This is my second attempt at an X-Men fanfic so don't be too disagreeable. This one is much better then my first. YOU MUST REVIEW! I need reviews as inspiration. Common ladies and gentlemen, help me out here!? I'll see you at the bottom.

"Goodbye my almost lover. Goodbye my hopeless dream. I'm trying not to think about you, can't you just let me be. Farewell my lifless romance, my back is turned on you. I should have known you would bring me heartache, almost lovers always do." -A Fine Frenzy, Almost Lover

The nightmare shifted into overdrive. The room stopped shaking. My mind congested the visions, slowly and painfully. Silence. Everything twisted into black. I tried frantically to catch my balance on the tables' ledge. How long would it take for these visualizations to drain the life from me, to kill me? My breathing hitched as the table capsized under my weight. Cold ground came in contact with my face. The illumination disappeared.

"The sun cast shadows off a grouping of trees nearby. A gentle breeze lay over the meadow, warming my skin. For once in my life, death did not frighten me. I lay in the emerald grass, letting its scent intoxicate me. Rays of sunlight beamed down and danced on my face, as if to tell me not to fear, that the final battle was won.

Death is peaceful. The clouds shimmered in the sky. The contentment and tranquility of such a place had never occurred to me. Heaven was never out of my reach but simply hidden in plain sight. I closed my eyes. Death is peaceful, but living, that's another thing in itself."

A gust of bitter wind whipped me awake. My body shivered into slow convulsions. I clutched the covers tightly around me. Chills shot up my spine. I'd left the window open. Slowly, I forced myself upward and eased the window closed, locking it tightly. The cold air lingered. It enveloped my body, gnawing my skin. I glimpsed at the clock. Breakfast was long over.

There was a knock at the door. Quickly, I rushed over to my bed and wrapped the comforter around me.

"Julianne, sweetheart, are you alright in there?" Jean shifted from foot to foot. She must be worried sick. I never slept past noon.

"You know," I grumbled rubbing my eyes, "Sleeping late isn't a crime." Jean laughed. Not that it was very funny.

"Hurry up and get dressed. Scott's getting antsy." Crap. I'd forgotten all about the trip to Alkali Lake. No wonder Scott was excited. Every year the whole school drove up to the lake and had a campout, although it wouldn't be the same without Logan.

I coughed back the sobbing noise in my throat. He'd been gone almost four years now. He'd been my best friend. Through our differences we still managed to bond, even over the simplest of things.

Logan found me and brought me to Professor Xavier when I was thirteen years old, a blossoming youthful brunette with long legs and a happy-go-lucky attitude. You could say he coached me through my difficulties, my hardships. But to me, he was always more then that.

On my fifteenth birthday, Logan left. Disappeared with just a note saying he'd gone off to find where he came from. All that was left behind were his platinum dog tags. Of course, my heart was never fully right after that. You have to understand, I was just a kid in love. Yes, I'd been very smitten with him, but purely puppy love. Without thinking, I unhurriedly pushed Logan into the back of my memories.

I'll be nineteen tomorrow, a woman in heart and body. Jean is throwing a huge surprise party for me. To my sheer horror, the entire school's invited. That's why it's not really that much of a secret. News travels fast in those hallways.

I quickly showered and dressed for the trip. The sun was at its highest point in the sky when we set off for Alkali Lake. Sweat rested on my brow. The children were all thoroughly excited, as they should be. Somehow, Professor Xavier managed to make a deal with a traveling salesman who sold campers. Now, we are the proud owners of two 'Triple-Deluxe Mega Campers'. They really come in handy at times like these.

When we arrived back at the school that night, most of the children were dead asleep. They'd crashed on the drive home from all the excitement. The weather stayed vivid and sunlit the entire day, which was an additional benefit for us. Last year it rained and we came home early.

Gently, I picked up a little girl in the back seat, cradling her in my arms. How wonderful it would be to go back to this age. No worries. No hurting. No pain. She stirred in my arms but did not wake. After I had put her to bed, Scott, Jean, and I, did our best to carry all the small children to their dorms.

Once everyone was in bed for the night, Jean whispered, "Julianne, honey, go to bed. Everyone's fine. You should get some rest for your big day tomorrow." She kissed my forehead.

Jean and I had grown close these past years. She'd taken the place of the mother I never had, even though she was only a few years older then I was.

My body trudged up to bed. It had been a long day of hiking, singing and most of all laughing. I collapsed onto my bed. Warmth spread through me as I slipped under the covers. My family was my life now. And no one could take that away from me.

I drifted to sleep, without realizing what I'd just done. I'd made a promise, to my family. But I'd soon learn that it would be impossible to keep.

I wanted the first chapter short and sweet. I wanted you to get to know Julianne's character. Her name is pronounced, Julie-Anne, for those of you who were confused. Please review and make my day. The next chapter should be coming soon; I'm almost done writing it.

Many thanks!

-Carolyn