Disclaimer, etc. in Prologue.

Note: Apparently there's been some confusion about a few things. First let me start by saying this is an Alternate Universe fic. By the very definition of AU fics, things are different. Now, as to the confusing bits. In this fic, Lance gets drafted for the BoM three weeks after Kitty was sent to Xavier's (see Chapters 1 & 2) instead of the same day as in the original "X-Impulse" episode. Therefore, in this fic, I'm taking the liberty in assuming that Rogue left the BoM for the X-Men before Lance got into his trouble back in Northbrook. Hence the two have never met. Hope that clears things up for folks. If there are anymore questions, feel free to ask. I'm here to please. ;) Just ask my pal Frenchie, who managed to badger me into including some rather…interesting elements in this story.

Chapter 6

"Kitty! Hurry up!"

"I'm coming, Scott!" Kitty took one last look in the mirror and blew out a tense breath. It still looked like her, but not quite. The most obvious change was the fact that instead of her hair being up in its usual ponytail, it fell loose down past her shoulders.

When she'd asked Rogue how she would go about "looking the part" of a bad boy's girlfriend the first thing the older girl had said was, "Well, first you have got to let your hair down. In more ways than one."

And Kitty had to admit it made a world of difference. She looked…better with her hair down. No, not better. Less restrained. Less goody-two-shoes. She decided she liked it. She'd never paid much attention to her hair before, but now she realized she had nice hair. It was thick without being prone to frizziness, and it was naturally shiny and soft. She should wear it down more often.

Now as for the rest of her…transformation…Well, that had taken a bit more effort and a whole lot of badgering from Rogue. Most of the badgering had centered around the barely-there skirt Kitty now wore.

It was made out of some black faux suede material, fit like a second skin, and was almost obscenely short. She had bought it on impulse last year, but she'd never had the nerve to actually wear it once she got it home. Kitty was sure that her parents would never have let her leave the house wearing the flimsy excuse for a skirt that she was even now trying to pull down to mid-thigh. It was that thought and Rogue's wheedling (which was summed up with "You've got killer legs, girl. Flaunt 'em!"), that had Kitty shimmying into the skirt the following morning.

A wine-red camisole that stopped an inch above her navel, and a black lace off-the-shoulder shirt over that, topped off Kitty's ensemble.

She had just slicked on some cherry lipgloss and was zipping up her knee-high leather boots, when Scott called again. "Kitty, come on! We're going to be late!"

"Coming!" Grabbing her bookbag, Kitty ran out of the room.

Scott was waiting for her in the front hall as she hurried down the stairs. He was checking his watch for what Kitty guessed was probably the tenth time in the last five minutes. "Jean and Rogue are already in the car. What took you so…long…?" His voice trailed off as he looked up and caught sight of her. "Kitty?"

"Morning, Scott!" she greeted as she breezed past him. She couldn't quite stifle a grin. Wow! I managed to surprise Scott Summers, Fearless Leader! Looks like this outfit might be a success after all.

She was almost out the door before he managed to come to his senses and hurry after her.

Kitty knew the exact instant when Jean caught sight of her. The redhead did an almost comical double-take, and those disgustingly bright green eyes of hers widened in surprise.

"Hey, Kitty!" Rogue called from the backseat of the convertible. "Lookin' good, girl!"

"Thanks!" Kitty beamed as she climbed in to sit beside her roommate. "I really couldn't have done it without you, though."

"Well, shucks, 'tweren't nothin'!" The Southern mutant thickened her drawl and Kitty couldn't help but giggle.

Her amusement was cut short when Jean said, "Wow, Kitty. You look…different today."

Kitty almost rolled her eyes. God, Jean, could you sound any more disapproving? "I decided I needed a change."

There was brief silence as Jean climbed into the passenger seat. Kitty was beginning to think that Jean was actually finished with her unwanted commentary until she said, "But don't you think that outfit is a little, uh, revealing?"

Crossing her arms, Kitty tossed back her hair in a haughty manner she'd seen Jean use more than once. "Yeah, so?"

Jean turned in her seat to look at Kitty, her face the very picture of the Concerned Mentor. Inwardly, Kitty cringed. Here comes the lecture!

"Kitty, I don't think your outfit is appropriate for school," the redhead began. "Don't get me wrong, you look great! I just think maybe should go inside and change into something a little more—"

"Oh, get off it, Red! Let the girl wear what she wants, and stop actin' like Miss High n' Mighty!" Rogue interrupted, and Kitty couldn't help but feel relieved. Listening to Jean-lectures was not one of her favorite pastimes.

"I am not being 'high and mighty'! I'm just concerned! If it weren't for your influence, Rogue, Kitty wouldn't be dressed like…that! She needs to go inside and change."

Kitty bristled. "What do you, like, mean 'dressed like that'?"

She was ignored as Rogue got up in the telepath's face. "Sorry to disappoint you, Jean"—she sneered the name—"but Kitty didn't dress like that for me. She—" The deadly-skinned mutant caught the warning look Kitty shot her. Hmm. So Kitty didn't want Jean to know that Lance was in Bayville. Interesting. Rogue sat back in her seat and smirked. "Anyway, it doesn't really matter if you want her to change. There's not enough time." The smirk turned into a genuine smile as Scott, who'd been locking the front door of the mansion, approached the car. "Isn't that right, Scott?"

Looking up from his watch, Scott spared Rogue a distracted glance. "Isn't what right?"

Before Rogue could answer, Jean took the initiative. "Scott, don't you think Kitty should go inside and change into something more appropriate?" Her tone implied that she fully expected him to agree with her.

Irritated surprise was written all over her face when Scott gave Kitty a once-over and said, "She looks fine, and we really don't have the time."

Crossing her arms, Jean tossed back her hair and muttered, "If you say so."

As Scott slipped into the driver's seat and started the engine, Rogue and Kitty shared triumphant grins.

Good Guys: 1. Jean: 0.

End Chapter 6.