Serenada

Rogue walked down the hall with a sense of relief. The mansion was fairly deserted. All the occupants, with the exception of the Professor and herself, were lounging by the pool. She was glad there’d be no one to bump into. She was walking down the hall for the pure joy of being able to do so. She should really have been paying attention to where she was.

“Hi Rogue!”

Rogue turned quickly, only to relax with a sigh as she saw Jamie. He was in swim trunks, completely soaked, and dripping all over the floor.

“Hey Jamie,” Rogue replied uneasily, “Whadaya doin’ here?”

“I needed to get something,” he said, motioning towards his room. “What’re you doing here?”

*Ah’m in tha Boy’s Wing! Oh that’s just wonderful!* Somehow she managed to maintain her composure. “Oh, jus’ takin’ a shortcut.”

Jamie’s expressive blue eyes widened. “Really?” he cried excitedly, “I didn’t know our wing was a shortcut to anywhere.”

“Umm…yea. It is.”

“Cool! To where?”

“Huh?”

“The shortcut, where’s it to?”

“Umm, the library,” she lied. Jamie never went there anyway.

Jamie nodded, his attention already wavering. “Well,” he said, turning slightly, “I gotta go back.”

“Alraht,” Rogue replied, giving him a short wave. She turned. “Have fun.”

‘It’s now or never. Grow a backbone Jamie!’ He tried, and faltered. “Umm..Rogue?” She turned. ‘Oh!’ It had actually worked. ‘Ask her! Ask her!’

“Yea?”

He put his hands behind him, so she wouldn’t notice him wringing them. “Uh, do you…wanna come?”

Rogue stiffened. “Ah don’t think so Jamie.” She tried to avoid looking at him, turning away quickly. She knew he’d use those big blue eyes to influence her. Jamie had perfected the puppy look.

Jamie frowned, his lip curling in an endearing pout. “Why not?”

Okay, so she hadn’t expected him to press the matter. “Well…Ah-”

“Rogue, don’t you want to come and have some fun? Aren’t you sad all alone? Why sit around all moody like Logan?”

Rogue slowly turned. *Not the face…not the face…*

Jamie’s eyes widened, his cheeks puffing, and his pouted lip trembling. “Please Rogue, please.”

*Oh no…oh no…* She sighed, defeated. “Ah’ll walk ya back down.”

Jamie was silent, considering her offer. Suddenly, he brightened. “Okay,” he said, with a blinding smile.

Rogue looked away as they neared the doors. Jamie took a few steps and turned. “Rogue?”

“Ah’ll catch ya later, J.”

“Rogue…”

She looked up, meeting his eyes. It was funny; he almost looked angelic. His skin was glistening as the sunlight reflected off the droplets that had yet to dry. The stray blonde highlights in his chestnut hair catching in the wind from the open windows, the light causing him to appear as if he’d gained a halo. He smiled, topping off the look. “Thanks,” he cried, then bounded outside. Rogue turned, grumbling. *Ah know, Ah’ll go to tha kitchen.* It wasn’t the best place to go, especially at this time in the day. But Rogue was starting to feel a bit hungry.

Entering the kitchen, she froze. It was already occupied. Roberto was leaning against the refrigerator. Bobby was sitting on the marble island. And Ray was standing by the sink. They were all clothed in only swimwear. Rogue gulped and turned to leave. *Way too much fantasy potential! Gawd, Ah hope they didn’t see me.* “Oh, hey Rogue.” *Damn!* She slowly turned to face them. “Hey ya’ll…Ah was just…” She gestured toward the fridge. “Comin’ in t’ get somethin’ ta drink.”

“Oh.” Roberto moved. “Sorry.”

Rogue smiled, failing miserably in trying to avoid staring at his chest. A slight blush tinted her cheeks, and she was barely able to restrain herself from running to the fridge. For some reason, she was feeling awfully hot. She practically dove into the refrigerator and came out with a can of cherry coke. ‘Interesting choice,’ her mind quipped. She blushed deeper, and unconsciously pressed the can to her neck. She moaned as the cool can sent shockwaves through her system. “Hot, ain’t it?” she sighed. Her head fell back, as she trailed the can down her neck. She gasped as she rolled the can over her clavicle slowly. *When did Ah get so hot?!*

She was so intent on the small pleasure of the cold can against her skin, she failed to notice her three companions staring. Nor did she notice the small, unintelligent choking sounds emitted, as each tried to respond. As she pulled the can away, they shifted uncomfortably. She realized she had to stop, or she’d end up embarrassing herself. *But if Ah go somewhere they ain’t…* A small smile formed. It was quickly shattered as she realized there would be no way the can would stay cold THAT long. She sighed in defeat. “Too bad this won’t be cold forever,” she remarked. She bit her lip, as she realized she’d said that out loud. And to make things worse, Bobby was less than two feet from her. *PLEASE don’t let him read into that.*

She realized it was too late, as Bobby hopped off the island and walked over to her. He’d grown a lot since his first day at Xavier’s. The cute, short, skinny goofball was now a devastatingly attractive, tall, well-toned goofball. Rogue tried not to gulp as he stood before her, eyes locked. He reached down and froze the can. Rogue looked down at it, then back into his warm brown eyes. “Thanks,” she saidly tly trailing her index finger down the juncture of his ribcage. On the spot, her mind created a multitude of new ways Bobby’s mutation would come in handy; not one of them clean. Bobby breathed in sharply as she reached his belly button. She gave him a coy smile, then moved away, shooting a ‘come hither’ glance over her shoulder as she disappeared out the kitchen door. Bobby made it all of two steps, before being restrained by his teammates. He turned to glare at them.

“Are you crazy?!” Ray exclaimed. “That was Rogue!”

“So?!” Bobby shot back.

“Bobby, you’d never survive through the whole thing.”

Bobby smiled as they released him. “At least it’s a great way to die.”

They all laughed and headed back outside.

“Still,” Ray said, “I’d kill for a little a that.”

Bobby nodded.

“It’s a shame really,” Ray continued, “Such a body….” He made a lewd gesture, then sighed. “Such a waste…”

“She deserves better,” Bobby replied.

“Yea,” Ray responded, “There’s no thrill for her.”

Both his companions nodded.

They all returned to their poolside vigil.

“Unless she gets off on letting you watch,” Roberto said, leaning back. Bobby nodded, and Ray grunted. They all settled back into relaxation, for about fifteen seconds. Suddenly, all three shot up, in sudden, instantaneous realization. “Shit!” Bobby cried. A moment later, three very frazzled X-men bolted back into the mansion.