Chapter Two- Out in the Open


Scott played through his mind what he was going to say for what seemed like the millionth time. Then, he knocked on the door.

““Who is it?”” Jean called. ““Uh, it’’s me, Scott..”” You can still turn back……just say you needed to borrow a pencil..

““Come in, Scott,”” she called again.

Scott turned the golden doorknob hesitantly and went inside. He saw Jean sitting on her bed, with her legs crossed. She was holding a pen, and there was a binder, a few pieces of paper and two opened books in front of her. All of them suddenly floated up in the air, and were gently laid down on the carpeted floor.

Jean slid to the end of the bed, and sat at its edge. Scott sat beside her. They looked at each other. Jean smiled at him, looking completely innocent. Scott smiled back, his cheeks turning red. ““Uh, look, I think we need to talk.””

Jean’’s smile faded a little. ““I know...wanna go first?””

““Yeah....”” Scott took a deep breath. Suddenly, his mind had gone blank.

““Uh...””

Jean, realizing what had happened, tried her best not to smile. ““Scott, want me to go first?””

Scott looked at her, his face filled with relief. ““Sure, go ahead.””

==

Remy Lebeau silently walked through the hallway without making a sound. All the lights were out, except for the pretty redhead’’s room. The door was open by a small crack, and he peered in. He saw Jean and Scott talking. Finally, he thought, they’’re talking..

He’’d only been at the institute for a month, but it was clear that the two liked each other, what with all the flirting, and making each other jealous...it was obvious the two were meant to be. Remy continued walking towards Kitty and Rogue’’s room. He slipped inside without making a sound. The glass doors that led to the balcony were slightly open, so if something went wrong, that was his escape. He walked in the darkness, being guided only by the moonlight, towards the younger girl. She was sleeping ever so peacefully.

Remy then walked over to Rogue’’s side. He stared at her calm face. She didn’’t wear any make-up when she slept, he noticed. All the more beautiful, he thought. He knew what would happen if he touched her. He knew the risks. And yet, he was still willing to take them...

==

““I-I guess it’’s because of our friendship,”” Jean started. She had the whole thing planted in her mind, but now the words were starting to fade. She began to talk faster.

““I mean, we had such a strong and close friendship, and I just didn’’t want to ruin that by trying to make it more...”” Scott just looked at her, taking it all in.

““I confide in you. I tell you all my problems with school, all the worries I have with my family, and even when I‘‘m having problems with my powers!...And when I needed you,”” Jean continued, ““you were always there, no matter what.””

A tear quietly rolled down her cheek. She turned away. ““I’’m just afraid that if we got together and it didn’’t work out, we’’ll drift apart……I didn’’t want to risk that, Scott. I don’’t want that to ever happen to us..””

==

Remy leaned in, his face only inches from Rogue’’s. His heart beating fast, he closed his eyes and slowly, he pressed his lips against hers....

==

Scott wrapped his arms around her, and hugged her tightly. ““Jean, that’’s not gonna happen to us. I’’m not going to let anything like that ever happen to us. I know that it’’s going to be a bumpy ride,”” Scott whispered,”” but we’’ll get through it. I know we will.””

==

The young Cajun slipped into his own room, which he shared with Peter, and lied down as quietly as he could on the soft bed. Peter was fast asleep. He closed his eyes. His slips slowly curved into a satisfied smile. Right now, he was the happiest man on earth.

==

Scott glanced at Jean’’s alarm clock. It was almost two a.m. He was lying on Jean’’s bed, beside her. He sighed in content and looked down at Jean. She was asleep, her head resting on his chest. He ran his fingers through her fiery red hair. If Remy Lebeau was the happiest man on earth a minute ago, Scott Summers was the happiest now.