A/N: I know this chapter took FOREVER, but I am officially moved to California and have been working on this since I posted the last one. This chapter has a lot of information in it. It introduces a few new characters that will be vital to the story. Please read it carefully. If you have any questions, ask in your review or send me a message and I will be sure to clear things up (if, of course, it doesn't ruin the story lol). Also, it is kind of a boring chapter, but I am going to post the next chapter IN TWO WEEKS OR LESS. That's a promise. (Alecz, you need to kick my butt in gear so I keep this promise!) Rogue's POV unless otherwise stated.
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I wasn't exactly sure what day it was until I decided to make my final stop. I didn't have a need to know the day of the week, but I counted backwards to figure it out. I drove all last night, slept in the car the night before that, stayed at a hotel for two nights, slept in the car again, and the first night was a hotel. So let's see... I originally left Mutant High Thursday morning and was gone - nearly a week! My head spun from the revelation.
I crossed into Florida about seven this morning, topping off my gas tank and filling my stomach with convienance store mini-cakes. It was now running on 2 o'clock, and I was ready to stretch my legs. Driving along the east coast, I marvelled at the sights.
The Atlantic Ocean smiled at me; white crests like shining teeth and sandy beaches that reached as far as I could see. I had never seen such a beautiful blue in my life. In fact, I had never seen the ocean before.
I decided right then-and-there that I would stay right here in - I think the sign said Lake Worth? - and raise this baby. It was no longer Logan's baby; I had decided that half-way through Virginia. This baby - boy or girl, human or mutant - was mine alone, and I would raise it as the strong, independent woman I was. I would raise it with tolerance, understanding and more love than I could currently comprehend.
As I parked my car and added change to the meter, I instinctively clutched my abdomen. I guessed I was only about ten or eleven weeks along and had yet to start showing, but the thought of a tiny bundle of joy growing inside of me always made me reach for my belly.
I slipped my shoes off and held them between my fingers. Walking slowly, I reached the wooden steps to the beach and relished in the feeling of the sand between my toes. It was more than I ever imagined; tiny crystals of the earth hugged my feet as I made my way towards the water. A group of girls, clad but for bikinis, lay to my right - soaking up the warm sun's rays. A family with three children enjoyed a picnic on an over-sized towel. Their giggles reached my ears and made me smile, but gave me a small pang of jealousy. I wanted that; I wanted that with Logan.
Cool water splashed against my shins, completely covering my feet with the rush of the wave. The unexpected sensation gave me a chill, and I shut my eyes. The sun beat down on me, heating my skin quicker than I realized. I needed sunblock if I was going to live in the Sunshine State.
I walked up the shoreline, hiding beneath a pier for only a moment before coming out the other side. A small building caught my eye and I prayed it had sunblock. Up the stairs, a shower and small faucet hung from a wooden pole and I washed the sand off my feet. Slipping my shoes back on, I walked into the first store I saw.
The window displays were beautiful; necklaces and rings, bracelets and earrings, all made from the beach's shells. I'd never thought about the idea before, but seeing the end result now I was fascinated.
A bell on the door rang when it opened, and it slowly shut behind me. "Jaz, can you get that?" shouted a woman I couldn't see.
"Give me a minu-ute!" another voice said from the back. I glanced around the store for only a few more seconds before the woman appeared. She had hair that flowed to her waist, a chocolate brown that matched her eyes perfectly. A warm smile graced her features and the stranger lit up. "Hi, I'm Jaz. What can I do for you today?"
My eyes grew when they caught the rest of the store. Gorgeous beaded jewelry hung from hooks on the walls, while the more delicate- and expensive-looking pieces sat in glass cases.
"These are really beautiful. Do you make this stuff?" I asked, my voice finally finding itself.
A small laugh escaped her throat, "Yes, we both do."
"We?" I repeated.
"Yes, my best friend and I. We own the store together." she explained. "She's in the back. Annabel say hi!" she shouted.
"Hi!" came the first voice.
"How long does it take to make them?" I asked. My fingers hovered over a glass case as I stared at the intricate detailing.
"Depends on what we find on the beach." Jaz said with a small shrug. "The nicer shells we find, the longer it takes. I think the longest I've ever spent on a piece was a week or so."
"That's amazing."
I couldn't help but wander around the small store. Somehow, looking at all these amazing items made me forget all about my impending problems with Logan. This town would make it easy to let him go, or at least I hoped.
A redhead exited the backroom of the store and placed a necklace into a case, locking it when she was done. "I'm Annabel," she said, extending her hand for me to shake. I complied, remembering only a short while ago I couldn't touch at all. This made me wonder if these women took their ability to touch people for granted, knowing I never would.
"I'm..." pausing, I wasn't sure what to say. Even at the school I still went by Rogue, but here... here I could be anybody. I decided on sticking to what was easy. "I'm Marie." everyone was smiling, and I finally felt like I was home.
"Where are you from, Marie? I love your accent." Jaz said.
"Mississippi." I said simply. "Is your name really Jaz?"
"It's short for Jazmin. And Annabel goes by Anna. We're just a store full of nicknames" she said with another small laugh.
I stopped for a moment, silently sniffing the air. A pungent scent of tomato sauce and cheese reached my nose and I instantly felt nauseous. My hands flew to my mouth and my voice went hoarse.
"Do you have a restroom?" Anna reached for my wrist, hurriedly rushing me through the backroom and into a small bathroom. I fell to my knees, expelling the contents of my stomach into the porcelain toilet.
The redhead waited outside the door for me, a wet rag in hand. I offered her a weak smile and wiped the clammy sweat from my face. I didn't understand why I felt sick. I haven't had morning sickness at all so far, and even if I started now, it's not morning. It's nearing three in the afternoon.
"You're pregnant, aren't you?" Jaz asked as Anna and I joined her in the front of the store. All color drained from my face. Did I have a sign on my forehead that said 'with-child'? Was it that easy to pick up on?
"Don't worry so much, Marie. Anna here couldn't stand the smell of chicken her entire second trimester. I threw up every day for my entire pregnancy anyway." The brunette added.
"You both have kids?" I asked, astonished. These women looked close to my age, and I felt almost relieved to know I wasn't alone.
"My daughter will be two in July," Anna said, "And Jaz's daughter just turned three last month." I gave a small nod of recognition before glancing at their left ring-fingers. They were both married; I was not. They had jobs and families; I had a growing belly, a car and a few hundred dollars in my account. I was overcome with worry and needed air.
"Excuse me" I said, exiting the store and taking a deep breath of the salty breeze. Leaning against the cement walll of the building, I closed my eyes and slowly slid down to the sidewalk. I heard the familiar bell ring and Jaz's worried expression came into view.
"Marie? Are you okay?"
I shook my head, tears brimming the edge of my lids and I fought to keep them in. The friendly brunette leaned down to my see me better.
"Maybe you want to talk to someone. You're not alone in this. Is that how you feel? Alone?"
I looked at her, making eye contact and this time, I nodded.
"I had Alaina when I was eighteen. I was in college, didn't have a job, and wasn't married. Anna had her daughter at nineteen. Sure, she was married, but got divorced only a year or so later. And that ring you see on her hand? That's a promise ring from her boyfriend. Not an engagement ring, not a wedding band... So don't worry so much, honey. Things will fall into place when they're ready to." Jaz stood up, reaching for the door handle back into the store.
"If you ever need someone to talk to, or with, let us know. And if you need a job, we could use the help." she added, another smile spread across her lips and she gave a sly wink.
I gave a small grin, and finally realized how I knew Lake Worth would be right for me, and this baby.
