Characters are not owned by me

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3 Months previous-

I looked out across the shimmering water. The sun was fading casting a myriad of colors around the forest and across the still surface of the lake.

I came out here a lot; it was my safe spot. Sometimes when school got too tough or I couldn't stop thinking of him, I head out here letting the sounds of the woods soothe me.

Him. I miss him so much. Not just because I had a crush on him, but because he was my best friend as well. Logan had been gone for almost three years. I thought about my birthday last month. I went away for the weekend with Jubes, Kitty, and Siryn, but it wasn't the same without him there. I could just hear him say to me, "Wow kid another year, you're making me feel old." I smiled as I thought about the grimace he would fake as he said it.

I had learned to control my skin too. Only the professor knew. And unbeknownst to the professor I'd learned how to keep telepaths out of my head. I was sick and tired of him and the others giving me sad looks because they heard me think of Logan. It had been hard enough being the untouchable girl, but the pining untouchable girl? Nah I'll pass thank you very much. I sighed and looked down at the water from my perch on the dock, watching all the minnows trying to nibble at my brightly painted toes.

I heard a crunch crunch behind me, alerting me that someone was coming. I ignored whoever it was, knowing that no one dangerous, and I say that in a relative way, would be allowed on school property. I didn't want to talk to anyone at the moment. My life, my business. I felt the back of my neck prickle, but I remained firmly facing forward.

"You not even gonna say hi?"

My eyes flew open and I spun around and felt my jaw fall open. He was there leaning back against an old oak tree. He was watching me with amusement in his eyes. He pushed away from the tree walking towards me. "Ya know kid if you leave your mouth open like that the flies are going to buzz right in."

I shut my mouth with an audible snap. A small smile spread across my face until it was a full blown grin. "You're back."

I couldn't help myself and I ran towards him. He smiled and opened his arms as he always did for me. I wrapped my arms around his waist ignoring, or trying to ignore, the feel of his muscles beneath his white wife-beater.

"I'm so glad you're back. You've been gone too long."

I heard him reply wearily, "Yeah, that I have, kid. That I have." I felt his hands on my shoulders as he gently pushed me back. "I've been gone for three years so let me get a good look at you."

As he looked me up and down, I put my head down letting my hair hide my face. He had seen way more beautiful women than me. I was "kid". I felt a finger push up my chin. "Hey nothin' to be ashamed of. You've…ah…you look good." His voice was gruff. "You've definitely changed a…uh…bit."

I let out an embarrassed laugh feeling a dark blush rising to my cheeks. "Um well thanks…I guess." He smiled at me, the atmosphere relaxing somewhat.

"I'm sorry that I missed your birthday."

I waved my hand at him. "It's no big deal. It wasn't one of the big ones. You wanna come over here and sit?" I motioned vaguely in the direction of the dock I had been sitting on earlier. He nodded and we made our way back to where I had been sitting before. I stuck my feet back in the water, smiling as the minnows scattered in a panicked frenzy.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

He glanced at me. "In some ways I did and others I didn't."

"I'm glad for what you did and sorry for what you didn't."

"It ain't your fault." I shrugged and looked back at the water. We sat there until the sun had fully set and the stars came out. We barely said anything the entire time, but the silence was comfortable. It was nice to be able to relax and know that the other person wasn't judging you or afraid. It was something that happened only very rarely for me. Only the teachers weren't afraid of me, but I knew for a fact that both Scott and Jean were still weary of me. The only ones that I felt comfortable around were the Professor, Storm, and, of course, Logan.

After awhile he stood up and stretched. "We should probably get back to the mansion." He reached out his hand to help me up. I took the offering and he pulled me to my feet.

"I'm actually staying in a cottage over here off of the river. I needed a little space. I should hope you of all people understand."

He nodded because I knew he knows what I mean. "Ok let me walk you back then at least."

I raised an eyebrow unintentionally copying his trademark move. "It's about 15 feet in that direction." I pointed off in the direction my little house was.

He looked at me and crossed his arms over his chest. "Then I'll walk you 15 feet in that direction."

I turned to get my shoes while also hiding my smile, enjoying the fact he was stubborn. As I bent down I missed a board that was sticking up in the dim light and I tripped and fell into the freezing water. I came up cussing and spluttering. "Dammit that's cold."

I could see the tense lines of Logan's muscles relax as he realized I was ok. He smiled at my attempts to get back on the dock, which to say the least were unsuccessful. I shoved my hair out of my face and glared at him. "Will you help me get up, please," I gritted out. He once again held out a hand and pulled me up, but I could still make out the full blown smile on his face that was at my expensive.

Ass.

I was still cursing my bad luck and Logan's amusment when I realized Logan had gone still. At first I started to panic; my skin was off wasn't it? Yep it was. I peered into his face and froze myself. His eyes were uh locked on my t-shirt.

Which was white.

And wet.

He looked up and my breath caught in my throat at his heated gaze. His hand gripped mine tighter. "Where did you say that cottage of yours was?" With a shaky hand and a disbelieving mind I pointed the way.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what you think about the little flashback. Oh and I have to mention, even if you don't have a Fanfic account or aren't signed in you can still review!

A ton of thanks to:

tanya2byour21, JohnPaulGeorgeandRingo, Comic-cake, TristeAlma, and Mrs Max McDowell!