Logan withdrew into himself as more teenagers arrived and filled the echoing garage with banter. He had never been one for large groups, and a roomful of anxious teenagers was certainly pushing the limit. He could feel himself getting tense and it wouldn't be long before he would have to take it out on Scott. Then, as if on cue, the professor entered the garage with Jean flanking him. She looked damn pretty this morning, Logan thought as he observed the way her form-fitting tank top hugged her womanly curves. He would have to compliment her.
"All right children," the professor began as Logan watched Jean with a predatory smirk, "Give me your attention for a few minutes while I go over the fundamentals of this outing."
The steady buzz of gossip died down as the group turned to face the professor. Logan leaned against the side of the van that was not currently supporting Scott and crossed his arms. The professor continued, "I want you all to remember that we have the permission of the state of New York to remain in this park beyond it's normal operating hours. You will need to heed to the park's rules and regulations while you are there."
"Means don't destroy nothing'," Logan felt the need to clarify, then felt odd for drawing attention to himself.
"Correct," Professor Xavier replied as he glanced at Logan. "Secondly, as Logan has been the instructor of this class, he will also be heading this operation. You are to obey his orders at all times, is that clear?"
Logan felt a surge of power course through his veins when the group collectively nodded their heads in agreement.
"Well then, I want to wish you all good luck. This is your last exam before classes dismiss for the summer."
A round of cheers and applause filled the garage as the group began to disperse. Logan migrated towards Jean, who was still standing beside the professor. But as Logan opened his mouth to address her, Scott brushed by him and grabbed Jean in a firm, protective hug. Logan changed targets and stopped in front of the professor as if it were his intention before asking, "So we're ready to leave?"
"Yes I believe so," the professor replied as he motioned to where the teenagers had already split into two groups and were waiting outside the vans. "Just remember to check in with me every night."
"We will," Scott said and Logan was reminded just then of how much he disliked the little prick.
Logan turned away when Scott pulled Jean in for a kiss. He supposed his jealousy was unbiased; Jean wasn't his anyway. "Come on," he ordered before Jean could really return Scott's kiss.
He knew Scott was glaring at him behind his back but didn't care. The students were already filing into the vans and Logan opened the driver's door of the closest one because it contained Marie and he wasn't sure he could put up with a half dozen teenagers for very long without her. Logan pulled himself into the driver's seat and shut the door rather forcefully, then looked in the rear-view mirror at the van's startled occupants. Marie, Jubilee, and Kitty were comfortably squeezed together in the row behind him, and John, Bobby and Peter were in the row behind the girls. "Comfortable?" he asked but only really cared about one reply.
"We'll live," John replied first. "Just drive, man."
Logan smiled as he turned the key in the ignition. The van roared to life under his heavy foot and as soon as sunlight filtered through the opening garage doors, Logan threw the van in reverse. His right arm settled across the back of the passenger seat as he twisted to look between the student's heads and out the van's rear windows. "Hold on." They looked shocked, he noticed, so Logan smiled at them as he accelerated and steered the van through the still-opening garage doors and out into the bright summer heat. They all winced at the sudden harsh change in lighting. He turned sharply then slammed on the brakes, forcing the teenagers to lean forward with momentum, then slam back against their seats. Logan faced forward again, shifting into drive in one fluid motion with his right hand, then pressed on the accelerator.
The van's occupants were pressed into the seat backs as the van lurched forward and down the clean blacktop driveway leading away from the mansion. "John," Jubilee spoke up at last, "Don't ever tell Wolvie to 'just drive' again, okay?"
Logan smiled and tried to act annoyed at the same time. Somehow over the course of his class, the young Jubilation Lee had wormed her way into his heart almost as far as Marie. It was her privilege, one that no one else dared to share, to call him 'Wolvie'.
For an answer, John nervously nodded his head and swallowed. "Got it."
They reached the end of the long driveway and Logan 'misread' the stop sign for a yield sign and cruised onto the highway. He nodded a silent goodbye to the large building as they passed it while the teenagers applauded and cheered for their temporary freedom. Logan sank into a more comfortable position in the driver's seat and draped an arm over the top of the steering wheel. He glanced in the side rear view mirror and noted the other van following at a more respectable pace. "Well, you're free," he announced.
"This is so cool," Bobby grinned.
"Yeah, you're the best teacher," Kitty agreed.
Modesty was not Logan's strong suit so he tried to think of something else to talk about. "So who brought the booze?"
"Damnit, I told you he wouldn't have cared!" John exclaimed as he elbowed Peter.
"No big deal, there's a liquor store down the road." Logan glanced at the boys in the rearview mirror.
"Really?"
"No." When they groaned in disappointment, Logan added, "Only if you can keep Cyke from finding out about it."
"Sweet!"
For once, Logan had to agree. Sweet.