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"What?!" Scott was infuriated.
"It's true, Scott! It's true, dammit!"
Scott just shook his head, "no, no it's not."
"Jus', jus' tell me wha, Scott. Wha? What do you see in her?"
Scott looked at her dumbfounded. "What do I see in her?" Rogue nodded numbly, looking down. "I don't know, she makes a room come alive- she's inspiring."
"Ah'll bet."
"Really, Rogue, she is. She's a wonderful person."
"She's a stuck-up bitch!"
Scott looked at her, obviously offended. "She's not."
"She is. She manipulates everyone, an' she likes it."
"I don't need to hear anymore of this. I'll see you later." Scott turned away and walked out, slamming the door behind him. Rogue watched him go, her heart breaking open, but one part of her was happy that she had talked to him. The part of her that knew it was right to get it out.
The next day was Saturday, Rogue dreaded going down for breakfast. But a few minutes after Kitty had walked out, her stomach gave a particularly large sound, and she decided to get up. Once she peeked into the kitchen however, she thought better of it. Scott and Jean were sitting there talking, deep in serious discussion.
"She really said that?"
"Yea. I think you should go talk to her."
Jean's noise wrinkled, "why should I go talk to her?"
"Because you need to show her that you're not really a monster."
Rogue stood outside the door, frozen in place.
"Fine, but, I really don't want to, I don't see why I need to prove myself to her. If she doesn't like me, then she doesn't like me, there isn't much I can do about it."
"You can try." Rogue saw Jean start to get up and ran up the stairs. She got into her room, and closed the door behind her. She jumped into the shower, to postpone talking to Jean as long as possible. A half hour later she emerged from the shower, having stayed in there was long as she could. She put on her usual clothes, and then walked over to the mirror, putting on her makeup. She stared again at her reflection, wishing it looked different. Wishing that she was everything she wasn't.
Lost in her thoughts, Rogue jumped as she heard a knock on the door. "Rogue, are you in there?"
It was Jean, Rogue scowled, but she knew she couldn't hide. "Yea, come in."
Jean walked into the room, and it struck Rogue how different they were. "I wanted to talk to you, if that's okay." Jean smiled, she looked apprehensive, even though Rogue knew it was all an act, she still felt a pang of sympathy. "Scott told me what you said." She sat down at the desk, exactly where Scott had sat the day before. "Is it true?"
Rogue paused for a moment, but she knew she had to come clean. "Yes, Jean, It's true, ah don' say what ah don' mean."
Jean's eyes narrowed. "So, I'm just some manipulative bitch, huh?"
"Yea, ya' are."
"Excuse me?! How am I bitch? Tell me, because I'd really like to know."
"Ya' mess with people's minds, Jean. It ain't right."
"You think I'm using my powers?!"
"Ah didn' say that, did ah? Ya' use people though."
"I don't use people."
"Then wha' do ya' work ta' keep Scott hangin' on yer every word? Wha' do ya' torture him with hope, when you're with Duncan?"
"I don't give Scott false hope, he knows I'm with Duncan. Why should he think I'm interested."
"Well, ya' are, Jean. You're interested in breaking him. But ah won' let that happen."
"It won't happen, Rogue, you have nothing to protect him from."
"Ah do."
Jean smiled slightly, and her eyes glinted strangely in the light. "Even if I am doing what you say I am- you can't stop me, Rogue. If Scott is interested in me, then that's his problem. But you should stop making up these stupid little stories about me, just to try and get Scott. He doesn't believe you, so don't even try." Jean smiled, but her eyes were still narrowed, and then walked out. Rogue sat there watching her go, completely shocked, and unable to say anything in return.
