I don't own the marvel characters. All rights of these characters background goes to the makers of marvel. The story however, is mine and mine alone. And I reserve the right to this story line and all story lines of or relating to this set up.

Lunch Time

The lunch room was crowded as always by the time Rogue got there. None of the food looked at all appetizing. As she made her way down the line, she looked out over the people sitting near by. She saw Scott, Jean, Kurt, Kitty, Allison and Bobby. Kitty caught sight of her, and started waving, Rogue slowly made her way over to their table. Taking a seat, Allison smiled gently at her. She smiled back slightly before going back to regarding her food, if it was indeed food. Her opinion of it was not helped by the fact that Kurt and Bobby were talking about what they thought the food resembled, or the fact that Jean and Elizabeth seemed to be getting greener and greener as lunch went on.

Rogue did not pay them any attention until she heard Kitty mention Thomas. She did not look up from her plate, but she was listening with both ears.

"Anyway, he is the cutest guy you have ever seen! I mean like, beyond adorable. I don't think that there is any guy on the planet that could even compare." her eyes turned toward the guys at the table and she blushed, "Sorry Scott, Kurt. I didn't mean that as an insult. But he was just soooooo amazing." her eyes took on a dreamy cast and she sighed loudly as if for emphasis.

"Hey!" Bobby spoke up. "What about me. You only apologized to Scott and Kurt! I think I'm a pretty hansom fellow myself." he leaned back, running his fingers through his own hair, trying to look sexy.

Kitty snapped out of her dreamy reverie and eyed Bobby. Never one to pass up a chance to torment him, she grinned and then laughed.

"Yeh right Bobby. You could not compete with Thomas Rogers in your wildest dreams!" she continued laughing as the others at the table tried to hide their own smiles. Bobby tried to look hurt, but did not quite make it. Rogue could tell that he was not the least bit perturbed by Kitty's playful statements. After living with one another for a large portion of their lives, they had all learned to take a joke from each other.

Rogue rolled her eyes at them, trying to look like she didn't think the teasing was funny, even though she did. And at least it kept Kurt and Bobby from making jokes on how the food they were all eating resembled something Kurt had found in the back of his locker from last month. Jean's voice rose above the din the others were making,

"I'm sure he is really hansom too Kitty. But there are a lot of hansom boys at this school. I'm sure he is just as nice as they are. Though, there are some that are handsomer then others." Rogue noticed that she gave Scoot a gentle look, and that he smiled at her. She stifled the urge to gag. Seeing them together still set her teeth on edge sometimes.

She noticed the surprised, awe filled, looks on her friends' faces at the same time she felt a slight brush against her shoulder. She looked up backward into the deep blue eyes, and gentle smile, of none other then Thomas Rogers. Unwittingly, her own features lit in a small answering grin.

"Hello Rogue." His voice was shy as he continued to smile at her.

"Hey Thomas." she was able to get out past the lump of shyness in her throat. Pulling out the one empty chair at the table, she managed to ask "Umm… Would you like to sit down?"

She wondered if she could stand him sitting next to her through lunch. On the other hand, she hated the thought of him not staying there.

"Sure. I'd like that." he smiled as he took the pro-offered seat and set his lunch tray down. Rogue could not help but notice that he seemed pleased she had asked him to.

She caught him looking at her, one of his perfectly shaped eyebrows in a questioning arch. It took her a second to realize what he was implying.

"Oh yeh." she said, looking back at her friends and seeing that they were watching her too. "Everyone, this is Thomas Rogers. We met on the way to math class." At the looks of wonder on the girls' faces, and envy on the guys', she had to fight very hard to hide her own smile.

"Thomas, these are some of my friends. This is Kitty Pride, Jean Grey, Allison Crestmere, Kurt Wagner, Bobby Drake, and Scott Summers." she pointed to each of them as she said their names, taking great satisfaction in the shocked looks they were giving her, before turning back to Thomas.

He nodded his head to each of them before speaking.

"It's nice to meet all of you. And please, call me Tom. Only my parents ever call me Thomas. It makes me feel old." His eyes twinkled playfully as he said that last bit.

About this time, the others seemed to regain their own speaking abilities. They all started talking at once.

"Where did you live before this?" Allison said.

"Like, why did you transfer to Bayville?" Kitty's voice sounded gooey as she looked at him.

"Where are you living now?" Jean said in her gentle, quiet voice, getting a nervous glare from Scott.

(Rogue could not help a very soft giggle at the fact that it was only the girls talking.)

Thomas' deep laughter rose up above the din their voices were making them stop mid-sentence.

"Easy, I can't think that fast. I was born and raised in Texas, though I have traveled a bit in my life. I thought New York would be an interesting change of scenery, and my folks agreed. At the moment, I'm staying with my Aunt. She had been living here for a few months and offered to take me in."

When he had finished, he had to stop to catch his breath. Though their questions did not seem to bother him one little bit. The fact that he enjoyed their attention sent a strange nervous tremor through Rogue, though she had no idea why. They had only just met.

Her notice was drawn back to him as he began to pick at the food on his tray. He was trying very hard to hide the look of disgust that was flitting across his features. Kurt seemed to notice this as well; he leaned forward and said in a conspirator voice,

"Don't feel bad about not wanting to eat it. Before you sat down, we were just discussing what we thought the food looked like." He went on to regale the vulgar tales of un-edible food the things for which it resembled. That which elicited gagging sounds of horror from the girls at the table, but caused Thomas to break out into a smile again. Whereupon, he began a commentary of his own such food experiences. The likes of which were so terrifying that he got a chuckle from Scott and looks of awe from the younger boys. (It is better not to mention the reactions the girls at the table had.)

All too soon, the class bell rang. Rogue nearly jumped out of her chair in surprise, and she noticed that the others looked shocked as well. They had all completely forgotten the time. As they began to make their way out of the lunch room, Tom leaned over and said quietly to Rogue.

"Thanks for having me sit with you. It was a lot of fun."

She wanted to ask if he would like to sit with them again on Monday. But the feel of him so close to her, left her speechless. Hard as she might try, she could not get the words out, only managing to nod slightly at him. Thankfully, Kitty came to her rescue.

"Hey, would you like to sit with us tomorrow? Oh well duh, not tomorrow. This is Friday. I mean like on Monday? Its fun having someone interesting at our table." she giggled at Bobby's attempt at an outraged look, knowing full well that he felt the same way.

Tom turned to look at Rogue, waiting for her reaction. Again, all she could do was nod. But that seemed to be enough for him. Slowly they made their way through the thick crowd. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper.

"Can any of y'all tell me where Mr. Phillip's class is? I can't make heads or tails out of this schedule." he said

Jean gave him one of her small smiles, reaching out to tap his arm she said

"That's our next class." indicating both her and Scott. "We can show you where it is." Tom thanked them. He turned to wave goodbye at the younger five, giving them one of his blinding smiles, before turning and following Jean and Scott.

Rogue noticed that she was not the only one watching the retreating view. Kitty and Allison let out simultaneous sighs. Kurt and Bobby rolled their eyes as they began to make their way to class. Kitty turned grinning at Rogue.

"My gosh! You are SO lucky!" she squealed softly. Her words were echoed by Allison's

"Yes. He is so hot!" she whispered with a sigh.

Rogue looked at them it surprise. What in the world were they talking about?

"You two are crazy. I don't even know the guy." she snapped at them. And he probably has not even noticed me. She thought sadly.

"Oh, come on Rogue! It is like SOOO obvious that he likes you! Don't act so, so, YOU for once!" Kitty huffed. Her words were echoed with a nod from Allison.

She shook her head and rolled her eyes at them, writing if off as immature girl behavior.

"How could a guy like him, even look at a girl like me?" she wondered. Though in her heart, she hoped their teasing was based on some truth.

Ok, please review. This is my first Fan-Fiction and I'm grateful for any useful input you can give me. I'll try to get updates on this at least once a week.