"-and I told him, I told him, son, you listen here. I may not have gone to Harvard, but I know what the world's problem is today. And that problem is mutants. Now what does your fancy dissertation say about that, huh? Haha!"

Katelyn hunched deeper into her chair and continued the intense staring match with her plate of pasta. It was a pretty big plate…enough to suffocate herself with? She narrowed her eyes at it, seriously considering the possibility. Nah. Probably not. Dangit.

She jumped as Mr. Freeman's hand suddenly whacked the table with a deafening thump.

"That's enough shop talk though! Sam! Why in God's good name would you let me ramble on when we're supposed to be entertaining this pretty young lady?"

"Sir, you know how interesting I find your speeches! I'm sure Katelyn thought it was as wonderful as I did."

"Yeah. Wonderful," she grinned sickly. Her dad was a racist butthead who wanted "her kind" locked up in sanatoriums for public safety. Wonderful.

"Ha! Well, thank you very much, but really. How about you tell us a little something about yourself?"

Katelyn blanked.

"Oh! Uhhh…something…about me. Right. Um."

Sam and Mr. Freeman stared at her expectantly. She blinked back at them.

"Um. I'm going to school in New York right now. Trying to get my GED. I…I guess that seems a little weird, I mean, I really should be done with high school by now. I…dropped out the first time around for…personal reasons."

"Well, nothing wrong with that," Mr. Freeman nodded firmly. "It's good to see a young person working to overcome their past. We all have hardships, but we humans have the strength to persevere!"

"Yeah. Well. That's where I met my boyfriend, at the school."

"Right. The boyfriend," Sam frowned. "So what's his deal? Ex-con? Total sleaze? Any glaring faults signaling imminent singleness?"

Katelyn fought back a laugh. "No. He's…really wonderful. Kind of an idiot sometimes, but sweet. Of course, he'd hate it if I knew I'd called him that. He's got a tough-guy rep to protect after all." She was smiling softly without realizing it.

"…Wow. So the two of you really…dang," Sam said finally.

Katelyn blushed. "Yeah. Well…yeah." She looked down at the table again. "That's us. Me and Logan." She dug her nails into her leg to keep from crying. "Totally in love."

"So…he goes to your school…and runs his own motorcycle business? Exactly how old is this Logan character?" Mr. Freeman asked suspiciously.

"He's older than me," Katelyn blushed again. "I'm not going to lie, there's definitely a considerable age gap. And he doesn't exactly go to my school. He's kind of a …specialized substitute teacher. Or something like that."

Sam's eyes widened and Mr. Freeman's face slowly started to turn an angry purple.

"You're- dating- a teacher? Young lady, that is highly inappropriate! Just what do your parents think of this arrangement?" he roared.

Katelyn's jaw dropped. She looked around the restaurant at all the people suddenly staring at their table. She wadded up her napkin and slowly stood up.

"Mr. Freeman," she said icily. "Although it is none of your business, I will tell you that there is nothing inappropriate about my relationship. I am not a minor. Although he is affiliated with my school, he is not an official instructor. Yes, there is an age difference. No, it doesn't matter to us or anyone we care about. And my so-called parents have nothing to do with my decision. Or my life. So, if you'll excuse me."

She grabbed her bag as Mr. Freeman sputtered a protest.

"Now -"

"And even if you won't. Goodbye."

She strode out of the restaurant without a backwards glance. Sam ran out after her.

"Katelyn!"

She sighed and turned to face him. "Sam-"

"Kate!"

Her heart stopped. She couldn't breathe. Katelyn somehow managed to turn and stare at the man who had just yelled her name from across the street. It wasn't possible for him to be here. Not now. Not after seven months of waiting. All of a sudden he was across the street and standing two feet in front of her.

Logan.

…..

You hate me. No, no, it's ok. I understand. I'm the suckiest updater in the history of updating. But uh…you forgive me. Right? Look, look, I won't even beg for reviews!

…I lied. Review please! ;D

Much luv,

XxRogueAngelDreamingxX