Everything Important
Chapter Twelve: Woman Talk and Meaning the World
"Storm" Rogue spoke softly, but even from across the room, Storm heard her.
Storm excused herself from speaking with Jean and crossed the room.
"Will you help me with something?" She seemed nervous and awkward. "It's kind of important to me." She shrugged.
My poor girl. You've been crying all night … Storm thought.
She smiled benevolently. "Anything at all child." She spoke softly and she meant it.
Rogue took a few steps in to the hall and Storm walked with her.
"Ah'm half embarrassed to ask." Rogue explained. "You see …"
And as she explained, Storm discovered that this task was very much to her liking.
A few hours later, Rogue opened the door that separated them. "Ah can't wear this!" She argued.
Storm let a slow and obvious smile come over her. "Remember what I told you child." She said softly. "Now fix your posture."
Rogue eyed the mirror and did as Storm had told her. She stood up strait, with her shoulders back, ever so slightly, and a slight tension across her stomach. Her head was held regally high and level.
And the mirror revealed an incredible transformation.
"By the heavens child." Storm gushed. "Look at yourself!" She told her, stepping in to smooth out the dress.
"You're a vision." Storm said, taking her hands and making her turn in place, so that Storm might see her from all sides.
"Ah'm almost naked." Rogue replied, looking over her shoulder, in to the mirror, at the hemline in the back.
Storm smiled. It might be too much. She told herself.
"Tell me something?" Storm queried.
Rogue stopped looking in the mirror and relaxed slightly. "Like what?" She asked.
"How close were you to this boy?" She asked. "I know you were dating and having fun, but …"
"We were intimate Storm." She said softly.
"Not to be indelicate." Storm replied. "Or intrusive." She explained. "But just how … intimate?"
Rogue took a breath and the memories came flooding back.
Storm watched her posture correct itself as she recalled their time together. And suddenly, as if by magic, the dress looked tailor made for her.
"Just between us you mean?" Rogue asked, her head cocked to one side.
"Of course." Storm replied.
Rogues eyes sparkled as she searched for the right words.
"We were lovers." She said at last with a nod.
Storm considered her words with great care. "How, exactly, …" She began.
"He … wrapped me in silk." She confided with a slight shrug. "Silk sheets."
Storm crossed her arms lazily across her chest and caressed herself lightly along her upper arms as though lost in the thought of silk.
"And then … I wrapped him back." She confided.
A silence filled the space between them, and Rogue laughed, realizing that she had, perhaps, shocked Storm.
Storm smiled, she had not expected such a confession.
"Then this dress is more than appropriate." Storm told her. "But may I inquire?"
Rogue felt a deep appreciation for Storms obvious concern. "Are you asking if we were … careful?" She guessed.
"Y-Yes." Storm said slowly.
Rogue smiled at her. "Thank you." She said softly. "But it was very … safe." She said softly. "We were well … protected."
Storm nodded at her. "I'm glad." She said. "And more over, I am proud that you displayed such judgement in this matter." She nodded in agreement with herself. "You have grown in to a fine young woman with a bright future ahead of you."
"Every good thing Ah ever had in mah life, that future included, " She shook her head slightly. "Ah found it all right here."
"And thank you, so much." Rogue said, beginning to feel the loss again. "For helping me find a dress." She fingered the bust line of the risqué outfit. Her voice dropped to an almost inaudible whisper. "It means the world to me." Her eyes were glassy sheets.
And Storm could stop herself no longer. She took two steps toward Rogue and wrapped her arms around her friend, then smoother her hair and let her cry until she had finished.