January 4th 2003

"Sorry, explain this to me one more time," Thomas said as he laid on the little medical bed. He had on a pair of jeans and a black hoodie with his dark green jacket over it. Inside Thomas' insides were doing backflips. There was a possibility he was going to get to see Newt again. If he washed and brushed his hair before this in a feeble attempt to make himself look good, well that was his business.

"So we're sending you back in time, well not your actual body, but a copy of you."

"How are we copying me?"

"El is going to freeze the version of you here and you're going to create another version of yourself, like you've done before. I'm going to oversee that you control him instead of frozen Thomas and we're going to send the copy back in time."

Thomas wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans, they were his nice jeans, the ones Newt said made his ass look "amazing".

"I-I still don't know what I'm supposed to do when I go back."

X smiled down softly at him. "You need to prevent Newt from killing your father in the invasion."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

El's face popped over him. "You need to make him trust you again."

Thomas scoffed. "Cause Newt is so easy to reason with."

El winced slightly. "Yeah, he was uh, much worse when he was younger."

"What do you mean by much worse?"

El just patted Thomas' arm and smiled. "Just, good luck reasoning with him."

"Ready Thomas?" X asked as he looked at the boy.

Thomas nodded, squeezing his hands into fists.

El powered up, slowly spreading her icy palms across Thomas' body. He felt his body temperature drop instantly. X placed his fingertips on his temple, closing his eyes as he tapped into Thomas' mind, implementing false fears into his brain.

Thomas closed his eyes, starting to shiver as he focused on creating a copy of himself.

He felt dizzy, like he was walking on the thin line between consciousness and passing out. Thomas eyes rolled back under his eye lids and he was out, his mind going blank and everything freezing.

When Thomas opened his eyes he was standing up. He looked over and saw himself laying on the table, he was shivering and there were chunks of ice surrounding his limbs. It worked. He looked down, smoothening his hands over the jacket. It was so weird, he was inside his body yet outside own his body at the same time.

"Thomas," X said as he looked at the boy.

Thomas snapped his head up to look at him.

"When you see Newt, you can't lose it."

Thomas nodded. "Got it."

"Ready to go back?"

Thomas nodded, flinching slightly when the brown haired girl, Kitty, took his hand. She put her hands on both sides of his head.

"Breathe normally," she said as she felt Thomas' muscles clench.

Thomas took in a breath before gasping as he felt his body thrown back. He lost his footing and he his lungs felt as if they were being crushed by a cinder block. The world was black and he was falling. It all lasted merely a second until he could breathe normally again.

Thomas opened his eyes, breathing heavily when he realized he was laying on a park bench.

"What the fu-"

He sat up slowly, rubbing the sore part of his arm that was pressed against the wooden part of the bench.

Realization dawned on him as he looked at the street he was on. Tarley street, he slept there a million times back when he...when he was fifteen.

"It worked!" Thomas yelped as he stood up quickly. "It worked!"

Some old lady eating a hot dog gave him a weird look. Thomas felt his face flush as he turned away from her.

The school, fuck, he needed to get to the school. How did he get to the school from here How did he get there the first time? Cab! Hank's cab.

Thomas groaned as he flopped back down onto the park bench. Hank's cab clearly wasn't going to be an option this time.

Thomas didn't have friends in this world, a few years ago he had nothing, he was alone. It almost scared him, to be back in the time period where he had literally nothing.

Thomas pulled his jacket tighter around him, it was cold, he needed to get inside soon. He took a second to stare at the quiet street, he really was back.

Thomas pulled the hat he had down over his head and pushed his hair out of his eyes before standing up. He had something to do, there was no way in hell he was going to let anything stop him. He had to do this, for Minho, for Kis and for Newt.

He could probably make it if he walked, he just had to take Tarley down to Main and he'd get to...the McDonalds! Thomas grinned as he started walking, if he could get to the McDonalds he'd be halfway there.

Thomas trust his hands into his pockets, trying to protect them from the freezing air.

What would he even say to Newt when he saw him? Hey baby, it's your boyfriend from the future, wanna makeout and talk about how I killed you? How could he make Newt like him again and more importantly trust him? What El told him still swirled around in his head, the warning she gave him kept popping up in the back of his head. He was much worse when he was younger. What did that even mean? How could Newt have been worse than they first met.

Thomas felt something brush his hand in his pocket. He furried his eyebrows and pulled it out. There was a crinkled five dollar bill and and felt patch. He put the money away and pulled the patch out, unfolding it carefully. It was a wrinkled "X" like the ones Kis and El worse on their legs when he first met them. He flipped it over, his heart clenching when he did.
This was all thanks to you Tommy, I love you forever x Newt

He remembered when Newt gave that to him. It was the first X he had, before the incident when he was kicked off the team. He gave it to him the night they were both put on the team, after Thomas' first time. Newt pressed it into his palm and told him that he didn't need it anymore because he had his own suit. Thomas kissed the air out of his lungs then. Thomas remembered putting it in his jacket, but he didn't know why it was there now.

Thomas carefully put it back and kept walking. His heart was beating out of his chest, he was beyond nervous to see Newt. On one hand, it didn't even feel real, he didn't believe that actual blonde haired boy was going to be standing in front of him.

It felt like years before Thomas approached the McDonalds, when he finally saw it across the street his heart clenched. He hurried inside, glad to be escaping the cold.

He pulled his hat off as he approached the counter, trying desperately to rub some of the red out of his cheeks.

"What can I get for you?" The girl at the counter asked. She had short blonde hair and thick glasses on her face.

Thomas pulled the crumbled five dollars out of his pocket, he was hungry.

"Uh I guess two cheeseburgers and..." he trailed off as his eyes scanned over the menu. "I guess a drink and some nuggets if that's less than five dollars."

"It comes out to five twenty four but don't worry about the change," the girl smiled as she took his crumbled bill and put it in the register. "You're eating here?"

Thomas nodded.

"You can go sit, I'll bring it out to you."

"Thank you." Thomas smiled at her before scanning the lobby for a seat. The place looked the exact same as it did a few years ago...or ahead.

He sat down at the table he and his friends always sat at. He smiled softly as he remembered when they pulled out that list of possible people Kis could like and when Minho once ate one hundred chicken nuggets and then threw up three times in the car ride back. He felt emptiness as he trailed his finger along the table. He really missed them, he missed how it was before.

"Here you are." The blonde girl smiled as she placed a tray on Thomas' table, making him jump.

"Oh yeah uh thanks."

She hesitated for a moment before looking up at him. "Sorry if I'm out of line, but are you alright?"

Thomas nodded. He probably did look crazy, he rolled in looking like a train wreck with only five dollars. "I'm just uh seeing someone I haven't seen in a long time."

"Ex girlfriend?"

Thomas shook his head.

"Ex boyfriend?"

"Bingo."

"I feel that," she laughed as she fixed the grey hat on her head. She looked older when Thomas first saw her, but now that she was closer he wouldn't peg her for a day over sixteen. He noticed the small black stud in her nose. For some reason Thomas got the feeling that Kis would like this girl.

"Don't be nervous," the girl said as she pulled a spray bottle off her belt and started cleaning the table next to him. "I bet he misses you too."

Thomas huffed out a laugh as he popped a chicken nugget into his mouth. "You could say that."

"Want anything else?" She asked as she motioned to Thomas' tray.

"No it's okay I only had five dollars..."

She rolled her eyes, but it didn't come off in a rude way. "I'm going on my break, but I don't eat this garbage, do you want something?"

Thomas looked back behind the counter, listening to his still growling stomach. "I mean, I could probably eat some more chicken nuggets."

The girl huffed out a laugh before nodding. "Of course, I'll be back."

Thomas watched her disappear behind the counter.

She wasn't even gone five minutes before she came back with a twenty piece nugget box in her hand. She put it on the table and pushed it over to Thomas' side.

"Your payment is letting me sit with you because everyone I work with are intolerable old fucks so talking to someone from this century would be fantastic."

Thomas laughed as he cracked open the nugget box. "I can assure you that I am from this century."

"So tell me about this ex boyfriend, what's your great plan to win him back?"

Thomas shrugged. "I don't know, I was kinda planning on winging it."

She winced a bit as she took off her hat and let her hair down. It was choppy at the ends, almost as if she cut it off herself with a pair of craft scissors. "Winging it? Really? I took you for smarter than that."

"Hey!" Thomas frowned. "He fell for me before, I think he'll do it again."

"Oh so you're going for the whole play it cool method?"

Thomas nodded. "I guess you could say that...it's a complicated situation."

"You're gonna show up at his house?"

"His school actually."

The girl made a face. "Tonight? It's almost dark."

Thomas shrugged. "I'm uh, not from around here, I was hoping he'd give me a place to stay."

The girl bit her lip, looking like she was thinking. "Look, I don't know you so I'm not trying to be mean but this kinda seems like a horrible plan."

Thomas found himself huffing out a laugh. "I know."

"Where's his school?"

Thomas pointed. "About four miles that way."

"And you're walking?"

Thomas nodded.

The girl rolled her eyes. "I swear to god every single attractive boy has something wrong with them."

"What?"

"You clearly have some sort of death wish."

"I don't!" Thomas tried to protest.

That earned another eye roll. "If you can stick around for an hour, I'll drive you."

"You have a car?"

"No, I'm going to take you on my pet horse."

Thomas gave her a look which just made the girl snort out a laugh.

"It's a joke. Yes I have a car."

"I don't want you t-"

She waved her hand in front of him. "Shush. It's fine."

"Why?" Thomas asked. "You don't know me."

"What can I say," she smiled as she tied her hair back behind her head. "I'm a sucker for a love story."

"Cara!" A voice screamed from behind the counter. "You're due back, stop flirting with the customers and punch back in!"

The girl rolled her eyes before putting on the fakest smile Thomas had ever seen. "Coming Sarah!"

"She's such a fucking bitch," the blonde girl, Cara, mouthed as he tucked her shirt back into her pants.

Thomas laughed, he was starting to like this girl. She reminded him in a way of Kis.

"One hour, you better still be here when I'm done."

Thomas mock saluted her. "Aye aye captain."

She disappeared behind the counter again.
Thomas picked at the last remaining nuggets, getting stuck in his own head. Most of the things she said were right, what if he couldn't stay at the school? Where would he go then? How would he even get back to his own time? How would X and Kitty and El know when he convinced Newt?

The hour went by so slowly, Thomas went to the bathroom about four times and even took a nap on the table.

"Alright let's go," the girl said as she put her coat on over her uniform. "Let's blow this hellhole."

Thomas got up, making sure he still had the X in his pocket before following the girl out to the parking lot.

Her car was a beat up station wagon that looks like if you blew on it it would collapse.

"I know it's not great but it gets you from point A to B and it has heat!"

That sounded pretty good to Thomas so he climbed into the passenger seat.

"Just tell me where to go," the girl said as she started up the car. The vehicle shook and the engine sputtered as it came to life. The noises worried Thomas a little, but he didn't say anything. This was better than walking.

"Just go down main and then make a left on the dirt road."

The girl narrowed her eyes. "I thought you said a school?"

"I did."

"That's where Xavier's mansion is."

"You know of it?"

She nodded. "Course I do."

"That makes it easier then."

Cara was quiet as she pulled out of the parking lot and started down the street.

"Who are you?" She asked suddenly.

"I'm Thomas."

"That's not really what I was asking."

He looked at the girl whose eyes were focused on the road. How was he supposed to answer that? He chose to just remain silent, looking out the window and listening to the rolling of the tires.

"Silence huh?"

Thomas winced. "It's complicated."

"You're a mutant right?"

Thomas' head snapped around so fast and his hand curled over the door handle. "H-how-"

"Relax." The girl laughed lightly as she kept driving. "My brother...I know about all of it."

"He goes here?"

"Maybe. I haven't seen him in years, his names Ben...if you ever see him maybe tell him I said hi."

"I'm sorry."

She shrugged before putting on her signal and turning onto the dirt road. "It's fine. Don't worry I'm not going to kill you or anything...you can take your hand off the door."

Thomas flushed and did slowly. "Sorry, you can never be too careful."

"I get it."

Cara pulled the car to a stop, smiling softly at Thomas. "This is you, good luck, you got this."

"Thank you," Thomas said genuinely as he opened the door.

"If you're ever around again, swing by and say hi, I'd love to meet the boy that has you so fucked up."

"Will do." Thomas smiled before pushing the car door closed. He watched the station wagon back up and disappear down the road. Thomas started up the path, feeling his heart jump into his throat.

Newt was up there, Newt was in that building. The school was just as beautiful as ever, his heart felt warm when he walked up to the giant front door. His hands shook as he knocked on the door.

It swung open almost instantly. Thomas almost choked when it did.

"Who the fuck are you?"

Minho. It was Minho. He looked younger, but he was alive and had a head.

"U-uh I'm Thomas."

Minho cocked his head. "Well Thomas, what do you want?"

"Is the professor here right now?"

"Uh no, he's out...I can leave a message or-"

"Hank? Is Hank here?"

"Yeah Hank's here."

Thomas felt his heart soar. "Where is he? Can I talk to him?"

"I guess so." Minho looked at him skeptically. "Just wait here okay?"

Minho disappeared down the hall, going in the direction of Hank's lab. Thomas listened to him and stayed put.

He looked around the main entrance of the mansion, it was almost exactly how he remembered it.

Minho appeared again shortly with Hank in tow.

"Hello?" Hank said as he approached the door.

"Hi my name is Thomas, can I have a word with you."

"Uh yeah, sure we can just..."

"Who the bloody hell is that?"

Thomas couldn't breathe. His brain short circuited, he would recognize that voice anywhere. Thomas turned his head, his heart stopping when he saw the boy standing behind Minho with his arms folded.

His hair was longer than Thomas had ever seen it, it fell into his eyes and curled in the back a bit. He had on an extremely oversized red shirt that he bunched up around his forearms and tucked into his black jeans. He wasn't wearing shoes for whatever reason but he had on worn out white socks. Newt was eighteen when Thomas met him, nineteen when he died, now standing here, this Newt was probably around fifteen. He looked different but had the same soft brown eyes and pale skin. Thomas knew he looked different too, the body he was in was a younger version of himself so he was around Newt's age, but Thomas couldn't stop staring. It was almost like he expected Newt to look the exact same.

"The fucks his problem?" Newt snapped as he looked between Minho and Thomas.

Newt was there and alive and adorable and Thomas wanted to scoop him in his arms and kiss him until he couldn't breathe.

"Yo!" Minho waved his hand in front of Thomas' face.

"Why's he lookin at me like that?" Newt was starting to get angry, his mouth pulled down into a harder frown.

"Maybe we should talk elsewhere," Hank said suddenly which snapped Thomas out of his weird daydream.

"Y-yeah okay," Thomas stammered out as he followed Hank.

"Fucking weirdo," Newt scoffed as he turned and walked away with Minho.

Thomas felt like his tongue got tied up in his throat, like he lost all ability to function when he saw Newt.

Fuck he thought as Newt disappeared from sight. This was going to be a lot harder than he thought.