Author's Note: Here's the long-awaited (?) update. Hope you like it.
I could have stood by that locker trying to figure out what had been going on with Lance for days, but it was my first day at a new school and I had to start upholding my perfect Kitty appearance for the Xavier Institute. I quickly fumbled with the lock, using the combination I found within my paperwork. Being nervous, in a rush, and somewhat preoccupied, it took me a bit longer than it should have. When I did finally open the locker, though, I hastily grabbed a few textbooks and slammed it back shut before racing down the halls. I tore through the hallways carefully avoiding colliding with anyone while also sneaking glances at the map and class schedule Jean had provided me with. I somehow managed to slip into my first class, English, just before the bell rang.
As the teacher began the class, I opened up my textbook, quickly flipping through the pages to catch up like the rest of the class. A slip of paper slipped out and I snatched at it, thinking it was a loose page from the book. Realizing it was a folded piece of notebook paper, I quickly unfolded it to find a note for me scrawled o the inside.
Kitten-
Sorry for the weirdness. I'll explain later. We share Chemistry.
-Lance
For the rest of the class, I couldn't focus. Weirdness? Explain? Chemistry? What did any of it mean? Was he saying that his behavior at my locker was weird and he'd explain? Or maybe he meant his behavior back in Northbrook, with him freaking out about coming to the Institute, was weird and that's what he'd explain? There was so much weirdness and so much that needed explaining. That was enough to keep me preoccupied and then he had to add that last line. He kept making me furious one second and then swooping in the next, leaving me confused and frustrated.
I went through several more classes before it was finally time for lunch. I flitted around the tables nervously with my lunch tray when suddenly I saw an arm wave. It was Kurt. He was sitting at a table with Scott and was waving at me to come join them.
"Hey Keety! How is your day going?" Kurt asked as I slid in next to him.
"Okay, I guess," I forced a smile.
"It'll get easier," Scott nodded. "And you've got us."
"Speaking of which, where's Jean?" I asked, looking around the courtyard.
"I haven't seen her either," Kurt added.
"Sometimes Jean eats lunch with her team," Scott motioned over to a table filled with girls. Jean was sitting in between them all and busy chatting, but she looked up just as we all looked over and gave a smile.
"So, um, Scott?" I looked over the table to find him still staring at Jean. "Who do you hang out with?"
"Well, uh, you guys," Scott shrugged. "My condition makes it kind of hard for me to make friends outside of the Institute. Too many questions and all."
"Oh," I bit my lip wondering whether to agree or to apologize or just change the subject.
"Do vee have a new student at the institute?" Kurt interrupted before I could put my foot in my mouth.
"No. Why?" Scott frowned.
"Ven who is dat?" Kurt pointed across the courtyard to a kid who was crouched down. Just as I was about to ask Kurt why he thought that kid was supposed to be at the Institute, the boy I tjumped up and landed in the same crouch position on a branch in the tree. It was jump too high for a normal person to make and especially in the weird bow-legged crouch stance he kept. The more I looked at him the more odd things I noticed, like his skin was a slightly green color or that he lashed out his oddly lengthy tongue at the flies that buzzed around him.
"That's Todd," Scott informed us. "As you can probably tell, he's kind of frog-like, which is why he also goes by the name Toad. He's not with the institute, but he's definitely a mutant. He lives at this boarding house for orphans or something down the road."
"And who is dat vith him?" Kurt nodded in the same direction. I watched Scott turn his head and his frown deepened as he shook his head. I then turned to find Lance standing under the very tree that Todd was perched in, calling up to him. I took a sharp intake of breath in at the sight of him.
"Not sure. Maybe another mutant or maybe just another orphan," Scott offered.
"He looks normal," Kurt added.
"That doesn't mean he's not a mutant necessarily," Scott countered.
"Vat do you think, Keety?" Kurt placed his hand on my shoulder and I jumped out of my seat.
"Kitty?" Scott asked. "Are you okay?"
"Um, I just remembered that I, um... I gotta go," I quickly grabbed my bag and my lunch tray and sprinted towards the school. I couldn't seem to catch my breath at the table, and I wasn't ready to explain to Scott and Kurt about Lance. The only thing I could think to do was bolt. I heard them calling out to me, but ignored it as I added my lunch tray to the pile of dirty ones and made my way to my locker. For some reason I thought that Lance might follow me, but he never showed up. I stood around my locker, fiddling with the books while I waited for him to show. When the lunch bell rang some ten minutes later, I slammed the door shut and headed to my next class.
Of course, when I walked in, there was Lance, sitting at a table with an empty stool next to him. He kicked the stool out towards me as I came near and I cautiously took the seat.
"Hello, everyone. Today we have some new students, so welcome Lance Alvers and Katherine Pryde to our Chemistry class, please. Lance? Katherine?" the teacher called. I suddenly figured out what the last line of his note meant and glanced over at him to see a smirk planted on his face.
"Here," Lance held up his hand lazily.
"Oh, good. Well there's Mr. Alvers. Where is Miss Pryde?" the teacher began scanning the room.
"Kitty," I choked out as Lance's eyes settled on me.
"I'm sorry. Did you say, Kitten?" the teacher furrowed his brow with confusion as the entire class turned in my direction. I heard Lance chuckle next to me as my face reddened at the attention.
"I prefer to be called Kitty," I stated as clearly as I could manage at the time being.
"Ok, Kitty. I'll make a note of that," the teacher smiled politely. "Great. Then let's proceed with the rest of the roll call and then start class, shall we?" the teacher smiled wide and then began to call out names. I zoned out, scrambling for my backpack to find the note. I knew I should be paying attention and ignoring Lance, but I couldn't help but be curious about the cryptic message he had left me. I managed to pull it out and quickly scribbled across it.
What are you doing here?
I passed the note across to Lance and watched him raise an eyebrow at me. He glanced over in the teacher's direction and then reached over to steal my pen before huddling over the note. When he was done writing, he shoved the pen and paper in my direction. I scanned the page to find a one word answer written neatly under my question.
Chemistry.
I looked over and made sure to wait until he was watching to roll my eyes at him. Then I went back to wrote him another note.
In Bayville?
I passed the note back and watched him frown as he read it. He quickly replied and shoved the note back at me.
Long story. Can't talk now. Later?
I looked at him and he pointed to the teacher. I quickly responded and handed the note back.
Like you care what the teacher thinks.
He chuckled slightly under his breath upon reading it and glanced at the teacher, who was now done with roll call and on to discussing the reading that had been assigned last time, before writing a note back.
No. But you do.
I read it and sighed, remembering how easily he had pegged me. So he not only remembered my thing about being the perfect Kitty, but he was teasing me about it like he had back in Northbrook. I quickly wrote him another note and carefully slipped it towards him, keeping an eye to make sure the teacher was too busy writing on the chalkboard.
Ok. When?
It didn't take long for another note to be sent my way.
I'll find you, Kitten.
I groaned quietly before sending him my response.
KITTY!
He smiled and slipped his hand under the table to grasp mine. I started to pull away, but it did feel nice, so I let my hand rest in his. I kept risking a look over at him to see if his expression changed or to see if he would suddenly turn and explain it all, but he kept his gaze straight forward with a bored expression on his face. When the bell rang, I jumped a little and Lance chuckled before giving my hand a squeeze and dropping it. He stomped out of the classroom like he couldn't wait to get away as I slowly gathered my books together and wondered what on earth was going on.