Today started out like any other day. I had a psychology class in the afternoon at the university, so I asked my friend Xi'an to keep an eye on her for me. Xi'an is a lesbian Vietnamese immigrant who recently graduated from the university, where she also works as a librarian. She is a very kind and educated young woman who happens to be raising her younger siblings, Leong and Nga. Xi'an was more than willing to watch Kim for me as I headed off to class.

What I didn't realize was that Xi'an's friend Dani followed me to class. Dani is the Native American I referenced earlier on; she recruits new students for the Xavier Institute, a school in New York designed to teach mutants how to use their powers. The professor informed us that we were to get a copy of Thomas Szasz's "Insanity: The Idea and Its Consequences," and then asked if anyone knew why this book was important. I was the only one who knew the answer, which I have since forgotten. Unfortunately for me Dani heard me answer the professor's question.

I then returned to the library, where I asked Xi'an if she had a copy of Szasz's book. She asked me how to spell his last name, but I wasn't sure how at the moment. Dani approached me and asked if I had already read the book. When I told her I hadn't, she began asking questions about how I knew the answer in class when I wasn't even sure how to spell the author's name. I'm not sure how, but somehow Dani knew I was a mutant; she even asked if I had telepathically pulled the answer from the professor's head. I was speachless, unsure of how to respond to Dani's questions, but thankfully I didn't have to. Kim, who hadn't heard Dani's questions over her headphones, asked if we could go home. I was quick to agree, eager to get away from this woman and her questions about my powers.

Kim and I returned home to normalcy, but it wasn't long before my world was turned upside down. Answering a knock at the door, Dad discovered a flier revealing that I'm a mutant. He approached me to see if it was true, but he couldn't even bring himself to say the word: mutant. Angry and afraid I stormed out of the house, desperate to get away. A moment later I heard Kim calling after me, telling me that I just needed to give Mom and Dad some time to adjust to the news. Unlike my parents, Kim didn't seem surprised to learn that I was a mutant.

At just that moment Dani and Xi'an arrived, asking to talk. I couldn't believe that Xi'an, who I had always had a good relationship with, was friends with this woman who had ridden into town and changed my life. I showed them the flier my father had found and demanded to know why they had done this to me, but they insisted they didn't. Looking at the flier Xi'an suggested that the culprits might be the members of Purity, a group of bigots on campus who hate mutants.

It turns out Xi'an was right, as a few members of Purity arrived at just that moment looking for trouble. Dani used her powers to create an illusion of the X-Men, which sent a couple of the bigots running; a moment later one of the bigots turned and slugged one of his friends. This was thanks to Xi'an's power, which allows her to take possession of someone's mind and force them to do whatever she wants. Using my own mutant powers, which causes me to take on the skills and knowledge of the people around me, I was able to use a black belt's own fighting knowledge against him. Realizing that they had no chance against the four of us, the members of Purity took of running like a bunch of cowards. Once I had a chance to catch my breath, I was able to digest what I had just learned; Xi'an is a mutant, like me. Never in a million years would I ever have suspected as much.

Dani and Xi'an escorted Kim and I back home, where my parents were waiting for us. Dad apologized for his earlier reaction and gave me a hug. Even though I was really scared, I talked to them about my powers and how they work. Our talk was actually quite liberating; it felt to finally tell the people I love most the truth about myself, and they were all extremely supportive. Dani suggested my parents send me to the Xavier Institute, but my dad was afraid that would make me a target; Dani had to tell him that just a few minutes ago I had been attacked on the streets. Realizing that it wasn't safe for me to remain in Chicago now that Purity knows I'm a mutant, Mom and Dad agreed to send me to New York with Dani and Xi'an. Before I knew it I was packing my bags and saying goodbye to my parents and Kim.

Mr. Logan had already started the class by the time I arrived. I started to sit down next to a shy kid with shaggy hair when a mutant named Julian told me not to. He told me it's dangerous to sit next to Kevin because he's got a death touch. I told Julian that I'd be all right, but he insisted that I'd be dead if I stuck around Kevin. Julian was really starting to get on my nerves, so I told him to shut up and leave me alone. Mr. Logan asked everyone in the class if they wanted to be an X-Man. Because I was the only one who didn't raise his hand, Mr. Logan asked me to stand up as part of a demonstration. I think I surprised everyone in the class when I was able to knock Mr. Logan off his feet. Afterwards I apologized for embarassing him, explaining that I was inadvertantly using Mr. Logan's own fighting knowledge against him. I explained how my powers work and how it makes learning difficult, but he encouraged me by saying that there isn't anything I can't learn without a lot of practice. After the class was over Kevin invited me to join him and two girls he had just met for lunch.

In the cafeteria I learned the two girls are named Laurie and Sofia. Like Kevin and me, Sofia was just recently recruited to the school by Dani. Sofia's powers enable her to manipulate the wind. Laurie, on the other hand, has been at the Institute for a year now; she possesses pheromone powers that she can't control. All three of them want to be X-Men after they graduate.

Dani and Xi'an came over to our table, so I invited them to join us. Dani told us she wouldn't be able to stay long as she had to leave for New York for another recruit. Sofia asked if she and Laurie could go along, because her friend Derek was in New York with her father. This prompted Kevin to ask if he and I could tag along, even though I didn't particularly want to go. Xi'an then suggested she go with us as a chaperone.

At 3:55 Dani and Xi'an left us alone in the hotel lobby, where Derek was supposed to meet us at 4. We waited over 40 minutes for Derek to show up, but he never did. Sofia eventually asked the clerk if someone had left her a message, and he gave her a letter Derek had supposedly written. The letter claimed that Derek and Sofia's father were both excited to see her and were waiting in the garage. Sofia instantly realized something was wrong, as her father would never be happy to see her. The four of us then rushed downstairs to see what was going on when we encountered a couple of guys in masks.

Once they saw us the masked men tried to run back to their friends, but Sofia used her powers to slam the door shut. Using our powers Sofia and I were able to defeat the masked men. We then ran outside to the garage to save Derek and Sofia's father, where more of the masked men were waiting. Because they don't have powers suited for fighting, I told Kevin and Laurie to find someplace to hide while Sofia and I took on the rest of the kidnappers. Sofia and I were so caught up in the battle that we were unable to do anything as the leader of our attackers impaled Laurie from behind on his blade arm.

We returned home and Laurie introduced us to her mother, Ms. Collins. Laurie started to introduce her mother to Kevin before discovering that he had snuck away back to his room. Later on Laurie revealed that her mother had moved to town when Laurie enrolled at the Institute. Our conversation was interrupted by Josh, who asked us to let him in the gate. He told us a sob story about how his parents had kicked him out and his friends had attacked him, but I wasn't buying it. Unfortunately Laurie and Sofia were feeling much more compassionate, especially after Josh pointed out how he had saved Laurie's life.

I returned to my room to read, only to once again be interrupted by Josh. It turns out that the professor and Dani had made him my roommate. Josh sat down on my bed and asked me what there was to do in town, as if we're supposed to be friends now that we're roommates. Josh once again tried to get me to sympathize with him, but I wasn't listening. Josh then had the nerve to say that he isn't a racist! I asked him if I should feel better that he and his friends only wanted to kill me because I'm a mutant and not because I'm black. I then stormed out of the room and ran into Xi'an, who told me the professor wants to see Josh and me in his office.

Josh and I get to Xavier's office, where Laurie and Sofia are also waiting to see the professor. Xavier lets us in and reveals that Kevin has left the Institute, and Dani is considering leaving too. The professor then informs us that he realizes what a difficult decision it is to stay at the Institute, which is why he has decided to have all of the students pick a member of the faculty as their advisor. All four us pick Dani, which convinces Dani to change her mind and stay at the Institute; she even agrees to teach, so long as the rest of us call her Ms. Moonstar in class.

Normally this wouldn't have been a big deal; it would have even been admirable. But Josh didn't take Amara's powers into consideration. When he healed her, it resulted in a huge explosion that nearly destroyed the infirmary and killed the the nurse. Fortunately Josh was at least able to make amends on that last part by healing the nurse, but Amara ran away from the Institute to God knows where.

The word in the hall is that Julian and Josh heard the explosion and ran to help, but I knew better. I confronted Josh and tried to tell him how foolish he was, but he refused to listen, insisting he preferred it when the two of us weren't talking.

Josh and I haven't really spoken since that happened. Then suddenly this morning Josh started acting weird, shouting, "They came!" It turns out that Josh's parents had come to the school to have an audience with Xavier. Josh convinced Sofia to eavesdrop on the conversation, but he was so excited he only heard bits and pieces. It turns out that Josh's parents hadn't come to take him home as he had thought; they had actually come to name the school his legal guardian.

Turns out he had spoken to his friend in Admissions at Harvard, only to find out that Harvard doesn't accept students from Xavier's. Mom suggested we could sue them, but Dad said they'd just claim they didn't accept me because they can't protect me. He then suggested that if I want to go to college, I leave Xavier's. I spent the rest of the day considering my father's advice.

The next day I found Sofia and Laurie outside. I could tell Sofia was down about something about her father. I started to ask if I could help when I saw Julian and Santo attack Josh. Sofia used her powers to force Julian to release Josh, who he was holding several feet in the air. As Josh and Julian continued their fight, Santo came after me. I was able to dodge his blows until Xi'an came out and used her powers to force Julian and Josh to quit fighting.

My father was kind of upset about me getting involved in a fight. Mom suggested I come home with them so I could go to college, but I had made up my mind. I told them that I was going to stay at Xavier's; if some college couldn't accept that, then I'd just go someplace else. Before saying goodbye Mom and Dad told me how proud I was of me. I returned to my room, where I discovered a detention notice for Josh. As I sat down to do my homework, Josh thanked me for sticking up for him.