Chapter Two
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Risty opened the door to her apartment after many tries. Finally, the defective locked decided to give in, and she stumbled through the door, slinging her heavy backpack on the floor. She eyed her answering machine and pressed play, expecting to hear a worried message from her parents. "You have no new messages," the automated voice snapped. She bit her lip. That's weird, she thought with furrowed brows. Maybe they've disowned me. The thought wasn't too hard to process. After all, her parents had been furious when she told them she wanted to go back to Bayville. They didn't want to leave England, so she opted to stay in an apartment by herself. She had to twist their arm to agree, but reluctantly they finally did.
The idea of having her own place hadn't truly sunk in. She looked around the slightly furnished apartment with a smile. "It's Friday," she said after much thought. "And it's a perfect night for a party!"
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"Ah don't know, Risty," Rogue said warily on the phone with her friend. "There's too many people at parties an that doesn't mix well with mah powers."
"Fine then," she replied. "It'll just be the two of us with a couple of silly movies."
"Ah'm not really supposed to spend the night at anyone else's house... Ah mean, what if... mah power, ya know? Ah don't want..."
"Oh tell Professor Xavier I'll stick my foot in his ass if he comes between you and your friend just because you're some 'dangerous' mutant," she snapped in response. Risty hated Professor Xavier. Though she had met him only on one occasion, there was something very pompous and sanctimonious about the man. She didn't appreciate him interfering with their friendship, either. How dare him think Rogue couldn't associate with others outside of the mutant. "You're my best friend and I want you to party with me!"
"...Ah guess Ah could sneak out," came the reluctant reply.
"'At a girl!" she cheered.
"Ah'll be there at seven."
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"Ah thought you said it would be just us," Rogue growled as she squeezed through the crowded apartment towards Risty, who was busy sipping some rum or brandy. She wasn't quite sure, but the room reeked significantly of alcohol. How did she get a hold of it all?
"So I lied a little." Risty grinned. She forced a bottle Smirnoff into Rogue's hand. "Go ahead, have a drink. It's just a few cute boys and a select few girls I can stand." She grabbed her friend's arm and pointed to a brown-haired boy in a trench coat. "Look who I invited."
"Remy?" Rogue asked incredulously. "Risty, are ya crazy? That guy is one o' mah enemies."
As if on cue, Gambit turned to the two. He flashed Rogue a brilliant smile and excused himself from the group of girls he was talking to. Rogue turned away and tried to sulk off, but Risty held on to her. "Just talk to him. How bad can it be?"
"Bonjour, cherie," the demon-eyed Cajun drawled, holding out his hand. Rogue looked at him strangely and offered her own gloved hand, thinking he wanted to shake hands. He surprised her by seizing it and kissing the top of it romantically. "Risty told me t'ere'd be some interestin' filles here. I never suspected such a belle would be one o' 'em."
She rolled her eyes and yanked her hand away. "Oh, whatever."
"Playin' hard to get, eh?" He grinned. "Remy likes de girls who play hard to get."
He was leering at her, and Risty felt a sudden urge to cover Rogue up. Now that she thought about it, the girl was barely dressed in that stupid black midriff and sheer green top she always wore that showed off many of her assets. Perhaps she had been wrong all along. Maybe Scott was better after all. After all, his whole mission wasn't to get into her pants.
"Okay, Romeo," Risty intervened, pulling Rogue away from him.
"This won't be the last time we meet!" he called after her.
In the kitchen, Rogue exploded. "What the hell was that for?" she inquired, furious.
"Well it was obvious he was after one thing," Risty retorted. She took a large gulp of her drink.
Rogue stared at her own beverage skeptically. After much decision, she tried a sip. "Well, it's not like y'r mah mom!"
It's not like you're my mom. Those words rang in her ears. "What are you talking about, Rogue? I was just looking after you."
"Ah can look after mahself, thank you very much!"
"Rogue, I love you!"
Risty wasn't sure why she said it. The words slipped out of her mouth, but she couldn't take them back. They were the truth. I really love Rogue. She paused and cringed. Oh my God, am I gay?
She just stared, flabbergasted at her best friend. "What are you talkin' 'bout?"
Maybe I am gay...
I love her.
She swallowed hard and downed the rest of her glass. Then impulsively, she leaned toward Rogue and captured her purple lips into her own.
Rogue tried to pull away, frightened and disgusted, but Risty snaked her arms around her friend to keep her in place. Rogue felt the transfer of power activate. Why did she kiss me! Rogue asked herself frantically. Doesn't she remember about my powers?
The violet-haired girl's arms went limp. She slumped to the floor before Rogue could catch her. Rogue stared at her best friend lying weakly on the linoleum floor as a flood of memories hit her. She gasped as reality hit her. "Mystique?"
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Oh shit, kids. Things are going to hit the fan from here! Review, please?