Chapter 10: Such Great Heights

The house was buzzing with music and conversation as the birthday party began. James didn't want a birthday party, but his wife had convinced him other wise, and he had no choice but to give in. Birthday parties just wasn't his thing, he'd rather just eat some cake and go to bed. But right now he had to do other things. Other things involving the entire house. He looked outside the window, irked that the sun wasn't down yet. He needed to add an entirely new side to the house, or else where would the rest of the guests sleep? And there was no way in hell he was going to let Pietro sleep with Bella, or Alyce sleep with John.

James knew that's what they thought they were going to do. But he wasn't going to let that happen. At least not in his house. It was still nice to see Alyce in a relationship, and John looked like a good kid....sort of. Pietro just looked like a fancy pretty boy. He wondered how Pietro dealt with the bubbly Bella. But right now, none of that was of his concern. He needed to find Alyce to help him start making the extra rooms.

*

"So now, the bad boy John wants to be a good boy?" Alyce asked as she pushed herself up against John. It was sort of fun, having John blush for a change. She knew John wasn't going to be his normal self while he was here, not while her father would glare at him. The tables had turned on John Allerdyce, for this time it was him up against the wall and not the girl. He looked around cautiously, holding Alyce back by her waist. This girl was just trying to get him into trouble.

"C'mon, John." Alyce whispered into his ear, pushing herself harder onto his chest. She placed a small kiss on his neck. This was just too fun. She chuckled lightly as John pushed her back. He looked at her with pleading eyes.

"I want to stay alive, thanks."

Alyce smiled, she opened her mouth ready to protest when a cough caught her attention. John shot a glance over to his right, gulping as James stood in the hallway, his arms over his chest.

"Alyce...leave the boy alone. He's scared enough as it is."

Alyce shot a look at John before she left him. "See, no problem." The look read. John watched as she walked down the hall and the two disappeared. John let out a breath, nervously he picked his pockets for his lighter and began to play with the top. Why did he ever agree to Bella asking him to come. He should've known better. John lit his lighter and closed the top, watching as Bella walked out of a nearby room. She huffed and fixed her hair.

She stopped and looked at John. She gave him a scowl and walked off. What was that all about? John looked back to the room as Pietro staggered out, his hair a mess. Pietro stopped, also giving John a glare.

"You too?" Pietro asked. If Pietro was right, then John had Alyce's father on his back. Which was much more worse. Pietro had to deal with Alyce's mother on his, forever entering his mind whenever he would begin to think about Bella. But Pietro felt way more sorry for John. Alyce's father was very intimidating.

John shrugged his shoulders. "It happens, man." The gesture meant, and the two walked off back to the living room.

*

*

Everyone had migrated to the basement, which was huge, and begun to sing karaoke. It was more fun than it sounded. Alyce sat on her fathers computer chair and lightly sipped her soda. Her father had really decorated it since she last came. All over the wall near the computer, her father had taped sealed comic books, and it looked like a gigantic montage. Posters where hung everywhere, and Alyce noticed her fathers game collection had grown considerably.

John had been sticking to Pietro for the entire evening and Alyce found it pretty weird. It was now the two had more in common than ever, the one main thing being they were scared to go near their girls.

"Alyce!" Bella hopped over next to her cousin. She plopped herself on Alyce's lap.

"My soda, Bella." Alyce growled as she held her cup still. She settled it down on the computer desk and wrapped her arms around her cousin's waist, to steady her.

"You've been teasing John, haven't you?" Bella asked leaning her head on Alyce's and watching as Remy got up to sing. Alyce laughed. "You've been doing it to Pietro too?"

"Of course! It's hilarious making the boys blush."

Alyce agreed watching as Remy began to sing, his voice loud. Half the words he was singing were in French, even though the entire song that was playing was in English. Everyone howled in laughter, and Remy smiled at them, feeding from it. He finished singing and Alyce noticed he took his seat next to Rogue. Bobby sat next to Piotr, the two chatting. But Alyce knew he was just trying to distract himself. Her eyes fell on Jubilee. She was the only one sitting to herself, not talking to anyone. She was looking over to Remy and Rogue.

"Did Rogue and Bobby already break up or something?" Alyce asked to Bella.

"No, why? They have been acting funny with each other lately."

Alyce felt bad for both Bobby and Jubilee. Having your heart broken was not a fun feeling. Alyce tapped Bella's thigh and she hopped off. "Do you want to go sing for Jubilee?" Alyce asked, receiving a funny look from Bella.

"Are you serious?"

"I'm not kidding around. I feel bad for her. Remy isn't being as discrete as he thinks with his crush on Rogue."

Bella shot a look through the dark room. The strobe lights from the front illuminated Jubilee. She looked sad sitting there by herself. She looked for Bobby, and noticed he was now, also, sitting by himself. Bella smiled and looked back to Alyce.

"If I get Bobby up to sing, will you get Jubilee?"

"It's a plan." Alyce nodded, smiling back. This had to be the most perfect plan. If Bobby and Jubilee were going to be sad, then they could be sad together. Alyce made her way up front, everyone looking at her as if she had two heads. She pressed a few buttons and took the microphone.

"Ok, you can stop looking at me like that...." Alyce spoke flatly, getting a few laughs. Bella hopped up on stage and took the other microphone, ready to press play.

"This song...is for the lovely Jubilation Lee...." Alyce murmured into the microphone. Everyone shot a look to Jubilee who was just as equally stunned. Didn't the two hate each other? Was it a hate song? Everyone sat back and waited. Bella pressed play and the song began to play.

Alyce swayed on the small make shift stage, Bella twirled around and Alyce opened her mouth to sing.

"Oh oh oh ohoo little china girl..." Alyce sang. She made her way off the stage and stuck her hand out to Jubilee. "Oh oh oh ohoo little china girl..." Alyce kept singing along. She smiled as Jubilee crossed her arms over her chest and looked the other way, but Alyce wasn't going to give up.

Bella began to sing the next verse. "I could escape this feeling, with my China Girl..." She moved over to Bobby and picked him by his hand.

Alyce bit her lip. She needed to get Jubilee on stage. "I feel a wreck without my, little China Girl..." Alyce sang giving Jubilee a pleading look. Alyce stuck out her hand and surprisingly,this time, Jubilee took it. Alyce smiled and continued to sing, twirling Jubilee around as she laughed. It wasn't fair to let Remy have all the fun. Alyce brought Jubilee up on stage and the two danced, everyone thinking that it must be the end of the world. Or something along the lines.

Bella gave Bobby the microphone and he took it, singing along with Alyce. Bella watched as Bobby shot Rogue a look, and she looked down. She scooted a little from Remy, and eventually just got up and left the room. Bella felt a bit bad, but felt a little better as Remy followed her out. Alyce handed the microphone to a laughing Jubilee, and left the stage. She looked as the two loosened up and had finished off the song. They looked cute together.

*

*

Rogue walked inside the room James had made for the girls. She sat down on her bed and dropped her head into her hands. Bobby and her had been having problems ever since Remy came into the picture. But she loved his company. He made her laugh and smile. She had told Bobby many a time that Remy was just a friend, but lately her heart was telling her other wise. And the way Bobby had just looked at her. As if he was getting back at her for talking with Remy. She felt bad, she felt like all of this was her fault.

"Mon Cheri?" Remy knocked on the door and walked inside the room. Rogue looked up, her eyes filled with tears. Remy made his way across the room and sat down next to her. "Why is such a beautiful girl like Rogue crying?" He asked.

Rogue didn't answer, she just shook her head and wiped away her tears. Remy knew there was something wrong, why else would she be crying?

"Remy knows when Rogue is lying. Tell Remy what's wrong." Honestly, he already knew what was wrong. It had to do with Bobby, and while Remy was trying to win over Rogue he didn't want her to cry. He lifted his hand up and went to brush a stand of hair out of her face, but Rogue jerked back.

He left out a soft laugh and picked up his hand. "Remy wore gloves." He had always covered himself up when he started talking to Rogue. It wasn't fair that Bobby never did the same for her. Sometimes they wouldn't even touch because Bobby had wore a short sleeved shirt, and had refused to change. It just wasn't right. Bobby should be jealous. It was Remy's shoulder Rogue had begun to lean on, and not his.

Remy sighed and pulled Rogue close to his body. He wasn't scared to touch her, and he was going to show her that. "Remy thinks you shouldn't worry about la gars froid. Remy is here for you."

"'Ah just feel bad is all. Bobby doesn't underst-"

Remy had shut her up with a kiss. He was going to show her he really wasn't afraid. Rogue hit on his chest and pushed back, escaping the quick kiss before she could hurt him. "What are 'ya doin'!" Rogue shouted, getting up from the bed.

Remy smiled, shivering with delight. "Mon ami, Remy had been wanting to do that for months."

"'Ah could kill you!"

Remy began to hoot in laughter. "Remy highly doubts that. Remy is a strong guy, nothing like gars froid."

Rogue touched her lips. She hadn't kissed someone in a very long time, and the emotion washing through her wanted more. Remy got up from where he sat and wrapped his arms around Rogue's waist pulling her in. "Remy isn't afraid......" He whispered, his lips brushing against hers.

Rogue began to close her eyes. She wanted so bad to kiss him. To touch his lips with hers. But she knew she couldn't do that. She could kill him. She gently pushed away from him, but he held her tight against him. He closed his eyes and kissed her. Rogue felt as if she was melting, she kissed him harder.

That's when Remy began to feel it. As if his entire body was draining out through his mouth. He placed his hands on Rogue's waist and pulled back, their lips separating.

"Did 'ah hurt you?" Rogue asked, looking scared. She bit her lip, still tasting the kiss.

Not wanting to show that he was feeling woozy, Remy gave her his best smile.

"Mon Cheri, Remy feels the best he was ever felt in a long, long, time."

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Glossary de la Gambit

La Gars Froid- The Cold Guy