James POV

I had been 3 or 4 days since I had been left at Xavier's school for the gifted. That day I got hit by the frisbee I made two friends. Charlie, the guy who helped me up and to the infirmary and Paul, the guy who had thrown it and proceeded to fall on the ground from laughter.

After that hit Xavier came to see me for a while. We talked about my situation and even though I didn't have to tell him anything really, he still asked me questions and made sure I was feeling okay about being here. I got signed up for classes and ended up bunking with the two boys I met and another named Benji.

It was weird being around so many people, especially after being on the streets for a month. That first night Paul kept us up until each of us had recounted how they ended up in here. He himself had ran away after a messy encounter with his step father.

"I can't even remember what he said to me. After though, I just felt angry. Like nobody had ever felt before. I remember running hard, and fast. I didn't care where to. See, I was on the track team and cross country at my old high school, so I thought I would just take a few laps to cool my mind off. Well, two states over I finally realized I wasn't anywhere even close to home. The minute I stopped I passed out. I woke up a week later in the infirmary, Xavier there to tell me what happened." He stopped for a minute debating whether or not to tell us more. We were all sitting on the floor in a circle against the beds. We sat in silence before Paul looked up again.

"Yup, my parents didn't even want to see me after that. They just let me stay here instead of going home. Not that I'd ever go back, but i'd would have been nice for at least an apology or something. But.." He stopped again. We looked at each other before he loudly clapped his hands together. Benji and I started. "Welp, that's enough about me. Charlie you're the next oldest so you go.

I looked from the curly blond joker to the African American boy to my left. He gave a smile and began. "My story isn't as dramatic but, when I was 6 I got tossed into a pool by accident. Nobody noticed, and I wasn't a good swimmer either, so I began to drown. Just as I hit the bottom at 5 feet I felt really light. Like, not because of the water, but it's like having a bubble in your chest. Then all of a sudden I was no longer under water, but floating in the sky above it." He gave a chuckle. "After sputtering for air I looked over to my sister in the window and gave her a wave. She go the whole family outside and they had to call the fire department to get me down." We all started cracking up.

"Wow Charlie, I didn't know you were such a trouble maker!" Paul gave him a slap on the back.

"Ya. My mother kept one of those child-leash-things on me for the longest time. Then for my 12 birthday they told me I would get to come stay here." He seemed okay with his background so the guys then turned on me.
"C'mon Jamie keep the ball rollin'!" I didn't really like that nickname but Paul obviously wanted it to stick so I swallowed down my objection and shifted to a more comfortable position.

"Well, I- I kind of… I ran away too but… It's just that- well…" I couldn't continue. the words stuck like glue in my mouth and I didn't know what to say. Finally I sucked up all of my courage and pushed my story out all at once.

"I was found out in my junior year when I was singing to my best friend. I had a huge crush on him," I stopped realizing my mistake. How would they take my being gay?

Paul snorted at my startled face. "Don't worry bro, it's cool. Seriously, were a bunch of freaks in a school for freaks. How do you think it would look if we shunned you for being who you are but accepted Charlie for being a human balloon?"

"Hey!"

"The point is it really doesn't make sense to judge for who you love when you're asking for acceptance from society yourself."

My eyes widened at Paul's words. "Wow, that was the most probably okay thing you've ever said to me." Paul snorted and Charlie turned to me with a smile.

"Paul's just always wanted a gay friend is all. You know, someone to talk to."

"Hey!" Now it was his turn to look offended. "Just keep going already, this ones getting good."

I had calmed down considerably, being around them made the atmosphere light even when we were talking about our most serious life experiences.

"Ha, well, he was kind of a homophobe so I was really afraid of my feelings. I had no idea about my power I just knew I loved to sing. He liked to listen to me too. We were in the chorus room and I was practicing my part of a duet I had with a girl. It was a love song." I looked down blushing. "He kind of got this glow in his eyes and just walked up to me and k-kissed me. I thought in that moment I might've had a chance, but once I stopped singing he shoved me back and started yelling." I slowed down, my voice getting softer. "After all that he told anyone who would listen how much of a… fag… I was." I choked the word out. I remember crying harder than ever after that day and thinking that one word over and over.

"The school eventually had to get involved when the teasing turned into fist fights," I suddenly became bitter. "If you could even call it a fight. More like I was just their punching bag. Anyway my parents threw me out saying I was too much trouble. They tried to send me to Oregon to my grandpa but I took a train for the East coast. I lived on the streets once I ran out of money, then I was caught by the MRD. That's where I met Toad and Camen." At this point in the story they were all hooked onto my every word, practically inhaling my speech. I blushed a little as I continued.

"They rescued me and took me to the hospital. When I woke up I thought of ditching them, but they were trying really hard to keep me. Camen even took out a doctor and the security guards."

"Wait Camen's Deathwish right?" Paul asked suddenly

I gave a sheepish grin, "Ya, and she's really terrifying." They looked at me in awe.

"How the hell are you even here right now?" Charlie asked, amazed.

"Like I said, they rescued me. Camen and Toad dropped me off here. If it weren't for them I would definitely be dead. I mean, you saw me once they left. You shot me down with one hit from a frisbee." I replied

"Wait, wait, wait! What about this Toad guy? I heard he was super creepy." Paul interrupted.

"No he's not!" I denied immediately. The guy's noticed the blush going across my face before I could hide it.

"Are you-?" Paul tried.

"NO!"

"Jamie-?" Charlie started.

"Ugggg," covered my face with my hands as they got closer to me with anticipation. "Maybe…"

"Holy Cow! You work fast!" Paul playfully punched me on the shoulder with a grin.

"So did you guys… you know?" Charlie began. I gaped like a fish while they took my expression to mean yes. I'm sure there cheering could be heard below us.

"NO! Guys! Stop it, a person can only blush so hard!" I laid flat on the floor willing myself to become one with the wooden planks.

"You are one interesting person Jamie, I'll give you that." Paul caught a breath. "But how do you handle that tongue-"

"STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP IT NOW!" I practically jumped him to close his mouth. Benji who had been quiet the entire time was grinning from ear to ear and eventually he joined Charlie in the chant to get us to fight.

"Seriously, it's not like that! We might've kissed… But that's all!" I told them when we calmed down. We took a minute to catch our breath and I took that time to realize that these guys were true friends. Charlie sat up and looked over at his night stand.

"Well hell. As much as I love watching James face turn fifty shades of red," He winked at me. "It is now 1 in the morning and Storm will electrocute my head off tomorrow if I fall asleep one more time in her class." We laughed at his joke then helped each other off of the floor.

"Wait," I looked over at Benji. "I didn't get to hear your story."

He smiled sadly and climbed into bed. I followed suit and turned to face him in my bunk. He let out a long sigh.

"You were brave sharing yours with us but I just… can't." He was watching the ceiling as he spoke, dark hair falling from his face around him. It was long, and a dyed dark blue color. "I can tell you my ability though, it can be very helpful, but sometimes I let it get the best of me." It sounded dangerous, and I became scared for Benji.

"I can access every one of my memories. Every sight, taste, touch, sound, and smell I can recall. Even emotions and thoughts. Everything becomes vivid, like I can step into a time warp."

His voice grew quieter and soon after his last sentence we could hear the sound of his light breathing. He was asleep.

"Poor Benji's been here only for a few months."Charlie began to explain. "He had a hard time adjusting. I'm just glad he was assigned to our dorm. Even though were all in the same boat, not everyone can be as accepting." His words awakened the sad emotions I had previously shoved deep down.

"Ya, poor kid. It's okay though, if anyone dares even touch him-"

Charlie interrupted, "You'll run them to the nearest black market to sell their kidneys, we know, we know. Just come out with it already."

Paul made a 'damn straight' face and settled further into his mattress. Soon he was fast asleep too.

"I really hope you like it here and stay. We're not much but-"

"I'll stay," I whispered. Charlie seemed pleased with my answer. That night I fell into a dreamless sleep.