AN: I don't have a lot of time. So I'm cutting some of my AN in order to get this to you quickly. So no anons or anything. I'll make it up next chapter. Ok, on with the chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own VM, ok? Got it? Good.

Wallace: Moodswings

Ok, what is with rich white boys? Yeah, I'm black. Yeah, I listen to rap, play basketball, and come from the part of town where "I'm rich; kiss it" isn't tattooed on my ass at birth. That doesn't mean I want to go get drunk at anyone's beck and call. You know?

But here I was at a bar with my best friend's boyfriend, and the look on his face told me I was going to have to get a very drunk Logan Echolls all the way back to the damn hotel on my own. Damn rich kids.

Logan was doing the stony silence thing, too. And that was gonna make what I was about to say to him harder. But I had started to like him, damn it, and I had to do it. Why do I get stuck will all the troubled kids? Huh? Seriously.

Logan reached for the un-opened beer in front of him. I grabbed it away from him. The glare he gave me reminded me that he had at least three inches on me, and if we got in a fight the bouncers would pick the white dude over me. I decided at that moment that I'd had enough with troubled kids. I didn't care what V told me, I wasn't making friends with anymore of these people. I was done.

Logan reached for the drink. I slid it down the counter to the bartender. Logan jumped up, obviously pissed. "What the hell, man?"

I rolled my eyes. "Echolls, quit the drama queen act and siddown. I'll explain." Logan gave me a long look, then sat down slowly. I rolled my eyes again. Serious princess. "Look, you can't drink every time you fight with V."

Logan raised his eyebrow. "I have a trust fund that says otherwise."

I shrugged. "I can't stop you, I know. But it's stupid." I scooted my stool closer to him. "Ok, so what happened the last time you got drunk after you fought with V?" Logan grimaced. "Yeah. Kendall. The time before that? The bridge." Logan opened his mouth, but I held up my hand. I was on a roll. "The 80's dance. Duncan getting hit on the head. Veronica's ra ..." My voice died. I hadn't meant to go there. Dammit, I really hadn't meant to go there.

Logan was looking down at clutched hands and breathing really fast, but he didn't have anything to say. Huh. I, Wallace Fennel, had stunned Logan Echolls into silence. And if this was the only way to do it, I never wanted to go there again.

But, man. Every time he got drunk, he did something to hurt my best friend, and there wasn't a way in hell I was going to let him do it again.

I pushed back my stool with the force my sudden anger had given me. "It's stupid, Echolls, and I think you're too cool a dude to act like such a dumbass."

I was outta there in ten seconds flat. Like, you could've clocked me. I wasn't sure if I'd pushed new friend boundaries or did the right thing for my BFF. I just couldn't just sit there, ya know?

I was out there, ten minutes later, still trying to hail a cab I couldn't afford, when Logan came out. He stood there real quiet for a minute, then blew out loudly. "What happens if I go back sober and she's not there anymore?"

I realized something right then. My girl had him dancing on strings; he was crazy for her. If I told him right then that painting himself pink and running through Central Park naked would help Veronica, he'd probably do it. And for the first time, I really felt sorry for Logan, and not just for Veronica. Damn these troubled kids. I'd be better off in Sac-N-Pac getting harassed by gang members than getting involved with these hopped-up emo friends. Too little, too late, as JoJo says, I guess.

I gazed at him seriously. "If she's not there, I'll get her back. I'll make her listen to you, anyway." I wasn't sure how I'd do that, since Veronica didn't listen to anybody she didn't want to, even her BFF. But I was kinda determined to. Don't ask me when I turned into Logan Echolls' personal matchmaker. Especially when I'd probably get tasered for my efforts.

He nodded, looked down at shoes, and looked back up at me. "What if, um," he looked up to the sky, then to me again with the biggest hang-dog look ever, "what if she doesn't want me to come back?"

I shook my head sadly. "Honestly?" I shrugged. "You'll know it wasn't you who screwed it up. It'd surprise you how much that helps." Jackie flashed in my head, throwing her head back and laughing. My heart thumped a little louder, and I shook my head again to rid myself of the image. I felt even worse for Logan if V had her claws in him anywhere near how Jackie had her's in me.

Logan took a deep breath and quirked his eyebrows. "I guess I'm going back to the hotel, then."

I smiled widely and slapped him on the shoulder. "Alright, man!"

Logan shrugged, and looked around for a taxi. "And if it doesn't work out, I can always take out my sexual frustration on you."

I shivered and took a step back. Rich white boys are strange, if you ask me.

AN: Sorry it's so very, very short, but it's supposed to set up the next chapter. Plus, I was writing in a hurry. Oh, and the reason I had the MaDi thing last chapter was because I didn't want to leave them alone too long – and I wanted to build suspense! Next chapter will be long, complicated, and cliffhanger-revealing! I know you're all super excited.

By the way, reviews way down from last time. Fanfiction people are pulling their weight decently well, but LoVe Shack readers? I'm shaking my head and finger at you right now. I only got one review last time, so be good people and fanfic readers and review. Or I'm running , or over with a bus. Asterisk quiz like Ausellio! See if you figure out who the candidates are by next chapter. Ok, peace and love, I gotta get homework done. It's not my best chappie, but again, hurry.

Love? Hate? Review, people, REVIEW!