33

When Rogue woke up, she felt groggy. She couldn't remember when she had fell asleep. All she remembered was trying to calm Jean's psyche down and turn it from the odd jumble it was into a form that resembled Jean, but having little to no luck. She knew it had definitely wiped her out and it was only thanks to her pre-set alarm that she was actually awake.

Rogue sighed, rubbing her face. Again, she was not looking forward to the day she had a head of her. Especially when she hadn't even put some time aside to figure out a way to best the cheerleaders' assault. Figuring that lying down, moping about it wasn't going to do her any good, Rogue got out of bed, got changed and went to grab some breakfast.

Gambit was there waiting for her. Rogue pursed her lips, wondering if she should ask him for some more help when it came to the cheerleaders, but she was honestly unsure what more he could do to help her since he couldn't just come into school and watch her back all day. Plus, she hadn't told him how bad the bullying had got for a reason. It was embarrassing!

Also, Colossus was there and that presented another reason why she didn't want to open up. If she mentioned anything about the cheerleaders giving her grief, as sweet as the idea was, she was sure Colossus would be down at the school, putting his two pence's worth in and only causing more trouble. Trouble for her with the cheerleaders and trouble for them back at the base with Magneto.

Rogue's frown deepened as she didn't want to face breakfast. But, she figured, if she kept running and avoiding both men, it would only come back to bite her in the arse. She became a little more depressed at having to start putting up her front now rather than later when she arrived at the school, but she guessed it was what it was.

"Mornin'," Rogue said, taking a seat and grabbing a slice of toast.

Both men said their good mornings to her. Colossus had a small smile on his face and looked somewhat sympathetic. Gambit, however, kept his face clear of emotions and kept his attention in his newspaper. That was strange to her.

"Well it's been quite some time since most of the gang's sat around this table, huh mates," Pyro said as he entered the kitchen and joined the three already sat at the table.

"So, what's hopin'?" he asked.

No one rushed to answer Pyro. Rogue glanced up at Gambit and Colossus. Gambit just couldn't seem to pull his attention away from that damn newspaper and Colossus just seemed confused.

"Hoping?" asked the Russian.

"Yeah, you know? What's new? Hey Sheila, you got a new do?" Pyro asked.

"Do?" Rogue questioned, not quite understanding.

"Yeah, your hair's shorter. Ain't the ladies always tryna get a fella to notice when they cut their hair or something?" Pyro conclused, nudging Gambit with his elbow to try and get confirmation.

"Oh, you mean 'cause it's short?" Rogue asked, trying to keep herself from flushing red. She had actually forgotten all about her hair and why she'd cut it. She tried to keep her cool and brush it off. "This ain't nothin' new," Rogue said, running her hands through her hair. "The long hair just got annoyin' and kept getting' in mah way so I cut it," Rogue explained.

None of the men around the table actually believed Rogue's explanation. Gambit kept his disbelief concealed, Colossus's disbelief was visible and Pyro just seemed to brush it off easily, not much caring and forwarding on with what he most wanted to know.

"You got any more tales about that school of yours? Set any fires yet?" Pyro asked, now moving into Rogue's personal space while leaning heavily on his hand. "Come on, tell me, tell me, tell me!" Pyro demanded to know. His eyes were bigger than a child's at Christmas.

Rogue, naturally, backed away from Pyro, becoming uncomfortable with the distance and with the stress he was putting on her day .

"Not really," Rogue said.

"You sure 'bout that?" Gambit asked.

This made Rogue's spine go stiff. Her eyes darted to Gambit as she tried not to glare at him. Gambit didn't seem to be phased by her glare or even notice it since his attention was still on the bloody newspaper.

Rogue was actually feeling murderous towards him. She realised that, with everything else going on, Gambit actually knew quite a lot of it and could take his pick of things she didn't want out there. The fact that they were fake dating for example. If he started with that, she didn't care if she got locked in her room all day, she was so breaking his arm. If he started discussing the party at Duncan's house or anything to do with Stacy and her cheerleaders, she was going to make him pay for that as well.

But, rather than speak, he threw his newspaper down the table on the page he was reading. Rogue glanced down at it and a name caught her eye. She picked it up and began to read the article.

"Watson's bankrupted?" Rogue questioned. "You mean, Stacy's broke?"

Rogue asked, glancing up at Gambit. The devilish smirk on his face and the twinkle in his eye was her only response. Rogue began to put two and two together, Gambit disappearing last night after she explained she was having issues with the cheerleaders and then this. She couldn't help but smirk back at him as she sat back to read.

"What's so interestin' about that?" Pyro asked, not quite in with things.

"Oh it just seems that our head cheerleader will be getting a LOT of attention today from a good amount of people about how much her family sucks. Jesus, her father stole from a charity!" Rogue exclaimed as she continued to read. "Why didn't they lead with that!" she demanded to know, finding the story juicier and juicer.

With this information out there, Rogue doubted the light would remain on her. She had a feeling Stacy might try and lash out at her and take her temper out on her because of this story, but she had the X-Men backing her corner and watching her back and she felt more prepared to deal with the attacks that were going to come her way. Stacy wasn't going to be thinking logical after all. Not from her public humiliation yesterday and then her family's humiliation this morning. If Rogue didn't think Stacy deserved a little justice, she would actually feel bad for her.

Pyro still had a little frown on his face.

"I don't get it. What's so great about that?" he asked.

"Come on Cherie. We best get goin' if you wanna make de first bell," Gambit said, standing up and finishing his coffee.

Rogue scoffed down her slice of toast and then took off after Gambit.

"Whoa, she actually didn't kill him that time for calling her sherri. You think he's growin' on her?" Pyro asked Colossus.

Colossus didn't answer Pyro because he couldn't. And, although it seemed like he did not have much to worry about with Gambit watching Rogue's back, he still couldn't help but be uncomfortable with not knowing what was happening with her. But, he would be patient and trust Rogue.

Xxxxx

By the time Gambit had pulled up in front of the school, Rogue had gained quite a few questions for him.

"Where were ya last night?" She asked him as she took off her helmet.

"I be at many places last night Chérie," Gambit replied, taking his own helmet off temporarily.

"You know what ah'm getting' at," Rogue stated as she came to stand in front of him.

Gambit smirked up at her, still feeling the glee at learning the news about Stacy coming from her. It had only grown and intensified on their way to school, but Gambit couldn't share Rogue's glee. He was disappointed in himself and highly irritated with the situation he was going to be in for the next few hours. He didn't do what he wanted to do last night which was figure out a way to keep most of the cheerleaders away from Rogue today. What was making his mood worse was actually Rogue's glee. She might have felt happy that Stacy would be baring criticism today, but that didn't guarantee her a safe place today. In fact, she could become the punching bag for Stacy's rage today if she wasn't carful and Gambit really didn't want to watch Rogue go through any more torment today at the cheerleaders' hands.

He was sure Rogue hadn't clicked on to the fact that there were many more cheerleaders to make her day miserable and he wasn't sure if to make her aware of this so she could be on guard from the start or to stay quiet and let her work it out herself. From his current situation though where he wasn't supposed to know about the cheerleaders bullying her, his hand was forced. Still, he could try and get her refocused without bringing them up.

"T'ink y' best be focusin' more on what's at hand now," Gambit said, reaching out and taking Rogue's gloved hand in his.

He couldn't lie to himself, this was one moment in his day that he had been looking forward to. Gambit pulled Rogue closer to him.

Rogue stiffened up a bit, unsure what Gambit was doing until he reached up his other hand gloved hand and it clicked. Rogue moved her face in closer so that Gambit could thread his fingers into her hair as they pretended to kiss. Again, Rogue struggled to close her eyes like Gambit could, but as her gloved hand reach up to cup Gambit's cheek and hold it in place so she knew she had some control she did close her eyes. Again, with their hands blocking them from view, they shared a fake kiss.

Gambit was the first to pull away this time. He had reached both his hands up and had thread both of them through her hair. He kept her face just a few inches away from his as he looked at her. She still looked a little uneasy and she was still trying to hide her blush but Gambit was sure that mixed with that anxious look in her eye was something softer and sweet. Something to do with him being so close and almost kissing her. Again, he just wished he could push past those last few millimetres and properly kiss her.

The look that Rogue read off Gambit's face seemed not to be telling her anything, or so, she thought. Once again, his eyes were covered by his dark sun glasses in public but she was sure from his facial muscles that he was calm and relaxed. But she wasn't too sure. She felt like something was troubling him but she couldn't place her finger on what. She just felt very disorientated.

"Have a good day chérie and try to stay outta trouble," Gambit said so gently and smoothly that Rogue was sure she might actually melt into a puddle.

"Erm, will do," was all she could reply with.

At feeling her mind going foggy and confused, she went to pull away, but Gambit still had full control over her head and pulled her in quickly for what seemed to be a quick fake peak on the lips. Then he let her go.

Rogue near stumbled back a little as she moved away from Gambit. Gambit placed his helmet back on, gave her a wave and left her to it.

Rogue couldn't help but stare after him after he left. She was trying to get her baring on what the hell had just happened to her there. She wasn't… she wasn't falling for Gambit was she? No. Rogue told herself. No, it was just that charm of his and the whole fake kissing thing and the fact that she'd put two and two together and figured out that he'd leaked the story about Stacy's family being broke just to help her. But no. No she wasn't going to fall for it. Not for the fake relationship they had created to fool the school. She was no idiot, and she wasn't going to fall for her own plan.

Turning herself around and heading towards the school, Rogue continued to tell herself she was not falling for Remy's charms and falling for a man who'd just use her. She used men, not the other way around. She kept arguing with herself until she realised she was no longer alone with her thoughts as Risty made an appearance.

"So your still with him, huh?" Risty asked.

Rogue was startled by Risty's sudden appearance. When she registered Risty's comment, she went back to having her work head on.

"Yeah, we're still together. You still don't approve?" Rogue asked, rather snappishly.

She didn't want to be fighting Risty, especially since she could do with as many allies as she could get, but just the way they left things last time had her in a sour mood. Risty totally took off on her and abandoned her when she needed her. She just wasn't alright with that.

"Honestly, I think you could do soooo much better," Risty said, rolling her Os. "Listen," Risty said, stepping in front of Rogue and halting her from walking. "About yesterday, I am sorry I just took off on you like that. I was going to come back to you, but something came up and, well, I just had to leave school for a little while."

Rogue raised her eyebrow at Risty, contemplating what she was telling her. She didn't see how Risty could just up and leave school, but at the same time, she had just apologised and it was going to be a long day.

Rogue sighed.

"Forget about it," Rogue finally said. "Why did you have to leave?"

The pair continued to walk to class as Risty filled her in.

"Oh, just some family stuff. My parents came to pick me up from school early. It had something to do with our visa, but it turned out to be nothing after all. How did the rest of your day go after I left? Stacy give you much trouble?" Risty asked.

Rogue frowned as she glanced around her. She couldn't see any of the cheerleaders about or jocks.

"Not as bad as yesterday morning. At least, not really. They tried planting something in my locker again and I almost got detention, but Jean got meh out of it. It was mainly Duncan who became the problem there. He tried taking Remy around back to beat him up with his muscle head buddies, but Scott was there and me and Jean managed to break it up before anyone seriously got hurt. Well, Duncan left with a bloody nose, but it could have been worse."

"Seriously? Duncan and Remy were fighting over you?" Risty demanded to know.

"Well, yeah. I guess so," Rogue said.

"And Remy held his own?" she asked.

"Well, of course he did. He's no push over." Rogue said, wondering why Risty was so interested in the fight.

"Whoa, so even when your seen as the bad guy around here when your totally not, you've still got guys fighting over you? Girl, your gonna have to share some of your secrets with me!" Risty said, linking Rogue as they entered their first class.

Xxxxx

It soon dawned on Rogue that she had hardly seen any cheerleaders around. Duncan and his pals were still in and would launch the occasionally spit ball at her, but they seemed like children compared to how the cheerleaders had been.

When Risty and Rogue were in the queue for their meals come lunch time, that was when she glanced around the lunch hall, only being able to pick out two of the cheerleaders.

"Where's Stacy?" Rogue asked rather quietly to Risty.

"Oh, I heard she took a fall last night down some stairs," Risty said.

Rogue turned to fully look at Risty now, rather surprised she hadn't heard about this sooner.

"Seriously?" she asked.

"Yeah. Broke her leg and everything. I doubt she'll be coming back for quite some time and, if she does, I reckon she won't be any trouble for a long while. Lucky for you, huh?" Risty said.

"Yeah," Rogue said, feeling like she was in disbelief of the situation.

She took a look around the lunch hall again, still seeing only two cheerleaders.

"But where are all the others?" Rogue asked Risty.

"Oh, them. Apparently, there was some woman last night who turned up at their houses and offered them free make overs. Of course, what they didn't realise was that most of this woman's stock was in testing and they ended up being really sick from it." Risty actually laughed before she said the next part. "Some of them ended up with these hideous rashes all over their face and refused to come to school it was so gross."

Rogue stared at Risty in utter disbelief.

"So, none of them are in either?" she questioned.

"Nope," Risky said, not hiding her smirk.

"Guess you must have some kind of guardian angel looking out for you," Risty said as she picked up her own tray and began to walk to find a table.

Rogue just stared after Risty, not believing this was all coincidence. Picking up her own tray, she followed after Risty.

Xxxxx

Gambit heard exactly what Rogue had heard about the cheerleaders while he was listening into the X-Men's conversation over lunch. He was as sceptical as her and he could tell she felt just the same way he did as the X-Men discussed it with her. A lot of the other X-Men were in disbelief at what had happened too. But, rather than think too much of it, they moved on with their day and not much interesting was said after that.

Gambit did watch for Risty's reactions to the conversation about the cheerleader's unfortunate luck. He noticed that she was smirking a lot and seemed to be enjoying their misery. He had a bit more of an idea who the woman was that had turned up to each of the cheerleader's houses. He also figure that Stacy's accident was no accident at all. What he found the worst thing was, he couldn't say that he felt too horrified by Mystique's actions.

Especially not when it was sparing Rogue the grief. Duncan and his lot had started spreading the rumour that she was a two-timing slut around the school again. He saw that it bugged Rogue, but it was a lot better than what had happened to her yesterday. It seemed that she was a lot more prepared this time and was able to cope with all the glances and whispering around her. He figured that having the X-Men around her had something to do with her confidence boost as well. He still didn't completely like that they had become more involved, but he wasn't disappointed at Cyclops keeping to his word and having the X-Men guard her during the school day. He dared say he was thankful, but he just couldn't bring himself around to the idea.

Sometime during lunch, Jean and Scott stood up and left the table temporarily. That was when Kitty and Kurt perked up.

"So guys, we're like totally having a party tonight!" Kitty squealed to both Risty and Rogue who were sat opposite her.

Rogue began to lower her folk from her open mouth, not much liking where this was going.

"Yeah, it's gonna be off the hook!" Kurt said as he turned to high five Kitty.

"Oh that's great!" Risty exclaimed. "But won't your guardian mind?" she asked, sounding less confident at that acknowledgement.

"No, he's gone away for the night so we like totally have the place to ourselves," Kitty explained.

"But don't tell Scott or Jean about this! They're both going out tonight otherwise, they would never allow this," Kurt explained.

"Gotcha!" Risty said, straightening up and becoming excited again at hearing the news. "Well, I'll be there! Rogue, you definitely need to come!" Risty said, turning on her.

"Oh," Rogue said, now glancing at Risty. Her eyes trailed over from Risty to Kurt and Kitty. All three of them were wearing the exact same expression. They were all excited and wanted her to join them. The only issue for Rogue was she was trying to avoid the X-Men when she could help it seeing how Magneto wanted her to absorb them and she really didn't want to.

"I'll have ta check in with Remy and my brother before I-" Rogue began to say.

"Oh come on Rogue! This is like a once in a lifetime thing! We get a full mansion to ourselves and, the best part, no jocks or cheerleaders are coming," Kitty said, hoping that offer of absent jocks and cheerleaders would be enough to convince Rogue to come.

Rogue, still trying to determine the best thing to do, smiled what she knew was her most promising smile at Kitty and Kurt and said: "I'll see what I can do."

There were thrilled shrieks from Kitty and Kurt as they began to mutter very quickly about that being two more people ticked off the list and what it is they had to do next. They soon hushed up though as Scott and Jean returned.

As all of this played out, Rogue sat back in her seat a little and tried to think of the best way out of this. She guessed letting Scott and Jean know would cancel the party, but she didn't want to just blurt it out in front of everyone and be seen as a grass in front of Kitty and Kurt. She was going to have to figure out a way to get this party cancelled without the reason for it being cancelled being lead straight back to her.

As Rogue sat with her own thoughts, two people watched her and determined what it was that uncomfortable and hesitant look was saying as she sat there thinking.

Risty was a little unsure what Rogue's game was, but she was certain she knew the girl well enough to know that she didn't actually want to go to this party and that was why she was going to make damn sure she did.

Gambit had more of an inkling to why Rogue was hesitant. He figured something was off with her since yesterday when she touched Jean and near lied about it. He knew that, this party, without any psychics there, was the perfect way for her to sink her claws (or more bare fingers) into the X-Men's business and collect more data for Magneto and the Acolytes. But, rather than jumping at the invite, she was backing off. Why? He figured this was turning out to be less about her being uncomfortable with using her powers after learning she had the ability to put someone in a coma and more to do with the information gathering. Why was Rogue backing down from her task?

Gambit sighed inwardly to himself as he figured he'd have to address Rogue's hesitation and soon. He couldn't let her brush this party aside and not attend it. Not when she had also been directly asked to attend. It was something he'd struggle to lie to Magneto about and something he wasn't going to lie to Magneto about without a very good reason. He had a feeling Rogue was going to keep quiet about this party as well and not tell him about it. Gambit shook his head, desperately hoping they were not returning to stage one again where Rogue kept things from him that he needed to know about. He hoped she would come forwards about the party to him and why she was hesitating on touching the X-Men after school so that he could find some kind of solution quickly to resolve the larger issue that would occur if she refused to speak to him. Gambit really was dreading the end of the school day.

Xxxxx

Rogue had been trying to get to Scott and Jean all day, but it near seemed impossible for some reason. Things just kept popping up like the school bell ringing before Rogue could even say one word to Jean or Risty turning up as she was approaching Scott and freaking out over a spider in the hallways when Rogue couldn't see a spider. She couldn't find one stupid opening to, somehow, slip the message to Scott and Jean that it was best they didn't go wherever the hell they were going tonight and stayed at the mansion, so no party broke out. But luck was not her friend today. At least, not with the X-Men.

"I'm so looking forward to tonight. You better be their girl or else your going to miss out major!" Risty went on as they approached the school exit.

Rogue was just nodding her head and brushing Risty off with the exact same response she had given at lunch as she tried to work out a last-minute plan to try and get the X-Men's party cancelled once and for all.

Although, as the pair did step out of the school, Rogue's thoughts instantly shifted.

"Why are the cops here?" Risty asked.

Rogue's eyes narrowed as she saw Gambit in conversation with two police officers outside of the school. This did not look good.

"Don't know," Rogue said in response to Risty. But she was going to find out. Rogue found herself automatically approaching Gambit and the two police officers, trying to hear what was being said before she even got to them. What she did find strange was that Gambit had his brown and white contacts in rather than wearing sunglasses to hide his eyes.

"-so you understand why we're here?" one of the police men said.

"Yes officer, but I can assure you this be a missunderstandin'," Gambit said.

"What's goin' on?" Rogue asked from behind the two police officers.

"This her," she heard the first police officer ask the second.

"Fits the description," the second said, frowning at her as he looked her up and down.

"What's your name miss?" the second police offer asked.

"Rogue," Rogue answered, looking between all three of the men before her. Gambit wasn't giving anything away when she glanced his way. He just seemed more irritated than worried about two police officers addressing him. The two police officers had pitying looks on their faces when she glanced at her and this really disturbed her.

"What's goin' on?" Rogue asked again.

"Here," Gambit said, presenting a card to the police officers.

Rogue glanced at it too, noticing it was a driver's license. One of the police officers took the card off Gambit and lifted it up high while reading it.

"Looks legit. Sixteen. Seventeen in a few days time," the first police officer said.

"Can someone answer mah question please?" Rogue demanded to know.

"They t'ink I be a predator," Gambit explained to Rogue.

"What?" Rogue asked, a natural expression of confusion and disbelief entering her face as she questioned Gambit.

"Oui, they t'ink I be of age an' I be havin' mon way wit' un mineur," Gambit said.

"That's ridiculous," Rogue said, it only hitting her a few moments later that she didn't actually know Gambit's age so the claim could have some merit after all. Especially when he looked around twenty one years old with his height. But still, the whole thing was just bizarre. She tried to keep her uncertainly heavily under wraps as she let Gambit take control over the situation. He seemed to be handling things pretty well.

"Why aren't you in school?" the first police officer asked Gambit.

"Home schooled," Gambit said simply.

"And your age miss?" the second police officer asked her.

Rogue glanced from Gambit to the second police officer, not knowing that her utter confusion was selling Gambit's and her innocence all the more.

"I'm sixteen going on seventeen in a few months," Rogue said.

"Do you have any ID on you?" the police officer asked.

"Not on me no, but as you can see, I'm leavin' school. Ya can ask anyone my age and they'll tell ya," Rogue explained pointing back to the school behind her.

The police officers looked to one another and then the second one took off towards the school to clarify Rogue's age while the other remained with the pair.

"What's brought all this on?" Rogue demanded to know.

"Y' really have t' ask?" Gambit asked her with one eyebrow raised.

It really didn't take long for Rogue to piece together what had happened.

"Duncan? Seriously?" Rogue said, her eyes enlarging in anger as she began glancing around in search for Duncan. She found him stood with a few of his friends to one side, a smirk on his face.

Feeling furry fill her, Rogue turned back to Gambit and the remaining police officer.

"Duncan called them? What the hell is he playing at?" Rogue ranted more than questioned.

Gambit's irritated frown told her everything.

"My God! It ain't Remy ya need ta be questionin' officer! It's Duncan Matthews. He's the one who's wastin' ya time!" Rogue stated.

"Miss Lensherr, I'm afraid we take these accusations very seriously and need to check all of the information available before a decision can be made," the police officer explained.

"Look, ya don't need ta waste your time with us. I can tell ya right now what's goin' on. Mah ex is tryna get back at me and Remy by callin' in a fake offence. He's just jealous I dumped his arse yesterday and turned down his advances on meh! Remy's never laid a hand on meh like that!" Rogue said.

"So your saying this isn't the correct person who's laid hands on you?" the police officer said.

"Yes! Wait, ah mean no. I mean, look! No one's touched meh like that, alright!" Rogue hissed, glancing around herself as she noticed people paying attention and trying to listen in.

Rogue's face was turning red from embarrassment and Gambit could see he really needed to step in before she became too emotional.

"She's right officer. She was seein' un garcon at de school for a short period of time. fortunately, it didn't work out an' she finished things wit' him yesterday. He's obviously not took it well an' is tryna find a way t' break us apart," Gambit explained.

"So you admit that you do currently have a relationship with Miss Lensherr?" the officer asked.

"Oui, we've been friends for quite some time an' recently learnt that we share similar feelings for one another. We agreed t' wait de few months till she turns of age though 'fore doin' anythin' we bein' accused of an' our guardian and mon pere have also consented to dis. They be makin' a statement and handin' it in over the next few days 'fore I turn seventeen," Gambit explained.

The police officer glanced at Rogue as if trying to double check the story.

"It's true. Mah ex is jealous an' just tryna cause trouble," Rogue said.

"So you both share the same guardian?" the police officer asked.

"Sort of," Gambit said. "Rogue's stepfather took moi in an' be takin' care of us both. I only have un pere back in Louisianan, but he knows 'bout dis an' is sendin' his consent," Gambit explained.

The police officer looked at Rogue, hoping she'd naturally click on that he wanted her to expand on her situation. She did.

"Ah don't know who mah biological father is an' mah mother took off an' left me in ma stepfather's care. He's fine with meh datin' Remy as long as we wait till I'm of age 'fore doin' anythin'," Rogue near whispered the last bit.

The police officer nodded his head, seeming to understand the larger picture Rogue and Gambit were presenting. The other police officer soon returned to clarify Rogue's age.

"Well, as it seems we will be dropping this case for now, but please don't do anything stupid and wait till your of age," one of the police officers asked the pair.

Rogue and Gambit nodded as the two police officers left them be.

Rogue, however, was still fuming and panicking over the situation.

"I cannot believe this!" she muttered angrily under her breath. "I cannot believe he-"

"Easy chere," Gambit said, placing his hand on Rogue's lower back to claim her. "Try not t' make a sense, non?"

"A scene? A scene's already been made Remy! And now Mag-"

"Don't say that," Gambit warned her sternly.

"Now my stepfather's getting' involved in this!" Rogue continued to hiss. "I'm gonna kill him!" Rogue said, folding her arms and thinking of painful ways she could make Duncan suffer.

"Only after I be finished wit' him, now try an' keep calm, non? We can figure dis out later. Right now, we have company," Gambit explained.

"Hey, you guys alright?" Scott Summers asked the pair.

Rogue had barely noticed the X-Men approach and needed to turn away and in towards Gambit. She couldn't face them right now.

"Oui mon ami. Just Duncan stirin' trouble once again," Gambit explained for them.

"Were they asking about your age?" Jean asked him as she shared a look with Scott.

"Oui," Gambit said, seeing no point in lying considering that the gossip was going to be spread around the whole school come tomorrow morning. He was really going to have to make Duncan suffer for this.

"How old are you?" Scott asked.

"Sixteen," Gambit replied back, giving Scott a rather distasteful look for asking.

"I just can't believe he did this," Rogue said, shaking her head. She had tried to control her anger as best as she could but she realised showing a little anger bit just be beneficial when it came to defencing herself and Gambit.

Scott snorted at Rogue's comment and glanced Duncan's way.

"I wouldn't put it past him," Scott said.

Soon, the whole group were looking towards Duncan and his party. Duncan seemed disappointed with the results and turned away, heading for his car.

"Hey, at least he didn't get away with it. I'm sure we can spread the rumour around that Duncan's so crazy with jealously that he's turned to desperate measures. I doubt he'll like being seen as the jealous type considering he tries to pride himself on getting any girl he wants," Jean said.

"Right," Scott said, having raised an eyebrow at Jean in a rather unsure manner, but by the end of things, he seemed more delighted with Jean's assessment of Duncan than disappointed. "That'll definitely help. Just hang in there Rogue, alright? I'm sure this will all blow over soon," Scott said, taking Rogue's shoulder and rubbing it slightly before walking away with Jean.

Kitty and Kurt, who had been slightly behind Scott and Jean, approached Rogue themselves.

"That Duncan, he's such a sore loser!" Kitty blurted out.

"Hey, let's make sure he doesn't ruin this whole day though. You still down for our party tonight?" Kurt asked. "It's going to be epic!"

It took everything Rogue had not to strain her eyes in stress and surprise at the mention of the X-Men's party in front of Gambit.

"Actually, after that whole show-" Rogue began to say.

"Come on now Cherie, de homme has a point. Best not let Matthews ruin all our fun," Gambit said, snaking his arm around Rogue's shoulders and rubbing her arm.

It was very hard for Rogue to keep back a frown at Gambit's words. Rogue had to think quickly. She tried to think of any reason she could use to get out of this party, but, unfortunately, with Gambit now knowing about it, it seemed like there was no way to get out of it. If she rejected going now, it would clue Gambit in to what she was actually doing and for Colossus' sister's sake, she couldn't afford to do that. Figuring she would just have to work things out as she went along, Rogue forced a small smile on her face to keep up appearances.

"What the heck," she said, agreeing to go.