Who Am I 25/? PG-13 Logan/Veronica
Fic Title: Who Am I 25/? PG-13 Logan/Veronica
Author: Brandee
Pairing/Character:Logan/Veronica
Word Count:5,994
Rating:PG-13
Summary: AU Lilly lived but things still changed drastically...
Spoilers:Pre-Series fic, spoilers for Season 1 though..
Warnings: Nothing to harsh.. A few words
A/N: Ok so this one took forever and I fully admit that! I suck! But it is here, so that’s something right? But yeah, I totally suck and I’m SO very sorry!!!! You can even take Logan away from me if you want, just leave me with Weevil at least! Big thanks to Bklyangel being the bestest beta she can be!!
(Chapter 1),(Chapter 2), ( Chapter 3)(Chapter 4)(Chapter 5)( Chapter 6)(Chapter 7)( Chapter 8)( Chapter 9)( Chapter 10)( Chapter 11)( Chapter 12)( Chapter 13)( Chapter 14)( Chapter 15)>)( Chapter 16)( Chapter 17)( Chapter 18( Chapter 19)( Chapter 20)>)( Chapter 21)(Chapter 22)(Chapter 23) (Chapter 24)
When Logan and Veronica pulled up to the school Monday morning, they didn’t expect to see Mac and Casey waiting for them next to Casey’s car. She could see that Casey was holding something and Mac was fidgeting with a strand of hair. They stepped out of the vehicle and walked around to where their friends stood. Veronica could see the worried look on Mac’s face and it scared her.
“Wow, meeting us at the car now, I’m flattered.” Logan smirked.
“We wanted to warn you,” Casey frowned. “I’m assuming you haven’t seen the latest National Enquirer?”
“Or turned on the television this morning?” Mac added.
“Do I want to know?” Veronica grimaced.
Casey shrugged his shoulders and held up the magazine that was in his hand. The tabloid clearly showed a very shirtless Logan, hovering over Veronica in bed. The headline read ‘The Kane/Echolls story takes a twisted turn.’
“At least they got my good side,” Logan muttered grabbing the paper from Casey.
“This can’t be happening,” Veronica whispered. “How bad is it?”
“It has more pictures inside, a few more of you and half naked Logan, and a couple more of Logan rubbing lotion on your back and dunking you in a pool,” Mac spoke bluntly. “It also gives an inside sources detailed explanation of how Logan cheated on Lilly with you, causing her to ‘fall prey to his father’s sick, twisted trap’.”
Logan flipped through the pages and frowned, “Veronica, this is bad.”
“How bad?”
“Well apparently after Lilly caught us together at her house, ‘she was distraught and found comfort in the arms of Aaron Echolls, not realizing what a disgusting pervert he is’. That’s a direct quote.”
“And the pictures?” Veronica asked as she huddled next to her boyfriend to see the article.
“See for yourself,” Logan spoke. “She must have taken these the other night when she left you the first package.”
“The whole school has seen that,” Casey frowned. “I found out from Carrie Bishop, and Mac heard it from that Corky kid.”
“Corny,” Mac corrected, “I heard it from Corny.”
“If I was him, I’d stick with Corky.” Casey snorted.
“Why would he stick with something that no one has ever called him?” Mac questioned crossing her arms.
“That’s what Dick called him the day we locked him in the biology lab closet.” Casey shrugged nonchalantly, “He never corrected us.”
“That’s because he was high,” Mac retorted.
“Look sweetie, the kids are throwing sand at each other again.” Logan spoke turning to Mac and Casey. “Now I’ve told you children a hundred times, the sand stays in the sandbox.”
“She started it!” Casey shot back pointing at Mac.
“Can we stay on topic please?” She questioned rolling her eyes before turning back to look at Veronica. Veronica’s eyes were wide and she looked like she was about to have a panic attack.
“Logan my dad is going to kill us when he sees this,” Veronica shrieked. “Do you have any idea what he’s going to think when he sees pictures of you shirtless and on top of me?”
“That the chastity belt was tampered with?” Logan suggested arching an eyebrow.
Veronica swatted his arm, “I’m serious!”
Logan nodded his head and frowned. “You’re right, after the conversation I had with your father last night, he really will bury me in your backyard now.”
“The sad part is, after you left last night, he said he really liked you.”
“He did?”
“Yeah, but that was before I stole you away from Lilly, and caused her to run into the arms of your father.”
“Now do you believe Lilly is behind everything?” Logan questioned.
“Everything?” Mac questioned.
“Veronica has gotten two weird packages that supposedly hold clues to a ‘damaging secret’.”
“What were in the packages?” Mac asked.
“There was a cigar, a baby picture of me, a candy cane, and a picture of me and my mom when I was little.” Veronica rattled out. “We’ll figure that out later, right now I want to know how people are reacting to this.”
Casey and Mac gave each other knowing looks, “Meg is trying to do damage control right now.” Casey frowned.
“Meg is doing damage control?” Logan questioned with a bitter laugh. “The girl should be in a Disney film singing with birds and playing with deer and rabbits, not trying to help Veronica’s image.”
“Leave Meg alone,” Veronica warned her boyfriend. “Two of these pictures are from this summer Logan. I remember this day, because Duncan was sick and Lilly made me stay and hang out with the two of you anyway.”
“Right,” Logan nodded, “Lilly took the pictures. She said she wanted to show DK what he missed out on.”
“Yeah well, looks like she found another use for them,” Casey spoke his voice boarding on disbelief.
“Guess we better get this over with,” Veronica sighed looking up at Logan. “Ready to face the music with your whorish girlfriend?” She extended her hand to him and looked toward the school.
Logan smirked and took Veronica’s hand, “I do love it when you talk dirty.”
“You know we could just get out of here,” Casey suggested. “My parents are still away on their trip,” he frowned. “We could go back to my place for the day.”
Logan looked down at Veronica, “Tink, it might be the best thing.”
“No,” Veronica spoke firmly, “Logan, I’m used to being the school’s punching bag. I can handle it.”
“I have a game room,” Casey spoke wiggling his eyebrows.
“And an indoor pool,” Logan smirked, “Veronica, it could be fun.”
“No, let’s just get this over with. Yesterday I was the girl that stood up to Lilly Kane; today I’m the whore that ruined her life. Oh how things can change.”
~*~*~*~
Veronica entered the school holding on tightly to Logan’s hand. She had been so close to having her life back, and now everyone was once again staring at her. She looked around and frowned as she heard the whispers echoing off the walls. She was the girl that ruined Lilly Kane’s life. She had caused Lilly to fall prey to Aaron, and she was the reason Lilly almost died. She had to give it to Lilly; it was the perfect plan, one that would have everyone talking for months.
She saw Dick smirking at her from his locker and she drew her lips together when he stuck the tabloid out for her to see and then wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“Hey Ronnie, think you can sign this for me? Might be worth something when you’re porn career takes off.”
She felt Logan’s hand tighten against her own and she looked up to see his eyes darkening. She calming ran her hand up and down his arm and he looked down at her and frowned.
With a smirk she turned to Dick, “I think you’ve got your stories confused there Dick.” Flipping through the pages of the gossip rag she turned it so Dick could see it. “See you must have the stories mixed up, it says right here, ‘Real Estate mogul Richard Casablancas Senior, engaged to the star of Naughty Nurses part four.” Looking up Veronica smiled brightly, “I think she’ll make a fine new mommy, don’t you Dick?”
“Dude you two have a lot in common,” Dick smirked. “You both like em’ rich.”
Veronica felt Logan launch forward, but she quickly put her arm out in front of him. “Logan, don’t. Dick isn’t worth it.”
Logan looked down at her and slowly unclenched his fist, “Veronica, no one is going to talk to you like that.”
“Logan, come on, leave him alone.”
“Yeah man, we need to get to class anyway,” Casey spoke from behind him as Dick scampered away.
“I think we should just get out of here,” Logan frowned. “It would be for the best.”
“I don’t run, not anymore,” Veronica spoke firmly. “You go to class, I’ll be fine.”
“Me and Meg have a couple of classes with her,” Mac told Logan, “She won’t be alone Logan.”
“Right and I have a class with her too,” Casey assured him.
“See, I won’t ever be alone, between you and all my friends no one can get to me.”
“Someone has already got to you,” Logan spoke with gritted teeth.
“Go to class,” Veronica instructed.
“I kind of liked you better when you let me protect you,” Logan joked.
“No you didn’t,” Veronica smirked reaching up to give Logan a quick kiss.
“I’ll take care of this,” Logan promised leaning down to kiss her once more. “I love you Veronica Mars.”
“Me too,” she smiled.
With a sigh Logan turned and followed Casey down the hall, disappearing into the crowd. Veronica turned back to Mac and forced a smile.
“You definitely make this school interesting,” Mac smiled back.
“Me?” Veronica asked feigning shock. “Seriously, change of subject, what’s going on with you and Luke?”
“Oh that,” Mac huffed, “Luke called me last night.”
Veronica tilted her head and frowned, “Mac, you say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“He wanted Meg’s number,” Mac frowned crossing her arms.
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Veronica spoke hopeful.
“Or it could mean that he likes her.”
“Or not.”
Mac rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. “Veronica, the perky cheerleader and the baseball star, it’s like one of those cheesy teen drama’s I refuse to watch on TV.”
“For what it’s worth, I really thought he liked you. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not finished,” Mac spoke shaking her head. “Meg called me an hour later.”
“Don’t tell me, she’s interested in Luke?”
“No,” Mac spoke bluntly, “Meg called to gush about how cute Casey is.”
“Wait, so Meg likes Casey? When did Meg start liking Casey and how did I miss it?”
“You missed it because you’re always staring at Logan. I missed it because I just don’t care.”
Veronica laughed gently at the comment, “I can’t believe it, you’re totally the Carrie Bishop of our group now!”
“Shut up,” Mac mumbled, “You obviously have no idea how traumatic last night was for me. Meg gushed and giggled for a freaking hour.”
Veronica lowered her head, “I really am sorry about the Luke thing. I can’t believe he called you about Meg. If you want, we can let the air out of his tires.”
“No,” Mac sighed, “Luke is a good guy, clueless, but overall good.”
Veronica nodded her head; she couldn’t believe she had missed so much. Her mind had been cluttered with all her problems lately, and apparently, she had overlooked the things going on in her friends lives.
“When did Meg develop a crush on Casey?”
“According to her it dates back to the Halloween dance, she just never said anything because he was panting after you.”
“So, you like Luke, Luke likes Meg and Meg likes Casey? Wait, who does Casey like?”
Mac gave her a pointed look, “Veronica Mars.”
“No, he’s over that.”
“Whatever you say,” Mac shrugged.
Veronica smirked raising her eyebrows. “So if Casey is so into me, can you explain the flirting between the two of you a few minutes ago?”
Mac let out a gasp, and Veronica couldn’t help but laugh at the look on her face.
“We were not flirting.”
“Please, there was total flirtage.”
“We were arguing.” Mac huffed. “There is a big difference.”
“If you say so,” Veronica smiled. “But back to my point, Casey doesn’t want me anymore.”
“Yeah and I’m eloping with Dick this weekend.”
“You should totally do the Elvis wedding, oh and take lots of pictures you can be in the tabloids too!!” Veronica beamed.
“Your quips do not amuse me,” Mac spoke with a tiny grin.
“That’s okay they amuse me,” Veronica smirked.
”So, these packages you’ve been receiving….”
“Are beyond creepy, why would someone send me a candy cane with a picture of me and my mom?”
“Is that all there was too it?”
Veronica frowned and looked around before turning back to her friend. “The picture has Jake Kane’s writing on it.”
“Jake Kane had a picture of you and your mom?”
“Yeah, it makes no sense.”
“Well they did date in high school,” Mac spoke with a shrug. “Maybe they stayed friends and you didn’t know it?”
Veronica’s eye grew wide and she shook her head. “My mom never dated Duncan’s dad!”
“Sure she did, I saw a picture of them together in my aunts old yearbook. My mother is this giant packrat, so she pretty much took everything from their childhood.”
“That’s crazy,” Veronica frowned. “It had to be someone else.”
“I’m pretty sure it was your mom, and I know it was Jake Kane. They were like prom king and queen or something. I saw the picture a few weeks ago. Mom had the yearbook out looking for an old friend’s picture.”
Veronica’s mind was reeling and her heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest. “Mac, do you think I can see that yearbook?”
“Yeah sure, I’ll ask my mom about it after school today.”
“I just… Wow.”
“Veronica, I’m sorry. I just assumed you knew.”
“Apparently there are a lot of things I don’t know about my mom,” Veronica spoke weakly.
If her mother had dated Jake Kane in high school, did that have something to do with the packages she had received? Veronica’s mind felt like it was going to explode with all the thoughts running through it. Her mother had once had a relationship with her ex-boyfriend’s father. Too many things were starting to fit together, and yet at the same time, the pieces missing were so huge, Veronica felt like she was back to square one.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After being called a whore and traitor all day, Veronica wasn’t exactly looking forward to lunch. She knew as soon as school was over, she’d have to face her father and that wasn’t something she would ever be ready for. With a frown, she put the thoughts of her father seeing the tabloid out of her head as her ex-boyfriend caught her eye.
Talking to Duncan wasn’t something she wanted to do, but between him and his sister, he seemed to be the better option.
“Duncan, wait up!” She called out trying to catch him before he went to join the other 09ers for lunch.
He turned around slowly and looked back at Veronica with curiosity. “Yeah?”
Veronica quickly caught up with him and frowned, “I need to ask you something.”
He lowered his head and let out a sigh. “Veronica, I need to go.”
“Do you really hate me that much?” Veronica questioned.
“I don’t hate you Veronica,” Duncan grimaced.
“Then can you help me out with something?”
Duncan stuck his hands in his pockets and stared down at the floor. “Okay Veronica, what do you need?”
“Did you know our parents dated in high school? There is a picture of them together in a yearbook; did you know?”
Veronica watched as Duncan flinched and shook his head quickly. “Sorry, I don’t keep up with what my dad did years ago.”
“So you didn’t know?”
“No.”
Veronica let out a sigh. She could easily tell that Duncan was lying. It was the one good thing about having dated him for so long. “Did you know that your sister has been stalking me?”
Duncan’s eyes fell back to the floor, “Lilly is stalking you? I highly doubt that.”
Veronica crossed her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes. “Oh, so you don’t know anything about the picture of me and my mother that was left in my car last night? It had your father’s writing on it, so I know it came from your house. It also included a cute little candy cane,” Veronica spoke forcing a bitter smile. “You don’t know anything about any of that Duncan?”
She caught him gulp before he took a nervous step backwards. “Why would I?”
“I don’t know, maybe because your sister isn’t exactly quiet when she’s up to something.”
“Doesn’t mean she talks to me,” Duncan shrugged.
Veronica rolled her eyes, “Duncan, I know you told Logan to keep me away from Lilly. He said you totally freaked out on him. I doubt you would have done that, if you weren’t in the know.”
“Of course if Logan said it, then it must be true,” Duncan laughed angrily.
“You know how to tell when someone’s lying Duncan? My dad, he’s pretty good at that kind of thing, and he let me in on a few of the classic tricks,” she spoke with a wry smirk. “You’ve been doing the most common sign of a liar,” she sighed. “The one I like to call, failure to make eye contact.”
“So that means I’m lying?”
Veronica groaned, “Duncan I know you know Lilly’s big secret. I get that you didn’t want to tell Logan, but could you please put me out my misery and let me in on it?”
Duncan stared down at the floor once more before his eyes returned to Veronica. “Have you ever thought, that maybe, just maybe, you don’t want to know what Lilly knows?”
“I don’t see that I have much choice,” Veronica frowned. “The way I see it, I can either figure it out on my own, have you tell me, or let Lilly keep torturing me with it, until she finally drives me crazy. Personally, I’d much rather figure it out on my own, but if you want to tell me, then we can save me the trouble of having a nervous breakdown.”
“Or you could let it go and let me deal with my sister.”
“Are you going to stop your sister from stalking me?” She questioned her voice raspy. “Do you know of a way to keep her from leaving things in my car, or taking pictures of me with my boyfriend? What do you plan to do Duncan? How do you plan to deal with Lilly, because honestly so far you haven’t done anything!”
“I’m trying!”
Veronica saw the fear in Duncan’s eyes and dropped her head. “Please just tell me,” she whispered. “I need to know what this horrible secret is especially since Lilly thinks it will ruin my life.”
Duncan swallowed hard, “Veronica, please you don’t want to do this.”
“I don’t have a choice,” she frowned. “Look I don’t know why you broke up to me, but you at least owe me this.”
Her voice hinged on sadness as she stared up at him. Duncan looked as helpless as she did, and for some reason that scared her more than any package, she had received so far. The lost look on his face, and the desperation in his voice, frightened her.
Duncan dropped his head, “I will handle Lilly. Just leave this alone, please walk away from it now and let me deal with it.”
“You’re too late!” Veronica yelled. “I know something isn’t right, and I can’t let it go.”
Duncan shook his head and took a few steps back, “Veronica you have to forget about this!
“No! I need to know what is so big that Lilly thinks it can ruin my life.” She fumed back stepping back up to him. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll figure it out on my own!”
“You don’t want to do that,” Duncan spoke grabbing Veronica by the arms. “Please Veronica, don’t go there!”
“Get your hands off her!” A voice yelled causing Veronica to jump back.
She gasped when she saw Logan throwing Duncan against the wall, before his fist slammed into the other boy’s stomach. She had no idea where Logan had come from, but somehow he was there, taking out his anger on Duncan. “Logan stop!” She cried out. “Let him go.”
“You keep your hands off my girlfriend!” Logan yelled as his fist once again made contact with Duncan’s stomach.
“I wasn’t hurting her!” Duncan breathed trying to push Logan off him.
Veronica grabbed Logan’s arm quickly and was surprised when he actually turned to look at her. “Let him go.”
“He put his hands on you,” Logan growled tossing a look at Duncan. “No one does that. No one hurts you Veronica.”
His voice was raging, and the look in his eyes scared Veronica. She looked quickly at Duncan and saw the fear in his eyes. She couldn’t let Logan’s anger take over him. Tears formed in Veronica’s eyes as she forcefully tugged at Logan’s arm. He slowly retreated away from Duncan and looked down at his girlfriend.
“I’m okay,” she whispered as she gently cupped his face in her hands so that he would hear her. “Look at me Logan, he didn’t hurt me.”
Logan’s eyes started to calm and his mouth gapped slightly when he looked down at his girlfriend. “He looked angry.”
“I know,” Veronica whispered, watching out of the corner of her eye as Duncan quickly ran off down the hall. “I was angry with him, and he was telling me to let Lilly’s secret go.”
“He put his hands on you,” Logan repeated. His voice sounded hurt and broken, and Veronica couldn’t help but feel her heart break for him. He wanted to protect her, shield her from pain, but it was impossible to do.
“But you were here,” Veronica whispered. “Logan you’re always here,” she spoke honestly wrapping her arms around him.
His head fell against her shoulder and she couldn’t hold in the tears that were brimming in her eyes. She could hear students swarming by them, but the moment felt almost novel like to her. She was wrapped up in Logan, and despite his flaws, he loved her completely. It was a feeling she had never felt before, a feeling she never wanted to lose.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“I am so glad this day is over,” Veronica spoke as she headed out of the school with her friends.
“I can’t believe you didn’t get in trouble for hitting Duncan,” Casey spoke looking over at Logan.
“Yeah how did you pull that off?” Mac asked.
“Pure luck,” Logan shrugged.”
“It also didn’t hurt that Duncan admitted he grabbed me.” Veronica sighed.
“Yeah, what a guy he is.”
“Right, which is another reason I’m glad this day is over!” Veronica groaned.
“Are you forgetting you still have to deal with your dad?” Logan questioned.
“Can’t I just pretend he lives under a rock and has no clue that tabloids exist?” Veronica asked with a tiny smile.
“Now what fun would that be?” Casey questioned with a laugh.
“If you can cry on cue, it might keep you from being grounded for life.” Mac spoke with a sigh.
“Or you could just tell your dad the truth,” Meg suggested. “That it was just an innocent moment caught at the wrong time.”
“Should we try that?” Logan questioned Veronica.
“The truth,” she spoke with a shrug. “If need be then yes.”
Meg smiled brightly, “I’m telling you the truth is the best idea. Anyway I’m off to cheerleader practice.”
“Are you going to try to rid all the other cheerleaders of their evil ways?” Casey questioned.
Meg giggled and shook her head. “At this point, I’d say they’re all hopeless. Good luck with your dad Veronica, maybe he won’t flip out too bad.” She spoke as she headed off in the opposite direction.
“Is it possible that someone can be too freaking nice?” Casey asked. “Seriously, Meg is like sugar rush nice.”
“You don’t like that about her?” Veronica asked.
“Yeah sure, she’s a great friend.” Casey nodded. “I could never imagine dating someone like her though,” he laughed. “I like a little spice with my sugar.”
Mac gave Veronica a knowing look causing Veronica to sigh. When she looked back at Casey she saw that he was waving at someone. Veronica looked ahead of them and frowned when she saw Luke walking toward them. She looked over at Mac and saw that she was already wearing a frown.
“Do you see a hole? A hole, please, someone find me a hole. I feel the need to jump in it now.” Mac rattled to Veronica as Luke made his way to them.
“Casey, think you can give me a ride today?”
“Sure man, I drove my dad’s SUV though.”
Luke nodded his head and then turned to look at Mac. “Hey thanks for giving me Meg’s number last night. I lost all of my notes for History class, and she is the only one I could think of to call.”
“So you called Meg for History notes?” Veronica questioned eyeing Mac.
“Yeah, I can’t afford to fail any class right now.”
“You’re not going to fail,” Mac smiled bashfully.
“Oh and since my Biology grade is up, Coach said I would be able to stay on the team.” Luke smiled. “I totally owe you for your help Mac.”
“It was nothing.”
“Are you kidding? Teaching me Biology is huge! You’re like a miracle worker.”
“Hey miracle worker, do you want a ride home today?” Logan asked. “If so we need to get a move on it.”
“She can ride with us if she wants,” Luke offered then looked up at Casey hopefully. “I mean if its okay with you man.”
“Yeah sure, if she promises not to insult me, I’ll even let her sit in the front.”
“I make no promises,” she spoke holding up her hands. With a tiny blush, she looked over at Luke. “I could use a ride home though.”
“So you’re going to dump us?” Logan questioned. “Seriously Mac, I’m hurt! After all we’ve been through!”
“Dude, she knows that I have the cooler ride!” Casey smirked. “Plus I’m way hotter.”
“And what am I?” Luke asked.
“Boys, can’t we agree that you’re all three very pretty?” Veronica asked with a grin.
“But who is the prettiest?” Logan asked batting his eyelashes.
“Well, well, looks like Veronica Mars is doing inventory on all her men.” A familiar voice spoke from behind them. “Yes, it looks like you’ve successfully neutered them all.”
The five friends turned to see Lilly, with her hands on her hips, smirking up at them.
“Lilly,” Veronica spoke giving her an angry glare. “Are you here to take a few more pictures?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Veronica,” Lilly smiled.
“Right, you know nothing about the front page news in the National Enquirer?” Casey questioned.
“Um, I know it told my tragic story spot on,” Lilly answered smugly flipping her hair off her shoulder.
“Tragic story?” Veronica questioned. “Is that what you call it now?”
“Veronica, I almost died,” Lilly spoke dramatically. “If that’s not tragic, I don’t know what is.”
“What are you trying to prove with all those threats you’ve been sending Veronica?” Logan spoke through gritted teeth.
“Threats? Logan, I can assure you, I haven’t sent anything threatening.”
“Lying really is your best talent isn’t it?” Veronica asked.
“Actually,” Lilly smirked, “Logan knows my best talent. Maybe you should ask him about it sometime.”
Veronica clutched her fists, “Lilly, can you just let it go? You’ve had your fun, now just leave us alone.”
“You want me to leave you alone?” Lilly laughed. “Last time I checked it was your boyfriend that was going all Tarzan on my poor brother. You know Veronica, you really need to make a choice. Do you want Donut or Logan? Because playing them against each other is so not cool!”
“What I want is for you to stay out of my life!”
Lilly let out a tiny laugh as she brushed past Veronica bumping her shoulder roughly. “Yeah, like I have time to meddle in you life, Veronica. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do and people to see.”
“Don’t you mean people to do and things to see?” Logan called out as Lilly walked away.
“And you people liked her why?” Mac questioned looking from person to person.
“Hey no judging,” Casey warned. “I’ll make you sit in the back if you’re not careful.”
“What a terrifying threat,” Mac smirked. “How ever will I survive?”
“Well if you’d prefer walking home….”
“And the kids are back in the sandbox again,” Logan smirked. “Hey Luke, are you sure you want to ride with these two? Playing referee is no fun once they get started.”
Luke looked from Mac to Casey and shrugged. “I’ll take my chances.”
“You’re a brave man,” Logan spoke saluting him.
“Come on you two, let’s go.” Casey spoke to Luke and Mac.
“Mac, I’ll call you tonight.” Veronica smirked.
Mac smiled shyly and nodded her head. “Yeah, okay.”
Veronica watched as Casey headed off ahead of Mac and Luke. She couldn’t help but smile when she saw Luke wait up for Mac and give her a bashful grin before walking her to the vehicle.
Veronica looked up at Logan and laughed gently. “So are you ready?”
“To meet the firing squad? No.”
“It might not be that bad,” Veronica spoke biting her lip.
“Or you might get grounded for the next thirty years.”
Veronica smirked, “But you’d still wait for me right?”
“Of course my little snickerdoodle.”
“You’re such a liar!”
“Well, I’d wait for the first twenty years,” Logan spoke with a grin.
“Remind me why I find you so adorable?”
“It’s the smile, girls dig the smile.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Veronica had always wondered how people felt when her father interrogated them. Of course, she always thought the criminals deserved whatever they got from him, but now she was starting to think differently. She looked up at her father, who was still wearing his uniform. Suddenly she felt like the criminal, and their living room felt like an interrogation room.
“Dad, I can explain.”
“I don’t want to hear it Veronica….”
“But dad,” Veronica spoke looking up at him.
“Veronica, no.”
She fought back the urge to argue with her father,. The evidence sitting in front of her was something she couldn’t deny. She had no idea how to explain the picture of her shirtless boyfriend, on top of her in his pool house.
“Do you know who delivered that piece of garbage to me this morning Veronica? Deputy Lamb did! He came in my office wearing a smug grin and tossed that tabloid at me.”
“Dad, the story is not true!”
Keith let out a sigh, “Veronica, I know that. I’m well aware that everything wrote in that thing, is nothing but lies.”
“You do?”
“It’s the picture of your half naked boyfriend on top of you that I have yet to scrap off my brain!”
“Oh.”
She dropped her head and frowned. “Dad, it looks much worse that what it is.”
Meg had told her to be honest, and Veronica honestly couldn’t think of another way out. Her father was the sheriff; he knew how to detect liars. There was nothing she could say to defend the photos. All she could do was try to make him see that nothing really happened.
“It looks like Logan is half dressed and groping my only child!”
Maybe the pictures were more accurate than she had thought. She looked up at her father and frowned. “Nothing happened. I promise dad, nothing.”
“Veronica, I really don’t know what to say right now,” Keith sighed. “Someone was on the Echolls property taking those pictures! That scares me. As upset as I am to see pictures of Logan and you like that, just knowing someone was able to get that close to you terrifies me.”
“I know,” Veronica whispered. “It worries me too.”
“I talked to Logan’s mother today,” Keith paused, his tone sounding more worried than angered. “She is going to increase security, and hire new guards. We want to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again.”
Veronica nodded her head, “I think I know who it was dad,” she frowned. “I know Lilly took those pictures. Even if she didn’t, she had someone else do it.”
Keith sat down on the couch beside his daughter, “I thought about that. Veronica can you prove it was Lilly?”
Veronica took a deep breath and thought about her options before speaking. There was no way she could tell her father about everything that had been going on. If he knew that someone was leaving her suspicious packages, he would be even more worried.
“It’s just a guess,” Veronica spoke lowering her head. “The way the story was written, just looked like something Lilly would do to make herself look better.”
“Well, I’ll be looking into it,” Keith spoke firmly.
Veronica looked over at her dad and frowned, “I just want it all to be over.”
“You do realize, you’re not allowed to be in that pool house alone with Logan ever again right?”
Veronica sighed, “I expected that much, but dad I promise it really was more innocent that it looks. Logan was already shirtless when I got there.”
“That doesn’t help Veronica,” Keith warned.
“You know dad,” Veronica spoke forcing a smile. “You’ve actually raised a pretty smart daughter. I’m not going to do something stupid.”
“Veronica, are you giving me the trust speech?” Keith questioned arching an eyebrow.
“So you know how it goes then?” Veronica smiled.
“I have to learn to trust you and believe that you’ll make the right decisions.” Keith sighed.
“That sounds about right,” Veronica nodded. “Logan isn’t a bad guy dad. He would never pressure me to do anything.”
“Veronica, are we having the talk?” Keith asked.
“I’m just saying…..” Veronica spoke as her voice trailed.
“Point taken,” Keith nodded. “But from now on, his clothes stay on! Also, we’re getting rid of all those short skirts and tiny tops and replacing them with turtlenecks and jeans.”
“You have to be joking,” Veronica spoke her voice sharp.
Keith smirked at his daughter and wrapped his arm around her. “Yes Veronica, I’m joking.”
“I’m really sorry about this dad,” Veronica frowned. “I know it looks bad.”
“It just scares me Veronica. It scares me that you’ve got caught in this feud between Kane and Echolls families.”
“I can handle it.”
“Really?” Keith questioned. “Tell me about school today.”
Veronica forced a tiny smile, “I learned my ABC’s!”
“I’m serious Veronica,” Keith sighed. “Are you going to tell me today wasn’t hard on you? How did the kids at school react to those lies?”
Veronica shrugged her shoulders and looked over at her father. “It was pretty much split down the middle. A lot of people thought it was true, but a lot of people didn’t believe it.”
Keith nodded his head, “Veronica, just promise me you’ll be careful.”
“Careful?”
“People are following you around Veronica. I don’t care who it is, I want you to be extra careful.”
“I will,” Veronica nodded. “Logan won’t let anything happen to me either.”
“That’s another thing,” Keith said his tone warning. “You need to slow down with Logan. You two have plenty of time.”
Veronica smiled at her father. “Are you saying you’re not ready to be a grandpa?”
Keith rolled his eyes and stood up. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. Now if you’ll excuse me I think I’m going to take a long shower. Today has been very stressful for me.”
Veronica watched as her father walked out of the room and grabbed her phone. Dialing quickly she waited until she heard the familiar voice. “Meg, I need a tiny favor….”
Author: Brandee
Pairing/Character:Logan/Veronica
Word Count:5,994
Rating:PG-13
Summary: AU Lilly lived but things still changed drastically...
Spoilers:Pre-Series fic, spoilers for Season 1 though..
Warnings: Nothing to harsh.. A few words
A/N: Ok so this one took forever and I fully admit that! I suck! But it is here, so that’s something right? But yeah, I totally suck and I’m SO very sorry!!!! You can even take Logan away from me if you want, just leave me with Weevil at least! Big thanks to Bklyangel being the bestest beta she can be!!
(Chapter 1),(Chapter 2), ( Chapter 3)(Chapter 4)(Chapter 5)( Chapter 6)(Chapter 7)( Chapter 8)( Chapter 9)( Chapter 10)( Chapter 11)( Chapter 12)( Chapter 13)( Chapter 14)( Chapter 15)>)( Chapter 16)( Chapter 17)( Chapter 18( Chapter 19)( Chapter 20)>)( Chapter 21)(Chapter 22)(Chapter 23) (Chapter 24)
When Logan and Veronica pulled up to the school Monday morning, they didn’t expect to see Mac and Casey waiting for them next to Casey’s car. She could see that Casey was holding something and Mac was fidgeting with a strand of hair. They stepped out of the vehicle and walked around to where their friends stood. Veronica could see the worried look on Mac’s face and it scared her.
“Wow, meeting us at the car now, I’m flattered.” Logan smirked.
“We wanted to warn you,” Casey frowned. “I’m assuming you haven’t seen the latest National Enquirer?”
“Or turned on the television this morning?” Mac added.
“Do I want to know?” Veronica grimaced.
Casey shrugged his shoulders and held up the magazine that was in his hand. The tabloid clearly showed a very shirtless Logan, hovering over Veronica in bed. The headline read ‘The Kane/Echolls story takes a twisted turn.’
“At least they got my good side,” Logan muttered grabbing the paper from Casey.
“This can’t be happening,” Veronica whispered. “How bad is it?”
“It has more pictures inside, a few more of you and half naked Logan, and a couple more of Logan rubbing lotion on your back and dunking you in a pool,” Mac spoke bluntly. “It also gives an inside sources detailed explanation of how Logan cheated on Lilly with you, causing her to ‘fall prey to his father’s sick, twisted trap’.”
Logan flipped through the pages and frowned, “Veronica, this is bad.”
“How bad?”
“Well apparently after Lilly caught us together at her house, ‘she was distraught and found comfort in the arms of Aaron Echolls, not realizing what a disgusting pervert he is’. That’s a direct quote.”
“And the pictures?” Veronica asked as she huddled next to her boyfriend to see the article.
“See for yourself,” Logan spoke. “She must have taken these the other night when she left you the first package.”
“The whole school has seen that,” Casey frowned. “I found out from Carrie Bishop, and Mac heard it from that Corky kid.”
“Corny,” Mac corrected, “I heard it from Corny.”
“If I was him, I’d stick with Corky.” Casey snorted.
“Why would he stick with something that no one has ever called him?” Mac questioned crossing her arms.
“That’s what Dick called him the day we locked him in the biology lab closet.” Casey shrugged nonchalantly, “He never corrected us.”
“That’s because he was high,” Mac retorted.
“Look sweetie, the kids are throwing sand at each other again.” Logan spoke turning to Mac and Casey. “Now I’ve told you children a hundred times, the sand stays in the sandbox.”
“She started it!” Casey shot back pointing at Mac.
“Can we stay on topic please?” She questioned rolling her eyes before turning back to look at Veronica. Veronica’s eyes were wide and she looked like she was about to have a panic attack.
“Logan my dad is going to kill us when he sees this,” Veronica shrieked. “Do you have any idea what he’s going to think when he sees pictures of you shirtless and on top of me?”
“That the chastity belt was tampered with?” Logan suggested arching an eyebrow.
Veronica swatted his arm, “I’m serious!”
Logan nodded his head and frowned. “You’re right, after the conversation I had with your father last night, he really will bury me in your backyard now.”
“The sad part is, after you left last night, he said he really liked you.”
“He did?”
“Yeah, but that was before I stole you away from Lilly, and caused her to run into the arms of your father.”
“Now do you believe Lilly is behind everything?” Logan questioned.
“Everything?” Mac questioned.
“Veronica has gotten two weird packages that supposedly hold clues to a ‘damaging secret’.”
“What were in the packages?” Mac asked.
“There was a cigar, a baby picture of me, a candy cane, and a picture of me and my mom when I was little.” Veronica rattled out. “We’ll figure that out later, right now I want to know how people are reacting to this.”
Casey and Mac gave each other knowing looks, “Meg is trying to do damage control right now.” Casey frowned.
“Meg is doing damage control?” Logan questioned with a bitter laugh. “The girl should be in a Disney film singing with birds and playing with deer and rabbits, not trying to help Veronica’s image.”
“Leave Meg alone,” Veronica warned her boyfriend. “Two of these pictures are from this summer Logan. I remember this day, because Duncan was sick and Lilly made me stay and hang out with the two of you anyway.”
“Right,” Logan nodded, “Lilly took the pictures. She said she wanted to show DK what he missed out on.”
“Yeah well, looks like she found another use for them,” Casey spoke his voice boarding on disbelief.
“Guess we better get this over with,” Veronica sighed looking up at Logan. “Ready to face the music with your whorish girlfriend?” She extended her hand to him and looked toward the school.
Logan smirked and took Veronica’s hand, “I do love it when you talk dirty.”
“You know we could just get out of here,” Casey suggested. “My parents are still away on their trip,” he frowned. “We could go back to my place for the day.”
Logan looked down at Veronica, “Tink, it might be the best thing.”
“No,” Veronica spoke firmly, “Logan, I’m used to being the school’s punching bag. I can handle it.”
“I have a game room,” Casey spoke wiggling his eyebrows.
“And an indoor pool,” Logan smirked, “Veronica, it could be fun.”
“No, let’s just get this over with. Yesterday I was the girl that stood up to Lilly Kane; today I’m the whore that ruined her life. Oh how things can change.”
~*~*~*~
Veronica entered the school holding on tightly to Logan’s hand. She had been so close to having her life back, and now everyone was once again staring at her. She looked around and frowned as she heard the whispers echoing off the walls. She was the girl that ruined Lilly Kane’s life. She had caused Lilly to fall prey to Aaron, and she was the reason Lilly almost died. She had to give it to Lilly; it was the perfect plan, one that would have everyone talking for months.
She saw Dick smirking at her from his locker and she drew her lips together when he stuck the tabloid out for her to see and then wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“Hey Ronnie, think you can sign this for me? Might be worth something when you’re porn career takes off.”
She felt Logan’s hand tighten against her own and she looked up to see his eyes darkening. She calming ran her hand up and down his arm and he looked down at her and frowned.
With a smirk she turned to Dick, “I think you’ve got your stories confused there Dick.” Flipping through the pages of the gossip rag she turned it so Dick could see it. “See you must have the stories mixed up, it says right here, ‘Real Estate mogul Richard Casablancas Senior, engaged to the star of Naughty Nurses part four.” Looking up Veronica smiled brightly, “I think she’ll make a fine new mommy, don’t you Dick?”
“Dude you two have a lot in common,” Dick smirked. “You both like em’ rich.”
Veronica felt Logan launch forward, but she quickly put her arm out in front of him. “Logan, don’t. Dick isn’t worth it.”
Logan looked down at her and slowly unclenched his fist, “Veronica, no one is going to talk to you like that.”
“Logan, come on, leave him alone.”
“Yeah man, we need to get to class anyway,” Casey spoke from behind him as Dick scampered away.
“I think we should just get out of here,” Logan frowned. “It would be for the best.”
“I don’t run, not anymore,” Veronica spoke firmly. “You go to class, I’ll be fine.”
“Me and Meg have a couple of classes with her,” Mac told Logan, “She won’t be alone Logan.”
“Right and I have a class with her too,” Casey assured him.
“See, I won’t ever be alone, between you and all my friends no one can get to me.”
“Someone has already got to you,” Logan spoke with gritted teeth.
“Go to class,” Veronica instructed.
“I kind of liked you better when you let me protect you,” Logan joked.
“No you didn’t,” Veronica smirked reaching up to give Logan a quick kiss.
“I’ll take care of this,” Logan promised leaning down to kiss her once more. “I love you Veronica Mars.”
“Me too,” she smiled.
With a sigh Logan turned and followed Casey down the hall, disappearing into the crowd. Veronica turned back to Mac and forced a smile.
“You definitely make this school interesting,” Mac smiled back.
“Me?” Veronica asked feigning shock. “Seriously, change of subject, what’s going on with you and Luke?”
“Oh that,” Mac huffed, “Luke called me last night.”
Veronica tilted her head and frowned, “Mac, you say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“He wanted Meg’s number,” Mac frowned crossing her arms.
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Veronica spoke hopeful.
“Or it could mean that he likes her.”
“Or not.”
Mac rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. “Veronica, the perky cheerleader and the baseball star, it’s like one of those cheesy teen drama’s I refuse to watch on TV.”
“For what it’s worth, I really thought he liked you. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not finished,” Mac spoke shaking her head. “Meg called me an hour later.”
“Don’t tell me, she’s interested in Luke?”
“No,” Mac spoke bluntly, “Meg called to gush about how cute Casey is.”
“Wait, so Meg likes Casey? When did Meg start liking Casey and how did I miss it?”
“You missed it because you’re always staring at Logan. I missed it because I just don’t care.”
Veronica laughed gently at the comment, “I can’t believe it, you’re totally the Carrie Bishop of our group now!”
“Shut up,” Mac mumbled, “You obviously have no idea how traumatic last night was for me. Meg gushed and giggled for a freaking hour.”
Veronica lowered her head, “I really am sorry about the Luke thing. I can’t believe he called you about Meg. If you want, we can let the air out of his tires.”
“No,” Mac sighed, “Luke is a good guy, clueless, but overall good.”
Veronica nodded her head; she couldn’t believe she had missed so much. Her mind had been cluttered with all her problems lately, and apparently, she had overlooked the things going on in her friends lives.
“When did Meg develop a crush on Casey?”
“According to her it dates back to the Halloween dance, she just never said anything because he was panting after you.”
“So, you like Luke, Luke likes Meg and Meg likes Casey? Wait, who does Casey like?”
Mac gave her a pointed look, “Veronica Mars.”
“No, he’s over that.”
“Whatever you say,” Mac shrugged.
Veronica smirked raising her eyebrows. “So if Casey is so into me, can you explain the flirting between the two of you a few minutes ago?”
Mac let out a gasp, and Veronica couldn’t help but laugh at the look on her face.
“We were not flirting.”
“Please, there was total flirtage.”
“We were arguing.” Mac huffed. “There is a big difference.”
“If you say so,” Veronica smiled. “But back to my point, Casey doesn’t want me anymore.”
“Yeah and I’m eloping with Dick this weekend.”
“You should totally do the Elvis wedding, oh and take lots of pictures you can be in the tabloids too!!” Veronica beamed.
“Your quips do not amuse me,” Mac spoke with a tiny grin.
“That’s okay they amuse me,” Veronica smirked.
”So, these packages you’ve been receiving….”
“Are beyond creepy, why would someone send me a candy cane with a picture of me and my mom?”
“Is that all there was too it?”
Veronica frowned and looked around before turning back to her friend. “The picture has Jake Kane’s writing on it.”
“Jake Kane had a picture of you and your mom?”
“Yeah, it makes no sense.”
“Well they did date in high school,” Mac spoke with a shrug. “Maybe they stayed friends and you didn’t know it?”
Veronica’s eye grew wide and she shook her head. “My mom never dated Duncan’s dad!”
“Sure she did, I saw a picture of them together in my aunts old yearbook. My mother is this giant packrat, so she pretty much took everything from their childhood.”
“That’s crazy,” Veronica frowned. “It had to be someone else.”
“I’m pretty sure it was your mom, and I know it was Jake Kane. They were like prom king and queen or something. I saw the picture a few weeks ago. Mom had the yearbook out looking for an old friend’s picture.”
Veronica’s mind was reeling and her heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest. “Mac, do you think I can see that yearbook?”
“Yeah sure, I’ll ask my mom about it after school today.”
“I just… Wow.”
“Veronica, I’m sorry. I just assumed you knew.”
“Apparently there are a lot of things I don’t know about my mom,” Veronica spoke weakly.
If her mother had dated Jake Kane in high school, did that have something to do with the packages she had received? Veronica’s mind felt like it was going to explode with all the thoughts running through it. Her mother had once had a relationship with her ex-boyfriend’s father. Too many things were starting to fit together, and yet at the same time, the pieces missing were so huge, Veronica felt like she was back to square one.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After being called a whore and traitor all day, Veronica wasn’t exactly looking forward to lunch. She knew as soon as school was over, she’d have to face her father and that wasn’t something she would ever be ready for. With a frown, she put the thoughts of her father seeing the tabloid out of her head as her ex-boyfriend caught her eye.
Talking to Duncan wasn’t something she wanted to do, but between him and his sister, he seemed to be the better option.
“Duncan, wait up!” She called out trying to catch him before he went to join the other 09ers for lunch.
He turned around slowly and looked back at Veronica with curiosity. “Yeah?”
Veronica quickly caught up with him and frowned, “I need to ask you something.”
He lowered his head and let out a sigh. “Veronica, I need to go.”
“Do you really hate me that much?” Veronica questioned.
“I don’t hate you Veronica,” Duncan grimaced.
“Then can you help me out with something?”
Duncan stuck his hands in his pockets and stared down at the floor. “Okay Veronica, what do you need?”
“Did you know our parents dated in high school? There is a picture of them together in a yearbook; did you know?”
Veronica watched as Duncan flinched and shook his head quickly. “Sorry, I don’t keep up with what my dad did years ago.”
“So you didn’t know?”
“No.”
Veronica let out a sigh. She could easily tell that Duncan was lying. It was the one good thing about having dated him for so long. “Did you know that your sister has been stalking me?”
Duncan’s eyes fell back to the floor, “Lilly is stalking you? I highly doubt that.”
Veronica crossed her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes. “Oh, so you don’t know anything about the picture of me and my mother that was left in my car last night? It had your father’s writing on it, so I know it came from your house. It also included a cute little candy cane,” Veronica spoke forcing a bitter smile. “You don’t know anything about any of that Duncan?”
She caught him gulp before he took a nervous step backwards. “Why would I?”
“I don’t know, maybe because your sister isn’t exactly quiet when she’s up to something.”
“Doesn’t mean she talks to me,” Duncan shrugged.
Veronica rolled her eyes, “Duncan, I know you told Logan to keep me away from Lilly. He said you totally freaked out on him. I doubt you would have done that, if you weren’t in the know.”
“Of course if Logan said it, then it must be true,” Duncan laughed angrily.
“You know how to tell when someone’s lying Duncan? My dad, he’s pretty good at that kind of thing, and he let me in on a few of the classic tricks,” she spoke with a wry smirk. “You’ve been doing the most common sign of a liar,” she sighed. “The one I like to call, failure to make eye contact.”
“So that means I’m lying?”
Veronica groaned, “Duncan I know you know Lilly’s big secret. I get that you didn’t want to tell Logan, but could you please put me out my misery and let me in on it?”
Duncan stared down at the floor once more before his eyes returned to Veronica. “Have you ever thought, that maybe, just maybe, you don’t want to know what Lilly knows?”
“I don’t see that I have much choice,” Veronica frowned. “The way I see it, I can either figure it out on my own, have you tell me, or let Lilly keep torturing me with it, until she finally drives me crazy. Personally, I’d much rather figure it out on my own, but if you want to tell me, then we can save me the trouble of having a nervous breakdown.”
“Or you could let it go and let me deal with my sister.”
“Are you going to stop your sister from stalking me?” She questioned her voice raspy. “Do you know of a way to keep her from leaving things in my car, or taking pictures of me with my boyfriend? What do you plan to do Duncan? How do you plan to deal with Lilly, because honestly so far you haven’t done anything!”
“I’m trying!”
Veronica saw the fear in Duncan’s eyes and dropped her head. “Please just tell me,” she whispered. “I need to know what this horrible secret is especially since Lilly thinks it will ruin my life.”
Duncan swallowed hard, “Veronica, please you don’t want to do this.”
“I don’t have a choice,” she frowned. “Look I don’t know why you broke up to me, but you at least owe me this.”
Her voice hinged on sadness as she stared up at him. Duncan looked as helpless as she did, and for some reason that scared her more than any package, she had received so far. The lost look on his face, and the desperation in his voice, frightened her.
Duncan dropped his head, “I will handle Lilly. Just leave this alone, please walk away from it now and let me deal with it.”
“You’re too late!” Veronica yelled. “I know something isn’t right, and I can’t let it go.”
Duncan shook his head and took a few steps back, “Veronica you have to forget about this!
“No! I need to know what is so big that Lilly thinks it can ruin my life.” She fumed back stepping back up to him. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll figure it out on my own!”
“You don’t want to do that,” Duncan spoke grabbing Veronica by the arms. “Please Veronica, don’t go there!”
“Get your hands off her!” A voice yelled causing Veronica to jump back.
She gasped when she saw Logan throwing Duncan against the wall, before his fist slammed into the other boy’s stomach. She had no idea where Logan had come from, but somehow he was there, taking out his anger on Duncan. “Logan stop!” She cried out. “Let him go.”
“You keep your hands off my girlfriend!” Logan yelled as his fist once again made contact with Duncan’s stomach.
“I wasn’t hurting her!” Duncan breathed trying to push Logan off him.
Veronica grabbed Logan’s arm quickly and was surprised when he actually turned to look at her. “Let him go.”
“He put his hands on you,” Logan growled tossing a look at Duncan. “No one does that. No one hurts you Veronica.”
His voice was raging, and the look in his eyes scared Veronica. She looked quickly at Duncan and saw the fear in his eyes. She couldn’t let Logan’s anger take over him. Tears formed in Veronica’s eyes as she forcefully tugged at Logan’s arm. He slowly retreated away from Duncan and looked down at his girlfriend.
“I’m okay,” she whispered as she gently cupped his face in her hands so that he would hear her. “Look at me Logan, he didn’t hurt me.”
Logan’s eyes started to calm and his mouth gapped slightly when he looked down at his girlfriend. “He looked angry.”
“I know,” Veronica whispered, watching out of the corner of her eye as Duncan quickly ran off down the hall. “I was angry with him, and he was telling me to let Lilly’s secret go.”
“He put his hands on you,” Logan repeated. His voice sounded hurt and broken, and Veronica couldn’t help but feel her heart break for him. He wanted to protect her, shield her from pain, but it was impossible to do.
“But you were here,” Veronica whispered. “Logan you’re always here,” she spoke honestly wrapping her arms around him.
His head fell against her shoulder and she couldn’t hold in the tears that were brimming in her eyes. She could hear students swarming by them, but the moment felt almost novel like to her. She was wrapped up in Logan, and despite his flaws, he loved her completely. It was a feeling she had never felt before, a feeling she never wanted to lose.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“I am so glad this day is over,” Veronica spoke as she headed out of the school with her friends.
“I can’t believe you didn’t get in trouble for hitting Duncan,” Casey spoke looking over at Logan.
“Yeah how did you pull that off?” Mac asked.
“Pure luck,” Logan shrugged.”
“It also didn’t hurt that Duncan admitted he grabbed me.” Veronica sighed.
“Yeah, what a guy he is.”
“Right, which is another reason I’m glad this day is over!” Veronica groaned.
“Are you forgetting you still have to deal with your dad?” Logan questioned.
“Can’t I just pretend he lives under a rock and has no clue that tabloids exist?” Veronica asked with a tiny smile.
“Now what fun would that be?” Casey questioned with a laugh.
“If you can cry on cue, it might keep you from being grounded for life.” Mac spoke with a sigh.
“Or you could just tell your dad the truth,” Meg suggested. “That it was just an innocent moment caught at the wrong time.”
“Should we try that?” Logan questioned Veronica.
“The truth,” she spoke with a shrug. “If need be then yes.”
Meg smiled brightly, “I’m telling you the truth is the best idea. Anyway I’m off to cheerleader practice.”
“Are you going to try to rid all the other cheerleaders of their evil ways?” Casey questioned.
Meg giggled and shook her head. “At this point, I’d say they’re all hopeless. Good luck with your dad Veronica, maybe he won’t flip out too bad.” She spoke as she headed off in the opposite direction.
“Is it possible that someone can be too freaking nice?” Casey asked. “Seriously, Meg is like sugar rush nice.”
“You don’t like that about her?” Veronica asked.
“Yeah sure, she’s a great friend.” Casey nodded. “I could never imagine dating someone like her though,” he laughed. “I like a little spice with my sugar.”
Mac gave Veronica a knowing look causing Veronica to sigh. When she looked back at Casey she saw that he was waving at someone. Veronica looked ahead of them and frowned when she saw Luke walking toward them. She looked over at Mac and saw that she was already wearing a frown.
“Do you see a hole? A hole, please, someone find me a hole. I feel the need to jump in it now.” Mac rattled to Veronica as Luke made his way to them.
“Casey, think you can give me a ride today?”
“Sure man, I drove my dad’s SUV though.”
Luke nodded his head and then turned to look at Mac. “Hey thanks for giving me Meg’s number last night. I lost all of my notes for History class, and she is the only one I could think of to call.”
“So you called Meg for History notes?” Veronica questioned eyeing Mac.
“Yeah, I can’t afford to fail any class right now.”
“You’re not going to fail,” Mac smiled bashfully.
“Oh and since my Biology grade is up, Coach said I would be able to stay on the team.” Luke smiled. “I totally owe you for your help Mac.”
“It was nothing.”
“Are you kidding? Teaching me Biology is huge! You’re like a miracle worker.”
“Hey miracle worker, do you want a ride home today?” Logan asked. “If so we need to get a move on it.”
“She can ride with us if she wants,” Luke offered then looked up at Casey hopefully. “I mean if its okay with you man.”
“Yeah sure, if she promises not to insult me, I’ll even let her sit in the front.”
“I make no promises,” she spoke holding up her hands. With a tiny blush, she looked over at Luke. “I could use a ride home though.”
“So you’re going to dump us?” Logan questioned. “Seriously Mac, I’m hurt! After all we’ve been through!”
“Dude, she knows that I have the cooler ride!” Casey smirked. “Plus I’m way hotter.”
“And what am I?” Luke asked.
“Boys, can’t we agree that you’re all three very pretty?” Veronica asked with a grin.
“But who is the prettiest?” Logan asked batting his eyelashes.
“Well, well, looks like Veronica Mars is doing inventory on all her men.” A familiar voice spoke from behind them. “Yes, it looks like you’ve successfully neutered them all.”
The five friends turned to see Lilly, with her hands on her hips, smirking up at them.
“Lilly,” Veronica spoke giving her an angry glare. “Are you here to take a few more pictures?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Veronica,” Lilly smiled.
“Right, you know nothing about the front page news in the National Enquirer?” Casey questioned.
“Um, I know it told my tragic story spot on,” Lilly answered smugly flipping her hair off her shoulder.
“Tragic story?” Veronica questioned. “Is that what you call it now?”
“Veronica, I almost died,” Lilly spoke dramatically. “If that’s not tragic, I don’t know what is.”
“What are you trying to prove with all those threats you’ve been sending Veronica?” Logan spoke through gritted teeth.
“Threats? Logan, I can assure you, I haven’t sent anything threatening.”
“Lying really is your best talent isn’t it?” Veronica asked.
“Actually,” Lilly smirked, “Logan knows my best talent. Maybe you should ask him about it sometime.”
Veronica clutched her fists, “Lilly, can you just let it go? You’ve had your fun, now just leave us alone.”
“You want me to leave you alone?” Lilly laughed. “Last time I checked it was your boyfriend that was going all Tarzan on my poor brother. You know Veronica, you really need to make a choice. Do you want Donut or Logan? Because playing them against each other is so not cool!”
“What I want is for you to stay out of my life!”
Lilly let out a tiny laugh as she brushed past Veronica bumping her shoulder roughly. “Yeah, like I have time to meddle in you life, Veronica. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do and people to see.”
“Don’t you mean people to do and things to see?” Logan called out as Lilly walked away.
“And you people liked her why?” Mac questioned looking from person to person.
“Hey no judging,” Casey warned. “I’ll make you sit in the back if you’re not careful.”
“What a terrifying threat,” Mac smirked. “How ever will I survive?”
“Well if you’d prefer walking home….”
“And the kids are back in the sandbox again,” Logan smirked. “Hey Luke, are you sure you want to ride with these two? Playing referee is no fun once they get started.”
Luke looked from Mac to Casey and shrugged. “I’ll take my chances.”
“You’re a brave man,” Logan spoke saluting him.
“Come on you two, let’s go.” Casey spoke to Luke and Mac.
“Mac, I’ll call you tonight.” Veronica smirked.
Mac smiled shyly and nodded her head. “Yeah, okay.”
Veronica watched as Casey headed off ahead of Mac and Luke. She couldn’t help but smile when she saw Luke wait up for Mac and give her a bashful grin before walking her to the vehicle.
Veronica looked up at Logan and laughed gently. “So are you ready?”
“To meet the firing squad? No.”
“It might not be that bad,” Veronica spoke biting her lip.
“Or you might get grounded for the next thirty years.”
Veronica smirked, “But you’d still wait for me right?”
“Of course my little snickerdoodle.”
“You’re such a liar!”
“Well, I’d wait for the first twenty years,” Logan spoke with a grin.
“Remind me why I find you so adorable?”
“It’s the smile, girls dig the smile.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Veronica had always wondered how people felt when her father interrogated them. Of course, she always thought the criminals deserved whatever they got from him, but now she was starting to think differently. She looked up at her father, who was still wearing his uniform. Suddenly she felt like the criminal, and their living room felt like an interrogation room.
“Dad, I can explain.”
“I don’t want to hear it Veronica….”
“But dad,” Veronica spoke looking up at him.
“Veronica, no.”
She fought back the urge to argue with her father,. The evidence sitting in front of her was something she couldn’t deny. She had no idea how to explain the picture of her shirtless boyfriend, on top of her in his pool house.
“Do you know who delivered that piece of garbage to me this morning Veronica? Deputy Lamb did! He came in my office wearing a smug grin and tossed that tabloid at me.”
“Dad, the story is not true!”
Keith let out a sigh, “Veronica, I know that. I’m well aware that everything wrote in that thing, is nothing but lies.”
“You do?”
“It’s the picture of your half naked boyfriend on top of you that I have yet to scrap off my brain!”
“Oh.”
She dropped her head and frowned. “Dad, it looks much worse that what it is.”
Meg had told her to be honest, and Veronica honestly couldn’t think of another way out. Her father was the sheriff; he knew how to detect liars. There was nothing she could say to defend the photos. All she could do was try to make him see that nothing really happened.
“It looks like Logan is half dressed and groping my only child!”
Maybe the pictures were more accurate than she had thought. She looked up at her father and frowned. “Nothing happened. I promise dad, nothing.”
“Veronica, I really don’t know what to say right now,” Keith sighed. “Someone was on the Echolls property taking those pictures! That scares me. As upset as I am to see pictures of Logan and you like that, just knowing someone was able to get that close to you terrifies me.”
“I know,” Veronica whispered. “It worries me too.”
“I talked to Logan’s mother today,” Keith paused, his tone sounding more worried than angered. “She is going to increase security, and hire new guards. We want to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again.”
Veronica nodded her head, “I think I know who it was dad,” she frowned. “I know Lilly took those pictures. Even if she didn’t, she had someone else do it.”
Keith sat down on the couch beside his daughter, “I thought about that. Veronica can you prove it was Lilly?”
Veronica took a deep breath and thought about her options before speaking. There was no way she could tell her father about everything that had been going on. If he knew that someone was leaving her suspicious packages, he would be even more worried.
“It’s just a guess,” Veronica spoke lowering her head. “The way the story was written, just looked like something Lilly would do to make herself look better.”
“Well, I’ll be looking into it,” Keith spoke firmly.
Veronica looked over at her dad and frowned, “I just want it all to be over.”
“You do realize, you’re not allowed to be in that pool house alone with Logan ever again right?”
Veronica sighed, “I expected that much, but dad I promise it really was more innocent that it looks. Logan was already shirtless when I got there.”
“That doesn’t help Veronica,” Keith warned.
“You know dad,” Veronica spoke forcing a smile. “You’ve actually raised a pretty smart daughter. I’m not going to do something stupid.”
“Veronica, are you giving me the trust speech?” Keith questioned arching an eyebrow.
“So you know how it goes then?” Veronica smiled.
“I have to learn to trust you and believe that you’ll make the right decisions.” Keith sighed.
“That sounds about right,” Veronica nodded. “Logan isn’t a bad guy dad. He would never pressure me to do anything.”
“Veronica, are we having the talk?” Keith asked.
“I’m just saying…..” Veronica spoke as her voice trailed.
“Point taken,” Keith nodded. “But from now on, his clothes stay on! Also, we’re getting rid of all those short skirts and tiny tops and replacing them with turtlenecks and jeans.”
“You have to be joking,” Veronica spoke her voice sharp.
Keith smirked at his daughter and wrapped his arm around her. “Yes Veronica, I’m joking.”
“I’m really sorry about this dad,” Veronica frowned. “I know it looks bad.”
“It just scares me Veronica. It scares me that you’ve got caught in this feud between Kane and Echolls families.”
“I can handle it.”
“Really?” Keith questioned. “Tell me about school today.”
Veronica forced a tiny smile, “I learned my ABC’s!”
“I’m serious Veronica,” Keith sighed. “Are you going to tell me today wasn’t hard on you? How did the kids at school react to those lies?”
Veronica shrugged her shoulders and looked over at her father. “It was pretty much split down the middle. A lot of people thought it was true, but a lot of people didn’t believe it.”
Keith nodded his head, “Veronica, just promise me you’ll be careful.”
“Careful?”
“People are following you around Veronica. I don’t care who it is, I want you to be extra careful.”
“I will,” Veronica nodded. “Logan won’t let anything happen to me either.”
“That’s another thing,” Keith said his tone warning. “You need to slow down with Logan. You two have plenty of time.”
Veronica smiled at her father. “Are you saying you’re not ready to be a grandpa?”
Keith rolled his eyes and stood up. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. Now if you’ll excuse me I think I’m going to take a long shower. Today has been very stressful for me.”
Veronica watched as her father walked out of the room and grabbed her phone. Dialing quickly she waited until she heard the familiar voice. “Meg, I need a tiny favor….”