Take The Time

C~2: Catching The Past

"Triston?"

Knock knock

"Triston!"

Knock knock knock

"TRIS!!!"

BANG!

My eyes pop open, and I sit up from my desk, rubbing my eyes, I look in the mirror to see a paper stuck to my cheek. Peeling it off, the equations and writings in pen cling to my skin. Shaking my head, I straighten my tie and head to the door.

Opening it, I find Stacy; we're friends, I guess, we just used to be lab partners, and she drags me around with her friend group. She leans against the doorframe of my dorm as I straighten out my uniform, "You were supposed to bring the drinks to the party last night."

Wetting a cloth, I wipe my face and brush my hair into a half up half down style. "I was writing up my research on mutational findings."

"What! You would screw me over for that? Some kinky-dink theory?"

Sighing, I grin, "And which one of us is still in high school?"

Her smile fades. "Fuck you." she sweetly states before slamming my door. Technically she's older than I am, but I graduated when I was fifteen; that summer I turned sixteen, the school lets me stay here to tutor kids and give tours while doing my own research.

The slamming of the door knocked a couple things over. Going around, I pick them up, also being careful not to step on the broken glass of a picture that fell. Sweeping up the shards, I collect the frame off the ground and look at the photo.

I was eight, and dad had me on his lap while we were picnicking under the oak tree. Taking a breath, I place it face down on my dress before organizing my papers on my desk.

I flatline this part of my life, just a straight case of boredom on a one-way trip to nowhere...I mean, all this studying is adequate for now, but I don't even really know what I want to do with my life.

Just then, another knock at the door, "Coming!" I call and move to open it to find two men. The shorter man had shaggy collar-length brown hair with a go-t and blue eyes—the other man was taller with weird hair and sideburns that grew into a clean-shaven face.

Both wearing sunglasses.

Gripping my door, I only keep it open halfway. "I didn't think I had to give any tours today."

"Oh um no, this isn't a tour. We just have some questions." struggle the shorter man, the taller one nods. "About the school...Can we come in?"

Eyeing the two, I open the door fully and step back into my room, pulling out my deck chair and the other I kept in the corner. "Can I get you both anything, coffee? The first sign of regret?" I push, the two pause, and look at me.

Surging, I hold my arms. "Listen, if you're planning on sending your kid here, tell them the name is Horrible High. The only way you make it here is if you put twice the work in." I warn, watching as the two looked around my room.

The taller mangoes and looks over my desk. "I can clearly see that." he begins as the other man joins him. "So, what is this math? Science?"

"A thesis disproving the genealogy theory for mutations." exclaims the shorter man. He seems almost annoyed by this fact, reaching out beside me; I grab the photo that I pushed down and look from it to the man before me.

Taking a breath and smiling, I put the photo down and gently take my papers back before walking to the door. "Yes, it's an extensive paper, still writing it, of course." I make up as the man walks to stand in the door frame.

Reaching around him, I grab the door and push him out into the hall before slamming my back against the opening. Turning back to the taller man, I pant out, "Who are you? And what kind of sick joke are you playing me for!"

He carefully takes a step forward. "My name is Logan, okay. And no joke, in fact, he doesn't even know who you are."

Doesn't even!

Biting my lip, I shake my head, "Is that supposed to make this situation any better? What do you even want!"

"Your help." Logan starts. How was he remaining so calm over this? Taking a breath, he continues, "Listen, I was sent from the future...Now in a day or two, there's gonna be a summit in pairs where-"

His words registered in my mind; I just couldn't get past the I was sent from the future bit. When he was done, I nod my head once, "How do I know you're telling the truth?" I push. Logan moves over to my desk and puts the photo back up. "One, I know you are Triston Xavier. Two, I was able to get your drunken father, who is now walking off his ass."

My dad was walking, and he looked awful; why that didn't register before I can't explain.

Closing my eyes and shaking my head again, I sit down at my desk, facing Logan. "My help? What you're talking about is exposing mutants to the world. How could I help?"

Logan smirks, kneeling in front of me. "I know you would never leave any mutant to fend for themselves, even if you are normal...We need this." he starts pointing to my head. "And this." he finishes telling my heart.

"For what?"

"A prison break...you ever been to the pentagon?" Logan asks standing, my eyes widen as I stand to "Magneto? Erik?"

"Oh, so you do know him?"

"Only been told stories...You do know everything you're saying sounds insane? You want me to come up with a plan to break someone out of the pentagon?" I laugh.

Logan nods. "You're the only one who I know can, your plans have never failed before, and I know they won't now," he states and moves to the door. "What do you say?"

Save the future? I mean, I said I wanted something to do in my life.

Giving a breathless smile, I nod. "Can I have one punch...and then can I get new clothes?"

Laughing at this, Logan nods. "Just one."

Nodding, I quickly pack up everything I need into a backpack as Logan steps out the door. Before I move to open it for myself, I look back at the photo and rock on my heels. Taking it out of the frame, I stuff the picture in my pocket.

Heading out the door, I see Logan leaning against the wall. Turning to my left, I see my dad without sunglasses peering at me intensely. "Triston-"

BLAM!!!

After punching him across the jaw, I hold my fist in shock as Charles reels back, holding his face and Logan chuckling. Shaking out my hand, I nod. "Hey, dad...okay, I'm ready to go."