NOTE: okay, I have 2 exams tomorrow, but I took a break to crank out this
really really long chapter hehe. Thank you all for your awesome reviews, I
really appreciate it. Please keep them coming along with any advice u have
for upcoming chapters! Enjoy!
Rogue sat in the living room fidgeting along with everyone else for the Professor's announcement; probably something like reminding them that finals were in 2 weeks and that they shouldn't let their excitement about the Turn Around prom let them lose focus of that.
What excitement? Rogue thought scowling as she caught herself glancing over at the handsome Scott Summers who stood speaking with the Professor now. There was no possible conceivable way that she was going to something as tacky and high-schoolish as prom..that was unless, she could go with Scott. If he could only look at her the way he looked at Jean..
"Who am I kidding? I probably have a better chance of getting struck by lightning," Rogue muttered, swiping back a stray strand of hair. The past few weeks, she had, in her own subtle way tried to emulate Jean Grey, in the hopes that she'd have a chance with him. But even after she'd abandoned the goth make-up to the joy of her roommates who claimed she looked "a hundred times better", and letting her long brown hair fall loosely about her shoulders instead of her usual ponytail, it hadn't earned her anything more than a few admiring stares from the male members of the student body. But Scott simply hadn't noticed. He treated her the same as always; a friend, waving to her in the hallways, and pulling her aside every once in awhile to see how she was doing. And the first day without her black lipstick, he'd said "Did you cut your hair or something?" God how dense could he be!
But Rogue cherished those times. If only she could stop blushing and becoming so totally flustered around him, maybe he'd have more to say to her than the usual, "Hey Rogue." The Professor suddenly cleared his throat to get her attention, and Rogue tried her hardest not to stare at how Scott sat right next to Jean. It didn't work. Jean was leaning over and whispering something to him. What was she saying? Was she asking Scott to the prom? Rogue wondered, holding her breath, hardly listening to what the Professor was saying.
Suddenly Jubilee poked her in the side. "Check out the total hottie!" Jubilee whispered excitedly. Rogue looked around to see practically every girl in the room practically drooling. What is so fascinating? Rogue wondered, tearing her eyes away from Scott to look up.
"What the-? What's he doin' here?" Rogue blurted out, as her eyes collided with Remy. Remy had sauntered to the front, leaning against the side of the wall, surveying them with a detached look, but when he reached Rogue, his red-black eyes seemed to pierce through her. Despite herself, Rogue could feel her heart skip a beat.
"Oh my god, is he gonna live here?" Siren said shrilly to her friend.
Rogue saw Kitty roll her eyes disgustedly. "It isn't enough that she has to have my boyfriend, but she has to bulldoze in on every decent guy," Kitty muttered.
"I'd say he's more than decent," Jubilee murmured appreciatively along with every other girl in the room, as Remy took off his leather jacket and sat down.
Rogue snorted. "He isn't that great. I mean, sure I suppose he's good- looking in a Fonzie kind of way, but he's no-,"
"Scott Summers," Jubilee and Kitty finished for her wryly. Rogue glared at them.
"A little louder please? I don't think he heard you," Rogue whispered sarcastically. Jubilee giggled.
"Oh he's looking at you!" Jubilee whispered excitedly.
"Who, Scott?" Rogue asked, running a hand through her hair self- consciously.
"No, the new guy," Jubilee said impatiently.
"Who cares?" Rogue said off-handedly, but even as she said it, she was very aware of Remy's burning gaze that gave her a tingly feeling she never got even when she was around Scott.
"Students, this is Remy Lebeau, he will be joining us here at the Institute. He comes from New Orleans, and I hope you will make him feel welcome here," the Professor said kindly, smiling at Remy who flashed a charming smile to everyone. The sighs of the girls was audible as Remy sat back down.
"Thank you Professor, I have a feeling I shall be very happy here," Remy said in a low husky voice, looking directly at Rogue, in a way that everyone noticed. Rogue flushed at the puzzled looks on Scott's face. She flashed Scott a bright smile, ignoring Remy's steady gaze.
"Now, Remy this is Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Siren Phillips, Bobby Drake, Kurt Wagner," the Professor said, as Remy went around shaking hands genially with everyone.
"And over here we have Kitty and Jubilation," the Professor continued.
"You can call me Jubilee," Jubilee said, giggling a little. Remy gave her a dimpled smile and nodded. Rogue rolled her eyes, surprised that she was irritated by this even though she knew Jubilee never seriously flirted with anyone. As if I care who Frenchy decides to unload his charm on, Rogue thought as the Professor finally turned to her.
"And last but not least, this is Rogue."
"Yes, we've met," Remy said slowly, so huskily that the normally cool calm Rogue felt her cheeks heat up. She nearly jumped when he picked up her gloved hand and kissed it. Rogue looked around to see Scott and Jean's eyebrows raised and Logan frowning. What did he think he was doing? Rogue thought furiously snatching her hand back. It didn't help that every girl in the room with the exception of Kitty and Jubilee were throwing her envious looks. Obviously, they felt the handsome new stranger had "singled" her out. I'd better set Scott straight, Rogue thought determinedly, walking over quietly.
As Jean left, Scott stood alone in the center of the living room. "Uh, Scott?"
"Oh hi Rogue," Scott said with a smile, but Rogue noticed with a sinking heart, that his eyes were still trained onto Jean who was slipping on her jacket.
"So where's Jean going?" Rogue asked casually, her heart growing heavier as she saw Scott's eyes light up at the mention of Jean.
"Uh, she has a date with Duncan," Scott muttered, looking so miserable that Rogue felt torn between feelings of pity and anger. Why couldn't he just give her half a chance? Why was everything centered around Jean Grey?
"Oh, well, I see," Rogue said, nodding and cursing herself at the same time. How was she to maneuver the conversation away from Jean to the dance? "Um, so I hear she's on the planning committee for the big Turn Around prom, right?"
"Yeah, she is," Scott broke into a wide smile. "She's also planning the Medieval Fair," Scott continued, his voice filled with admiration.
That's it, Rogue thought, Jean Grey is involved in everything. Maybe it wouldn't kill me to get more involved in things, Rogue thought bleakly, although the thought of having to organize a whole fair was enough to send her screaming into the night. The fact was, organizing simply wasn't her strong point. But if it meant that Scott would look at her differently..Rouge swallowed hard.
"Um, yeah, well, I guess with all that she might be too busy to go the the, uh, prom," Rogue said lamely.
Scott looked crestfallen. "Really?"
Rogue decided she couldn't be so spiteful. Not to Jean Grey. Jean, although irritatingly perfect and popular, was a nice person. And even though she was too blind to see that Scott was in love with her, Rogue couldn't ruin it.
"No, I'm sure she'll have time to go," Rogue assured him, with a small smile. "Uh, speaking of the Turn Around prom, uh..um, are you going?" Rogue managed to stammer out, her face flushing as Scott turned to look at her a curious expression on his face.
"Yeah, I'm planning on it, that is, if I get asked," Scott said, under his breath a wistful gaze on his face.
This is it, Rogue told herself, trying to calm her nervousness. Ask him. You can do it. Really quickly. "Um, I'm sure you'll get asked, in fact- ," Rogue began, hesitantly, feeling her heart beat faster.
"Yes?" Scott asked encouragingly, as the silence lengthened.
"Uh," Rogue began, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She whirled around to face Remy who stood with an amused look on his face.
"Hey there Rogue," Remy said.
"Hi," Rogue said quickly, shooting him a look that clearly urged him to leave her. But the moment between Scott and her was gone. Scott was surveying them with interest.
"I was wondering if I could speak to you?" Remy said, his French accent ringing through. To her annoyance, Rogue found it oddly appealing. She shook that thought off. How dare he ruin what probably was one of the only chances she'd get to ask Scott out before Jean came to her senses, Rogue thought.
"Um, well," Rogue began, about to tell Remy to buzz off, when Scott interjected with a friendly smile.
"I'll see you around Rogue, I'll let you officially welcome Remy to the Institute," Scott said, waving to her and leaving.
"But-," Rogue protested, but Scott was already gone. Rogue whirled furiously, her hazel eyes sparkling with indignation.
"Couldn't you have waited just 2 minutes?!"
"Why? Did I interrupt the Southern Belle's simpering proposal to her intended?" Remy asked in an amused voice, that had a trace of mockery in it. Rogue stared at him.
"Excuse me?" Rogue asked in outrage. "I wasn't simpering!" And how had he figured out her intention to ask Scott to the prom anyways? Had he been talking to Jubilee? "And what business is it of yours anyway?"
"Well, a beautiful girl like you should have no trouble at all finding an escort, and I thought I might be of service," Remy drawled. Normally, Rogue would have laughed at the utter corniness of that line, but the words flowed so smoothly from his lips that Rogue felt herself flushing a deep pink.
"I'm not interested, and we have nothing in common anyway," Rogue responded hotly, after a moment, tugging her gloves higher to cover her bare arms.
"Oh I think we do," Remy said, his eyes blazing intensely once again. Rogue felt her mouth go dry. Okay, that was it. She'd had enough.
"You don't understand me Remy. No one does, so stop trying," Rogue whispered, stunned to feel tears burning her eyes. And before he could say anything, Rogue fled.
Rogue sat in the living room fidgeting along with everyone else for the Professor's announcement; probably something like reminding them that finals were in 2 weeks and that they shouldn't let their excitement about the Turn Around prom let them lose focus of that.
What excitement? Rogue thought scowling as she caught herself glancing over at the handsome Scott Summers who stood speaking with the Professor now. There was no possible conceivable way that she was going to something as tacky and high-schoolish as prom..that was unless, she could go with Scott. If he could only look at her the way he looked at Jean..
"Who am I kidding? I probably have a better chance of getting struck by lightning," Rogue muttered, swiping back a stray strand of hair. The past few weeks, she had, in her own subtle way tried to emulate Jean Grey, in the hopes that she'd have a chance with him. But even after she'd abandoned the goth make-up to the joy of her roommates who claimed she looked "a hundred times better", and letting her long brown hair fall loosely about her shoulders instead of her usual ponytail, it hadn't earned her anything more than a few admiring stares from the male members of the student body. But Scott simply hadn't noticed. He treated her the same as always; a friend, waving to her in the hallways, and pulling her aside every once in awhile to see how she was doing. And the first day without her black lipstick, he'd said "Did you cut your hair or something?" God how dense could he be!
But Rogue cherished those times. If only she could stop blushing and becoming so totally flustered around him, maybe he'd have more to say to her than the usual, "Hey Rogue." The Professor suddenly cleared his throat to get her attention, and Rogue tried her hardest not to stare at how Scott sat right next to Jean. It didn't work. Jean was leaning over and whispering something to him. What was she saying? Was she asking Scott to the prom? Rogue wondered, holding her breath, hardly listening to what the Professor was saying.
Suddenly Jubilee poked her in the side. "Check out the total hottie!" Jubilee whispered excitedly. Rogue looked around to see practically every girl in the room practically drooling. What is so fascinating? Rogue wondered, tearing her eyes away from Scott to look up.
"What the-? What's he doin' here?" Rogue blurted out, as her eyes collided with Remy. Remy had sauntered to the front, leaning against the side of the wall, surveying them with a detached look, but when he reached Rogue, his red-black eyes seemed to pierce through her. Despite herself, Rogue could feel her heart skip a beat.
"Oh my god, is he gonna live here?" Siren said shrilly to her friend.
Rogue saw Kitty roll her eyes disgustedly. "It isn't enough that she has to have my boyfriend, but she has to bulldoze in on every decent guy," Kitty muttered.
"I'd say he's more than decent," Jubilee murmured appreciatively along with every other girl in the room, as Remy took off his leather jacket and sat down.
Rogue snorted. "He isn't that great. I mean, sure I suppose he's good- looking in a Fonzie kind of way, but he's no-,"
"Scott Summers," Jubilee and Kitty finished for her wryly. Rogue glared at them.
"A little louder please? I don't think he heard you," Rogue whispered sarcastically. Jubilee giggled.
"Oh he's looking at you!" Jubilee whispered excitedly.
"Who, Scott?" Rogue asked, running a hand through her hair self- consciously.
"No, the new guy," Jubilee said impatiently.
"Who cares?" Rogue said off-handedly, but even as she said it, she was very aware of Remy's burning gaze that gave her a tingly feeling she never got even when she was around Scott.
"Students, this is Remy Lebeau, he will be joining us here at the Institute. He comes from New Orleans, and I hope you will make him feel welcome here," the Professor said kindly, smiling at Remy who flashed a charming smile to everyone. The sighs of the girls was audible as Remy sat back down.
"Thank you Professor, I have a feeling I shall be very happy here," Remy said in a low husky voice, looking directly at Rogue, in a way that everyone noticed. Rogue flushed at the puzzled looks on Scott's face. She flashed Scott a bright smile, ignoring Remy's steady gaze.
"Now, Remy this is Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Siren Phillips, Bobby Drake, Kurt Wagner," the Professor said, as Remy went around shaking hands genially with everyone.
"And over here we have Kitty and Jubilation," the Professor continued.
"You can call me Jubilee," Jubilee said, giggling a little. Remy gave her a dimpled smile and nodded. Rogue rolled her eyes, surprised that she was irritated by this even though she knew Jubilee never seriously flirted with anyone. As if I care who Frenchy decides to unload his charm on, Rogue thought as the Professor finally turned to her.
"And last but not least, this is Rogue."
"Yes, we've met," Remy said slowly, so huskily that the normally cool calm Rogue felt her cheeks heat up. She nearly jumped when he picked up her gloved hand and kissed it. Rogue looked around to see Scott and Jean's eyebrows raised and Logan frowning. What did he think he was doing? Rogue thought furiously snatching her hand back. It didn't help that every girl in the room with the exception of Kitty and Jubilee were throwing her envious looks. Obviously, they felt the handsome new stranger had "singled" her out. I'd better set Scott straight, Rogue thought determinedly, walking over quietly.
As Jean left, Scott stood alone in the center of the living room. "Uh, Scott?"
"Oh hi Rogue," Scott said with a smile, but Rogue noticed with a sinking heart, that his eyes were still trained onto Jean who was slipping on her jacket.
"So where's Jean going?" Rogue asked casually, her heart growing heavier as she saw Scott's eyes light up at the mention of Jean.
"Uh, she has a date with Duncan," Scott muttered, looking so miserable that Rogue felt torn between feelings of pity and anger. Why couldn't he just give her half a chance? Why was everything centered around Jean Grey?
"Oh, well, I see," Rogue said, nodding and cursing herself at the same time. How was she to maneuver the conversation away from Jean to the dance? "Um, so I hear she's on the planning committee for the big Turn Around prom, right?"
"Yeah, she is," Scott broke into a wide smile. "She's also planning the Medieval Fair," Scott continued, his voice filled with admiration.
That's it, Rogue thought, Jean Grey is involved in everything. Maybe it wouldn't kill me to get more involved in things, Rogue thought bleakly, although the thought of having to organize a whole fair was enough to send her screaming into the night. The fact was, organizing simply wasn't her strong point. But if it meant that Scott would look at her differently..Rouge swallowed hard.
"Um, yeah, well, I guess with all that she might be too busy to go the the, uh, prom," Rogue said lamely.
Scott looked crestfallen. "Really?"
Rogue decided she couldn't be so spiteful. Not to Jean Grey. Jean, although irritatingly perfect and popular, was a nice person. And even though she was too blind to see that Scott was in love with her, Rogue couldn't ruin it.
"No, I'm sure she'll have time to go," Rogue assured him, with a small smile. "Uh, speaking of the Turn Around prom, uh..um, are you going?" Rogue managed to stammer out, her face flushing as Scott turned to look at her a curious expression on his face.
"Yeah, I'm planning on it, that is, if I get asked," Scott said, under his breath a wistful gaze on his face.
This is it, Rogue told herself, trying to calm her nervousness. Ask him. You can do it. Really quickly. "Um, I'm sure you'll get asked, in fact- ," Rogue began, hesitantly, feeling her heart beat faster.
"Yes?" Scott asked encouragingly, as the silence lengthened.
"Uh," Rogue began, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She whirled around to face Remy who stood with an amused look on his face.
"Hey there Rogue," Remy said.
"Hi," Rogue said quickly, shooting him a look that clearly urged him to leave her. But the moment between Scott and her was gone. Scott was surveying them with interest.
"I was wondering if I could speak to you?" Remy said, his French accent ringing through. To her annoyance, Rogue found it oddly appealing. She shook that thought off. How dare he ruin what probably was one of the only chances she'd get to ask Scott out before Jean came to her senses, Rogue thought.
"Um, well," Rogue began, about to tell Remy to buzz off, when Scott interjected with a friendly smile.
"I'll see you around Rogue, I'll let you officially welcome Remy to the Institute," Scott said, waving to her and leaving.
"But-," Rogue protested, but Scott was already gone. Rogue whirled furiously, her hazel eyes sparkling with indignation.
"Couldn't you have waited just 2 minutes?!"
"Why? Did I interrupt the Southern Belle's simpering proposal to her intended?" Remy asked in an amused voice, that had a trace of mockery in it. Rogue stared at him.
"Excuse me?" Rogue asked in outrage. "I wasn't simpering!" And how had he figured out her intention to ask Scott to the prom anyways? Had he been talking to Jubilee? "And what business is it of yours anyway?"
"Well, a beautiful girl like you should have no trouble at all finding an escort, and I thought I might be of service," Remy drawled. Normally, Rogue would have laughed at the utter corniness of that line, but the words flowed so smoothly from his lips that Rogue felt herself flushing a deep pink.
"I'm not interested, and we have nothing in common anyway," Rogue responded hotly, after a moment, tugging her gloves higher to cover her bare arms.
"Oh I think we do," Remy said, his eyes blazing intensely once again. Rogue felt her mouth go dry. Okay, that was it. She'd had enough.
"You don't understand me Remy. No one does, so stop trying," Rogue whispered, stunned to feel tears burning her eyes. And before he could say anything, Rogue fled.