I know I shouldn't be doing this because I currently have 2 multi chapter stories going but I was watching some Season 3 stuff and after Un-American Graffiti I saw this moment and jumped at the chance to include my two favorite VM things: Logan/Veronica and an OOC Dick Casablancas. Besides, I won't make this one so long. Maybe 5 parts? Not sure yet.

Part One

Veronica knew she shouldn't be in the lobby of the Neptune Grande on her way to the birthday party her ex-boyfriend had planned for his new girlfriend. That was the epitome of awkward, wasn't it? But, Veronica was known for being proud and never backing down from a challenge. It was what got her through high school. And the current challenge was Attend Said Party Without Crying or Being Bitchy to All Nearby. It was quite the challenge.
Veronica knew deep inside she had buried all her feelings for Logan, which meant they were all still there, waiting to be shined and brought back out. She tried her hardest to forget the past, to forget Logan's beautiful hazel eyes and the way he knew exactly where to touch her and make her enjoy sex more than anything in the world. He had been both familiar and unexpected since they met on the soccer field of her junior leagues game. He was what remained for her from the Fab Four and from the days of sitting near the pool with the two Kanes that made up their inner circle of trust. Logan was Logan and she could try to forget him, but it would be a moot point. You don't forget the ones you love.
Way to go, Veronica. You admit you love him after you've already lost him. Alert the media!
The elevator finally opened and she stepped in, taking deep breaths at the thought of entering the party alone, with Mac there from helping the happy couple set up the party earlier and Wallace and Piz suddenly AWOL.
"Hold the door!"
I get that you hate me, God, but adding Dick Casablancas into the mix is just cruel.
"Always the lady" Dick said after almost missing the elevator since Veronica made no move to stop the doors. "You came, good for you. Thought something like this would be unbelievably awkward."
Veronica glared but let the comment slide.
"Your fly's open."
"I know. Party ritual."
"You're disgusting."
Dick shrugged and pulled out a black flask, proceeding to take a gulp. Veronica looked over and held out her small hand.
"Veronica Mars! What's that line about the beginning of some friendship?" he gave her the flask and she took a large drink, downing half the flask in one.
"Louie, I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
"Aw, yeah. I love Casablanca
"You've seen that movie?" Veronica didn't bother to hide her incredulity at his seeing a classic movie."
"It's a film that's almost exactly my last name. I grew curious. It wasn't as boring as I expected even if it was in black and white."
"Got anything stronger?" she gave him the flask back.
"If you can handle it."
"I can handle anything."
"Alright, Ronnie, I'll make you my signature drink."
"Which is?"
"Vodka mixed with gin and a sprinkle of tequila."
"I want a nice buzz not a trip along the porcelain highway."
"You won't be throwing this up. It's magical and the best way to enjoy any event."
Veronica considered the offer. She was there out of obligation, half to show Parker she didn't have any resentment, half to prove to Logan she could live without him. Why couldn't she have some fun along the way, even if it was with Dick? Mac would be busy helping out Parker and Wallace and Piz had ruined the prospect of being her wingmen already.
"Fine. I'll try your drink, but if I'm throwing up on people's shoes seconds after I'll murder you, I swear."
"Don't worry, Ronnie. It's foolproof."
Veronica didn't bother with the insult that was at the tip of her tongue. When the elevator stopped on Logan's floor and they entered the party, Dick winked and promised to find her with the drink soon.
"Was that Dick?" Mac had been waiting for her friend near the door and she approached her after Dick walked off.
"Yeah. Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Is it some kind of plan to get back at Logan by dating his best friend?"
"I gotta say your confidence in me is astounding." She said sarcastically.
"Bottoms up, Ronnie!" Dick came back with the drink and Veronica instantly took a sip.
"Wow this is strong."
"But awesome?"
"But awesome." She admitted and Dick cheered, giving her a high five before walking away to flirt with every available female in the room.
"What was that then?" Mac crossed her arms.
"That was Dick giving me his signature drink because I feel the need to get drunk."
"That's never good, Supafly." Wallace and Piz appeared behind her, each with a date on their arms.
"Ah, I see why I was abandoned. Battle of the Bulges."
Piz cleared his throat. Wallace had convinced him to go out with a girl and let go of any chance with Veronica.
"She broke up with Logan." Piz had complained.
"And she isn't over him."
"But, he's dating Parker now."
"And it doesn't change the fact that Veronica still loves him."
"Loves?" Piz had repeated and sank into his bed, upset.
When Wallace volunteered to get them dates to Parker's party Piz had simply nodded. Yet, standing in front of Veronica herself he felt all his feelings for her as fresh as ever.
"I figured you'd hang with Mac." Wallace said.
"We will." Mac said, adding enthusiasm to her voice.
"There you are, Mac. We need to discuss your hate for The Beatles. I can't understand it." Max had come up to Mac, holding two plates of snacks.
"I think Mac's busy with someone else." Veronica pointed out and Mac blushed.
"Guys, this is my friend Max."
"Veronica, good to see you again." Max said, smiling at Veronica.
He sat on the long, white couch and Veronica saw that Mac wanted to join him.
"We're just friends." Mac mumbled.
"You want to be more than that. It's fine, Mac. Go hang with the guy whose name is annoyingly similar to yours. And Wallace, Piz, have fun with your dates." Veronica gave her friends a small smile and walked away, making sure to take a large gulp from her drink.
I can't dwell on the fact that my friends all have dates, leaving me alone to face Logan and Parker who are sickeningly sweet and-Dear Lord, can it be?
Veronica had walked near the table where the cake had been set up. It was a monster of a cake with beautiful white frosting and edible lace on the sides. And right smack at the top of the cake was Happy Birthday Parker and under that a picture of Parker and Logan hugging and smiling at the camera like two fools in love.
Is Logan in love with her? No, it's too soon, isn't it? Although, I'm basing that on our relationship which progressed from friends to enemies to secret make-out buddies to frenemies to boyfriend/girlfriend. Not everyone is as complicated in relationships as I was in ours. Not everyone is… epic.
"Epic would mean forever. And that's not the case." She said, not realizing she'd spoke out loud.
"Are you saying the cake is not epic? I severely overpaid then." Logan had come up to her as she was lost in the struggles of their relationship.
"Oh, no, it's beautiful. Lovely picture…"
"Parker cried when she saw it. Said it was the best gift ever. And that wasn't even my gift to her." He laughed and Veronica forced herself to laugh as well.
She stepped away from the sickening sweetness of Logan and his cake of love, but was followed by him to the other side of the room.
"I expected you to show up with some new guy, you know to prove you weren't pining away."
"All the periodically good ones were unavailable. And I pine for no man." She said, though inside a little voice screamed LIAR.
"You should keep your options open, though."
"Um-
"Veronica, meet Brad Everson." He led her to a tall guy with a face that reminded Veronica of a stoner.
Logan gave her a wink and walked off.
"What are your thoughts on swinging?"
"In a park?"
"In a relationship. Two on two, three on one, orgy."
Veronica felt like killing herself there and then.
"I-I'm already in a relationship. So sorry, Brad."
He laughed, not believing her.
"You don't need to play hard to get, babe. I'm already hooked on you." He tried to step closer and she resisted the urge to throw her drink at him,
"He's here, actually. Excuse me for a sec." she turned to survey the room, looking for a savior.
She would have asked Wallace to help her out, but the girl he was with had seemed nice and they were engaged in conversation. Wallace hadn't been with any girl since Jackie told him the truth about her life and left for New York. She couldn't ruin his first date. The same went for Piz. He was a nice guy and would do her the favor if she asked, but he seemed to be having fun with the girl. They were dancing happily enough. And that left one last option. The only other person who knew her enough to pretend.
I have reached rock bottom she said as she eyed her target. She finished the drink and winced at the strong taste of alcohol before walking straight for Dick and making her voice as perky as possible.
"There you are, sweetie!" then she whispered so only Dick could hear "This is a break glass in case of emergency situation. Pretend to be my boyfriend or I'll tell the whole campus about your make-out with the cross-dressing man senior year."
"How did you know about-aw shit." He whispered then louder he said "Honeybunches! Thank God, you found me I was worried sick that you got lost. You're so midgetlike even a small crowd could mean disaster."
Veronica glared at him, but wrapped an arm around his waist so that Brad saw she was with her "boyfriend". Brad frowned, unhappy at losing a prospective girlfriend for his nymphomaniac tendencies, and walked away.
"Man, I treat you to my signature drink and stand in as your fake boyfriend. I'm on roll tonight. Ronnie, you so owe me for not getting any sex tonight since you scared off the girls I was about to have a threesome with. In return, you and I will go into my bedroom and get it on."
"You sicken me."
"And I love you too, cutie pie!" he cooed and hugged her, pressing her face into his chest so she couldn't complain.
-

Logan thought his plan was perfect. He found the creepiest weirdo he could at the party and pushed him to Veronica, who he knew would be dateless because he'd overheard Parker and Mac's earlier conversation about dates and who was coming. Brad had been the perfect creep. He was expecting a drink to be thrown at him or a taser to be brought out and unleashed on him. Instead, Veronica ran to Dick and announced loudly that he was her "sweetie". Logan knew she'd found a fake boyfriend to get rid of Brad, but he couldn't stop the jealousy that rippled through him at the sight of Veronica in another man's arms.
"Are you okay?" Parker had come up behind him.
"Oh, yeah. Totally."
"I was going to cut the cake and-
"Great idea! I'll make a toast."
"A toast?"
Logan picked up a glass and fork and tapped them together.
"Can I have everyone's attention? I'd like to make a little speech about the fabulous girl we're all celebrating tonight. Parker." He held out an arm and she gave a shy smile at all the attention and stepped into his side embrace. "Parker is one of the most beautiful people I know, inside and out. She is turning 19 today and I'm happy to be here celebrating her birth because if she hadn't been born I wouldn't have such an amazing person in my life now. I've never felt happier than how I feel with her."
"Aw" most of the partygoers cooed.
"Happy birthday, baby." He said and dipped Parker back to kiss her passionately.
The room burst into applause as everyone cheered for the couple so clearly in love. Everyone but a little blonde who pushed through the back of the room and slipped out the open door, running towards the elevator.
When Logan righted Parker and smiled at the room, he was looking for one face in particular. He was disappointed when he couldn't find it. He saw Dick running from the room and he assumed he was chasing the latest piece of meat for him. When Parker cried more joyous tears and pulled him in for a hug, all he could think of was another blonde. A petite one who was annoying and stubborn and absolutely amazing. He pasted a smile on his face because he didn't want to ruin Parker's night. He didn't want her to see the guilt he felt for such a big lie.
Logan had lied when he said he'd never felt happier than with her. There had been a time when someone else had made him happier. Someone who had run from the room in tears, even if Logan didn't know that.

"Ronnie, wait up!" Dick wasn't sure why he'd followed the girl.
He knew she was crying because he heard her little sob of pain as she escaped the room. He had been the only one to notice it over the cheering at Logan's lovey dovey crapstorm. Dick knew Logan wasn't in love with the Parker chick and the overdramatizing was annoying.
"Go back to the party, Dick. Support your best friend." She wiped the tears from her eyes and stepped into the elevator the second it opened, offering a chance at freedom from her pain.
"Nope." He stepped in with her and pressed the button for the lobby.
"Why do you care?" she asked, trying in vain to stop fresh tears.
"How can we keep up the beautiful friendship I don't care when you cry?" he asked, feeling awkward with the moment.
"Beautiful friendship, huh? Ok, Casablancas."
"Really?"
"I can't say this isn't extremely weird…. But I wouldn't mind some food. I didn't touch anything but alcohol in there."
"Me neither… Luigi's?"
"It's my favorite eatery in Neptune." She said, surprised. "Did Logan tell you that?"
"No. I remember. You used to go crazy when Duncan or Lilly would order it for the table."
"That was a long time ago." She said quietly.
Dick wasn't one for memories or nostalgia. A trivial fact like her favorite takeout food was something he would forget in seconds. So, why hadn't he?
"I have a good memory, surprisingly."
"You've surprised me a lot today."
"In a good way?"
"Yeah." She answered with a small smile that he returned.

A part of her was still aching from Logan's words about being happiest with Parker and her friends were still in that suite, cheering on the gorgeous couple, but she wasn't alone. She wasn't on her way to cry into her pillow, hug Back-up, and drown her sorrows in gallons of fattening ice cream.
She had someone who cared… she had Dick Casablancas. God certainly had a sense of humor when it came to Veronica's life.