AN: Insert standard disclaimers here. Thanks to all who have read my story so far. I hope you like this chapter.
The next day followed an all too familiar routine for Kitty, yet at the same time something was different. These were the same hallways she had walked everyday this year and the same students hurrying about, yet it was as if she could see another school and other students existing in a reality that overlapped with this one in a semi-translucent layer. The feeling wasn't as strong as it had been the night before, but it was still there. She had even almost called one of her friends by the wrong name. She had openly laughed it off, saying that it was just a result of a lack of sleep. Who had ever heard of anyone named Rogue anyway? All she could do was hope that this day passed quickly and tomorrow would be better.
However, it seemed that time was passing relentlessly slow and Kitty began to grow more anxious. She paused at a water fountain on her way to her locker to get a drink, trying to distract herself from her worries. When she finished, she stepped back and bumped into someone walking down the hallway.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, turning around, "I wasn't looking where…" Her voice trailed off when she saw who it was.
Lance was standing there, looking down at her with his characteristic smirk. "Just who I wanted to bump into," he said.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, frowning, "I thought you were suspended."
"I was," he replied, "but that's over with now. So, aren't you going to welcome me my first day back?"
"Welcome back," she mumbled, pushing past him and walking towards her locker. He followed close behind and casually leaned up against some nearby lockers she selected the books she needed. "Like, why are you following me?" she demanded.
His smile slipped slightly and he didn't answer at first. "I'm not sure," he finally admitted in a softer tone.
Kitty was surprised but she had never seen Lance like this before. He seemed almost scared. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," he repeated, "It's just the whole day has felt weird or something. It's like I'm seeing double. Well, not exactly double, but…I don't know how to explain this. It seems like I can see some other place when I look around here. It doesn't make any sense."
It made a lot of sense to Kitty, but she didn't know what to day. "When did this start?" she questioned, almost afraid to hear the answer.
"Last night," he replied, "I had some sort of weird dream like the world was shaking, but then again that could have just been me." He smiled at her, but he still looked a little frightened.
"Yeah, maybe it was just you," she said as she started to walk away.
"But there was something else," he added.
"Yes?" She stopped walking and turned to look at him. By this time, they were almost alone in the hallway as most of the other students were already in their classrooms.
"When I woke up," he began, "there was something so clear in my mind I thought it was a memory, but now it's beginning to fade. Maybe it was just a dream." He looked her straight in the eyes as he spoke. "I saw you and me, us, at a dance together. It was a school dance, but it wasn't this school. At least I don't think it was. Anyway, we were dancing but then something happened. I can't remember what."
Kitty didn't respond, she just stood there looking at him. "It must have been a dream," Lance continued, and Kitty could hear anger seep into his voice. He must have been wanting her to say something in return. "I mean, why would I ask you to some crummy school dance anyway?" He turned and walked away.
"You didn't ask me," Kitty whispered aloud in the empty hallway, "I asked you."
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"Why aren't you eating, Kitty?"
Kitty looked over at her dad and gave her best impression of a smile. Her school day had finally ended and she was now sitting in the dining room with her parents. Her mom had cooked a wonderful meal but, so far all she had done was push the food around her plate with her fork. "I'm just not that hungry right now," she replied.
"Are you feeling all right?" her mother asked, "You're not getting sick are you?"
"No, I'm just tired. I didn't sleep very well last night."
Before her parents could ask any more questions, the phone rang. Thankful for the interruption, Kitty jumped to her feet and ran to answer it. "Hello," she said.
At first, the person on the other end didn't speak. Finally she heard a hesitant voice speak. "Kitty?"
"Yes. Who is this?"
There was another long pause before the answer finally came. "It's me - Jean."
Still confused? Believe it or not all this will make sense later on in the story. Trust me.
