Message to Readers,
I just wanted to apologize for the length of time it took me to publish this chapter. I admit I had problems deciding how to present it, but I also had somethings hold me back I won't bore you with all the details just the highlights. I injured my hand at work which required surgery that took the insurance sometime to approve. During the time before the surgery and sometime afterwards I could not type due to pain. Finally after that passed I got 95 percent through this and my laptop crashed taking a few weeks to get all the data back. I also want to assure you that it may take me a while, but I do have an ending for this story and all the chapters leading up to it have an outline. I hope you can stick with me and that you enjoy it.
Chapter 6 part 1
Choices
When I get back to the academy and go to my room things feel different. I now know that no matter where I am or what I'm doing that there is someone out there missing me. Someone who is waiting to see me again as I wait to see them. I have made an impact on someone I like being around and he feels the…..not the same, but he wants to be my friend. I began to remove all the blankets, sheets and pillow cases from the bed and make it up with the green ones Gambit picked out for me. While I smooth out the wrinkles with my hand I conclude that I agree it does look nice and relaxing. Just one more thing to do I reach into my bag to retrieve my stolen loot.
I look at the picture of my friend, when it was time to leave the school it occurred to me that aside from the personal bedding he purchased for me that like the girl I share a room with I could use some personal pictures to decorate my sleeping area. I know I did not need to steal it from Rogue, I could have asked Gambit to give me one. Or I could have used my phone to take one. However I could feel Rogue's dislike of Gambit's kindness towards me. It was completely understandable considering I attacked him. When he hugged me though I could sense her jealously of our closeness. As though I was some kind of a threat to their relationship that she ended, finding the picture under her bed only confirmed my suspicion that she still thought of him has hers. It seemed unfair to me, putting those thoughts aside I look at my picture. He is what most women would consider handsome. I do not remember for sure it I did when he starting following me around since as was fairly annoyed by him doing so. However it did not take long for me notice that despite the red on black coloration of his eyes that tends to frighten most people. They rarely ever show anything other than kindness.
I place the picture against the wall and extract one of my claws to force it in.
"Oh my God"
Anya Corazon (aka Spider-Girl aka my roommate who up until now I have only ever seen while she is sleeping.) is staring at me wide eyed
"What?"
"You know Gambit?"
I nod slowly and refocus on the picture.
"So what is he on you kill list?"
"No he is my friend."
"Then why stab him in the head?"
"I just wanted to put it on the wall."
"Well here take one of my fames I'm more than happy to help you hang that where we can all see it."
I hear someone else approaching I sniff the air and realize it's Finesse.
"Hey Jeanne check this out, X knowns Gambit."
"Really? Way to go girl didn't know you had it in you what's he like?"
"He is nice."
"No I mean in bed."
"He is just my friend"
"So you're saying you're not into him."
"Ah long pause you totally like him."
"And who could blame you? He's super-hot."
"Oh I know!"
Agreed Anya as she drops down on my bed.
"I can't believe Rogue would leave him for Magneto. He's looks like that old guy in those rings movies."
"Now hang on there."
Finesse counters as she drops down on my bed barely giving me time to make room for her.
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to play the field some."
"How can you say that? They're like real life Bella and Edward or those characters they made us read about from that really old story. He loved her all that time even though they couldn't touch."
"And I'm sure when they were able to touch he was amazing and passionate, but she's still young and if she's only been with him there are still different kinds of hot."
Not knowing what to do I just sit there watching their back and forth debate and I am pretty sure I do not like where this is going.
"Gambit is mysterious and romantic, but then there's the clean cut good boys that you have to mess up you know the classic heroes like Captain America, or the rough and tough dangerous ones like Blade, Punisher"
She pauses and looks at me. Now I am positive I do not like where this is going.
"Or Wolverine with his sexy glare and burly built hairy body, he may be short, but he's thick all over. You just know he'll give it to you rough until you can't take anymore."
"Please stop."
"Yeah knock it off, who wants to think about sex and there daddy?"
"He can be my daddy any day."
I turn my head to her and shoot her a cold glance.
"Ok I'll stop, don't rip me apart. Anyways back to your problem, if you want a shot with Gambit here's whatcha need ta do. First despite what most other supers say about him if all that stuff we've heard about him waiting for Rogue is true then he's not the libido driven sex maniac they say, so you don't have a chance now cause you're way too young. So you're going to be in a long haul so first you need to develop a personality, your life can't just be killin and secret missions find things you like have things in common but don't just copy all of his likes.
Second try to be his equal he will probably give you advice don't just take it also give him advice on anything he may be having problems with. You also need to have some relationships don't just wait for him, trust me it will help if he sees you've had other boyfriends. Now next is the hardest part because it's mostly outta your control he has to get over Rogue. I mean he has to completely have her out of his system and that may take a while so during that time it would be a good idea for you to see him less so when he's over her maybe you'll look more mature and he'll see you has a woman."
"I'm not going to do any of that. I'm content just to be his friend."
The rest of the day goes by slowly. I go through it like a well programed machine akin to when I was young and in the hands of the Weapon X program. I do both the physical and academic work flawlessly, ingest a bit of food and go back to my room. I sit down on my bed and calmly reach in my back pocket to retrieve my phone. I hold it lightly in my hand staring at it intently. It is dark and lifeless, still I wait with all my attention focused solely on it, just like all the other device owners who use it to converse with others by typing insignificant messages for hours on end, check different web pages so see what pictures, feelings, or relationship updates their friends have just shared. Or watch short videos made by normal everyday people in an attempt to become revered by the other everyday people they had just been like before. I do none of these things with mine. It is still dark I really have no use for it except one possible thing so I still stare as minutes that feel like hours go by.
"Hey."
I look up to my surprise I see Sean standing in my door way, the look on his face seems nervous and unsure, he is also perspiring kind of like the day when I challenged him. I raise my head slightly to him.
"I just wanted to come by to tell you that, I'm sorry for what I did to you."
"You do not have to do that. I have had much worse."
"Yeah, but it was wrong. I came here because I wanna help people. What I did to you, we aren't even supposed to do that to the enemy.
"That is what they tell you….now."
He gives me a look of disbelief then shakes it off.
"You're on my team X, and from now on I'll treat you like you're part of it. That is if you choose to stay on."
"I never considered leaving it."
His eyes meet mine as he finally looks up from the floor and holds my gaze, he almost appears to be smiling at me. I had not really considered whether or not I was angry about what he did. I just accepted him has a new enemy and assumed that would not change. His seemingly genuine apology was unexpected and the kindness in his eyes makes me want to give back some unexpected reassurance.
(Phone rings)
I see Gambit's picture light up the phone and instantly answer it.
"Hey dere petite, how was your day?"
"It was without incident."
"Sounds like no fun, Don worry I come up wit something for us to do when we visit. Dis weekend going to work for you?"
"I think that will be fine as of now."
"Hope it stays dat way, I miss you."
"It has barely been 24 hours."
"Ya sayin ya don miss me?"
"At this point? Yes. That would be accurate."
"Whoa dat's cold Laura, you wound me."
"You are a fairly easy target for me."
Gambit laughs
"Apparently so chere. I guess I better come up wit some lively things for us to do to distract you from hurtin me dis weekend."
"I guess you better."
"Goodnight Laura, Talk to you again soon."
"Goodnight."
I look up just as Sean is walking away, I had forgotten about him.
True to his word Gambit calls me again the next night. We talk for a few minutes, I go through my day he goes through his. He calls again and the next day. Then the day after that and the day after that, until Saturday comes. The day we are going to meet up I worry we won't have anything to talk about. I am afraid that eventually he will find me boring if I let him do all the talking like usual. Tonight will tell I guess.
We go out to the city at night, he takes me to a club where the door man halts me, Gambit slips him a fairly large sum of money and he lets us right in. The inside of the club is surrounded with people, a lot of them are brunched together on a dance floor swaying to the overly loud music with bright neon lights flashing over them. I watch them for a while some of them move so fluidly with the music it's almost as if they are a part of it.
Gambit leans close to me and yells.
"Dis is techno music. Ya like it?"
I shrug and continue to watch the dancers.
After that weekend our schedules conflict, well mostly mine as I need to study for some test, but he calls me every day and talking isn't quite as awkward.
A few weeks later I am able to meet up with him again. We go to another club again lots of people crowded over at the bar. And also lots of people crowded on the dance floor. There are also people on the side watching.
I have a difficult time preventing myself from nodding my head to the beat of the music. Gambit makes his way over to me and I notice his head nodding slightly.
"Dis is rap. Like it.?"
Again I shrug.
The month after that.
Unsurprisingly we go to another bar this one I notice is different as soon as we enter. It is very well lit, smells heavily of smoke and beer so it reminds me of Logan. There are people sitting at tables having drinks brought to them. Every guy is wearing jeans with a button up shirt or a t-shirt. The women either the same with a hat, or they have a sun dress. The oddest thing is the dance floor is twice as big, but the men and women are not bunched together, they are neatly in a row standing side by side in a line moving back and forth while occasionally kicking or clapping.
"Dis is what Rogue likes. You?"
"No!
For once we do not go to a club. We are at a large stadium. I glance around has we make our way to our seats and notice that we are mostly surrounded by teenaged girls and also small children (mostly girls.) with their parents. After we sit down they all burst into horrible shrieks that I swear are going to burst me ears. When a group of young men go on stage and began to dance exactly the same way and start to sing.
Not a minute later Gambit looks me and I wordless express to him with a glance that I may harm him if we do not leave quickly.
"Sorry petite we try something else"
Good he got the message.
Avengers Academy
Throughout the weeks that follow at the academy, I start to notice some of the different clothes or logos the others have, Lots of them are displaying their music taste I can tell who likes country, rap, tech…. oh god I see someone with a shirt that has all those guys on it and quickly run the other way.
Today we are being sent out in our group to a different location. We are sent in an armored vehicle as usual only this one has no windows so we cannot really make out where we are going. I make an estimation has to how far out we are sent, but the drive does not make any distinguishing turns. Though I can tell we are not going straight. When we arrive at our destination Sean tells us to form up and follow. The area is almost completely disolate there is one small warehouse building with a cellar door to the left of it and a bit of plant life. We are also in the middle of some large dunes which would make seeing any in coming enemies difficult. After a few hours of surveillance we get the order to meet at the rendezvous.
The next month
We go to an immense outdoor gathering with multiple stages there are people of all ages most of whom are dressed heavily in black. But they either have very colorful hair, tattoos or lots of pointed jewelry poking out of lots of different places other than the common ear ones I have seen lots of women wear. We get really close to one stage where the band is supposed to start soon. After taking a deep breath I realize I should avoid doing do again since that one got me a bit dizzy I keep looking around until the band starts playing. I music immediately catches my interest. It is hauntingly beautiful.
"I think we have a winner no?"
Without looking at him I slowly nod.
After the show.
"I thought dis would be the one for you, I mean look at you. You look like you could be a rock star. Let me have your phone a sec I'm going to put my credit card on here so I can download a bunch of different bands similar to dis one as well as older bands you may like. Also if you find anything else you wanna try just feel free ta keep downloading dem. Now come on let's go pick out a shirt for you."
Jean Grey School
After the show at the festival I spend most of my free time listening to the different music Remy loaded onto my phone. I go through track after track. Deciding which songs I like and which ones I don't. Some of them however make me feel something inside myself. Some of them touch me the way my few friends have managed to touch me. Others make my blood boil and I feel like I could single handedly take on an army. The ones I really love though make me feel as though the writer saw me and the things I had been through, that he wrote these songs just for me.
Hey lay in bed wearing only a pair of pajamas. Letting his celling fan cool his body, he had just gotten out of a steamy shower, He had worked out heavily for hours in the Danger Room. His muscles were twitching, he had decided to listen to some of the hard rock songs that he'd recommended to Laura. He felt pumped full of adrenaline and found himself moving faster and hitting harder than usual. So now he wanted to just relax. He put on some headphones and put on a random mix of softer rock music. He recognized one that came on from the show he'd taken Laura to. When the band had performed it he watched he expression and could tell that she really loved it. He knew that he had heard it before it was very popular when it came out, but he'd never really paid attention to the lyrics. "I don't belong here." He had felt that way many different times in his life. Hell probably everyone does at one point or another, but he couldn't imagine what it was like for Laura who had yet to really feel like she was a part of something. He knew that he would never be able to fix that for her. He just hoped she'd have better luck than him.
Right has the song was ending he felt something tickling his neck. He opened his eyes to see the tied for second favorite body part of his tied for first favorite woman in the galaxy. He basked in the view for a few moments debating the possible consequences of anything more than just looking.
Anna was leaning over him reaching her arm towards something on his night table.
"Bonjour."
"Hey there, sorry to surprise you I was trying to get your attention."
"Well I'd say you got it chere."
"Don't be a prev Remy."
Accused Rogue while hastily scooting off his bed
"I did try to call you from the door, but ya got your music on so loud ya couldn't hear me yellin at ya."
"So you thought you'd hop in bed with me?"
"No! Ah was just trying ta unplug your headphones."
That may very well have been Remy thought to himself, but looking at the woman in front of him he couldn't help but wonder what she was up to. She wore faded blue jean shorts that barley covered the green g string bikini poking out of them, a small yellow button up shirt tied above her navel opened to reveal her green bikini top that made his old friends the twins very difficult not to stare at like a teenage boy gawking at the first stripper he ever saw. She was also wearing her hair down something she hadn't done in a while, it even appeared to be a little curly.
"Can I do something for you chere? Or to you?"
"Remy! You're being mighty flirtatious. I was just going down."
Remy's eyebrows raise.
"To the pool ya dirty thing!"
She shouted while squeezing her hands into fist.
He took this has a sign she was no longer amused.
"Sorry Rogue I behave."
She drew a deep breath then gave a dismissive wave of her hand.
"I just wanted to know if you would you like to join me?"
"Jus got through trainin chere, was relaxin."
Anna pouted slightly.
"Well I also wanted ta say ah do appreciate all the times you've been there for me. You have let me vent out my relationship issues before I shouldn't get mad at you when you ain't in the mood. And thank you for the apology the other day. I don't like it when things are bad between us, Ah still love ya sugah. Ah don't think that's ever gonna change."
She proclaimed as she casually eased closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Remy Lebeau had over the years become adept at resisting women's advances. He was in love with a woman who couldn't touch and she was in love with him. She was incredibly sensitive and sometimes ridiculously quick to jealousy. So he learned to shut out sexual thoughts when attractive women would try anything. Also how to be only minimally polite to any woman when Anna was watching. He truly had gotten used to ignoring anything that could get him in any trouble. Problem with all of this is that it was for every other woman aside from Anna. He waited years before the two of them were able to touch.
So even just a coy smile and slightly flirty talk from her was enough to drive him wild and make it very difficult to think. And here she was looking like a Victoria Secret's angel with her arms draped over him. He was momentarily able to push random thoughts into his head to try and distract himself.
Baseball, Football, Soccer, Skiing, Swimming, Swimsuits, DAMMIT! Ok fall from celling move forward five steps, disable motion sensor continue ten steps forward.
These efforts were thwarted when he felt her cuddle closer to him pressing her soft globes against his bare chest. This was a new kind of torture for him. Before when she refused to touch him because she didn't want to hurt him he could deal with it. Her being with another man was heart breaking to him, but up until now she'd been keeping her distance. Having her here four steps from his bed with her silk skin caressing his own bare skin reminding him of all their intimate time together. All he could think to do was think of it like one of the actual times he had been tortured and try to shut out what his body felt and refuse to give in to its urges. He just stood there stiff as a bored in more ways than one, not allowing himself to react in anyway.
"Well ah guess I'll see ya later Remy."
She giggled slightly when he opened his mouth and only a small intelligible grumble came out.
Anna honestly hadn't meant to tease Remy quite so much, but she did miss being close to him. She wasn't fond of how he called her Rogue more and more these days. He kept treating her like she was just a co-worker and that when they broke up she was no longer important to him despite his promise that he was still in love with her and would welcome her back. She just wanted to see if he still meant that. Also the fantasies she'd been having of him mixed with the fact that Eric wasn't always a very good replacement kept pushing the idea of going back to Remy in her mind. So it was really nice to know she could still cause him to drool like that.
Remy stood staring at the spot Anna had been standing in for a few minutes after she left. His breathing started to become rapid and he ran his fingers through his hair. Then he stumbled to his bathroom to change back into his combat uniform, and dashed back to the Danger room despite all his aching muscles. He now had tons of energy to burn off.
A month later.
We spend the day going to museums looking at statues and paintings.
"Why do some of the pieces of art not look like anything?"
"Dat's because it's called impressionism where the artist gives you their interoperation of things."
"The paintings you did of me look as good as the non-impressionist ones here."
"Dat's because I had to learn how to paint duplicate paintings of masterpieces good enough to fool art dealers so no one would notice I'd stolen the original. You can hire artist who know how but de Thieves Guild trains anyone who shows talent in art so dey never have to use outside sources."
When nighttime comes he takes me to a restaurant where we are seated on a balcony.
"Dis is one of de best places in New York petite."
"You know you never told me what kind of music you like."
"Me? I like it all Laura it doesn't matter the type the thing dat separates great music from de rest is music dat comes from the musician's soul"
A curtain opens from below and in center stage is a woman in a sparkly dress with a large band behind her. The lights dim and the band plays while she begins to sing. After her set a man with a guitar plays several songs even I'm new to music I can tell he's really skilled with his guitar.
"To answer your question since I grew up in Narlins I tend to favor jazz and blues music."
The woman has a very attractive voice and she sings incredibly.
"So what did ya think?"
"The woman sang beautifully and I liked the blues but, I ….I um."
"Still like the rock music better?"
"Yeah"
"Dat's ok petite you like what you like."
"Ya know dat's de beauty of art an music it don matter where de good stuff comes from or who made it. When people find something dat touches dem inside."
Today we arrive at a movie theater it is about half full fifteen rows long with fifteen seats across a true tactical nightmare for defense. The only exits are back up the oddly spaced apart steps and on the right of the screen up front. Gambit choses seats 5 rows from the front and right in the middle of course putting us at an even bigger disadvantage. He passes me a drink and popcorn which I randomly take from during the movie. It is about a man and a woman who like each other, but refuse to admit it. They date other people that annoy them and when that inevitably goes bad they meet again still refuse to date each other go through other relationships. By the end it seems like they are ready to see if they would be happy together. I doubt it.
"Did you like it petite?"
"I guess."
After that movie he takes me to go see several more kind of like it. Most are contemporary. Some take place in older times, one particularly weird one was a mailbox and time travel.
"Are most movies about people who are with the wrong person and don't realize the right one has been standing next to them the whole time."
"Those kind are. Tired of love stories?"
"A bit yes."
"Okay we move on."
Back at the Academy we are sent out to survey the barren field again this is the forth time we have been sent here. So this time I take a pair of headphones with me to listen to music has I've seen others in the group do. I listen to all of my current favorites and it seems to make time go by at a highly accelerated rate. I notice Sean giving me disapproving glances, but he seems hesitant to say anything to me.
When we get back to the academy I go to my dresser I feel like wearing the concert shirt Remy bought me. After putting it on I look at my picture of him.
"Thank you my friend I do miss you ever after small periods of time."
After getting my lunch I sit alone and began to eat. I don't think the food taste very good maybe Remy has spoiled me too much.
"Holy crap X are you actually wearing a shirt with something on it?"
Finesse says has halts walking by with Anya.
"Oh cool I love them did you go to the show?"
"Yes"
"Lucky bitch how did you get tickets?"
"Gambit took me."
"Okay now I hate you. You not only get to see one of my favorite bands but you get to do so with that arm candy don't you hate her An?"
"I don't really like them their too depressing I like music you can dance to."
"What's your favortite song by them?"
I ask
"Hold the phone X there goes baby Captain."
"He is such a cutie."
She comments has her eyes burn holes through a student walking by.
"Baby Captain?"
"Yeah we find students here that look like some of the older supers. Baby Captain looks like Captain America, there's also a baby Hawkeye baby Falcon and even a few X-Men babies I'm surprised you haven't noticed…"
"Ump no Anya let's see if she figures it out."
We go on to talk about a lot things involing music and dancing which Anya loves and keeps saying she wants me to go with her. I find myself enjoying their company I only hope things don't end up like they did on Utopoia.
Another weekend comes we go see more movies. These movies seem more like real life situations where everybody is constantly fighting and shooting at each other. Since they are human the fight scenes are a bit plain and do not really hold my interest. So I use my phone to read about my new favorite band's upcoming tour dates. Remy seems a bit uneasy when I do this.
Jean Grey School for Higher Learning.
None of the action flicks Gambit took Laura to see seemed to catch her interest very much. She spent a lot of the time on her phone which actually made him happy to see her using it like other teenagers. He just needed to explain theater etiquette to her. He glanced up to see Kitty leaving her office followed by Bobby.
"Hey Bobby. Working hard?"
"Shut up swamp rat!"
"Kitty I wanted to talk to you about my class."
He called rushing past Bobby swiping his belt causing his unbuttoned and unzipped pants to fall towards his knees.
"You Son of a…"
"Bobby!"
"Sorry"
He apologized and sulked away in defeat while Remy watched shaking his head.
"Remy I'm sure your class is fine"
"I was just wondering what I should do there's only so much to cover and it's been almost year."
"I'm sorry I got real problems right now, I have to find a new staff member to help out since Anna is going to be attending all the Shield and Avenger meetings."
"I could help out…."
"I sorry I gotta go find some real applicants, ya should see the losers that keep applying."
Halloween Night.
"Today I'm taking you to see a classic, and the hero has de same name as you."
30 minutes later.
"This Laurie by the way never call me that. She is nothing like me she is completely unaware of her surroundings.
50 minutes later.
"How is this girl not only dumb enough to get stuck in a window and too dumb to check her flank?"
"Shhh!"
15 minutes after that
"There's no way that knife could suspend him to the door the weight is too heavy and the blade is no wear near the right length."
Further in the movie
"Are you kidding me one moment she has the skills to jab him in the eye with a makeshift hanger weapon then in the neck with another random item so why is she dropping the deadly knife?"
"Hey shut up!"
"Be polite mon me. Laura could you go get some popcorn?"
"But you can order some from the waiters here.
"I know but I want lots of butter"
"Alright"
I run quickly to go and come back when I return waiters are serving everyone drinks.
"I don't understand why the mask is so important to him, he could be killing her.
"Now Loomis is going to fail."
Six shots fired.
"I like the old man."
"Oh come on if he had a healing ability then his eye shouldn't have been wounded when his mask was removed!"
"Come on petite lets go."
Outside the theatre
"Where the people in that movie just wanting to die because their clothing was so terrible or did they really just have no survival instincts at all?"
Remy just stares at me for a while and does not respond.
"What?"
"Nothing I'm just happy."
He reaches over with his arm and pulls me closer to him. It makes me a bit uneasy I have to resist the urge to kick him in the chest. He gives me a gentle kiss on the head then pulls back away from me. I look back at him with no thoughts on what to say. I just allow myself to feel this oddly warming sensation tingling through my chest and limbs.
"You look almost like you want to smile."
He gloats with that devilish grin he likes to use when he thinks he's right.
"Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that."
On this weekend Remy texted me with an address to an apartment to meet him at. Instead of the usual bar, theatre or some other venue to be entertained. I rush to the building has I realize I am going to be a few minutes late.
"Surprise petite!"
"Why are you surprising me?"
"It's your birthday."
"You mean the one you say is my birthday."
"It's a good time for it I don know my real one either so we got dat in common. Sides I felt bad we didn't do anything last year, so I wanted to get you something special."
I turn my head surveying the room it is completely bare except for a few pieces of furniture and a large television.
"Is that my gift?"
I ask motioning towards it.
"First of all that is a 70 inch plasma screen TV. Second dat's jus part of it dis place, it's all yours."
I look around again.
"It reminded me of you."
"An apartment remind you of me?"
"It's on de top floor with a large open floor plan, however de island kitchen and de built in room divider with the shelves make good cover spots so I had them reinforce wit some stuff dat makes Kevlar look like tissue paper. De exposed air ducts and piping will make it even easier for you to jump up and reach the only window for quick escape. There are two bedroom which both have a window, but only yours has a fire escape and the guest bedroom locks from the outside the door is also reinforced with dat material. Finally de laundry room has a shoot dat leads out of the building if you slide to de left. So like it?"
"I can't accept this it's too much."
"I already changed de deed to your name Laura here's your key."
I sense that any further argument will only dampen the mood and he will never change his mind.
"Thank you Remy it's the perfect apartment for me."
"Glad you like it Laura. Now it's time to go over to the couch I got you so we could sit tonight. But we can replace wit something else if you don like."
"That will not be necessary I am sure it is fine."
"Kay well deres a queen mattress in de bedroom, but de frame and everything else you gonna have to pick out. I got you a pre-paid credit card so you can get whatever want.
Again I opt against arguing.
"What kind of movie are we going to watch this time?"
"The best kind petite, the kind dat has it all. Love, adventure, friendship, monsters that try to destroy de world."
"But I have been in situations with most of those things and I am sure you've been in some with all"
"Yeah but dis is Legend the creatures in stories like dese where written about hundreds of years ago. Dese are de kind of stories dat make people want to be heroes."
"And it still also has a focus on love?"
"It has de best kinda love petite, the kind where even when mistakes are made. All hope seems lost to de point where everything including love could die. Trust. Trust in dat love still wins out."
"Sounds nice, but I believe that is what they call a spoiler."
"Sorry, you asked though. Dammit I forgot something."
He yelled while running over to the kitchen. He takes a small cake out of the refrigerator and begins putting candles on it.
"Turn out de lights"
"Do I have to?"
"People have insist on doing dis for me let me do it for you?"
I don't respond I just slump my shoulders in defeat on slowly make my way to the light switch.
"By the way I just wanted to let you know, dat I'm going to be leavin de school. It won affect us seeing each other much except for maybe a few months.
"Is this because of Rogue?"
"No I just feel like it's time for a change. They don need me there aside from the security set up they don seem to have any other real jobs for me. Or even really care what I do, an I've run outa things to keep de kids interested."
For the first time since we became friends I found myself very annoyed with him.
"Are you gonna blow out de candles or…"
"If the others believe you have nothing to contribute then they are fools."
I interrupted.
"And if you agree with their assessment then you are an ever bigger fool. You spent this year showing me art, introducing me to music and taking me out for fine foods. All while telling me those things are notorious for breaking down barriers between cultures and making people forget their differences. Your paintings look like they should be in a museum and your cooking taste just as good as some of those restaurants you take me to. If this really is not about Rogue than you have a lot you can offer."
I lean down and hastily blow out the candles leaving us in darkness.
I wake up like I've been shot, the room is completely dark and I feel disoriented. I feel emotions akin to ones I've had in extremely difficult combat missions that I thought I was going to fail whatever task I had set out to accomplish. The feelings can only be described has dread, regret, and fear. But the worst is panic, panic that I've taken a wrong turn that cannot be back tracked. I am on an unfamiliar path that I am not sure I was ready for or even really sure I wanted to take. As calmly has I can I slide out of bed careful not to make any noise and find my clothes so I can quickly dress and exit the room shutting the door behind me.
Remy is abruptly awakened by the sound of a shutting door. He looks around and can see only a small light, not sure if he should follow the sound he sits up in bed and rubs his eyes. Thinking to himself he still regrets that things moved so quickly. So he gets up and goes toward the light.