9 February
Jealous. –adj. 1. feeling resentment against someone because of that person's rivalry, success, or advantages 2. feeling resentment because of another's success, advantage, etc. 3. characterized by or proceeding from suspicious fears or envious resentment 4. inclined to or troubled by suspicions or fears of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc., as in love or aims 5. solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something 7. intolerant of unfaithfulness or rivalry
"You're not without a ride again, are you?" Veronica asked. Rogue sat on the curb leading to the pick up/drop off curve in front of the high school.
"No. Ah'm just waitin' for him to show up."
"Is it Remy again?" Veronica asked, almost hungrily. After Friday, and then their meeting in the coffee shop, Veronica almost knew the whole story. But Rogue did omit the exact reasons to his periodic disappearances.
"Act'ly … no."
"Hank?"
Rogue wondered how Veronica managed to keep everything straight. She knew about Remy and Hank, even about Scott and Jean. On top of half of the school's business, whether it was her grade or not. "No, not Hank. He stays behind late for extra labs or somethin' some days. Ah guess today is one of those days."
"Okay, I gotta know, you all stay in the same house, right?"
Rogue tried not to be suspicious. "Yeah."
"But isn't it a school already? Like, the School for Gifted Youngsters?"
"Uh, yeah," Rogue agreed hesitantly.
"So why do you go to school here?"
Rogue blinked. "It's not that kinda school."
"Then what kind of school is it?"
Rogue swore her throat dried out instantly. "Special subjects," she croaked. "Like, um, social special."
"Like autistic?"
"Sometimes." Rogue decided the lie needed a little more flavor. "It's a home for children – teens, act'ly – that don't have nowhere else to go. Like Ah … Ah lost mah mum a few years back. Mah foster … didn't really work out. So Xavier invited me t' the school. Ah guess you could say that sometimes, it's that you need extra help with life there, too."
Veronica was quiet a moment. "Why's Scott there?"
Rogue shot Veronica a questioning glare. Why did she wonder about Scott? She was usually fixated on Remy.
"Orphan," Warren said. Rogue jumped. She didn't know he'd show up. She temporarily panicked, remembering that he had wings, but he somehow had them hidden. He passed off the visage with a stylish long coat.
"Warren! How long you been there?"
"Not long," he said with a smirk.
Veronica was uncharacteristically speechless. Rogue was sure to hear about this one for a while. A near genuine playboy picked Rogue up in lieu of eye candy but rough around the edges Remy, stuck up but almost perfect in every way Scott, and the hulking but kind genius Hank. Veronica had the decorum to keep from saying it in front of Warren, but Rogue could see it in her eyes. Jealousy. Jealous of Rogue, living young men of her dreams. She'd drop Trevor in a heartbeat for the lewd thoughts she had of Rogue's teammates. And for that, Rogue was jealous of her. Sure, Scott shot uncontrollable force beams from his eyes, Remy's eyes were red and black, Warren had wings, and Hank had hands and feet not quite human – but all of them could touch another without fear.
"And you?" Veronica asked, bordering on breathless. "What reason could you have for being different?"
Warren cracked a small smile. "Father wants me dead."
Veronica's palpable lust was stumped for a moment. Did she think him crazy, or that much sexier? Rogue, on the other hand, was completely caught off guard. She had no clue.
"Schizophrenic?" Veronica guessed.
"No. He actually just wants to change me into something I'm not."
"Gay," Veronica said with a lackluster tone.
Warren flustered. "No."
Rogue stood up, deciding that she'd had enough of the conversation. Grabbing Warren by the arm, she led him off in the direction of the parking lot. "See ya tomorrow, Veronica!" she called over her shoulder.
"Yeah," Veronica agreed. A little disappointment crept into her voice. "See you then."
Once they were out of the crowd, Rogue let go of his arm. "So how're we gettin' home?" she asked.
"Flying," Warren replied simply. "It's a nice day."
"Oh." Rogue felt her eyes widen. "Ah … okay."