C H A R L E S

Hours earlier...

My dreams were never normal, ever since my mutant powers emerged. Instead of having dreams of my best day ever, or my worst blunders, or of my death, my thoughts dabble into the minds of others meaning every night is a new person, a new perspective, a new reality. Just another addition on the list of pros and cons of telepathy. In the middle of a strange and bizarre dream involving Raven and I I'm the middle of the park, suddenly Blaire appeared. There she was in my midst before I realised she was now right beside me. She waved and smiled at me before she sat down on a hill . We were at the bottom. Raven and I ran to the top like children before joining her for a picnic. In an instant Raven was gone and it was just me and her. Are fingers touched before I grabbed her hand. She looked at me and blushed making all the more intrigued about her. Suddenly, we got closer and closer before our lips almost touched. The dream was interrupted by a explosion of pain on my stomach, blasting me out of the anonymous yet blissfully wonderful dream. My sleepy eyes widen as I notice Raven jumping up and down on my bed like a little girl.

"Wake up sleeping beauty!" Teased Raven as she shook me senseless.

"Ugh Raven, I don't know why I waste my money on alarm clocks when I have you." I say with a yawn, there goes my wonderful dream.

"Will this help you wake up?" She says morphing her form into a new body.

She now looks like Blaire. The woman who shook my world during my presentation. The same woman who I tried to impress but failed miserably making a drunken fool of myself. But she gave me a second chance. I look at her with an irritated face. I didn't tell Raven of the little note incident involving Blaire. Why? Because I know Raven. Raven would want to know every detail.

"Don't remind me, Raven. She brings back unwanted memories." I said as the memories of being drunk replayed in my mind.

"Aw cheer up Charlie! I mean sure you acted like a goofball in front of a pretty girl and not only embarrassed yourself but me as well." Raven said as I sat up beside her.

"I thought there was gonna be a but." I keep talking as I gather my professional clothes.

"BUT that wasn't the real you. It was the alcohol talking. The real you is sweet and caring and polite." Raven put her head on my shoulder.

"Maybe you should have been with me. You sound really convincing." I teased sarcastically.

Raven added, "You did slightly fixed the problem Charles. Only time will fix the issue. At least, she agreed to start a new slate for you. I'm sure you won't need my help once you guys are friends. I will say though Charles, you need to be a little more lenient." Raven said, her voice trailing off.

I sighed, "I am lenient Raven and yes, she did forgive me which makes me a bit more relieved, now that I know she is the teacher two doors down. "

Raven giggled, "Just don't mess up again ok? She needs to see what I see. A man who is fully capable of showing the woman he loves that he's more than just a pretty face. You're smart Charles, I'm sure you will find a way into her heart without reading her mind."

I kissed her forehead, "Thank you Raven. What would I do without you?"

"We always had each others backs ever since elementary school. But Charles, we aren't kids anymore. You have to take control of your own life. And so do I. Which is why I have decided to get a job as a teachers assistant!" She stands up confidently and shifts her pajamas to a black suit with a white blouse, glasses and her natural red hair in a bun.

"Oops I almost forgot!" She changes her skin from blue to Caucasian and her hair from red to blonde.

I feel my irritated look turn into a worried one. We hide from the world. We try to blend in with everybody else. But we aren't humans. We shouldn't be ashamed of who we are. I shake out of my thoughts and put my attention back on Raven.

"Hello? Earth to Charles?! You're thinking too much. That's never a good sign. You better not do that with her. " She says impatiently.

"Oh...well Raven..."

"Yes, Charles?" She looks at me with her determined yet innocent eyes.

The same eyes I remember she had when I first met her many years ago, ironically when she broke into my home. She was not a human but a mutant like me. And it was from that point, that I didn't feel alone in the world anymore.

I continue, "Well its just that...skirt is too short! Unacceptable! No sister of mine is going to flash her goods like that!"

"Alright fine," she morphs her skirt to reach past the knees, "That better?"

"Quite better, yes." I bluff to act like that was what was bothering me but the my mind was on something else now.

I had a few lessons to do today but I was very anxious to see and meet the day that I would give Blaire that tour I promised. A promise is a promise and I can not break it. We are now colleagues amongst the school and I will try to act it because that's how it should be. You can't just rush into love, I've learned that the hard way. The Layla Darwin's way. It makes me uncomfortable just thinking about it. Once done with some delicious breakfast prepared by Raven herself, we climb into the car and head towards Oxford. Raven comes out and immediately starts walking the opposite way.

"Yay! This is going to be so fun, Charlie! I'm applying my information today for the position and we'll see what happens from there. Have a good day!" Raven said joyously.

"Raven please refrain from calling me Charlie on the premises." I said telepathically before she replied with, "No promises."

R A V E N

I loved to tease Charles. He was just absolutely square. He needed to loosen up. Occasionally he would. For a girl. I was always jealous, even though I knew I couldn't be so possessive of Charles. We are now adults. Sooner or later, he is going to find someone who he ties the knot with and I am going to have to get along with it. That's life. A new frontier and a new challenge. Adults girls don't get jealous of their brother when he's around attractive women. I guess patience is key. I need to learn that. Patience is so hard yet Charles masters it so easily. I guess he has patience because of me. . .

He didn't have to take me in but he did. That's what is so special about Charles. He has hope for complete strangers. He brings them into his life and teaches them to be someone in a world bustling with people. Whether you are just a normal person or a mutant.

Years, I've struggled coping with it. Coping with hiding. In middle school it didn't matter that much until 8th grade. Then in high school I learned how to perfect my human, feminine side and not my mutant side. My pure side. A mutant side is harder to refine that a human side. Its hard to be different and me and Charles both cope with it differently. I still haven't found that mutant side to be tranquil and happy about. For crying out loud, I'm blue! I guess I still have much to learn in our big human world. Our big mutant hiding world. When will the day come when we don't have to hide anymore....

I focused my attention on school now. I needed a job. Bar tending wasn't the best occupation for me. After many lectures form Charles on using that head of mine for something great, I finally make the decision to do so. I made it to administrations before applying with my job application. The woman kindly put in my application before saying they would call me back if they had an opening. I nodded leaving my number.

Suddenly, the woman that Charles liked passed by. A smug grin formed on my face. Should I? Should I not? Ah, what the heck! I immediately followed her behind before I realized she had turned into her classroom. That's nice to know. . .

"Raven?" I was alarmed when I heard Charles voice call me.

It made me jump. I walked over to him before saying, "I've put in my application. Now, I just have to wait."

Charles chuckled before hugging me, "I'm so proud of you Raven!"

I beamed with joy before Charles asked, "Why were you following Blaire?"

My face became more serious, "I was just wondering where her classroom was. That's all. I promise."

I smiled fondly before Charles said, "Don't get any ideas Raven. We will talk about this later. I have class now. "

I nodded, "I'm going to walk around the campus. I'll meet you at lunch time."

Charles nodded before kissing my cheek, "Alright. I'll see you at lunch."

I nodded before walking down the hall. Curse you Charles, I was exploring her classroom. I sighed as I did what I told Charles until lunch time came around.

Timeskip

It was about 15 minutes till lunch when I started making my way back to Charles classroom. As I hustled I didn't notice the person in front of me as I clumsily bumped into her.

"Oh, I'm soo sorry. I didn't mean to bump into you." I said as I helped her pick up her paperwork.

"Its quite ok. Don't worry about it." She said making me look up at her.

My eyes widened when I realized who I was talking with. Blaire!

"I wasn't looking in front of me." Blaire said, "Naturally clumsy."

I smiled before replying, "Same here. "

She laughed before saying, "Are you a student? I can write you a tardy pass."

I shook my head, "No. No, I'm wanting to work here. I just applied today."

She lifted her papers and said, "No kidding. Come on, you can set that in my classroom."

I followed her and set the paperwork down specifically where she said to.

"Are you going to be a teacher here?" She asked interested in what I was going to say.

She was so nice, how could Charles say she was strict? She seemed so bubbly, so cheery.

"Actually, I'm applying for a teachers aid. I need a new a job." I said ashamed.

"What is your occupation now?" She said opening her laptop.

"Bartending." I said lowly.

She looked at me as she typed away, "Don't worry. It doesn't matter. I'm just curious. I didn't mean to get into your personal life. "

"It alright. I hoped I get hired." I said hopefully.

"I owe you a favor and you are in luck. I need a teachers aid." She said writing on her white board.

I looked at her wide eyed, "Wait. What?"

She sat in her seat and began typing away. Wow. She was proficient and fast.

She turned around and looked at me, "I just hired you. I sent them an e-mail. You'll get a call pretty soon. What's your name?"

"Raven Darkholme." I said, impressed at how fast and spot on she was about things.

Her classroom was completely organized. Nothing was out of order.

"Blaire Pyry. I look forward to working with you." She said as we shook hands.

I smiled before hugging her, "You have no idea how much this means to me! "

Blaire replied smiling, "No problem. You are lucky you bumped into me, some of the other teachers aren't so flexible with teacher aids, but I'm new so I need one."

I looked at the clock, "Oh I have to go. I'm meeting my brother for lunch and I'm late."

She nodded, "Its alright Raven. I'll see you on Monday then."

I nodded in agreement, "Yes, I'll see you on Monday Blaire."

I ran out of the room before meeting Charles at lunch. Charles!?!? What am I going to tell Charles!?!? If he finds out here we go again with the a long discussion or as he likes to call them, "talks". I sighed before thinking, well Charles won't know if I don't tell him. Besides, it can wait. All that matters is that I got a job with Blaire... This may be better than I expected. The only reason I wanted a job was that I didn't want to be the outsider. Charles always talked to his professional friends and I was always waiting. I didn't fit in, not until now. Let's see how this goes. This would be the first time I look forward to a Monday. This will be most intriguing as Charles would say. I couldn't agree more.