Author's Note: Still definitely not mine!
… thanks for the reviews and follows, and favourites! … they make me feel special … and want to continue writing! x
"I just need your best John Hancock, here and here, and it's all legal." Logan hesitated, holding the pen out of her reach. "Mac, you really should get a lawyer to look at it first. I'm not gonna go all Zuckerberg on your ass, but, you should know what you're signing."
"I read it big-shot! No hidden clauses, the print wasn't even all that small. Maybe you should explain the long words to me though, oh Great and Powerful Oz."
"Ok, Toto, you've gotta know a law student through the nerd-vine though. Please get someone else to read it over before you sign."
She rolled her eyes at him, lunged for the pen and scrawled her signature onto the papers. "Look, all legal…"
"Hey!" Dick was leaning in the doorway. "If you're gonna cheat on Ronnie while she's playing away with the Feds, best not leave a paper trail for her to follow. You gotta be, you know, a little stealth about it."
"Hey Dick." She hadn't seen him properly since the day he'd helped out with Parker. It was easier thinking about it that way, than the day they'd cried over Cassidy.
"Hey Macadoodle. So, what's he paying you? He's loaded n'all, but I doubt he can afford you." Dick was obviously in a more buoyant mood.
"You know it's not a compliment when it makes me want to bathe in bleach, right?"
"Well, doesn't this just make me feel peachy." Logan handed her the cheque and got up from the couch. "So, we're celebrating! Champagne? Vodka? I can raid a maids cart for bleach if you insist…"
"I'm ok thanks. Water will do."
"We can't toast with water."
"It's bad luck Macaroni." said Dick, slouching on the couch beside Mac. "Break out the champagne. Sooo, what's the business?"
"Grade My Ass. We're just sorting out the legal stuff, first quarter revenues, etc."
Dick was smirking. "Sorry, I didn't hear anything after you asked me to grade your… you know." He gestured.
"If you can find me on the website, you're welcome. Otherwise, anything below eye level is off limits."
Logan was back with glasses and a bottle straight from the refrigerator. "Unfair Mac! He has summer classes starting tomorrow, and we're doing just fine without sending Dick on a fruitless search to boost our ad revenue."
"What makes you think it would be fruitless?" asked Mac with a wicked smile.
"Ok, evil temptress. Did you manage to look at the cheque, or have you been too busy tormenting Dick?"
She opened the envelope, slipped out the piece of paper and felt her face breaking into a grin. Logan's school project was really paying off. "Wowzers, and this is just the first quarter?"
"Well, you aren't quite in Zuckerberg's league, or even the guys he screwed, but it is a start. I'm just glad you're the tech genius and not my business manager. And to think I got a D for the project. Your unsullied naïveté is adorable Gadget Girl."
She's still smiling as she puts the cheque back into its envelope, and safely into her purse. "Purity is a virtue Logan, especially when it blinds my adversaries." Her first business had been lucrative, but Logan & Dick didn't need to know she was behind the Purity Test Website that had rocked Neptune High for one fun filled week, and paid for her VW Bug with change to spare.
"So, shall we toast?" asked Logan handing round the glasses.
Dick took the champagne bottle and handed it to her. "Come on Mac-Attack. This is your celebration. Break out the Bubbles."
Their toasts got silly, but when Dick started with "Awesome Asses" there was really only one direction they could take. Her suggestion of "Delightful Dicks" was probably a mistake, but who doesn't indulge in a bit of drunken flirty silly banter with friends when they come into money and are loaded up on champagne. Was Dick a friend now? Things were definitely easier than before, but… 'live for the moment' she reminded herself. 'Tomorrow will look after itself.'
Another bottle later, and they even found themselves some inspiration. So, while Dick ordered food they decided to register some new domain names before they were snapped up.
"Vegan please Dick." She shouted across the room. She definitely needed something to eat if she was going to sober up enough to drive home, and she didn't think Dick was normally a vegetable kind of guy.
"What's that, like mega vegetarian?"
"More or less."
"Hi, could you put me through to the chef please? Thank you … Hi, Thomas? Hi, how's the wife? … kids enjoying the summer? … yes, special request dude … could you whip up a vegan feast for my friend? We're celebrating. Thanks! … oh, me? … yeah, Logan's here too, we'll have burgers." Dick received a thumbs up from Logan "… all the trimmings, potato wedges and a stack of nachos as well please … Thanks! … oh, and could you send up a fruit basket? Fab!"
Mac looked up for the computer and smiled, she'd been here a few times, and she'd never seen fruit, not even when Veronica was practically in residence.
Logan's phone rang. "Aaaah, the little missus" he answered "Calling to check up on my summer dalliances, Snookums? … no, just the one … independently wealthy, yeah, she is inebriated … I happen to know her ass is A Grade … yeah, it's just possible she's corrupting us, Dick ordered a basket of fruit! … that's some FBI mojo you've got working for you all the way in Virginia … or do I need to sweep the suite for bugs?" Logan held his hand over the phone "Veronica says Hi, and apparently you aren't allowed to drive home as she doesn't think you can hold your booze." He spoke back into the phone and wandered off to his room, "Obviously we're going to have to improve her stamina this summer if she's gonna make it as a sloshed sophomore! … yes, of course we'll look after her … yes, I miss you too Cottoncandy… "
Logan closed the door behind him, and Mac continued her typing, it was only slightly 'improved' by the alcohol she'd consumed.
Logan and Veronica were 'On Again'. Well, Piz was out of the picture at any rate. He really didn't get it - Veronica and Logan. And happy enough just doesn't cut it, when you're used to the rollercoaster of adrenaline that comes with the love of a bad boy.
Officially they were just friends, waiting for sophomore year when Veronica would return to Neptune. Unofficially, Logan appeared to be playing it safe and staying well away from the ladies. Mac had spoken to Veronica regularly in the week since she'd left for her FBI internship, Veronica's PI mojo was really no mystery, she knew Mac was visiting on business this evening, even if she hadn't been able to pick up on Logan's hints.
"Entertain me MackyC."
"I'm working Dick."
"You're drunk and it's late, you can't be doing anything too important. Soooo, while you've got the computer open, you could, you know, show me?"
"And miss out on all that ad revenue?" she asked innocently.
"No fair."
She looked up at him, and asked as blandly as she could. "Do you really think it's there?"
"I've not decided yet. Before, I'd have said definitely not, but… but, I'm realising I barely know you Cindy."
"How?" she was surprised.
"It's on the contract papers."
"Oh"
"It's different."
"It's not really me."
"No, it's not really… Macalicious."
Mac continued typing while Dick switched on the games console and returned to sit beside her. Playing Halo on mute isn't really the way it's meant to be played, but apparently this was Dick's way of being less of a jackass.
When Mac finished her work, she picked up the second controller. Schooling Dick was a lot less frustrating than watching him play. And even without a 'Logan shaped Buffer' they had managed to relax into one another's company by the time their room service arrived.
Logan investigated the trolley of food enjoying Dick's discomfort when his head was blown off one final time. "Dinner's ready children. Jump to it, wash your hands, and maybe there'll be dessert."
"Wow… I was expecting, like a salad." Instead she received a selection of delicious mini-dishes: Vegetable Paella, Dainty Spring Rolls, Bean Salad, her own vegan mini-nacho stack, and for dessert a stack of vegan pancakes with chocolate covered strawberries and maple syrup. The boys had opened a bottle of white wine and topped up her glass whenever she forgot to say no.
"Dig in Mackers … the kitchen must be bored with club sandwiches, steak and burgers."
"We had Pizza last night!"
"Yeah, but that was take out … Sooo, is Ronnie missing me Bro?"
"So much so, she couldn't bring herself to talk about you Dick. She did give me the numbers of a couple of gentleman's clubs, where she hopes I may find an accommodating lady or two to entertain me in the long summer nights ahead … I said I'd probably pass the numbers on to you though. Apparently that was ok with her. How's Wallace doing in Uganda Mac?"
"It's only been a week, but he's been writing me long emails, whenever he's had the chance. It's really important for him to listen to their stories and help relate those stories to the rest of the world, so I think the emails are helping him think it all through. It's not easy visiting the displacement camp, and hearing about the lives of child soldiers though, and even harder to help them move forward I guess..."
She continued after a moment's thought. "How do you move on after stuff like that? The kids are programmed to kill, turned into killers by the adults around them, to enjoy killing, to encourage one another to kill. Then when they escape they have to go back to a normal life."
She could feel Dick holding his breath, staring at her, thinking of Cassidy again, and decided it was prudent to switch subjects. "So, what do you two have planned for the summer? Is South America… Surfing not back on, after…" She was thinking of Parker and Logan's split. "Well, Veronica's on the other side of the country, you don't have to stick around here?"
Logan shared a look with Dick before answering. "We decided against it. We're going for spontaneity and frivolity right here in Neptune. We have waves, and room service, and we just discovered that the chef can really cook! Dick's signed up for a couple of summer classes."
"And Logan's staying away from Trouble… and Kandy, and Crystal, and Misty, and … all of the seven dwarves really."
"I can't stand the whistling. How about you?"
She grinned, "Yeah, the whistling can really grate. I especially hate it when bluebirds try to help me get dressed in the morning."
"And your summer? Staying in Neptune?"
"Yup, back with the 'rents. I agreed on condition they don't try to pack me into the RV for a camping trip. I've a short internship at Kane Industries coming up, and I'll be on campus quite a bit, I signed up to work with one of the computing PhDs, so I get to play with the supercomputer. Well, I get to get them coffee while they get to play with the supercomputer."
"Do they have Halo?" … Trust Dick.
"No, but I'm hoping for Global Thermonuclear War or maybe Tic-Tac-Toe. Joshua is keen on his War Games, so I may get lucky."
"That the Post-Doc?"
"No, the computer. Am I gonna have to school you in classic movies?"
"What's your favourite?"
They all spoke at once.
"The Goonies" … "Point Break" … "Anything without my Dad"
Mac hadn't intended to stay with Logan for more than an hour or so. Their business didn't take long, but after a week back home with her parents, the verbal ping pong of college banter was a welcome relief. Yes, she had Max for entertainment, but her boyfriend, was … well … there was the sex! But communication had never been good, and was definitely lacking since he'd dropped his degree to concentrate full time on supplying slackers with stolen test papers. What had once been an amusingly ironic sideline to a Philosophy degree, was now a source of irritation. They had the summer to work on things though.
Logan and Dick were diverting company, and if they didn't have anything better to do on a Sunday evening than ply her with good food, alcohol and fast paced conversation then why not let them entertain her. It was late though, and the parental gatekeepers would be worried if she didn't make it home.
"So, movie marathon Macaracker?"
"Sorry, I believe it's pumpkin time! If you find a glass slipper you can keep it - they pinch my feet!"
"Uh, you can't drive Mac, V would kill me… and you… and then she'd find a way to kill me again."
"Sorry, Mackers, no keys till you've slept it off. You can take Logan's room, he can sleep on the couch. What?" Dick gestured to Logan. "I have class tomorrow."
"So chivalrous bro!"
"Thanks, not necessary though. I'm a big girl, I can find my own designated driver."
"Max?" queried Logan as she pulled her cell phone out and pressed the speed-dial.
She nodded, it was ringing. No… voicemail. Was Max ignoring her?
"No answer?"
"He's probably asleep." She tried to rationalise her annoyance. He probably wasn't expecting her to call this evening, but he didn't have to send her call to voicemail.
"You really can stay CindyMac." Dick reached out to rub her shoulder. "We can get you a room if you'd prefer."
She suddenly felt nauseas. She needed to get out of the hotel. It was barely a year since Cassidy had left her naked and terrified in his hotel room, and, and… She wasn't ready to go back!
Her brain was on automatic as she dialled the taxi company and left the hotel suite. She was vaguely aware of Logan following her into the elevator, riding down with her, waiting with her in the lobby, talking to her, and placing cash into her hand as he walked her out to the taxi. After she heard him giving the driver her address she snapped back into consciousness.
"I'm ok Logan, thank you. Honestly, I'm ok."
Her phone was ringing before the taxi had gone more than a couple of blocks. She looked down, expecting it to be Max, but of course it was Veronica.
"Sorry Veronica, I didn't mean to freak him out."
"It's ok, he understands. So, what's this about Dick ordering fruit? That'd throw me off balance too!"
Mac grinned "Yeah, that was it. He ordered fruit, and sweet-talked the chef into some delicious vegan dishes, and we played Xbox, while you and Logan got better acquainted."
"Hey, I was telling him about my filing system."
"Of course. I wouldn't dare to think anything else, least not now you have the power of the FBI behind you."
"When are you starting at Kane?"
"I get to play with the Hearst supercomputer tomorrow afternoon, the Kane internship doesn't start till next week."
"The Data Security Research Department."
"The irony isn't lost on me Bond. I'm gonna keep my head down, get the coffee, and hope nobody joins the dots. I accepted the internship before…" Mac stopped, she didn't need to spill dangerous secrets in a taxi. She smiled. At least she was thinking straight again.
"… you hacked into Jake Kane's revolting secret files?"
"It'd have looked suspicious if I'd pulled out!"
"So…" Veronica paused "It was the suggestion you get a hotel room?"
"Yes. Dick very kindly offered Logan's bed earlier, and that didn't faze me at all."
"Logan is indeed a great snuggler."
"Eeeew, the suggestion was that he took the couch… I think I'm so used to their suite now, it… it didn't bother me. Then I called Max for a lift home and he sent it to voicemail. I was just off guard and it shocked me."
"Feeling better now?"
"Much, thanks! Oh god, what time is it? I'm sorry V, it must be nearly morning there."
"Nearly, still I get to hang out by the coffee machine all day, I'll be fine!"
"You can go back to sleep now. Honestly!"
"I'm not doing this for you Q, I know you're fine. I have to report back to Logan that you're safely home, or else he's not going to be able to sleep, and I doubt he'd let Dick sleep either."
"Ok, ok, just pulling up outside." As she reached for her wallet, she realised she was holding a fifty dollar bill. Tucking it carefully into the back of her wallet she paid the driver, picked up her purse, and carefully looked around the back seat of the car.
Veronica listened as the car drove away.
"Ok … I'm walking up the driveway. The footsteps you can hear are mine. Nobody waiting in the bushes for me. I'm putting the key in the door. Turning it." Mac switched to whisper mode, hoping her parents were firmly asleep. "I forgot my computer in their suite. I'll have to swing by tomorrow when I collect the car."
"You sure you're ok Mac? I can stay on the phone till you fall asleep if you like."
"No, it's ok V. I just have to write a quick note to the parents, and hope they don't ask me why I didn't drive myself home. Thank Logan and Dick for me, they were great, I had a really lovely evening. Maybe the summer won't be so bad after all, I forgot what it's like to hang with friends!"
"Night Q."
"Night Bond."