Chapter Twenty-Two
Doubt
For the past two days, Logan had stopped coming by as frequently. Rogue told herself that he just needed time to think and absorb what was happening between them. When Beast finally declared her fit to go, Rogue exchanged the patient gown for her street clothes and broodingly left the infirmary. He hadn't come to get her.
She found him hunched over a bottle of Vodka in the sunroom and her heart sank. She hesitated by the door, debating whether she should confront him or sneak off to her room.
"You just going to stand there," he grumbled and then took a swing of alcohol.
She should have known he knew she was there. He probably smelled her from down the hall. Rogue slowly approached and tentatively took a seat at the oak table. "Dr. McCoy says I'm perfectly healthy. He thinks that whatever they had done to me helped me further gain control of my power. He doesn't know for sure, though, because I was beginning to gain control before…before…you know." Through her entire speech, she had kept her head partially bowed and stared transfixed at a smudge on the glass tabletop.
Logan flicked his eyes her way, his heart melting at the sight of her looking so lost and alone. "What did they do to you, Rogue?"
She shook her head. "I don't remember."
Liar, he thought, taking another drink.
"But who cares," she tried forcing the tremor from her voice. "I can control my skin now. That's all I've ever wanted, right. So, who cares how it happened? I'm free now. No longer trapped in my own body." She bit her lower lip, peering up to stare out of the large bay window. "Life has a way of being crazy."
He grunted his agreement.
"Logan," she looked his way, but never met his eyes. "Things don't need to be so weird between us. I mean…friends can overcome awkwardness."
Awkwardness? What an understatement. "What do you mean?"
"You know, friends sometimes make promises they can't keep. Things may be weird for awhile, but it all blows away and everything returns to normal."
She's giving you a chance to back out. Take it! "Listen, Rogue, you're just a kid. You have a lifetime ahead of you. And now that you can control your power…"
She looked away and muttered, "Yeah." She slowly got up. "Bye, Logan."
He stared straight ahead, watching her reflection walk away.
[THE END
I HOPE YOU LIKED IT!
Ok, ok, ok…it was only a joke! I'm sorry!]
The hours slipped away and before long it was well past midnight. Logan left the sunroom and made his way up to his room. Passing by Rogue's bedroom, he stopped and listened. She was crying. Damn. He poked his head inside. "Rogue?"
"Go away," she ordered from under her covers.
Logan stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He ambled to her bed and perched himself on the edge, reaching out to pull her blankets off her head. "Rogue, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," she sniffed. "It's silly."
Logan kicked off his boots and crawled further onto the mattress and pulled her to him. "If it's upsetting you then, it isn't silly."
"Don't be such a dense man, Logan," she scolded, trying to push away from him. "You damn well know what's wrong! How dare you play with my feelings like you did! It was cruel and heartless you asshole!"
Logan held on tight, not letting her squirm away. "I'm sorry, Rogue. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I just…sit still! I want to talk with you, not fight you."
Rogue calmed her escape attempts. "It doesn't matter," she snapped. "You made it all perfectly clear. And I can live with it. I just need some time to move past it. So don't worry: we're still friends."
"Rogue…Marie…I just want you to understand. I can't be what you want me to be."
"I don't want you to be anyone but yourself, Logan. It's you I fell in love with, not the image I wish you were. And that's what's killing me. I love you, but you're not what I want. I want a man who loves me and wants me in return. I want a man who loves me so much that he would give anything to marry me and have children with me! You can't do that. It's not who you are. I realize that."
"Rogue." He lowered himself so that they were face to face, pleading with her to believe him. "It's not that I don't want those things. It's just that…I can't…I mean…could you imagine it? Me? With kids? It's crazy."
"I know," she whispered. "I feel it, too. I mean, come on, there's no way I could be a mother. It's hopeless."
"No, Marie. Don't. Don't do this to yourself."
"Why not? You're doing it to yourself."
Logan gaped at her. Damn, she's right. "Rogue…I…it's different. I…" He gazed into her eyes and lost all words. She was beautiful and intriguing. His mind pulled up the memory of their kiss in the kitchen all those days ago and his mouth went dry. God, he wanted her. "Marie," he murmured below a whisper then, covered her mouth with his.
End Chapter Twenty-Two
MademMorte: Sorry I missed you, but I submitted before getting this. Anyway, thanks for the website. I'll have to look into that. Also, I don't use MSN. I have a 'Yahoo!' email address and an 'AOL' messenger.
PrincessGAL: EEK! I missed you. Sorry, but I submitted Chapter Twenty-One before getting this. Anyway, thank you so much! I'm glad you feel that way.
Substan: You are forgiven. Lol.
RogCher: Oops! Anyway, it's nice to know that you've got my back: I could've been facing a lawsuit if you hadn't showed me that contract. Lol.
BoredReal: Whoa, calm down there, buddy. Take a few deep breaths and relax. If you got so excited with Chapter Twenty, maybe Chapter Twenty-One (this chapter) was too much for you. Are you alive?
Loganlov: Thanks. And I'll keep writing as long as I keep getting reviews. Otherwise, I would feel like no one cares.