"Way to listen to the 'I'll explain later', Logan." I rolled my eyes slightly as Leo finally got the monitor off. "And believe me, I know what I'm doing. I've had pretty much every second since I left here to realise that over and over." I told him quietly.
I quickly pecked Leo's cheek and whispered 'thank you' to him. I knew exactly what he was giving up for us, and he just did it. Didn't question it when I said I needed his help, even though by all rights he should've. I was beyond grateful.
I took Logan's hand as we headed for the back exit quickly. Once we were off the property and heading to the car I started explaining. "What are we doing? Getting the hell out of Neptune." I state quietly but firmly as we finally reach the car. It's not the greatest car in the world, but it'll get us out of town tonight, and really, that's all I wanted it for. "Let's just say my poor car got a little visit from what I can only assume was the Fighting Fitzpatricks while I was visiting you earlier...all long with a little note, and it was about then I decided we needed to get gone as fast as humanly possible." I told him, unlocking the passenger door before going over to the driver's side. I really wasn't into sticking around and waiting to see if I ended up in the hospital or worse while Logan waited to face the death penalty. Leaving was the better plan.
"I went to the boat, packed you some clothes and stuff. I've got a plan." I told him, as we got in he car. "Or at least the definite beginnings of a plan and a destination on the other side of the country." I sighed slightly.
"And Logan? I'm sorry about before." I added softly. "Rational thought wasn't really as strong point of mine earlier." That was a bit of an understatement.
"I'm sorry, if I realized we were pretty much Bonnie and Clydeing it, I would have gotten back the empty gun," I replied sardonically, whispering.
Okay, it was stupid to say, but my head is spinning. In general confusion and being uprooted didn't really help it, but I slipped into the car before her. I couldn't stop looking at her, even she she started to drive. No, this was way bigger than breaking out. We were going away. We were getting the hell out of Neptune and generally I'd be happy about that, but I don't know what to think about Veronica going with me or the fact that she was being threatened by the same people that probably did the frame job on me.
I looked up to her as she settled into the driver's seat. At least she was ignoring my words from early, but to top that off she was apologizing.
On the tip of my tongue was the question on why she'd bother breaking me out. It seemed like a tired question and one I shouldn't even bother asking. I knew the answer. I knew that she loved me and despite doing this for herself too, she bothered taking me along with her.
"Veronica..." I started as she started the car. I wasn't sure how to finish it. I wasn't even sure how to apologize to her. I wasn't sure how to go about saying thank you. I run my fingers tightly through my hair. "Are- ... are you okay?"
I knew all of this was the last thing Logan was expecting. And as angry as I was at him earlier, I couldn't deny that I could understand where it was coming from. I didn't like it, but I got it.
"We've got money, fake IDs, pretty much everything we need to successfully drop off the radar. There wasn't exactly time to be eBaying us some new passports, so we've got some nicely falsified birth certificates. My dad's going to be less than thrilled when he realises what I've done, but at least he knows I know all the little tricks and we're gonna be fine, right?" I pointed out with a weak smile. "Oh, and when we stop for the night? We're dying our hair. No arguments. New names won't help any if we're looking exactly the same." I pointed out.
Okay, so I was babbling, but I did tell Logan I'd explain, and there was more than a little bit of explaining to do.
"I'm okay, Logan." I promise him. Would I miss my dad, Wallace and Backup? Definitely. But Logan and I being alive, safe, was much more important. "Really. I'm fine. You?" I ask gently. "You're okay, right? Not incredibly pissed that I bribed Deputy Leo to let you out?" I teased slightly. I was sure he was far too drunk the night of the dance to remember enough to recognise Leo, and I wasn't sure he even knew that we dated. Didn't really matter. I just wanted to lighten things up a bit. The situation was far too stressful.
I knew by the look on her face that she just dumped the college funds I gave her, what, yesterday? I keep having this record on repeat going through my head asking if we were completely psychotic.
"You're kidding me, right? I mean, your dad in general was less than thrilled about the two of us dating. That's an understatement. We're disappearing off the face of the earth, which, hey, it's not like I haven't thought about it, but... " - and suddenly I felt sick to my stomach just because she was giving it all up. "We're actually doing this, Veronica."
I didn't even have the time to wince about getting rid of my professionally done highlights. It didn't even compare on the scale. There was nothing that really compared to what we were doing right now.
"I don't know what to think," I said frankly, honestly. "I don't know if I want to thank you for doing this or tell you how stupid I think it is." Or column C? Tell her how stupid I think that I've been. Yeah, it was great to feel so guilty right about now. "Where are we going anyway? Like... how are they not going to be able to find us? Isn't your dad like... the expert in this?"
I didn't believe that either of us were fine. I was still scared out of my mind.
"Before you even say it, Logan? I didn't even think twice about the money. It was the only logical source, anyway, Lamb would notice withdrawals from any account but that one. Nobody knows that money even exists but us and my dad. And personally? Us being in one piece so out-ranks me going to Berkeley right now. Berkeley'll be there when we can come home." I reminded him. He needed to know I thought this through. That he was so much more important to me than some school. "Besides? What are the odds of us graduating on time with the way things are right now?" I pointed out. I'd figure out how to handle getting to Berkeley once things settled down. I was going to get there somehow.
"I know, Logan." I knew what I was doing, what I was giving up. I wasn't even the tiniest bit scared. It really helped that I wasn't completely alone. "And as far as my dad goes? Ironically? He relaxed yesterday. I think he was actually going to let us see each other outside of school." I told him with a short laugh. Figures, right before it becomes completely impossible. "And it's not like we're leaving for the sake of running away. I'll call him tomorrow, tell him what happened. He really can't argue with my leaving when it's that or best case a lengthy hospital stay, now can he?"
"If you've got a better plan, I'm all ears." I told him honestly. I was all for his impute if he actually had an idea that would keep us safe that was better than the one I'd already come up with.
"Virgina Beach." I replied when he asked where we were going. "Still a fairly warm climate...still by the water, fairly touristy, which means people are coming and going all the time. Nobody'll take too much notice of us." Which was important. We needed to be able to blend. "They won't find us because Lamb'll expect us to be going to south. Or at the very least staying West. And you're forgetting I learned all my tricks from the best P.I. in the area, aren't you? I did everything I could to make sure there wasn't a trail to follow. Why do you think we're driving in this junker and not the X-Terra? Besides, when I tell him the Fighting Fitzpatricks threatened me? He'll do what he can to make it safe for us to come home before he ever seriously makes an effort to find us." I insisted as I kept my eyes on the road.
I knew exactly what my dad was going to think I'd done, but I was also fairly skilled at staying a half a step ahead of him when it really mattered. Not calling tonight so we could put some distance between us, so he wouldn't try to find us right away was a start.
"We're going to be fine. You trust me, right?" I asked gently.
"Okay, forget about the money for a moment..." I started, my voice hardening for a moment. "You could have gotten protection. What ever threats... You didn't have to do this and you're just -... you're giving a lot up for me." At least then it would be legal. Instead we're breaking about a million laws before we leave the state. She knew that and I couldn't feel more frustrated with her. No matter what my future was, she still had one.
I want to laugh when she said that her dad was actually relaxing for one and prepared to let us see each other without this whole hiding things. We sure were hiding big time this time.
"There were other options, Veronica," I said steadying myself from letting a laugh roll off my tongue. "You didn't have to choose this one. I can still... I don't know. I can go back and I have the money. I can get a lawyer. I was just being stupid earlier, you know that."
If that was my sad attempt at an apology I should probably try again. I wasn't charming at the moment I was just freaked while Veronica was so entirely calm and collected. I couldn't get it and I wish to god I saw some sort of reaction in her. This was a huge deal and she what? Took a few hours to decide to run away with me. Get out of Neptune post haste?
"I-I trust you. Of course, I trust you," I said with a short laugh. "I think you're insane right now, but I'm pretty sure that you're the only one in the world I trust right now." Or how about, ever. I trusted Veronica with my life but I'm not sure I trusted her with hers this moment. "You should go back, Veronica," I told her quietly, "and you know I mean that in the best way possible."
I clutched the steering wheel a little tighter at the tone in Logan's voice. "Don't." I stated. "Just don't. I'm not doing this for you." I added, my voice quieter. Sure, he did benefit from this, but it wasn't about him. Not entirely. "Look...you didn't see the car... they aren't playing, and I really don't think they're going to be remotely obvious to the point that paying body guards is going to do much." I didn't want to tell him that, because I knew he was going to start blaming himself for everything that was wrong in my life. And that was the last thing I wanted.
"Yeah, you were, and no, there aren't. Do you think I'm doing this for the hell of it, Logan? Leaving without even saying goodbye to my dad for the fun of it?" I sighed heavily. "This is the only way we can be sure we're all safe. You, me, Dad...anybody the Fighting Fitzpatricks might have decided is somehow a threat or something to use against us."
He was still scared, bordering on terrified. I couldn't blame him for that. It wasn't like I was completely calm. Outside I was doing not a bad job, but inside? Everything that might happen if we stayed, or could happen to people I cared about if they knew where we were going, it was making me sick to my stomach. Leaving was the easiest, best plan.
"Please don't ask me to go back again, Logan. It's not happening." I told him softly. He trusted me. He said it and I believed it. So why couldn't he trust me to know what I was doing here?
My stomach does a dive as she tells me to stop. To not ask her to turn back again. I let a hard breath out and nod. It's not like I thought she was doing it for fun. Not even close. I just can't even tell what I'm thinking right now, but the tone in her voice make me want to stop. It makes me want to stop everything because I wish that things just weren't so messed up right now.
And I want to hold her close and just comfort her, but I know I can't. I know I can't even do that before we leave the state. So I nod to her and change the subject instead - back to the future. Because the future is all I can possibly think about.
"Tell me what else," I said, almost inaudibly before I cleared my throat and started again, "What else do I need to know that you're probably inevitably going to have to remind me of?" I asked in a breath.
I pushed back the continually sick feeling in my stomach and looked towards her focused face as she continued to drive. Facts were easier for her as always. Facts were facts and not thoughts that drove you crazy because you couldn't do anything about them. "Who are we now, Veronica?" I asked quietly.
"I didn't change much short of names, Logan. I figure the closer we stick to the truth the less room there is for mistakes. Birth dates didn't change." I told him.
Of course there was one major change that I wasn't sure how he was going react to. I carefully reached across to the glove compartment and slide out the envelope containing the faked documents, IDs and two simple wedding bands.
"And we're still us when we're alone. Just not around other people." I told him gently. "But to answer your question? And don't freak out here, okay, it's just something to make us harder to find, less obvious that we're us." I said, passing him the envelope. "Nathaniel Alexander and Keely Sabrina Roberts." I said finally, waiting for the inevitable 'WTF?' that I knew was coming.
"And here I was starting to think that I should marry you to change my last name." I said, a bit sarcastically as I raised an eyebrow towards her and two wedding bands slid out with the papers out onto the palm of my hand.
So, we're not siblings, which should be a plus, but I can't help but stare at the two wedding rings that we're going to be wearing for god knows how long and I sort of swallow hard. Yeah, don't freak out Veronica. We'd done the whole mock married couple before and that was when we weren't even one.
"So, you didn't like bring that huge wedding planning album, did you?" I asked as my eyes crossed over a marriage certificate for Nathaniel Alexander Roberts and Keely Sabrina Callaghan. Whoever they were. They were us and we were anything but a married couple. It was almost funny if I didn't think about it for that long.
"I'm sure the wedding was lovely, but I don't remember much, Sugarpuss." I gave a short laugh, "I must have been drunk out of my mind."
"I told you... it's just to make it less obvious we're us. Besides... how many places do you think are gonna want to rent to two single teenagers?" I pointed out logically. Especially when we're dealing with Virgina, we're much better off pretending we're married. I wasn't trying to make him think I wanted us to be married. That wasn't what this was about. Being married to Logan's a nice dream for the future. When we're older. Not right now. "And hey, at least we're actually dating this time." I point out with a slight smile as he brings up that way over the top Wedding plan album. That thing was pretty much the antithesis of what I actually wanted in a wedding.
"Oh, very much so. How do you think I talked you into it in the first place?" I teased back, laughing softly when he says he must have been drunk out of his mind.
"Seriously though?" I asked after a moment. "Let's go with elopement, and disapproving father. Simple, and nobody'll question it." I suggested.
"Are you okay with this? Pretending we're married?" I asked gently. He was making jokes, but he was freaked, I could tell.
I quickly pecked Leo's cheek and whispered 'thank you' to him. I knew exactly what he was giving up for us, and he just did it. Didn't question it when I said I needed his help, even though by all rights he should've. I was beyond grateful.
I took Logan's hand as we headed for the back exit quickly. Once we were off the property and heading to the car I started explaining. "What are we doing? Getting the hell out of Neptune." I state quietly but firmly as we finally reach the car. It's not the greatest car in the world, but it'll get us out of town tonight, and really, that's all I wanted it for. "Let's just say my poor car got a little visit from what I can only assume was the Fighting Fitzpatricks while I was visiting you earlier...all long with a little note, and it was about then I decided we needed to get gone as fast as humanly possible." I told him, unlocking the passenger door before going over to the driver's side. I really wasn't into sticking around and waiting to see if I ended up in the hospital or worse while Logan waited to face the death penalty. Leaving was the better plan.
"I went to the boat, packed you some clothes and stuff. I've got a plan." I told him, as we got in he car. "Or at least the definite beginnings of a plan and a destination on the other side of the country." I sighed slightly.
"And Logan? I'm sorry about before." I added softly. "Rational thought wasn't really as strong point of mine earlier." That was a bit of an understatement.
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Okay, it was stupid to say, but my head is spinning. In general confusion and being uprooted didn't really help it, but I slipped into the car before her. I couldn't stop looking at her, even she she started to drive. No, this was way bigger than breaking out. We were going away. We were getting the hell out of Neptune and generally I'd be happy about that, but I don't know what to think about Veronica going with me or the fact that she was being threatened by the same people that probably did the frame job on me.
I looked up to her as she settled into the driver's seat. At least she was ignoring my words from early, but to top that off she was apologizing.
On the tip of my tongue was the question on why she'd bother breaking me out. It seemed like a tired question and one I shouldn't even bother asking. I knew the answer. I knew that she loved me and despite doing this for herself too, she bothered taking me along with her.
"Veronica..." I started as she started the car. I wasn't sure how to finish it. I wasn't even sure how to apologize to her. I wasn't sure how to go about saying thank you. I run my fingers tightly through my hair. "Are- ... are you okay?"
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"We've got money, fake IDs, pretty much everything we need to successfully drop off the radar. There wasn't exactly time to be eBaying us some new passports, so we've got some nicely falsified birth certificates. My dad's going to be less than thrilled when he realises what I've done, but at least he knows I know all the little tricks and we're gonna be fine, right?" I pointed out with a weak smile. "Oh, and when we stop for the night? We're dying our hair. No arguments. New names won't help any if we're looking exactly the same." I pointed out.
Okay, so I was babbling, but I did tell Logan I'd explain, and there was more than a little bit of explaining to do.
"I'm okay, Logan." I promise him. Would I miss my dad, Wallace and Backup? Definitely. But Logan and I being alive, safe, was much more important. "Really. I'm fine. You?" I ask gently. "You're okay, right? Not incredibly pissed that I bribed Deputy Leo to let you out?" I teased slightly. I was sure he was far too drunk the night of the dance to remember enough to recognise Leo, and I wasn't sure he even knew that we dated. Didn't really matter. I just wanted to lighten things up a bit. The situation was far too stressful.
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"You're kidding me, right? I mean, your dad in general was less than thrilled about the two of us dating. That's an understatement. We're disappearing off the face of the earth, which, hey, it's not like I haven't thought about it, but... " - and suddenly I felt sick to my stomach just because she was giving it all up. "We're actually doing this, Veronica."
I didn't even have the time to wince about getting rid of my professionally done highlights. It didn't even compare on the scale. There was nothing that really compared to what we were doing right now.
"I don't know what to think," I said frankly, honestly. "I don't know if I want to thank you for doing this or tell you how stupid I think it is." Or column C? Tell her how stupid I think that I've been. Yeah, it was great to feel so guilty right about now. "Where are we going anyway? Like... how are they not going to be able to find us? Isn't your dad like... the expert in this?"
I didn't believe that either of us were fine. I was still scared out of my mind.
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"I know, Logan." I knew what I was doing, what I was giving up. I wasn't even the tiniest bit scared. It really helped that I wasn't completely alone. "And as far as my dad goes? Ironically? He relaxed yesterday. I think he was actually going to let us see each other outside of school." I told him with a short laugh. Figures, right before it becomes completely impossible. "And it's not like we're leaving for the sake of running away. I'll call him tomorrow, tell him what happened. He really can't argue with my leaving when it's that or best case a lengthy hospital stay, now can he?"
"If you've got a better plan, I'm all ears." I told him honestly. I was all for his impute if he actually had an idea that would keep us safe that was better than the one I'd already come up with.
"Virgina Beach." I replied when he asked where we were going. "Still a fairly warm climate...still by the water, fairly touristy, which means people are coming and going all the time. Nobody'll take too much notice of us." Which was important. We needed to be able to blend. "They won't find us because Lamb'll expect us to be going to south. Or at the very least staying West. And you're forgetting I learned all my tricks from the best P.I. in the area, aren't you? I did everything I could to make sure there wasn't a trail to follow. Why do you think we're driving in this junker and not the X-Terra? Besides, when I tell him the Fighting Fitzpatricks threatened me? He'll do what he can to make it safe for us to come home before he ever seriously makes an effort to find us." I insisted as I kept my eyes on the road.
I knew exactly what my dad was going to think I'd done, but I was also fairly skilled at staying a half a step ahead of him when it really mattered. Not calling tonight so we could put some distance between us, so he wouldn't try to find us right away was a start.
"We're going to be fine. You trust me, right?" I asked gently.
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I want to laugh when she said that her dad was actually relaxing for one and prepared to let us see each other without this whole hiding things. We sure were hiding big time this time.
"There were other options, Veronica," I said steadying myself from letting a laugh roll off my tongue. "You didn't have to choose this one. I can still... I don't know. I can go back and I have the money. I can get a lawyer. I was just being stupid earlier, you know that."
If that was my sad attempt at an apology I should probably try again. I wasn't charming at the moment I was just freaked while Veronica was so entirely calm and collected. I couldn't get it and I wish to god I saw some sort of reaction in her. This was a huge deal and she what? Took a few hours to decide to run away with me. Get out of Neptune post haste?
"I-I trust you. Of course, I trust you," I said with a short laugh. "I think you're insane right now, but I'm pretty sure that you're the only one in the world I trust right now." Or how about, ever. I trusted Veronica with my life but I'm not sure I trusted her with hers this moment. "You should go back, Veronica," I told her quietly, "and you know I mean that in the best way possible."
How has being with me been any safe?
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"Yeah, you were, and no, there aren't. Do you think I'm doing this for the hell of it, Logan? Leaving without even saying goodbye to my dad for the fun of it?" I sighed heavily. "This is the only way we can be sure we're all safe. You, me, Dad...anybody the Fighting Fitzpatricks might have decided is somehow a threat or something to use against us."
He was still scared, bordering on terrified. I couldn't blame him for that. It wasn't like I was completely calm. Outside I was doing not a bad job, but inside? Everything that might happen if we stayed, or could happen to people I cared about if they knew where we were going, it was making me sick to my stomach. Leaving was the easiest, best plan.
"Please don't ask me to go back again, Logan. It's not happening." I told him softly. He trusted me. He said it and I believed it. So why couldn't he trust me to know what I was doing here?
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And I want to hold her close and just comfort her, but I know I can't. I know I can't even do that before we leave the state. So I nod to her and change the subject instead - back to the future. Because the future is all I can possibly think about.
"Tell me what else," I said, almost inaudibly before I cleared my throat and started again, "What else do I need to know that you're probably inevitably going to have to remind me of?" I asked in a breath.
I pushed back the continually sick feeling in my stomach and looked towards her focused face as she continued to drive. Facts were easier for her as always. Facts were facts and not thoughts that drove you crazy because you couldn't do anything about them. "Who are we now, Veronica?" I asked quietly.
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Of course there was one major change that I wasn't sure how he was going react to. I carefully reached across to the glove compartment and slide out the envelope containing the faked documents, IDs and two simple wedding bands.
"And we're still us when we're alone. Just not around other people." I told him gently. "But to answer your question? And don't freak out here, okay, it's just something to make us harder to find, less obvious that we're us." I said, passing him the envelope. "Nathaniel Alexander and Keely Sabrina Roberts." I said finally, waiting for the inevitable 'WTF?' that I knew was coming.
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So, we're not siblings, which should be a plus, but I can't help but stare at the two wedding rings that we're going to be wearing for god knows how long and I sort of swallow hard. Yeah, don't freak out Veronica. We'd done the whole mock married couple before and that was when we weren't even one.
"So, you didn't like bring that huge wedding planning album, did you?" I asked as my eyes crossed over a marriage certificate for Nathaniel Alexander Roberts and Keely Sabrina Callaghan. Whoever they were. They were us and we were anything but a married couple. It was almost funny if I didn't think about it for that long.
"I'm sure the wedding was lovely, but I don't remember much, Sugarpuss." I gave a short laugh, "I must have been drunk out of my mind."
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"Oh, very much so. How do you think I talked you into it in the first place?" I teased back, laughing softly when he says he must have been drunk out of his mind.
"Seriously though?" I asked after a moment. "Let's go with elopement, and disapproving father. Simple, and nobody'll question it." I suggested.
"Are you okay with this? Pretending we're married?" I asked gently. He was making jokes, but he was freaked, I could tell.
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