The next day was a school day. Nathan wasn't used to getting up for school, not since his father died. The alarm went off, causing Nathan to violently grab it from the nightstand and throw it at the wall. Someone knocked on the door. He couldn't be sure, but it sounded like a woman's footsteps walking in. Groggy, Nathan let out a groan and rolled over onto his pillow, grinding his spiky stubble against the pillow.

"Rise and shine, it's time to go to school."

The voice was unfamiliar. Nathan flicked open an eye to see a white haired black woman dressed in a Caribbean outfit. He let out a grumbled sentence, "Who are you?"

"My name is Ororo and you need to get to class."

"You a friend of Xavier's?" Nathan asked, rising from bed.

"Yes, I'm sorry, I wasn't here when you moved in."

Nathan stretched and looked at the mess of wires and smashed plastic on the floor. Ororo smiled. "It happens surprisingly often around here. Don't worry about it." She opened the window shades, gave a quick smile and walked out of the room.

"Right," Nathan uttered, more awake now. He reached over the side of his bed and found a pair of blue jeans. The fabric was still stained with the blood and putrid saliva from his fight with Toad the previous night. Tossing the jeans in the hamper, he searched through his drawers. With every article of clothing he pulled out, he discovered that they were dirty. "Shit." He said, remembering that he was due to take his laundry to the cleaner's back home. He got out of bed, changing into a pair of boxer shorts and walking down the hall.

He passed Scott's room and gave a short knock on the door. "Hey man, I need to borrow some clothes."

Scott opened the door and saw Nathan in his boxers. "What? You didn't pack anything?"

"No, fuckface. Now let me borrow some clothes or I'm gonna take them from you."

"All right, all right," Scott threw up his hands and searched through his dresser, pulling out a pair of khakis. Nathan threw them on. "Thanks man, I owe you."

"Yeah, fine. Just don't go around telling people you're wearing my clothes." Scott said jokingly.

Nathan chuckled and proceeded down the hall. Kitty emerged from her room and walked along side him. "Like, do you want to carpool?"

"I don't think I have much of a choice. Until Xavier gives me a car I'll have to ride with you guys." He saw Kitty's expression light up at this information and smiled. She made a slight humming sound, indicating that she was thinking of something to say. "Uh, do you want to do something after school?"

"Like what?"

"Um, I dunno, like maybe I could show you around town?" Kitty's eyes became hopeful. Nathan thought about it, but in the end he couldn't resist her girlish charms. "Sure, why not?"

"Really? Great!"

She ran ahead, grabbing her books and jumping out the door as if she was trying to make the day pass quicker. Nathan laughed slightly at her antics and walked out the door. A girl with pale skin and dark red hair with a white streak through it walked by. Nathan arched a brow at the new girl. "Wait, how many of you guys are there?"

"Oh, hi. I'm Marie." The girl stopped and extended her hand. Nathan arched a brow at her hand as it was gloved. "You know, I don't have cooties, there's no need for the glove."

Marie's face changed from smiling to plain. "I guess he doesn't know, does he?" She said to the others already in the car.

"Know what?" Nathan looked puzzled.

Jean walked by Nathan as she left the house. "Marie's power is the ability to drain the energy of others. She takes their abilities, their memories and, in the case of mutants, their powers."

Nathan looked at Jean and then back at Marie. "Cool,"

Marie smiled slightly at Nathan's attitude towards her. "C'mon guys, we're gonna be late." a voice from inside the car said. Nathan looked and saw a young black kid wearing skater's clothing. After everyone was in the car, they drove to school.

The day was uneventful for the most part; Nathan adapted quickly to the school setting and eventually remembered everything he learned before. During lunch he sat with Kitty -- or she sat with him in actuality. He was minding his own business when he noticed a young kid with glasses being pinned up against the wall by another kid wearing a football jacket.

"Where is it, punk?" The jock said, lifting the kid higher by the collar.

"I don't know, man! Come on, let me go!"

"Not until I get it back!"

The tables turned when Nathan grabbed the jock by the shoulders, spun him around and clasped his hand around the jock's neck. "You touch this kid again and I'll gut you like a fish!"

The jock squirmed; unable to break free of Nathan's crushing grip. Nathan squeezed tighter. "Got it?"

The jock nodded, as best he could and Nathan dropped him. The jock stumbled to his feet and ran away coughing. The kid with glasses started to run in fear of Nathan, but was stopped. Nathan held the kid by the shoulder and walked in front of him. "What was it that he wanted?"

The kid shivered in fear at Nathan's grip. "H-His H-Homework! He made me do it!"

"Relax, kid. You don't have to do his work anymore. Now run along." Nathan let go and the kid ran away, leaving behind a stream of urine. Kitty sighed and looked dreamily at Nathan before he came back to the table, grumbling.

"That was, like, such a nice thing you did."

"I never cared for jocks, Kitty. That punk just pushed me over the edge."

Kitty scooted ever so slightly closer to Nathan, trying to get him to touch her. She desperately wanted to experience that feeling from when he held her in his arms, even if it meant only a small piece of that feeling. Why can't I just ask him out? Why am I such a chicken around him? I want him to touch me, to put his arms around me, but I just can't bring myself to ask him. She thought.

"Something wrong?" Nathan asked Kitty.

She swallowed hard and shifted her eyes. "No! I mean, no I'm fine."

Nathan shrugged and continued eating. She looked at him, in complete awe thinking, why can't he just ask me out and make my life easier? Doesn't he know that I would say yes? She picked up a frenched fry, slowly nibbling on it as she covertly stared at him through the corner of her eye. God I want him so much. Her stomach began to churn and she felt her skin develop goose bumps. Nathan finished and got up to leave. She watched him, those strong muscles flexing as he walked. A moment later Jean pulled up a chair and waved her hand in front of Kitty's face. "Yo, you still on earth, girl?"

"I was just thinking of him. I really want to see him in the pool!"

Jean giggled. "Yeah, I bet he looks great in a Speedo!"

Kitty giggled, blushing heavily. Jean gave a slight smirk as she examined Kitty's face. "You've got a crush on him, don't you?"

Kitty, being a giddy young schoolgirl, normally would have denied any accusation of a crush. But for some reason she didn't have the strength to lie this time. "Yes,"

"Why don't you ask him out?" Jean asked, taking a bite of her sandwich.

"I, like, want to, but I just can't do it. I'm too nervous."

Jean laughed. "I understand. Just take a few deep breaths and relax."

After school, Kitty waited for Nathan outside. When he came by, she immediately started walking beside him. "So, how was your day?"

"I think I'm getting the hang of this school gig." Nathan said, "So where are we going?"

"Um, we could go to the arcade, or the park." Kitty began to feel her pulse race. "W-What do you want to do?"

"Whatever, I'll leave it up to you."

Kitty began to envision hundreds of things she would *like* to do with Nathan, but instead came up with a milder idea. "Wanna go ice skating?"

"In June?"

"There's an indoor place in town. C'mon, it'll be fun."

Nathan smiled and gestured forward. "Lead the way."

A short time later they were at the skating rink. Fortunately, it was close by so they didn't have to drive. They both put on their skates, wobbling slightly as they walked on the ground to the ice. Nathan set foot on the ice and immediately took a tumble, holding on to the side railing for support. "It's been a while."

Kitty giggled and helped him up, finally getting that chance to touch him she was hoping for. He clung on to her hand for support, causing Kitty to gasp slightly. He's touching me! He's holding my hand! She thought. The emotional deluge of excitement and surprise caused Kitty to lose her balance, tumbling over onto the ice and landing on her butt. Nathan followed soon after, landing on top of her in an awkward position. She felt her heart pounding through her chest as he lied on top of her. He smiled and slowly lifted himself up. "Ouch." He said, chuckling.

They stayed on the ice for an hour, losing their balance at least a dozen times. Kitty felt so nervous she was sure her heart was about to leap out of her chest at any moment. After their time at the ice rink, Nathan called a cab. "Thanks, Kitty. That was fun."

"Yeah, we should do it again some time." She stumbled over her words, "Uh, go skating that is!"

The taxi stopped and they both got in, Kitty slightly brushing against Nathan as she sat down. As they were driving home, she couldn't help but stare at him. Whenever he caught on, she would immediately turn her head and face the front seat. When they got home, Nathan stopped Kitty outside her room. "Well, thanks for the fun time today."

"Like, no problem." Damnit, I'm doing it again. Ugh, I wish I wouldn't get so nervous around him! She thought.

"Well, I better go take care of my homework. See you later." With that Nathan gave her a kiss on the cheek, nothing romantic, just a friendly kiss between close friends. Regardless of its intent, the kiss made Kitty blush so profusely it appeared as if she suffered severe sunburn. Nathan walked away and Kitty slowly stumbled into her room. She took a few steps, completely stupefied, and collapsed on the bed.