II
Relationship Truths

The Boy;

Panting, huffing, grunting. The hurried rat-tat of our feet echoed all throughout the marble floor of the ridiculously extravagant foyer of the Eucliffe manor.

"Come on slow poke, pick up the pace! If mother hears that I'm late again, she'll have my sorry ass!" my blonde best friend yelled while simultaneously opening the too enormous for it's own good front doors of the mansion. I grunted out a frustrated response and quickened my pace, we were in the limo in no time at all. I let out a heave, the running not only brought immense discomfort to my now wrinkled suit but also an ache to my leather shoe covered foot. I adjusted my bow tie as the driver eased onto the main road, on our way to the pompous gala some rich business man was hosting for his equally pretentious debutante of a daughter. You must have noticed by now that it seems kind of hypocritical to be saying such things when I myself have a rich businessman as a father and a sister whose debut was a mere month ago, but it's different with my family-or so I'd like to think-we don't just throw a big bash and invite strangers into our home, not like the Heartfilias (I think that's the name) who practically threw invitations out from a helicopter in the sky. Sting looked over at me and my sour face and patted me on the back encouragingly.

"Well will you look at that! Poker-face Rogue is actually showing some expression on that handsome face of his" I turn away from him and mumble under my breath.

"I don't know if you're trying to insult me or come on to me. Pick one at the very least" The visible surprise on his face was hard to miss after I spoke. By god, it's not like he's never heard my voice before, it's almost insulting how he's so shocked.

"And he utters more than five words in response?! What is it? My birthday?" I ignore the statement, giving him a tch.

"What happened to the I'm too cool to talk to you-Rogue?" He asks, in the worst impression of me I have ever seen. And I've seen Orga try at it. But I had no time to laugh, my mind too preoccupied in coming up with a valid excuse. 'Cause like hell am I going to tell him the truth. That the reason she broke up with me was a lack of communication and that in hopes of not losing anyone else important to me, I've willed myself to emote now and again. Tch. That sappy shit answer will get me nothing but a rofl-ing Sting, months of cheap ass teases and the end of our friendship, seeming as I won't be able to contain the urge to kill him after that.

"I have some spare energy so why the fuck not?" I tell him, trying to go for an effortless approach, completing it with a shrug of my shoulders. He seems to have taken the bait, because either I'm a better actor than I thought or he's denser than ever imaginable. Both...yeah definitely both.

"After disappearing off the face of the earth for 3 months, it'd be surprising if you didn't have any. And you know, now that I think about it, I expected this" The idiot says, basically contradicting his nature by acting like he's the smart egg. I couldn't help let out a snort at his petulant behavior.

"Then why do you look so surprised?"

"A talking, emoting Rogue. I can fantasize about it all I want but seeing it in the flesh...is there anything about it that isn't surprising?"

"Well I'll give you that" I say halfheartedly, my mind now lost in trying to figure out what he means by 'fantasize'.

"And he carries the conversation with a flourish. Is he genial or what!" He stares at me, fascinated by my new behavior like I was his lab rat who suddenly turned into a monkey overnight. I look at him, a little weirded out by his attention solely put on me. Usually, I had to share his attention with either a busty plaything of his or his reflection on the mirror. And I liked usually, we should go back there quickly.

"I think that's enough with the commentary Sting. If you want to get hot and heavy with me, all you've got to do is ask"

"And there it is folks! The first ever lewd comment from Rogue bleeping Cheney! Can I get a round of applause for this normally conversing human being?" I give him a reprimanding look which he ups and laughs at. I roll my eyes at him -now this seems familiar. Whenever I was with this guy, my eyes seem to roll back almost every second. It never bothered me before because I was always with him but after 3 months apart, I think I've forgotten how to handle this immature behavior of his. Right now, I can barely stomach the fact that this is the son of a bitch I choose to spend time with. And speaking of stomach the limo takes a rather sharp turn which riles up the motion sickness in my belly. I hunch over in ill-composed pain and look to Sting who groans, his face turning a sickly green hue and his hand lingering near the doggy bags piled by the side for convenience. Curse you transportation!

"W-why must we go to this stupid event anyway? And via moving vehicle nonetheless" I say once I've gotten ahold of my bearings, my back slouching on the cushion in mental exhaustion.

"C-come on Rogue, this will be fun. Booze, one dope mansion and pretty ladies-that I specifically guarantee. I asked Rufus to send me some pics earlier and I'm telling you, hot babes everywhere~" And just like that, the green faced slob transformed, in record speed, into the horny bastard I know and loathe, right before my very eyes.

As he sings the last part of his sentence, he fishes out his phone from his pocket and flips through it quickly. Please don't be nudes. Please don't be nudes. I pleaded in my head, a sour memory coming back to my mind of Sting showing me a picture of him au naturel for a "modeling job" he said. I shuddered at the thought, not that he looked bad or anything but I don't swing his way...although I can't say the same for him. Hmm...

"-And there's plenty to choose from." I snap out of my is-my-bestfriend-gay-for-me?-trance as the blinding screen of his phone in shoved right up my face. I push him to his side of the car slightly irritated yet a ghost of a smile passed my lips. The boy's a handful but his persistence in the pursuit for booty is somewhat admirable -if you squint. I only hope for his sake that he reaches a change of heart someday. Nobody likes the pervy 90 year old bachelor mothers keep their 18 year old daughters away from. After gaining some composure, I glare at his smug face with earnest annoyance.

"First of all, it was a rhetorical question and second of all, you are aware that I'm only going because daddy dearest threatened to disown me if I didn't get out of the house right? And you know that I'm veto-ing any contact with the female population now so what gives?" I say, gesturing to the poorly taken shot of a curvy blonde in a blue dress on the phone in his hands.

"Well if you insist" I look at him expectantly, waiting for whatever ploy he's got up his sleeves again. Under my skeptic gaze, Sting shifts his position on the leather seat with slight unease then makes a single booming clap that jolts me to an upright sitting position.
"…there's this one chick-"
"-Bleck, bored already"
"Just hear me out man" I took a gander at him, his puppy eyes that looked damn straight pathetic on a grown man and his right leg jiggling in restlessness. He seems desperate enough. With a sigh, I nod my head slowly in consent.

"Fine, proceed" I see him perk up instantly, dangerously resembling my house dog whenever I give him a treat.
"Okay great! She's the girl the whole gala is for, Lucy Heartfilia I think" I scoff at this, unable to help myself. Seriously? I thought he actually found someone different this time from the way he was acting. My mistake.
"Miss Daddy I Need an Overly Expensive Party to Reassure My Position of Miss Snobby Spoiled Bitch? Yeah I've heard of her-heck my sister's her"
"Stop interrupting! Now, I hear she's incredibly smoking, like melting ice cream on a hot July smoking. Think, Mirajane Strauss complexion and personality but the dangerous curves, rack and ass of Erza Scarlet. Certifiabl-"
"-I get the picture Sting" I cut him off before he could continue, knowing if I didn't, he'd run his mouth till' the party's over without ever really getting to the point.

"Anyways, Rufus tells me she's the perfect woman. Beautiful, smart, nice, the whole Christian school girl package. I for one would choose vixen over virgin any time of day, but you…I suspect Christian school girl is your M.O right? If she's any indica-"
"-Change the subject now or I'll jump out the car" My hand hovering over the car door. He raises his arms up in mock surrender, I then return my hand back to my side. I look at his pitiful gaze and can't help but hate him for it. What does he think I am? Some lost puppy? Just because I'm sick and tired of hearing her coming up in conversation almost all the fucking time doesn't mean I'm not over her. I'm plenty over her...God who am I kidding?

"Rogue, buddy I'm doing you a favor here" I couldn't help myself when he said that. The rest of my composure flies out the window and I'm absolutely seething right now.
"Just how the hell is pushing a most likely annoying barbie doll my way doing me any favors?"

"Easy, it'll get your mind off of Yu-ki-" My face scrunched up in a terrible wince as he spoke the first two syllables of a name I want nothing to do with anymore. But despite that, all I really needed were those two syllables to calm me down, my sadness dominating my earlier anger 100 to 1. Seemingly satisfied with my dejected reaction, Sting smirked, like the sadistic spawn of satan he is.

"See! Just look at yourself Rogue! The very mention of her name has your whole face scrunching up in pain. That's a symptom my friend, of someone coming down with the breakup blues. Pathetic really, if you ask me." I watch as he reaches over at the ever prepared minibar next to him with ease. Already tearing away at a mini bottle of Merlot. Seriously, the way he can just say that with that annoyingly frank face of his to his clearly borderline suicidal friend is just plain rude and to be perfectly honest, a dick move. Not that Sting would take much offense if I said so aloud, he'd probably even be complimented if I did, the damn twisted bastard. Seeming as he was just going to use her through this whole conversation till' he gets his way, I decide to concede and ask him point blank.

"Okay, just what the hell are you planning to do with me and "Ms. Perfect Woman", as you so delicately put it"

"Fine I'll tell you. Me and the guys organized a meet cute for you two, you know so you could hit it off and maybe just maybe find yourself in a passionate whirlwind October fling or a long lasting ball and chain relationship, whichever floats your boat."

"What floats my boat is neither. Simply meaning, no thank you and stop with the schemes, they don't work!"

"Rogue please, it wasn't cool seeing you housebound all the time, just because some girl broke your heart. I'd have made an exception if you broke your leg or something but…I'm not trying to be mean-

"-Yes you are"

"I just missed fooling around with my best buddy, and look-y! You're finally out of the house and now's your chance! The chicks today are totally upping their game and you are sorely missing out. And besides, I don't want a male spinster for a friend, I've got a reputation to protect here"

"Gee, thanks for the support friend."
"Tough love man, tough love"

"I've told you this a million times already, I'm not ready to date, hook up, play around, flirt a little, or anything of the sort. Going around and wooing good for nothing but their money girls will earn me nothing but trouble, that's clear to me now more than ever and you know why."

"That's just a cry for help man and a rebound girl is just the help you need." I wasn't even looking at him anymore, afraid of what I might do after seeing the pity I know is written all over his face in big bright letters, so much so I can even see it through through my peripherals. I wanted to say something, anything to get him off my back but my mind's coming up blank, though the car finally stopped at the entrance of a big white mansion. Yes! I've never been so eager to attend a ball before, it makes me wonder if I've lost mine in the process.

"Let's just get this over with"

Just a second after me and Sting entered the mansion, I'm squeezed to death by the familiar green haired idiot. Orga.

"And he's alive! Or back from the dead?...Zombie Rogue? Nevermind, welcome back to civilization buddy boy!"

"Get off Orga! You reek of booze!" I say, shoving the burly man off of me while effectively shocking both him and Sting.

"Wait hold on..." Orga then starts to count on his fingers, no doubt computing how many words I've spoken.

"To ease your mind, it's seven words" The look of pure astonishment on his face made me want to laugh, but I stopped myself, knowing doing so will only shock them to death…although, that didn't seem like such a bad idea.

"Okay just who the hell is this kid? A Rogue impersonator? Because let me tell you right now, he's not doing a very good job"

"Funny Orga. Real hilarious. You should try at the comedy club next time, everyone'll have a kick." Using my monotonous tone for it's actual purpose this time, but though the green haired man is strong, his brain is the size of a peanut.

"You know what? That doesn't sound too bad. Thanks Rogue 2!" I hear Sting snickering in the background as the three of us enter the Heartfilia Manor. I look at the grand hall and am instantly assaulted by rambunctious laughter and conversation that makes me almost want to gag. I barely gave a glance at the strewn ornaments and expensive pish posh around, already accustomed to that sort of thing and focused on fishing out the food. I spot a buffet table and was about to head for it when a red hatted figure moves towards us, waving his arm in the air.

"Cheney! Eucliffe! You just missed the girl of the evening- Wait, you did tell Rogue about the girl right Sting? Oh and did you get the pictures?" Rufus wiggled his eyebrows at Sting who did just the same. We say our hellos and begin to move around the room, contributing to the lively air of the place. At the sight of a group of girls by the corner, the blonde 19 year old future heir to the multinational Eucliffe conglomerate started bouncing in his place, like a kid in a candy store...well in his case, the eye candy store.

"Gentlemen. Let the games begin" Sting says, riling up the two idiots with him. I shake my head at their behavior, watching as they moved further in the crowd and catching one last bit of their conversation. The fading voice of Orga making me inwardly laugh at just how...Orga he is (I'm short of a better term to describe the level of stupidity of the man so I gave him his own personal level)

"Aww yeah! But seriously where'd you get a Rogue impersonator in this economy?" With that, Sting, Orga and Rufus separate and disappear in the crowd, fishing out the girls in the sea. I hate myself right now by just thinking, I was with them fooling around for years before she came along, though I can proudly say I wasn't as objectifying nor sexist as those buffoons but sadly, that fact does nothing for my conscience. I let out a sigh and head towards my first objective, the buffet table. I took a whiff of the green puke like substance on a platter and immediately scrunch up my nose in revolt. That looks scrumptious. I hold down the bile rising in my throat and grab myself a glass of champagne from a waiter's serving silver salver. I catch Sting leaning against a wall sideways, putting the moves on a incredibly busty raven. My eyes furrow and I shake my head, repulsed by how quick he moves as I continue to watch him teleport to a slim red head and now back to the busty raven again. With a sigh, I take a sip of the sparkling alcohol.

"I'm hallucinating right? Because there is just no way that Rogue Cheney is here without his trusty robot face" I turn to my left at the sound of the voice I immediately recognized and see the familiar dark haired, dark skinned friend of mine. Her mischievous smirk and her vicious obsidian eyes -oddly enough- a sight for sore eyes.

"Minerva, didn't see you there. Good to know you've got you're mean spirit just about ready to bitch all over the place"
"And it looks like I'm not the only one in town. Actual distaste on your face and more than five words in one sentence?! Did I fucking miss the soul switching ceremony or did you purposely forget to invite me?"
"What can I say? I loathe this kind of thing, to the point where it's almost impossible not to show emotion"
"You and me both. But I can see how you'd particularly hate them now, since you could probably run into her here after..."

"Oh god! Not you too! Seriously when will you guys give it a rest! I'm fine! Really!"

"I find that hard to believe, considering that you shut yourself up for months now"

"Can I not enjoy a 3 month long book-a-thon without people thinking I've got some mental disorder or something? Is it too much to ask?"

"We, you're friends, even that moron Orga knows that you only go on book-a-thons when you're down in the dumps."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I go on book-a-thons regardless of what mood I'm in. It was just pure coincidence that I was brutally dumped by my girlfriend for four years, the day of my next scheduled book-a-thon."

"Rogue, just who the hell are you trying to convince? A naive 5 year old? Because I'll tell you right now that I'm certainly not that, nor are you for that matter." The seriousness in her voice silenced me, my eyes focusing on the glittering fluid gold of the drink in my hands. I hear Minerva sigh next to me and I clench my jaw, in both foreboding and anger. Another "it gets better" speech is fast approaching. Jesus, if this goes on, one would think that my girlfriend died instead.

"It's best if you face the music now better than later." She takes a pause and starts to count, holding up her fingers too close for comfort to my face.

"Track One: You got dumped, it sucks. Track Two: You stew in your misery, and we let you alone. And last but not least -and mind you, this one's a Billboard Hit Single. Track Three: .On." And here's another brutally frank jackass telling me, with no verbal filter whatsoever, that I'm a miserable pitiful fool. Sigh, why do I befriend these types of people? I honestly don't know why she bothers. I can barely heed any advice coming from a girl that has always done the dumping and barely the being dumped part. The closest she ever came to being dumped -prior to my knowledge- was the time when she and Sting were hooking up, they broke it off in mutual spirit and it was barely a relationship to begin with. So who was she, or Sting or anyone for that matter, to tell me to move on? I'm sorry friends but it seems I'm a lost cause. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to replay Track Two, until maybe...oh I don't know...the end of time? Yeah that sounds perfect. I was about to relay all this to Minerva when I noticed the scared shitless waiter, drenching his uniform in sweat, attempting to tap the She-beast (last name) on the shoulder.

"Madame Minerva, I apologize for the intrusion but your father would like to speak with you" I could feel the dark aura about to burst from the easily peeved (last name) but she sucked it up and nodded her head, with some hesitance in her manner. Phew! Saved by the ever-pressuring family obligations. Hallelujah!

But before she stalked off to her hated father, she playfully glared at me over her shoulder and pointed a scolding finger to complete the vengeful look.

"You got away this time Cheney, but I'll get you, you can bet on that"

"Oh I don't doubt you will." I give her a sly grin which she return with -wait...do my eyes deceive me? -is that supposed to be a sympathetic smile from the She-Beast herself? Well you really did it this time Rogue, if you've got Minerva's sympathy, you must be in real deep. In real deep depression, that is. I sigh and look over at all the suit clad gentlemen -is that really the best word to define them? Seeming as most of them are either ogling the cake faced women or "sneaking" some feel ups here and there. Another sigh escapes my lips, I'd rather bury myself in words and letters printed on dead trees than put up with this display of borderline sexual assault. I scan through the crowd lazily, not really bothering to pay actual attention. But a flash of yellow rushed past me and caught my eye almost instantly. I didn't get much of a glance at the fast moving figure but I did however sniff out a scent that was nothing but enthralling. Strawberries and vanilla along with a faint smell of bubbly wafted through my nose. And like the perpetually bored fool I was, I followed it. And boy, did it lead me somewhere.

Author's Note:

[.disclaim]

This author is a despicable human being who hiatuses sporadically due to her deeply ingrained commitment issues.
Diagnosis by me...*sigh*
I can't explain myself so I'll just apologize.
Sorry and I can't blame anyone but me if no one actually sees this.
But I'll post...though I can't make anymore promises regarding the frequency :(
I still hope that whoever stumbles upon this like this though!