As the group settled into their seats for 7th period history class, Rogue couldn't help but feel nervous. She had been getting to know Shay over the past few days, and had even started to feel a little attracted to him. But she was always cautious about getting too close to people, especially given her power.
When Rogue accidentally brushed against Shay's arm, she instinctively pulled back out of fear of hurting him. But then she quickly recalled that Shay was immune to her ability, which made her feel relieved. She let out a small sigh of relief, hoping that none of her classmates noticed.
Kitty, like, totally noticed. She playfully leaned over to Rogue and whispered, "Hey, Rogue, what's the deal there? Are you, like, totally into Shay?"
Rogue shot her a quick glance, a nervous smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Nah, Kitty. I'm just tryin' to be friendly, ya know?"
Kitty grinned mischievously, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Uh-huh, sure thing, Rogue. Keep tellin' yourself that."
Meanwhile, Kurt and Shay were chatting away, talking about video games and their favorite movies. They were sitting next to each other in class, with Rogue and Kitty closer to the window. Rogue was lost in her feelings, her jumbled thoughts floating around her head.
Their teacher Ms. Stacey, was blonde pale skinned woman with an interesting taste in clothes for a history teacher in her mid-twenties,
As walked in and started the class. Shay immediately Noticed her white spidey shirt and a smile sprang up onto his face instantly recognizing a fellow true believer.
Ms. Stacy was energetic and passionate about history, and the students were immediately drawn in.
As Ms. Stacey talked about Captain America exploits in WW2, Rogue found herself glancing over at Shay from time to time. She admired his intelligence and wit, and couldn't help but feel something was different about him but she just couldn't place it..
After class ended, the group gathered in the hallway. Kurt and Shay were still talking about their favorite video games, while Rogue and Kitty walked together, with Rogue lost in thought.
Kitty nudged her playfully. "So, like, when are you gonna make your move with Shay? You two have that undeniable chemistry, ya know?"
Rogue blushed, fidgeting with her gloves. "What? Kitty, no! It ain't like that..."
Kitty grinned mischievously. "Oh, come on, Rogue! I've seen the way you light up when he's around. Don't try to phase through it!"
Rogue sighed, her Southern accent shining through. "Ah, Kitty, I reckon it's too soon for all that. I don't wanna rush into anything and end up hurtin' both of us."
Kitty put her arm around Rogue, offering support. "I get it, But sometimes, you gotta take a leap of faith. Shay seems like a good guy, and who knows where this could lead?"
Rogue nodded, her voice filled with a hint of vulnerability. "You're right, Kitty. Ah just don't wanna mess things up. Ah'll take it slow and see how it unfolds. Thanks for lookin' out for me."
Kitty squeezed her friend's shoulder. "Of course, Rogue. We're in this together. Just remember, be true to yourself, and everything will fall into place. Now, let's go grab some ice cream after class,"
As Ms. Stacey began her lecture on the Captain America, Shay found himself struggling to stay focused. His mind kept drifting back to the incident in the hallway with Rogue. He couldn't help but feel like he had done something wrong.
Beside him, Kurt noticed his friend's distraction and leaned in to whisper, "Is everything okay, Shay?"
Shay shook his head, "I don't know, man. I think I might have messed up with Rogue earlier. I didn't mean to make her uncomfortable."
Kurt offered a comforting pat on Shay's back, his voice filled with reassurance. "Do not fret too much, my friend. Rogue, she possesses a resilience akin to tempered steel. She can weather the storms and emerge unscathed."
Meanwhile, Rogue found herself lost in a labyrinth of thoughts, her mind entangled in the recent encounter with Shay. She couldn't banish the memory of pulling away from his touch. It left her feeling a blend of embarrassment and relief, grateful that she hadn't inadvertently caused him harm.
Noticing her friend's preoccupation, Kitty playfully teased, her words laced with mischievousness. "Hey there, Rogue, are you harboring any secrets about our dear Shay?"
Rogue's face flushed with embarrassment as she quickly denied, her voice carrying a hint of defensiveness. "What? No way! Why on earth would you even suggest that?"
Kitty grinned, enjoying her friend's discomfort, her voice infused with a playful tone. "Oh, come on, Rogue. Let's admit it, he's not exactly hard on the eyes."
Rogue rolled her eyes, unable to suppress a slight smile, and stole another glance at Shay, who was diligently taking notes, oblivious to the girls' conversation.
Ms. Stacey's lecture eventually drew to a close, and the class began packing up their things. As they left the classroom, Shay hung back to talk to Kurt.
"Hey, man. Thanks for being there for me earlier. I really appreciate it." Shay thanked him.
Kurt clapped him on the shoulder, his voice tinged with his German accent. "Of course, Shay. Zat's vhat friends are for. Besides, you'll get ze hang of things here soon enough."
As they exited the classroom, Rogue caught up with them and fell into step beside Shay. She spoke with a touch of sincerity. "Hey, Shay. Listen, about earlier, I just wanted to apologize if I seemed jumpy or anything. It's not you, it's just my... ability."
Shay grinned, his tone lighthearted and humorous. "No worries, Rogue! I've seen people jump higher when I ask for their autograph. You're in good company. And hey, let's be honest, my powers can be shocking, quite literally sometimes! But trust me, you handled it like a pro. We make a great team, don't you think?"
Rogue couldn't help but chuckle at Shay's quip. "Thanks, Shay. We're glad to have you. And maybe you can use those impressive moves of yours to teach me a thing or two."
"Alright, sounds like a fun deal! I'll only charge half my usual rate of 6 cheeseburgers, 3 drinks, and a cherry pie," Shay quipped with a playful tone, adding a touch of humor to the conversation.
As they walked out into the sunny afternoon, Shay couldn't help but feel like things were looking up for him at Bayville High. He had made some new friends, and maybe, just maybe, he was starting to fit in a little.
The sound of loud horn blasting tore Shay from his thoughts
"Hey, you guys coming or what?"
Scott and Jean pulled up to the parking lot in the X-Van to pick up the group of students. Kurt noticed the vehicle and couldn't help but let out a mischievous chuckle. "Did you trade in the sports cars for a mini-van?" he remarked with a playful smirk.
Scott patted the hood of the van. "Nope, this is the X-Van, courtesy of Tony Stark. Think of it as payment for when the Hulk busted up the mansion. And besides, I can't fit you goblins in a sports car," he said, grinning.
Shay chuckled at the exchange, still getting used to the group's dynamic. He turned to Kurt and asked, "Couldn't you just warp us all back?"
Kurt shook his head, a playful glimmer in his eyes. "Ya know, vhere's ze fun in zat?" he replied, a hint of amusement evident in his voice as he let out a hearty laugh
As they all piled into the van, Rogue couldn't help but feel relieved that she wouldn't have to worry about accidentally hurting Shay with her powers. She still found herself lost in her own traumas constantly reminding her of her own past with budding relationships, before she joined X-Men they never ended well even now she sometimes feels like a lonely boat lost at sea. Rogue could have set there for hours letting her mind drift over the years of her past however she was snapped out of it when Kitty jokingly teased her.
Kitty's eyes lit up mischievously as she turned to Rogue. "So, Rogue, like, are ya startin' to feel some kind of way about Shay?" she asked with a sly smirk.
Rogue rolled her eyes, attempting to play it off cool. "What are ya talkin' 'bout, Kitty? He's just a friend," she replied, her Southern drawl lending a touch of casual nonchalance to her words.
Seated next to Shay, Kurt couldn't resist chiming in, his voice carrying a distinct German accent. He grinned mischievously and leaned closer to Rogue. "Oh, I don't know about zat. You should have seen how she looked at him zis morning," he teased, his accent adding a charming flair to his words. Rogue's cheeks flushed slightly, betraying her true feelings.
Scott leaned back in his seat and turned to Jean. "What do you think of the mission briefing for next week?" he asked, tapping a pen against his notepad.
Jean glanced over at Scott and replied, "It sounds like a routine research mission. But we need to be prepared for anything."
Shay listened in on their conversation, feeling a bit overwhelmed at the idea of going on missions with the X-Men. He couldn't help but wonder if he was really ready for it.
Kitty's excitement was palpable as she continued gushing about Tox-C and their lead singer Claudia. "Did ya see their latest music video? Claudia is, like, such a badass!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm and a touch of teenage slang.
Rogue, lost in her own thoughts about Shay, responded to Kitty's excitement with a lack of genuine interest. "Yeah, I reckon I'll have to check it out sometime," she said, her Southern drawl conveying a hint of disinterest as her mind remained preoccupied.
Kurt, engrossed in his PSP game, interjected with his distinct German accent. "I, for one, prefer classical music. You should try listening to some Beethoven, Kitty," he suggested, his voice carrying a refined and cultured tone, with the nuances of his German accent evident in his pronunciation
Kitty scoffed. "Beethoven? No way. I need something that gets me pumped up, like Tox-C."
Shay couldn't help but smile at their banter. It was nice to see the group getting along, despite their differences.
Suddenly, the van hit a bump in the road, causing Shay to jolt out of his thoughts. He turned to Kurt and asked, "Hey, what game are you playing?"
Kurt looked up from his PSP, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Just a little somesing I picked up in Japan. Ya vanna try it out?" he suggested
Shay nodded eagerly, feeling a bit more at ease. It was nice to have something to take his mind off of things for a while.
As the X-Van continued on the road, Kitty couldn't help but strike up a conversation with Shay, asking him about his favorite hobbies and interests. Shay was more than happy to oblige, and soon the two were engaged in a lively conversation about music and movies.
Rogue watched the exchange with a slight pang of jealousy. She couldn't help but feel a bit envious of how easily Kitty and Shay were getting along. She knew it was irrational, but she couldn't help but wonder if Shay had any romantic interest in Kitty.
As the conversation continued, Kitty couldn't resist throwing in a few playful flirts with Shay, much to his amusement. "So, Shay, have you ever dated a girl with superpowers before?" she teased, winking at him.
Shay chuckled. "Can't say I have, but I'm always open to new experiences," he replied, grinning.
Rogue tried her best to ignore the playful banter, but she couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy every time Kitty laughed at something Shay said. She silently scolded herself for feeling this way, knowing that it was ridiculous to be jealous of her friend.
Meanwhile, Scott and Jean discussed upcoming missions and training sessions for the team. Kurt, still engrossed in his PSP, occasionally chimed in with a joke or a sarcastic comment.
Shay found himself lost in thought once again. He thought about how much his life had changed in such a short amount of time, from being a street kid to a fledgling member of the X-Men. He was still trying to process it all, all he knew was he was afraid...