On My Way

Chapter Four: Not so Tough

Scott had spent the better half of the day hunting for Logan. He had skipped out during breakfast on his bike. The Professor had sent Scott in one of the school's vans to go and find him. He was cruising down the highway when he glimpsed Logan's bike parked in front of a bar. Scott had to make a u-turn and double back to get into the parking lot. He parked and walked up to the front door. Logan was becoming a nuisance to him, the young man was surly and was always disappearing when he was needed. Before he could pull the door open however they burst open, and Logan tumbled out with a burly man on top of him. When they hit the ground the man began to go to work on Logan's face hitting repeatedly with a pair of brass knuckles. Logan's cheek split and blood welled up.

Scott jumped on the man causing the both of them to role to the side in the gravel of the parking lot. Logan got up unsteadily and dug the heel of his cowboy boot into the burly man's shoulder blade. Scott got to his feet. Logan wiped the oozing blood from his cheek, it had already begun to stitch itself back together. Logan grinned and kicked the man, "I told you not to fuck with me, asshole."

Scott took Logan by the arm and dragged him to the car, "The hell is going on here Logan?"

Logan shrugged and jerked forward at the man now getting up off the ground, "We had a disagreement."

"Get in the car."

"What?" Logan asked.

"Get in the van, and stay in the van. I'm going to load your bike into the back."

"I'm fine," Logan said brushing off his jacket, "And I'm not leaving. I still have half a drink in there."

"You're not having anything more to drink," Scott pushed Logan to the van, "Go sit in the car."

"Fuck this shit," Logan grumbled and walked to his bike. Before Scott could stop him Logan was pulling out of the parking lot and flying down the highway again.

"You've got to be kidding me," Scott said digging out his keys and jumping into the van. He chased Logan for a few miles before the young man pulled off the highway at another seedy looking bar.

"Go back to the mansion," Logan said as Scott got out of the car, "You're smothering me."

"I can't go back without you."

"Chuck tell you that?"

"Not in so many words."

"Well you can go back, or you can have a drink," Logan said pushing open the large door and going in.

"It's a little early to be drinking don't you think?" Scott asked as he shadowed Logan.

"Do you ever do anything but nag?" Logan sat at the bar.

"Sometimes I pester."

"Haha. That's funny. You're funny," Logan ordered a beer but when it was placed in front of him he didn't drink he just looked at it, "I don't think I'm going back to the mansion at all Slim."

"You want to leave already? It usually takes till the first report card for people to want to leave."

"There's that humor again," Logan said and then took a deep swig of his beer, "You're all to sugary for me. It makes me sick."

"You've only been with us for a week Logan."

"I'm already sick of you people," Logan took another drink and looked at his glass, "I don't fit. I'm not an idiot. I can tell when I should go."

Scott looked at Logan's profile and his heart skipped a beat. This was no time to be getting gooie-hearted but he couldn't help himself. He wanted to touch Logan's hand like he did with Jean, he wanted to feel the warmth of Logan's skin on his, "Look, Logan, I know it doesn't mean much coming from me, but I want you to stay. Give us a longer trial run. You'd be surprised how well you'll fit in."

Logan rolled his eyes and snorted into his drink, "Too sugary slim."

"Ok, try this on for size," Scott said and stood up, "If you leave now you'll be a coward and a quitter. In other words," Scott leaned in, "You'll be a bitch." Scott stood up and walked out of the bar. He got into the car and drove back to the mansion and waited in the dusky silence of the garage. Soon Logan came in and parked his bike. Logan nodded to Scott but they didn't speak. Once Logan had gone Scott grinned and sank back into the driver's seat. Still he was troubled by one thing, Scott wasn't sure if he was happy that Logan was back because it was what was best for Logan or if he just wanted Logan around for himself.