Rogue stepped into the room, thinking of all of the things she planned to do with Bobby that day. Hold his hand, kiss under the magnolia tree, walk around holding her hands. She just wanted the chance to be normal, now that her mutation was gone. She couldn't wait to start being a regular person. Part of the professor's school, but not a freak among gifted students anymore. A smile hovered over her lips as she hummed lightly to a song she couldn't remember the origin of. She was in such a light, happy mood that when a knock sounded on her door she said, "Come in!" in a sing-songy voice.
"Rogue?" Bobby's head popped to view around the edge and she beamed at him, nit noticing the nervous, apprehensive way he was looking at anything but her.
"Marie, actually. Since I don't have any powers now I figure I should drop the name." She held up her ungloved hands and wiggled her fingers for emphasis, but she was smiling from ear to ear.
"Oh, well, I guess that makes sense. Listen, umm, could we talk for a moment?" he stepped in around the door and she noticed she hadn't even invited him in.
"Oh, yes, of course!" She chuckled and sat on the bed, patting the space next to her.
He sat down, but kept distance between them, and looked down between his shoes. "Ro-Marie," he corrected, "I have something to tell you. I... I don't think we should see each other anymore."
The words had the effect of lead stones crushing on her chest. The wind was knocked out of her and the smile disappeared. "Why?" It came out as a whisper.
"It's not the cure, Marie. It's... us. You, me, this whole thing isn't working. I think that it would be best to just... back off. Be friends. It was better that way." He finally looked at her and noticed the single tear falling from her eye, while the rest of her looked in shock.
Her mind was in chaos, but through it all one image filtered to the surface. The one of him and Kitty skating on the fountain. The part where he caught the smaller girl to him and they leaned in... the sight of their lips meeting... brushing... retreating slowly. This memory surfaced and it made sense now. "I see," she said hollowly. She didn't, though, didn't get why he couldn't have at least told her or been honest. It hurt.
"Look, I'm sorry this is ending like this. The last the I want to do is hurt you, but-"
"Then why aren't you telling me the truth?" he looked puzzled, the jerk. "You're not breaking up to be alone. You're breaking up with me to be with her." Guilt flashed across his features and confirmed her suspicions. She shook her head, feeling tears surging to the surface, past the icy numb cold. She covered her face with her hands and bent her head. "Just go away, Bobby."
"Rogue, I-"
"Go away!"
With a slowness both felt, he stood and closed the door quietly behind him. Te silence was broken by her muffled weeping as the once-mutant cried for the loss of one life for another.