CHAPTER FOUR: CUPID'S BUSY DAY
"Hello, Mr. Logan," Kitty sang cheerfully. "Have you, like, seen Scott around anywhere? Me and him are, like, totally a couple now. Isn't that cool, Mr. Logan?" She did a few clumsy dance steps and crashed into tower of pots and pans. They rolled noisily all over the kitchen floor. "Oops. I, like, did not mean to do that."
Neither Logan or Rogue reacted. They were staring at each other, eyes locked, transfixed. Logan looked as though someone had just handed him the keys to a brandnew sports car. Rogue looked just plain shocked. Her mouth opened and closed silently. She made a squeaking, strangled noise.
Kitty stopped dancing long enough to give them a curious gaze. "Whoa. Are you two, like, having a moment here? That's, like, totally unexpected." She cocked her head and placed her hands on her hips. "You're in love?!"
"We aren't," Rogue said quickly. She gripped the wine bottle a little tighter. "Don't be stupid, Kitty. We have to go now." She made a halfhearted dash for the door.
Logan, however, moved more swiftly than she did. He blocked the door with his body, arms crossed. "Wait a moment," he said. He was gazing at Rogue as if she was the most delightful creature he'd ever laid eyes on. "Who says we aren't in love, darlin'?"
"Darling?" Rogue repeated weakly.
"Darling?" Kitty echoed, and nudged Rogue playfully. "Wow. How long has this, like, been going on?"
"It hasn't been going on at all!" Rogue protested, sounding slightly desperate. "We aren't in love! He's - he's just playing with me or - or something -" She took a deep, shuddering breath. "Ah have to go now."
Logan held up a hand and gave a lopsided grin. "Hold your horses, darlin'. You don't have to go anywhere."
"Yes, Ah do. Ah have to go and we're not in love. We never have been."
"We are now."
"We are not!" Rogue seemed close to tears. She stamped her foot. "Stop teasing!"
Kitty giggled.
"I'm not teasin', darlin'. I've never been more serious in my life." He moved a little closer. "I'll admit, I never thought much about you before. You were so young and everythin'; I thought you were just a kid. But seein' you now, you're so beautiful and - and grown up. Nice eyes, nice hair . . . you've become a woman, darlin'." He reached out a hand to touch her.
Rogue backed up frantically, eyes wide. "Shut up! Get away from me!"
"Oh, like, come on, Rogue," Kitty said, disgusted. "I know you value your privacy or whatever, but, like, this is going too far. Logan's madly in love with you! Like, what kind of idiot are you? Don't you ever want to have some fun?"
"No!" Rogue said, distraught. "Stay away from me, Logan, or Ah'll - Ah'll scream! Ah'm not joking!"
"Don't play hard to get, darlin'. You know you want me."
"Ah do not!"
Logan, looking hungry, grabbed her by the shoulder and tried to pull her into his embrace. "Let me show you how much you mean to me, darlin'." Rogue wrenched away and desperately lunged for the counter. Her hands scrabbled blindly in the utensil drawer, searching for a weapon. The next time Logan swooped down on her she was ready.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
Logan halted and then backed away warily, eyeing the enormous butcher knife Rogue held in one hand. "Hey, darlin'. Take it easy." Rogue was trembling all over. Logan began making soothing sounds."Settle down, darlin'. I'm sorry I was takin' it too fast, but you're just so damn irresistible I can't help myself-"
"Don't. Just don't, all right?" Rogue looked as though she was going through a horrible internal struggle. She squeezed her eyes shut briefly. "Ah don't want to use this, Logan, Ah really don't. But Ah have to defend mahself. Ah hope you understand."
"I wasn't plannin' on hurtin' you, darlin'."
"Maybe not, but Ah can't take chances." Rogue cautiously lowered the knife as Kitty watched, breathless and wide-eyed. "Ah'll tell you what Ah'm going to do. Listen closely. Ah'm going to set this knife down on the counter, and then Ah'm going to walk out the door and leave. And you're going to sit here and you aren't going to come after me. No matter what. And once Ah'm gone, you won't come searching for me. You won't look for me at all unless Ah come looking for you. Got it?"
If she had meant to scare him off, she was disappointed. Logan all but licked his lips. "I got it, all right. God, I love a girl with spirit! You're a fiery one, darlin'."
"Please shut up." Still trembling, Rogue slowly set the knife down on the counter and moved her hand away. Neither Kitty nor Logan made a single sound. The only sound was the ticking of the clock. Rogue adjusted the wine bottle under her arm and checked to make sure the horse radish was still in her pocket. "All right. Ah'm going now. Kitty - come with me." She took a step towards the door.
Logan, unable to restrain himself a moment longer, pounced.
Rogue yelped as they toppled to the floor together.
The wine bottle went rolling under the counter.
Kitty's eyes grew even rounder. "Like, wow, you two. Couldn't you get a room or something?"
Rogue struggled out from under Logan, hair disheveled and cheeks flushed. She looked horrifed. "Logan, stop! You have to! It's life or death!" She evaded him as he reached for her again. "Logan, listen to me. Please! Don't touch me!" Rogue ducked out of his embrace a thrid time, nearly crying. She was desperate. She took a deep breath and faced Logan."If you care about me at all, you'll LEAVE ME ALONE AND LISTEN TO ME!!"
There was a brief silence.
"What is it, darlin'?" Logan asked. Although he was still visibly itching to get his hands on her, he was managing to keep himself under control. "I'm warnin' you, you'd better speak quickly, 'cause I'm not in a very patient mood."
Rogue brushed her hair out of her face, trying to collect herself. "Logan. Listen. Ah - Ah know you - Ah know you -" She took a deep breath. "Ah know you - love- me, but Ah can't let you touch me. You know what will happen if our skin meets."
"Oh, god! I'd, like, totally forgotten!" Kitty was stunned.
Logan wasn't. "Yeah, Ah know what will happen, darlin'. I can't wait."
"Stop it," Rogue begged. "You don't know what you're saying, Logan! You aren't thinking right! Don't you remember? If you touch my bare skin you'll-" She swallowed. "You'll die."
Logan ignored her. "God, darlin', you've become a beautiful woman."
"Stop!" Rogue clamped her hands to her head, at the end of her rope. She looked desperately at Kitty. "Kitty, you're the one who got me into this. Can't you do anything?"
"Like, what? I'm just as helpless as you are!"
"Yeah, but you aren't about to accidentally killsomeone."
"Nobody's goin' to kill anybody," Logan said. He edged closer to Rogue and eyed her hungrily. "Enough talkin', darlin'. Why don't we go up to my room now?"
Rogue was shocked. "Stay back!"
"Listen, Mr. Logan," Kitty said, serious now and trying to help. "Like, you can't touch Rogue. OK? Cause, like, for one thing, she's sort of too young for you. I mean, she's only in high school. And, like, for another thing, you'll totally die if you try to touch her. Mr. Logan? Are you listening? Like, this is important."
Logan ignored her. "Come on, darlin'. It doesn't suit you when you play hard to get. I expected more from a girl like you."
Rogue began to cry. "Dammit, Kitty, nothing will work. He'll touch me and he'll die and everyone will hate me, and Ah can't do a single thing about it. There's no cure or-" She stopped crying suddenly and looked up. Her eyes were wide and there was a dawning light in them. "Wait a moment. The cure! Of course!"
"Like, what do you mean?"
"Ah mean, we do have a cure! That's the whole reason we're in here! Ah can use it on Logan now, to break the love potion." Rogue reached for the horse radish. "Why didn't Ah think of it before?"
Kitty was anxious. "Buy - what if it, like - you know - doesn't work?"
"Then Ah guess we'll be in a lot of trouble."
The girls exchanged tense stares.
Logan broke the silence by wolf-whistling. "Lookin' good, darlin'."
Rogue's face grew determined. She unscrewed the cap to the horse radish. "Kitty, would you please get the wine?"
"I don't know where it, like, went."
"Under the counter." Rogue looked uneasily at Logan, who crept a little closer every time she glanced the other way. He was just inches away from breathing down her neck. "And Ah'd hurry if Ah was you."
Kitty bent down and reached under the counter. A moment later she straightened back up and passed the wine bottle to Rogue, who scooted discreetly away from Logan and tried to get the cork out. It was jammed in tightly. After a second she gave up. "Kitty, would you get a corkscrew? Oh, and two glasses?"
Kitty hurried to obey.
Logan noticed the wine. "What's that for, darlin'?" He grinned lecherously. "Are you startin' to change your mind?"
"Uh - sure Ah am." Rogue grinned nervously. "Ah - Ah was thinking some wine might -" She shrugged. "You know."
"Of course I know, darlin'." Logan reached for her cheek.
Rogue quickly scrambled backwards. "Hey, now! Don't go so fast! Ah, um - Ah - Ah always like to have wine before Ah do - anything - serious." She glanced over her shoulder. Dammit, Kitty, hurry!
"God, darlin', I love it when you talk that way. This is the Rogue I was rememberin'."
"Um - remembering from when, exactly?"
Logan didn't hear her. "How about a preview of comin' attractions, darlin'?" He grabbed her by the shoulders.
Rogue wrenched away. "No! Bad idea!" She brushed her hair away with a trembling hand, trying to relax. "Ah - Ah told you, nothing before the wine. Ah have my rules." She tried to force a flirtatious chuckle. It fell flat. "Ah'm just a little crazy, Ah guess."
"I noticed."
Just then Kitty came up behind Rogue, sounding slightly breathless. "Sorry I, like, took so long. The kitchen drawers are, like, a total mess." She thrust a corkscrew and two glasses into Rogue's lap. "Here you go."
"Thanks." Rogue, face pale, began to unscrew the cork. To her relief, it popped out easily. The faint scent of white wine reached her nostrils. They obviously reached Logan's, too, since his eyes narrowed and he licked his lips. Rogue attempted to ignore him as she poured the wine into the two glasses. Her hands were shaking. "There - we - go." She set the wine bottle down. "Wine is served."
Logan snatched his at once. "A toast to us, darlin'."
"Wait a moment!" Rogue grabbed the glass back with an apologetic grin. "Ah, uh - Ah have another ingredient. A secret ingredient." She shook some of the horse radish into the wine, wrinkling her nose at the sudden odor. "It, uh - it improves - uh - stamina." She blushed as she realized what she'd just said.
Kitty giggled.
Logan made a low sound of approval in his throat. "Can we drink now, darlin'? I'm goin' mad over here."
"Sure. Go ahead and - and drink!" Rogue lifted the wine glass to her lips. It smelled absolutely horrible. Steeling herself, she threw her head back and drank deeply.
Kitty watched curiously.
"Oh, shit!" Spluttering, Rogue set the glass down and wiped her mouth frantically on her sleeve. Her mouth felt as if it was turning inside out. "That's the worst stuff Ah've ever tasted in mah life! Shit!" She spit onto the floor. "Ugh!"
"Logan, like, doesn't seem to mind," Kitty murmured.
It was true. Logan's glass was already drained, and he didn't look as though it had affected him one bit. In fact, he seemed invigorated. He grinned wolfishly at Rogue. "Now can we kiss, darlin'? You said we could. And don't break your promise, or there's no telling what might happen."
"Um-" Trying to ignore the bitter odor in her mouth, Rogue looked around frantically. Her eyes fell on a stray dishcloth. She grabbed it and held it over her lips. "Sure," she said, slightly muffled, and closed her eyes.
Please let it work.
Logan wasted no time. The next thing Rogue knew, she was wrapped in his arms, crushed against him so tight she could hardly breath. His mouth met hers beneath the thin material of the dishcloth. They kissed.
And kissed.
And kissed.
When Logan finally let her go, Rogue was dazed. She fell back limply, breathless and dizzy. Her hair was messy and her cheeks were flushed. She stared at the ceiling, panting."Wow."
Kitty nudged her and gave her a knowing wink.
Rogue instantly recovered herself, blushing furiously. "Ah meant - Ah meant - " She stroked her hair out of her eyes, flustered. "You know. Ah meant - wow. As in, wow, it's over - and - Ah'm so glad -"
"I, like, totally know what you meant," Kitty said, smiling teasingly at the other girl. "Don't explain it to me."
"Shut up," Rogue muttered, but she didn't sound angry. Cheeks still rosy, she straightened her outfit and adjusted her earrings. "Ah didn't enjoy it, if that's what you're saying."
"I'll, like, bet not," Kitty said sarcastically.
Rogue was about to retort when a more important thought crossed her mind. She turned abruptly back to Logan, anxiety and hopefulness battling on her face. "Did - did it work?" she whispered, scarcely daring to breath.
Kitty clamped a hand to her mouth, overcome with suspense.
Logan was sitting on the floor, looking completely and utterly confused. He held up the damp dishcloth and studied it as if it were a newly-discovered breed of insect. His eyes traveled slowly from the dishcloth to the empty wine glass, then to the horse radish. His eyebrows furrowed. He was baffled. Lastly, his gaze came to rest on the two girls, both of them looking extremely anxious and one of them decidedly flushed. He shook his head, bewildered. "What - what just went on here?"
Kitty and Rogue could hardly believe their ears. "What did you just, like, say?" Kitty asked, voice breathless. "You mean - you mean you, like, don't remember what just went on?"
"Not really, no. Sorry, kid."
To Logan's amazement, the two girls grabbed each other in a fierce, triumphant hug. "We did it!" Kitty squealed. "We, like, totally did it! There is a cure!" She whooped. "We're, like, totally saved! Thank god for horse radish!"
"Hell yeah!" Rogue agreed.
Kitty jumped up and executed a series of cartwheels. "We did it! We did it!" She turned a bright face to Logan. "Aren't you, like, totally proud of us?"
Logan shook his head, half amused and half bewildered. "I told you, Half-Pint, I have no idea what's goin' on here. Last thing I can remember is lunch today. After that it's all a blank-" He stopped suddenly. A look of realization came into his eyes. "Wait a moment. Wait a moment! I remember - soup. Tomato soup. And then there was something about - wine - and - and -" He stared at Rogue. "Kid."
"Yeah?" Rogue blushed, avoiding his gaze.
"This may sound crazy, but did I - did I try and kiss you, kid?"
There was a moment of silence. Rogue and Kitty exchanged glances. "Well . . ." Without warning, they both burst into helpless laughter.
Logan grinned. "I hope one of you wants to explain this to me."
"Tomato soup." Logan shook his head. "That's the last time I eat anythin' made by Jean."
"It was Kitty's fault," Rogue said, smiling. "Blame her."
"Hey! Like, stop making me feel guilty!" Kitty threw a reproachful look at Rogue. "I admit it was a mistake, OK? Like, is that what you want to hear? But there's a cure now, and we, like, totally know it works. Everything will be fine."
"If we can get them to take it." Rogue made a face. "That was the nastiest stuff Ah ever tasted."
"I didn't notice a bas taste," Logan said.
"No, because you were, like, totally focused on getting Rogue into your bed," Kitty said sarcastically.
Rogue blushed. "Shut up," she muttered. "It's all over now."
Logan gave her a curious look. Kitty, wise for once, kept her mouth shut.
They were sitting in the girls' bedroom, relaxing on various chairs. They had managed to make their way from the kitchen without bumping into anybody; although, as Rogue had pointed out, they were probably all immune by now anyway. Kitty had told Logan the whole story: nine ingredients, tomato soup, getting the cure, and everything. Not surprisingly, he had found it hilarious. Kitty had been worried about his health, he laughed so hard. Especially the parts with him in it.
"So, Half-Pint," he said now. "Who was the love potion for?"
Kitty's eyes became suddenly glazed and dreamy. "Scott," she giggled. "I, like, adore that boy." She clasped her hands under her chin. "We're, like, probably getting married soon."
"Is that so?" Logan looked questioningly at Rogue. "Did she drink it, too?" he mouthed, too low for Kitty to hear.
Rogue nodded darkly.
"Maybe you and Scott will have to drink a little wine together, Half-Pint," Logan said aloud.
Kitty ignored him. She was back in her trance. "Scott, Scott, Scott...."
Rogue groaned. "Don't even try to get through to her. We'll just have to hope the cure works as well on her as it did on you."
"Yeah."
They watched in silence as Kitty twirled across the floor. After a moment Logan spoke up.
"Kid."
"What?" Rogue asked, trying to ignore the way her heartbeat sped up.
"Who did you fall in love with?"
Rogue blushed. "Well - Ah don't know. Nobody, Ah guess."
"But you took the potion."
"Yeah, Ah did."
"Kitty said if you drank the potion, you fell in love with the first person you saw. That would be me, wouldn't it, kid?"
"Um . . ." Rogue shrugged heplessly. "Yeah. Yeah, it would be you."
"Oh." Logan studied her quizzically. "Then why didn't anything happen, kid? Am I that unattractive to you?" He grinned.
"No, it's nothing about you," Rogue said quickly. "Ah . . . see, Ah guess the thing is . . ." She took a deep breath, looking determined. "See, Ah knew what would happen if we both . . . you know . . . fell in love. Ah knew we'd end up touching and then you'd . . . you'd die. So when Ah saw you Ah sort of tried to stifle what Ah felt. You know. To protect you, Ah guess." Her cheeks were brilliantly scarlet. "Ah didn't want to kill you just because of a love potion."
Logan looked at her with a strange expression. "So you kept yourself from fallin' in love just to protect me?"
Rogue nodded.
"Oh." Logan shifted in his seat. "Thanks, kid."
"It was nothing."
They sat in silence, carefully not looking at each other, while Kitty performed a series of pirouettes. Rogue nestled her head in her knees, eyes squeezed shut. She couldn't understand it. She'd thought the cure had worked perfectly.
So why did she feel this way?