3 February

Stain. –n. 1. a discoloration produced by foreign matter having penetrated into or chemically reacted with a material; a spot not easily removed 2. a natural spot or patch of color different from that of the basic color, as on the body of an animal 3. a cause of reproach; stigma; blemish 4. coloration produced by a dye that penetrates a substance, as wood 5. a dye made into a solution for coloring woods, textiles, etc. 6. a reagent or dye used in treating a specimen for microscopic examination –v. 7. to discolor with spots or streaks of foreign matter 8. to bring reproach or dishonor upon; blemish 9. to sully or guilt or infamy; corrupt 10. to color or dye (wood, cloth, etc.) by any of various processes that change or react with the substance chemically 11. to color with something that penetrates the substance 12. to treat (a microscopic specimen) with some reagent or dye in order to color the whole or parts and so give distinctness, contrast of tissues, etc. 12. to produce a stain 13. to become stained; take a stain

Remy was waiting for Rogue outside the school when the dismissive bell was rang. Rogue didn't expect to see him for a while yet. The double date they were supposed to be going on wasn't until six o'clock. Veronica had gone so far as to get a reservation at a restaurant. Granted, this restaurant wasn't very high end, and the reservation was more for formalities than anything, but it helped them feel grown up. For a handful of fifteen and sixteen year-olds, that was a big deal.

"Hey, y'alright?" Rogue asked. She sidled up to him, though not so close she had to crane her neck to look at his face.

"Ya, I'm fine," he replied. Rogue narrowed her eyes. He sounded evasive.

"What's goin' on?" she demanded.

"Look, somet'in's come up in my family again …" To his credit, his look of displeasure was genuine. "I was supposed t' be on the road two hours ago, but I promised you I wouldn't disappear on you again."

"But Remy … Veronica has a reservation an' everythin'. What happened that's so important right away?"

"Rogue, we're heading out. Do you still need a ride?" Scott stopped for a moment, letting go of Jean's hand as she continued towards the car.

"One moment, Scott."

"Yeah, sure. We'll wait up." He did a little skip to catch up with his red-headed companion.

Rogue turned her attention back to Remy. "Ah need ta understand. So Ah can explain it to Veronica."

Remy grabbed her hands in his, giving them a soft squeeze. Rogue tried to jerk away, afraid of touching someone again, but he was wearing gloves. "I can't. Not yet. Mon père, he's expectin' me."

"What am Ah supposed ta tell Veronica?" Rogue asked.

"Tell her what I told you: mon père called an' needs my help. He's expectin' me in Nawleans. One o' dese days, I'll tell you everyt'in' dat's goin' on, I promise." He dropped her hands, stepping sideways to get away. "I'm sorry, chere." With that, he turned on his heel to jog away. Rogue was left dumbfounded.

Rogue wasn't able to pull herself out of her stupor until Scott pulled up to the curb and Jean gave her a wave from the passenger side. "Hop in!" she called.

Rogue shook her head, as if it would help clarify what had just happened, and crossed the landing to the car. She climbed inside in silence.

"I'm sorry about what just happened with Remy," Jean said. Her voice was soft.

"Why?"

"I know how important tonight was to you. I don't want to say Remy's a jerk, but he's also very protective of … himself. None of us really know what goes on in his head. I don't try to pick up on others' thoughts, but his are, I don't know, shrouded? In a psychic cloud? Even if I tried, which was only once, it's difficult to get inside his head."

"Is that why everyone was tellin' me ta stay away from him?" Rogue asked. She realized she hadn't buckled up yet, even though Scott was in line to pull out of the parking lot. She pulled the seat belt across her lap slowly, taking her time in buckling it into place.

"Partially," Jean replied carefully. Rogue wasn't in the mood to be suspicious. "So what are you going to do?"

"Ah dunno. Ah don't have Veronica's number ta even give her a call for a head's up. Ah really don't feel like bein' a third wheel, but at the same time Ah can't stand her up either."

"You're friends with Hank, right?" Scott asked.

"Yeah, Ah guess so. Why?"

"It would do him a lot of good to get out of the house for a night," Scott said. The way he said it made Rogue feel like it was less of a suggestion. Even so, it wasn't a terrible idea. Then again, this event was supposed to be a double date and Rogue didn't want to cause drama.

"Ah'll see," Rogue sighed. She would rather have the subject dropped so that she could figure things out in silence. Much too soon, Scott pulled in the driveway to the mansion.

Rogue dropped her things off at her room and immediately went on to knock on Hank's door. He wasn't inside his room, but he met her in the hallway. "Hi, Rogue!" he greeted cheerfully.

"Hi Hank. Ah gotta question for ya."

"What would it be?"

"Ah had a double date with a school friend an' Remy today, but Remy decided to skip town. Ah don't have her number ta call her up, so Ah was wonderin' if you'd like to go as friends?" It sounded ridiculous now that she was asking him.

"Tonight?" Hank looked taken aback.

"Yeah. Is this a problem?"

"No! No problem at all! What time?"

"Six. We were goin' out for dinner. Veronica has reservations an' everythin'."

"Reservations?" Hank echoed. "I see. I'll pick you up at your room at five-thirty, then?"

"Um, what?"

"It's decided!" Hank slid past her to get to the door of his room. "I'll see you in a couple hours!"

"Ah, sure."