Disclaimer: The characters and events depicted in this story are fictional. Any similarity to any actual person, living or dead, or to any actual events, firms and institutions and other entities is coincidental and unintentional. The story is based on Dokyusei written by Nana to which permission to use its plot has been granted by the author. All characters used are the legal property of Marvel and its constituents.

Attitudes & Feelings, Both Desirable & Sometimes Secretive

Chapter I : Suddenly Everything Has Changed

The girl stopped as the looming façade of Xavier's Institute came into view. Like almost all high schools in New York, it had stamped on it the generic, gray cement-and-stone look on the outside. In fact, it reminded her very much of her old high school, right down to the sound of the school bell as it heralded another busy day. Flocks of chattering students, the boys in sedate black, the girls in dark blue-and-white uniforms, drifted by her. She sighed, thinking it was inevitable. When her father was promoted to his firm's New York office, of course it meant the family had to move from Chicago to New York. She should by all rights be thrilled. 'Well, I am,' she thought. New York had been so much fun, albeit expensive. There were so many things to see, so many things to do and try out. She had enjoyed herself. But this was her first day in a new school, so of course she was nervous. Nothing strange about that, really. 'But who knows what will await me behind these walls?' the girl thought, brightly. 'It's not really all that bad!' With this, sixteen year old Katherine Pryde took a deep breath, and proceeded to march into her new alma mater.
'Being a sophomore certainly is trying at times,' thought Kitty as she crossed the wide campus lawn to the other building. Apparently, sophomores took their classes on the ground floor, in the annex building, not the front end of the school. This meant she was going to be a little late, as she had to ask around for the quickest way to get there, and to manoeuvre her way past the campus lawn, past the gymnasium, the patch of trees which served as the botanical garden, and straight on into the annex building. Judging from the way her path was devoid of people, Kitty could say classes were indeed starting. 'Oh, well…' she thought, she was never one for making good first impressions.

With that, she tried to walk faster, swiftly covering the lawn, but as she reached for the trees in the botanical garden, she noted with some surprise that she was not the only one who was late. Leaning on the trunk of one of the larger trees was a boy.

He had on the black uniform just as the rest of the boys did, but his hair was black and he kept it long, to compare with school standards, almost shaggy. He had dark aviator sunglasses on his head and a worn black leather jacket on. He appeared to be sleeping.

Now, Kitty could not say she was a snoop by nature, curiosity killed the cat and all that, but she stopped anyway to take in this rather weird spectacle. The guy had his arms crossed on his chest, his chin tilting down to reach his chest, and his eyes were closed. His black hair whispered gently across his face. He looked so peaceful and still.

'He really is sleeping!' Kitty thought, incredulously. 'Maybe he doesn't know what time it is…'

Stepping forward cautiously, she cleared her throat. "A…excuse me…" she said uncertainly, "erm…like you'd better hurry up or you'll be like late for…"

She stopped when she realized the boy did not appear to have heard her. Standing there, Kitty could not help but feel well, weird. She was trying to be helpful.

'Never mind,' she thought, annoyance starting to creep in. She resumed walking, away from the boy. 'It's bad enough to be late first day of school, there's no way I have to make myself extra late just because I have to go wake some weirdo who's taking a nap this early in the morning!'

Still, she stole a look back at the tree. 'Who can he possibly be?' With a shake of her head, she refused to feel guilty about leaving him behind.

To be continued…
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- Swing

Chapter Track: Suddenly Everything Has Changed - The Flaming Lips (The Soft Bulletin)