Chapter1
Bare Skin
Cutting 6th period, Rogue slipped through a few alleyways, looking to be alone. She couldn't help but to feel depressed, she was back to being 'that-freaky-loner-Goth-chick' again. Oh well, it wasn't the first time, and she could take care of herself. The cool fall breeze scraped a few leaves across the road. Then she saw Lance, leaning against the wall, eyes closed, and a distressed look on his face.
"What's your problem?" Rogue asked Lance, as she walked up to him.
"Wouldn't you like to know." He said, turning to face the cool brick wall of the alley behind the gas station. He couldn't tell her that Kitty, the one girl he really thought cared for him, had admitted to feeling nothing but pity for him. And that after Magneto decided his great son, Pietro, was in charge of the Brotherhood, he had left and had no where to stay. Or that he'd been crushing on her for a long time and his heart was racing beyond control.
"Fine Lance. Be that way, but I'll bet ya five bucks you're bumming over Kitty and Kurt finally gettin' together." The look on Lance's face told Rogue that she'd hit his weakest spot. Kitty.
"Shut up!" Lance spun around and gave Rogue a dirty look, as the ground trembled briefly.
"Oh, who really gives a damn 'bout them anyway? It ain't like it wasn't obvious."
Lance looked up at Rogue; "Well it's not like you could ever get close enough to anyone to really care anyway," as he blinked back tears of desperation.
Rogue slapped him hard across his face, yelling; "Don't ya ever say that to me. Ever! Ya will never know how much it hurts to know you'll never be able to touch any livin' thing!" as a single tear fell from her eye.
As Rogue raised her hand to slap him again, her sleeve slipped down just a bit. Lance grabbed her wrist, his hand landing fully on Rogue's bare skin.