Think it

"It's okay." Ashley thought at Jean. She could feel her own insincerity, but Jean seemed to **** down her panic. Ashley realized that Jean being calmer was making her calm too, and wondered if part of the problem had been some sort of panic feedback loop.

"You're right. It's possible a more powerful or experienced telepath will be able to break it, or even that it will go away when we sleep."

Ashley thought about the first suggestion. What if they got someone to try and break it, and they just get stuck too?

"Obviously though, you are a mutant. If you agree to come to Xavier's-"

"Of course I do!" Ashley thought back.

"Then I'll head back there and arrange matters. I'm looking forward to you joining us."

Ashley could have seen Jean's worry even if she wasn't still feeling it in the back of her mind. The woman didn't even speak to Ashley's mom on the way out, she was so wrapped up in her own thoughts.

Ashley ended up going to bed early. Feeling the other woman's negative emotions was too unpleasant. Maybe in the morning, things would be better.

Ashley was walking down a hall, worrying. She reached her door, and opened it. A handsome man in sunglasses stood up, and Ashley was in love with him. The man walked over, and kissed Ashley on the lips, her first kiss. "I missed you." he said, and Ashley felt his hands, pulling her into him, as desire flowed up through her.

"Not tonight." she heard herself saying. "Things went somewhat poorly with the recruitment, and our minds got linked. There's a chance that... strong stimuli would be transferred over to her." Ashley couldn't help but feel disappointed. She had been hoping to lose her virginity to this man. Why had she said that other thing instead, when she wanted to have sex? Maybe she could still steer things back on track though, say something else, or just go for it.