X-Men Evolution is a trademarked product from Marvel, all the characters are owned by Marvel and not me. This is a work of fiction based off of said series. I make no money off this, yadda yadda yah.

"In The Garage" - by Val Shrum (kiyonekatz at yahoo dot com)

Chapter 5

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Monday morning rolled around a lot faster than expected. Kitty wasn't able to get over to visit Lance on Sunday, so she opted to practice at home... much to the chagrin of her fellow team-mates. Her room was a nice, relatively quiet place for her to explore her new found ability. She even made a small list of songs from the book that Lance had given her that she liked. It wasn't a professional made book, but more or less a small book of guitar chords and tabs Lance had written out himself or had typed out, put together with a hole punch and a few rings.

Throughout the day of classes, Kitty would read over the book as if it were the best novel she'd picked up in months. The day felt like it had went on forever, and it was only lunch time.

Kitty sat down at her usual bench, munching on an apple and looking over the book.

Kurt moved in behind her, "Hey, what do you have there, Katzchen?"

She closed the book quickly, "Oh, uh... nothing really. Just studying." Kitty put it in her binder and leaned forward. "How's your day been, Kurt?"

"As good as it always is. So really, what's in that book? Every time I've seen you today you've been looking at it." He pointed to her binder.

"None of your business, Kurt." She looked annoyed, "It's just a personal project of mine, s'all."

"Don't get touchy, Kitty. I'm just curious. Sheesh!" He started on his own lunch. "You were practically in your room all day yesterday. Anything I should be worried about?"

Kitty raised an eyebrow, then laughed. "No. Not at all, Kurt. I'm just... no, embarassed isn't the word. I just don't want everyone in my business? Well, sorta..."

"Just spit it out already."

"Lance's teaching me how to play the guitar." she shrugged.

"And?" Kurt looked her over.

"No, that's it." Kitty nodded.

"That's it? That's not embarassing." He shrugged and continued on his sandwich.

Kitty sighed, "Well, it's a lot more than that, Fuzzy. Like... I told him he should enter this contest, and he said yeah, but only if I enter with him. So like, I gotta get really good in a week, and find the rest of a band. You wouldn't happen to know how to play any instruments, would you?"

Kurt blinked, "That does seem like a large task for one week, Katzchen. A little... what's the word... how you would say... "

"Expeditious?" Kitty said.

"Ja, that sounds about right. Maybe 'extravagant', also." He nodded, "I have been known to fill in for a drummer or two in band class, if that answers the other question. I've never sat at a drum set though." He held up his hand, "I don't have very many options other than percussion."

"Hmm. I'll pass the idea by Lance. I'm not sure if he'd want to include... some... you know, 'X-geeks'. God knows who else he'd REALLY wanted me to ask, though." She drank from her drink cup.

Kurt shrugged, "You should let me know soon. I might become ultra-busy this upcoming Saturday..."

"Are you ultra-busy this Saturday?" Kitty blinked.

"... no. But SHOULD I, I would like to know ahead of time."

"Of course, Elf. I'll let you know." Kitty rolled her eyes.

***

The sixth period bell rang, allowing the children of Bayville High School to head home. Kitty walked out of the schools' front doors with Kurt in tow. They came down the steps and turned the corner to see Lance leaning against his Jeep with a smile.

Kitty did a small wave in his direction, turning to her best friend. "Looks like I got a ride home."

Kurt looked shocked, "What about me? I'm coming with you!" He followed her to the jeep, despite any protests.

"... hey buddy, where do you think you're going?" Lance looked at Kurt, confused.

"If you're giving Kitty a ride home, then it wouldn't be out of the way for you to give ME a ride home, ja?" Kurt smiled back at the brown haired boy.

Lance smirked, "But me and Kitty... we're not GOING home right away... got it?" His tone implied something more.

Kurt looked protectively over at Kitty, "Then I'll come along for the ride. Is that a problem?"

Kitty got into the passenger side of the car, then rubbed the back of her neck, "Three IS a crowd, Kurt."

Kurt pursed his lips, then turned to Lance. "You need a drummer. I will drum. Is that good enough?"

"Can you drum?" Lance raised an eyebrow. All the times he had seen Kurt in music class, he had been goofing off.

"I will do my best! You're making Kitty play an instrument she's never even held before, it can't be that hard."

Kitty looked embarassed, "Kurt! Be nice."

"Fine, Elf. Get in. Cause any trouble at my place, though, and you're out." Lance shrugged and got into the drivers side chair.

Kurt smiled. "I can live with that." He climbed into the back of the jeep. "So Lance, who else is in the band?"

"Just us." He pulled out of the Bayville High parking lot.

"Yeah, we just like... started this saturday. We haven't exactly been desperately seeking members." Kitty commented.

Kurt nodded as they took a corner and headed toward the Brotherhood boarding house.

Lance parked and headed for the door, unlocking it and letting the two X-Men into the place. "Just... don't touch anything, okay? Let's head back to my room and try not to bother the rest of the guys."

Kitty lead the way back to Lance's room with Kurt and Lance following behind. She sat down on the floor and pulled out the guitar book Lance had lent her. Kitty tilted her head, "I didn't bring the guitar to school with me, obviously. So like, I'm gonna have to borrow yours to practice today."

Lance grinned like an idiot, "Do you see me complainin'? I'll get it down." He opened the closet door as Kurt took a seat on the bed.

Kitty turned to a page, "I picked out a few of these songs that I liked. I figure we can work on five or six, and do two for the main show. The best ones we can do, that is. I really don't know how many songs they'll allow."

"Sounds good. Hey fuzz-boy, make yourself useful." He tossed Kurt a pair of drumsticks. "Get used to those. Break them, though, and you owe me a pair."

Kurt caught the sticks. He made a face, "I'd be more useful if we had a drum set, ja?"

"I can't fit a drum set in my closet, sorry. Maybe you can talk someone over at the Institute to rent one for the week or something." Lance commented, "Just practice rhythm with those. And while Kitty is practicing, I can make a tape of the songs we want to do."

He moved next to Kitty, offering his electric guitar to her. Kitty smiled up at Lance in a warm exchange of looks. She patted the floor next to her, "Sit down, Lance. We should at least go over what songs I think might be good with you?"

"I can play anything in that book, babe. It doesn't matter what you pick, I'm cool." He smiled.

"Yeah, but like... I don't want to seem too contrived or stereotypical for my choices. I don't know much about music beyond like... what's on the radio, y'know? And some of the stuff in here... it's like... not radio-played stuff."

"You worry too much, Kitty. Fine." He sat down next to her pretty closely. Kitty pulled out a small list of songs. "I had some ideas, too. You said you wanted to head toward a... rock, almost punk sort of twist, right? I tried to keep that in mind."

"Of course." He looked over the list. "Well, this one is way too slow. And this one had horns in it. We don't even have a bass player, and you're expecting a wind section?"

"But... we have two guitarists. One could be lead guitar, the other playing along the notes the horns had in that song. It's also a duet, sorta. And the slow song, I thought we could speed it up and give it our own flavor. I just love the song. I have a trance version of it somewhere on cd. I mean, I don't know if what I want to do with it is possible, but..."

"No, it's possible. I like that idea." He smiled, "You're getting into this more than I thought you would. It shouldn't be hard to transcribe that part for us to practice." Lance paused, then looked at Kurt, "Hey, I don't hear you drumming."

Kurt looked annoyed. It was clear Lance wanted to be alone with Kitty. Kurt idly drummed with the borrowed sticks. He glanced at Lance, "Have you tried asking anyone in this house if they play bass guitar? Or is that asking too much of the Brotherhood?"

"I haven't bothered asking anyone. These guys---" Lance started.

"Wanda can." Kitty cut in.

"What, Kitty?" Lance blinked.

"She told me the other day. Said something about it was the biggest waste of a month of her life... learning bass, that is. I dunno, she's not exactly my best friend, so I never bothered asking her about it again."

"You're serious? I wouldn't even know how to approach her about this. It's too weird." Lance shook his head. 'That, and she scares the begeezus out of me.'

Kurt raised a hand, "I can ask her if you like?" Giving a hint that he could possibly give them a little privacy.

"Go for it, fuzzy." Kitty encouraged. "We'll be here a while. Work on her. Take one for the team."

"When you say it that way, Katzchen, it makes me think I won't make it out alive." Kurt gulped.

"It IS Wanda. She's even more unpredictable than her powers, sometimes." Lance added, pointing out a small mistake in Kitty's fingering as she corrected and kept on playing.

Kurt sweatbeaded, "What could it hurt, huh? I'll give it a try." He waved and stepped out of the room as the two continued their lesson.

***