Disclaimer: Still own nothing… Come on shooting stars. I've wished on three and still nothing!
It took me a full fifteen seconds to register that the sleaze-bag was right in front of my face. Fifteen seconds being enraptured by those swirling eyes… my own as wide as moons, I'm sure. Should really get used to his ¨master thievery¨ which entails all the sneaking about, but when you're trying to ignore a fella, the details escape you.
I felt the breaths and eyes of all the girls in Kitty's little ¨chit-chat¨ session. They were just waiting for an explosion, and, based off of that quirk in Gambit's smirk, he was going to give them something.
My foot, being the smartest part of me, took half of a step backwards into my dresser. It clattered bringing me back to my senses. Ok, so maybe it wasn't the smartest part of me. I sighed to myself.
I gripped the edges of my novel just a little tighter. End this thing before it starts. No drama for the girls and no time for Gambit to indulge himself in his mockery of me. Just tell him to leave.
¨Gambit,¨ I said in as sturdy a voice as I could muster. ¨...Out.¨ Ok, so not really my authoritative expulsion. Still, he would get the message.
He feigned a heart attack, grasping at his chest and leaning on my bedstand. ¨Oh, You wound Gambit, Chere. Wha' ot'er reason would t'is ol' cajun have for hikin' all the way over here than t' see his Belle Femme?¨
I rolled my eyes at him and tried to ignore the gathering audience, slowly closing in around the two of us. Apparently, Gambit had noticed the audience as well. Well, of course he had, this was Gambit we're talking about. He probably knew that they were going to be here beforehand thanks to some very effective, and soon to be exterminated, devils.
He was putting on a show. I fumed.
¨Ah'm nawt your 'bella' anythang, swamp-rat!¨ I muttered checking a glance at him as I hardened my stance and steeled my features. I didn't want to face those stares; those inquisitive and intense stares from my friends. ...the pack of hyenas. They'd probably drive themselves mad coming up with 'romantic' situations and relationships for us two 'lovers.' I had to smirk at that, just a little bit.
I bet even Jean would be speechless. Now, THAT would be a sight.
¨Well, Chere,¨ Man. Forgot he was here. ¨Gambit still say he be yo's." I felt my face start to heat up slightly. Nasty, filthy, good-for-nothing… It was all out of anger, of course.
I took another peek at him away from my pens, erasers, and mismatched socks that I had just decided to find so very interesting. Maybe this was all a horrible nightmare, and I'd finally woken up? He gave me a smoldering look playing with the light in his eyes while resting his chin and his hands on top of that bow staff of his. Nope.
His eyes lit up even more and his grin widened as his chest buckled with half of a laugh. ¨Now, t'ere's Gambit's Chere wi't her livid, emerald eyes an' ragin' amour de colére." He remarked in that gruff and low voice of his. beat, beat, beat. He came closer to me, moving in small steps. I know that I heard squealing in the background. Jubes would be practically salivating, Jean dumbstruck, and Kitty… well, squealing for joy at my unfortunate circumstances.
Psylocke and Scarlet Witch were so dead after this.
I stared coolly back at the cajun , all the while plotting Betsy's and Wanda's demise. Something colorful, creative, and involving the separation of their limbs appeared pretty attractive.
The corners of his mouth perked up even more, his hand reaching towards me. beat, beat, beat. I felt my heart accelerate. Whether it was from anger towards the dead women, discomfort at the audience, or at anxiety at swamp-rat's closeness, I can't say.
He reached up quickly swiping the novel from my grip.
¨Hey!¨ I lunged for the book, before he could reveal my secret to the rest of the girls. Tabby would just have a field day knowing that I read romance novels.
¨Non, Chere,¨ Gambit said turning his back to me so that he could shield the book from my grip. He proceeded to nimbly flip through the pages ending up at the wedding scene of the two unfortunate lovers. The bride, condemned to death by ovarian cancer, will pass away at the end of the first night of her honeymoon. Just thinking about it and the groom's (then widower's) grief and desolation makes me tear up.
¨Well, Chere, t'is is how yo' like t' be kissed?¨ muttered that cajun with just a twinge of irritation in his voice. I was speechless, frozen out of fear of his spectacle. ¨Maybe, we giv' it a go, non? Mais, Gambit know a better way of kissin' Chere¨
My face was fuming by that time as I watched that gleam in his eyes explode in fireworks. He was loving every second of it tormenting me so much, nasty, no-good-
¨Cajun!¨ I shrieked. He popped off of the side of the bed and was two inches from my face in an instant. I saw all of the hardened lines in his face with that obtuse, crooked nose. And those hooded eyes, swirling all the while.
He's just so aggravating. He wouldn't kiss yah, ever. Just likes messin' with ya'. My face was beaming now, red all over. I knew that he wouldn't touch me though, I never had to worry about none of that. No one would ever dare.
An idea popped into my head at hearing the girls salivating in the background. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see those two witches just managing to stifle their cackles.
Everyone is lookin' fah a show. Why nawt give it to 'em? With that I stole my face again, feeling all of the heat drain out. I stood on my tiptoes and prayed that what I was doin' wasn't gonna come around and nip me in the butt.
Gambit's eternal smirk faded, confusion flooding his eyes for a second (oh, such a blissful second) as I reached up, grabbing both sides of his trench coat's collar, and pulled him down to my level. A part of my brain fumed at my short stature, but having him hunched over satisfied me a little.
I smirked at him for a change, fingers still clenched around his collar.
¨Well, Gambit,¨ I proclaimed just loud enough for Kitty to hear. She would owe me for a month at this. ¨I suppose, we'll jus' hafta try both of 'em out and then compare? What do you say, swamp-rat?¨ I looked at him with such big doe eyes, and watched as he fell all over himself.
He gaped, with lips parted just a few centimeters in the center. Eyes locked, surprisingly frozen in place almost, on mine.
I snuck a look at the rest of the girls. Kitty and Jubes were in deep shock, deciding whether to faint or squeal to such a decimal that only dogs would be able to hear them. Boom Boom looked like she would applaud or maybe create a little lightning from her explosive ecstasy; Laura sat there, quietly munching on some popcorn. (oh, sweet laura. You are forgiven). Amara, well, she just looked a bit uncomfortable, but there was something in her posture that told how she was NOT going to be looking away to miss a single bit.
Wanda and Betsy, well, I will always cherish how they were just glued in place, as my words towards that low-life cajun caused all of their plans to backfire.
I glanced back towards the cajun. The facade dropped. His eyes looked serious, no more quirk or gapping mouth. His calloused hand reached up, lingering just on my left hand, caressing the fingers. Loosening my grip on his collar.
He still hadn't stood though. He stayed in that position, hunched over and peering at me through his shaggy brown bangs.
He hadn't run away yet. Not even a step.
He wasn't moving. My mind registered the shock and adrenaline began to course through my body. He was just standing there. Why was he just standing there? He wasn't accosting me (thankfully for both me and him), but he wasn't running? They all ran just about now. Cody had tried to run, but back then, I couldn't have stopped. I didn't know until it was too late.
I remember it so vividly. The taste of his lips on mine, exploring each other's mouth. And then, just a little gasp from him. I had my eyes closed, just so involved in that first kiss. I'd been so stupid thinking that it was just his reaction to enjoying the kiss; I'd been so wrong, so so stupid. I remember opening my eyes to see Cody's rolling back into his head, his body, and lips growing limp and lifeless. I saw those lines, draining, ink black, spreading like cobwebs over his face, draining all of his life.
Cody. Memories. So many memories flooding my brain that it hurt. My head was throbbing with coach's shouts to better my form, Mrs. Kunkel criticizing me for answering that algebra question in the eighth grade wrong, mom baking apple streusel after my first little league game, my mom.
I screamed with the pain falling to the ground, holding my head as I remembered the life being taken out of me by that girl I was kissing. Marie. She had seemed so nice, but she made me hurt so much.
I had caused Cody all that pain.
Now was now. I couldn't let Gambit get hurt. I looked again at those eyes slowly starting to swirl again. He was starting to think, and I panicked. What if he tried something? I couldn't do that again. There have been too many flybys in the past. Too close.
Facades always worked for this cajun. Why not try one of your own. Well, that is such a lovely little idea, you little psyche. No prob. Thinkin' now, it was probably Kitty. That little genius is good for some things.
Facade to get out. Okay, I can do this.
¨Well,¨ I said lookin' straight into that hardened face, trying not to breathe his scent of spice, smoke, and sweat, too deeply. I leaned in all closelike, taking my right, gloved hand, against his cheekbone. There's that little gap of surprise in his smirk.
FOCUS!
I sighed just a bit, trying my best to act bored. ¨Well, Gambit, This has been some good fun, nawh, but yah see, Ah must be goin' nawh.¨ I brushed my fingers along the edge of his cheek, down to the jawline trying to think of anything except what I was doing right then.
¨Oh,¨ I said, examining my fingers and stressing the pout in my voice. He was probably drooling right now. How sweet victory is. Shaking out my fingers I whispered, close to his ear, ¨a girl could cut ahself ahn a cheekbone lahke that, sugah.¨
Slipping my hand around to my bed, I seized the forgotten romance, and waltzed out of the room to the balcony.
The sun was bright and warm. The breeze played with a few strands of my hair.
I checked the girls again. They were all nearly dead. I'm sure Jean was. Absolutely positive that she was never going to completely recover from this complete disregard for personal boundaries or the ¨common rules of any established relationship.¨
That swamp rat stood there. Looking. Hands resting on top of his bow staff again. Dark, combat boots scuffing against the floor. He smiled. Not just a smirk or a smile to placate. A real smile, honest. Almost like he was laughing at a joke as I continued to saunter out on the balcony reaching the end and then disappearing to the roof.
At least there I could finish my novel and not have to worry about those eyes, that smoke, and that smile for a little while. I could also mull over Betsy and Wanda's deaths. There were just too many well-deserved situations.
To you sweet and patient readers out there. I am so sorry! It's been months since I've last posted, and I left you with such a cliffhanger too! My thousand apologies. Hopefully this spicy, little chapter will make up for a little of it. I promise you all, I will try harder to update more frequently, keeping the detail and intensity levels up there. Thanks again, lovelies:D