"So this is Atlanta." Remy mused as they sped into the heart of the city, the night life and the night lights coming out in full swing.
"Oh yeah. Hotlanta as Marie would call it, right 'Ro?" Jean smiled.
"Whatever." Ororo leaned her head against her fist, her arm resting on the door of her convertible. She eased through the traffic of the highway to the exit.
"You know, you suck the fun out of everything." Jean looked across the front seat to her. Remy looked on with interest from the back.
"I'm not the one who sucks around here." She reminded her.
"Like hell you don't. I know you've worn out some kneepads."
"Screw you!"
"That's Scott's job." Ororo burst out laughing, her best friend following immediately after.
"You both have problems." Remy shook his head as they pulled into the parking lot of a building of condominiums.
"Yes, we do. The luggage should already be here right?" Jean asked as she got out of the car, letting Remy out as well.
"Most likely. But if they aren't, we have clothes here." The three started walking to the door.
"But I don't." Remy reminded them as they walked in and to the elevators.
" 'Ro wouldn't mind you naked." Jean quipped, not looking at either of them. Ororo closed her eyes, half in embarrassment at her total transparency, and half at the race of her pulse at that image. An image indeed…
*
"Here we are, our Atlanta abode." Ororo quickly unlocked the door, anxious to get away from him. It became hard to think when she was around Remy. This situation required her to think.
"What time is it?" Jean asked, turning on the lights.
"Eleven." Remy looked at his watch. She smiled and started to dance, looking at Ororo.
"Let's go."
"You don't want to get any sleep?" She asked, already thinking of what to wear.
"No. I'm not tired. Are you Remy?"
"No." The redhead turned back to her friend.
"See. Don't make me whine."
"Oh all right." Ororo went into her room to change.
"Where are we going?" Remy asked as he watched Jean take her pearl clip out of her hair and shake it out. It resettled around her shoulders as if a professional stylist had just finished with it.
"To a club. You like to dance?"
"Of course. All Cajuns like to dance." He said dryly.
*
Turning onto Peachtree Street SE, Ororo pulled up in front of a brick building, The Rogue written above the large doors in neon script. "Why hasn't she sprung for a few valet by now?" She complained. Remy helped her out of the car, admiring what she was wearing. A pair of snug silk pants in purple, and a matching velvet halter top, her hair in a high ponytail. She took his breath away, and they paused slightly, looking into each other's eyes.
"Because. Save your bitching for when we get inside." Jean smiled from the sidewalk at the long line hoping to get in the club. Jean led the way, walking straight through, the velvet rope clinking back into place right behind them.
The foyer was deceptively quiet. Tasteful blue marble and silver accents adorned the hall, the only door at the far end. Two bodyguards were stationed in front wearing cream and navy suits, and as the group neared, they opened the large metallic doors.
The club was crowded, the music deafening, the energy eclectic, electric, and ecstatic. Remy looked around, absorbing his new surroundings. A large, circular dance floor was raised higher than the main area, a mass of bodies moving to the music.
The bar was on the second level, against the wall around the room, it's counter glass lit from a soft blue light within, encircling the whole room. The strobe lights were imaginative without going overboard, the music mostly hip hop and r&b.
"So what do you think?" Jean said over the ruckus.
"It's different." He said, starting to move with the music. His eye caught a large black man walking through the rapidly parting crowd. The man had dreadlocks, some sort of scar over his right eye, although that in now way subtracted from the man's looks.
"Bishop!" Ororo laughed as she was swept up in a hug that lifted her from the blue carpet.
" 'Roro, how you doing? It's been ages!" Bishop smiled as he set her down. He was almost a head taller than she was.
"I know. I came in on business, and you know I couldn't stay away." She smiled and stepped back. "You look great."
"I know." He looked past Ororo to Jean. "What, so you can't hug a brother or something?"
"You know I'm engaged." Jean laughed, crossing her arms. Bishop nodded, becoming mock serious.
"Yeah, I heard. I don't want Scott to kick my ass." She started laughing, giving him a hug. When they pulled apart Bishop shook his head, smiling ruefully.
"So you and him huh… We all thought you hated him. I never figured in a million years that you would get married to him."
"Neither did I, but it just happened." She shrugged.
"What, you fell into his lap?" Ororo smacked him on the arm playfully.
"Be nice." She looked at Remy for the first time in three minutes and felt kind of embarrassed at forgetting him. "Oh, Bishop, this is Remy…an… associate." The men shook hands.
"Nice to meet you." Remy said, noting the firm grip of Bishop's handshake and the calculating eye.
"Same here. I got a table. Want to join me?"
"Of course." Jean smiled. "You're our big brother."
"Oh yeah. Come on. The Mouth of the South saw you two come in."
*
"Ah knew it was ya'll when Ah saw the doors open. How long has it been!" Marie crowed as she watched her friends slide into the booth with her.
"Two years, I think. You weren't here when we stopped through last year." Jean said as she gave the southern woman a tug on her white locks. "Interesting dye job." She smiled.
"Ah know. I mean, Ah woke up with the inspiration and it looked good. Sugah, you gave me the idea." Marie nudged Ororo as she displayed her hair. Her tresses a naturally vibrant chestnut, the top was snow white, thick layers lying on her shoulders in alternating colors.
"I'm flattered…for some reason. So, how has the club been?" Ororo asked as she signaled for a waiter.
"Great girl. Business is booming, and no shit has gone down since Bishop has taken over security for me on the weekends." She smiled at Remy. "And who are you?"
"Hello chere. My name is Remy Lebeau." He reached around Ororo and grasped Marie's hand, kissing the back of it briefly. She beamed as she took her hand back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Remy Lebeau…isn't that Cajun?"
"Beautiful and observant." Jean raised her eyebrow at Ororo, who looked like she wanted to gag.
"Ah've lived almost all my life here in the south. Ah can identify an accent pretty easily. So what do you do?"
"I am the CEO of Roche Megacorp, and I manage Club Jubilee." Bishop nodded.
"I've been there before. I had a conference in New York and someone recommended that club for some relaxation. Very cool place." He said.
"I'm glad you liked it." Remy smiled and turned back to Marie. "So how do you all know each other?"
"We went to the same prep school, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, stuck together in college, and kept up with each other when we graduated and scattered. Hey, anybody want a drink?" she asked, signaling for a waitress. "Okay, it's on the house. Stacy, I'll have a Liquid Sex, straight."
"Blue Martini." Ororo said, taking out her compact and checking her make up.
"Bite Me Dammit." Remy kept looking at Marie.
"Just make me a Sex On The Beach." Bishop cocked his head and listened to his earpiece. "I've got to take care of a situation. I'll be back."
"Okay, take your time." Jean thought for a minute. " Give me a Screaming Orgasm."
"You don't get enough of those Shugah?" Jean ignored the snickering around the table and sent the waitress away.
"You are so wrong. Just because I'm getting some on the regular and you're not, doesn't mean you can make fun of me." She grinned. "You guys watch my drink. Bishop!"
"Yeah?" He said as he made he way back to the table.
"Let's dance."
"You sure Scott won't be insanely jealous? I mean, I am a living sex god, and I could make any woman orgasm on contact. He might not want me to touch you…but-"
"Oh, get your ass on the dance floor." They laughed as they left. Remy turned back to Ororo.
"What's between them? They date or something?"
"Nah, they're just really good friends. Jean knew him before she knew me." Ororo said, glad when the drinks arrived. Marie took a sip of hers and smiled, a new song coming on.
"Remy, would you like to dance?"
"With you chere, anything." Remy took her hand and they left, leaving Ororo alone at the table. She frowned and crossed her arms, mad at being abandoned. She turned in the booth, allowing her a view of the dance floor.
The floor was lit, illuminating the dancers. She could pick out Jean and Bishop, enjoying themselves as they laughed, danced, and talked to the music. But in the corner Remy and Marie had just made it there, already wrapped up in each other.
The reggae beat slid through the room, making everything sinuous and smooth, liquid dancing at its most erotic. The Rouge was where dancers came to dance and be seen, Marie being a prima ballerina in Atlanta's premier ballet company. Her grace and flexibility showed as she danced, Remy being an equal partner.
They slid together and apart, grinding to the music in perfect sync. Ororo felt mad. Why was he dancing with Marie if he knew she liked him? 'Because you said you hated him, remember?' She thought. Ororo glared at the dancers, anger building every minute they were in each other's arms. But soon the anger collapsed into sadness. Life wasn't fair. Circumstances weren't fair.
"Wanna dance?" She turned and frowned. Some nameless nobody.
"No."
"You sure-"
"Not with you."
"Are you-"
"Can't you get the picture?" Ororo glared at him, her famous ice glare, making her look like a frigid queen.
"Perfectly." He walked away and she watched, downing her martini and blinking back tears, picking up her purse and walking away. She made sure she wasn't spotted, not wanting to wait for anyone.
*
Jean felt her friend leave and she sighed, spinning back to Bishop and rolling her eyes. " 'Ro left?" He asked, dipping her playfully.
"Yeah. Can you give me a lift?"
"You know where the train station is."
"Bishop."
"You know I would. She likes the Cajun, doesn't she?"
"Yeah. Does Marie know?" Jean asked, looking over to the couple, who was totally into each other.
"Of course. She's wondering why Ororo hasn't made her move."
"Because she told the man she hated him."
"That could ruin the start of a relationship."
"So I'm told."
"But it didn't stop you and Scott from getting together, did it." He grinned at her.
"Oh shut up." Jean laughed.
"So where did she go?"
"Home."
"To do what?"
"Pout."