A/N: Can I just say how ridiculously excited I am for the VM movie? It's making it difficult to continue this story, knowing from the movie spoilers that it never would have happened this way, but I'll persist. I just hope the movie leaves us with good opportunities for new stories (and more LoVe!). Anywho... this story will have to do until we get our movie magic. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Backing the Kickstarter campaign is almost like owning a miniscule part of VM, right? Nah, didn't think so... I still don't own it, sadly. But if you haven't backed the campaign yet, DO IT! projects/559914737/the-veronica-mars-movie-project
Ch. 11 - Matchmaker Redux
Ah, Monday morning. A time for reflection. A time to make good on your promise to stay friends with your boyfriend's ex. Oh look, here she comes now. Nice try, Universe, but you've gotten so predictable.
"Hey Parker" Veronica and Mac unintentionally said in unison, as she approached the table.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked, already pulling out a chair.
"Sure" Veronica answered.
"Where's Piz?" Mac asked with a teasing note to her voice.
"Mac, I told you, we aren't dating or anything. It was just a... a thing. I don't want to make a big deal about it" she said, glancing nervously at Veronica.
"Are you sure Piz knows that?" Veronica asked quizzically.
"I'm sure he does... Why?"
"Because he's heading this way" Mac warned.
"You're kidding me, right?" Parker asked, slightly alarmed.
"Nope" Mac laughed.
Parker held in a groan as Piz appeared next to her and pulled the fourth chair close to hers before sitting down. Mac and Veronica shared an amused look.
"So, how is everybody?" he asked brightly.
"We're good. How are you?" Mac interjected before either of the other two could answer.
"I'm good," he answered. "It's a nice morning, isn't it?"
"Very nice" Veronica chimed in, trying not to laugh at Parker's panicked expression.
"So, Parker, I was thinking about going to see this band play Friday night and wondered if you might want to come with me?" Piz asked, oblivious to Parker's deer-in-headlights impersonation.
"Oh, well, the girls and I were just talking about having a girls-night-out on Friday. Maybe next time?" she answered with a pleading look for the girls to play along.
"Maybe you could all stop by then" he suggested, undeterred.
"Maybe" Mac said politely.
"Okay, well I've got class" Piz said after a few minutes of silence, "Think about coming to the show. You won't regret it. I'll see you girls later."
"What was that?" Parker asked once Piz was out of range.
"The boy is smitten" Veronica informed her with a shrug.
"Veronica seems very cool about what happened with me and Piz" Parker noted that evening when Mac got back to their room.
"That's because she is," Mac explained.
Parker frowned a little, unintentionally.
"Don't look so disappointed," Mac laughed. "Is that what this whole thing was about? Making them jealous?"
"No. Maybe. I don't know," she said, shaking her head. "I guess that factored into it. I mean, it does sting a little to see them together, but I thought I was handling it pretty well. It was Piz who seemed upset about it. I was trying to convince him to move on when he suggested that we leave the party together."
"It was Piz's idea?" Mac asked with a mixture of shock and admiration.
"Well, he said we should leave. And I jokingly asked him, his place or mine. But he took it seriously and I kind of just went with it. I don't know. I thought it was just a rebound/ make our exes jealous kind of thing. I thought that's what he wanted" Parker explained.
"And now you know he wants more" Mac interjected.
"Yeah, and I did like him for a little while last year, but I got bored waiting around."
"Well, if you want the green-light to date him now, I think you've got it."
"But I don't want to date him, Mac. At least, I don't think I do."
"I'm pretty sure he thinks you already are dating."
"So what do I do about it?"
"Figure out if you like him."
"That's the thing, though. I do like him. I just don't think I can play second fiddle to Veronica. Not again" she admitted.
"Then maybe the three of us should go see this band on Friday. Then we can try to figure out if he really likes you, or if he's still just trying to make Veronica jealous" Mac suggested.
"I guess it's worth a shot, but how are we going to convince Veronica to come?"
"I don't think it will be too hard. Veronica loves a good mystery."
"Oh my god, it'll be bowling all over again" Veronica said, exasperated.
"Only instead of Logan, you'll be with me. Much less awkward. Besides, we can leave once Parker realizes that Piz is over you" Mac tried to encourage her friend.
"Remind me; why can't Logan come again? He's not going to be a fan of this idea you know" she continued to protest.
"It's supposed to be girl's night out. Plus, if he sees you and Logan together, we won't be able to tell if he really likes Parker or if he's just trying to get to Logan" Mac countered.
Veronica groaned. "Fine. But I'm not staying long."
"Totally justified. I'll take you to Logan's once we decide what we're doing with Parker" Mac promised.
"This band better be halfway decent, too."
"If it's not, I'll fake a heart attack" Mac laughed.
What's an easy way to stress out your significant other? Tell him you're going to hang out with your ex to see if he still has the hots for you. What's not to like about that plan?
"I don't like this, Veronica" Logan stated matter-of-factly. He was pacing, which wasn't a good sign.
"I know. I don't like it, either. It's so junior high, but I told Mac I would do it."
"What are you going to do when Piz starts hitting on you again, huh? Taze him?"
"He's not going to hit on me. I really think he's into Parker now. Mac and I are only going because Parker didn't want to go alone" Veronica explained for the hundredth time.
"That ought to tell you something right there. They wanted to make us jealous; it didn't work; so now they have to live with it. We shouldn't be involved in this" Logan insisted.
"Maybe you're right, but Mac and Parker think this is a good idea and they'll be upset if I bail now."
"And it doesn't matter if I'm upset?"
"Of course it matters" she said, standing up in front of him so he would stop pacing.
"Then don't go" he pleaded, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"We'll only be there for like an hour. Then Mac will bring me here and we can have the rest of the night all to ourselves" she cooed, inching closer to him.
"Mac's coming over? When?" asked Dick, popping his head out of his bedroom.
"Go away, Dick" Logan warned, annoyed by the interruption.
"She's not coming over. She's dropping me off here tomorrow night. Then she's going to see her own boyfriend" Veronica explained as patronizingly as possible.
"Oh," Dick replied sullenly, "she's still with that guy?"
"Yeah, tough luck, man. Now be a good boy and close your door" Logan instructed.
"Hey, the living room is a common area. You've got a bedroom for that stuff."
"Where's your tazer?" Logan asked Veronica.
"Whatever. Let me know when it's safe to come out" Dick pouted as he retreated back into his room.
"Now, where were we?" Veronica asked, turning her full attention back to Logan.
"I believe we had moved on to the making up portion of our evening" he answered, pulling her in for a kiss.
"Were we fighting?" Veronica questioned, catching her breath.
"That's funny; I don't even remember" he said, lifting her off the ground so he could carry her to his bed.
"Ollie, ollie, oxen free" she called loudly as the door clicked shut behind them.
Dick peeked out his door cautiously before deciding the coast was clear. He then proceeded into the kitchen to make a sandwich.
"Let's get this show on the road, ladies" Veronica said, ushering her friends toward the door of the bar.
"Thanks for doing this, Veronica" Parker said, stopping the impatient blonde.
"I know, I'm a saint, now quit stalling" she replied. "And really, it's no problem."
They entered the not-so-crowded bar and exchanged skeptical looks. Piz spotted them and hurried over, dragging a bored-looking Wallace along with him.
"You made it" he observed happily.
"Yeah" said Parker slowly, "are we early?"
"Oh, they're between sets" Piz explained casually. "Do you want to meet the band?"
"Umm, sure" Parker replied, allowing herself to be led away from the rest of the group.
"Well, I think our work here is done. Can we go now?" Veronica dead-panned.
"No way, you cannot leave me here" Wallace insisted.
"Are they that bad?" Mac asked with a laugh.
"Actually, they aren't terrible, but look around" he explained. "This place is dead."
"I'm sure Piz won't care if you leave with us, now that we brought Parker to him" Veronica offered. "We only promised to stay for an hour."
"I just might take you up on that" Wallace said, leading the girls to the table he'd set up post at.
"So, Wallace, what's your opinion on the Piz/Parker situation?" Mac questioned as they sat down.
"I have no opinion. I'm strictly here for moral support. But if Piz cares at all what you think, V, he's doing a good job of hiding it" he weighed in.
"Hey, I want him to move on," she defended. "It's a little suspicious that he chose Parker to do it with, but whatever works."
The sudden drum beat startled all three of them, and they turned toward the stage. A group of guys, not much older than themselves, had snuck back on stage and started playing without so much as an introduction. It was a mid-tempo song, heavy on the bass. From the few lyrics that were understandable, given the acoustics, it was about unrequited love. Or about the band's love for cheeseburgers. It was really hard to understand, but the melody was upbeat and full of energy.
"At least they don't suck" Mac called to Veronica above the noise.
"I want that on my tombstone," she called back. "At least she didn't suck."
"I'll make a note of it for your will" Mac countered.
"You better hope Logan doesn't let Dick come to your funeral," Wallace interjected. "I can only imagine what he'd have to say about that particular phrase."
"I'm counting on outliving Dick, so it shouldn't be a problem" Veronica laughed.
"What shouldn't be a problem?" Parker asked, as she and Piz finally arrived back at the table.
"Veronica outliving Dick" Mac answered.
"Oh" Parker said, realizing she had missed something and deciding to change the subject. "What do you think of the band?"
"They're not bad" offered Mac.
"A little hard to understand," Veronica piped in, "but I don't think that's their fault. It's really echo-y in here."
"Yeah, this place usually caters to solo artists and open mic nights," Piz explained. "The acoustics are abysmal for larger bands."
Veronica, Mac, and Wallace sat through the set politely, tired of trying to talk over the music. Piz and Parker had joined the few people dancing in front of the band. Well, not really dancing, more like bobbing their heads to the beat. Veronica decided that only two people who really liked each other would bother to pretend that this was an exciting date. When the band took another break after only five songs, she and Mac pulled Parker aside for the verdict.
"So, are you coming with us, or are you staying here with Piz?" Mac asked, already knowing the answer.
"You guys go on ahead," she insisted. "I'll catch a ride home with Piz."
"Sounds good. I'll be at Max's, so the room's yours if you want it" Mac informed her.
"That probably won't be necessary, but thank you," Parker said before turning to Veronica. "And thank you again, Veronica. I feel a lot better about this now. Enjoy the rest of your night."
"You too, Parker. Glad I could be of service. Say bye to Piz for us, okay?"
Mac and Veronica locked arms and headed back to the table to scoop up Wallace.
"Come on, Wallace. Let's blow this popsicle stand" Veronica said, grabbing his hand and pulling him out of his chair.
So "girl's night out" ended with fifteen minutes to spare. Logan and I can officially stop worrying about our exes trying to get in the way of our happiness. And, as Mac so aptly put it, the band didn't suck. I guess the universe is occasionally on my side. Let's hope it stays that way for awhile.