Everything Important

Chapter Three: States of Mind

Rogue turned the page and rubbed her wrist before continuing with her story.

"Ah lay in bed for an hour, just thinking about our night together, and always returning to Kitty's question: What would I do?

Ah must have had every thought imaginable that night trying to think up an answer. But finally Ah came to realize that I had told her the truth. Ah didn't know.

But the more Ah thought about it – The more … comfortable … Ah became with it.

Ah can't say that Ah remember what Ah was thinking when I finally fell asleep, but I knew, when I woke up in the morning – that I certainly didn't feel like laughing at the idea any more.

Somehow, as soon as Ah saw him the next day, I thought he would mention it again – but he didn't.

He had tickets to a play on Broadway, in New York, and he wanted me to spend the day driving down the coast with him to see the show.

He said that he had already discussed it with the Professor and that I should let him know that Ah was going before we left.

And what can Ah say – Ah went."

She put her pen back down and sighed heavily while she rubbed her wrist again.

It's much easier to remember than is to put in to words.

Of course she had no idea what was transpiring at the mansion while she was gone.

"Rogue?" Scott knocked lightly on her door. "Rogue?" He called again.

He eyed the bathroom door – it was closed.

"Hey," He called through the door. "We're waiting for you in the danger room."

He heard a shuffling on the other side of the door and it sprang open. "What?" Wolverine barked – half his jaw-line covered in shaving cream, and a towel around his neck.

"Sorry. Thought you were Rogue." Scott balked.

"Happens all the time." Wolverine told him, slamming the door in his face. "Stupid kid." He muttered through the door and under his breath.

"I heard that." Scott told him through the door, before thinking better of it, and beating a hasty retreat down the hall.

He needn't have bothered.

"Good." Wolverine told himself, drawing the blade along his face. "Builds character."

Scott wandered through the kitchen and out to the back patio.

"Kurt?" He asked. "Why aren't you in the danger room?"

"Why aren't you?" He asked, looking back over his shoulder from the handrail.

Scott raised an eyebrow at him. "Touché."

Scott looked out over the back lawn and garage. A small amount of dust was settling in the driveway.

"What are we looking at?" Scott asked.

"Rogue." Kurt told him, staring in to the empty driveway. "And her new boyfriend." He smiled, continuing to stare in to the empty driveway.

Scott continued to face the driveway but he cast his eyes sideways to get a good look at Kurt. "What are they doing now?" He asked slyly.

"Listening to the radio and getting ready to turn on to the interstate." Kurt said.

Scott crossed his arms. "Oh yeah." He said as though he could see them now. "Where do you think they're going?" He asked, scratching his head in mock confusion.

"New York." Kurt told him, rocking back and forth now, from his heels to his toes.

"Now, what would make you think that?" Scott asked.

"It's the only way to see a show on Broadway." Kurt smiled, casting him a sideways glance in return. "It's where they keep it

"Are you serious, did she really go to New York with him?" Scott stood dumbstruck.

"Yep." Kurt said, finally turning to look at him. "They left just now – Going to see Les Miserables."

(Authors note for the unknowing reader – Les Miserables is a fantastic Broadway show – and commonly pronounced Lay Miz. –Remedy)

Scott frowned. "Good play." He said at last.

"I vouldnt know." Kurt told him. "I've never seen a show on Broadway." He smiled. "I'm kind of jealous."

The he sighed. "Vhy can't I meet a guy like that?" He asked, falling against Scott as though he were swooning and about to faint - with the back of his hand against his forehead for the full effect.

Scott caught him under the arms. "Kur-rt" He said.

Kurt threw his head back and looked at Scott, upside-down, and asked "Don't you belong in the danger room?" Then Kurt 'bamphed' away – to the Danger Room, no doubt.

Scott shook his head and grinned at Kurt's antics.

This isn't all that bad. He told himself. I'll just discuss it with her at Storms lecture tonight.

And Scott looked at his watch, had a small conniption fit about the time, and took off on a sprint towards the danger room.

The day passed quickly for Scott Summers, and come that evening he was once again, looking at his watch – every five minutes no less – all throughout Storm's lecture.

"Do you have a date tonight Mister Summers?" Storm asked him at one point.

"No mam. Sorry."

"Then perhaps you would like to address my last comment?"

Scott balked. All that came to mind was "8:47 pm."

Kurt was looking across the room at him from behind Storms back. He held up both hands – but only four fingers. And then changed to two fingers as he mouthed the words "Forty-Two"

"Ahh," Scott guesses. "Forty … two?"

Storm stood up and cocked her head.

"Correct." She said eyeing Scott. "Excellent work Mister Wagner." She said softly, having seen his reflection in Scott's glasses. "That will be enough for today everyone." She dismissed the class.

Kurt slunk out quickly and everyone else left, amused but restrained – as Storm didn't allow any 'inappropriate behavior' during her lectures.

"Scott?" Storm asked. "Are you all right?"

"I'm sorry I was distracted." He said sincerely. "I was waiting to talk to Rogue – all day in fact – and she didn't show up for the lecture." He shook his head. "That's not like her."

"No, it's not." Storm agreed. "But I thought she had gone to New York with her new friend."

"She did." He nodded. "I just thought she would be back by now."

Storm pursed her lips. "It's okay." She told him "This time. But I would prefer that when you are in my class – you are actually present – and not just showing up to be counted?" She told him.

"It won't happen again." He told her.

"Then it's forgotten." She smiled, gathering up her books and papers. "And Scott?"

"Yeah?"

"It's forty-two nanoseconds per cycle – the length of a normal telekinetic wave form." She told him.

"And it will be on the test."

He nodded twice. "Thank you."