AN: I've got no excuses as to why this took so long other than that there's nine seasons of Supernatural on my Netflix account, begging to be watched. As always, many thanks to my beta, .smith!
Antistalking (v.)
To learn somebody's routine in order to systematically avoid them. Or, something Veronica had become quite skilled at recently.
Ever since What Happened With Logan had happened with Logan, she'd been avoiding him like the plague. She'd known that, yeah, it was going to happen, and, yeah, maybe she'd started it, but now it was very much not hypothetical. At all. Even remotely.
Lily had bailed on school that day, so at lunch Veronica sat down next to Mac and asked cheerfully, "So, you're like, my confidant, right? I tell you my secrets, and you're all with the zero judging?"
Mac looked up from her computer with a bemused expression. "Um, I guess? What's up, V?" V was her nickname among her new non-09er friends.
"Well, first I broke up with my boyfriend. And then I made out with my ex-boyfriends best friend. Who's also my best friends ex-boyfriend. Who's brother is my ex-boyfriend. Ugh! My head hurts."
"Jesus. Your life is like an awful soap opera. For that matter, all the 09ers lives are."
"Hm?"
"Apparently there was this huge fight between Logan and Dick this morning. After Logan and Lilly broke up, Logan slept with Dicks girlfriend Madison. I don't even get what the big deal is. They were broken up at the time."
"What?" Veronicas slight jealousy was over ruled by sheer elation. "Tell me Madison was there. Tell me Dick dumped her. Tell me she was ridiculed and humiliated and will never show her face again."
Mac stared. "Wow, V. I'm sensing a grudge here."
"It's a long, complicated story."
"Is it really?"
"Yes. But shortened; She's a bitch."
"Hello, Ronnie."
"What do you want, Dick?" Veronica asked without looking around.
"I don't want anything. I've got a message from Logan."
Mac cut in, "Aren't you two fighting?"
"Guys don't hold grudges very long." Veronica informed her.
"It's been four hours."
She amended, "Guys don't hold grudges at all." Turning back to Dick, she demanded, "What's the message?"
"Say please."
"No."
"Say it."
"I know who you did last summer."
"Close enough," Dick rushed. "He says to stop avoiding him. That's all."
"Thank you. You can go now."
As he hurried off, Mac turned to Veronica with a raised eyebrow. "Who did he do?"
Veronica shrugged. "How would I know?"
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Despite Logan's message, Veronica continued to ignore him. That evening however, she got two identical texts. One from Lilly, one from Logan. Both said;
I'm coming over.
Panicking, Veronica called Logan. It went straight to voicemail.This is Logan Echolls, with today's inspirational quote. "If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad. If it makes you happy, why the hell are you so sad?" Sheryl Crow. *Beep*
"Logan Echolls, I know you're there! Do not come here. Lily's on her way! Don't you dare show up!"
Hanging up, Veronica texted Lily; k, c u in a few ;)
Don't you dare winky face me, Veronica Mars.
Okay, using proper grammar and objecting to emojis. Lily's pissed.
Five minutes later, Lily stormed into the Mars household. Veronica gulped. Veronica Mars vs. Unstoppable Force of Nature. God, I am so screwed.
"Veronica Mars! How dare you?! Have you no shame? No common decency? How COULD you?!"
"I know Lil, I'm so sorry. I can explain -"
"No. No, I don't want to hear it. You broke up with your boyfriend - who's also my brother - and didn't tell me? I'm supposed to be your best friend!"
Veronica almost laughed with relief. Duncan. This was about Duncan, not Logan. Thank God. "I really am sorry, Lil. It wasn't really a premeditated decision, so I couldn't tell you beforehand. I was going to do it at school today, but you weren't there."
Still pouting, Lily sat down next to her. "You could have called."
"I wanted to tell you in person."
Lily glared for another few seconds, then broke into a grin and asked, "So why'd you do it? Was the sex bad?"
Veronica, who had just taken a sip of water, nearly did a spit take. After much spluttering, she got out, "Um, no.
"So you're still in possession of your V card?" Lily asked in disappointment.
Bloody sheets. Looking for her clothes. Shame and revulsion and violation coating her body like dirt - "Of course." Veronica replied with an eye roll, pushing the oncoming panic attack down.
"Well, good." Lily decided. "If you did it and didn't tell me, I really would kill you. So, why then?"
It took her a moment to realize that she was talking about the break up again. "I'm not really sure... There wasn't a certain reason, I don't think. I was just... bored."
Lily nodded sagely. "Boredom. The death knell for many a mediocre relationship. I can't tell you how many guys have left me because they were bored."
"Really?"
"I can't tell you because it never happened. They all worshipped me."
Veronica laughed, "That sounds more like it," bumping Lily with her shoulder, she added, "So we're good?"
"We're good," Lily agreed, "But I'm still mad at you."
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About half an hour later Lilly left, after making Veronica promise they would have a girls night that Friday. Veronica was more than happy to agree. She didn't spend nearly enough time with her best friend these days.
She had changed into sleep shorts and a camisole and was settling in to watch the Breakfast Club when the doorbell rang.
Veronica opened the door for Logan, not even pretending to be surprised. "Have you been waiting out here the entire time Lily was inside?"
"Yep," he replied unabashedly, following her inside. "What are you doing?"
"Watching a movie."
"Can I join you?"
"Only if you make popcorn."
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Veronica loved this movie. She had fully intended on watching this movie. So how did she end up watching Logan instead? He glanced up and caught her staring at him. He raised an eyebrow at her, and she let her head fall back. "What are we doing?" she asked the ceiling. When there was no answer, she elaborated, "Lily's my best friend."
Logan sighed. "And Duncan's mine. Look, Ronnie, I loved Lily. And she didn't love me."
Veronica felt the familiar sympathy. She loved Lily, but when it came to guys, she went straight for the newest, funnest toy, and left the old one behind. "I know Lily loved you."
"Just not the way I loved her. It's okay. You know... It kind of lets me off the hook."
"For what?" she asked soundlessly.
Veronica wasn't sure what she expected. Him to kiss her, maybe. Or close off and make joke. Change the subject. She wasn't expecting wide, sincere eyes and a whispered, "Moving on." She wasn't expecting a flutter in her stomach. Wasn't expecting the thought that maybe this feeling wasn't just lust. And she wasn't ready to feel those feelings, think those thoughts.
So she kissed him. She kissed him until she'd forgotten why this was never going to work, why they couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't do this. By the time they broke apart for air, Veronica was laughing. "What are we doing?" she repeated, and Logan grinned back at her.
"I have no idea."
AN: Last chapter, StarlightSweetie mentioned that Veronica wouldn't have pranked Logan if she'd known his dad might beat him, which is a good point, one I didn't think of. So just pretend that Aaron was out of town or Veronica had temporary amnesia or something. Sorry about that. By the way, I'm going to try to make the ships for this LoVe (duh), MaDi, and Lily/Wallace (WaLil? LiWa?)