"What else can you tell me about the sisters, Professor?"

The question hung in the air, laced with a curiosity that had long gone unanswered. Teresa's eyes lingered on Charles, searching for any sign that he might finally reveal the answers she had been yearning to uncover.

For a brief moment, she saw it— a flicker in his gaze that suggested he was willing to offer a few clues about the sisters. His lips parted as if to speak, and Teresa leaned in slightly, eager for the revelations that were about to unfold. But just as quickly as the moment had come, it was interrupted. A sharp knock echoed through the room, breaking the spell. Charles paused, turning his head toward the door. He closed his eyes for a second, his eyebrows furrowing in concentration as he reached out with his mind to identify the visitor.

When he opened his eyes again, he turned back to Teresa with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Teresa, but I'll have to cut our conversation short for now. Scott is waiting outside to give me the team's progress report for the week."

That's right.

Teresa nodded, recalling the routine Scott and Warren had mentioned to her before. Every week, usually on Fridays or Saturdays, the team leaders were required to submit a detailed report on their group's progress. It was a task initially meant for the team leader alone, but since the newest team had yet to officially appoint a leader, Charles had devised a series of tests and challenges for the two leading candidates, Scott and Warren.

Teresa had just remembered about the daily routine both Scott and Warren had told her about before. At the end of every week, usually on Fridays or Saturdays, both Scott and Warren are required to send a full report on the team's progress. It was supposed to be an assignment for the leader only, but since there hasn't been one yet in the newest one, Charles has been giving out several tests and tasks for the two potential candidates to do.

Scott always chose to submit his reports sometime after finishing his training, often scribbling them down in secret during classes or, on more than one occasion, skipping those classes entirely just to complete them.

Quite responsible of him. Teresa thought sarcastically.

But she couldn't exactly say that Warren was doing much better. Teresa had read both of their reports before, and while Warren's observations, critiques, and advice were sharp and insightful— more so than Scott's, in her opinion —his punctuality left much to be desired. Warren had a bad habit of submitting his reports at the last possible minute, and occasionally, he even missed the deadline by a hair, causing Hank a small amount of frustration.

Then there was Warren's tendency for getting into trouble. It was almost a given that if there was a fight brewing, Warren was somehow connected to it— either as a direct participant or as someone whose actions had sparked the conflict in the first place. Despite his sharp mind and valuable insights, his impulsive nature made him a wild card.

Tough choices indeed. Teresa mused, a hint of amusement playing on her lips.

Warren's brilliance, paired with his reckless nature, was a curious combination. Yet, she couldn't help but feel as if his chaotic energy might just be what the team needed. In his own unpredictable way, Warren might make a good leader.

Teresa waved off his apologies with a dismissive gesture, not at all bothered by the interruption. "I have to get to class soon anyway, before Ms. Thompson gets angry with me."

Charles nodded, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Then you must hurry because I think you'll find her class today quite interesting." He offered her a small, warm smile, the kind that softened the sternness of his usual demeanour.

Teresa recognized that smile. It was the same one Charles often wore around the younger mutants, a gesture meant to express warmth and comfort, much like a father's reassurance to his children. It was a warmth Teresa had never known in her own life. Though she was aware of her father, he remained oblivious to her existence, a secret she had no interest in revealing. Her childhood in the orphanage had been lacking such fatherly affection, leaving her with little desire for the connection others seemed to cherish.

Yet, she had witnessed this kind of bond in others. Jubilee Lee— a bright, cheerful girl with the ability to generate pyrotechnic energy plasmoids, or "little fireworks," as she liked to call them —often spoke of her father with a fondness that Teresa found both foreign and fascinating. Jubilee's father, one of the rare parents openly supportive of their mutant child, emitted warmth and love. And in moments like this, when Charles offered that comforting smile, she could almost imagine what it might have been like to feel such a connection.

It wasn't done in an inappropriate manner, but it felt genuinely heartfelt. Given that most students at the school carried scars from their pasts— often abandoned by their families or never having known them at all —Charles' presence was a small beacon of hope.

Not a hope for improvement in one person's life, but for a better future for everyone. His warmth and support offered a glimmer of optimism that things could get better, not just for Teresa or any individual, but for all who sought solace and healing at the school.

As Teresa observed this, she began to understand why and how Charles had gotten such a loyal following. His ability to inspire hope and foster a sense of belonging was not just admirable— it was the very foundation of the trust and dedication so many felt toward him.

Teresa closed the door with a soft click and was immediately met with Scott, who, true to Charles's words, was waiting outside. He was holding several sheets of paper, each covered in messy handwriting scrawled in blue ink— something Teresa recognized instantly as his. Scott had a peculiar preference for blue pens, insisting on using them whenever possible. But today, the ink seemed to mirror the state he was in. His hair was damp, his breath still heavy, and the handwriting was even more chaotic than usual, all signs pointing to a particularly gruelling training session that morning.

Scott's eyes widened slightly when he saw Teresa, clearly surprised to find her there. After a moment, his expression shifted to one of understanding, and he gave her a look that unmistakably said, "We'll talk later." Teresa just nodded back in response, acknowledging the unspoken agreement between them.

Noticing how unsteadily Scott was balancing the papers, Teresa instinctively reached for the door handle, opening it for him. She had the feeling that some of his papers might drop if he tried to manage it himself. Scott offered her a grateful smile and a quick "thanks" before stepping inside. Once he was through, Teresa shut the door again, leaving them to their respective tasks.

Much to her surprise, Teresa began to feel a wave of fatigue and drowsiness wash over her. She silently scolded herself for not going back to sleep the night before. Normally, she had little trouble falling back to sleep, but last night had been different, and now she regretted not taking the opportunity. No wonder Hank always insisted that everyone get as much sleep as possible— she could already feel the effects creeping in.

After a few moments, though, Teresa shrugged the feeling off. She had endured worse in the past, going entire nights without a wink of sleep. The side effects were always horrendous when she finally returned to a regular sleep schedule, and Miss Jane's death glares and stern lectures on the importance of proper rest were still fresh in her mind. But Teresa was confident she could handle one sleepless night. After all, she could always take a long nap in the afternoon once her classes were over.

An urge suddenly struck Teresa to pass by Sofia's classroom to see how she was doing. However, a quick glance at her watch— a gift from Miss Jane before she left for the school —made her realise that if she did, she'd risk missing the remainder of her own class. With a sigh of resignation, Teresa decided to hurry back to catch at least some of the material being taught that day.

When Teresa arrived at her classroom, she knocked on the door before gently opening it and peeking inside. "Apologies for being late, Ms. Thompson. I was called to Professor Xavier's office," she informed the teacher, who waved it off with little concern.

"He mentioned it. Just take your seat, Teresa," Ms. Thompson replied, gesturing to an empty seat beside a brown-haired girl that Teresa didn't recognize— a surprise, given that she knew all of her classmates.

Teresa didn't mind the unfamiliar face, however. She followed Ms. Thompson's instructions and made her way to the vacant seat. As she settled in, she allowed herself a quick glance at the girl beside her. She observed her features for only a few moments before turning away— it was rude to stare, after all. But during that brief observation, Teresa couldn't help but notice a resemblance to a blonde girl she had passed the other day after classes.

Teresa hummed quietly to herself as she settled in, but her thoughts were interrupted when she felt something nudge her hand. Glancing down, she noticed a notebook being offered to her. She looked up at the brown-haired girl beside her, slightly surprised by the gesture.

"Thought you might need the notes today," the girl remarked with a small smile, retracting her hand but leaving the notebook on Teresa's desk.

"Thank you," Teresa nodded in appreciation, taking the notebook. After a brief moment, curiosity got the better of her. "Have we met before? You seem quite familiar."

The girl shook her head gently. "I doubt it. I'm new here, but you might have met my sister, Elizabeth," she explained, extending her right hand for a handshake. "Hailey Horan."

Teresa immediately accepted Hailey's hand, shaking it gently yet firmly. "Teresa Rosalie," she introduced herself.

"I know," Hailey nodded as she retracted her hand.

Teresa raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "I highly doubt that," she replied. Teresa was always careful to stay low-key and out of the spotlight, so it didn't make sense for a new student to suddenly know about her.

"Our tour guide told us a little about you. A guy with wings?" Hailey said, a hint of amusement in her voice. Teresa instantly knew who she was referring to at the mention of "wings."

"That would be Warren," Teresa replied, rolling her eyes in exasperation and making a mental note to get her revenge later. "Didn't he bother to mention his own name on the tour?"

A small smile tugged on Hailey's lips. "He seemed to miss that part. A guy named Peter Maximoff was supposed to lead the tour. It was going well, even with his constant bragging, until halfway through when the winged boy appeared and Peter left us with him. Before he took off, he said there was something urgent he needed to do but assured us we were in great hands."

"That doesn't sound like Peter," Teresa remarked, knowing all too well how cocky her half-brother could be.

"In capable hands, but second best to his, is what I recall he actually said," Hailey added, clearly amused at the memory.

"That sounds like Peter," Teresa nodded, chuckling at Peter's typical antics. "But when he says it's urgent, he's probably talking about his afternoon gaming session with Kurt and Scott."

Hailey nodded. "That explains why I found him lounging in the living room after the tour. He claimed he'd just finished his training and wanted to get some 'well-deserved' rest."

"With Kurt and Scott?" Teresa asked, recalling how bruised and beaten up Scott had looked the night before. But she quickly realized the question might be lost on Hailey since she likely hadn't met them yet. "Sorry, you probably haven't met them."

Hailey shook her head, not bothered by the slip. "No need to apologize. Actually, I do know who Scott is. Peter introduced him to everyone. He's the... leader of the X-Men...?" She frowned slightly, trying to recall the details.

"Not exactly," Teresa replied, clicking her tongue in mild disagreement. "There hasn't been an official leader chosen yet, but if you ask anyone at school, they'll quickly say it's either Scott or Warren."

"They're fighting for the position then?" Hailey stated rather than questioned, her curiosity clearly piqued.

Teresa only shrugged. "That's the team's business, not ours." She didn't particularly care about the details of the team's internal matters unless it was something crucial, like Charles finally choosing a leader. Either way, knowing Scott and Warren, if either of them actually got chosen, she'd have to deal with the other going through the five stages of grief and loads of complaining. It wasn't something she looked forward to, so she felt a bit relieved that no leader had been chosen yet, though she couldn't help but wonder why.

As her thoughts drifted back to her earlier conversation with Charles, Teresa began to replay his last words in her mind. She realized she'd missed something important in the moment, distracted as she was. Charles had mentioned she would find the lesson interesting, but the first fifteen minutes of the lecture had left her feeling bored. Then, it dawned on her— Charles wasn't referring to the subject matter itself, but rather to a certain student who had joined the class.

Hailey Horan.

A look of surprise settled on Hailey's face when Teresa mentioned it. "You're not part of the team?"

Teresa raised an eyebrow, and Hailey quickly interpreted it as a sign of slight offense, though Teresa was more intrigued than offended. "I apologize if that's a bit too straightforward—"

Teresa shook her head gently. "There's no need for that. Honestly, I find it refreshing— much better than beating around the bush." She noticed the faint twitch of Hailey's lips, hinting at a smile, a subtle gesture that didn't escape her observation.

"And to answer your question," Teresa continued, "No, I'm not part of the team."

Hailey tilted her head slightly, her curiosity unmasked. "Why, if I may ask?" Her tone was light and casual, almost like a child innocently inquiring about the world, much like Sofia often did with Teresa.

Teresa shrugged, offering a simple explanation. "Too focused on my studies," she replied, leaving it at that.

Though it wasn't as simple as Teresa made it seem. There were various reasons why she had never joined the team, even when Charles, Hank, and Scott had tried to persuade her. They didn't fully understand the extent of her powers, but they knew enough to believe that her abilities would be a great asset to the team. However, Teresa had never been interested. Her 'simple' explanation was just one of the many reasons, but it was always the one she chose to use rather than complicating things by explaining the entire story.

"Why? Would you like to join the team?" Teresa asked, her tone light yet probing.

Hailey shook her head with a small smile. "I'm afraid I can't handle all the responsibilities that come with it."

Teresa wasn't particularly invested in whether Hailey wanted to join the team or not, but she was intrigued by the reason behind all of Hailey's questions. Of course, they could just be out of simple curiosity, but after observing her responses and demeanor, Teresa had a suspicion. It wouldn't be surprising if Charles or Hank were already considering trying to persuade Hailey to join the team. While Teresa had only just met her, she was certain of Hailey's potential, and she knew the others would see it too.