After training was over, Emma and Sean were fairly pleased with each other and no arguments were produced. Which translated into a sure fire sign for seventh period. In the locker room, after we took quick showers, we rushed back to class. I sat at my desk, reading a note Paige had given to me a few minutes ago. When I reached to my bag for a pen to write my response, a small paper wad hit my hand. I glanced back to find who launched it. While Jubilee seemed a likely candidate Jono was looking straight at me.

("Later,") he sent, answering my almost forgotten question.

After I went to the "Library" to finish my biology report. It was one of the lesser used buildings on campus. It's kinda strange to think about it, the fact that there are dozens of buildings scattered all over the place, most of which we never use. Anyhow, Paige and I had noticed a few months ago that a Library was mentioned on one of the computer displays of the grounds. We had spent an entire morning locating it, it was on the far western side of campus.

I think it fell into disuse only a few years before the academy was re-opened. It had obviously been used by the former students, chewing gum was stuck under the chairs and a few names had been inscribed onto the tables. It was the kind of place that made you think of those old movies where some little kid is sent to an English mansion and discovers a "secret place" that has been forgotten. The book shelves all had a thin film of dust, and the desks had plastic sheets draped over them. Slowly drifting particles of dust were illuminated by the streams of light that filtered through the sky light and caused shadows to stretch across the room. Despite the oak floors and the general antiquated appearance of the place, the books were modern and a computer was in the back.

When I had finished with my notes, instead of leaving, I found myself tucking my feet up under me and just thinking. I hadn't ever imagined myself in a place like this, at this school, that is. I wouldn't have guessed it in a million years. It's not that I had grown up in poor living conditions, because I hadn't, or because I didn't know I would be a mutant. It was just that I had never pictured myself leaving "home." Of course, coming here wasn't my first big trip from home, not by any means, but it was so different from any plans that I had ever had for myself, it seemed almost out of place. I couldn't say why my thoughts are drifting in this direction, just reminiscing, I guess.

I hadn't realized how long I had been in the library until Everett came in.

I looked up from the smudge on the floor that I had been staring at. I smiled, "Hi."

"Hey." He disappeared momentarily behind a shelf and reappeared with several books. He walked to my table and sat down across from me. I glanced at my watch, 7:15, I had missed supper. Paige was cooking tonight. Despite the initial trepidation of eating the cooking of a peer, all doubts had been removed once I had tasted something she had made. I guess since she grew up on a farm with half a dozen siblings, she must have learned good "southern cookin' " somewhere allong the way.

"So, how was dinner?" I inquired.

He glanced up from it notes. "It was great, we had pot roast."

"I love pot roast," I commented thinking about the roast my mom used to fix. Ev, deep in concentration on his notes, apparently hadn't heard me. Which probably worked out for the better, it was the kind of nostalgic remark that no one ever appreciated.

After a few moments, I gathered my things and headed back to kitchen. Someone had already cleaned up so I went to bathe in the glow of the fridge light. Finding no remains of the pot roast, I went to the walk in freezer and found some frozen lasagna that had been made a few weeks ago. While it was in the microwave, I poured myself a glass of milk to accompany it and found a fork. When the timer rang, I took my food to the den to watch re-runs of Seinfield.

I had decided to go to Jonothan's room tonight to talk to him. But I wasn't sure how to do this. My presence in the boys dorm alone would be conspicuous enough to raise suspicions, more so if someone saw me in Jono's room. Which meant, I was going to have to sneak in; I didn't care if Emma found out or not, she would surely find out my motives were innocent enough, it was everyone else I was worried about.

I already knew from the computer that Jono was in his room; knowing Jono, he wouldn't come out until tomorrow or so. Normally, I would just wait, but Beth would be here tomorrow, and I wouldn't want to ditch her so I could have a talk with Jono. So it had to be tonight, then.

I walked down the hall and went outside. I followed the path to the guy's dorm and paused outside the main entrance. I enquired from the computer monitor as to who was in the dorm.

<"Espanosa, Angelo. Mondo. Starsmore, Jonothan,"> it chirped quietly in an androgynous voice.

"What is the location of Angelo Espanosa?"

<"Angelo Espanosa is in room 209.">

So, he was in his room. I think Jono's room was a couple of doors down. All of the guys had their rooms on the same side of the hall, I remembered that much from my one visit to their dorm. For safety's sake, I asked which room was Jono's.

<"Room 211">

I think Mondo's room was between the two. I finally, opened the door and went inside. To my left, there was a hall that went the length of the building. To the right, a staircase. I ascended the stairs as quietly as I could. Angelo's was the first room, facing the stairs and Jono's was two to the left.

I knocked on the door softly and sent, "It's me."

In a few moments, the door opened. He made a vague gesture with his left hand, I took it as an invitation and stepped in. He wore his usual black jeans and a white t-shirt. The black bandages that he wore were visible through the material. The bandages covered his upper arm, as well as his lower face and neck. I saw his jacket on the bed.

Well, I had spent most of the evening deciding on if I should come or not, and now that I was here I didn't know what to do. So much for forethought.

"Shades of Gray" 6/?, by Me. Send comments to monet@uky.campus.mci.net