Lizzy loved Central Park. She loved the feel of breeze on her face as it scattered her long blonde hair behind her. She loved the cool, green grass caressing her exposed legs. She loved the way she could forget about everything in the world. All she had to do was sit there in the grass, close her eyes, and soak up the sun.

How was it that she had never been here until a few years ago? To Lizzy, it felt like she had lived here forever. Even in the freedom of Central Park, Lizzy still found a way to remind herself about what happened two and a half years ago. She found a way to remind herself about discovering her voice ability in front of the entire school. There was no way to deny that she was in fact a mutant.

Shaking her head, Lizzy reminded herself that was in the past, and so many good things have happened since then. It was high school after all. She pulled out her guitar from the shadows of its case and began to play in the park. It had been a long day singing and playing for passing strangers in the subway. Today wasn't a good payday either - only some loose change and a few singles. Now, all she wanted to do was to relax and play for fun. No one to serenade or persuade for their loose change. The only person she cared about in that instance was herself. Lizzy began to play soothing chords and slowly lose herself in the music.

But of course, her peace playing her guitar was interrupted. Some man, walking around a few feet away from Lizzy with his arm wrapped around a beautiful woman, began to chat loudly to the receiver of his phone call. He was going on and on saying things like, "Honey, you know I would never forget our dinner plans tonight." It was obvious to Lizzy the man's deceitfulness.

As the man and his mistress walked out of earshot from Lizzy, she thought, This would be a good time to practice. She looked around her to see if anyone was in hearing distance of her. She didn't see anyone, so she began talking in the man's voice, "Honey, you now I would never forget our dinner plans tonight Instead, I'll forget about those promises I made to you so long ago when I said I'll love you forever and ever. I found a new, prettier model, but I'll be there for dinner still!"

Lizzy absolutely hated cheating men. When a girl invests so much into a guy, she should be treated properly. He should be the knight in shining armor, and Lizzy hated to see cases when the shining armor is only a bit of cardboard and foil. Taking a deep breath, Lizzy began to play her guitar more as she tried to forget the man and his mistress.

It was a nice day out and Teddy had decided to spend it walking around Central Park. Surprisingly he'd been living in this city for almost a year and he had yet to visit this place. Although in his defense, he didn't get away from the mansion much. Today was a different story though. It'd was to nice out for him to spend it at the mansion; even if he could have spent it all outside there. Sometimes you just have to get away. That had been his reasoning for taking the bus into the city today. So far he'd spent the time wandering around Times Square and just kind of meandering towards the general vicinity of Central Park. Ted had past what seemed like hundreds of shops and he was just wandering looking at all the different sites of stores, restaurants, people, and even taking in the smells. On second thought the smells probably weren't a plus for a big city.

After about twenty minutes of mindless wandering Teddy ended up in Central Park. He knew he was there because he saw all the horse buggies lined up to take people around the block or wherever it is that they go. He decided to walk along the area next to the little pond that they had there. There were plenty of ducks and fish to look at in the water and he was enjoying looking at them. It was peaceful where he was standing. Off in the distance he began to hear the sound of a guitar being played and a voice accompanying it. Teddy absentmindedly tapped his foot to the music, whether or not he was actually in time with it. But his time was soon interrupted by a guy talking loudly on his phone. Apparently to his girlfriend or wife or someone important. Teddy rolled his eyes and moved on. He made his way closer to the music being played and kept listening. So far it wasn't anything that he readily recognized but he was still enjoying it.

The teen mutant soon found the source of the playing. It was a girl. A very pretty girl and possibly older than him. He could never really tell a girls age. Teddy stopped, and very obviously, started listening to the girl. It didn't look like she was playing for money like a lot of the peddlers did but it didn't matter because she was very good at it. He now leaned against a big tree near the girl and continued to watch her, all thought of the ducks, squirrels and fish gone from his mind. His head swayed back and forth a little as she continued to play. Man she's good. He couldn't help but think as he stood there.

Lizzy found herself a lot more calm playing there in the openness of the park. Since the man and his mistress left her sight completely, Lizzy was just able to play. For a little bit, she pondered what she would play for the subway crowd. She wracked her brains for a bit, but remembered Eagle-Eye Cherry’s “Save Tonight”. It played on the radio the other day and Lizzy looked up the guitar tabs. It wasn’t perfect in memory, so Lizzy began to work it out. She knew that tomorrow she would have to sing in her own voice instead of using her ability, so it was good practice for her. It was almost like when she used to be a part of the school choir.

Her rendition of “Save Tonight” wasn’t perfect, and Lizzy knew that. There were a couple trouble spots she had, which meant she needed to look up the guitar chords later that night if she really wanted to play it in the subway tomorrow. Lizzy stopped for a little bit because she had that odd feeling that someone was watching her. It didn’t surprise her because of how large Central Park is, but she felt it nonetheless. She rotated her head around and the only person she saw near her was a young boy. Well, he wasn’t that young but not that young either. Lizzy had to guess he was maybe 15 or 16. The boy was leaning against a tree watching her, or he was staring over in her direction. There wasn’t much else around them so Lizzy assumed he was watching her.

It’s a good thing I didn’t practice my ability, Lizzy thought to herself. That was exactly the thing she tried to avoid. There was no way she wanted a repeat of Giddings especially in New York City with a complete stranger. There was something about the boy though. He looked nice and harmless enough, so Lizzy waved to him asking him, "Did you want to try?” Lizzy’s guitar was like her baby, but she was willing to teach a nice looking teen. Who knows? She might inspire someone to take up a hobby. If not, well maybe Lizzy just met a fellow music lover.

The music she was playing was good. He didn't recognize the tune immediately, but after a while he picked up on it. He recognized it as something that he'd heard on the radio. The song was pretty new and he could tell that she hadn't perfected it when she started to fumble a little through a certain section of the song. However, she was still doing a real good job playing it.

Teddy was a little surprised that she'd offered to let him play her guitar. There was no way that he would have let someone play his guitar unless he knew them. He was certainly taken aback by the offer. "Ummm...Sure." Teddy said as he walked over and took the guitar from her. He wasn't used to playing in front of people like she seemed to be. He was a little nervous to say the least and after strumming it a bit to think of a song he picked one that he knew well enough to play. The song he picked he'd heard on the radio and fell in love with it. It was a slower song but he started picking the strings a little before he started singing.

When Ted started singing, he started singing the words to "Count on Me" by Bruno Mars. It started out well enough, however, he still couldn't figure out how Bruno Mars sang as high as he did. Teddy simply couldn't get that high with his voice. He continued to finish out the song in a register that was more to his vocal abilities. When he finished he said, "Maybe I should have picked a song from someone with a deeper voice." He joked. "What'd you think?" Teddy never thought of himself as a great singer but he certainly did like to try. Someone else's opinion would be welcomed with his singing.

The boy looked a little shocked that Lizzy had asked him, but he came over and began to pluck the strings and then began singing. It took a moment for Lizzy to recognize the song as a Bruno Mars song because his voice wasn’t as high as Mr. Mars. But as Lizzy thought about it, not many folks can pull of his high register.

Lizzy sat there absentmindedly running her fingers through the grass and listened to the song. She smiled at the familiar tune. It wasn’t a perfect rendition of the song, but it was still pretty good. He had a nice singing voice that was easy to listen to unlike some folks Lizzy had heard in subway. When he finished, he mentioned that he should have sung a deeper song and asked Lizzy what she thought of his performance. “I personally thought it was pretty good. A deeper song might have suited you a little better, but Mr. Mars can be tricky with some guys.”

As she talked about the music, Lizzy really wanted to impersonate Bruno Mars for just a little bit, but the boy might get a little freaked out that she all of a sudden sounded like a man specifically Bruno Mars. She instead asked him, “So where did you learn to play?”

Teddy sat and listened to the girl talk about the music. She was right and he could almost instantly tell that she knew what she was talking about musically.

He then turned his attention to her question and was glad that she liked his singing. "I starred a few years ago when I was living with my parents call in Florida. I took it up as a hobby, never really something that I played for a lot of people, except for at church or my family every once in a while." Ted said answering her question. "What about you? Where did you learn to play?"

”You’re a southerner too? I’m from Texas originally.” Lizzy was surrounded by northerners most of the time. But what else is to be expected in New York? Most of the people she saw were born and bred New Yorkers – complete with accent and everything. Lizzy liked to consider herself a New Yorker now. She had lived in the city for a few years now, but her slight Texan accent still said otherwise.

“I think it’s pretty sweet you picked it up, and I don’t think it really matters who you play for. What matters is that you enjoy playing whenever you do play.” She knew that’s what it was like for herself. Yes, Lizzy makes money playing, but if she didn’t enjoy it, she wouldn’t be playing. It would just be a pain to go to the subway each day in an attempt to earn a bit of cash.

A slight breeze began to pick up as Lizzy closed her eyes for a second to feel the wind. The boy asked her about the origins of her music. “My dad,” she said smiling a little bit. “He taught me how to play the guitar when I was pretty young. He used to be in a band way back in college. My mom on the other hand taught me piano. I guess you can say I have a musical background.”

Teddy listened to her explain her background. "I wish I could play piano." Teddy admitted. "It's just one of those things that never seemed to click when I tried learning it." There was nothing wrong with the piano, in fact, there were many pieces of music that he liked that were played on the piano.

He did have to agree with her. If he didn't enjoy it these there was no sense in playing it. "Well you're very good at it." Teddy said. The breeze was nice and felt cool even in the summer sun. "Do you know any other songs?" Ted just wanted to listen to her play some more. She was good and maybe they could take turns playing.

“Piano is fun, but personally I like the guitar better. That’s probably a little obvious, but I love the raw, sort of unpolished feel to the guitar. I love the piano, but piano songs seemed too perfect, too polish.” Thinking about her words Lizzy added, “Sorry if that doesn’t make much sense. I’m bad at explaining stuff.”

He asked Lizzy if she knew any more songs. “Actually yeah, I do. I play in the subway typically so I know quite a few,” she admitted running her hand through her blonde locks. She thought hard about her set list. Putting the guitar back in her hands, she stared at it for a good minute before she figured thought of one. “I’ve got it! This is a little old, but I think it’s such a pretty song. I’m sure you’ve heard of Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles.”

Collecting herself, Lizzy took a deep breath and began to play the familiar tune. It was pretty simple song, but she thought it the simplicity made it beautiful. The words were some of her favorites as well because it just gave her hope that everything would turn out okay. After she finished the short little song, she told him, ”I know I’m no Beatle, but it’s one of my favorites.”

Lizzy looked up at him curiously and said, ”You know, I just realized I never introduced myself. I’m Elizabeth, but everyone calls me Lizzy. Well except for my mom, but she doesn’t count.” She extended her hand out to the boy. It might be a little late, but Lizzy hated feeling like such a stranger and talking so much to someone she just met. It was better late than never.

Teddy listened to her play the song by the Beatles. It was one that he wasn't familiar with. He didn't seem happen to be a big Beatles fan but he couldn't deny that they did star a whole genre of music. Her voice was much better on this song than on the one that he first heard her sing. It was probably because she was more familiar with it than with the other one. He was still really impressed.

The young teen shook her hand, when she finished playing the song. "I'm Ted. But like everyone calls me Teddy. Nice to meet you Lizzy." He smiled. Not from her name or anything. He smiled because he thought it was amusing that they had had such a long conversation without even introducing themselves. This wasn't normal. Most strangers wouldn't go having a deep conversation about their past and what they do now if they didn't know their names. But Teddy wasn't a normal teenager.

"Even though you're not one of the Beatles I still think you played that song really well. Have you ever tried to play in clubs and stuff? I hear that's how a lot of the famous singers today got their big break." Teddy was just throwing out ideas. But he was serious. She was one of the best he'd heard singing in a long time. Many of todays talent needed their mics to tune their voices but she didn't seem to have that problem.

The boy introduced himself as Teddy. She couldn’t help but respond, “Aw. Kind of like a teddy bear?” She smiled at herself in slight disbelief that she just said that. It just kind of popped out of her mouth without a filter. Her mind just naturally went to teddy bear. Lizzy hoped it wasn’t too odd of a statement, but she liked the name.

Teddy mentioned about Lizzy possibly playing in clubs. Lizzy winced at the idea. She didn’t think she was good enough for clubs. “I’ve never really thought about it before,” she replied as she nervously played with the grass, “I don’t know if I’d be good there anyway. I feel like the subway is a nice venue for me personally.”

Maybe one day she would graduate from the subway to clubs, but the subway was her comfort zone right now. Lizzy had a hard time imagining her playing on an actual stage anyway. Playing the guitar was more of a hobby that she just happened to make money off of as well. Besides, Lizzy never thought that she was stage worthy. Singing in her own voice, Lizzy never thought she was as good as everyone said she was. There’s a phrase that says you’re your own worst critic, and she definitely knew the meaning of that.

"Aw. Kind of like a teddy bear?”

He really needed to stop telling people to call him Teddy. It was a little to much of a give away to his powers. That and... was he getting to old for that name? Ted just smiled and shook his head."Ya like a teddy bear." He reluctantly agreed. Teddy needed to re think about how he introduced himself.

Lizzy mentioned that she'd never thought about playing in a club. "Well, if I was old enough I'd definitely go see you play in a club." as it was he certainly had a difficult time passing for the age that he currently was, and you could forget about passing for older than he really was. She may not feel comfortable with the whole idea of the stage just yet but he had a feeling that she would warm up to the idea of it.

Suggestion was a very powerful tool even if it wasn't a mutation gift. He was enjoying getting the chance to know this girl. He had to admit it would be pretty cool if he could say that he knew Lizzy before she got famous. "Well, for the record I think you'll do a lot better than you think you will if you give yourself a chance to play in the club."

Lizzy ran her hand through her hair, slightly embarrassed. She didn’t know what to say in return to Teddy. He gave her more praise than she thought she was worthy of. “Well I’m glad there’s at least one person who would listen to me,” she said, laughing it off a little. It comforted her to know that, even though he wasn’t old enough at the moment, at least one person would watch her if she ever did decide to play on an actual stage.

She turned the idea over more in her head. Maybe it would be fun to do that instead of playing in the subway. The different arena would allow her to get more feedback on her playing as well as maybe make a little more money than the subway. Plus, just imagine playing on an actual stage. People at the club or restaurant or wherever would be there to listen to her. They wouldn’t be there because they were on their way to work, but would have time to sit down and listen.

The idea sounded better and better the longer she pondered this possibility, but there was still that unknown factor that scared her a little. “Maybe I will give myself a chance one day. Thanks for the idea.”

“Now enough about me,” Lizzy began as she leaned back in the grass. “What about you? You said you play at church. So I’m a little curious. Do you sing solos and such or are you more of a choir guy?” She wanted to redirect the conversation because she felt like they had been talking so much about her these past few minutes. Besides, she wanted to know more about Teddy. Lizzy was curious about this somewhat stranger whose name reminded her of a teddy bear.

Teddy smiled as she apparently was getting more and more comfortable with the idea. She certainly seemed to be warming up to the idea.

Ted patiently listened to her talk about herself. She seemed to have a few things to work out. But that must be what being an adult was all about. He was really glad that he had a few years before he had to worry about that kind of thing.

"Played. Past tense. I haven't been in a while here. I just haven't found one that I like yet. But when I did go I was the church guitarist. Mostly I just played and sang a little; but sometimes I would do solos. Not very often thought 'cause I didn't really think I was that good at them."

It was a little weird that he was sharing so much with a girl that he just met but she was nice and he was pretty sure that she would be someone that he wouldn't see again. It was a big city after all and the chances of a second meeting seemed slim unless they planned on it.

Lizzy was slightly surprised that Teddy didn’t take many solos. If she was being talked up, so was he. The boy wasn’t a terrible singer by any means. So maybe he couldn’t reach some notes in a Bruno Mars song, but he was definitely good enough for church solos.

“Well, I for one think that you are definitely good enough for solos, so I think that if and when you find a church that fits you, you should try out for more solos.” She spoke with a tone that seemed very settled. If she was going to sing at club or even think about it, there was no way that he shouldn’t try out for a solo.

“And maybe in a few years you could come join us folks down in the subway every once in a while,” she suggested. “It’s quite nice down there and it’s pretty good practice. Plus a little money on the side doesn’t hurt.” It was a way to definitely hone one’s craft with a little feedback as well. It might not be the best feedback, but there were always a few who would just come by and listen for a little bit.

Besides, if Teddy did end up playing in the subway occasionally, Lizzy might run into him and then she could have a little pride in knowing that she suggested it to him all those years back. Then it ran through her mind that she might not recognize him in a few years or even remember him. That thought made her a little sad even though this was such a random meeting to begin with.