Chapter 11: The Unexpected

*******Same Time and Place*******

"How would you like it if your dirty laundry was printed in the paper for everyone to read?" Veronica asked archly.

"What are you talking about?" Jackie asked, confident that Veronica was just trying to make a point. There was no way the girl could actually know anything about Jackie.

"How about an article detailing your arrest for drug possession in Brooklyn? You are not from the Upper East Side like you like to pretend," Veronica said smugly. This girl was going to learn not to presume she had the right to butt into Veronica's life.

"How would you know that? Those records were sealed!" Jackie asked in dismay.

"Yeah, well, my dad's a P.I. and there's not much I can't uncover," Veronica said with a satisfied smirk.

"You had no right to go digging through my life!" Jackie said in angry outrage.

"I had every right!" Veronica shot back. "You blabbed about my personal life to a reporter. You don't even know me."

"I didn't dig up anything on you or reveal anything personal! You guys are the ones spilling your business right in front of me!" Jackie exclaimed. She got up. "I'm new here. I wasn't trying to hurt you. I know what it's like to have your business out there for everyone to gossip about. What I said to the reporter was tactfully framed to not reveal much and dissuade further questioning. I thought I was doing you a favor! You, on the other hand, are a malicious bitch!" She gave Veronica a disgusted look then turned and stormed off.

Veronica angrily got to her feet about to go after the girl. Logan grabbed her arm. "Down, Bobcat! I think you should call it a draw!" he advised.

"Gee, Veronica. Did you have to go for the jugular like that? Couldn't you have just asked her why she talked to the reporter?" Wallace asked in disapproval. "Don't you have enough people hating you?"

"That's not fair, Wallace! You know how much I hate anyone knowing my business on a good day. Thanks to the ugliness the past weeks, my very private business is now a matter of public record," Veronica said defensively. "This new girl took it upon herself to speak on my behalf. She and I haven't even had an actual real conversation!"

"She made a mistake. You don't have to always assume the worse in people, Veronica. Sometimes people may surprise you if you give them a chance," Wallace said.

"Not in the world I live in," Veronica said grimly.

Hannah reached out and put her hand over Wallace's on the table. "It's bad enough that Veronica went through such a terrible thing. She doesn't need people who pretend to be her friend talking for her to reporters," Hannah said.

Veronica gave Wallace's girlfriend a grateful look. "Thank you, Hannah. Glad someone's on my side!" Veronica said.

"I'm always on your side, Veronica. You know that," Wallace said with a frown at her words.

"It doesn't feel like it," she said disgruntled. She looked at Logan who had remained curiously silent during this exchange. "What do you think?"

"Me? I hate reporters. You know that," he said.

Veronica rolled her eyes as his evasiveness. "Not what I was asking," she said sourly.

"I don't have much else to say," he said with a shrug. He wasn't about to get in the middle of mean girl drama. "I get why you're pissed. I'd be pissed if I were you. But she's new. She doesn't know you. I guess she'll learn."

"She better," Veronica said glumly.

"Eat your lunch before it gets too cold and gross," Logan said, hoping to distract her.

Wallace laughed knowingly. "Smart," he said to Logan. He knew Logan well enough to know that if he truly felt Veronica was the victim he go out of his way to punish Jackie himself. However, he didn't want to upset her. Wallace didn't either. It was just sometimes he thought she made things entirely too difficult for no good reason.

******After School******

Wallace was on the way to the gym for practice when he saw Jackie at her locker. He stopped to talk to her.

"Hey," he said. She looked up at him and didn't saying anything. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," she said in a clipped voice. Then she slammed her locker shut. "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to see if you were okay. I know you weren't trying to hurt Veronica, but you got to understand that Lilly Kane was the Queen Bee in this school and Veronica her best friend. Then when she was murdered, the entire school, including Logan, turned on her. I only moved here last year, and you wouldn't believe the things I've heard about her," Wallace said. "So she's always in defense mode. It's how she survived."

"That doesn't give her any right to go prying into my life," Jackie said sourly. "I didn't pry into hers. You guys have been talking in front of me. I can't help but hear. Only knowing what I know, I realize how bad things have been for her. But things were really bad for me back in New York. I made a lot of mistakes. I came here to have one year of fun before I have to go back to my real life. I should've known better."

"I gotta go to practice. Will you meet me later? I want to talk more," Wallace said.

Hannah came around the corner and saw Wallace leaning against a locker talking to the new girl. The very attractive and charismatic new girl. She frowned, not knowing how to proceed. She was two years younger than both of them. Wallace was so great, and she liked him a lot. She didn't want to lose him to Jackie. There had to be a way to make them closer, so he wouldn't care so much about Jackie.

She slowly walked down the hall and heard Wallace make plans to see Jackie. Although she felt like crying, she walked quickly so she could catch up to him. "Wallace!" she called out.

He stopped and smiled when he saw her. He didn't look guilty. Maybe she was misunderstanding.

"I'm running late," he said.

"Will you come over my place later? I want to talk to you," she said.

"I can't," he said, not explaining why.

"Fine. Let me know when you can fit me in," she said in annoyance. She walked away, her head held high. It was clear that he had made plans to be with Jackie later.

Wallace chased after her. "Hey, don't be mad. I just have something to do after practice," he said.

"Yeah, I know. I saw you talking to Jackie," she said, hurt. "I thought I was your girlfriend. If you don't want to be with me anymore, you should tell me. I don't date guys who sneak around with other girls behind my back. I'm not that desperate."

Wallace's eyes widened in surprise at her words. "Of course, I want to be with you!" he exclaimed. "Don't be like that!"

Hannah sighed. She didn't want him to lose him to Jackie. "I'm sorry," she said. "Call me later." She forced a small smile and walked toward the exit.

She saw Veronica and Mac, but she didn't stop to talk. She waved and kept walking.

Veronica waved at Hannah. "She looks upset," Mac observed.

"Well, I can guess why. Jackie," Veronica said. "Wallace is entirely too taken with her. At lunch, he was totally defending her for talking to the reporter."

"You know Wallace. He sees the best in everyone. He's even nice to Dick and Weevil," Mac pointed out.

Veronica laughed. "True. Did you hear the good news yet?" Veronica asked and shared the news about Don Lamb's upcoming troubles.

"Do you think your dad will be sheriff again?" Mac wondered.

"Possibly. I hope so. Things in this town were much better then," Veronica said.

"Yes, but you'll have to quit with your law bending," Mac said with a knowing grin.

"Don't you mean your law bending? I'm not the one hacking into sealed records!" Veronica said, gleefully.

"Oh, so that's how it is? You're going to hang me out to dry!" Mac exclaimed with grin. "I still can't believe she had a baby." She had uncovered much more than she anticipated.

"I didn't mention that part to anyone yet. We have to find out more. We know a baby was born to her, but we don't know what happened to him. Was he adopted? Did he get sick?" Veronica wondered. "I don't want to say anything until I know more."

Mac agreed as Veronica said goodbye and headed to her car. Weevil was waiting outside for her. He was talking to Hector. When they saw her, Weevil smiled warmly at her.

Hector noticed his expression. "You got it bad, bro," he said with a grin.

"Yeah. She's pretty perfect," he said. She stopped in front of him and flashed those dimples at him. Her smile never failed to warm him and make him hot at the same time. With Lilly, he'd always been tied in knots. She'd made him crazy. At the time, he thought it was the good kind of crazy, but now he knew it really hadn't been. Lilly had been a mirage. Mac was real. And so much better for him in so many ways.

"Hey. How have you been, Hector?" she asked. Weevil hadn't spent much time with his former gang friends since he'd left the gang.

"Pretty good. How about you?" Hector asked.

"Mostly good," she answered honestly. Weevil reached out and took her bag. It was strange at first having a guy carry her stuff. She knew that Weevil knew she was quite capable of carrying her stuff. She had told him that the first two times he'd insisted. The first time he'd said that he knew she could but why should she have to. The second time she'd protested he'd pulled his grandma card. "My grandma wouldl kill me if she thought I wasn't giving you enough consideration," he'd said. She finally let him have his way. It made him happy, and it also served to make her feel good that he cared so much about something so minor.

"Catch you later," Weevil told Hector as he grabbed Mac's hand. As they walked to the car, Mac shared with him the drama they'd missed at lunch.

"The new girl's going to have to watch her step," Weevil said with a knowing grin.

"I'm not sure what to think yet about her," Mac said.

"Well, I don't think about her at all," Weevil said when they arrived at her car. He tossed her bag in the backseat and then laced his other hand with hers, pulling her closer. "I'd much rather think about you."

Mac smiled at him, butterflies in her stomach. No one had ever made her feel as special as he made her feel-like she was the only person he wanted to talk to, to look at, or to be with. It was intoxicating and overwhelming at the same time. "I'm glad," she said softly. "I think about you, too."

He couldn't resist kissing her. Her arms went around his neck as his hands rested on her hips.

A boy walked by and let out a cat call. He broke off the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. "You are entirely too kissable!" he complained.

Mac pulled back a bit so she could look at him. "You're the first guy to think so," she said admitted.

"This school has a lot of idiots!"

Mac laughed and stepped away, so they could leave the school. "I think we should go."

"Some place more private," he finished with a grin. When she didn't disagree, he laughed and got into the car.

******A Few Hours Later At Java Hut******

Wallace mentally kicked himself for forgetting that Veronica was working tonight. Jackie had suggested the local hang out when he asked to talk to her later. He went home after practice to shower and eat dinner. As he walked in and saw Veronica, he realized his mistake.

She smiled at him, walking toward him. "Hey! Do you need a table or are you picking up something?" she asked.

"Well, uh, I need a table. I'm meeting someone," he said slowly.

"Okay," she said, grabbing two menus. "Have I told you yet how much I like Hannah?"

"I like her, too. A lot. But I'm not meeting her. I'm meeting Jackie, but I'm not sure what she was thinking suggesting the place you work," Wallace said glumly.

"Why are you making plans with Jackie?" she asked suspiciously. Then she looked alarmed. "Is this a date?"

"No! Hannah knows about it," he said quickly. "I just wanted to talk to her away from every one. She was pretty upset."

Veronica rolled her eyes. "Upset that her lying cover was blown! Be still my bleeding heart," she said sarcastically.

"Don't be like that!" Wallace scolded. He sat down at the table. Jackie came in. "Here she is. Be nice!"

"They pay me to be while I'm here. I get off in a half hour. Then all bets are off," she said. She ignored Jackie as she passed by.

"I forgot Veronica worked here," Jackie said sourly as she sat across from him.

"I didn't think about her working today, but it'll be okay," Wallace said.

"She hates me," Jackie said gloomily.

"No, she doesn't. Believe me. The people Veronica hates know it without a doubt," Wallace assured her. "She just is quick to go on the attack. She's been through a lot."

"Well, so have I," Jackie said.

"Why don't you tell me about it?" Wallace asked.

Veronica tried not to watch Wallace and Jackie, but it was hard. She didn't want that temptress pulling her best friend into her web. They were still talking intently when her shift ended. She was taking off her apron when Logan came in.

"Are you off?" he asked. She nodded. "Do you have time? I thought we could go to the beach and talk for a bit."

"Do you mind if we went to the one by my house? I want to change," she said.

"Sure. I'll follow you home," he said.

"Why don't you stop and get us a pint of ice cream?" she suggested.

Logan grinned at her. "Have a craving?"

"Always," she replied.

A half hour later, she, Logan, and Back Up were walking along the beach. Well, they were walking. Back Up was running joyfully as only dogs and toddlers can run.

Logan dutifully handed her a small paper bag. She grinned at him and took out the pint of double ripple fudge brownie, handing him back the paper bag. She handed him a plastic spoon and popped off the top. Her sexy moan of pleasure at her first bite made Logan groan.

"Do you have to do that?" he asked.

"Do what?" she asked. "You can have some."

He rolled his eyes. She didn't get it. He sighed and put his spoon in for a bite. Then she took another and said, "God, that's so good!"

When she gave another sigh of pleasure, he said, "Stop being so sexy sounding! It's killing me!"

She looked at him in confusion. Then she grinned as she saw him looking at her mouth. "You are so lame!"

"Lame? Me?" He reached out and took the pint of ice cream from her. His spoon pulled out a big bite. "How about I control the ice cream?"

She pouted but he remained resolute, taking the big scoop into his mouth. Then he started imitating her reaction in an exaggerated manner. "Oooh, it's soooo good! Oooh, I just want to make sweet love to this spoon!" he exclaimed, licking it non-stop.

She laughed and shoved him. "I totally do not sound like that!" she insisted.

"Pretty close," he said with a smirk. Then he gave her a scoop of ice cream, feeding it to her.

Back Up ran up to them and dropped a stick at their feet. Logan handed Veronica back the pint and bent down to pick up the stick and throw it down the beach. Back Up barked excitedly and chased after it. "Dogs have it so easy," he observed. "It takes so little to make them happy."

"It doesn't take much to make a guy happy either," Veronica said with a smug look. She took another bite of the ice cream. Then she put the lid back on it and grabbed the bag back from him, shoving it inside. She moved a bit away from the water and sat down on the sand. Placing the bag on her left side, she patted the right side with her hand. "Come here," she ordered.

Logan grinned and sat down next to her. She reached out and ran her hand up his bare calf and then shocked the hell out of him by slipping it beneath his waist band. "What are you doing?" he gasped.

She grinned playfully. "Making you happy," she said as she grabbed a hold of him and squeezed.

"God, Veronica! Can you be more unpredictable?" His hands dug into the sand. He scanned the beach for witnesses and was relieved to find none.

"Maybe," she said, giving him a mischievous look. Then she pushed down his waist band and pulled out his penis. The thought of what she may or may not do instantly made him grow harder in her hand. Her hands wrapped around it and moved up and down his length, causing him to moan in pleasure.

Logan had been careful since the Cassidy showdown to not push Veronica too much whenever they made out. He didn't want to pressure her or make her feel like he couldn't wait. It wasn't always easy, but he didn't want to risk losing her. Her behavior now was a very happy surprise.

"You are absolutely right! It does not take much to make me happy!" he spit out. Then his eyes rolled in the back of his head as she did something he dreamed about all the time.

A short time later, Logan was screaming her name as he quickly pulled out of her wickedly hot mouth and emptied himself onto the sand.

Veronica was a bit surprised at her own boldness. She wasn't sure what came over her. However, looking at Logan's dazed and euphoric expression filled her with pleasure.

His eyes locked onto hers as he breathed heavily, trying to wrap his mind around what had just happened. He had figured she'd pick a fight with him over Jackie. That was her normal mode of operation. This was the last thing he expected to happen when he dropped by her work to see her.

He very carefully pulled up his shorts. Then he reached out and grabbed her hand and tugged her closer and fused his mouth onto hers, kissing her hungrily. "God, you're so unbelievable!" he exclaimed as he trailed his mouth down her neck. "Let me return the favor," he said. However, a very wet nose pushed its way between them.

Veronica giggled. "I think Back Up is jealous!" she observed, petting him.

"So why did you do that?" Logan had to ask. "I thought you were annoyed with me."

"Aren't I always?" she asked with a head tilt. "But I'm not really. I'm just frustrated lately. And maybe pissed. But not with you. Not really."

He put his arm around her shoulder. "I love you. I want things to be better for you. I'm sorry that they're not," he said.

"But they are better. I have you now," she said. She laid her head down on his shoulder.

Her words made Logan very happy. He had a feeling things were never going to be easy between them. However, it didn't matter if at the end of the day, their love remained.

******Chapter End******