Chap 7
Logan would never say it, but he liked Dog beach. This particular beach had killer waves, and according to his mentally challenged friend Dick, killer babes. There was a soft breeze going along the shoreline and the air was filled with wifts of salt water taffy and the sea. There were children running up and down the beach, some with pets, and others with kites.
He arrived fifteen minutes early to find a good spot to set up. He decided to have a picnic on the beach with his date. Truth be told, he hadn't been to the beach much since the middle of the summer. It would bring up too many memories of the times when he was happy. Happy with her .He unfolded the dark green blanket and placed it on the sand. He used the picnic basket and his surfboard as weights for the blanket.
It was the middle of the day and the sun was at full blast. It was beating down on him and his washboard abs. The sun twinkled over every muscle dip and groove. It seemed to add to the golden hue that was already emanating from his body.
He took out a water bottle from the basket, slung his head back, and proceeded to drink. He drank so fast that the cool liquid began to spill from the sides of his mouth. The water trickled down from his mouth to the sides of his neck, down his firm chest, into the grooves of his six-pack abs, and onto the happy trail leading to his nether regions.
After he was done, he wiped his mouth with the back of his arm and threw the water bottle into the nearby garbage can. He decided to sit down and wait for his date. He put on his sunglasses, laid down on the blanket, and intertwined his fingers behind his head. Laying there in the sun caused his mind to wonder to the last time he was here with Veronica.
"Do you notice anything different? " Veronica asked as she spun around in her new swimsuit. It was a hot pink triangle bikini top with a matching low-rise bikini bottom. The hot pink accentuated the blushing hue of her flesh. Her color would change whenever she was around Logan.
"Hun, all I know is that you look good enough to eat "he said wagging his eyebrows suggestively.
"Can you get your head out of the gutter for like two seconds?" Veronica asked exasperated.
"Now if I did that, where would I keep it? I mean, I've got to keep my prized possession somewhere" Logan said as he wrapped his strong arms around his girlfriend's petite waist.
He ducked his head and began kissing her in the crook of her neck. A small moan escaped from her throat as he initiated his assault on her senses. The moan only seemed to add fuel to the already growing fire in the young man.
In between kisses he managed to string a sentence along," I see that you got a new swimsuit". As he said the last word, he bit her neck and then ran his cool, moist tongue over his love mark.
At first, she winced at the new sensation, but the pain quickly turned into pleasure. "Logan," she said breathlessly "we are in a public place". She was grateful that he was half holding her up because she felt as if her legs had turned into jelly.
He pulled back slightly to look her in the eye. He lifted his hand and caressed the side of her face. "Then we should take this to a more private place" he said huskily, as he ground his hips into her so she could feel the bulge forming in his pants.
A smirk started to form on her face. She pulled back from his embrace and said "How about we don't and say we did?"
As soon as she said the last word, she began to run. Logan, realizing what she was doing, tried to grab her. He had plans on showing her her punishment in the back of the Xterra, but she was too fast. She managed to wiggle out of his grasp.
'Oh she's going to get it when I catch her' he thought.
She turned around to look at her boyfriend who was still standing on the beach. She started to think that maybe he had given up, so she started walking towards the ocean.
Her head registered the sound of someone running behind her, but her body was slow to react. Logan grabbed her kicking and screaming from behind. He hoisted her up onto his shoulders and headed towards the water.
Veronica saw where he was going and the wheels started to turn in her head. "Don't you dare" was all she said.
Logan looked up to the face of the woman he loved and then at the water. Veronica thought he might have actually had second thoughts and was going to put her down. I guess she didn't know Logan that well.
Just as quickly as he picked her up, he threw her into the water. It was mostly the shock of him throwing her into the water that caused her to sputter around a little before she gathered herself to get up.
When she stood up, she was breathing heavily. As Veronica was wailing into Logan, his mind was preoccupied. Logan was mesmerized by the way her breasts rose and fell as she panted. Her nipples were just hard enough to peep through the thin material of her swimsuit. The water was glistening all over her body. She was the sexist thing that he had ever seen. She was a vision of beauty.
He knew that he should have been listening to her, and that he shouldn't have thrown her into the water, but Logan was never one to do as he was told. Why would he start now?
He just couldn't take looking at her anymore, as he felt his hard as rock member start getting even harder in his pants. He pulled Veronica out of the water and started to head towards his jeep.
"Where are you taking me?" Veronica said frustrated.
"You'll know soon enough" was all that Logan could growl.
"Logan?" a familiar voice said.
Logan was still half asleep and trying like hell to return to his memory, so he ignored the interruption and didn't answer.
The voice wouldn't go away, but seemed to sit beside him. The voice repeated his name Logan.
Realizing that he lost the memory; he became frustrated and said " What!" without opening his eyes.
"Uh, I thought….uh we were on a date?" Alexis said.
His eyes shot open. It was all starting to come back to him. He quickly sat up trying to put his memory in the back of his head. He removed the sunglasses and started to speak." Yeah, sorry about that. I ended up taking a cat nap."
"It looks like you had a very good dream" she said pointing to the bulge in his pants.
Logan, never one to be embarrassed, said" You never know when you have to be prepared."
Alexis started to blush and turned her face to the side.
'A shy one. I think I'll like to break her in' he thought.
Finally, he was fully awake. That must be why he hadn't noticed the swimsuit that Alexis wore. It was the same hot pink one that Veronica had worn. She looked good, but not as good as Ronnie did wearing it.
'Whoa, that's one funny coincidence' he thought.
She noticed that he was staring at her swimsuit, "You like?"
"Huh…uh yeah…it's just that I had a friend with the same exact suit" he stammered with a small smile forming on his lips remembering the memory he had earlier in the day.
"What, this old thing" she said pointing to the suit," I've had it for like, forever."
Something caught Logan's attention. He looked behind Alexis and saw that she had two surfboards with her. She saw the confused look in his eyes and followed his gaze. She shrugged her shoulders and nervously said," I wasn't sure which board you liked best, so I brought a long board and a short board."
"Wow I'm impressed that you know there is a difference" smiled Logan.
"Well, you know when I want something, I find out everything about it."
"I bet you do" she blushed at his comment.
During the next two hours, Logan was teaching his new apprentice the sport of surfing and they ate from the picnic that he had prepared. He had to admit that he liked spending time with her. It was nice, if even for a little while, to not have to worry about the trial, his father's upcoming court date, losing Ronnie, and even losing himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ring, ring, ring.
"Uh I think that's your phone Logan" said Alexis.
"They can leave a message" he said, ignoring the phone.
"What if it's important?" she asked holding his phone.
He reluctantly took the phone from her hand, but smiled when he saw who it was.
Veronica.
"Aww you miss me that much?" he said.
She couldn't see it, but she knew he was smirking on the other end.
"No, I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't have to bail you out of jail for investigating a person" she snarked on the other end.
'I miss you' she thought but quickly dismissed the idea when she heard Alexis in the background. Reality set in and she put on her game face again.
"Remember Logan, no telling your floozy" she bit out with a little more anger than she wanted to have.
He thought he heard a twinge of jealous on her end, but thought he was just delusional. Remember she left you.
"Don't worry mom. Anything else?" he said a bit annoyed.
"You know what, forget it. Forget that I called" then there was silence on her end.
Shitshitshit. Smooth Echolls
He knew that he was going to have to make it up to her. He just didn't know if she would even let him do that.
He started to gather his things together and told Alexis that he had to leave. She kept talking to him, but he really wasn't paying attention to the conversation. He was still replaying in his head the one that he fucked up with Veronica.
Next thing he knew, he's on his way to his car. He started to think what he could do, and an idea popped into mind.
Veronica needed to let out some steam from her encounter with Logan. So when Justin called her up to ask if she wanted to hang at his house, she obliged. She knew this would give her time to look around his house for any evidence.
She drove to the front of his gate. She rolled down her window and pressed the buzzer. Before she could say who she was, the gate opened. She looked up and thought 'Ah a camera, of course.'
She hadn't noticed before, but it was truly a big, beautiful house. It was a three story old John D. Rockefeller type mansion. In the entranceway, like she remembered, was the cupid water fountain.
When she pulled up, the double doors in the front of the house opened. On the other side stood her one time friend, one time love interest, and possible one-time criminal. He didn't look like he was up to any wrong doing. He wore a black vintage AC/DC shirt, faded jeans, and a crisp clean pair of white Nikes. She had the urge to say "Just do it" ,but held back. Only Wallace would get it anyway.
He walked over to her side of the car and opened her door for her.
"My lady" he held out his arm for her to take. She did and he closed her door.
"Oh my bag" she said nervously, looking at it on her passenger side.
"Don't worry, I'll get it" Justin said as he maneuvered to the other side.
"Oh no, don't worry. I'll get it" she quickly said.
The real problem was that he would see the surveillance photos that she developed earlier. They were photos of him and a woman. She wasn't sure who she was, but thought that she could match up the person with one of the numerous photos he had in the family room.
Before she even had time to worry about being caught, he had already handed her the messenger bag.
"Oh, thanks" she said smiling weakly.
Crisis averted she thought.
He took her hand and started to lead her into the house. When she walked into the foyer, her eyes glanced around the house. Her eyes stopped at the entrance to the family room.
Bingo
"Uh, Justin, it looks like you've added to the room" she said pointing in the direction of the family room.
"Yeah. Good eye. We just added some more furniture and pictures from our family trip to the French Riviera. Come on, I'll show you" he said leading her into the family room.
As soon as she entered, her eyes darted to the photos. She wasn't into the tour of the new furniture, so she had to think of a way to get him to introduce the people that she did not know in the pictures.
"Wow this place looks beautiful" she said holding up one of the new picture frames.
Hopefully that will get him to come over.
Looking at the picture, his facial features softened just a bit and he sighed.
"Yeah, it was a beautiful place" he said softly as she saw the myriad of emotions playing in his eyes.
"It was the last time that she was with us."
Veronica looked at the photo and saw an elderly woman in between him and his father. She looked very distinguished with her salt and pepper hair coiffed to perfection. She had on a flowing gown and a smile that seemed it could brighten anyone's day. But it was her eyes, they were just so comforting and familiar. Veronica's eyes started to widen in comprehension.
"Oh my god. That's nanna isn't it?" she asked with affection in her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah it is. She passed about a month after we took this photo. She always did ask about you" he stated.
"I always did like her" she smiled fondly remembering the elder Hall.
Looking up from the photo to Veronica, he smiled and said, "She liked you too. She would always ask me when I would have the balls to ask you out." He chuckled at the memory.
"I never knew that you liked me then" she said amazed.
"Who says that I still don't?" he said softly under his breath.
"What did you say?" Veronica said.
"I said that I have to go get something. Walk around, feel free. Mi casa es su casa" he said with a very bad Spanish accent.
"Alrighty then, Don Juan" she deadpanned.
"I'll be back" he laughed as he walked away.
'Now if I was incriminating evidence , where would I be?' she thought.
She thought about it for a second, then said 'bedroom'.
She walked into his room. It was a normal male teenage room. It was filled with bikini clad women on his walls, three different video game consoles, surf board, and various trophies for various sports.
There was something that caught her eye. She walked over to his dresser. There were pictures of him, but also of a woman. The same woman that was in her surveillance photos.
She quickly pulled out his top draw and started to look through it. There really didn't seem to be anything incrimination, until she saw a neatly folded piece of paper taped on the inside of the draw.
She tugged on the piece of paper and it came free. She unfolded it and was shocked when she read its contents.
It was Logan's schedule for the past two weeks and for the next two weeks. It had the times of all of his appointments and daily routine.
'Why would he have this?' she thought, but before she could think about it anymore, she heard footsteps.
Veronica quickly folded the piece of paper and taped it back to its former location. When Justin entered the room, Veronica was laying on the bed reading one of Justin's car magazines.
"So this is what gets your guys engines revving" snarked Veronica.
"You know us, cars and chicks. That's all we need" Justin snarked in return.
Veronica could see that he had something behind his back. "What's that?" she said pointing to the object he was holding.
"What, this? This would be your birthday present" he said smiling.
A huge grin appeared on her face." My birthday isn't for another five days."
"That's how I know you'll be opening my gift first" he smirked.
She started to get giddy like a school girl. She took the present from his hand and proceeded to open it. She slowly unwrapped the small box. There was a velvet blue box with gold trim awaiting under the gift wrap. She paused for a second then opened the box.
She gasped and a single tear ran down her face. She jumped up and gave Justin a hug. All she could say was "Thank You." They stayed like this for a couple of minutes.
"But, how did you know?" she asked pulling back.
"The last night that I was with you" he stated. "You told me that you saw this necklace on someone and said that it was the most beautiful thing that you have ever seen. You said that it reminded you of the one your mother used to have. The next day I went to the jeweler and asked about the platinum locket with the tear drop blue diamond in the middle. I've kept it ever since."
She didn't know what to say. She had never known anyone who could be so thoughtful and actually listened to her when she spoke.
Veronica looked up to see that he had come closer. He lifted his hands and cupped her face. He just stood there and looked at her. His eyes were glazed over with love. She, on the other hand, had a mix of confusion and the fear of the unknown on hers.
He pulled her face closer to his. Justin's lips grazed Veronicas and her mouth parted slightly at the feel of his tongue caressing her bottom lip. He took that as encouragement and slowly edged his tongue into her mouth. He didn't fight for control of the kiss like Logan would have. He just explored every part of her mouth with his tongue. He was gentle and it was comforting.
Justin slowly backed his face away while cupping her face in his hands. He looked into her eyes and breathlessly said," I love you, Veronica."
She immediately stiffened. The phrase triggered a memory.
"Who they hell would want you to stay away from me?" Veronica asked somewhat confused.
"I don't know but it must be someone who is seriously in love with you" Duncan said .
It was all beginning to be too much for her to handle. Realizing that he may have hurt Duncan, she panicked. She pulled away and said that she forgot she had to do something with Wallace.
Veronica grabbed her things and started running down the stairs. Behind her, she heard him calling after her, but she didn't care.
She had to get out of there. She ran into her car and started to drive off. When she looked into her rearview mirror, she saw him at the gate with his head hung low.
When Justin looked up and saw that her car was out of site, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed a familiar number. When the phone connected on the other line, he said "Update."
The unidentified person said," I think we may have a problem."
Damn it Veronica said hitting her steering wheel. Throughout all the commotion, I forgot to ask him about the woman.
Ring, Ring, Ring
I so can't deal with him right now she said picking up the phone to see who was calling. When she saw who it was, she answered her phone.
"Whatcha get?" she said as she tried to clean-up her tear-streaked face.
"What. I gets no love? Is that anyway to talk to your brotha?" Wallace said laughing into the receiver.
"Sorry Shaq" Veronica deadpanned.
"Hey I can shoot from the free throw line thank you very much" he said a mock defensively.
"Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, did you find something?" Veronica eagerly asked.
"Yeah, yeah. Cool it. Don't get your panties in a twist."
"Who says that I wear panties?" Veronica replied smirking.
"TMI! TMI! V, way too much information." Wallace shouted into the phone.
"Hey, you asked" she said shrugging.
"I think that I now have two images that I need to bleach from my memory" he gagged.
"What's the other?" Veronica asked.
"My mom and your dad making out on the couch."
"Wallace! Eww. I so did not want to know" Veronica said scrunching her face up.
"Hey, you asked" he said shrugging.
"Anyway I got some news about your boy" Wallace said trying to shake the new image from his head.
"Do I need to tip you over? Spill already" Veronica impatiently said.
"The only thing that I could find out was that he has family here."
"Duh Wallace. He has his father here. Give me something that I didn't know" she said rolling her eyes.
"No not his father. He has other family in Neptune."
'Other family?' she thought.
"Did you get a name? Please tell me that you got a name?" Veronica asked.
"Sorry. I couldn't. They didn't put a name down."
"Ok. Thanks Wallace."
"See you later?"
"Yeah, I'll see you later" then she hung up.
He has family living here? I thought he said he moved here because his dad wanted him to have the suburban life and not the Hollywood one. This seems to be getting more and weird.
The next day, Veronica woke up to find that Back-up had made residence on her face.
She tried to yell at him to get off, but his fur kept getting in her mouth. So, she swatted him and he finally got off.
"That is not what the Lord meant when he said On the seventh day he rested" Veronica said to a half sleeping dog.
He cocked his head to the said and gave Veronica the confused dog look. Then he walked away into Keith's bedroom.
She put on her slippers and walked out into the kitchen. There was a piece of paper on the counter, so she went over to read it. It was a note from her father.
Hey honey,
Sorry to run out on you like this. I promise to make my special Sunday breakfast when I get back. One of my contacts called me about that bail jumper I had told you about. Apparently he's in Canada. Why couldn't he have gone to Guam or something? At least I could have gotten a tan in the process. I should be gone for a couple of days, but I will try to get back before your birthday.
Love you,
Dad
She put the letter down and walked over to the freezer. I guess its frozen waffles again.
After she put the waffles in the toaster, her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Justin.
"Ok, what do I do? Hmm…Well, I can't keep running from him forever. Can I?" she said." I need to get this over with anyway."
"Hello?"
"Hi, short- uh Veronica. I was just calling to see how you were" Justin said nervously.
"Justin, I've been meaning to call you."
'Oh here we go' Justin thought.
"I wanted to apologize for yesterday. It's just that me...and you.. .and all these feelings. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it was a little overwhelming" she said trying to convince him.
"I just worried because I tried to call you afterwards, but you didn't pick up your phone" he said dejectedly.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I just needed some alone time. You know?" she said dropping her voice a little.
"Yeah, I know. It's just that I thought you were mad at me or something."
"No, I'm not mad. Just a little shook up."
"How about you let me take you out for Sunday breakfast?" he asked with enthusiasm.
"What and miss my famous Lego my Eggo waffles?" she joked.
"We wouldn't want that, but I've got it in good authority that you could eat your weight in waffles. Do you think you have enough?" laughed Justin.
"Come to think of it you're right. So, when are you coming to get me?"
"I'll be there in thirty minutes"
"Ok see you then. Bye"
"Bye short-stack" he said laughing as he hung up the phone.
"I can't believe I ate that much" said Veronica.
"I know what you mean. Really, where do you hide it all? Maybe I should call Guinness and see what they have to say about it" Justin laughed as he was looking at the flat stomach of Veronica Mars.
"Jealous much?" snarked Veronica.
"No, just disturbed" Justin said as Veronica punched him in the arm.
Someone had been watching the playful banter going on between the two. There was something growing in the pit of his stomach, but he held back. He decided to approach them instead.
"Hey Veronica" said with his voice softened. He looked to his right and curtly said "Justin".
"Hey Duncan. How are you?" Veronica asked as she approached him to give him a hug.
"I'm getting a little better. You know my bodies still a little sore" Duncan said glancing at Veronica then the floor.
"Wow Duncan. I don't mean to pry, but what happened to you?" Justin asked with concern in his voice.
Veronica and Duncan were both taken aback by his question. Duncan didn't know what to say because he thought that he should know what happened to him.
"Uh, it was just some thugs who wanted something of mine" Duncan said looking at Veronica.
"V, can I talk to you for a second?" Duncan asked.
"Sure. Justin, I'll be right back"
When Duncan was sure that he pulled her far enough he asked," What are you doing here with him? What if he had hurt you the way he did me?"
'So that's Logan's birdie' Veronica thought.
"You think that he had something to do with it?" Veronica asked narrowing her eyes.
"Yeah. Don't you? He seems to be the only person who is trying to get your attention. He's trying to separate you from all of your friends. I mean, when was the last time that we hung out? You're always spending your time with him" Duncan said quickly.
"Duncan, I don't know what happened. Ok. I think you should probably go home or something and rest. You don't look too good." Veronica said looking at her somewhat deranged friend.
"Forget it. I don't know why I tried. You seem to like the criminal element anyway" he mumbled as he stormed away.
'What the fuck was that about?' Veronica thought.
"Is everything ok?" Justin asked pointing to the retreating form of Duncan Kane.
"I'm not really sure. I guess that he might need to cool off a bit she said trying to convince Justin.
"It's getting a little late. Why don't I take you home?"
"I'd like that" Veronica said.
"Your chariot awaits" Justin said as he pulled her towards his car.
Veronica knew this was going to be difficult. During her 4th period class, she slipped a note into a person's locker stating that she wanted to see them after school at three in the mop closet. She wasn't sure if the person in question would show. But at least she could say that she had tried.
'Its three o'clock. Where are they?' she thought.
Her back was to the door, so she didn't see when the door knob began to turn. Within seconds, the person had opened the door and was facing Veronica's back.
"So, this is where you get your jobsdone?" snarked the unidentified person.
Veronica spun around and smiled "Oh Dick, you're so funny."
"Ok, even you know that you're laying it on thick right?" Dick asked with a perplexed look on his face.
"Yeah, I know. Well let's get down to business"
"Now that's what I'm talking about" smirked Dick while wagging his eyebrows.
"Oh eww and hell no" Veronica said as she was looking for a bucket to throw up in.
"Listen, I have a job for you. I need for you to keep an eye out on Duncan."
"You mean spy? Why do I have to do your dirty work?"
"It's just that something weird is going on with him, but I'm not sure what it is. I want to help him but he seems to always be on the defense with me." Veronica said truthfully.
"What's in it for me, Mars?
"How about a months' worth of Sunkist?"
"Hell, I couldn't do that. I wouldn't want to deplete your hoe account on me" snarked the blonde.
"And I'll leave you alone for a moth. No comments, no dirty looks. Hell you won't even know that I exist. And no one can know about this."
"You've got yourself a deal."
"Wow I didn't know that it would be that easy"
"Eh, I never did like Duncan" then the blonde left.
'Who would have thought that I would ever need a Casablancas, let alone Dick, to help me with something? I hope I know what I just got myself into' she thought as she left the mop closet laughing.
