Come Around (4/?)
Rating: NC-17 for language, sex, and some very mild violence
Word Count: 8183 in this chapter
Category: AU, after “The Bitch is Back”
Characters/Pairings: Veronica, Logan, Keith, Parker, Dick, Logan/Veronica, slight Veronica/Piz, Logan/OFC, slight Veronica/OMC, some merry Neptune residents
Spoilers: Up to 3.20 “The Bitch is Back.”
Disclaimer: The characters were created by Rob Thomas and remain the property of Thomas, the CW, and Warner Bros. Television. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Special Thanks: To the betas of this fic, afrocurl and solflower22, who are so very patient with me while I struggle with this monster (currently 100 pages and counting!). Any and all mistakes after their betas are my own.
Dedication: Once again, the main reason this is being posted now is all because of smiles1_9's charity. THANK HER.
Summary: "As a rule and from experience, I tend to get scared when you ask me to trust you."
A/N: 1. I apologize profusely for the delay in getting this fic posted. Writer's block is a bitch and that, paired with the dreaded real life, caused this gap in posting. Many apologies!
2. Don't bother looking up Randy Modi, he's about as real as Desmond Fellows and Connor Larkin.
Seven Years Ago
Keith was waiting at the door when Logan reached the apartment complex and he knew at that moment that Logan had to regret calling him earlier to notify him of his arrival in Neptune. It was nearly three in the morning and yet Keith was still in his work clothes, watching patiently as Logan climbed out of his truck without bothering to hide his public drunkenness. He was wearing jeans that were too baggy, a blue wifebeater that was stained with some sort of liquid and a white button-down shirt over it that was wrinkled and too big on his frame. Logan had lost quite a bit of weight during his three-month vacation in hell.
The indifference in Logan’s eyes momentarily stunned Keith before angering him, and he eyed Logan warily. “I thought I was going to have to get you.”
Logan didn’t respond, a dark look settling in his eyes. He was definitely drunk, possibly still hopped up on something else. The circles under his eyes were nearly black and there was a bruise beginning to form right below his right cheekbone.
Before Keith could voice what was really going on in his head (pathetic, disgusting, stupid, so stupid), he flung the front door open, nodding at the living room. “Get in.” Logan blinked slowly, clearly struggling to focus, and Keith resisted the urge to slam him into the wall. “Logan. Get inside.”
“No.”
Keith’s voice was quiet enough to get his point across. “Get in before I make you.”
Logan’s options weren’t ample and he was smart enough to figure that out, drug haze and all. “What are you going to do to me?”
Keith was taken aback by the sudden caution in Logan’s tone and his brow furrowed in slight confusion. “What exactly do you think I’m going to do to you?”
The boy shrugged, lunging himself forward and into the apartment. Keith stood there for a moment, watching as Logan flopped on the couch and it was as if that exchange hadn’t happened at all. He waited for Logan to speak but even that was like pulling teeth as the boy just continued to sit there, stubbornly angry and not even completely sober or conscious. With a shake of his head, Keith moved into his home, shutting and locking the door behind him.
“You can’t keep me here, you know,” Logan finally spoke as Keith turned the final lock into place. “That’s called kidnapping. False imprisonment.”
Keith turned to face Logan, crossing his arms over his chest and forgetting for a moment that he was supposed to be severely pissed off at this kid. “What TV show taught you that?”
A flash of anger was in Logan’s eyes once more and he laughed bitterly, flinging his arms over the back of the couch. “I don’t need to watch TV to know what the hell false imprisonment is,” the smile faded from his lips as he glanced at the hallway. “Did Veronica sic you on me?”
“Veronica’s not here,” Keith said stiffly, refusing to look in the direction of Logan’s stare. There was no point in it, Veronica wasn’t about to magically appear in her pajamas with her brow furrowed in concern.
Logan’s gaze continued to linger on the hallway as if he expected Veronica to walk through at any moment. “On a case?”
“No.”
Logan’s shoulders slouched slightly. “Hanging with that boyfriend of hers?”
“Probably.”
“At Hearst?”
Keith felt his tolerance for Logan’s questions rapidly evaporate and he rolled his eyes. “Logan, she’s not here, all right?” he said sharply.
A look of surprise flashed in Logan’s eyes at Keith’s outburst, yet he quickly recovered, giving Keith a sardonic grin. “Did I hit a nerve?” he chuckled when Keith didn’t respond, shaking his head. Then, with a nod, he climbed to his feet. “Okay, I’m going to-”
“SIT DOWN.”
Whatever was left of Logan’s patience immediately vanished. “You can’t keep me here, man! You can fucking threaten me all you want but I can walk out whenever-”
“Then walk,” Keith snapped. “Go. I’m giving you a clean, safe place to sleep in for the night, but if you want to sleep in that truck of yours-”
“And what do I have to give you?” Logan rubbed at his eyes, his shoulders slouching once more. “You want money?”
“I don’t want your money. You’re going to go back to school.”
Logan laughed, flopping back on the couch. “You have got to be shitting me-”
Keith walked across the room, sitting on the armchair across from Logan. “Tomorrow, we are going back to the Grand and getting back your suite. You will go to class, you will kick this self-destructive streak, and you will graduate if I have to make you.”
Logan shook his head. “You can’t tell me what to do...”
Keith jabbed a finger in Logan’s direction, ignoring his last comment. “You are not to snort, inject, smoke, inhale, or eat anything illegal, you got me? The binges are over- they’re done! Do it and I will find out, and you don’t want me to find out, Logan. I don’t even want to see alcohol in your hand until you’re twenty-one, do you understand me? It’s time to grow up, Logan.”
There was a moment of silence as Logan seemed to visibly debate his options as they were. He glanced at Keith, then the door, and Keith was certain he was planning his escape. Then, instead of running, he sighed loudly. “Why are you doing this?” he scowled.
Keith didn’t respond to Logan’s question, climbing to his feet and walking into the kitchen. “Do you want some breakfast?”
Logan slouched in his seat. “Yeah.”
Now
Veronica let out a laugh, pushing her hair off her face as she straightened up in her seat. The bar was busy and packed, but she paid the other patrons no mind, focusing on her story and on Harmony, but not on Keith and Logan’s rather intrusive stares. “So...so I go into the training academy for six months, and honestly? Worst six months of my life. I went in there all cocky, thinking I had to run a couple of laps every day...no. Wrong.”
Keith bit back a grin, leaning back in his chair as Harmony nodded, way too into Veronica’s story. Veronica’s story had been epic indeed because she had told them more in the last couple of hours than she had in her entire seven-year absence. He glanced over at Logan, who raised his eyebrows as he sipped his beer. Logan, who had seemed more interested in his dinner than Veronica’s story until it had become readily apparent just how nervous Veronica was.
Veronica felt like she had been talking for hours about the few shining moments of her career. Maybe she had been. In fact, she couldn’t recall when Keith or Logan got a word in. All she focused on was the better times of her life without the occupants of their table, trying to convince them, and herself, that she had done just fine without them. She was starting to believe it herself.
“So, the sergeant was this really mean guy, he kind of looked like Alec Baldwin? But meaner?”
“Are you telling us or asking us?” Logan asked, mimicking the high tilt of her voice. He quieted down when Keith shot him a glare, focusing once again on his plate of French fries.
Veronica was undeterred, continuing her story. If she stopped talking, she would get nervous, more nervous than what she already was. It wasn’t happening. She was going to be calm, cool, and collected, like she had been before her new life. “Every part of my body hurt, for weeks. I felt like scaling a fence and hitchhiking back to Neptune,” a faint smile came on her face. “Then came kick boxing. I loved kick boxing. I could just punch and kick and there was no climbing or throwing. It was cool, and it kept me in shape.”
Harmony nodded eagerly. “I heard kick boxing is excellent cardio.”
Veronica gave a quick nod. “Yes. My stomach was so tight by the end of it- I had abs! My body was awesome...no pain, no gain, right?”
Logan glanced at Keith, who gave him a simple shrug.
She paused, taking a long drink of her rum and coke. “Everyone else thought it was beneath them, because it didn’t involve weapons or explosives or whatever, but not me. I loved it. I wouldn’t let them get me down,” she let out a high, anxious laugh. “Imagine having people hate me...shocker, I know-”
Logan sighed, remembering Keith’s request earlier. They had to be nice to Veronica and it was obvious as she sat there nervously rambling that mocking her wasn’t going to help. She was unstoppable in her drive to avoid any awkward silences. He shot her a quick glance as she continued to ramble and he plucked his napkin from his lap, tossing it over his plate.
“There was this one girl...totally gave me the evil eye every chance she got-”
Finally, Logan smiled briefly, placing his hand on Veronica’s leg and giving her knee a firm squeeze. Her eyes fell on his face and he met her gaze. “I bet they loved you.”
Veronica faltered, her eyes falling on her plate and a shock of surprise coursing through her at their sudden contact. Then, his hand was gone and she inhaled sharply, nodding with a grin. “They hated me. But that was fine- I made it in and they didn’t. While I was on location, they did their little desk jobs and drank at the bar. I went around the world and got the bad guys.”
“Kicking ass, taking names,” Logan added, picking up his beer and tilting it in Keith’s direction as a short toast before taking a swig. “And scaring the crap out of everyone.”
She gave him a grateful smile, more than pleased that he hadn’t made any mention of the beach fiasco in any way, it was like it had never happened. He had showed discretion and restraint and the fact surprised and comforted her more than she thought it would. “Always.”
Keith glanced at his watch, his eyes widening. “Look at the time- we’re all acting like we don’t have to work tomorrow,” he climbed to his feet, helping Harmony into her coat. “I think it’s time for us all to retire.”
Veronica’s jaw clenched as she looked at her own watch. She wasn't expecting this. She was hoping they could all act friendly a bit longer. She knew what would happen once they went home- Keith and Harmony would go to bed and she would be by herself, watching television on the couch or stuck in her room. “It’s only nine,” she said, feeling her smile tighten. “Let’s go to a movie or something.”
Keith’s lips pressed together tightly. “Veronica.”
“Come on! It’s early!”
Logan watched as Veronica and her father started to quietly and calmly argue, a stab of pity hitting him as Veronica continued to talk. She was lonely, there was no way Veronica Mars would practically be begging for company unless she felt completely and utterly alone. Even then, he knew Veronica was never one to beg. She was definitely lonely, lost and possibly hungry for something normal. Reliable.
Then, like clockwork, there was the anger. Of course, they all had to be reliable for her.
He quickly lowered his gaze, trying to quiet his conflicting emotions. It definitely wasn’t the time.
“Dad, come on,” Veronica pleaded urgently. “I just came home...can’t we all hang out? I don’t want to go home yet.”
“Honey,” Keith said gently. “I’m tired.”
Keith and Veronica continued to argue and Logan stole a quick glance at Keith, noticing then that Keith really did look tired. He looked exasperated and annoyed and just plain tired, and Logan realized that Keith was just unable and unwilling to deal with a stubborn, combative Veronica that night. After almost ten years apart, Keith just wasn’t prepared to go through the motions once again.
“Dad-”
Logan jumped to his feet abruptly, wiping the crumbs from his pants. “Go home, Keith. I’ll take her out for a couple of hours.”
Keith froze, his eyebrows rising in surprise. “Really?”
“Really?” Veronica repeated, her eyes narrowing.
Logan nodded, forcing a tight smile on his face. “I’ll give her a tour of the new Neptune so she won’t get lost ever again,” he nodded again, downing the rest of his drink before setting it down and holding out his hand to Veronica. “Let’s go, princess.”
She took his hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet before releasing her. “Dad, do you want me to-”
Keith held up his hand, silencing her. “Veronica, go hang out. Don’t let your old man hold you back,” his smile was weak and strained and he was sure Veronica could see right through him. “Make sure Logan doesn’t get arrested.”
Veronica grinned as Logan rolled his eyes. “I’ll be the perfect parole officer.”
“Okay, I’m putting an end to Logan’s Life Is A Joke,” Logan said loudly, giving Keith a nod. “And I’m taking Veronica and getting the hell out of here. Let’s go, Veronica,” he smiled at Keith and Harmony. “Have a good night.”
Veronica gave her father one last look before following Logan out, grateful for the moment that he was currently her savior from another awkward night of listening to her iPod and going to sleep early. “Where are we going?” she called after him.
“If I told you,” Logan responded, holding the front door open for her. “Then it wouldn’t be an interesting tour, now would it? Trust me.”
“As a rule and from experience, I tend to get scared when you ask me to trust you...”
“Ha, ha.”
* * * * *
To Veronica’s disappointment, Logan grand tour of this new Neptune only lasted about an hour. Logan had spent most of the time quipping and pointing out places where Dick got drunk at, and if anything, Veronica was grateful that he was doing all the talking. It left very little time for her to embarrass herself or anyone else.
At the moment they sat in Logan’s truck, still a black Range Rover but a brand spanking new model, a couple of feet away from the fountains in Neptune’s city park. Logan promised that the jets of water would change colors but as of ten minutes in, nothing much had happened other than a bunch of skateboarders passing through.
Sitting alone with Logan wasn’t as awkward as Veronica expected. In fact, it was quite calming being with him. She liked being able to sit in silence with him- it was easier that way. Silence couldn’t lead to arguments or potential embarrassment.
“So,” she started, patting her knees absently. “Do you bring all your dates here?”
A small smile came upon his face and she was relieved.
“Only the cute ones,” he replied, his eyes on the sprays of water shooting up into the sky. “Keep watching, it’ll happen.”
Veronica couldn’t keep the grin from her face any longer. He sat anxiously, his body rigid and his eyes intently watching the water. He looked just like a little kid. “This is really exciting to you, isn’t it?”
“It’s beautiful.”
Her smile faded, a bit thrown off by the sincerity in his tone. She licked her lips, glancing down at her lap. “Did you date anyone?”
“When? Now?”
Her laugh came out a bit too forced and she flushed when his gaze pulled away from the fountains at the sound of it, focusing on her. “No...we haven’t talked for seven years...” she trailed off, shrugging. “At least humor me with some small talk.”
He nodded, his eyes moving back to the water. “I dated a lot. Short, tall, big, small, yellow, green, purple, and-”
“Anyone serious?”
Logan shrugged. “There was this one girl...” he sighed heavily, chuckling. “It’s ancient history, you know. Not worth mentioning.”
“Ever married?” The way his jaw clenched wasn’t lost on her, and she felt her chest tightening at the look in his eyes. There was a fresh wound in that impending answer and she was dying to know what it was, even if she were afraid of the answer.
She started to panic at his long silence and she just knew if he had married and Dick had this perfect, steady partner all the while she couldn’t even have a relationship, she was going to lose it. “You were married?” her voice rose to that pitch she hated and she abruptly closed her mouth.
“No.”
Veronica smiled before she could stop herself, elated and relieved but quickly hiding it before Logan could catch her. “Have any kids?”
He slowly smiled, glancing down at his lap. “Wondering if I fucked up some poor soul?”
Her grin faded. “I guess I’m not wondering anymore...”
Logan held up his hand, stopping her before she could continue. “No, no, it’s a hypothetical, since you decided to go there. Let’s say I did have a kid- would it bother you?”
She was silent for a long moment, considering his question and the likelihood of it. Staring at him, she came to the conclusion that this just wasn’t likely at all, he would’ve mentioned it and he didn’t appear to be uncomfortable with the discussion currently at hand. He was just teasing her. Again. “If you’re honest, then no,” a slow smile came on her face at the sight of his genuine one, and this didn’t feel weird or awkward at all. He laughed quietly and she sighed happily as she leaned toward him. “Are you a daddy, Logan?” she teased.
He opened his mouth as if to answer her then abruptly shook his head. “I’ll plead the fifth for now.”
A smirk played on her lips, her eyes still on his amused expression. It was a glorious sight, not the same bland indifference that she had hated seeing in his eyes before. For a moment, it was like nothing had changed between them, it was like they could still be friends. Like they were friends. “Come on, do you have a kid?”
“I said I’m pleading the fifth. Respect my rights, Agent Mars.”
Veronica huffed, turning and giving him her sweetest smile. “Did you knock someone up, Logan?”
Logan turned, meeting her gaze and she had to laugh at the fact that he was trying to hide his smile and failing miserably. “No. I didn’t knock anyone up, Veronica.”
They sat in silence for a long moment, staring at each other and Veronica could remember the last time they had done that. Eight years ago, in his old truck, he was dropping her off after their final official date together. He had said he loved her and she had kissed him and then Madison ran into her at that boutique.
She smiled sadly and Logan blinked, turning away from her. “What?”
“This is awkward,” he said with a slight laugh.
Her smile faded. “Why is this awkward?”
He shrugged abruptly and she was thrown off by the sudden iciness radiating from him. “Just is.”
Veronica sat in silence for a long moment, biting on her lower lip. She wasn’t about to let all of this ruin her night, she wasn’t about to let Logan get cold on her. This definitely wasn’t allowed. “You know what’s awkward? Waking up hung over in your ex-boyfriend’s house without a toothbrush. That’s awkward.” He didn’t budge and she shifted a bit closer to him, tilting her head and trying to get a glance at his face. “Isn’t that awkward?”
A smile played on his lips, then. “Yes.”
Her eyes widened as her mouth dropped and when he chuckled, she knew flirty self-deprecation was the way to go around Logan Echolls. “You’re petty.”
Logan’s eyebrows rose in faint surprise. “Thanks, pot.”
“You’re welcome, kettle,” Veronica lowered her gaze, her smile disappearing as she remembered the morning after. “Thanks for covering for me...at the beach,” she whispered. “That had the potential to be horrifically awkward, as opposed to really awkward.”
“You’re welcome,” he whispered back, still staring at the fountain. “You looked cute in your bikini, by the way. Stupidly drunk, but cute.”
Veronica grinned at his compliment, which wasn’t lost in his underhanded insult, gazing at his profile as he continued to watch that damn fountain. “Thanks.”
“Yep.”
“Not that I don’t love talking about me and my drunk ass, but what do you really do at your job? I wouldn’t think being a writer would have you doing a nine to five...”
He shrugged. “Go to meetings, do some schmoozing with outside companies, get involved in the layout of the issues- writer-wise, we’re actually a pretty small company. The big money’s with the photographers and the photo shoots and all that important product placement stuff.”
“But what do you do?”
“I write, I give suggestions at meetings, sometimes I go on location if there’s a special issue or whatever. You never do just one job at Talk...it never gets boring, I’ll tell you that,” he grinned. “One time, we got those new scooters to try out- you know, the ones with the voice activation box- and a bunch of us just went around all twelve floors, up and down, in the elevators...it was fun. And then there’s fashion week, when we have all these models parading around- Linda Evangelista was there last year, it was pretty fucking trippy-”
Veronica felt herself grow depressed as she listened to him talk about his job. He was so blasé about it all and yet, to her, it sounded like such an ideal job at the moment. He got paid to do something he didn’t mind doing and it sounded like a lot of fun was to be had at that magazine.
Logan was happy, loved his job and had no interest in her. The reality of it all was depressing and yet she was happy for him. He was okay, he was alive, he was happy and he wasn’t scarily dependent on her. The attraction was something she could work on later.
Logan grabbed her knee abruptly, nodding at the fountain. “Look,” a wide grin came on his face as the water sprayed upwards, changing color as the blue and purple lights hit it. “Look at it, there’s a reason couples come here-”
She barely glanced at the fountain, her eyes on his face. His hand was still on her knee and there was no way she was misinterpreting this. “It’s beautiful.”
“I told you. You should see it around Christmas and Valentine’s day. It’s just fantastic.”
“As fantastic as that job of yours?”
He smiled. “Close, but the fountains don’t have open bar Fridays after four,” a chuckle escaped him. “And that’s what I do at my job. I’ll take you inside one day, if you want to come.”
Veronica leaned closer to him, her eyes on his mouth as he licked his lips. “I would love to come.”
He grinned, glancing at her. “I bet you would, you’re probably bored out of your mind-” His eyes widened when Veronica’s lips got closer to his and he shifted closer to the door, running his hand through his hair. He chuckled, leaning back. “What are you doing?”
Veronica blinked rapidly in confusion and a certain amount of mortification. “You touched my knee. At the bar,” she said, hating how weak she sounded, then. “And just now.”
His smile was gentle, if a bit sympathetic. To Veronica’s horror, he also looked just as humiliated as she was. “Wow. I was just trying to make you relax. You were a hot mess. The nonstop...you just looked uncomfortable all night.”
She cringed as she covered her face, shaking her head miserably. “Oh God, look at me. I’m so pathetic.”
“You’re not,” he protested weakly. “Just a little bit drunk. Again.”
“And pathetic.”
He paused, a frown on his lips. “Yes,” he finally admitted. “A little bit.”
“I’m sorry.”
Logan was quiet for a long moment, gazing at the steering wheel as he chewed on his lower lip. Finally, he grinned weakly, glancing at Veronica. “Don’t worry about it,” he said lightly. “I should be thanking God. A beautiful woman tries to take advantage of me...it doesn’t happen often enough. At least not with the element of surprise.”
She shook her head, her shoulders slouching as her hands fell to her lap. “Logan, just stop.”
Logan nodded at the awkward silence that lay thick between them, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel. “Wanna see my place?” he asked suddenly. “I mean, really see my place. Without the hangover.”
Veronica glanced at him, frowning. “What?”
“It’s not an invitation for sex,” he said swiftly. “It’s a tour, right? How can we have a big tour of Neptune if you don’t see my place?”
She nodded slowly, unwilling then to decipher his motives. There wasn’t any ulterior motive, he wasn’t bringing her to his place to give her that special of his, but she could hear the strain in his voice. He was an unwilling party here. “Okay...”
Logan grinned tightly, starting the car. “Good.” The radio was turned on before either could say a word as he drove toward his condo.
* * * * *
Veronica’s fingertips ran over the black marble counter in Logan’s kitchen, her eyes on the black cabinets. “This place is nicer than my apartment was.”
“Well, that’s stating the obvious- my place is nicer than most mansions in Neptune,” Logan muttered, throwing his jacket on the couch.
“I mean, my place was nice but this is a whole other level...why didn’t I notice this when I was here before?” she smacked her forehead, grinning sheepishly. “Oh, that’s right, I was trying to get out of here as quick as possible.”
He grinned, hopping on the counter next to her. “I’m glad to see you’ve gotten your sense of humor back. I was one step away from handing you a knife,” she glanced at him quizzically and he shrugged. “You know,” he gestured at his left wrist. “Up the road, not across the street?”
Veronica faked a laugh, leaning against the counter. “When did you move in here?”
Logan frowned slightly, thinking. “Five...six years ago?” his brow furrowed as he counted silently. “Five years, two months. Three months? No, five years, two months,” he grinned triumphantly. “Five years and two months ago.”
She raised her eyebrows, finding his attention to detail more than amusing. “But what about the minutes and seconds?”
“Ha,” he nodded to the large living room. “That’s my big ass couch and my big ass widescreen and my big ass paintings. I have more pieces in the hallway, my bedroom, the bathroom...”
“You still like art, huh,” Veronica pushed off the counter, walking over to the living room and straight for the large painting above the white loveseat. Logan jumped off the counter, following her as she gazed at the biggest piece in his collection.
Bright yellows and whites and reds and purples, it was a wild, psychedelic burst of splashes and swirls and she could vaguely make out the idea of a beautiful young woman’s face in the painting and around it, clouds and the ocean. The girl’s face was a mess of colors but her eyes were a stark violet, untouched by the other colors, it was like she were staring out at the observer. Ringlets and waves surrounded the face in the picture and that must’ve been her hair, and it took Veronica a second to realize that this painting was a portrait. It was surreal, cluttered and just downright beautiful, Veronica was amazed by what she could see in that carefully constructed mess of colors and shapes. Then she glanced down at the artist.
A gasp escaped her and she spun around, facing Logan. “This is a Randy Modi painting.”
“Yes.”
“Is this an original?”
“Oh, yes.”
Veronica laughed, slightly amazed. “Does he even sell paintings anymore? How did you manage to get one? It must’ve cost you a fortune!”
Logan chuckled, giving Veronica a shrug. “Didn’t pay a dime,” he shrugged again. “It was a gift. His daughter gave it to me.”
She blinked rapidly, unsure if she had heard him right. “His daughter gave it to you. She just gave it to you?” she eyed him warily. “Did you sleep with her?”
“Something like that.”
With a roll of her eyes, Veronica turned back to the painting, running her hand along the edge of the heavy frame. “This is the only guy I would pay for a painting of...I had some mock-ups in my old apartment. I can’t believe you got this for free.”
“One of my co-workers keeps trying to buy it from me- it’s not for sale. It’s one of my most prized possessions, it was part of his soul series- it was the last one he did...” he glanced at the painting, staring at it for a long moment before looking at Veronica, who continued to gaze at the picture enviously. “You can’t have it.”
Veronica turned to face him, a laugh escaping her. “I honestly...I can’t believe you know and appreciate Randy Modi’s work.”
Logan’s smile faded slowly. “Why wouldn’t I know his work?”
She shrugged. “His stuff is just so complex and deep and-“
“And I’m strictly relegated to the shallow end of the pool,” he interjected, giving Veronica a curt nod. “Got it.”
Veronica frowned, thrown off by his abrupt shift in mood. Instantly, he looked annoyed if not downright pissed off, his jaw clenching as he stared at the couch at her side. “What? I didn’t say-”
“You didn’t say but you implied,” Logan said, crossing his arms over his chest. “You didn’t even notice you insulted me, did you? It’s like a second language, huh.”
“What- what’s with the attitude?” she laughed, shaking her head. This definitely wasn’t how the evening was supposed to go. They weren’t supposed to have a fight, they weren’t supposed to hate each other. It was only about a month since she had come home- it was way too early to be fighting with anyone, especially Logan. “Look, I don’t know what your problem is, but you’ve been treating me like crap since I got back-”
He rolled his eyes, glancing at the ceiling and letting out an aggravated sigh. “Veronica, Veronica, Veronica- not everything is about you.”
“But it is about me!” she said, ignoring the shrillness of her voice. She could feel all the pent-up negativity spilling over and there was no more making nice for anyone’s sake, Logan looked like he was well past his safe zone, her apparent insult had pushed him over and now she was forced to defend herself. Just like old times, nothing had changed. “You, dad, and everyone...everyone is angry with me and no one is telling me why! You’re pissed off and we weren’t on bad terms when I left so I don’t understand-”
“This isn’t about us, Veronica!” Logan exclaimed. “This is about you coming back to Neptune all smug and shit. Do you know how much everyone’s gone through? Do you know what I’ve gone through? Do you even care?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You LEFT,” he said harshly. “You left and you didn’t say goodbye.”
Veronica’s brow furrowed in confusion and she shook her head. “Why would you care if I said goodbye? Would you have picked up the phone? We were broken up!”
“This isn’t about our relationship, Veronica, that was done,” Logan snapped. “I’m talking about you leaving Neptune and then coming back like nothing. SEVEN years, and you come back like nothing had happened, all arrogant and you wonder why everyone hates you.”
She stood there, stunned and unsure of what to say. She was sure Logan was right, he was completely right and he was saying exactly what everyone was thinking. She could feel her face grow hot as he glared at her and she realized he had been holding that in for weeks. Hell, she was certain he wasn’t done ripping into her. “Logan, listen, I didn’t owe anyone an explanation-”
“No one wanted an explanation, Veronica,” Logan muttered, bitterness coating his words. “Everyone wanted a goodbye. Do you know how many people you hurt? You can’t just come back and expect everything to be swell,” he laughed abruptly. “And you don’t even apologize!”
“I didn’t OWE anyone-”
“You didn’t owe anyone anything but you burned so many fucking bridges-”
Veronica ran her hands through her hair, pulling at the ends as she struggled to curb her anger. She didn’t want to go through any of this, especially not with him. She didn’t need to be lectured by Logan of all people. “Logan,” she said through gritted teeth. “I know what I did was wrong and I should’ve called but I didn’t owe anyone-”
“Oh, come on, Veronica!” he exclaimed. “You- you go away and no phone calls- no anything- and we’ve known each other since we were twelve. You left cookies in my bookbag on my thirteenth birthday, I was your biology partner in junior high-” he cut himself off, letting out a sharp breath.
She blinked rapidly, less than willing to go through one of those fights with Logan again. Those fights that never went anywhere and just left them both angrier than before. She had been wrong about Logan, nothing had changed with him, he just managed to hide it better. “Logan-” she interjected.
“You helped my mom bake Christmas cookies, I was the one who picked out your Halloween costume that one year- I gave up my best friend for you!”
“LOGAN.”
“We dated for two years,” he said through gritted teeth, jabbing a finger at her. “We shared food and you wore my damn clothes- we loved each other and we have a textbook of history and you owed me a fucking goodbye, Veronica.”
And it was suddenly so clear. Logan wasn’t talking about everyone else being upset about her disappearance, he was talking about his own feelings. She had hurt him by not saying goodbye, and she was ashamed to admit she hadn’t given his feelings much thought when she had fled Neptune. She simply didn’t think he cared whether she left or not, especially since she had left with Piz.
Veronica licked her lips, glancing at Logan and realizing that he wasn’t glaring at her anymore, that he looked just as mortified as she did and he definitely hadn’t meant to let any of that out. “Logan, I-” she stammered.
“And stop treating me like I’m still a fuck up, dammit,” he interrupted, his voice shaking slightly. “You haven’t been around me for years.”
“I know you’ve changed,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “You changed and everyone keeps talking about how great you are- I KNOW, okay? You changed and you’re perfect and I’m miserable, is that what you want to hear?”
“No, that’s not what I want to hear!” Logan snapped. “You think I wanted you to just show up, Veronica? I knew this was going to happen when I saw you at the restaurant. I knew this wasn’t going to end well, I just knew it.”
“Then why did you even talk to me?” she exclaimed. “You could’ve ignored me and it would’ve been over! Why didn’t you just ignore me?”
“I couldn’t!”
“Why not?” she demanded. “Why not? We could’ve just ignored each other and this wouldn’t be happening-”
“I couldn’t just...” Logan trailed off, a sigh escaping him. “I can’t just pretend we don’t know each other, Veronica. I don’t know...I really was happy to see you, you know.”
Veronica’s shoulders slouched slightly and she wanted nothing more than to run out of there. She knew she had this kind of conversation to look forward to from everyone, including her father. Logan was right, she had burned so many bridges and everyone was angry. She had known it all along. “I...I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
He shook his head slowly. “Don’t worry about it.”
“No, I really didn’t think it would bother you so much...I didn’t think you cared.”
Logan laughed slightly, glancing at her in confusion and their argument momentarily forgotten. “Why did you think I wouldn’t care?”
She just gave him a shake of her head, breathing in the awkwardness that had been lifted for that short time. The night was officially ruined and she just wanted to leave before they could get into another argument. “Listen, why don't you just take me home?”
His gaze softened. “Veronica, I didn't mean to get-”
“It’s okay. I’m get it, I screwed up,” she forced a smile on her face, heading for the front door. She hoped he couldn’t see the effort it took her to hold herself together. All she wanted to do was get the hell out of there before Logan could rip into her any further. “Take me home, please.”
The drive back to the apartment was more awkward than Veronica could’ve imagined. Logan didn’t speak for the entire ride, didn’t even try to. He just stared straight ahead, looking miserable, and she must’ve felt like he looked at the moment.
She wondered how her father would react if she ran away again. He would probably be relieved.
Veronica inhaled sharply as Logan pulled into the Sunset Cliffs apartments, coaxing a smile on her face. Logan pulled up in front of Keith’s apartment, sighing heavily, and she nodded slowly. She had to make the first move, obviously. “Thanks for the tour, Logan. It was fun.”
“It was a lot of fun,” he admitted, giving her a faint smile. “Before the awkwardness. And the fighting.”
“We continued our streak of fun and drama in the same night,” she concluded with a bright grin.
“I apologize...for ruining your night.”
Veronica shook her head. “You didn’t ruin it, trust me. Tonight has been a continuation of the last couple of weeks- actually, tonight’s been better.”
“Still.” Logan nodded slowly, sighing once more as he glanced at her. “You have a good night.”
“You too,” she leaned over, freezing when she realized he was doing the same. He turned his head at just the right time, her lips clumsily pressed against his jaw, and he exhaled, his lips brushing against her cheek.
Logan pulled back abruptly, giving Veronica an anxious smile. “So are we good?”
“We are.”
Logan nodded. “Good. So...good night.”
“Night.” Veronica leaned over once more, rolling her eyes as he stared at her. She finally lifted her hand, and he high-fived her. “See you around.”
“Later.”
She climbed out of the car, shutting the door quietly so she didn’t wake the neighbors. She stood there for a long moment, waiting, as if Logan would roll down the window or jump out of the car or something. Instead, he continued to sit in his car, his hands gripping the wheel and she finally nodded, walking to her father’s apartment. Behind her, Logan’s car took off toward the street and she appreciated his hasty exit.
* * * * *
Veronica squinted as she focused on the couple across the street, the brunette looking over her shoulder before turning back to her partner. Her hand brushed over her hair, and Veronica caught the platinum wedding band on her finger. The woman stood on her toes, leaving a quick peck on the gentleman's cheek, and Veronica's eyes narrowed. The man's hand ran down the woman's arm before leaning forward once more, and Veronica found herself reaching for her bag that rested at her hip. With a slight flinch, she moved her hand back on her lap, remembering that she hadn't carried a camera for spying in years.
The couple separated, the man unlocking his car and the woman disappearing into the post office, and Veronica frowned, wondering if they were married, and if they weren't, if this woman's husband knew about his cheating wife. And, in an instant, her thoughts traveled to exactly how much this woman's husband would offer a private detective to catch his spouse in the act. Maybe she could convince her father to let her help, he had to if she brought the client in herself.
“What are you doing?”
Veronica jumped, glancing over her shoulder and gasping at the sight of Logan’s face, just inches from hers as he stared in the direction of her stare. “Hi!”
“Morning,” he walked around the bench, taking a seat next to her as he smoothed down his black and blue-striped tie. “People watching?”
She shrugged, trying her best to seem nonchalant. It was best not to remember their last meeting two nights ago. A nerve-racking “family” dinner, a disastrous attempt at seduction, a rocky fight, and an awkward end wasn’t what she considered a wonderful night to remember. “I like to play ID the Psychopath in the morning...”
“Ah. Fun.” Logan leaned back in his seat, holding up his cup of Starbucks coffee. “Want some?”
Veronica eyed the cup, feeling the “yes” at the tip of her tongue and yet she looked away, focusing on the patrons leaving the post office. “No. Thank you.”
“It’s white chocolate mocha. I don’t know why I still drink this...the coffee and the flavor, I mean. I think my ex’s bad habits rubbed off,” he paused, licking his lips as he glanced at the bus stop across the street. “Take some. I’m not going to drink it all.”
“No.”
He shrugged. “Okay...”
She frowned slightly, watching out of the corner of her eye as he sipped his coffee and feeling faintly envious as she imagined the sweet taste of the hot coffee on her tongue. “I had some orange juice this morning,” she explained stiffly.
“Okay.”
Her mouth twitched, and she wordlessly held out her hand. He placed the cup in her hand without hesitation, his eyes still on the bus stop. She took a long sip, closing her eyes as the burst of flavor spread over her tongue. After drinking stale office coffee for years, it was nice to get something new.
Veronica set the cup down on her lap, wiping at the corners of her mouth. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t say you could keep it.” Veronica flushed as she started to hand the cup back and Logan smirked, glancing down at his lap. “I’m joking, Veronica.”
She nodded, smiling weakly. “Funny.”
He was silent for a moment, remembering his discussion with Keith the day before their last dinner. Be nice to Veronica. Everything had changed and she needed time to adjust, if she actually wanted to adjust. Be nice to Veronica. With a certain sense of defeat, Logan decided then to let it all go. After the last seven years, he couldn’t muster up another grudge for anyone, especially not Veronica. She had expressed some sort of regret two nights ago and he decided to believe her.
“I was just teasing,” he said quietly.
“I know.”
Logan glanced at Veronica, frowning at the sight of her staring down at her lap. “No one’s laughing behind your back, you know,” he said carefully. “It’s okay.”
Veronica laughed, giving him a look. “Please. Knowing the people in this town-”
“But you don’t,” he interrupted swiftly. “Trust me, you’re not on the top of the gossip list anymore and I mean that in the nicest way.”
A faint smile played on her lips as she eyed him. “You? Being nice?”
He cringed playfully. “It’s not really working for me, is it?” he looked at her, inspecting her face carefully before looking across the street once more, squinting back the glare of the sun. “Listen, do you need a job?”
Veronica frowned, glancing at Logan and waiting for him to start laughing. He didn’t, continuing to watch people walk about. “What?”
He shrugged. “Talk needs a photographer, a local one so they don’t have to pay the same salary they were giving our resident. It’s not a bad job...I can set you up with an interview if you want.”
She suddenly felt slighted, something about his offer didn’t seem genuine to her. How could he go from talking about trivial manners to offering her a job? Her father must’ve put him up to it. “Don’t give me a job because you have to,” she snapped. “I don’t know who told you to-”
He shot her a look. “Veronica, it’s not charity. Just say yes, we really need someone.”
“No.”
“What the hell else are you doing with yourself? At least think about it.”
She sighed, knowing he was absolutely right. “Fine.”
“Fine.” Logan’s phone began to chirp, and he straightened up, pulling his cell phone out of his pants pocket. He glanced down at the screen, staring at the I.D. for a long moment before glancing at Veronica with a tight smile. “Excuse me.”
Veronica shooed him away, and he stood, walking a couple of feet away as he answered. She watched him as he talked, his head dropping as he spoke quietly. His fingers rubbed on the back of his neck as he fidgeted, his hand dropping as he shook his head. She leaned forward discreetly, trying to see his face as he talked, trying to see if he was having a fight with someone. He turned toward the street and she quickly sat back, focusing on the cup of coffee in her hand. Her eyes lifted, catching the small smile on his face and then he laughed, shaking his head.
It wasn’t any of her business, yet she was still dying to know with whom he was talking. She could feel the curiosity eating at her, she wanted to know who he was talking to that made him smile like that. It couldn’t have been Carmen; he wouldn’t have walked away for Carmen.
Logan closed his phone, walking back over to Veronica. “Sorry about that.”
She gave him what she hoped was a relaxed smile, relaxed enough to show how cool and collected she was. “Who was that?”
He shrugged, shoving his phone into his pocket. “Just a friend.”
“Friend with a big F, or friend with a little F?”
He chuckled. “It depends on what the big and the little signify.”
Veronica placed the cup between her knees, lifting her hands in defeat. “Enough said.”
Logan leaned over, plucking the cup from Veronica’s hold. “I have to get to work. Can you tell Keith I’ll drop off my boss’ stuff tonight?”
She perked up at the information, fixing a bright smile on her face. “Tawdry stuff?”
“Employee stuff,” he corrected, taking a long sip of his coffee. “He’s doing background checks on some interns for the magazine. He does thousands of dollars of work for cheap. The boss loves him.”
Veronica nodded in agreement. “Everyone does.”
He grinned. “And in return, my boss loves me.”
She laughed dryly. “Looks like everyone loves you.”
“It's a gift.” Logan winked at Veronica, handing her the coffee cup before giving her a short wave. “Later.”
Veronica started to wave as he walked away then stopped, her smile fading. “You’ll be over tonight?” she called.
Logan turned, giving her a nod. “Yeah.”
“What time?”
He frowned. “Does it matter?”
Her mouth opened, unsure of how to respond without seeming psychotic or desperate. Despite the fact that he seemed to have warmed up considerably to her since the night of their fight, she still wasn’t comfortable with having both Logan, her father, and Harmony in such close proximity. She didn’t feel like making an embarrassment of herself into a daily event. “Not really...I just wouldn't want you to come by and no one’s home.”
Logan gazed at her for a long moment, his lips pressing together in a faint irritation. With a sigh, he raised his eyebrows. “I’ll be over around seven.”
Veronica nodded, giving him a grin. “I’ll be sure to order Italian.”
“You should, your cooking was never that great.”
Her eyes began to narrow, until she saw the smirk playing on his lips. “Funny!” she exclaimed.
He grinned, walking away from her. “See you tonight!” he called.
Veronica watched him go, a smile on her lips before she could stop it. She had the entire day to fix herself up in a pretty-but-effortless sort of way, feeling then that she had to prove to Logan that she wasn’t as sad as she had appeared for the last couple of weeks. She had to prove she could move on and forward.
And despite the nagging curiosity nipping at the back of her conscience, she wasn’t about to poke into Logan's private life with the predictable investigating he was probably expecting- it wasn’t where she belonged. She was going to show Logan that she had changed, that she was a different person.
Of course, that wasn’t about to stop her from drilling her father for some information.
Word Count: 8183 in this chapter
Category: AU, after “The Bitch is Back”
Characters/Pairings: Veronica, Logan, Keith, Parker, Dick, Logan/Veronica, slight Veronica/Piz, Logan/OFC, slight Veronica/OMC, some merry Neptune residents
Spoilers: Up to 3.20 “The Bitch is Back.”
Disclaimer: The characters were created by Rob Thomas and remain the property of Thomas, the CW, and Warner Bros. Television. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Special Thanks: To the betas of this fic, afrocurl and solflower22, who are so very patient with me while I struggle with this monster (currently 100 pages and counting!). Any and all mistakes after their betas are my own.
Dedication: Once again, the main reason this is being posted now is all because of smiles1_9's charity. THANK HER.
Summary: "As a rule and from experience, I tend to get scared when you ask me to trust you."
A/N: 1. I apologize profusely for the delay in getting this fic posted. Writer's block is a bitch and that, paired with the dreaded real life, caused this gap in posting. Many apologies!
2. Don't bother looking up Randy Modi, he's about as real as Desmond Fellows and Connor Larkin.
Seven Years Ago
Keith was waiting at the door when Logan reached the apartment complex and he knew at that moment that Logan had to regret calling him earlier to notify him of his arrival in Neptune. It was nearly three in the morning and yet Keith was still in his work clothes, watching patiently as Logan climbed out of his truck without bothering to hide his public drunkenness. He was wearing jeans that were too baggy, a blue wifebeater that was stained with some sort of liquid and a white button-down shirt over it that was wrinkled and too big on his frame. Logan had lost quite a bit of weight during his three-month vacation in hell.
The indifference in Logan’s eyes momentarily stunned Keith before angering him, and he eyed Logan warily. “I thought I was going to have to get you.”
Logan didn’t respond, a dark look settling in his eyes. He was definitely drunk, possibly still hopped up on something else. The circles under his eyes were nearly black and there was a bruise beginning to form right below his right cheekbone.
Before Keith could voice what was really going on in his head (pathetic, disgusting, stupid, so stupid), he flung the front door open, nodding at the living room. “Get in.” Logan blinked slowly, clearly struggling to focus, and Keith resisted the urge to slam him into the wall. “Logan. Get inside.”
“No.”
Keith’s voice was quiet enough to get his point across. “Get in before I make you.”
Logan’s options weren’t ample and he was smart enough to figure that out, drug haze and all. “What are you going to do to me?”
Keith was taken aback by the sudden caution in Logan’s tone and his brow furrowed in slight confusion. “What exactly do you think I’m going to do to you?”
The boy shrugged, lunging himself forward and into the apartment. Keith stood there for a moment, watching as Logan flopped on the couch and it was as if that exchange hadn’t happened at all. He waited for Logan to speak but even that was like pulling teeth as the boy just continued to sit there, stubbornly angry and not even completely sober or conscious. With a shake of his head, Keith moved into his home, shutting and locking the door behind him.
“You can’t keep me here, you know,” Logan finally spoke as Keith turned the final lock into place. “That’s called kidnapping. False imprisonment.”
Keith turned to face Logan, crossing his arms over his chest and forgetting for a moment that he was supposed to be severely pissed off at this kid. “What TV show taught you that?”
A flash of anger was in Logan’s eyes once more and he laughed bitterly, flinging his arms over the back of the couch. “I don’t need to watch TV to know what the hell false imprisonment is,” the smile faded from his lips as he glanced at the hallway. “Did Veronica sic you on me?”
“Veronica’s not here,” Keith said stiffly, refusing to look in the direction of Logan’s stare. There was no point in it, Veronica wasn’t about to magically appear in her pajamas with her brow furrowed in concern.
Logan’s gaze continued to linger on the hallway as if he expected Veronica to walk through at any moment. “On a case?”
“No.”
Logan’s shoulders slouched slightly. “Hanging with that boyfriend of hers?”
“Probably.”
“At Hearst?”
Keith felt his tolerance for Logan’s questions rapidly evaporate and he rolled his eyes. “Logan, she’s not here, all right?” he said sharply.
A look of surprise flashed in Logan’s eyes at Keith’s outburst, yet he quickly recovered, giving Keith a sardonic grin. “Did I hit a nerve?” he chuckled when Keith didn’t respond, shaking his head. Then, with a nod, he climbed to his feet. “Okay, I’m going to-”
“SIT DOWN.”
Whatever was left of Logan’s patience immediately vanished. “You can’t keep me here, man! You can fucking threaten me all you want but I can walk out whenever-”
“Then walk,” Keith snapped. “Go. I’m giving you a clean, safe place to sleep in for the night, but if you want to sleep in that truck of yours-”
“And what do I have to give you?” Logan rubbed at his eyes, his shoulders slouching once more. “You want money?”
“I don’t want your money. You’re going to go back to school.”
Logan laughed, flopping back on the couch. “You have got to be shitting me-”
Keith walked across the room, sitting on the armchair across from Logan. “Tomorrow, we are going back to the Grand and getting back your suite. You will go to class, you will kick this self-destructive streak, and you will graduate if I have to make you.”
Logan shook his head. “You can’t tell me what to do...”
Keith jabbed a finger in Logan’s direction, ignoring his last comment. “You are not to snort, inject, smoke, inhale, or eat anything illegal, you got me? The binges are over- they’re done! Do it and I will find out, and you don’t want me to find out, Logan. I don’t even want to see alcohol in your hand until you’re twenty-one, do you understand me? It’s time to grow up, Logan.”
There was a moment of silence as Logan seemed to visibly debate his options as they were. He glanced at Keith, then the door, and Keith was certain he was planning his escape. Then, instead of running, he sighed loudly. “Why are you doing this?” he scowled.
Keith didn’t respond to Logan’s question, climbing to his feet and walking into the kitchen. “Do you want some breakfast?”
Logan slouched in his seat. “Yeah.”
Now
Veronica let out a laugh, pushing her hair off her face as she straightened up in her seat. The bar was busy and packed, but she paid the other patrons no mind, focusing on her story and on Harmony, but not on Keith and Logan’s rather intrusive stares. “So...so I go into the training academy for six months, and honestly? Worst six months of my life. I went in there all cocky, thinking I had to run a couple of laps every day...no. Wrong.”
Keith bit back a grin, leaning back in his chair as Harmony nodded, way too into Veronica’s story. Veronica’s story had been epic indeed because she had told them more in the last couple of hours than she had in her entire seven-year absence. He glanced over at Logan, who raised his eyebrows as he sipped his beer. Logan, who had seemed more interested in his dinner than Veronica’s story until it had become readily apparent just how nervous Veronica was.
Veronica felt like she had been talking for hours about the few shining moments of her career. Maybe she had been. In fact, she couldn’t recall when Keith or Logan got a word in. All she focused on was the better times of her life without the occupants of their table, trying to convince them, and herself, that she had done just fine without them. She was starting to believe it herself.
“So, the sergeant was this really mean guy, he kind of looked like Alec Baldwin? But meaner?”
“Are you telling us or asking us?” Logan asked, mimicking the high tilt of her voice. He quieted down when Keith shot him a glare, focusing once again on his plate of French fries.
Veronica was undeterred, continuing her story. If she stopped talking, she would get nervous, more nervous than what she already was. It wasn’t happening. She was going to be calm, cool, and collected, like she had been before her new life. “Every part of my body hurt, for weeks. I felt like scaling a fence and hitchhiking back to Neptune,” a faint smile came on her face. “Then came kick boxing. I loved kick boxing. I could just punch and kick and there was no climbing or throwing. It was cool, and it kept me in shape.”
Harmony nodded eagerly. “I heard kick boxing is excellent cardio.”
Veronica gave a quick nod. “Yes. My stomach was so tight by the end of it- I had abs! My body was awesome...no pain, no gain, right?”
Logan glanced at Keith, who gave him a simple shrug.
She paused, taking a long drink of her rum and coke. “Everyone else thought it was beneath them, because it didn’t involve weapons or explosives or whatever, but not me. I loved it. I wouldn’t let them get me down,” she let out a high, anxious laugh. “Imagine having people hate me...shocker, I know-”
Logan sighed, remembering Keith’s request earlier. They had to be nice to Veronica and it was obvious as she sat there nervously rambling that mocking her wasn’t going to help. She was unstoppable in her drive to avoid any awkward silences. He shot her a quick glance as she continued to ramble and he plucked his napkin from his lap, tossing it over his plate.
“There was this one girl...totally gave me the evil eye every chance she got-”
Finally, Logan smiled briefly, placing his hand on Veronica’s leg and giving her knee a firm squeeze. Her eyes fell on his face and he met her gaze. “I bet they loved you.”
Veronica faltered, her eyes falling on her plate and a shock of surprise coursing through her at their sudden contact. Then, his hand was gone and she inhaled sharply, nodding with a grin. “They hated me. But that was fine- I made it in and they didn’t. While I was on location, they did their little desk jobs and drank at the bar. I went around the world and got the bad guys.”
“Kicking ass, taking names,” Logan added, picking up his beer and tilting it in Keith’s direction as a short toast before taking a swig. “And scaring the crap out of everyone.”
She gave him a grateful smile, more than pleased that he hadn’t made any mention of the beach fiasco in any way, it was like it had never happened. He had showed discretion and restraint and the fact surprised and comforted her more than she thought it would. “Always.”
Keith glanced at his watch, his eyes widening. “Look at the time- we’re all acting like we don’t have to work tomorrow,” he climbed to his feet, helping Harmony into her coat. “I think it’s time for us all to retire.”
Veronica’s jaw clenched as she looked at her own watch. She wasn't expecting this. She was hoping they could all act friendly a bit longer. She knew what would happen once they went home- Keith and Harmony would go to bed and she would be by herself, watching television on the couch or stuck in her room. “It’s only nine,” she said, feeling her smile tighten. “Let’s go to a movie or something.”
Keith’s lips pressed together tightly. “Veronica.”
“Come on! It’s early!”
Logan watched as Veronica and her father started to quietly and calmly argue, a stab of pity hitting him as Veronica continued to talk. She was lonely, there was no way Veronica Mars would practically be begging for company unless she felt completely and utterly alone. Even then, he knew Veronica was never one to beg. She was definitely lonely, lost and possibly hungry for something normal. Reliable.
Then, like clockwork, there was the anger. Of course, they all had to be reliable for her.
He quickly lowered his gaze, trying to quiet his conflicting emotions. It definitely wasn’t the time.
“Dad, come on,” Veronica pleaded urgently. “I just came home...can’t we all hang out? I don’t want to go home yet.”
“Honey,” Keith said gently. “I’m tired.”
Keith and Veronica continued to argue and Logan stole a quick glance at Keith, noticing then that Keith really did look tired. He looked exasperated and annoyed and just plain tired, and Logan realized that Keith was just unable and unwilling to deal with a stubborn, combative Veronica that night. After almost ten years apart, Keith just wasn’t prepared to go through the motions once again.
“Dad-”
Logan jumped to his feet abruptly, wiping the crumbs from his pants. “Go home, Keith. I’ll take her out for a couple of hours.”
Keith froze, his eyebrows rising in surprise. “Really?”
“Really?” Veronica repeated, her eyes narrowing.
Logan nodded, forcing a tight smile on his face. “I’ll give her a tour of the new Neptune so she won’t get lost ever again,” he nodded again, downing the rest of his drink before setting it down and holding out his hand to Veronica. “Let’s go, princess.”
She took his hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet before releasing her. “Dad, do you want me to-”
Keith held up his hand, silencing her. “Veronica, go hang out. Don’t let your old man hold you back,” his smile was weak and strained and he was sure Veronica could see right through him. “Make sure Logan doesn’t get arrested.”
Veronica grinned as Logan rolled his eyes. “I’ll be the perfect parole officer.”
“Okay, I’m putting an end to Logan’s Life Is A Joke,” Logan said loudly, giving Keith a nod. “And I’m taking Veronica and getting the hell out of here. Let’s go, Veronica,” he smiled at Keith and Harmony. “Have a good night.”
Veronica gave her father one last look before following Logan out, grateful for the moment that he was currently her savior from another awkward night of listening to her iPod and going to sleep early. “Where are we going?” she called after him.
“If I told you,” Logan responded, holding the front door open for her. “Then it wouldn’t be an interesting tour, now would it? Trust me.”
“As a rule and from experience, I tend to get scared when you ask me to trust you...”
“Ha, ha.”
* * * * *
To Veronica’s disappointment, Logan grand tour of this new Neptune only lasted about an hour. Logan had spent most of the time quipping and pointing out places where Dick got drunk at, and if anything, Veronica was grateful that he was doing all the talking. It left very little time for her to embarrass herself or anyone else.
At the moment they sat in Logan’s truck, still a black Range Rover but a brand spanking new model, a couple of feet away from the fountains in Neptune’s city park. Logan promised that the jets of water would change colors but as of ten minutes in, nothing much had happened other than a bunch of skateboarders passing through.
Sitting alone with Logan wasn’t as awkward as Veronica expected. In fact, it was quite calming being with him. She liked being able to sit in silence with him- it was easier that way. Silence couldn’t lead to arguments or potential embarrassment.
“So,” she started, patting her knees absently. “Do you bring all your dates here?”
A small smile came upon his face and she was relieved.
“Only the cute ones,” he replied, his eyes on the sprays of water shooting up into the sky. “Keep watching, it’ll happen.”
Veronica couldn’t keep the grin from her face any longer. He sat anxiously, his body rigid and his eyes intently watching the water. He looked just like a little kid. “This is really exciting to you, isn’t it?”
“It’s beautiful.”
Her smile faded, a bit thrown off by the sincerity in his tone. She licked her lips, glancing down at her lap. “Did you date anyone?”
“When? Now?”
Her laugh came out a bit too forced and she flushed when his gaze pulled away from the fountains at the sound of it, focusing on her. “No...we haven’t talked for seven years...” she trailed off, shrugging. “At least humor me with some small talk.”
He nodded, his eyes moving back to the water. “I dated a lot. Short, tall, big, small, yellow, green, purple, and-”
“Anyone serious?”
Logan shrugged. “There was this one girl...” he sighed heavily, chuckling. “It’s ancient history, you know. Not worth mentioning.”
“Ever married?” The way his jaw clenched wasn’t lost on her, and she felt her chest tightening at the look in his eyes. There was a fresh wound in that impending answer and she was dying to know what it was, even if she were afraid of the answer.
She started to panic at his long silence and she just knew if he had married and Dick had this perfect, steady partner all the while she couldn’t even have a relationship, she was going to lose it. “You were married?” her voice rose to that pitch she hated and she abruptly closed her mouth.
“No.”
Veronica smiled before she could stop herself, elated and relieved but quickly hiding it before Logan could catch her. “Have any kids?”
He slowly smiled, glancing down at his lap. “Wondering if I fucked up some poor soul?”
Her grin faded. “I guess I’m not wondering anymore...”
Logan held up his hand, stopping her before she could continue. “No, no, it’s a hypothetical, since you decided to go there. Let’s say I did have a kid- would it bother you?”
She was silent for a long moment, considering his question and the likelihood of it. Staring at him, she came to the conclusion that this just wasn’t likely at all, he would’ve mentioned it and he didn’t appear to be uncomfortable with the discussion currently at hand. He was just teasing her. Again. “If you’re honest, then no,” a slow smile came on her face at the sight of his genuine one, and this didn’t feel weird or awkward at all. He laughed quietly and she sighed happily as she leaned toward him. “Are you a daddy, Logan?” she teased.
He opened his mouth as if to answer her then abruptly shook his head. “I’ll plead the fifth for now.”
A smirk played on her lips, her eyes still on his amused expression. It was a glorious sight, not the same bland indifference that she had hated seeing in his eyes before. For a moment, it was like nothing had changed between them, it was like they could still be friends. Like they were friends. “Come on, do you have a kid?”
“I said I’m pleading the fifth. Respect my rights, Agent Mars.”
Veronica huffed, turning and giving him her sweetest smile. “Did you knock someone up, Logan?”
Logan turned, meeting her gaze and she had to laugh at the fact that he was trying to hide his smile and failing miserably. “No. I didn’t knock anyone up, Veronica.”
They sat in silence for a long moment, staring at each other and Veronica could remember the last time they had done that. Eight years ago, in his old truck, he was dropping her off after their final official date together. He had said he loved her and she had kissed him and then Madison ran into her at that boutique.
She smiled sadly and Logan blinked, turning away from her. “What?”
“This is awkward,” he said with a slight laugh.
Her smile faded. “Why is this awkward?”
He shrugged abruptly and she was thrown off by the sudden iciness radiating from him. “Just is.”
Veronica sat in silence for a long moment, biting on her lower lip. She wasn’t about to let all of this ruin her night, she wasn’t about to let Logan get cold on her. This definitely wasn’t allowed. “You know what’s awkward? Waking up hung over in your ex-boyfriend’s house without a toothbrush. That’s awkward.” He didn’t budge and she shifted a bit closer to him, tilting her head and trying to get a glance at his face. “Isn’t that awkward?”
A smile played on his lips, then. “Yes.”
Her eyes widened as her mouth dropped and when he chuckled, she knew flirty self-deprecation was the way to go around Logan Echolls. “You’re petty.”
Logan’s eyebrows rose in faint surprise. “Thanks, pot.”
“You’re welcome, kettle,” Veronica lowered her gaze, her smile disappearing as she remembered the morning after. “Thanks for covering for me...at the beach,” she whispered. “That had the potential to be horrifically awkward, as opposed to really awkward.”
“You’re welcome,” he whispered back, still staring at the fountain. “You looked cute in your bikini, by the way. Stupidly drunk, but cute.”
Veronica grinned at his compliment, which wasn’t lost in his underhanded insult, gazing at his profile as he continued to watch that damn fountain. “Thanks.”
“Yep.”
“Not that I don’t love talking about me and my drunk ass, but what do you really do at your job? I wouldn’t think being a writer would have you doing a nine to five...”
He shrugged. “Go to meetings, do some schmoozing with outside companies, get involved in the layout of the issues- writer-wise, we’re actually a pretty small company. The big money’s with the photographers and the photo shoots and all that important product placement stuff.”
“But what do you do?”
“I write, I give suggestions at meetings, sometimes I go on location if there’s a special issue or whatever. You never do just one job at Talk...it never gets boring, I’ll tell you that,” he grinned. “One time, we got those new scooters to try out- you know, the ones with the voice activation box- and a bunch of us just went around all twelve floors, up and down, in the elevators...it was fun. And then there’s fashion week, when we have all these models parading around- Linda Evangelista was there last year, it was pretty fucking trippy-”
Veronica felt herself grow depressed as she listened to him talk about his job. He was so blasé about it all and yet, to her, it sounded like such an ideal job at the moment. He got paid to do something he didn’t mind doing and it sounded like a lot of fun was to be had at that magazine.
Logan was happy, loved his job and had no interest in her. The reality of it all was depressing and yet she was happy for him. He was okay, he was alive, he was happy and he wasn’t scarily dependent on her. The attraction was something she could work on later.
Logan grabbed her knee abruptly, nodding at the fountain. “Look,” a wide grin came on his face as the water sprayed upwards, changing color as the blue and purple lights hit it. “Look at it, there’s a reason couples come here-”
She barely glanced at the fountain, her eyes on his face. His hand was still on her knee and there was no way she was misinterpreting this. “It’s beautiful.”
“I told you. You should see it around Christmas and Valentine’s day. It’s just fantastic.”
“As fantastic as that job of yours?”
He smiled. “Close, but the fountains don’t have open bar Fridays after four,” a chuckle escaped him. “And that’s what I do at my job. I’ll take you inside one day, if you want to come.”
Veronica leaned closer to him, her eyes on his mouth as he licked his lips. “I would love to come.”
He grinned, glancing at her. “I bet you would, you’re probably bored out of your mind-” His eyes widened when Veronica’s lips got closer to his and he shifted closer to the door, running his hand through his hair. He chuckled, leaning back. “What are you doing?”
Veronica blinked rapidly in confusion and a certain amount of mortification. “You touched my knee. At the bar,” she said, hating how weak she sounded, then. “And just now.”
His smile was gentle, if a bit sympathetic. To Veronica’s horror, he also looked just as humiliated as she was. “Wow. I was just trying to make you relax. You were a hot mess. The nonstop...you just looked uncomfortable all night.”
She cringed as she covered her face, shaking her head miserably. “Oh God, look at me. I’m so pathetic.”
“You’re not,” he protested weakly. “Just a little bit drunk. Again.”
“And pathetic.”
He paused, a frown on his lips. “Yes,” he finally admitted. “A little bit.”
“I’m sorry.”
Logan was quiet for a long moment, gazing at the steering wheel as he chewed on his lower lip. Finally, he grinned weakly, glancing at Veronica. “Don’t worry about it,” he said lightly. “I should be thanking God. A beautiful woman tries to take advantage of me...it doesn’t happen often enough. At least not with the element of surprise.”
She shook her head, her shoulders slouching as her hands fell to her lap. “Logan, just stop.”
Logan nodded at the awkward silence that lay thick between them, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel. “Wanna see my place?” he asked suddenly. “I mean, really see my place. Without the hangover.”
Veronica glanced at him, frowning. “What?”
“It’s not an invitation for sex,” he said swiftly. “It’s a tour, right? How can we have a big tour of Neptune if you don’t see my place?”
She nodded slowly, unwilling then to decipher his motives. There wasn’t any ulterior motive, he wasn’t bringing her to his place to give her that special of his, but she could hear the strain in his voice. He was an unwilling party here. “Okay...”
Logan grinned tightly, starting the car. “Good.” The radio was turned on before either could say a word as he drove toward his condo.
* * * * *
Veronica’s fingertips ran over the black marble counter in Logan’s kitchen, her eyes on the black cabinets. “This place is nicer than my apartment was.”
“Well, that’s stating the obvious- my place is nicer than most mansions in Neptune,” Logan muttered, throwing his jacket on the couch.
“I mean, my place was nice but this is a whole other level...why didn’t I notice this when I was here before?” she smacked her forehead, grinning sheepishly. “Oh, that’s right, I was trying to get out of here as quick as possible.”
He grinned, hopping on the counter next to her. “I’m glad to see you’ve gotten your sense of humor back. I was one step away from handing you a knife,” she glanced at him quizzically and he shrugged. “You know,” he gestured at his left wrist. “Up the road, not across the street?”
Veronica faked a laugh, leaning against the counter. “When did you move in here?”
Logan frowned slightly, thinking. “Five...six years ago?” his brow furrowed as he counted silently. “Five years, two months. Three months? No, five years, two months,” he grinned triumphantly. “Five years and two months ago.”
She raised her eyebrows, finding his attention to detail more than amusing. “But what about the minutes and seconds?”
“Ha,” he nodded to the large living room. “That’s my big ass couch and my big ass widescreen and my big ass paintings. I have more pieces in the hallway, my bedroom, the bathroom...”
“You still like art, huh,” Veronica pushed off the counter, walking over to the living room and straight for the large painting above the white loveseat. Logan jumped off the counter, following her as she gazed at the biggest piece in his collection.
Bright yellows and whites and reds and purples, it was a wild, psychedelic burst of splashes and swirls and she could vaguely make out the idea of a beautiful young woman’s face in the painting and around it, clouds and the ocean. The girl’s face was a mess of colors but her eyes were a stark violet, untouched by the other colors, it was like she were staring out at the observer. Ringlets and waves surrounded the face in the picture and that must’ve been her hair, and it took Veronica a second to realize that this painting was a portrait. It was surreal, cluttered and just downright beautiful, Veronica was amazed by what she could see in that carefully constructed mess of colors and shapes. Then she glanced down at the artist.
A gasp escaped her and she spun around, facing Logan. “This is a Randy Modi painting.”
“Yes.”
“Is this an original?”
“Oh, yes.”
Veronica laughed, slightly amazed. “Does he even sell paintings anymore? How did you manage to get one? It must’ve cost you a fortune!”
Logan chuckled, giving Veronica a shrug. “Didn’t pay a dime,” he shrugged again. “It was a gift. His daughter gave it to me.”
She blinked rapidly, unsure if she had heard him right. “His daughter gave it to you. She just gave it to you?” she eyed him warily. “Did you sleep with her?”
“Something like that.”
With a roll of her eyes, Veronica turned back to the painting, running her hand along the edge of the heavy frame. “This is the only guy I would pay for a painting of...I had some mock-ups in my old apartment. I can’t believe you got this for free.”
“One of my co-workers keeps trying to buy it from me- it’s not for sale. It’s one of my most prized possessions, it was part of his soul series- it was the last one he did...” he glanced at the painting, staring at it for a long moment before looking at Veronica, who continued to gaze at the picture enviously. “You can’t have it.”
Veronica turned to face him, a laugh escaping her. “I honestly...I can’t believe you know and appreciate Randy Modi’s work.”
Logan’s smile faded slowly. “Why wouldn’t I know his work?”
She shrugged. “His stuff is just so complex and deep and-“
“And I’m strictly relegated to the shallow end of the pool,” he interjected, giving Veronica a curt nod. “Got it.”
Veronica frowned, thrown off by his abrupt shift in mood. Instantly, he looked annoyed if not downright pissed off, his jaw clenching as he stared at the couch at her side. “What? I didn’t say-”
“You didn’t say but you implied,” Logan said, crossing his arms over his chest. “You didn’t even notice you insulted me, did you? It’s like a second language, huh.”
“What- what’s with the attitude?” she laughed, shaking her head. This definitely wasn’t how the evening was supposed to go. They weren’t supposed to have a fight, they weren’t supposed to hate each other. It was only about a month since she had come home- it was way too early to be fighting with anyone, especially Logan. “Look, I don’t know what your problem is, but you’ve been treating me like crap since I got back-”
He rolled his eyes, glancing at the ceiling and letting out an aggravated sigh. “Veronica, Veronica, Veronica- not everything is about you.”
“But it is about me!” she said, ignoring the shrillness of her voice. She could feel all the pent-up negativity spilling over and there was no more making nice for anyone’s sake, Logan looked like he was well past his safe zone, her apparent insult had pushed him over and now she was forced to defend herself. Just like old times, nothing had changed. “You, dad, and everyone...everyone is angry with me and no one is telling me why! You’re pissed off and we weren’t on bad terms when I left so I don’t understand-”
“This isn’t about us, Veronica!” Logan exclaimed. “This is about you coming back to Neptune all smug and shit. Do you know how much everyone’s gone through? Do you know what I’ve gone through? Do you even care?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You LEFT,” he said harshly. “You left and you didn’t say goodbye.”
Veronica’s brow furrowed in confusion and she shook her head. “Why would you care if I said goodbye? Would you have picked up the phone? We were broken up!”
“This isn’t about our relationship, Veronica, that was done,” Logan snapped. “I’m talking about you leaving Neptune and then coming back like nothing. SEVEN years, and you come back like nothing had happened, all arrogant and you wonder why everyone hates you.”
She stood there, stunned and unsure of what to say. She was sure Logan was right, he was completely right and he was saying exactly what everyone was thinking. She could feel her face grow hot as he glared at her and she realized he had been holding that in for weeks. Hell, she was certain he wasn’t done ripping into her. “Logan, listen, I didn’t owe anyone an explanation-”
“No one wanted an explanation, Veronica,” Logan muttered, bitterness coating his words. “Everyone wanted a goodbye. Do you know how many people you hurt? You can’t just come back and expect everything to be swell,” he laughed abruptly. “And you don’t even apologize!”
“I didn’t OWE anyone-”
“You didn’t owe anyone anything but you burned so many fucking bridges-”
Veronica ran her hands through her hair, pulling at the ends as she struggled to curb her anger. She didn’t want to go through any of this, especially not with him. She didn’t need to be lectured by Logan of all people. “Logan,” she said through gritted teeth. “I know what I did was wrong and I should’ve called but I didn’t owe anyone-”
“Oh, come on, Veronica!” he exclaimed. “You- you go away and no phone calls- no anything- and we’ve known each other since we were twelve. You left cookies in my bookbag on my thirteenth birthday, I was your biology partner in junior high-” he cut himself off, letting out a sharp breath.
She blinked rapidly, less than willing to go through one of those fights with Logan again. Those fights that never went anywhere and just left them both angrier than before. She had been wrong about Logan, nothing had changed with him, he just managed to hide it better. “Logan-” she interjected.
“You helped my mom bake Christmas cookies, I was the one who picked out your Halloween costume that one year- I gave up my best friend for you!”
“LOGAN.”
“We dated for two years,” he said through gritted teeth, jabbing a finger at her. “We shared food and you wore my damn clothes- we loved each other and we have a textbook of history and you owed me a fucking goodbye, Veronica.”
And it was suddenly so clear. Logan wasn’t talking about everyone else being upset about her disappearance, he was talking about his own feelings. She had hurt him by not saying goodbye, and she was ashamed to admit she hadn’t given his feelings much thought when she had fled Neptune. She simply didn’t think he cared whether she left or not, especially since she had left with Piz.
Veronica licked her lips, glancing at Logan and realizing that he wasn’t glaring at her anymore, that he looked just as mortified as she did and he definitely hadn’t meant to let any of that out. “Logan, I-” she stammered.
“And stop treating me like I’m still a fuck up, dammit,” he interrupted, his voice shaking slightly. “You haven’t been around me for years.”
“I know you’ve changed,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “You changed and everyone keeps talking about how great you are- I KNOW, okay? You changed and you’re perfect and I’m miserable, is that what you want to hear?”
“No, that’s not what I want to hear!” Logan snapped. “You think I wanted you to just show up, Veronica? I knew this was going to happen when I saw you at the restaurant. I knew this wasn’t going to end well, I just knew it.”
“Then why did you even talk to me?” she exclaimed. “You could’ve ignored me and it would’ve been over! Why didn’t you just ignore me?”
“I couldn’t!”
“Why not?” she demanded. “Why not? We could’ve just ignored each other and this wouldn’t be happening-”
“I couldn’t just...” Logan trailed off, a sigh escaping him. “I can’t just pretend we don’t know each other, Veronica. I don’t know...I really was happy to see you, you know.”
Veronica’s shoulders slouched slightly and she wanted nothing more than to run out of there. She knew she had this kind of conversation to look forward to from everyone, including her father. Logan was right, she had burned so many bridges and everyone was angry. She had known it all along. “I...I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
He shook his head slowly. “Don’t worry about it.”
“No, I really didn’t think it would bother you so much...I didn’t think you cared.”
Logan laughed slightly, glancing at her in confusion and their argument momentarily forgotten. “Why did you think I wouldn’t care?”
She just gave him a shake of her head, breathing in the awkwardness that had been lifted for that short time. The night was officially ruined and she just wanted to leave before they could get into another argument. “Listen, why don't you just take me home?”
His gaze softened. “Veronica, I didn't mean to get-”
“It’s okay. I’m get it, I screwed up,” she forced a smile on her face, heading for the front door. She hoped he couldn’t see the effort it took her to hold herself together. All she wanted to do was get the hell out of there before Logan could rip into her any further. “Take me home, please.”
The drive back to the apartment was more awkward than Veronica could’ve imagined. Logan didn’t speak for the entire ride, didn’t even try to. He just stared straight ahead, looking miserable, and she must’ve felt like he looked at the moment.
She wondered how her father would react if she ran away again. He would probably be relieved.
Veronica inhaled sharply as Logan pulled into the Sunset Cliffs apartments, coaxing a smile on her face. Logan pulled up in front of Keith’s apartment, sighing heavily, and she nodded slowly. She had to make the first move, obviously. “Thanks for the tour, Logan. It was fun.”
“It was a lot of fun,” he admitted, giving her a faint smile. “Before the awkwardness. And the fighting.”
“We continued our streak of fun and drama in the same night,” she concluded with a bright grin.
“I apologize...for ruining your night.”
Veronica shook her head. “You didn’t ruin it, trust me. Tonight has been a continuation of the last couple of weeks- actually, tonight’s been better.”
“Still.” Logan nodded slowly, sighing once more as he glanced at her. “You have a good night.”
“You too,” she leaned over, freezing when she realized he was doing the same. He turned his head at just the right time, her lips clumsily pressed against his jaw, and he exhaled, his lips brushing against her cheek.
Logan pulled back abruptly, giving Veronica an anxious smile. “So are we good?”
“We are.”
Logan nodded. “Good. So...good night.”
“Night.” Veronica leaned over once more, rolling her eyes as he stared at her. She finally lifted her hand, and he high-fived her. “See you around.”
“Later.”
She climbed out of the car, shutting the door quietly so she didn’t wake the neighbors. She stood there for a long moment, waiting, as if Logan would roll down the window or jump out of the car or something. Instead, he continued to sit in his car, his hands gripping the wheel and she finally nodded, walking to her father’s apartment. Behind her, Logan’s car took off toward the street and she appreciated his hasty exit.
* * * * *
Veronica squinted as she focused on the couple across the street, the brunette looking over her shoulder before turning back to her partner. Her hand brushed over her hair, and Veronica caught the platinum wedding band on her finger. The woman stood on her toes, leaving a quick peck on the gentleman's cheek, and Veronica's eyes narrowed. The man's hand ran down the woman's arm before leaning forward once more, and Veronica found herself reaching for her bag that rested at her hip. With a slight flinch, she moved her hand back on her lap, remembering that she hadn't carried a camera for spying in years.
The couple separated, the man unlocking his car and the woman disappearing into the post office, and Veronica frowned, wondering if they were married, and if they weren't, if this woman's husband knew about his cheating wife. And, in an instant, her thoughts traveled to exactly how much this woman's husband would offer a private detective to catch his spouse in the act. Maybe she could convince her father to let her help, he had to if she brought the client in herself.
“What are you doing?”
Veronica jumped, glancing over her shoulder and gasping at the sight of Logan’s face, just inches from hers as he stared in the direction of her stare. “Hi!”
“Morning,” he walked around the bench, taking a seat next to her as he smoothed down his black and blue-striped tie. “People watching?”
She shrugged, trying her best to seem nonchalant. It was best not to remember their last meeting two nights ago. A nerve-racking “family” dinner, a disastrous attempt at seduction, a rocky fight, and an awkward end wasn’t what she considered a wonderful night to remember. “I like to play ID the Psychopath in the morning...”
“Ah. Fun.” Logan leaned back in his seat, holding up his cup of Starbucks coffee. “Want some?”
Veronica eyed the cup, feeling the “yes” at the tip of her tongue and yet she looked away, focusing on the patrons leaving the post office. “No. Thank you.”
“It’s white chocolate mocha. I don’t know why I still drink this...the coffee and the flavor, I mean. I think my ex’s bad habits rubbed off,” he paused, licking his lips as he glanced at the bus stop across the street. “Take some. I’m not going to drink it all.”
“No.”
He shrugged. “Okay...”
She frowned slightly, watching out of the corner of her eye as he sipped his coffee and feeling faintly envious as she imagined the sweet taste of the hot coffee on her tongue. “I had some orange juice this morning,” she explained stiffly.
“Okay.”
Her mouth twitched, and she wordlessly held out her hand. He placed the cup in her hand without hesitation, his eyes still on the bus stop. She took a long sip, closing her eyes as the burst of flavor spread over her tongue. After drinking stale office coffee for years, it was nice to get something new.
Veronica set the cup down on her lap, wiping at the corners of her mouth. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t say you could keep it.” Veronica flushed as she started to hand the cup back and Logan smirked, glancing down at his lap. “I’m joking, Veronica.”
She nodded, smiling weakly. “Funny.”
He was silent for a moment, remembering his discussion with Keith the day before their last dinner. Be nice to Veronica. Everything had changed and she needed time to adjust, if she actually wanted to adjust. Be nice to Veronica. With a certain sense of defeat, Logan decided then to let it all go. After the last seven years, he couldn’t muster up another grudge for anyone, especially not Veronica. She had expressed some sort of regret two nights ago and he decided to believe her.
“I was just teasing,” he said quietly.
“I know.”
Logan glanced at Veronica, frowning at the sight of her staring down at her lap. “No one’s laughing behind your back, you know,” he said carefully. “It’s okay.”
Veronica laughed, giving him a look. “Please. Knowing the people in this town-”
“But you don’t,” he interrupted swiftly. “Trust me, you’re not on the top of the gossip list anymore and I mean that in the nicest way.”
A faint smile played on her lips as she eyed him. “You? Being nice?”
He cringed playfully. “It’s not really working for me, is it?” he looked at her, inspecting her face carefully before looking across the street once more, squinting back the glare of the sun. “Listen, do you need a job?”
Veronica frowned, glancing at Logan and waiting for him to start laughing. He didn’t, continuing to watch people walk about. “What?”
He shrugged. “Talk needs a photographer, a local one so they don’t have to pay the same salary they were giving our resident. It’s not a bad job...I can set you up with an interview if you want.”
She suddenly felt slighted, something about his offer didn’t seem genuine to her. How could he go from talking about trivial manners to offering her a job? Her father must’ve put him up to it. “Don’t give me a job because you have to,” she snapped. “I don’t know who told you to-”
He shot her a look. “Veronica, it’s not charity. Just say yes, we really need someone.”
“No.”
“What the hell else are you doing with yourself? At least think about it.”
She sighed, knowing he was absolutely right. “Fine.”
“Fine.” Logan’s phone began to chirp, and he straightened up, pulling his cell phone out of his pants pocket. He glanced down at the screen, staring at the I.D. for a long moment before glancing at Veronica with a tight smile. “Excuse me.”
Veronica shooed him away, and he stood, walking a couple of feet away as he answered. She watched him as he talked, his head dropping as he spoke quietly. His fingers rubbed on the back of his neck as he fidgeted, his hand dropping as he shook his head. She leaned forward discreetly, trying to see his face as he talked, trying to see if he was having a fight with someone. He turned toward the street and she quickly sat back, focusing on the cup of coffee in her hand. Her eyes lifted, catching the small smile on his face and then he laughed, shaking his head.
It wasn’t any of her business, yet she was still dying to know with whom he was talking. She could feel the curiosity eating at her, she wanted to know who he was talking to that made him smile like that. It couldn’t have been Carmen; he wouldn’t have walked away for Carmen.
Logan closed his phone, walking back over to Veronica. “Sorry about that.”
She gave him what she hoped was a relaxed smile, relaxed enough to show how cool and collected she was. “Who was that?”
He shrugged, shoving his phone into his pocket. “Just a friend.”
“Friend with a big F, or friend with a little F?”
He chuckled. “It depends on what the big and the little signify.”
Veronica placed the cup between her knees, lifting her hands in defeat. “Enough said.”
Logan leaned over, plucking the cup from Veronica’s hold. “I have to get to work. Can you tell Keith I’ll drop off my boss’ stuff tonight?”
She perked up at the information, fixing a bright smile on her face. “Tawdry stuff?”
“Employee stuff,” he corrected, taking a long sip of his coffee. “He’s doing background checks on some interns for the magazine. He does thousands of dollars of work for cheap. The boss loves him.”
Veronica nodded in agreement. “Everyone does.”
He grinned. “And in return, my boss loves me.”
She laughed dryly. “Looks like everyone loves you.”
“It's a gift.” Logan winked at Veronica, handing her the coffee cup before giving her a short wave. “Later.”
Veronica started to wave as he walked away then stopped, her smile fading. “You’ll be over tonight?” she called.
Logan turned, giving her a nod. “Yeah.”
“What time?”
He frowned. “Does it matter?”
Her mouth opened, unsure of how to respond without seeming psychotic or desperate. Despite the fact that he seemed to have warmed up considerably to her since the night of their fight, she still wasn’t comfortable with having both Logan, her father, and Harmony in such close proximity. She didn’t feel like making an embarrassment of herself into a daily event. “Not really...I just wouldn't want you to come by and no one’s home.”
Logan gazed at her for a long moment, his lips pressing together in a faint irritation. With a sigh, he raised his eyebrows. “I’ll be over around seven.”
Veronica nodded, giving him a grin. “I’ll be sure to order Italian.”
“You should, your cooking was never that great.”
Her eyes began to narrow, until she saw the smirk playing on his lips. “Funny!” she exclaimed.
He grinned, walking away from her. “See you tonight!” he called.
Veronica watched him go, a smile on her lips before she could stop it. She had the entire day to fix herself up in a pretty-but-effortless sort of way, feeling then that she had to prove to Logan that she wasn’t as sad as she had appeared for the last couple of weeks. She had to prove she could move on and forward.
And despite the nagging curiosity nipping at the back of her conscience, she wasn’t about to poke into Logan's private life with the predictable investigating he was probably expecting- it wasn’t where she belonged. She was going to show Logan that she had changed, that she was a different person.
Of course, that wasn’t about to stop her from drilling her father for some information.