24

The girls all meet up again in the parking lot of the mall. Tabitha invited Colossus, practically clinging onto him. He looked to Rogue as if to ask if it was alright. Rogue had made it seem that she was fine with him tagging along (because she was), but also hinted at there possibly being something at home he needed to sort out (encase he needed an out and needed to get away from Tabitha). He didn't take it.

So, they all entered the mall.

"So, like, where do we all want to go first? Rogue, where do you normally shop?" Kitty asked.

"Oh, erm, I'm not too sure where to go. I'm just looking for some new tops. Maybe some new bottoms too. Maybe a skirt instead of just having jeans. Maybe some new shoes as well. I don't really want to wear anything, erm, preppy." Rogue said, feeling like she'd stuck her foot in it there when talking about preppy clothes seeing as all the girls looked to be wearing something preppy.

"Oh, alright!" Kitty beamed as she walked beside Rogue.

"Hey, how about something Gothic?" Risty asked.

Rogue shrugged her shoulders, "I don't really know what I'm looking for. I just wanna take a look around without being bothered by a sales assistant."

"Oh, they're easy to get rid of." Kitty said.

"They're just doing their jobs." Jean informed them.

"Hey, how about we try in here? I'll, like, totally keep the salespeople off you, but I wanna say on what you pick. Can't have you, like, turning up to school in some hot pink corset or something, can we?" Kitty said, taking Rogue off to one side.

Risty and the other girls followed behind Kitty and Rogue. Colossus, behind them. That was, until he heard his name.

"Hey, Pete."

Colossus looked around, finding Gambit hidden behind a pillar. He watched Rogue enter the shop and moved towards Gambit.

"Goin' shoppin' with de fillies, huh, homme?" Gambit teased.

"What do you want Gambit?" Colossus asked.

"I need you to keep your eye on Rogue for moi." He said.

"That is why I am here." Colossus said, "But why are you asking me to?"

"I need to keep moi eyes on someone else for a little while, but Mags still wants me to keep moi eye on Rogue. It be hard to be in two places at once, non?" he said.

Colossus nodded his head. "I will keep her safe. But Gambit, I do not think keeping it a secret from Rogue that you are following her will do you any good if she is that find out about it. I think you should be honest with her and tell her that you are following her."

Gambit frowned at that. He'd just gotten on Rogue's good side, or so he thought. He didn't want to say something that would ruin that right now. "We'll see." He said.

Colossus simply huffed at that, then began to walk into the shop the girls had entered.

Xxxxx

At little time later, however, both Gambit and Colossus found themselves at a lose. Gambit had continued to follow Risty who had walked off with Amara into a shop she wanted to go in. Risty was getting information out of Amara and Gambit learned she was new to the X-Men. A lot of new mutants had joined. He would have to inform Magneto of that at some point.

Colossus had been with Rogue, Jean, Tabitha and Kitty. Tabitha had backed off her advances after Colossus had told her politely, but quite to the point that he wasn't interested. Kitty had seen him pretty much walking on his own as Rogue and Jean got on talking about something that happened in their math class. Tabitha had gone to wrap her arm around Rogue's neck, when Rogue backed away and began explaining her skin condition to her.

Kitty had backed out of the girl's conversation to walk with Colossus to try and be friendly. The two began talking about little things. But, eventually, Kitty asked about his relationship with Rogue as his sister and his other family members. Colossus, somehow, feeling at ease around the kind and polite girl, began to open up about his blood sister's position. He didn't tell her everything, of course, but he told her she was stuck in another country. Kitty saw that he looked sad at that. Kitty, to try and ease the pressure and awkwardness on him, explained how Rogue had already told them about he was splitting his time between Russian and America. Colossus had then expressed how he did enjoy parts of being in America and being with Rogue was one of them. He explained how he didn't want to leave her, but how he also didn't want to leave his other sister, but wanted to spend time with her. Kitty felt extremely guilty and unsure what to say.

Then, the two realised they had lost Jean, Tabitha and Rogue. Colossus seemed to be a bit more freaked out about that than Kitty. She told him to relax and that they could go check out if they were in the same store that Risty and Amara went to. Colossus agreed to that.

However, when they entered the store and couldn't see the others, Kitty went off to talk to Risty and Amara.

"Pietr," Gambit called from behind another pillar.

Gambit had obviously noticed Colossus entering the store and without Rogue. This sent rage through him as he made his way closer to the man how seemed to be glancing around, searching for someone.

Colossus noticed Gambit and walked over to him.

"What's happenin'? Where's Rogue?" Gambit demanded to know.

"We lost her in the crowd. She is with Jean and Tabitha and we are searching for her. She should be fine." Colossus said, as in reassuring himself. He wasn't too sure why he was worried about Rogue. Maybe because these X-Men were so friendly and kind and easy to speak to. He'd opened up back there about so many things that he normally never spoke about. He guessed, he was scared of them convincing Rogue to join them and then he would lose the only good thing about staying with Magneto. That and his sister's life may become in danger.

"Should be ain't good enough! We've gotta find her 'fore she gets into any trouble." Gambit said.

Now Colossus glared at him, "She will be fine. And we will find her."

Colossus noticed the girls were leaving the store and turned his back to Gambit to go and join them.

Gambit was left, frustrated. He knew, if he wanted a job done, he should just do it himself. He might be able to slip away a bit considering Colossus was with Risty. But Mystique was a slippery character. He didn't want to let her out of his sight for one second. There was no telling what she could do. If anything, she might be the threat to Rogue more than anything.

The group of girls, Colossus and Gambit, following behind them discreetly, did find Rogue and the other two soon enough though. Amara had suggested they look in the music shop she wanted to go to and, low and behold, they were there; dancing in the middle of the store.

Rogue had noticed Colossus wasn't behind her. She was wondering if to say something and to try and find him. But she thought against it, not wanting to seem as if she couldn't cope in day to day life without him. The other girls had noticed Kitty was gone too. Jean had showed concern at that which made her feel a bit more normal for showing concern over Colossus being gone too. Tabitha, however, didn't seem to care. She had a very carefree attitude and was quite reckless. Rogue kind of liked that. It reminded her a lot of her younger, rebellious self. Then Rogue felt old at thinking that. When had she become so old and responsible? It only helped her decision to blow off the others and go with Tabitha.

Tabitha suggested the music store and said that Amara would find them at some point considering she wanted to visit the shop. This calmed Rogue and Jean down about worrying about Colossus and Kitty. They had looked at each other then, realising the other was stressing about their friend. They glanced away from each other, feeling embarrassed.

Tabitha forced Rogue to listen to some bands which, Rogue had to admit, she didn't hate. At one point, Rogue found herself stood beside Jean with Tabitha having gone off to talk with a salesperson.

"So, errr, you and Duncan, huh?" Jean questioned, making Rogue feel uncomfortable.

"Erm, no, not really. I mean, he's great and all, but I'm sure he has the hots for you." Rogue said, seeing Jean blush. She didn't look convinced though. Rogue thought for a moment, flicking through the CDs in front of her. "Actually, I kinda have ma eye on someone else… I think."

This got Jean's attention. "Oh really? Who?"

"No one at school." Rogue said, hoping Jean wouldn't put two and two together.

"Oh… So, do you like them?" she asked.

Rogue sighed, "Well, I don't really know."

"Oh, but you must know whether you like someone or not, right?" Jean asked.

Rogue closed her eyes, then glanced away from the CDs and Jean. "Not really."

"Well, how do you feel when he walks into a room?" Jean asked.

Now Rogue glanced at her, confused. "What do you mean by that?" Rogue asked.

"Well, does he make your toes curl or do you play with your hair or feel nervous, but giddy around him at the same time?" Jean asked, seeming to be daydreaming.

Rogue began to think about Gambit. Whenever he walked into a room, he always put her on edge unlike anyone else's she knew. Sometimes, she was mad at him. Well, most of the time. But, sometimes, it felt like a comfort to have him around. But she was always on edge. Wondering what he was about to say or do. He usually flirted with her.

"He makes meh… blush. And nervous. I'm always on ma toes around him. Sometimes, in a bad way. Sometimes in a good way." Rogue said.

"Because you care about what he thinks? About what he's going to say? If he's going to smile at you in that certain way? Or if he's gonna say something that's going to put a damper on your day." Jean went off, again, looking like she was day dreaming.

"Well, yes." Rogue said.

Jean and Rogue both looked at each other now, startled. Then they smiled, chuckled and turned away from each other, embarrassed.

"I think you do like him. But, I guess I don't actually know what you two have so, my advice is just to follow what your heart tells you. If it leads you to him, well, then you know you like him." Jean said.

Rogue nodded her head, think of understanding what Jean was saying.

"I don't really know how my heart can talk to me, but thanks." Rogue said.

"No problem. Sometimes, it really is hard to hear what your hearts telling you. Especially when you've got people telling you other things." Jean said.

"You know, I kinda think that makes sense." Rogue said, smiling at Jean. Jean smiled back.

Tabitha returned then, making Rogue listen to more songs. Then, when they all took their headset off, a song by Bon Jovi came on. It's My Life.

"Man, I love this song!" Tabitha said, starting to raise her hands in the air and shake her hips to the beat.

"Me too." Jean said.

Tabitha took Jean's hands and made her start dancing with her by swirling her.

Rogue smiled at the song. "I know this song. I love it too!" Rogue said, feeling like the song spoke so much about how she felt about her own life.

Tabitha, not caring about her skin condition, grabbed Rogue and pulled her in-between herself and Jean. Rogue noticed that Tabitha and Jean were dancing in front and behind her. Grinding against her almost. Rogue thought what the hell and began dancing too. Rogue actually held Jean and Tabitha's hands too as they span in a circle and twirled each other around in circles. Other people moved out of the way for them as they went back to grinning on each other, Rogue in the middle, which was a little unsettling. But right then, she didn't care.

And this was what the others walked into seeing. A full store, backing away from the three girl's to give them space to dance. Both Colossus and Gambit's jaws dropped at seeing how happy and carefree Rogue looked as she laughed, smiled and danced. Their jaws soon lifted into smiles though. There was a little worry about Rogue having such fun with the X-Men girls and that she was so close to them, but, at that moment, seeing her happy, they just couldn't seem to find a reason to worry.

Amara had grabbed Kitty's wrist and gone to join the three girls who welcomed them in and continued dancing.

Gambit eyed Risty, wondering if Mystique was a dancer. What he saw made him drop his smile. Risty looked pissed. And dangerous. She was glaring at the girls as they danced. She clearly didn't like the idea of Rogue having fun with the other girls. Gambit, becoming defensive, kept a close eye on Risty to see what she would do next.

However, it was Tabitha and Rogue who ended up making the next big move really. Rogue had turned and bumped into Tabitha who was starting to get too wild. Rogue's sleeve had rolled up and her skin had made contact with Tabitha's face. Tabitha stumbled back and feel into some lrge speakers which actually began to spark as she knocked them down and fell on top of them.

All the girl's stopped dancing and went to Tabitha's side.

"Tabitha, are you alright?" Amara asked.

Rogue joined the girls around Tabitha, worried about having absorbed her. The contact had only been brief, but had her cover been blown?

"Ow, what hit me? I feel like I got hit by one of the lasers in the danger room or something-" Tabitha began to say.

Rogue saw the other X-Men women start to freak out at what Tabitha was saying.

"Ha ha, Tabby, what are you, like, talking about? Lasers? Danger rooms?" Kitty laughed uneasily.

"You must have hit your head." Jean filled in.

Rogue's eye became distracted by a small electrical spark from the speakers.

"Maybe you got an electric shock from the speakers." Rogue said, hoping to find any excuse for why Tabitha might have felt like she'd been hit by a laser. That was something as well. Lasers and danger room sessions? She had no idea what Tabitha was talking about. But, obviously, the others wanted to keep it a secret. And so did the Kitty in her mind. But then, flashes of the danger room sessions entered Rogue's mind from Tabitha's memories. Rogue tried to keep cool as she pushed Tabitha's psyche back. The danger room training sessions hadn't been in those files. That might be something she had to report.

"Yeah!" Kitty said, "Yeah, look, they're sparking. You should, like, get off them now."

Jean and Amara gave Tabitha a hand up off the speakers. However, security came over, wanting to know who was going to pay for the £600 broken speaker. Rogue felt uneasy about that. She didn't have six hundred dollars and looking at the X-Men woman, neither did they.

Jean stepped forwards and began to reason with the security guard. Amara and Kitty began to leave over Rogue as they spoke.

"The Professor's not gonna be happy with this." Kitty said.

"I don't have six hundred dollars. I barely have a fiver left. Do you think they're going to arrest us?" Amara asked.

"Oh no. I hope not. I hope Jean can persuade them to drop the charges." Kitty said.

The three of them began listening into what Jean was saying to the security guard. The store manager had come over too.

"Guys, we should just run for it." Tabitha said, slumped over Amara's shoulders.

"Should we?" Kitty asked.

"They've got security cameras in the parking lot. They'll track us down by our number plates and then we'll really be in trouble!" Rogue said.

"Oh, right." Kitty said.

"We could just break it?" Tabitha said.

"They've seen our faces." Rogue said.

"What are we going to do?" Amara asked.

And then, like a knight not in his shiny, metal arm suit just now, Colossus approached the security guard and the store manager. He stood besides Jean and paid the bill for the broken speakers. Of course, Tabitha had got them banned from the store so they were forced to leave.

When they got outside the store, Jean had explained that she managed to get them to drop the price by two hundred, so Colossus only had to pay four hundred. But that was still one month's payment off Magneto. Rogue felt bad. And, apparently, so did a lot of the other X-women. They promised to pay him back. Tabitha had asked how he had so much money to hand, but she had been ignored.

The truth was Gambit had slipped Colossus some money when he was outside the store and they'd seen Tabitha break the speakers and Rogue stuck with part of the bill. Gambit had then had to take off, noticing Risty had disappeared. Colossus had then realised who it was Gambit was tracking and made note to asking him why he was following her another time. He then went in, paid for the broken speakers, and left the store.