Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, no matter how much I want them to be.

Kitty sat down at the lunch table, head in her hands. How could Rogue stand it? All the memories kept flooding through her mind, unexpectedly and uninvited. Every now and then the boy tried to break through, tried to take control. Kitty fought him everytime, and everytime was left exhausted. Feeling hot, she laid her head down on the cool table, trying to catch her breath. Rogue appeared from the crowd bustling around on all sides, and sat down next to her.

"Hey, are you okay?" Rogue asked, concern written all over her face.

"It's mah head," Kitty moaned. "I absorbed someone. I don' know how you can stand it. I think I'm going to pass out or throw-up or something before lunch is over. An' I'm so hot!"

"I'll be right back," Rogue hastily replied, grabbing a dollar out of her purse, which was hanging by Kitty's side. A cold bottle of water had always helped her to calm down, and it sounded like Kitty needed it a lot more than she ever had. Rogue's brain had adapted for the power, so she could control it and contain it. But Kitty...

Rogue stopped in her tracks, almost running into the figure standing in front of her. She had been so deep in her own thoughts and concerns that she wasn't really paying attention to where she was going. She was simply intent on getting to that vending machine and back to Kitty's side as quickly as possible.

"Scott. Hi," she said, walking around him. If he wanted to talk he could follow her; she was on a mission.

"Hey, Kitty," he replied, falling in step with her. He put his hand on her shoulder, stopping her for a moment. He leaned in close. "Rogue..." he whispered. Rogue's breath caught in her throat. She was mesmerized for only a moment by those ruby lenses, however, before remembering Kitty.

Rogue twisted her shoulder away from Scott, continuing on. "I need to get water for Kitty-er... Rogue," Rogue stammered breathlessly, trying to forget how close he had been only a moment ago. He continued walking beside her. When they finally reached the vending machine, he leaned up against it as she slipped her dollar in. It hummed quietly as Rogue willed herself not to look at Scott. Hitting the water button, she waited. She heard the bang of its drop, and leaned down to pick the bottle out of the machine. However it wasn't there.

"Damn machine," Rogue cursed, giving it a little punch. "Bottle must have caught on something inside. She punched it again, but to no avail. Scott stood up straight, and gave the machine a tap on the side he was leaning. The bottle clattered into reach.

"Thanks," Rogue muttered, grabbing it and starting back to Kitty.

"Rogue?" Scott called after her.

"What?" She asked, turning on her heel and starting to lose her temper a bit. "Kitty's in trouble, can't you understand that? I have to get back to her!"

"Look," he said, "meet me after school by the football bleachers." He turned in the other direction, going to eat with the other seniors outside. Rogue stood there, dumb-founded. Why would he want to meet her after school? She couldn't, anyway. She had to get back to the Institute with Kitty.

Kitty! Rogue remembered why she was slowly allowing her hand to be numbed by the water, and she rushed off to help her friend.

"Here," Rogue said, handing the bottled water to Kitty and sitting down beside her.

"Thanks," Kitty gasped, grabbing the bottle and holding it against her head. She sighed blissfully as the cool water drops slowly made their way down her face. Rogue sat in uncomfortable silence as Kitty undid the cap and gulped down the water, eyes closed in pain.

Finally, Kitty opened her eyes and looked at Rogue. "Ah'm sorry," she said.

"Why?"

"People aren't goin' to trust you anymore. They're going to be scared. They're going to avoid you..."

"Kitty, you haven't changed anything. People avoided me to begin with. Besides, I don't need any of them. You guys at the Institute kind of understand me, so you're all the friends I need."

Kitty smiled up at Rogue and took another sip of her water. "The teacher gave me detention. One hour, and I have to serve it today. Jean's staying after for track today, so I'm goin' to get a ride home with her. You can go with Scott, and I'll meet you at the Institute."

"Go with Scott?" Rogue practically choked on the words. How could Kitty possibly know? Why did she think she should go with Scott?

"Yeah, have him give you a ride home. He probably will want to go right after school and get some trainin' in."

"Oh," Rogue breathed, relieved. "Oh, okay. Yeah, sure, I'll go home with Scott."

"Great." Kitty closed her eyes, concentrating as the memories came again. "God, Ah'm glad this day is almost over. I don' know how much longer I can stand this. What's your last class?"

"P.E. It's easy. The professor gave the teacher a note at the beginning of the year saying I have, like, a heart problem or some shit like that."

"Why? You're power doesn't keep you from runnin'."

"Yeah, but it does keep me from dressing out, which is one of the things required if you're going to run. If they just didn't make the uniforms so skimpy, I'd be out there outrunning everyone. But, what can you do?"

"Okay, whatever," Kitty responded, breathless from another attack. "Do they ever give up?" she asked Rogue through clenched teeth.

"No, they never give up. But they do get weaker."

"Well, they better get weak fast, because they're tiring me out. I don't think I can hold him back much longer."

"You can," Rogue reassured her. "Just, like, keep a water bottle with you all the time. It really helps. What class do you have next?"

"Computer Technology."

"What?"

"Computer Technology. Don't worry, it's really easy too. Just go in, sit down at computer, and do whatever is written up on the board."

"Okay," Rogue sighed. She leaned forward, mimicking Kitty. Before she could get her head down though, a fist slammed down on the table, shaking it horribly. Kitty jumped up.

"Lance! What are ya doing?" she yelped, then grabbed her head in pain.

"This doesn't concern you, Rogue," he snapped, and then he turned to Rogue, snarling. "You are such a bitch."

"What did I do!" Rogue asked, heart beating fast.

"You know exactly well what you did! You know I'm struggling in Chemistry, and then in today's lab you go and screw everything up, so now my grade's going to drop even more!"

"S-sorry?" she whimpered.

"I'm never speaking to you again!" He started to storm off, but changed his mind and came back, expression much kinder. "Oh, and I found your note in my backpack."

"Note?" Rogue squeaked, glancing nervously at Kitty.

"Yeah. I feel the same way." With that, he leaned in and kissed her.

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Author's note: Poor Lance! His heart is being torn about; someone needs to save him!!