A/N: Chapter four, back with Veronica. I have another chapter written but not typed, as well as a chapter in the middle of being written. So those should be up soon. Enjoy. R&R! Thanks! -Mac
Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars.
Four
"Okay, be honest," Logan said as he slid into the seat next to Veronica in the one class they had together sans the other two Kanes, "was Friday a setup to get me alone with the three of you?"
Veronica raised an eyebrow, "Why would you think that?"
"Well, for starters, I was the only one there for hours as all the other guests arrived suspiciously late."
"You caught us," Veronica sighed, rolling her eyes. It would figure that her sister's behavior would lack subtlety. Lilly was good at manipulating situations in her favor, but they often exuded an air of blatancy that made people aware at some level that they were being controlled—though Veronica had met quite a few people at Neptune high who couldn't tell at all. "Lilly told everyone else that the party started a couple hours later than what she told you."
"Ah-ha," Logan said dramatically. He grinned, "I think I could make a pretty decent private detective."
"Your skills rival Neptune's very own Vinnie Van Lowe," Veronica snorted "A dog in shades and a plastic badge could have seen through Lilly's charade."
"I should be insulted, but you speak the truth," Logan said. "So, tell me this, oh wise Veronica Kane, what was the purpose of this ruse?"
"I don't pretend to understand all of the things my sister does," Veronica answered. It wasn't the full truth, but it wasn't a lie.
"Your best guess?" Logan raised an eyebrow.
"Would be no better than yours," Veronica countered. She turned away to pull her things for class out of her bag.
"Okay then," Logan tapped his fingers on his desktop. "A different question: why did you go along with it? If I'm to believe the idle gossip of the halls, Kanes don't do anything unless it benefits them in one way or another. So what did my exclusive presence do to benefit you?"
Logan's voice held a tone that suggested double meaning. Veronica felt the warmth flood her cheeks as she considered what implications he was making. She kept her eyes on her desk and held her composure. She opened her folder and uncapped her pen without a word. Before their teacher could arrive, Veronica turned to Logan one last time to answer.
"It benefits me to not go against my sister," Veronica said. "The three of us act as one more often than not. So when Lilly catches onto a passing whim, Duncan and I follow along."
"Is that all I am? A passing whim?"
Veronica smirked, channeling Lilly's seductive attitude for a brief moment. She lowered her voice to a husky whisper, "I guess you'll just have to find out for yourself."
The door to the classroom swung open and their teacher strode in, immediately calling the class to order. Logan sat back in his chair and turned his attention to the front, but Veronica saw the smile that creeped over his lips. She wasn't sure what to think of him yet. At the party-ish get together, Logan had been charming and open. He told them stories of growing up in Hollywood and on location with Aaron and Lynn Echolls as his parents. He had been forthcoming with answers to all the questions Lilly pestered him with. Veronica now knew all about his favorite movie, Easy Rider; his favorite pastime, surfing; and his proclivity to leave inspirational messages as his voicemail recording. For the short time they had spent in Logan's company, the thing that Veronica knew best about Logan was that there was something that he wasn't telling them. She didn't know if it was something important or trivial. She just knew he wasn't sharing it with the three of them. Logan was welcome to his secrets; Veronica certainly had her own. Neptune was a city that thrived on the unspoken truths. Logan Echolls would fit right in.
Lilly had decided not only that Logan was a great fit for Neptune, but also a great fit for herself. Her sister hadn't said as much in those exact words, but Veronica could tell. Lilly wasn't working toward connecting Logan to the Kane trio, but to herself specifically. Veronica had mixed feelings about the whole ordeal, but she often did when it came to Lilly's schemes. This time more than usual, though, because Lilly wasn't sharing her plans with Veronica and Duncan as readily as in the past. It could be a slip up and Lilly would lay it out for them soon. Yet Veronica had a feeling that Lilly had other reasons. Like Logan, she would have to wait and see what would happen.
In the meantime, Veronica had other things to focus on—like what her teacher was saying to the class.
"Break into pairs everyone and discuss this weekend's reading. I'll have an assignment for the week handed out at the end of class."
Veronica glanced over at Logan and he nodded to her unasked question. He turned his desk toward hers and scooted closer. Incoherent chatter began to raise up around the classroom as other pairs began to talk—only half of which were actually discussing the assignment. Veronica pulled out her book and turned to the notes she had taken. Logan had his own book out, but from the look of its spine it hadn't been opened past the title page.
"Since you were honest with me about Friday, I'll be honest to you about something," Logan said. "I didn't do the reading."
Veronica smiled, "I can tell."
"So, do you wanna give me the sparknotes version or should we skip discussing it all together?"
"We certainly wouldn't be the only ones," Veronica closed her folder. "Anything in particular you'd like to talk about instead?"
"Sure," Logan nodded, "You, Veronica."
Veronica frowned, "What about me?"
"You're interesting, Veronica. Does it surprise you that I want to get to know you?" Logan said.
"I'm not that interesting."
Logan shook his head, "Sure you are. You're different than the people in the circles you run in. That alone is enough to peak my interest."
"And being different than those people, I wouldn't know what to say in an extended conversation about myself," Veronica said, "Now, Lilly, she could talk about herself for hours and not run out of things to say about herself."
"That doesn't surprise me," Logan scooted his desk an inch closer to Veronica's and lowered his voice, "but I don't want to talk about Lilly."
"Why not?" Veronica already felt uncomfortable with the focus on her. She didn't mind the spotlight when she chose to be the center of attention—as rare as those times were—or when it was thrust upon her as part of the collective unit of the Three Kanes, but it was nearly unbearable when unwanted and solely on her. It also didn't help that Veronica knew Lilly had something planned for Logan. It was best if she steered conversation back to her sister. "She's the one bring us all together. Lilly has taken an interest in you. Why not reciprocate?"
Logan studied her face for a few moments without a word. Veronica wondered what it was that he was trying to find in her features. She resisted the urge to pick up where she had trailed off and keep talking to fill the gap in conversation. She assumed that, eventually, Logan would say something.
"Should I believe that Lilly is the only one that has taken an interest in me?" Logan asked finally.
Veronica chose her words carefully, "What interests my sister interests me."
"But only to the point that it helps serve her purpose?"
"That's how it usually works, yes."
"Usually," Logan repeated. A small smile formed, suggesting that he had heard exactly what he wanted to hear.
"I know you're no stranger to getting what you want," Veronica continued. Time for diversion was over. She would have to be straightforward. "The 09ers at this school, my siblings and me included, all have our ways. Lilly is opening up a space for you at the top of the social ladder here—a place that is rightfully yours because of your name alone. You saw through our game, so the only reason you showed up on Friday was because you want the seat at our table. It's yours to take, but there's always a price to pay."
"And if I don't want to pay it?"
"There are consequences for that as well," Veronica responded. She tilted her head, "but you don't do well with people telling you what to do, do you?"
Logan smirked and laughed lightly, "No, I do not. What can I say? I'm a rebel."
"This is a place where everyone does as they please if they have the money and status to back them up. It's not very often that anyone's wants come in direct conflict with each other, but when they do, things happen and this place can turn into a disaster zone," Veronica had seen it come to that a few times when some of the girls thought they could contest Lilly for power. It hadn't turned out for them and others had learned a lesson. "Sometimes it's better to just fall in line."
"I think we're going to be great friends," Logan said. "You and me, and your brother and sister too. I think we'll find common ground fairly easily."
"If you say so," Veronica responded.
"I do," Logan nodded, "but falling in line is something I just don't do. So for this to work out for everyone, we may have to come to some other arrangement."
"I don't think I'm the one to talk to that about."
"You might just be exactly that person, Veronica."
Veronica could help the small smile, "I guess we'll just have to see what happens."
The bell rang to end the period for lunch, so Veronica packed up her things and went to collect the assignment sheet the teacher was handing out. She slipped out of the classroom into the hall quickly, before Logan could catch up, and came face to face with Lilly waiting by the door to the classroom. Lilly linked her arm with Veronica's and guided her around the corner toward the closest building exit to the main lunch area.
"How has your day been so far, Vee?" Lilly asked sweetly, smiling at Veronica.
"Pretty good," Veronica answered, "and y ours?"
"Absolutely splendid," Lilly said, "I've been planning."
"For our pep squad meeting, right? We're supposed to meet with the other girls right now, aren't we?"
"Oh that? No, I told them I needed to push that back a couple days. We'll see to all that business later," Lilly shook her head and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. "I've been planning our next move on the Logan front. Today, we'll offer him a place at our table. It'll officially claim him for the Kanes."
"And if he refuses?"
"Who would refuse us?" Lilly scoffed. "I know we cycle some of the other 09ers in and out of our main circle. We could do the same with Logan, or he can take a permanent place. If I leave it up to him, I don't think I would even need to offer the simplest persuasion for him to see what the right choice is."
Veronica sighed, "There is such a thing as free will."
"Free will isn't free in Neptune," Lilly said. She stopped at the end of the hall before the door out and pulled Veronica to a stop as well. Veronica met her sister's eyes as Lilly added, "I've been thinking and I think that Logan and I would make a good match. Don't you agree?"
Lilly looked down at Veronica pointedly. Veronica didn't have to dig very deep into the subtext to figure out what Lilly was trying to say. Lilly had noticed the way Logan had taken more of an interest in Veronica than her, and she wanted Veronica to confirm that she would back off. Veronica wasn't sure if Lilly really liked Logan or if it was just a power play, but in the end it didn't matter. She would let Lilly do as she pleased—if she could get Logan, then so be it. If Logan decided on a different direction, as he seemed to claim he would, then Veronica would see how it played out then. Until that happened, Veronica was a Kane and Kanes stood with their own.
"Lilly Kane and Logan Echolls," Veronica said. "It has a sort of ring to it."
