Chapter Three

"So now that you took the cure, you aren't really a mutant anymore, right?"

"Well, I guess you could say that."

"Then why are you allowed to go to an only mutant school?"

This was the last thing Rogue wanted to talk to anyone about. If this wasn't a young child, she would have just walked away. Even though this was a kid, she couldn't think of an answer. It was annoying her. She thought for a while. "Because I don't have anywhere else to go. And…" She hesitated for a moment, and then was relieved to see a distraction come her way. "Hey Bobby!" He walked over "Where have you been?" Rogue said.

"I was just talking to a friend."

"Storm is having a lecture on World War II or something."

"Well, let's head over then." Bobby replied. He slipped his hand in hers. As they walked down the hall, Rogue was relieved to be away from all the questions the kids were asking her. She hated being under pressure like that. They rounded a corner, went a little further, and approached the door to Storm's classroom when they walked next to Kitty.

"Hey Kitty, I see you're feeling better now." Bobby said.

"Yeah, a little." Kitty said. Rogue noticed her eyes were a little red. She wasn't like that this morning, Rogue thought, so something must have happened during Logan's class.

Kitty turned her gaze. "Hi Rogue, how's it going?"

"Oh, pretty goo…" Rogue stopped her reply because she noticed that Kitty wasn't looking at her. She wasn't looking at Bobby either. Who was she looking at? Rogue gazed behind her to find an empty hall. Then it hit her. Kitty was looking at Bobby's hand in hers.

"I'm sorry I forgot to call you Marie." Kitty said. She thought Rogue was offended and that was why she looked around.

"What?" Rogue started, "Oh, I guess you can call me Rogue if you like. I stopped talking just because I noticed that… well… well, never mind. Let's get to the lecture before we're late."

Bobby held open the door for Rogue. She walked through and saw Kitty phase through the wall next to her. Rogue couldn't help but think that Kitty was trying to show off. Bobby chuckled and gave her a high five on the other side. Rogue suddenly became suspicious.

Kitty giggled, noticed Bobby was still looking at her, and decided to phase through her chair too. As she walked up, she felt something was wrong. She tripped on her chair and fell on the table. The table came crashing down with everything on top of it. The next second, Kitty found herself on her butt, drinks all over the floor and a lot of people laughing at her.

Storm, in a startled state, jumped around. "Katherine?" She had such a serious face.

"I'm sorry Storm. I don't understand, I was supposed to phase through the chair…" Storms worried expression quickly turned into an amused one like everyone else's. She smiled and pointed down the room. Kitty turned around and saw that Leech was in the chair next to hers.

"Are you ok Kitty?" Leech asked.

"Oh, I'm fine." Kitty found the rest of her face becoming red in embarrassment.

Most of the people in the classroom hurried to help Kitty clean everything up. After a few minutes, Storm went to the front of the room. "Alright, let's start. Who can tell me what date the Axis powers were stopped?" Kitty usually liked to be involved in all of her classes, but today, she was a little dizzy from her embarrassing moment. She sat back and took a deep breath. She looked over at Bobby. She noticed that he was grasping Rogue's hand again. Kitty felt jealousy blazing through her body. Maybe it wouldn't be so easy to accept Bobby staying with her.

Kitty started thinking to herself. She was completely tuned out of the lecture that was taking place around her. Her mind filled with happy memories. She remembered when Bobby's hand was wrapped around hers instead. Every time he felt sorry for her: during Xavier's funeral, the time they ice skated on the fountain's pond, during their stand against Magneto…

On the other side of the room, Rogue felt very content. She listened to Storm go on about army tactics and logic. She was holding Bobby's hand, happy and still a little surprised to be touching his skin. And then she noticed something. Kitty was looking strait at her clenching Bobby's hand again. She had wondered if Kitty liked him before, but now she was sure. The very thought of Bobby leaving her for Kitty gave her a chill. Rogue decided to lean on Bobby and put her head on his shoulder.

Kitty looked away, feeling hot envy eat at her soul. She realized that she was missing the whole lecture, so decided to start listening.

"Most of the leaders were killed," Storm's words came clear, "But why, do you suppose, the Nazi movement went from almost controlling the whole world, to becoming unpopular and almost dormant within weeks, even to German citizens? Anyone?" Leech raised his hand. "Jimmy?"

"Maybe deep down inside, they knew what they were doing was wrong." Leech said.

"Very good Jimmy. As Professor Xavier used to say, 'Mankind is not evil, just uninformed.' You have to realize, before World War II, the poor and starving people of Germany were suffering from the Great Depression and their war dept from World War I. They grabbed hold of the first sign of hope there was."

"But there are still Nazi groups today," a kid said.

"Yes, there will never be complete peace. Small groups of lost causes will occasionally come in conflict." Storm continued, "But we must strive for peace as X-men and as people in our world. Most people are ignorant, so it is up to a few to take a stand and maintain balance."

Kitty looked over to find Rogue still leaning on Bobby. She tried to look away, but it would not leave her mind. Kitty looked in the opposite direction at Leech. She wondered what life must be like for him: humans wanting to keep him making the cure all the time. But at the school, he was safe.

After the lecture ended Kitty turned to Leech and asked him, "Are you happy that you're here?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, now that you're here, some people hate you for not making the cure any more. But if you did, some mutants would hate you for making it. You're forced to take one side or the other. Are you happy to be here?"

"Yeah, I think I shou—"

"They aren't making any more cure?" Rogue interrupted.

Kitty responded, "they still can't generate it, only repli—"

"How could you do that? What about the mutants that still want it?" Rogue persisted.

Bobby noticed the tension arising. He tried to pull Rogue away. "Come on."

"No! Jimmy, why aren't you helping to cure mutants? Just because you want—"

"What did you just say!" Storm cut in. She was furious. The air in the room began to create a small wind. Her hair was starting to lift. They could hear lightning and thunder outside. "Mutation is not a disease! How dare you talk to Jimmy like that!"

"Some mutants do have something wrong with—"

"There is only one person here who has something wrong with them, and it's you! Get out of my classroom!" Storms eyes were turning white and her face became strained.

Rogue suddenly looked afraid. She stormed out of the room with Bobby at her heals. Kitty was nervous. The only other time she had seen Storm so angry was in battle. Leech didn't look very comfortable either. Storm put her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry if I scared you…"

"I'm ok."

"Nobody is going to make you pump out that damn cure," Storm said with such passion, "I won't let anyone make you. I promise." She was calming down now.

"Well, I'll see you both tomorrow at two o'clock." Storm walked out of the room in a flustered state.

"You really shouldn't mind Rogue, or should I say Miss Marie." Kitty said, "I really don't under stand her though."

"Everyone has their own views." Leech replied. He paused and added, "I see everybody the same."

"Well Jimmy, I don't have your gift," Kitty said with a smile, "See you tomorrow."

"Bye."

Kitty walked out of the room last and headed for her own. As she went down the hall, she heard a voice through Rogue's door. Her curiosity got the better of her and she listened in. "You think they shouldn't make anymore of the cure?" "I think mutants should be proud of what they are." "You aren't proud of me? You would like me better if I were a mutant?" "Well actually, I, well…" "I can't believe you Bobby! You don't love me for who I am!" "I do love you, you're a mutant though." "No… Bobby, just go." "Rogue, you need to get some sleep." "My name is Marie!" "Ok… Marie, I'll… I'll see you tomorrow."

Kitty heard footsteps coming towards the door. She had to hide somewhere quick.

The next thing she knew, the door started opening; she quickly phased through the wall so he wouldn't see her. After the door closed, Kitty's stomach churned as she realized that she was in Rogue's room. To her luck, Rogue didn't see her. Her face was buried in her pillows, crying deeply. As quietly as she could, Kitty phased through the wall again and continued walking towared her room.

Kitty couldn't get over her stomach pains. She felt sorry for Rogue, but was discussed with her at the same time. As Kitty walked around the hall, she wondered if Bobby would still go to the fountain with her tonight. She reached her door, took a deep breath, and phased through it again.

After she went inside her room, she was surprised to find Bobby sitting on her bed.

"Bobby?"

"Ready to go to the fountain?" Bobby looked miserable.

"Um, ok." She walked closer. "Hey, you don't look to good Bobby."

"I don't feel very good." He gave a weak smile. "Alright, lets head towards the stairs then." He stood up and held out his hand for her to hold.

"Who needs to use stairs?" Kitty said smiling. She walked up to him, wrapped her arms around him, and willed their particles to avoid the atoms making the floor as they fell through the ceiling of the first floor. When they hit ground, Kitty grabbed onto his arm and they walked on.

Feelings of guilt filled Kitty when she thought about Rogue crying just above them, but she couldn't help but lay her head on his shoulder as they walked through another wall and toward the fountain.