We’re Having a Conversation, Pt. 3/5 (Wallace, Logan, Veronica, other characters) R
Title: We’re Having a Conversation, Pt. 3/5
Author: chynaj
Pairing/Character: Veronica, Piz, Wallace, Logan
Word Count: 3,032
Rating: R (language)
Summary: Wallace and Logan learn that the problem may be bigger than they thought...
Spoilers: Through 3.20
Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of Veronica Mars. No copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: This is AU for part of 3.20: The Bitch is Back. Thanks to all the readers who commented on Parts 1 and 2. Feedback is much appreciated!
Part 1 Part 2
As Wallace headed back to his dorm room the following afternoon, he saw Veronica a few paces ahead of him. He jogged to catch up with her and then hip-checked her, knocking her off course.
“Hey, Supafly!”
“Hey, yourself,” she laughed as she knocked back into him. “What’s shakin’?”
“Nothing-I’m just stopping back at the room to grab some books before I go to the library,” he said.
Veronica stopped in the hallway. “Hey, I saw you and Logan having it out over on south campus yesterday morning. What was that all about? Is this still…”
Wallace stopped and faced her. “No, nothing like that,” he said, glad he could tell her the truth-mostly. “He wanted the sociology assignment and I told him he should try showing up for class instead.”
“Why would he ask you, after the other night?”
“Because I’m the only person he knows in the class.”
“Huh,” Veronica said thoughtfully.
“Like I said, he never shows up. Anyway, what are you doing here?” he said in an effort to change the subject.
She let out a long sigh. “I need to talk to Piz.”
“Oh, that doesn’t sound good.”
“It’s not,” Veronica said. “It’s just…he’s a really nice guy, you know? But he just doesn’t get me. All day yesterday and today, people around here have been giving us looks and snarky comments about that video, and he just keeps telling me to ignore them. He won’t even help me try to find out who made the recording, saying that I should just let it go. But I can’t let it go-I’m just not built that way. Someone has to pay.”
“It’s the rule you live by,” Wallace agreed. They started walking again toward Wallace and Piz’s dorm room.
“I think we’re just too different,” Veronica continued. “It’s probably not the best time to do this, since he’s still recovering from an attack by my ex, but there’s no sense in dragging things out.”
“I guess that’s true.” Wallace had really wanted his friends’ relationship to work out, but he knew Veronica was right. “I’ll just stop in to get my books and then get out of your way. But call me after you leave, so I can come back and drink with Piz while he bitches about you.”
Veronica threw an arm over his shoulder as they approached the door. “You’re a good friend.”
“I try,” Wallace agreed.
* * *
The next day, Wallace showed up early for sociology, sitting in the back and hoping Logan would come to class that day. When Logan came through the door, he jumped when Wallace quickly stood up and thrust a sheaf of paper toward him.
“What’s this?” Logan asked, looking at the papers but not at Wallace.
“It’s the material for the thing due this week. The assignment sheet is on top, and I made copies of the articles we need to read for it.”
“Thanks.” Logan took the papers and perused the top page.
“Listen, I just want to-”
“Forget it,” Logan stopped him. “I guess I’m still pissed about what happened to Veronica, and I took it out on you.”
“Well, I did the same thing,” Wallace said. “For the same reason, I think.”
The two looked around awkwardly, not knowing what to say next. Just then, the professor walked in and began organizing his notes, and Wallace sat back down in his seat. Logan stepped over his lap and slouched into the seat next to him.
* * *
When class was over, Wallace gathered his things and walked toward the front of the room to talk to one of his teammates. Logan gave him a little salute and headed out the door. Halfway down the aisle, Wallace remembered that Piz was going to wait for him outside the classroom. Oh, crap. He turned and ran toward the exit, hoping Piz and Logan wouldn’t see each other.
Of course, they saw each other one second before Wallace came through the doorway. He froze, waiting to see what would happen.
“Piz-just who I was looking for,” Logan said.
“Really,” Piz replied, standing up to his full height but still looking very nervous.
“Listen, man, I am truly sorry. For everything,” Logan said sincerely, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I thought-well, you know what I thought. I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions when we don’t really know each other. I should have at least talked to Wallace first.”
“Well, uh, it’s OK…” Piz said, crossing his arms in front of him.
“No, it’s not. I’m a jackass. I know this doesn’t make it better, but I wanted to tell you I was sorry anyway. So…I’ve gotta go…”
Wallace waited until Logan walked away before he approached Piz.
“Did you see that?” Piz asked. “That was weird. I didn’t expect that.”
Wallace and Piz started walking the opposite way down the hall. “Yeah, well, people surprise you sometimes.”
* * *
The next morning, Wallace and Logan got a text from Max, telling them to meet him at his dorm room at 3:00. They arrived separately, just in case Veronica was around again.
“Getting into Desante’s e-mail was pretty easy,” Max explained after they sat down. “It was the research that took a while. I found out that Desante got the video from a student here named Gorya Sorokin. I thought his last name sounded familiar, so I did some creative Googling, put out a few feelers, and it turns out that this guy is connected. I mean, connected connected.”
“How?” Logan asked.
“His dad is a circuit court judge,” Max said, sifting through the printouts of his research. “But there have always been rumors that he’s tied to the Russian mob in Southern California, and it looks like that may be true. If it is, that means they run a good chunk of the local heroin trade.”
“Whoa,” Wallace breathed, picking up one of the articles.
“There’s more,” Max added. “Have you guys heard of The Castle?”
“I have,” Wallace said.
“I haven’t,” Logan asked. “What is it?”
“It’s like Yale’s Skull and Crossbones-it’s a secret society of the rich and powerful, and the soon-to-be rich and powerful. They wanted to recruit me,” Wallace explained.
“And you didn’t do it?” Max asked incredulously.
“Nah, there’s some creepy shit going down with those guys,” Wallace said. “They make you tell all your deepest, darkest secrets, so they can hold it over your head in case you ever cross them. They spy on you and try to learn every little thing about you. They… Damn it!”
“What?” said Logan and Max, in unison.
Wallace stood and started pacing angrily. “That’s where the video came from! Nobody was after Veronica. The Castle was trying to get dirt on me.” He punched the door. “Ow! Fuck!”
“OK, hold on-before you hit anything else, are you sure?” Logan stood up slowly.
“Yeah, they knew all about my time in Chicago when I was living with my dad, they knew everything,” Wallace said, cradling his hand.
Logan opened Max’s mini-fridge and pulled out a can of Skist. “Here, it’s better than nothing.” Wallace held the cold can against his throbbing knuckles.
“Well, the Sorokins are supposedly involved in The Castle on top of everything else, so there may not be anything you can do to Gorya without getting yourselves into some deep, deep shit,” Max said.
“How do you know they’re in The Castle? It’s supposed to be all hush-hush,” said Wallace, sitting down again.
“There’s this article from the Hearst Free Press a couple years ago,” Max said, pulling out another printout. “The reporter wasn’t able to find out much, but she listed a few people who were rumored to be involved, including Judge Sorokin and-you guys will find this especially interesting-Jake Kane.”
“Can I see that?” Logan ran a hand through his hair as he looked through the article. “Of course. Why am I not surprised?”
“Sorry I couldn’t help out more,” Max sighed. “It looks like this Sorokin kid is kind of untouchable.”
“Not necessarily,” Logan said thoughtfully.
“Why? What are you thinking?” Wallace asked.
“I’ll tell you outside-it’s probably better that Max doesn’t know,” Logan said. “I think we’ve made him risk his ass enough as it is.” He slapped Max on the back.
Max laughed. “Not a problem. It was fun getting involved in one last illegal scheme before I go onto the straight and narrow. Let me know how it works out.”
“If it works the way I hope it will, you’ll definitely know,” Logan said, a little ominously, as he and Wallace left.
* * *
“It’s worth a try,” Wallace whispered, after Logan explained his idea. They’d found a deserted study area in the science building where they could talk and Veronica was unlikely to see them.
“If you don’t want to come, I understand,” Logan said. “I can do this by myself if you want to steer clear of trouble.”
“No, I’m in. Let’s do it.” Wallace started gathering up his things, sighing angrily.
“What?” Logan asked.
“I still can’t believe that all this is because of me.”
“You?”
“If The Castle wasn’t spying on me, then they wouldn’t have recorded Veronica and she wouldn’t be going through all this,” Wallace said. “That video is out there because of me.”
“The Castle didn’t care about Veronica-that video is out there because Sorokin got a hold of it and decided to share with his friends,” Logan said.
Wallace shrugged.
“Look, you can’t blame yourself because someone else decided to act like an asshole,” Logan continued. “I could say it’s my fault, because if Veronica and I were still together, she wouldn’t have been with Piznarski at all and we wouldn’t be having this conversation. But the situation was what it was, and then someone acted like an asshole. It’s not your fault and it’s not my fault. It’s Sorokin’s.”
“The asshole,” Wallace replied, smiling a little.
Logan chuckled. “Exactly.”
They started making their way toward the exit. “So, you got big plans tonight?” asked Logan, changing the subject.
“I’ve gotta finish that sociology thing tonight, but right now I’m heading home to have dinner,” Wallace answered.
“Ah, the benefits of being a townie,” Logan snickered goodnaturedly.
“Yeah, my mom’s a good cook. What about you?”
“The usual-room service, video games, maybe some homework if the mood strikes,” Logan replied.
Wallace thought for a second. “Why don’t you come with me to my mom’s?”
“That’s OK, I’m fine with my buffalo burgers,” Logan said.
“Come on, man, you need some real food. Plus, if you’re there, she won’t ask me about my engineering grades. And if we bring our stuff, we can work on the sociology after dinner. While we eat pie.”
Logan’s eyes lit up. “What time are we leaving?”
* * *
As they drove to the Fennels house, Wallace realized Logan wasn’t asking for directions. “How do you know where I live?”
“I’ve dropped Veronica off there a few times,” Logan explained.
“Why didn’t you ever come in with her?”
“I don’t know-she never asked me to,” Logan said. “She said that your mom wasn’t too crazy about her. I guess she figured I wasn’t going to help in that matter.
“I bet she’s introduced her to Piz, though,” he added bitterly. “Everybody’s parents loooove Piz.”
“Doesn’t matter-they broke up,” Wallace said. He’d been waiting two days for the opportunity to let that information slip.
Logan paused. “Huh.” He didn’t say anything else until they pulled up in front of the Fennels’ house.
When they walked in the door, they were hit with the smell of meatloaf cooking in the oven. “Hi, honey,” said Alicia Fennel, enveloping her oldest son in a hug.
“Hi, Mom,” he said, squeezing her back. “Mom, this is Logan.”
“Hi, Mrs. Fennel,” Logan looked nervous and extended his hand awkwardly. “Um, thanks for having me over.”
Heh heh-Fists of Fury over there is afraid of my mom, Wallace thought with glee.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you could make it,” Alicia said, perhaps a little too formally.
“Wallace!” A boy-shaped bullet shot out of the hallway and nearly knocked Wallace down.
“Hey, Darryl,” said Wallace, giving his little brother a hug.
“Are you Logan?” Darryl asked the stranger in the entryway.
“Yeah,” Logan answered. “Hi, Darryl.” He shook the boy’s hand.
“Hi. Mom said you were coming over,” the boy babbled. “I have a new NFL game for my Playstation. Do you guys want to play with me?”
“Sure-you guys play and I’ll take winner,” Wallace suggested.
But as the three boys moved toward the living room, Alicia called Wallace back. “Can you help me get the dinner ready?”
Once they were out of earshot, she gave her son a concerned look. “Logan Echolls? Really?”
“You said it was OK.”
“Well, you’d already invited him. What was I supposed to say?” she replied. “But I don’t know if you should be spending time with that kid.” She lowered her voice further. “Do you know what people say about him?”
“Come on, Mom,” Wallace said, exasperated. “You know as well as I do that half the stuff that ‘people’ say around here is crap. He’s had some bad things happen to him, but I think he’s basically a good guy.”
“I thought you didn’t even like him,” Alicia countered. “That’s what you said when he was dating Veronica.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t really know him then,” Wallace explained. “We’ve been, uh, working on a project together, and I’m thinking he’s all right.”
Alicia sighed and handed him a bowl of potatoes. “Here, mash these.”
As he mashed, Wallace decided to get some insight from his mother. “Since Logan and I started working on this thing, I’m realizing that even though he dated my best friend on and off for more than two years, I barely knew him. And Mac didn’t really know him until he dated her roommate a little while ago.”
“Who’s Mac?” Alicia asked.
“See? That’s what I mean,” Wallace said, growing agitated and mashing vigorously. “Mac’s really good friends with Veronica too, but I barely knew her until we started ending up at the Hearst food court at the same time each morning. How is it that we’re all such good friends with Veronica and we’ve been going to the same schools for three years, and we’re practically strangers?”
“Um, I think these are mashed enough, thanks,” said Alicia, gently taking the bowl out of his hands. “It sounds to me like you need to figure out why Veronica feels the need to keep her friends separate.”
Wallace thought about that while he took out the glasses and silverware.
“Actually, I’m surprised to hear all this,” Alicia added. “I was under the impression that you and Veronica didn’t have any secrets.”
“Yeah, me too,” Wallace replied softly.
“Come here, sweetie.” Alicia gave him a hug. “I’m sure you’ll figure this one out. You’ve always been a good judge of people. That’s why I’m going to take your word for it about Logan. But please be careful-with those bruises, it’s obvious that he’s been in a fight pretty recently, and I don’t want you getting involved in that sort of thing.”
“Yes, Mom.”
* * *
After dinner, Logan and Wallace took over the living room, spreading their books and sprawling their limbs across most of the furniture. They were mostly quiet for the next two hours, except for the munching of Alicia’s homemade strawberry pie and the occasional curse directed at their sociology professor. Eventually, it was time to clear out.
As they gathered up their things, Wallace decided to ask one of the many non-sociology questions that had been rattling around in his brain most of the evening. “So, don’t you think it’s kind of weird, that after all these years of hanging around with Veronica, this is the first time we’ve ever had a real conversation, except for that physics thing in high school? It’s weird, right?”
“I never really thought about it, but I guess so,” Logan agreed. “When we were going out-you know, publicly-we hung out with my friends sometimes, but never hers.”
“Mac’s like, her best girlfriend, and I didn’t know her until pretty recently,” Wallace noted. “It’s like she doesn’t want one friend to come in contact with another. We all have to stay in our little compartments.”
“Well, she does have some major control issues,” Logan said. “She’s always afraid of revealing too much. But you can’t really push the issue or she’ll take off.”
Wallace nodded.
“So you just have to wait, and hope she’ll decide to let you in,” Logan continued. “Or say what you need her to say…” He stopped and took a deep breath. “We’d better go.”
After good-byes and thank-yous to Alicia, they left the Fennel home to return to campus.
“Your mom’s all right, huh?” Logan asked as they piled into the car.
“Yeah, she is,” Wallace agreed. “She’s kind of a hard-ass sometimes, but she’s just looking out for me and Darryl. And she’s not as tough as she pretends to be-whenever I was grounded, I noticed that she would always put extra snacks in my lunch.”
Logan laughed. “One more thing,” he added seriously.
“Yeah?”
“She’s hot.”
“Shut up, man.”
“I mean it! I’m surprised I never noticed your mom before. She’s so tall, and that pretty smile…” Logan smirked.
“Shut UP!”
* * *
When Wallace arrived at sociology the next day, Logan was waiting outside.
“We have to go now,” he said hurriedly. “Max just called and said that Veronica’s got Mac helping her track down whoever made the video. He thinks they’re pretty close to finding the same information he did. Let’s face it-Veronica is smarter than we are, so if we don’t do this now, she’s going to catch up to us. The whole point of this exercise was to try and keep her out of trouble for once.”
“OK, let’s go,” Wallace said. They took a few steps, then Wallace stopped. “Wait! We’d better turn in the assignment first.”
They turned in their papers, made lame excuses to the professor, and left campus. After a short drive through Neptune, they pulled into the guest parking lot at Kane Software.
Upon walking into the lobby, Logan approached the security desk and announced, “We’re here to see Jake. Tell him it’s Logan Echolls, and I’m here about Duncan.”
* * *
Continue to Part 4...