AN: Again I'd like to thank my wonderful reviewers. Because you took the time to review, I reward you with another chapter.

Chapter 2: Just a Phase

Northbrook, Illinois

It was night time. Black clouds hung over the small town of Northbrook. A sure sign that a storm was brewing. But Katherine Pryde didn't care. She was flying. It was the most glorious feeling. Now she was passing over her house.

'Wonder if Mom and Dad can see me.' she thought.

Suddenly, she began to fall fast. Then she felt something hard underneath her. The young girl's eyes snapped open. Pulling herself to a sitting position, she looked around the room. Somehow, she'd ended up in her living room. She was about to get up and return to her bedroom when she happened to look up at the ceiling. Her eyes widened in horror. There, hanging halfway out of the ceiling, was her comforter. She just stared for a few more minutes, then she let out a terrified shriek. Moments later, her parents came rushing downstairs.

"Kitty? What's wrong?" her mother asked, her expression concerned.

"I-I fell through the ceiling!" Kitty cried.

"What are you talking about, honey?" her father asked.

Kitty just pointed to the ceiling. Both her parents looked to where she was pointing and their eyes went wide.

"Oh my God." Kitty's father said.

Xavier Institute

"Mutant signature detected." Came the cold voice of Cerebro. "Identification: Katherine Pryde. Current location: Northbrook, Illinois. Age: 14. Mutant abilities: corporeal intangibility. Can phase through solid matter."

Charles Xavier's eyes immediately popped open. Placing his hands on his temples, he sent a telepathic message to his students.

'I am sorry to wake you.' He sent. 'But Cerebro has detected another mutant signature. Report to the war room at once.'

A little more than half an hour later, the students were gathered in the war room along with Xavier, Ororo and Logan. The war room was basically the planning room. It was a large room with a rather simple decor. Several chairs were lined up against the back wall. On the opposite wall, a television screen was mounted. Displayed on it was the picture of Katherine Pryde. She was of average height for her age, but slender, making her look tiny. Her long, chestnut brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

"This is Katherine Pryde." Xavier was saying. "She lives in Northbrook, Illinois. It appears her mutant powers have developed quite recently. Jean, you and I will go to Northbrook. Bobby, I'd like you to come with us."

"Why me?" asked Bobby. "Not that I mind going on a recruitment mission."

"This girl is likely very frightened and confused." Xavier said. "She might feel better knowing there's someone her own age in a similar situation."

"What about the rest of us?" Scott asked.

"The rest of you can return to your rooms." Xavier replied. "This will be an easy mission."

Later.

"Kitty, are you sure it's a good idea to go to school?" her mother asked.

"I'm fine Mom." Kitty said quickly. "I gotta go."

"Wait." Her mother called out. "Give me a kiss before you leave."

Kitty turned around and put her arms around her mother kissing her on the cheek.

"Listen honey," her mother began, "If anything happens—"

"Mom, I'll be fine." Kitty said. "Now I really have to go. Miss Taylor will kill me if I'm late."

Grabbing her backpack, Kitty hurried out the door. Once outside, Kitty began the two-minute journey to the bus stop. After catching the bus, Kitty walked into Northbrook Secondary School, nervous as always. Ever since she'd started her freshman year, which had only been two weeks ago, it seemed she had a bull's eye painted on her back. She couldn't even walk through the halls without being insulted, tripped, or being shoved into lockers. She started to put her things in her locker when she heard someone laughing behind her. She recognized the laugh and turned coming face to face with two of her least favourite people, Riley Chase and Amy O'Neill. Riley was your typical high school cheerleading queen. Tall, curvy, light skin, long, curly blond hair, green eyes, and clad in the most expensive designer clothes. Slim blue jeans, high heels, and a pink tank top. Kitty guessed that if the school didn't have a dress code, she'd be wearing a lot less. Amy, Riley's tagalong, was slightly shorter with mid-length brown hair, brown eyes, light skin, and clad in khaki pants, high heels, and a blue T-shirt. The two girls were in their junior year and made it their mission to torment the freshmen. Or anyone else that didn't fit into their little clique.

"Didn't you hear, Pryde?" Riley sneered. "There's an algebra pop quiz today. So you need your textbook."

"Riley, do the world a favour and disappear." Kitty sighed. She really didn't need this. Especially not now.

"Is that the best you can come up with?" Amy laughed.

"Just leave me alone."

Kitty had just placed her now empty backpack in her locker when two pairs of hands seized her arms.

"Hey!" Kitty cried, as she was stuffed into her locker yet again.

Through the closed locker door, she could hear muffled laughter.

'Yeah, go ahead.' Kitty thought miserably. 'Laugh it up.'

Kitty began banging on the door trying to draw attention. But it was no use. Everyone had already gone to class. She needed to get out.

Suddenly, a strange falling sensation came over her and Kitty found herself outside her locker.

"Hey! Watch it!" someone hissed.

Kitty looked up to see Lance Alvers, the school punk. He was a tall, well-built young man of fifteen with short, thick brown hair clad in baggy black jeans and a grey T-shirt. He was trying to conceal a can of red spray paint but dropped it.

"Next time you try to walk through your locker, make sure there's no one on the other side."

"What?" Kitty asked, confused.

"You walked right through your locker." Lance replied.

"No I didn't!" Kitty cried.

"Nothing to be ashamed of." Lance said. "Watch this."

He gestured with his hands, and the earth moved. Kitty was horrified. She turned and started running. She stopped when she came to the side doors of the school. Checking her watch, Kitty almost cried. She was late for gym class and Miss Price wasn't exactly the most lenient teacher in the school. She pushed opened the doors and ran as fast as her legs could carry her to the outdoor track.

Professor Xavier waited patiently outside the Pryde residence. Before long, Mrs. Pryde opened the door.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Mrs. Pryde, my name is Professor Charles Xavier." Xavier said politely. "I run a school for gifted children. I'd like to speak to you about your daughter."

Mrs. Pryde's expression hardened.

"We already told your colleague we weren't interested." She said coldly.

"My colleague?" asked Xavier.

"Yes." Replied Mrs. Pryde. "A tall woman with brown hair. Markham or something like that."

"Darkholme?" said Xavier, not at all liking where this was heading.

"That's it." Said Mrs. Pryde.

"I can assure you Mrs. Pryde, she is not my colleague. Perhaps I better come in. There are some things that need to be explained."

"All right." Said Mrs. Pryde. She didn't know why, but she believed what this man was saying.

A short while later, Xavier was seated in the living room. By this time, Mr. Pryde had come downstairs.

"What's going on here?" he demanded. "Who are you?"

Xavier introduced himself once again and explained to Mr. Pryde that Darkholme wasn't his colleague.

"Then who was she?" asked Mr. Pryde.

"I'll explain that later. First, we need to discuss your daughter."

"Does this have anything to do with what happened last night?" wondered. Mr. Pryde.

"What did happen last night?" asked Xavier.

"Kitty fell through the ceiling." Answered Mrs. Pryde as she walked back into the living room.

Xavier thought for a moment.

"Do you know exactly how it happened?" he asked.

"One minute Kitty was asleep." Said Mrs. Pryde. "The next minute we found her in the living room. Her comforter was stuck halfway through the ceiling."

"It's still there." Mr. Pryde put in. "We can't get it out without cutting up the floor in Kitty's room."

Xavier looked up. Indeed, he could see a pink comforter stuck halfway through the ceiling. He could also see part of a pillow.

"So, who is this Darkholme woman?" asked Mr. Pryde.

Xavier sighed.

"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this." Said Xavier. "I don't know how she got that information." And he explained everything.

"Are you saying our daughter could be in danger?" asked Mrs. Pryde, her voice slightly higher than usual.

"If Mystique gets to her first, she may end up with the wrong kind of people." Xavier replied.

"She's at school." Said Mr. Pryde. "Should we go pick her up?"

"That won't be necessary." Said Xavier. "I've sent two of my students to her school."

On top of the school, Lance, along with his buddies Griff and Pete, were watching the outdoor gym class. Specifically, Lance was watching Kitty Pryde.

"So Lance," Griff, a short 15-year-old kid with red hair and freckles asked. "How's this girl supposed to help us?"

"Just trust me." Lance replied. "I got it covered."

He watched as Kitty tried out the long jump, and landed flat on her face. He watched as she picked herself up, looking like she wished a huge void would open and swallow her. He watched as the ultra bitch Riley said something that made her run off. Glaring daggers at the cheerleading queen, Lance gestured and the earth shook just as Riley was jumping, causing her to wipe out even worse.

"Oh yeah!" Pete, a 15-year-old boy with blond hair and blue eyes cheered. "That'll look real good in the yearbook."

"You actually snapped a picture of that?" asked Lance.

"Yup." Said Pete, holding up his camera.

"So Lance, when are we gonna recruit that Pryde girl?" Griff asked.

"I'll do the recruiting." Said Lance. "She won't go for it if she sees you."

"You like her, don't you?" Pete smirked.

"Shut up." Lance said. "It's not like that at all. Anyway, you'll get what you want tomorrow morning."

"We better." Said Griff. "We paid a lot of money for those."

"For what?"

The three punks turned to see a brown-haired boy dressed in blue jeans and a white T-shirt. The boy was actually Bobby Drake.

"None of your business!" Lance snapped.

"Is this about the test answers?" asked Bobby. "Because I got money. I can pay you right now."

"How much?" asked Pete.

Bobby dug into his jeans and pulled two ten dollar bills.

"Twenty bucks." Bobby answered.

"Forget it." Lance said. "These two paid me forty."

"Then I'll pay you fifty." Said Bobby. "Please man, I'm desperate! My parents are ultra strict. They'll kill me if I don't ace this test!"

"All right." Sighed Lance. "Get the money to me right after school."

"Thanks!" cried Bobby. "You just saved my life!"

With that, Bobby crawled to the edge and slowly began to climb down the side of the building. With a little help of course.

'Where are we going to come up with fifty bucks?' Jean sent telepathically.

'Relax, Jeannie.' Bobby sent back. 'I know what I'm doing.'

'My life officially sucks.' Kitty thought as she entered the empty auditorium.

She walked onto the stage feeling totally dejected. All she wanted to do now was be alone for a while. Then she'd go home and try to convince her parents to home school her or something. Anything to get out of this place.

"Hi."

Startled, Kitty looked up only to see a tall, beautiful redhead. The kind of girl that hung out with Riley and her cronies. Only Kitty had never seen this girl before. What was she doing here?

"I'm Jean Grey." The girl introduced. "I'm also a mutant. Like you."

"What?" Kitty asked.

"I know your confused," began Jean, "I was the same way when my powers emerged."

Powers? What were these powers she spoke of? As if Jean had read her mind, she answered.

"I'm a telekinetic. I can move objects with my mind."

To emphasize her point, one of the old theatre masks rose into the air.

"I'm also a telepath." Jean continued.

"Wait, a telepath?" Kitty asked. "That means you can like, read minds doesn't it?"

"Yes." Replied Jean. "But—"

"You were just in my head weren't you?" cried Kitty, standing up.

"No." said Jean. "I'd never—"

"Stay out of my head!" Kitty shouted.

She took off running toward the entrance only to run into Bobby.

"I suppose you're a mutant too?" Kitty said.

"Yeah." Replied Bobby. "I—"

"Don't tell me! I don't wanna know!"

Kitty ran past him and out of the auditorium.

"Well, that went well." Bobby said.

Jean sighed.

"She's scared Bobby. I really hope Mystique doesn't get to her first."

Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to shake.

"Didn't know they got earthquakes in Illinois." Said Bobby.

Before Jean could answer, a very angry Lance stepped out from behind a row of seats.

"Both of you back off her!" he growled. "She's been picked on enough today."

"We weren't—" Bobby started to say, only to be tackled to the ground by Lance.

"Stay, away." Lance growled. "Got it?"

With that, Lance hurried off after Kitty. Bobby sat up.

"Now what do we do?" he asked.

"We contact the Professor." Replied Jean.

Kitty was leaning against a locker, crying. This had to be the absolute worst day of her life. Why hadn't she just listened to her mother and stayed home? Kitty was suddenly filled with anger.

"I hate her!" she cried. "I hate her!"

She punched the locker hard.

"Hey, what'd my locker ever do to you?"

She turned at the sound of the voice. It was Lance Alvers.

"Go away." Kitty said.

"Listen," Lance began, "I totally understand how you feel."

"Whatever." Kitty said.

"No, I do." Lance said. "When I first found out I could do stuff, I was pretty freaked out too."

"How old were you?" Kitty asked, suddenly curious.

"Thirteen." Lance replied.

"What did your parents do?" asked Kitty.

"Foster parents actually." Lance answered. "They thought it was an earthquake. We all had to crawl under the kitchen table."

"So, they didn't know it was really you?" Kitty wondered.

"Nope." Lance said. "And I never told them."

It wasn't long before the two began to have a full-blown conversation. Kitty was beginning to feel a little bit better. Eventually, students started filing out from classrooms.

"I have to go." Kitty said. "I got math next."

"Want me to go with you?" Lance asked. "I mean, Riley might try something after that, um, little incident in gym class."

"What little incident?" Kitty asked.

"I'll tell you later." Said Lance. "Hey, I was going to ask you this earlier. But I really need some help studying for a math test. Do you think you could spare an hour or so after school?"

"Sure." Kitty replied. "What time?"

"Right after school." Said Lance.

"Okay." Said Kitty. "I'll meet you here."

"Thanks." Said Lance.

Later.

Bobby casually leaned against an empty locker watching as students gathered their things and headed out of the school. He'd been asked to stay and keep an eye on Kitty. Apparently, she'd called her parents to tell them she was tutoring someone after school. The Professor promised he would be there shortly. Bobby sighed. This was getting boring. What he wouldn't give for a little action right now. Little did he know, it was right around the corner.

"Okay Lance." Kitty said. "Ready?"

"Yup." Lance said.

He looked around one last time to make sure everyone had left. He really needed this plan to work. Once he was sure they were alone, he headed off in the direction of his math class.

"Hey, the library's the other way." Kitty called out, hurrying after him.

"I know." Said Lance. "But I forgot something in Mrs. Kimball's office."

"Mrs. Kimball probably left already." Kitty said. "Her office might be locked."

"That's what I have you for." Lance said smiling.

They soon arrived at the office. Lance tried the door. Just as he'd hoped. It was locked.

"Hey Kitty, you wouldn't mind, you know, doing the thing you did with your locker?" Lance asked.

"I'll try." She said.

Grabbing hold of Lance's arm, she walked right through the door.

"Whoa." Lance said.

"Okay. Get whatever you forgot." Kitty said. "I feel bad being here when I'm not supposed to."

"Just a minute." Lance said, sitting down at the computer. "Hey Kitty, you're good with computers right?"

"Why?" Kitty asked.

"I need to get into the teacher's directory." Lance said.

"What for?" Kitty asked, not at all liking where this was going.

"Promise you won't say anything?" said Lance.

"Okay." Said Kitty.

"Well, it's like this. You see, I promised a couple of buddies of mine I'd give them the answers to the math test."

"I can't believe you!" shouted Kitty. "All this time, you were just using me?"

"No!" exclaimed Lance. "That's not—"

SMACK!

Kitty slapped Lance hard across the face. Hard enough to leave a red mark on his cheek. He'd used her, that jerk! He'd used her!

"Okay, I deserved that." Said Lance. "But I really need your help on this Kitty."

"Forget it!" Kitty shouted. "I am not doing your dirty work for you!"

"Fine!" Lance shouted. "Have it your way! I'll take care of this myself!"

Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Only this time it didn't stop.

"Uh-oh." Lance said.

"What?" said Kitty.

"I can't stop it."

Kitty's eyes widened in horror as the tremors became more violent. Grabbing hold of Lance, she phased them both through the wall and back into the hallway.

"Kitty?"

"Mom, Dad, get out of here!" Kitty cried.

Suddenly, a large piece of the ceiling fell toward her father. Without thinking, Kitty grabbed his hand and phased him out of the building where Professor Xavier and his students were waiting.

"Watch him for me." Kitty said. "I have to get Mom."

She phased back inside the building and grabbed her mother who, thankfully, hadn't been harmed. She also grabbed Lance. Lance may have been a total jerk, but even he didn't deserve to die. Once again, Kitty phased back outside.

"I suggest we return to your house." Said Professor Xavier.

"Good idea." Said Bobby. "Because I'm hearing sirens already."

Later.

"Are you sure about this, Kitty?" asked Mrs. Pryde.

"I'm sure." Replied Kitty.

She had decided to go live at the Xavier Institute for a while. Just until she had a better handle on her powers. Her suitcases had already been packed and were sitting at the door.

"Good luck, sweetheart." Said Mr. Pryde coming over to give his daughter a hug.

"Write us every day." Said Mrs. Pryde. "And if you need to come home—"

"I know." Said Kitty. "I'll be fine. Bye Mom, bye Dad. I love you."

"We love you too." said Mr. Pryde. "Take care of yourself."

Kitty gave her parents one last hug and with Jean's help, gathered her suitcases and left. Mrs. Pryde turned to her husband, tears beginning to well up in her eyes.

"Oh God Carmen." She said, her voice shaky. "She's never been away from home before."

Mr. Pryde put an arm around his wife's shoulders.

"She'll be fine, Terri. Kitty's tough."

Lance found himself aimlessly wandering through the neighbourhood, unsure of what to do next. He didn't feel like returning to his foster home. They'd chew him out for coming home late. And he really wasn't in the mood for a lecture.

"Lance Alvers."

Lance quickly turned at the sound of the voice. What he saw standing in front of him made his breath catch in his throat. The woman standing in front of him looked like something pulled right out of a comic book. She had dark blue skin, blood red hair, and glowing yellow eyes.

"What, are you?" Lance asked.

"You may call me Mystique." The woman replied. "And like yourself, I too have special gifts."

With those words, the woman's form seemed to melt and before he knew it, Lance was staring at himself.

"Whoa." Lance said. "How'd you—"

"I'm a mutant Lance." Mystique said, shifting back into her usual form. "I possess a gene that gives me the ability to shape shift. Just as you possess a gene that gives you the ability to manipulate the earth. You are very powerful Lance, and you're powers will serve our cause well."

"What cause?" asked Lance.

"Imagine that ordinary human beings found out about us. What do you think they would do?"

Lance thought for a moment.

"They'd probably lock us up in a lab and dissect us or something." Lance replied.

"Indeed." Said Mystique. "However, we plan to prevent that from happening."

"We?" Lance asked.

"I'm a part of an organization called the Brotherhood of Mutants." Said Mystique. "I've come to offer you a place in this organization."

"Why not?" said Lance. "Not like I have anywhere else to go."

"I'd hoped you say that." Said Mystique. "Welcome to the Brotherhood, young Avalanche."

"Avalanche?"

"Your code name."

Lance smiled.

"I like it."

"Wow! This place is huge!" Kitty exclaimed as she entered the Xavier mansion. "How many people live here?"

"Six." Replied Jean.

"When will I get to meet everyone else?" Kitty asked.

BAMF! Kurt ported right in front of Kitty causing her to jump back. Kitty's eyes widened as she took in Kurt's appearance. Then she screamed and fell right through the wall. Kurt looked dejected.

"I should have known this would happen." He said sadly.

"It's okay Kurt." Jean assured him. "It was just a reaction. She just needs to get use to it, that's all."

But this didn't make Kurt feel any better and he ported up to his room.

Later, Kitty had finally finished unpacking. She now sat on her balcony taking in the view of the grounds. It was beautiful. She still couldn't believe the size of this place. And everyone was so nice. Well, except for that Logan character. He kind of scared her. Suddenly, Kitty felt guilty. She hadn't been all that nice to Kurt. She'd screamed and run away before he even got a chance to introduce himself. She decided to go apologize to him.

Kurt had just gotten under the covers when he'd heard a tap on his door.

"Come in." he called.

Kitty phased her head through the door.

"Kurt?" she asked.

"Yes?" Kurt replied.

"I'm sorry." Kitty said. "You know, for the way I acted."

"That's okay." Said Kurt. "I'm used to it."

"But it was wrong." Said Kitty. "I shouldn't have acted that way. Do you think we can start over again?"

"Of course." Kurt said.

He ported over to Kitty, who had phased the rest of the way through the door. He extended a three-fingered hand.

"Hi, I'm Kurt Wagner." He said.

"Kitty Pryde." Said Kitty shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Hey guys, can you take that somewhere else?" came Bobby's sleepy voice. "Some of us are trying to sleep here."

Kurt and Kitty looked at each other. Then burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Bobby asked.

But they only laughed harder. Bobby sighed. He'd never understand some people.

Next, the X-Men go down south to recruit a mutant with some rather dangerous powers. However, they aren't the only ones. How far will Mystique go to get this young mutant on her side? See it all in Southern Hospitality, coming to your computer soon. And click that little button marked review. It would make me very happy.