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Chapter 5

Where is Your Heart

"Is it so hard to give me what I need? I want your heart to bleed."

Pietro and I have been avoiding each other. I feel enraged. At first I thought that I was the one avoiding him, but after a week of steadily ignoring his presence, I've realized that that mother fucker is putting equal effort into ignoring me as well. What the fuck?

My rage is definitely not a result of the worry and anxiety I feel over the fact that Pietro might be done with our little deal. I mean just because he's the only guy that can touch me doesn't make me dependent on him or anything. No, of course it doesn't. It doesn't. Seriously.

I slam my fork down into my eggs maliciously. A few of the newer students at the institute look at me alarmed. A malevolent glare has them turning away quickly however.

It's Sunday morning at the institute and everyone is forced to have breakfast together. It has something to do with building camaraderie or something. I just think it's moronic, but whatever.

Kitty is to the right of me. She is the only person daring enough to sit down next to me. The spot to my left is empty. I made sure it would be by picking the seat next to where Logan typically eats when he's present. Generally no one sits there in case he decides to grace us with an appearance. Unfortunately, he's still away.

Anyway, Kitty is chatting with Kurt. If it wasn't for his girlfriend and her boyfriend I think those two would be dating. They are way too flirtatious. He's always trying to impress her and she gets way too upset with him. But then again, a lot of guys try to impress Kitty. No one tries to impress me though.

I slam my fork down again. From the corner of my eye I see Mrs. Munroe and the Professor share an annoyingly concerned look.

It's teenage shit. They need to stay out of it. It's annoying how they think they should be involved in everything. That's why I like Logan better. He stays out of other people's business.

Fucking Pietro.

I push my plate away. I haven't had an appetite this past week. Actually, I haven't really had an appetite since this all started.

"Rogue?" The Professor questions as I stand up. Every head turns in my direction. Thanks professor…

"Ah'm not hungry right now Professah," I say, avoiding the eyes of several key people at the table.

The professor looks like he wants to say something else but rethinks and just nods his head. However, as I walk out of the dining area I hear him say, "Come to my office at some point today Rogue, I'd like to speak with you." Great.

The Brotherhood

It's been a while since I've been to the Brotherhood's dilapidated door. I'm still not quite sure what I'm doing here. If my intention is to confront Pietro, I have no idea what I'm going to say.

All I know is that somehow after breakfast ended, I ended up here. What was supposed to be a walk to avoid the Professor's office call has turned into a Pietro-centeric mission. It's a good thing I don't actually have a crush on him. Imagine how much worse I'd be. I mean, I really don't like him. I don't.

I hear a crash and peek through a foggy dirt covered window. It's the Blob. He's ruined the couch just by sitting on it. I see Alvers come down the stairs and start cracking up. Laughing at his friends expense, completely unconcerned with the fact that their only seating has been demolished by a morbidly obsess mutant.

Tolansky makes an appearance shortly after. He actually seems slightly put out by what's happened, but he quickly shrugs it off. God, I forgot how simplistic everything was at the brotherhood. No rules, no complications. Just doing whatever the fuck you want.

Tabatha comes in next. She was never my favorite person. It's a relief that she came to the brotherhood AFTER I left it. God knows dealing with her in the Institute was never that fun and there are actually rules there.

I watch as she shakes in mirth, completely thrilled while watching the Bolb struggle to get up. None of them assist him. I roll my eyes.

"What are you doing here?" I familiar voice startles me from my voyeurism. I turn and come face to face with Pietro. Shit. I am completely not prepared for this.

I glare at him. "Ah can do what Ah want." I say. I sound a lot more confident than I feel. I also realize that I don't make any sense.

"Yea, sure." Pietro says impatiently. It's obvious I've been caught.

"Ah need ta talk ta yah Maximoff," I state with false bravado. He leers back unimpressed. He seems irritated, but I don't really care. I'm irritated too. We stare at each other, caught in a stalemate of wills and he almost seems like he's prepared to bolt (if his twitching right foot is any indication), but he relents.

"Alright." He shrugs. "Just not here. These fools will see us."

Diner

We're at a local diner. The food here is atrocious but we aren't here to eat.

The waitress gave us a somewhat secluded booth. I think she's under the impression we're a couple. We are not. But whatever. The conversation we're about to have requires privacy anyway.

I have finally noticed Peitro's wearing flannel. Weird. I've never seen him in anything other than tee-shirts. The blue color suits him however. He looks strangely tired as well, but I choose not to comment on it.

"I haven't got all day here," He says rudely to me. I ignore him and continue to look through the menu as though I'm interested. Really I'm just biding my time, trying to form coherent sentences.

"Well?" he presses, impatiently.

"Ah think ya know why we're here." I deadpan. Really, I should be commended on my acting skills. I seem much more level headed than I feel.

"You've been avoidin' mah," I continue, setting my menu down.

"Well-it's- not- like-you've-been-making-an-effort-to-find-me," Pietro lashes back. He's speed speaking. His words are melding together. I can just barely understand him.

"Ah'm here now." I say firmly. "And Ah want ta know what yer problem is."

We're interrupted briefly by the waitress again. We both give her an agitated "come back later" and she scurries away.

"Alright," Pietro says, placing his hands firmly on the table, "how's-this? I'm-over-it."

My mouth mirrors my exact thought as I say, "What?" I am sincerely hoping he doesn't mean what I think he means. I feel hot under the collar. Absolutely livid.

"Listen- Roguey. No-hard-feelings-or-anything-but-you're-not-keepin g-up-to-pace-with-me." I hear a voice that sounds just like Pietro's say. Funny, it also looks like his mouth is moving.

"And you're kind of clingy," he continues, "You're always looking for me in school, you get mad when I try to be more physical, but you flirt with me all the time. Fuck, you're like a damn girlfriend. If I wanted something like that I'd go fuck around with a normal girl."

Oh. Well that was hurtful. Inwardly I'm cringing, on the outside my face is stone however.

I just don't even have words right now. This…is not what I was expecting. I thought maybe he was a little sexually frustrated but I had no idea I was annoying him. Fuck around with a normal girl? Is that what he'd prefer?

I'm seeing red. Who the fuck is he? Some kind of Don Juan who can get whatever he wants? Okay so he may be somewhat popular with the girls at school but he is no Scott Summers. Hell he isn't even a Dunkin.

"Yah…yah asshole!" I hiss. "Who the fuck said Ah wanted to beg yah ta come back ta me!"

My heart is pounding in my chest. I feel like throwing up, and my hands are shaking under the table. For the first time in a long time I wish that my powers would just work. I want to kill this mother fucker. Drain him of everything he's got.

Pietro looks slightly alarmed, but he smooth's out his features quickly into a slimy smirk.

"No hard feelings Rogue," he says flippantly, "but anyways, I gotta run. See ya."

Just like that he's gone.

Just like that, I'm alone again.

Just like that, I've been rejected by another boy, for the second time in two months.

I feel this weird pain in my chest. I don't know why it hurts so much. It's not like I liked him. I don't like him. I can't.

All I can process is the thought—'What?'

His exit was so abrupt and unsettling.

The waitress is back. She looks at my face and at the empty seat across from me and silently places a very dry looking blueberry muffin in front of me.

"Oh the house hun," she smiles sympathetically.

Oh God.

The Institute

I've been back from the diner for a few hours now. Hiding out in my room, pretending I don't exist. I'm fairly certain no one knows that I'm home. That is perfect.

"Woah, like, Rogue, I totts had no idea you were in here!" I hear Kitty exclaim. Her voice sounds muffled, but that's probably because I have two comforters draped over my head.

"Why's it, like, so dark in here?" she continues clueless. "It's like totally depressing!"

She's probably referring to the heavy maroon fabric curtains I made sure were draped over every single window before cocooning myself into a small ball on my bed.

"And what's with the, like, depressing music?" Oh did I forget to mention I've been playing soul retching music?

"Rogue?" Kitty asks. Ugh, her voice is closer. Great.

I don't reply. My head really hurts from thinking too much. It is unfortunately not enough to drown out the disconcerting ache in my chest.

The covers are abruptly pulled away from me and I hear Kitty gasp. She is over dramatic as usual.

"Oh my Gawd! Are you, like, okay?"

The concern in her voice does nothing for me.

Twenty minutes later

Kitty has gotten a full blown confession out of me. We're both sitting huddled up in my bed. She's looking indignant on my behalf which is appreciated.

"Like, he's totally insane!" Kitty states matter of factly. "I mean, like, what kind of jerk just like rushes a girl, ya know?"

I realize this is the exact opposite of what she was telling me just the other day (if you don't remember she was absolutely APPALDED at the fact that I had yet to sleep with Pietro), but I remain silent. Right now her words are making me feel slightly justified in my anger and hurt.

"Ah don' know Kit," I reply downheartedly, "Ah didn't follow the terms remembah."

Now that I've had some time to myself, I'm less enraged and more sorrowful. It's such a bitch.

"He said he would be like more patient!" Kitty rebuts. "Who is this jerk?"

Pietro.

"That doesn't matter." I say stubbornly. If she knew who he was I could only imagine her reaction. The X-men aren't exactly fond of the son of Magneto.

Kitty huffs in exasperation. "Okay, well like, what are we going to do about this?!"

Excuse me? My plan was to sulk myself into oblivion. Is that not good enough?

At my blank expression Kitty rolls her eyes. I should probably be concerned that this is a more frequent occurrence lately.

"Ah mean, there's nothing to do Kit." I reply. I sound forlorn even to my own ears.

"Hellooooo, like, Rogue! You totally have to make him, like, jealous! Duh!" Kitty exclaims.

I laugh for the first time in days. Kitty is the ultimate airhead. Me? Make someone jealous? I don't think so. I look down at my black mesh shirt and gloved hands, both hiding poisonous skin. There is just no way.

Chapter End.

Sorry for the delayed posting everyone. The internal charger for my laptop broke and I had to call on the Geek Squad to fix my computer. I had the chapter already written but had no way of accessing it to post it.

I have many stories on my computer that I have yet to post because I typically like to write with a plan. This fanfic, however, does not really have any type of outline so I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts one what direction you would like this story to take.

I have a few of my own ideas but I have been kind of just letting the chapters shape themselves. Something I rarely do without at least a loose outline….

Please Review. I appreciated your thoughts and if I use anyone's idea as directional inspirational I'll be sure to give you a special shout out!