Author's Note: As a 100 review bonus, this is a double post. And now we find out Rogue's course of action after all her confusion. Yay!! More Betsy "the psychiatrist" but I like her like that so you'll just have to deal with her being OOC from her 616 personality. Anyway, enjoy the new chappy!!

Best Friends?

by, Caliente

Chapter 9 – Better Off As Friends

Rogue laughed as Betsy danced around the room singing old Queen songs. The two girls had been holed up there since breakfast. Rogue had told her British friend that she didn't have to stay with her but Betsy insisted. Kitty and Jubilee had visited the girls briefly before heading off to the mall with Rhane and Meggan. Kitty and Meggan also dragged Piotr and Brian along. The poor suckers were stuck carrying bags for the four shopaholics. Rogue was avoiding the boys. Remy and Joseph were getting on her last nerve, and she didn't know what to do about it. Luckily for her, Betsy was a great distraction from her problems.

"Rogue, Rouge, ROGUE!" Betsy waved her hands in front of the sassy Southerner's face. "Hello, anybody home?"

"What?" Rogue's head snapped up and she was brought out of her thoughts. "Sorry sugah, were ya sayin' somethin'?"

"Only for about 5 minutes," Betsy replied, rolling her eyes. "Who're you thinking about this time, luv? Remy or Joseph? Or is there somebody else that I don't know about?"

Rogue glared at the purple haired ninja for a moment before sighing. "Nah, just lost in thought." She stood up and stretched. "Ah still don't know how Ah feel 'bout Remy but Ah know that Ah don't feel anythin' mo' than friendship fo' Joseph. Ah realized on our date that there just weren't any sparks 'tween us." Rogue realized she had finally verbalized her true feelings and sighed again know what she had to do. "Ah'm gonna tell him today that Ah think we should just be friends."

"Ouch. The friend card. That's cold," Betsy told Rogue. "But it has to be done."

"How did ya know?" Rogue asked suspiciously. "Ya didn't go inta mah head did ya?"

"No!" Betsy answered her curtly with a hint of anger and hurt. "You never trust me!"

"Ah'm sorry," Rogue apologized gently. "That was unfair. So, how did ya know?"

"It's obvious," Betsy responded nonchalantly. "I mean, your actions toward Joseph suggest nothing but friendship in your future. The only reason you were remotely intrigued was because he showed interest in you. I have this theory about you-"

Rogue cut her off with a snort. "A theory? About meh?" She laughed for a minute while Betsy glared at her. "Sorry, please continue."

"As I was saying," Betsy continued stiffly but the corner of her mouth curved up giving away her amusement at Rogues reaction. "My theory is that because of your mutation," Rogue grimaced slightly, "you have a sort of automatic defense. You push guys into the "Just Friends" category whether they're interested in you or not. Your actions subconsciously push all men an arms length away. Therefore, you never have to worry about hurting them."

"So what made Joseph different?" Rogue inquired.

"Joseph and Gambit," Rogue rolled her eyes at her roommate, "refused to be placed in the "Just Friends" category without a fight. You managed to shove Remy in there because he was dangerous, making you feel again. In Joseph's case, you were ready to start dating again. He was safe because you didn't feel anything deeper for him."

Rogue nodded. "Guess that makes sense." She smiled at her friend. "Maybe ya should become a shrink o' somethin' sugah. Yer pretty good at this analyzin' junk."

"It's just 'cause I live with you luv," Betsy argued. "I'm sure you could psychoanalyze me too."

"There's a scary thought," the Southerner teased with a grin. Betsy glared in return. Suddenly Rogue frowned. "Guess Ah betta go find Joseph now, huh?"

Betsy nodded and closed her eyes for a moment. "He's in his room, luv. Good luck."

"Thanks sugah," Rogue replied, "fo' everythang."

She watched her friend exit the room. 'Hope it goes alright,' she thought to herself. 'That girl doesn't need more problems.'

Rogue bounded up to the 5th floor, which housed the guest rooms and the college students that had returned home for the summer. She found Joseph's room and swiftly knocked on the door. She heard him yell "Come in" and gently pushed open the door. Rogue smiled at the disastrous room that was filled with clutter. Joseph looked up from his laptop and nearly fell out of his chair in surprise. "Rogue," he stated in shock. "What are you doing here?"

"Well sugah, Ah thank we need ta talk," she answered slowly with careful words. Joseph stiffened considerably at the "we need to talk". The four words that spelled DOOM for any relationship. He smiled tightly and motioned for her to continue. "Ah had a lot o' fun on our date last night." She paused and took a deep breath and quickly blurted out, "But, Ah just don't thank that we can be anythang mo' than friends."

Joseph's smile grew even tighter and he clenched his fists. "This is 'cause of that Cajun isn't it?" he yelled angrily. "I knew he like you but I thought you had better taste than-"

"Hey, hey," Rogue cut in hastily. "Leave Remy outta this. This is between you an' meh. The truth is, when Ah'm with ya, Ah don't feel anythang mo' than Ah feel with mah otha friends. Ah just thank that datin' is a mistake an' we're better off as friends. Please try ta undastand."

Joseph glared at her for a moment before nodding. "Fine. Just give me some time."

Rogue nodded and gave him a quick hug. "Ya can have all the time ya need sugah." She offered him a small smile as she left the room. She felt tears prick her eyes but she struggled to hold them back. Instead of heading down for dinner, she headed up to the roof, lost in thought and no longer hungry.

YAY!! Joseph is out of the picture!! Wonder what'll happen between Rogue and Remy now?? Guess you'll just have to review to find out. Love all you readers out there!! Adios.