AN~ thanks to those who reviewed!

I can remember the very first time I cried

How I wiped my eyes and buried the pain inside

All of my memories - good and bad - that's past

Didn't even take the time to realize

~"Lonely Girl"- P!nk

Styxx

"GET UP!" I felt my shoulder being shaken. Hard. "COME ON! IT'S CHRISTMAS!" suddenly I had the brief sensation of falling, and then I was face down on the hardwood floor on my and Nyx's room. I groaned and sat up.

The week of Christmas break before Christmas had gone by so fast. I don't know how I got all of my presents bought in time. Because over half of the students here go home for the holiday, we gave our presents to them the day before, but now it's time to open presents to the people who stayed. I stood, stretched, and put on a pair of sweat pants then made my way down to the living room with Nyx.

The room was filled wit a twelve foot Christmas tree decorated to the trunk with multi-colored lights and ornaments. There was a pile of gifts in brightly colored wrapping around the base of the tree. I noticed that Nyx and I were the last to get down here.

"Now we can start!" Jubilee said excitedly. I gave a tired smile, I stayed up way too late last night.

Storm handed one present each to everyone from her. I took the wrapping paper off mine. It was a mint plant. Cool- I always liked mint. I looked around at the students, they had each gotten a plant of some sort. No doubt all of them were grown in Ororo's greenhouse.

"Thanks, Ororo." I said, looking up at Storm from my spot on the floor.

Presents went around until the pile under the tree was no more. I got a new guitar pick and the first printed copy of my song from Thos, from Nyx I got a sketch pad, Wolverine gave me a pocket knife, Professor- a new book I wanted, Rogue got me a set of colored pencils, and Ray's present was a photo album.

It was full of pictures of good times at the mansion. There was a picture of me and Nyx posing in front of the fountain; one of me, Nyx and Thos in front of the Christmas tree; one of all the X-men crowded onto the front steps; and the last picture in the album was one Ray had drawn himself.

It was one of him and me, walking down the street holding hands. Snow was blowing around us. I had on my tan duster, scarf, and barre, my blonde hair billowing out behind me like a ribbon. Ray had on his usual black coat and jeans, his head was tilted so I could see half his face. He was smiling and looking at me. Scrawled on the bottom in his messy half-print-half-cursive handwriting was a message: 'I'll always remember the good times.'

I slammed the book closed. Enough. Just- enough. I said goodbye to everyone and swiftly made my way to the grand staircase. I was half way up when he spoke.

"Styxx, wait." I spun on my heel, tears leaking from my eyes, and glared.

"What? What do you want from me!" I whisper-yelled. He looked taken aback. Like he hadn't expected me to ask the question.

"I want- I . . ." I didn't wait. I marched up the steps and into my room. I stripped of my sweats and pulled on a tank-tom and a pair of basket-ball shorts. I exited my room and walked down to the danger room. I programed simple boxing equipment and them got to work.

I slipped on my gloves and stepped into the ring. An animated boxer, a head taller and at least twenty pounds heavier, was in the adjacent corner. Heavy metal music was blaring. No lyrics, just steel string guitar with a heavy bass line. The drummed sounded like a thunderstorm on steroids, and then the whistle sounded.

I slipped a mouth guard into my mouth as I advanced to the center of the ring, touched gloves with the hologram, then got into position. I pulled my gloves close to my face and went on defense. I waited until I figured out his fault, he had a bad left. Whenever he punches with it it's uncoordinated and he doesn't use it much.

I slipped into offense. I threw punches at his left, ducking every so often when he'd send a hay maker my way with his right, but soon I had the advantage. His left got tired, couldn't take all the hits. His defense was weak. I sent the final blow, an uppercut, and he was down. I raised my gloves, I had won.

There was clapping from behind me, I spun around, gloves up. Ray was there, applauding my performance. I was shocked, my eyes widened, my arms dropped, and I took a step back. He stopped clapping and pulled on a pair off gloves himself.

"Mind if we have a round or two?" He asked.

"No." I said. I didn't mind- in fact, I invited the opportunity. I was still frustrated with him. He stepped into the ring, gloves raised. For the first time in awhile, I noticed the music was still going. I went to my corner and took a drink of the water bottle sitting by my chair. The whistle sounded and Ray slipped a mouth guard into his mouth- I did the same. I went to the center of the ring. Ray and I touched gloves, and then the fight was on.

Almost instantly I was bobbing from a jab, and then slipping from a right hook. Ray didn't let up though, and soon a was only blocking. I kept a watchful eye for his fault. After what felt like forever, I found it. It was his defense, and his footwork. I ducked a jab and sent a punch to his ribs.

Now I was on offense. I sent a right hook and he barely got his block up in time. Then I waited. I hadn't been fast enough. Ray went back to offense, and I went back to blocking and ducking. I found another opening, the same one as last time. When he sent a jab I ducked and hit his ribs. This time I sent and uppercut his way. He wasn't fast enough and I hit him in the jaw.

He fell back to the ground and lay there for a second. Before he was deemed the looser he jumped to his feet. I got back into defense, and he sent a strong hay maker my way. I easily blocked and sent a jab at his ribs. This repeated several times before Ray's actual plan happened. I had just delivered the jab when his left hand hit the side of my face.

It shocked me, and hurt, as my head was whipped to the side. I didn't let it surprise me long, though. I sent a right hook his way and he blocked. Now I was mad, and now I was determined to win. I sent a lot of jabs at his arms and side, never getting past his blocking. Seeing as how this was going nowhere, I slipped back into defense.

Ray wasted no time in hitting me with jab after jab. I found my opening again and took it. I hit his side and then uppercut him. He fell back like before, but this time he stayed down. He was breathing hard and drenched in sweat. This was the first time I noticed that I was in the same condition. I stumbled over to my chair and drained my water bottle.

"Wh- where did you- learn to- fight?" he rasped between breaths.

"'Stacy's Gym'. You?"

"'Tony's'." he replied. Ray stood and walked to his corner, drinking from his own water bottle. "We should do this again sometime."

"Yeah, we should." I smiled at the thought- I could beat up Ray, no charge. Sounds like fun.

As the adrenaline drained from my veins as I walked into the girls locker room, I noticed I was more banged up than I thought. The side of my face Ray punched was hurting badly, my arms were covered in newly formed busies, and my shoulders felt like they were on fire.

Ahh, the pain that comes with the thrill of combat. I though to myself.

AN~ sort, I know, but be happy! I updated!