A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Nice to know I didn't completely turn everyone off. Hope you enjoy this one as well.
Rogue knew that she should feel angered or jealous as she watched Piotr in vain try and separate her boyfriend from their one time classmate. He was defending the honor of another girl. A girl that didn't need protection, Kitty could be as invulnerable to touch as Marie herself had been when she first came to the mansion. Maybe that was what attracted Bobby . . . a girl that he felt he couldn't hurt, although he had been proven wrong on both girls' accounts. Stupid boys always saw things purely in their physical dimensions, forgetting the mental and emotional aspect of relationships. But she wasn't jealous.
Marie knew that she should have been gratified by her boyfriend's recent displays of kindness. He had been so attentive, bringing gifts, saying all the right things, arranging the perfect dates, what any teenage girl could want. If she didn't look into his eyes. When she looked into his eyes she knew he was going through the motions for whatever reasons. To be fair, Marie had been doing that herself for far too long.
At first she had thought that her she wasn't jealous of Kitty because she was too secure in her relationship. What she and Bobby had was too noble and too pure to be disrupted by a school girl crush. When the rumors swept through the school Marie wasn't bothered because she didn't care much what others thought. It was what made her the Rogue. What gave her the courage to do what she wanted without anyone's opinion mattering – whether that be her choice of attire or "curing" her mutation. The past week, and indeed even now, watching the scene unfold before her window, she realized that she wasn't jealous because she just didn't care who Bobby was with anymore.
John, however, was another story.
It was ironic that she had looked at her window – the same window where she had once seen her boyfriend and good friend share an intimate moment ice skating - at just the right moment to see that same girl having an intimate moment with John. And it was completely apparent which one bothered her more. Completely apparent and completely unfair – to Kitty, to Bobby, to John, to herself. She wanted the one boy she could never have and apparently in some sort of cosmic revenge it looked like Kitty Pryde would return the favor of being one more obstacle to that goal.
So Marie had watched half horrified, half relieved when Bobby interrupted. Horrified that John might be hurt; relieved that the seemingly tender moment had been interrupted.
It all made a certain sense now. Her relationship with Bobby had been strained since John defected although neither would admit that was the cause. Why she had been so cold to Kitty since the incident in the hallway had nothing to do with betraying Bobby's trust and everything to do with simple jealousy. Why she had started doubting her decision to be cured not after Bobby pulled away, but when John had stared at her in disgust. Why she was so quick to forgive someone that had tried to kill the only people in this world she considered family.
There was nothing she could do about it, his reaction to the news that she was no longer "one of them" had shown her that definitively if nothing else. Still all the same, as she watched Mr. Worthington and Piotr lead the two boys into the building, she wanted, no needed, to make sure that John hadn't been hurt too badly.
She ran down the stairs two at a time to the infirmary, hesitating only slightly as she saw up close the damage Bobby had inflicted on John's face.
"What are you doing here?" he snarled noticing her lingering in the doorway. "Here to gloat about how your boyfriend sucker punched me twice? Because I wouldn't if I were you."
Marie took a small step back, intimidated slightly by his fiery words. He always had been passionate about everything he did, which Marie admitted was one of the parts of him she found attractive.
"You know he wasn't defending your honor but that of the fair Katherine, right?" He also talked too much, which was much less endearing.
"I came . . . I came to see if you're alright," Marie said, finding her voice and stepping into the room.
He seemed a little taken aback by that. It was replaced quickly with a sneer. "Why would you do that? Or have you forgotten? I'm dangerous!"
"Because we used to be friends, once upon a time." She answered softly.
"We were never friends." John snorted, but he couldn't seem to meet her eyes as he said it.
"Sure we were. You, me, Bobby." When he didn't respond, Marie grew bolder. "And maybe we coulda been something . . . well, something else, you said as much in the hallway."
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Marie wished them back. For one thing they were completely traitorous. No matter what feelings she may have discovered or think she had discovered; she was still with Bobby. But more painful was the absolute look of horror that crossed John's face as if he had just said something that was too disgusting to contemplate.
"I also mentioned that it would have been a mistake," John replied, suppressed anger in every word. "I would never crossbreed or even be seen with one of your kind. Especially one who chose to inflict it upon herself. It's a pity. But it's no wonder Bobby's moved on, too."
Forgetting everything she had just considered and focusing only on the pain, Marie crossed the distance between them in two strides, slapping his face with a resounding crack! The Bobby comment was like water off her back, but the loathing with which he had said 'your kind' had filled her with hurt and regret.
She strode out of the med bay, pausing only momentarily to look at the Bunsen burners in the chemistry lab next door, chilled by what she saw.
Marie shook her head to clear it as she headed back upstairs toward Miss Monroe's office. She was so angry; she was imagining things that was all. She figured she should find Bobby sooner rather than later and let him tell her whatever he wanted to before it was twisted and corrupted by the teenage rumor mill. Assaulting another student, even a convicted felon was sure to get him in some sort of trouble and Marie would play the doting girlfriend one last time. Considering how she really felt, now would be an inopportune time to confess.
Unless you're trying to get back at Kitty by keeping the guy she wants out of reach, a voice suggested in her head. Marie tossed that thought aside as ridiculously petty. After all if Kitty and Bobby got together that would leave John free. Free for any of "his kind" however. Never for her.
Marie was not surprised to find the Headmistress' office doors closed barely muffling the loud voices arguing inside. She was surprised that none of them seemed to be the voice of her boyfriend.
"How long you going to keep up this charade, 'Ro? We can't do this!" Logan shouted.
"We have to, Logan. Don't you see? The kids here need us! They need a place where they can be safe," Storm's voice, equally loud was more pleading.
"Well, lately, if you haven't noticed this place isn't too safe. The popsicle busting that loser's nose is one thing and not completely unexpected, but discipline in this school has gone to hell! Did you know I almost had to tear Kitty Pryde off another girl in self-defense class last week?" Logan's voice was exasperated.
Ororo's voice was too soft to make out, but fortunately Logan continued to bellow.
"Damn straight that's not like Kitty. When the straight A student types are suddenly out for blood there's something seriously wrong with this situation!" Logan took a deep breath.
A third voice stepped in, one that Marie finally placed as belonging to Mr. Worthington. "From a business standpoint, Mr. Logan is accurate as well. Something's got to give, Ororo. Since Mr. Allerdyce arrived we've been placed in a rather precarious situation. You can't be a school and a rehab center, not if you want to keep recruiting and advertising to parents that this is a safe alternative to the type of life they are afraid their children will follow. A life that Mr. Allerdyce chose for himself. Unless something changes and fast, you'll have to close the school or at least regain permission from each student's parents regarding the changed circumstances. It's not fair to the students or to the parents to represent one thing and provide another. More importantly, I'm not sure it's completely legal."
The voices grew softer and Marie moved from the door, too horrified to hear Miss Monroe's response. They were either going to have to send John to jail or close the school? She knew which choice Bobby would choose in a heartbeat and probably most of the other students as well, but she knew that if there was a chance to save John this was the only place and the last try. And despite the hateful words that he had just thrown at her, Marie couldn't help but want to save him. A high-level security prison would cement once and for all that Magneto had been right and John would be lost forever to a life of crime and terrorism, however long that life might last.
All thoughts of finding Bobby fled her mind. She needed time to think this over; come up with a plan that could save both John and the school.
She headed upstairs only to almost trip over someone huddled against the stair rail.
"So you heard all that, too," Jubilee asked, trying to dry her eyes quickly so Rogue wouldn't see.
Marie was taken aback. The Asian-American teen always seemed so full of laughter and joy, she wasn't sure she had ever seen her without a smile, let alone crying. Jubilation – her name fit her. Even after being rescued from Stryker's camp and the death of Dr. Grey the first time, Jubilee had been the one to put her own fears aside and do her best to cheer up all the residents of the mansion in her own special way. "I heard enough," Marie finally answered, lowering herself to the steps to sit beside Jubilee.
"Well, I hope you saved that letter," Jubilee responded.
"What letter?" Marie's mind was occupied with other things, she was having trouble understanding what Jubilee could be referring to.
"You know . . . from your parents. When the school closes, you'll have some place to go." Jubilee fumbled with a tissue, but the tears didn't show any sign of stopping.
"Oh, that letter." Marie wasn't sure how to answer. She was sure that if anyone would find a way to keep the school open it was the three people behind the doors behind them. She opened her mouth to tell her friend that same thing, but Jubilee had moved on.
"I'm a runaway, did you know that? I had been living on the streets for two years when my powers kicked in. Scott found me when I was living in a mall. At first I ran away, you know? Why would these people want to help me? Why was I worthy of saving when there were so many other girls on the streets?" Jubilee's voice was small.
"Jubilee . . ." Marie tried once again, hating the feeling of being so helpless.
"Don't! Just . . . don't. It's different for you and Kitty. Both of your parents want you. You have someplace to go. And that's why it's easy for the two of you to want him to stay," Jubilee's voice grew acidic at the last sentence.
"What?" Whatever was going on with Jubilee and Kitty, it was beyond Marie's powers of perception.
"Pyro. Kitty spends every moment with him now and you . . . you'd rather they close the school and let him be spared. Never mind that saving him would mean destroying the rest of us. Because you have another choice. Never mind that so many others don't have a place to go. Me, Pete, Bobby, so many others? You would trade all of us for him." Before Marie could disagree, Jubilee had sprung to her feet. "Don't even try and deny it. I've seen the way you look at each other. I picked up a bit of people sense while living on the streets. I just wish for once you'd stop being so damn selfish and realize what he's doing to the rest of us."
"Jubilee!" Marie reached for her hand but the girl slipped through it with a skill that almost made it seem like she shared her best friend's phasing power. She was up the stairs before Marie could stand up.
Marie sat back down with a thump thinking of all the things she had been accused of. Was she that obvious in her attraction to John or was Jubilee just perceptive? Would she really rather they close the school? Was she really seen as selfish?
The whole conversation made her feel completely unsettled and frustrated. She clenched her fists before throwing them down and standing up . . . and a spark flew from her fingers.
Marie felt lightheaded suddenly and tried doing it again, but nothing happened. But she couldn't deny what earlier she had thought had been mere coincidence may be something far more sinister. After slapping John and stalking angrily away all the fires in the chemistry room had flared – once.