Hehehe. . . This is really REALLY fun! All I'm gonna say about this chapter is. . . THE TRUTH ABOUT EVAN'S UNDERWEAR. There's more to it than that, but you people have got to be wondering what Logan did with it! ;o) Yeah for the reviews too! I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE you guys!

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The music in the pizza parlor was so loud it was almost deafening-Not that Rogue minded. Loud music had always been a way for her to drown out the voices in her head, and even when they weren't there, she still found comfort in a blasting stereo.

"Rogue, over here!" Jean motioned her towards an empty table she and Scott had found. Rogue nodded.

"Alright, let me go get Kurt real quick." She turned and headed towards the arcade room, wondering for the hundredth time why Kurt found those machines so addicting. She found him at his usual game, 'Alien Invades: The attack of the blobs IV'.

"Come on, Kurt." She rested a gloved hand on his shoulder. "We have a table." His eyes didn't even waver. Sighing, she turned to go back alone, when suddenly,

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" She whirled, ready to take on who or whatever had caused him to scream like that, and then snorted in disbelief as Nightcrawler stared in horror at the 'Game Over' sign flickering across the screen.

"Let's go Sugah."

As they approached the table, Rogue had to admit she felt a little uncomfortable. Kitty had begged out of their lunch plans to finish homework, and Evan was still looking for his underwear. So that left Scott, Jean, her, and-Kurt. She hadn't really talked to him much since she found out the truth about Risty/Mystique. What was she supposed to say? 'Hey guess what, you have a sister, and I'm her.' Yeah. Right. Rogue sighed and sat down between him and Jean. Her life was WAY too complicated. Suddenly her eyes lit up as she surveyed the menu in front of her.

"Anchovy pizza!" She couldn't remember exactly when she had tried it, but she knew that she loved it. The others looked at her as if she had suddenly sprouted a tail (even Kurt, who really DID have a tail.). "Oh, come on you guys!" She pleaded. "Live a little!"

Kurt gulped, his face pale even through the image inducer he wore. "Go ahead and order half and half, Scott. I will share with her." He hoped Rogue appreciated his gesture. She was always harder to talk to than the others, by her own choice, maybe if he made a few concessions she'd open up more.

"Thanks Kurt! You won't regret this!" She hastened to assure him. He rolled his eyes, earning him a grin. Maybe it would be worth his sacrifice after all. . .

About fifteen minutes after Scott had ordered the pizza it came. Half anchovy for Kurt and Rogue, and half combination for Scott and Jean. All eyes were on Rogue as she picked up a slice and took a huge bite. But no sooner had she gotten it in her mouth, she spit it out, gagging and choking. Jean and Scott burst out laughing, and Kurt would have joined them had he not seen the confusion written all over Rogues face.

"Rogue?" He rested a hand on her shoulder, hoping to comfort her. "What's wrong?"

Clutching at her skull, the Rogue stifled a cry of anguish as unfamiliar memories raced through her mind with an intensity that frightened her. The two older teens stopped laughing and eyed her with concern, but before they could say anything, she leapt from the table and ran out the door.

Once outside she felt better knowing no one could see the turmoil that filled her face. She hugged herself tightly, willing herself not to cry as she tried to sort her mind out.

When she had seen the menu, she had KNOWN that anchovy pizza was her favorite! Her mouth had watered just reading the description. But it wasn't. She felt the familiar wave of confusion and insecurities threatening to overwhelm her, flooding throughout her mind. Someone else. Someone she had touched, had absorbed, had loved that pizza. Not her.

"Rogue?" The voice came from behind. "Are you alright?"

"Ah'm fine Kurt." She turned, meeting his gaze, and Kurt felt his heart fall at what he saw. Ever since the professor had cleansed her mind of the other personalities she had been more-alive. She was still moody sometimes, but her eyes had been cleared of their constant haunted look. But now. . . now when he looked into them, he saw nothing.

Rogue ran a hand through her hair. "Let's go back in, okay? Maybe we can get Scott and Jean to share their pizza with us."

With a sigh he followed her back into the parlor. If he had managed to look a little bit farther, and dig a little bit deeper into her eyes, he might have seen what she was trying so hard to hid. Fear.

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Rogue hadn't acted too out of the ordinary after that, so Kurt managed to push his worry aside. She was strong, he'd already seen proof of that. She'd beaten those voices before and she could do it again if it came to that. Still . . .. He couldn't help but noticed the spark of annoyance that flashed through her eyes every time someone assured her it wasn't her fault, and that no one hated her. He shook his head. He wasn't sure he'd ever understand his teammate.

Kitty had been hard at work, studying for some project she and Rogue were going to be working on Monday at school (Rogue was finally allowed back.). She enlisted Rogue's help, and they spent the rest of the day, and all of Sunday refining their research.

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When Monday rolled around, everyone piled into the car with his or her usual Monday morning perkiness.

"Hurry up everyone! Don't make me leave without you!" That was Scott, preparing to honk the horn.

"I'm here already, let's go!" Jean said, frantically tying her hair in a ponytail.

*BAMF* Kurt landed in the backseat. "We can't go yet guys, the girls and Evan are still in the house."

"Wait you guys! We're like, coming!" Kitty called, Rogue right behind her. They hopped into the backseat next to Kurt.

A few minutes later . . .

"Does anyone know if Evan's COMING?" Scott demanded, honking the horn.

"I'm HERE!" A very red-faced, very annoyed Evan squeezed in the back seat next to the girls.

"What like, took so long?" Kitty asked, not happy they might be late for school.

He didn't answer and suddenly Kurt burst out laughing. "I bet I know!" He wiggled his eyebrows. "have you found your uh. . . 'Unmentionables' yet?" Evan only sputtered angrily in response, causing everyone to grin.

When they arrived at school, they had a problem getting in to the parking lot.

"I wonder what all the excitement's about." Jean mused, trying to get a view through her window. Without warning she began to giggle.

"What is it?"

"Let me see!"

"Move over!"

All of the jeeps inhabitants struggled for a better view.

The entire front lawn of the school was covered with underwear. White, black, even pink polka dotted. Kitty turned towards Evan, her voice filled with barely contained laughter. "Uh. Evan? I think I found your uh, panties." The boy paled visibly.

"If you guys tell anyone, ANYONE," He didn't finish the threat, but let a couple spikes poke through his skin dangerously. But no one was listening to him. Evan sighed. They wouldn't tell anyone anyway, would they? Looking at their grinning faces he wasn't so sure.

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First and second period had passed quickly for Rogue, and now she was at lunch. She groaned aloud as she thought of all the questions and stares she would get from her teammates because of Saturday.

"Something wrong chere?" A familiar voice came from somewhere behind her. She whirled around.

"What are YOU doin' here, Swamp Rat?" She demanded, ignoring the flutter of her heart as she met his red eyes.

"I thought you were goin' to call me Remy." He rebuked gently, disregarding her question and moving away from the wall he'd been leaning on to get closer to her.

"That was just for one night, Sugah." She retorted, turning away. "No if ya don't mind, Ah'm not having the greatest day, and Ah don't need some Cajun Acolyte ta make it worse."

He blinked. She was having a bad day? Was that why she wasn't sitting with her friends? Impulsively he blurted, "Why don't you let Remy make it better, Chere?" She shot him an are-you-kidding-me look.

"An' how are ya gonna do that?"

"If ya want to know, ya gotta trust Gambit. I'll bring ya back before school gets over." He added as an afterthought. She looked at him and he knew, beyond all shadow of a doubt, that she'd say no.

"Okay." Her voice startled him.

"Okay?" He repeated, surprised.

She nodded. "Ah'm not in the mood ta play by the rules today." She looked at him sharply. "But this doesn't mean Ah like ya. I still think you're a swamp rat."

He couldn't help but grin at the look on her face. He could really get used to this girl! They headed out to the parking lot, neither one of them believing they were really doing this. With ease he threw himself onto his motorcycle.

"Make sure ya hold on tight, chere." He ordered, as she hopped on behind him.

"You wish." She muttered, her smile taking the sting out of her words. "Let's get outta here."

He answered by hitting the gas and racing out of the parking lot, leaving behind a cloud of dust.

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Kitty slumped in her chair, silently pleading that Mrs. Allan, her history teacher, would pass her by. No such luck.

"Miss Pryde!" Kitty jumped, looking at the teacher guiltily. "Where is your partner?"

"Well, uh, that is, she um. . ."

"She was supposed to be back in school today, was she not?"

'Was she not?' Kitty mocked in her mind. She couldn't STAND Mrs. Allan. "Yeah, she was." How could Rogue not show up! The project had been coming up for weeks, and now Kitty had no one to work with-for the first day at least. She sighed. "I can work by myself for today, I'll just fill her in when--"

"No, I'm afraid that's not going to happen." Mrs. Allan interrupted. "Your partner will have to work with another student who is absent to day, Karen, and you can pair up with her partner." She gestured with her hand towards a familiar silver-haired boy, walking towards them. *Oh no!*

"Guess you're my new partner, Kitty cat!" Pietro smirked.

Kitty had to concentrate to keep her mouth from hanging open. *I'm gonna kill Rogue!*

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*Sigh*, looks like Kitty's gonna HAVE to spend time with Pietro, whether she wants to or not. And, be honest, who REALLY thinks Rogue doesn't like Gambit, or vice versa? Chapter Nine will be up as SOON as possible (I have2 tests coming up, so I can't guarantee that I'll have a lot of free time.) Meanwhile, reviews are ALWAYS welcome! ;o)