Going Home
"What is more agreeable than one's home?"
- Marcus Tullius Cicero
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"You're going where?" Logan asked me, sounding obviously shocked, if not slightly skeptical.
"Home, you big dummy." I answered, a huge grin plastering my face.
"When?"
We had been playing a game of pool when I had sprung my idea on him, and from then on, the game looked like it was going to have to be paused.
I smiled sheepishly. "I… uh, I haven't really asked the Professor yet." Logan raised his eyebrow at me. "But I think he'll let me!" I added quickly. He shrugged and turned back to the pool table, aiming the white ball at a red striped one. He shot and got it in. I sighed but continued. "I wanna go and have enough time to see them and do some stuff with them, but be back in time to finish the summer break."
"Kid, I don't want to be a downer, but… what if they, y'know, reject ya or somethin'?" He said, glancing up at me from shooting at another pool ball, obviously getting that one in as well.
My stomach shrank slightly, but I shook the feeling away and shrugged. "If slam the door in my face, then they do. I'll come back, but at least I know they're there. At least I know they're safe…" Logan grunted in approval and shot at another ball, but it missed by an inch and hit the corner, bouncing off and traveling half way down the table.
I took my chance and bent down, closing one eye and trying to aim my pool stick properly, balancing the front of it between my two fingers. I sucked at pool, but hey, I tried. As I was about to take a shot, Logan, shifting his weight from one foot to another, spoke up.
"Iceprick's lookin' for you." He said quietly with a smirk on his face. I shot, missed, and brushed the side of the solid purple ball, making it spin off and go in the opposite direction. I bit back the growl that was about to bubble through my lips, wanting to hurt Logan for making me miss my shot, but then there was someone calling my name.
"Rogue? Rogue, you here?" Bobby's voice rang throughout the hallways a moment later. I glanced at Logan, raising my eyebrow. He smiled and shrugged as if to say, 'Hey, don't blame me for my super-amazing abilities to detect people before anyone else'. "Rogue?" He called out again. I bit my lip and smiled, devising a little plan of mine to make Bobby a little jealous. Just something to get back at him before I ran off to my home.
"Logan, would you help me with this shot? I just can't seem to hit the damn ball." I said with the sweetest smile I could muster. I even batted my eyelashes a few times.
He knew exactly what I was doing, but he didn't object, thankfully, and only smiled back.
"Sure thing, darlin'."
He set his cue stick against the wall and sauntered over, then bent over me, surrounding my shoulders with his arms, placing his hands over mine. I smiled to myself, enjoying every moment of Logan's warm, well-muscled body against mine. I told myself not to enjoy it too much, since he was only helping me get back at Bobby.
"See, you're doin' this all wrong…" He said softly, breathing into my ear. I suppressed a shiver. "Balance the cue like this," He shifted my fingers and then put the cue in between them. "Then bring it in closer over here." He moved his arm so that it was just near my waist, and brought my gloved arm in closer towards me. Just as he was doing so, Bobby Drake walked in, eyes widening the moment he saw us.
I had to say, his expression was priceless. First shock, then disgust, and then jealously. After those emotions, he tried to hide it by putting on a neutral, if not slightly taken-aback façade.
"Rogue?" He squeaked, then cleared his throat.
I looked up hurriedly as if I was surprised by his sudden appearance, and, just as I had hoped, Logan didn't move from his hovering position over me.
"Oh, hey Bobby." I said sweetly.
"W-what're you doing?" He asked me suspiciously.
"Playing pool." I drawled. "Well, actually, Logan's teaching me. I can't hit a ball to save my life." I corrected myself, letting out a giddy chuckle. I stood up slightly, letting Logan know that he could take a step back now. He did. "Did you want something, Bobby?" I asked innocently.
"Well, I – uh, I sorta wanted to talk to you." He said, glancing over at Logan and shooting sparks of hatred towards him. Logan stared at him right back, silent and controlled, until Bobby lost his confidence and broke his eye contact to look back at me.
I glanced up at the clock on the wall and drew a sharp intake of breath. "Oh man, I'm sorry Bobby, but I've got to go talk to the Professor. I'm already late!" I made my way over to the pool rack and placed my cue in one of the holders, then looked sadly at Bobby.
He paused. "What for?"
"To ask him if I can go visit my parents." I answered him bluntly. He looked even more taken-aback. He opened his mouth to say something, but I quickly cut him off. "Listen, I'll talk to you tonight at dinner, 'kay? We'll both explain everything." I made sure to exaggerate 'both' since I wasn't the only one who had to spill the beans, and made sure to put on a serious face. I meant business. Bobby was in for some good lecturing, I was sure about that.
"I… Okay." He said with a sigh, then turned and walked out of the Games Room with a definite slump to his shoulders. I turned back to Logan and gave him a big smile.
"You're harsh." He said after a moment with a smirk.
"I know." I said with a devilish grin. "But he deserves it."
"Where'd all the depression and sadness go, anyway?" He asked, crossing his arms across his chest.
I smiled slightly shrugged. "I kissed it goodbye last night. Now it's only self-fulfillment and… well, I guess revenge."
He shook his head and glanced up at the clock. "So that Professor thing was that just something to get him off your back?"
"No, I had actually asked him if I could talk to him. I didn't say what, though." I said, tugging my shirt down and making my way towards the exit. "See ya later, Logan." I said, giving him a small wave and moving through the doorway. I paused and hurriedly backtracked, poking my head back into the room. He was already leaned back over the table, aiming another shot. "Oh, and thanks." I added quietly, sincerely. I smiled and he returned it, nodding his head.
"Yer welcome, kid."
The thanks was not only for helping me out with Bobby in the Games Room, but for just being there, for comforting me yesterday. And pretty much everything else he had done, too. I continued walking, with my shoulders straight and my head up, towards Xavier's office. Just as I neared his office door, that's when I began to feel the butterflies in my stomach. I stopped at the closed door and closed my eyes, taking in a few deep breathes before raising my hand to knock.
"You may enter, Rogue." The smooth and collected voice of Professor Xavier floated through the door, causing me to jump slightly. I cleared my throat and opened the door, stepping in and then closing it behind me. I flashed a nervous smile at the Professor then hurriedly sat down at the chair that was pulled out in front of his desk.
"You said you wanted to see me, Rogue?" He asked, entwining his fingers and leaning over his desk.
"Yeah. Y'see, Professor, there's this thing I've been wanting to do for a while now…"
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I closed the door to Xavier's office and walked out into the hall, turning the corner with my lips sealed tightly against each other. As soon as I was out of hearing-range, I stopped, looking around to see if anyone was watching, then jumped up and let out a squeal of joy. He had allowed me to go! I was so excited! I would finally see my parents and get a good follow up of the past two years that I had missed out on. Oh my God, there'd be so much to talk about! Like how our neighbours were, and what my friends were doing now, and… how David was. Now that'd be an interesting topic… But I'd get to see—
"I'm guessin' that Chuck said 'yes'?" Logan's voice interrupted my thoughts.
I jumped slightly from his suddenness, heart still beating wildly. I hated it when he did that. "Jesus, Logan, please stop sneakin' up on me like that!" He smirked but I grinned back. "Yeah… He's letting me. I'm scheduled to leave tomorrow afternoon."
"So soon?"
"Yeah, well, I told him I wanted to leave as soon as possible. I told him I was having some personal problems that I needed some time from." I purposefully left out the part where the Professor explained to me that I shouldn't run from my problems, since it was so alike Logan. I continued, clearing my throat. "I'm just so…"
"Ecstatic?" Logan finished my sentence. I nodded.
"Yeah. I mean, after two years…" I sighed, my gaze drifting off into the past. I blinked and returned my attention back to Logan. "But I have to take a plane over." I added begrudgingly.
"What's so bad about that?" He asked, crossing his arms across his chest and leaning against the wall.
I sat down on a bench that was pressed up against the wood paneled wall, positioned beside him. "Well, firstly, I'm still a little freaked out from flying, since what happened on the Black Bird…" I stopped there, knowing that it would bring painful memories for Logan. I glanced up at him to see if his expression changed. It didn't even flinch, and I mentally congratulated him for it. "Plus, I wanted to drive down, y'know, go for a short road trip. Do some sight-seeing."
He looked down at me, quirking his eyebrow. "You can drive?" Logan asked me skeptically.
I looked up at him and gave him a 'are-you-kidding-me' look, then said, "Uh, yeah? I got my driver's license last year the day after my birthday!" I paused, raising my own eyebrow at him. "You do know how old I am, don't you?"
"Fifteen…?" He guessed, trying to make it sound legitimate.
I gawked. Did I still look the same as when he found me? Or did he honestly have no idea? I reached out and gave him a light slap on his arm. "I'm seventeen! I had my birthday in April!" I cried out, hiding my smile.
He chuckled. "Sorry. I'm not good with people's age. I don't even know mine myself, so ya can't blame me."
"Ugh, bastard…" I muttered, shaking my head. I stood up, pondering what to do next. "What time is it?" I asked Logan, remembering the 'meeting' at dinner with Bobby.
"Five-thirty. Why?"
"Bobby, remember?" I said, speaking his name as if it were a bad taste in my mouth.
"Oh, yeah, right." He said, nodding while looking down at his shoes.
"Well, I'd better get going. I think this will be a long discussion." He nodded and lifted himself off the wall, striding down the hallway towards the TV Room. "I'll talk to you tomorrow when I leave. See ya then!" I called after him. He replied with a friendly, nonchalant grunt, and then I made my way towards the cafeteria.
Students were just beginning to file in, many of them chattering away at each other, laughing, whispering, joking. I peered over the rows of tables in search of either Bobby or Kitty, but found neither. Sighing, I fell in line and grabbed a sandwich and a drink, and then sat down at an empty table. I pried the cellophane off of the ham sandwich and nibbled at it, but set it down, finding myself not hungry at all.
I guess I was lost in thought, because Colossus sat down across the table, surprising and making me jump slightly.
"Hello, Rogue." He said cheerfully in his slight Russian accent, digging his fork into tonight's spaghetti.
"Hey, Pete." I answered glumly, poking at the sandwich.
"What's the matter?" He asked. That's what I loved about him. He was so… peaceful, so kind, and sometimes even… oblivious to things. He was borderline six foot five, huge, and on the edge of intimidating, but his personality did not match his looks at all. The best description for him would most likely be a great big teddy bear. He cared for everyone and helped out too.
I smiled, looking up at him as he wiped some sauce from his chin. "Well, y'know…" He gave no sign that he knew anything about what had just happened between my ex-boyfriend and me. "Bobby?" She reminded him. Maybe word hadn't got out about what had happened…
"Oh, yeah." He took a sip of his water. "I heard about that. Jubilee told me."
Shit. Okay, well, maybe not all of the details got out.
"You caught him with Kitty, right? In his own bed?" He asked, sounding so innocent I just couldn't be mad at him. I sighed heavily, holding my head in my hands.
"Yeah. Pretty much." I muttered, wondering when Bobby would show up. I sighed heavily, looking up through my disheveled hair. "Have you seen him lately, by chance?" I asked, trying not to sound impatient.
He chewed silently for a minute, and then said, "Well, last time I saw him was about half an hour ago. He was in the library with Kitty." He shrugged. "They should be coming soon."
I grunted, running my fingers through my hair. I sat with Poitr the whole time it took for him to finish his dinner, talking about school and other unimportant things, until almost all of the students seemed to disperse out of the cafeteria. Pete's plate and leftover food was already dumped in the garbage can, and had promised to stay with me until Bobby showed up.
I glanced up at the clock for the twentieth time, sighing tiredly. It was already seven o'clock, and the cooks were beginning to clean up.
"Son of a bitch…" I muttered under my breath, sitting up. He was so going to pay.
"Where are you going?" Poitr asked,
"I'm going to go find Bobby and beat the living daylights out of him…" I said between clenched teeth, standing up and marching towards the exit. I heard him come jogging after me, then match my stride, but I didn't care. He could watch me terrorize that little prick. Hell, the whole mansion could watch me tear him apart. And if I caught him with Kitty anywhere near him, I swear to God, I'd…
We had reached the library where Pete said he had seen them last, and I froze in my tracks. They were sitting together at a table, talking. As if everything was perfect. I felt my whole body tense up and my gaze turned to fire.
I stepped into the library, stomping my way across the large room straight to him, as he looked up. His expression was undeniable; it was shock mixed with fear. It only drove me faster. He stood up quickly, coming towards me.
"Rogue, I'm sorry, I—"
I put my hands on his chest and shoved him backwards, sending him toppling over his chair and onto the ground. Almost everybody in the library looked up in horror.
"You bastard!" I cried out. "I can't believe you! You egotistical, inconsiderate, piece of shit!" Some students began to get up silently and leave, not wanting to get involved with the quarrel.
"Listen, Rogue, I—"
"No! You just shut up!" I screamed again, feeling my eyes burn with tears. "You cheat on me with my best friend, then don't show up at dinner when we were supposed to work this mess out? Don't tell me to goddamn listen to you after what you've done!"
"Rogue! Stop!" Kitty exclaimed, jumping up to help Bobby.
Tears were streaming down my face now, and there were so much I could barely see. "And you! You don't even deserve to be called a friend! You're just a backstabbing bitch!" I screamed, feeling my knees begin to buckle. Just then, I felt someone's strong, large hands on my shoulders, trying to pull me away. I jerked away, slapping Colossus's hands off of me, then turned and sprinted out of the library and around the corner.
I blindly ran towards the staircase, when I collided into someone. Before I fell, two hands grab my glove-covered arms and pulled me up. I tried to pull away, slapping and even kicking a few times, but the grip was relentless.
"Let me go!" I cried out, squirming.
"Marie!" It was Logan. I opened my teary eyes and blinked a few times before focusing on him. "What's the matter?"
I jerked one more time and he let go. "It's Bobby. H-he didn't show up at dinner and… and…" I could barely speak, I was so infuriated. Plus the tears were coming back. I collapsed into his open arms, sobbing. "I hate him, I hate him so much, Logan…" I wailed.
He said nothing, but just stroked my hair gently, being careful not to touch any skin. I finally pulled away, noticing I had soaked through his white wife beater with my tears, and wiped at my eyes with the back of my hands. I made a move to go around him and run up the stairs, but he caught me just in time again, making me look up at his soft gaze.
"You want me to do somethin' about this?" He asked me in his gruff, yet comforting voice.
Usually I would have said 'no', and told him to stay out of it, but at the moment, I really didn't care if Logan ripped Bobby to pieces or not. I shrugged, wiping my eyes again.
"I don't care. Just… just leave me alone." I sniffed. "I have to go pack…" I muttered, knowing that it was a lame excuse. He sighed quietly but let go.
"'Kay." He said as I began my long trek up the staircase. "Just make sure I see you before ya leave tomorrow." I nodded absentmindedly, continuing up the stairs. I felt his gaze on me the whole time until I was out of sight and down the corridor.
I opened the door to my room, closing it and locking it after me, then sunk to the floor in front of my closet. I needed to pack, but I felt miserable at the moment, and didn't feel like doing anything. After some time of just sitting there, I finally took the initiative to grab a duffle bag and begin stuffing it with articles of clothing. I sighed as I threw it to the ground, knowing fully well that I would have to redo it in the morning, and collapsed onto my bed.
I drifted in and out of sleep, my mind finding it difficult to organize my thoughts about the recent events including Bobby and Kitty, leaving me to ponder about the trip back to my home. Back to Meridian, Mississippi.