap doors. That's the fifth time you fall into that one."

Ray bows his head and grits his teeth. Poor guy.

"Drake, easier with the ice slides. They get into everyone else's way. And Wright, nice rescue scene. Usually we had to end the simulation to get Crisp outta there."

Ray glares daggers at Logan. Some others snicker.

"Okay, you're all dismissed. Go take a shower."

The others rush out, cheering. I'm ready to do the same, when...

"Elsie? A word."

I definately don't like the sound of that. Logan waits until everyone is out and the door closes. I try to look into his eyes and see what's this all about, but it's like staring at a wall.

"Now. Anything particular you'd like to tell me?"

"Well... no...?"

I don't like the look on Logan's face.

"Let me help you then. Something about last night?"

Drat! How does he...

"I found this just outside the gate", he says, taking out the sandal I lost last night. "So, again - where've you been? Don't worry, I'm not gonna bite you", he adds. "Chuck knows you went out last night, but I thought I'd give you a chance to explain yourself."

"I just went out for a walk", I mumble. "I couldn't sleep. Went to a look-out point."

"Flying?"

"Only until I was outside the mansion."

Liar, my conscience shouts.

Shut up, you.

Liar, it insists.

I said--

Liar!

Okie-dokie, I'ma liar. Happy?

Yes. Liar!

Sometimes I hate my conscience.

"So that was it. Anyone you met on your little stroll?"

"Yeah", I say half-heartedly. "Quicksilver. He couldn't sleep neither. We talked. And that's all."

For a second, Logan frowns, and I think, that's it, I'm doomed. But then he grins.

"So this was all just a little date. I see."

"It wasn't a date!" I protest. "I didn't even know he would be there!"

"Okay, kid. I understand. Now run off and take a shower."

I take a few steps towards the door, then turn around. "Mister Logan... how much exactly does Professor Xavier know?"

He grins again. "Just that you went out. And", he adds, noticing the concerned look on my face, "I won't tell him anything else. Your secret's safe with me."

"Really? Thanks!" With that, I bolt through the door.