2000 Neptune, California

He followed his friend Duncan across the parking lot towards the soccer field, unsure of why they were there. Yes, Lilly was playing and DK was nothing if not supportive of his sister, but Logan knew Lilly enough to guess that she wasn't on the team for competition's sake. Besides, the game was almost over.

"There she is," Duncan whispered as they took seats on the bleachers. He pointed to a blonde girl and for a second Logan thought it was Lilly. But the number was wrong and she was actually running.

"Who?"

"Veronica." He looked at his friend and saw a wispy smile on his face.

Now he understood. First real crush.

He took another look at the girl. Cute, was his first impression. Long hair, sharp features, wide smile. Her face was flushed with exercise and she seemed to have an unobtrusive confidence that made him smile. Yup, there was something about this Veronica girl.

"She's pretty," he said, knowing that his friend was silently asking his opinion.

Duncan smiled his patented "Hell yeah" smile and turned his attention back to the game.

Logan, too, kept his eye on Veronica. And the more he watched her, the more he liked what he saw, she in her shorts and her knee socks. She with eyes that crinkled when she laughed and who didn't seem to know how beautiful she was. It caught him in a place low in his stomach, and he knew his friend would hate him if he could read minds. But it was all innocent enough and he didn't feel the need to mention it.

When the game was over, Lively Lilly and the girl of the hour ran over to say hi.

"Ronica, this is my brother's friend Logan," Lilly introduced them, and once again he was caught by the girl's smile. Who knew a girl could show so many teeth at once? "Logan, this is my bestest of all friends, Veronica Mars."

"Gosh, Lilly, why do you always have to say my full name?" Veronica groaned, though he could hear the teasing in her voice. "Makes me feel like Marvin the Martian should be flying a spaceship around my head."

The girls laughed infectiously and all he could think to say was, "It's nice to meet you."

OOOOOOOO

"Logan Echolls," Lilly stage-whispered as Veronica ran past across the field and she had to stop. Bending down, she pretended to tie her cleat.

"What?"

"Logan Echolls," her friend repeated, drawing out the name on her tongue as if she were tasting it. "Do you see that guy up there, sitting with Duncan Donut?"

She glanced quickly at the stands and smiled up at Duncan, her best friend's brother. Next to him, though, was a boy she didn't know. He had brown hair, a handsome enough face. But all she really dared was a glance.

"Who is he?" she asked. "And make it quick 'cause I'm supposed to be offense."

"Just moved from LA, his dad is the famous Aaron Echolls. Absolutely gorgeous. Duncan and he are all buddy-buddy so I'm totally taking advantage."

Veronica laughed and ran back to her position.

After the game, Lilly dragged her over to where the boys were hanging out. Not that she was kicking and screaming.

"It's nice to meet you," Logan said after the introductions, and she wiped her hand on her shorts before she shook his hand.

"Sorry, I'm a little sweaty," she explained and then rolled her eyes at herself. What a dork. But he looked at her with his big brown eyes and she didn't feel it so much. She smiled again for no reason and looked at her shoes, wishing that someone else would say something and let her off the hook.

Lilly broke the moment first, grabbing Logan's arm and starting her mile-a-minute vocal calisthenics. Duncan offered his arm and she took it gratefully as the boys walked them home.