"Have I ever mentioned how much I hate school," Remy groaned while rubbing his eyes.
She rubbed his head, "I know. Look, you don't have to drive me. I don't want things to be awkward."
He sat up straight, "We talked about it. There's no reason we can't be friends still. It was a little weird at first, but it's been almost a month, I'm getting used to it. I'll go grab the keys."
She looked at him sadly as he left the room. She grabbed their dishes and placed them in the sink before heading to the garage door. She felt someone wrap their arms around her followed by a kiss on the cheek. She turned around to see Sam smiling down at her. She laughed and punched him in the arm. Remy opened the garage door and his heart all but sank. Sam had been moving in on Rogue since they'd broken up. Remy cleared his throat, bringing their attention back to him.
"The, uh, ahem," his voice shook slightly, "the bike is ready. We should get going."
Rogue looked at Sam, "Well, you heard the man. Catch you later."
She pulled her bag on her back and walked with Remy. He went to put his arm around her but stopped himself. They had boundaries now that he was trying his best not to cross. Rogue hopped on the back of the bike and held on tight. Remy revved the engine and drove out of the mansion. They pulled into school about twenty minutes later and Remy felt his heart sink again as she climbed away from him. They walked into the school, heading for Rogue's locker. He noticed Sam at his locker, conveniently located next to Rogue's. She'd cleared her things out of his locker the Monday after their breakup. He kissed the top of Rogue's head and walked away.
Sam smiled at Rogue, "Want to walk class together?"
She looked up at him, "Why are you being so nice to me lately?"
He tilted his head to the side, "I mean, I figured it'd be obvious. I've always liked you Rogue. Here, I'll carry your books for you."
He grabbed her books and closed her locker, chatting with her while they walked to class. He leaned down and kissed her cheek before entering the classroom. She followed him in, watching as he placed her books on her desk before going to sit at his own. She sat down, pondering his words. Sam liked her? When did that happen? Did she like the fact that Sam liked her? Did she want him to like her? Her mind drifted to Remy. She couldn't do that to him, it would hurt him too bad if she dated someone else so shortly after they broke up. She could tell that he was doing his best to just be friends, but it was hurting him. Maybe she should just do a clean break and remove him from her life all together. She shook her head, focusing on her class.
Once the bell rang, she hurried out of the classroom. She walked over to him. This was always where they'd spent their free period together. Lately she'd been avoiding it and opting for the library. He looked up at her standing in front of him. He lowered his book and sat up a little straighter, resting against the tree in the middle of the courtyard. She tucked her hair behind her ear.
"I came here because I wanted to talk to you about…," she began.
"What's going on with Sam," Remy asked.
Rogue stayed silent for a moment, sitting in front of him, "I'm not really sure what's going on but he told me that he likes me."
Remy grimaced, "And you like him?"
She looked at the ground, "I don't know, maybe. It's weird."
He looked up, "Why are you telling me this?"
She took a deep breath, "Because if I decide I do, I don't want you to be caught off guard. I don't want to…hurt you more."
He smiled as he stood, trying to blink away the tears, "Don't worry about it. I'll be alright, I always am. You have to do what makes you happy with what time you have left. You gave me that night and a very kind heads up, which is more than I could ask for."
She looked up at him, "Remy…"
He shook his head, "Really, it's fine. I love you, Rogue, and that means I want you to be happy, even if it isn't with me."
She watched as he grabbed his things and walked away. She didn't know what else to say but she could see it in his eyes that she'd broken his heart all over again. She collected herself and walked through the double doors, entering the school once more. The rest of the day was a blur and she felt so heavy. She hitched a ride home with Kitty when she noticed Remy's bike was already gone. When she got home, she went straight up stairs and did her homework. She finished by the time diner was getting started.
She decided a jog would be good. She told Logan then left, assuring him she'd be fine. She selected the park instead of the town, not wanting to be surrounded by people. She had run halfway through the park but paused when the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She suddenly felt a sharp pain in her back. She hunched over and bit her lip, the wind feeling like it was knocked out of her. She looked up as Saber tooth slashed her stomach. She couldn't breathe, let alone focus long enough to heal herself. He grabbed her by the throat and threw her, causing her to breakdown two trees and repel off the third. She gasped for air as Saber tooth clawed her chest. She let out a scream but no sounds escaped her lips, blood spilling from her mouth. He punched her a few times then threw her again. He smiled as she clawed at the ground, no strength to get up. He kicked her in the stomach a few more times, stopping only when she stopped moving. He'd leave her there to bleed out.
"If they find you tell your boyfriend and Wolverine I said hi," he laughed as he left her there, battered and bloody.
"Logan," Remy asked, "Dinner's over, shouldn't Rogue be here by now?"
"Yeah," Logan agreed, "She probably just lost track of time. You know how she is when it comes to training."
He pulled on his jacket, "Look I have a bad feeling about this. Please just ask the kids to look around for her. I'm gonna head to the park."
Logan looked at him for a moment then began to round up the kids. He went to grab the keys to the bike but thought a car would be better, just in case she was hurt. He arrived at the park fifteen minutes later. He looked around, trying to think of the first place a person would hide a body. He looked everywhere, stopping when he noticed at least four trees had been knocked over in one spot. He ran over to it. His heart almost stopped when he found her. She was covered in blood and bruises. He leaned down to see if there was a pulse. He found it but it was very faint. He turned her over to see that her eyes were closed. She'd either been knocked out or passed out from the pain. He carefully picked her up before quickly making his way to the car. He placed her in the back seat and called Logan before driving off. Beast was waiting for him when he got back to the mansion. The students gasped as they saw her. Remy carried her to the med lab where Beast went straight to work. He finished two hour later. She'd needed stitches, a blood transfusion and heavy bandaging. She had a few broken ribs and a strained wrist. He was surprised she hadn't broken anything but her ribs. Remy walked in the room. She had an IV in her left arm and tubes in her nose to help her breath. She had a clip on her finger, reading her pulse.
Remy stood in the doorway for a moment, then decided to go sit by her. He grabbed her hand and kissed it. He pulled up his all too familiar chair and sat in it, making himself as comfortable as he could get. He'd noticed the claw marks as picked he'd picked her up. Saber tooth most have taken her by surprise. It was the only way to explain why she hadn't put up a fight, or why she didn't heal. Before going in Beast had told him she was in a coma and that she may have some memory loss. He stroked the side of her face, moving some hair out of the way. He shook his head in frustration.
"I'm sorry," he began to speak to her, "I guess I fucked up again. If we'd just…maybe you wouldn't have gone out tonight."
He looked up to see Sam standing in the doorway. He moved into the room, walking straight for the other side of her bed. He kissed her forehead once then pulled up a chair himself. Remy stood, he had no real business being here anymore. He watched as Sam took her hand in his. He could feel his hands beginning to burn. He let out a deep breath, Rogue wasn't his girlfriend, he had no right to get jealous.
"Hey," he whispered, "It's Sam, I came to check on you," he grabbed her other hand and squeezed, "I really wish you were ok. You should have asked me to go with you."
Remy looked down at him, "Are you guys…?"
Sam looked back at him, "Dating? No, but I, I really care about her. Maybe when she's ready, you know?"
Remy looked down, "Yeah, I know. Just…treat her right. She deserves that."
Sam watched as he left. He didn't go upstairs, just hid in the shadows. Sam stayed for about an hour before calling it a night. Remy moved back in, taking his spot next to her bed. He squeezed her hand before standing, hesitating for a moment then giving her lips a light kiss before returning to his seat. He touched her hand to his face, trying his best to keep all the emotions he'd been holding in from totally spilling over. He rested his head on the edge of the bed. Before he knew it he was fast asleep.
He walked down to the med lab yet again. He'd been going down there for a month and a half. He didn't expect to find anything different. Beast had told him that her wounds were healing nicely. He took that as a good sigh. Winter break was coming up in about three days. He refused to go back home unless she was awake. He froze when he reached the door. Beast turned around and smiled at him. He then met a pair of shinning emerald eyes.
She smiled at him, "Hey stranger. Long time no see."
He ran over to her bed, "When did you wake up?"
She laughed a bit, "While you were at school. Beast says I'm one hundred percent, which means I'm free to go."
Sam walked in as he was about to speak. He ran to Rogue's other side, sitting on the edge of her bed. She smiled softly at him. He ran his hand down her face. He helped her out of bed then walked out of the med lab with her. Remy followed behind them, thanking Beast for taking such good care of her. The students were extremely happy to see that she was finally okay. Kurt and Laura ran over to her, both smothering her in a hug. Logan pulled her into him when they were done. He gave her a 'go up to your room and rest' look. She nodded and continued making her way upstairs. She left Sam once they got to her room, stating that there was no way he was coming in. She hopped in the shower. She looked at herself in the mirror once she was done. She admired how long her hair had gotten. It reached to the middle of her back. She pulled out a pair of scissors. She re-trimmed her hair and bangs. She smiled once she was done. Her hair now reached a little higher than the middle of her shoulder blades. She changed into something comfortable then flopped on her bed. She looked over at her balcony doors, spotting Remy.
She walked over and opened the doors, "Come in, please."
He walked in, pulling her into a hug after she closed the doors, "I'm glad you're okay. You had me really worried."
"Sorry," she spoke into his chest, "Are you, well, am I still invited to go with you on winter break?"
He held her at arm's length, "Of course, if you still want to go that is. Will Sam mind?"
She looked at him, "I'd never miss a chance to go home and does it really matter what he thinks. He's not my boyfriend and even if he was it's not like I need his permission."
"Fair. You should clear it with Beast just to be safe," he told her, "But you better pack, I'm leaving first thing Saturday morning, five thirty at the latest."
"I'll go check with Beast now and Logan," she walked to her bedroom door.
He looked at her longingly, "Rogue, you should know…I'll try my best but I can't…"
She looked back at him, "I know."