newly gay teen, has come to the realization that he has a massive crush on his lifelong and openly bisexual friend, Elijah. When the pair go to the beach one weekend to celebrate the start of their senior year, they share a kiss. Irony plays a cruel joke on them when a group of homophobic peers from their school happen to be there to witness them together. A physical fight ensues and Vale hurries to protect Elijah with his own body. A powerful, thunderous clap explodes overhead and the pair vanish and reappear in Dolores Park in San Francisco. Fate saw fit to also play a joke and gave Vale the ability to teleport or as Elijah calls it, SKIP.