A few moments ago,

Storm was chilling in the teacher's lounge while leaning back on the chair, drinking tea, when suddenly...

* BANG *

The door of the teacher's lounge was slammed open as an overexcited Mystique burst into the room and exclaimed, "ORORO!!"

"JESUS CHRIST!!" Storm almost jumped out of her chair from the sudden noise and the excitement on Mystique's face.

Seeing her frozen with her eyes wide open, Storm immediately knew that she was in a good mood, so she asked, "Raven, are you alright?"

"Hahaha!" Mystique started to laugh and, after a few seconds, replied, "OF COURSE, I AM! GUESS WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?!"

She exclaimed with extreme enthusiasm that her shouting and excitement could almost be seen radiating off of her.

Storm found it difficult to understand what she meant but still managed to reply, "W-What happened?"

"THE BIG NEWS! GUESS!"

Mystique jumped onto the chair beside her and got all too comfortable as she waited for her answer.

"I don't know!" Storm sighed in frustration and answered.

"Starlance is back!" Mystique couldn't keep calm any longer and shouted while waving her hands.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, a strange feeling appeared in Storm's chest when she heard his name.

Mystique noticed a slight blush spread across her cheeks, grinned, and asked, "Say, Ororo, how would you react if you were able to meet Starlance again?"

Storm quickly glanced away and tried to conceal her embarrassment.

"Did you ever think that one day, you and Starlance would end up being a couple and..." Mystique smiled evilly, "Maybe... sleep together in bed?"

Storm could feel her body heating up at those lewd and indecent thoughts that began running through her mind. It was as if a switch had suddenly turned on in her brain, giving her new and unrealistic thoughts. She snapped back into reality and glared at Mystique but quickly held back when she remembered their deal. So, she asked her, "How do you know he's back? He's been..." She used her hands to put air quotes and continued, "Missing for a few months. How do you know?"

Mystique smirked and replied, "Because he sent me a text."

She took out her Chrono and showed her a text which she had received a few minutes ago from him, and it said: 'Hello Raven, I'm back. Arriving at the school in a few minutes. Love you 🧡'

"See!!" Mystique smiled and waved the device before her face.

Storm read the message, but she couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy when she read the last words.

"Anyway, " Mystique put the Chrono back and said, "He should be arriving in a few minutes, and..."

An evil smirk appeared on her face, and she pointed her finger at Storm and continued, "... it's time for our plan to commence!"

"Plan? Which plan are you talking about?" Storm gulped and asked.

"Oh, please!" Mystique rolled her eyes and said, "Don't pretend to have forgotten it already!"

Storm recalled it instantly, and with a somewhat reddened face, she looked away and said, "I haven't."

"Perfect! Just remember everything I told you. Be careful and make sure you do everything the way we planned."

"O-Okay, I will try." Storm nodded while slightly shivering. She really didn't know whether everything would go the way it had been planned or not. She hadn't anticipated these strange emotions coming into her, the excitement, nervousness, joy, and uncertainty of what was to come.

"Alright! We have a few minutes to get ready. Let's move!"

Suddenly, an unknown sound similar to a soundwave or a sonic boom echoed from above.

* BOOM *

Mystique looked up and smiled. She looked back at Storm, grabbed her shoulders, and said, "Well, I guess we have less time than I thought. He's arrived sooner than I expected."

Her eyes fell on the stack of papers on the table, and an idea formed in her mind, which she quickly expressed by saying, "Quickly, take these papers and run along. There's no

time. It's showtime!"

Mystique pointed toward the hallway outside the door and continued, "Run as if your life depended on it!"

"W-What? W-Why?" Storm gulped and asked.

"Don't waste time on asking stupid things. The window is closing soon. HURRY!!"

Seeing Mystique push her forward, she did as she said. Storm picked up the papers and got up from the chair. She looked at Mystique and said, "I needed to bring these papers

to the other building. I should go through the library door."

Mystique quickly shook her head in response and said, "No. No. Use the front door."

Seeing Storm's confused face, Mystique hurriedly waved her hands and pushed her out of the lounge, saying, "Go go go!"

As she was being pushed out of the room, Storm glanced back and asked, "But—"

Mystique saw Storm hesitantly, but there wasn't any time, so she cut her off and said firmly, "Trust me! Now go!"

Mystique slightly pushed Storm one last time, making her stagger forward a little bit, and without even glancing at her, ran back inside the Teacher's Lounge.

Storm looked back and sighed, thinking, 'Whatever!'

She quickly regained her balance and, without a second's delay, sprinted down the hallway toward the front door.

However, before she could open it, she saw the door being opened and somebody stepping into the hallway.

"Ohh shitt!" She murmured while trying to stop herself, but it was too late.

* CRASH *