Chapter Nine: Mall Trawling

Rogue went up to her room to change after lunch only to find Kitty in their room putting on her makeup.

"Hey, Rogue, how's your new assistant?" Kitty asked teasingly. She knew who she was talking about by that insinuation in her voice.

"Kitty, what are you talkin' about?" Rogue asked as she changed behind her screen. She put on a pair of jeans and a long black t-shirt. She had her black shear gloves lying on her bed, as well as her black ankle boots sitting by her nightstand.

"Rogue, why are you still wearing those?" Kitty asked as she was putting the finishing touches on her hair.

She had decided to wear it down in a loose curl which was a new look for her but ever since Piotr told her she had pretty hair she wanted to wear it down to see if it was true.

"What do ya mean?" Rogue looked at her confused. "Ah love those boots."

"Not the boots, silly, those gloves," Kitty said, pointing to them.

"It's just in case," Rogue said as she put a brush through her hair. Kitty tried to ask again but Rogue was humming a tune in the attempt to drown her out.

"Rogue!" Kitty shouted agitated by her friend's behavior.

"What?" Rogue shouted. "Ah'm tryin' t'get ready for this shoppin' trip you insist ah go on."

"And I'm so glad I talked you into it," Kitty giving her a look like she accomplished the impossible. "Now, what you need is a complete makeover."

"We're goin' shoppin' but no lame makeovers."

"Then at least buy some new outfits," she insisted. "Something sexy for Remy to look at."

"Kitty!" she yelled. "Ah'm not out to impress that swamp rat but havin' some new stuff would be nice."

"Then let's go," Kitty said and dragged her out if the room.

They took Rogue's car. She invited Wanda to come along, more for safety reasons. With Wanda along, it would stop Kitty from going too crazy.

They reached the apartment building in less than fifteen minutes and took the elevator up to Wanda's apartment. They knocked on the door and in seconds it opened, and they were greeted by their friend. Over the last year or so she had grown her hair out but added some red streaks to contrast its natural dark color. It may have looked silly on anyone else, but Wanda had a certain amount of class and sophistication. It made her look rather chic.

"Johnny, I'm leaving now," she said and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. He was on his computer going some work and grunted in response. She just laughed as she headed out the door.

"Trouble in paradise?" Kitty asked.

"Naw, he just gets that way when he's working. He's got a deadline coming up, and his editor is getting on his back because he's taking so long to finish this new book."

"If it's anything like his last one, it'll be fantastic," Kitty said, her eyes twinkling. "Then just maybe you'll get that engagement ring."

"Kitty, we are nowhere near that stage," Wanda said, but Kitty was a hopeless romantic and started planning a wedding if any of her friends had more than one date with a guy.

"Hey, girlfriends, what's going on?" a cute sixteen-year-old blonde said. She was wearing a pair of hot pink sunglasses and her short hair in high pigtails. She wore a pink glittery t-shirt and tie-dyed jeans with the sun on one leg and moon and stars on the other. She also had her purple glow in the dark sneakers on. (Note: I have that outfit in my closet.)

"We're going shopping, Tabby," Kitty said in an excited sing-song voice. "Since a certain Cajun has moved in Rogue needs some new clothes."

"Sounds like a great way to spend the afternoon," Tabitha said, and sparks were practically shooting out of her eyes. "Can I come with?"

"Sure," Kitty said before Wanda and Rogue could object. It was a foursome whether Rogue liked it or not, but Kitty and Tabitha better not try and make her buy something pink and frilly.

They piled into Rogue's car and headed for the mall. It wasn't too crowded that afternoon. It was a good thing they decided to go on a week day and not the weekend when every teenager in town would be hanging out there.

The girls hit three stores, and by the end of it Rogue was exhausted. She hated shopping and remembered why she only did when there was no other choice. She did get some nice things though. Some new jeans and summer tops and a new bathing suit.

There was a pool at the institute and she loved going for swims when it wasn't occupied. That was usually late at night. It was safer to have a swim when no one was around, but she still worried that she would hurt someone.

They took a break and decided to stop for some burgers at the food court. Kitty and Tabby opted for the cheeseburger special, while Rogue preferred the spicy chicken. Wanda got herself a roast beef sandwich at the Subway stand.

Kitty was first to get her food order and found them a table, and once the other girls were finished, they came and joined her.

"Wow, we bought a lot today," Tabby said and counted her money to how much she had left. She got a job as a waitress a few nights a week and made good tips, but Kitty was amazed at how much money she had.

"Hey, Tab, is that your lifesaving?" Kitty asked.

"No, my dad sent me a mess of lottery tickets and I actually won some money, but I would never tell him that. He would ask for a cut."

"I don't tell my dad anything," Wanda said. "He doesn't even know I moved in with John yet... at least I don't think he does."

"Dads can be lame sometimes," Kitty said, "but they're always there when you need them." Kitty looked over to see the sullen look on Rogue's face. "Oh, I forgot, Rogue doesn't have a dad."

"Ah don't need one," she said, trying to lighten her mood. "Ah've lived eighteen years without one, so why change now."

"Hey, why don't we talk about something else," Tabitha said. "Like John's new book." she looked right at Wanda for any inside information.

"Oh, no," Wanda said. "John and his editor would kill me if I let anything spill."

"Oh, come on, just a little spoiler," Tabitha said starting to pout.

"Sorry, Tabs, you will have to wait until it comes out."

"Hey, Tabby, so when do you like readin'?" Rogue asked. It was a shock to her that Tabitha would read anything other than a sales ad. "As I remember ya almost flunked English Lit because you didn't actually read any of the books ya did reports on."

"Those were boring books, but John always has those hot steamy love scenes in his. I wonder how much of that is made up?" She looked over at Wanda giving her a wink. She responded by throwing a large French fry at her.

"That's none of your business," Wanda said.

Tabby was laughing and teasing and threw some French fries at her except she put some ketchup on hers.

Rogue just rolled her eyes at how childish they were being. "Hey, can't you two talk about somethin' else without throwing food."

"Hey, I know what?" Kitty said. "Let's talk about the hot and heavy romance going on at the mansion."

"Do tell," Tabby said as her eyes lit up. She was always up for some good gossip.

"Well, I know Gambit has his eye on a certain girl. Can anyone guess who it is?" Kitty along with Wanda and Tabby all stared at Rogue who looked shocked.

"Hey, there is nothin' goin' on," she said, but they all looked like they didn't believe her. "He's just assisting in a few of my self-defense classes." Wanda was smiling while shaking her head and Kitty had a sly look of satisfaction on her face. "And what about you, Kitty, is Colossus really just painting your picture?"

The was some ohhs and ahhs coming from both Wanda and Tabitha.

"Well, I've been trying to get him to ask me out, but he's shy, so I might have to just ask him."

"Rogue doesn't have to worry about Remy being shy," Wanda said, which made Rogue blush. "Oh, come on, Rogue, Remy likes you and it is okay to say you like him."

"Well, maybe I do... just a little," she said, but she looked embarrassed.

"I knew it," Kitty said with a giggle. "Sooner or later you'll be planning a wedding. Hey, maybe you and Wanda could have a double wedding."

"Kitty, we haven't even been out on one date," Rogue said gritting her teeth.

"It's coming," Kitty said, looking determined. Rogue just rolled her eyes, but secretly she wondered what it would be like to go out on a real date with Remy. There was that one time in New Orleans that they went to that little jazz club, and not counting the deception she had a really good time.

She looked down at her phone to see that it was getting onto dinner time, and she didn't want to be late. "Hey, Kitty, we should get going."

"Is it that time already?" Kitty said and looked at her phone to see that it was later than she thought. She also had a text from Piotr. "Oh, that's so sweet."

"What?" Rogue inquired.

"Pete left me a text. He says: Saved you a place at dinner. Don't be late."

Rogue just laughed. Kitty had a way of blowing up the little things and making them big, but if this was a hint at something bigger, she hoped he didn't break her heart or he would have her to contend with.

They made it back to the mansion just in time for dinner. Rogue had a few minutes, so she ran upstairs to put her bags away in her room. She thought about how her life had been for the past few years since her powers came into play. She had been so lonely and withdrawn, but things were starting to change, and her future looked so much brighter. Still, she couldn't bring herself to take off those gloves. Somehow, she felt safer with them on. Until she felt more secure, that was where they were going to stay.