"Over here!" little Tommy called her to his new found friend. Rogue might've been the only girl in the group, but she played ball with the best of them it seems. Mike had tried his best to block her but she pretended to move to the right and kicked the ball between the gap of his legs. With a sharp turn around him, she juked pass her pursuers before kicking it towards him. He was so impressed that he almost didn't react in time to the ball flying towards him.

The shouting of his teammates went in one ear and out the other as he was mesmerized by the girl. She was a vision of beauty to the young boy even with mug smeared on her cheeks and grass in her hair. In fact, it only added to her charm. She wasn't a delicate damsel, she was a blooming wildflower.

The warnings didn't knock him out of his daydreams, but the impact to his stomach sure did. He was caught off guard and when he had gathered himself Alex had already taken the ball. He rushed after his friend and tried his best to get it back for his team, but the other kid ran circles around him. Feeling desperate he dove in and tried to kick it away, but his opponent merely hoped over him and continued his charge. Within moments a collective cheer of the enemy team let him know they lost the game.

God, he felt stupid. He had asked for the ball and when he got it he didn't just drop it, he practically handed it to the other side! She must've thought he was a complete idiot now. He didn't bother to get up yet, choosing to rest as he was with his face in the dirt. He was too embarrassed to look at her.

The sound of someone jogging over was heard and a gloved hand broke him out of his wallowing.

"Ya alright there? Didn't sprain anything, did ya?" He could hear the hint of concern in her voice. She truly was an angel he thought as the sun shining behind her head lit up her hair into a burnished orange. A golden hue outlined her body and even with shadows covering her features he could make out two gleaming emeralds.

He had it bad.

"Hello? Ya didn't hit your head did ya?" A hand waved in front of his face. He did it again. Every time he was around her it was like his brain shut down. He could feel the blood rushing to his face.

"Er, yeah! I-I'm fine, never better!"

She raised a single eyebrow and cocked her hip.

"Ahuh... Are ya now? Mind S'plaining why you still laying on the ground then?"

He fumbled with his words as his mind raced to find an answer. He couldn't very well tell her he was too busy enjoying the view could he now?"

"Oh, you know, just... Resting? The grass is pretty comfortable, do you wanna join me?"

Even as the words came out of his mouth he was screaming internally to stop himself. It was to no avail as it was a train wreck already in motion. Yes, Tommy, ask the amazing, beautiful, perfect in every way, girl you like to sit in the muddy and bug infested grass with you. Brilliant. If he could, he would've slapped himself right then and there for such an absurd level of stupidity. He must've gotten all his "charm" from his dad, the man who could always put his foot in his mouth no matter when. Curse you, dad! Why couldn't you have taught me how to be smooth like Uncle Richard?

As he was mentally berating himself, Rogue tilted her head in contemplation before mentally shrugging and sitting down on a more dry patch of ground. Tommy was being a bit weird, but she guesses it wasn't any more than usual. She wasn't oblivious by any means, she knew the dork had a crush on her. It was kinda cute watching him trip over his own feet around her. She'd be lying if she said she'd only been hanging around here this past week to play soccer.

Now, if only he could have the guts to ask her out already. She was getting tired of waiting.

He looked at her in surprise when she promptly plopped down on the ground, seemingly without a care. He guesses he shouldn't have expected any less from his scrappy friend. Yes, she truly wasn't like other girls. She was amazing and had had to get her before everyone else noticed how brightly she shined. He took a deep breath before telling her his feelings.

"Rogue! I have something to tell you!"

She turned away from the setting sun and looked at him over her shoulders. Her bangs covered half her face and her skin glistened under its rays from the sweat coating her body.

"Hm? What is it?"

"I-I.."

All his conviction he had gathered moments prior quickly left him as if a leaky faucet. God, that was so unfair, how could anyone be so stunning?! Did this girl have any idea what she was doing to him?

The answer was yes, yes she did. She would like to consider this payback for him being such a wuss and making her wait so long until now. A sly smirk grew on her face as she slowly scoots closer to the flustered lad. Not close enough that he could touch her, but enough that he could make out every feature of her face. Long eyelashes slowly fluttered with exaggerated slowness, a hand deliberately sweeping her hair out of her face as she stared at him intently.

"IThikYourAmazingNSpecialAndCoolAnd..." He blurted out everything that came to mind when he saw her and she darted back a bit in surprise at the volume and the words themselves. A small rosy tint was barely visible across her cheeks. It has been a long time since anyone showed this much interest in her. At least of the positive type. Strange southern accent and "delinquent" hairdo didn't make for a good impression in most parts.

Added on the fact she looked and basically was a hobo and was perpetually dirty and in rags and you got a recipe for a social outcast. This is without the fact she was always covered and avoided being within 4 feet of most people out of fear of accidentally killing them.

So this innocent confession really touched her. While they haven't known each other for long, he truly did make her feel welcome here. She wouldn't mind going out with him as long as he knew her bottom line.

"Take a breath there, cowboy. I'm not going anywhere so take your time." A small smile was on her face as she saw him wheezing as he forgot to breathe while awkwardly trying to convey his feelings.

Another series of a deep breath to calm his nerves and he finally looked her in the eyes as he said with his most serious expression

"Rogue, I really like you. Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Nope!" She said with an all too cheery grin. She then proceeded to laugh like a hyena as she saw the instant downtrodden look on his face. He really was too easy to tease, the dork.

"That's what ya get for keeping a lady waiting! Took you long enough to ask."

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"O-oh, I'm sorry. Wait! Does this mean?"

His head snapped up so fast she was slightly scared he had given himself whiplash.

"Yeah, Ah don't mind being yer girlfrien-"

From his position still laying on the ground he instantly bounced up to his feet before whooping in joy, he ran around like a maniac screaming in joy before tripping. His face made a small trench in the dirt and he was sure he accidentally swallowed some, but he couldn't care less. Best. Day. Ever.

"Hold yer horses, cowboy, Ah wasn't done talking. Ah'll be yer girl, but there are some ground rules we gotta set down first. These aren't negotiable. Who knows, maybe you'll change yer mind after hearing them."

She used a firm tone to make sure he knew she was serious, but the boy wouldn't stop his goofy grin as he nodded his head rapidly like a bobblehead. She couldn't help but soften her eyes as she saw how excited he was to be with her.

"Rule numbah one, Never touch me without permission. Even with it, never skin contact. Ah mean it, Tommy. Rule Numbah 2, Esper goes where Ah goes. Rule numbah three, Ah am not meeting your parents. Ever. Still want me to be ya girl, champ? Someone who you can never kiss? Who can't do all the things other couples could do?"

He scrunched his eyebrows and opened his mouth just to close it the next moment. Open and close open and close. After a few moments of this, he shyly held out a hand and looked to the side. He didn't expect a normal relationship from the start, not with this spitfire. He wouldn't have it any other way. Such was the pure thoughts of a young boy.

"Um, c-can I hold your hand? Just for a bit?" He squeaked out at the end.

"Ya sure, Tommy? Ah don't like people who do things half-assed ya know."

He just nodded his head and steam could practically be seen coming from his ears. She gave a loud laugh before entwining their fingers together. For the first time in years, she held someone else's hands. It felt nice. Warm. A pleasant tingle raced up her spine. She could get used to this.

Freckle splattered cheeks rose into a dimpled smile as Tommy quietly appreciates the feeling. Her hand was so tiny in comparison to his own even with the layer of brown leather between them. It was the only thing reflected in his baby blue eyes. Paired with his slender build and curly ginger hair he looked cute as a button.

As if feeling left out, a series of light thumps on the ground was all their warning before a large golden mass knocked them over. Although they were all tangled in a mess of flailing limbs only smiles were seen on the unlikely trio's faces.

From behind a tree, a certain fat kid pulled out his phone and took a picture of them before sending it to someone.

----------------------------------------

Everyone in the small group learned the of the new couple within the week. Even though they had decided to keep it on the down low, Tommy's stupid perpetual smile and upbeat mood gave them away. Everyone decided to celebrate by dragging them to Ricky's pizza palace, the best place in town to get a pie. They all sat down while waiting for their large pizza to come out. It was a small local joint and the owners let them switch the T.V from boring cooking channels. There didn't seem to be anything on however as there was only a bunch of news or reruns of cartoons.

"An enormous typhoon over the coast of northern Africa this week-"

Click.

"Crime and depression in Japan skyrocketing, suicide rates have never been so high!"

Click.

"CEO of multimillion-dollar company offers rewards for any news of his missing daughter. Contact Winston Fros-"

Click. The T.V turned to an episode of some cartoon she didn't recognize with robots and plenty of explosions. Boys will be boys she guesses. 

"So, how far have you guys gotten?"

One of the more bold kids asked them and Tommy spat out his drink. Everyone howled at the look on his face as they helped him clean up.

Normally this would be extremely inappropriate to ask especially with the girl in question there, but seeing as she hasn't said anything to stop them and the fact they already saw her as 'one of the guys' everyone leaned in interest.

"W-well, we.."

a stuttering mess Tommy did a most impressive imitation of a cherry tomato.

"Ooh? Is our boi Tommy growing up? I'm so proud!" Pretending to wipe away a tear from the corner of his eye Alex elbowed his friend in the ribs.

"Rogue and Tommy, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

"No, we haven't done that yet, but I've... held her hand!" With his tiny chest puffed out in pride, he exclaimed to the crowd loudly. Even the cooks in the back could hear him.

"Pfft! That's it?"

"Boo!"

"Cmon, guys, cut Tommy some slack. The Shortstack has to take baby steps!"

There was no heat in their insults and everyone teased him in good nature. Tommy deflated like a balloon, but a hand reaching for his under the table made him bounce back like a spring. Rogue gave a small chuckle at seeing how easy to please he was. It raised her confidence to know what an effect she had on the boy and how such a small gesture of affection had him grinning like a kid on Christmas day. Puppy love really was cute.

Massachusetts might've had the worst winter the southern belle ever seen, but the local folks seemed to radiate a certain warmth. Almost everyone she had met since she got here with an exception of a few idiots had been nice enough to the wandering girl. Maybe she really could settle down here? 

An excited bark cued them in on the fact that their pizza was coming. On the matter of puppy love, Esper had laid his head on the table panting as he watched them. At first, some of the other kids tried to feed him some, but he didn't do more than glance at it. It seems he wanted to join the atmosphere more than any true want of food. Half a dozen tiny hands rubbing him seemed more than enough to satisfy their fluffy friend.

"Dude, He's a God! With a capital G! How could you even think that he'd lose to some girl?"

"Bro, she ain't just a girl, she's a badass warrior princess! Respect man."

"Eh, my money's still on the flying, lighting shooting, armored man. Two words. Bad. Ass!"

"What's wrong with being a girl, huh?"

""Nothing!"" They all said at once.

 They had just finished their meal and was taking a walk talking about anything and everything. The most recent topic to pop up was the episode that was playing back in the pizza place. She wasn't really paying attention if she was to be honest. Something about Hammers, tights, and magical rope. She thought it sounded pretty ridiculous, but the group seemed to enjoy it so she just gave a few comments here and there.

Their fun was interrupted though when she heard an all too familiar voice.

"There you are, you fucking whore."

The everyone turned around in confusion as they saw an odd group. There had to have been at least a dozen kids blocking off the streets. This wasn't what was odd, in fact, it was a pretty common view downtown. Delinquents and kids skipping school hung around in empty parking lots or smoking in the park. No, what was strange was they were all armed with bats and crowbars. The group turned pale. One particularly fat kid in a baseball cap pointed his chubby finger straight at Rogue.

 "She's the one, boss! Her and the fucking dog."

"...Are you telling me that a girl and her damn mutt was the one who kicked your sorry asses? The reason why my lil bro is in the hospital from a broken arm and a split forehead?"

The kid felt a cold sweat drip down his neck at the sheer malice in his leader's voice. Unlike the rest of them, Andy was part of a real gang. He had tattoos all around his muscular body and a scar across his chin. In other words, he was one scary motherfuck and the fat kid had no intention to ever let him know that the concussion his brother suffered from was because of him.

"Yes, boss!"

"...Fucking useless imbeciles" The tall teen muttered under his breath. This was embarrassing. To think he gathered his group just for this. He had thought another gang had tried to send a message by getting to his family, but it turned out the idiots got their ass kicked by some anorexic looking girl and her pet dog. What a disgrace. He could almost hear the mocking laughter of the others once he got back to the hideout already. Yet, he couldn't go back empty handed now so he decided to proceed anyway.

"Alright, listen up. Here's the deal, my beef is only with the girl and the furball. The rest of you. Skaddle."

"What? What do you want with Rogue?"

"Yeah, she's our friend!"

"Fuck off!"

"Jason!"

"Right, sorry, my bad, what I meant to say was... Suck my ass!"

The same bold kid, Jason, truly didn't have a filter it seems. Yet none of them really blamed him for his words in provoking the scary group. They weren't going to abandon their friends because of some random punks.

A vein pulsed visibly on the leader of the gang's forehead. He had joined the Alley Boys gang when he was 14, rising through the ranks and being the captain of his own squad at 16 and owned a sizable turf by 19. Yet, these snot-nosed brats who still reek of their mother's milk, barely looking like they were old enough for high school, was directly disrespecting him in front of his own boys? That simply wouldn't do.

"Don't say I didn't give you retards a way out. Grab the girl and the dog. The others...Let's see. A broken leg each will suffice. I was told that you brats liked to play soccer, right? Well, let's see how well you all play in a wheelchair."