Chapter 5

As Rogue and her friends browsed through her store, Rose contemplated them.

Scott was a bit uptight, but he meant well. The older boy wasn't unattractive, in fact if she wasn't attracted to women, she may very well feel an attraction to him. But, he was also, obviously, infatuated with the red-headed Jean Grey. He was also the apparent, and probably unofficial, leader of the group.

Jean, the only person who she hadn't met at lunch, was hot. Though whether it was due to the strong resemblance to her mother, as Jean had flowing red hair and green eyes, the fact that she was obviously straight as an arrow, or Rose's own attraction to Rogue, she didn't do anything for the witch. She seemed to be the peacekeeper of the group, judging from her interaction with everyone else, and the glances she threw in the direction of Rogue and Kitty.

Kitty, Rose wasn't sure about her. She appeared somewhat flighty, but the sense she got from her was that she was rather loyal and intelligent. It was an...interesting contrast. She also wasn't bad looking, though a bit to talkative for Rose's taste. Still, she appeared to be a good friend. She just hoped that that's all there was between her and Rogue.

Kurt was another mystery to her. She got a feeling that she was being deceived by him somehow, but she couldn't place it. And he was a good, fun-loving guy, though there was a bit of darkness about him. Not to mention he smelled of smoke, and not from cigarettes or weed. It wasn't unpleasant, in fact it reminded her much of the incense she sold, but she just couldn't place the scent, even after licking her lips in an effort to 'taste' the scent. He also seemed to be the closest to Rogue, no surprise considering they were foster-siblings, but he himself gravitated more towards Scott. And it was clear that he looked up to the older boy somehow.

Evan didn't impress her much. She'd seen his type at Hogwarts, in the form of Oliver Wood. Only instead of Quidditch, it appeared that Evan was obsessed with skateboarding. He wasn't as fanatical as Wood, but it was clear to her, that even though he was here for his friends, he'd rather be out on the skateboard he had under his arm. The constant looks to the door didn't help him hide those feelings. But still, he at least polite.

And then, of course, there was Rogue. The girl had been covered, head to toe, whenever Rose saw her, as though she wanted to reveal as little skin as possible. But still, she was kind, if a bit offensive in nature, as though she tried, purposely, to keep people away from her. But she was beautiful, and Rose was already forming a plan to determine whether Rogue would even be open to being in a relationship with her.

The strange thing Rose thought about the group was that she couldn't see such different people becoming such good friends under normal circumstances. The only way she could see them being so close was some shared dilemma. What that dilemma was, she had no idea. The only thing any of them really had in common was that they lived together.

It was strange.

When they all left the store, everyone had purchased something, though only Rogue and Jean had asked for her opinion. Everyone but Rogue, whom Rose assumed had yet to use up hers, had purchased reliefs for sore muscles. Scott and Evan hadn't purchased anything else. Jean, Kitty, Rogue, and Kurt, had all purchased shampoo. Kurt had also purchased a statue, of a witch dressed in red. Jean had bought some meditation candles and a book on the subject. Kitty had bought a couple CD's. And Rogue, had bought some moisturizing soap.

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Jean Grey sat back on her bed as she flipped through the book she had purchased at White Owl. Rose certainly knew her products, or maybe she was just lucky in terms of her suppliers. This book had several methods of meditation that the Professor had tutored her in to help control her own powers. But many of the methods described in the book weren't taught to her. She wondered if the Professor even knew them.

And Rose herself was also interesting. She had noticed that she had worn sunglasses, even inside. And while Scott did as well, he had a very good reason. But she knew the girl hadn't worn them in school. She had also been helpful when Jean had asked her about the books, giving a very good summary and overview of the the books on the subject of meditation, before recommending the book she'd purchased as a good overview of many different kinds of meditation.

Rose was also an attractive girl, she could admit that easily. But Jean had noticed that she was also rather observant, and intelligent. She hadn't missed the speculative looks Rose had given each of them.

She just hoped Rose didn't notice anything too unusual.

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Kurt smiled as he returned to the mansion. His date had been rather nice, and it appeared that his absence went unnoticed.

Wanda had wanted to keep their relationship secret, and Kurt agreed with her logic. Not only were they on opposite teams, not that she actually cared about the Brotherhood, but neither wanted to deal with their respective siblings interfering in their relationship. Pietro would, just because he could, and Rogue would out of an actual desire to see Kurt happy.

As he slipped, silently, into his room, he couldn't keep the goofy grin off of his face. Wanda had found the statue amusing, and the kiss she had given him in return for the gift had made his fur stand on end. She may not show it, but Wanda had a soft side, a side that, as far as he knew, only he had seen.

She also mentioned that she'd have to check out White Owl herself.

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The next day of school passed much the same as the last. Rose went to class, and sat with Rogue and her friends at lunch. And she was hit on by another guy.

The only difference was that this guy had waited until the end of the day.

The white-haired boy had appeared at her locker with a rose in his hand. "A beautiful flower for a beautiful lady," he said smoothly.

Rose smirked. He actually wasn't bad, it was certainly a better line than that other boy had used yesterday. And he wasn't bad looking. Looking over his shoulder, she saw a small group, including the boy that hit on her yesterday, watching with interest. She also noticed the one girl with the group had similar features to this white-haired boy, and figured they were probably related.

Accepting the flower, she smiled and said, "Thanks."

The boy smirked, obviously thinking he had impressed her. So the shock on his face, when she stepped around him was priceless. Walking towards the girl, who had short black hair, and wasn't at all bad looking, she handed the flower to her. "A beautiful flower for a beautiful lady," she smoothly, echoing the boys lines. Before placing a chaste kiss on the stunned girls lips.

Rose turned to look at the stunned boy, and his other friends. "Sorry, but she's more my type," she said, before walking away, a smirk on her face as she but a little more sway in her hips.

She'd have to tell Kurt to be careful, if things didn't turn out well with Rogue, he might try for this girl.

And she had Kurt's scent all over her.

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Lance was the first to recover. The chuckle started out small, before turning into a full out laugh. "That...That was priceless."

Pietro turned to glare at him, "Shut up Alvers!"

"She kissed me?" Wanda said, apparently still in shock. "Another girl...kissed me?"

The Scarlet Witch was suddenly everyone's attention, as the boys were obviously waiting for her to process her reaction. Depending upon how she took this...

Things could get real bad for them.

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The bell above the door rung, but Rose didn't turn around, as she recognized the scent of the person as the girl she kissed.

"Just so you know, I have a boyfriend," the girl said.

Rose turned and smiled at the short haired girl. "I know."

"You know?" She said. "How, we haven't even told anyone?"

"I'm observant," Rose said. She walked over and held out her hand. "Kurt's a lucky man Ms...?"

The girl eyed Rose and her hand for a moment, before reaching out and grabbing the witch's hand. "Wanda Maximoff."

Rose smiled. "Well, Wanda, how can I help you?"

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