Chapter One

Midnight Newcomer

No one in the mansion except for Rogue and that insomniac kid were still awake, but all the insomniac kid did was watch TV, so Rogue had no company but her own. This was okay though, she had gotten used to being by herself. Her relationship with Bobby didn't last long after Alkali Lake and Rogue knew why. Ever since he met her he had been trying to find ways around her mutation, ways to touch her to be close to her, but when he finally did touch her, when he kissed her at his house she had felt what he felt the moment her mutation kicked in. The first kiss his emotions were full of excitement and he felt victorious in being able to kiss her. His exact thoughts during that first kiss were, this is so worth it.

Rogue would have never have tried to give him another kiss after that if he hadn't been thinking that, but he did think it, and it made her heart beat so much faster and without even thinking she kissed him again but this time with more passion. She absorbed more of him that time and she felt what he felt when her powers came on to him even stronger she heard his fearful thoughts, let go, let go, I can't take this. So she pulled away.

Things had changed between them since then. It wasn't Bobby's fault, not completely. He did still try, he really did. Bobby was a nice guy and he was the first to welcome her at the mansion, breaking the ice between her and the rest of the students. Even after she had absorbed Logan and freaked out the entire school he still wanted to be friends with her, and then wanted to become more. Bobby was a truly nice guy and it broke Rogue's heart to push him away, but he deserved more, and in her heart she knew he only stayed with her after that kiss out of loyalty and because he didn't want to hurt her, so she dumped him.

He still tried to be her friend after the break up. He would talk to her in class and invite her to group outings, but Rogue always refused. She hated the awkwardness of it and made a point of avoiding him, and in avoiding him she soon lost all social contact. Bobby was Rogue's only reason Rogue ever hung out with her fellow classmates. She had never been a social person in the first place anyway, and after dumping Bobby she avoided him, and his friends and everyone else for that matter. She really had become a rogue.

Rogue sighed, tired of thinking about how lonely her life had become and stared down at the book she had been reading, "The Scarlet Letter" It was a little difficult to read because it was written hundreds of years ago the English language was different, but overall thought it was good and even related a little to Hester, the main character. Aside from her born out of wedlock daughter, Hester had no one. Even though she had been reaccepted into society she was still alone and was angry and bitter about her loneliness, though no one ever saw that anger. Rogue sympathized with her.

Rogue was interrupted from her thoughts by the sound of a motorcycle in the distance. Her first thoughts were of Logan, thinking that he might have come back from Canada. He had a cabin up there he would visit every few months to think things over, and had gone there shortly after Jean's memorial.

Rogue closed her book, and headed towards the door of her room but not before slipping on her black cotton hooded robe. She had gone into the habit of wearing that robe whenever she left her room at night now. Her clothes were more of a security blanket for her than a burden like they were when she first got her powers. If she ever found a way around her powers she would still wear them like she did now.

Rogue made her way down the stairs and towards the front door. She could hear Storm's voice talking to the person whom Rogue assumed had come in on the motorcycle, and it didn't sound like Logan. They were talking in low voices, probably to keep from waking anyone else in the mansion, but Rogue was annoyed she couldn't hear what they were saying. She crept closer and watched them from a corner. Storm was still fully dressed which meant she must have expected this person and stayed up to greet him. She had a smile on her face and seemed happy to see him. When Rogue saw his face she was now positive it wasn't Logan. He was much younger than Logan and his hair was longer, plus Logan didn't wear a long brown trench coat. Rogue doubted he ever would.

"You're late Remy," she heard Storm scold in a hushed voice.

The stranger gave a quiet chuckle and pulled Storm into a hug, "Remy always be late according to y' Stormy," he said.

Storm pulled away and gave him a light push, "Remy Lebeau how many time have I told you not to call me that! And take those ridiculous sunglasses off, you don't need to hide your eyes here."

"But dey make Remy look so cool," he joked, lifting a hand to take them off.

Rogue's eyes widened and she gasped. Even though she couldn't see his face in the darkness of the mansion his eyes stood out as soon as he took the sunglasses off. They were two beautiful rings of glowing red. Rogue had never seen anything more beautiful.

The stranger's head snapped in her direction, apparently having heard her gasp. "Look like we got company non?" he said to Storm, nodding in Rogue's direction.

Storm turned and looked at Rogue in surprise, "Rogue what are you doing up?"

"Sorry," Rogue mumbled quickly. "Ah heard a motorcycle engine and Ah thought it might Logan. Sorry Ms. Munroe, Ah'll go back to bed."

"Rogue wait," Storm called after her, but Rogue had already disappeared back into the darkness of the mansion. Storm stared at the spot where Rogue had been standing and frowned.

"One of the students?" Remy asked curiously. Storm nodded. "A bit jumpy aint she?"

"Rogue," Storm sighed. She turned back to Remy and forced a smile. "You'll get to meet her and the rest of the students tomorrow, but now its time to show you your room so I can go back to bed."

"Aw Stormy y' don' wanna stay up wit dis Cajun?" he asked playfully.

Stormy gave him a playful glare and then pushed him into the direction of the boys' dormitories, quietly conversing with Remy along the way, but her thoughts were still on Rogue.