Duncan, Verena Gruen, Lady Jayde Une, ModestoChica, Deidre, TheWolf, Lady Hawke, rhapsody81, evilbon32, Cindy, & JADEOBLUE, thanks guys for reviewing!! ^_^
Author's Note: Hey, sorry for the wait, but boy did I have a killer writers block. But that's fixed now (Yay!! ^_^).
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Jean was depressed. She had just come out of the shower after spending hours in the danger room letting out her anger and disappointment. Ever since she had left Ororo's room she had come to the conclusion that Logan had only chased her because she was there, and she was forbidden. She supposed that was the whole thrill, to see if she would crack if he chased her. Obviously, when she didn't, he grew bored with the chase and stopped hunting her.
Jean felt used. She felt dirty and abandoned. She wanted to scream, she wanted to cry, but most of all she wanted to hurt Logan as much as he hurt her.
Unfortunately, she hasn't a strategist. She didn't have a clue as to how manipulate people into doing things without making it seem as if she was. Being a telepath, she could force a person into doing something, but they would fight her. She was no Professor Xavier and couldn't delete memories or manipulate the mind so that the victim didn't even know they were manipulated. She wasn't that powerful yet.
That's how Scott found her, brooding.
"What's wrong?"
Scott could see that he had startled her. Obviously she had been deep in thought. Scott watched as she plastered a fake smile when she answered.
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me Jean." There was nothing threatening in his response, just kindness and disappointment.
The smile slipped off her face just as quickly as it had appeared and it was replaced with a sad and disheartened expression, as she faced the window once more.
"I don't want to talk about it."
As much as Scott wish for Jean to tell him what had her so obviously upset, he knew she'd tell him when she was ready. Besides, he had to tell her something and he was afraid to loose his nerve if he waited any longer.
"Come I want to show you something."
Pushing all thoughts of Logan, her curiosity got the better of her.
"What?"
Scott smiled as the dejected expression slipped off her face and was replaced by childlike curiosity. He grabbed her arm and began to lead her down the stairs.
"It's a surprise."
Scott chuckled when she pouted.
"Tell me. Please?"
"Nope, you'll have to wait." The reached the landing and he lead her to the door that leads to the backyard.
"But I don't wanna."
"Now close your eyes."
"Are we there yet?" She asked almost immediately after closing her eyes.
"No, we haven't even left the house yet."
"It's outside?"
Scott chuckled as her excitement and curiosity grew at the hint he had given her.
"Yes."
Scott was pleased at himself for making her smile, and Jean was absolutely beaming. She loved surprises. A silence filled the air as he lead her outside and into Ororo's green house.
He had wanted privacy, a place where the students wouldn't venture and spoil the evening. He had been walking back into the mansion, thinking of speaking to Ororo to bounce off ideas with her, when it came to him. Not wanting to be rude, he looked for Ororo to ask for her permission, but she was nowhere to be found. Knowing she was a big girl, he pushed his worries aside and figured that Ororo wouldn't be to mad at them going into her sanctuary with her permission.
"Open your eyes."
Jean did as she was told. She was left speechless at the site that greeted her.
"What do you think?"
Finding her voice, she answered with awe. "It's wonderful Scott."
And it was. It was a picnic for two with all her favorite foods, with a few of Scott's favorites too.
"Glad you like it." He answered, obviously quite pleased with himself.
"I love it." She grinned in response, all thoughts of Logan slipping her mind.
****
They had just finished eating and were sitting in companion silence that Scott decided that it was now or never. Gathering his courage, he reached into his pocket and drew a small, square, velvet box.
Scott watched Jean's expressive face as it changed from happy, to curious, to confused, to hopeful, and finally to anticipation.
Gaining strength from the fact that no fear or rejection seemed to find its way into her mind, he opened the box. Suddenly he wished he was facing Magneto all over again, and he had to fight the urge to shut the box and run away.
This is hard.
"Jean, will you marry me?"
It seemed like an eternity had passed before she opened her mouth and answered.
"Yes."
At first it didn't register. But when it did, he gave her a huge smile (which she gladly returned) and swept her off her feet, kissing her thoroughly.
If the world came to an end right now, I'd have died a happy man.
****
Meanwhile, Bobby had recovered enough to leave, albeit painfully, the Med Bay and was looking for Marie. He wanted to ask her out on another date, since he had messed up the one that they had last Friday.
He found her in her room reading some book (he never cared enough to know that kind of books she read, all books look the same to him).
"Hey Marie." He said in a friendly tone.
Her head had snapped up at his voice and she glared at him in response.
Undeterred in the slightest, he continued as if he was still in her good graces.
"Listen, I know our last date kinda sucked-"
"Ya think?" She replied sarcastically, determined not to let him see how much he had hurt her. After the stunt he pulled, he didn't deserve to see her tears.
Ignoring her outburst, he continued to speak as if she hadn't interrupted.
"So I was wondering if you want to hang out, or go outside for a walk or somethin."
Marie starred agape at his arrogance.
How dare he come in here thinkin that Ah want to have anythin to do wahth him after he hit mah!! The nerve of him!
"Get out." She answered through clenched teeth.
"Ah come on, don't be that way. The guy was asking for it."
"He was talkin to mah. That's all!"
"He was making a move on you."
"So? Don't ya trust mah?"
"Of course I do Marie."
Taking a deep breath, she decided to tell him what he so obviously didn't understand.
"Were through Bobby. And don't call mah Marie. The names Rogue."
"What?" He voiced his obvious confusion.
"Ya hit me Bobby." She answered, as if that answered everything.
"Give me another chance Marie, we can work this out." He was almost asking her to work this out between them, but Marie had had enough.
"No. And don't you evah call me Marie again. It's Rogue."
"But-"
"Get out!"
Bobby knew if he left that it was over, and he didn't want it to be over. Gaining courage from he didn't know where, he answered her. "No."
With lightening speed, Rogue dropped her book and walked over to where he stood. She decked him, giving him a black eye and sending him sprawling into the hallway. Kicking his feet out of the doorway, she slammed the door.
It took a few minutes for Bobby to register what happened. Never one to beg, it never occurred to him that he could have just burst into her room and ask for forgiveness until she took him back. No, Bobby Drake had had enough. If Marie, no Rogue, didn't want to be his girlfriend, then that was fine by him.
She'll come crawling back to me soon enough. Then I'll decide if I want her back or not.
He brightened at the thought, deciding not to worry about it. Instead he went down into the kitchen to get himself something to eat. He was starving.
He didn't hear the soft sobs that came from the other side of the door as he made his way downstairs.
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