NOTE: This took forever to write because I didn't want to mess it up.
Please review! I made it extra long for all the Romy shippers ( . Hope you
like it! On with the fluff!
Rogue leaned in closer, as the wind picked up around her. They'd been driving for about an hour and she was dying to get back to the mansion. Well.no, that wasn't exactly true. The thought of hearing the Professor's inevitable lecture was less than appealing. Not to mention what Logan would do..severed limbs..Chinese water torture..who knew what lay in wait for them. Rogue shuddered. On the other hand, the longer she was on the road, the more she kept noticing, against her will, just how gorgeous Remy really was. And if his popularity in French class that morning were any indication, it would be only a matter of time before every girl in school would realize it and go after him like a pack of starving dogs. Somehow, the thought made her fume.
Remy's charm came easily to him as if he'd been born knowing just how to turn normally level-headed women into blithering idiots with one flash of his devilish grin. Like that waitress April. You'd think she'd never seen a man before, Rogue thought, scowling slightly. Remy, when he was in full-on flirt mode was definitely a sight to behold, she admitted. Not that she was ~noticing~ or anything..I still find him totally annoying, Rogue thought defensively, loosening her grip on his waist.
"You okay back dere, chere? Y'been kinda quiet," Remy called back to her, his words whipped away by the wind. Rogue looked up from her thoughts, surprised that he'd noticed.
"Well, you haven't exactly been chatty the past hour either," Rogue countered. "Ah guess ah'm just a bit sore from bein' on the bike so long," she said, softening her voice.
"Is dat all?" Remy asked, and his voice was questioning.
"And ah'm worried because everyone at the mansion doesn't know where we are. Can we stop somewhere and call them from a pay phone?" Rogue asked hopefully.
"We're kinda in de middle o'nowhere, p'tite. But mebbe Remy can help you wid de first problem. Y'wanna stop and stretch y'legs for a little bit?" Remy suggested.
"Sure, we're already in a ton of trouble. Why not seal our fate," Rogue said gloomily.
"Dat's de spirit, chere," Remy teased, as he maneuvered the motorcycle into a clearing off the side of the road. When he turned of the ignition, Rogue practically jumped off the bike.
Remy watched, slightly amused as Rogue stretched her arms and legs. "Y'neck look a bit stiff, chere. Perhaps I can offer my massaging services?"
Rogue flushed at the insinuation in his voice. "Ah don't want you anywhere near me Frenchy."
"Den why did de chere agree to come with me today?" Remy asked, one eyebrow raised in question, his lips twitching with amusement at Rogue's answering flush.
Damn him! Figures he'd bring that up, Rogue thought scowling. Honestly..she didn't know why she had come with him, without even a second thought. One look in his eyes and Rogue had felt, for the first time in a long while, safe. "Call it a momentary lapse in judgment," Rogue retorted out loud.
"Oh, so you don' make it a habit to leave school with dashing young Cajuns?" Remy asked, his voice teasing. Rogue rolled her eyes.
"Please, spare me LeBeau. Maybe back home in Mississippi or wherever, you had women falling at your feet, but your tactics won't work with me. You're wasting your time."
"Au contraire, p'tite.I think y'worth every minute," Remy said huskily. Rogue gulped. She could feel helpless anger rising in her as she always did whenever she was overwhelmed.
"Do you stay up at night thinking of these lines, or does it just come naturally?" Rogue snapped.
"Naturally," Remy quipped. He paused, his eyes roving over her face. "Why. chere, are you blushing?"
"I think your helmet may have cut off the circulation to your brain, Cajun!" Rogue sputtered in outrage. She did ~not~ blush. Ever.
"No need to get so riled up, p'tite. Jus' noticed your face is a bit red," Remy said with a smile.
"It's just because of the weather," Rogue said, her flashing green eyes daring him to call her bluff.
"Oh yes, damn this unbearable heat!" Remy said in a dramatic voice, gesturing upwards toward the dark clouds. Just then, a gust of icy wind sailed past them.
Rogue gritted her teeth. It was as if his entire existence were dedicated to embarrass her. That and trying to catch her off her guard. Well, it wasn't going to work. No way. "Let's just drive home, before the Professor sends the team out to look for us. Ah don't even want to know what they must be thinking right now about us."
"Would dat be so bad?" Remy teased, but his scarlet eyes held her. Rogue looked away, unsettled by the wave of warmth she felt rising in her.
"Yes it would. The mansion rumor mill will be working overtime tonight," Rogue said grimly.
"Y'don need to tell dem anything, chere. We just two friends out for a drive, dat's it, right?"
Friend. Rogue swallowed back the surprising stab of disappointment she felt at his words. He was trying to be nice. He had only taken her out to lunch because he was a gentleman.
"Right," Rogue said, forcing herself to sound calm. "Why should they even think anything? It's not like you're even my type," Rogue said defensively.
The corners of Remy's lips turned up slightly at that. "Course' not, p'tite. Y'seem to like de boring, play-it-by-de-book guy. And dat's definitely not Remy."
Rogue frowned in irritation at his comment. She didn't like guys who were boring! "Listen here, Cajun. Just what makes you think you know who ah go for?"
Remy gave an exaggerated shrug. "I don' know, chere. Don' matter, anyway. You'll go get married to dat Summers guy, have 15 children, an' you two will play Scrabble every night for fun."
He was making fun of her, Rogue thought, feeling an angry flush rise to her cheeks. "First of all, ah'm not gettin' married to anyone, let alone havin' children! Maybe you've forgotten that ah've got the killing touch!" Rogue spat, horrified to find tears rising to her eyes. His words had brought the depressing finality of her future to her mind with a stinging slap. She would never even have a boyfriend, Rogue thought bitterly, let alone a husband. Moreover, for some reason, she couldn't even imagine being married to Scott. It was...really weird, Rogue admitted reluctantly.
"I haven't forgotten, but I don' obsess over it de way you do, chere. You use your powers as a shield. You can't be happy living dat way," Remy said gently. His words caused a fresh wave of confusion and misery to wash over Rogue.
"Well, thank you Confucius," Rogue tried to retort, but her voice caught on a sob. She turned her head away quickly but Remy was already striding to her.
"Put dis on," Remy instructed her softly, handing her his trench coat. Rogue opened her mouth to protest but figured since she'd already abandoned most of her dignity today by crying in front of him, it wasn't worth the bother.
"Thanks," Rogue mumbled, too embarrassed to lift her head. Fortunately, Remy seemed to understand and made no further efforts to comfort her. Instead, he leaned against the bike, next to her. His presence was oddly comforting, Rogue thought as she felt the sadness slowly ebb away. After a few moments, she coughed slightly in an attempt to cover her awkwardness. "Ah'm, uh, sorry about that."
Remy gazed at her in disbelief. "Sorry fo' what, chere? Bein' human?"
"Ah don't usually just bawl in front of strangers," Rogue admitted, fighting the irrational urge to check her reflection in a mirror. Ah don't care what I look like in front of him, Rogue thought indignantly. But she fluffed her hair anyway and was secretly relieved that she'd given up wearing the dark eyeliner and mascara. She hadn't been crying for very long, so her face couldn't look ~that~ bad, could it...?
"Rogue? Rogue?" Remy's voice broke through her thoughts. He waved one gloved hand in front of her face. She snapped out of it immediately, heat flooding her face. She really had to stop this stupid daydreaming. It was getting to be an annoying habit whenever she was around him, Rogue thought irritated.
"Ah'm ready to go," Rogue announced, clearing her throat. Remy looked at her a long time, his scarlet eyes meeting her green ones. Then, as if satisfied that she was truly all right, the teasing glint was back in them.
"Your wish is my command, p'tite," Remy quipped, and jumped on the bike.
"They really ought to put seatbelts on these things," Rogue commented, as she took her seat behind him. "With your driving, it's only a matter of time before ah end up in a hospital."
"Den, I guess you better hold on tight, huh chere?" Remy smirked.
"You just never stop do you?" Rogue asked, rolling her eyes.
"Not if I can help it. Besides, don' deny you like de view."
Rogue was thankful he hadn't turned back to see her flushed face. "Words can't describe the joy ah feel. Dear Diary, today I have truly lived, having sat so close to the amazing, swoon-inducing Remy LeBeau," Rogue retorted sarcastically. Remy laughed deeply at that.
"If I'd known I had such an effect on you, chere, I might've taken you someplace more private. Next time, I guess," Remy said, turning back briefly to wink devilishly at her.
"Who says there'll even be a next time, huh, Frenchy?" Rogue challenged, her hair flying behind her as Remy sped up.
"Who says dere won't?" Remy countered.
"Hmph," was all Rogue could come up with, but she smiled a little. A comfortable silence settled between them as Remy drove the rest of the way, slowing down carefully over the bumps. His consideration wasn't unnoticed by Rogue, who closed her eyes and rested her head lightly against his back.
When she finally awoke, she found they had stopped in front of the mansion gates. Rogue blinked her eyes sleepily, and stared up at the darkening skies. Remy lifted his helmet and helped her off the bike. Then, they stood staring at the mansion door with equally apprehensive looks on their faces.
"Do ah even want to know what time it is?" Rogue asked, looking up at Remy.
He glanced at his watch and winced. "Merde. Didn't think it'd take dis long. Well, nothin' we can do about it now, p'tite, cept' go in an' face de music."
"You mean face the firing squad," Rogue groaned, putting her face in her hands.
"Don' worry, mebbe they'll be so glad t'see you dey won't have time to be mad," Remy joked lightly.
"Uh huh, right. And maybe Logan is going to quit the X-men to pursue a career on Broadway," Rogue said wryly, shaking her head, as the two walked quietly to the side entrance to the mansion. When they entered the hallway, the voices of Logan and Storm, among others carried clearly from the main living room.
"They're here," Rogue heard Logan announce grimly. She gulped and paused at the entrance to the living room.
"Ladies first," Remy whispered, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"My hero," Rogue retorted, and pushed past him.
The noise quieted and was instantly replaced with almost deafening silence as the X-men stared at them. Rogue gulped. This was not good. Finally, Logan stepped forward, his expression foreboding.
"You wanna tell us where the hell you two have been all day!" Logan steely voice intoned.
"Um.well, I was..," Rogue began haltingly. She had faced Logan's wrath plenty of times before, but somehow today she was tongue-tied. Then again, she'd never ditched school and spent the entire day riding around on a motorcycle with a guy before either. Today was definitely a day for firsts, Rogue thought wryly.
"De chere wasn't feelin too well at school, so I took her for a little spin to clear her head," Remy's smooth voice filled the room. Rogue looked at him as if he were crazy.
"Ah'll handle this, Remy. You don't know what your up against. Logan'll chew you up," Rogue said between her teeth.
"Why, p'tite, you concerned for me?" Remy teased softly, his gaze never shifting from Logan's furious face.
"You wish, Cajun," Rogue retorted in a near whisper.
"You took her for a little ~SPIN~!" Scott yelled incredulously. "What, for the last seven hours?!"
"And you couldn't be bothered to call us, I suppose," Storm's disapproving voice followed.
"We couldn't, there wasn't a payphone anywhere," Rogue protested feebly, feeling guilty.
"So, you're saying that Rogue wasn't feeling well and you just ~happened~ to be right there waiting in the parking lot? Sounds pretty believable," Scott said caustically to Remy.
"I didn't plan dis, if dat's what yer tryin' t'imply," Remy said in a low voice, his gaze shifting from Logan to Scott.
"Y'have a lot of explaining t'do, Cajun," Logan threatened, one claw popping out.
"Remy has nothing to do with this. Ah left out of mah own free will," Rogue said firmly, stepping forward.
"It was unbelievably irresponsible of the both of you to just leave school like that. And Remy, it was your first day," the Professor said sternly.
"What can I say? Never could resist a damsel in distress," Remy said, flashing a smile in her direction.
Was he insane? Rogue wondered, briefly as Logan growled and Scott's mouth tightened. "Do you have a death wish or something?" Rogue hissed under her breath.
"Not since de last time I checked. Don' worry bout me. Remy's gotten out of worse scrapes den dis," Remy assured her, with a wink.
"It's late, we'll discuss your punishments in the morning, but suffice it to say you will have plenty to keep you busy these next few weeks," Storm said firmly. "Logan will be scheduling extra Danger Room work- outs, and I believe Jean needs plenty of help for the Carnival this Friday."
Rogue and Remy groaned simultaneously. Logan smirked a bit, as if satisfied that they were going to be sufficiently punished. The Professor concluded by repeating how disappointed he was with their behavior and after extracting a promise that it would never happen again, retired for the night. Rogue breathed a sigh of relief.
Kitty and Jubilee rushed over to her as soon as everyone went to bed for the night. "Oh Kitty, ah'm sorry to have left you hanging for the presentation today," Rogue apologized.
"Oh..um, about that, we're going to have to do it tomorrow," Kitty said, her voice sheepish.
"Wonderful. Any more good news?" Rogue asked dryly. Jubilee exchanged a glance with Kitty and turned to give her a sympathetic look.
"Well, uh, Scott knows," Jubilee said slowly. Rogue stared at her.
"Knows what?"
"That you like him! You should have ~seen~ him when Jamie let it slip, his whole face turned this bright red," Kitty said enthusiastically.
"Jamie? Remind me to hunt that kid down," Rogue growled. Jubilee giggled and opened her mouth to say something but abruptly closed it. Coming down the hall was none other than Scott Summers. Rogue whirled around to face him and swallowed hard.
"Uh..hey Rogue," Scott began, shuffling his feet slightly.
"Hi.Scott," Rogue said cautiously, as Kitty and Jubilee discretely slipped away. "Can ah, um, help you with something?"
"No.I just wanted to tell you good night," Scott said, flashing a smile in her direction. Rogue stared at him, feeling as if she were stuck in a weird Twilight Zone episode. Scott Summers had ~never~ come by with the express purpose of saying goodnight to her. Especially not with Jean around. Speaking of which, where was Wonder Girl? Rogue thought, looking around confused. She shook herself out of her reverie when she realized Scott was still standing in front of her.
"Good night, Scott. Ah'll see you tomorrow, ah guess," Rogue replied quickly.
"Count on it," Scott said, and with another smile disappeared down the corridor.
That was it? Not even one reprimand or last-minute lecture about the importance of school attendance? Wasn't this what ah always wanted? For him to stop being so oblivious and finally notice me? Rogue thought, shaking her head. But somehow his new attention did not have the effect she had always thought it would. Instead, Rogue found herself turning around to scan the hallway for any sign of Remy. She wanted to thank him...
But he was nowhere in sight. Rogue sighed deeply and returned to her room, utterly confused by the sharp disappointment rising in her. Tonight, Scott looked at me the way ah used to see him look at Jean. Ah ought to be thrilled, Rogue thought angrily. But despite herself, she checked the hallways one last time for a sign of the Cajun, and upon finding none, felt a strange sinking sensation in her stomach. "You've lost your mind," Rogue whispered aloud to herself.
Rogue leaned in closer, as the wind picked up around her. They'd been driving for about an hour and she was dying to get back to the mansion. Well.no, that wasn't exactly true. The thought of hearing the Professor's inevitable lecture was less than appealing. Not to mention what Logan would do..severed limbs..Chinese water torture..who knew what lay in wait for them. Rogue shuddered. On the other hand, the longer she was on the road, the more she kept noticing, against her will, just how gorgeous Remy really was. And if his popularity in French class that morning were any indication, it would be only a matter of time before every girl in school would realize it and go after him like a pack of starving dogs. Somehow, the thought made her fume.
Remy's charm came easily to him as if he'd been born knowing just how to turn normally level-headed women into blithering idiots with one flash of his devilish grin. Like that waitress April. You'd think she'd never seen a man before, Rogue thought, scowling slightly. Remy, when he was in full-on flirt mode was definitely a sight to behold, she admitted. Not that she was ~noticing~ or anything..I still find him totally annoying, Rogue thought defensively, loosening her grip on his waist.
"You okay back dere, chere? Y'been kinda quiet," Remy called back to her, his words whipped away by the wind. Rogue looked up from her thoughts, surprised that he'd noticed.
"Well, you haven't exactly been chatty the past hour either," Rogue countered. "Ah guess ah'm just a bit sore from bein' on the bike so long," she said, softening her voice.
"Is dat all?" Remy asked, and his voice was questioning.
"And ah'm worried because everyone at the mansion doesn't know where we are. Can we stop somewhere and call them from a pay phone?" Rogue asked hopefully.
"We're kinda in de middle o'nowhere, p'tite. But mebbe Remy can help you wid de first problem. Y'wanna stop and stretch y'legs for a little bit?" Remy suggested.
"Sure, we're already in a ton of trouble. Why not seal our fate," Rogue said gloomily.
"Dat's de spirit, chere," Remy teased, as he maneuvered the motorcycle into a clearing off the side of the road. When he turned of the ignition, Rogue practically jumped off the bike.
Remy watched, slightly amused as Rogue stretched her arms and legs. "Y'neck look a bit stiff, chere. Perhaps I can offer my massaging services?"
Rogue flushed at the insinuation in his voice. "Ah don't want you anywhere near me Frenchy."
"Den why did de chere agree to come with me today?" Remy asked, one eyebrow raised in question, his lips twitching with amusement at Rogue's answering flush.
Damn him! Figures he'd bring that up, Rogue thought scowling. Honestly..she didn't know why she had come with him, without even a second thought. One look in his eyes and Rogue had felt, for the first time in a long while, safe. "Call it a momentary lapse in judgment," Rogue retorted out loud.
"Oh, so you don' make it a habit to leave school with dashing young Cajuns?" Remy asked, his voice teasing. Rogue rolled her eyes.
"Please, spare me LeBeau. Maybe back home in Mississippi or wherever, you had women falling at your feet, but your tactics won't work with me. You're wasting your time."
"Au contraire, p'tite.I think y'worth every minute," Remy said huskily. Rogue gulped. She could feel helpless anger rising in her as she always did whenever she was overwhelmed.
"Do you stay up at night thinking of these lines, or does it just come naturally?" Rogue snapped.
"Naturally," Remy quipped. He paused, his eyes roving over her face. "Why. chere, are you blushing?"
"I think your helmet may have cut off the circulation to your brain, Cajun!" Rogue sputtered in outrage. She did ~not~ blush. Ever.
"No need to get so riled up, p'tite. Jus' noticed your face is a bit red," Remy said with a smile.
"It's just because of the weather," Rogue said, her flashing green eyes daring him to call her bluff.
"Oh yes, damn this unbearable heat!" Remy said in a dramatic voice, gesturing upwards toward the dark clouds. Just then, a gust of icy wind sailed past them.
Rogue gritted her teeth. It was as if his entire existence were dedicated to embarrass her. That and trying to catch her off her guard. Well, it wasn't going to work. No way. "Let's just drive home, before the Professor sends the team out to look for us. Ah don't even want to know what they must be thinking right now about us."
"Would dat be so bad?" Remy teased, but his scarlet eyes held her. Rogue looked away, unsettled by the wave of warmth she felt rising in her.
"Yes it would. The mansion rumor mill will be working overtime tonight," Rogue said grimly.
"Y'don need to tell dem anything, chere. We just two friends out for a drive, dat's it, right?"
Friend. Rogue swallowed back the surprising stab of disappointment she felt at his words. He was trying to be nice. He had only taken her out to lunch because he was a gentleman.
"Right," Rogue said, forcing herself to sound calm. "Why should they even think anything? It's not like you're even my type," Rogue said defensively.
The corners of Remy's lips turned up slightly at that. "Course' not, p'tite. Y'seem to like de boring, play-it-by-de-book guy. And dat's definitely not Remy."
Rogue frowned in irritation at his comment. She didn't like guys who were boring! "Listen here, Cajun. Just what makes you think you know who ah go for?"
Remy gave an exaggerated shrug. "I don' know, chere. Don' matter, anyway. You'll go get married to dat Summers guy, have 15 children, an' you two will play Scrabble every night for fun."
He was making fun of her, Rogue thought, feeling an angry flush rise to her cheeks. "First of all, ah'm not gettin' married to anyone, let alone havin' children! Maybe you've forgotten that ah've got the killing touch!" Rogue spat, horrified to find tears rising to her eyes. His words had brought the depressing finality of her future to her mind with a stinging slap. She would never even have a boyfriend, Rogue thought bitterly, let alone a husband. Moreover, for some reason, she couldn't even imagine being married to Scott. It was...really weird, Rogue admitted reluctantly.
"I haven't forgotten, but I don' obsess over it de way you do, chere. You use your powers as a shield. You can't be happy living dat way," Remy said gently. His words caused a fresh wave of confusion and misery to wash over Rogue.
"Well, thank you Confucius," Rogue tried to retort, but her voice caught on a sob. She turned her head away quickly but Remy was already striding to her.
"Put dis on," Remy instructed her softly, handing her his trench coat. Rogue opened her mouth to protest but figured since she'd already abandoned most of her dignity today by crying in front of him, it wasn't worth the bother.
"Thanks," Rogue mumbled, too embarrassed to lift her head. Fortunately, Remy seemed to understand and made no further efforts to comfort her. Instead, he leaned against the bike, next to her. His presence was oddly comforting, Rogue thought as she felt the sadness slowly ebb away. After a few moments, she coughed slightly in an attempt to cover her awkwardness. "Ah'm, uh, sorry about that."
Remy gazed at her in disbelief. "Sorry fo' what, chere? Bein' human?"
"Ah don't usually just bawl in front of strangers," Rogue admitted, fighting the irrational urge to check her reflection in a mirror. Ah don't care what I look like in front of him, Rogue thought indignantly. But she fluffed her hair anyway and was secretly relieved that she'd given up wearing the dark eyeliner and mascara. She hadn't been crying for very long, so her face couldn't look ~that~ bad, could it...?
"Rogue? Rogue?" Remy's voice broke through her thoughts. He waved one gloved hand in front of her face. She snapped out of it immediately, heat flooding her face. She really had to stop this stupid daydreaming. It was getting to be an annoying habit whenever she was around him, Rogue thought irritated.
"Ah'm ready to go," Rogue announced, clearing her throat. Remy looked at her a long time, his scarlet eyes meeting her green ones. Then, as if satisfied that she was truly all right, the teasing glint was back in them.
"Your wish is my command, p'tite," Remy quipped, and jumped on the bike.
"They really ought to put seatbelts on these things," Rogue commented, as she took her seat behind him. "With your driving, it's only a matter of time before ah end up in a hospital."
"Den, I guess you better hold on tight, huh chere?" Remy smirked.
"You just never stop do you?" Rogue asked, rolling her eyes.
"Not if I can help it. Besides, don' deny you like de view."
Rogue was thankful he hadn't turned back to see her flushed face. "Words can't describe the joy ah feel. Dear Diary, today I have truly lived, having sat so close to the amazing, swoon-inducing Remy LeBeau," Rogue retorted sarcastically. Remy laughed deeply at that.
"If I'd known I had such an effect on you, chere, I might've taken you someplace more private. Next time, I guess," Remy said, turning back briefly to wink devilishly at her.
"Who says there'll even be a next time, huh, Frenchy?" Rogue challenged, her hair flying behind her as Remy sped up.
"Who says dere won't?" Remy countered.
"Hmph," was all Rogue could come up with, but she smiled a little. A comfortable silence settled between them as Remy drove the rest of the way, slowing down carefully over the bumps. His consideration wasn't unnoticed by Rogue, who closed her eyes and rested her head lightly against his back.
When she finally awoke, she found they had stopped in front of the mansion gates. Rogue blinked her eyes sleepily, and stared up at the darkening skies. Remy lifted his helmet and helped her off the bike. Then, they stood staring at the mansion door with equally apprehensive looks on their faces.
"Do ah even want to know what time it is?" Rogue asked, looking up at Remy.
He glanced at his watch and winced. "Merde. Didn't think it'd take dis long. Well, nothin' we can do about it now, p'tite, cept' go in an' face de music."
"You mean face the firing squad," Rogue groaned, putting her face in her hands.
"Don' worry, mebbe they'll be so glad t'see you dey won't have time to be mad," Remy joked lightly.
"Uh huh, right. And maybe Logan is going to quit the X-men to pursue a career on Broadway," Rogue said wryly, shaking her head, as the two walked quietly to the side entrance to the mansion. When they entered the hallway, the voices of Logan and Storm, among others carried clearly from the main living room.
"They're here," Rogue heard Logan announce grimly. She gulped and paused at the entrance to the living room.
"Ladies first," Remy whispered, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"My hero," Rogue retorted, and pushed past him.
The noise quieted and was instantly replaced with almost deafening silence as the X-men stared at them. Rogue gulped. This was not good. Finally, Logan stepped forward, his expression foreboding.
"You wanna tell us where the hell you two have been all day!" Logan steely voice intoned.
"Um.well, I was..," Rogue began haltingly. She had faced Logan's wrath plenty of times before, but somehow today she was tongue-tied. Then again, she'd never ditched school and spent the entire day riding around on a motorcycle with a guy before either. Today was definitely a day for firsts, Rogue thought wryly.
"De chere wasn't feelin too well at school, so I took her for a little spin to clear her head," Remy's smooth voice filled the room. Rogue looked at him as if he were crazy.
"Ah'll handle this, Remy. You don't know what your up against. Logan'll chew you up," Rogue said between her teeth.
"Why, p'tite, you concerned for me?" Remy teased softly, his gaze never shifting from Logan's furious face.
"You wish, Cajun," Rogue retorted in a near whisper.
"You took her for a little ~SPIN~!" Scott yelled incredulously. "What, for the last seven hours?!"
"And you couldn't be bothered to call us, I suppose," Storm's disapproving voice followed.
"We couldn't, there wasn't a payphone anywhere," Rogue protested feebly, feeling guilty.
"So, you're saying that Rogue wasn't feeling well and you just ~happened~ to be right there waiting in the parking lot? Sounds pretty believable," Scott said caustically to Remy.
"I didn't plan dis, if dat's what yer tryin' t'imply," Remy said in a low voice, his gaze shifting from Logan to Scott.
"Y'have a lot of explaining t'do, Cajun," Logan threatened, one claw popping out.
"Remy has nothing to do with this. Ah left out of mah own free will," Rogue said firmly, stepping forward.
"It was unbelievably irresponsible of the both of you to just leave school like that. And Remy, it was your first day," the Professor said sternly.
"What can I say? Never could resist a damsel in distress," Remy said, flashing a smile in her direction.
Was he insane? Rogue wondered, briefly as Logan growled and Scott's mouth tightened. "Do you have a death wish or something?" Rogue hissed under her breath.
"Not since de last time I checked. Don' worry bout me. Remy's gotten out of worse scrapes den dis," Remy assured her, with a wink.
"It's late, we'll discuss your punishments in the morning, but suffice it to say you will have plenty to keep you busy these next few weeks," Storm said firmly. "Logan will be scheduling extra Danger Room work- outs, and I believe Jean needs plenty of help for the Carnival this Friday."
Rogue and Remy groaned simultaneously. Logan smirked a bit, as if satisfied that they were going to be sufficiently punished. The Professor concluded by repeating how disappointed he was with their behavior and after extracting a promise that it would never happen again, retired for the night. Rogue breathed a sigh of relief.
Kitty and Jubilee rushed over to her as soon as everyone went to bed for the night. "Oh Kitty, ah'm sorry to have left you hanging for the presentation today," Rogue apologized.
"Oh..um, about that, we're going to have to do it tomorrow," Kitty said, her voice sheepish.
"Wonderful. Any more good news?" Rogue asked dryly. Jubilee exchanged a glance with Kitty and turned to give her a sympathetic look.
"Well, uh, Scott knows," Jubilee said slowly. Rogue stared at her.
"Knows what?"
"That you like him! You should have ~seen~ him when Jamie let it slip, his whole face turned this bright red," Kitty said enthusiastically.
"Jamie? Remind me to hunt that kid down," Rogue growled. Jubilee giggled and opened her mouth to say something but abruptly closed it. Coming down the hall was none other than Scott Summers. Rogue whirled around to face him and swallowed hard.
"Uh..hey Rogue," Scott began, shuffling his feet slightly.
"Hi.Scott," Rogue said cautiously, as Kitty and Jubilee discretely slipped away. "Can ah, um, help you with something?"
"No.I just wanted to tell you good night," Scott said, flashing a smile in her direction. Rogue stared at him, feeling as if she were stuck in a weird Twilight Zone episode. Scott Summers had ~never~ come by with the express purpose of saying goodnight to her. Especially not with Jean around. Speaking of which, where was Wonder Girl? Rogue thought, looking around confused. She shook herself out of her reverie when she realized Scott was still standing in front of her.
"Good night, Scott. Ah'll see you tomorrow, ah guess," Rogue replied quickly.
"Count on it," Scott said, and with another smile disappeared down the corridor.
That was it? Not even one reprimand or last-minute lecture about the importance of school attendance? Wasn't this what ah always wanted? For him to stop being so oblivious and finally notice me? Rogue thought, shaking her head. But somehow his new attention did not have the effect she had always thought it would. Instead, Rogue found herself turning around to scan the hallway for any sign of Remy. She wanted to thank him...
But he was nowhere in sight. Rogue sighed deeply and returned to her room, utterly confused by the sharp disappointment rising in her. Tonight, Scott looked at me the way ah used to see him look at Jean. Ah ought to be thrilled, Rogue thought angrily. But despite herself, she checked the hallways one last time for a sign of the Cajun, and upon finding none, felt a strange sinking sensation in her stomach. "You've lost your mind," Rogue whispered aloud to herself.