Disclaimer, etc. in Prologue.

Chapter 1

Kitty stood in the middle of the cafeteria and wondered where she was going to sit. All the tables in the immediate vicinity were packed with groups of gossiping friends that had probably known each other since kindergarten. Kitty, on the other hand, was still the 'new girl' and therefore was eating lunch alone. Again.

She had eaten lunch by herself everyday since she had arrived at Bayville High three weeks ago. Not that she wasn't used to eating lunch solo. She'd hardly been Madame Social Butterfly at her old school, but at least at her old school she'd known people.

Looking out over the sea of unfamiliar faces in the cafeteria, Kitty's appetite started to wan. For the first time since she'd arrived, she began to consider sitting with the other Xavier kids. They weren't all that bad. She actually liked a couple of them. But if she did sit with them, there was a good chance she'd have to sit with her.

The mere thought of sitting with that redheaded skank made Kitty grimace in distaste.

Just then, someone stalked past her, bumping her hard. She just barely managed not to redecorate the floor with her lunch. She didn't get so much as an apology.

Still trying to steady her tray, Kitty snapped, "Why don't you watch where you're going, jerk?"

The jerk in question spun around as he sneered, "Why don't you suck my—" He broke off abruptly. Then, "Kitty?"

At the sound of her name, Kitty forgot about trying to stop her apple from rolling off her tray. She knew that voice.

She looked up. And blinked. "Oh, my God! Lance?"

He grinned. "Damn. Guess those Disney brats were right. It is a small world after all."

Kitty stared, not sure if she wanted to smack him or hug him. "What—how—?"

"Likewise." Dumping a lumpy brown paper bag on her tray, he snatched it out of her hands. "Come on. We'll catch up over lunch, share our life stories. Hell, we'll have a regular Oprah moment." Without waiting for her consent, he headed off into the crowded cafeteria.

Kitty stood there for moment, simply amazed at his audacity. First, he'd nearly knocked her down without bothering to apologize, and then he went and stole her lunch! He was such a jerk!

But still…She was glad to see a familiar face.

"Hey, Lance! Wait up!" Kitty called as she hurried to catch up.

End Chapter 1.