Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with X-Men, Marvel, Fox. I am just a fan and I am not making money off of this story.

I don't sleep well that night. I have one of the worst dreams I've ever had. It's a repeat of Bobby coming out to Mom and Dad.

Everything's the same. We're in the living room. The other mutants are there - his girlfriend, John, and that Professor Logan. Mom and Dad are sitting looking stunned and shaken. Only I'm different. I look angry.

Bobby freezes Mom's tea and I run out of there. Why is my room covered in anti-mutant posters? I see Bobby's school on the news. Am I actually calling the police on him?

The police show up. The mutants step out onto the deck. There's gunfire. John starts shooting flames and torching the police cars. Bobby steps forward and starts icing the fires out. I'm watching from the window. He looks up at me. I can see the hurt in his eyes. Why do I look like a hateful little shit?

The police fire their weapons again. A bullet flies right towards Bobby….

I jolt up. I can barely breathe. I'm sweating. I'm cold but I'm sweating. Wow. I've never had a cold sweat before but that's what this is. It takes me a moment to realize I'm still in bed and that was just a dream. What the hell kind of dream was that?!

I try and catch my breath. That felt so real. I could actually feel the hate radiating off my dream-self. Is that what I would have been like if I didn't know Bobby was the mutant for the last three years? I mean, I know I was afraid of mutants and buying into some terrible things about them before I learned about Bobby…would it have gotten worse from there? It probably would have. With only Mom and Dad and my classmates for influence…I'm sure of it.

I've made up my mind. I'm going to Bobby's school.

—-

In the morning Mom and Dad tell me they're going to a real estate agent. They want to start house hunting. The neighbors know Bobby goes to Xavier's school and they're probably going to start asking questions. Wow, you guys are going through all the stress of moving along with dropping your entire social circle just to avoid any mention of Bobby? Then again, what do I care? I'll be gone long before they move.

I decide to stay home. I don't want to be around them. Mom looks hurt. Dad's once again angry with my tone. Whatever. I'm already grounded. What more can they do?

They leave. Perfect. Time to start packing. I get a large and a small suitcase from the basement and carry it up to my room.

I look around. What to pack? I randomly grab clothes and throw them inside the suitcases. Open up my underwear drawer - all my underwear gets packed. Same with socks. There's still some space left. Might as well bring Bobby some of his stuff. I walk into his old room. There is what I think is a female nightgown on the floor. I chuckle. Must be his girlfriend's. Might as well take that too. I pick that up off the floor and head over to his closet. I grab a couple of shirts, go back to my room, and toss those inside the little suitcase. Still some room left. I should probably bring an extra pair of shoes. I get my favorite sandals, place them inside, and zip up the suitcase. I think I'm ready.

So what now? Should I just go?

I'm hungry. I skipped breakfast earlier. I should eat something before I leave. I go downstairs to the kitchen and pour myself a bowl of cereal. I sit down to eat and think.

I suddenly realize there's a big flaw in my plan. When I leave, Mom and Dad might start looking for me. They may even accuse the Xavier School of kidnapping. Of course, that would require having to reveal they have a mutant son and heaven forbid we can't have that. So it might work out. Or maybe if I insist I won't stop being brothers with Bobby they'll want me gone too. Why can't I just be a mutant too, like Bobby? That would solve everything.

Wait, why can't I be? That is, I can just pretend to be a mutant!

I'll leave a note for Mom and Dad saying I have powers just like Bobby and I've been hiding it all this time! They'll want nothing to do with me after that.

Nah. Seems a bit too convenient. We've been fighting lately and all of a sudden I'm mutant all along. Might be too obvious a ruse. They'd see right through it. Maybe if I left proof it would work. But how? I can't freeze things like Bobby.

Well, I don't have to be like Bobby. There are lots of other types of mutant powers. Wait - telekinesis! All I have to do is move everything like the furniture, for example, and say I did it with my mind. They'll come back, see the house is a mess, and that'll be proof enough.

I get right on it. I enter the living room. Where do I start? Simple at first. I toss the throw pillows on the floor. Then I overturn the sofa. Then the couch. Then the coffee table. This is actually kind of fun, even cathartic - they won't like the mess I'm making. Books on the shelf? One sweep and they're all on the floor. Heck, everything on the shelves ends up on the floor. I'm not paying attention to what I'm knocking over.

And then I hear a shattering sound. Several sounds, actually. I look down and I see Mom's collection of antique porcelain in pieces. They were family heirlooms. She is going to be really upset. It hits me what I'm doing. Destroying the last of her family by pretending to be a mutant and running away.

No. I shouldn't feel guilty for that. She's destroyed her own family. Her and Dad. Parents are supposed to love their children no matter what. Not disown them when they don't live up to their impossibly high standards.

I keep trashing the living room. The entertainment unit is next. DVDs and Blu-Rays end up on the floor. I'll get the TV off too. I lift it gently off the shelf, intending to tip it over on its side, but it slips from my hands and falls screen first onto the overturned coffee table leg. Oh crap. I pull it up and…yep…the TV screen is completely cracked. I look around. The living room is trashed enough…I think I'll stop now.

Time to write a goodbye note. I'm almost out of the living room when I hear the front door open. I freeze. What? How did they finish with the realtor already?

"Ronny?" Mom calls. I can hear their footsteps getting closer. "We just made it to the realtor when we realized we forgot..." Mom stops when she reaches the living room. Her mouth opens in shock when she sees the mess behind me. "Ronny, what happened here?"

"Uhhhh..."

Dad's right behind her. "Ronny, what happened?"

"...I did this," I manage to reply. It's true at least.

"WHAT?!" they both scream.

I'm scared. "I did this," I repeat. I'm actually scared. I don't need to pretend. I'm scared they won't believe me. I'm scared they'll hurt me. I'm genuinely afraid. "With my mind. Telekinesis. Isn't that what they call it? Everything just started moving...I couldn't get it to stop."

Dad looks horrified. Mom bursts into tears. "No!" she cries. "You can't be a mutant too. Why now?"

I'm about to tell her the lie I had planned earlier about me hiding it for months but I remember I literally just told her this is the first time it happened. Have to think of a new plan. "Um...they say mutant powers manifest during emotional distress. And you guys have put me through the ringer for the last two days." Pretty much my whole life, actually.

"No!" Mom cries out again. "This isn't fair! You can't be a mutant. Prove it to me! Make something move! Prove to me that you're a mutant!"

Uh oh. I wasn't expecting that. What to do? "No!" I panic. I hope it shows. "Please don't make me. It took forever to stop it just now."

Dad puts his hand on Mom's shoulder. "Madeline," he says, looking as depressed as if life has defeated him. "We have to let him go."

He doesn't even look at me. And just like that, I'm disowned. Without even an acknowledgment. It's what I wanted, but I'm surprised by how hurt I feel.

"I'll go pack," I mumble, then head upstairs.

I close my door when I get to my room. I'm already packed. I stand there not knowing what to do. I hope Mom and Dad are too upset to notice I didn't go to the basement to get any suitcases.

I see my laptop on my desk. Whoa, how could I have forgotten that?! My backpack's in the opposite corner - I take it, dump out all the textbooks and assignments (I won't be needing them anymore), and place my laptop and power cable inside. I'm all set to go, but I know it's too soon to go back downstairs. I'm trying to remember how long it took me to pack earlier. Not long, I'm sure. I just threw things in the suitcase without much care. I'll just wait for a few more minutes.

I sit on the bed and look around. It's a sad, weird feeling. The was my room. I grew up here. Bobby and I had some fun times here together. This was my home and now it's not anymore.

Minutes pass. I know I'm choosing to walk away, but...no, I am not having second thoughts. Mom and Dad betrayed Bobby and Bobby's the only one who loves me unconditionally. I'm going.

Throwing my backpack over my shoulders, I grab the handlebars on the suitcases and start walking downstairs. It's difficult dragging two suitcases in a stairwell - I leave the larger one upstairs and come back for it once I've taken the smaller one down.

I search the house for Mom and Dad. They're in the living room, sitting on the sofa they've set back up. Mom's silently crying and Dad looks like he's a mix of grief and anger.

"I'm going," I simply state. "Bye." I start to walk away.

"Ronny, wait!" Mom calls. We stare at each other for a second and I wonder if she's going to accept her mutant sons after all. "I'll drive you to the train station."

Gee, how thoughtful of you, Mom. "Okay, thanks." What can I say? And why am I upset? Did I want her to tell me that she loved me? "Bye, Dad." He doesn't look at me, just barely acknowledges me with an unintelligible grunt.

Mom and I wordlessly walk out to the car. I put my suitcases in the trunk and sit with my backpack on my lap. She starts driving. It's only when we're out of the neighborhood that I realize I never looked back at the house one last time. I shrug. What would have been the point?

We don't live that far from the train station but it feels like it's taking forever to get there. Mom's crying the whole time. I feel terrible. I did this to her. I feel like...I know I'm being a terrible son. In spite of everything, I don't want her to be upset.

Maybe I should just come clean. Admit that whole thing was a trick. That I'm not a mutant and she still has one son left.

One son. Bobby's dead to her. And he did nothing wrong. I feel myself getting angry with her again. Her pain is her own making.

Mom finally breaks the silence. "You can charge the train ticket to us."

So she still wants me go. "Can I take money out the of the ATM, too? I don't have much cash on me."

"Sure. As much you like." She's still trying to sound cheerful and optimistic. You're kidding me, Mom. You're making me leave home. This whole situation is sad.

At last we arrive at the train station. Mom pulls in the passenger drop off area and parks the car. We don't speak. I look at her. She stares straight ahead and doesn't look at me. She's clearly trying to hold back her grief.

Finally she opens the trunk. I guess that's my signal to leave. "Bye," I simply say as I open the door.

I have one foot outside when she stops me. "Ronny..." I turn to face her. I wonder what she's going to say. It looks like she's holding back a sob. "I'll always love you, boys."

I gaze at her in dismay as I comprehend what she pretty much just said. 'I love you, but it's not enough. You're abnormal and I just can't accept that.' Geez Mom, Bobby and I didn't kill anyone. We didn't rape anyone. We're not criminals. We're just different. Well, Bobby is. You only think I am. Any doubts I had about what I'm doing are now gone. I exit the car and lean in through the passenger side. "Conditional love is meaningless, Mom." I slam the door shut.

I can hear Mom wailing as I walk to the trunk and take out my suitcases. I slam the trunk close, grab my suitcases by the handlebars and drag them behind me. In my head I can still hear Mom crying even as I get closer to the station entrance. Screw her. She's made her choice, and I'm making mine. She and Dad can take their conditional love and shove it. I HATE THEM!

No. No. I don't hate them. I love them. Why don't they love me enough?

Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't you fucking cry.

—-

I get through security and make my way to the ticket counter. "When is your next train to New York?"

The agent starts typing at her computer. "The 11:00 appears to be sold out, but we have space open on the 12:05 Express. It should arrive at Grand Central Station at approximately 3:48pm."

"Perfect, I'll take it."

She smiles. "There's no coach class on this train. We have business class and first class. Which are you interested in?"

No coach? Wasn't expecting that. "Business class, then."

"Great. Your total is $173."

I hand her the family credit card. I'm sure Mom and Dad will be cancelling it after today.

The card gets processed and she hands it back to me along with my ticket. "Have a pleasant trip."

"Thank you."

I leave the counter and get organized. My train leaves at 12:05. I have about an hour and a half to kill. Money. I need an ATM. I look around. There's one a few yards away. I walk over to it.

I pull out the ATM card - this too I'm sure will be cancelled after today - and insert it into the machine, and type in the PIN number. How much do I want to withdraw? What's the maximum I'm allowed? $1000. It's asking me confirm. That's a lot. I almost feel like I'm stealing from my parents. Nah, Mom and Dad were supposed to provide for me until I'm 18. Consider this severance pay. I confirm $1000. After a few seconds, the cash comes out. I split it between my wallet, my backpack, and pocket. This way if I get mugged I'm less likely to lose all of it at once.

I find a quiet corner and walk over there. I don't want other people around when I call Bobby.

Bobby answers his phone. "Hi, Ronny."

"Hi. I did it. I left. I'm at the train station right now."

I definitely shocked him. "What?! Ronny, I thought you were going to think this through?"

"I did enough thinking. I know I'm making the right decision."

"Did you just leave? Aren't Mom and Dad going to be looking for you? Did you even leave a note? What did you say?"

"I told them I was a mutant too. They were devastated but they still kicked me out. They can't accept having mutant children. Mom was at least generous enough to give me ride the train station." I put a lot of sarcasm into that last sentence.

"What do you mean you pretended to be a mutant? How? They believed you?"

"I trashed the living room when they weren't home and made them think I had telekinesis." I rub my eyes. "Look, I can't go back. Can you or someone from your school pick me up at Grand Central?"

"Wow, Ronny...yeah, of course. We'll be there. What time does your train get in?"

"3:40-something."

"Okay, I'll let the Professor know."

"Great. Thanks." I'm happy, but suddenly I don't feel so enthusiastic. It hits me. I'm leaving Boston. I'm leaving home. Or rather, I've left home. "I'll see you soon."

"See ya."

"Bye."

"Bye. Have a safe trip."

I hang up and look around. Now what? I wish I were on the train already. Well, can't rush time, so I have no choice but to find something to do. I see a Cinnabon...and smile wickedly. Mom would never let me order a whole Cinnabon unless I split it with someone because of all the fat and sugar. Well, she's not here and this is a special occasion: I'm reuniting with Bobby soon. I am so ordering a whole one.

—-

I get through the wait and eagerly board the train. No suitcase storage on this train so I have to keep my luggage with me. I lay them next to my seat - wow, this leather chair is really comfortable. I take out my iPod, put on my earphones, and settle in.

12:05 rolls around...and thankfully the train is on time as we are clearly moving. I look out the windows and watch Boston disappear. I'm sad, but I'm trying not to be. It was a different life back there. I'm more excited than anything - I'll be seeing Bobby shortly.

—-

The train ride was nice. I sleep half the way and wake up in time for a late lunch around 2pm in the dining car. Before I know it, we're pulling into Grand Central Station. Bobby's here. He's waiting for me.

I step off the train and follow the signs to exit the station. It's hard walking fast while dragging two suitcases in a crowded hall, so I'm more or less moving slowly. And it gives me time to think. It's hitting me again, everything that's happened and everything I did. I'm nervous about seeing Bobby. Is he going to be angry with me for running away? He didn't sound angry over the phone, but what if he's thought about it and is now disappointed in me for the stunt I pulled? I've lost Mom and Dad, I can't lose Bobby too.

And finally I see him. I don't know how far I've walked but suddenly I'm in the main terminal and I see Bobby. And he sees me. His face lights up and he waves. I feel relieved. He's not mad.

I hurry over to him. I can't seem to get there fast enough. He hugs me when I reach him. Or maybe I hugged him. Nevermind, I'm sure we hugged each other at the exact same second.

I don't want to let go. Everything's hitting me again. Harder than before. Never being good enough for our parents. Wanting their love and approval anyway. Knowing I'll never see them again. Leaving everything and everyone I know behind. I'm literally starting over. I don't know what to expect tomorrow or even the rest of the day. I'm scared.

Bobby seems to understand what I'm feeling. He hugs me tighter, letting me know he's here. I still have my brother. Bobby's always been there for me. "It's going to be okay, Little Brother," he whispers.

Little Brother...He usually just calls me Ronny, Ron, or Bro. 'Little Brother' is reserved for those moments when he's trying to be extra comforting or needs some comfort himself. I can't remember the last time he called me that. Actually I can. It was three years ago, when I first found he was a mutant. He was the one who was scared and didn't know what to expect. Now it's my turn. This was definitely a "Little Brother" moment.

I cling tighter to Bobby. I'm not going to cry. I'm not going to cry...okay, fine. I'll let a few tears fall...