This is my first fanfic, and I'm hoping to write the whole book in Xav's POV. I know this has probably been done before but I just wanted to give it a go. So please review and give me some advice.

Chapter 2

The next few days passed in a blur. Mum came over to Denver and congratulated Trace on finding his soulfinder. I chatted to Diamond a lot and found out that she and Trace were planning to get married before Christmas, which meant they got to have a honeymoon in the holidays. Trace was very traditional, meaning we had to have matching suits with matching carnation on them. I was tormented by my brothers on the topic of Crystal, who had been very quiet through all this, keeping a low profile, saying she felt shaky after the mugging and changed the dates on her air ticket, but I knew she was only doing this because she felt like a burden to her sister.

'So, Xav, how are things? I heard about some incident and was wondering if you'd care to fill us in,' Will asked, acting all innocent. I suspiciously looked at him before replying.

'And what incident is this?'

'Oh you know, the one with the girl you like rejecting you.'

'I wonder who,'

'Some very tall girl with blonde hair. From Venice. Ring any bells?' Victor smirked and I decided to act like I had no clue what they were talking about.

'And who could this mysterious girl be, Victor.'

'You know we're talking about Crystal,' Uriel had decided to join in with torturing me. Before I could reply with a comeback, Wonder Boy Yves came down.

'What's going on?'

'Nothing interesting; Just the fact that poor Xav here has been turned down by the love of his life. And by the love of his life, I mean Crystal,' Victor chose to get Fireboy Yves involved and gave an me evil look. Might as well get Zed now.

Seriously man, do you have to bring Wonder Boy in. What have I ever done? I quickly telepathed him. I had played several pranks on big brother before, but he always got his revenge. Last year, when I ruined his date with Rachel, by putting a mouse in her meal and dunking her in fruit juice, Victor made me humiliate myself in front of the whole school by making me wear some Disney PJs at the Summer Fair and say I'm gay. Disadvantages of having a brother who can manipulate your mind.

'Hmm. Really. I'd say this is rather interesting,' Yves smirked and gave me a knowing look.

'I see you guys simply don't understand simple English and I'm actually quite shocked at you Yves. I would've thought you would understand, since you're the one with the big brain.'

'Right, you don't like her. However, she's the same age and her birthday's around yours. So, what if she is your soulfinder?' Will asked me, raising an eyebrow. The apartment door opened and Trace walked in. 'Xav, I need a favour.'

'Again? What is it?' I asked half annoyed, though secretly I was glad for the distraction from Crystal.

'Diamond and I were wondering if you could drop Crystal to the airport tomorrow as she's going back to Italy.' I groaned, watching Yves grin widen.

'Crystal, did you say? Cuz I'm sure Xav would love to.' Yves informed Trace, smiling sweetly at me. To make matters worse, little brother Zed appeared.

'Glad you could make it Zed. Why don't you join our little party?' I said sarcastically, glaring at Yves. Zed looked puzzled. 'And Trace I can, but right now I have to deal with some patients at the hospital.' I turned around and left, but not before I heard a very confused Zed. 'Wh..what the..what's going on?'

...

I finished work at 7 the next morning and went down to the hotel lobby and waited with a cup of coffee in the reception. Someone was shaking my shoulder gently and I realized I had fallen asleep. 'Wha – oh, it's you.' I looked up to see Diamond smiling gently at me. I got up and stretched. 'Sorry, I pulled an all-nighter yesterday.' A case was dumped by my toes and I hastily gathered them in.

'Such an amazing social life you lead,' I could instantly recognize from the sarcasm, that Crystal had arrived. She seemed to find everything I did annoying and I couldn't help but smile. Every other girl would laugh but not Crystal.

'An all-nighter, at the hospital.' Crystal looked surprised at my comment. Diamond elbowed her. 'Xav's volunteering as he intends to study medicine.'

'Oh. Sorry. Good for you,' Crystal quickly muttered an apology.

'It's OK darlin'. I'm glad I had you fooled. Got an image to maintain, you know? So, this all your stuff?' I eyed her case. 'What time's the flight again?' Diamond gave me the details of the flight, whilst Crystal stood with her arms crossed, looking like she wanted to say something rude.

'We'd better get going then. See you later, Diamond. I'll make sure little sister gets her plane.' I picked up Crystal's case and carried it over to the car, giving her time to say bye to her sister. I chucked her case in the back of my jeep and opened the car door for her. 'Climb in, Beauty.' Crystal frowned in disdain and I couldn't help but feel a bit angry with her. If she had a problem with my jeep, she could just get out.

'So, you want to be a doctor then?'

'Hey, are we going to have a normal conversation?' I put the car into drive. 'Yup, if I can afford it. I'm trying to earn some money to pay my way through college.' I pulled into the traffic and followed the signs to the airport.

She glanced at my clothes like they were the reason as to why I had no money. 'But I thought your family was rich?'

'No, we're not. Only Wonder Boy Yves has the dough and none of us will touch a cent, though he does try to sneakily give us stuff. Sorry to disappoint but we're just working folk. Mom and Dad are ski instructors in the winter and run a white water rafting school in the summer. Dad also manages the ski lift. I'd be the first doctor in the family if I make it through.' I glanced over at Crystal and caught a glimpse of what she was thinking. I saw myself wafting through a ward with adoring nurses following on my white coat tails. I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from laughing.

'I don't know what it's like here, but European doctors have to be very careful how they address patients. Have you not heard of political correctness?'

I smirked. 'Heard, but in my opinion that's a fancy name for being polite.'

'It might surprise you, but women like to be treated as equals. If you call your female patients "cupcake" you'll find they'll slap you...with a writ.'

This time, I couldn't hold in my laughter. 'Don't worry: I know where to draw the line. I'll just make sure I call the men "cupcake" too, so no one can accuse me of ignoring equal opportunities. But thanks for worrying about me, Beauty.'

She folded her arms across her chest. 'Please stop calling me that.'

'Fine.' I drummed my hands on the wheel and glanced back at Crystal, before turning back to the traffic. 'Hey, Beau – my respected and very equal cupcake, what've I done to annoy you? Every time I talk to you, you get all riled up like a cat. I keep expecting that any moment I'm going to get scratched to bits, you know, like Androcles.'

She looked puzzled and frustrated at the same time, so she clearly didn't know who Androcles was. 'I just don't like people who pretend I'm something I'm clearly not.'

'Huh?' OK, what did that even mean? 'You've lost me.'

'It's not difficult. When you look like me, any comment about my appearance is going to be an insult or a lie.'

I just had to laugh. What was it with Crystal and not accepting compliments? She needed to start accepting the fact that she was pretty and not care what everyone else thought.

'OK,I'm tall: get over it. I want to be judged for who I am, not what people see.'

'Ah, you are one of those intellectual girls who like to be admired for their brains rather than their beauty? I've heard Europe is full of those.' I started humming and overtook a truck in front of us.

'I'm not intellectual,' she muttered. For god's sake, why couldn't this girl accept a small compliment and why was she so insecure?

'Strange, because girls here are usually happy with praise of both. I like to make people – and here I do mean girls as I'm not sweet-talking the other kind – I like to make them feel good about themselves. Inside and out.' I gave her a wink that sent the blood rushing to her cheeks and I couldn't help but feel glad I made her blush.

'Just don't feel you have to try with me.'

I sighed. We would never have a normal conversation. 'You are one complicated chick.'

'Chick!'

I laughed at her outraged expression. It was actually rather cute. 'Knew you'd rise to my bait! Just knew it. You have to realise, darlin', that 'tease' is my middle name."

"Oh, really? Did you know that 'punisher-of-those-who-call-girls-chicks' is mine?"

"Nope. That really trips of the tongue, doesn't it?" She was trying not to laugh.

"Just bear it in mind, Mr Benedict."

"Anything you say, Miss Brook." I put the radio on, to cover the silence but also to enjoy some music. Train's 'Hey Soul Sister' blared out before I could adjust the volume. I sang along, tapping the beat on the wheel, partly to annoy Crystal but mostly cuz I loved the song, though I would never admit it. We arrived at the airport halfway through the song and the radio died when I cut the engine.

'Before you get out, Crystal, there's something I promised Trace I'd ask you.' I suddenly felt awkward and rubbed the back of my neck.

'What's that? Is it something I can do for Trace in Venice? I'm happy to help, really I am, even if I give the impression I'm a bit...' she trailed off and I cocked an eyebrow, interested in the unexpected direction she'd taken. 'Go in: even though you're...?'

'A grump?'

I was unable to contain my laughter. "You said it. Yup, if you were one of the seven dwarfs, that's the one I'd pick for you."

"And you're what? Dopey?"

"Got it in one. He's my role model. But no, it was nothing like that he asked me. It's just that he's got this thing that I have got to check if I have a soulfinder bond with every Savant of the right date of birth even if it does seem, um, unlikely."

'Diamond's the same. But look at me, Xav, and tell me what you think is going on here. I saw your brother and my sister – bang: instant link, just like that.' She studied her nails nervously. 'I don't quite see that for us, do you?'

I gave her a wry grin. 'I'm glad you said it. And no. You and I – we are, I guess, not on the same wavelength.'

'You're DVD region one and I'm two after all.'

'Yeah, exactly. But could we just do it, so I can say we tried?'

'Do what?' Crystal squeaked and I could tell from her expression what she was thinking.

I chuckled. 'Crystal Brook, be ashamed of yourself, girl! We're in a public parking lot. No, not that. I just meant could I talk to you telepathically?'

'If you want me to be sick in your car, then be my guest.' I felt a wave of sympathy for her.

'That bad?'

'Yes. I'm not joking. I get really, really sick when I try it with my family. It sounds stupid, but I'm not really much of a Savant and it seems that gift didn't quite take with me somehow.' She shrugged.

'How about I try just the tiniest touch. You can shut me out as soon as you start feeling bad. Deal?'

Crystal checked her watch. 'I'm not sure I have time.'

'You've printed off your boarding pass already?' I wasn't going to let her get away with this.

'Then you have time.'

She sighed. 'OK. Just a touch. And please, don't laugh at me if I am ill.'

'Would I?'

'Yes, you would.' Wow, I had such a great reputation in her eyes.

'Character assassin.' I offered her my hand. 'I won't laugh. Pinkie promise.'

Crystal took a deep breath and put her the tips of her fingers rest on my palm. I slowly reached into her mind. It went find at first but as soon as I tried to make the link, she whipped her hand away.

'Can't!' She clamped her hand to her mouth and I saw tears brimming in her eyes. I desperately wanted to help her.

'Just take deep breaths. It'll pass.' We say in silence for a few minute, waiting for Crystal to recover.

'I'm OK. Now do you believe me.'

'I never thought you were lying. I just...Look, Crystal, you know my gift?' She nodded in reply. 'It helps me see things. I sensed something was wrong in there but I can't tell more unless I look deeper.' I gestured to her head but that got her fumbling for the door release.

''S OK, Xav. I haven't got time for that now.'

I sprang out from my side and held the door open for her before she'd even untangled her handbag from the seatbelt. 'I don't mean to upset you but you need to do something about it. See a doctor back home, one who knows Savants, if you don't want me to touch you.'

'Yeah, yeah, I'll do that. See doctor. Thanks.' Crystal extended the handle of her suitcase and started trundling it across the tarmac.

'Goodbye, Crystal.'

'Bye. Thanks for the lift.'

'No problem. Take care.' I stared after her, watching as she practically ran for the terminal, looking worried. Feeling a bit guilty for having upset her, I sent a quick text.

Hey, Lion, Let me know how it goes with the doctor. Androcles.

As I got back to my Jeep, I heard my phone buzz with a reply.

Grrr.