Scene [Alison] All it takes is a phone call...

[x-dazzler.livejournal.com]

Friday morning. Alison receives a phone call at the school, which sets in motion further events for the day. Paige was, indeed, exactly where she said she would be. Was.

"Hello. Alison Blaire, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters?"

Alison blinked at the voice, staring at the phone for a moment before placing it back against her ear. The mix of horribly business like with a tinge of something she couldn't quite identify yet wasn't what she'd expected when told there was an incoming call for her.

"Yes, speaking. Um, may I help you with something?" The question seemed to linger for a moment across the line.

"Well, maybe. We hope so. I'm Melanie Osgood from the registrar's office at MIT? Now, we had one of your students in for a first interview, exceptional young lady I've been told, Miss Paige Guthrie? And she left your name as the reference to be contacted at Xavier's and we were wondering if you could help us."

Alison's heart stopped for a moment, and her answer was faint enough that she had to repeat it before the woman went on. It took a few seconds before Alison caught on to what was being said, however.

"...and well, the thing is since she didn't show up for the second interview despite showing great enthusiasm for what we had to offer her, from what we could tell, and we were wondering if it were possible to get in contact with her to confirm... who we should congratulate for nabbing her as a student." The woman's voice now clearly showed a reluctant admission that they felt Paige had been an exceptionally interesting potential student and as such, that losing her to another institution was a sore blow.

"She didn't show up for her second interview?" Chest tight, Alison asked the question carefully, getting a polite confirmation of that as well as the time and date of it. "I see. Thank you. Yes, I'll let her know to get in contact with you. Of course, if she changes her mind I'll make sure you're advised immediately. No, we have no other students at this time applying for MIT but – yes, I see. Of course, thank you for your kindness. I'll let any student we have interested in MIT know you said as much. Yes, thank you. Goodbye."

Setting the phone down in its cradle, Alison stared at it for a long time. Whatever this was about, it wasn't premeditated. It wasn't planned, it wasn't anything to be guessed at, to be known about. Paige had gone to the first round of interviews, they'd known she had.

Which meant something had happened.

Alison headed for her room and her portable. To access Paige's files and find out about the other places the girl had applied to, to call them up.

To find out if she'd missed any other appointments to any other of those as well.

And if so, since when.