FYI:

~Personal Thoughts~

~"Inner Voices"~

ESP

%The Written Word%

[Flashback]

"Normal Conversation (Duh)"

ROGUE

Ah woke up the next mornin' an' rubbed the sleep outta mah eyes. Betsy was already up an' movin' around.

"Hey luv, you mind if I borrow a shirt of yours? I'm kinda outta clothes right now."

"Yeah, sure. Help yaself." Ah rolled over an' crossed the room ta the mirror where Ah started brushin' mah hair ta get rid of that sleepy look. She picked out a shirt an' threw it on. Ah started diggin' in mah dresser next carefully pullin' out clothes an' thinkin' in terms of coverin' every square inch. ~Ok, Ah've got the tank an' sheer overshirt, gloves, mini an' tights, Ah think that covers it, then Ah'll throw in knee high boots for style.~

~"Like just forget that and wear something fun for like once. You like always go out wearing layers."~

~Hmm…Ah wonder why…it might have somethin' ta do with mah powers Kitty.~

~"Use Remy's powers t'en. T'en y' don't have t' worry."~

~One problem with that idea, the eyes. Ah can't go out in public like this!~

~"Why, Remy does."~

~Damn Cajun logic.~ Ah could almost see Remy's smirk as Ah pulled on mah clothes an' started out the door.

"What's with all the layers, luv?"

"Mah powers is what." Betsy gave me a blank stare as Ah turned ta leave again.

"You seemed alright yesterday. What's going on today that's different?"

"Nothin', Ah just can't go out in public with demon eyes or somethin'." She stared inta mah eyes as if she was tryin' ta figure out what the big deal was.

"But what about Remy, he does it and all the time I might add."

"He's different. Ah don't know, Ah just can't pull mahself ta do it."

~"Like go for it girl! She's got a point. Remy does it, so why can't you?"~ She walked over an' grabbed a hold of mah arm by the elbow an' led meh back ta mah closet. There she pulled out a short-sleeved t-shirt an' handed it ta meh. "Now put this on luv, so we can go have some fun! The guys will be falling all over you now." Ah gave her a blank stare but did it anyway. ~What would be the harm in one trip ta the mall with Remy eyes? Ah can do it, it's not as big a deal as Ah've been makin' it.~

"But what if it causes problems or somethin'?"

"Then we'll just tell them they're the latest in contacts, luv. Who wouldn't believe that when you're walking around with a girl who has purple hair? The two of us will practically be screaming rebel." Ah finally left the room with the t-shirt, mini-skirt an' knee high boots. Ah'd decided ta ditch the hose an' gloves for the first time since Ah'd joined the X-Men.

GAMBIT

Marie and Betsy finally came down t' de dining room for breakfast before we left for de mall. I felt my mout' drop as Marie walked in wearing a t-shirt that revealed her stomach and a skirt t'at could have made any boy start drooling. "Bonjour, Cherie. Ain't y' forgetting somet'ing?" I noticed she wasn't wearing her usual gloves as she sat down next t' me. She turned t' smile at me batting her eyelashes flirtatiously.

"No, Ah thinkAh'm good ta go."

"But, y' powers?"

"Ya mean, ya powers, right. Ah don't have ta worry about it." She shrugged as she poured a cup of coffee for herself and started munching on a piece of toast. ~No point arguing when she looks t'is good. But I don't want ot'ers looking at her like t'at.~

"Are y' sure 'bout t'is? What if somet'ing goes wrong?"

"Don't worry 'bout it, Sugah." She stood up, pecked me on de cheek as she turned t' drop her mug and plate int' de sink. "For once Ah feel great 'bout going out. Ya wouldn't be jealous or somethin', would ya?" I looked over at Betsy who was nonchalantly eating a piece of toast as well.

"Non, I'm not de jealous type." She gave me a look that obviously meant 'right, whatever you say'. What did y' do t' get her out of de house like t'at?

Nothing really, luv. Just gave her a good dose of self confidence, that's all she needed. "Hey, which beauty salon do you use, luv? I definitely can't wait to get my dye job."

"Ah usually go ta Super Cuts, but Ah don't know how good of dye jobs they do."

"What are you talking about, yours is awesome!" Marie looked a little puzzled but as one of her white streaks fell int' her eyes she began t' understand.

"Oh, no, Ah don't get dyes. It's kinda natural." Betsy's mout' formed a perfect little 'o' at Marie's answer but quickly recovered.

"Well, that's ok. I'll just have to find out myself then." She took her toast wit' her as she walked out of de room t'wards de garage.

"I guess, we're going t'en."

"Leave it to my sister to be the leader on mall expeditions."

PSYLOCKE

Rogue took us to the mall in her jeep. The Bayville mall was nothing to sneeze at, it was an enormous building that probably had like 200 stores inside and made for a thief's dreamland. "Sis, don't even start thinking about it."

"Thinking about what, Brian?"

"You know what I'm talking about." ~Spoil sport, always has to go and ruin my fun before it can even start.~

"So what should we do first, luv? Hair or clothes?" I took Rogue by her elbow as we entered the mall as I stared into the many store windows.

"Ah don't know. Clothes, Ah guess."

"Well, then we'll see you boys later." I waved over my shoulder as I led Rogue into the nearest clothing store that looked promising. "It's really nice that Xavier gives you as much money as you need."

"Yeah, Ah know. The professor has a way of just makin' sure everythin' is taken care of."

"Haven't you ever wondered where he gets all the money from?"

"Well, no." I looked at her flabbergasted. ~That's the first thing I wanted to know about this place. How does a cripple have so much money to throw around?~ "Hey check this shirt out." She held up a purple tank top that practically screamed my name.

"I love it!" I grabbed it from her hands as well as a half a dozen other shirts and ran back to the dressing rooms to begin the lovely process of modeling. I came back out of the closet swinging my hips and posed drawing the attention of all the boys in the store.

"Ah think that one's a winner from the response ya gettin'."

We spent several more hours roaming from store to store picking out an entire wardrobe for me to wear. We ended up making several trips to Rogue's car before I decided I had enough stuff. "Let's check out that hair place now."

"Alright, it's over here." She led me to a modest little salon that had a couple of stylists hanging out reading magazines while they waited for customers.

"Something I can do for you two girls?" One of them stood up and greeted us at the register.

"Yeah, I need a change. I was thinking about a purple dye job." She looked at me strange for a moment then grinned.

"You're one of the few who could probably pull it off." ~I'll take that as a compliment.~ "What about you, Rogue?" She turned to face Rogue who was glancing around her at the posters.

"Huh? Ah wasn't here for a cut. Ah'm just here with her."

"Come on, luv. I think that a good layering job would suit you perfectly!"

"Really? Well, Ah don't know, Ah've been tryin' ta grow it out."

"Just try it already."

"How do ya talk meh inta all this stuff?"

"Must be my personality." The stylist led us to a pair of seats towards the back of the store where we sat down and talked for the next two hours while we waited for the dye to set.

GAMBIT

Walking t'rough de mall, Brian was unsettlingly quiet. ~Reminds me a lot of Piotr, t'at whole tall, tough guy act.~ "So homme, why exactly did y' guys come t' New York."

"My sister got into some trouble with mutant haters. We didn't have much choice but to leave." He didn't go int' any details and left it that as he continued t' pull out different pairs of jeans and shirts for him t' try on. ~Even his style is like Piotr's. What is he, Piotr's British clone?~ I began laughing at my own little joke and Brian turned t' look at me like I was crazy. "Something funny?"

"Not'ing, y' just remind me of my friend, Piotr." He nodded and silently went back t' his shopping. ~Wonder what de girls are doing?~

"What are the others like anyway."

"What ot'ers, homme?"

"The other students. What are they like."

"T'ey're nice, for a bunch of preppy mutants like Scott and Jean, t'at is. T'ey ain't really a fair impression of de place t'ough. Some of de ot'ers are great. Kurt, Rogue's brot'er, is de nicest and has de best sense of humor for a German. He's also a teleporter." Brian nodded for me to continue. "Piotr, de homme I mentioned, is my room mate, and de real quiet type, y' perfect Russian. He's Kitty's boyfriend. Kitty is gonna be y' sister's room mate and can phase t'rough anyt'ing. Everyt'ing is pink for her, so it'll be interesting how Rogue and Bets gang up on her."

"I can see my sister doing that. She hates pink with a passion."

"Lets see, t'ere's John a crazy Aussie who can control fire. A regular pyromaniac, so we don't leave him alone in de kitchen much. Tabit'a, his girlfriend, has t'is knack for making li'l fire crackers and blowing everyt'ing up. T'ey're really perfect for each ot'er since t'ey bot' leave a pat' of destruction behind t'em." Brian laughed proving he really wasn't all that quiet. "Hmm…some of de younger students are pretty cool t'. T'ere's Bobby, Sam, Ray, Amara, Jamie, I t'ink t'ats all of t'em. T'en t'ere's de adults around de place. Y' met de professor, and saw Logan. Rogue says he's just a pussy cat once y' get t' know him. I haven't seen t'at side of him yet." I shrugged as I continued. "T'en t'ere's Beast, he a real nice guy. Kinda de doctor around de mansion. Oh yeah, can't forget Stormy, she's a weat'er witch and a real garden addict. I t'ink t'ats everyone." (A/N: Sorry if I missed anyone…I'm not perfect.) Brian seemed pretty satisfied wit' my summary of everyone at de institute. ~It's probably going t' be nerve racking meeting all t'ese people once t'ey all get back from break.~

After a few more hours of shopping I saw Rogue and Betsy coming out of one of de salons in de mall. Rogue had gotten some inches taken off her length while Betsy stood out for a mile wit' her now purple hair.

"Hey luv, what do you think?" She twirled around in a circle so t'at her hair flew in all directions.

"Different. So what y' get done, Cherie?"

"Just a layerin'. Do ya like it?" I nodded wishing she'd do de same li'l twirl as well not so much so I could see her hair but so I could examine t'at mini-skirt some more. She seemed t' glow wit' her new found confidence. "So, ya boys ready ta head home. Personally Ah'm beat."

"T'en I'll just have ta carry y'." I grabbed her around her waist and made t' pick her up.

"Remy, stop it! Ah can walk just fine." I set her back down and gave her my best pout. "That ain't gonna work on meh." I settled t' put an arm around her waist as I took her bags and walked back out t' de jeep.

"What's with all these bags? Where am I supposed to put mine?" We'd opened de back hatch t' find de entire back stuffed full of bags for Betsy.

"Sorry, bro, but I needed the room."

"All of it?" She nodded as she used her telekenisis t' move de bags around making room for de Brian's. He grumbled a thanks as he put them in and climbed int' de backseat. Betsy grinned as she hopped in behind him.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Sorry, a little shorter than usual, but I really was just making a fluff chapter so that we could kinda hurry up and get to Christams.

Ok, I have another little request for help. What's the name of that drinking game where you place a napkin on your lips and pass it around trying not to drop it? Don't make me grovel like I'm already doing for gift ideas. L

Ok, I think I overreacted before over Greg's little comment. Everybody is allowed their opinions…so I'm sorry.