A/N: Thanks so much for the wonderful comments! This story has been bothering me lately. I hate not completing stories, so I made time to update.

In repsonse to some comments: As for Rebecca's thoughts, not wanting Veronica and Logan to get together, she feels like Veronica is purposely choosing him to bother her. It isn't that Veronica and Logan might actually like each other; all she's seen is that they annoy each other. She wants V to be with Troy, who's safe and won't cause problems. Her life (and Veronica's) has been upheaved and ruined when they lived in Seattle; her friends, her life, the normalcy of it all, was gone. Becky wants that back more desperately than anything. She hasn't come to terms that Veronica isn't who she used to be. And when Veronica got raped, she basically lost her best friend. So her life with Lilly and Duncan, it's back to normal for her. She's having fun, she's a part of things; and she wants Veronica to be there with her.

To her, Logan Echolls dating her sister will only cause trouble, and Becky does not like trouble or confrontation. If Veronica wanted to date anyone else, she probably wouldn't have such a strong reaction. But she knows Logan's reputation, he's her new best friend's on-and-off boyfriend, and she's just so scared that's going to be the first in a domino effect of ruining her life. She's 16; she's dramatic. She's not so much being loyal to Lilly or Veronica, but trying to protect what she considers a valuable facet of her life.

And Hannah... yeah, I hate her. When Logan was ditching her at the dance, I didn't even notice until I re-read it, and then I decided I didn't care, because... well. I hate Hannah. But to settle your minds, yes, Dick very graciously drove Hannah home while trying to cop a feel. Good? :D

Long reply. I hope I helped you all understand a little more where Rebecca's coming from. Thanks again for the comments!

Chapter Twelve

VERONICA:

Sighing, I walked into my room quietly, shoes in hand, and leaned against the wall next to my door.

My mouth was still tingling from the kiss Logan had landed on it before I could move, when we stopped in front of my house as he was dropping me off.

We hadn't talked about anything of importance while we were at the diner and on the ride home, but I kept catching him looking at me funny. Being civil with him must really be messing with his head. He didn't know how to deal with me when we weren't fighting. Maybe being nice to him would have the opposite effect and turn him off of me. It could be fighting with me, the chase, that could be what interested him. Guys liked a challenge, didn't they? And once it was gone... so were they.

But the looks he had been shooting my way all night didn't look like he was losing interest; more like he was calculating the best way to deal with friendly Veronica. Now that I was cooperating, he needed a new plan. It made me itchy, thinking he might actually be doing that. Like I was some sort of project, or mission. Something to complete. I hated being manipulated.

Logan had seemed so... sincere though. That kiss goodnight (soft and tender and so not what I expected from Logan that it had thrown me off-balance) had made me think that maybe it could work. Then he had whispered in my ear, "I told you so."

I had smacked him on the head, than scrambled over him to get out of the limo, not-so accidentally bashing my heel against his shin on the way out. I had given him the finger, hiding my smile as I walked inside, his voice following me. "Night, Twinkle Toes."

I hated Logan Echolls so much. I wished I could say that with all the truth in the world. Unfortunately it seemed the more time I spent with him, I was beginning to like him.

The ringing broke me out of my sleep. I grumbled, and reluctantly lifted my head from my pillow to look at the clock. 4: 26 a.m. Who the hell was calling me at this time of night? Or morning, whatever. I grabbed my phone from the night stand, shoving my hair out of my face, and closing my eyes again, clicked the 'Talk' button.

"What?" I grouched into the phone.

"Veronica, hey," I heard a man's voice on the other line. It took me a minute to place the voice, and than I groaned. Loudly.

"What do you want, Troy?" I asked, my voice cutting.

"I need a ride."

"Now?" I huffed out, opening my eyes. "Why are you even calling me? We aren't friends."

"No one else answered their phones," he continued.

"Yeah, they had the right idea," I muttered.

"Anyways, my car was stolen, and a couple of pals and I are stuck. Please?" Troy asked again, in his smoothest voice. I rolled my eyes.

"No. Call a taxi. Take a bus. I don't care."

I could hear Troy click his tongue over the phone, and then, "You owe me, after ditching me at the dance last weekend."

I scoffed, "You didn't even notice I was gone for two hours, and then you texted me asking where I was."

"It was a humiliating experience, for me and my ego. You owe me," Troy said again.

Moaning in defeat, I gave in. "Fine, where are you? Oh, let me guess, The Seventh Veil. I hear the ladies give free lap dances if you-"

"Veronica, we're a little farther than that."

"What? Farther than the slummiest strip club in town? Wow, Troy, you sure are living the life."

"We're not exactly in Neptune," he replied.

"Excuse me? You expect me to drive out of Neptune to pick up you and your pals?"

"You owe m-"

"Yes, yes, I know," I cut in. I swore, listened as he told me exactly where he was.

"Your paying for the gas," I snapped, and slapped my phone shut. "Jackass." My head dropped to my pillow, and I groaned one last time.

Stupid rich kids.

Pulling up, I glared at Troy, Luke, and... Logan.

"Of course you'd be here," I drawled, staring at him and shaking my head. Logan looked a little embarrassed, a little frustrated. With me, probably.

We hadn't talked much since the diner. Between a couple important cases I got, my school work, and searching for anything to do with Jake Kane and Lianne Reynolds, I hadn't had much time to spend any time with Logan. And I'll admit that I was maybe avoiding him a little. I needed time to think. He made me feel so unstable, and I had to balance everything out in my head. Ready myself, and what I was going to do. I had my shields, and I couldn't let Logan through. I had to be ready to handle him. I had to stay in control.

So I had told him I was busy, couldn't talk, couldn't hang, couldn't anything for a bit. He didn't exactly seem happy about it, but he nodded stiffly and told me he'd give me some space, for now.

Rebecca had smiled at me, when she saw that I was avoiding him. I didn't know what she had been thinking, the look in her eye making me uncomfortable, like she was watching me and trying to fix everything to her way. It wasn't like Rebecca.

"Who called you? Right, Troy," Logan said, picking up his bag from the ground. "You and Troy good friends now?"

"Get in the car," I said, ignoring him. He opened the door, and was about to sit in the front seat when I shook my head, and pointed to the back seat. "No, I am not sitting back there. This soapbox can barely hold you, much less my amazing physique."

"You'll just have to deal," I replied, narrowing my eyes at him. I was not going to drive the rest of the way back to Neptune, with him beside me. I did not need him playing with the radio, putting his feet up on the dash, bothering me with just his presence all the way home.

And he would be distracting. That much I knew about Logan. Whenever he was around, it was impossible to ignore him. "You're either in the back, or walking home. Both work for me." I also did not need Troy and Luke wondering why I let Logan have shotgun. It would be just the cherry on top, having the fact that Logan and I had a 'thing' going on, around school.

Logan scowled, but threw his bag into the backseat, following in after it. Luke hopped in, and Troy sat in the front, next to me. He opened his mouth to say something, but I just snapped, "Don't. Just be quiet, and we'll all get along fine."

Just... fine.

I dropped off Logan first. The ride back to Neptune had been as annoying as I had expected it to be. I had not thought Logan sitting in the back through, though. He should have sat in the back, on the right side. Instead, stuck on the left side, behind me, I had to deal with Logan pulling my hair, poking my back, kicking my seat, and whispering dirty words into my ear the whole ride back.

I sighed. "Finally," I muttered to myself.

"I heard that, Mars," Logan said from behind me. I tried to stop the involuntary shiver from his breath on the back of my neck caused.

Luke and Logan rose from the backseat. "Thanks for the ride," Logan mumbled, than sighed loudly. "You gonna play nice now?"

"Walk in front of the car, we'll see," I replied. I couldn't help the corners of my lips from rising slightly.

Logan laughed, and coming around the front of my car, he caught my eye. He was of course, smirking. I revved the engine of my car, grinning at him as he then smacked his jacket against my hood. Then stopping beside my door, leaned down, and whispered so Troy and Luke couldn't hear, "You know I like it when you're feisty." Than walking to his ugly yellow Xterra, tossed over his shoulder, "See you later, Veronica." I frowned at him as he wagged his eyebrows at me.

"So you and Logan are on okay terms now?" Troy asked.

"No." I uttered, and glowered at him, "now tell me where you live so I can get rid of you too."

"Veronica Mars, don't you know how to small talk?"

"No, I'm socially retarded like that. Now, tell me where you live, or get out."

Troy sighed huffily. "Fine, fine. You are way too tight-assed anyways. I have plans today too."

"Oh, fun! Thanks for sharing. Done now?"

"I was actually going to ask you to help me find my car, you know, since it was stolen and all," Troy went on.

Rolling my eyes, I started the car, "No."

Finally home, I shut the door quietly, trying not to wake up any of my family. Quietly walking up the stairs, I entered my room, than stopped in my tracks.

"What are you doing in here?" I demanded, my eyebrows scrunching up in anger. My sister was sitting on my bed, her arms crossed, one leg over the other. And looking pissed.

"Where have you been?! Oh, let me guess, with Logan Echolls?" Rebecca replied, standing up and putting her hands on her hips. I could see her jaw moving, grinding her teeth together.

"Becky-" I started, closing my door so we wouldn't wake our parents.

"So you're sneaking out now to see him? What are you even doing with him, Veronica?"

"I don't really think it's any of your business. I'll hang out with who I want. And just for the record, I wasn't with him last night."

"Right, just like you weren't together in the girl's bathroom together at the dance, and didn't leave together, ditching Troy, and-"

"Okay! I get it! As for Troy, I had to go pick him up, because his car got stolen on the way back from their trip to Tijuana. So calm down. I don't have the patience to deal with your crap today."

Rebecca stalked closer to me, "I just don't see why you're bothering with him, that's all. I like Logan, too, but come on, Veronica. I don't want to see you get hurt. Everybody knows he and Lilly are together."

I lifted an eyebrow. "Last I heard, they broke up, Beck."

"Yeah, but you know they always get back together. They belong together. I wish you would just stay with Troy, that's all. You two are suited so much better."

"Becky, I don't want to be with Troy, and," I sighed, biting the inside of my cheek, "Logan and I aren't even really together. We've just hung out a few times. Let it go, alright? Please?"

"Ronica," Becky started.

"Please? Seriously, I don't want to talk about this right now."

"Fine." Rebecca started forward, and drew me into a hug. I remembered a time we used to hug all the time. It seemed like it had been forever since we had done anything together. "I just want you to be happy. You know that, right Veronica? I love you."

"Yeah, I know," I said, hugging her back. It felt awkward. "Love you too."

I was just leaving English, when I heard my name called over the loud speaker. Letting out a breath, I turned around and started towards the office. I hadn't done anything wrong or against the rules today... or this week, come to think of it. So I was confused as to why I had been called down to the office.

I was just a few steps away, when someone crashed into me, and dragged me into a dark room down the hall. We were enclosed in darkness, then a soft 'click' and a light came on.

"Really? Did you have to do that? I have to go down to the office, I can't deal with you right now," I told Logan, who was grinning down at me.

"Actually," Logan said, leaning down and rubbing his nose across my cheek, "I got an office aide to call you down. I didn't think you would have come, if I asked you myself."

"I would have!" I denied.

"You wouldn't have stood me up, or found an excuse to avoid me again?"

"No! Of course not," I said.

"Great. Next time, I'll keep that in mind," Logan smiled down at me, "now, we need to talk."

A/N: I know! Another chapter, and it hasn't been months! Yay! Please review! Feedback is always appreciated.