***
Rogue's eyes followed the trail of red marks on her arms. Then she looked at the ones on her legs. The bath water was stained red from what she had just done. She bit her lip and cut herself again, forcing herself not to cry from the slight pain. She watched as the red blood ran down her leg and hit the water, staining it a darker red. She felt blood seep from her lip, from biting it too hard. She knew she should stop. Her mind screamed at her for this. She didn't listen. She didn't care anymore. She let the water out and rinsed the bathtub. She really wished that she could be happy. But there was only one person who took her troubles away. The one problem with it bothered her to no end. Did Remy have feelings for her?
"'Course not." She whispered as she wrapped a towel around her lithe frame. She closed her eyes briefly then walked to her room.
-
Remy sat on his roof that night. Belladonna was supposed to come over. He hated her so much but if he said anything about it, he would be in serious trouble with his parents. It was only because his parents thought they looked cute together. They didn't even consider that maybe he had feelings for someone else. They didn't even speak of Rogue much anymore. He hid in the shadows when he saw the blonde approaching. He tried to hide the disgust that showed in his eyes and on his face. He tampered with the feeling and debated whether or not it would feel nice to push her off the roof. She didn't have a deep connection with him like Rogue and he had. He let a smile grace his lips at the thought of the Southerner.
"Remy!" He was so startled that he almost fell off the roof. He breathed a sigh and climbed down the ladder and walked in through the back door. He wished his thoughts had not been distracted. He growled when Belladonna smiled and looked over him.
"Y' look better every time I see y'." She commented and he almost let the low growl go into a snarl. He bit his tongue and gave her a forced smile. Rogue would know whether one of his smiles were forced but not this little tramp. That or she just didn't care. She always got what she wanted. She always got her way in the past. But it wouldn't be like that with him. "I love a guy who keeps his mouth shut." She gave him a sly smile. He had to choke back a large about of disgust when she touched his cheek. He almost flinched. She grabbed his hand. "May we g' somewhere private t' talk?" He wanted to say no. In fact, the word died before he could force it out of his mouth when his parents nodded. He felt her pull him along behind her like he was her pet. He wished he were so that he could draw some blood when he bit her hand in order to make her drop his hand.
"Bella-" He began but didn't get very far. In fact, she barely made it to his room when she kissed him. He almost fell backwards and fell down the stairs. All he knew was that if he went into his room with her, he wouldn't be able to stop her without telling her the truth.
"Remy, don't talk." She said, placing a finger over his lips. He wanted to tie her up with his trusty roll of duct tape and toss her out the window. He accidentally let himself smile. That was very bad. She smiled and led him to his own room. He realized what he had done when he heard the click of the lock on his bedroom door. He tried to think up an excuse to leave but it was very hard to talk when someone had their large mouth over his own. He pulled away from her and shook his head.
"This is wrong, Belladonna." He stated firmly. She giggled.
"Its okay if you don't know what to do, Rem-Rem." He gave her a look but she ignored it.
"That isn't it and y' know it." She frowned.
"Remy, yo're killin' the mood." She said menacingly.
"I don' care." He crossed his arms. She glared at him. She would have her way with him whether he liked it or not.
"Then y' don' care 'bout that girl, Rogue." That got his attention. She smiled coldly. "She'll have a hard time trustin' y' if y' did anythin' t' betray her."
"I would d' nothin' t' her."
"Precisely why I thought o' somethin', Rem." His arms fell limply to his sides. There was no way he could fight with her now. She smiled, happy to have him comply with her orders. "Is there any objections now?" He stared at her, a defiant look in his eyes. But he shook his head. "Good." She kissed him lightly, teasingly. She put her hands on his chest. He flinched openly now. It was as if her touch burned him. He felt like it was burning him. Inside. He hated her so much for this. He flicked his gaze to the window..
"Rogue.." The girl was staring in, her eyes wide in horror.
-
Rogue couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her eyes filled with tears. She didn't want to believe what her eyes were showing her. She had told herself that Remy didn't have feelings for her.. but it was much harder to see it.
Remy.. I trusted you. I almost hoped to talk to you about my feelings. Why is it that everyone betrays me? When I saw that man at the orphanage, I was happy to be adopted. He betrayed me. I met you and believed that I could trust you. You betrayed me. You told me before numerous times that you hated Bella as much as I did. You told me a lie. You betrayed me.
Rogue felt her heart shatter and break at her thoughts. She climbed quickly down the ladder and ran from his house, from her house, from the lies. She hid herself in the woods in the park. She sat in a ball, crying into her arms. Who was to say that she could believe anyone now? Anyone and everyone she'd ever truly loved had betrayed her. Almost everyone. Irene didn't have the chance now. Rogue was too broken to go anywhere or see anyone. It hurt so much to think about Remy. How much? More than her 'dad' had harmed her. Remy's betrayal had been much worse than any pain she had ever felt. She loved him. More than loved him. She had just told herself to trust him. Now he did this. Why did he do it? She knew only one answer. Her. Everyone hated her. Everyone would bring hurt to her. Everyone would be bitter to her. She was just an outcast. Just a person without importance.
"Remy.." She shivered. How could she live in a world where no one was her friend? Sure, she had never had friends. Until Remy. She had no friends. Except for Remy.
How could you do this to me? I trusted you. I believed you. You lied. You made me think there was something worth living for. You betrayed my trust. You lied. I thought you were a good person. I thought you were someone special. I should've known something like this would happen. I should have kept myself in my barriers. I should have let my bastard of a father starve me to death. I shouldn't have trusted you. I shouldn't have known you long enough to lie to me and make it hurt this much. Remy, I loved you. Until you betrayed me.
-
Rogue slammed her locker shut. If anyone, anyone, pissed her off, they would have a black eye and a breathing problem, along with a nice sore stomach. She didn't care if she got suspended or even put in ISS or detention. It didn't matter anymore. She would be like this for a long time, she knew. The bell rang. She was thinking about skipping P.E. It would be for the best. She didn't want to punch the teacher's lights out. Actually, she did. It might be fun. It might help. It might get her expelled. Like she cared.
"Rogue, how nice t' see y'." Rogue whirled around, her expression cold and emotionless.
"Listen, Bella, ya even think about sayin' anythin' ta meh an' ya'll have a black eye to match that wonderful shirt o' yers." She said in a low, menacing voice. "Think o' comin' comin' up with a rebuke, ya'll wish ya didn't have ta walk away from the fight." Belladonna had never seen the girl so angry.
"Yo're only jealous o' me." Rogue lost her temper. She lost her hold on her anger and hauled off, punching Belladonna right in the face. She did it again. Then pushed her against the lockers.
"Say that again an' ya'll wish ya were unconscious." Her eyes were filled with anger.
"Remy chose me and y' ain't happy 'bout it, right?" Rogue stiffened, people were starting to come out of the classrooms and the teachers were trying to hold Rogue back.
"Don't touch meh!" She pulled out of the teacher's grasp and ran down the hallway. She ran out of the school, collapsing just down the hill, breathing heavily and pounding her fists into the ground. She was more than angry. "Bastards. All of 'em!" She closed her eyes, trying to calm down. Once she regained her composure, she walked as fast as she could away from the school. She was worse than she was when she was little, she realized. She thought that something good would happen when she was adopted. Yeah, right. She wished that she never left that orphanage with him. He started it all. He made her life miserable. She wished that Belladonna and the rest of the people in the world would spontaneously combust.
-
Remy sat in the dark, in his room, thinking forbidding thoughts about murdering Belladonna. He was lying on the floor in the fetal position.
Rogue, I'm so sorry. I didn't want it. She threatened you. She wanted to tell you that I had betrayed you. I didn't know at the time that you wouldn't have believed her. Now, I regret ever giving her the satisfaction of almost letting her have her way with me. I'm sorry that you think that I betrayed you. You must be hurting. So much. If only I had found you when I went looking for you. If only I knew where you were now. I admit that I am having regrets about not telling Belladonna that I despised her. That I hated her so much. I could almost feel your pain. Here I was, trying to get you to trust me, trying to give you a reason to believe me and when you finally do, something like this happens.
He let out a dry, bitter laugh. His eyes were blank of all emotion. He got up, pulling on his trench coat. He hadn't said a word to his parents since Belladonna had run out of his room after he had yelled at her. He climbed out of his window and climbed down the ladder. If only he had told her to go ahead and tell Rogue that he had done something. Rogue would have believed him over her any day. But he hadn't. Now he had a mission. He had to find Rogue and right the wrong that was done. He didn't know how he was going to do it but he was going to. He was even willing to tell her his one secret he was hoping to get rid of. He thought that they would be friends forever.. until he had that feeling.
Rogue, I love you.
-
Rogue stood at the entrance to the alleyway she had first went into when she was younger. She walked in, sitting down where she used to sit. It brought memories to her. She closed her eyes and willed them away. She leaned against the wall, closing her eyes. She felt tears start to run down her cheeks.
-
Rogue, where are you? Why can't I find you? Where would you run?
Remy raced down the streets of New Orleans. Suddenly, he stopped. He had a feeling.
Could it be..?
A smile almost spread over his face. He peered into the alley. She was sitting there, her back against the wall. She was crying. He walked forward, a knot in his stomach.
"Rogue?" His voice was quiet, saddened by what he had done. She looked up at him, startled. "I'm really sorry that y' saw that.."
"Sure ya are." She said bitterly. "An' why should Ah believe ya?"
"Y' really have n' reason t'.. but I know I didn' want her t' touch me. Rogue, I was gonna stop 'er.. but she threatened t' tell y' that I betrayed y'. I never realized that y' wouldn' believe her 'til after I looked fo' y'.." She could see that his expression was filled with hurt.
"Ya hurt meh, Remy. Ah can't believe ya.. Ah don' know how ta trust ya." She lowered her head so he wouldn't see her cry. He sat down in front of her.
"Chére, don' cry. Please, don' cry." She looked at him. She wanted to believe him so much. And his story wasn't something that sounded made-up. Bella would do something like that. She was a jealous tramp.
"Ah wanna believe ya." Her heart wanted to believe that he was telling the truth but her head wanted solid proof.
"Too bad mon window wasn't open, non?" She stood up.
"Remy, Ah need ta think about it. Maybe if ya can prove it, Ah'll forgive and forget."
"Thank y' kindly, Rogue."
-
The plan was set. Remy had told Rogue to hide on the ladder while Bella was there. He was going to lure her into his room and get the truth from her. Rogue knew that she wouldn't lie about it because she loved to see Rogue miserable. It was a good plan. Rogue hoped Belladonna enjoyed her black eye. She heard the door open then close.
"I knew y' would be back fo' me, Rem." Rogue clenched her fists on the ladder, her knuckles turning white. She had to resist the very strong urge to go in there and punch her lights out. Again. Of course, this time would be a lot worse than in school.
"Bella, why did y' threaten t' lie t' Rogue an' say that I had betrayed 'er?" He asked. Rogue held her breath for the answer. Her heart pounded in her chest and she could hear it.
"Because, Rem, I want y' all t' myself. If I got y' through her then you'd be all mine." That was all Rogue needed to hear. With a speed she didn't know she was capable of, she climbed the rest of the ladder and jumped through the window, tapping Bella on the shoulder.
"Ah believe we've yet ta finish some business." As soon as the blonde turned around, Rogue's fist connected with her face. "Ya really wanna make mah life miserable? Ah can do the same fo' yers." Belladonna cried out and connected her hand with Rogue's face.. that would've been if Rogue hadn't ducked. She spun her foot under the blonde's feet and sent her falling to the floor. Rogue began beating the shit out of the girl. She was a lot tougher than she looked. She could take quite a beating from her younger years and she knew how to fight.
"Rogue?"
"Huh?" The girl realized that Bella was crying and was in pain enough for now. "Had enough?" Nodding, Bella put her hands over her face, not wanting either of them to see how horrible she looked. "The next time ya think about doin' somethin' like this, think about how much yo're hurtin' right now."
-
Rogue rested on her bed, lying on her stomach. She stared at the wall. Her thoughts were centered on we-all-know-who. A familiar knock sounded at the window. She looked over to see the familiar brown eyes and copper hair. She opened the window, though it was tough because of the paint that was dried. Remy climbed through and stood, staring at her. His look was scared. She had left right after she had beaten Bella and sent her away, saying nothing to him. He was looking at her as if she might fade away and disappear.
"Have y' thought enough?" She didn't answer, remaining completely silent. She looked down.
"Ah think Ah have." He put his hand under her chin, pulling her gaze to his. "Rem, Ah'm sorrah fo' comin' up with conclusions an' blamin' ya fo' betrayin' meh." He smiled.
"Rogue.." He closed his eyes and hugged her. He didn't know what else to do. He was so happy to finally be able to feel his guilt vanish and have Rogue in his arms. He smiled. He got so caught up in the moment that he pulled away from her slightly and kissed her. Rogue was surprised but she knew she wanted it. She returned it. He was surprised when he realized it. He pulled away from her, a questioning look on his face.
"Rem, Ah.. Ah love ya."
"I love y' too, Rogue." He took a step towards her and she fell backwards on the bed, taking him with her. He lay there, on top of her, his eyes slightly wide. He felt himself lean down slowly. Their lips met again and he barely realized that he now had her pinned beneath him. He had her hands pinned up on either side of her head and he was now sitting on her stomach. He placed butterfly kisses all over her face then began going lower, to her neck. She shivered when his warm lips touched her cool skin. He hit a certain spot and she moaned, exposing her neck so it was easier to get to. He grinned, going lower still until he got to the collar of her shirt. Then he stopped. She looked up at him questioningly. She was helpless to stop him with whatever he was doing. She had never experience such a wonderful feeling before. He freed her hands so his could be free and he traced the outline of her face, going down to where her shirt began. Then he started going lower, watching her expression. She looked a little surprised. Fright rose up inside of her. She had no idea what he was doing. She didn't know why it felt so.. nice.
"Remy.." She breathed. He smiled mischievously and lifted her shirt a little, exposing her stomach and some of the marks. But they didn't matter. That wasn't the focus. He had never had this feeling either. He just wanted to give into it. She shuddered a little when he traced his finger over her stomach and a smile spread across her face. She bit her lip to keep the giggles in. He pushed her further up on the bed and leaned down, trailing kisses up from her navel. She found his behavior oddly attractive. He got to where he had stopped lifting the shirt when his eyes met hers. She was breathless. Her heart was pounding. He slid the shirt up a little further until it hit her breasts. She felt a warmth come to her face and knew she was blushing. Her breathing quickened. He gave her a smile and lifted her shirt over her head. He saw that she was a little embarrassed and smiled at her, giving her a raspberry on her stomach. She giggled and tried to stop him. He then let his eyes roam over her. She closed her eyes when he ran his hands down her sides. It was like torture.
"Look at me." She looked up at him, her eyes slightly wide. "Are y'.. afraid?" She bit her lip. Was she afraid? Yes. She was afraid. But not of what was happening. She was afraid that she was too inexperienced.. and didn't know what to do.
"Yes.." Her lower lip trembled slightly. He smiled.
"Don' worry, Chére." He said in a soft voice. He blew another raspberry on her stomach.
"S-stop!" She started laughing, tears rolling down her face. He did stop. She panted lightly. He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers. He then trailed kisses down once again. She gasped lightly when he sat back up, brushing his hands across the side of her breasts. He smirked at her. She realized that he was taking control, that he was teasing her. She frowned up at him. Then she grabbed his wrists and rolled, reversing their position. "Who's in control now?" He raised an eyebrow. He blinked up at her. It took him about five minutes to realize what she was talking about.
"Looks like y' are, Chére." She grinned and slid her hands up under his shirt. He gasped at the sudden feeling of her hands on him. There was a glint in her eyes as she smiled down at him. She slid his shirt over his head without hesitation. She spread her hands over his abdomen. She blew a raspberry on his stomach. He burst into a fit of laughter. She then pulled him into a short, teasing kiss. Then she let her hands run over his chest. She went as low as she could before she looked up, biting her lip. She gazed at him as she did this.
Before she knew it, Remy's lips were on hers again, gently nibbling on her lower lip. It worked as a distraction. His arms slipped around her waist and in a second flat, he was back on top. Feeling separation anxiety, he leaned in, pressing his lips against hers once again. He grunted against her lips as he slid a hand behind her back and unhooked her bra. She was suddenly a little cold. She shivered. He smirked and got off of her, allowing her to sit up. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close to him. She let her arms go around his neck. He gave her a light kiss that turned into a heated one within five seconds. Rogue's hands slid down, fumbling with the button on his jeans.
-
Rogue kept her eyes closed tightly as she tried to deal with the major headache she was having. Of course, the principal was losing his temper with her. She should not start fights in school. She knew she was already in hot water and she knew she could make it worse by opening her mouth. She sighed and opened her eyes, gazing out the window, resting her head in the palm of her hand. She recalled her memory from last night.
"Don' worry, Chére. I won' hurt y'."
"Are you listening to me, Rogue?" The principal asked, narrowing his dark eyes at her. She nodded her head, keeping to the idea of getting through the lecture. "Good, you're in ISS and you have detention tomorrow." Sighing, Rogue nodded and stood up, leaving the office. Wonderful. Just what she needed.
-
Remy gave her a gentle kiss and grinned. Rogue blinked at him in confusion.
"An' why in hell are ya this happy?" She asked, crossing her arms. He gave her a frown.
"Why in hell ain't y'?" He asked, returning her look. She snorted.
"'Cuz maybe Ah'm miserable?"
"Non." He shook his head. "Y' ain't miserable."
"How can ya tell?" He gave her a knowing look and she slapped him lightly. "Perv."
"Ain't true!" He crossed his arms, giving her a stubborn look. "Y' know y' liked it." She narrowed her eyes at him. He waited patiently for her to say something or deny it or something.
"Ah forgot. A thousand pardons."
"Forgot what?"
"That ya're psychic."
"Damn skippy."
"Heh." She rolled her eyes. "Genius."
"Y' know it." He leaned back against his bike, closing his eyes and sighing. Rogue looked around. They were somewhere, quite far from the town in which they lived. A cry faded on her lips as her eyes spotted someone. Her sharp breath drew Remy's attention. "What is it?"
"Remy.. it's him.." Her eyes were wide and filled with fear. "Rem.."
"Don' worry. I won' let him touch y'."
-
^_^
à No throwing things at the author.
à Special thanks to Aro! ^_^ Thank you kindly, Aro!
à Please review!
à Jess