Cherik High School Au

The Project

School went by slowly. Charles tried and failed to get a glimpse of Erik Lehnsherr. But eventually, came the greatest part of the school day in Charles' perspective. Lunch and then science. There isn't a better combination of classes than that.

Hank was in almost all of Charles' classes. The two stuck together and became friends. Hank introduced Charles to Alex, Sean, and Angel. The four boys and one girl sat together at a table. Charles finally came up with enough courage to ask about Erik. 

"What's up with this Erik Lehnsherr kid?" Charles asked the table. Sean and Alex exchanged looks. "He's not good news, Charles." Alex starts. 

"Outcast since he joined our school in first grade."

"Bit of a temper."

"Odd things happen to him and around him."

"This kid was trying to cheer him up, once, and he got hit in the head with a tile from the roof." 

"You do not want to be around him."

"Don't talk to him. Just leave him alone and no one gets hurt."

Alex and Sean went back and forth. Hank leaned over to Charles. "They do that a lot. Talk back and forth, that is." He says quietly. Charles chuckles. 

His telepathy was right (it's never wrong) Erik is a mutant. Telekinetic of some sorts, maybe. Almost on call, a breeze pushes past Charles' back and he turns ever so slightly to see Erik walking past, his eyes straight ahead starring at an empty table. 

Charles watched him walk over and sit down. Erik hunched over his lunch and started to eat. 

"Not a lady's man, either." Angel says on the other side of Hank. Sean and Alex sat on the opposite side of the table as the three. "No one likes him much."

Angel had black hair with sharp eyes. She was nice and a bit rough on the edges but she was sweet. Alex was blonde and looked like a football player. Sean was a red head and had tight curls that bounced when he walked. 

Charles knew that there was only him, Erik and a sophomore who were mutants in the school. He still didn't know if Hank was one, though. After what feels like five minutes, a bell rings signaling the end of lunch. Everyone jumps up and races out the door to get to class. One could almost hear John Mulaney scream 'scatter' at the top of his lungs. 

The bell rang again only seconds after Charles made it into the science room. None of the people he knew were in this class. That's what he thought until he spotted Erik Lehnsherr sitting in the corner. 

Mr. Iconis, the science teacher, sat in the front of the room at his desk. His desk had papers scattered all over it but seemed, somehow, organized. Iconis called Charles over as Charles placed his stuff down on his desk. 

Charles walked over, slightly confused. Iconis gave Charles a warm smile. "Hey, kid. How's your first day been?" He asked. Charles smiled slightly. "It's going alright, I guess. I'm excited for this class, though!" Iconis grinned. "Good." 

Iconis excused Charles back to his seat and started up class. 

"Now, for those who were heere last week, you know that there is your first project coming up. We will be working on mutations within the DNA and the differences between each person. I want you each to write two paragraphs along with a poster. You will be in pairs of my choosing. So in all, your pair should have four paragraphs and one poster. I will hand out the rubrics and then start pairing you guys up." 

Charles almost jumped out of his seat in excitement. They were doing mutations formed in the DNA! This is great! His leg started bouncing in excitement. Charles thanked Mr. Iconis when he got handed a rubric and quickly looked over it. 

Mr. Iconis went onto his computer, which was connected to a board in the front of the class, and pulled up a wheel with all the students' names on it. He spins the wheel and picks the pairs. 

Jeremy with Michael

Christine with Jenna

Jake with Chloe

Rich with Brooke 

Harry with Ronald

Eliza with Angelica

John L. with Alex

Sherlock with John W. 

About ten names remained on the board. Next chosen was Erik. Charles was yet to be chosen. As if by fate (or Charles' way to get it to stop when he wanted), Charles was chosen. Erik looked up and made eye contact with Charles for the first time. 

Charles couldn't read his facial expression and he didn't want to hear his thoughts. Iconis paired the rest of the class up and said to meet up with everyone's partners to discuss and even start. 

The two mutants met up at Erik's desk. Charles felt shy but comfortable. 

"So.." Erik started. "Charles, right?" His voice was gruff and the German accent was audible. "Nice to have another European around." Erik said. Charles only nodded. 

"Want to start tonight?" Charles nodded. "My house or your house?" No answer. Charles didn't move. His mind had gone to his house's past. Not a fun place to be. Erik looked at him. "You speak?" He asked. 

Charles shook out of it. "R-right, sorry. Erm.. can we do your house?" Erik nods. "Sure."

No questions. Good. 

Erik shows Charles the notes that had been taken in class the week before. Charles quickly writes all of the notes down in a rushed yet neat style. 

The rest of the day went quickly for the young telepath. Charles was almost excited to get to know Erik. Although dark and quiet, the man was kind to Charles. Their conversations during class were slow and awkward. Charles was shy and Erik wasn't used to talking to people. 

Eventually, the last bell of the day rang and everyone rushed to the door. Charles made his way to his locker and pulled out his backpack. He pulled one strap of his backpack over his shoulder, huffing slightly at the weight, and making his way to the exit of the school. 

Charles walked passed Hank, Alex, and Sean on the way to leave and decided to wait for them. After saying goodbye to Angel and a few other students Charles didn't know, the four made their way out into the parking lot. 

Alex's red car was waiting for them. "What's your address, Charles." Alex asked as they reached the vehicle. Charles shook his head. "I'm going to the park to meet up with Lehnsherr and head to his house after to work on the science project." 

Alex and Sean both gasped dramatically. Hank rolled his eyes. "You're paired up with him?" Sean asked. Charles nodded. Alex shook his head slightly. "That's tough news, Charlie." Charles winced at the nickname 'Charlie' and Alex took that as a sign not to use the nickname. 

"You know where the park is?" Charles nodded a yes. 

"I'll still drive you, if you want." Alex offered. "No, thank you." Charles smiled a bit. "I need some exercise, anyway."

The four boys said goodbye and Charles started on his way to meet up with the mysterious Erik Lehnsherr.