Sorry for the wait y'all! Hope it's a good'n for you!
10
The week that followed passed slower than molasses on the coldest day of winter. Rogue found herself looking through her bedroom window observing the events of the sunny Saturday afternoon unfolding on the football field sized lawn. Three charcoal grills, a plethora of coolers and a ton of people getting the cook-out in the works. "Looks like a madhouse? It IS a madhouse," Rogue said aloud, just her and the glass.
Nothing could keep Remy from swimming in her mind and clouding the reality she should be focused on. His second-degree burns were healing faster than the normal healing process but remained in his comatose state. It was killing her from the inside out everytime she witnessed him disabled in the hospital bed; the broken variant to the love of her life. She wanted to rob Jean or the professor of their telepathy so she could jump in and find him but hadn't the faintest idea where to start... Or if it was humanly possible.
There was an unresolved fear in her heart that the word made its round through the grapevine, staying off the radar from the friends she grew up with and the adults she considered parents. Usually, if Jean or Kitty knew any business in your personal life, chances are, its their business now and their business spreads like butter. The time she had to stay under wraps about a baby was slim but her body will give it away before her lips would.
Contentment surged her soul knowing she was able to fall in love for the second time with something fantastic beyond comparison. She embraced the thought of a baby coming into the world but realized that she herself wasn't treated with most respect growing up a mutant and that terrified Rogue to the bone. She was going to protect this precious gift with every inch of her life even from Sentinels if it came down to fighting one single handedly.
A text brought her phone to life playing a familliar Jefferson Starship song she knew all too well causing her to break from her thoughts instantly, humming the tune as she made her way over to the bedside table where her phone resided. The song stopped when she picked up the phone hitting the unlock button on the side, tapping the unread message, 'Planning on making an appearance to the cook-out? It would be nice to see your face lol.'
She slowly pronounced the words as the typed on the screen, "Sure thing. What time?"
The seconds passed before Kitty's quick response came through, 'Starts around 2. Be there or be square.'
O.o
Punctuality wasn't what Rogue had in mind on this particular afternoon but the smell of the seasonings emitted from the burgers drove her out of her room before two. The 'being-hungry-all-the-time' factor was a neusence from hell causing her to make unusually late snack runs to the kitchen. She always had an appetite but not like this. Salty and spicy foods ran her up the wall when she could smell it, like now. Oddball cravings had yet to show up but she caught herself craving foods she disliked greatly.
The kitchen was the first stop to make hoping to snag a hot-dog before she went to the yard. A heavy aroma of onion filled the room almost making her eyes water as she took a peek at the garnishings of what she had planned to devour. Condiments of all sorts rested next to the toppings causing Rogue to take a mustard bottle from its spot and squirt a dime sized drop of its contents onto her finger and into her mouth, "Mmm spicy brown is pretty good..." She couldn't resist a second taste test but this wasn't a drop but a glob a little bigger than a quarter.
Rustling of charcoal bags alerted Rogue of someone approaching but startled her when she heard Ray's deep voice, "How can you eat that crap? And by itsself nonetheless?" Thank goodness it wasn't a girl.
Rogue nonchalantly turned on her heel, finger still in her mouth but pulled it out to speak, "First time actually. It's not that bad just has a better bite. Try it."
"Uhhh no thanks. I have to get these to Logan before I piss him off more than what I already have," Ray jerked his head back to the direction of double glass doors leading to the yard.
"Don't take much to make Logan mad. You should know that by now," Rogue popped the cap back on the bottle placing it back where it belonged.
Ray rolled his eyes in agreement, "Oh I do, believe me. I'll see you around, girl."
She couldn't help but laugh to herself imagining what it was Ray did that made him the bar-back of the coals. He was one of few guys at the institute she considered a good friend because of how he could keep a friendship with her without expecting something else. At Bayville High, they were involved in the same crowd of friends such as the rebels and burnouts; the 'problem children' so it was only a matter of time before they associated outside of school. Remy trusted her with everything including the relationship she had with Ray and felt he shouldn't have to control who she was friends with.
One of the doors opened causing the laughter outside to grow in volume before the barrier closed again. Rogue glanced back to the glass doors then back to the table in search for a napkin noticing a spot on her shirt whispering 'shit'.
As much as she didn't want to leave to comfort of the kitchen, she decided it would be best to go outside for some fresh air and drop her defenses. Her feet took her to the glass doors pressing her thumb on the open lever and pulled the glass towards herself, "Here goes nothing..."
The bright sun was the first to over take her vision holding a hand like a visor sheilding her eyes until they adjusted. The door shut behind her with ease waving at those who called her name as she made her way off the patio to the tables in the lawn straight ahead where Kitty sat. Not just Kitty but Tabby also.
"Ah made it. Happy now?" Rogue smiled at her friend who looked a little down on her luck as she took the seat across from Tabby who grinned at Rogue before taking a sip from her Route 44 sonic cup. "What's wrong, Kitty?"
She looked to Rogue with blank emotion, "I'll tell you later. Don't really want to talk about it right now honestly."
Rogue nodded in agreement. There was no need in badgering her friend in front of the others, "Ok, ok. You know Ah'm here when you need meh."
In the corner of her eye Tabby was still giving off a grin causing her to pipe up, hoping to diffuse whatever it was on the other girls mind."Drunk yet, Tabby?"
"Not yet but I'm workin' on it," Tabby lifted her drink giving the ice a shake within the styrofoam cup. "Maybe after another refill. So what's up, Rogue? Haven't seen you in the Danger Room the past few days. Starting to wonder if you're okay."
Her smile ran away feeling the pressure from Tabby's demeanor, "Ah've been helpin' out in the Med-Bay when Hank and Jean need it. Small things and what-have-you. Nothin' big just an extra set of hands."
Tabby held the drink out to Rogue knowing she was the only other person who hid their liquor this way at get-togethers, "It's Amaretto, 151, and pineapple juice; Your fave."
"No thanks, chick. Ah'm not really in the drinkin' mood today. There's way too much on mah mind for meh to drink," she waved off the drink.
The cup was placed on the table in between them being courageous enough to challenge the southern bombshell, "I knew it."
Rogue couldn't believe Tabby was calling her out like this sensing it was the liqour doing some of the talking, "Know what?" An eyebrow was cocked acting confused.
"You can't bullshit a bullshitter, Rogue. I KNOW whats going on."
The defensive side of Rogue was coming out, "Well since you know meh better than mahself, enlighten meh."
The blonde looked the other girl in the eyes, smile spreading across her face, "You're pregnant."
Silence struck Rogue's vocal chords at her friends declaration, green eyes locked on Kitty in disbelief who looked back at her in pure shock, "I didn't say shit! I swear!"
Tabby jumped in sensing Rogue's temper flaring, "I over heard Charlie and McCoy talking and, you know me, I dropped some eaves. Kitty had nothing to do with it."
"Ah'm not ready for people to know yet but it's bound to happen sometime or another," Rogue rose from her seat in the direction of the house.
"Are you leaving?" Kitty shot her gaze to her defeated friend.
Rogue shook her head no before her signature sarcasm cut the tension, "Jus' seein' what's in the coolers. You can hold mah hand if you want, Kit."
Chyuh! So whaddaya think? Hopefully it was worth a flip taking a glance at lol. Haven't had much time to write like I WAS but I'll definately do my best to get it where I wan't it. Drop me a line where it says 'REVIEW' plzzzzz... 'Preciate ya!