FYI:
~Personal thoughts~
"Normal Conversation (Duh)"
[Flashback]
{Musical Lyrics}
Lonely Day--Phantom Planet
ROGUE
Logan had finally finished fixin' mah jeep so we took it to the mall. Kitty had wanted to drive the Hummer but received a resounding no from Remy, Piotr, Kurt, Amanda an' me. Remy rode shotgun an' proceeded to tell me how to drive.
"Aren't you driving a little fast, Cheri?"
"Ya aren't scared of mah drivin' are you?"
"Non, just used to being the one behind the wheel." We constantly picked at each other like that. I'm not sure why other than we just enjoyed teasin' each other in that flirty way.
It was pretty obvious that Piotr liked Kitty. He was constantly blushin' around her an' even hesitated to say no to her drivin'.
Ah pulled into the mall parkin' lot an' we all got out. Kitty was simply ecstatic at the thought of spendin' somebody else's money. "Like let's see. We should hit Sears first…"
"No, ya guys go on. We'll be going to some different stores instead."
Kitty looked hurt 'cause she just wasn't getting the picture. "Why?"
"Isn't it obvious…these two have completely different taste, they ain't gonna shop together." Remy an' Piotr just watched an' listened as Kitty an' Ah planned their shoppin'. We split up on the agreement to meet back in the food court.
"You're a take control kind of girl, Cheri."
"Ya got a problem with that?"
"Non." We walked into Hot Topic an' Ah started siftin' through a pile of t-shirts. Remy was standin' behind me whistlin' so Ah knew he was up to somethin'. He always was when he tried playin' it innocent. ~Wonder what stunt he's gonna try an' pull this time.~
"Hey, what do ya think of this one?" Ah'd found a black shirt with a pair of flamin' aces on it. Outta no where he pinched mah butt. "What the hell was that for!" Ah spun around to find him still whistlin' as he shrugged his shoulders. Ah pushed up mah sleeve like Ah was gonna hit him an' he threw his hands up in defense.
"I was only playin' Cheri!" Ah laughed at him as he started to smile again.
"What? Ya didn't really think Ah was gonna hit you. So what do ya think?" Ah held up the black t-shirt again for him to see. He nodded that he liked it. ~Ah bet he's to scared to disagree right now.~
For the next few hours we went from store to store buyin' t-shirts an' jeans, an' even a decent pair of boots. Ah'd refused to let him wear his silver combat boots to the mall an' made him borrow a pair of Kurt's sneakers for the day.
["What do you mean, I can't wear my boots?"
"Just what Ah said Remy. You'll freak people out wearin' those things. Here put these on."
"Like my eyes won't freak t'em out anyway. And whose shoes are these?"
"They're Kurt's. Good point though. Ya better wear these shades as well."
"And here I thought you loved me the way I was."
"Ah do, but other people'll see ya an' run away screamin' 'Mutant!' We're supposed to be doin' this shoppin' low profile."
"Who cares what others t'ink?"]
~God Ah hate it when he has a good point like that.~ But he had worn the sneakers an' sunglasses just like Ah'd asked him to.
We were walkin' past a sale rack of swimsuits when he stopped. "You haven't bought anyt'ing for yourself, Cheri." He pulled out a bakini an' dangled it playfully in front of me.
"Ya've got to be kiddin'. Ah'd be a walkin' death trap in that!" He was poutin' an' he knew Ah couldn't stand that. "Look Sugah, Ah ain't tryin' it on, so save ya puppy dog eyes for the cashier."
"Why would I do that?"
"'Cause Ah know ya gonna flirt with her. Ya do it with all the girls ya come across."
"Non, I'd never flirt with anyone but you."
"Yeah, whatever." ~As much as he want's to deny it, he's a flirt.~
"It's not whatever." He'd run around the rack an' was standin' in front of me. He placed his hands on mah shoulders an' spoke so seriously that it was hard for me to believe this was the same Remy. "I don't want any ot'er girl. None of t'em could compare to you, Marie." ~How does he go from all cute an' flirty to all serious like that?~ He started smilin' again which made me smile as well; he had a way of doin' that. He pointed to another rack behind me, full of leather jackets. "At least try one of t'em on Cheri."
"Fine, if it'll get ya to quit buggin' me." Ah pulled out a brown bomber an' tried it on. It was a perfect fit, an' made me think of the times, Remy had given me his coat to wear, because it had a strikin' resemblance to Remy's. Ah took it back off an' headed towards the register to pay. "Hey look, there's Kitty an' Piotr." They were walkin' past the store we were in holdin' hands. They looked awful cute together an' ya couldn't help but smile.
Remy kissed the top of mah head as we finished payin'. "We might as well join them."
GAMBIT
We caught up with Piotr, Kitty, Kurt, and Amanda in the food court. All three of us boys were loaded down with at least half a dozen shopping bags. Everyone had a tray full of burgers, fries, and milkshakes as we sat around a table talking.
"I can't imagine I'm ever going to vear all this stuff."
"You will, if you love me, Kurt."
I looked down at my own shopping bags and couldn't help but think the same t'ing. Marie had talked me into buying a lot of stuff. "Don't ya even think about startin' either." I looked up to find Mari watchin' me looking at my bags. ~And she wants to get on my back when I get caught staring?~
{I Could Tell From The Minute I Woke Up, It Was Going To Be A Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely Day}
"So like what all did ya buy?"
"Cheri forced me into buying a lot of shirts, jeans, and a backpack, which I can't imagine I'll use. She even made me buy a pair of new shoes."
"Ah did not, ya liar! Ah only said ya needed to buy a new pair of shoes or go to school barefoot." Kitty and Amanda were giggling at this and the rest of us joined in on the laughter.
{Rise And Shine, Rub The Sleep Out Of My Eyes, And Try And Tell Myself I Can't Go Back To Bed}
"What about you Rogue, like didn't you get anything?"
"Just a jacket, nothin' big." She waved her hand as if to wave the subject off as well. Kitty seemed to have trouble catching on to the drift a lot of the time.
{It's Gonna Be A Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely Day
Even Though The Sun Is Shining Down On Me, And I Should Feel About As Happy As Can Be}
"Come on, like let us see." Kitty dove into our shopping bags and came back up with the bomber jacket. Everyone let out a little gasp as they recognized the resemblance to the one I was wearing. "Like oh my God, you two really are going out! Like how long have you two been an item and why didn't you tell me?" Marie began to blush at this as she nodded. For some reason that just seemed to make it official.
{I Just Got Here And I Already Want To Leave, It's Gonna Be A Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely Day}
"It's been about a week. Ah…Ah have to go." Marie stood up an' walked off towards the restrooms.
"Like was it something I said?" I couldn't tear my eyes off of her as she walked through the door and out of sight.
"Ve'll catch up vith you guys later." The others got up and left me to sit alone as I waited for Marie to return.
I'd been sitting there for a few minutes when I saw Marie come back out…holding hands with another guy. I knew I'd made a mistake by not following her.
{It's Gonna Be A Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely Day, It's Gonna Be A Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely Day}
He was holding her around the waist and she was resting her head on his chest just like we had the day before. ~Who is t'at guy, and what does he t'ink he's doing with my girl!~ I wanted to go over there and knock the guy out, but t'ought better of it. ~If t'at's the way she wants it, I'll just go.~ I walked out of the mall and started the long walk back to the institute.
ROGUE
{Everybody Knows That Something's Wrong, But Nobody Knows What's Going On
We All Sing That Same Old Song, When You Want It All To Go Away, You Shape It Up To Be A Lonely Day}
~Why did Ah freak out like that. Why am Ah embarrassed to admit that Ah like Remy. He ain't the enemy anymore, so what's the big deal?~ Ah walked back out to find him still sitting at the table surrounded by our shopping bags. "Are you alright, Cheri?" ~Aww man…Ah upset him.~
{I Could Tell From The Minute I Woke Up, It Was Going To Be A Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely Day
It Was Going To Be A Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely Day}
"Ah'm fine, really." He stood up an' gathered all of the bags together.
{Everybody Knows That Something's Wrong, But Nobody Knows What's Going On
We All Sing That Same Old Song, When You Want It All To Go Away, You Shape It Up To Be A Lonely Day}
"We need to go, now then." ~What's up with him. We can't just leave the others here.~
{I Could Tell From The Minute I Woke Up It Was Going To Be A Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely Day}
"What…why? What's goin' on Remy?" He didn't answer me but took a hold of mah arm an' led me outside. It was strange he started off in the wrong direction. "Hey, mah jeeps that way. Remy, are ya ok?"
"Of course, Gambit's just a little preoccupied." ~That's weird, he stopped talkin' like that last night when Ah told him how stupid it made him sound.~
{It's Gonna Be A Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely Day
"Remy, why are we leaving in such a hurry?" Ah had gotten into the driver's seat an' started the engine. "Why are ya givin' me the quiet treatment?" He finished stashin' the bags in the back an' hopped into the front passenger seat.
"What are you waiting for? Start driving."
"Ok." Ah started drivin' but the silence was startin' to get to me.
{Everybody Knows That Something's Wrong, But Nobody Knows What's Going On}
Ah went to get on the exit ramp that would take us back to the institute when he started talkin' again.
"Don't turn off yet."
"What, why not? You're really startin' to scare me, Remy." He wasn't even lookin' at me as Ah continued to drive straight down the highway.
{Everybody Knows That Something's Wrong, But Nobody Knows What's Going On}
"Scaring you, is the entire point, my dear." Logan's senses kicked in then. ~Damn, Ah'm in deep shit now. This isn't Remy.~
"Who are ya an' what do ya want with me?!?!"
GAMBIT
I'd been walking for quite a while when I saw Cheri drive past in her jeep. It took me a minute to realize t'at the person in the passenger seat was me. ~That's impossible, I saw Cheri with anot'er guy, but he certainly didn't look anyt'ing like me. Somet'ing is seriously wrong, I'd better hurry back to the institute.~ I started running, but I knew I'd be lucky if I got back there within the hour. I pulled out my cell phone and dialed the institue.
"Gambit, what's wrong?" ~Ok, freaky, he knew it was me before I could say anyt'ing.~
"Somebody's kidnapped Cheri. They drove past me and whoever it is looked just like me."
"Mystique."
"What, I t'ought she was dead."
"It's the only explanation. Stay put Gambit, someone will come and get you."
"Well, you better hurry, before we lose her completely." The jeep was already disappearing out of sight. ~Damn, why doesn't anybody know what's going on?~
Twenty minutes passed before I heard the Velocity flying over my head. It touched down nearby and I ran over to it. Logan was wheeling a motorcycle out of the back. "All right bub, what direction did they go in?"
"I'm going with you. If she's in trouble, I'm going to be t'ere to help her." I left Logan scowling outside as I walked into the Velocity and found anot'er motorcycle.
"Gambit, you two need to work together if you're going to find her. I know you're worried, but so is everyone else." ~Yea, but you're not the one who let her walk away with a stranger just because your feelings were hurt.~ I started the bike up and rode down to where Logan was waiting.
"Well, are you going to answer me?" I ignored him and raced off in the direction I'd watched Cheri drive in. "Look, whatever you saw today, probably wasn't real. So you can quit blaming yourself. Mystique's got a way of taking the form of the one person you trust the most just to make you think they're trying to hurt you. Obviously she's taken your form in order to trick Rogue." ~T'at would make sense.~
"What, you aren't going to toss the blame on me, Messiur. T'at would be a first."
"Maybe some other time, bub." He took to sniffing the air and for the next few hours we rode in silence.