Overcoming Distance
A/N: Chap three babies! Thanks to those who reviewed last chap… Crazy Rikku Fan, Rogue 181, gambitfan85, and UltimateGammy91… That's all…
Oh who am I kidding, you too roguishcharm… she made me post this now… grrr!, oh well this one's for you! Lol.
Also thanks to those who placed this story in their alert list… I just hope I could get your feedbacks too, it's important to me, lol. So there… ENOUGH TALK LET'S ROCK!!
3. Compromising Positions
When the rain finally stopped, Rogue took her easel outside the balcony to draw. She marveled at the scene before her and wanted to capture the inviting ambiance provided by the beach. A calm wind brushed passed her as she tucked stray hairs on the back of her ear. She was about to resume her painting when she felt another's presence in her midst.
"Hey you." Said a feminine voice.
"Good morning tah yah Wanda, what's so different about yah today… hmmm Ah wonder?" Rogue replied with a knowing smile as she remembered the scene from earlier this morning, when she found Wanda and John asleep, in each others arms in the movie room.
"Ha-ha." Came Wanda's remark.
"If yah two wanted more privacy, yah should have placed a do not disturb sign on the door."
"We were just watching a movie."
"Uh-huh, so… how did it go, was it any good?" Rogue asked grinning from ear-to-ear.
"We didn't do anything silly!" Wanda said walking closer to where Rogue was seated.
"Ah… Wanda, Ah was talkin' about the movie?"
"Oh sorry… I just thought that."
"Ooooh you and yer dirty, dirty mind, well if anythin' did ever happen yah know Ah'm all ears and Ah'll be supportive of yah, Ah promise... Well??"
"You've been hanging around with Jean and Kitty too much, because they're starting to rub off on you."
"Ah'm Ah? Ah'm just stating the obvious."
"I'm saying you're nosy, a little too nosy for your reputation and to clear things up for the last time, nothing happened!"
Rogue laughed at the serious looking Wanda in front of her. "Hey, Ah was just kidding, no need tah go defensive with meh, Ah'm just happy."
"Doesn't take a genius to know why." Wanda lulled, as she crossed her arms across her chest.
"What do yah mean?" Asked Rogue.
"Oh, I see your playing the guessing game. You know…" Wanda said as she moved closer to Rogue. "You and Remy should make your activities more discreet."
"Why, we weren't doing anythin'… oh ya'll thought we were, sorry tah burst yer bubble sugah, but we were just reading comics."
"Tell that to the judge."
Rogue didn't have the heart to object but her amusement wasn't hidden by an all too knowing smile across her face. "Believe it or not, it's the truth. Ah can't help it if you have a dirty mind."
"Can we talk about something else aside from the events from last night?"
"Fine, fine Ah'm only setting up momentum fo' mah piece." Rogue said pointing her brush at her drawing.
"And you decide so suddenly to use me for your amusement, I didn't think your drawing was supposed to be funny, anyway what's that supposed to be?" Wanda asked gesturing towards the unfinished sketch on the canvas.
"Come closer and see fo' yahself."
Wanda did as she was told and after a few minutes of analyzing the picture, she inched closer towards the railing of the balcony and looked at the sight that lay on the sand. It was none other than John in his half naked glory, lounging on a large towel that she recognized as Remy's; she was silent for a few moments, in awe at the scene that was before her, she smiled before looking at Rogue's painting again. "Wow."
"Wow to mah painting or wow tah Johnny boy?"
Wanda answered her friend with a glare and before she could say anything else, she turned her back towards Rogue and faced the beach again as the object of their conversation rose from his seat and turned to wave at her. Wanda smiled back at John but when he answered her with a wink. Wanda was too flushed to move.
"Like what you see? Ah think he likes yah." Said Rogue from behind her.
"Shut up, what's he doing out there anyway?"
"Ah dunno sunbathing Ah guess."
"But the sun's not even shining, the rain just stopped, all I see are dark clouds."
"Maybe he wants tah show the world his abs... or better yet, maybe he wants to show you his abs."
"Rogue, not everyone is obsessed with abs, cut it out with the abs fetish." Wanda told her smiling friend before they heard shouting from the beach. It was then that they saw John playing with the waves and shouting like a little boy on a field trip.
"Ah know he's weird, no Ah take that back. Ah know he's kinda crazy but Ah ain't gonna complain, Ah just saw him there, Ah got inspired and Ah painted and... he's cute too." Rogue added.
"True."
"Honey, this is fate in the works, there is a reason why you two are here, give it a shot. Ah can tell yah like him, he's yer type." Rogue said as she nudged Wanda's side.
"How do you know who and what my type is?"
"Friend's intuition… Wanda, even if yah've never had a boyfriend before, it doesn't mean that yah have a heart of stone. Come on just try."
"I am not sure, he's nice and all but…"
"But…?"
"We just met, and besides I don't know if he feels the same way."
"Yah know were living in the 21st century right?"
"Yeah so?"
"Girls are allowed to make the first move."
"Rogue, were not in high school anymore, I have to think about this rationally."
"Not every thing has tah be planned Wanda, some things are there just because it makes yah happy… it doesn't always have tah be, because yah need it."
Wanda only looked at Rogue intently.
"Ah don't know if Ah make sense tah yah, but the point is loosen up girl, yer life is not just work, work, work… yah have tah have fun too."
Wanda only smiled at Rogue. "Thanks… I'm sure I'll get what you are saying one of these days."
"Anyway, Ah have to finish this piece over the weekend, otherwise Ms. Frost is gonna nag meh tah death."
At the mention of their boss made Wanda lighten up and smile. "Better finish that then, if you wanna keep your position as Senior Art Director."
"Ah don't understand it, why do we have tah paint for the exhibit, we are designers, we design stuff, not paint inspirational pieces."
"Rogue, Ms. Frost knows how good you are when you're holding a paint brush, besides the art exhibit might do you good, I think she's just exposing your work to the world, about time too."
"Ah thought once Ah work hard enough and get this position Ah'll be able to relax a little, Ah never expected more work load. Yah were the one who wants more of this, so why am Ah the one doing it?"
"Stop complaining Roguey, the pay is exceptional and don't forget that you got this ass kicking crib because of it."
"Easy for yah tah say, yah have it easy… this is supposed to be a joint project, what kind of partner are yah? Yer letting me draw every time, it's unfair." Rogue said with a pout.
"I'm the kind of partner who gives you endless encouragement, and I'm a good critique too. Besides you and I both know that your ideas are way more creative."
"That isn't true."
"Well you draw better and isn't painting your dream?"
"Well it is… if you put it that way."
"See what I mean."
"Hey what about you, you never talk about what you wanna do, well aside from being successful about everything, that is."
"Me? Funny you should say that… I… I don't even know."
"Ah'm sure ya'll figure it out soon enough."
"I' m 24, I should have known what my dreams are when I was still grumbling about grades, college boys and school night parties. Now it just seems unimportant, irrelevant and-."
"And your love life?" Rogue said cutting Wanda's mumbling.
"How come you're still bothering me about that Rogue? I am just uninterested at the moment."
"Good thing you hate cats or else you'll be the psycho cat-lady everyone fears." Rogue shivered. "The thought alone makes me sick."
"Cut it out, I'll find what I'm looking for somehow."
"Like Ah said, it could be right under yer nose and still yah wouldn't know." Rogue said so softly it's barely audible for Wanda to hear.
"What?"
"Nothing, what Ah'm saying is that yah just have a lot tah think about… there are so many things in yer head, Ah think it just got too crowded."
"You and your weird imagination."
"Hey Ah wasn't the one eyeing fire boy over there." Rogue pointed to John who is roasting or more like burning hotdogs.
"I wasn't eyeing, besides you were the one painting him."
Rogue only laughed at her friend, pushing Wanda to her limits always gets Rogue the upper hand on just about anything, she wants to press about. "Still, you have tah promise meh, ya'll do the painting for this week."
"Me?" Wanda asked pointing her index finger to herself.
"Yes…"
"I'll do it now?"
"Yes, this time Ah'll supervise and criticize."
"Oh fine." Wanda said, grabbing the paintbrush from Rogue's hands.
"And don't forget about John."
"What about him?"
"Promise yah'll give him a chance?"
"I promise I'll talk to him, but that's as far as it's gonna go."
"O-K."
"F-I-N-E."
"G-O-O-D." Rogue and Wanda then laughed together, spelling their last words were always used by them whenever they close an argument whether serious or a playful one such as this one. They have been doing that since the first time they fought as friends and decided to make a tradition out of it.
"Mmmm, smells good."
"Must be Remy's cooking, yah go on ahead and prepare the table, Ah'll just place this inside." Rogue said as she picked up the easel carrying her canvas.
…XXX…
The tantalizing aroma of breakfast found its way to Wanda's nostrils as she found herself closing her eyes while she descended the stairs. If there was one thing she liked about Remy, it would be his cooking. She remembered all too well the first time Remy made dinner for her and Rogue, when she tasted his Chicken Curry it was all she could talk about the entire evening. She didn't like Remy at that time and she believes that he gained her approval of him and Rogue dating when he fed them with his tasty dinner. Yes it's true, that a way to a woman's best friend's heart is through her stomach too. As careful as Wanda was in going down the flight of stairs, she lost her balance when she slipped on what she could only guess as a slipper. Because her eyes were tightly shut upon going down the stairs, she didn't want to further embarrass herself and decided to hold back her scream as she braced herself from the fall… which never came.
There was a loud thump on a floor before she felt something soft cushioned her. "Whoa Sheila, are you alright?" Said the voice from beneath her.
Wanda was startled as she felt her body on top of another; she was frozen in her spot before she felt two strong arms wrap themselves around her. She was afraid to open her eyes, not because she was still in shock from the fall. Her eyes were closed because she knew who she fell on to and she was restraining herself from kissing the lips of the man who smelled so intoxicating under her.
"Hey Wanda… are you okay?" John asked again, his face filled with worry.
"Yeah." Wanda managed to say in a whisper. When she opened her eyes at that moment, she found herself face to face with a worried and relieved John. She loosened her death grip on his arm and neck and backed her head away a little. "Ah, I- I guess so… Thank you John." She mentally slapped herself for her lost of words.
John got up from his position slowly while he assisted Wanda to stand. "No problem, but are you hurt anywhere, are you sure you're fine?" John asked while his hands traveled along her hips, waist and arms as if inspecting her before finally resting them on her face.
"Yes John I'm fine." Wanda replied her gaze avoiding his.
Sensing her hesitation, he let go of her face but he let his hands glide to her shoulders instead. "Thank God." He said before he sighed with relief.
"Ahem."
Both Wanda and John looked up at Remy before realizing that their hands were still on each other, Wanda hastily pulled her hands back and placed them at her sides before speaking up. "I fell for him-er- on him rather; I fell from the stairs on him." Wanda immediately corrected herself, thinking how funny that must have sounded, especially to Remy.
"Whatever y' say petite, by the way breakfast is served, do make yourselves comfortable while Remy calls his femme." Remy said before winking at Wanda and giving John the thumbs up. "Now if you'll excuse me." He added before pushing past them and making his way upstairs to Rogue.
When he was out of ear-shot, Wanda turned to face John. "How long has he been watching us?"
"Long enough."
"Man, Rogue is gonna bombard me with questions later… I'm never getting my way out of this one, this is so awkward…" Upon realizing she was rumbling she quickly turned to face John who was smiling at her. "Ah sorry."
"No problem Sheila."
Wanda then proceeded to move toward the dining area but not before turning and looking back at John. "Thanks for catching me."
"Anytime." John said with a smile.
When Wanda turned to look at him, she unconsciously made her long black hair flip which made John smile wider, if that was even possible. When she thanked him for the catch, she left him bewildered and overly happy. As he looked at her retreating form and how her hips glide with every step, he realized that what he was feeling wasn't just fondness anymore. Every time he has an encounter with Wanda, from the movie last night, their funny talks and awkward moments such as this, he feels elated and satisfied. A thing he hasn't felt in a long time.
…XXX…
Wanda was in the patio, sitting in front of Rogue's easel; a new empty canvas lay in front of her, paintbrush in one hand, coffee on the other, she didn't know how Rogue talked her into finishing her promised artwork. Rogue was right, they were interior designers, not painters… why Emma makes them do it, is a sure puzzle now more than ever. "That crazy woman." Wanda said aloud before sipping her coffee and putting down the brush in exchange for a pencil and a drawing pad. If she was going to finish this, she has to conceptualize the interior designer way… Now if only she knew what she was going for, that would make the job easier.
"Wanda, phone call." Rogue called from the living room.
"Who is it?"
"Yer brother."
"Pietro? What does he want now?" Wanda said as she made her way to where Rogue, Remy and John were. She did a quick glance to the three occupants of the room; Closest to the phone was Rogue, who was busy scribbling new drawings on her pad, her cell phone pressed against her ear, talking to Emma most probably because of the scowl on her face, Remy was sitting beside her playing poker with John, who sat across from him. Remy looked to be winning, poor John, she recalled thinking before putting the purple receiver to her ear.
"What now? Uh-huh… Wait you can't do that… Get your own house for crying out loud!!... You have until tomorrow afternoon… stay out of my room, or I swear I'll… Fine!... this is the last time Pietro, get it? Good!"
She slammed the receiver down with a clank and she angrily sat down on the nearest space available and it was after a couple of seconds before she realized the all three were looking at her. Then Rogue placed her phone on the table and arranged her papers very slowly, Remy in turn picked up a couple of cards that fell from his hand when Wanda shouted a while ago in equal pace. John eyed both suspiciously before deciding to open his mouth.
John turned to face Wanda. "What was that about?"
"WHAT!?" Wanda shouted back.
John was taken aback, considering the fact that Wanda's voice came out really loud and as she was seated beside him, her lips strategically located close to his ear. After a long silence, he composed himself before looking at the couple in front of him. It was then that he understood why they were acting so funny. 'Note to self, don't talk to Wanda when she's angry.'
"Sorry." He heard her almost instantly, it was a whisper, but he heard it. "Sorry." Wanda repeated louder this time. "That was my brother; I need a place to crash for the rest of the weekend." Wanda said looking at John then at Rogue.
"Yah know, ya'll are always welcome here… by the way what did he say?"
"He's at the condo; he's taking his girlfriend there. You know Pietro, he's the abominable show off, and apparently he couldn't tell his girlfriend that he's still living with dad."
"But petite, yer father be living in a mansion non?"
"Yeah, but still… he has more pride than all of us combined. I don't even know where to start."
"Don't worry, yah can stay here."
"I know, it's just so… UGH!" Wanda shouted earning a jump from John. "Sorry again." She said to him when she recovered before asking to be excused as she went upstairs to her room.
"Don't you worry mon ami, She's like that sometimes, but she be bon soon, she just have her moments." Remy said as he placed an arm around Rogue's shoulders.
John only nodded with an understanding smile.
"Oh Rems, we forgot tah tell her about tomorrow." Rogue said looking to face Remy.
"Yeah what about it?"
"Yah promised to take meh tah the falls remember."
"Oh right, well we can take her with us neh, unless Roguey wants more alone time with Remy, that Remy can understand."
"Dream on swamp rat… Ah'm just worried that she would feel left out because well, because of us…" Rogue paused for a moment when she remembered something and looked intently at John.
"What?" Asked John.
"Yah don't mind coming with us right, just hang out with Wanda, get tah know us girls better… what do yah say?"
"Mate, now I know how you feel when you say, you can't turn down your girlfriend's requests."
"See what Remy means… Anyway we can head back to New York Sunday night
Rogue in turn, smiled with delight.
…XXX…
That night Wanda was sitting on her bed starring intently at the sketch on her drawing pad, or at least what was scribbled on it. After only a few minutes of concentrating, she deciphered what she wanted to draw a scene of the great outdoors that shouted peace, tranquility and kick ass strength. She wanted power in her drawings, captivation and uniqueness… but as always she didn't know how to execute. She was stuck in her thoughts once again and after her favorite song ended on her mp3, she threw her pencil on the floor, grabbed her towel and went for the bathroom for a long awaited dip in the tub. Maybe after she is refreshed, she can get back to work.
There were three bathrooms in Rogue's house, one was in the master bedroom, Rogue is there right now, one was downstairs, which was occupied by Remy, she then entered the third bath located upstairs upon finding it empty. She then went inside quickly undressed and prepared her bath.
"Concepts, concepts… hmmm let me see… What should I use water, Wind or Fire?... color palette, shades of purple… maybe red, could be either green or brown too... Ah what else?" Wanda was busy thinking of her art piece fifteen minutes after she has settled into the green Jacuzzi. The lights were lit low and the scented candles gave out the aura of a spa in the Bahamas. Despite her growing frustration over her unfinished work she left behind, she couldn't help but relax and blend with the ambiance of the room, lost in her thoughts…
She heard the door open very slowly, the creaking of the wood sent chills down her spine. She had the sudden urge to shout at whoever entered the bathroom while she was there but it was too late, too late because she felt the other occupant undressing, she heard zippers being pulled down, a light flap of a shirt, a loud clank of a belt and the sound heavy pants as it fell against the bathroom tiles. She was stuck where she was, frozen and cursing at herself. Why she didn't speak or how she managed to stand up she couldn't remember. Next thing she knew, the image of the man she so longed to see was standing in front of her, naked. He placed his hand on her shoulders and smirked. "Hello Sheila." He said and before she could respond, he leaned down and gave her, her first kiss.
"Damn." Wanda said in a whisper, as she straightened in the tub. "It was just a dream." She exclaimed as blurry remnants of what she was thinking in her sleep took center stage in her thoughts. "This is too damn crazy." She brushed off before standing up from the tub; she then pulled the cork of the tub and opened the shower to rinse off the bubbles from her body. As she did so, she made a mental note to find her towel; she scanned the room only to find it on the other end, waiting for her beside the door. As she stepped out of the tub she jolted upright when the familiar creaking sounds of the door plague her ears as she hastily ran for cover.
"Shit, shit, shit. I can't believe this is happening."
The door opened wider, and in came John with his back to her.
"Crap…" she said aloud before the man shut the door instantly and turned his head to face her naked form.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
"WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!."
They yelled almost simultaneously but Wanda shut her mouth as she noted that John's scream was longer, she looked at him and blushed a deep red as he returned the gesture but looking her up and down, up and down, before settling his gaze on her face to hide his amusement.
Finally realizing that she was still unclothed, she slapped John's face lightly before pressing her body close behind him in an attempt to hide her self from his eyes. John then realizing the close proximity of their body, decided to look at her face but Wanda cupped his face with her hands from behind disabling his chances of looking back.
"Try to look and you're dead!"
"But Wanda I-… AHHHHHH" He shouted as she tightly gripped his face further. "Look I am sorry, I didn't mean to, it was an accident."
"Shut up, and don't try to peek." Said a blushing Wanda as she tried to reach for her towel with her left hand, but she was having a hard time because John's body was in her way.
"Wanda I can see you in the mirror."
The realization hit her that a huge mirror was in front of John making him see all of her. "Crap, close your eyes… close them!" She said as she removed her hand from his face and took the towel from the hook.
"Ow." John said as he opened his eyes later, seeing a now glaring Wanda who is draping the towel in her body. He wanted to commend her on her perfect figure but he realized that now's probably not the best time as he sensed that Wanda's furious state may get him an early death. He then slowly resigned to regaining whatever respect she has for him left and turned to look at the door.
Noticing his turning away, Wanda's eyes softened before opening the door and walking away towards her room.
As soon as John was alone in the bathroom, he shut the door, made sure it was locked then jumped in delight. He wasn't a pervert but he was happy. He was getting used to the feeling of Wanda's body close to him as he remembered their embrace from last night, her falling on top of him that morning, earning her body a free feel of his bare chest and last but not least, this bathroom incident. He swore that it was an accident, he hadn't intended on walking in on her, but the door wasn't locked. Isn't that supposed to mean that the room was unoccupied? In any case he concluded that it was one of the best moments of his life.
He proceeded with his bathroom routines but all the while he was thinking of a certain someone. It was a great day for him, and he was sure tomorrow would be another one. John can be heard singing loudly in the shower, the only thing that's constant aside from the mental image of Wanda in his mind was the smile on his face… and who knows what else he would do in there?
A/N 2.0: LOL what do u think he was doing in there? Ooh you and your dirty minds!! Haha… anyway… remember I appreciate reviews, I am a sucker for those so don't keep them away from me… lol