AN: Hi howdy hey, neighbor! Here we go again! Wow, I'm actually updating within a week! Aren't you so proud? .

Thanks, reviewers!

Rogue14: Too depressing, is it? Sworry. Has to be, this is angst, after all.

Toxic-Beetle: Thanks! Will she die, will she live...will she dye her hair black and join a cult...WHO KNOWS! ; )

Whew. I need more caffeene. Or less.

Or a dictonary, cuz I no shpell Englishe well-ly.

Disclaimer:Maturity is the capacity to endure uncertainty. - John Finley

Chapter 7

Lance tried to pay attention to the teacher as she rambled on.

Despite the facade he presented, he wasn't unwilling to learn. In fact, he found some of his classes mildly interesting, although he never let anyone know it. Especially the teachers. He made trouble for them whenever he could, and acted indifferent the rest of the time.In some part of him, he knew it was just a show, designed to protect his real feelings. But today, his mind was simply elsewhere.

'Okay, she was ignoring me…I can deal with that…but, not show up for school? She's really overdoing this whole thing. What a drama queen. I'm glad we broke up. I mean, I can do way better. Like…Jackie.'

He glanced at the curly-haired bombshell to his left.

She was absent-mindedly playing with her hair, twirling and tugging.

'She's…cute.'

He tried to get his heart to react, the way it did when Kitty walked in the room. But thestubborn organ sat where it should, not missing a beat…or adding one. He sighed. Getting over Kitty wouldn't be so easy.

He considered just forgetting the whole thing, but after three days of Kitty being a no-show at school, he was worried. He knew she could be a drama queen, but it wasn't like that old bald weirdo to let a student off the hook so easy, even if there was only a week or so left until graduation. Maybe she was visiting her family. Probably telling them all about her stupid ex-boyfriend. He huffed.

'That would be just like her, too.' He thought, bitterly.

But…maybe she was sick, or had broken something.

'It's not like I can just go up to one of the X-geeks and ask for a news flash…' He thought.

Noticing Scott, however, standing by his locker, he put on a smirk. Even if he couldn't get any useful info on Kitty out of Summers, he never passed up a chance to rattle his cage.

"Summers!" Lance called. Scott turned and rolled his eyes beneath his glasses.

He didn't want to deal with this loser, especially not now. Soon he would be late for the briefing about cancer options for Kitty. He hated being late. For anything.

"What do you want, Alvers?" He spat out the word, Alvers, like it was a bad one.

"Haven't seen Kitty-cat around lately. What's the matter? Went on a 'mission' and forgot to take a head count before you went home?"

Scott just glared. "Why are you wasting my time, loser?"

"Hey." Lance said, pulling closer. "Don't cross the line, or you'll find yourself under a pile of rubble. When's Kitty coming back? Or is she going to miss graduation just because she's avoiding me?"

Scott also pulled closer, until they were almost nose to nose. "Surprise, surprise, Alvers. Not everything is about you. Especially when it comes to Kitty."

"Yeah? And you are, I suppose? Just answer my question, dip wad."

Scott turned to leave, struggling to keep his cool. "She's not coming back to school, Alvers. Just forget about her. It'll be best for everyone, especially her." With that, he was gone.

Lance pondered his words. He certainly didn't expect that kind of an answer. Now he really was worried. Did she really go back home? He had figured she would stick at the mansion after high school, and he'd have a chance to…

to do what?

He wasn't sure.