Disclaimer: Don't own them. Just LoVe them.
Notes: Floofy floof.
THIS CHAPTER: Alterna-Prom. He thinks their story is epic.
From the moment she stepped through his front door, Logan was watching her. Across the room, a large bottle of champagne in his hand, his gaze was automatically drawn to her. She was obscured by the crowd and her group of friends, so he went over under the pretences of greeting everyone. Dick, Madison, Wallace, Jackie, Butters, and Mac passed him with varied hellos, finally allowing him the view of Veronica Mars. She smiled up at him, gesturing to Mac and Butters, who had just run off to get a drink (and it looked like Mac needed it).
"Mac just had dinner on a pirate ship." Logan let out a breathy laugh of amusement. With an eyebrow raise, the blonde slipped through the crowd. He watched her shuffle past people and exhaled a breath he'd been holding. That dress. Wow. He was going to need another drink.
After a fair amount of alcoholic consumption, during which he'd half removed his stuffy bow tie and unbuttoned the first hole in his shirt, he spotted a head of blonde hair again, pouring herself a drink next to Madison and Dick looking completely perplexed and horrified simultaneously at their conversation. As he watched, she shook her head and stepped forward, contributing what he assumed were a few little quips with a smirk and a twinkle. Logan tipped his head back, champagne on his lips, when Madison stalked away from her, the alcohol sliding down his throat with a fizz. He finished his swallow with hardly anything left at the bottom of the bottle. He was blinking away the blurriness he'd gotten so used to and Veronica was chattering away to Gia.
Gia wandered off, Wallace and Jackie stumbled away arm in arm, and Logan zeroed in on his opportunity. Veronica was walking right towards him, eyes on the ground, and he jumped right in her path, forcing her to a stop as she looked up at him, surprised. He felt confidence and liquid courage bubbling away in his chest and stomach.
"Alone again," he said, stating the obvious. He wondered if she would think he'd been watching her – as he had been, but she didn't need to know that.
Instead of leaving his presence, she just shrugged at him with a sad smile, drink in hand. "Naturally."
He leaned against the wall, trying to keep himself steady and balanced. It wasn't the champagne making him dizzy, he was drunk off her. "I, uh... I know the feeling."
"You? Host of the greatest private replacement prom ever?" She was mocking him, he knew, but it was in her cutesy joking way that he adored. He took a gulp of his drink and ran a hand over his face. "I'm sure you could have your pick of the bimbos."
Hand in his hair, Logan glanced at her. She wasn't looking at him. She was staring off into the crowd of dancers, clearly avoiding his eyes. When she felt his gaze on her, she broke into a small smile and turned. No words were exchanged, but he could feel a swell of sadness inside him. Did she really think that much of him?
She distracted him by stating she liked the song that was playing. He took a second to listen and agree as she sat down. Opportunity. Now. Go for it. The champagne was whispering in his mind, and so he straddled the bench next to her.
"You know, I'm surprised, Veronica." His bottle thudded against the bench and his hand waved in useless gestures. "As a keen observer of the human condition, I thought you saw through people better than that." Realising what his hands were doing, he rested them on the mouth of his bottle. She gave him a confused look. "Bimbos? That's... not me anymore."
His gaze dropped away from her as she gave him the mercy of a small laugh. "So, what are you like now?" He grinned at her.
"Oh, you know, tortured. Ever since I got my heart broken." The smiling made this conversation feel too easy; or maybe that was the mind numbing drunkenness that was slowly creeping up on him the more he drank. Maybe it was that reason that he didn't see Veronica's face fall for a moment.
"Hannah really did a number on you, huh?"
Their eyes met. Finally. And it all came spilling out. "Come on, you know I'm not talking about Hannah." He paused there, waiting for a response. Veronica seemed to have a realisation, but she didn't say a word, so with a loud breath of preparation, he told her exactly how his heart was feeling. "I thought our story was epic, you know. You and me."
"Epic how?" He took another large swig from the champagne, nearly choking in his rush to swallow so he could explain.
"Spanning years and continents. Lives ruined, bloodshed. Epic." They sat there, staring into each other's eyes, the intensity a tangible force between their bodies. "But summer's almost here, and we won't see each other at all. And then you leave town... and then it's over."
"Logan..."
The way she said his name. That's what made the tears start forming in the corners of his eyes, burning him sharply. It was the sound of pity and sympathy. "I'm sorry about last summer. You know, if I could do it over..." He shuffled closer to her, mouth open to continue, but she interrupted him.
"Come on. Ruined lives? Bloodshed? You really think a relationship should be that hard?" He shrugged.
"They don't write songs about the ones that come easy."
She was avoiding his eyes again. He did that little shuffle again, his knees brushing up against her, and it made her look straight at him. He lifted his hand, so hesitant, almost drawing it back into his body, and moved to touch her face. She turned her head, but he wasn't going to allow her to run from him again – his fingers brushed her cheek, her neck, and she faced him once more, her breathing hitching as if she was going to cry.
Logan leaned in. Veronica didn't complain and didn't pull back. If anything, it looked like she was reciprocating, moving to capture his lips in her own. But he knew, if it happened, she would regret it, and then he would utterly lose his chance. So he took the gentle way and pressed his lips to her forehead, the way he had done a year before. Her face nuzzled into his hand where he was touching her, her skin so soft under his thumb.
He drew back, smiling when he saw her eyes fluttering open. Her eyebrows narrowed, confusion blossoming on her face. His hand didn't move, he only rubbed small circles on her cheekbone.
"Veronica, I will never stop apologising for everything I've done. I never meant to hurt you, I can't stand myself for doing that to you. You are the only person left in this town I truly care about. So I'm sorry." Logan adjusted himself so his feet were both planted on the same side of the bench, and he stood, wobbling a little when the alcohol in his system all rushed to his head. He gave Veronica one last look. "Please, enjoy the party. I only ever wanted you to be happy." I love you never left his mouth, because she knew how he felt. It didn't need to be stated when she could see the passion blazing in his eyes.
Tears were threatening to spill over as he took a step forward, intending to rush off into his bathroom and throw cold water over his face, perhaps drink himself into a stupor in his bathtub or sob himself to sleep in the privacy of his own dark bedroom. His intentions were slashed when a pale hand wrapped around his elbow, jolting him back to Veronica. She turned him around, glancing into his face. He was sure the shock and hope was burning brightly there, open for her to read. Whatever she saw, she seemed to like.
The world spun when she tugged him down to her level and their lips met. He felt sparks, felt fireworks, felt like he was a comet rushing through the galaxy and nothing could stop him. His heart stammered in his chest, sputtering before it restarted, beating away at a million miles a second. Soft hair tangled around his fingers as he slid his hands behind her head, holding her to him. There was no air, but he didn't care.
When they pulled apart, breathing heavily, he peppered her jawline and neck with tender kisses. She was giggling in his ear.
"You better remember this in the morning."
"There's no way I could ever forget."
