Please note that this is a Sequel to The World is New. Please read that story first before starting this one, or mass confusion will occur.

Chapter 1: NEW ROUND

The next five weeks, the house was in a complete frenzy. There were construction crews that had their minds wiped at the end of each shift, and new ones from a different company would come in the next morning. Too risky with Hank freely walking around.

Charles and Zoey were working on the course work, arguing which books to assign for English, what to focus on in History, and whether or not the Pythagorean Theorem was worth teaching. They persuaded Hank to give small lectures on Biology and Chemistry, and appointed Janie to be the unofficial RA, who furnished the dorm rooms and helped figure out how to appoint rooms in separate areas for the boys and girls. Thankfully, and with much persuasion, Charles let them keep their original rooms.

It was kind of peaceful, despite the chaos. There wasn't time for much else: Charles and Zoey didn't fight, Alex and Janie put their differences aside to help, and even Sean was on good behavior.

All until Charles and Zoey declared who the first student to join their school would be.

Janie and Ororo argued that it should be a girl, while the others argued another boy would be better. When Chares described the situation the mutant was in, they all agreed quickly.

"It's time, everybody. Tomorrow Zoey and I will go and talk to him and his parents… and hopefully we will have our first official 'new' student of the 'Xavier School of Higher Learning'.

The car pulled up at the Tudor house, stopping in front of the mailbox as Frank announced their arrival.

Zoey stepped out immediately, Charles joining her quickly enough in his travel wheelchair. She could almost feel his nerves.

"Let's go, we have someone to help," she said and they headed up stone pathway to the front door, and rang the doorbell.

The door opened instantly, showing a man and woman cowering in the doorway. They had sweater vests and khaki pants, practically matching.

"Mr. and Mrs. La Vega, it is great to finally meet you! I'm Zoey - Ms. Atkin... we spoke on the phone?"

"Oh! Yes," Mr. Vega said shortly, nodding his head and weakly shaking her hand. He looked warily at Charles.

"This is the headmaster, Professor Xavier. May we meet Joseph?" she asked.

They both jumped at the name and then started nodding, stepping back and stuttering to welcome them in. They hoarded the two of them to the living room, and Zoey took a seat on a lumpy armchair, Charles coming close next to her.

"He's in his room…" the mother said.

"Joseph! Get down here, now!" the father yelled, making Zoey jump.

"There is no need for that, Mr. La Vega, I can get him myself," Zoey said, standing up.

"I'm busy, be there in a second!" a voice yelled back.

Zoey sighed, and looked to Charles. He nodded, brought a hand to his temple, and closed his eyes.

Suddenly the house grew silent, disturbed by the sound of a door opening followed by footsteps, soon heard coming down the stairs.

Zoey's hands began to tingle and for a split second she feared she was harnessing Raven's power… but this felt heavier... like a rock was just rested on her chest.

Joseph was tall, at least six feet. He had dark brown hair that rested on his shoulders and a pointed nose that highlighted his sharp jaw and piercing brownish-black eyes.

Zoey only stood in front of her seat and smiled, hoping she didn't seem as intimidated or nervous as she felt.

"Joseph, it's great to meet you. Please, sit, we're here to talk about a new opportunity."

Joseph watched the scene warily, then his gaze honed to Charles. He nodded, and sat down on the nearest sofa.

"Mr. and Mrs. La Vega, if you could please excuse yourself, we have some questions for Joseph," Charles started.

"Like hell you'll recruit him with your mind-games! Don't think I don't know-"

"Get out, Victor. I want to talk to them, alone. It might even get me out of here, and you'd love that, wouldn't you?" Joseph interrupted, giving his foster father a deadly look.

The parents scurried out of the room.

The second they left, Joseph stood up and advanced towards Charles, clenching his fists.

"How the hell did you do that?" he asked.

Zoey intercepted and Joseph bumped into her. He gave her an equally intimidating stare.

"We're here to help you."

"Someone invading my mind is helping?" he asked, keeping his gaze on Charles, not budging. "I thought you would be the guy from the broadcast."

Zoey frowned.

"We have a more peaceful message to get across, rather than start a new World War. I'm sorry about the intrusion, but your parents were... unbecoming."

She gave a faint smile, but her fists were clenched, ready for a fight.

Joseph stepped back, and sat back down on the sofa. Zoey let out a relaxed breath, and sat down as well.

"So you guys are going to get me out of here?" he asked, looking a little pleased.

"We're here to show you that you don't have to hide anymore. I figure you know what we are, considering the circumstances?" Charles asked.

Joseph only nodded.

"I would love to see what you can do, Joseph," Zoey said, wondering what the extra pump of flow in her bloodstream meant. It felt hevy at the same time, and the weight on her chest had grown.

Joseph sighed, and brought out a switchblade from his pocket.

Zoey and Charles both tensed.

He furrowed his eyebrows and focused on the switchblade in his hand. With a crumbling sound, the blade along with the steel handle quickly turned to grey stone in his hand. He sighed and tossed it onto the table, the rock breaking easily.

"Wow," Zoey said softly. She looked at Charles, who had an excited yet reserved look on his face. He had probably found out what he could do in Cerebro, when he found him in the first place.

Zoey knew what she should do next, and looked around. She spotted a pen on the nearby coffee table, and picked it up.

She stared at it as she cleared her mind and gave in to the heavy feeling in her body. Soon the plastic turned to stone. She tried to break the pen in half but failed. She tossed the pen onto the table the same Joseph had done with the switchblade, but it didn't break.

"Hell, I knew that blade was a rip-off."

Zoey looked up to find Joseph calmly staring, which was a surprise for her.

"And here I thought I was the only one who could do that," he continued, and Zoey swore she saw a hint of a grin.

"I myself have been discovering new things these past weeks," she replied, and then looked at Charles. He met her gaze questioningly.

"It's because of him, Joseph," she said, turning back to the boy.

"Zoey, this really isn't-" Charles started, but she continued.

"That's what this school is for Joseph. For people like us. M- mutants… like us."

Joseph only sat there watching Zoey and Charles. He then sighed, and shrugged his shoulders.

"I've never been a fan of schools, but something tells me I might like this one."

"Well we're still in the beginning stages, Joseph. Only a few students so far, you're our newest addition. You'll have a room, but there's a rough draft of a syllabus, an erratic class schedule-"

Joseph stood, and nodded.

"Really, anything sounds better than what I'm dealing with now; I'm coming with you guys. Let the 'parentals' know. I'll go pack."

With that, he left them, running up the stairs.

Zoey looked to Charles, and smiled brightly.

"That went better than I thought. Why didn't you tell me what he could do?"

"Well, the look on your face was very effective to him. I think we should do that for the rest of the recruits. I think a real, true admiring face is better than a cowering one. What the parents think of him has me … I can't even say it, but I know we're bringing him with us no matter what," he said, bringing a hand to his temple.

Soon enough, the parents arrived, visibly shaking. Zoey stood, and tried to keep her calm.

"Joseph has agreed to enroll in this school. He as even agreed to leave with us today; he is packing up right now. You already know the address; it would be appreciated if you could ship the rest of his belongings. We would hate to trouble you again and come collect the things ourselves-"

"No! We've got plenty of boxes," the wife said. Zoey ignored her and continued.

"We will have very little contact after this. You know the price we are asking, and we have settled the details on the payment plan. We hope to receive a first check within a month's time, or we will have to come back. Your son will be receiving a very thorough and important education, Mr. and Mrs. La Vega."

"He's not our son," Mr. La Vega intervened.

Zoey clenched and unclenched her fists.

"I can assure you, that fact is for the better," she said sternly, and the scared looks on their faces made Zoey's anger dissipate slightly.

"Damn straight."

She looked up to find Joseph standing still at the top of the stairs with a backpack, duffel bag, and a box. He looked at Zoey dazedly as he descended the stairs.

She could only smile as he reached her and she took the box from him, trying to harness Hank's strength.

"Charles and I can wait in the car if you want to say-" she started to say softly but Joseph interrupted loudly.

"GOODBYE, you worms. I think I might write an anonymous letter to Social Services. Guarantee you never adopt another child. You are undeserving to be parents."

At that, Joseph walked out of the house, head held high, even a slight spunk in his step.

"Well, it was… Well I met you, Mr. and Mrs. La Vega, can't say much more to that," Zoey said, not even bothering to shake hands. She turned to Charles, not even caring how rude she was being.

"Ready?"

"Not yet. Joseph had a… request. I hope to see it done," he replied.

"Meet you in the car, then," Zoey said with a last smile, not even bothering to look at the parents again as she left.

She reached the car, smiling at Joseph shaking hands with Frank.

"What did you ask Charles to do, Joseph?"

He looked almost sheepish as Frank opened the door for the both of them. They settled in after putting the bags and box in the trunk.

"I don't want them to remember me. But don't worry, you'll get your money's worth for my admission," he added quickly

"Joseph, the money is honestly the last thing on our minds. It's good enough that you're coming home with us."

The smile he gave in return filled Zoey with a feeling of accomplishment.

They could really do this.

They could build a school for mutants.