Taking a long, hard swig of vodka, I lean back into the sand on the beach. It's about 9:30...I think.

I've lost count a long time ago. Dad's still not home, if he were, he would've called me by now. But he hasn't and it's just as well anyway.

I close my eyes and listen to the waves as they gently roll in. I'm the only one on the beach and it's best this way, quiet and alone.

Taking another swig, I pay no attention to the burning sensation at the back of my throat. I feel numb.

"Woh, Ronnie, is that you?" Logan squints his eyes as he plops down in the sand next to me…"and, is that alcohol?" He looks awestruck. He lifts the bottle out of my hands and his jaw drops. "Geez, it's the hard stuff, too. What, Backup got ran over?" He asks gently.

"My mom left." I say simply and honestly, snatching the bottle away from him. No one, not even Lilly, knew about my mom's problems. No one knew that when I said I was going home to feed the dog, I was really checking on my mom.

"That's a good a reason as any. Do you know why?" Logan lies down next to me.

"She drinks a lot…" I say with a small hiccup. In my mind, I almost find it ironic that I'm using alcohol to numb the pain of the departure of my alcoholic mother.

"I had no idea." He says hollowly. Everyone knows that Lynn's got affection for alcohol and pills…so he knows what it's like.

"She's just been stressed a lot…and I don't-"

"It's fine." Logan whispers and takes my hand in his. "Veronica, you'll make it through. I know it."

"Thanks." I sigh. "What are you doing here? Not that I don't appreciate it…"

"I just came out here to think about Lilly and my father and everything."

"Oh."

"I just keep wondering what it is that I did that made her go after-"

"Don't you say dare start," I warn him caringly. "You didn't do anything to deserve this."

Logan remains silent as if mulling the possibilities over. As a pulse of rap music comes from the PCH, he squeezes my hand in comfort.

Arriving at school on Monday, I find that the whole school is looking at my newly clipped locks. Even Lilly does a double take from her locker. With an approving smile, she gives me thumbs up. I give her a simple, curt nod and walk away...trying to hide a secret ashamed smile.

Opening my locker, I hear a burst of peppy energy from right next to me. "Oh my God, Veronica, your hair!" Meg Manning touches the tips and shakes her head in disbelief. "You look so…"

"Different?" I finish for her with a weak smile. "I needed a change."

"Well, I'll be the first to say that it's totally cute!" Meg offers and then waves goodbye.

At lunch, Logan sits next to me and looks at me quizzically. "There's something different, I can't place it…" He says jokingly. "Did you do something to your hair?" He finally asks sarcastically.

"Bingo." I grin.

"Hot, Ronnie, real hot." He remarks and I shake my head.

"You're so full of it."

"What, blunt honesty?" He guffaws and waves over a delivery guy. "Look, after the crap we've gone through, I've decided we deserved a reward. Chinese takeout?" He signs the credit card slip and takes the bag from the delivery guy with a smile.

"You're sacrificing your almighty Pirate Points for little old me? Me?" I ask teasingly and immediately open one of the bags.

"Who else, huh? The best friend who's shunned me or the ex-girlfriend from the fiery pits of hell?" He exaggerates and I feel a bit of embarrassment for Lilly. "In case you haven't noticed, Veronica, you're my new BFF." He jokes but I can tell there's a small bit of truth to it. Is it possible that I'm the only person he really has left?

Taking a bathroom break during my 4th period, I see a pink Out of Order sign placed on the bathroom door. Lilly.

It used to be our signal…like if she and Logan had gotten in a snit, she'd just put the sign up and we'd have the bathroom to discuss and possibly rant about the situation privately. I can't help but think it's a sign.

Hesitantly, I enter and ask aloud "Lilly?"

"One minute, Veronica!" A voice exclaims from a stall in the corner. Great. Ihoist myself onto the counter and kick my legs playfully, immaturely.

She comes out and primps in front of the mirror, as always. She's not letting anything affect her. It's almost beautiful, but I know better.

"You needed to talk to me?" I ask finally, slightly impatient.

"Omgsh, yeah. Where have you been? I've needed you like whoa dang." She exclaims as she sits next to me on the counter.

"I've been a little shocked and dealing with my own stuff." I say softly.

"What? Like Duncan dumping you? Hate to say it, honey, but-"

"It's not Duncan, Lil." I say simply, almost acceptingly. "My mom, she left…and you, you and Logan's dad? It's a lot to deal with." I insist, almost tearfully.

"God, everyone's making such a big deal about it. I mean, really, it was just a few times…" She groans and contorts her face unhappily.

"That's not the point. It's Logan's dad and it's illegal, not to mention really, really wrong." I say harshly and abruptly get off the counter to better enforce my point.

"But, it's not like the end of the world. It's over and done with…" She says simply.

"Lilly, it's not. Sure, he's going to jail but Logan's definitely not fine. You didn't even tell me… we all feel like chumps." I pause "It's not fine, and until you can see that, I don't know if we can talk anymore."

"But, Veronica, you're my best friend." She says softly.

"That doesn't mean that I always have to agree with you. And maybe, for once, I'm actually going to take a stand." I pause again. "Surprising I know."

Amid her protests, I huffily storm out.

For my first assignment at the paper, I'm taking some pictures of Lynn's annual charity dinner. Lynn's actually looking the happiest I've seen her in months, maybe years. Like she's relieved, finally free. I've come to understand that maybe Aaron wasn't the easiest person to live with, but never to this degree. After catching a few happy, glamorous shots, I look for Logan. Not present.

I finally trek out to the pool house and find him splayed out on the mattress, nursing an almost empty bottle of alcohol.

"I'm sure the paper would love this." I joke and pretend to take his picture.

He scoffs and looks me in the eye "I can see it now 'Echolls Progeny a Drunk and Lay-about!'" He pats the bed and I uneasily hop on.

After a few moments of awkward silence, he finally says in an assumedly insightful voice (but I know him better), "You know, this is where my mom found the tapes. She was trying to find the key to the liquor cabinet, and found them instead. Imagine her surprise."

"Maybe this isn't the best place to be camping out, ever think of that?" I ask suggestively...I'm even feeling a bit...icky, being in here.

"Maybe not. But at least you're out here now, right? I'm not completely alone." He puts a comforting arm around me and pulls me in closer.

"Just exactly how much have you drunk out of that bottle?" I sigh tiredly as I smell the alcohol on his breath.

"Only half. Pretty sure my mom did the honor of christening it."

"She seems happy." I offer lamely.

"That's good." He gives me an honest smile. "Can you just stay for awhile? If that's not too much trouble?"

"Sure. Need a friend?"

"More than ever." He says simply, obviously an understatement.

"Hm. Same here." I grin back at him.

"Well, this is the perfect arrangement then, right?"

"Yeah…perfect." I say confidently, as I'm trying to convince myself too.

A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates lately...on both stories. I've been really busy with school and work...plus, I've had a major writer's block. Hopefully I'll be able to update more frequently. :)

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