Chapter 6
Apologizing

Sneaking back into the mansion had been a challenge. The foyer light was on, so they had to get back up through Rogue's window. They were both a little tense. They hadn't planned on going that far. They had just planned on makin' out a little. Oh well. What's done is done. No going back now. Once they were both in her room, her true emotions began to wear her down. In all honesty, she was feeling a little nauseous and jittery. She hadn't meant to give in so easily, but Lance was her boyfriend, and there was something about him that had just felt right. somehow taken advantage of her.

"Rogue, I," Lance tried to look her in the face, but she avoided his gaze.

"Lance, I think you should go to bed. It's late." Rogue said, lightly pushing him out the door.

Lance sighed as she shut her door in his face. He knew that in a way, he'd lost her. He had a part of her that no one else ever could, but it wasn't enough. He wanted to have her back like they were before. When they could talk and be together and not worry about anything. Lance took one last longing look at Rogue's door, and quietly walked back to his room.

On the other side of the door, Rogue was curled up on her bed, her comforter wrapped tightly around her. She rolled over and looked at the picture on her nightstand. It was of her and Lance. Kurt had taken it while they were at Laser Quest. She was wearing a pair of black jeans and a black long-sleeve shirt, and a look of pure ecstasy on her face; a huge smile, make-up smudged, hair pulled into a sweaty ponytail, and her light green eyes were glittering. Even a crappy picture couldn't have missed that. Lance was standing next to her, his bare arm draped over her shoulders. She had put her hand behind his head, giving him bunny ears. He was smiling, too. His damp cheek was pressed to hers, and the expression on his face had said it all. He loved her with all his heart. Rogue had thought that he'd proven it tonight, but when they walked home, he wouldn't talk, or even look, at her. Rogue reached over, and laid the picture face down on the table, and tried fitfully to get some sleep.

Lance rolled over and glanced at his digital clock for about the billionth time since he went to bed at two that morning. The sun was just beginning to peek over the trees. He got out of bed, and knew what he had to do. Pulling the faded black muscle shirt over his head, Lance caught the scent of Rogue's perfume on it. It was dark and familiar, she wore it all the time. He headed down the hallway, and stopped at Rogue's door. He knock hesitantly, and opened the door. He saw her lying on her bed, facing the wall. She had the thick black comforter pulled around her tightly, and her cropped

red-brown hair was draped across her pillow. Lance laid down on the edge of her bed, and wrapped his arms around her bundled form.

"Rogue, you're my best friend. And I never want to lose you. I love you," Rogue smiled within the blanket, "don't forget that." Lance got up, kissed Rogue's head, and quietly left.

The rest of the week went without too much trouble. Rogue passed her history exam, Lance failed it miserably. As they drove home in Lance's jeep, listening to her Linkin Park CD, Rogue's mind raced. Sure, she had felt slightly upset over that night, but mostly because she had promised her mother that she'd never go that far before she got married. But Lance kept acting like it was a mistake. He wouldn't look at her, and he seemed a little freaked when he was near her. Rogue came back to the real world when they reached the mansion gate.

Rogue went straight up to her room, not stopping for anything. She closed her door, and tossed her homework on her desk. She changed from her school clothes into a black shirt with the words 'gothic allure' scrawled in blue across the chest, and a pair of black boy's shorts. She grabbed the book she was supposed to have read for an English report due tomorrow, and started reading it. Rogue stayed up there for almost three hours, reading and writing. She didn't realize she'd been up there for so long until she heard Ororo calling her for dinner. She told her she wasn't hungry, and stayed in her room to finish the report. Rogue had just finished writing what she thought of the book when Lance walked in.

"Hey Rogue." Lance walked up behind her, holding a bouquet of flowers he'd gotten from Ororo. She had given them to him after he explained what happened and how wanted to get her back. Ororo hadn't actually given any advice, just told him to give her these flowers.

"Lance!" Rogue jumped up, giving him a hug.

"Here." Lance handed her the flowers.

"They're so pretty!" Rogue buried her face in them, all different colors and sizes. Some looked like jungle flowers. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Lance sat on her bed across from her. He stared at her, sitting in her desk chair. She looked different. He couldn't quiet place it, though. Rogue stood, and walked over to Lance. She sat next to him, and he wrapped his arm around her.

"Rogue," Lance looked at her, "I just wanted to say that…"

"What? You wanna say what?" Rogue asked.

"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry."

"For what?" Rogue asked, afraid that she already knew the answer.

"For that night. I shouldn't have. I guess I didn't mean…"

"Oh." Rogue didn't try to hide the disappointment in her voice.

"Rogue"

"Lance, please get out." Rogue interrupted, and pointed to the door.

"Ok." Lance left, again.

"Jerk." Rogue mumbled under her breath as he closed her door behind her. Never really being one to cry over guys, Rogue decided she was gonna go out. She changed into a pair of tight black jeans and sandals. She grabbed her keys and fake I.D., walked over to her window, and climbed down the trellis. She hurried to the garage and started her car. It was an old black Pontiac Trans Am, with the bird on the hood. She drove into town, knowing exactly where she was headed.