Still Holding Out For You
By Lady Trunks
Part 6
Woo hoo, I got my first flame ever!! I'm so proud!!
still holding out for a better story
five whole chapters and only 20 reviews. Maybe because people can only be bothered to review praise-worthy fics. You know what I mean.
.:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:.
Rogue watched from the bleachers as Pietro went up to the hoop to make a shot. The ball sailed smoothly through the air before passing cleanly through the hoop. She held back the urge to clap, the action entirely too much like those of the cheerleaders sitting farther down the bleachers for her comfort. He glanced towards the stands to make sure that someone had witnessed his display of skill and seeing Rogue, smiled at her and gave a cocky little wave which she returned rolling her eyes slightly. He ran (slowly for him) to the other side of the court with the rest of his team.
Rogue leaned back and continued to watch them practice, something that she would never even have considered doing unless forced before Pietro. She still didn't get the whole concept of the game, it seemed overly complicated to her, with all the dribbling and fouls and everything. But after watching enough of the practices she was able to appreciate the skill that some of the players demonstrated, the two best being Evan and Pietro. Though the two were still not that close, they had let go of the hostility and now it was more of a friendly rivalry than an outright war. And with the two working on the same team again, it seemed that there might even be a chance for the team to become district champions, and maybe even state.
She was considering these possibilities when she realized that one of the cheerleaders had come up beside her (who Rogue recognized as Cherry Oakman), and was obviously waiting for her to acknowledge her, and probably even feel privileged at being graced with her presence. Rogue had to fight back her instinctive sarcastic comment and tried to be a bit more tactful. "What do you want?" Well, when tact fails there's always the direct approach.
Cherry looked as if she wanted desperately to make some catty comment, but was restraining herself, which only caused Rogue to smile (though it wasn't a friendly smile). "You're Rogue, right? I'm Cherry." She smiled an obviously fake smile, as if Rogue should feel special that she had spoken to her in public.
"And?" Rogue was definitely not feeling honored by it.
Cherry dropped all fake sweetness, "I hear that you and Pietro are a couple. Is that true?"
"I really don't think anything about me is your business." Rogue said tightly. 'Who started these damn rumors anyway?' She thought to herself.
"I didn't think so. Why would someone so obviously perfect, want someone as obviously NOT as you?"
'I cannot kill her. Okay, I can absorb her and send her into a coma until high school's out. Of course then I would have a cheerleader in my head. Oh mah gawd! I would rather die. Get her away from me!!' Rogue thought to herself, just glaring at Cherry like she was some fascinating creature that she would like to step on.
Anyone one with even a bit of self-preservation would have knew when to retreat but it wasn't her brains that Cherry was known for. "That's why I plan to ask him to the homecoming dance. As I'm sure you know I was nominated for queen, and I'm sure to win. It's only fitting that I should go with the king after all."
Rogue sighed, having all she could stand of the blonde's incessant chatter. "Do you think that you could maybe you could move a little to the left? The sound of the wind rushing through your head is making me feel slightly nauseous."
"What did you say?" Cherry hissed in response, not understanding, but pretty sure that it was an insult.
"I'm sorry. I'll try to use smaller words."
"That's not good enough."
"I have a question for you Cherry."
"What?"
"Do you think the two black eyes I'm going to give you will effect your becoming Homecoming Queen?"
She seemed to understand that, and quickly backed away. With one last glare at the Goth she spun around and returned to her friends. Watching from her seat, she saw the blonde say something to her friends and a few of them looked up at her, so she knew they were talking about her. Rogue fought the urge to stick her tongue out at them. She had long since become accustomed to (and even welcomed) the ostracization.
Without giving it another thought she turned her attention towards the players once more and saw that practice was finishing. She leaned back to wait and roughly ten minutes later the players started coming out of the locker rooms. Rogue waved to Evan when he came out and he waved back before he took off to ride his skateboard home. Rogue continued to wait, getting slightly impatient. Though Pietro's super speed should have made him one of the first ones out, it was offset by his meticulous grooming habits and as a result he was one of the last ones out and subsequently almost everyone was gone.
He finally came out (hair perfectly styled and dressed in his usual pair of jeans and black shirt) and took a seat beside her on the bench. "It's about time." She told him, mock-seriously.
"Hey it takes a lot of work to look this gorgeous." Was his comeback.
"I'm sure it is." Sarcasm dripped from every word. She stood up and stretched. "Let's get out of here. The schools kind of creepy without anyone around."
"Hmm, good time to commit acts of vandalism though. You wanna?"
"I think I'm going to have to pass on that one. I'm hungry. Let's go home and see if they left us anything for dinner." They left the gym and walked down the empty hallway, there footsteps echoing eerily through the halls.
They came to the doors and exited the building. Since it had been a late practice it was getting dark out and the streetlights were coming on creating shadows. "So do you want to run home?"
"Nah. Let's walk." He replied, and threading his arm through hers they took off down the streets of Bayville. "So, what did Cherry want?"
"You saw that?" He shot her a look. "Of course you did. Basically to tell me that I was scum and the two of you were soul mates."
"WHAT?!" His voice was incredulous and livid at the same time.
She laughed at his reaction. "Basically she wanted to make sure I didn't stand in the way of you two going to the Homecoming Dance and become the perfect royal couple."
"As if. I could never date her. You know, I think she dyes her hair."
"Ah, sugar. That ain't the only thing that's fake about her." Rogue said laughing.
He looked thoughtful at that. "You think."
"Honey, I can tell fake ones from the real ones and those are definitely fake."
He gave her a lecherous smile before checking her figure, "I'm sure you can."
He ducked as her hand swung to smack his head. "Missed me. When are you going to learn that you're to slow to catch me?"
"Oh I'll show you slow." She said narrowing her eyes in mock anger. She suddenly lunged at him, but once again he managed to evade her.
"Gonna have to be faster then that, Roguey."
She began to chase him in earnest then, but he always stated just beyond reach. Soon they came to the gates of the mansion and Pietro raced to the door swinging it open to run inside⦠Only to come to a sudden halt. Rogue just behind him didn't have time to stop and wound up running into his back. "Why'd you stop?"
Then she locked around him and saw Logan standing there in his battle suit a serious expression on his face. "Go suit up kids, we got a mission."
.:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:.
Okay, if you didn't notice Pietro choosing to walk home with Rogue instead of run is actually a huge concession. And good old fashion cheerleader blond bimbo bashing (very stereotypical of me).
I'm going to try to update this every day, but no promises. And nothing on Sundays.
