Chalk One up for Perfection


"Look at her. Why does she have to be so perfect” Rogue thought to herself as she gazed out her bedroom window at Jean going for an early morning jog. Like she tends to do every weekend. “There she goes with perfect grades, her perfect friends, her perfect long red hair, her perfect green eyes, and her perfect body, with her perfect touchable skin, and her perfect, perfect boyfriend! What makes her SO much better then me!!?! EErrrrrrrr.” “With my perfect boyfriend” she finally said aloud, not realizing Kitty was still in the room, but luckily she didn't hear, “Well I'm outtie” She said happily, and fazed through the floor, heading downstairs.

And with that she gather her thoughts and went downstairs to join the rest of the X-men, or at least the ones who were up.

"Good Morning Rogue” Ororo, said to her as she passed by in the hall.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning considering it was only 9:00am,normally the Professor would require all the teens to be up an by 6:00am normally for a quick run through the Danger Room, and giving then plenty of time left to get ready for school, But he was more easy going on weekends. After all he does realize they're still kids. So he give then until 10:00am.But normally there up by then anyway. Jean usually before everyone else.

While passing by, Rogue noticed one bedroom door opened. She stopped up and walked a bit close to open the door just a bit more to peer into the room, Scott’s room.

She watched him as he slept, this is the first time she really ever saw him without his ruby red quartz glasses on, as she watched him sleep she wondered what his eyes might look like, how they look when they look at her, what color they were, she was tempted to walk into his room to get a closer look. But didn't dare to, just incase she startled him and woke him up to suddenly cause him to open his eyes without any protection for the both of then.

So with that thought she backed up and closed the door, and continued to walk down the hall.

By the time she had gotten downstairs. The rest of the team had finished up breakfast and was planning a quick football game, she overhead Kurt say, “So as soon as Scott gets up, we are outta here. “Where ya'll goin?” she asked curiously?, “We’re just heading out back to play some football. You in?” Evan asked,” Yeah come on” Kitty said exactly, “It’ll put another girl on the field” “yeah but wont the teams be un even?” She said trying to get out of playing, “Besides what about Jean, why don't ya'll just get her to play?” “Naw, Jean cheers for football, she doesn't play” Evan said, “Don’t be so sure about that. She does have a mean arm” A voice outta nowhere said. It was Scott, coming down stairs. “Well you wake up fast" Rouge said, not really thinking about it what she said and how she made it sound. “What do you mean?” Scott said still sounding kinda tired, “Oh, No nothing never mind” So are you playing ball or not Rouge?" Evan asked, “No remember I can't."

"Oh, Oh yeah”, Evan said realizing what she meant, “Well come and cheer for us then girl” he said trying to make her feel better, “yeah, c’mon” Kitty spoke up, “I’m sure Jean has a pair of Pompom’s you can use” Rogue got an upset look on her face, “Something wrong?” Kitty said, “Huh, Oh no, yeah I'll come and watch ya’ll.” “Great” Kurt spoke up, “So who has who? as the teen argued about who was going to be on a team with who, Rogue walked out slowly behind then with her head hung low.

*******

By the time the game had started, Rogue secretly found herself playing The dutiful girlfriend watching her boyfriend playing ball ,secretly cheering for him. Hoping his team would win. She was enjoying every minute of it. Despit her appearance, and the way she shut herself off from everyone. People never paid any much attention the fact that she was just a girl a teenage girl, wanting and wishing, and planning the same as ever other teenage girl did, but unlike the others girls, Rogue just didn't want to bring any attention to the fact that she was just like everyone else, the only one who really seemed to notice that was Scott. He didn't look at her the way other guys did, or girls for that matter. He never laughed when she walked by, or started whispering, or watched her as if he was looking for another mistake. He looked at her the way she wanted to be seen. That’s what made Scott so perfect for her.

Right after scoring a touchdown for the team Scott glanced over toward Rogue, and gave her a little smile. Like he was flirting with her, she turned away and blushed, thinking to herself "Its good thing you can't read my thoughts” and with that Jean ran up behind her and sat down on by the field to watch the game.

"Oh great” Rogue said, keeping her thoughts to herself.

Scott noticing that she was there called a time out and headed toward her, while the other teens taunted him with. “Oooooooooo’s” which cause Scott to blush a little bit, and Rouge to walk away. With her head hung as she often did ,cause Jean to pick up on her sadness, and started to feel a little concern.

After the game had ended and all the teens had cleaned up, and had something to eat, and watched a couple of flicks, considering they could do what they wanted to on their day off. Jean and Scott then got up and went for a walk. As they often did around this time, right before sunset. Just the two of them. It was like they scheduled time to be alone or to make out somewhere or anything like that. They would gladly have taken anyone else along who wanted to go, but the others know that the two kinda had a crush on each other and let them go by themselves.

Scott and Jean often enjoyed taking their walks. It gave them a chance to talk, and take a break from the rest of the world, and all the stress that came along with it. It was just the two of them, and they liked it

"Scott?” “hmmm?” he said taking in the calmness of the day, “Have you noticed anything different about Rouge lately?” Jean asked?” No, why?” “I dunno, she just seems so sad and distant at times, ya know ","What do you mean?” “I’ve just been picking up on it. I dunno.” “Well” Scott said as he wrapped his hand into Jean’s, “If you concerned, Why don't you just talk to her. Ask her about it? Rogue’s a good person, but like the rest of us, she has issues with something. It’s normal, but unfortunately” he said stopping up to lean Jean against a tree so they were facing each other. “She doesn't feel comfortable enough around us to let us in, she’s not close to anybody. So maybe with your unique gift, and being the kind and, caring, considerate person you are, she may just open up. Give it a try. I mean if it'll make both of you feel a little better” and with that he gave Jean a peck on the cheek, and the continued their walk, while Jean thought to herself, “She does feels close to someone, Scott".

*********

Sunday, seem to pass by rather quickly. The teens did their homework, which was usually required to be done on Saturday, But the just never got around to it.

Jean was quiet that day, trying to figure out what to say and when to talk to Rouge.

So caught up in her thoughts she never realized the time until Kitty knocked on the door to say goodnight.

"Hey Kitty” Jean called, “Yeah?” “Have you noticed anything stranger with Rouge lately?” asking because where they are roommates she might have noticed something, “No, No I haven't or at least no stranger then usual. Well maybe, I dunno, she seems a little sadder the usual, why?” “no reason inpeticuliar, I’ve just been picking up vibes, that’s all.” “Oh, ok. Well, good night then.” “Good night Kitty"

The fact that Jean could pick of signals like that kinda maybe Kitty a bit un comfortable. Just the for the fact she could read minds and not even plan to do so. It’s not that she thought Jean was a freak or anything, but there are some things she wants to keep private. Like all people.

The next day at school started like any regular one, kids dragging themselves of the buses, for another 5 days of torture and teachers.

Jean Had a early cheerleading practice, so she ended up at school early. Then after that she ran to find Rouge knowing they both had a free period first class. So still in uniform she noticed Rouge walking the halls and ran up to talk.

"Hey Rouge” “Oh, hey Jean” “What’s up?” “Not much, just school work, ya know?” “yeah, can we go somewhere and talk?” “Talk, what for, what about?” at this point Rouge was a little nervous, not knowing if Jean went prying into her mind without permission, or not

"No special reason, its just that we've been living together for months now and we never really got a chance to talk, to get to know each other.” “Well..." Rouge started to say before being so rudely interrupted by a voice coming halfway down the hall, walking towards Jean, it was Duncan Matthews, and two cheerleaders one for each of his arms. “So what’s up you coming to hang with or not?” Rogue at this point feeling extremely uncomfortable from the 2 sets of eyes peering at her from Duncan's decoration, the looked at her as if they wanted to say something, or they planned to afterwards, “Well Duncan I was gonna.. “Jean started to say before Rouge stop her a yelled "Look Jean the reason why we don't talk is because I have nothing I want to say to, or need you to know!" and with that slammed the her locked door and walked away.

"Geeze how rude was that?” she could hear one of the girls say. “Yeah, you try to be nice, show a little charity and look how you get treated, But I suppose what other way should you be expected to be treated by Goul Girl”, Then the two of then started to laugh as they walked off, Duncan, now leading Jean with is arm around her, while she looked back at her could be friend.

Later that day after school before any of the kids made it back home, Rogue still feeling upset and embarrassed by what happen left school early, and made her way up to Jean's room. When she got there, she looked around, getting more and more outraged, by the big single bedroom covered in light blue paint and white trim with glow in the dark stars on the ceiling and the queen size bed with white satin bed set and framed pictures of her friends from the institute and from school all around, she picked up a satin pillow from her bed, and started knocking things down and off the walls ,screaming to the top of her lungs. “THIS IS FOR YOUR PERFECT ROOM,AND YOUR PERFECT BED,AND YOUR PERFECT FRIENDS,AND YOUR PERFECT THINGS,AND ALL YOUR PERFECT CLOTHES,AND YOUR PERFECT HAIR,AND YOUR PERFECT EYES,AND YOUR PERFECT SKIN,YOUR PERFECT LIFE,AND YOUR PERFECT,PERFECT....",Rouge was so upset she fell to the floor crying.

By now everyone was home, and heard the noise and ran upstairs to see what was going on.

Kurt was the first one there, by teleporting, trying to calm Rouge down without touching her remembering the first time the had met up, “Rouge vhat are doing?! please stop it, calm down!” avoiding her arms the best he could, Logan had been near by and got there right after, grabbing Rouge around her waist trying to stop her, “Calm down, Calm down!!” “He yelled, “Let go of me, let me go I mean it ,Let me GOOOO!” the Professor showed up calming her down, getting her to stop telepathically.

By now they were all on the scene, except for Jean and Kitty, they hung around the school a little later then the rest, but then they were just getting Home, Rogue could hear Jean's voice coming from downstairs, enraged ,she started screaming, “I hate’er, I hate’er, I hate’er!!” by now realizing Scott was watching she burst out of the room, and ran downstairs meet Jean and Kitty, pushing Jean down the stairs and ran out the door. Luckily Jean and Kitty weren't very far upstairs, and Jean managed to catch herself before falling, “What was that about?” Kitty said, still shocked by what happened. “She just liked, Flipped, ya know.” “Totally wigged, man” Evan added. by now Scott helped Jean up, and walked with her upstairs to her room.

*********

"I can't help but feel somewhat responsible for this Scott”, Jean sounded so sad as her and Scott picked up the mess. “I dunno, It’s just...maybe if I did something different, or said something different, TRIED something different. Then maybe Rouge would feel they way she does"

"You can't change the way others act, the same way you can't change the way they feel"

Scott said smiling at her to make her a little better, as she picked up a broken picture frame off the floor. “Hey. Where’s the picture?” “What picture?” “The picture that was in the frame.".

"What was the picture of, maybe it fell out onto the floor what was the picture of ?","It was a picture of you Scott" Jean said with a bit of concern to her voice. “I have to find Rogue".

*********

"Professor, have you found anything on her yet?” No Jean, not yet” “Well she can’t be too hard to find, can she?” “No, she close by.” “I’m gonna go and take a walk, and try to find her, I’ll be back later"

"Jean" the Professor called as she walked towards the door “please be careful".

By this time, everyone was out looking for Rogue, But only Jean had a feeling where to look, she didn't know why or how she knew, she just knew.

After a 20 minute walk She found herself over looking a cliff, that was near to the mansion.

"What are you doin here?" a southern voice called out in the dark “What do you want Jean?” Rogue said sounding more and more inpatient.

"I just want to talk” “Didn’t I already tell you WE have NOTHIN to talk about!".

"Considering the way my room looks now I'd say we have a lot to talk about. Your mind is a mess Rouge please let me help you straighten it out,." Rogue, now walking up closer to Jean, “You feel bad Jean, is that it? That’s why you came all the way out here just to make yourself feel a little better, You don't care, so why even pretend?"

"Rogue that’s NOT true” “Of course not, you not caring wouldn't make you perfect now would it?"

"Is that's it Rogue? Is that what you think? You think I'm perfect? You think I don't make any mistakes like, I don't feel hate, or pain or envy or jealously, or sadness. Rogue, is that it? What do you want to be me or something?” “Don’t flatter yourself, Red” Well what then, what is it Rogue, what is it about me that you hate so much?"

"Or is it because of Scott” she asked noticing the missing picture hanging half out of her pocket.

"NO Jeans that’s not it!, You wanna know what I am mad at? Ok fine I'll tall ya. I’m mad at the fact that the professor likes you better then the rest of us, how everyone at school treats me, and how the treat you. I mad at the fact that you hang all over the idiot Duncan, and never pay any attention to Scott, and how he pays attention to you, why...",Rouge stopped getting caught up in her tears.. Why does everything have to revolve around you?” “I’m sorry Rogue, I’m sorry if it seems like everything is about me. It’s not its about all of us” “Oh Geeze Jean, why do always do that? When things are about you, you make them sound like their not. So no one can say anything bad about you. People can think you caring and your thoughtful, but there wrong your none of that, your hurtful and stuck up, and when nothing is about you, you make it about you, your selfish, you make me sick and I want nothing more to do with you.....I hate you!” and with that Rouge stormed off back down through the bush, leaving Jean there to think about everything that she said. Leaving everything she said un resolved.

Jean sat up there on that cliff top till dark, her mind going in over time from Rouge acusations, not wanting to go back to the mansion. Not knowing Rouge would be there or not, and if she was what would she say to her, what could she say to her, what could she say to the others, what could she say to Scott.

Eventually Scott made his way to find her, he saw her sitting close to the cliff. As he walked up closer to her and sat down beside her, he simply said, “You can see into people's mind, but that doesn't mean you can change them” Jean said nothing, she just fell deeply into his arms, laided there and cried.