Charles Francis Xavier tried to project confidence as he walked into the first day of high school. He looked rather crisp, dressed studiously in a sweater that gave him a "college" sort of vibe. He was ready for a new beginning. The awkward middle school days were over at last.

So many minds were touching his... most made brief connections as other students walked past, but a few lingered a while longer. He didn't have to constantly turn his head, looking at everything, to be aware of everyone's presence. His mind soaked it all in. There was the nerves of other incoming freshmen, there was the cockiness of seniors. He felt the socially awkward, the extremely extroverted, and everyone in between.

THUD! Dazed, he slowly stood up and realized he had just run into a wall. He was met with several judgmental stares as he reoriented himself and continued on his way.

"Excuse me," a voice with an accent Charles couldn't quite place spoke. He turned to see a boy about his age, wearing a leather jacket and a black turtleneck. "I believe you dropped this." He held out a coin.

"Oh, erm, thank you," Charles replied awkwardly, accepting the coin he wasn't quite sure was his, and, having nothing else to do with it, shoving it into his pocket. "I'm Charles, Charles Xavier," he said, extending his hand.

"Erik," the stranger replied, shaking his hand after a pause that was slightly too long. Charles was overwhelmed with images from Erik's past. There was an explosion of pain, anger, and thirst for justice. He gasped and pulled his mind away. Erik gave him a questioning look. "...There's apple pecan pie in the commons, if you'd care to join me," he said, and walked off. Charles raised an eyebrow.

I see hope in you. Erik stopped.

"What the hell?" he mumbled to himself.

I know everything. I've felt your pain... I can help you. You have to trust me. Erik turned.

"Why should I?"

It doesn't have to be like thi-

Something flashed between them. It was so fast they might not have known it was there, except for the space it moved around them, like a rapid gust of wind. It was there for a second, and then it was gone. There was a touch of Pink Floyd in the air.

A boy with whitish hair and stylish goggles appeared behind Erik. He seemed to be getting impatient, and stared off into space several times, each time with an even more amusing expression than the last, before finally tapping Erik's shoulder.

"Did someone say apple pecan pie?"