-Chapter 2-Getting to know you-

Rex piled on the pizza as he settled down in the mess hall. Noah was with him today, if only because it was Pizza Thursday and pizza was an all time favorite. Classes had been going well, despite the irritation of some of his older students, Rex had people who were picking up the language pretty easily. He had even been given a few other students since he was doing so well. At this rate he'd start having the respect he wanted from his mentors any day now!

Today was a day to celebrate!

Kenwyn of coarse was one of his top students, but only on paper. Her speaking needed work. He would have to tutor her privately if he would going to get her to be fluent. Rex smirked, Kenwyn wanted to be good at speaking Spanish. Teaching her would be a walk in the park.

His worst student and obscenely shy neighbor was Crest. He could barely get Crest to say more than five words at a time. Even as his neighbor she was a bit distant in the mornings before she was swept up by Six for whatever training Providence had her doing. She had also taken to haunting the back of the class as not to be noticed. Not that it helped thanks to Noah stalking her at every chance he got. All Rex had to do was find his blond friend and Crest would be a seated next to him.

While Noah was basically a sit in, just there to absorb and observe, he seemed to be having a great time picking up the language as well. If only so that he could have an excuse to talk to Crest. Rex winced he remembered the crash and burn from yesterday. Noah had touched the girl while having seemed to finally engage her in conversation. She pulled her hand back from him suddenly and scooted away. The horrible screeching of the desk brought everyone's attention on them which only seemed to aggravate the point.

Rex was currently laughing about that as Noah blushed and hid under his book.

"Do you have to laugh about that right now? Everyone is looking at us!"

"Sorry amigo, but you failed, hard!"

Noah groaned softly, "Just when I was getting through to her too! She smiled at me Rex…"

"I saw, and then she ran from you like a freight train!" Rex took a bite of his pizza then wrapped an arm around his friend, "Aww, cheer up! It's not just you, it's-"

"Me."

Rex and Noah turned around surprised to see Crest standing behind them. She had a tray of pizza and what seemed to be muffins.

"Hello…" she smiled softly, a blush evident on her dark features, "I… I've brought gifts"

Noah stood up on impulse and Rex kicked out a chair for her.

"Ah, no problem, sit with us."

She sat down seeming nervous before launching into an apologetic frenzy, "I'm so sorry about yesterday. You were only trying to be friendly and… all that attention! It was- Oh God I'm sorry."

"No it's my fault. I should'a seen that coming and-"

"It's not you it's me. I'm all types of skittish naturally, and with my evo ability it just gets worse."

"You see, that's why it's my fault. I shouldn't have touched you at all-"

Rex took a muffin or two from Crest's tray and scooted back so that could watch the entire thing play through. He snickered to himself as he watched the two bumble through the issue.

"What's going on?" ,came a familiar voice in Rex's ear.

Rex smirked knowing it was Kenwyn before he actually saw her, "Hey there Miss Jones, what we're seeing here is the shy female meeting the blonde male in the natural habitat. Watch as the shy female tries to apologize but being both male and blonde, the male cannot accept said apology."

Kenwyn giggled in Rex's ear. Rex purred softly in his chest enjoying her attention. He listened as he heard Kenwyn take a seat next to him.

"Muffin?" he offered the baked delicacy.

She accepted and nibbled on it delicately as the two watched the current live action soap opera in progress.

Crest was intent of explaining herself, "I-It's just that…Well my ability its empathy based. I feel a lot. N-normally I can handle it, and it's helpful. But when I touch someone with powerful emotions, it can get to be out of control."

"So when I touched you?"

"I just got scared. The last time it happened I broke apart New England harbor. Oh that has to sound weird."

"You don't sound weird to me.", said Noah gently, "and if you need help controlling this empathy thing, I don't mind helping."

"Really?"

"Yeah, and you can help me with Spanish", he responded his hand only timidly waving over her hand. After an awkward moment he settled for touching the tips of his fingers to hers.

She smiled softly, "Thanks…"

There was a magical moment right then. Suddenly the two of them understood one another, and no matter what happened from this point on that wouldn't change.

"KISS her!" shouted Rex breaking the two out of their sweet moment.

Kenwyn smacked Rex upside his head playfully which only made her laugh. Crest broke contact with Noah and blushed shrinking into her seat while Noah smiled timidly at her. The four laughed brightly.

Crest, Noah, Kenwyn, and Rex, the kids of Providence.