Disclaimer: Don't own X-Men Evolution

Insights

I sighed as I snuck off the campus of my boarding school; I despised this place and wanted more than anything to go home. For the past four years, I, Kathryn Xavier, have been shipped off to this school where I can study not only my academics but also train with elite gymnastics coaches to follow my dream of Olympic gold, or what I thought was my dream. Now my only dream is to see my father in the stands, but I've learned to swallow my disappointment because apparently he has no time for me anymore.

I get to the mall early knowing fully well I was supposed to be in my last class five minutes ago and purchase a ticket for some random superhero movie and start to sit in the theater I'm supposed to be in. I'm not surprised that I'm the only one in the room. I wait a few minutes then slip out unseen as if I was just going to the ladies room, then I make my move. I run to another door and sneak inside, it's the latest R-Rated horror flick that everyone in school has been talking about. I know I shouldn't, but I have to see what the fuss is about and these girls my "Friends" invited me, how could I possibly refuse when I have practically no friends.

It takes me mere minutes to realize that I have been tricked, the girls aren't coming, they did this so I would get in trouble. I shrug and remain in my seat to watch the film. Maybe if dad gets a phone call that I skipped school I'll get his attention.

The movie is terrifying, just as promised, and after a particularly violent jump-scare I realize something even more terrifying has taken place. I look around and notice that nobody is moving, as if real life had been paused. I scream loudly and rush out of the theater, tears streaming down my cheeks as I run through the sparsely populated hallways of the mall until I get to the lady's room. I lock the exterior door to the bathroom and rush into the handicapped stall, locking that door behind me as well. I sit on the floor in the far corner of the room shaking and crying, praying that maybe Cerebro picked that up and dad would finally come for me. Finally I would get his attention again and be heard when I say I want to return to the mansion where I was born and raised

I'm there for what feels like an entire day when I finally hear a voice from inside the bathroom.

"Hey… like… you don't need to be afraid, we're here to help you." The girl says in a fairly thick valley girl accent.

"How… how did you get in here?" I ask fully aware of the fact that I had locked the exterior door on my way in.

"It's my power, I can, like, walk through walls." She replied and I vaguely remember Scott or Rogue mentioning there being a student among them that had that ability, but I can't remember her name.

"Why don't you come on out and talk with us… we can like so totally help you out."

I sniffle and wipe my eyes before coming out of the stall to see an older girl standing there, her brown hair pulled back in a high ponytail.

"Come on, like, it's okay." She said in a tone that was meant to be encouraging "I'm Kitty, what's your name?"

"Kathryn but my… my friends call me Kathy." I reply not looking her in the eye.

I feel her, Kitty she called herself, put a hand on my shoulder as she opened the bathroom door so we can both exit. I am almost scared to hope my father came to get me as he did every other young mutant to date that I am aware of and my heart stops when my eyes land on the back of his wheelchair, he came. He turned around and I feel a fresh wave of tears crash down on me as I look into his eyes.

Kitty is in the middle of introducing him when I cannot hold it back any longer.

"Daddy…" I sob and run to him, and he hugs me tightly as I cry.

"It's okay my child, what happened?" dad asked as I begin to calm down.

"I don't know I was watching the movie when… when a jump scare happened and suddenly I noticed I was the only one moving." I reply.

"So that's what happened," the other man said. "I was wondering why the movie ended that way."

I don't know why but after that the man put his hands up and said "Okay… sorry." I think it had something to do with the look on my father's face but from where I was in his arms I couldn't see it.

"I'm sorry" I mutter hiding my face in my father's shoulder "I got scared."

I gave the man a watery smile as he spun some kind of tall tale to hid the fact that what we had collectively been watching was a n R-Rated movie. It had taken me a few minutes, but I soon realized I had seen him in the theater before. My dad turned his attention back to me with questions.

"Has this happened before?" he asked as he rubbed my hair in a soothing way.

"No… this is the first time." It wasn't really a lie; I had never froze a room full of people before, but it wasn't the full truth either. I had several moments of being completely overwhelmed with the thoughts of my fellow students in my mind. I had also found myself occasionally bombarded with emotions that weren't my own, but I could never ferret out their origins.

"Dad… can I go home… to the mansion?" I asked, not recognizing my own voice.

"Of course you can if that is what you wish. All you had to do was call and ask and I would have come and gotten you." He replied clutching me gently "Given the circumstances I think that would be for the best you come home."

"Yes, dad… I want to go home." I pleaded wiping my eyes and nose with my hand.

I look up to see Scott holding out some paper towels to clean myself up with and I thank him but as I stand I pretty much tune out the rest of the conversation except to pick up that the man's name is Eli and that apparently he and my father have known each other for a very long time.

I go with them to the vehicle they had taken to get from the X-Jet to the mall, not taking my hand off the back of dad's wheelchair. It's a habit I picked up from an early age that I was to keep a hand on his chair in order for him to know where I was at all times. He had told me in the past since I was in my teens the habit was unnecessary, but some part of my subconscious holds onto it so not only does he know where I am; I know where he is and that he is safe. The therapist told him it was likely due to some form of separation anxiety left behind by almost losing both of my parents within a span of two years at such a tender age.

We get my things packed and get into the jet to go back home to the institute. Scott is behind the controls with dad as his co-pilot, but dad isn't really doing much since Scott is such a pro at piloting this thing.

I guess I fall asleep because the next thing I know Scott is waking me up telling me we are back at the institute, and we need to disembark. I grab some of my luggage and am surprised on the way out by my cousin Jawn who is far too excited. I look ahead of us to see Rogue and a boy I don't recognize standing there watching with obvious curiosity and I realize how few people I know here now. The school has grown and its time for me to join as one of the many mutants within its walls. Things are changing and I can only pray that dad remembers that I'm not just a student I'm his child.