Pan High Rules
Chapter 10
A/N: PLEEAASSEE, don't hate me for the long, unexpected hiatus. First, my computer contracted a virus...or several that almost killed it. Took my dad about 16 hours of work to revive it! Then, I came down with a virus...not enough to kill me, but still took me down a few notches. I'm still fighting it off, probably because I ended up only getting 4-5 hours of sleep every night last week. All sort of weird reasons for that. I've been so out of it, I haven't even READ fanfic, let alone written it. So, again, I'm sorry. I was really worried that virus was going to take all of my work. Luckily, it didn't. It just made my computer completely out-of-commission for a while there.
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Wallace knocked on the Mars' door and was greeted by a smiling Keith. "Hey, son, how are you?"
"Hey, Mr. Mars. I'm doing good," Wallace replied as he was let into the living room.
"Good. Your mom tells me you'll be gearing up for basketball soon."
"Yeah, I can't wait to get back on the court. I play all the time, it's just not the same." Keith was about to reply, but was cut off by his daughter's snarky voice.
"That's just because he walks down the hallway now, and no one slaps his butt and high-fives him. His fans are too caught up with the football team to fall at his feet right now. It's just not the same," Veronica mimicked Wallace's comment.
"Ah shucks, girl. Show some love for a brotha." They all cracked up at Wallace's attempt at being a 'playa'.
"Well, you kids are gonna have to fight this out on your own. I've got myself a hot date tonight." He nudged Wallace, "Don't tell your mom, okay?"
"Ew, I don't know what disturbs me more. The fact that you are referring to mom as a 'hot date' or the fact that you'd date someone else and want me to cover for you with my mom." He shuddered. "I mean, really Mr. Mars. You've gotta remember the rules about you two dating. There is no discussing that stuff with us."
"Yeah, Dad, really. We have a strict denial policy going. When you guys talk about it all of the time, it doesn't help. You'd better watch it. Neither of you are rich enough to pay for the therapy that us poor kids are going to need."
"Aw, aren't you two so sweet. Your words just warm my heart. Have a good night, kids," he said as he started to walk out the door. Then, he smiled to himself and stopped just short of closing the door behind him. "Don't wait up," he sing-songed, then shut the door quickly.
"Oh"
"Ah"
"No, man!"
"Da-ad!"
Veronica and Wallace huffed over to the couch and sat down heavily. "He did that on purpose, you know. Your dad's just evil." Wallace said, the grimace still firmly planted on his face."
"I know. Let's get the movie started quick. I need something else to think about." Veronica moved to put the DVD in the machine.
"Yeah, sounds good. So, where my little buddy?"
"Oh, he's sleeping, but he should be awake before the end of the movie. You'll get to see him soon."
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Meanwhile, Logan was sitting outside of the Kane mansion. He'd been sitting there for about twenty minutes, but was having trouble getting out of the SUV to go in. Frankly said, he was dreading the night. He was still having trouble accepting everything he'd heard from Duncan at Veronica's.
The internal battle raged. He was frustrated because everything he'd learned about Duncan that day at Veronica's had repulsed him. Unfortunately, Logan couldn't outright deny or write off years of close friendship. He loved Duncan like a brother, but his stomach churned at the idea of spending any time with him. Logan knew why he was sitting outside the Kane house. He knew that it was his plan of protecting Baby Keith and serving as a buffer between Duncan and the Mars' that drove him to make plans with Duncan. He could just imagine the hell storm that would take place if Duncan went barging into Veronica's while Wallace was there.
Logan took a deep breath and then blew it out, steeling himself for what lie ahead. He got out of the Xterra and walked up to the house. He was let in once again by Jenny. She led him to Duncan, in the game room and then left after taking their snack and drink order.
Logan immediately picked up a controller for the game system, hoping for some way to avoid actually talking to Duncan. And, although Duncan sat down and began the game, talking seemed to be exactly what he had on his mind.
"So, have you seen Veronica lately? Or my son? How is he? Does he look like me?"
Logan's head was spinning. He hadn't wanted to discuss Veronica or her son at all, but Duncan had jumped right into it with both feet.
"Uh..." Logan's voice was strained and he had to clear his throat before he could continue. "I, uh, as far as I know they're doing okay, uh good. I mean, obviously Veronica was a in shock after...but I think they are okay. Just really busy right now." All of the sudden Logan felt like he needed to justify how busy Veronica was so that Duncan didn't try to drop by her place. He just needed to do it in a way that still made it sound like Veronica had everything under control and didn't need Duncan or the Kanes' stepping in and taking over. He felt like he was navigating a mine field.
"Oh, well, everything should be fine, now. I took care of it, she knows it was consensual."
'WHAT!' Logan's mind screamed out. 'Everything should be fine? You took care of it? Great, so now she wasn't raped, she was just impregnated by her brother, but hey, that's okay because it was CONSENSUAL!! You've got to be kidding me! She was so drugged, she can't even remember anything. Hey, yeah, no biggie! What the hell is he thinking?'
"Uh, okay." It was all Logan could manage. He was afraid he'd burst if he tried to say anything else.
"Plus, as soon as the results are in, everything will be better. She won't have to worry about money or living in that tiny hole."
"What? Why would she move? She's got her father. He helps her with the baby," Logan didn't understand where Duncan was going with the conversation. He knew Duncan would help out financially, probably pay all the costs involved, but did he plan on setting her up in a new place?"
"Of course she'll move. Our son will need both of his parents. Anyway, we won't need Keith's help. We'll hire a nanny and there are plenty of other staff around here. I'm sure Jenny would just love the new blood, running around wreaking havoc for mom." Duncan smiled lightly at his own comments, while Logan's pulse raced.
"Here? You want her to live here? With you and your parents?" Okay, Logan knew his old friend had to be messing around with him. It had to be a practical joke.
"Of course. Where else would we live? First of all, we're not even out of high school yet. Plus, she's a Kane. She'll take her place with her family."
"But, if she takes her place as a Kane, then everyone will know about the in–about the baby's biology." Logan still couldn't manage to say words like incest and rape. "You can't actually want to put him through that?"
"No, of course not. No one will know she's a Kane, only that she's the mother of my son. Anyway, we'll only live here until I get out of college and go to work at Kane software."
"Then what?" Logan felt like one of those spectators waiting for a train wreck. He knew he should look away, but he couldn't help himself. He just needed to know what was going to happen...at least in Duncan's mind.
"We'll get a house of our own." It was so simple for Duncan. Logan watched him and his friend didn't flinch at all. It was as if Duncan really believed that it was so straight-forward.
"You want to live with Ronnie?" Logan wanted to vomit. Even knowing he and Veronica were related, Duncan was still looking for a relationship? Did he actually think she would go for that? Willingly sleep with her brother?
"Of course. We'll raise our son together. It's the best thing for him."
"But, you and Ronnie. You're...you know."
Duncan paused the game, finally looking over at his bewildered friend. He started chuckling, "Oh, no. Of course we won't be sharing a bedroom. That would be wrong."
Logan swallowed audibly. "Oh, you scared me for a minute there."
"No, it won't be like that. We'll just share the house and raise our son together. We'll both be there for him. Ronnie won't have to work and will be able to stay home. I'll work my way up in the company and our son will go to the best schools."
"What happens when one of you wants to date other people? How are you going to explain that to him? Or what about getting married and having more kids?" Logan knew Duncan's vision of this perfect little family would never fly. Veronica would never agree to it. He still had to ask, still had to find out how his friend saw it all playing out.
Duncan turned then, and fully looked at his best friend. The easiness of the conversation gone. Duncan's eyes bore into him and a chill ran through Logan's body. One word. One simple word. One simple, accusing word that couldn't be taken as a question, "Dating."
"Uh, y-yeah." Logan couldn't understand the emotion behind Duncan's tone of voice or the look in his eye, but it made him nervous. He suddenly felt the need to lighten the situation as best as he could. "Yeah, you know, like people who are single do. They date."
"Well, we won't be dating. Of course not." Duncan shot Logan a look that said he thought Logan was nuts. Logan, on the other hand, was beginning to wonder about Duncan's sanity.
"You don't think Veronica will ever want to date?" Logan knew she hadn't dated since starting at Pan High, but that didn't mean she'd never want to.
"Sure she will. It'll just be until our son graduates from college. Then, she'll date whomever she wants to."
"What about you?" It bothered Logan that Duncan was only talking about her dating.
"Uh, yeah. Me, too." Duncan said as he restarted the game. It was obviously his way of ending the questions.
Logan just sat there, letting his character die, thinking about everything that had been said. Finally, it hit him. Duncan kept referring to what was best for the baby, but Logan would bet that wasn't all there was to it. He'd continually referred to Baby Keith as 'our son'. And, although he denied wanting to be sexually involved with Veronica, the world he'd created in his mind had them living as a couple. Maybe there wouldn't be any sex, but everything else would mirror a marriage. They would be living under the same roof, he would be supporting them, they wouldn't be dating anyone and this was all supposed to go on for the next twenty some-odd years. He had a lifetime planned for them. Duncan may be telling himself that he's not interested in Veronica as more than the mother of his child, but that's not what it seemed like to Logan. If it weren't considered taboo, he figured Duncan would want to be with Veronica. The thought made him sick to his stomach.
"Uh, I'll be right back." Logan rushed out of the room. He had started sweating and his skin was crawling. He had to get away from Duncan or he might actually vomit all over the game room.
Logan practically ran into the bathroom. He felt violated on Veronica's behalf; something he never knew was even possible. He splashed cold water on his face and sat down to calm himself. How could his friend, his brother in everything but blood, be so out of touch?
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By the time their movie ended, Veronica had fed the baby and Wallace was holding him. He was in awe at how tiny Baby Keith was still. Wallace had never had any reason to be around a newborn. He had a younger brother, but he'd still been pretty young when his brother was born. He'd spent some time around Veronica's son, but he was still nervous when he held him. He kept himself rigid and didn't dare walk around with him if he didn't have to.
"So, how you been, Cami?" He figured he needed to press on, since such a general question hadn't gotten him far when he'd asked her a few days earlier. "I mean, you've seemed a little distracted this week. Withdrawn, even. Everything alright?"
"Yeah, I've just been a little more tired and with dad being gone for a couple of days, I didn't get to nap much. It's okay, though. It's the weekend and dad's back. I'll be able to catch up on my sleep." Veronica tried to sound as if the weight of world wasn't resting squarely on her shoulders.
Wallace studied her for a moment. He still felt like she was hiding something, but he didn't want to push too hard. "You know, I may not have a kid, but I'm here for you. You can call me anytime. We can talk about anything or I can come over and take care of Baby Keith while you rest. You know he made it through it the last time I watched him.
"I know." Veronica saw the sincerity in her best friend's eyes. Even though she couldn't tell him what was really bothering her, she knew that she wasn't completely alone. Wallace was a wonderful friend and he would be there at the drop of a hat, if she needed him. "Thanks, Wallace, really. I'll keep that in mind."
The rest of the evening went by without further discussion of Veronica's odd behavior.
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Logan came out of the bathroom at the Kane's about half an hour after rushing out of the game room. He had been sitting in there, trying not to think of Duncan's twisted plan. He just couldn't hang out and play video games with the guy that he was finding increasingly more aggravating to be around. It was so frustrating. Every time Logan would think about some great aspect about Duncan or their friendship, he would be hit tenfold with equally disturbing aspects of Duncan's role in Veronica's painful circumstances.
Whether it was because Duncan had slept with her when she couldn't even stand on her own or when he knew she was his sister, or because he couldn't see the delicacy of the situation and put himself in Veronica's shoes for even a moment or because the minute he found out about his son, he was trying to control the situation. Even with all of that, Logan could think of something worse.
What really concerned Logan was the thought that Duncan could be hiding a very dark side of himself. The look he'd seen in Duncan's eyes when he had first confronted Veronica about the baby was too familiar to Logan. It was the same look his father would get, only Duncan's hadn't been as controlled. Aaron had spent years perfecting control over the expression of his emotions. He rarely ever lost the facade. Even when he was beating Logan, it always seemed as though he didn't have a care in the world. Like beating his son was akin to putting on a tie.
Logan finally realized what had made him so uneasy about the look Duncan got in his eyes when Logan mentioned dating. It was the same look he'd had while confronting Veronica and it was the same look that Aaron got each time Logan "disappointed" him.
Logan had to get out of that house and away from Duncan. There were too many conflicting versions of the boy running through Logan's mind. He decided he would just tell Duncan he wasn't feeling well and that he needed to go home. Since he took so long in the bathroom, he figured it'd be a good excuse.
After spewing his excuse to Duncan and practically sprinting toward the door, Duncan's voice rang out.
"Oh, Logan, just a second. Really quick, I wanted to tell you something." Logan couldn't imagine what more his friend would reveal to him. He wasn't sure how much more he could take.
"Yeah?" No matter what Logan thought, he wasn't prepared for the sucker punch that followed.
"Well, uh," suddenly it was Duncan who was nervous. "Next Friday, there's going to be a memorial for Lilly at the school."
"What?" The air shot out of Logan's lungs, leaving him breathless, while something constricted his chest. Just the mention of Lilly's name sent his emotions spiraling."
"Yeah, my parents are going to unveil the Lilly Kane Memorial Fountain and announce the scholarship that they've set up in her name. It's supposed to be a time of remembrance," he shrugged as he continued. "Anyway, I just thought I'd let you know. Being at Pan, I assumed you hadn't heard."
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Logan stayed in his room on Saturday. He cranked up the music running through his ear buds and he did nothing...except drink and think about Lilly and the year since her death.
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Thank you to all of the readers and reviewers who have stuck with me! You know I love ya!