DELETED SCENES
A/N: Scenes I cut from the story because it just seemed to work better without them.
.
It was harder to keep it a secret than Veronica realized when Lilly instantly honed in on the fact that her friend had woken up wearing clothes she hadn't gone to sleep in. More importantly, they were Logan's clothes.
On his part, Logan kept silent about the entire fiasco and let Veronica make her own excuses, internally damning himself for letting that detail slip his mind.
Lilly, at least, had been somewhat mollified when Veronica lied about how Logan's clothes were warmer than the ones she had, and she had changed into them out of necessity and not something tawdry.
Duncan, on the other hand, seemed keenly insistent to find out the truth from Logan.
Before Logan's driver arrived, Duncan pulled him to the side by the straps of his duffel bag.
"Dude," Logan uttered in annoyance.
"Are you interested in Veronica?"
"What?"
"You heard me."
"I heard you. Did you hear yourself? Or, did you forget I'm dating your sister?"
"Not right now you aren't."
"Ouch."
"I'm serious. Are you interested in her?"
Staunch in his refusal, he clearly stated, "No."
"But, if you are…"
"I'm not."
"Right… but, you know, if you ever are interested in her…"
"I won't be."
"I'm just saying…"
"She's not my type."
"Blonde and hot isn't your type?"
"She's not just blonde and hot, she's—" He cut himself short, wondering where he was planning to go with that before finishing lamely, "She's Ronnie."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
"Alright, but—"
"Duncan!"
"I'm just saying, if you are, though…"
Tired of so many things, including having to answer to Duncan's insecurities, and wanting to just leave so he could have a decent shower away from prying eyes, Logan snapped back spitefully, "And, if I am? What? What are you going to do? Forbid me? You can't stop me if I like her, man, so you might as well just step aside."
Logan smiled wide enough to bare his canines, daring him. Purposefully, he let the tension build between them before punching Duncan's shoulder playfully and breaking the moment. "I'm kidding," he laughed. "Relax. I know you've liked her since before you realized girls could make you tingle in your special place."
Where he stood, he could see Duncan's mind process what he had just said and practically cling to his explanation, preferring that over the other possibility, and rolled his eyes at his predictability.
After the initial surprise of Logan's joke had apparently worn off, Logan watched as Duncan broke out in relieved laughter.
He punched him back and said, "You had me going, man. I almost believed you."
"I'd say it runs in the family, but… you've seen my parents act."
Nodding along, Duncan clapped his hand to Logan's back, leading him back to rejoin the other two down on the pier. "True. But, you know, if you ever do…"
Logan rolled his eyes again. It was going to be a long ride.
.
Walking through the halls on the first day of school, Logan couldn't say much had changed. Practically everything was the same, except for the expected new freshmen faces. However, there were some things that he didn't expect. Case in point, before lunch his locker was practically empty. After lunch, not so much.
A small box lay in his locker, placed on top of the few papers he'd collected and deposited from homeroom. Picking it up between his fingers, he opened the top and saw a shell necklace. Confused, he looked around his locker and the box again, finding writing on its lid.
Thanks for everything. Our little secret. V. :)
Approaching from his own locker almost instantly, Duncan asked, "Dude? What's with the chick jewelry? Did you just find that in your locker?"
"Yeah. Just something Ronnie thought I liked apparently."
"Veronica gave that to you?"
"Yeah. Jealous?"
"I'm not the one who has to wear it."
"I prefer to see it as getting to wear it."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
To prove it, he placed it around his neck, fumbling with the clasp until he felt smaller hands than his own close it for him.
"Thanks, Ronnie," Logan said, knowing it was Veronica without having to turn around. "No one to escort today? Where's Lilly?"
Veronica rolled her eyes fondly and smiled. "Already in the office."
"For what?"
"Her clothes, shoes, and attitude, according to Vice Principle Van Clemons."
Unable to keep quiet, Duncan blurted, "What'd you give him a necklace for?"
Veronica's smile disappeared, and she shut her mouth tightly in alarm. Hastily, she made an excuse, "Was that the bell? We're going to be late for English. Later, Duncan."
"Dude," Logan said in farewell, going along with her.
Veronica linked her arms through Logan's and quickened their pace, weaving through the other students.
With them already reaching the corner and turning, he shouted too late, "But, I have English, too!"
However, even then, Duncan's words seemed to send her faster away.
.
