Summary: A single act brings hurt and grief.

Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men

Rating: T

Betrayal

Chapter 13

Present Time: Westchester, New York

…later in the afternoon…

A hand flew through the air, colliding with Bobby's cheek in a loud smack. The harsh blow drew a stunted cry from his lips. He covered his face and turned to face a wily girl with smoldering emerald eyes and luminous green hair. "Just where the fuck were you last night," Polaris rasped. "I waited up till midnight then I went to bed alone. And now I know why?"

Alarmed, Bobby gripped her arm, dragging her down the hallway, and into the privacy of the library. He closed the door and swung around. "It's not what you think," he grunted, massaging his cheek.

"Is it." Polaris glared at him. She was so angry, she was literally shaking in her clogs. "I watched you and Kitty parade into the lunch room like a blushing bride and groom. What's up with that? I thought you were going to break it off with the mousy little scamp."

"It's not that simple." Bobby replied.

Polaris looked at him, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Oh," she gritted through her teeth. "She's in love and you don't want to break her heart."

"Something like that."

"And what about me Bobby," she demanded. "What about my heart?"

He went to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Polaris…I do care about you…I want to be with you."

She squirmed out his hold, retreating to a nearby couch. "Don't mind fuck me Bobby! I'm not a ditz like Kitty. You got three days to set her straight or I'll do it myself." She surged to the door, but Bobby caught her by the wrist, pulling her to him.

"You won't say anything to her understand!" His blood was hot in rage. "I will tell her when the time is right."

Polaris blinked, her mouth curling into a vicious smile. "Scared."

"Hell no." Bobby grunted and released his hold on her. He forced himself to relax. He didn't want to rile her infamous temper, and he certainly didn't want Kitty to find out about him and Polaris. He had no desire to let things get more crazy than they already were. It was bad enough Rogue managed to sniff him and Kitty out. It surprised him she didn't know about Lorna.

"You better be," she snapped. " 'Cause if you're still together by Thursday, she and the whole school will know what a slut you really are."

Yanking the door open, she stormed out the library.

"Fuck!" Bobby cried, realizing the predicament he was in. He should have known better than to get involved with Lorna. But she captivated him with those dazzling eyes and curvaceous body. What guy could resist, honestly. He paced the room, a thousand thoughts buzzing in his head. It was then he noticed Kitty standing in the doorway and paused. She had an expression on her face that nearly made his heart jump out his chest.

"Was that Lorna?" She asked.

He cleared his throat, rubbing his cheek, hoping the red imprint of a hand had faded. "Yeah, she came in here to get a book…so…" Kitty's face brightened. She pranced into the room, almost leaping into his arms. She kissed him boldly then stared into his eyes. "What was that for?"

"I'm so in love with you that's what," she giggled.

He chuckled and pulled her close. "Yeah."

"Yeah, what?" she said, stroking his back, pressing her fingers into his muscles.

"Ugh…" Bobby loosened his grip, looking down at her. Her brown eyes peered up at him innocently; expectation glowing in the chocolate depths.

"Bobby?" Kitty gradually unwound herself from his arms. "You do love me right?"

"How could you doubt that I don't."

"I haven't heard you say it."

He raked his hand through his hair, groaning. "You know I do."

Kitty swallowed the lump in her throat. "Then say it. Say that you love me."

"Jesus Christ, Kitty. What does it matter?"

Tears pricked the edge of her eyes. Her face grew hot. "It matters to me! What was I to you all this time? A cheap thrill?"

"No," he yelled. "Kitty, shit, I care about you."

"That's not what I asked," she shook her head, her face pinched white. "Do you love me?"

"Yes! Damn…you happy now."

Her face broke as a wealth of tears streamed down her face. "Go to hell." She turned and fled the room.

"Kitty don't leave." His eyes lolled to the back of his head at the sound of the door slamming. "Fuck!"

--

…two days later…

"What about this one?" Jubilee suggested holding out a bright pink tank top. "It'll look cute with the denim skirt." Rogue lowered her book, took a good look, and shook her head. Jubilee growled and tossed the top onto her bed with the half dozen outfits her friend had rejected. "Mr. Summers is going to be here any minute to take you shopping and your sitting there reading in your bathroom."

Rogue lowered her book. "I would have clothes if it weren't for a certain somebody," she commented.

Jubilee made a face. "If you were like not going to hit her," she said tersely, searching her closet once more. "You could have summoned me to do the job."

"I bet you would." Rogue giggled. "But Sc--Mr. Summers is right. I'll only be sinking to her level." She ran her fingers through her hair, batting her eyes. "I'm more sophisticated than that."

Jubilee turned around and looked at her roommate, a mischievous smile growing on her lips. "What don't you just call him Scott? Save us both the trouble."

Rogue blinked. "I don't know what you mean."

"Stop it Rogue. I know you dig the guy. End your suffering and mine and call the guy by his first name." Closing her book, Rogue set it aside, astounded by Jubilee's accusations. Sure, she liked Scott, but it could never amount to anything. He was her teacher and way older than she was. He aged her by ten years, and the last time she checked. It was illegal in all fifty states. "Yeah I know he's like way older, totally uptight, but he's a major hottie. Not to mention you'll be eighteen in four months. I don't foresee a problem."

"First of all," Rogue corrected. "I'll be turning seventeen thank you very much. Secondly, there's nothing going on between me and Mr.--" She saw the look in Jubilee's eyes and sighed in defeat. "Fine…Scott. We're not a couple, we're friends, and he's still getting over Jean."

Jubilee whirled around in pure displeasure. "Okay. As far as the Wicked Bitch of the West is concerned, I think he's been over her and I can't be more thrilled. The woman is so high maintenance, well, so is Mr. Summers but in a cool way you know."

"It's only been two weeks. He can't be over her."

"Why?" The spunky Asian tossed her a devious grin. "Afraid he might set his sights on you." She saw the way Rogue paled and frowned. "You are. Rogue." She walked over to her bed and sat down. "What are you afraid of?"

Rogue lowered head and shook it. "Hope." She chocked back the swell in her throat, the familiar sting in her eyes before the break of tears. "I…ugh, I so want to love and be loved Jubes. I thought Bobby would give that to me completely." She turned her eyes to ceiling, exhaling. "I was so wrong about that."

"Don't waste one tear on that fool. He didn't know what he had." Jubilee gritted then arched a brow. "Besides, rumor has it that it ain't looking so good in la-la land."

Frowning, Rogue tipped her head. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not certain," Jubilee tapped her chin. "But word around is that Kitty isn't speaking to the loser."

Rogue gave out a hapless laugh. "I guess we're both in the same boat."

Jubilee narrowed her eyes. "You not feeling sorry for her are you? Remember she stole Bobby from you."

"I'm tired of being angry with everyone Jubes," said Rogue crawling out the bed. "I've got my own problems. I don't have time to fret about Kitty or Jean or Logan."

"You had to bring him up." Jubilee said, her mouth tight.

"What's you're deal against him anyhow. He hasn't done shit to you."

"No," she retorted. "But he's done thing to Ms. Munroe, a sweet lady, and to you. Come on, you were in love with him once."

"That was a child's fantasy."

Jubilee stood up. "But tell me it didn't hurt just a bit when you found out about him and that slut. Tell me."

"If I do can we drop the subject and return to what I'm going to where. I can't go shopping naked you know."

"Wear the one good jeans you have and hoodie."

"They're filthy," Rogue cried. "I've worn them for two days now, and I'm not wearing sweats to the mall. Not in this heat."

"Well you don't seem to like my sense in fashion," the Asian snapped. "What am I suppose to do."

"Fine." Rogue gritted her teeth and ripped off the robe allowing it to fall to the floor. She tugged on a pair of Jube's jeans and wrenched the pink tank top down over her head. "Satisfied."

Jubilee grinned. "You look hot chica. Where have you been hiding that body?"

"Under a mountain of clothes. " She looked in the mirror. "I'm wearing my sneakers."

"All right with me." Bouncing off the bed, Jubilee skipped over and took her hand. "Let's do you're hair. You always have it in that god awful pony tail. And we can add a bit of color to your cheeks and zest to those dry lips. Make them moist and sweet for Scott."

Rogue shoved her lightly, laughing madly. "Don't go there!"

"Not me," Jubilee's eyes sparkled. "But I hope he will." She giggled and picked up her brush, stroking it through her friend's brown hair. A knock came at the door. "Oohh…it's him!"

"Ha ha." Playfully hitting Jubilee, she rose and answered the third knock. Her breath caught as she stared up to Scott. He was dressed as he was always, a sensible shirt and pants. She felt irregular in Jubilee's clothes. Exposed in the tight shirt that barely seemed to cover anything.

"You look nice," he smiled.

She blushed. "Thanks."

"Ready?"

She nodded. "Yeah." She gave Jubilee a final glance and her mouth dropped at her lewd gestures. She quickly shut the door before Scott could see her. "I hope you're ready for this," she said to him as they bounded down the stairs.

"I hope the Professor can handle the bill."

Rogue let out a riotous laugh.

--

Present Time: New York City, The Mall

If Scott had know the torment he was going to face, he would have strung Jubilee or Kitty along for moral support. Rogue was impossible. Store to store she complained about everything. From prices to the clothes even down to a pair of socks; he couldn't understand her obsession in finding dark long sleeved items. He was one step close to suffering a mental break down. There was no quarrel on shoes to his relief. At least they agreed on one thing. The rest was pure pandemonium. Disgruntled, he dragged her into Macy's, and grew horrified by the sheer size. The entire department store was for women alone.

Where would they even begin?

"Scott's that's not brown," Rogue clarified. "That's taupe."

"What's the difference?" He gripped the pants.

"Taupe is brownish grey," a woman said from behind, an employee of the store. "Brown is brown."

He glared at the woman. "Thank you."

"Rogue we've been at the mall for hours and we've got a long drive back to house. Buy something or I'll kill you."

"Alright," she sucked her teeth. Snatching, the pants out his hands, she headed for the ladies dressing room. She stopped to pick picked up some other items on her way and cast him a dark look.

"Jesus Christ," he groaned.

He headed out the store to catch a breather. Settling on the water fountain, he sat legs apart, his hand in his hair. Time ticked slowly by.

"Satisfied," Rogue said a half hour later.

He lifted his eyes. She was holding several bags in her possession. "Rogue…"

"Let's go eat," she said flatly. "I'm starved."

They stopped by the food court to have Chinese. Eating was done in dead silence. Scott looked at her one time. She hadn't touched her meal. Sighing, he lowered his fork. "I'm sorry."

"You should be," she fired back.

"I'm not used to this okay. Shopping isn't my thing."

She stared at him. "Then why did you volunteer."

"I don't know." He shrugged stirred his fruit juice. "Thought we could use the time to get to know each other."

"But we do know each other."

"Yeah," he turned to look around then lowered his voice. "As your teacher and you're my student. I know the simple basics about you."

"What could you possibly want to know?"

"I don't know," he said casually. "What's your favorite color."

"Emerald."

"Explains why like to wear green so much." He was reminded of the heavy hooded coat she wore when she first arrived at the school. She looked so lost and scared he thought she might flip at the sight of her own shadow.

"You must like blue," she smiled. "You wear it religiously."

"In actuality," he grinned. "I wouldn't really know. I've spent most of my adult life behind my shades I don't know what color is what." He took off the ruby glasses and pressed his thumb and forefinger to his eyes. "I'm still having trouble adjusting."

"Then keep them off," she reached over taking them out his hands. He glanced her way, gazing into her brown eyes. "Would you do the same?"

She lowered her eyes to her gloves and chuckled. "I don't remember putting them on."

"It's like instinct."

"Yeah."

Smiling, Scott to hold of one wrist, gently pulling the white fabric off then he set to work on the other hand. He thought she had lovely hands and he admired her clean oval nails. Natural, not the fake get up most girls and women fell for. "How does that feel Rogue?"

"M--Marie."

"What?"

"My name," she stuttered. "My name is Marie."

"I know," he smiled. " You write on the top of your papers. I just didn't want to offend you somehow."

She grinned.

Tension appeased. It was easier for the two of them to swallow their food. Rogue laughed and listened to Scott's corny jokes, taking everything in stride. After lunch he pocketed his shades but bought a pair of black sunglasses to shield his eyes. They were still sensitive to the bright light and color. He loaded Rogue's clothes into the back of his sports car. She promised the next time they went shopping, she wouldn't be so hard to handle. When they arrived at the mansion it was nearly nightfall. Scott drove into the garage and shut off the car where they sat in silence.

"I had a good time," he said.

"Before or after we ate lunch?" asked Rogue and they burst out laughing.

"After," he admitted.

"Well…"

He grinned. "Well."

An awkward pause soon shattered the friendly atmosphere. Rogue could feel his eyes bearing into her. She tried to look away but she was enraptured by his lips. She saw Scott lean sideways and held her breath. His scent filled her nostrils. She gripped her hands together.

His mouth was soft and inviting, a tender caress against her mouth, at first, then the kiss deepened. Rogue could hardly believe what was happening. Scott was kissing her and it was sweet, not hurried and desperate like Bobby's. He kissed her like a man on exploration, discovering secrets in the warm cavern of her mouth. She trembled as he pulled her close, wrapping his strong arms about her. Rogue gave herself willing, surrounding to secret desires she locked away for weeks. She clawed her fingers into his hair, relishing the softness of the strands. She moaned when she felt him withdraw and panted for breath.

"We better get inside," Scott said murmured, stroking her cheek.

"Okay," she whispered.