Thank you to noro, Brit-Babe191 and RogueNya for the lovely reviews :)
noro - Here's the next chapter and already working on the next one.
Brit-Babe191 - Yep, finally got to the road trip! And had to have some darker Rogue too, she's great.
RogueNya - Oh, I'm sure they'll both be butting heads for quite a while to come yet ;) Its just a shame I had to drag her away from Gambit.
It took me a while to write this chapter and I'm hoping I got it just right :)
Life Is Hell
"Ugh…" What the hell did I do last night? On second thoughts I don't think I want to know and my damn head is killing me. I know I've said this before but I'm never drinking again.
Has my bed always been this uncomfortable and why the hell would Jubilee open the curtains? She must know that I'm in dire need of my beauty sleep. Wait a fucking minute, is my bed moving?
Cracking open a lazy eyelid my brain screams in protest at the unrelenting sunlight and I groan in absolute horror when I realize my bed is moving. Christ, I'm in a car, what the fuck went on last night?
I feel as though I could break down and cry as I struggle to sit up. All I want to do is find my bed and sleep for the next week or so but no, I'm in some car in God knows where with God knows who.
This must be someone's idea of a joke. Well, I don't find this amusing and I'm going to tell them so. Gazing at the figure in the drivers seat, I chew my bottom nervously and the numerous insults die in my throat.
This can't be happening, whatever I took last night has obviously sent me over the edge. Yep, I'm in Cuckoo land. I've lost my fucking marbles… There's a hole in my head and my brain has left in search of a safe haven.
There's no way he would ...He can't have just... What the fuck was going through his head when he made this decision?
"Bout' time you woke, Kid." Logan grunts from the front seat.
I fall back onto the my makeshift bed and pull my coat over my head trying to block out the sunlight.
"Logaaaaaan," I groan into the fabric.
Maybe this is a nightmare? Yeah, its a possibility. I'm still at the mansion passed out in my bed and I'm going to wake up… NOW! I pinch myself and peek out from under my coat. CRAP. That really didn't turn out how I'd expected it to.
"Bet you've got one hell of a hangover, huh? Guess you won't be drinkin' like that again."
Did he just snort at me? I can't deal with this shit in my current condition.
"Take me back to the mansion, Logan." I whisper trying to control the urge to throttle him. That will have to wait until later in the day. I seem to be rather under the weather at the moment.
"No can do." He replies, the smell of cigar smoke wafting under the coat.
What the hell happened last night to make him act like this?
"Why?" I squawk sitting up so fast I groan in a nauseating daze.
"Told you last night."
I don't remember much of last nights activities, so the idiot is going to have to explain the situation for once in his life.
"Was I even conscious at the time?" I ask already knowing the answer. This is not something I would have agreed to; well, whatever this is.
"Not my problem you have selective hearin'." Logan grumbles.
Selective hearing he says, selective hearing my ass.
"I was drunk!" I cry immediately regretting it. I think I'm going to spew. Stupid, stupid, stupid alcohol.
"Among other things." He mutters eyeing me in the rear-view mirror. "You're lookin' a little green around the gills, kid."
"Ugh, I think I'm going to..." I throw my hand over my mouth and clutch my gurgling stomach.
"Just don't do it in the damn car or you'll be cleanin' it up."
Logan slowly pulls the car to a halt, parking beside a derelict gas station and diner. No, don't even think about food. Sausage, bacon, eggs, pancakes, maple syrup... Shit!
I fling the car door open and bound out of the car into the biting morning air and stagger across the grass over to an ancient oak tree. Silently apologising to the poor old tree for what I'm about to do, I fall to my knees and spew yesterdays liquid based breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I'm never ever drinking again.
Whenever I was physically sick my mom would always be beside me holding my hand and brushing the hair out of my face, its time like these that I really do miss her.
Turning to glance over my shoulder, I spot Logan leaning against the car, cigar in hand and an enormous fucking smirk on his face, the bastard.
"Think this is funny, do you?" I groan, retching again. Jesus how much did I drink last night?
"Yeah, in fact, I do. Have you learnt your lesson yet?"
If I wasn't busy throwing my guts up I would have told him where to go but... Ugh, I want my mama.
"Figured we'd drive around for a bit, stop off at a few motels. I could do some cage fightin', then I guess we'd head to Canada, gotta' cabin over that way."
Stumbling to my feet and still wondering what on earth I got up to last night, I traipse back to the car. I just want my bed with the feather pillows...
"What?" I demand, wiping the vomit from my chin with the back of my hand. "Are you telling me that we're not going back to the mansion?" I ask standing stone cold sober and frozen to the spot on the grass.
"Yep." He replies taking a lazy drag of his cigar.
"Let me get this straight, me and you, we're not going back to the mansion anytime soon, like today?"
"Nope."
This has to be about last night. What did I get up to last night?
"And why the fuck not?" I yell as I begin to take a step backwards in the direction of the woods.
"Marie..." Logan warns but there is no way I'm listening to him this time. Not a fucking chance, no I need to get out of here. Get out of here and back to the mansion. How though? I guess I could hitchhike, it would be like the old days.
He opens his mouth to say something and I take that as my cue to bolt. Sprinting towards the woods with a burst of Adrenalin coursing through my body, I have one thought going through my mind: I won't let him.
So engrossed in chanting the words repeatedly in my head, I don't hear the lumbering footsteps behind me until its too late and a forceful arm is wrapped around my middle along with a harsh voice ordering me to stop.
I can feel the self inflicted wounds reopening on my barely healed arm as I struggle to lurch forward out of the tight grip. "Get off!" I scream clawing at Logan's arm.
"Can it, kid, you're just makin' things worse for yourself." Exhausted I stop fighting against Logan and his arm goes slack around my waist. "Now get that ass of yours back to the car." He commands gruffly, fishing in his pocket for his unfinished cigar and relighting it.
"Not until you agree to take me back to the mansion." I challenge him sullenly, leaning against a tree with my arms crossed.
There is no way I'm moving from this spot until he agrees, I'll camp out here in a snow storm if I have to. He cocks his eyebrow permitting me a chance to change my mind but I refuse to acknowledge the gesture.
"Not happenin', so move it." Logan growls. I grin smugly at him knowing that there is nothing he can do if I refuse to obey him. "Now!" He barks.
"Nope, you can't just kidnap we without an explanation."
"I didn't kidnap..."
"Yes. You. Did!" I spit back, the taste of vomit still present in my mouth. "In my book dragging a person away from their home in the middle of the night without their permission is deemed as kidnapping."
"I ain't talkin' about this shit out here, I'm freezin' my balls off. You either start walkin' or I'll drag you back. Your choice, so pick one."
"I'm not leaving and you lay a finger on me and I'll scream." I splutter, silently doubting that he's taking my threats seriously. He sighs deeply to himself and crushes his cigar under his boot "I mean it, Logan, I'm staying right…"
I never get a chance to finish my sentence as he stomps towards me, sweeps me clean off my feet with ease and heaves me over his shoulder like a sack of fucking potatoes.
I pound my fists against his back enraged as I scream at the top of my lungs but he tunes out my tantrum and carries on walking like he's taking a leisurely morning stroll without a care in the world.
As we arrive at the car, he opens the door and unceremoniously dumps me on the back seat non to gently and attempts to shut the door on my face.
No fucking way is he shutting me in here...
I scramble to reach the open door and kick my legs at him attempting to boot him in the family jewels area and almost succeeding if his face is anything to go by.
"Try that again and you've had it." He threatens his brow wrinkled in anger and slams the door shut with such force, the car shakes.
I watch him through the window as he paces back and forth obviously trying his hardest to cool down. It takes him twenty five minutes and three cigars until he's calm enough to come back to the car and even then I can still hear the occasional growl.
What did I ever do to deserve this? I thought I getting on just fine at the mansion and for once in my life I was having fun. I wasn't leaning on anyone else with my problems, I was sorting them out my own way and I was doing what was best for me.
I'm starting to think I over exerted myself out there because I feel as though I'm about to do another Technicolor yawn as an encore. I'm never ever, ever, ever, ever drinking again.
Before I can tell Logan to stop the car, I vomit with such velocity and momentum that I'm sure I've just expelled a number of relevant organs in the process. I whine as I curl up into a ball and take cover under my coat.
"Kid!"
"Come on, up."
Opening my eyes, I hope to God that was all just a dream but no, I'm still in the car with Logan grumbling at me to get my ass up.
Sitting up and stretching my arms, I gaze out the window and see that he's stopped at a road side diner. The last thing I want to do is eat, I'm pretty sure my stomach has gone on strike. After I threw up the last of my stomachs contents Logan made me clean up the mess with an old cloth, of course that made me feel even fucking worse and Wolverine wasn't too chuffed with me either.
Apparently the stench of it was driving him to the brink of destruction so he had to wind down all the windows and drive down the highway in Arctic fucking conditions. I don't think I've ever been so cold in all my life, we had snow flakes falling through the sun roof.
"I'm not hungry." I declare not wanting to sit in a crowded diner with a pissed off Logan.
"Don't care, out."
Rolling my eyes, I step out of the car and drag my feet to the entrance sulking all the way. I couldn't care less if I'm acting like a little kid, this just really isn't my day, hell it hasn't been my week or my month, come to think about it the past few years haven't been anything to sing about. Now if I carry on with this train of thought I'm going to be hankering to slit my wrists and just be done with this life.
Sitting down with a resounding huff in my chosen booth, I sit by the window and hug my knees to my chest, ignoring the preppy, blond waitress whose trying to gain my attention, hovering around like a bad smell.
Logan stalks in minutes later and sits opposite me with a cigar already in hand, does the guy ever stop? Surely I'll be dead in a matter of years from second hand smoke.
"Give me the rare steak, double fries and a beer. Get the kid the triple cheeseburger, double fries and a coke." Logan tells the ogling waitress gruffly as he lights his cigar.
"I said I'm not hungry." I turn to the waitress about to tell her not to bother.
"And I said I don't care." He also turns to the waitress and dismisses her with a wave.
"Maybe you should listen to your dad, sweetie." She utters in a soft spoken voice as she leaves. Sweetie? The little cow can't be much older than me. I let the dad comment slide over my head because I've never seen Logan as my father figure. He's more a grumpy, growling friend that you're never able to take anywhere in case he guts people.
"You gonna sulk all day?"
I don't even glance at him as I continue staring out the window watching a family of four climbing out of their car.
"I'm not sulking" I snap back.
"Yeah, you are, Marie. You're actin' like a spoilt brat."
I might well be, but I won't admit it, certainly not in present company. I know I can be annoyingly hostile and at other times a sulking brat with an attitude. I don't need to be reminded of that. Logan likes to remind people of their faults though, I think it's a power thing.
"I have every right to be angry. You kidnapped me and now you're holding me against my will."
Sighing and brushing a hand loosely through his hair, he slouches in his chair and looks slightly apprehensive. "Kid, you're a mess." That's exactly what Bobby said. "If you carry on doin' what you're doin', you'll end up dead by the end of the year."
I tut loudly at his choice of words. "Don't be so dramatic," I hiss. "I was only drinking a little and having fun. You're acting as if I'm some stark raving loony with an out of control drinking problem." I cry pounding my fists on the table.
Our conversation is interrupted by Blondie carrying our drinks over.
"Oh, sweetie, don't you think you're being a little hard on your dad there. I'm sure he's only doing what's best for you."
"You want some friendly advice, Barbie?" The waitress stands there slack jawed at my abrasiveness. "I suggest you don't listen in on other peoples conversations unless you want someone to fu..."
"Marie!" Logan barks angrily.
I turn back towards the window smirking at the distressed look Blondie has plastered on her face, that will teach her to eavesdrop in future.
"That weren't necessary, kid."
"Yeah, it was." I scoff as I watch her walk away.
"What the hell happened to you? When I left, I thought you were happy." I deliberately ignore his question and play with my straw, blowing bubbles in the soda. "Well?"
"Well, what?" I respond, shooting him a glare.
"Don't play dumb, it don't suit you." He says gruffly nursing his beer.
I watch him take a large gulp of his beer wishing I could have a sip. Now my hangover has vanished for the day, I'm in the mood for some alcohol induced fun.
"I'm not, its just none of your business."
"Like hell it ain't, I made a promise to a girl once."
Glancing at Logan, I think back to the night on the train and how scared and alone I felt. What a crock of shit that was.
"I told you before, I don't need you, I don't need anyone. I certainly didn't need to be kidnapped again. You know having tried the whole abduction thing before I decided at the time it really wasn't my cup of tea."
"God damn it, Marie, this ain't a joke!" Logan snarls finishing off the rest of his beer and slamming the empty bottle down.
"Isn't it?" I pout.
"Keep this shit up all you want, but neither of us are goin' nowhere..."
"I don't think Barbie would like that. This place isn't open twenty four hours, is it?"
"Jesus Christ, were you always this difficult?" He asks genuinely interested in his own question.
"Only after I absorbed your powers for the second time." I smile at the thought of all the trouble I caused Scott and Jean. Poor Scott couldn't stand within ten feet of me without me wanting to fight, snarl or flirt with Jean in his presence.
"Yeah, Jeannie told me bout' that. Look, all I'm sayin', kid, is that you needed a break. You can't keep drinkin' like that or doin' those other things, it ain't healthy. I'm not gonna lose someone else I care about."
Why does it always come down to emotional blackmail? I refuse to meet his gaze as he awaits a reply. He's not going to like anything I have to say and my minds on the X-Men members we lost. I miss them so much sometimes, it hurts worse then the heartbreak.
"I won't let you." I mutter under my breath, eyes fixed on the table.
"Let me what?" Logan asks sounding skeptical.
"You want to change me and I won't let you. I like who I am."
Okay that's a lie but I don't want to change. I enjoy drinking and getting high and no one will take that away from me. Not him, not the ghosts of the friends we lost and not the newly incarcerated Doug. Nobody.
He snorts at my statement not believing a word I just uttered. "Yeah, sure you do, but I'm tellin' you you've gotta change and I ain't the only one."
Like I give a shit what other people think about me. I don't even think I care what Logan has to say anymore.
Blondie puts our plates of food down without a word, deliberately ignoring me and smiles in my companion's direction but her flirting is cut short as she's called to help at another table. Serves the stupid, desperate bitch right.
"Why do you care if I drink? Other students were doing it at the mansion all the time and you didn't care then."
I push my fries around the plate with a fork, not really feeling in the mood to eat. Anyway Blondie probably spat on my food, she looks the type.
"Cause' you're different." He grunts between a mouthful of steak.
How am I any different, I'm just another one of his reluctant students.
"Why?" I ask pressing the matter.
"You just are." Logan states looking up at me. "Stop playin' with your food and eat up. You're like a bag of bones, Kid."
Jesus, no wonder Blondie thought he was my dad if he keeps making comments along those lines.
I raise an eyebrow at his observation but he glances away. When has he had time to notice my weight loss? Apart from the arguments, we've hardly been in each others company since he returned.
Sighing, I pick up my triple cheeseburger and take a small bite out of it. Why do I have a niggling feeling this road trip is going to be anything but peaceful.