Marie

I was 19 and suffering from too much schoolwork and a broken heart. The broken heart was HIS fault, and yet my own. I knew he had never looked at me that way, had only seen me as sometimes a cute distraction and sometimes an annoying tag-along. But at least he had seen me. Now he'd left, maybe forever, and nothing mattered. I had considered running away but couldn't follow him as I didn't know where he was and he wouldn't track me down because he wouldn't know I had gone…or care. So I moped around for a while, felt sorry for myself, and then moved on with my "life" minus the heart he had taken with him.

My friends said I was returning to normal, as if I could ever be normal again! I thought I had at least gotten to the point where I could ignore the dull throb that accompanied any thought of him. I attended class, hung out with friends, and thought about him every other second…I was improving. But Christmas came and most of the kids and teachers left to spend time with family and friends. I was invited to several celebrations but feared being unwelcome, a charity case. So I stayed.

But I was lonely. It hurt, the loneliness that squeezed into my conscious thoughts like being followed around by some stray mutt. I tried to keep busy, keeping the loneliness at bay, but Christmas Eve left the mansion deserted and the stale air gave me a headache.

I escaped out of a side door into the snow-covered yard and made a trail of footprints crunching my way to the gardens. Standing in the still-falling snow, I sighed and let go of all the emotion I had hidden during the past weeks, allowing my tears to follow the drifting flakes and melt dents in the surface of the snow. A gentle breeze blew the crystaline flakes against my cheeks and I shivered, wishing I had brought my coat with me. The thought of having to face the cheery Christmas tree standing in the hall entrance by the closet door, however, halted any wish to return to the warmth of indoors. So I stayed, after a while the cold faded as the hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

Logan

I felt like an idiot coming all the way back just to check on her, to see if she was all right. It was Christmas, with luck she'd be back in Mississippi with family…but I had to be sure. I hopped off my bike the moment the motor stilled and stomped the cold from the long ride away on my way to the front door. With a hand on the heavy brass knob, I pushed and entered the hall I had sworn not to return to until I at least knew more about myself. A huge fir tree stretched to the ceiling, covered in glass balls and red and gold velvet bows.

I WAS an idiot…she was fine even if she didn't make it to Mississippi. Turning, I reached for the door, ready to leave before anyone noticed my presence.

"She's here, Logan," Charles stated in the silence of my mind.

"That's fine," I replied, out loud, "She's probably busy…I'll go."

"Rogue is ALONE in the yard," Charles pressed, "She missed you just as much as you missed her." He chuckled, again in my head.

I snarled, "Damn it, Chuck! Stay the fuck out of my thoughts!"

Charles laughed again, "Logan, I didn't have to. You're here…no telepathy was necessary…"

Ignoring him and the fact that he was right, I stormed to the nearest door opening to the back yard and walked out. If the door closed loudly behind me, it was no accident. Charles probably laughed again. Walking, I kicked at the snow ahead of me. White snow on black boots…old man and young girl…STOP IT!

There she was…from the back she looked the way I had left her, auburn hair long and beautiful. "Hey kid," I spoke before I could stop myself to think. I just needed to see those deep brown eyes.

She froze- swiped quickly at her cheeks, had she been crying?- and turned. "Logan!" Her excited smile did not hide the redness of her eyes and nose. Damn it, she had!

"Hey now, what's wrong?" I stepped towards her, one hand extended. Big mistake. She gave me a watery smile and took my hand. I pulled her closer to comfort her. Bigger mistake. A shiver coursed through her and I realized she had no coat, only a T-shirt and gloves.

"Where's your coat?" I growled, pulling her to me and rubbing some warmth into her shoulders and back. Biggest mistake. She melted into me and I wanted nothing more than to stay like that forever. "How long have you been out here?" She shrugged against me.