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 29

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The clock in the hotel lobby read "6:45PM" on the digital display. Young couples from Bayville High started to arrive and stand in line to turn in their tickets to the event. It wasn't long that Kitty and Lance joined the crowd by entering through the front doors.

"We don't have to wait in line, right?" Kitty looked to Lance, a little confused.

"Not at all. Let's just get away from the crowd and get in through the back where we met up with Wanda earlier." Lance pointed his thumb into that direction, carefully weaving through the crowd. His other hand held onto Kitty's carefully to keep her with him.

Kitty bumped into several people before finally making it to the break in the crowd. "I'm a clutz enough without a giant crowd of people to make me fall all over myself." She complained to Lance.

"You're no clutz." Lance smiled as he pulled her close to him. Kitty blushed at the proximity. "Here we go." He approached a security guard protecting the backstage area. "We're with one of the bands performing tonight."

The security guard looked at the boy speculitively. "You're kidding, right? You're the third couple to try and get in this entrance."

"You have a list, right? We're on that list. Lance Alvers and Katherine Pryde. I have my ID if you need it." Lance said calmly. "One of our bandmembers is already here, a girl named Wanda? Been here for a few hours."

Kitty nodded along with Lance, "That's right."

The guard still looked rather unimpressed, but looked over his list. With a sigh he nodded, "Right. Of course. Here you two are. Can I still see that ID, just in case? Rules are rules."

Lance fetched his wallet and showed his ID. Kitty reached down to her boot, pulling out her ID from a pocket and showed it to the guard. After the guard carefully checked both, he waved them in.

"You're keeping your ID in your shoe?" Lance looked at Kitty oddly.

"This outfit doesn't have pockets." She shrugged. Lance snatched the ID out of her hand and slipped it in his wallet. "Hey!"

"I don't want you to lose it. I'll give it back tonight, okay?" Lance smiled and slipped the wallet into his back pocket.

"You'd better." Kitty seemed annoyed.

"Oh, like I'd let you drive." Lance walked over to where their guitars were set up. He picked up his and quietly checked the tuning. It was fine.

"I've become a much better driver in the past year, thank you very much." Kitty crossed her arms.

Lance checked Kitty's guitar next and seemed satisified with the tuning results. "I know you have. Doesn't mean I'll let you touch my baby though."

Kitty rolled her eyes. "So, what happens now? We're here..."

"You're so impatient." Lance set down the guitar and stepped in front of Kitty. He pulled her close to him, "Still freaked?"

"YES! Seriously!" She leaned into him, putting her forehead against his shoulder. "I swear I'll have a heart attack or throw up or somethin' before the evening is over."

"No way. Not while I'm here." Lance gave her a gentle hug. "Let's find Wanda so we know when we should be back here, then we can sneak over to the booth to get our pictures done."

"You actually want to get pictures?" Kitty laughed.

"We look awesome! Do you want to waste the opportunity? You'll never see me dressed like this again."

"Until next years prom, I'm sure." Kitty commented.

"Ah... not thinking ahead here." Lance laughed nervously.

Kitty gave him a gentle shove. "You were gonna say something like 'I doubt you'd be dating me still.', huh?"

"Hey! You don't know that. Just a year from now is a bit hard to plan for. Who knows where either of us will be. You in the X-Men and me... well... yeah..." His voice trailed off.

She let out a sigh and hugged him again, "Right. Let's just not think about that, okay?"

"Of course. It's our night." He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss atop her head.

"Finally you two get here." Wanda approached Lance and Kitty. "I saw Kurt a little bit ago, I was getting a little worried. How're you holding up?" She said that more to Kitty than Lance.

"I'll manage. You guys are the professionals, I'm just here for the ride, right?" Kitty turned in Lance's arms to view Wanda. "I hope I won't disappoint you."

"Never a disappointment, Pryde. You're our voice. Don't sweat it." Wanda smiled.

"Easier said than done." Kitty took a deep breath. "When are we on?"

Wanda pulled out a paper. "Three sets. One at eight, another at nine, and a final one at ten. We already know the song order, just remember to be up here about... I'd say five minutes before each set? That should be good. Kurt already knows."

Lance nodded, "Thanks Wanda. You should do this for a living, you know. Booking bands and managing them. We'd be lost without you."

Wanda's eyes softened, "Sure Lance. Hey, you guys should get out there on the floor, dance, and just enjoy the night, okay? Kitty, just relax. Everything'll be fine. I promise."

"Yeah, okay Wanda." Kitty pulled away from the hug with Lance. She took his hand, "Let's get our photos done."

Lance nodded and half-smiled at Wanda as Kitty dragged him away. He could see Wanda mouth, 'It'll be all right' to him.

"Kitty... hey, Kitty... wait up..." Lance stumbled. "Where's the fire?"

"No fire, just... anxious." Kitty turned and touched Lance's arm, her hand rested on his forearm. "Are you?"

"About what?" Lance looked confused.

"It's... nevermind." She shook her head and pulled him over to the table to get set up for pictures. She started filling out the information. "I'll be fine."

"Uh... okay." Lance rested his hand carefully on the small of her back. "Which package are you going for?"

"Just the smallest one. We don't need that many pictures. It's just... y'know, for us..." Kitty smiled, "Something to remember it all by."

"There's going to be a lot of stuff to remember tonight." Lance commented.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kitty looked up at him.

"It's going to be a very long night. I didn't mean anything by it." He shook his head and leaned down, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Looks like we're up." He pointed over to the backdrop as the photographer called them over.

Kitty walked over with Lance. He stepped in close, putting a hand on her waist as directed to for the pose.

"Feeling a little better?" He asked as they snapped the photo.

"You know me... I'll be a lot better after we perform. In the meantime... we should break in these shoes, huh?" Kitty smiled weakly, trying to sound a bit more confident.

"You're talking about dancing, aren't you?"

"What? You've got some sort of cold feet now that we're here?" She grinned, happy to find him looking a little nervous now.

Lance shrugged, moving onto the dance floor with Kitty, "I'll manage."

***

"Oh my God." said Wanda as she approached Kurt and Amanda.

"What is it?" Kurt took a sip of punch.

"LOOK at them!" Wanda grumbled, "I swear... what's wrong with them?!"

Amanda looked over at Wanda, "Maybe they're just not comfortable?"

"What, with each other? Of course they are." Wanda seemed annoyed.

"Amanda means... in this situation. Neither of them look very comfortable in their clothes... so to speak. Kitty look like she's trying to impress someone without being terrified, and Lance... he just wants to make Kitty happy. They're not succeeding, are they?" Kurt observed.

"This is a mess." Wanda put a hand on her forehead.

"It's not up to you, Wanda." Kurt put a hand on her shoulder. "You've just got to let them be."

"I'm letting them be and they look confused and awkward." Wanda crossed her arms.

"They were doing fine before the band... and sometimes during it." Amanda reassured.

"Yeah, but... I don't know." Wanda sighed.

"You can't force people to have a good time." Kurt took another sip.

Wanda shook her head and turned away. "Right. Anyways, we're on in a half hour. I'm going to duck out for a few. I'll be back before showtime, okay?"

"Sure thing. See you in a bit." Kurt turned to Amanda, "So... up for a dance?"

"I thought you'd never asked."

***

The music from the main band echoed across the room. The dancefloor was packed with dancing couples. The song was medium speed. Nothing to slow dance to, but nothing to dance crazy with either. Most of the couples finally have arrived to the dance.

"So what're you thinking about?" Lance danced awkwardly with Kitty.

"Fifteen minutes."

"Fifteen minutes?" He asked.

"Until we perform. That's all I'm thinking about." Kitty looked into his eyes, "Are people looking at us?"

Lance looked around, then shrugged. He touched her cheek and asked, "I don't think so... is that a problem? I wouldn't be surprised. You're gorgeous."

"Flatterer." She rolled her eyes.

"If they're looking, it's because you look great, not because they think you're going to be on stage in a minute." Lance leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss. Kitty squirmed away after a moment. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"You don't need to kiss me to make me feel better."

"... you don't want me to kiss you?" Lance looked hurt. His hand still caressed her cheek, thumb moving across her skin.

"You know I do." She in a quick response. "It's also a wonderful distraction. Maybe too much of one." Kitty watched Lance's expression.

He smiled, "You keep thinking of tonight as a job, Pryde."

"It is a job. And like... my reputation at this school for the next year and a little bit of my life." Kitty commented.

"Does reputation mean that much to you?" Lance wondered. "If it's me, you shouldn't have said yes." He sounded put off.

"Whoa whoa whoa... " Kitty put her hand over his, "It's not always about you, silly." She sighed. "Forget it. I'm just saying everything wrong." She let go and pulled away. "I'm going to hit the bathroom, and then I'll meet you backstage okay?"

Lance looked stunned. His heart caught in his throat. "Sure Kitty. See you in a bit." He watched as she walked away. He looked down, 'Stupid... you're making things worse. She's not ashamed of you, she's scared of playing guitar. Why'd you let Wanda talk you into this!?' He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked toward the stage area. He leaned against the wall, watching as the main band played their song.

Kitty slipped into the bathroom. She took a deep breath and stood in front of the mirror, checking her makeup.

"Hey you." said a voice beside her.

"Oh, Amanda. Hello." Kitty looked startled. "How're you? Having a good night? Kurt's been good to you, right?"

"Perfect gentleman." Amanda turned away from the mirror and leaned against the counter. She looked at Kitty and asked, "So how about Lance?"

"Lance has been great." Kitty re-applied some lipgloss and said softly, "I'm the one being such a wet blanket."

"Why? What's wrong?" Amanda asked, honestly concerned.

"Nerves. And I feeling like I'm ruining a perfectly good night because of it all." She sighed, turning around and crossing her arms, "Not quite the magical night I expected."

"Who said anything about magic?" Amanda laughed, "You're not giving it a chance."

"A chance?" Kitty blinked.

"Looks to me like you're not even allowing yourself to have fun. And I bet Lance is blaming himself for it all." Amanda nudged, "You're on in less than ten minutes. Don't freak yourself out too much, okay? I gotta get a good seat. See you in a bit!" She headed out of the bathroom.

Kitty turned back around and looked into the mirror again. "Right. Try NOT to freak out. Good advice. Time to put on a brave face. It's showtime."

***