Morning came when I reached Washington, D.C. That was the last place I wanted to be spotted while in the air, especially after the whole Pentagon/ World Trade Center tragedy back in 2001….. My parents remembered it. They would tell me about it. They hadn't been here two months when it happened. I had seen archive footage of it happening, and it was horrible.
I decided to walk until dusk, but first things first- I was in our nation's capitol! I had to sightsee for a bit. I was in no hurry. Besides, if my parents started looking for me now, D.C. would probably be one of the last places they'd think of. Before I knew it I had stayed in the D.C. area for five years, living as a runaway in different shelters around the city.

When I was fourteen I watched as a car hit a small child. The boy had left his mother's side to chase his balloon down the street in midday traffic, and I watched as a car came barreling down the street. I called out, running to him, but by the time I got there it was too late. In shock I leaned over the broken child, trying to think. The mother was screaming and the driver had gotten out of the car and was staring me down in appalled shock, which almost came across to me as anger, as if he had actually wanted to hit and kill the boy. Pushing my confusion aside I went to perform CPR on him; my hands were just over his stomach when a bright light seemed to be coming from the space between my hands and him. The boy started and gagged, retching as I lifted him into my arms. The boy looked up at me and smiled, and I returned it. He was fine. I looked up at the crowd as they reacted to what they had seen; most were confused and frightened, almost upset. The driver furiously got back in his car and sped off. With that I gained my third and final power: the ability to heal others.

Also while in D.C. I met a woman who could Irish Step dance, and she taught me for free for all those years. At night while I was alone I would perfect my two, original powers. One week I would be lifting books and shoes and clothes, and the next I would be moving tables. I let myself fly for a few hours afterwards.

One night it hit me, and I realized how stupid it had been to stay there for so long….. Well, I had been thankful for being there to save that little boy, but I decided to continue on to New York City. I went to see my dance teacher and thanked her for all the lessons. I painfully told her I had to go, but that I'd be back to see her.

I continued to fly, and almost made it before the sun started to rise. I got as far as Elizabeth, New Jersey, where I had to stay earthbound to get to NYC. The city was amazing. I used what little money I had to get myself a nice lunch at a nice Italian restaurant, and I immediately went to Radio City Music Hall. It was fantastic.

I left the city, going back to the mainland to wander around and see if I could find anywhere to stay. I started walking when, after about two or three hours, I came upon a small forest. Oh, good, I thought to myself, smiling. I love the outdoors. I could have flown if I had wanted, but I love the wilderness so much I decided to walk. After a three-hour walk I was exhausted. Lucky enough for me I came upon a road. I gave a sigh of relief. As much as I love the wilderness, at that point I was glad to have a paved area to walk on.

After a good forty-five minutes, I came upon the entrance to a private area. It was a fancy, brick and metal fence with a sign that read, "Charles Xavier's School for the Gifted." I decided to pay a visit, since I hadn't really seen anything for the past four hours.

As I walked I started to think of my old dream I'd had. The cup, the flying, the— I stopped dead in my tracks. The basketball court. There, out in front of me, I found the basketball court from my dream. Kids were laughing and playing. I figured they must have been pretty smart to go to a school for the gifted.

"Hey."

I turned, startled, to find a teenage couple standing there. The girl had gotten my attention, and she laughed. When she continued I noticed she had a southern accent. "Sorry to have scared you. Are… are you a new student here?"

"Uh…. Well, no, but… I'm… I'm visiting."

"Ah, okay, well, welcome to Xavier's School for the Gifted." The girl smiled. "You looked pretty stunned when we walked up."

"Oh, haha…" I smiled, studying the pair. They didn't look much older than I was. The girl's brown hair was pulled back in a pony tail, but two pieces hung down by her face, both of which were white. She wore a pair of long, arm length gloves that stopped just above her elbows. "I was just thinking," I went on, "You must be pretty smart to be able to go to a school for the gifted. I'm not a fantastic student, so I don't think I'd fit in."

The couple laughed. "Smart?" The boy smiled at me. "Well, yeah, we are smart… but that's not what Professor Xavier meant by 'gifted.'"
I stared at him. "What?"

The boy took a breath. "This might sound odd, but…. Can you do anything that most people can't? Something you can't explain…. You dreamt about this place and you were led to it, weren't you?"

"Wha…. What do you mean?"

"You're a mutant."

"Whoa, whoa. I'm sorry, come again?"

"A mutant," the girl said simply. "Like…. Bobby here, we call him Iceman because he can freeze things. I, Marie, am called Rogue…. I wear these gloves to protect anyone from coming in actual contact with my skin…. I can't have anyone touch my skin because something happens, and there really isn't a name for it….."

"Oh my gosh. You guys seriously think I believe you?"

Bobby took the Ozarka waterbottle Marie had been drinking from. It was half full with water and seconds later, that water was ice. My jaw dropped.

"Now do you believe us?"

I nodded. "Would, um…. would having the ability to fly and the ability to move objects with your mind make you a mutant?"

"It most certainly would. As a matter of fact, one of our teachers, Jean Grey, has telekinetic powers."

"What about healing abilities? Like if you were to break your arm I could put it back into place for you."

Marie smiled. "Don't worry. You're more than welcome here. Now c'mon, I'm gonna have to introduce you to everyone! Actually, a couple of the professors are out right now, but Professor Xavier is here. C'mon!"

The three of us began to walk to the main entrance. "So… what can Professor Xavier do? I mean, what's his power?"

"He's able to read people's minds and manipulate their thoughts," Bobby said without a hitch.

"No kiddin', huh? That's wild!"

Bobby grinned and nodded. "Hey, you know, you never told us your name, anyway!"

"Right! Haha. Sorry. It's Erin. Erin Murphy."

"Oh, you can't be Irish, now, can you? That name, and all that curly red hair….."

"If you really must know, Marie…. Yes, I am. You found me out." I sighed dramatically, and Marie laughed.

I met Professor Xavier and he was wonderful. I was glad to meet so many nice people here at this place where I would be living for a while. I met Jean Grey and Ororo Munroe, whom everyone called Storm. "Ah!" Professor Xavier smiled when he heard about my healing powers. "You can help the nurse if you'd like. She's been short student aids lately."

"Alright," I nodded happily. "Thanks!"

I was on my way to my living quarters when I got the biggest scare of my life. A man with knives coming from his knuckles leapt from the hallway to my right, and I gave a scream.

"Logan, no! Stop!" Marie pushed me away, and the man calmed down.

"Oh! Jeez, sorry…." He made a face, retracting the knives back into his hands. "New student?"

"Yes."

That's when I passed out.

Hi everyone! The story will continue. For now, please tell me what you think so far. There are a total of fourteen chapters, and this is just the beginning!! There will be more and it will get better. :D Thanks!!