Sorry for taking so long but I got writer's block and school has been crazy. College is definitely no joke and sorry in advance for any grammatical errors you see since my hand is like throbbing from writing this much. Anyway, there is one chapter left after this since I pretty combined like three chapters in one with this. Lazy move, but I don't have time to write it all and I really wanted to finish this before my Microsoft Office Free Trial end on April 30, so I should have the next chapter up by Thursday. Also, thanks to all of those people who have reviewed, favorite, or story alerted my stories. You guys are the best! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel Comics or the X-Men although I wished I did. That would be awesome.

Chapter 4: Realizations and Invitations

Rogue had good reasons to be scared after the two disastrous dates that Betsy had arranged for her. Two Fridays in a row, Rogue was set up with a guy of Betsy's choice, and both dates turned into something that Rogue could not put into words. Sitting in her room, Rogue sat on her bed, thinking about her dates and why she let Betsy arranged them.

The first date was with a non mutant named Tim who worked in the coffee shop that many Xavier students visited. Rogue had to admit that he was cute with his blonde, wavy hair and blue eyes with a physique that would make must guys jealous. He agreed to a date and Rogue met him at his place of work to get to know each other. It had gone well for the first thirty minutes, he did not mind that she was a mutant and they had the same interest in literature. It went downhill, however, when his ex-girlfriend, that Rogue now knows is named Dana, came in and immediately demanded who she was. It was then that Rogue knew that Tim had only agreed to a date to make his girlfriend jealous since dating a mutant was bound to make your ex think twice about dumping you. When the two started to kiss each other in front of her, Rogue silently slipped out.

The next one was with Joseph Dane, a new recruit that has shown interest in Rogue since he arrived. He was incredibly eager and the date had gone rather well. They talked about his younger sister Lorna, who was two years younger than Rogue and treated her like a big sister, as well as the other things that one would talk about on a date. Despite it being what most would call a perfect date, Rogue just wasn't into it. It wasn't just about the fact that Joseph reminded her suspiciously of Magneto, but that a certain red eyed Cajun as been populated her thoughts lately.

Rogue noticed a decline in Remy's appearances when Betsy announced that Rogue was going on a date. When the date ended badly, Remy was the first to console her saying that she would one day find her prince charming (as corny as that sounds). However, when she came back from her date with Joseph, Remy was nowhere to be found. With Betsy with Warren and Jubilee, her other female confidante, studying for one of her college courses, Remy was the only one she could confine in. When she went to his room, what she saw made her feel emotions that she hadn't felt since Bobby. Remy was coming out of his room without his shirt on, but he wasn't alone. Dazzler came out with him, her face glowing in happiness. Before she walked away, Dazzler turned around and kissed Remy passionately on the lips, with him happily responding. Rogue had quickly turned around and went to her room feeling terrible. At that moment, Rogue realized that she was feeling jealous and that she liked Remy more than she originally thought. To say that it hurt would be an understatement. It felt like someone had taken her heart and stomped on it. Maybe she was exaggerated, especially since her and Remy was not even a couple, but when she was on the date with Joseph, all she could think about was Remy and the time they spent together, before and after she found Bobby with Kitty.

Since then, she has avoided Remy at all costs which was easy since he was avoiding her too. When he wasn't with Dazzler, he was with Lila or so other girl in his little fan club. Now that it was Wednesday, Rogue was just going stay in her in room until Betsy told her about her next date for this Friday. Hopefully, she would find her prince in whoever he would be.

Betsy was freaking out. It was already Wednesday and she has yet to pick someone who can be a suitable date to Rogue.

'Who can I use?' she thought has she gone over potential candidates in her head.

'Piotr? No he's still hung up on Kitty.'

'Sam? No he's like a little brother to her.'

'Remy? No that would ruin the plan.'

"Hey Betsy, what's up?" said Jubilee who walked into the recreation room to watch television. Since it was in the middle of the day, most of the young residents were in class, leaving the room empty. Betsy nodded to Jubilee and continued to think about potential candidates.

Jubilee sat down on the couch next to Betsy and watched her show when Betsy suddenly jumped up out of frustrated.

"Why is it so hard to find a date for a hot mutant?" Betsy screamed.

Jubilee watched Betsy as if she were crazy and said, "Why not just get Gambit go on a date with her? We all know he's crazy about her."

Betsy sat back down and shook her head with a no. "Asking Remy would ruin everything."

"Why is that?"

Betsy sighed at Jubilee's statement as if she was a seven year old that asked a stupid question. "Because, how can Remy get jealous of Rogue's date if she is on a date with him?"

Jubilee's eyes went wide. "Are you telling me that the only reason that you are putting together all these dates is so Gambit would confess to Rogue?"

"You catch on fast, but yes, that is exactly what I'm doing. If I just arranged them to be on a date, Rogue would see it as chore and not take it seriously. Since Remy has yet to tell Rogue how he feels, I had to give him a little push," said Betsy.

"I think your plan has back fired. I haven't seen the two of them in the same room since last week, and Gambit has been hanging around Dazzler and her wannabe slut band."

"That's not a problem, since Rogue has definitely realized that she likes Remy now after seeing them together. Plus, what he has going with Dazzler is nothing serious. They have not had sex and Dazzler is only making it look like they did. Remy is only hanging out with them because he's hurt by Rogue dating other guys and Dazzler and her gang gives him nonstop attention."

"How do you know all this?"asked Jubilee, looking at her with a bemused look.

Betsy did not respond but pointed to her head. "Oh, yeah, I forgot," said Jubilee.

"Why are you down her anyway? You're usually with Kitty."

"Oh well, Kitty wants to be alone, since her and Bobby has been having relationship issues."

"What? Are you serious?" shouted Betsy. This information was not what she was expecting Jubilee to say. After Bobby had confessed his love to Kitty in the hallway, Betsy was sure that their relationship was going to be the real deal, but apparently she was wrong.

"Yeah, remember when you gave Rogue that makeover three weeks ago? Well, Bobby's been running his mouth to some of his friends, saying how he wished he had stayed with Rogue instead of cheating with Kitty. It seems like he regrets it, especially since his friends are drooling over her like when she got control of her powers. Kitty heard and didn't like what he said, of course. The two got into an argument after that. From what Kitty's been telling me, she wonders if Rogue was to say that she wanted Bobby back would he go to her. Honestly, she has a reason to be worried. Bobby has a wondering eye but I don't think Rogue is the one she should be worried about."

"Why do you say that," asked Betsy, very interested in the gossip around the institute.

"I've seen Bobby hanging out with Lorna Dane for a couple of days now and they look more than friendly," said Jubilee, "But Kitty has also been out with Piotr without Bobby knowing, so she can't really talk."

Before Betsy could respond, her boyfriend walked in, holding two tickets. "Guess who is going the Annual Worthington Masquerade Ball this year," said Warren, happily handing a ticket to Betsy.

"Sounds great, when is it?"

"It's this Friday actually. Why"

"Do you have any available friends," asked Betsy.

"Yeah, actually I do. There's Noah, his father is some oil tycoon."

"Is he mutant friendly?"

"Yeah, he is. He's friends with me remember."

Betsy smiled has a plan formed in her head.

Remy Lebeau was not happy. He had just come out of another gruesome Danger Room session with Logan, better known as the Wolverine, who had just given him another vivacious beating. At first, he did not know why the Wolverine was beating him to a pulp, but after talking to Storm, he found out that Logan had recently went to another trip to Canada to find himself only to come up short. Apparently, Storm had suggested that Logan take out his frustrated on the Danger Room and Remy was his best opponent since he had the best stamina healing factor next to Logan himself. Remy was happy to help but wished that Storm could have at least warned him.

Remy walked slowly to his room, his bones aching as he walked.

'Healing quickly my ass' Remy thought as he made it to his room. He was happy to see that Dazzler was nowhere in sight. The girl has been hanging around him since Friday when he kicked her out of his room. Remy had been tired, having just come from the Danger Room to get over his no Rogue stress, when he came out of the shower to find Dazzler sitting on his bed. After telling his groupie to get out, he managed to get her to leave by promising to kiss her. The next day Rogue was avoiding him which only meant one thing; her date with Joe had gone perfectly. It was then that Remy decided to move on, but it was hard especially since Dazzler and her crew were only street smart at best. He always knew that he was attracted to Rogue but being around her as much as he had been made him realize that he had slowly but surely fell in love with her. Sighing, he opened his door only to see that someone was already inside. Not looking to see who it was but suspecting it was Dazzler, Remy moved to his dresser to get more clothes to change.

"It's amazing, chere, that you are able to break into a thief like Remy's room." said Remy.

"Expecting someone, Gambit?"

Noticing that the voice wasn't Dazzler's, Remy turned around to see Betsy Braddock sitting on his bed.

"Bets, what a surprise! If you were interested in moi you should have just said. Remy would have been here sooner!"

"Listen, Gambit, I'm here to tell you that Rogue is going on a date with Noah Knight, a friend of Warren's, on Friday," said Betsy, "What are you going to do about it?"

Noticing the serious tone in her voice, Remy sat in a chair by his desk and responded with, "what can Remy do, Rogue obviously don't like moi, which is why she is into dating anyone but him."

"You're so full of it, Remy," said Betsy has she got up to go to the door but stopped. "Rogue likes you, a lot, but we both know she's the type to need a push into the right direction. The address is printed on your ticket, and please wear a mask and suit."

With that last note, Betsy left leaving Remy to think. If what Betsy said was true, he had more of a shot than her realized.

"I guess Remy is going to a masquerade."

Rogue got up later that night to see Betsy and Jubilee jumping up and down with excitement outside her door. Although it was normal to see Jubilee with so much energy, seeing Betsy like that was still amazing to Rogue. It just shows how much Betsy has opened up.

"Guess what?" asked Jubilee.

"What?" asked Rogue back, playing along.

"You're going to a ball with a rich oil tycoon's son."

"What!?" shouted Rogue looking at Jubilee then Betsy who just nodded.

"That's right, luv, you are going to the masquerade with me and Warren this Friday."

"That's great, and why are you two looking at me like that?"

Betsy and Jubilee were looking at Rogue with eerie grins.

"You didn't think that you were going to the looking like that did you," asked Betsy.

Rogue was now doubling in terror of what was to come.

Author's note

Did anyone like it? I didn't like it much myself but I really want some feedback so review.