First Sight

Charles rolled through the park, beside him a tall and wild looking man.

"This is our park. There is a swimming pool, a baseball pitch and more", he said and turned around. "If you want to go in the woods you have to pick that way", he stated and pointed on a small path. Then he turned back to the mansion. "Come on, I'll show you the dining- room and the kitchen".

The man nodded but before he began to follow him something caught his eye. A young girl, in a robe, with a lot of books under her arm. She precipitate ran along the path to the woods. A while he just stared at her and watched her leave.

Something about this girl let him be speechless when Charles turned around and asked if something would be wrong. So he just shook his head.

The next morning he saw her again. She stood alone in a corner and now and again she glanced nervously around.

He began to wonder when he let his eyes wander down her body. She had an wonderful tiny body but it was covered in long pants and a shirt which went almost to her knees. And she wore gloves which covered her whole arms. He looked straight into her eyes and gasped. He'd never seen such a loneliness and fear at the same time.

Without hesitation he began to walk up to her. That was strange. Usually he wouldn't do something like that. He had come to this school because he was forced to. He had promised to teach the students self -defence and in return would he get more information about his past. He hated it, he hated the way everybody was nice to each other and he hated the fact that he liked it. Suddenly he'd realized that he hadn't anyone. No one cared for him and he cared for no one neither. That was the sad truth and it made him sick.

He almost reached her when somebody stood in his way. Scott set his arms akimbo and glared at him.

"Let her alone", he said sounding deadly serious.

He stared back to him. "Why? Just wanted to say hello"!

Scott snored. "Like you just wanted to say hello to Jean, right? No way I'm gonna let you touch her. Everyone but not her. She's not like other girls Logan".

"Really! I know that idiot, otherwise I wouldn't want to talk with her. And now stop going on my nerves", he shot back.

"I won't move a muscle", was Scott's only answer. Logan looked behind him to see that the girl had disappeared.

He sighed. "She's gone anyway. So what's your problem? Okay, I flirted with your fiancé but come on... it was just a joke. I mean this one isn't your girl, is she"?

"No she's not. But I'll protect her. Even from you. I beg you Logan, you're just gonna hurt her", he whispered.

Logan stared at him. "Scott.. I just wanted to speak to her.. I didn't want to do anything to this girl.. how come you would think something like that".

Damn, this asshole made in sick. The worst thing was that it hurt him what he'd said. Did he really seemed like a man who likes to wander around and hurt little girls?

Scott leaned against the door. "I'm sorry Logan. I didn't meant it like that. See, she's different. She probably experienced a lot of bad things in her past . Nobody is able to reach her soul. She's scared, she alone and she trusts no one. That has nothing to do with you. These are the facts. Respect them", he said and then he turned around and left him alone.

Logan stood in the hallway motionless. He even felt something like sympathy for Scott who really seemed to care about this poor girl. But he wasn't to give up her soul this easily. It was clear to him that no one of the teachers would help him, or give him a little chance.

He sighed and walked to his classroom. The first thing that caught his eye was her. She stood aside and looked at him like everybody else did. The students watched him and he cleared his throat.

"Good morning. Well, I'm Logan, your new self - defence teacher. You'll learn how to defence yourself and to protect you and others for injuries. Wanna tell me your names"?

The kids nodded slightly and one boy started. "I'm Kevin".

Him followed John, Bobby, Jubilee and Kitty. At last he looked at the girl.

"And what's your name"?

"She doesn't talk", Bobby answered instead.

Logan glared at him. "I'm sure she's able to speak for herself. So, what's your name kid"?

He looked straight in her eyes and saw confusion and curiosity. A little smile appeared on her lips. She opened her mouth and everybody hold his breath.

"Rogue", was all she said. He nodded content. This was an real success.

The others kids stared at each other and gave her friendly smiles but as soon as she'd opened up herself she already closed it again. They were disappointed, he could see that.

The lessons went on and he tried to explain what he was planning to do the next weeks. Rogue sat in a corner and listened with a emotionless face. She was back in her world again. But Logan knew already that he would do anything to get one of her rare smiles one more time.

Charles listened to what Bobby told him in surprise. "What did he do? How did he do it"? The boy shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. He looked at her and then she began to smile and said her name. But when we wanted to take this chance and talk with her she shut up again".

Charles nodded. "Thank you Bobby. See.. I understand that it's disappointing to be nice to someone who isn't reacting. But it's a big success, isn't it? Have some patience, I know it's hard. Can you tell this the others too"?

The boy nodded and left. Logan entered the room. "You wanted to talk to me"?

"Yes, I've heard what you did to Rogue", he said.

Logan looked at him shocked. "I didn't do anything to her, I swear".

Charles laughed. "Nobody's saying you hurt her. I meant that you get out her name. Dou you realize that it was the first time she was speaking? I don't know how but you did something good. I wanted to thank you and ask you if you would try on to reach her. I know you don't want to become friendly with anyone but she needs someone like you. She seems to trust you".

" Of course I'm going to try further, not because you asked me to but because she's different. She' special, you know? It's in my own interest to get to know her. And I never said I don't want to become friendly. You said that ", he answered and with that he left the room.