"Did you hear about the new kid?" Moira was saying to one of her friends, giggling very loudly for 7:30 in the morning.

"Oh yes, have you seen him?" Someone replied. "He is like, so hot, those blue eyes, and red lips. OhMyGod!" There was some high pitched shrieking.

"I know, totally my type, he isn't much tall, so he'd look perfect with me." Someone else said.

"Hey! I saw him first! He's mine!" Another girl objected.

"But just...have you seen him?" Some one sighed. "He's straight out from Hollywood!" There was some more shrieking and giggling, and Erik couldn't take it anymore.

He closed his locker loudly, hoping to shut up the girls. He was living on three hours of sleep in forty eight hours, and fine, maybe, maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all.

Maybe it was, and he could just sleepwalk the entire day. Barely opening one eye, Erik ignored the girls and tried to make way to the first class of the day. Maybe he could walk with one eye closed. Or both eyes, he thought, feeling sleep take over, as he shuffled forward. That's okay, he won't fall asleep walking.

Ah, sleep was such a nice idea right now. Maybe he should ignore a few classes and sleep somewhere. Yeah, that seemed like a good idea, he thought, head drooping. He pushed the edges of his palms over his eyes, relishing the pressure. Yes, it was not safe walking with your eyes closed, but Erik just didn't care. Nobody dared cross his paths anyways. They'd just make way for him. Because of course...sleep was good, that's all he knew, forgetting what he was thinking a few seconds ago, Erik knew that his mind wasn't functioning properly yet. He rubbed at his temples, hurrying to his class, still deciding whether he should attend them or not. Maybe he- Erik was interrupted in thought process, when yet again, he walked into somebody. This time though, he was walking with extra force, and before he could stop himself, he fell down upon the other person, his brain rattling in the process.

Erik clicked his tongue. Who dared walk into him?

He opened his eyes, and once again, they were met by electric blue eyes.

"Oh, dear," Charles breathed, and Erik noticed how close their lips were.

"Charles!" Erik said, feeling hazy. Because of course, only Charles could walk into him (again), for two adjacent days! Only Charles could look this edible at seven thirty in the morning. And wait, was something different about him?

"Hello, Erik," Charles said, lips curving around the corners.

"Hey um," Erik frowned, despite the smile tugging at his lips. Something was different, the way Charles was talking, but Erik couldn't put a finger on it. The fragrance was the same, the eyes were the same, the accent was the same...yet something was not right.

"I, uh, am sorry," -again, Erik said, getting up. Oh, and that's when he noticed Charles' appearance. The young Brit had risen up to his elbows, (still very much on display for Erik). He wasn't wearing his bright sweaters anymore, but a dark blue tee, with a whitish collar sticking out, and a black jacket that highlighted his blue eyes. His messenger bag was replaced by a backpack, and his glasses were nowhere to be seen. His hair was much shorter, almost shining, and mussed in that just-out-of-sleep look, making him a few degrees hotter than most of the guys in the school.

Erik blinked, not sure what he was seeing. He frowned, tilting his head.

"Charles?" He asked again.

Charles gave a small shrug, reaching out with one hand, eyes blinking. That pushed Erik's senses, and he reached down to pull Charles up to his feet.

"Wow, you look...look so...um, Wow," Erik mumbled, not knowing what he was saying.

Some things were still the same. Like the blush that painted Charles' face, all across his cheeks, and nose, and down his neck, which was now clearly visible because his hair was gone, and Erik wasn't sure whether he was awake or still dreaming.

Charles diverted his eyes for a second, and then looked back to Erik, still smiling softly. Then he bit his lower lip, and for a second, Erik desperately wanted to kiss him.

Erik had to do something soon, before he blurted out stupid things, or did stupid things. So he said, "Sorry for walking into you," unsure whether he really was sorry. Turns out, he wasn't apologetic even a bit.

"That's alright, darling. It was my fault as well, I wasn't watching where I was going," Charles said, and then he might've said something else as well. But Erik wasn't listening, because his heart had skipped a beat on the word darling, and he couldn't avert his eyes away from those luscious lips, even if he tried to.

And then Charles was looking at him, as if expecting Erik to give a reply. Erik opened his mouth, but he wasn't sure what was he supposed to say. And then the bell rang, saving him from embarrassment.

"Well," Charles smiled, "look at that. I'm going to be late if I don't run. See you later, Erik," he said, swinging his backpack over his shoulder, and turning. He jogged away, and stopped only at the end of the corridor to wave goodbye.

Erik numbly raised his hand to return the gesture, aware of all the eyes staring at him. Woah! What just happened?


Emma wriggled an eyebrow, a devilish smile on her face. Raven from the other side of the corridor, winked back.