Through Hellfire and Back,

Part 15

Disclaimer: X-men Evolution is the property of Marvel and Kids WB. All the characters in this story are the property of Marvel. Now for the real reunion ya'll have been waiting to see.....

Enjoy!

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Not two days after the Pryde parents had returned to Northbrook, another visitor pulled up into Snow Valley. Kitty's name was his lips even as he cursed about unexpected detours and lousy directions.

Lance Alvers frowned as he headed towards Kitty's dormitory, trying his best to ignore the odd looks and quiet whispers that passed from student to student as he strolled down the halls. He hated them: the phony smiles, the looks of horror, the posh atmosphere, the snobbish people. An entire school full of rich little brats, all receiving the very best education Mommy or Daddy could afford. It was enough to make his stomach churn. Although not all the students of the Massachusetts Academy were wealthy, more then one having entered on scholarship, most came from elite, well off families, who knew absolutely nothing of what life was like on welfare. Heck, most of the students, he'd wager, didn't know the meaning of the words "middle class". Spending their parents money like it went out of style as they hopped about with their equally elite friends in their jaguars and convertibles. Donning their most expensive attire frequently, eating food fit for kings.... money might not buy happiness, but it certainly could buy luxury.

Luxury was something Lance had lived without his entire life. Even as he walked by, he could see a few turn up their noses at his torn jeans and giggle at his worn-in vest. Absently, he clenched his fist. ~Remember Kitty~ No way she'd talk to him again if he turned this school topsy-turvy. Although, the temptation to grab one of the ogling brats and throw them up against the wall was becoming more and more tempting. How much lunch money did these people carry anyway?

Lance snorted in disgust. He was as blue collar as they came, and he was damn proud to be so. So what if he had no fancy cloths, or a new car? He worked hard for his jeep, and with it's frequent use by the Brotherhood, he could vouch that no vehicle was sturdier. Silently he chuckled to himself, wondering how long Scott's sporty convertible would last with one hour under the Toad's back seat driving. Slime did wonders for suede seats, he was sure. He made a mental note to test the theory with his house mate later. Maybe he'd even be able to ask Kitty her opinion on the matter once they met. While the former X-man had made it very clear back in Bayville that she wouldn't tolerate abuse to her friends, harmless pranks were often taken with a fit of giggles and an occasional howl of laughter.

Kitty. Lately his mind always returned to her. Just a few more doors down, and he'd finally see her face. The angel of angels, at least in Lance's eyes. Possibly not perfection, but to the Brotherhood mutant, she was probably as close as he'd ever find.

There were times, Lance admitted, as he continued to walk through snob hill, when he wondered if he even deserved such a girl. She was innocent, loving, open. He was.... well, innocent and open weren't quite the right words. She came from a similar background as those now around him. Upper middle class, complete with a white picket fence and a flamingo in the front yard. He'd never lived in anything better then an affectionate dump. She had grown up in a world very different then his own; a world full of light that always outshines the darkness. Although his current view of her family left much to be desired, they did, he'd admit, love her, and supported her most of her lifetime. His parents.... well, Lance didn't want to walk down that road. Some things were best forgotten, if possible. Kitty lived in an atmosphere where the doors were always opening, as oppose to slamming in her face. She was sensitive, hopeful, caring. He didn't think it was possible to care until he met her. In many ways she was everything he was not. Was she really worth pursuing, his mind occasional questioned. After all, she'd been brought up in a better world then his own. Did he really stand a chance with such a person? Was he good enough for her?

Lance shook his head.

Stupid question, of course he was!

He was Lance Alvers, Avalanche, leader of the brotherhood, up and coming mover and shaker (literally) on the mutant front. Agitated teachers and solemn social workers aside, he was going wherever he wanted, and do whatever it took to get himself there. Despite his slacking off and overall disdain for High School in general, even his professors couldn't deny that his grades were good- not exceptional, but not what first impressions often expected. As he'd told a particular Pryde, he was totally into his chemistry, and geology.... heh, well that was off the scale.

One thing he was certain of, he wasn't going to sell his future short, assume as so many foster parents had: that he'd never be worth anything in his life. Lance Alvers would be worth something all right, worth more then all the nay-sayers put together. Life in Bayville had made him realize it was time to start finding dreams, and follow them.

After all, wasn't following a dream what brought him here?

Finally, at the end of a particularly long stretch of hallway, Lance found the room he was looking for. Right on the end, with a black and white name etched in a slider beside: Pryde, Katherine.
Fully intending to step right in, Lance raised his fist to the door.....

..... and it remained there five minutes later. Damn! Why did this have to be so...... difficult? It wasn't as if they were fighting or anything. He was just concerned why she hadn't been returning his calls. It wasn't as if he was afraid she'd met someone else.

Really.

His shoulders started to slump as he looked at his current surroundings. From the delicate woodwork around the doors to the soft plush carpeting, it was clear that this dorm was a very expensive place. A very expensive place, that was more then likely home to a few very expensive people. A few very expensive people....... currently, including Kitty. A lump formed in his throat, as weeks of the Brotherhood's skepticism came crashing down around him. What if they were right? What if Kitty had met someone else here? Someone... better? Someone more equipped to aide her concerns? Someone who could offer her things he couldn't? The thought made him shake inside, without the aide of his powers.

Suddenly, he wasn't so certain coming down to Snow Valley was the right thing to do.

~Maybe....~ his mind countered, ~maybe you don't need to find out. You could just step back, walk away, and keep knowing nothing. After all, the truth can hurt. Isn't ignorant bliss better then the pain of reality?~

He considered this. ~....no. Not for me.~

The earthquake maker frowned, determination setting in once more, suddenly ashamed of himself for such thoughts. What was with all these self-doubts? He wasn't some low life scum or weakling coward, he was Avalanche for petty's sake! He could move mountains, cause the very earth to grovel at his feet.

He could deal with his girlfriend.

Flicking back his wrist, he rapped at the door with a few speedy taps. As he listened to the approaching footsteps, he stood tall, his mind continuing with positive self-talk. He could take on the world, he could handle anything.

~You hope ~

The door opened...... and Lance Alvers suddenly felt his body stiffen, his earlier fear returning even as the lone figure answered.

The girl who opened the door was dressed in her favorite yellow shirt and blue jeans; an ensemble which, he admitted, was always rather appealing on her. Brilliantly brushed chocolate hair and soft fair skin, with rosy pink lips; in all respects, the person before him was Kitty. As he peered into her eyes however, the lump returned to his throat. They were those same eyes he first fell for, but gone was the youthful innocence, the uncertainty, the sunny disposition. Rather, now her eyes burned an electric blue, an intent glare which threatened to peel the paint. Worse, that glare was leveled directly at one person, and one person only: him.

"Kitty?"

"Lance." Her eyes burned brighter, while her voice was incredibly frigid, arms folded as she stood there in the doorway. Lance made a mental note: not good. His impossible nerves, which up until that moment he would have argued didn't exist, were shot with energy. He started to sweat. A thousand questions started to hit his mind. Why hadn't he rehearsed what he was going to say to her, instead of going it on improve and hoping he didn't sound like an idiot? Why hadn't he called first, to tell her he'd be there. Why hadn't he brought flowers? Chocolate? Dinner reservations?

He tried to speak.

"Hey Kitty, how's it going? I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd...."

"You'd what?" Kitty snapped, catching him off guard. "What? What could you, like, possibly have to say to me?"

Uh-oh

"Um, come again?"

Kitty snarled with an imaginary (but very believable) set of fangs. "You what? You just thought you could come over here and talk? You figured you could just drop in and say 'hi'? After all you've done, after all you put me through?"

Lance blinked. Something was dreadfully, terribly wrong with this conversation. "Um, actually, I've been trying to get a hold of you for over a month now." He continued to be hit with a feeling of..... anxiety? nervousness?

"Oh, I see. And that makes a difference, because....?"

Lance frowned, lowering his hands as he attempted a calming gesture. Maybe if he could cool her down, she'd tell him what went wrong. "Kitty, look, I don't know what the problem is right now, but...."

"You're the problem, Alvers." Lightning eyes never left his.

Wonderful. Judging by the conversation, it sounded like she thought he'd offended her, done something wrong. Worse, he had no idea what, and no idea how to get her to tell him. Where was a scorekeeper when you needed one?

He tried showing ignorance. "Ummm, come again?"

"Don't play dumb!"

Who was playing? "Kitty, I'm thinking I seriously missed the bus here. Can't you give me a hint?"

Kitty growled low once more, starting to dictate. "Look Lance, let me spell this out real clear for you." Kitty jabbed a finger at his chest. "I don't want you here."

"I don't want to talk to you again.

I don't want to see you again.

Goodbye."

With that, she turned around, her ponytail whipping by so fast it nearly smacked him on it's way around. Lance could only continue to stand in shock as a solid oak door was slammed in his face. He remained there for a good two minutes, ignoring the whispers and sympathies of the other Academy students who had witnessed the seen from their doorways. Finally, with an about face he turned around, one gloved hand sifting slowly through his chocolate brown hair.

"Flowers," he muttered. "This is gonna cost me lots of flowers."

Lance still wasn't certain what he had done to incur Kitty's wraith at full force, but he did know one thing: he wasn't going back to Bayville until he figured it out.