9 January

"Broken Promise"

Now that the time was drawing near, Rogue's nerves were beginning to pick up at a frightening pace. The blouse Jean had loaned Rogue looked nice and appropriate, but it wasn't her book cover that she was worried about. Even though winter had returned to Salem Center with a vengeance, Rogue doubted that she could wear gloves in school without large suspicions surrounding her. By experience, humans were a touchy bunch, but Rogue couldn't follow those rules lest someone end up in a coma.

"You look as white as a sheet," Jean observed. Her words snapped Rogue out of her painful worries.

"Ah do?"

"You'll be fine here, I promise," Jean consoled. It was easy for her to say; her mutant powers weren't physically manifested and she had the appearance of a demigod. Rogue wouldn't be surprised to see boys drooling after her.

"Here, sure. There, Ah wouldn't bet on it." Rogue deliberately twisted Jean's words as if the action would soothe her feelings.

Scott walked up on the two young woman then with hands stuffed in his coat pockets. "Are you ready?" he asked them, looking between them through his pick-shaded eye glasses.

"Ah s'pose or Ah'll nevah get movin'," Rogue answered. Jean smiled sweetly.

The drive was fairly short and comfortable, if quiet. Jean and Scott kept glancing at each other in the front seat, though no words were exchanged. Rogue was happy to stare out the window as Scott drove without initiating conversation.

Scott parked in the student lot and opened Rogue's door for her. "Do you need someone to go to the office with you to pick up your schedule?" he asked.

"No," Rogue answered, "but Ah wouldn't mind if you came along. Ah don't know where any blasted thing is."

"I'll meet you in class," Jean excused herself. She gave Scott a quick peck on the cheek and then hurried off. "Good luck, Rogue!" she called before disappearing.

Coming upon the office, Scott held open the door for Rogue to enter. The secretary looked up. "How can I help you?"

"We're her to pick up a schedule," Scott announced.

"Name?"

"Anna Marie," Rogue said softly. Her eyes darted quickly to Scott's face.

"Last name," the secretary reiterated.

"Darkholme," Rogue supplied, her voice uncertain. How many new kids with the name of Anna Marie requested a new schedule for this to be necessary?

The secretary shuffled through a few folders before addressing the waiting students again. "You'll need to fill this emergency contact form out and return it by the end of the week. There's also a couple more forms your parent or guardian must fill out to be returned." The folder holding these colorful sheets was closed. A final white sheet was placed on top. "And here's your schedule." Rogue grabbed the offered folder from the secretary.

"Thank-you," she said. Her eyes scanned down the list to read the classes for her remaining semester.

"Anything good?" Scott asked.

"Ah dunno. Algebra one, Biology, some gym class, an English class, American History, a computer class and a free period for studyin'."

"Which class are you? Freshman?" Scott held out his hand for Rogue's schedule, which she obligedly turned over.

"Sophomore," she contradicted.

"Oh, sorry. You said Algebra one ..."

"Ah haven't been t' school" -Rogue glanced around to make sure no one was around to overhear what she had to say- "since mah powers manifested. Ah nevah took the class."

"It's not too bad of a class. I preferred Geometry over Algebra, though."

"Ah prefer no math," Rogue grinned.

"It's important to learn."

"Ah think Ah can prove you wrong." Remy had talked about Scott like he was some sort of disease, but Rogue couldn't find anything too bad about him. He had the air of a goody two-shoes about him, but at least he was being amiable. It was better than a few of the other students at the mansion could say.

"I'll take a rain check," Scott replied. He handed back her schedule. "I can show you to your classroom," he offered. "The bell will ring in about a minute and I don't think you want to be late to your first class."

"Thanks," Rogue smiled. "Ah'd appreciate that."

The school wasn't overly large, but to Rogue's unpracticed perception, it felt huge. Rows upon rows of blue lockers bled into the walls as if they were ungodly house decoration. Doors to classrooms were nestled snugly between sections.

"Ah don't think Ah got a locker," Rogue exclaimed suddenly.

"The locker number and combination should be on your schedule. Take a little time after school to check it out. Jean and I will wait in the parking lot." Rogue offered him a grateful smile. "This is your first classroom," Scott gestured. "Your second one will be just down the hall that way. I probably won't run into you in the day, but you can probably ask anyone for help if you need it. This high school isn't very large; your arrival isn't much of a secret."

"That was fast," Rogue commented.

"What else do they have to talk about?" Scott adjusted his backpack on his shoulders and turned his hips away. As if on cue, the bell rang. "Passing time is four minutes. I'll see you after school?"

"Yeah," Rogue agreed happily. "See ya, Scott."

"Bye."

Rogue's first couple hours passed in a blur. The teachers appeared to say the same things in each hour as students adjusted to the new semester. Rogue remembered vague panic each time the bell rang to switch classes, but she made it on time every time. Lunch turned out to be confusing as well, but Ororo came around to help the new kid out. Afterwards, the monotony of the repeated lectures continued.

When the final bell rang, Rogue let out a sigh of relief. So far no disaster had occurred and her nerves were finally beginning to die down.

She took her time in finding her locker, which appeared to be erratically numbered. Pulling out her schedule sheet, she set to work on getting the combination right. It took her a dozen tries to open the locker for the first time. Closing it soon after, she quickly had the personality of the combination dial. Once she had it down, the hallways in the area had cleared to near silence. Shoving her newly acquired books onto the locker shelf, Rogue roughly shut the door. She gathered her backpack onto her shoulders and walked down the hallway. Once outside, she looked for Scott's unique glasses and Jean's glowing auburn hair. Students still hung about, talking in bunches, leaning on cars, but Rogue couldn't find anyone she recognized. Feeling a growing dread in the pit of her stomach, Rogue walked down the aisle Scott had parked in, searching for his car.

"He left me?" Rogue asked herself. She spun around, her eyes searching frantically for the tell-tale sign that Scott and Jean hadn't left yet.

Feeling completely abandoned, Rogue trudged back down the remaining row of vehicles.

"Hey, you alright?" Rogue glanced up to see a concerned face belonging to a short girl.

"Ah ... Ah don't know how t' get home," Rogue admitted.

"You're new here, right?"

"Yeah. Scott said he'd give me a ride home, but Ah'm thinkin' he left. Ah didn't set up any othah plans." She twisted her fingers around the strap to her pack.

"Y'know, I can't drive myself, but I think my boyfriend might be able to give you a lift. Where do you live?"

"Actually, Ah think if Ah can call home, I might be able t' hitch a ride with someone else." Rogue felt a little more optimistic at the though. "We're kinda out there."

"I have a cell phone," the friendly girl offered.

"Thanks." Rogue managed a smile. Taking the phone, Rogue struggled to remember the mansion's number. Punching it in, she let it ring.

"Charles Xavier speaking." The phone rang only three times.

"Ah ... Prof? Ah don't know how t' get home."

"Rogue?"

"Yeah. Scott said he'd wait for me, but-"

"I pulled him and Jean out early," Xavier explained.

"Oh."

"Have the buses left?"

Rogue looked around. "Ah don't see any."

"Alright." Xavier was silent for a moment. "I think Remy wouldn't mind picking you up. I would send Kurt, but he's still working on teleporting partners."

"Remy's fine," Rogue affirmed. "Can he bring mah gloves with him?" Even if he did drive something other than his motor bike, she already felt safer wearing them.

"Where are they?"

"In mah room on mah dresser," Rogue described.

"Okay. He'll be around soon."

"Thank-you, Prof. Ah wish someone would'a told me Scott and Jean were leaving."

"I'm sorry. Next time I'll have Jean or myself contact you. Remy's leaving right now."

"Alright. Bye."

Rogue snapped the phone closed and carefully handed it back over. "Thank-you," Rogue repeated.

"Got a ride?" the girl asked.

"Yeah. Should be here soon," Rogue confirmed. She wrapped her arms tighter around herself to warm up. "So, uh, what classes ya got this semester?"

"Nothing exciting. I have the usual and band. Study hour fifth hour."

"Oh! Ah have it that hour, too!"

The two girls continued in companionable conversation. Eventually the girl's boyfriend came over to leave, but they said they'd stay as Rogue waited for Remy.

Much to Rogue's expectations, he arrived on his motorcycle. As he took off his helmet, the girl leaved over to Rogue. "Is he your boyfriend? He's hot."

Rogue fought to keep her embarrassment down. "Nah. He's a friend." She waved Remy over. "Ain't it way too cold for that?"

"Aw, chere, it's all I got," Remy explained. "Beggars can't be choosers anyway." His gaze switched to the other two. "I hope she di'n't cause ya problems. She's new 'round here."

"I figured that out," the girl said, eyes sparkling.

Remy smiled largely. "Maybe we see you 'round, ney?"

"Maybe."

Remy's attention switched back to Rogue. "Ready?"

"Ah'm gonna freeze like a popsicle," Rogue murmured.

"Really, Rogue!" He chuckled softly and pulled her gloves out of his coat pockets. "I brought your gloves like ya asked." He held them out.

Slipping the green material over her fingers, she nodded appreciatively. "Thanks."

"Jus' put the helmet on an' lets get home." Remy stepped away to fetch it.

"He isn't your brother, is he?" the girl whispered.

Rogue recoiled. "What? No!"

"He's hot," she repeated.

Rogue shook her head, catching the helmet when tossed to her. "See ya tomorrow?" she asked before climbing on the bike after Remy.

"Yeah!"

Wrapping her arms around Remy, Rogue snuggled up to his abnormally warm body. "You're crazy, Sugah."

"You jus' crazy for fallin' for me, chere," Remy shot back. He kicked the bike to life before Rogue could come up with a coherent reply.