Thanks to everyone who reviewed the story. As it is clear now, I am sure, this is not a one shot. Here is the next chapter; I hope people enjoy it. This chapter is a bit shorter, but you'll find that with this story; the chapter lengths are varying a lot as I write.
And it's a winding road
I've been walking for a long time
I still don't know
Where it goes
And it's a long way home
I've been searching for a long time
I still have hope
I'm gonna find my way home
Veronica woke up to Logan's arms wrapped around her waist and his face nuzzled into the back of her neck. As she stirred, she felt his arms tighten around her and heard him murmur, "'onica," into her hair. She turned instinctively started to turn around in his arms but froze instead. She was thinking to herself and kept coming up with the conclusion that this had been too easy. How many times had they been here, and how many times had things ended painfully? She just didn't know if she could do it again.
So instead of turning around to cuddle with Logan, she quickly slid from the bed, saying, "I've got to go."
Suddenly, Logan was completely awake. "Go? Why Veronica, where?" He was climbing out of bed and trying to pull his pants on without tripping as he followed her into the living room. "Veronica, why are you running away?"
"I'm not running away," she stated assertively. "I just have to go. My dad will be wondering where I am."
"That is just an excuse, and you know it," Logan retorted back. "I've seen you do this enough. Tell me Veronica, what is it about me that scares you so much?" he questioned and sat down on the couch. He was hoping to pull her into a conversation and it seemed to be working.
Though she wasn't coming to sit next to him, she had stopped and turned to face him. Veronica didn't know what to say, but Logan was looking at her with the eyes that turned her legs to jelly and made her want to run. It was the look from outside the Camelot after their kiss, from the night of the anti-prom, from the elevator after they'd broken up. If she ran, she would prove to him he was right, that she was afraid. "I'm not afraid of you," was all she managed to get out, and the moment she said it she knew it was a lie.
"Then what is it?" Logan asked. "Do you still not trust me?" Logan stood back up and crossed to Veronica. He ran his hands up and down her upper arms. "Come on Veronica, if we don't talk about it how are we supposed to make this work?"
She just looked at him. He had called it. How were they supposed to make it work, this time? Logan read her silence. "Or maybe that is it? You don't want to make it work." He backed away from her slightly.
Veronica could see the pain in his eyes, but it served as a confirmation to her fears. If they could hurt each other this much, this easily, then was it really worth it. "I don't know Logan," she finally said. "I care about you; I do," she said crossing to him and placing a hand on his forearm. "It is just we've been here three times before, and maybe baseball has it right - Third strike you're out. I mean, what says this time will be any different than the others? We keep hurting each other over and over again. That isn't what a relationship is supposed to be."
Logan took her hand in his and led her to the couch where he urged her to sit. "Veronica, honestly, does it hurt any less when we aren't together?" She just looked up at him, so he continued. "Don't we at least owe ourselves the chance? Let me take you out Friday and prove to you that this can work."
"I leave for Virginia tomorrow," Veronica replied.
"Oh," Logan said. "I guess I didn't realize it was so soon."
"Maybe it is good. I need some time to think anyway," she stated. "Maybe the time away will help. I'll see you in August." With that, she stood and walked out of the apartment. By the time she reached the elevator, tears threatened to spill down her face. Inside, Logan had punched the couch with his already bruised knuckles.
