"So, have you decided what you are going to dress up as?"
Rogue rolled her eyes. It was several days after Scott had invited his brother to the party, and every time Rogue had spoken with Alex, it had been the same. 'Is it costumes? Is it a theme? A masquerade? Do you bring 'dates' to this thing? What is your costume? Do you know Scott's?' Etc, etc, etc. It was starting to grate on Rogue's nerves. Really, she didn't even want to go.
"Dunno," Rogue finally responded. "Oh, and Scott had these dumb sign-up forms and we're working in groups for stuff. Kitty 'n' I are in charge of food and music."
"Get Punked," Alex laughed. "Whatever you guys do, man, don't play rap or something, 'kay?" Alex shuddered, "There's this girl at my school who is always listening to the music in the Commons at lunch, and it's just horrible."
Rogue sighed, "We will probably play pop music. Kitty will have her way, and most of the new mutants are preppy like her. Or more like her than me anyway."
"No one else can be like you, Rogue."
Rogue frowned, wondering if that was a compliment or an insult.
"I guess I'll take that as a good thing," she muttered. Sometimes Alex said the weirdest things. She just didn't understand him.
"It's a good thing alright," he assured her quickly. "So, dates? You said it is couplish?"
"Yeah. Dates if you have them."
"OK. Cool. So wanna go together?"
Rogue started at the question. "What?"
"Well, you know. I'm single, you're single. We like each other, so. You know. What better match is there than that?"
"I guess." Rogue shrugged. It was better than sitting in the corner alone, like she did at every other party she went to. And Scott would be with Jean, so maybe it would be a nice distraction.
"So themed costumes," Alex clapped his hands together.
Rogue's eyes widened in horror. "No."
"Aw," Alex pouted, "Come on! Themes are the best."
"I will probably go as a mummy," Rogue countered, "because that is what I've dressed up as every year that I've actually dressed up."
"Uh, why would a girl go as a mummy?"
"Do I have to write it out for you? The bandages protect my skin."
"Oh." Alex looked embarrassed at not getting it sooner. "But c'mon," he wheedled, "I bet we could come up with something else with long sleeves. And if you give me your measurements, my mom can make it."
Rogue decided to ignore the comment about her measurements. "I could be Dracula and you could be my victim," she offered. Alex didn't seem thrilled at the idea.
"Let's not."
They continued to argue about costumes; neither agreed on what the other liked.
"Let's just surprise each other," Rogue suggested at last. "Themes are boring, anyway."
"As long as you dress up as something other than a mummy!"
"OK, OK, I get it!"
Alex smiled cheerily at her agreement. Rogue watched him curiously. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as she thought.