As the morning sun streamed into the institute for gifted youngsters, Kitty Pryde phased through the wall, all suited up in her X-men uniform, yawning and almost bumping into Rogue along the way too. "Not enough sleep? You and Lance were still on the phone at 1:30! So, did you ask him?" Rogue said with another one of her goth looks.
"To the dance? No. You know what everyone around here would say," said Kitty, putting up her hair with her all-time favorite hair band. Rogue muttered loudly under her breath," who cares?" Folding her arms, Kitty asked," hey, have you asked Scott yet? You better hurry before jean moves in." It definitely hit a cord somewhere. Rogue raised an eyebrow," listen, the last time I danced with a guy, he nearly ended up in coma."
"But Scott knows! He wouldn't touch you." "No touching?" Rogue laughed," sounds like a fun way to dance huh? I think I'll pass."
Rogue slammed her fist at the elevator button with her fist and sarcastically, she said to Kitty," besides, what's the point of going anyway? To just "dance" doesn't sound very exciting to me." Kitty sighed as she trailed after Rogue into the elevator, "yeah, well, if you don't wanna' go, guess I can't do much, huh?"
Just as the door of the elevator was about to slam shut for good, they heard Jean calling for them to hold the elevator door open. Kitty pressed on the 'open' button just in time as Jean ran in hurriedly with a smile. "Sorry, guys. Forgot to set my alarm," she said, pushing her hair back.
"Why do we have to be at this session anyway? This is just a test for Kurt," Kitty said, still a little sleepily. Jean begins her drill all over again," because it's important to know our..." However, in mid way, Rogue cuts straight in,"...strengths and weaknesses. Yeah, yeah, we know the drill," said Rogue. She waves Jean off and stalks out of the elevator, looking pretty upset. "What's her problem?" jean wanted to know.
"Oh, she's just bummed about the girls dance. You know, her 'no touching' thing?" Kitty answered. "So, you going with Duncan?" "Oh, he thinks so. He even bought the tickets already. I just might havta' disappoint him...," Jean said with a smug look on her face. Kitty stares after Jean and runs to catch up with her.
As they entered the planning room, they found the rest of the X-men already gathered there. Forge strap a funny looking machine onto Kurt, loading him full of equipment as if World War III was coming or something.
"Hey, what's with the Halloween get-up?" Kitty asked, nudging Evan in the side. Evan yelped," hey, watch it K-girl! That machine s'pose to let Kurt port into anywhere in the globe. The get-up meant to slow him down so he can get some info about the other dimension.
Kitty shuddered as a word escaped through her lips. "Freaky."
Everyone waved Kurt off as he ported himself to god-knows-where. "So? Who're you going with to the dance anyway?" Evan asked Kitty. "I…don't know yet. How'd bout you yourself?" "I'm going with that girl in my Spanish class." Kitty tilts her head to one side. "Oh, I know who! Natasha Blaire right? Ok, I confess. I may, like, may be asking…"
Evan snapped in," Ha! I know who! Avalanche right? Am I right?" Kitty said with a somewhat nasty attitude," Keep your voice down, Evan. Do you want everyone to hear us? Look, like, don't breathe a word to anybody, OK? Especially NOT Scott. You know him."
Evan acted pretty cool about the whole thing. "Right, got it K-girl. Besides, I'm s'pose to meet some of my friends for skate meet now."
"Hey, aren't we suppose to wait for Kurt to come back?" Kitty asked. She noticed Storm was talking to Professor Xavier and Beast and had her back to them.
"Nah..! Just say I'm…uh…I hafta go to school early for some project meet or something. Auntie O will never know and she probably won't mind me going either," Evan said with a happy-go-lucky attitude, and dashed out before anyone could spot him gone for good, "Later Alligators!"
"Oh, sure. Later," Kitty said under her breath.
As the school day starts, Kitty begins searching around for Lance. Biting her under lip, Kitty played the asking-Lance verse in her mind again. As many times as she had practiced in front of the bathroom mirror starting from last night, it never seemed to be good enough. Sure, she'd liked Lance but she wasn't about to let it all out. At least, not yet.
As Kitty turned round the corner, she spotted Lance drinking from the water cooler. "Come on, what are you waiting for, Pryde? Just do it!" Kitty said to herself. Easier said than done that is.
Plucking every single ounce of cool-ness in her body, Kitty walked towards Lance.
"Hi, Lance," Kitty begun pretty cool-ish," what's up?" Lance wiped the moisture off his lips with the back of his gloved hand. Be cool, you idiot! Lance told himself," try not to look too desperate or anything. At least, not her, not now." he remembered what happened last night in the boarding house. Sheer madness and mayhem.
"Ha! Chances are the kitty-kat ain't gonna ask him," Todd Tolensky, the fly-eating mutant said." Nah, I bet Lance'll be asked," Pietro said. Blob bet that Lance'll be asked too.
"Woah, cool! The what...Oh, i know! Brotherhood Betting Bash! Ha! Sounds good to me." Tabitha grinned. "Shut up guys or eat rubble!" Lance gritted his teeth. "Ooh, Lance the richter scale's gonna' like erupt gang! Let's all split!" Toad chuckled, taking Lance's words for nothing.
"I'm gona, yeah," Pietro said as he zipped out of the living room (if it actually looked like one that is) instantly, just as Lance brought half of the pizza-stained ceiling down with a mad look.
(Back to the hall, people!) "It was fun talking last night," Kitty admitted, hugging a few books to her chest tightly. Lance had his hands in his pocket. "Yeah, well, see you around," Lance said quickly and started to walk away. In his head, "Lance wished Kitty would hurry up and ask him., if she planned to.
"Uh, Lance..." Kitty hurried to catch up with him. "Would you like...i mean...would you like to go to the dance with me?" Lance turned around, wondering what to do next. Play hard to get, duh? Where'd your head go, Alvers?
Lance placed his right index finger on his throat," I'll have to think about it." "Oh, okay, I understand...let me know." Kitty had a very disappointed look on her face.
Lance smiled and before Kitty could get very far, he said," hey, Kitty! I thought about it and the answer is yes." Kitty looked back, "hm..."
She started to walk away. Lance's thoughts jumbled inside his head. She asked! She really did ask me! Without much thinking, Lance let his bottled excitement out. "Alright!" Lance said, forgetting his power to erupt and cause tremors.
A slight tremor passed through the hall way faster than the speed of light. Kitty stood her ground and looked back, as Lance looked at her sheepishly.
During Kitty's Honors Social Studies class, Kitty kept thinking about what happened just now between Lance and her. Lance agreed...oh, like, wow! For a moment there, she almost thought Lance will say no.
Kitty drew cute little heart-shapes in her book, a dreamy smile spread across her lips. It was almost too good to be true. She remembered Lance joining the X-men. Before his leave, she just couldn't help it but feel lousy about about the whole darn thing. She was disappointed.
Why? Why'd he want to leave? Didn't he liked to be near her? Yeah, just that he couldn't and probably would never fit into the X-men. Not now, not ever. As much as Kitty would love having him around, everybody was sure to say 'no' to it.
Kitty drew cute little heart-shapes in her book, a dreamy smile spread across her lips. It was almost too good to be true. She remembered Lance joining the X-men. Before his leave, she just couldn't help it but feel lousy about about the whole darn thing. She was disappointed.
Why? Why'd he want to leave? Didn't he liked to be near her? Yeah, just that he couldn't and probably would never fit into the X-men. Not now, not ever. As much as Kitty would love having him around, everybody was sure to say 'no' to it.
She remembered the kiss. Yes, she sure did. That was her very first kiss she had given to anyone (minus her parents). Lance was special. Not only inside but outside and every part and bit of him too. He may be a jerk but he was a good jerk. Yeah, he sure was... ...
A loud voice barked at Kitty," Miss Pryde! Being one of my best students, I expected more from you." "Sorry, Mrs.B, I promise it wouldn't, like, happen again." Mrs.B said gruffly," yes, yes, because if it does happen, Pryde, you'll be joining me for tea. Now class, let's go back to page 53..."
Mrs.B had her back to kitty. Kitty flipped to the back of her Social Studies book, smiling at a picture of her and Lance, taken at one of the 'Neoprint' machines in the mall.
The picture had Kitty placing her arms round Lance's neck and their bodies pressed closer than close to each other. "Yes, the feeling's mutual...and I love it to pieces." Kitty had whispered to herself as her fingers ran slowly across the picture she'd treasured so much.
"Vhat? No vay am I going backz in zere vith ZAT lurking aroundz," Kurt said, shaking his head, no. The screen showed a monster with huge eyes and teeth larger than one of his arms."Right, big deal. I come with you this time, elf, just in case," Wolverine volunteered, putting his arm round Kurt, whom didn't look very happy at all.
As they ported away to the other dimension, Scott went up to Forge, asking if the monsters had any chance of coming to this dimension. "Pretty slim, I'd say, but I can't be 100 sure of course."
"So, what if they do anyway?" Kitty wanted to know. Forge darkened," I'd say we got ourselves a real mess here, guys."
" Hey, hey, HEY!" Pietro yelled as he entered the messed living room. Tabitha was doing her mails, putting a different colored nail polish for every nail while whistling an unknown tune. Fred A.K.A Blob was stretched out on the ground, snoring away as Toad drew on his face with a black marker.
"Yeah, Speedy? What's up?" Tabby asked without looking up. Pietro jumped on top of the couch.," you don't wanna' know, cos' I can't believe Kitty that air-head asked him!"
Toad paused. "Who? Me?" "No, you idiot, Toad! Who'd ask you anyway?" Tabby rolled her eyes, " I bet she asked…um…who'd she asked, speedy?"
Pietro smacked his forehead, unable to believe even Tabitha can't figure it out. Lance walked in just then and Pietro pointed at him, shouting, "don't look now but here's our lady-kitty charmer! Let's give it up for, Avalanche the kitty-nut!"
Toad laughed as he hopped on top of Blob's bulging belly., " Lance, you sly dog you. We had no idea man!" Lance sighed at his bunch of pathetic friends. What'd he ever do to deserve something like this anyway?
Lance sank in the nearest and only couch as his nut case friends mocked him. Tabby strutted about the room laughing loudly as Blob pointed a finger at Lance. We won't be caught dead at that stupid dance."
Tabitha had her hands on her hips, "really Freddy? Cos' I was thinking about askin you." Fred looked completely stunned, " Uh, you were?"
Boom-Boom turned her back at the fat mutant, "Yeah, but if you don't wanna go…" Toad jumped up and down excitedly, "ooh, ooh, ask me! I'll go!" Pietro spread himself on the sofa, "pathetic."
Tabitha caught Pietro's words, " hey, Speedy. You think you're too good for me?" Quicksilver zipped around the room and back, " nah. You just couldn't keep up with me. I mean I could keep four girls busy dancing at the same time. Ha!"
"Well, alright! Let's all go and show that school how to party! Woo hoo!" Tabitha danced round the room.
Then, she turned to face Lance, "oh Lance, when you send Kitty-kat back to the geek-stitute, remember to give her a you-know-what."
Toad smirked, "I bet I know!" he puckered up, which irritated the bad-tempered Lance. He started up a tremor that cracked the floor into half. All the mutants started evacuating the room as the ceiling fan came spinning down, just straight in front of the green slime-ball.
"And I don't ever want to see you guys talking about this ever again!" Lance thundered. "Sheesh!" Toad said hopping away from Disaster Island, " hanging out with the X-men is turning his head into mush!"
As professor Xavier, Forge, Wolverine and Kurt arrived back at the mansion that night , Kurt was looking queasy. "Hey, Kurt, how'd it go?" Jean asked looking very concerned.
"Horrible!" Kurt said. "Demons, monsters, who needs it? No more teleporting ever again.
Rogue blew the one strand of her white hair in front of her up, "sounds…dangerous."
"It vas! You should've seen zit too!" "Watch where the hands go, Kurt," Scott warned him before he could knock anything down.
Out of hearing distance, the professor told Forge, " I hope we haven't impaired Kurt's abilities to teleport permanently." Forge glanced over to Kurt, "I don't think so. Kurt's cool. He'd handle it I'm sure."
"Yes, I think so too." However, he didn't seem sure at all.
"Um, Scott?" Jean asked as she entered the Kitchen. "Oh, uh, hey Jean," Scott glanced up from his assignment. They were in the kitchen and no one else was there. "So, who's asked you to the dance? The others were so excited about it they kinda' got me into it too," Jean said hoping she didn't sound too concerned about who Scott was going with at all.
"Oh, I'm going with…uh, Taryn, you?"
"Duncan. He'll be picking me up tomorrow."
"Well, good luck with the dance then."
Jean grabbed a cookie and marched out of the kitchen. "Yeah, well, you too."
Out of the kitchen, Jean bit into her cookie, wishing she'd asked Scott earlier after all.
At the other side of the institute, Kurt, Kitty and Rogue were hanging out at the balcony of Kurt's room. "If I ever see those demons again, it'd be way too soon," Kurt mumbled.
"Aw, forget about them, Kurt! Any girl asked you to the dance yet?" Kitty asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The dance? Oh, yeah, Amanda Sefton. She's from my math class." Kurt seems lighter all of a sudden. "Scott got it all planned out for me already. I'll juz vear gloves so she wouldn't feel my two fuzzy fingers. I'll juz tell Amanda I've got a rash. And I've borrowed Jean's SUV so I can pick her up tomorrow night."
Kitty certainly looked impressed alright. "See, Rogue! I knew Kurt would, like, have it all ironed out."
Rogue turned heel and left the room, "Yeah, well, great. See you."
Kurt looked at Kitty, "vhat's it with herz?"
"Nah, she couldn't get a dance partner so she'll just hang out with Risty at the dance instead. Hey, don't, like, think too much okay?" With that, Kitty phased out of Kurt's room.
Kurt felt unusually queasy. Why was it he didn't have a good feeling about tomorrow?