The Return 26: Drunks (Ensemble) NC-17
Title: The Return 26-Drunks
Rating: NC-17 (there’s some sexin, and some drunks - okay, lots of drunks - and little bit of swearing, but it’s mostly the sexin)
Word Count: 5,804
Characters/Pairings: Logan, Veronica, Mac, Dick, Piz, Wallace, Lilly the first (mentions of: Duncan, Lilly the second, Weevil, OFC and Cassidy/Beaver) Logan/Veronica and Mac/Dick
Spoilers: All episodes (from 1.01: Pilot to 3.20: The Bitch Is Back. Just to be sure) Although this is obviously AU and there are obviously going to be some alterations to events and especially some in the last couple of episodes.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Literally, nothing. So don’t sue me over this, because you won’t get anything. It all belongs to Rob Thomas and if I had owned it when it was still on the last season would have been way different.
A/N: Okay, there’s some (okay, a lot) of [graphic] sex in this part. Just so you’re warned, it’s not worse than anything else I've written though. I don't think
Chapter 1: Awake/ Chapter 2: Homecoming/ Chapter 3: Forgive/ Chapter 4: Arrival/ Chapter 5: Reconnect/ Chapter 6: Belong/ Chapter 7: Bets/ Chapter 8: Fight/ Chapter 9: Battle/ Chapter 10: Retreat/ Chapter 11: Push/ Chapter 12: Sound/ Chapter 13: Potential/ Chapter 14: More/ Chapter 15: Storytime/ Chapter 16: Understanding/ Chapter 17: Piggyback/ Chapter 18: Sinners/ Chapter 19: Drama/ Chapter 20: Dinner/ Chapter 21: Armor/ Chapter 22:Mingle/ 23:Bubbly/ 24:Awkward/ 25:Closing
The Return
26
Drunks
~Logan~
“Could you guys, you know, hold it? At least until we’re home and I’m far away?” Mac’s panicked question drifted through Logan’s haze. Veronica squirmed next to him, giggling as she let her right hand drift over his abdomen. Her left hand had drifted up his back and was now pushing against the back of his head, forcing him to turn his face back to her, forcing his mouth back down to hers. Okay, forcing is a bit too strong of word. Guiding maybe.
“Yeah, sure.” He mumbled as he let Veronica take control, pressing his lips against hers, sweeping his tongue into her mouth as he tried, yet again, to lower her down to the seat. Another giggle escaped her and he felt her head move back and forth slightly, protesting without ever breaking off the kiss.
Logan pulled back a little, looking down at her, his eyes focused once again to the spot at the base of her neck. It was reddened by all the attention he’d shown it tonight, but not red enough. Not a hickey. Yet. He lowered his head again. She leaned forward to meet him halfway, but he dodged her lips and went straight for her neck. He kissed his way down, nipping at her skin as he went. He pressed into her again, and this time she caved, let him lay her down on the backseat as she let out a long low moan.
Suddenly the car lurched and Logan’s arms flung out in order to steady himself and Veronica, keep them from rolling off the seat completely onto the floor. If he ended up on the floor he’d stay there, stuck, until they got home.
Veronica shoved at his chest, pushing him up and off her. They both popped up into sitting positions, Veronica’s head whipping around almost comically as she tried to figure out why Mac had slammed on the breaks. There was no one in the road, no car in front of them, no stop sign or light. “What the-” Veronica started, but was interrupted by Mac’s near hysterical voice.
“Okay, new rule.” Mac turned in her seat, filling up the space between the front seats. “If I can’t see you in the review mirror I’m gonna slam on the brake. And this is your one warning, next time I have to do it, one of you is moving to the front seat.” With that, she put the car back into drive and hit the gas, making the vehicle lurch again before squealing on the pavement.
“Careful on the Rover, Mac-attack.” Logan called to her, his eyes bugging out at the abuse she was putting it through. “Jeez.”
“Get over it, I’ll feel better when we get home.” Mac muttered, glancing in the review mirror, her eyes meeting Logan’s. He let the look linger for a moment as he smirked, raised his eyebrows and then turned back to Veronica. He reattached his mouth to her neck, he arms snaking around her, hands pressing into her back, holding her up.
~*~
The car screeched to a stop in the driveway. Logan had to practically peel Veronica’s hands off his upper arms in order to get out of the car. Mac stayed sitting in the driver’s seat, still as a statue, looking straight forward.
“Mac, you gonna get out of the car?” He asked as he popped the back door open and slid out. He held out his arms for Veronica. She jumped into them without hesitation, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. She smiled at him, biting her bottom lip as she dropped her forehead down, pressing it against his. She looked so happy.
“No, I think I’m going to wait out here for Dick and the others to get home.” Her voice was still tense. “You go in.” She finally moved, jerking her chin at the front door before returning to her statue-like position.
“Night, Mac.” Veronica called sweetly as Logan carried her towards the front door. Her voice lowered, “I think we freaked her out, or embarrassed her or something.”
“She’ll get over it, baby.” Logan set her down on her feet as they got to the front door. Logan reached out and turned the doorknob before looking down at her. She stared up at him, and he could see it. How she felt. It was right there in her eyes, the mask was gone and she was happy and they were together. Without thinking, without hesitation, he leaned down to kiss her. And what started as an innocent kiss, one that was only supposed to last a moment, was something more. Now it deepened and intensified, Veronica was leaning into him, her arms wrapping around him. He pushed the door open and stumbled through it, pulling her along with him.
Logan slammed Veronica against the inside of the door, shutting it in the process. The kiss went into overdrive, becoming more urgent. He pressed his hands against the door, using the leverage to kick off his shoes without breaking the kiss. As soon as his shoes were off Veronica settled her hands on his shoulders, using them to help her jump into him. Her legs wrapped around his waist and her hands slid from his shoulders and into his hair. She pulled his head forward, towards her mouth. They kissed again, and again the kiss turned urgent as he stumbled to the stairs. One hand gripped the banister and the other wrapped around Veronica’s waist, holding her up as she released him, trying desperately to pull her own coat off before she began pushing at his. They struggled a bit before they finally got the zipper down and the coat off. He hadn’t made it up two more steps before she reached between them to pop open the button to his pants. She tried to push the jeans down, tightening her legs to keep from falling. Logan stumbled up a couple more steps before he felt his jeans slide over his knees and settle around his ankles, one more step and he was out of them and Veronica was already inching her top up.
“Wa… Wait.” Logan gasped, setting her down on the stair in front of him. She towered over him now, a rather unique position for her, as she pulled her pink top off quickly. She grinned as she let it slide from her fingers and land on the step next to her, already busy, already focused on his t-shirt.
“Didn’t you give me permission to take advantage of your drunk self?” She questioned, her hands tugging at the green material, but it would come off without him raising his arms.
"That you're fully allowed to take advantage of my drunken self." He’d told her that only moments after he’d put on the shirt she was so desperately trying to get off him now.
“Yes, I did.” Logan gasped out as he raised his hands, letting her pull the shirt off. She dropped it, letting if fall wherever as she backed up the stairs, moving further away from him as he reached out for her. He followed after, his arms out stretched. She unbuttoned the top button on her jeans as she made it to the top of the staircase, he stumbled up another step. She pulled the zipper down as she backed up to their bedroom door, he basically crawled up the final three steps.
Veronica reached back and turned the knob, pushing the door open and her pants down in one smooth and swift motion. Logan hurried after her, pushing down his boxers and slammed the door shut. His arms wrapped around her, hands traveling up her back to her bra clasp, undoing and pulling off the garment. He pressed her into the door, his mouth falling to her chin, her neck, should, clavicle, breast. He worked his way across her body, kissing his way back up to her mouth. His hands held her head in place as he ravaged her mouth, cupped her shoulders as he licked and nipped and kissed her neck, kneading her breasts as he kissed her shoulders, skimming down her stomach, pulling at her hips as he kissed her breasts. His fingers tangled in her underwear as he lost himself in their kiss again. He began to lower her underwear, lowering himself down in front of her.
He was on his knees before her now, pulled the white, lacy thong off. He looked up at her, caught her gaze for a moment as she lifted each foot off the ground so he could slide them off. He began to rise.
“Condom.” His brow furrowed for a moment, remembering the protection he had in the back pocket of his jeans. She held up a square packet, gold foil, grinning. “Picked your pocket.” Then she put the square to her mouth and tore it open, extracting the prize.
The condom packet fluttered down to floor beside him, he stood in front of her, grinning as she reached down and put the condom on him. His hands gripped her hips, lifting her up against the door again, pressing her between it and him. He buried his face in the crook of her neck as she guided him in.
“Oh God,” she gasped out as soon as he was fully inside her. He pulled out slowly before slamming back into her. Her back arched off the door, pressing more of her skin into his. He pulled his face away from her neck and began kissing anything with in reach. His fingers dug into her hips, pushing and pulling them as he thrust in and out of her. The door rattled in it’s frame behind her with every push and pull, every in and out. Her arms hooked under his, wrapping around his back, pulling his chest tighter against hers. Their skin was heated and flushed, sticky with sweat. She bit her lip and gasped, moaned and called out, nothing making sense. Don’t stop… right… oh, god… need… want… yes… “I love you.”
“Shit, oh god, Veronica…” Logan called out as he came, unable to control his response to her declaration. He sagged against her, his hands moving from her hips to wrap around her waist, holding her to him but letting the door take their weight. His forehead pressed against her shoulder, he breath coming out in harsh and raspy. “Oh god, baby…”
“Logan…” Her voice was velvety and deep, consoling as she let her hands drift over his back.
He lifted her again, his arms tightening as he pushed them away from the door. He carried her to the bed, lowering her to it gently, letting their bodies part. Veronica crawled backwards up the bed, using her elbows and heels to push her back. Her head bumped against the headboard, stopping her.
“I’ll make it up to you.” Logan told her in his own gravely voice, before he crawled onto the bed after her. He pressed kisses into her mouth, not allowing her to deepen them. He kissed his way back down her body, settling himself between her legs, pushing them further apart. His hands slid over her knees reverently, his thumb trailing over them, the ran smoothly over her inner thighs, lowering to cup her ass and pull her closer to his mouth.
“Oh my god,” She yelled out, arching up off the bed, her hands pressing against the mattress. She relaxed a little, her back still arched a little, but now her hands were in his hair, twisting the strands until her fingers were tight against his scalp. His tongue worked against her, causing her hips to rock, almost moving of their own freewill. She hummed low in her throat, calling out his name and to god. Calling out worlds of want and need and love, finally coming against his mouth. He lapped at her a few more times before back off. He crawled up her body, kissing her skin along the way, lingering at her belly button, on her breasts and neck, before he finally reached her mouth again.
Logan kissed her deeply, reaching out to the bedside table for another condom. Her hands roamed over his back, gripping at his shoulders and hips, gliding down his spin, fluttering over his sides. His own fingers closed over the box of condoms, he fumbled a bit to extract one. Veronica’s hands slowed, one pressing lightly at the base of his neck before the tipped, curled until the very edge of her nails were pressing into his skin. She slowly began running her nails along his spine, exerting enough pressure so he could feel how sharp they were but not enough to really hurt. He dropped the condom, pressing his hands into the mattress on either side of her head, arched his back and lifted his upper body off her completely. He let out a long, low groan as she got lower, stopping just below his ass.
“I love it when you do that.” He gasped out as he lowered his body back down to hers, licking his lips.
“I know.” She said it with a smirk as she started running her nails back up, causing him to shiver. His mouth crashed back down onto hers, his hand finding the condom again, working to open the package. When he’d finally torn into it, he reached between them to put it on, breaking off the kiss.
“I think I’m ready for round two.”
~Dick
“Seriously, if you guys don’t shut up back there I’m going to kick your ass.” Dick yelled, glancing in the review mirror at Piz and Wallace. They were chattering on and on and on about the phone numbers they’d gotten and how it was too bad that they’d never get to use them. They’d have to go out and get numbers when they got back home, back to some college party next weekend.
“But seriously, if we can get that many numbers… Hey Lilly, you okay?” Piz asked, leaning into the space between the seats. Lilly was sitting in the front seat, almost completely silent for the last few seconds. The four of them were cramped into Mac’s car, Dick was still confused how she had talked him into letting her drive Logan’s can back instead.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Totally fine.” Lilly assured them in a loud voice, a grin on her face as she listened to them go back to discussing college parties and girls and phone numbers. They moved on to discussing a girl that Wallace had been seeing or thinking about asking out or something. Lilly voice dropped lower, so only Dick could hear her. “It was an interesting night.”
“No kidding. Logan and Veronica were all over each other, they don’t usually do that in public.” Dick commented, making the turn onto the road that would lead them home. Lilly clutched at the bag of tacos, making sure they didn’t spill. Mac had threatened them against getting lettuce all over the place, making Lilly fearful. Dick smirked at Lilly being afraid of Mac, even just a little.
“Not like he was with me? That’s good.” Lilly glanced at him, catching his confused look. “Lately I’ve been wishing that I didn’t play so many games before I was… well, before. The whole making out in public, taking it too far, that was part of it. Me, trying to show how grown up I was, show how I didn’t care about the rules, about getting caught.”
“Well, you know Veronica…” Dick muttered, almost uncomfortable with this open and regretful Lilly.
“Yeah, Ronica was never one for public displays, whether it was affection or not.” She looked out her window then, off into the darkness. Dick glanced over and saw her sad reflection, he turned his attention back to the road in front of him. He heard her sigh once before continuing. “I know, I’m not very fun at the moment. It’s been off and on like this all night. One moment I’m totally happy and excited and having fun, the next I’m completely depressing. It’s weird, but I maybe this is what happens if you take a four year long break from the party and then jump back in.”
“Maybe, it’s been a really weird night all around.” Dick assured her, feeling compelled to make her feel better. He was her only tether to the past in this car, possibly the only one still awake at this point. Everyone else was so new and she was still so messed up. “I mean, I’m rarely ever sober for something like this, and it was the first time Mac and I were out as a couple. And Duncan was there, and then he left. Then there was the bet between Veronica’s sidekick and the puppy, and Logan gave the puppy tips on how to pick up girls. It was just, strange.”
“The puppy?”
“Piz, he followed Veronica around like a puppy all last year.” Dick explained, glancing in the mirror again to make sure that the boys in the back weren’t following the conversation.
“Oh.”
“Yeah. It was a strange night.” Dick finished lamely.
“Yeah, a strange night.” Lilly repeated, her voice even quieter for a moment. “But nice.”
“Yeah, it was nice.” Dick smiled at her, taking his eyes off the road for just a moment to look at her. She was smiling back.
“Yeah, nice.” Lilly let out a small laugh before turning in her seat to look at Wallace and Piz.
“Nice.” Dick whispered again, pulling into the driveway next to Logan’s Range Rover, he put the car in reverse and got out as quickly as he could, Wallace already pushing at the back of his seat in an effort to get out.
“Hurry up man, I’m hungry.” Wallace complained when Dick didn’t move fast enough for him. Lilly was already out, clutching the bag of tacos as Piz scurried out after her.
“Damn dude, I’m going as fast as I can.” Dick muttered angrily as he stepped back for Wallace to climb out of the car and lope after Piz and Lilly, who were already halfway to the front porch. Dick leaned back into the car to grab the keys out of the ignition as he heard them crash through the front door, forgetting to close it behind them. “Drunk asses.”
Dick stood up again, looking down at Mac’s key ring, fidgeting with it, as he shut the car door. He took a couple steps before looking up, but when he did he jumped back a step. Mac stood there, leaning against the hood of her car, staring at him.
“You scared me, I thought you’d be in the house.” Dick stated, regaining his composure. She straightened up, falling into step beside him.
“Sorry, but I thought I’d give them a head start.” Mac explained.
“Piz and Wallace? Afraid they’d trample you?” Dick asked, bemused the thought. “You guys been home long? You didn’t have to wait out here for me.”
“No, I was giving Logan and Veronica a head start, to get inside and to their room before I followed. I’ve never seen them like that, all over each other, barely contained.” She clarified, bumping her shoulder into his arm once or twice. He lifted it up for her, wrapping it around her shoulders as she leaned into him.
“Were they that bad?” Dick questioned, his brow furrowing. True, he hadn’t seen Veronica drunk in a really long time, but he couldn’t remember ever seeing her lose control either. Although, now that he thought about it, he wasn’t sure there’d ever been an instant in the past where she was drunk and he was not.
“I had to slam on the brakes at one point because I was convinced that they were going to go for home in the backseat.” He felt Mac shudder under his arm as the reached the front door.
“Poor baby, I promise next time I’ll take Logan and Veronica and you can deal with the chatterboxes in the back seat and Sullen Lilly in the front.” Dick assured her, giving her shoulder a squeeze before releasing her.
“Lilly? Sullen?” Mac’s eyes widened in shock.
“Yeah, she’s like the bipolar drunk girl. First she’s giggling with Frick and Frack and then she’s sighing and talking about how she regrets the way she was before. It was a little weird.” He stepped back, letting Mac go through the door first. They hadn’t even bothered to turn on the light on their way to the kitchen. Drunks.
“Oh my god!” Mac yelled as she stumbled forward tripping over something, then tripping over something else. Dick reached forward to grab her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her back into him. She was nearly doubled over, grabbing onto the banister for support and leaning back into him for balance. Her butt collided with his groin, causing him to smirk and a small snort of amusement to escape.
“Mac, did you fake trip so you could put the moves on me?”
“What?”
“Are you getting fresh with me?” Dick asked as he reached back to flip the light switch.
“No, there’s something…” Mac started indignantly, trailing off as light flooded the foyer. There were shoes scattered from the door to the stairs, two pair, Logan’s and Veronica’s. And if Dick had to guess it was their coats on the newel posts, pants and shirts strewn up the stairs. “Oh god.”
Dick followed Mac up the stairs, careful to avoid the clothes scattered on the way up, a loose condom that had apparently fallen out of Logan’s jeans. Veronica’s top lay near the top, his eyebrows raised at that thought. The thought of Veronica standing in the hall in only her jeans and bra. He smirked. “They must have been in a hurry.”
Logan’s bedroom door rattled a little, then a little more, until it was a constant rattle, with a thumping sound.
“Oh my god.” Mac whispered, reaching down to clutch his hand. There was a low and masculine moan suddenly. “Oh my god.” Mac repeated, her voice a little more shrill.
“Apparently they’re still in a hurry.” Dick said, pressing his lips together, struggling not to laugh at the situation and the look of absolute horror on his girlfriend’s face.
“They are not allowed to drink anymore.” Mac squeaked, her voice panicked and rushed as she turned and fled up the second flight of stairs, toward the room they were sharing.
~Lilly~
“Is it weird?” Lilly asked, dumping both bags of tacos out on the kitchen table. “For you I mean.”
“Who ya talkin to?” Wallace asked, reaching out and sliding a good portion of tacos towards himself.
“Piz. I was just wondering if it was weird for him to be here, with all of us. I mean, we’ve all known each other since we were little, with the exception of Wallace of course.” She paused to smile at Wallace before continuing. “And even then, he’s been part of the group for a few years now.”
“It’s a little weird, not knowing all the history and stuff I guess.” Piz replied, focusing on his own taco for a moment. “You have no idea how confusing all the little pieces of information are.”
“Like what?” Lilly asked, taking a taco for herself. She glanced at piles in front of boys before taking two more.
“Like the guy who had the pet beaver?” Piz asked, looking expectantly between Wallace and Lilly as he unwrapped a second taco.
Lilly snorted a laugh, struggling to control herself as she crammed her taco in her mouth, lettuce falling out the other end.
“What?” Wallace asked, his eyes wide and mouth full of taco.
“That guy, Cassidy or something, I don’t know.” Piz clarified, looking embarrassed now because Lilly wasn’t even trying to control her laughing now. A pet beaver?
“Wait, you mean Cassidy Casablancas?” Wallace asked, dropping his taco back on the table and staring at Piz.
“I guess. Would that make him Dick’s cousin or something?” Piz asked, looking at Wallace, obviously trying very hard to ignore Lilly.
“Brother.” Wallace replied shortly.
“I didn’t know Dick has a brother.” Piz shrugged, and picked up his taco again. “How come we never see him?”
“Because he’s dead, committed suicide on graduation night.” Wallace’s voice was cold, shut down, effectively ending both the conversation and Lilly’s laughter.
“Beaver was his nickname, Piz.” Lilly explained in a soft voice. She’d forgotten that part of the story, the part where little Cassidy Casablancas, who had been so sweet and shy when she’d known him, had jumped off the roof of the Grand after admitting to several murders, blowing up a plane and trying to kill both Veronica and Logan.
“Oh.”
It was quiet for a few minutes, the only sounds were of taco wrappers rustling.
“Still, Beaver? That’s a pretty crappy nickname.” Piz burst out suddenly, like he couldn’t contain it anymore. “It would suck to be called Beaver all the time. It’s kind of weird, did he have buck teeth or something?”
“You, who goes by the name of Piz, think Beaver is a weird nickname?” Lilly asked, astonished, unwrapping her third taco.
“Yeah, at least I know how I got it. And it isn’t like it’s unheard of for guys to be called by their last names.” Piz defended, sitting up straighter and narrowing his eyes a little. It was obvious he’d had to defend his name before.
“Okay, I guess. I don’t remember how he got his nickname, probably from Dick, but he didn’t like it, I remember that much.” Lilly raised her taco to her mouth before rethinking it. Instead she got up and got a bottle of water out of the fridge. “Anything else you have questions on?”
“Lots, but I don’t think anyone is ever going to be able to catch me up.” Piz replied, his voice muffled by the fact that his mouth was full of food.
“Good, it’s better if you don’t know anyway.” Wallace told him, sitting back in his chair, a pile of wrappers in front of him.
They were silent for just a few moments, just long enough for the silence to be interrupted by a thump thump sound. Lilly looked at Wallace again, his eyes wide with shock. Piz’s eyes were wide also, his face red with embarrassment. It was just a few more moments before she cracked, the first laugh escaping her. It was only a second before Wallace joined in and Piz after that.
“Okay, are you guys tired or do you want to play a game?” Lilly asked, heading over to the cupboard where she knew the cards were kept.
“I could stay up a little later, depending on the game.” Wallace replied, leaning forward to scoop up all the empty wrappers. “You gonna finish your last taco Lil, or should I toss it?”
“Toss it. You guys should get a couple bottles of water too if you want to avoid the hangovers.” She pulled out a well-worn deck. There were doodles on the box, written in a purple pen and her curvy script. Logan, Duncan, Veronica and her had played with these cards so many times.
They all settled at the table, wrappers cleared, bottles of water and a pile of cheesy curls in front of each of them. Lilly shuffled the cards a few more times, let Wallace cut the deck and then dealt two cards to each of them.
“Alright, we’ll play Texas Hold’em. A couple games and then we’ll head up. Hopefully by then the lovebirds will have finished and we’ll be able to sleep.” Lilly checked her cards, careful not to let herself physically react and threw in one cheesy curl.
“I raise.” Wallace said solemnly, putting in two curls.
“I fold.” Piz threw in his cards and popped one of his cheesy curls in his mouth.
“No eating the money!” Lilly and Wallace both yelled.
~Parker~
“Parker Lee!” Her professor called from the front of the classroom. She stood, a swish of fabric following the noise. She glanced down at her dress. Long and pink and lots of tulle. The dress she wore to her senior prom.
“Y… Ye-Yes Sir?” Her voice trembled a little as she struggled to answer him.
“Can you tell me the answer?” His voice was stern and cold, his face was unsmiling as he looked at her expectantly.
“I’m ss-sorry, what was the question?” She sounded stronger this time.
“Oh God.” He yelled, suddenly excited as he pointed to the board.
“But I don’t understand.” She yelled as she room began to spin. The students around her started to stamp their feet, filling her head with an off beat thumping sound.
A breeze picked up from the spinning room, people were yelling. “Yes, Yes” some girl was calling out.
“Is that the answer?” Parker called, shivering from the cold breeze. She glanced down to find herself naked, she brought her hands up to cover herself as a deep, masculine voice grunted “Unnuh.”
Parker shot up in bed, gasping, her hands clutching at her t-shirt, making sure it was still there. She began relaxing until she realized that the thumping and moaning hadn’t stopped, and it was coming from the next room.
“Oh my god.” Parker moaned as she grabbed her pillow and held it over her ears, trying to muffle the sound. It was no use. She crawled out of bed and quickly crossed the floor to the door. She opened it as quietly as possible and shut it again with the same care. She shuffled along the hall, trying to ignore the sounds coming from the room as she passed it on the way to the stairs.
The glow of lights from downstairs, catching her attention. “Don’t eat the money!” shouted two familiar voices. She quickly descended the stairs, the sounds fading behind her except for the faint thumping noise. She tiptoed down the hall to the kitchen. Lilly, Wallace and Piz were sitting at the table playing cards, practically a whole bag of cheesy curls scattered across the table.
“Hey guys, what’re you… you doing?” Parker asked, yawning.
“Playing Texas Hold ’em.” Lilly supplied, smirking as she scooped up the pile of curls in the center of the table. “Wanna play?”
“Sure, I’m not going to get to sleep with all of that… racket.” Parker blushed, sliding into the chair next to Lilly. Lilly dumped some cheesy curls in front of her while Wallace shuffled and dealt the cards.
“No kidding.” Lilly offered a smile, but quickly averted her gaze. Parker accepted that Lilly didn’t like her, that someone had probably told her to be nice, but it was better than Lilly lashing out and accusing her of stuff. “You know how to play?”
“Yeah, I know how to play.” Parker checked her cards, threw in a curl and brushed her hair back.
~*~
“So everyone else is in bed?” Parker asked, throwing three curls in. Lilly raised an eyebrow and matched her bid. Ten minutes and three hands in and Lilly seemed surprised at how good Parker was. She’d learned how to play in high school, when her family would get together for big dinners she and all her cousins would sit around and play poker.
“Well, I’m sure Duncan and the baby are in bed.” Lilly said, turning to look at Wallace. “You gonna match, raise, fold, what?”
“Hold on, I’m thinkin!” Wallace shot back concentrating on his cards a moment more before throwing them on the table. “Dammit, I fold.”
“Mac and Dick went up as soon as we got home.” Piz supplied as he laid down the last card. He was the dealer after loosing all his cheesy curls to Parker in the last hand.
“Obviously Logan and Veronica are in bed.” Lilly said, smirking.
“I raise.” Parker put in five curls and held back a grin as Lilly’s eyebrows raised a moment before letting her poker face slip back into place. She matched the bid.
“Weevil left the bar with some girl, Jessie I think.” Wallace muttered as he leaned back in his chair, stretching. He leaned forward and finished off his bottle of water. “It’s quiet now, so I think I’ll head up to bed. See y’all in the morning.”
Parker nodded, glancing at Lilly. “Time to show your cards.”
Lilly flipped her cards at the same time Parker did. Parker won, causing Lilly to swear under her breath.
“How is Weevil going to get home?” Parker asked, concerned.
“I don’t know, walk?” Lilly muttered, her face averted as she counted out her remaining cheesy curls.
“No, Mac told him to call her in the morning, that she’d go get him.” Piz cut him, causing Lilly to perk up.
Parker didn’t know the whole story, but she had a feeling that Lilly still really liked Weevil.
“You know what, I’m going to head up to bed too.” Lilly mumbled, pushing all her curls into the middle of the table. “I’m starting to feel a little dizzy from the alcohol. It was a good game, we’ll have to have a rematch later.”
“Yeah, definitely.” Parker smiled, getting up to get a ziploc baggie for the curls since they’d pretty much massacred the original bag. Lilly shuffled out of the kitchen, heading upstairs to bed. “You gonna head up too?” She looked back at Piz. His head was on the table.
“I don’t feel good.” Piz complained, lifting his head up to look at her, a card stuck to his cheek. “I feel like I’m going to puke.”
Parker leaned back, fearing that he might do so right there. He groaned and laid his head back down on the table. She let out a snort of laughter before grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge and the bottle of aspirin out of the cabinet.
“Here, take two and drink the water. Why don’t you head up to bed?” Piz took the pills gratefully, chasing them with a third of the water. “Thanks, I’ll see you in the morning.” He stood up, swayed a little. “Or maybe tomorrow afternoon.”
Parker watched him walk out of the kitchen, the soles of his shoes scuffing along the tile. She finished putting the cheesy curls in the baggie. She wiped the table off and threw the bag of curls on the counter. She heard Piz stumble up the stairs a couple of times before he finally made it. She shook her head in amusement.
“Drunks.” She said to herself as she shut the light off and headed back up to bed.
27: Logan
Rating: NC-17 (there’s some sexin, and some drunks - okay, lots of drunks - and little bit of swearing, but it’s mostly the sexin)
Word Count: 5,804
Characters/Pairings: Logan, Veronica, Mac, Dick, Piz, Wallace, Lilly the first (mentions of: Duncan, Lilly the second, Weevil, OFC and Cassidy/Beaver) Logan/Veronica and Mac/Dick
Spoilers: All episodes (from 1.01: Pilot to 3.20: The Bitch Is Back. Just to be sure) Although this is obviously AU and there are obviously going to be some alterations to events and especially some in the last couple of episodes.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Literally, nothing. So don’t sue me over this, because you won’t get anything. It all belongs to Rob Thomas and if I had owned it when it was still on the last season would have been way different.
A/N: Okay, there’s some (okay, a lot) of [graphic] sex in this part. Just so you’re warned, it’s not worse than anything else I've written though. I don't think
Chapter 1: Awake/ Chapter 2: Homecoming/ Chapter 3: Forgive/ Chapter 4: Arrival/ Chapter 5: Reconnect/ Chapter 6: Belong/ Chapter 7: Bets/ Chapter 8: Fight/ Chapter 9: Battle/ Chapter 10: Retreat/ Chapter 11: Push/ Chapter 12: Sound/ Chapter 13: Potential/ Chapter 14: More/ Chapter 15: Storytime/ Chapter 16: Understanding/ Chapter 17: Piggyback/ Chapter 18: Sinners/ Chapter 19: Drama/ Chapter 20: Dinner/ Chapter 21: Armor/ Chapter 22:Mingle/ 23:Bubbly/ 24:Awkward/ 25:Closing
The Return
26
Drunks
~Logan~
“Could you guys, you know, hold it? At least until we’re home and I’m far away?” Mac’s panicked question drifted through Logan’s haze. Veronica squirmed next to him, giggling as she let her right hand drift over his abdomen. Her left hand had drifted up his back and was now pushing against the back of his head, forcing him to turn his face back to her, forcing his mouth back down to hers. Okay, forcing is a bit too strong of word. Guiding maybe.
“Yeah, sure.” He mumbled as he let Veronica take control, pressing his lips against hers, sweeping his tongue into her mouth as he tried, yet again, to lower her down to the seat. Another giggle escaped her and he felt her head move back and forth slightly, protesting without ever breaking off the kiss.
Logan pulled back a little, looking down at her, his eyes focused once again to the spot at the base of her neck. It was reddened by all the attention he’d shown it tonight, but not red enough. Not a hickey. Yet. He lowered his head again. She leaned forward to meet him halfway, but he dodged her lips and went straight for her neck. He kissed his way down, nipping at her skin as he went. He pressed into her again, and this time she caved, let him lay her down on the backseat as she let out a long low moan.
Suddenly the car lurched and Logan’s arms flung out in order to steady himself and Veronica, keep them from rolling off the seat completely onto the floor. If he ended up on the floor he’d stay there, stuck, until they got home.
Veronica shoved at his chest, pushing him up and off her. They both popped up into sitting positions, Veronica’s head whipping around almost comically as she tried to figure out why Mac had slammed on the breaks. There was no one in the road, no car in front of them, no stop sign or light. “What the-” Veronica started, but was interrupted by Mac’s near hysterical voice.
“Okay, new rule.” Mac turned in her seat, filling up the space between the front seats. “If I can’t see you in the review mirror I’m gonna slam on the brake. And this is your one warning, next time I have to do it, one of you is moving to the front seat.” With that, she put the car back into drive and hit the gas, making the vehicle lurch again before squealing on the pavement.
“Careful on the Rover, Mac-attack.” Logan called to her, his eyes bugging out at the abuse she was putting it through. “Jeez.”
“Get over it, I’ll feel better when we get home.” Mac muttered, glancing in the review mirror, her eyes meeting Logan’s. He let the look linger for a moment as he smirked, raised his eyebrows and then turned back to Veronica. He reattached his mouth to her neck, he arms snaking around her, hands pressing into her back, holding her up.
~*~
The car screeched to a stop in the driveway. Logan had to practically peel Veronica’s hands off his upper arms in order to get out of the car. Mac stayed sitting in the driver’s seat, still as a statue, looking straight forward.
“Mac, you gonna get out of the car?” He asked as he popped the back door open and slid out. He held out his arms for Veronica. She jumped into them without hesitation, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. She smiled at him, biting her bottom lip as she dropped her forehead down, pressing it against his. She looked so happy.
“No, I think I’m going to wait out here for Dick and the others to get home.” Her voice was still tense. “You go in.” She finally moved, jerking her chin at the front door before returning to her statue-like position.
“Night, Mac.” Veronica called sweetly as Logan carried her towards the front door. Her voice lowered, “I think we freaked her out, or embarrassed her or something.”
“She’ll get over it, baby.” Logan set her down on her feet as they got to the front door. Logan reached out and turned the doorknob before looking down at her. She stared up at him, and he could see it. How she felt. It was right there in her eyes, the mask was gone and she was happy and they were together. Without thinking, without hesitation, he leaned down to kiss her. And what started as an innocent kiss, one that was only supposed to last a moment, was something more. Now it deepened and intensified, Veronica was leaning into him, her arms wrapping around him. He pushed the door open and stumbled through it, pulling her along with him.
Logan slammed Veronica against the inside of the door, shutting it in the process. The kiss went into overdrive, becoming more urgent. He pressed his hands against the door, using the leverage to kick off his shoes without breaking the kiss. As soon as his shoes were off Veronica settled her hands on his shoulders, using them to help her jump into him. Her legs wrapped around his waist and her hands slid from his shoulders and into his hair. She pulled his head forward, towards her mouth. They kissed again, and again the kiss turned urgent as he stumbled to the stairs. One hand gripped the banister and the other wrapped around Veronica’s waist, holding her up as she released him, trying desperately to pull her own coat off before she began pushing at his. They struggled a bit before they finally got the zipper down and the coat off. He hadn’t made it up two more steps before she reached between them to pop open the button to his pants. She tried to push the jeans down, tightening her legs to keep from falling. Logan stumbled up a couple more steps before he felt his jeans slide over his knees and settle around his ankles, one more step and he was out of them and Veronica was already inching her top up.
“Wa… Wait.” Logan gasped, setting her down on the stair in front of him. She towered over him now, a rather unique position for her, as she pulled her pink top off quickly. She grinned as she let it slide from her fingers and land on the step next to her, already busy, already focused on his t-shirt.
“Didn’t you give me permission to take advantage of your drunk self?” She questioned, her hands tugging at the green material, but it would come off without him raising his arms.
"That you're fully allowed to take advantage of my drunken self." He’d told her that only moments after he’d put on the shirt she was so desperately trying to get off him now.
“Yes, I did.” Logan gasped out as he raised his hands, letting her pull the shirt off. She dropped it, letting if fall wherever as she backed up the stairs, moving further away from him as he reached out for her. He followed after, his arms out stretched. She unbuttoned the top button on her jeans as she made it to the top of the staircase, he stumbled up another step. She pulled the zipper down as she backed up to their bedroom door, he basically crawled up the final three steps.
Veronica reached back and turned the knob, pushing the door open and her pants down in one smooth and swift motion. Logan hurried after her, pushing down his boxers and slammed the door shut. His arms wrapped around her, hands traveling up her back to her bra clasp, undoing and pulling off the garment. He pressed her into the door, his mouth falling to her chin, her neck, should, clavicle, breast. He worked his way across her body, kissing his way back up to her mouth. His hands held her head in place as he ravaged her mouth, cupped her shoulders as he licked and nipped and kissed her neck, kneading her breasts as he kissed her shoulders, skimming down her stomach, pulling at her hips as he kissed her breasts. His fingers tangled in her underwear as he lost himself in their kiss again. He began to lower her underwear, lowering himself down in front of her.
He was on his knees before her now, pulled the white, lacy thong off. He looked up at her, caught her gaze for a moment as she lifted each foot off the ground so he could slide them off. He began to rise.
“Condom.” His brow furrowed for a moment, remembering the protection he had in the back pocket of his jeans. She held up a square packet, gold foil, grinning. “Picked your pocket.” Then she put the square to her mouth and tore it open, extracting the prize.
The condom packet fluttered down to floor beside him, he stood in front of her, grinning as she reached down and put the condom on him. His hands gripped her hips, lifting her up against the door again, pressing her between it and him. He buried his face in the crook of her neck as she guided him in.
“Oh God,” she gasped out as soon as he was fully inside her. He pulled out slowly before slamming back into her. Her back arched off the door, pressing more of her skin into his. He pulled his face away from her neck and began kissing anything with in reach. His fingers dug into her hips, pushing and pulling them as he thrust in and out of her. The door rattled in it’s frame behind her with every push and pull, every in and out. Her arms hooked under his, wrapping around his back, pulling his chest tighter against hers. Their skin was heated and flushed, sticky with sweat. She bit her lip and gasped, moaned and called out, nothing making sense. Don’t stop… right… oh, god… need… want… yes… “I love you.”
“Shit, oh god, Veronica…” Logan called out as he came, unable to control his response to her declaration. He sagged against her, his hands moving from her hips to wrap around her waist, holding her to him but letting the door take their weight. His forehead pressed against her shoulder, he breath coming out in harsh and raspy. “Oh god, baby…”
“Logan…” Her voice was velvety and deep, consoling as she let her hands drift over his back.
He lifted her again, his arms tightening as he pushed them away from the door. He carried her to the bed, lowering her to it gently, letting their bodies part. Veronica crawled backwards up the bed, using her elbows and heels to push her back. Her head bumped against the headboard, stopping her.
“I’ll make it up to you.” Logan told her in his own gravely voice, before he crawled onto the bed after her. He pressed kisses into her mouth, not allowing her to deepen them. He kissed his way back down her body, settling himself between her legs, pushing them further apart. His hands slid over her knees reverently, his thumb trailing over them, the ran smoothly over her inner thighs, lowering to cup her ass and pull her closer to his mouth.
“Oh my god,” She yelled out, arching up off the bed, her hands pressing against the mattress. She relaxed a little, her back still arched a little, but now her hands were in his hair, twisting the strands until her fingers were tight against his scalp. His tongue worked against her, causing her hips to rock, almost moving of their own freewill. She hummed low in her throat, calling out his name and to god. Calling out worlds of want and need and love, finally coming against his mouth. He lapped at her a few more times before back off. He crawled up her body, kissing her skin along the way, lingering at her belly button, on her breasts and neck, before he finally reached her mouth again.
Logan kissed her deeply, reaching out to the bedside table for another condom. Her hands roamed over his back, gripping at his shoulders and hips, gliding down his spin, fluttering over his sides. His own fingers closed over the box of condoms, he fumbled a bit to extract one. Veronica’s hands slowed, one pressing lightly at the base of his neck before the tipped, curled until the very edge of her nails were pressing into his skin. She slowly began running her nails along his spine, exerting enough pressure so he could feel how sharp they were but not enough to really hurt. He dropped the condom, pressing his hands into the mattress on either side of her head, arched his back and lifted his upper body off her completely. He let out a long, low groan as she got lower, stopping just below his ass.
“I love it when you do that.” He gasped out as he lowered his body back down to hers, licking his lips.
“I know.” She said it with a smirk as she started running her nails back up, causing him to shiver. His mouth crashed back down onto hers, his hand finding the condom again, working to open the package. When he’d finally torn into it, he reached between them to put it on, breaking off the kiss.
“I think I’m ready for round two.”
~Dick
“Seriously, if you guys don’t shut up back there I’m going to kick your ass.” Dick yelled, glancing in the review mirror at Piz and Wallace. They were chattering on and on and on about the phone numbers they’d gotten and how it was too bad that they’d never get to use them. They’d have to go out and get numbers when they got back home, back to some college party next weekend.
“But seriously, if we can get that many numbers… Hey Lilly, you okay?” Piz asked, leaning into the space between the seats. Lilly was sitting in the front seat, almost completely silent for the last few seconds. The four of them were cramped into Mac’s car, Dick was still confused how she had talked him into letting her drive Logan’s can back instead.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Totally fine.” Lilly assured them in a loud voice, a grin on her face as she listened to them go back to discussing college parties and girls and phone numbers. They moved on to discussing a girl that Wallace had been seeing or thinking about asking out or something. Lilly voice dropped lower, so only Dick could hear her. “It was an interesting night.”
“No kidding. Logan and Veronica were all over each other, they don’t usually do that in public.” Dick commented, making the turn onto the road that would lead them home. Lilly clutched at the bag of tacos, making sure they didn’t spill. Mac had threatened them against getting lettuce all over the place, making Lilly fearful. Dick smirked at Lilly being afraid of Mac, even just a little.
“Not like he was with me? That’s good.” Lilly glanced at him, catching his confused look. “Lately I’ve been wishing that I didn’t play so many games before I was… well, before. The whole making out in public, taking it too far, that was part of it. Me, trying to show how grown up I was, show how I didn’t care about the rules, about getting caught.”
“Well, you know Veronica…” Dick muttered, almost uncomfortable with this open and regretful Lilly.
“Yeah, Ronica was never one for public displays, whether it was affection or not.” She looked out her window then, off into the darkness. Dick glanced over and saw her sad reflection, he turned his attention back to the road in front of him. He heard her sigh once before continuing. “I know, I’m not very fun at the moment. It’s been off and on like this all night. One moment I’m totally happy and excited and having fun, the next I’m completely depressing. It’s weird, but I maybe this is what happens if you take a four year long break from the party and then jump back in.”
“Maybe, it’s been a really weird night all around.” Dick assured her, feeling compelled to make her feel better. He was her only tether to the past in this car, possibly the only one still awake at this point. Everyone else was so new and she was still so messed up. “I mean, I’m rarely ever sober for something like this, and it was the first time Mac and I were out as a couple. And Duncan was there, and then he left. Then there was the bet between Veronica’s sidekick and the puppy, and Logan gave the puppy tips on how to pick up girls. It was just, strange.”
“The puppy?”
“Piz, he followed Veronica around like a puppy all last year.” Dick explained, glancing in the mirror again to make sure that the boys in the back weren’t following the conversation.
“Oh.”
“Yeah. It was a strange night.” Dick finished lamely.
“Yeah, a strange night.” Lilly repeated, her voice even quieter for a moment. “But nice.”
“Yeah, it was nice.” Dick smiled at her, taking his eyes off the road for just a moment to look at her. She was smiling back.
“Yeah, nice.” Lilly let out a small laugh before turning in her seat to look at Wallace and Piz.
“Nice.” Dick whispered again, pulling into the driveway next to Logan’s Range Rover, he put the car in reverse and got out as quickly as he could, Wallace already pushing at the back of his seat in an effort to get out.
“Hurry up man, I’m hungry.” Wallace complained when Dick didn’t move fast enough for him. Lilly was already out, clutching the bag of tacos as Piz scurried out after her.
“Damn dude, I’m going as fast as I can.” Dick muttered angrily as he stepped back for Wallace to climb out of the car and lope after Piz and Lilly, who were already halfway to the front porch. Dick leaned back into the car to grab the keys out of the ignition as he heard them crash through the front door, forgetting to close it behind them. “Drunk asses.”
Dick stood up again, looking down at Mac’s key ring, fidgeting with it, as he shut the car door. He took a couple steps before looking up, but when he did he jumped back a step. Mac stood there, leaning against the hood of her car, staring at him.
“You scared me, I thought you’d be in the house.” Dick stated, regaining his composure. She straightened up, falling into step beside him.
“Sorry, but I thought I’d give them a head start.” Mac explained.
“Piz and Wallace? Afraid they’d trample you?” Dick asked, bemused the thought. “You guys been home long? You didn’t have to wait out here for me.”
“No, I was giving Logan and Veronica a head start, to get inside and to their room before I followed. I’ve never seen them like that, all over each other, barely contained.” She clarified, bumping her shoulder into his arm once or twice. He lifted it up for her, wrapping it around her shoulders as she leaned into him.
“Were they that bad?” Dick questioned, his brow furrowing. True, he hadn’t seen Veronica drunk in a really long time, but he couldn’t remember ever seeing her lose control either. Although, now that he thought about it, he wasn’t sure there’d ever been an instant in the past where she was drunk and he was not.
“I had to slam on the brakes at one point because I was convinced that they were going to go for home in the backseat.” He felt Mac shudder under his arm as the reached the front door.
“Poor baby, I promise next time I’ll take Logan and Veronica and you can deal with the chatterboxes in the back seat and Sullen Lilly in the front.” Dick assured her, giving her shoulder a squeeze before releasing her.
“Lilly? Sullen?” Mac’s eyes widened in shock.
“Yeah, she’s like the bipolar drunk girl. First she’s giggling with Frick and Frack and then she’s sighing and talking about how she regrets the way she was before. It was a little weird.” He stepped back, letting Mac go through the door first. They hadn’t even bothered to turn on the light on their way to the kitchen. Drunks.
“Oh my god!” Mac yelled as she stumbled forward tripping over something, then tripping over something else. Dick reached forward to grab her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her back into him. She was nearly doubled over, grabbing onto the banister for support and leaning back into him for balance. Her butt collided with his groin, causing him to smirk and a small snort of amusement to escape.
“Mac, did you fake trip so you could put the moves on me?”
“What?”
“Are you getting fresh with me?” Dick asked as he reached back to flip the light switch.
“No, there’s something…” Mac started indignantly, trailing off as light flooded the foyer. There were shoes scattered from the door to the stairs, two pair, Logan’s and Veronica’s. And if Dick had to guess it was their coats on the newel posts, pants and shirts strewn up the stairs. “Oh god.”
Dick followed Mac up the stairs, careful to avoid the clothes scattered on the way up, a loose condom that had apparently fallen out of Logan’s jeans. Veronica’s top lay near the top, his eyebrows raised at that thought. The thought of Veronica standing in the hall in only her jeans and bra. He smirked. “They must have been in a hurry.”
Logan’s bedroom door rattled a little, then a little more, until it was a constant rattle, with a thumping sound.
“Oh my god.” Mac whispered, reaching down to clutch his hand. There was a low and masculine moan suddenly. “Oh my god.” Mac repeated, her voice a little more shrill.
“Apparently they’re still in a hurry.” Dick said, pressing his lips together, struggling not to laugh at the situation and the look of absolute horror on his girlfriend’s face.
“They are not allowed to drink anymore.” Mac squeaked, her voice panicked and rushed as she turned and fled up the second flight of stairs, toward the room they were sharing.
~Lilly~
“Is it weird?” Lilly asked, dumping both bags of tacos out on the kitchen table. “For you I mean.”
“Who ya talkin to?” Wallace asked, reaching out and sliding a good portion of tacos towards himself.
“Piz. I was just wondering if it was weird for him to be here, with all of us. I mean, we’ve all known each other since we were little, with the exception of Wallace of course.” She paused to smile at Wallace before continuing. “And even then, he’s been part of the group for a few years now.”
“It’s a little weird, not knowing all the history and stuff I guess.” Piz replied, focusing on his own taco for a moment. “You have no idea how confusing all the little pieces of information are.”
“Like what?” Lilly asked, taking a taco for herself. She glanced at piles in front of boys before taking two more.
“Like the guy who had the pet beaver?” Piz asked, looking expectantly between Wallace and Lilly as he unwrapped a second taco.
Lilly snorted a laugh, struggling to control herself as she crammed her taco in her mouth, lettuce falling out the other end.
“What?” Wallace asked, his eyes wide and mouth full of taco.
“That guy, Cassidy or something, I don’t know.” Piz clarified, looking embarrassed now because Lilly wasn’t even trying to control her laughing now. A pet beaver?
“Wait, you mean Cassidy Casablancas?” Wallace asked, dropping his taco back on the table and staring at Piz.
“I guess. Would that make him Dick’s cousin or something?” Piz asked, looking at Wallace, obviously trying very hard to ignore Lilly.
“Brother.” Wallace replied shortly.
“I didn’t know Dick has a brother.” Piz shrugged, and picked up his taco again. “How come we never see him?”
“Because he’s dead, committed suicide on graduation night.” Wallace’s voice was cold, shut down, effectively ending both the conversation and Lilly’s laughter.
“Beaver was his nickname, Piz.” Lilly explained in a soft voice. She’d forgotten that part of the story, the part where little Cassidy Casablancas, who had been so sweet and shy when she’d known him, had jumped off the roof of the Grand after admitting to several murders, blowing up a plane and trying to kill both Veronica and Logan.
“Oh.”
It was quiet for a few minutes, the only sounds were of taco wrappers rustling.
“Still, Beaver? That’s a pretty crappy nickname.” Piz burst out suddenly, like he couldn’t contain it anymore. “It would suck to be called Beaver all the time. It’s kind of weird, did he have buck teeth or something?”
“You, who goes by the name of Piz, think Beaver is a weird nickname?” Lilly asked, astonished, unwrapping her third taco.
“Yeah, at least I know how I got it. And it isn’t like it’s unheard of for guys to be called by their last names.” Piz defended, sitting up straighter and narrowing his eyes a little. It was obvious he’d had to defend his name before.
“Okay, I guess. I don’t remember how he got his nickname, probably from Dick, but he didn’t like it, I remember that much.” Lilly raised her taco to her mouth before rethinking it. Instead she got up and got a bottle of water out of the fridge. “Anything else you have questions on?”
“Lots, but I don’t think anyone is ever going to be able to catch me up.” Piz replied, his voice muffled by the fact that his mouth was full of food.
“Good, it’s better if you don’t know anyway.” Wallace told him, sitting back in his chair, a pile of wrappers in front of him.
They were silent for just a few moments, just long enough for the silence to be interrupted by a thump thump sound. Lilly looked at Wallace again, his eyes wide with shock. Piz’s eyes were wide also, his face red with embarrassment. It was just a few more moments before she cracked, the first laugh escaping her. It was only a second before Wallace joined in and Piz after that.
“Okay, are you guys tired or do you want to play a game?” Lilly asked, heading over to the cupboard where she knew the cards were kept.
“I could stay up a little later, depending on the game.” Wallace replied, leaning forward to scoop up all the empty wrappers. “You gonna finish your last taco Lil, or should I toss it?”
“Toss it. You guys should get a couple bottles of water too if you want to avoid the hangovers.” She pulled out a well-worn deck. There were doodles on the box, written in a purple pen and her curvy script. Logan, Duncan, Veronica and her had played with these cards so many times.
They all settled at the table, wrappers cleared, bottles of water and a pile of cheesy curls in front of each of them. Lilly shuffled the cards a few more times, let Wallace cut the deck and then dealt two cards to each of them.
“Alright, we’ll play Texas Hold’em. A couple games and then we’ll head up. Hopefully by then the lovebirds will have finished and we’ll be able to sleep.” Lilly checked her cards, careful not to let herself physically react and threw in one cheesy curl.
“I raise.” Wallace said solemnly, putting in two curls.
“I fold.” Piz threw in his cards and popped one of his cheesy curls in his mouth.
“No eating the money!” Lilly and Wallace both yelled.
~Parker~
“Parker Lee!” Her professor called from the front of the classroom. She stood, a swish of fabric following the noise. She glanced down at her dress. Long and pink and lots of tulle. The dress she wore to her senior prom.
“Y… Ye-Yes Sir?” Her voice trembled a little as she struggled to answer him.
“Can you tell me the answer?” His voice was stern and cold, his face was unsmiling as he looked at her expectantly.
“I’m ss-sorry, what was the question?” She sounded stronger this time.
“Oh God.” He yelled, suddenly excited as he pointed to the board.
“But I don’t understand.” She yelled as she room began to spin. The students around her started to stamp their feet, filling her head with an off beat thumping sound.
A breeze picked up from the spinning room, people were yelling. “Yes, Yes” some girl was calling out.
“Is that the answer?” Parker called, shivering from the cold breeze. She glanced down to find herself naked, she brought her hands up to cover herself as a deep, masculine voice grunted “Unnuh.”
Parker shot up in bed, gasping, her hands clutching at her t-shirt, making sure it was still there. She began relaxing until she realized that the thumping and moaning hadn’t stopped, and it was coming from the next room.
“Oh my god.” Parker moaned as she grabbed her pillow and held it over her ears, trying to muffle the sound. It was no use. She crawled out of bed and quickly crossed the floor to the door. She opened it as quietly as possible and shut it again with the same care. She shuffled along the hall, trying to ignore the sounds coming from the room as she passed it on the way to the stairs.
The glow of lights from downstairs, catching her attention. “Don’t eat the money!” shouted two familiar voices. She quickly descended the stairs, the sounds fading behind her except for the faint thumping noise. She tiptoed down the hall to the kitchen. Lilly, Wallace and Piz were sitting at the table playing cards, practically a whole bag of cheesy curls scattered across the table.
“Hey guys, what’re you… you doing?” Parker asked, yawning.
“Playing Texas Hold ’em.” Lilly supplied, smirking as she scooped up the pile of curls in the center of the table. “Wanna play?”
“Sure, I’m not going to get to sleep with all of that… racket.” Parker blushed, sliding into the chair next to Lilly. Lilly dumped some cheesy curls in front of her while Wallace shuffled and dealt the cards.
“No kidding.” Lilly offered a smile, but quickly averted her gaze. Parker accepted that Lilly didn’t like her, that someone had probably told her to be nice, but it was better than Lilly lashing out and accusing her of stuff. “You know how to play?”
“Yeah, I know how to play.” Parker checked her cards, threw in a curl and brushed her hair back.
~*~
“So everyone else is in bed?” Parker asked, throwing three curls in. Lilly raised an eyebrow and matched her bid. Ten minutes and three hands in and Lilly seemed surprised at how good Parker was. She’d learned how to play in high school, when her family would get together for big dinners she and all her cousins would sit around and play poker.
“Well, I’m sure Duncan and the baby are in bed.” Lilly said, turning to look at Wallace. “You gonna match, raise, fold, what?”
“Hold on, I’m thinkin!” Wallace shot back concentrating on his cards a moment more before throwing them on the table. “Dammit, I fold.”
“Mac and Dick went up as soon as we got home.” Piz supplied as he laid down the last card. He was the dealer after loosing all his cheesy curls to Parker in the last hand.
“Obviously Logan and Veronica are in bed.” Lilly said, smirking.
“I raise.” Parker put in five curls and held back a grin as Lilly’s eyebrows raised a moment before letting her poker face slip back into place. She matched the bid.
“Weevil left the bar with some girl, Jessie I think.” Wallace muttered as he leaned back in his chair, stretching. He leaned forward and finished off his bottle of water. “It’s quiet now, so I think I’ll head up to bed. See y’all in the morning.”
Parker nodded, glancing at Lilly. “Time to show your cards.”
Lilly flipped her cards at the same time Parker did. Parker won, causing Lilly to swear under her breath.
“How is Weevil going to get home?” Parker asked, concerned.
“I don’t know, walk?” Lilly muttered, her face averted as she counted out her remaining cheesy curls.
“No, Mac told him to call her in the morning, that she’d go get him.” Piz cut him, causing Lilly to perk up.
Parker didn’t know the whole story, but she had a feeling that Lilly still really liked Weevil.
“You know what, I’m going to head up to bed too.” Lilly mumbled, pushing all her curls into the middle of the table. “I’m starting to feel a little dizzy from the alcohol. It was a good game, we’ll have to have a rematch later.”
“Yeah, definitely.” Parker smiled, getting up to get a ziploc baggie for the curls since they’d pretty much massacred the original bag. Lilly shuffled out of the kitchen, heading upstairs to bed. “You gonna head up too?” She looked back at Piz. His head was on the table.
“I don’t feel good.” Piz complained, lifting his head up to look at her, a card stuck to his cheek. “I feel like I’m going to puke.”
Parker leaned back, fearing that he might do so right there. He groaned and laid his head back down on the table. She let out a snort of laughter before grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge and the bottle of aspirin out of the cabinet.
“Here, take two and drink the water. Why don’t you head up to bed?” Piz took the pills gratefully, chasing them with a third of the water. “Thanks, I’ll see you in the morning.” He stood up, swayed a little. “Or maybe tomorrow afternoon.”
Parker watched him walk out of the kitchen, the soles of his shoes scuffing along the tile. She finished putting the cheesy curls in the baggie. She wiped the table off and threw the bag of curls on the counter. She heard Piz stumble up the stairs a couple of times before he finally made it. She shook her head in amusement.
“Drunks.” She said to herself as she shut the light off and headed back up to bed.
27: Logan