PyrusAngel: Another short one. Sorry guys it picks up from here on out though. Oh and I still don't own anything but the idea.
Review...
She curled up there for the night not caring if tomorrow came or not, while unbeknown to her a pair of blue eyes watched her from the shadows out her window. Sad blue eyes wanted to help, but silently the eyes closed and disappeared into the shadows of the night.
Chapter 12: Life's a Masquerade
It was Tuesday now and the gang was beginning to get very concerned about Rogue's health. Since Sunday she'd been getting paler and paler and spoken even less. When Wanda had asked Kurt about the dress and Rogue's newest injures, Kurt looked at the ground in shame.
"It was my fault...I let Raven lock me in my room. I couldn't help at all." he explained absentmindedly, "The dress faired even worst then Rogue. I found it in shreds on her bedroom floor covered in blood and tears."
"How terrible I like hope Rogue is okay..." Kitty commented beside Piotr, who was busy sketching on a large note pad.
"My question is where is hunk of the school Remy LeBeau? He never miss an opportunity to put people down?" Tabitha asked leaning out from behind her locker door.
"Tabby you know that's not true." Jubilee scolded her, "Remy is a little nicer then that." gesturing down the hall as Amara and Jean walked by.
The conversation was cut off however when Principle Kelly's voice sounded over the PA system.
"Students I am pleased to inform you that this years homecoming dance will be held at Xavier's Mansion. The Student Council and decorating comity have informed me that it will be a masquerade theme. I wish to also remind all the students that there shall also be a crowning at the ball and that the ball will go on until dawn, with unmasking occurring around you and I expect to have the final booth plans in my office by the end of the day, for the Yearly Carnival, and just as a reminder to all those procrastinators the Carnival and dance will be held in three weeks. So better get to the mall and get all your shopping done."
Kitty giggled softly before closing her locker door and heading away down the hall, but Kurt call out to her.
"Kit? Where are you going English is the other way!"
"I have to talk to someone about something. I'll meet you and John there."
With that Kitty was gone and the rest of them shrugged before heading off in direction of first period. Once in the changing room however, Rogue winced as she changed into her gym uniform and Wanda saw the large bruises on her shoulder and ribcage.
"Rogue, you alright? You know Mr. Logan will let you sit out."
Rogue shook her head and finished pulling on her gym cloths before trudging upstairs Wanda close behind her. In the line up Wanda kept a close eye on her friend, at least that was until Piotr appeared at the double doors, handing Mr. Logan a yellow piece of paper.
"Well about time your med records got here. All right Tin Man line up. Yo'll get yah uniform tomorrow." Logan said dismissing the russian boy before addressing the room at large. "Well? Get movin! Warm up laps, and I want 20 today!"
With that the group was off, though Wanda and Rogue were going slower then usual. Rogue's breathing was ragged and her eyes seemed to be going in and out of focus. Her vision began to swim after the first three laps.
"What'be wrong with Rogue?" Piotr asked Wanda though his voice seemed distant.
"She fell down the stairs at her...ROGUE!" Wanda yelled, but it was to late.
Rogue hit the ground face first onto the gym floor. People around them screamed and crowed around until Logan noticed the commotion and arrived to back everyone up. Piotr was checking Rogue's pulse while Wanda was cradling her head.
"I told you to sit out you big dummy." Wanda scolded her passed out friend before looking up at Logan.
"Get her to the nurse both of you, now!" Mr. Logan commanded.
Wanda let Piotr pick up Rogue before walking ahead of him to hold the door open for him. Thankfully the nurse's office was only a couple rooms away, but when they had entered they where shocked to see only Mr. Joshua Foley with no sign of Ms. Heather Lamb.
"Hello how can I...Goodness bring her over here please." Mr. Foley said pointing to one of the beds.
Piotr laid Rogue down and sat beside her while Wanda explained things to Mr. Foley who listened, but frowned at the little detail Wanda was able to give him.
-Rogue's mind-
Rogue was standing in the front lawn of her old New Orleans home, it wasn't that hot yet so it had to May or April. She could see mama and papa on the porch and she was playing with her step brother in the yard. They where playing tag and she was trying to tag him back when suddenly she feel on the ground a rock cutting her from her hand to her wrist. Rogue sat up and looked at her hand before crying.
"Baby g'ahrl." called her dad as he came closer, "Sha, get da first aid kit, please. Now now Anna don't cry it'd beh al'right."
Rogue looked up to her dad sniffing as he brushed her tears away. She couldn't help but smile as she watched her dad's small gold hoop earrings dangle back and forth, she couldn't explain why but that made her forget about the pain. It was just as mom showed up with the first aid kit that a car pulled up. Kurt was waving to the people happily and once mom had finished patching up Rogue's arm she smiled down at Rogue before looking up at an older man.
Rogue didn't hear what the adults were saying, but she did see her brother and another boy playing so she decided to join in. She ran up to the pair and they stopped and greeted her. The other boy was tall for his age and had brown hair and striking red on black eyes that made Rogue smile. The boy blushed softly and handed her a wrapped present.
"Happy B'irthday Anna." He smiled widely.
Anna took the present and opened it to see an orange and brown bear with bright black eyes and a red ribbon tied around its left paw. Anna looked on the ribbon to see her name written in gold and smiled brightly at the boy.
"Thanks..." but a soft click snapped Rogue out of her dream
-Back in the nurse's office-
"...Rems..." Rogue moaned causing all conversation to halt.
"What did she say?" Wanda asked Piotr.
"Rems?" Piotr replied leaning closer to see if Rogue said it again, but a click sounded from the main door causing Rogue's eyes to snap open as she sat bolt up right, hitting her head against Piotr's.
"Owww..." Rogue whined before falling back to the bed.
"Well that was eventful." Wanda commented holding a finger to her lips to silence both Mr. Foley and Piotr.
"Gahhhhh, Pete why w'ere dere?"
"No reason just checking up on yah." Piotr commented standing to join Mr. Foley.
"Yes, I asked him to check up on you. You've been out of it for a while now." Mr. Foley commented.
"Whatevah..." Rogue said softly before motioning Piotr back, "Yah know w'en yah told meh tah remember when Ah was happy..."
"Dah..."
"Ah did that," Rogue whispered before falling back to sleep.
Mr. Foley sent Wanda and Piotr out soon after Ms. Lamb returned. The pair left silently allowing their friend to sleep the day away. Ms. Lamb checked Rogue over and though she didn't write down the bruises, fractured ribs, cut wrists, the goose egg on her temple, and low blood pressure that caused the fainting spell. No instead she pulled out her cell phone.
"Yeah. She's here, banged up, and asleep now. I would assume so. Yes, I understand. I shall try." With that she hung up and began other documentation.
"What'd he say?" Mr. Foley asked looking up from the kid he was giving a check-up too.
"To send her out at 5th period."
With that the pair continued their day until the bell rang announcing 5th period. Ms. Lamb put her pen down before standing and walking back over to Rogue. Only when the younger girl began to stir did she begin to speak.
"Hey. Can you hear me?" Ms. Lamb asked.
"Y'ah..." Rogue groaned as she sat up.
"Well I can't let you just lay around for the rest of the day. Its 5th period now."
"Al'right." Rogue said as she stood up.
"Go back to the gym and change, but try not to over exert yourself again."
Rogue nodded and went on her way. She soon arrived in her own cloths and with her backpack to her Study Hall. Logan sat there looking at her concern in his eyes, Piotr was standing near by.
"Hey Logan...Ah'm gonna head up to the roof."
"No you're not. Sit."
Without a word Rogue sat down with the pair and grumbled under her breath not looking at either man. Piotr smirked before reaching down into his backpack pulling something and passing it over to her. Rogue glanced over at his hand to see a new box of color pencils, and smirked. She snagged the box with a smile before pulling out her sketchbook.
She sketched out of habit, and without a thought to what she was drawling. At least she had been until something about the picture shocked her back into reality. Staring up back at her from behind a black and gold mask were the red on black eyes of the boy, or so she guessed. The mask itself was simple, solid black with slight gold detailing around the edges. What shocked Rogue the most was the feelings held in those perfectly, hypnotizing, rudy eyes, and even though Rogue knew she had drawn them she was still fascinated. She brushed her finger tips gently over the image afraid that any more pressure would ruin the captured moment.
Rogue broke out of her thoughts when the bell rang. She looked up and quickly closed the sketchbook before anyone could see her sketch. Honestly she didn't know why she had done it just that it felt private and just for her. She stood and instinctively went outside to sit under the tree for lunch, the cold air nipped at her skin but didn't bother her beyond that.
"Rogue? I like don't understand how you sit out here in just like a shirt and gloves." Kitty stated as she too crossed the lawn to the tree.
"The honest answer would be because I no longer care. Death would be a reprieve from life." Rogue thought, "Mus' just beh mah warm southern blood, Kit."
"Speak for yah self." Kurt shivered as he joined them, "No lunch Rogue?"
"Nop'e."
"Your still eating." Wanda announced tossing a bagel, ham, and cheese sandwich to Rogue who caught it surprised.
"But..."
"No. Your eating and that's final." Wanda interjected as she stole some of John's cheese fries.
"Hey!" John started but a single glare from Wanda stopped his complaining.
Rogue smiled as the chatter around her picked up. Maybe she was being a little to harsh on life. There where some good times that she would miss, but she wasn't sure if they out weighted everything else or not. Rogue sat silently as she watched them all chatting, tinkering, eating, burping, joking and unseen by anyone a small sad smile formed on Rogue's lips as her eyes grew sadder and darker. No surely her woes were much heavier.
