Part Two: Back in Bayville
Eight months later...
Kitty stuck her head into the bedroom and saw that Rogue was still in bed. "C'mon or we're gonna be late!"
She groaned as she sat up. "Go on. Ah'm not goin'."
"Fine, but you need to see Dr. McCoy cuz you look awful!" Kitty disappeared a split second before Rogue's clock shattered against the door. She instantly regretted it as she held her head. "Dammit!" She quickly dressed and went down to the infirmary.
"So?"
"You seem to be perfectly healthy aside, perhaps, for lack of sleep."
"Bad dreams. Ain't nothing to do about it anyway."
"Rogue, do you want to talk about them?" She shook her head. "Then you should rest for the remainder of the day. If you continue having trouble-"
"Ah'll let you know."
Rogue sat on the edge of the window, flipping through the stack of papers Kurt brought her. "Ugh! Ah hate this." Abandoning her perch, she went over to her desk and quickly answered all the questions, and shoved them into her backpack. Then she threw herself onto the bed.
The reason she hadn't wanted to tell the doctor that her dreams were primarily about one thing: swarmy, kidnapping, thieving, possibly evil, charming cajun. It was horrible to see those fiery red eyes looking at her, making her feel confused about his true intentions.
*Je t'aime, chere. You know I won't hurt you.*
"Stupid, stupid, wannabe casanova. Get outta mah head!" She slammed her fists down on the pillow making all the stuffing poof out. "Dammit!"
"Rogue, was ist los mit dir?"
Groaning she looked up at Kurt. "Ah'm fine, really. Ah jus' hafta stop this damn recurring dream."
As he sat down as he switched off his camouflaging device. "Mädchen, you have been very...withdrawn for the last few months. It worries me."
"It's nothing, really." She took his hand. "You don't hafta worry. Ah'll be fine, okay?"
"But if you need to talk, I am here."
"Yeah, you'll be th' first to know." She smiled. "Oh, thanks for th' homework, it really brightened mah day." Rogue rolled her eyes and they both laughed.
Rogue managed to get through the next few weeks without missing too much school or making her friends worry. Still, she rarely slept because doing so seemed to precede her bouts of sickness.
Though she hid her problems well Kurt and Kitty both confided in the Professor that something needed to be done. As Rogue sat waiting for Xavier she felt a bit betrayed. "Ah don't know what those two told you, but ah'm fine. Ah ain't even missed anymore classes."
"No you haven't, but you are severely sleep deprived. Your mind is utterly exhausted and the fact that you're functioning so well is troubling."
"Ah feel sick when ah sleep so ah keep it under a couple of hours. What's so wrong with that?"
"It's not healthy. Since spring break is beginning in a few days you are to remain on the institute's property as well as reporting to the medlab for a sleep study."
"Ah have no say in any of this, do ah?" Xavier gave one stern shake of his head. "Fine, ah'll get ready."
Rogue's anger was palpable as she went to her and Kitty's room. She dumped her schoolbag onto the bed and went over to the dresser. Angrily she shoved in a few sets of clothes before heading to the shared closet. Rogue tossed in a few odds and ends before stumbling onto a locked box. Curiosity and rage made her snap off the lock. All that was inside was a generic flip phone and a ring. Without thinking she slid the phone into her pocket before hiding the box again. *Whoever you've been messin' with is gonna get a big surprise.*
Later that night, the green-eyed girl set down her book and powered up the phone. She scrolled through the messages, nearly gagging at the sickeningly sweet exchanges. *Bad Kitty* she thought as she closed the phone. *You're gonna get some serious payback.* That was when it vibrated in her hand.
Are you alright? Haven't heard from you in so long. I want to see you.
Rogue debated on whether to reply or not. Finally she responded with: Want to see you too. Come soon.
Be there in two days.
She closed the phone, unaware of what she had just set in motion.