AN: So it's been forever. And I know that I won't finish this by the beginning of the third season like I'd hoped. But I have three very good reasons. Well, more, but here are the core three.

My internet was out until last Saturday. Like since the beginning of June.

My cat died of lung cancer. I've had her since I was four.

My dad had blood cancer, fractured vertebrae, and several other problems.

Sorry about that.

I'm back to music. And here's my stuff right now

Ain't No Other Man, Christina Aguilera

Rooftops, LostProphets

Everything Is Alright, Motion City Soundtrack

Stolen, Dashboard Confessional (got the CD – yay!)

Lips of an Angel, Hinder

Spiderwebs, No Doubt (a little old school, but whatev)

One Girl Revolution, Superchick (same sentiment)

Crazy, Knarles Barkley

I Can't Hate You Anymore, Nick Lachey

Unfaithful, Rihanna

And I'm completely obsessed with Project Runway! Who else wants Michael to win?

Here are the anons ... sorry it's been so long!

skagirl – Being five most certainly does rock. I don't see why more people don't discover their inner child. It's quite fun.

DrTaylor – Of course they're meant to be. That's why the Donut was fired and Logan's still around. Woot, woot!

Ok, guess that's it. I'm too tired to think of other things. Except this is the longest chapter so far because this is the longest I've gone without updating. Obviously.

Disclaimer: Yes, it's true. I own Veronica Mars. I'm also the lead singer for LostProphets, wrote the Princess Diary series, and am secretly married to Adam Brody. Oh, and tend to cheat on him in copious amounts with one f-ed up hottie, Jason Dohring.

Mac: Complicated

Cassidy's face looked so, well, pure. He was smiling at me like I was the most important thing in the world, and he was literally glowing. "Mac, I love you," he told me softly, the sweetest curve to his grin making his eyes squint. I nodded, hazily content. Of course he loved me. He'd said so. What reason did I have to not believe him?

I didn't see his hand move, but he was clutching the top of my arm so my skin under it turned white. "I love you, Mac," he sneered, eyes cold and lips curled in a way that they sent a chill up my back.

And his hands were at my throat, and he was on top of me, bearing down and squeezing. "I raped Veronica, Mac." He tightened his grip and grinned wider. "I killed the people on the bus, Mac." Tighter. His face fell into disgusted rage. "That bastard touched me, Mac, and nobody knew, Mac. So I blew him up." Then he smirked a little a bit. And squeezed a little bit. "I screwed up your life over, Mac. And you still love me, huh?" He ran a finger down the side of my face. "Now you're here with me, where Logan and Ver-on-i-ca can't save you."

I opened my mouth to answer, what, I have no idea, when I heard someone else call me. Cassidy's face instantly smoothed back into the Cassidy I knew. He looked lost and sad and scared, and infinitely sorry.

"I love you, Mac."

"Hey, Mac!"

I shrieked as I woke up and the weight on my neck was still there. I thrashed around until the blanket that was wrapped around my throat hit the wall. I breathed in heavily, trying to clear my head and calm my heart.

"Uh, Ghost World?"

I screamed my annoyance and fear. "Dick, get OUT of here!" I chucked my pillow at him and glared. I could feel my face flush with confusion and misplaced anger. Why had I thought this would be a good idea? Me and Dick together ... it was just stupid.

Dick backed out quickly, his hands held out in front of him. "Dude, chill! I made breakfast."

"Oh." That was sweet, actually. Very un-Dick-like of him.

"But if you're getting all hot and bothered by the D-man being in your room, all you to do is say the word!" He rubbed his chest in what I assume was an attempt to be seductive and waggled his eyebrows suggestively. He grinned widely. "You know you want it, baby.

Ah. Now that was Dick-like.

I arched a brow. "Do you hear yourself when you speak?" I stood up and waved my hand at him. "Close the door while I change." I glared at him menacingly. "And don't even try to come back in. Veronica gave me a taser."

Dick groaned. "You take all the fun out of having a co-ed, Mac-N-Cheese." The door clicked, and I locked it, just to be sure.

Leaning against the frame, I wondered again what the hell I'd been thinking. I mean, it was a good idea in theory. I didn't want to stay alone; it left too much time for thought about certain ex's. Dick was the only person who'd understand, and would avoid saying something that would dredge up memories, and, most importantly, not pity me. And that maybe I could help him do what I'd been doing to get around, not over, Cassidy. I felt like it was up to me to help him, and I enjoyed the noble feeling that gave me.

This, you understand, was all in theory. Having the actual guy Dick in my apartment was an entirely different thing.

"Mac? What're you going? Dude, you're missin' the FOOD!"

I rolled my eyes slightly. I grabbed jeans and a jacket, shrugged into them, and swept my hair into a skewed ponytail.

I stumbled out of my room and eyed the table wearily. "Where's breakfast?"

Dick grinned broadly. He grabbed two plates from behind him and slammed them to the table. "BAM!"

I couldn't decide whether to laugh or sigh. I settled for raising my brow, again. "Dick. Those are PopTarts. The same PopTarts that we had before." I leaned down to examine the food in question, tucking back a piece of fluorescent hair behind my ear, then glanced back up at Dick. "And they're burnt."

Dick was staring down. "Yeah, but it's my first day here, and I've already seen down your shirt. Score one for Dick!" He pumped his fist in the air.

I straightened up. "You do want to keep your namesake, right? Don't do that again." I smiled condescendingly to make my point.

"You say that now, but you know you're falling for me, Ghost World," Dick pronounced with a chuckle. Now eat the special a la trailer-park Dick. Would you like a fine beverage from the Party Pig?" He pointed to it. I gasped. I hadn't even noticed it being moved in. "Chill, Mackie, that's milk in there," he informed me, apparently having taken notice of my expression, for once.

"Uh-uh. No way. There's no way we've sunk so low we're drinking milk out an animal-shaped beer keg." I motioned to the PopTarts. "C'mon, Casablancas. Breakfast's on the go. We're going to the store."

Dick froze. "Store? As is grocery store. Hell, no. Dick doesn't do shopping. That's what the Mexicans are for." He crossed his arms in challenge.

I stopped and looked at him straight in the eye. "You are a racist, perverted asshole, Dick. I'm letting you stay here." I swallowed and added, a little hoarsely, "God help me, I want you to stay here. So stop saying things that're gonna get you ass kicked. You're not on the plush side of town anymore, Richie Rich."

Dick's eyebrows drew together. "Richie Rich? Macaughlie Culkin? Dude. Seriously."

I snorted with frustration. "Dick! Can you just try to be halfway decent?"

"Yeah." He ducked his head. "Look, I don't do serious, so just listen, alright?" I nodded, surprised. Ok, more like shocked. Dick? Serious? Weird.

Dick sighed a little. "Look things sucked at my house. You know? I couldn't even, like, walk past his room." My breath caught in my throat and I nodded again, curtly. He seemed encouraged. "Yeah. And these jackasses who don't even know him kept asking about him, and I was like, dude, I don't want to talk. I did stupid shit, and I did even stupider shit. This is kinda what I needed. I have no idea why you're doing this, but thanks, Mac. You're seriously awesome, know that?"

My mouth hung open for a second. I mean, this was Dick. "You're smarter than you seem." I hadn't meant to say that. "Um, that's cool, then." Awkward. Abort. "So let's go. Move, move, move!" I clapped my hands to accentuate the words.

Dick grabbed the Tarts and headed to the door. He paused in the frame and grinned at me. "So you want me here? You so want me." Then he was gone.

I did a combination eyeroll and sigh, even though he was too far away to see them, and mentally kicked myself in the head. Crap. I hadn't meant to say that, either.

AN: I do feel better haven written that. I hope this chapter will go a ways in having you forgive me for the long delay. I'll update once a week, if I can manage it. I hope you keep reading. Love? Hate? Review!