Disclaimer: I own nichts. Don't sue me, please!
A/N: Sorry about any grammatical/spelling errors in that last chapter, I was really tired and my neck was killing me for whatever reason. I hope everyone liked the intro for Bobby and John, and no worries, they will get bigger roles in upcoming chapters, along with Jubilee and Kitty.
Gwen didn't see Rogue again until after classes were over. She didn't have to look far; Rogue was obviously avoiding the rest of the students, including Gwen as well. What Rogue and Storm had spoken about after history, Gwen had no idea. She'd left quickly, allowing Storm's words to sink in. It was hard for her to believe Storm, that there was nothing she had to hide, nothing she had to fear. Letting go of her past would be one of the hardest things she was going to have to do. She hadn't paid attention in any of her other classes, just stared at the blank notebook before her, Storm's words running through her mind over and over again.
When Gwen found her, Rogue was alone in their dorm, curled up on her bed. Gwen walked over and sat down on her own bed, looking Rogue in the face.
"It's my turn to ask the questions - are you okay? What's the matter?"
"Nothing. I'm fine."
"You're lying."
Rogue paused and looked up to Gwen; "You don't know that."
"Trust me, I know when people are lying, it's a gift - and a curse."
"How can I trust someone who doesn't know how to trust?"
Gwen stopped; anything she was going to say simply flew away, off into oblivion. Rogue knew, how, Gwen didn't know. She'd been caught off-guard, and silently reprimanded herself for letting her shield down. "Trust isn't something that comes easily for me, Rogue. I learned a lot of things the hard way by trusting people easily." Gwen explained, pulling her hair back, revealing the bruise to another student for the first time. Though its size had dwindled, Rogue still looked shocked and concerned as she propped herself up on her elbow; "Gwen, what - "
"This isn't about me." Gwen said before Rogue could continue, "Besides it's complicated. She got off the bed and knelt before Rogue, staring her in the eye; "Will you tell me? Please?"
Rogue sighed, but reluctantly spoke: "I thought that - that I could - could be," Tears began to well up in her brown eyes, but Gwen simply nodded for Rogue to continue. "I thought I was going to be - cured."
Rogue sank back into a fetal position, Gwen simply sat back on her feet, suddenly avoiding Rogue's look of despair; "Oh God - you did?"
Rogue nodded in response.
"Rogue," she started, but had trouble finding the right words. She looked up at Rogue, who appeared so weak and helpless, like a child on its own; "I'm so sorry," Rogue wiped a tear off her cheek with her gloved hand. Gwen placed a hand gently on Rogue's arm, "You know what?" she whispered, "Sometimes, I wish that too."
Gwen went to dinner alone, leaving Rogue time to be by herself. She walked through the halls, her head down, avoiding the wandering eyes of strangers as they passed her by. After following Storm's directions to the kitchen carefully, Gwen got food quickly and left the room as soon as was humanly possible. Everyone was staring at her and making 'secretive' comments that she heard loud and clear. Before her freedom could be reached, though, a stick-thin girl with a washable tan and her little entourage of only two other girls Gwen.
"Hey," the 'leader' girl said, standing in front of the door way, blocking Gwen's way, "You the new girl?"
Gwen looked at the girl through her dark hair; "Yeah, one of them, what of it?"
"There are two of you?" the girl asked, turning to her friends who shook their heads with confusion.
Gwen smirked, she couldn't help it, this girl was clearly not with it; "How did you hear about one new girl, but not the other?"
Clearly flustered, the girl ignored Gwen's comment, "Are you the one that back talked a teacher?"
"Does it matter?" Gwen shrugged. The girl glared at her, her annoyance noticeably growing. "You have got to be kidding me." Gwen started, standing at her full height, "I don't have time for some little brat and friends trying to get me into trouble for being a smart-ass, okay? So, if you really value your bones, I'd suggest you get out of the way."
The girl laughed, "What? Are you trying to scare me with your super strength or something?"
Gwen started getting really frustrated; "Do you have a problem with me or something? You don't even know my name and you already have a beef with me?" she asked, wanting desperately to end the scene.
The girl didn't answer. Her friends gave Gwen a look of shock – as if she had committed some cardinal sin and didn't even realize it. A crowd had gathered, watching with confrontation with great interest.
Gwen pushed the girl out of her way and continued on into the kitchen.
"Hey!" the girl called after her.
Gwen stopped; "Just leave me alone." Gwen looked at the crowd before her, only to be faced with the multiples stares of everyone in the room. Gwen turned her eyes towards the floor, desperately wanting to use her power to simply vanish from their view. Feeling their eyes drilling into her, Gwen quickly got her food and sat outside behind a significantly large tree, out of sight.
She was just beginning to bite into her apple when a voice disrupted her alone time; "Hey, you know Rogue, right?"
Gwen jumped at her place on the ground, her heart racing, the apple falling from her hand. "Shit!" 'How the hell did they know I was back here!' Gwen thought to herself angrily as she seized her apple quickly from the ground and wiped it off, 'Can never leave anyone alone, typical, absolutely typical.'
"Correct." Gwen replied annoyed, not looking up to the person standing before her. She was hardly in the mood to deal with anyone at the moment.
"Is she okay?" the voice asked, "I mean, is she sick or something?
"No," Gwen answered, biting into the piece of fruit in her hand, "Why do you ask?"
The person squatted next to Gwen, who looked to find that it was none other than Ice-boy Bobby; "She was going to meet me for lunch, she didn't show."
"Yeah, what of it, Ice-boy?" Gwen asked.
"What?"
"Never mind. What about it?"
"I thought she would. She said she would."
"Maybe she didn't want to, huh?" Gwen offered, "Did you consider that, Ice-boy?"
"Well, no. But, she seemed to want to. At least, I thought she wanted to."
"Clearly, you thought wrong. Now, if you don't mind – "
"Are you always like this?" Bobby asked.
"Like what, exactly?"
"Stubborn."
"Oh, that," Gwen smirked, "Yeah, pretty much."
"Is she alright? Have you seen her?"
Gwen looked at Bobby, whose eyes noticed the bruise immediately; "She'll be alright. She just needed to be alone." she answered sincerely, enunciating the last few words to get her point across – praying that he would take the hint.
"Okay, I get it." Bobby said standing up, and preparing to walk away; "Hey, how did you get that - ?" he asked, pointing to his own eye.
Gwen ran her fingers over the bruise, "I was beaten - badly." she practically whispered.
"Ha ha, very funny." Bobby laughed, "You probably tripped and fell, right?"
"You calling me a liar?"
"Oh, shit . . . "
Suddenly another voice came from the other side of the tree; "Bobby, what the hell are you doing back here?" the voice said, drawing closer until its owner was finally in view, "With a girl!"
"Oh, God." Gwen said rolling her eyes.
"For Christ's sake, John, get out of the gutter."
The other boy looked to Gwen, who recognized him instantly - "Hey, you're the guy from history, with the fire."
"That's me." he said, "The name's John, but you can call me Pyro."
"How fitting." Gwen said, turning back to her food.
"And you are - ?" he asked.
Gwen rolled her eyes, just wanting to be alone, "Gwen, not that it really matters."
John's interest suddenly became very obvious, "Did you just have a fight with Kate?"
"Who? You mean the Blondie with the wannabe entourage?"
John nodded, eagerly awaiting Gwen's reply.
"It wasn't really a fight. She just got on my nerves. So, no, I did not just have a fight with Kate. If you would be so kind as to - "
"You don't understand." Bobby said.
"Does it look like I care?" Gwen retorted.
"She almost killed John a couple months ago."
Gwen looked up, her interest suddenly piqued; "What's her mutation?"
"Kate has the ability to manipulate air. In other words, she could basically suffocate you where you stand. She also suffers from an overactive temper. John insulted - "
"I did not." John added, "Oh by the way, are you going to let me tell my story?"
"Shut up." Bobby answered. John rolled his eyes and sat down. "Anyway, John insulted Kate, or one of her minions or whoever and he pretty much was toast. I'm surprised she didn't get kicked out."
"Fucking bitch." John grumbled, rubbing his throat.
"You've just gotten yourself a new enemy."
"I'll make sure to add her to the list." Gwen said, standing up and grabbing her food, "Do you think she could really suffocate me, if she can't see me?"
Another A/N: Anyone guessed what her mutation is yet! If you're still not sure, you'll find out in the next chapter, I promise. I still would like some random characters to fill in the chapters with, any ideas you can put in a review (wink wink, nudge nudge) or email to me.
Remus Is Mine - Sorry I didn't do this last chapter, but I found out that you reviewed right after I posted. I hope you enjoyed the whole Bobby intro. He will eventually become a bigger character in this, along with John.
ME - Thanks so much! If you didn't figure it out from chapter four, then you'll have to wait a little while longer. Not too long though, I promise.