Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Hey guys, here's another installment. I'm super duper SORRY about the delay… Short story my computer crashed everything was erased (I had to start everything from scratch), work, school, and family kept me busy. But as promised it's longer than usual chapters. I will be posting the other stories this week. I hope you guys are still bearing with me…? All grammatical errors are mine, no beta. Sorry. Enjoy!
This chapter is dedicated to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. You all get a Logan or Dick life size cookie, depends on your preference. Thank you all for reviewing! You guys ROCK!!!
Chapter 10:
Logan got in his car and left. His mind was going haywire with thousands of different questions, 'Did she like it? What is she thinking? Will she go?' He drove home to get things ready.
LoVe
Everyone was staring at Veronica Mars, who was still sitting there with her mouth wide open, and with the puzzle pieces in her hands.
She didn't know what to think, 'Logan just serenaded me in front of the whole school. He sang to me.' She pinched herself on the arm to make sure she wasn't dreaming, 'I'm not dreaming! He really did. I can't believe he did that. Nobody has ever done that for me… What are these puzzle pieces for? What does this all mean? Was he really being honest that day at the beach?'
Wallace, Mac, and Weevil quickly stood up and blocked everyone's view of Veronica so they wouldn't and couldn't look at her.
Dick had seen the look Veronica gave Logan throughout the song that loving caring gaze, underneath it was a hint of surprise. That could only mean one thing, she still cared deeply about him, even when they were at each others throat, the spark was still there, it was only hiding behind all the hurt. He quickly made up his mind and decided to intervene. This was his time to shine and help a friend in need.
Dick stood up from his privileged table and walked across to Veronica's table with his head held up high.
Weevil shot him a death glare and was already clenching his fists by his sides, ready for a fight, he asked forcefully, "Are you lost rich boy?"
Veronica was still in a daze. 'Should I go talk to him?' She bit her lip nervously and looked up, but didn't see him anymore. His car was missing. She was very disappointed to see he was already gone. 'Where is he? Should I go look for him?-'
"Ronnie, can I talk to you…" He ignored Weevil's question completely. "…in private?" He wasn't there to start trouble he was there on important business.
Dick's words snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up at him and simply nodded her head.
Everyone was waiting for something to happen. The school was utterly silent.
"Not here." He added, wanting desperately to get some privacy because all eyes were currently on them.
Veronica put all the puzzle pieces in her messenger bag and walked back inside the school.
Dick followed her to 'her office,' the girl's bathroom. He blockaded the door with the rubber door stopper.
Veronica looked up at him expectedly from her place on top of the sink.
"Listen…" He rubbed the back of neck nervously, "I don't know exactly what happened between you guys-"
Veronica was about to interrupt, but stopped when Dick held up his hand to stop her.
"I also know it's none of my business. What I do know is that he is crazy about you. He hasn't dated or been with anyone after you, if you know what I mean?" He waggled his eyebrows at her for emphasis.
"Dick, the sinks know what you mean." She deadpanned. "Was that all?"
"Yeah…" Dick nodded his head. "Just hear him out."
Veronica jumped off from the sink, walked towards the door, and left. The bell had already rang signaling the end of lunch.
She couldn't be there. She needed to get out and think. Think things through. She didn't want to go to the beach because she was almost positive that's where he'd be.
Instead, she drove to Mars Investigations.
When she arrived there, she was amazed to find two things sitting on top of her desk. There was a note from her dad stating he got a lead on a bail jumper heading to Arizona and that he would be back in a couple of days. There was also a small box that had a dozen balloons tied down to a star to hold them in place.
The box was covered in beautiful silver paper with a bright green bow tied around it.
Her eyes got glossy as she unwrapped the box carefully not wanting to rip the paper. When she opened the box her eyes widen in surprise to find a brand new 71.2 mm optical zoom, swivel LCD with raw file option camera and a note that read: 'To start the new ones…Go get 'em bobcat!'
The camera was beautiful and something she desperately needed and had been saving up for to enhance her photography skills. Tears escaped her eyes…
LoVe
Logan was standing in front of the mirror looking at his reflection nervously trying to tie a tie. He was wearing black slacks, a black button down dress shirt, and black dress shoes. The tie was a nice cherry red just the right amount of contrast.
"Handsome. Absolutely handsome." A voice stated proudly looking over his shoulder.
Logan couldn't help the blush that crept on his cheeks.
"Here. Let me help you with that." Lynn signaled for him to turn around so she could tie his tie. "Are you ready for the big night?"
He shook his head, "…No-I'm ner- What if she doesn't show up?" He looks down at his feet.
Lynn lifted her son's chin with her hand, "Hon, she cares about you. Her eyes don't lie. Think positive thoughts." She kissed his cheek. "I know she will." She helped him put on his coat.
"Thanks mom." He gave her a kiss on the cheek, grabbed his keys, his cell phone, and a small box.
LoVe
Veronica had gone back home to take Back-up out for a much needed walk. When she returned home and was barely settling down on the couch to watch 'Ever After' there was a soft knock on the door.
She opened the door to reveal a short stubby man standing there with three boxes and a small bag. "Are you Miss Mars?" He asked looking at her.
"Yes. Can I can I help you?" She was a bit skeptical.
"Where would you like me to put these for you?" He nodded to the boxes and bag in his hands.
"…"
"Excuse me, Miss, where would you like this?" He asked once more.
"I didn't order anything."
"I was asked to bring it to this address and to give this to Miss Veronica Mars." He looked over at the piece of paper with all the information. "I have to make other deliveries. Where do you want them?"
Veronica couldn't believe her ears, "The counter is fine." She opened the door wider to allow him access.
He set the things down on the counter and left the same way he entered.
LoVe
Logan was pacing back in forth fidgeting with his hands, 'I hope she got the message. She needs to come… Please Ronnie…' He thought looking up into the sky. Hoping that somehow she'd hear him.
LoVe
Veronica took all the boxes and bag to her bedroom and set them down on her bed. She grabbed her messenger bag, took out the puzzle pieces, and laid them out on the floor. 'One thing at a time.' She thought.
The puzzle was a bit harder to assemble because there wasn't a picture or anything to go by. She started connecting all of the edges together first and then slowly filling it in with the other pieces.
It took her about fifteen minutes to put it all together.
She couldn't believe what she saw. The design on the puzzle was beautiful, there was a picture of their secret secluded beach with the words, 'Please meet me here tonight at eight' written on it.
"What should I do?" She thought out loud. "What do you think boy?" She petted the pit bull. "I don't even have anything to wear…"
Her eyes fell upon the boxes on her bed. 'He wouldn't have… would he?'
She opened the biggest box first, inside it held a strapless red satin dress, her exact size. "Wow, this is beautiful." She stated running her hands through the soft material.
She laid the dress down on the bed carefully not wanting to wrinkle it. She then opened up the next medium sized box; it contained matching stiletto shoes and a clutch purse.
The last box was smaller than the last two. Inside it held a note that read, 'For a fresh new start…'
The bag contained a white orchid wrist core-sash.
Veronica was completely and utterly floored.
She was having an internal battle debating whether or not she should go. Her brain was arguing that a person couldn't simply forget and ignore the past year, it had been really hurtful, tears were spilled, and blood was shed. She couldn't be bought with expensive gifts. While her heart argued against everything, he was obviously trying to make a mends, and oh God she missed him like crazy. All the things he had done up until now were one of the reasons she had fallen for him in the first place.
He was thoughtful and extremely romantic, even if she pretended she didn't like those things.
Instead, Veronica went to her restroom to take a nice steamy and very hot shower to clear her head. Hoping she'd come to a decision when she came out.
When she came out; her fingers were wrinkly, her skin was red, and the bathroom was covered in steam. She had come to a final conclusion.
LoVe
The small secluded beach was delightfully adorned. There were hundreds of votives decorating the surrounding area creating a romantic atmosphere. Flowers decorated the table along with the china setting and silverware.
Logan was sitting down on the sand drinking a bottle of water as a tear streamed down his face. His head hung low it was eight-thirty, "She's not coming."
"Sorry I'm late." A familiar voice spoke behind him.
That was music to his ears; he wiped off the tear, and turned around slowly not wanting this to be a figment of his imagination.
There she was Veronica Mars. Veronica, his Ronnie, standing before him in a pair of jeans and a Led Zeppelin black t-shirt with a couple of boxes in her hands.
Logan couldn't help the frown that formed on his face. This wasn't going to be good.
They stared into each others eyes for a minute before Veronica tear her gaze away, shook her head, and broke the silence, "I can't take any of this, Logan."
Even though she wasn't wearing the dress she looked just as beautiful, "Why not?" He choked out.
"I just can't." She set them down on the sand. "I really appreciate the gesture, but-"
"But what, Veronica? Are they not good enough for you? They're not up to your standard?" Before he knew it those words flew out of his mouth.
Veronica shook her head sadly, "I knew it." She sounded so disappointed; the words that followed held no malice or witty remarks, just plain honesty. "I knew this was too good to be true."
"Veronica, I-" Logan tried explaining himself.
"Save it, Logan." She interrupted half heartedly.
She was tired of this, tired of fighting, fighting to no end. For no particular reason other than letting each other know that in a very twisted way they were still part of each other's life. Even though they couldn't stand each other at that particular moment it was better than not having each other at all.
Her eyes were glossy, "I seriously thought you meant every word on those notes.-"
"I did." He paused, "I do." He stood up from his place on the sand. "We need to talk." His chocolate eyes pleading with her ocean blue ones.
"I can't trust you." She whispered.
Logan's heart broke when he heard those words come out of her mouth, but he deserved that and much more.
"I came here to try and explain some things to you and you lash out at me at the first chance you get." Veronica was trying very hard not to cry. "I can't do this Logan, not again. I'm tired of fighting to no avail."
"Things are different, I swear. Please let's try this again." His voice was filled with desperation, with a need for her to understand and believe him.
"I only came here to return all the stuff you've been giving me and to try to clarify a very specific matter with you. Nothing else. I can't-"
Logan approached Veronica carefully, stepping closer to her, invading her personal; wanting to see what she would do if he got closer to her.
She stepped back when he tried to caress her cheek.
"Please don't." She said closing her eyes slightly. She really missed him, craved his touch, needed him by her side, but she was too hurt, too broken to go back.
He tried reasoning with her, "Let's sit down and we'll discuss the gifts and what happened that day… of our date." He motioned to the nicely set table and chairs.
She nodded her head in agreement. He deserved this much. "Let's just sit here please."
He nodded his head in agreement and waited for her to sit down first.
She looked out into the dark ocean, "…Why now?"
That question caught Logan entirely out of guard, "…Huh?" He turned to look at her.
"Why would you wait until now?" She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, "Up until last week, you hated me with a passion, and now all of a sudden you act like you care?"
'I fucked up bad.' He turned his gaze back to the water, "…I never hated you."
Veronica let out a bitter laugh, "You have a nice way of showing it."
"I mean it. I never hated you… I was just very hurt."
"Hurt?!" She turned to look at him, her eyes overflowing with fury, "You weren't the one that was betrayed by her best friend or cheated on by her boyfriend with the biggest tramp in school…"
Logan scoffed, "You cheated on me with Weevil of all people! You sank to a new low Ve-ro-ni-ca."
"And the insults continue." She stood up abruptly, "Weevil is one of the only people who has stood by me through all this crap-"
"So, you admit it!" He accused. "You were with him!"
Veronica couldn't believe him. 'This was all an act; he doesn't want to mend things. He's just finding out new ways to hurt me more.' "I don't have to put up with this shit!"
"Typical Veronica always running away." He spat out.
She wasn't going to let him get under her skin, not like he normally did, he was completely wrong on this matter. "Fine you want to talk. Let's talk!" Her voice was forceful and challenging.
"Not that's it any of your business, but no. I never cheated on you with anybody and especially not Weevil. He has stood by my side along with Mac, Wallace, and my dad. They are the only ones that didn't turn their backs on me." Her eyes piercing a whole right through him as her arms hanged by her sides in clenching fists turning her knuckles white. "He didn't cheat on me-"
Logan regretted everything he'd said or done the past year and just moments ago. He needed a new approach, "…I found a letter the other night written by you and addressed to me."
This really got her attention. "What letter?" She inquired forcefully.
"The letter, I suspect you were going to give to me the day after…our date."
"How did you get that letter?! You were never supposed to get that." She was in defense mode.
"…On Friday, when Madison confronted you, and then you went over to Wallace's-" He stopped suddenly covering his mouth.
"How dare you?! Who do you think you are?! You were following me?!" Veronica was appalled.
"I wanted to talk to you, but Paco got in my way." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"So, you followed me?" She shook her head. "This is getting way out of hand. I can't believe you did that."
"I needed to talk to you." He ran a hand through his hair regretfully. "I didn't know what else to do."
"What happened next?" Her tone was a bit softer, but it still held an edge to it.
'Breathe. Just breathe.' Veronica thought trying to control her emotions. She just wanted to get this over with so she wouldn't have to put up with him anymore. 'One more night and it will all end. Breathe.'
"I followed you back home and when you took a box out of your trunk a letter fell. Minutes later I got out of the car to pick it up and read it." He said sheepishly.
"Argh! This is so screwed up… You felt guilty." She shook her head hoping it would sink in faster. "So, that is why the sudden change of heart? All those gifts… You needed to find a way to feel better." She laughed humorlessly. "Then, if it wasn't for that stupid letter things would continue to be exactly the same? I get it I really do." She stated disbelievingly.
She honestly thought and felt that he had finally come to his senses, but this was just a way of clearing his conscience.
"Veronica, wait. Let me exlain-" Logan tried explaining things.
"What is there to explain Logan? You found a stupid letter that was never meant to be seen by you after a day of stalking me. Your guilt is so great that you feel the need to buy back my forgiveness just so you can clear your conscience? Once again you have fooled me. You must be very proud."
"You are right." He stated simply.
Veronica stood there speechless. Logan was agreeing with her. "…"
"You are right about one thing. I fucked up and I fucked up big. I single handedly screwed up the best thing that has ever happened to me over a stupid and insignificant misunderstanding. And it seems that I just keep digging myself deeper and deeper, don't I? I guess Aaron was right about me."
'I won't feel bad about this.' She tried convincing herself. 'This isn't my fault…'
"All those gifts I've given you were an incentive. They weren't meant to be construed as a payoff of any sort. They were reminders of what we once had; broken promises that I wanted to mend for not doing it sooner, and things that I hope will one day happen. I really meant everything I wrote on those letters.-"
She looked away from him, unable to see him right in the eyes, preparing herself to ask him the next question, her feet becoming very interesting in that moment, "…What about the song?" Her voice was barely audible.
"That was the only song I found that explained everything I've felt this past year and what I hope will happen- what I feel for you…" He stepped closer to her.
She gulped. Her heart was raising, 'He said feel as in present tense.'
He lifted her chin up with his hands gently lovingly even. He was both surprised and happy to note that she still hadn't pulled away from his touch.
His brown eyes trained on her blue pools, wanting to show her that there weren't any masks or facades. He desperately wanted to show her that everything he said was true and that he meant it. He spoke with such determination, "I truly am sorry for everything… For hurting you the way I have. For betraying you. For shunning you. For everything. Please forgive me." His lips were mere inches away from hers.
Veronica subconsciously began closing her eyes. She couldn't let this happened at least not yet because they weren't done settling some issues. They still had a long way to go. "…I- We can't do this." She pulled away from him and out of his grasp.
Hurt colored his eyes as he took a step back, but nodded his head in understanding. "…Can you at least tell me what happened that night? Why do you have that scar on your arm?"
Veronica nodded her head. She closed her eyes momentarily remembering that horrifying night that changed her life, "…I was on my way to clue number three…" Her eyes filled with tears. "…when someone grabbed me from behind… and everything went black…" Tears began streaming down her face as she fell back down on the sand on her knees.
Logan couldn't bear to see her like that, to see her crying because she was remembering that hideous night. He knelt down in front of her and engulfed her in a tight embrace.
"…I woke up a couple of hours later… in a dark room. I couldn't see a darn thing..."
Her body was shaking in his arms.
"…I was strapped to a chair… My hands were tied… behind my back…" Her voice came out choked and strained, "…in order to set myself free… I had to rock the chair back and forth until I fell to ground… I had to cut the rope with a sharp object that was on the floor… as I tried to cut through it… I cut my arm..." She was sobbing uncontrollably in his arms.
He gently rubbed circles on her back. "Shh, baby you don't have to continue… I had no idea… I am so sorry."
Her arms were around him in an instance; clutching onto him as hard as she could and not wanting to let go. She needed that reassurance. Needed to know he wasn't going anywhere. Tears cascaded down both of their cheeks.
"…When I finally freed myself… I ran. I ran as fast as I could without looking back. All I knew was that I was stuck inside an abandoned warehouse near the docks… I remembered reading one of the clues, it said something about the beach so I headed that way. When I finally got to our meeting place… I found it completely trashed and deserted. I didn't want to be there any longer, afraid that my… attacker… would be back… so, I left in search of a phone…"
"… Shh, you're fine now. Nothing or anyone will ever hurt you anymore. I promise. You don't have to continue." He whispered into her ear.
"…I saw Weevil by the pier and asked him to take me home, but he took me to the hospital instead. I got fifteen stitches. Afterwards, he drove me home and I hugged him in appreciation for his help and he left…"
She pulled back slightly, "…I tried calling you… but you never answered… I decided to make you snicker-doodles and write you an apology letter… and … you know what happened after that…"
He gently rubbed of a tear from her cheek with his thumb and put his forehead against hers, "I have acted like an obligatory psychotic jackass. Like I know I am and have been told on numerous occasions by a beautiful Polly pocket sized Nancy Drew. I really am sorry for everything."
TBC...
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