Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men, but I do own Hakan and Eyrie Caraway. I don't really want them anymore, though. Any bids?

A/N: Okay, next chapter. I'm a little sleepy right now so I may not exactly have any brilliant ideas for this chapter. And since I've been forbidden to drink soda or anything else with a lot of sugar, I may just fall asleep while writing this. O, what cruelties of the world to deny a young writer the healing effects of soda! ((sobs))


Rogue ignored everyone in the classroom and simply stared at her desk, listening to her headphones. She wished he were here. She needed him, though she never showed it. Now she was by herself in a classroom full of disgraceful misfits.

A paper airplane hit her head. She turned and flashed murderous emerald eyes at the idiot who threw it.

A classroom full of dead disgraceful misfits.

"Ms. Rogue, please face back to front," the pitiful teacher said, ducking from airplanes and spit balls that flew his way.

Rogue grudgingly faced the board but, like everyone else, didn't pay attention to the lesson. She was drumming her painted nails on the desk, impatient for class to end. Someone tapped her shoulder. She turned again, about to yell. Then she found herself staring into eyes an intriguing shade of blue.

He looked clean and refined; his curly brown hair was brushed back and his teeth sparkled white as he smiled. He was wearing a black biker outfit, but it was neat and spotless. Except for an earring in his right ear and a dragon tattoo on his left forearm, he looked rather normal…and attractive.

"Hi, I'm Hakan Caraway. What did you say yours was?" he asked her in a friendly voice.

"Rogue," she breathed.

"Nice to meet you, Rogue. So what brings you to a dumpy school like this?"

"Duty. I have to take care of my friend Evan while he's here on punishment," she replied then gave him a curious look. "What about you?"

"Actually, I'm here for the same thing. I have to be bodyguard for my younger brother, Eyrie. He has to attend this school until my parents get their house built closer to Bayville High."

"That's where I usually go to school."

"Oh, are you a sophomore or a junior?"

"Sophomore."

"That's what grade Eyrie's in. I've already graduated high school, but the staff here doesn't know that. In fact, I've already graduated college. I'm twenty-one."

Rogue gaped at him. He looked younger than twenty with his boyish face and smile.

"Yeah, a little hard to tell, isn't it?" he asked.

"Uh-huh."

"Oh well. Guess I've never looked my age." He studied her for a while.

She lowered her gaze, uncomfortable under his scrutiny. Several paper balls hit her desk, but she ignored them. Only she and Hakan existed right now.

"So," he said after a moment, "where do you live?"

"In an apartment with Evan. It's only temporary, though. Once his punishment lifts, we go back home."

Hakan's eyebrows rose. "You live together?"

Luckily for Rogue, her blush was hidden underneath her heavy makeup. "It's not what you think. We live with other kids at the institute–" She shut her mouth, realizing she'd said too much.

"Wait a minute. You live in Xavier's School for the Gifted?" he asked.

Warily, she nodded her head.

"Then that means–" he lowered his voice, "–that you're a mutant?"

She nodded again, a little shamefully.

"Hey, don't look like that. I like mutants. Well, most of them. My brother's one."

Her head snapped up, eyes wide. Hakan grinned at her. "Think your Xavier will take him in? He's never had any mutant friends."

"Yeah, the Professor always welcomes mutants in. What's your brother's power?"

Hakan's eyes dimmed a little. "His powers are probably the worst in the world. No one should have to go through that…"

Rogue waited in for him to continue, concern surfacing on her face.

"No one can touch his skin. If they do, it's instant death," Hakan said, a note of sorrow laced in his voice.

Rogue sat back, shocked. And I thought I was cursed. Poor kid. He's had it worse than I have.

"That's my power," she said quietly. Hakan watched her, all traces of a smile gone from his face. "Except I don't kill anyone with just a touch of skin. I absorb their memories, and powers when it comes to mutants. They usually lose consciousness or go into a coma. But if I hold on long enough, then I can kill, too."


Evan waited for Rogue outside her class. He hated this school, hated the kids, hated the adults. He had to watch his back every minute in case some crazed person came up and stabbed him. This is was very close to hell.

Rogue finally came out of the class and waved goodbye to a tall guy dressed as a biker. When she faced Evan, he was sure that her cheeks were tinged with red.

"Who was that?" he asked her.

"Oh, no one. Just some guy in my class." Was that giddiness in her voice?

Evan shrugged, just wanting to go home. He shared all but one of his classes with Rogue, which was better than nothing. It had been a tiring day and he just wanted to get to sleep. Or die. Whichever.

He followed Rogue outside, but was surprised when she handed him the keys. "You take the car. I got another ride."

"With who? You're not talking about that one dude, are you?" he asked her.

She was growing impatient. "Listen, he's got a bike and you know I haven't ridden one in forever. Don't worry about me. I'll be okay."

"Whoa, wait a sec, girl." He grabbed her arm. "Do you even know this guy? And do you remember what kind of people go to this school? What if he tries something?"

"Don't worry about me, Evan," she repeated. "He's all right, and I can take care of myself."

She left, leaving him standing there. This was the second time that day that she'd surprised him. Instead of snapping at him like she normally would, she just assured him that she would be all right. He shook his head. She was harder to figure out than he thought.


Even as she climbed on the motorcycle, she couldn't forget about him. What would he think if he knew where she was going with Hakan? Probably just concern for her safety. He hadn't actually told her he liked her, and he didn't show it either. Shrugging inwardly, she started the bike and felt Hakan climb on behind her.

"Okay, you ready?" he asked, raising his voice to be heard above the roar of the engine.

Rogue instantly felt warm. He had sympathized with her in the classroom, and she knew that he understood her pain.

"Hey, what about your brother?" she asked.

"He has his own ride home," he replied.

She nodded and secured her helmet on. "Here we go."


Evan checked his watch and frowned. It was after eleven, and she still hadn't come home yet. He shouldn't have let her go. What was he thinking? His friend was out there with some madman…..what if she got hurt?

Worried, he stood and started to pace. He didn't know where she was; he could do nothing. Maybe he could ask the Professor? Yes, he'd do that. But then Logan would probably force them to stay here longer. No, he couldn't risk letting Logan know about his predicament.

"Dammit, Rogue. Why do you have to do this to me?" he asked out loud.

It was eleven thirty. Where the hell was she? Dread knotted his stomach when he thought about her hurt, alone somewhere. He shook his head violently. Her powers would keep her from harm. Right? But what if that guy had a gun and shot her? What if he did something without using skin contact?

What if she finds out what I've been thinking? he thought grimly.

Pace, pace, pace. He was wearing out the carpet already. What he really wanted to do was shoot out a few spikes to relieve his stress. But he couldn't when he was away from the institute. Pace, pace, pace. He was so restless. He needed to do something. Something that involved impaling. Impaling a certain biker's chest. Pace, pace, pace.

"Gah, where is she?" he demanded to thin air. "What can I do? I'm killing myself here."

There was a jingling sound of keys outside, and then the doorknob turned. Evan shot to the door and pulled it wide open. Rogue stood there, perfectly fine with a surprised expression on her face.

"You're still up?" was all she asked.

Evan was torn between hugging her in his relief and strangling her in his fury. "Where the hell have you been?"

She pushed him out of her way and entered the apartment. "Out. But I'm home now."

"Do you know what time it is? I was dying of worry! What did you think you were doing, staying out all night–"

She was watching him with an odd look on her face. "You were worried about me?"

"What do you think? Yeah, I was damn worried about you! You–"

"I'm pretty tired. I should go to sleep." She walked toward her room.

Evan gazed after her, his mouth wide open. When he figured out how to speak again, he bellowed, "ROGUE! I WANT AN EXPLANATION!"

He stormed into her room and pushed the door open. She'd already changed into her green nightie and was getting into bed. The look she gave him was exasperated.

"I'm tired, Evan. Good night. I'll tell you everything in the morning."

"You sure as hell will! I'm coming in here at dawn–"

She waved her hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Now go away." She climbed into the bed and pulled the blankets over her, turning her back to him.

He stomped out of her room and slammed the door behind him, seething.


It was Saturday. No school. Rogue opened one green eye and squinted at the sunlight that filtered through her blinds. Evan hadn't burst in her room in his fit of rage like he'd threatened. He was probably as tired as she was, staying up all night. She'd been touched by his confession of being worried about her, but she also felt guilty for making him fret.

Memories of Hakan and last night rushed back to her. She blushed as she remembered her actions. Never would she have guessed that she was…that she could…well, she wasn't regretting it. But she did feel like she was betraying him…both of them. Whose heart did she really belong to?

Sighing, she threw the covers off her and sat up. She was meeting Hakan again tonight and she had a feeling that Evan would pose a bit of a problem. Deciding on just sneaking out for the day, she reached for her journal and began to write in it.


Evan awoke to the sound of a door closing. He shot up in bed, remembering that he was supposed to hear Rogue's explanation. He leapt off and stumbled out of his room to hers. When he saw that she wasn't in there, he checked the whole apartment.

"Rogue?"

The sound of a motorcycle's engine reached his ears from outside. He went to the window and pressed his face against the glass. There she was, on a shiny black bike, riding away from the apartment. He pounded on the window and yelled her name. But she was unaware of him and was soon gone from his sight.

She's gonna get herself killed on that thing, he thought angrily and raced to the bathroom to change.

When he was refreshed, he grabbed his skateboard and exited the apartment, making sure the keys were with him. He risked breaking his neck by skateboarding down the stairs. But it got him to the apartment garage faster and he hopped into Scott's car. As soon as he was on the road, he kept sharp eyes and ears out for her. He didn't follow a direct path; he just went where his instincts told him to go.

"How the hell am I supposed to find her?" he muttered under his breath. Then he slammed his foot on the brake when he realized that there was someone in the middle of the road. "SHIT!"

The car jolted to a stop and the damn old lady hurried to the sidewalk as fast as her bony legs could carry her. She waved her cane at him threateningly and yelled out some very ungrandmotherly curses.

"Up yours, you stupid hag! Next time I'll just run you over!" Evan yelled back. Normally he wasn't this rude, but his frustration, anger, and concern over Rogue had frayed his nerves very badly.

As he drove past her, he honked the horn loudly, causing her to jump in fright. If she gets a heart attack and dies, it's gonna be totally my fault. Damn.


Another Disclaimer: No, I don't own the old lady. She's that annoying hag from Final Fantasy 10 who sells the sucky weapons in Kilika. Muahaha…die, old woman! ((runs after her with a giant mallet))