"Hello Rogue, may I come in," asked Ororo.

"Sure," answered Rogue and Ororo walked in and sat on the edge of Rogue's bed. Rogue climbed back up to the head of the bed and sat beneath the pillows where she had been reading.

"Kurt tells me that you are upset over something."

"I'm not upset over anything; Kurt's just worried over nothing."

"Really. If you don't mind me saying so Rogue, I have also noticed you acting rather distant."

"I'm okay Ororo, honestly." Rogue was mentally preparing for proving to someone else that she was fine, even though everyone knew she wasn't.

"Would you like to go on a shopping trip with me tomorrow? I want to go to the flower shop and buy something for the dining room, and the flower shop is next to Poco Loco. We could stop in there."

"I actually went there today," said Rogue with a smile, she was glad she actually had something to talk about for once.

"Oh, did you buy anything?"

"These gloves." Rogue ran to a drawer and pulled out the gloves.

"Well, these are certainly lovely."

"Yeah, I'm gonna paint the fingernails green so they match my outfit."

"I'm sure they'll look wonderful."

"Thanks," said Rogue and there was an awkward pause in the conversation. Storm was considering how to phrase what she was about to say to Rogue.

"Rogue, if you do need to talk to someone, my door is always open."

"Thank you Ororo, but I told you I'm fine."

"Forgive me for saying so Rogue, but you don't seem fine. You seem like you are in pain." Rogue put her head down and didn't answer. She didn't want Ororo to see her cry. Is it obvious to everyone that something is wrong with me? Am I that much of a freak? Rogue fidgeted with her hands and Ororo moved closer to Rogue. She wanted to hold Rogue, but she couldn't find a place to put her arms without touching Rogue. Both women were wearing short sleeves.

"You are loved very much, Rogue. We are your family, whatever this is, we will help you," said Ororo, then she handed Rogue a tissue.

"Thanks," Rogue whispered. Ororo was on the verge of tears herself. She hated seeing Rogue in pain. However, she had to pull it together for the girl. Meanwhile, Rogue was trying to pull it together for Ororo, but doing a much worse job. Then, with most unfortunate timing, Kitty walked into her room, blissfully unaware of the private scene she was intruding on.

"Hey guys, what's up?" asked Kitty.

"Kitty we . . ." started Ororo, but Rogue interrupted her. Faced with humiliation in front of one of her peers, Rogue pulled herself together.

"Nothing Kitty, everything's fine," said Rogue. Ororo leaned in and whispered to Rogue.

"Perhaps we should continue this somewhere else?"

"Everything's fine, Ororo, really. I'm gonna be fine," said Rogue desperately hoping that she sounded convincing.

"All right Rogue," said Ororo as she got up to leave she said goodbye to Kitty and walked out the door.

"Ummm . . . did I like, interrupt something?" asked Kitty after Ororo left.

"No," answered Rogue, but her tone of voice informed Kitty that she had interrupted something.

"Oh . . . well Kurt was looking for you earlier, and Logan asked where you were at dinner. Like, where were you, anyway?

"Just hangin' out."

"Oh," said Kitty. She wanted to probe further, but by now she could read her roommates tone and decided against it. In the past, she had been on the receiving end of some real venom when she tried to talk to Rogue when Rogue didn't want to talk.

Rogue went back to reading her book and Kitty started her homework. The two of them were engaged in each activity until they went to bed that night.