Chapter Text
The first week of July, 1947, was one for the history books. The city of Roswell, New Mexico was in the newspapers after there were reports of an unidentified flying object crashing on a ranch.
For several days, the debris site was closed to the general public by military personnel cleaning the wreckage. Air Force base officials insisted that it was a crashed weather balloon, but the public did not seem to be fooled. Many still entertained the idea of alien contact.
50 years later, the people still believe.
August 25 1997, Roswell High School
Fox Mulder did not have many friends. In fact, he could count them using only three fingers. Melvin Frohike, John Byers, and Richard Langley (who all referred to each other by last names) were all his close confidants these past couple high school years. Together they ignored the whispers of
“Spooky Mulder”
in the halls and instead focused their energy on things such as the paranormal and fantastic.
Despite living in Roswell, New Mexico (the UFO hotspot), the four friends were ridiculed. It wasn’t the fact that they believed in aliens, no, it was the fact they believed in everything.
Poltergeists, Witches, Bigfoot, The Mothman, The Jersey Devil-
you name it, they believe it. Aliens were part of the culture, but anything else was deemed absurd.
Go figure.
******
Dana Scully, a brilliant girl with red hair to match, sat in her parked car admiring her high school from the student lot. She never thought senior year would come so fast, and she was sad to be leaving after this year. Despite this, she was excited to go off to college and begin her journey in medicine.
Dana exited her car and began the walk to her locker to commence her last first day of high school.
“Guess who.” A set of hands came to cover her eyes just as she finished her locker combination.
“Ethan,” she smiled, “I was wondering when you’d make your appearance.”
“You know I like to surprise my girlfriend.” He kisses her quickly before they start exchanging their class schedules to see if they have any matches.
“Oh well,” Dana began, “we may not have classes together but at least there’s always lunch.”
“I guess so...” Ethan grumbles as he scratched the bag of his head. “We better get going, I’ll see you at then.”
“See you.”
*****
Mulder sat in the back of the astronomy class staring out of the window. Everyone piled in fairly quickly, all taking seats to avoid “Spooky Mulder” and his standoffish demeanor. He didn’t mind though- he was used to it. Next to him, he heard the empty chair scrape the ground.
“Hello,” came a sweet sounding female voice. He turned to see the striking blue eyes and bonfire hair. Her hand was out, waiting for him to react.
“How nice to suddenly be so visible.” Mulder says as he shakes her hand.
“Dana Scully.”
“Fox Mulder. But just Mulder if you will.” Their hands dropped simultaneously and he returned to looking out of the window.
“Ok...” she half whispered, “Then call me Scully.”
He didn’t look at her.
The class seemed to go on forever. Professor Graef announced that whoever they chose to sit with would be their partner for the rest of the year. He then handed them each a rubric for an end of the year project that may determine if they graduate on time or not.
Great
, Mulder thought,
another worthless school project with someone I won’t have contact with after graduation.
****
The first school day winded down to an end. Teens were catching up with one another as they awaited the arrival of their parents. Fox Mulder was setting out for his walk home when he heard a voice calling him from behind.
“Hey! Wait up!” He turned to see none other than Dana Scully herself.
“Um, whats up?”
“Do you want to come over? I mean to start on our project early?” Looking her in the eyes made it hard to say no.
“I-I guess so...” He followed her to her car where Ethan Minette stood waiting for her.
“Hey babe,” he said bending down to kiss her on the cheek. “What is Spooky Mulder doing here?” He whispered in her ear.
“Be nice,” she whispered back. “We have a project, he’s coming over.” Mulder was staring absentmindedly at the sky, not seeming to notice their exchange.
“Look Dana, I got basketball tryouts. I’ll catch you tomorrow okay? See ya.” Ethan walked back towards the school. She watched him until he disappeared behind the double doors.
“You ready?” She gave Mulder a warm smile before unlocking her car.
“Sure thing.”
*****
Dana Scully’s room was just as he expected. Neat and tidy, prim and proper, clean and organized. It was everything his room wasn’t.
“Are you sure your parents won’t freak at you having a boy alone in your room?” His tone was sarcastic but she detected a hint of worry.
“My parents are away for something and my siblings all have their own lives. Bill and Melissa moved away for college and Charlie is with his freshman friends.” She unpacked her school things and settled on her bed. “Shall we?”
Mulder took one last look around before joining her. “So I was thinking… we do this project on The Universal Question: Are Aliens Real? ”
“Mulder, you cannot be serious.”
“Oh but I am serious, Scully.” He positioned himself to look in her eyes before continuing. “We live in Roswell for Christ sake. The others are probably gonna do their projects on saturn's rings and why Uranus is named Uranus. We are better than that.”
She held his gaze while considering their other options. “Okay,” she agreed, “let’s do it then.”
“Really?”
“Really. I mean it.”
“Let’s get started.” He smiles as he opens his notebook to take notes. Maybe she’s not like the other kids at school , he thinks to himself.
If only he knew what this project was leading them to.