A Warm Welcome...

"Kitty, huh? I like it." I say with a grin. "So, do I need an application or something, like a letter of reference?"

"Or maybe you need a new gardener?" I say looking down at the ruined flowerbed. "Cause I don't mind staying out here if that's what you need."

Chuckling, Kitty glances around at the flowerbed. "Well, they will probably want you to fix that, but I don’t know when anyone will be back.” She says, frowning.

"I can let you come in though. You can just bunk on the couch until someone gets home."

"Okay.” I say, following her inside. Looking around as we enter, my eyes go wide as I take in the regal estate.

"Wow, this place is amazing!" I announce even as my voice drops and I turn downcast. "It probably costs a fortune. I'd never be able to afford it here."

Kitty leads us back into the room where she was working out. Switching off the video, she turns back to me and smiles softly.

"Who said anything about paying? It's the Professor’s place. Consider it a scholarship. He lets us all stay here. It'd be a pretty lousy safe-haven if we had to pay."

Continuing to look around at the fancy decor of the room, I finally turn back to the young girl in front of me. "So this whole place... is a school for mutants?"

Kitty nods. "That’s right. Everyone here is a mutant."

I give her a charming little smirk. "So then, I take it you're the resident ghost-girl?"

“The ghost girl? So you've heard of me?” Kitty asks hopefully.

I shake my head. "Nope, but seeing your foot coming through the wall definitely scared me as much as a ghost." I laugh.

Kitty laughs along with me. "Oh right. I guess it would. Maybe it will teach you to use the front door next time."

"Yeah. Well, my powers are not nearly as exciting as all that."

“Everyone’s powers can be exciting." Kitty says encouragingly. "Come on, what can you do?”

"Well, I...” I pause, looking up at her from the couch, my eyes wandering over her young dancer's physique. "It’s silly. You really don't wanna know."

“Aww... it can't be any sillier then Jubilee's. She shoots multicolored fireworks." Kitty says, encouraging me. "Come on, let me see."

"Fireworks at least look cool." I say standing up in front of her, looking down at her. I lift her chin with my finger, rubbing it slowly. "Mine doesn't really look like anything. I just make people... Well, certain people anyway. I make them… like me, I guess."

Kitty glances down at my finger as I touch her chin, a warm blush spreading over her cheeks. "What do you mean?" She asks, looking confused, not realizing the danger she's in.