Everything was hard for her…Kitty Pryde, the high school student.

Her life was getting tougher and tougher each and every day. Her life was a complete drag, and it was a mess too. If not for her extremely good grades, she doubt she'll even want to be in this school.

The students despise her, called her names and humiliated her sometimes. All these she didn't want.

Kitty's parents were worried.

What can we do? We can't do anything if her body refuses her powers and they're developing.

And because of this, Kitty's life was always at risk.

She may die anytime if her body says yes.

"Are you sure you want to go to school today?" Theresa Pryde sighed as she watched her daughter put on her shoes.

"Mom!" Kitty said, "I don't wanna be kept locked at home, just because of my…you know. I wanna attend school too."

"But, honey dear, with your condition, I want you home."

Kitty phased through the door, coughing. "Forget it mom. I'm going before daddy gets out of the shower and make me stay home."

Out on the street, Kitty kept coughing. She felt her lungs ache and even some pain as well.

Yep, her body was already not taking this well.


Kitty found herself standing in front of her school, the biggest one, and here in Illinois.

Some students gave her "the eye". Kitty didn't attend PE in her life, ever since she begun in this school. And she always ate plain stuff. Pills were always to be found in her bag and she always coughed too.

This wasn't life.

It was torture.

Kitty walked across the huge school. She didn't have much to do, especially before class starts. And she didn't want to face the questioning looks of the other people. Maybe mommy was right after all. I should have stayed home and shut my big mouth once in a while.

Kitty walked past the library, the school cafeteria and the gym.

She didn't know where she ought to go.

Wait…is that music?

Kitty turned around and looked at the hallway. Yes, it was empty and very quiet too. This was where the students had band practices and music lessons. But that music…

She found herself walking down and then come face to face with the door, with the bold, black words, "Music Room 1". But still, the music went on playing.

Either she was dreaming or it was for real. Being a huge music fan, Kitty had every album she wanted. But this? She had never heard of it before. It was…nice.

She pushed the door open slowly and looked at the figure, with his back turned to her, playing the guitar. The hands flew across the strings so fast, yet the music was still going on there.

Kitty just leaned against the side of the door, listening with a smile drew across her face.

Then, she felt the sudden urge to cough. Her throat was hurting again and guess what…she did (cough).

The music stopped immediately and the figure placed the guitar back on the ground. And then he turned around.

Kitty blushed but she forced herself to look at him. It was, after all, manners for "sneaking" on people and listening to their music without asking.

Whoever it was, was pretty neat-looking. The brown hair fell slowly in front with a raised eyebrow. He had the most amazing dark-hazel brown eyes and he was tall too.

"Were you watching?" he got up from his seat.

Kitty bent her head down a little, "Uh…just a little. But really, your music is good. I…haven't heard it before."

He smiled some more, "Yeah, uh, thanks."

She was pretty cute. Short, yes, but she was still cute. Her hair looked so soft and her eyes were just…blue. The way he liked it.

"What's your name?" he asked.

Kitty glanced up at him. Gosh, he really looked good. "Katherine. But everybody calls me Kitty."

"I'm Lance. Lance Alvers." Lance said.

Kitty still blushed. God, she couldn't help it.

"Um…you, like, compose your own music?" Kitty was almost dying to hear his voice and stop the awkward silence, which was hanging in the air.

"Yeah, when I feel like it. You do it too?"

Kitty smiled. "No, I'm not very good at that. But I dance pretty well."

"Really?"

Just then, the bell rung. Oh crap.

"Listen, I better split before Mrs.Darwin splits me." Kitty turned around with a wave before dashing off.

"Hey!" Lance called out and stopped Kitty, "When can I see you again? Lunch?"

Kitty nodded, "I'll be there."

Lance watched Kitty make a turn at a corner, smiling.

He was going to rock her world.


Kitty looked around, the tray in her hand. "Don't tell me he gave up waiting?" Kitty was five minutes late but yet, she felt so lousy to keep him waiting. Suppose he really left? Or he never even came at all? Please don't tell me…

"Hey, Kitty!" Lance shouted across the mob. Kitty spun around and saw him. Lance.

"Oh, like, hi!" Kitty said. "I thought you left. Cos' I had some library stuff to check out and such…"

"Hey, it's ok. We better get a seat before we can't get one." Lance signaled over to an empty table.

They settled down. "So, don't you wanna hang out with any of your friends instead of me?" Kitty said, staring down at all the vegetables piled on her plate.

"If you can call him that. The only friend I have is Griff and he ain't exactly what type of friend you'd like." Lance looked over at Kitty's plate.

"Vegetarian, huh?"

Kitty cringed, "Yeah, but 2 years ago, I wasn't until…uh…"

"Until what?" Lance wanted to know.

"Long story. But I guess we're on the same boat since I don't have friends either." Kitty chewed on the broccoli.

"Ooh, not the sociable type?"

"No, just that…I…can't."

Suddenly, another guy simply stomped in and sat next to Kitty. "Griff! Get lost!" Lance growled under his breath.

Griff threw a toothpick on the ground and then stared at Kitty. "Man, is this that Pryde girl?"

"Shut up and get your ass outta here." Lance's voice was sharp.

"Man, don't hang out with her. They say she's got an illness, and it'd spread and stuff. Man, Lance, don't pick girls like her just cos' she looks hot, ok?" Griff said.

Lance banged the table. "And I'm telling you, MAN, get moving before I rock you!"

Kitty never saw Lance being angry before. Sure, he looked extremely fierce but he did it for her. And cos' Griff pissed him off big time.

"Man, don't cha' say I didn't warn ya'." Griff shoved off.

"Don't mind him, Kitty. He's just a little crazy sometimes." Lance sipped his coke.

Kitty grabbed her bag as she swallowed hard and without a single word, Kitty dashed off.

"Wait up!" Lance ran to catch up with her, dodging the people and leaving heir table too.

Kitty coughed as she ran and she got to her next class. As expected, no one was there and it was empty. Kitty fell on her seat with a light "thud" and started to cry while she coughed, her face in her arms on the table.

Lance followed her to her classroom and sat down next to her. "Hey…" Lance touched her shoulder lightly. He barely knew her for a day and he was already stuck in her life.

Kitty looked up at him and then confessed, "Your friend is right, Lance…"

"You can't believe what Griff said. Believe me, he's just goofing around."

Kitty shook her head, no. "He wasn't Lance. Because that's the truth. I…I do have an illness."

Lance looked at Kitty cry lightly. "You're just kidding right?" But she didn't look like she was.

"It is true, Lance. It's because…I…I…"

Kitty couldn't tell him.

Tell him, she a mutant?

He'd freak out and he'd probably tell on her.

"Lance, can you just leave me alone? Please?"

Lance said, "Yeah, sure. If you need any…"

He watched Kitty bury herself in all her tears and then, silently, he left.


The very next day…

Kitty sighed. Another day at school. She could have not gone but she chose to.

After what happened yesterday, she doubt Lance would ever wanna say half a word to her anymore. She acted like a complete crybaby and a mega-huge idiot.

Kitty dragged her feet across the school field, watching the guys play soccer. They had so much fun, but too bad, she couldn't join in.

"Aw, lookit this. The Kitty litter's watching guys. How pathetic."

Kitty looked back and saw Riley and some of her other smirking friends from her gang. Her biggest nightmare.

"Please, Riley. I don't want a commotion here. I just want to…-."

"I don't care what you want or don't want. I just want to tell you that I hate looking at your face and you know what? I bet you that you…"

"Leave her alone, Riley. And get going."

Kitty saw Lance. He always seemed to appear at the right places, doesn't he?

"Oh, girls, look. It's Lance Alvers. Let me think, oh, I get it now. Trying to uphold your bad-boy reputation? Tsk…why stand up for Pryde when you know she's sick. Who knows, it might be something like AIDS…" Riley laughed.

Lance didn't have to say a word. He stomped on the ground and rolled his eyes back and the earth beneath his feet started to listen to him and rumbled.

Riley lost her balance and with a piercing scream, she fell on the ground and right on top of the mud too.

"Ah…" Riley looked at herself with a groan.

"Alvers, don't think this is the last time. I'd be back." Riley marched off, with her "troupe" at her back.

"Will be waitin'." Lance helped Kitty up.

"Lance, did you just do that?"

"Do what?"

"Make the ground, like, shake."

Lance waved her off, "Kitty, see? I don't think you really ought to be hanging with me."

"No, answer me. Are you a, you know, mutant?" Kitty blocked his path.

Lance looked at her, almost ashamed. "Yeah."

"Oh, wow! Really? They call that Geological Manipulation right?"

"Kitty," Lance couldn't figure her out, "Why do you want to know that much?"

"Because…'cause I'm one too!" Kitty laughed.

Lance can't believe what he heard, "Are you…sure?"

Kitty looked around, making sure no one was looking at her direction.

Then, she simply held her breath and phased her hand through Lance's chest.

Lance stared at the hovering hand, going through him. Impossible!

"You mean?"

"Yep! I can go through things, just as easily as you can make the ground tremor."

"I thought I was the only one…" Lance rubbed his head.

"Nah. Actually, I was sure there'd be more. But you're the first one I've met." Kitty coughed.

"I mean, wow. And Kitty, you're always coughing. What happened?"

Kitty froze still. "I…you don't have to care so much. It's incurable, really. I…my body rejects my X-gene and so…I may just die anytime."

Lance looked sad for her for the first time. "No way."

"Actually, it's…" Then she felt her lungs ache and begun coughing once more.

Non stop.

"Here," Lance pushed his blue handkerchief into Kitty's palm.

Kitty coughed into it. And the more she coughed…

"Kitty…"

Kitty stopped and looked into the cloth.

Blood.

Her head felt unusually heavy and it was spinning.

God, no…please, not here, not now...

And her world went completely black.