Chapter 7 - Wrong
Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you're wrong
"Mac Attack, whachta doing today?" Veronica's voice sang down the phone to Mac's bleary, half-awake personage.
"Veronica," Mac said, drawing out the word as if in great pain, "the reason I work from home, under my own conditions, is so I can avoid waking up before 10 and seeing people before noon."
"Even Dick?" Veronica asked playfully.
Mac smiled tenderly, "No, you dope. Anyway, you've woken me up, what on Earth could you want?"
"Well I actually have a present for you, one I think you'll like," Veronica began enticingly. "However, you don't seem to be in the mood for my company so…"
"Hang on, I'll bite. Give me half an hour?" Mac gave in.
Thirty minutes later Veronica stood rocking on her heels on the Casablancas doorstep waiting for Mac to let her in.
Mac opened the door and Veronica held out a bag and said, "As promised, one present. Now I'll just say a brief explanation. This is something I got for you when I decided to come back. It's not available to just anyone, I got it through my work, and it's still very knew there, but I got it for you. It's on of those new wonderful contraptions that you tech savvy people use in your helpful, or not so helpful, stalking missions."
Mac delved into the bag and made an almost squeal, or as close to a squeal that Cindy Mackenzie Casablancas made. "Veronica, this is actually the best present, ever. Seriously, next time you owe me a massive apology and explanation you should just give me something like this."
"Well there won't be a next time, but I'll keep it in mind for future presents," Veronica replied, pleased with Mac's reaction.
Mac just stood there staring lovingly at her new toy and Veronica laughed indulgently. "Now that I've given you your present it's time for me to make a request," Veronica stated.
Mac nodded and Veronica continued, "Well, I think it's time we all got together, maybe made a day of it, it's summer, you've got a great place, so let's have a get together here!"
"Alright Simple Susie the Sunshine girl, I think we can manage that. If worst comes to worse I'll break the rules and get Dick to hire someone to take care of the cleaning up. I like to try to do everything, but occasionally, I give in," Mac admitted.
"Alright. So I was thinking, you and Dick of course, and Logan and me, my dad, Alicia, Wallace, Wallace's Amanda, who is just great for him from what I can tell, and Duncan and Lily, I think," Veronica finished. "It's time we let Duncan acclimatise with all of us, food, the beach and waves are just the ticket."
"Good, glad we've sorted that. Now can't we go back to being a crime fighting duo, Bond?" Mac queried, almost seriously.
Veronica decided to answer Mac's veiled question. "I will 'get back to fighting crime' Mac, but after summer I think. I will need my Q then of course, at market price too, naturally. However, until then, I'm only Simple Susie."
"Okay then," Mac said. "How has it been, being back, seeing your Dad all the time?"
"It just like old times, but better, I think," Veronica answered. "We're all happy now, whole, if you would. I drop by most days, we joke, eat, watch whatever sport it on, sometimes we talk shop, a weakness of mine, you know."
"I know, Susie," Mac said, with a little eye roll.
"Oh please don't let that be a nickname that sticks," Veronica groaned. "I already have Sugarpus."
"You'll always have Sugarpus," Mac replied with a knowing smile.
Veronica smiled back and Mac, the shortly left to drop by her dad's house to issue them with an invite.
"Alicia? It's Veronica," she called into the house.
"Hello Veronica," Alicia called from the kitchen.
"I know Dad's at the station, but I thought I'd drop by and let you know that Mac and I've arranged a get together for this Saturday, and you and Dad are welcome," Veronica told her.
"That sounds like a lovely idea, who should I except to have to keep in line?" Alicia asked, only marginally joking.
"Oh the usual suspects, our lovely hosts, Mac and Dick, Logan, Wallace and Amanda, I rang him on the way over and they'll come, and I haven't asked Duncan yet, but hopefully he and Lily will come," Veronica replied.
"So," Alicia said slowly, "Duncan is back, for good?"
"Looks like it," Veronica answered. "I'm loving getting to know Lily, Duncan's done such a great with her."
"It'll be nice to see her hopefully then. Now, do you want me to bring anything on Saturday? Veronica, there's no need to look bashful, I know you want me to bring something, you may be secretive at times, but you're predictable," Alicia told her laughing.
Veronica looked gleefully at her and asked, "Would you please bring your famous potato salad?"
Alicia nodded indulgently and Veronica laughed happily.
As Veronica made her way back to the Grand she dialled Duncan's number and waited for him to answer, but he didn't, so she began to leave a voicemail message, "Hey Duncan, just letting you know we're having a get together on Saturday, at Mac and Dick's, and we'd love it if you and Lily could come. Talk soon."
Veronica then dialled Logan's number and got his voicemail too and heard his familiar voice say, "This is Logan with today's inspirational message 'What I've learned is not to change who you are, because eventually you're going to run out of new things to become' – Taylor Swift."
Veronica chuckled at Logan's choice of inspiration for today's quote. She laughed into the beginning of her message and then said, "Hey, it's me, I guess you're busy writing. Come see me when you're done," she finished flirtatiously.
Veronica sat on her lounge, dressed in her underwear and a little t-shirt, waiting expectantly. She was not disappointed as a little while later Logan let himself into her room, a self satisfied grin on his face.
"Aww it looks like my psychotic jackass is back. How'd you manage that little number?" Veronica asked teasingly.
"Now Sugarpus, I just used my charm, and maybe my connections. All I did really was ask for a room key, that's all. Really, compared to smashing headlights, et cetera, that was pretty tame of me," Logan said roguishly.
"Ah, you found a new Tiffany," Veronica said, as if finally comprehending the situation.
"Oh no, no, no my dear. That's where you're wrong, I look not for them, they find me. Rather, they flock to me," Logan replied in a pompous tone.
"Oh tell me more Mr Echolls," Veronica said, pretending to swoon.
"Nope, I've got bet plans," Logan answered, moving towards Veronica. He stooped down and kissed her, tenderly, then passionately, then just a lot, really.
A while later as they retrieved their clothes, Veronica said, "Well, you certainly are just as clever at that as ever."
"Well, I haven't been practising," Logan said seriously. "At first I was so upset, and I tried to find 'comfort' elsewhere, but pretty soon I realised it was futile, and that I was a jackass. So I stopped, and waited, knowing that there was something, someone, much better out there for me."
Veronica's eyes moistened and she moved over to Logan and cupped his face with her hands and said chokingly, "I love you, I don't deserve, but I'll keep trying to for the rest of forever."
Veronica and Logan enjoyed the next couple of days, lounging around together, visiting the beach, with Veronica wanting, and getting, many, many servings of gelato, and there may have been some activities of a tactile nature.
Saturday rolled around, sunny and hot, the sky was cloudless and a breeze was not present very often. Everyone was down on the beach, alternating between being in the water and lazing around in the sand. Alicia, Veronica and Mac could be found in the cool, stainless steel kitchen in the Casablancas house, preparing a buffet lunch. Lily flitted in and out, wanting to spend more time with Veronica, and the new women she had found to get to know. Duncan, Logan and Dick had boards out and surfed on and off. Wallace and Amanda splashed in the waves and Keith surveyed the situation with satisfaction.
Duncan had been watching Veronica closely at various points during the day, his eyes almost automatically drawn to her toned figure that was very much revealed by the little red bikini she sported. Logan had also spent some time ogling at his, well, his Veronica, and Dick had whistled once playfully and had swatted at her. Veronica merely told him with a blank face, "Dick, I am very well trained in the art of handling a gun. I even have a permit to have a concealed weapon."
Dick just laughed unconcernedly and said, "Same old Ronnie."
As the afternoon wore on, the sun stayed blisteringly hot. Logan, Veronica, Duncan, Alicia and Keith were sitting under the shade of the veranda, sipping ice tea when their supply ran out.
Veronica stood and said, "I'll just go fill these up."
Duncan grabbed one of the jugs and said, "I'll come help."
They walked into the kitchen and Veronica set her jug down on the bench. She turned around and was startled to find Duncan only an inch from her. She started a little and he put his jug next to Veronica's. He the cupped her face and swiftly kissed her, her mind reeling, but not reacting.
The pair broke apart at the sound of two people making noises of shock and horror. Logan and Wallace stood there, Wallace looked incredulous, and Logan crushed. Logan turned and fled, Wallace stood a moment longer, shook his head and followed Logan outside. Duncan ran his hand through hair and Veronica finally reacted. "Duncan Kane, what were you thinking? Why did you do that? Do you have any idea the mess you've created?"
"Veronica, it's not entirely my fault, you didn't pull back from me," Duncan replied.
"Duncan, I didn't kiss you back, I just didn't pull back. I barely had time to react, if I did kiss you back at all it was only out of an old habit. I'm not in love with you, you'll only ever be my friend. I'm in love with Logan," Veronica explained firmly.
Duncan stood there and nodded. "I know, I'm an idiot. I don't even know why I kissed you, well I guess I do. It's like you said, old habits, and I guess loneliness. I suppose I always kind of held onto the idea of you, long after I'd left, and then today, the heat was just overwhelming. God! I'm an idiot."
"Yes, you are, at least you know it," Veronica said sternly. "I have to go and find Logan now and fix this, you'd better be working hard to as well!"
Veronica walked outside and Mac stood there looking reproachfully at Veronica. Dick stood behind her, glaring. Veronica just sighed, "Look I've said it before, but, please just wait, I need to find Logan. There is actually an explanation, just give me a chance."
Veronica looked down the beach and saw that Logan had moved quite a long way away, and Wallace was about half way between them. Veronica moved off in the direction of Wallace and when she reached him she looked at him sadly and said, "Wallace, I know what it looked like, but please let me explain."
"Superfly, whatever it was, you're still my best friend, but an explanation would be pretty good right about now," Wallace said, surprisingly gently.
"He followed me into the kitchen, then he was just there, and grabbed me and kissed me. I didn't react, I just hadn't worked out what to do, my mind just froze," Veronica said all in a rush.
"Veronica, it's okay. I believe you, you probably should've slapped him or something though, instead of standing there looking like you were enjoying your lip lock," Wallace mildly reprimanded her.
Veronica looked devastated and nodded. "Is he mad?"
"He's pretty upset V, you should go and talk to him now," Wallace prompted her. "I'll go and calm the others down alright. These things tend to get blown out of proportion fast, especially because it's Veronica Mars in Neptune."
With that Wallace walked off and Veronica quickly made her way to where Logan had settled himself in the sand, his knees drawn up to his chest. Veronica sat down next to him and he looked at her, pain radiating from his eyes. "Logan," she started brokenly, "I'm sorry, I'm so, so, sorry. You took a chance on me and I screwed up. He kissed me, and I froze, I should've pushed him away, but I was an idiot and I froze. That kiss meant nothing to me, nothing but trouble and pain. I'm not in love with Duncan, I'm in love with you, and now I've hurt you, and I don't know how I can ask for you to keep loving me, but I'm going to do it anyway, because I won't give up on us. Not because of something stupid like Duncan being an unthinking dick."
Logan looked at her, pain still etched into his features. "I guess I understand Veronica, but it doesn't erase the pain, and the reasons behind my pain are still real. I still love you, and want to be with you, but it just shows me that we have a long way to go," Logan explained seriously.
Veronica nodded, grief written all over her face. Logan looked at her and new, upset though he was, he still loved her more than anything, so he cupped her face and placed a gentle kiss to her lips. He then looked at her and said, "Well for the moment, I'm never leaving you alone with a single guy again. I think that might help us in our endeavour to create a closer relationship." Logan smiled gently and her and took his hand and together they made their way back up the beach to pick up on the mission of peace that Wallace had already begun.
AN: Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think :)
