After a few days of resting and meekly exploring the Sanctuary Twyla was in need of some fresh air. So in hopes of finding a bit of green in the urban jungle she had wandered until she found the bit of green she was looking for. Central Park had been the highlight of her trip the first time she had come to New York City in the winter and now the green lawns and paved paths seemed almost familiar. She didn’t have her backpack or duffel bag with her and she hadn’t realized how much she had taken for granted a safe place to leave her belongings until she had walked out of Sanctuary’s golden doors with nothing in her hands but a book and a bottle of water.

The book in question was Twyla’s favorite book Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. It had been a last minute item that she had packed before getting the ride from her brother that had ultimately led to Twyla being in Central park at all. She had packed it for entertainment on the many trains she had anticipated taking. So far it had been a smart thing to pack, even if it took up space in her bag that could go to something more practical. Since she had first checked out Jane Austen’s classic from the library her freshman year of high school Twyla had read the book ten times. Four of them had been since she’d ran away from home the previous fall. Twyla was looking for a quiet spot where she could enjoy the warm weather and begin her eleventh read of Sense and Sensibility.

After searching for a bit, Twyla found the perfect spot to read. It was a patch of grass under a flowering tree that was close enough to people so that she didn’t feel isolated or exposed but far enough away that she could relax in peace. She opened the front cover and before she could even read the title page her mind began whirring with the worries she had been hoping to suppress with her excursion. I can’t stay at the Sanctuary forever--I can’t count on charity from strangers forever--I need a real plan--I need a purpose--I can’t just not DO anything...To be independent I need money--To get money I need a job--To get a job I need proof of previous employment and if I put down any of my information I’ll be caught as a runaway and be sent back to my parents...I CAN’T tell them yet. Maybe someday, but not now. Twyla bit her lip and began to get frustrated with herself. Freaking out doesn’t do anything for you. Twyla tried to reason with herself but her mind kept on churning. She suddenly stood up with the intent of leaving the park and going back to the Sanctuary, her relaxed mood ruined. In her haste to get up she had lost her grip on the paperback and it went flying out of her hands and onto a path. Great. Now look at what you’ve done. Twyla grumped at herself as she dusted off the bottoms of her jeans. “I’m so sorry Jane.” She murmured to herself.

The sun on his face and a grin to show, what a beautiful day. David walked down the beaten path in Central Park, his hands behind his head and tilted up towards the sun. It felt good to get out, it wasn't quite nature, considering it was surrounded by a concrete jungle, but hey it's close enough. His mind was on all the good things going on, he was at a nice school, a place where everyone was like him, or at least kind of like him, he was starting to get some friends, and he felt great.

With his mind off in it's own place he failed to realize the events unfolding around him. There was the typical children playing and pedestrians walking, but what he missed was the book in front of him. He realized it soon enough as he stepped on it, and in a shock jumped off, not sure what he just trampled on. Once he regained his footing he kneeled down and took a look. "Hmm Jane Austin" He said examining the cover. He looked up from the book to realize the obvious.

"Oh i'm sorry!" He said, a look of embarrassment on his face "I just stepped all over your book." He quickly dusted off the footprint, trying his best to make it look as good as new, before handing it back to her. "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

Twyla was still hastily picking leaves off of her pants when a boy came into view in her peripheral vision. She turned to get a better look at him the second before his foot was going to come down on the cover of Sense and Sensibility. Twyla let out a small squeak that was a cross between surprise and pain (this WAS the only book she currently owned) and the stranger stepped on it, jumped, kneeled down, and then looked up at Twyla, who was doing her best to look polite. A very mean feat for someone who had just spent the last few minutes freaking out about her situation, being angry at herself for tossing Jane Austen’s first novel into the dirt, and who just happened to be very shy and awkward during the opening moments of a conversation--despite any other outside variables.

Twyla managed to keep her face neutral as the boy– I don’t think he’s any older than me but I am terrible at guessing ages– apologized, wiped the dust off the front cover, and handed one of Twyla’s favorite books back to her. “It’s alright.” Twyla replied without making eye contact while clutching the book to her chest. “It’s a very nice day, I wouldn’t blame you for looking up at the clouds instead of where you plant your feet. Most people don’t expect the uncommon hazard of paperbacks littering the sidewalk.” Twyla tried to keep her tone conversational but the longer she spoke the quieter her voice got. She said her last phrase with a bit of a smile on her face but she doubted the boy could hear her very well. You’re so shy. You’d think that you’d grow out of it. People don’t know you here, it’d be a perfect time to start over, to show them your more interesting qualities. To grow a pair, like Nate would tell you to. Twyla’s older brother had always wanted his youngest sister to be more outgoing and his favorite phrases were that Twyla needed to ‘Man up.’ and ‘Grow a pair.’ .

Rubbing the front cover with her thumb, Twyla made the executive decision to keep this conversation going. “It doesn’t look any worse.” She said, bringing herself to look the stranger in the chin, which was a big improvement from looking down at her camouflage Chuck Taylors. “It’s pretty travel worn. I should probably get a new copy, or at least not fling this one out at unsuspecting passerby. I’m Twyla by the way.” I don’t know if he’s human or...like me. It was easy to be Wallflower with Meld because I was sure she was a mutant. It’s probably better to give him my regular name in case he’s normal. It’d be weird to go around to random people and telling them ‘Hi, I’m Wallflower, I’m a mutant.’ Twyla said her bit all in a rush in case halfway through she lost her nerve. She felt kind of silly, but she was also a bit proud of herself and her change in mood showed in her smile.

David felt a bit relieved when she said it was ok, not that he was expecting her to get mad. Most of the people he had met since he arrived were pretty nice, even the ones that weren't never snapped over anything so small. He chuckled at her comment about the book, she was nice, "Probably not the best idea to walk through a crowded park looking at the sky." He said jokingly back to her. Thinking about it he realized it was a good thing he only stepped on a book, with worse luck he could have ended up knocking some kid to the ground and freaking out a mother.

He could tell by the tone of her voice that she was shy, and he felt like he could relate. Ever since he found out about his power it made him shy, luckily the friends at the mansion helped him out. She seemed to be making an honest effort though, and David didn't want to leave her hanging. "It has personality." He said nodding to the book, "Are you a fan of Jane Austen? I read a bit of Pride and Prejudice, never finished it though." He said mumbling the last bit. He always had a bad habit of never reading all of a book before jumping to another, actually since he found about his power he's had a hard time reading a book in the first place. With his power he always just downloaded the material directly.

"It's nice to meet Twyla, I'm David." He said giving the cute girl a warm smile. He wondered why she was so shy, but decided not to bring it up, it would probably only make things worse. Still though he assumed she lived in the city, and it must be hard to be shy in a place with this many people.

"Probably not the best idea to walk through a crowded park looking at the sky." The boy said jokingly back to her. Twyla shrugged at this. “It depends on the park and on the day, I think. What if it was a nudist park for seniors? I’d keep my eyes pointed up then.” What kind of comment was that? You don’t say something like that to someone you don’t know! He’s going to think you’re a creeper or something. Twyla could feel the burning in her cheeks that meant she was blushing, a feeling she was used to. Deciding to attempt some damage control she went on to say: “Besides, it could have been worse. Better my book than something more breakable, even if it IS Jane Austen.”

“Yep. It defiantly has personality, I’m just not sure what kind.” Twyla quirked her lips and looked at the brittle binding and the stains on the edges of the pages of the book she was holding. Looking up again she replied to his Jane Austen question with: “I really like her novels, but I can read pretty much anything.” The girl shrugged again when he admitted he hadn’t finished Pride and Prejudice. “It’s not everyone’s cup of tea.” After Twyla had read Sense and Sensibility the first time her freshmen year she had devoured the rest of her high school library’s collection of Jane Austen’s novels and then she had moved on to other classics. Twyla had read a large portion of her high school’s fiction section. She didn’t discriminate against books, she could read anything by anyone and this had made her a favorite amongst her school district librarians.

He has a nice smile. Twyla decided, relaxing a bit. “It’s nice to meet you too, David.” Twyla shot him a shy smile, her cheeks still red from her earlier blush. “Um...” Twyla bit her lip, a habit that had become more frequent lately, as she tried to think of something else to say. “So what’s your cup of tea? To read, I mean.” Pausing a moment to think about her question she realized she had no idea what she just said. “That didn’t make any sense. I meant to ask you what you like to read, assuming you read.” Yeah, that’s what I meant. I’m not an air head, I just play one on TV. I’m not very good at this socializing thing, I was better at it back home. I guess I’m just out of practice.

David had to laugh a little bit at her comment, it was truly something out of left field. It wasn't necessarily bad... just unexpected, he saw her blush and realized him laughing was probably not the best thing. "I suppose you're right in that case." She really was a fan of Jane Austin, but it seemed she just loved books in general, his mind went to Ghost's book store, she would love a place like that.

When she made a comment about the book not being everyones cup of tea David squirmed a bit. He always felt weired when he didn't like the classics too much. He felt like he should like them, they were classics after all, people rave about how great they are and everyone should read them. Lately though he seemed to be missing out, wen he downloaded any books the information just went in all at once. It's like an epiphany for novels, the problem was he lost the effect of a climax leading to a resolution.

She seemed to be stretching for something to talk about, obviously not used to talking to strangers. David was stumped by her question, he never really searched for certain authors or types. "I like to read whatever I see that's interesting." He said casually raising his hand to his chin as he thought, "You know, books you see in a window, on TV, or something a friend recommends." He tried to explain what was in his head as best he could. "So were you out here to just read, or enjoy the sites?" He said looking out across the park.

When the boy, David, laughed at her nudist park comment Twyla decided that laughing was a better reaction that making a weird face at her or simply walking away. That could have gone over a lot worse. I think I’ll just pretend I never said that and let us move on...I’ll have to filter my offhanded comments more closely I think...No one would have cared if I said that back home. Twyla's group of friends, mostly girls on the gymnastics team, expected Twyla’s random outbursts. They were used to her being quiet and then randomly saying something that was either awkward or somewhat funny and took al of them in stride. Twyla hadn’t realized how much she had taken that acceptance for granted until just now. Can’t do much about that now. Twyla reminded herself, pushing back the sudden wave of homesickness.

For a moment he looked uncomfortable, but the mood seemed to pass as he searched for an answer to her question. Twyla wondered what she had said that had bothered him but chose not to pursue it. "I like to read whatever I see that's interesting." David replied. He went on to explain himself more. Twyla nodded to his response. “I think understand what you’re saying.” She replied. “You just come upon them, right?” Twyla had grown up in a household that had one channel on the television, so her openness about authors and titles had come out of a necessity to entertain herself when she didn’t want to run wild outside with her siblings. Even if a book didn’t totally peak her interest she found a reason to like it and therefore to keep reading it.

"So were you out here to just read, or enjoy the sites?" David asked her. I’m probably keeping him. He probably has somewhere to go and I’m bothering him. Twyla felt bad for her perceived bothersomeness. “I needed to get outside. I’ve been cooped up for a few days and I really liked Central Park the first time I came to the city. I figured it would be nice to get to see it in spring and to see a bit of green.” She looked across the way at a group of kids playing with a ball. Bringing her focus back to the tall, he was quite a few inches taller than Twyla herself, boy Twyla asked quickly “What were you doing in the park? Were you just cloud watching or was there somewhere you were headed?” Might as well check to see if I’m keeping him from something; I don’t want to be some annoying stranger that threw off his whole day. I've got nowhere to be, but that doesn't mean I can make random people talk to me

"Pretty much, yeah." He said, he was kinda truthful. When he did see something that truly interested him, he wanted to read it, but he failed to mention exactly how rarely that ever happened. He still felt a little bad for leading her on, she seemed like someone who truly loved to read. Well he was sure it would never come back to bite him in the ass.

"Oh I know how that feels." He said referring to her comment about being cooped up. Being in the city like this does get to a person after awhile. David was never a big nature person in the first place, he grew up around technology, but nature was always there, it was nice to just enjoy it. This previous winter was his first real northern winter, much different then out west. The entire city was covered in the white stuff, and since the spring it's looked much better, much more inviting.

"I wasn't really heading anywhere, I kinda felt the same way as you." he said, "I don't live right in the middle of the city, actually in a huge school, so I do get some green, even then though it's not the same." The mansion was a nice place, and with the danger room he could theoretically recreate the nature, but it wasn't the same. No matter how real he made it it would never be the same, just knowing it was fake ruined it. Here it was different, real people, real trees, real birds singing, a spot green in the seemingly endless grey and white of the city. "I was thinking about heading down to a cafe by here, a little place overlooking the park, care to join me?"

Twyla nodded her head when he basically agreed with her assessment of his book choosing habits. He didn’t seem to her as a very intense reader like what she usually was back home but it didn’t bother her in the least, most of her friends couldn’t be bothered to open an assigned book, let alone a novel just for the sake of reading. Twyla wondered to herself what kinds of thinks David was into. She was doing the same thing that she did with books–trying to find something interesting or unique about this stranger. Maybe we’ll find out, maybe we won’t. Besides my awkwardness this has been a nice conversation, I haven’t gone camouflaged or completely scared a total stranger.

She was relived when it seemed that she hadn’t been ruining the boy’s plans. “So you live in some kind of boarding school or something? Sometimes a change of scenery keeps life interesting; it’s nice to be able to get away.” She replied after he told her that he lived at a school. Twyla was hesitant to tell him where she was currently staying. Telling someone she barely knew that she was currently living in a homeless shelter, a homeless shelter for mutants for that matter, was something she wasn’t totally comfortable doing. It could lead to awkward questions that she didn’t want to answer.

"I was thinking about heading down to a café by here, a little place overlooking the park, care to join me?" His invitation startled Twyla but only for a moment. He seems like a decent person and this conversation has been going pretty good, all things considered. It’d be good for me to actually talk to someone for a change. She had been studiously avoiding the other mutants living at the Sanctuary, primarily because they all seemed older than her and that made her nervous. Strangers generally made Twyla nervous at first and it had been easier for her to meekly explore the recreational places in the Sanctuary after hours. Twyla’s only hesitation to accept his offer was due to her lack of funds. She still had the five dollars she had earned at a carwash a few days prior and around seven dollars in loose change that she had found in her backpack when she was unpacking but that was all the money she had. Her hand reached subconsciously to touch her right front jeans pocket where she was keeping the only money she had.

I could get coffee. I’ll get a job soon and then money won’t be an issue and then this coffee won’t matter. I’ll just get something really cheap. My meals are taken care of right now anyway. I’m getting a job soon, what’s one coffee? Twyla resisted the urge to bit her lip as she argued with herself. Twyla wanted to keep this conversation going but she also knew that the odds of her being able to get a job without handing in an application with her information on it were slim. Twyla was terrified that she would get caught as the runaway she was and that her parents would find out that she was a mutant. After a few moments of contemplation she realized that she was taking a little too long to answer his question so she went with the first reply that popped in her head. “Sure. I’d like that.” Twyla tried to give him a reassuring smile that covered up her anxiety.

"A boarding school... Yeah I guess you could call it that. It's a big mansion where students from all different grade levels live and go to class. Th-" He was starting to babble on about the school, but caught himself before he mentioned the most important aspect, the fact that all the students are mutants. It was strange enough to find out the stranger you're talking about is a mutant, but then to find out he lives in a big mansion full of other mutants. "It's definitely a change of scenery, no place quite like it." He said, staying vague about the school's specialty.

She gave a smile and agreed to join him at the cafe, "Ok, it's right down here." He said as he started to walk down the path. He was happy to have someone join him, lately he hadn't really been very social. He liked everyone at the school, but he sorta kept his training a secret and the last time he went out with a group it was pretty stressful. "Not going to anymore banks anytime soon" He said as a sly smile spread across his face, thinking about the bank heist he barely got away with. His conscience was gnawing at him the days after it happened, but lately he had sworn to be a nicer person and help out other people, partly because it was a nice thing to do, but mostly to ease his conscience. She seemed to be about his age, and obviously was pretty smart, "Do you go to school around here?"

“Sounds like some kind of alternative school to me.” Twyla noticed that David had stopped himself from saying something. I wonder what he was going to say?...Oh well, everyone has their secrets. Twyla wasn’t one to pry normally anyway and she was less apt to lately, considering she had some big secrets of her own to keep. “Do you like it there?” She asked. Twyla herself hadn’t been to school since late the last fall. She had missed most of her junior year of highschool because she had been terrified of her hometown finding out that she was a mutant.

“Lead the way.” Twyla replied with a nod of her head. David started walking and she picked up the empty water bottle that she had almost forgotten. "Not going to anymore banks anytime soon." He said to her, a sly smile spreading across his face. That’s a strange comment. She was a little weirded out but she shrugged the feeling off and smiled nervously. Despite his last comment, Twyla was feeling more relaxed the more they talked. He didn’t seem to be judging her and she didn’t think the conversation was uncomfortable. She was glad to be talking to someone closer to her age than some of the Sanctuary residents.

"Do you go to school around here?" It was a simple question. A polite question. A question that shouldn’t cause someone to panic. But it did. Twyla didn’t want to lie to him but she couldn’t exactly tell someone she hardly knew that she had runaway from home in the first months of the school year and now she was more worried about where she was going to stay at night and getting food than her education. Not that she wasn’t worried about finishing high school and then moving on to college but those worries could only be dealt with after her basic needs were met. She quickly racked her brains for something to say that was vague enough to be an acceptable answer. “Not exactly. I’m in between schools right now. I’ve been moving a lot.” Twyla’s voice was small and she didn’t look at her companion while she spoke.

As the two strolled down the path they passed by more and more people, kids playing and adults relaxing in the sun. "Yeah I love it there, the people are all friendly and easy to get along with." He said looking across a small pond as they walked by it. "The teachers are all nice to, good place to learn." He didn't know what else to say regarding the school without revealing what it was. He was attempted to just spend the time only talkign about the teachers and classes. I really did enjoy them, thanks to his power he never really had to worry about struggling in class, so he grew to really like going to class and learning.

He was a little surprised by her taking so long to answer his question, it seemed it made her a little uncomfortable. When she finally gave an answer David didn't want to press any further, he assumed she had just moved to town and was planning on rejoining her classes when the new school year started, probably happens to a lot of people. "So I take it you're not from around here." He said referring to her comment about moving a lot. "If you don't mind me asking, where are you from?"

Twyla felt a slight pang of jealousy as David expressed his happiness and contentment with his school. If things had worked out differently you’d be saying the same things about school back home. It doesn’t do you any good to dwell over things that you can’t change. You’ll be 18 before next year and then you can get your GED or something and then scholarships for college. Be happy that other people can have good situations. “That’s good.” She replied to his answer. “You’re lucky.” She kept her tone conversational, the petty mood had passed.

Twyla looked around the park at the tall buildings that surrounded it like a fortress and blocked out the sky. “Definitely not from around here.” Twyla had grown up on her family’s small farm and she had gone to school in a small town. She was getting more used to cities through her travels but she still missed the quietness and green of the river valley back home. "If you don't mind me asking, where are you from?" I suppose it couldn’t hurt to tell him, it’s not like he’ll have any idea where home for me is. Hopefully I can change the direction of this conversation soon. Twyla noted that they were getting closer and closer to her taboo topics.

“I’m from a small town in Wisconsin.” She held up her right palm in the shape of a mitten and moved her arm in front of her so he could see her demonstration. “So this is where the Mississippi River would be, right?” Tucking her book and water bottle under her left arm she ran her left pointer finger along the left edge of her palm “And Green Bay is up here,” she pointed to the crook where her thumb met the rest of her hand “and Milwaukee is down here,” she pointed to the bottom right section of her palm and then ran her finger left towards the bottom middle of her palm “with Madison being here-ish. My hometown is northwest from Madison.” She planted her finger in the middle of the left edge of her palm. “I’m from Trempealeau, Wisconsin.” She finally told him, keeping her finger on the spot. “Now you can never get lost, at least not in Wisconsin.” Twyla laughed a bit. “I guess you didn’t need to know the rest of that explanation, but we used to do that in elementary school all the time and I felt I needed to share the information with you.” Twyla shrugged and smiled. “I think it’s nifty.”

To be fair Twyla decided that she should ask David the same question. She assumed he was from the area but she was pretty sure he had assumed the same thing about her. “So is it alight if I ask you where you’re from?” She enquired, dropping her hands back to her sides.

David could just see the cafe now, it was across the street outside of the park. "Yeah I guess I am kinda lucky." He never thought about it, but considering the chain of events to end up across the country at a home for mutants where he could also go to school, what were the chances? He started peering down at the cafe, looking to see if they were busy or not, when he noticed her hold up her hand, he turned to see and couldn't help but give a small chuckle at her demonstration.

He watched intently as she traced her finger around her palm, it wasn't as though he was going to travel there, but still he was very curious as to where she was going with this. Also it's not every day someone uses their hand as a road map. David smiled and raised up his palm, matching the last few moves of her fingers, "I'm sure it makes giving directions much easier." He said jokingly.

"Sure, though my state isn't as easy to navigate as yours." He could see they were nearing the park exit now, but decided to just keep talking, all they would have to do is cross the street. "I'm from California, specifically Silicon Valley." He said thinking back to his home, it was a big busy city, but not quite on this level. It was easy for him to adapt though, but he really missed his parents. "I kinda left in a hurry, haven't talked to my parents in awhile." Guilt was starting to creep in, his parents didn't care he was a mutant, and they were probably worried about him.

Luckily at this point they reached the street, and his train of thought was broken. He looked and waited for a chance to cross and when it came he walked quickly to the other side, and right in front of him was the small cafe. The place really was just a whole in the wall, the front was two large windows for patrons to look out at the park, with a front door situated in the middle. Once inside the counter was to the right, running all the way down the right side, to the left were booths for customers to sit and relax. As they approached the door David reached forward to open it and hold it for her, "It was a nice place to grow up, but definitely not on the scale of this city."

"Yeah I guess I am kinda lucky." He replied. You have no idea. Twyla thought to herself. Twyla noted that David seemed to like her presentation on the geography of her home state. “Yep. As long as you head in the right direction you could get where you needed to be.” After a moment she added “Eventually.” with a laugh. “I’ve never really had to go to any of the places I showed you, so I’ve never put the hand map into use. We didn’t travel much.”

"I'm from California, specifically Silicon Valley." He told her. “Oh, California just wishes it could be shaped like a mitten.” She replied in a teasing tone. “So you’re a city boy then. You’ve come farther than I have.” He’s gone from one end of the country to the other but I doubt he had to do it alone. Maybe he did, if he’s living at some kind of boarding school. Twyla wondered silently about the boy’s circumstances until he went on to say: "I kinda left in a hurry, haven't talked to my parents in awhile." Twyla could relate perfectly to that and before she could stop herself she blurted: “You’re not the only one.” They had left the park by this point and were about to cross the street, so she didn’t have time to process the implications of what she had just admitted to.

Twyla followed David when he made the move to cross. Crosswalks in general were still a hazard for her. She didn’t understand why sometimes when the hand was red it was okay to cross and other times it wasn’t so she usually just went with the crowd and tried to get through them as fast as possible. They ended up right in front of a small café, which she assumed was their destination. Her assumptions were proved right when David reached forward and held the door open for her and said "It was a nice place to grow up, but definitely not on the scale of this city." As she passed him she said “Thank you, kind sir.” in a half joking voice. When she was far enough in for him to follow her she turned around and replied : “I’d about imagine it’s impossible to grow up in this kind of bustle outside of New York.”