Snippet #2334869

For the first time in a long time, Dom was anxious. He had a very reminiscent feeling of being young and alone in the orphanage. It was time for you to make yourself look presentable, only the healthy looking kids with a smile on their face get adopted. Now he felt like he had to make that same first impression at his new home: The Xavier Insititute.

He had gotten a taxi from the airport, he had used the last bit of money he had saved for the plane ticket and had only twenty dollars left on him to pay for the cab. He was desperately hoping that it would be enough. Having to act like a young street kid by skipping out on a cab fair was not the impression he wanted to make.

His palms were sweating as he ran his fingers through his hair one last time, staring at his sapphire eyes in the mirror, making sure every last strand fell perfectly. After all, this was the make it or break it point. Either he strides in their, looking his best and people take notice, or he’ll just blend into the background and become forgotten. Or worse, they may not like him at all.

For all of his worrying, it was most likely displaced. Just get it together and calm down, you know you’ll be fine. You’ve smooth talked your way out of dozens of sticky situations where the alternative was a fight at gun or knife point, these privileged kids should be a no brainer. Well, in truth he didn’t know if these kids were privileged, but to him a kid that grew up with a reliable bed to sleep in was better off than he was.

He looked down at his small beat up backpack which contained what little clothes he had with him. He couldn’t wait to get a job and buy new clothes, nice clothes. With how well-off this mansion looked in the picture, he was hoping that maybe they would provide him with money for shopping, but anything was better than what he had now. He was wearing a faded grey long sleeve shirt that was two sizes too tight, it hugged his torso, albeit maybe a little too tightly. He had slim fitting jeans on with rips that he had put in himself, and classic black Converse sneakers. He looked…normal at least. Which was for from how he actually felt.

The cab finally began its way up the long driveway, and Dom stared in awe at the majesty of the mansion that stood before him. He could make out a few other kids making their way through the front entrance. The cab slowed to a halt and the cabbie turned around to face Dom. “Nineteen seventy-two please,” he said in very thick Spanish accent. Dom sighed in relief and pulled the battered twenty dollar bill from his pocket and handed it to the cabbie.

“Keep the change.” With that, Dom exited as quickly as possible, before the man could complain about his twenty-eight cent tip. He stood staring for a moment, adjusting himself to the magnificence that was his new home. This is it, give them hell.

The main entrance doors were wide open, and he strode through with confidence. A mutant quickly came up to him, she had an intimidating appearance with red skin and horns, but this didn’t phase Dom in the least, he had once fought a mutant that was scaled like a lizard and could camouflage himself. “Hi there! I’m Nadia, you must be a new student. Let me help you with your bags!”

Dom just hoisted his backpack upon his shoulder, nervously. “No thanks, this is all I have. I’m Dom. If you don’t mind, I’m just going to mingle a bit.”

“Not at all, let me know if you need anything!”

Dom pushed further into the foyer. He noticed a few teens around him. He was trying to see which ones noticed him. Preferring to draw someone in, he locked eyes with a blonde girl from across the room. It was only for a split second, but that was enough for him. He strode up to her, leaned against the wall next to her and said, “Hi, I’m Dom.”