this chapter mostly focuses on Lacey and Todd with a tiny of Lancitty. It seems really short to me, not sure why. Anyway read and review!

Chapter Four

"Hey, some of us gotta take a shower here!"

"Wait your turn Toad."

"I've been waiting!"

"Move aside slow-pokes!"

"Pietro! Get out man! That's just wrong."

The speedster dashed from the bathroom, wearing only sweatpants, with his hair still slightly damp. He laughed at Lance's swearing and headed into his bedroom. Rahne shook her head in utter disbelief and clattered down the stairs. Obviously she was going to need to wake up an hour earlier in order to be even close to ready. Wanda had ordered the boys to let her and Lacey shower first and now they were all in a mad dash for food, clothes, showers, books and everything else they'd need for school.

Rahne's stomach was in knots, the last time she'd been to school she'd been called a freak, a werewolf, and many other horrible names that she'd buried deep in her mind. But she was determined to put on a brave face and deal with it like the others were. Lance had been wise enough to warn both her and Lacey that no one at school knew they were mutants except a select group that he referred to as the X-Geeks. They were apparently mutants too and were under the care of someone named Charles Xavier. Rahne got the feeling that the two groups didn't like each other very much as Lance hadn't given her many details other than that.

"Good morning." Fred said cheerfully as the Scot entered the kitchen. "I made egg sandwiches, want one?"

"Please."

The lumbering teen handed her an English muffin with an egg, slice of ham and cheese on top. He watched her cautiously until Rahne took a bite and murmured her appreciation.

"Move it or lose it guys!" Lance hollered as he came downstairs, pulling a shirt on. He took a sandwich from Fred gratefully and smiled at Rahne. "Todd!"

"I'm hurrying, dawg! If you wouldn't hog the shower…" the mutant hopped down the stairs, his hair still wet and some of his clothes sticking to his back.

Soon the rest of the Brotherhood trooped downstairs and headed out to the Jeep. Pietro threw a fit at the idea that he was being forced to run to school and eventually disappeared in a huff. The rest of them piled into the car and took off to another day at Bayville High School.


The halls of Bayville High were crowded with kids. Lacey stood in front of her locker, books clutched to her chest, trying to ignore the pounding headache growing behind her forehead. Wave after wave of emotions slammed into her brain, making her shiver and squeeze her eyes shut.

"Are you alright, fraulein?"

Lacey jumped as a hand descended on her arm. Instantly the emotions swirling around her began a distant hum in the background. She opened her eyes and found a pale boy with dark hair and concerned blue eyes staring at her.

"Oh, yes I'm fine just…praying."

The boy smiled and opened the locker next to hers. "I know how you feel. It's very scary becoming a new student."

Lacey nodded gratefully. It was easier to ignore the humming in her head when she was focused on someone. She peeked at her schedule and tapped her foot lightly. Mystique had signed her up in the same classes as Todd and he'd promised to meet her to show her around.

"Yo, Lacey you ready?"

The girl looked up and smiled but was astonished to see a scowl growing on Todd's face. To her right discomfort and anger sparked from the pale boy.

"What're you doing, Toad?" he demanded, his eyes flickering between the two teens.

"I'm showing Lacey to her classes, Fuzzy, what's it look like?"

The boy blinked and again looked at the twosome. "She's with you?"

"Little slow in the morning ain't ya? C'mon Lace."

"Who was that?" Lacey asked as they walked down the hall.

"One of those stupid X-Geeks, he's foreign so he's got like an entire fan-club for his stupid accent." Todd sneered angrily and held the classroom door open, "He's just a weirdo like the rest of 'em."

Lacey nodded slowly and went to talk to the teacher while Todd took a seat in the back of the class.


Lunch time found the Brotherhood outside at their usual table. Pietro was looking bored as he watched everyone eat while Fred shoveled food into his mouth as fast as he could.

"Slow down Freddy you're gonna choke yourself." Rahne said, wrinkling her nose delicately.

"Sorry. I'm just hungry."

The lycanthrope(1) laughed and patted Fred on the arm before she continued eating. Pietro rolled his eyes in annoyance as Fred flushed and forced himself to eat slower. With a dramatic sigh the speedster turned to look about the campus. Suddenly his face broke into a grin.

"Hey Lance, looks like your Pretty Kitty is headed this way."

Lance's whole attitude seemed to perk up and his eyes quickly lit upon a petite girl with brown hair and a big cheerful smile. He leapt to his feet and was at her side in seconds, his hands trembling ever so slightly as if he wanted to reach out and touch her but was afraid to do so.

"Kitty, what's up?"

"Nothing, just coming over to ask you if you wanted to, like, have me help you in study hall later." she smiled wider, if that was even possible as Lance nodded then her gaze drifted over to Rahne and Lacey. "Hello."

The girls nodded, unsure of what to do. The rest of the Brotherhood was glaring daggers at Kitty except for Wanda who just looked uninterested. Pietro let out a snort and was on his feet in a blur.

"Well sorry folks but I've got things to do, places to be and ladies to charm. Please excuse me." he took off instantaneously, blowing Kitty's hair everywhere making it a frizzy mess. His laughter lingered as the girl growled.

"That boy is going to drive me mad." Rahne said, breaking the awkward silence. She smiled at Kitty and leaned forward, "I'm Rahne Sinclair. This is Lacy Charlton."

"Kitty Pryde, pleased to meet you."

Todd rolled his yellow eyes, "Get lost Kitty-cat, your kind ain't welcome at the Brotherhood table."

Instantly the ground trembled and Lance looked ready to throw Todd across the quad. Kitty quickly grabbed Lance's arm while Fred and Wanda restrained Todd.

"Get outta here." the witch ordered to both boys, emphasizing it by hexing Todd into a nearby trash can.

Lacey looked around self-consciously to make sure no one was watching. The pale boy from this morning was staring at her with a frown along with the rest of the occupants of his table. As Lance and Kitty stalked off she turned to Fred and pointed to the other teens questioningly.

"Those are the X-Men." he said with a shrug, "We're supposed to be enemies, least that's what Mystique told us but I really don't get why we are."

"Lance and that girl are dating though aren't they?"

"Kind of. Her friends don't like him, they think he'd hurt her."

"Because we're supposed to be enemies."

"Yup."

Lacey cocked her head in confusion but asked no more questions and scampered off to find Todd before the next bell rang.

She rounded the corner of the building where she'd seen him go and quickly found him crouched on the ground, smoking a cigarette. He looked up at her and blew smoke for a second before he spoke.

"I know, I'm gonna get cancer and die when I'm twenty-one. I really don't-"

"Can I have one?"

Todd's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates but he handed her one of the cigarettes and lit it for her. While she smoked he let his hang between his fingers and watched the football field. Lacey closed her eyes and lost herself in the quietness and peace of Todd's emotions. Then quite suddenly, instead of peace she was hit with a barrage of annoyance and slight fear. She opened her eyes and found herself staring at a ring of half a doze football players.

"Who's this pretty little thing you got here Tolansky?" their leader asked with a smirk.

"Buzz off Duncan." Todd retorted in a monotone.

"Not until I get this cutie's number." he turned to address Lacey, "If you wanted a light you could've asked one of us. No need to stoop down to Tolansky here."

Lacey casually took a drag of smoke and exhaled into Duncan's face. "And who says I wanna stoop down to your level, Duncan?"

New emotions rolled off the football player. Anger, fear, and disgust. His face twisted up into a sneer and he turned his attention on Todd.

"How much did you have to pay her to say that?"

ANGER.

Lacey winced as Todd's rage boiled over into her senses. She reached out blindly, dropping her cigarette and grabbed his arm. Instinctively her powers kicked in and quelled the angry tempers around her. She heard Duncan and his friends mumble under their breaths while Todd gasped quietly. Then she promptly fell over, her world turning to black.


(1) this is a fancy word for someone who turns into a wolf. I don't like calling Rahne a werewolf since she's not technically one at all. so you all learned a new word today, congrats.

again not really happy with this chapter (sorry!) simply because it lacks some plot but i have to do all this intro to get to the plot sooo....ya ill just be dissatified for awhile probably. :/