S͎o͎l͎a͎r͎a͎ ͎|͎ ͎J͎o͎h͎n͎ ͎A͎l͎l͎e͎r͎d͎y͎c͎e͎/͎/͎P͎y͎r͎o͎

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Her father was right about one thing, the drive to the school in Westchester County from their home was long. Well, it was an hour's drive, but it still felt long with the weekend traffic jam. That morning before they left, Gabi had hugged her as though it was the last time they'd see each other again.

"I don't want to be an only child at home, Val..." Gabi muttered into Valeria's side.

"I'm not leaving today, Gabi," Valeria patted her younger sister's head, trying to detach her sister's arms from her. Their mother had to physically remove Gabriela from her sister.

Valeria's hands drummed on her thighs as she waited patiently in traffic with her father. Valeria turned to her father, who was focused on the road ahead of them, "You've been there before?"

"Long ago," her father answered, "it was a small project I helped Charles with before I started the company."

"Oh," Valeria muttered, not wanting to probe further. Her fingers mindlessly picked on her sheer tights she wore underneath her black dress. Despite growing up in a loving, close-knit family, she had always felt her parents, particularly her father, were hiding something big. Maybe Mateo might know since he's always the one to want to know everything about everyone, but she highly doubts it. She knew her parents were smarter to hide such secrecy, if there really are any secrets, from their busybody son.

"Papa,"

"Yes, Val?"

She glanced at her father once again, trying to gauge his feelings, "Why are you and Mama so calm about this?"

Javier hesitated, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. The silence stretched for a moment. Finally, he spoke, his tone steady but reflective. "Because mutants saved me once, and I've worked with them countless of times in the past."

Valeria's eyes widened slightly; her curiosity piqued. "Saved you? What do you mean?"

Her father glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, a hint of a smile on his lips. Taking his right hand off the steering wheel, he patted her head. "Story for another time, Val."

Valeria frowned slightly, but she nodded, sensing that it was a topic her father wasn't ready to delve into.

For the remainder of the journey, the car was filled with a comfortable silence. As the car pulled up to the gates of the school, Valeria felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness. The gates themselves were tall, wrought iron, with intricate patterns woven into the metal, depicting symbols she couldn't quite make out from a distance. Next to the gates, on a stone wall, the name of the school was elegantly engraved on a bronze plaque, "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters".

Beyond the gates, a long, tree-lined driveway stretched out before them, leading up to a grand mansion that stood at the heart of the estate. The mansion was an impressive structure, a blend of old-world charm and modern elegance. Its stone facade was covered in ivy that climbed up towards the high, arched windows. The roof was peaked with dark shingles, and several chimneys puffed out thin wisps of smoke, giving the place a cozy yet imposing feel.

Surrounding the mansion, meticulously manicured gardens spread out in every direction, with vibrant flower beds, hedges trimmed into perfect shapes and paths that meandered through the greenery. To the right, Valeria could see a large fountain, its waters glistening in the sunlight.

As the car rolled to a stop in the driveway, she noticed students walking around the grounds, some in groups chatting animatedly, others alone, lost in thought. Some of them appeared completely ordinary, but a few displayed hints of their abilities – one girl floated a few inches above the ground. Valeria's eyes widened in awe. The old man was right.