It was early in the afternoon when the Boeing 747 on which Cole was flying on arrived in New York City. He really did not want to be in the city at all. Down in Florida, spring was already in full swing, but several hundred miles north, the state of New York felt like it was barely out of winter. The cold air nipped at his skin as he waited for a cab to take him to him to some unknown school that he did not care for. What did it matter if he was a mutant? He would be fine in Miami. He had survived this long without being able to control his abilities. Why did he suddenly have to learn them now? As these thoughts rolled through Cole's mind, an empty cab finally pulled up to him and demanded where he wanted to go. The man's attitude only strengthened Cole's thoughts. He was going to have at least a little fun before going to some cooped up old mansion.

"Take me to the nearest mall." Cole replied, throwing some money at the driver. After a fifteen minute ride, the blond haired teen slipped out of the cab in front of a large building. After giving the cab driver more money, Cole told him to drop the rest of his bags at the mansion. With a mischievous smile on his face, the teenager shouldered his backpack full of belongings and made his way into the packed mall. With the huge amount of people around, it would be easy for him to get himself in trouble. However, the crowd would also be good at getting himself out of it too. Heading towards the food court, the clever teenager was looking forward to day filled with excitement.

Shopping. That's exactly the activity Juka had planned for the day. As it turned out, it sucked being a teenager again and going to high school every day. Or at least, going to high school as much as he could stomach going to high school. The first time around hadn't exactly been great and the second time around was turning out to be even worse. He knew it was necessary, kept trying to convince himself it was necessary, but it still sucked the big one. Maybe his shadowing enemy had forgotten all about him and he could end this absurd charade? Fat chance of that happening though.

Today, Juka decided, he was not going to school. Screw school and learning and all his supposed peers who just thought he was a weird freak. Screw it all, he wanted to spend some money. And money was something he had in plenty. Not, of course, that he had ever been lacking but recently well off had transformed into so much money he hadn't the faintest idea what to do with it all.

A quick bubble ride to the edge of the city followed by a cab ride took him to the mall. Hair was appropriately spiked and style, makeup was done impeccably as always and a bright red cloak completed the look. Maybe he was doomed to be a teenager for a while, but he had failed utterly when it came to actually blending in. Being one of the crowd just wasn't him and that was that.