Touched



Chapter One



Shawn sat on his bed and gazed out the open window. He had been awake since the sun rose two hours ago. How could he sleep when he knew what today was?

Shawn looked around his room and felt a stinging in his heart when he lay his slate grey eyes upon the numerous trophies and ribbons that adorned the walls. Most Valuable Player, Star Athlete. But one stood out more than the rest. It wasn't as shiny or grand as the others but it was the one that Shawn treasured most. He stood up and walked to the book shelf where the framed picture sat. He picked it up with his strong hands and rubbed his fingers over the glass. It was a photograph of Shawn taken only a few months ago. He looked dashing in a tuxedo with his waves platinum blonde hair parted in the middle. He had the cheesiest of grins on his face as he snuggled closely with the pretty young girl beside him. The girl was as pleasing to the eye as Shawn was and she was smiling brightly as well, loving the feel of his arms around her. A tiny bronze plaque sat at the bottom of the photo reading 'King and Queen of the Prom'.

Shawn slowly cracked a grin. It was the first time his mouth had done anything but frown in the last few days. But as soon as the smile resurfaced, so did the memories of the last words he heard from this girl.

Shawn had tried to block as much out of the ordeal out of his mind, but some parts were unable to be erased. Like the scream she let out when his mutant powers revealed themselves. Shawn could still see the look on her terrified face as she fought to get out of the passengers seat beside him. Shawn ran after her, trying to calm her down. But the girl could not be persuaded.

"You're one of those freaks!" She screamed hysterically. "Don't touch me."

That was the last time Shawn saw her. By the next day the whole school new of his special gift and even his oldest friends acted like strangers around him. Shawn hoped that no one else would hear, but gossip was as predictable as the sun rising.

By the end of the week, Shawn was in the principles office with his parents at his side. The principle suggested that Calbret High wasn't the right place for someone like Shawn. Perhaps his parents should seek another learning institution suited to people such as him.

This was a subtle way of saying Shawn wasn't welcome here. Even though the week before the principle had shaken his hand and called him 'son' after Shawn had helped win the Tri-County Football Championship.

Shawn expected his parents to freak out. Who wouldn't? He breathed a grateful sigh of relief when they held him tightly and said no matter what, they would do all the could to make sure he was looked after.

Shawn thought they might move out of Calbert and start some where new. He could suppress his mutant side, make it go away and then everything found be fine. But his parents solution was the last thing Shawn expected. That's why he couldn't sleep.

Shawn was waiting for someone from Professor Xaviers School for Gifted Youngsters to pick him up and he was more than reluctant to go.

Suddenly Shawn felt a mysterious warmth engulf his body. It made him squirm in his skin and for a moment he thought he was going crazy as a strong voice began to echo in his head.

Hello Shawn. I am Professor Xavier. Why don't you come downstairs? the kind voice said.

Shawn looked around the room and found no one but himself. He bit his lip and slowly put the photo back on the book shelf. He left his bedroom and cautiously crept down the stairs and into the living room. His parents sat speaking to a woman Shawn had never seen before. She was tall with an athletic build. The first thing Shawn noticed was the her thick, cascading hair which was the colour of crisp winter snow. Shawn ran a hand through his own ivory locks and grinned at the similarity. It was not a very common hair colour.

Shawn's mother stood from her arm chair and smiled warmly. "Shawn. How did you know?"

The pale haired woman smiled as well and took a step towards Shawn. She extended her hand. "Divine intervention." She said sweetly. Shawn shook the woman's delicate hand. "My name or Orora. Professor Xavier has asked me to collect you."

Shawn nodded uncomfortably. He gestured upstairs. "I'll just go and get my things." Shawn glanced over at his parents and their over enthusiastic faces angered him. He casually dashed up the stairs to his room, closing the door behind him.

Shawn stood against the door looking around the room anxiously. He dashed to his wardrobe and pulled out a shoulder bag. He began to chuck anything and everything inside the bag. Clothes, books, even the prom picture from the shelf. Shawn through the bag over his shoulder and took one last look at the bedroom he had lived in for seventeen years. Every one in Calbert had expressed how unwanted Shawn was in his home town. But there was no way Shawn was going to become more ostracised by being delivered to the mother ship. Shawn headed for the window and just as he had one leg over the ledge he felt a strange breeze rush around him. He almost screamed like a girl when a strong wind scooped him up and floated him gently to the ground metres below. Shawn fought pathetically against the wind, kicking and punching against an invisible adversary. Shawn was finally dropped on the grass under his window with a thud. He was breathing heavily and was most certainly on the border of an anxiety attack as his parents came running out of the house.

"Shawn" His mother snapped. "What were you doing?"

Shawn bowed his head and noticed a pair of tan leather boots standing in front of him. Nick slowly followed the boots up to a pair of legs, a body, and then the grinning face of Orora.

"Going somewhere?" She said with half a snigger.

Shawn looked into her eyes and watched as a cloud seemed to pass through her pupils, followed by a crooked flash of what looked like lightening.

Shawn gulped as Orora offered her forearm and pulled Shawn to his feet.

"You shouldn't go climbing out of windows. You might get hurt." She said with a whimsical sigh.

Shawn nodded without question and wiped the dirt from his jeans. Orora glanced down at the shoulder bag that had glided onto the lawn along with Shawn.

"If you have your things we had better get going." Orora gestured to a Rolls Royce parked on the street. "The Professor is anxious to meet you."