"Someone's got a crush." Risty commented as Rogue watched Scott walk past them.

"Ah do not!"

"Then why do stare at him all the time?"

"Ah don't! I have to get to class." Rogue slammed her locker and stalked off.

"Alright, see ya' later, then." Rogue didn't respond, just kept on walking.


Rogue and Risty sat in the cafeteria talking while eating lunch. Rogue wasn't paying much attention, she was glaring at Jean who was laughing and talking animatedly with Duncan. "Something on your mind?" Risty asked, following her line of vision.

"Ah just don't get why she plays with Scott like that." Scott was sitting at a table one away from Jean, and staring at her. His face completely betrayed his feelings for her.

Risty wrinkled her nose. "Maybe because she's a manipulative bitch? And she likes to play with guy's minds. She toys with Duncan too, you know." Rogue gave her a look of incredulity. "No, really, he's her 'boyfriend' but he gets none of the benefits that most boyfriends get."

"How do mean."

"Have you ever seen them kiss? Or hug? Hold hands even?"

"Well, no. They probably just don't do it public."

"Are you kidding? Like Mr. Macho over there wouldn't be all over if he could be. Look," Risty pointed over at them, Jean was lifting Duncan's arm off her shoulder. "She keeps him away." Jean looked over at Scott as she did this, obviously wanting him to see.

Rogue snorted in disgust. "Look at that, she's playing with both of them! She wants Scott to think there's hope, so she can keep draggin' him along!" The Southern accent that was usually so slight became more pronounced in her anger.

"If you were her, wouldn't you?" Risty said, baiting Rogue to tell her the truth.

"No. Like ah would go out with Duncan!" Risty smiled and leaned back in her chair. "What?"

"Nothing, I just knew you would say that though." Rogue lifted an eyebrow. "Object to Duncan, but say nothing about Scott." Risty surveyed Scott appraisingly. "He's not bad looking you know. He'd be quite a catch."

For a moment Rogue looked hopeful, but then she shook her head. "Whatever, Risty. Even if ah did like him, he's way out of my reach." Not to mention I can never give him what Jean can. Rogue thought to herself, thinking of what would happen if he kissed her... but maybe it was worth it?

"You can get whoever you want, girl; look at yourself."

Rogue looked down at her body, every bit of skin covered, clothed in dark colors; she glanced over at Jean. Bright, smiling, skin showing- the exact opposite of Rogue. "Ah'm nothing like what he wants."

"So you admit you like him then?" Risty smiled mischievously.

Rogue looked away from her. "Maybe." She replied just as the bell rang. Out of the corner of her eye Rogue saw Scott jump, unwillingly pulling his eyes away from Jean. She looked away, wrinkling her nose and walked out.


Back at the Institute Rogue was sitting outside doing her English homework (reading 'Midsummer Night's Dream'). She looked up and was surprised to see Scott standing there. "Hey, Rogue. I'm having some problems with this stuff," he pointed to the book, "can you help me?"

Rogue nodded, shocked. "Yea, if ya' want."

"Great, thanks." Scott grinned, and Rogue felt a part of her melt, as he sat down next to her.

Her skin tingled, but she shook her head and turned back to the book. "What d'ya need help with?" She asked, ignoring the butterflies in her stomach.

"I'm confused about the Fairy Queen."

"What part of her?"

"Like why she falls in love with an ass."

Rogue smiled slightly, "she's under a spell... kinda' like you." She whispered the last part, but Scott still heard it.

"What do you mean?" He said, obviously feeling insulted.

"It's just that-" but she stopped, because she saw Jean walking, across the way from where they were sitting. Scott immediately sat up straighter, he fixed his hair, and he watched her walk, transfixed. Rogue looked at him, wishing that he could feel that way about her. "That's what ah mean."

"Huh?" Scott didn't even look at her, his eyes stayed on Jean.

"You're completely transfixed, obsessed even. She's with Duncan, Scott. Not you, so stop looking at her all googly-eyed."

Scott looked at her, shocked and obviously hurt. "What did you say?"

"You're just like the Fairy Queen, Scott, you're under a spell, and so you're in love with an ass. You shouldn't have any problems with this, it's you, Scott. It's you!" She stood and ran across the grounds, surprised, ashamed, and even annoyed at her (melodramatic) outburst.

She stormed into her room, fury running through her body. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, hating what she saw. She brought her hand to her face, as if to see if the girl in the mirror was really she. She looked scared, but mostly she looked sad. She turned her attention to her gloved hands. Even if he did like her, what did it matter? They could never be together! And he would never be interested in her, because she wasn't Jean! She screamed, trying to release all the emotions inside her; and knowing that in a mansion with the strongest telepath in the world, not controlling her emotions was the worst thing she could do. She threw herself down on the bed, feeling a lump in her throat, but forcing herself not to cry, to keep the tears at bay. Suddenly she heard a knock at the door. "Rogue? Are you alright?" She jumped, but realized that it was only Kurt.

"Yea, Ah'm fine, Kurt."

"O...kay." He said, haltingly, obviously not convinced, but he teleported away, and she buried her head in her pillow.


Rogue, I'd like to see you in my office. Rogue sighed, she knew that this would come, but she didn't want to face Professor X. She got up, and trudged slowly down to his office. She opened the door and walked in, Professor X was looking at her his expression serious. "Rogue, have a seat, please." Rogue sat down across from him, trying to look as if she had no idea what this is about.

"Okay, Professor."

"Are you alright, Rogue?"

She frowned, and looked away. "Ah'm fine." He raised an eyebrow, and looked at me, as if he knew better, the look that infuriated, and somehow calmed Rogue. "Ah don' really wanna' talk about this."

"I understand, Rogue, but you can always come to me."

"Ah know, Professor. But ah would rather not talk to ya' about' it."

"Alright, Rogue. But, you can't expect me to ignore this outburst completely."

"A' course, but... Ah would rather not think about it."

The Professor cleared his throat, "you realize that Jean might have picked up on something."

Rogue jumped, and suddenly looked scared. "Jean? But..." She shook her head, trying to clear it of her thoughts, which were moving too fast for her to follow. "Ah hafta' go, Professor."

"Rogue- alright." Rogue got up quickly, and walked out.

"Hey, Rogue?"

"Yea, Kitty." Rogue looked up from her bed. Kitty was standing right inside their room, looking unsure of her.

"Are you, like, okay?"

"Ah'm fine, Kitty. What?"

Kitty closed the door, and sat down on the end of Rogue's bed. "I heard that you, like, yelled at Scott." Rogue turned away. "Just tell him you like, like him!'

"Ah can' do that, Kitty."

Kitty rolled her eyes, 'you can, Rogue. You need to just, like, do it!"

"Ah can', Ah'm not the one tha' he wants."

"But maybe you're, like, the one that he needs." Kitty sat down on the edge of Rogue's bed.

"Ah don' think so." Kitty cocked her head, looking down at her friend, confused, and through with the speech she'd prepared.

"Okay, Rogue. I'll, like, see you later then?" Kitty smiled nervously and walked out. Rogue returned her attention to 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.


A few moments later Rogue heard a knock at the door. "Rogue?" It was Scott, Rogue continued staring at her book, pretending she didn't hear him. "Rogue? I, er...." Scott walked farther into the room, shutting the door. Rogue vaguely registered that she had read the same sentence five times, but continued to stare fixedly at the book. "I wanted to ask you... what you meant, before." He ran his hands through his hair, fidgeting, he was uncomfortable, and part of Rogue liked that. Felt he deserved it.

"Ah'm sorry." Scott stared at her, "but sometimes ah just, ah guess ah get confused."

"What about?" Scott sat down at Rogue's desk, watching her. Rogue felt uncomfortable because of the attention, she rolled off the bed, and walked to the window, standing with her back to him.

"Wha' ya' like her. Wha' ya' let her drag ya' along."

"Who are you talking about, Rogue?" But his tone showed that he knew exactly what she meant.

"Ah think ya' know, Scott."

"She doesn't drag me along."

"Are ya' kiddin'! She has ya' tied aroun' her finger!" Rogue said, turning around, and glaring at him, her eyes blazing.