Chapter 7

Logan had not even knocked on the huge Scott mansion's door when it was opened up by TJ. Logan's smile faltered as he saw TJ's facial expression…a mixture of hate, anger, sympathy, love…but most of all worry. Logan stepped inside the house and TJ lazily closed the door behind him.

Logan looked around the room…it was dark and he knew that TJ had had a though week. Whenever his grandfather got sick he would keep the house extra clean…and he would never switch on the lights of the parts he didn't use. It was clear by the surroundings that he was very sick.

"So uhm…you called?" Logan asked as he tried not to show his limping. Luckily for him TJ didn't notice it as they sat across from each other in his private living room.

"Yes I did…" TJ said in a business manner and for once Logan felt that he couldn't read his friend.

"And?" Logan asked curiously.

"Don't you think it's time to stop the games Logan?" TJ asked seriously and Logan looked at him confused.

"What games?"

"These bloody mind games you are playing with Veronica…" TJ said and Logan sighed, frustrated.

"I don't need a fucken lecture TJ…not from you…not from anybody…and not about Veronica." Logan said as he sat back in the couch. He told himself that if he wasn't so hurt he would have stood up and walked out.

"No... I think you need one Echolls. And I think it's a big one you need. Because your ego is to big for you." TJ stated and Logan gave a laugh.

"Look who is talking! You…the one guy that has had more girlfriends than anyone else in this whole country!"

"Don't try to shift this conversation to me Logan…not today." TJ said angrily and Logan sighed.

"What the hell do you all want from me? She's engaged to a great guy and I'm trying to leave her in peace. She loves him now…" Logan said.

"Oh you know that is bullshit! You have always said that she is the one for you and now suddenly you don't care! Don't you bullshit me Logan!" TJ said in a distressed voice and TJ wondered why exactly he was doing this. Logan sighed as he relaxed his limb even more into the couch.

"So TJ? What do you want me to do about it? I love the girl with my whole heart. Can't you see how much this is hurting me…seeing her with him. It's killing me but none of you care about me…all you care about is how she feels! Well here is what I feel! I feel like the biggest fucken loser on the planet! I've lost the only girl I ever loved…and now…now all my friends are turning against me." Logan burst out and TJ shook his head.

"Not true Logan. So not true. There are a lot of things you don't know about…things that change everything." TJ said softly and Logan laughed.

"Yeah well Scott if there is one thing I learned…sometimes it's best if nothing stays a secret." Logan said as he stood up, ignoring the pain that shot through his body. TJ stood up as well and when they turned around they found themselves face to face with Veronica.

Logan tried to act like he didn't care. That he didn't notice that she was crying, had been crying. But inside his heart was breaking into millions of pieces at the sight of her. He had told himself it was for the best…letting her go on with life.

"I…I have to go." he said quickly and made his way to the door. As he got outside he looked up, into the rain that was pouring down on him, before walking to his car. He had already reached his car when he heard her tender voice through the rain.

"It isn't what you think you know…I never told him to do it." Logan turned to her and saw that her hair was plastered to her face as she stood in the pouring rain, staring at him.

"Yet somehow he did it…somehow my friend thinks I'm being the one that is doing the hurting…when I'm the victim in this story." Logan said bitterly and Veronica tried to show that it didn't get to her.

"This isn't fair Logan…you pushing me away." she said and Logan gave a hard laugh.

"No Veronica you have it wrong…I never did the pushing away…you were the one that did it when you walked away."

"I told you I had to do it for a reason Logan…" Veronica said forcefully as her tears mixed with the rain.

"Yes…yes you did tell me Veronica…and somewhere I believe that someone believes that it wasn't a crap excuse…but that person is not me. What happened to being honest with each other V?" Logan asked softly and Veronica could only just make it out.

"It would only make it harder Logan…" she said and Logan gave her a smile.

"Now when in our lives has it ever been easy Mars?" Then Logan did something that shocked both Veronica and TJ who was watching from the doorway. Logan pulled off his soaking shirt and threw it in front of him. Veronica's eyes took in all the bruises on Logan's chest. There were cuts and bruises all over it. Veronica inched forward but Logan put up his hands to show her to stop.

"No Veronica. See it's never easy but there you go…now TJ knows that my dad hits me! There it is out in the open and you know what…all I lost is my pride…so why can't you just tell me?" Logan asked as he sighed and turned back to his car. Before he knew it Veronica was standing next to his window, looking at him with pleading eyes. He sighed and unlocked the door so she could climb in and she did a few seconds later. When they sat, staring out the windscreen Veronica was the one to finally speak.

"Someone was stalking me and he threatened to kill you…that's why I left."