Thanks to Sachertorte for reading... :)

These Days

Casually walking towards the kitchen I'm now more than resigned to my fate, I'm going to miss my date tonight and I was actually looking forward to it, sort of.

A five star course at New York's most exclusive restaurant, Champagne, music and dancing...Pfttt...who am I kidding? He had probably planned a five dollar greasy feast at a grubby back street diner in some seedy part of town.

Now don't get it twisted, I haven't a conceited bone in my body but a girl likes to be swept off her feet once in a while. Wined, dined and treated like a princess, you get the picture.

I'm sure some of you out there are shaking your computer screens in frustration; demanding to know why I'd rather go out for a night on the town then spend time in close proximity with a sweaty, possibly shirtless Logan.

If that's the case then you've all been smoking crack. The girls around the mansion drool at his feet, even Storm gets all starry eyed around him. In fact some of the guys are unable to tear their eyes off of him in hero worship or because of some perverted sexual fantasy, I have no idea.

Yes I'm grateful that he saved my life, honestly I am. It's just sometimes I really can't help but think that maybe everyone would have been better off without me, the world would be a greater place, and my friends would be so much happier. I know what you're going to say, I'm my own worst enemy, live each day as it comes, but I carry these thoughts with me always...What the hell is wrong with me?

I wish I had died on that damn statue. I've been treated like a leaper since I returned from taking the cure. I'm some sort of plague on mutant kind apparently and wanting to be normal equals treason in the eyes of my so called friends.

As I reach the kitchen, I'm welcomed by the other outcast of mutant high, well they always say the unwanted should stick together.

"John" I greet.

"Rogue" He doesn't look up as he concentrates on buttering his slice of bread. I have never understood his taste in food. Who in their right mind would voluntarily eat meat paste sandwiches? Well, he did join Magneto, that in my book suggests he's as mad as a box of frogs.

"It's just Marie now," I remind him. "I'm not a mutant anymore"

I take a seat at the kitchen table and gaze out of the window. Maybe if I did take off, Logan wouldn't notice. No that's ridiculous of course he would, there will only be the two of us in the danger room.

"Oh yeah, you took the cure, didn't you?"

Here we go, someone else to tell me that I've made the biggest mistake of my life. "Look, if I wanted the opinion of a Jackass, trust me, you'd be first in line."

"I said I was sorry I left. If Bobby can forgive me..."

"Bobby is easily pacified, you only have to take a look at Kitty to know that."

No I'm not jealous. Okay, maybe I was, but that's totally in the past and anyway I'm allowed to make scathing comments, they started it. Oh God, how childish did that sound?

John chuckles and takes a large bite of his sandwich. Yuck, again with the meat paste.

"Fine, I'll make it up to you, meet me on the roof tonight. We're still friends aren't we?"

"Yeah, Johnny, we're still friends." I'm rather good at holding grudges but John's different. Me, him and Bobby, we had the best of times. "I've got to go, Danger Room session." I announce rather resentfully, standing to my feet and walking towards the door.

"Pissed Logan off, did you?"

"I may have done, yes. I'm happy that you find this so amusing, Pyro."

"Have fun, Rogue! Oh and don't forget ten o'clock sharp, I'll see you on the roof!"

"You're early."

I don't know why he seems so surprised, I'm not always late. Okay, I am but it's a woman's prerogative to make an entrance and my hair takes forever to style, it's as stubborn as I am.

"Yep" I answer as I stride into the Danger Room along side him.

"Well, let's get this over with."

Hold on just one minute.

"Now don't strain yourself, Logan, I wouldn't want you to sound too enthusiastic. I never knew I was such a thorn in your side." I sneer placing my hands on my hips.

"Marie..." He warns with a growl. "I really don't want this turnin' into another argument."

"Why? You always seem to win them, usually by having the last word and storming off before I can respond." Most adults are completely clueless when it comes to speaking with 'the youth of today' as my old Grandpa used to say but Logan excels at it.

"Marie…" And that would be my second warning.

"Fine, you win." I ground out through clenched teeth. Oh, I'm a sullen one alright.

"So, you wanna talk now or after I kick your butt?"

What the hell! I don't want my butt kicked around this room by an adamantium boned foot. Especially when it's being wielded by an angry feral. The walls aren't even cushioned and my beautiful pale skin bruises easily.

"Uh, talk?"

"Yeah, Kid, talk." He sighs, leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

"I thought we came here to fight, Logan? Anyway we've never really talked… Wait a minute, Storm put you up to this, didn't she?" Yeah, this has all the signs of a put up job.

"Look, Storm's just worried about you and so am I. This ain't like you, you've changed."

Storm's worried about me? I'm sure she is, I've been causing absolute havoc around here these past few months (her words not mine) and Storm is concerned about my well being, yeah right, and I'm the Queen of England.

"What are you on about, I've changed? I am, who I am, and if you don't like it then you can take a hike!." Yes he can take a hike, a very long and treacherous hike and he can take Storm along for company. As well as the rest of the student body, maybe then I'd get some peace... Oh, Logan's talking.

"So how'd the Popsicle take it?"

"Take what?" What on God's green earth is this guy talking about now. Have you ever zoned out during a conversation and been left completely confused?

"Cancellin' your date, bet he ain't pleased with me."

Hasn't he been told yet? He's always the last to know, our Wolverine.

"Logan, I wasn't going on a date with Bobby. We...uh, broke up months ago."

Oh we broke up alright, actually he dumped my ass, for Kitty never the less. Then I hit him, I just couldn't help myself. You should have seen it, such a great right hook. All hell broke loose not long after, honestly he should have been ashamed airing our dirty laundry in public like that.

I was proud of myself and my behaviour that day. I stood up for what I believed in and decided from that day forward, I would never be truly humiliated to that extent ever again and I'd keep my heart under lock and key if I had to. I never paid much attention to all those broken heart stories before, but let me tell you now, they're all true.

"What'd he do?" Logan demands, his upper lip curling into a snarl. "Forget it, I'll just go kill the ice prick. Only tolerated him anyway."

I always feel a surge of love towards Logan when he gets angry on my behalf. Sometimes it's nice to know that at least one person is on my side and willing to maim, slice and gut a lying, cheating bastard on my command.

"No, it's okay, I sorted it."

"How?" Logan asks frowning at me.

"I gave him a black eye." I smile sadly, refusing to cry over the embarrassment and crushing humiliation again. Why are guys such bastards, even the young ones? Present company excluded of course.

Logan walks towards me wearing his trademark smirk and ruffles my hair

affectionately. "That's my girl. So who's the lucky fella?"

"A guy." I see that look in his eyes and understand it for what it is. He's being overprotective again. "And no, you can't meet him." I hastily add, waving my finger at him.

"Why not? Just wanna see he's treatin' you right."

Yeah, I'll bet. Threaten to gut him on the spot, growl out a list of rules and scare him shitless sounds more like the Logan I know.

"He is, I wouldn't have it any other way."

Logan nods and his eyes dart around the room. Why do I have a feeling this really is going to be a work out from hell and my butt is going to be bruise city.

"Still hate me?"

"I never hated you, Logan, was just pissed at you. I suppose I could do with some exercise anyway." I tell him whilst poking my rather flabby stomach.

He pulls me into a warm embrace and rests his chin on the top of my head, nestled amongst my messy hair. We stay like that for a few minutes as he inhales deeply, my scent most likely assaulting his nostrils.

"You ever need to talk, come find me, okay? I mean it, Marie, whatever you need."

"Yeah, I promise." Why am I promising? I really don't know, I'll surely break this vow in a matter of hours.

Logan releases me and claps his hands together. He actually looks excited and that can only mean one thing; I'm in for a world of pain.

"That's enough mushy shit for today, Kid. How bout' we go kick some virtual ass?"