WTUD Chapter 8 Part C
He caught Beaver at the end of the school day. His head was barely out of his locker when Logan pushed it closed, a malicious grin in place.
“What’s up, Beav?” Logan leaned casually against the bank of lockers, his arms folded, as he appraised the slighter boy.
“Oh, hey, man. What’s up?” Beaver’s voice was shaky, but then again, it always was shaky.
“Nothing.” Logan continued to stare at Beaver, unsettling the young man. Finally, he put him out of his misery. “So, funny thing, I was over at the party Saturday and Dick and Sean mentioned you hooked up with Veronica. You help her get that fourteen?” Logan smiled wider, his teeth showing.
Beaver’s eyes went wide and then he ducked his head. His hand came up and scratched at his forehead before he raised his head again, his eyes still not meeting Logan’s. “Look, I don’t know what Dick and Sean told you, but they were pushing me.”
Logan merely nodded, waiting for Beaver to elaborate.
Beaver took a breath and licked his lips before continuing. “Dick, he was - he was pushing up her dress and she was passed out. She was so out of it, I don’t think she even knew what was going on.”
Logan could feel his jaw twitch, but remained silent, wanting to know everything before he punched the little prick.
Beaver, oblivious to Logan’s plight, took a breath. “Dick was being a… dick and Sean wasn’t helping. They’d been drinking. I just told them I’d be fine and then they left. I asked Veronica if she was okay, but she never answered. And then - and then I got sick all over Carrie Bishop’s shoes.” He looked away ashamed.
Logan slapped his back, nodding. “Well, thanks for the recap, man. Too bad you struck out.”
Logan began to walk away when Beaver called out to him. “Could you - could you keep this between us?”
Logan’s fist tightened at his side, but his smile remained fixed. “Totally, dude. Don’t want your bro finding out you didn’t tap it, right?”
Beaver shook his head and frowned. “No, I don’t want him to know I puked all over Carrie Bishop. I’ll never live it down.”
Logan felt the breath he was holding escape from his body. He nodded, “Sure. Not a problem.” He turned back around and headed out for the parking lot. He was exhausted. He just wanted to get home.
~*~
The ride home had been silent. Logan was unsure how to act around Veronica with all his newfound information. He was thankful when she pulled the car into the driveway and nearly ran into the house, the awkwardness stifling.
He dumped his books in his room and quickly changed for the pool. He needed relaxation; he needed to clear his head. He stepped out onto the patio and found that Veronica had stolen his idea. She was lounging in one of the chairs, already dressed in her bathing suit, and Logan wondered how she’d beat him out there.
However, his mind quickly ground to a halt as his eyes moved over her body. He took in every dip and curve. She shifted and he worked to tear his gaze away from her. He was not going to be having those kinds of thoughts about Veronica. Ever. Well, maybe once in a while. When he was alone in his room. With the music blasting.
He’d admit that he had a schoolyard crush on the girl when they were twelve, and then he met Lilly, in all her glory, and Veronica faded into the background. Because that’s what Lilly did - she stole the spotlight from everyone. She stole it from him, from Duncan, and especially from Veronica. He was sure Lilly knew of his crush and that’s why she never left the two of them alone together. If Lilly had, Logan was sure he would have known exactly how wonderful Veronica was - without Lilly.
But that was history, and now the two of them were different. They barely knew each other. More than acquaintances, but less than friends.
He shook his head - trying to clear the thoughts from his mind - and tossed his towel in the chair next to her. Her head turned toward him and he could see her questioning gaze even through her sunglasses.
“You sure that’s a good idea?” she asked as she tilted her head to the side, frowning slightly.
“Why not?”
“Your back,” she muttered, biting her bottom lip.
Logan forced a smirk. “I’m sure it’s all better now, princess. No need to fret.”
He could see her swallow as she nodded. She didn’t say anything more as she leaned her head back, apparently going back to her sunbathing. Logan couldn’t help admiring the column of her throat.
I wonder what her neck would taste like?
Whoa. That came out of nowhere. He quickly spun around and made a mad dash for the cold water. He needed to cool off.
~*~
The sun had set hours ago and Logan was enjoying a rousing game of PlayStation. There was nothing like killing something to take his mind off the rash of impure thoughts that had been running rampant through his head.
He heard Veronica’s music turn on and shook his head. The girl needed to learn the value of headphones. He was growing tired of punk rocker chick music. He continued punching in random codes as he tried to better his score in the game.
It was maybe five minutes later when the house alarm went off. He threw the controller aside and sprinted to Veronica’s room, knowing her music was drowning out the screeching. He threw open the door only to find her room empty.
“Shit,” he breathed.
He bolted downstairs and nearly plowed into something in the darkness.
“Ow!”
He flicked on the lights and found Veronica frantically trying to punch in the code to disarm the alarm. He rolled his eyes and nudged her aside. He tapped in the numbers and the annoying beeping stopped.
Then, he turned his attention to the frustrated blonde. “If you’re gonna sneak out, at least remember the code to the alarm so everyone in the neighborhood doesn’t know you’re doing it.”
She huffed and folded her arms across her chest. “Thanks for the news flash.” She turned and headed for the door, but Logan called out to her.
“Where are you going?”
“Nowhere,” she threw back and pulled open the door, but he caught it, keeping her from passing through.
“Obviously you’re going somewhere. And you didn’t want me to know, which just makes it all the more interesting. So, where ya’ going?” He smiled widely, never taking his eyes off her. He knew she’d make a break for it the moment he did.
“I need to do some work. Nothing exciting,” she muttered begrudgingly.
“Well, then you won’t mind if I tag along.” He opened the door wider, motioning for her to pass. She scowled, but moved through the threshold, Logan on her heels.
~*~
He had to laugh. It was just too funny not to. “Who does the IT guy? Honestly?”
“Apparently Kimmy does,” Veronica stated flatly.
“Aw, c’mon, it’s funny. Admit it,” he chided good-naturedly.
He saw a smile crack across her face. “It is kinda funny.”
He smiled and leaned back in his seat. “So, Kimmy and the IT guy are behind this whole purity test thing?”
Her gaze flickered to him. “How’d you know about that?”
“You think I don’t know what’s going on, but I do. I know all, I see all, Veronica Mars.” She let out a light bubble of laughter. He decided to try and push his luck. “So, Kimmy was the one who put in the fourteen score for you?”
Veronica was quiet for a moment before shrugging. “I don’t know. I’ll find out tomorrow when I confront her.”
“Oh.” He chewed on his lip for a moment before adding, “I found out who was spray painting all the lockers.” He barely noticed the flicker of her gaze. “Dick won’t be bugging you again.”
A small smile flitted across her mouth momentarily before she controlled herself and focused her attention back on the road.
The two sat in silence for several stretched minutes. He could see her fidgeting, aching to say something. He figured he would put her out of her misery.
“Something’s on your mind, Veronica. What is it? Want to know if my score is real? Well, if you must know - yes, I really did score a 32. I’m a slut. A huge man-slut.” He turned to look at her, smiling.
But she wasn’t. His brow knitted as he waited for her to say something. She took a breath and gripped the steering wheel tighter. No, definitely not curious about his purity test score.
“Did your dad do that to your back, Logan?”
She barely had the words out before his demeanor changed. “Drop it, Veronica.”
“But, Logan -“
“I said drop it!” His voice came out louder than he had intended, but it silenced her.
The rest of the ride went with no further words exchanged.