Author's Note: Okay, to make up for the lack of Remy in the last chappy, there is a plethora this chappy!! So we have some Joseph/Gambit interactions and some Lorna/Gambit interactions. There will be an explanation of what really happened the night before between them. :) Thank you SOSOSOSO much for the reviews!! I hit the 100 review mark so I thought I would update early as a "thank you" for all your loyal support. So, THANK'S Y'ALL!! Enjoy the chappy!!

Best Friends?

by, Caliente

Chapter 8 – Confrontations

"Hey, Swamp Rat," Rogue commented as she made her way onto the roof, joining the older Acadian.

"Bonjour chere," Gambit replied, turning around to flash her a winning smile. He took a long drag of his ever present cigarette.

"Ya know, that shit'll kill ya, Cajun," the Southern belle remarked, taking a seat next to him, gazing out at the view.

"Chere. Didn't know you cared," the card thrower commented idly as he continued to study her.

Rogue rolled her eyes and turned to smirk at him. "Ah'm sorry… did ya'll get the impression ah cared?" [1] Her face broke out in a big grin when he pouted at her comment. Remy smiled back at her moved closer. Her eyes widened slightly as she noticed him closing the already small distance separating them. Gambit took one hand and snaked it around Rogue's waist, while he moved the other one to catch her chin. The normally sassy Southerner trembled slightly at his closeness and gentle but firm touch. "Remy, Ah–"

"Shhh, chere," Remy whispered in a husky tone pulling her even closer. "Remy been waitin' fo' dis fo' a long time. Jus'… jus' lemme hold y'. Please, Rogue."

"Remy," Rogue breathed again. "Ah have ta tell ya…" She took a deep breath, "how Ah feel. Ah think Ah–"

*Beep*

"What y' say, chere?" Gambit asked. That annoying noise had cut her off.

Rogue rolled her eyes and said, "Ah said, Ah think Ah–"

*Beep*

"Did y' hear dat annoyin' noise? It be cutting y' off," Remy told her.

Rogue shot him a confused look but her face was becoming fuzzier and fuzzier.

*Beep*

Remy blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision. When he opened his eyes again, Remy suddenly found himself in his room. He threw a glare at his alarm clock, realizing it had all been a dream. 'Great, just great,' he thought angrily. 'Back to reality, where all I have is an empty bed and an unrequited love. Ain't life grand? Stupid clock.' Gambit shut his eyes trying vainly to get back to his dream.

*Bee– BOOOOOM!*

Gambit had tapped his alarm to shut it off and accidentally charged it. 'Damn, third one this month,' he thought, his mood not improving in the least. Remy dragged himself out of bed and cleaned himself up. Running his hand through his hair one last time and grabbing his trench coat, the defense instructor made his way down to the cafeteria for breakfast. Gambit wasn't really paying attention to where he was going, so he was surprised when he hit something in the hallway outside of the cafeteria. He looked up. Correction, someone. Joseph, to be exact.

"Good morning, mon ami," Remy forced out with a good-natured smiled that didn't reach his flashing eyes. "Should watch where y' goin', non?"

Joseph glared at the Cajun man standing in front of him. 'Rogue told me to keep my cool,' he told himself. 'Rogue would hate it if I fought with her best friend.' He stole a glance around the room. 'But, Rogue isn't here.' "You ran into me," Joseph shot back defensively.

"Whoa, whoa," Gambit held up his hands in surrender. "No need t' get defensive on me, homme. Jus' giving some friendly advice."

Joseph snorted. "Friendly?" he questioned with a sneer. "We're not friends. Nor will we ever be. Not as long as you're in love with Rogue."

"My relationship with Rogue ain't none of y' business, so I suggest y' not mention it again," the Cajun dropped his friendly attitude and took a step closer, preparing for a fight. He was practically seething with anger and didn't even notice he referred to himself in the first person.

"That's a double negative, you uneducated, lowlife swamp scum," Joseph hissed in return, his anger growing.

"Hey, baby," a new voice interrupted their confrontation. Lorna sauntered over to Gambit and latched onto his arm. "I forgive you for last night," she stated bluntly. "I know you didn't really mean to kick me out of your room when things were just starting to heat up. I'm sure it was just Betsy playing mind games or something." Lorna gave Remy the once over before adding in a seductive tone, "We can make up for it tonight."

Gambit seemed only vaguely aware of the green haired girl attached to him. "Lorna, p'tite, now be a bad time? We talk later, hein?"

For the first time, Lorna seemed to notice Joseph and the defensive way the two boys were standing. Her mood immediately darkened and she grew suspicious and angry. "This is about Rogue, isn't it?" she demanded loudly. Gambit just shrugged in response. Lorna's anger grew visibly and all the metal nearby shook. "Ugh. I'm tired of playing second fiddle to the untouchable River Rat. Remy, we're through!" With that, she stalked into the cafeteria, all of the little pieces of metal around her orbiting her body.

"You may have dumped your girl toy or whatever, but Rogue will never be yours," Joseph told him harshly. "She picked me 'cause you were too stupid to tell her how you really felt." With a smug look on his face, Joseph turned and followed Lorna's path to the cafeteria.

Gambit stood still for a moment, absorbing what he had just been told. He hung his head and his shoulders slumped. "Y' righ'," he murmured pathetically. "Remy was t' slow an' stupid. An' now he's los' his chere forever." Remy turned around and headed towards the yard muttering something about needing a cigarette.

Rogue stood frozen around the corner after hearing the exchange that had just occurred. 'What was that?!' Rogue wondered, confused. 'I'm gonna need some serious therapy after this is all over.' Rogue shook her head as if clearing all the thoughts from her head and went to the cafeteria for breakfast.

[1] Taken from X-Men #8, the actual quote is:

Gambit: Chere. Didn't know you cared.

Rogue: Ah'm sorry… did ya'll get the impression ah cared?

Okay, you know the drill. You read it. Now Review it. Please. *reader shakes head* Pretty please, with sugar on top? *Still shaking head* With Remy on top? *Stops shaking head and looks pensive* I'll even throw in Movie-verse Logan. *reader nods enthusiastically* YAY!!