Author's note: Hey guys, just reminder I know I didn't type out Rogue or Remy's accents, iz just not my style, I know I did Kurt's but that's cuz his is more distinct. Anywayz
as always, '**' is Rogue's writing, '*' is thoughts, and that should be it ^_^ enjoy!

Disclaimer: you know the drill...




Essence of Soul

Chapter 2

**I've tried to put behind me the horrible torture they put me through, but it's hard considering I can never forget those eyes. Beautiful eyes, red on black… I can't help it, but I think it's just an infatuation, hopefully I'll forget about him… otherwise I know I'll get in trouble for this stupid crush…**

"Earth to Rogue!" Kitty waved a hand in her face.

"What's wrong with you?" she narrowed her eyes at the pink covered prep in front of her. She was tempted to force her hand to touch her cheek, that'll teach her to get in her face.

"You were spacing out again," she said annoyed. "What do you think about anyways, a boy maybe?"

"What I do with my time is none of your business," she snapped, crossing her arms and forcing the blush that crept towards her cheeks down, even though it wasn't apparent because of her pale, gothic make-up.

"Oh, it is a boy isn't it?" she smirked, looking back at her as they continued to walk down the street.

"Unless you want to find out what it feels like to be in a coma for a week, I suggest you can it!" she growled.

"Touchy," she rolled her eyes.

"Argh, I'm out of here!" she let out a frustrated growl and veered away from the group.

"Rogue, vait!" Kurt went to follow after her, but was quickly stopped by Jean.

"Don't… you guys know she's sensitive about romance," she said.

*Sure, leave it to Miss Perfect to know everything*, Rogue thought bitterly as she entered a music store.

After browsing around for an hour or so, she finally went up to the cashier and bought a cruel intentions cd.

"Will that be all, chere?" Rogue snapped her head up.

"What?"

"I said will that be all?" the cashier repeated.

*I could've sworn…* she thought. "Um, yeah…"



*What's happening to me, why can't I stop thinking about him?* Rogue pondered as she turned a corner. She was listening to her new cd, but it was quiet enough so that she could still hear her surroundings.

"It's best to leave her alone now," she heard Jean say, and immediately hid behind the corner, turning off her cd player.

"You know she just got out of that place and they did who knows what to her, I think Jean's right we should just let her sort through her problems slowly," Scott sighed.

"But she looks so sad," Kurt said.

"It's Rogue, she always looks sad," Kitty replied.

"Just give her time," Jean said before they all turned back into the living room. Rogue growled and went back to her room, slamming the door.

"Who do they think they are?!" she threw her cd player against the wall, shattering it. She swept her hand along her dresser, knocking all of its contents on the ground.

She looked up at the mirror and spotted the open window in the reflection. She spun around and climbed out the window, jumping down to the ground below. She needed to clear her head before she could go back and talk to any of them yet.

*They don't understand, they'll never understand*, she slowed her run once she'd reached an isolated area in the woods. She started walking towards a concrete bench that was covered in ivy and allowed her thoughts to wander. Before she realized it she was back to thinking about the Cajun mutant known as Gambit.

"Why can't I stop thinking about him?" She kicked a stone and looked up, suddenly coming to a halt.

"I just have a certain charm, chere," She could barely make out the figure sitting on the bench in the shadows but with the glowing light of a card, she knew immediately who it was. He smirked and tossed the card to the ground. Rogue slowly switched her gaze from the card to him. "You see, I've left you speechless," he chuckled.

"You're not taking me back," she said simply, not moving from her spot.

"You misjudge me, chere, I'm not here to take you back," he brought a knee to his chest and wrapped an arm around it.

"You're not?" she asked distrustfully.

"No, but if I bother you so much why don't you leave?"

"I got here first, you leave," she frowned, mentally smacking herself for saying something so childish.

He chuckled, "I knew it, you don't want to leave."

"I can leave any time I want to!" she yelled, narrowing her eyes at him. This was the guy she was infatuated with?

"Then why haven't you?" he looked over at her with his red piercing eyes. Rogue was about to reply when she realized she didn't know the answer to that question. She let out a frustrated growl and turned away from him, crossing her arms.

She suddenly felt his arms around her waist causing her to meet his hands with hers. He turned her around and slowly lifted his hand to her cheek. She instantly grasped his hand before he touched her skin.

"Don't…" she whispered. He smirked and pulled a device from his pocket, it was the activator and she still had the device attached to her neck. "You… how did you…"

"Shh," he put away the activator and reached into his inside pocket. For a fleeting moment, she thought he was going to pull out a card, but instead it was a red rose. She smiled, looking at the velvet petals as he handed it to her.

"Remy…" she whispered. He leaned forward to kiss her cheek when she turned her head slightly to the side and their lips met. He looked at her and smirked, disappearing into the shadows.

**After that night, we've been seeing each other at night barely escaping from being caught. But last night when he left, I had the strangest feeling we were being watched. I know Kitty was asleep, but it was just an unnerving feeling that something bad was going to happen.

And here I am now, waiting for the sun to rise so that I know soon I'll see him again…**