27

Rogue had jumped straight off her bike and headed straight to her room. She shot a hi at Colossus, but he noticed her speeding off. He could tell she was upset.

"What is wrong with Rogue?" he asked Gambit.

Gambit, who had followed shortly after her, shrugged, "Got a party she be getting' ready for."

Colossus didn't like Gambit's response. If he knew that something was wrong with Rogue, then Gambit would usually have been all over it, trying to solve the issue. So why wasn't he now? Colossus could only guess that Gambit had caused her upset. Colossus went to address that, but Magneto spoke first.

"Party?" he questioned.

"Oui. Rogue and monself got invited out to a party where de X-Men will be at." Gambit said, folding his arms and looking smug.

If Magneto thought he wasn't as good as Rogue, then he could think again. Although he knew it wasn't completely himself that had set this up to happen, he still thought it reflected well on him to one, give Rogue an opening to take a swipe at the X-Men, and two, it showed that he'd got into the party Rogue's friends were hosting, therefore, showing he was involving himself in Rogue's business.

Magneto nodded his head. Thinking.

"Have Rogue report to my office before she leaves. You too Gambit." Magneto said before walking off.

Xxxxx

Rogue had gone straight to her room, looking for an outfit to wear to the party. Her eyes were filled with angry tears. She knew she had been avoiding him all day yesterday and then this morning, but really? He just took her out on a date, got turned down by her and he was now on to the next bit of skirt that moved?

Rogue was pissed and upset. She had been all the way back to the base. She thought she could talk to him before they got back. Ask him to pull over so she could try and explain why she had been avoiding him and what was really on her mind. How she actually wanted to give them a try. But no. He had to go and get himself on a date with Stacy.

She had rushed straight to her room, needing to be as far away from him as she could. It stung like hell seeing him move on so quickly. Mystique had always told her men were pigs and would never be interested in a woman they couldn't touch. They would move off her as soon as they got what they wanted from her. Or, in this case, Gambit couldn't get what he wanted from her so had moved on. She just felt so stupid! She knew he was playing a game right from the beginning. But here she was again, almost in tears and trying to fight them back. She was so sick of crying all the time. It felt like that's all she ever did and it was annoying the hell out of her.

She decided that she needed to get away from him. Out from under the same roof as Remy LeBeau for a while. So, she began putting all her energy into doing her make up and making herself look attractive. She'll make Gambit see what he was missing just before she left.

That was when there was a knock at her door and she found herself forced to be stood in front of Magneto in the garage. Colossus had come to fetch her and was asking her why she was in a foul mood and what Gambit had done. Of course, Rogue wasn't going to tell him that had actually fallen for Gambit's charms and that she was hurting because he had moved on from her to another girl so quickly.

"I hear you are to attend an event where the X-Men are present?" Magneto asked.

"Yeah," Rogue said, wondering why he was calling her out on this. He wanted her to get close to the X-Men, didn't he?

"Good. I would like you to try and absorb either Scott Summers or Jean Grey tonight. They are the first two student's that Charles took in and began to teach. If any of the students under Charles' care should know more about his plans, it show be them." Magneto said.

Rogue nodded her head in understanding, but really, she became uneasy very quickly as she realised what Magneto was asking her to do. He was commanding her to touch one of the X-Men tonight. She really didn't want to touch anyone still after finding out what had happened to Cody. What if she accidently put one of the X-Men in a coma? Took their lives away from them too? She didn't want to be a murderer.

If she didn't though, Colossus's sister would pay the price…But then… she could just say that she never found an opening, Rogue thought, an idea starting to form in her head.

"Gambit will accompany you and he will help you find an opening-" Magneto said.

"Oh no," Rogue snapped, feeling not only her plan for getting away with lying about touching the X-Men going, but her plan to get away from Gambit slipping through her fingers too. She glared at Gambit who looked smug, then back to Magneto. "I don't think that's a good idea." Rogue said.

"Gambit has informed me that he has also been invited. He will attend and he will find you an opening." Magneto said, now glancing at Gambit with a warning sign.

Gambit just seemed smug.

"That is final and end of the discussion. Now, I have somewhere to be. You will give me your reports tomorrow morning." Magneto said, moving towards the exit and taking off into the sky.

Rogue rolled her eyes and cursed. When she went to glare at Gambit again he had a smug smirk on his face. Rogue couldn't stand it. How could he stand there, smirking at her like that? Did he know what he had done to her? That she was starting to care for him? Did he do all of this just to manipulate her and hurt her? Just because she turned him down? Rogue stormed out of the garage and to her room.

Xxxxx

Rogue was off Gambit's bike and entering the party before he could even park his bike properly. Duncan's house was a swarm of teenage bodies and loud music blaring.

"Rogue!" Risty called out to her.

Rogue moved over towards where Risty was by the table with drinks on it.

"I'm glad you made it. I was totally worried something might of come up and that you would have ditched me or something." Risty said.

Rogue went straight to grab an alcoholic drink and downed it. Risty watched her, worry setting in.

"Are you alright?" Risty asked.

"Peachy! Except Remy got invited to the party tonight by Stacy." Rogue almost spat, picking up a second drink.

"Whoa, really?" Risty said, looking towards the front door just in time to see Gambit enter it.

He was practically pounced on by Stacy who gave him a massive hug as soon as she noticed him.

Rogue turned just in time to see Stacy hugging Gambit and lingering her hands on his chest. She also caught that Gambit's hands had landed on Stacy's hips. Just like they always landed on hers. Rogue picked up another drink and drank again while turning away. Not wanting to see Gambit flirting with one of the most popular, touchable girls in school.

"Gee, I guess you're right." Risty said, trying to hide her smirk as she turned back to Rogue.

"Hey, but forget about him!" Risty said, sounding much more upbeat. "I bet there are plenty of guys who'd be interested in dating you and who aren't total jerks!"

"Sounds like me." Duncan said, appearing besides Rogue and wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

Rogue almost choked on her drink as she glanced up at Duncan.

"Duncan, hi." Rogue said, forgetting that she would have to deal with him tonight. She cursed herself, wishing she'd never agreed to this now. It wasn't like she had classes she could run off to to get away from Duncan.

He'd been coming onto her really strong lately. Like, really really strongly. Before, when she was coming out of school, Duncan had wrapped his arms around her again while Jean was right beside her. It looked like he was going to kiss her then and there, but she'd managed to pull away before he could and use the X-Men and Gambit waiting for her as an excuse. When he tried to get her into his car, she explained that she was going home to change first so was going to get a ride with Gambit. She'd caught him eyeing Jean every now and then, as if trying to spot a jealous reaction.

Now though, Jean didn't even seem to be here or around. Yet, he was moving in, getting closer and closer again, almost about to kiss her on the lips.

Rogue pulled her drink up to her face to stop the kiss. She drank some more of it and turned her face away. She shot a panicked look at Risty who seemed to look uneasy as well.

Rogue tried to glance around, looking for the X-Men. Maybe they could help her out of this. But of course she couldn't see them.

"Errr, nice house." Rogue said, realising that she was in the spotlight.

"I know, right." Duncan said.

He came so close to touching her bare cheek as he moved to turn her face back to his.

He looked like he was going in for a kiss again.

"You know," Risty said, grabbing Rogue by the shoulders and pulling her back into her chest, away from Duncan and out from under those lips that were inches away from kissing hers. "I bet the outside looks even cooler! Come on Rogue! Let's go take a peek, huh?" Risty said.

Rogue turned in Risty's grip, taking her opening fully welcoming. Before she could even open her mouth to agree though, she felt Duncan take hold of her covered wrist, stopping her from moving.

"Oh, if you wanna see something impressive, then come with me," he said, pulling Rogue into him and under his arm. He shot Risty a glare as he began to lead Rogue off.

Rogue glanced back at Risty who looked pissed, her gaze asking to be saved.

xxxxx

Gambit watched over Stacy's shoulder as Duncan embraced Rogue, almost kissing her, then began to drag her off somewhere. He felt anger fill him, especially after seeing how close they came to kissing.

"Say, how's 'bout a tour, non?" Gambit said, cutting Stacy off on whatever she was saying.

"Oh, like, yeah, sure." She said, taking Gambit's arm and starting to lead him into Duncan's house.

xxxxx

Duncan had ended up taking Rogue into the living room where he was showing off some of his trophies to Rogue. Rogue just continued to drink, remaining uncomfortable at Duncan's hand on her lower back as he went on and on. The drink was making it easier to cope with Duncan's hand on her and easing the need she felt to scream at him not to touch her so she just kept drinking. She noticed Gambit enter the living room with Stacy on his arm. She kind of wished that she could call out to him, have him save her from Duncan, but he looked occupied. Plus, why would he? He'd pushed his way into being here and showing off that he could get any girl he wanted just to hurt her, right? That's what he was doing now wasn't he? Following her arm with Stacy on his arm just to drive the message home.

Gambit glanced at Rogue, seeing her stood with Duncan. He caught her looking his way, seeming miserable. Rogue looked away from him and laughed at something Duncan said.

Duncan then proceeded to drag Rogue away from the cabinet in his parent's living room and somewhere else.

Rogue became nervous as she found Duncan pulling her up the stairs. Rogue hadn't spotted Risty who had been looking around for Rogue, but Risty had noticed them when they were halfway up the stairs. Risty began to push passed people, chasing after them.

"Where you takin' me?" Rogue asked, nervous as there seemed to be less and less people upstairs.

"I've got more trophies in my room." Duncan said, smirking back at Rogue.

"Oh, but, isn't it rude to leave all your guests?" Rogue asked, looking for any excuse to avoid Duncan's bedroom. From her experience, going into a guy's room only meant one thing and she was trying her best not to freak out.

"Nar, they'll be fine." Duncan said, opening a door and pulling Rogue in. Rogue noticed that Duncan closed the door behind her and she felt her skin crawl. Shit, she thought, what was she going to do now? What had Mystique taught her to do when she needed to get out of a situation like this? Well, nothing! Mystique had always wanted her to touch someone and then sneak out. And, as much as Rogue wouldn't really mind just touching Duncan and knocking his arse out, she, one) really didn't want to kiss him or have him in her head. Two, she didn't know if anything would come of it and didn't want to deal with the repercussions if they did and three, as much as she loafed Duncan right now, she really didn't want to risk putting him in a coma.

"So, here they are." Duncan said, pulling her over to a desk where his trophies were, "my trophies. Pretty cool, huh?" Duncan said, now looking at Rogue, expectedly.

"Oh, yeah. Very impressive." Rogue said, blushing and glancing away from Duncan. She made it look like she was admiring his trophies.

"So, there's kind of another reason I brought you up here." Duncan said which sent Rogue's heart racing.

"Huh," Rogue found to be the only word she could say.

Duncan had dropped her hand now and had taken her by the shoulders, turning her to look at him. Rogue held her empty drink up, as if that would protect her from him.

"Look, I like you and I know you like me too," he said, seeming dead full of himself and cocky. If this was the speech Jean got then she couldn't blame the girl for dumping him. "I know you were totally jealous when you though me and Jean were dating, well, we're not now. I left her for you." Duncan said, which Rogue didn't believe. "So we can be together. So, what do you say, huh?" He asked, moving his arms to wrap around her waist and pull her in close to her chest. Rogue gasped at the sudden pull and how the plastic cup was crushed between their pushed up bodies. He was so close to her face now. Her mouth fell open in shock, but she doubted, from the look on Duncan's face, that matter. "Let's be together." Duncan said as he leaned in, his lips puckering.

Rogue tried backing away, but his grip was strong. She became so grateful as his bedroom door burst open. Rogue turned to see Risty, looking wide eyed between them. Rogue saw her quickly replace that look with a wide smile and said: "Hey Rogue! Jean and the others are here. They wanna see you." Risty said.

Rogue took that as her way out. She pushed against Duncan harshly and said: "Really! They're here? That's awesome." Rogue began to head towards the door, barely turning as she said, "I'm gonna go see them," to Duncan.

She closed his bedroom door on him. He was becoming pissed, especially with Risty. She'd interrupted them the first time he went to kiss Rogue tonight and now a second time. He wasn't going to have that.

Rogue and Risty began making their way back downstairs.

"That was close!" Risty said.

"Yeah, thanks for the save!" Rogue said, her adrenaline still going.

She ended up walking straight, or more, falling against a wall. Risty grabbed Rogue's covered elbow and straightened her up.

"Hey, you alright?" Risty asked.

"Yeah, fine. Fine." Rogue said, pushing a head and trying to walk in a straight line.

Before Rogue could finish jogging down the stairs, Gambit appeared before her.

"There you are cher. Been lookin' all over for you." He said, worry seeming to be plastered on his face.

Rogue was taken back by this for a moment by his worried look. She couldn't see Stacy around, but she was sure she wasn't far. Rogue then became annoyed quickly. Gambit was supposed to be there to help her find an X-Men to absorb. And what? He was off frolicking with a cheerleader rather than saving her from the hormonal monster that had almost jumped her upstairs? Thank God Risty had been there to help her out.

Rogue snorted, folding her arms and staring daggers at Gambit, "Why? I don't need you lookin' out for me." Rogue said, letting her frustration out on him.

Gambit's eyebrows seemed to come together and he was looking annoyed. But they were both distracted by the hand that landed on Rogue's shoulder. Rogue gasped, glancing to her side as Duncan appeared with his arm around her again.

"Is there a problem here?" He demanded to know, looking pissed at Gambit.

Gambit snorted at Duncan, then glanced at Rogue, figuring out that she had been upstairs in a bedroom with Duncan. He got the drift of what might have happened, even though his reasonable brain was telling him they couldn't have done anything in the amount of time they had been gone, but his emotions were getting the better of him right now.

"No problem mon ami." Gambit said, grinding his teeth as the words fell from his mouth.

"I don't remember inviting you here." Duncan suddenly snapped at Gambit.

"That's because I did," Stacy said as she appeared besides Gambit, linking his arm and glaring at Duncan.

Rogue went to roll her eyes since her expectations around Stacy being nearby were right. As she began to though, she saw Jean and Scott enter Duncan's house.

"Oh there's Jean!" Rogue said, stopping all of them in their tracks.

Rogue finished descending the stairs, grabbing Risty's arm and pulling her through Gambit and Stacy towards the front door.

"Hey Jean!" Rogue called out, waving her hand in the air at them.

"Oh, hey Rogue," Jean said, smiling at her. Jean's eyes moved passed Rogue, noticing Duncan, Stacy and Remy all staring at them, "What's happening?" Jean asked, looking back at Rogue.

"Not much!" Rogue chuckled at the irony. "Hey, let's get a drink!" Rogue said, taking Jean's arm and leading her towards the drinks table.

Rogue felt safer once she got out from under Duncan, Stacy and Gambit's eyes. She picked up a drink and continued drinking.

"You might want to slow down their partner." Risty said to Rogue, looking a little concerned.

"Oh, I'm fine. I feel like I deserve a drink anyway, Rogue said, continuing to drink.

Jean and Risty looked at each other, both thinking the same thing that Rogue was not ok. Kitty, Scott and Kurt then bound up to the group.

"I, like, totally can't believe I'm here!" Kitty shrieked.

"Yeah, this party is like totally wack!" Kurt said.

Rogue smiled at that. She was rather glad that Kitty had seemed to make friends who would sneak her into parties just so she could be involved. It seemed like her current life as a mutant was much better for her rather than her old one.

Some girls then came over, stealing Jean away to gossip and talk football. Kurt and Kitty went off to dance which just left Risty, Scott and Rogue stood together.

"So, great party, huh?" Scott said, scratching the back of his head as he glanced between the girls.

"Totally. It's already had it's fair share of dramas." Risty said.

Rogue's eyes almost went wide at that comment.

"Oh really? Like what?" Scott asked.

"Oh, you know, the usual. Kimberly's broke up with Josh and got with Tayler. Ruby's had an argument with Lucy over them getting the same nails done. Bobby thinks he's stronger than Ross." Risty said.

Rogue sighed, feeling relieved Risty hadn't grasped her up. She kept drinking.

"Oh, yeah. Sounds like the usual gossip," Scott said looking around the room, his eyes landed on Jean.

Both Rogue and Risty noticed this. The way he was watching her. They both could tell that he liked her.

"I think I'm gonna use the ladies room. Rogue, you coming?" Risty asked.

"Erm, no. I'm good." Rogue said, realising that, with Risty gone, it meant she'd get a moment alone with Scott like she'd been told to. She felt bad about what it was she had to do and a little scared, but… she'd been ordered to do it and Gambit was around so she couldn't really lie about it. Could she?

Risty didn't look happy about being turned down, but left anyway.

"So, you enjoying the party?" Scott asked.

Rogue sighed, trying to think of a way to get Scott alone and to absorb him without it seeming obvious that she was a mutant.

"Not really," Rogue said, glancing around the room, hoping she'd get an idea.

She couldn't see Gambit, but she guessed he was still off with his new girlfriend, Stacy. Rogue snorted inwardly at that. She could do with his help again tonight, but he wasn't there because he was off entertaining some other girl. Maybe it was the alcohol that was doing it, but Rogue just felt sad. How could Gambit date her, tell her all that stuff and then just go off with some other girl? After all he'd done for her, holding her while she was sad and down, covering for her when she was going to get into trouble, sneaking her into an aquarium just because she didn't like the restaurant he'd chosen. She really couldn't understand why he was doing this to her.

But then… if he wasn't around to see her and Scott together, then maybe she could get away with not absorbing him.

"You don't look it. Did something happen?" Scott ask, feeling bad seeing Rogue upset and noticing she had begun to sway.

Rogue tried to think what she could say. "Not really. I guess, since Jean and Duncan's date didn't work out at the weekend, he's moved back on to me." Rogue said.

"You're not interested in him?" Scott asked, sounding surprised.

"Well no. Not really." Rogue said.

"But then why did you flirt with him?" Scott asked, seeming a bit… upset, was it? Irritated. Annoyed at her. For what? Flirting with Duncan? No, Rogue could see it. She had noticed it straight away. Scott had the hots for Jean. And just like she had been disappointed to find out that Jean wasn't really interested in Duncan so that she could take the attention of Duncan away from her, Scott was equally annoyed that she didn't like Duncan and might not be taking his attention from Jean.

Rogue glanced away, "Because I wanted the rumours about meh bein' a slut to stop and I knew Duncan could make that happen."

"So, to make the rumours stop, you flirted?" Scott asked, sounding confused.

Rogue huffed, knowing how ridicules it sounded. "Yeah. Stupid, huh?" she said, drinking again. She was remembering the whole argument she and Gambit had had after she had flirted with Duncan and that nasty rumour got spread around about him. How he didn't like her flirting nor bargaining herself. Yet, he'd taken one of her bargains to get what he wanted out of her. Then told her he wasn't the best person to give advice. Damn straight. What he said, how he reacted, was acting, it was all so confusing.

"Hey," Scott said, touching her shoulder lightly and getting her attention, "I can understand what you're going through. Coming to a new school, being called names, people taking the mick out of wearing sunglasses indoors," he said, touching his glasses. "I get what it's like to wanna make the bullying stop. Trust me."

Rogue smiled at Scott, grateful he understood her.

"Doesn't seem like you get bullied now." Rogue said, leaning into him as she was starting to feel the room spinning.

"Nar. I found a good group of friends to watch my back." He said.

"Lucky you." Rogue said, feeling quite envious of Scott, but not in a nasty way. Not one hundred percent.

"Hey, you have Risty and us." Scott said.

"Us?" Rogue questioned raising her eyebrow.

"Yeah, us. Me, Jean, Kitty and Kurt. We can watch your back for you. So if you wanna go and tell Duncan where to stick it, I'll be more than happy to back you up on that one." He said.

Now Rogue genuinely laughed at that and said "I might just take ya up on that offer." That was the type of thing she needed to hear. She was feeling alone at this party because Gambit had ditched her. It was good to know she had Scott to back her up like Gambit had at one point. And then, she felt terrible. Here she was looking for a way to touch Scott and steal his memories when he was offering to help her out. And, she didn't even know if she did touch him if he'd end up in a coma for years.

Rogue went to step back and away from Scott, realising she was leaning into him and her skin's abilities came straight to mind. As she moved back though, she bumped into the table the drinks were on and almost knocked it clean over.

Scott moved fast and stabled the table.

"Hey, are you alright?" he asked her.

Rogue had moved to stable the table too and catch a few drinks from spilling. She felt like she needed her drink right now when everything just felt too much. She grabbed one then, hers having become discarded on the floor. She went to drink it when Scott had covered the top of it.

"Erm, don't you think you've had enough to drink?" he questioned.

"I'm fine-" Rogue went to say, but both were distracted by Jean knocking something over, apologising and then heading outside while holding her head. Both Rogue and Scott were confused and a bit concerned.

"I best go check up on Jean. Make sure she's ok." Scott said to Rogue.

"Oh, yeah. I get it." Rogue said, letting Scott go. If he wasn't alone with her, then she had no reason to have to absorb him.

She drank more as she watched Scott approach Jean on the balcony. She almost spat out her drink as she felt an arm around her.

"Hey beautiful." Duncan said. "Sorry we were interrupted before. Why don't we go back upstairs so we can-"

Duncan's words wondered off with his eyes. Rogue glanced where he was glancing at Scott heading towards Jean.

"You were sayin'?" Rogue asked, raising her eyebrow, but not completely upset that he was distracted.

"Err," Duncan said, letting go of her, "I'll be right back." He said then took off towards Jean.

Rogue drank more as she watched the show. She was taken back as Jean knocked Scott off the balcony by accident. It looked like she'd reached out to catch him, but then Duncan showed up and she dropped him. Everyone went towards where Duncan was and began laughing at Scott. Rogue felt bad for Scott. Duncan was making fun of him in front of everyone and they were joining him.

"Hey, what did I miss?" Risty asked, glancing around, confused.

"Scott just got knocked over the balcony and now everyone's makin' funna him." Rogue said, frowning.

"Oh, I always miss the juicy bits!" Risty said.

Rogue glanced at Risty with a raised eyebrow.

"I'll be back in a minute," Rogue said, finishing her drink, leaving Risty behind and then began to head towards the pool. At first, Rogue had just wanted to check up on Scott and see if he was ok. To may sure he wasn't injured. But it was in the back of her mind that she could maybe get him alone out there. Not that she felt like he deserved to be touched after he'd been nice to her then made a fool of. Did he really need to end up in a coma tonight too?

Rogue edged near to the pool, but saw Kurt and Kitty were beside him, helping him out of there. She guessed he really did have friends watching his back. Rogue sighed, feeling relieved they were there to protect Scott from her. But… that thought only made her feel more of a monster. Rogue folded her arms, hearing them talking about going back home. As she turned to go back inside, bumping into Jean as she did. It seems she was leaving too. With the X-Men gone, there was no point of her staying.

Rogue had to enter back into the house. She didn't want to, but she guessed she should grab Gambit because he was her ride and get out of there.

"Hey, everything alright?" Risty asked, finding her again. She had a drink in hand which Rogue was eyeing. She really didn't want to have to face Gambit or ask him for anything. She could do with a confidence boost.

Rogue took the drink and said, "Yeah, I'm-"

"So, about what I was saying before," Duncan said, wrapping his arm around Rogue's shoulder and beginning to walk her off away from Risty. "how about we go upstairs and finish our talk?"

Rogue then pushed out of Duncan's grip, becoming so annoyed with the night and said, "Actually, I just got a message from ma brother. I need ta go home and Remy's ma ride. Have you seen him?" Rogue asked, walking off away from Duncan, not wanting to deal with him.

Risty had been following them and had overheard everything. She and Duncan now followed Rogue into the kitchen to see where she stopped, her mouth dropping open as she saw Stacy kissing Gambit.