Author's Note: Surprise! I updated super quick because you guys are amazing and i love that you're as into the story as i am. Plus since i'm sick as hell no one wants to hang out with me, well they do, but i don't wanna hang out with them. I'm glad you guys liked Logan's quips last chapter, I was having a hard time being witty. LoVe is dealing with a lot right now between Aaron through school and I feel so bad, I feel like im torturing the characters but at least they have each other. Anyway thanks so much for the reviews last chapter! This one is also a big chapter so I hope you guys are ready! Please let me know what you think and review!
Thank you to: fire1, coolhan08, sydcasy, CaitlynMackenzie, Jeremy Shane, countryheart, AngelPete87, Nikatsu, Kerali, Bondopoulos, lunky, & Viki!
ENJOY!
Chapter 21 The Party
"Are you going to go home tonight?" Veronica asked as they got ready for school the next morning.
Logan sighed knowing how she felt about the whole ordeal. They had been up most of the night talking about it. "I gotta Veronica it's my home, remember?"
She frowned unhappy with his response. "You can just stay here…forever. I don't mind." She said half joking and half serious.
Logan pulled her to him and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before pressing another to the tip of her nose. "Don't worry about me, Ronnie that's my job."
She gave him a worried look before saying 'goodbye' to her parents and then they left to go to school. The day passed too quickly for her and before she knew it was the end of the day. She tried to convince Logan to come over for a bit, but he told her his mom was at home and needed to talk to him about the pregnancy leak.
"Don't worry, Ronnie I'll be fine. My dad's not there. He's out with his PR team doing damage control." He said trying to sooth the worry lines decorating her face.
"But what about—"
"It's fine. He'll come home and tell me what needs to be done to save his image and I'll do whatever he wants."
"Without antagonizing him?"
Logan nodded giving her a smirk.
She sighed wringing her hands anxiety still written on her face. "Fine, but please call me."
Logan's smirk widened, "Gee Ronnie I never realized how clingy you were if I'd known that I would've knocked up a different blonde."
She gave him a dirty look that intensified his smirk. "Sure if it makes you feel better I'll call."
"Thank you." she said giving him a sweet kiss as they got into the car. They began to drive away from school and towards Veronica's house.
"So I was thinking this weekend after the Carnival maybe we could go out? You know maybe to dinner or something." Logan asked as they drove through the streets of Neptune.
Veronica cringed, "I can't actually…"
Logan shot her a look, "Ouch! Do you have a hot date?"
She smiled, "you know you're the only one, but no uh…it's Madison's party Saturday."
"So? Why would you care?"
"It's for a case." She said shortly.
"What case?" Logan asked suspiciously.
"My friend Mac…has a thing…Anyway do you wanna go? Mac, Wallace, me, and you." she said hopefully.
Logan groaned, "A party where everyone hates you and thinks I'm—"
"They don't think anything, Logan about you at least. At least you still have some good in your name. Mine's totally soiled." She said sourly.
"I don't know Veronica, going to Madison's party sounds like a bad idea. How did you get an invitation anyway?" he asked curiously.
Veronica remained silent and instead began to pick the nail polish off her nails.
"Veronica…" he warned.
"It's just a party, Logan what's the worst that can happen?" she said as he pulled into her driveway.
He stared at her in concern. "The worst that could happen? Oh I don't know—" he began put was effectively cut off by her kissing him hard on the mouth before getting out of the car.
"Remember to call me!" she yelled flouncing out of the car and into the house. Logan watched her go for a moment before taking the long way back to his house. Despite trying to be nonchalant about going home he was scared to death. He wasn't sure what his father was going to do, but the only thing he knew was he had to keep it quiet from Veronica. He was supposed to be keeping her safe not the other way around.
"So is this the part where you show me your killer skills at ring toss?" Veronica teased as they walked around the Winter Carnival.
Logan laughed picking up the rings at the booth they were standing in front of.
The rest of the week had passed quickly enough. Logan made a public statement about how he was going to become a father with his girlfriend and how he was stepping up to be a dad. Privately he got the shit beaten out of him and tried to hide it from Veronica. It had worked for a few days, but then they'd been fooling around and he'd winced too noticeably when she'd run her hands up his back. The night had ended in a screaming match that was quickly becoming an age old argument. She didn't understand why he wouldn't tell anyone and he didn't want to talk about it. Neither left happy that night, but the next morning Logan had showed up at her house to take her to the Winter Carnival as promised. Most of the harsh words were forgotten and they both tried to enjoy their day together as normal teens.
"Of course would you expect anything different?" he asked winking at her.
She grinned and watched as he threw the three rings missing all of the bottles.
"Aww now that's just sad." She said laughing at the embarrassed look on his face.
"One more time." he said paying the man and taking five more rings. This time he landed on a bottle in the back and won a medium sized stuffed animal.
"What do you want, Mars?" he asked as the ring toss man showed them the animals they could have.
"How about the bear?" she said pointing to the bear with a little t-shirt on.
"Not the pony? How surprising." He said laughing when she stuck her tongue out at him.
"I liked the bear better." She said simply hugging the white bear to her.
Logan laughed when he read the t-shirt. "I wuv you beary much." He read taking the bear from her.
She smiled, "You can buy me a pony anytime, but how often will you win a bear that says this? Especially after I saw how poor your skills at ring toss are." She said smirking at his mock-offended look.
"I'm hurt Mars, how could you think I the Great Logan Echolls could have poor skills at anything. I'll have you know my parents are movie stars that means I can have and do anything."
"Buy me a pony please."
"Maybe for a wedding present." He said dryly.
Both of them froze the implication of his words heavy in their hearts. The image of Veronica walking towards him in a wedding dress wasn't distressing to Logan and the image of Logan proposing wasn't so terrible to Veronica. What scared them most of all was that they could actually see it happening despite their parents' marriages and the fact that they were 16.
"I was joking." He said quickly after a long pause.
"Yeah, right, sure." She said just as quickly.
The easy flowing afternoon had quickly become awkward and uncomfortable as both of their thoughts went to marriage.
"So do you want something to eat? I know how hungry you've been lately." He said hurriedly changing the subject and earning himself a smack on the arm.
"Let's go find Wallace first he just texted me." She said taking his hand and heading towards the rides area where Wallace had told her he was. She found him talking to a cute African American girl.
"Hey." She said as they came to stop in front of Wallace and the girl.
"How are you, man?" Logan asked fist bumping him.
Wallace nodded, "good, good, this is Georgia." He said introducing them to her.
"I'm Veronica and this is Logan." Veronica said nudging her boyfriend in the side. Logan nodded at her as they began to walk around the Carnival.
"So how long have you guys been here?" Wallace asked curiously eyeing the bear in Veronica's arms.
"Enough time to win this." She said gleefully holding up the white bear.
Wallace laughed, "So are we still crashing this 09er party tonight?" he asked casting a look over at Logan.
"Sadly." She said sighing heavily.
Wallace laughed as they came to stop in front of a booth with food and drink tickets.
"I still can't believe we're going to this. Isn't there some way to talk you out of it?" Logan asked annoyed.
"It's not about me, it's about Mac." She said waving him away and handing over a twenty for tickets.
"Ronnie…" Logan whined seeing that she had bought tickets for both of them instead of letting him pay.
She rolled her eyes, "You can pay next time." She handed him his tickets and the four of them continued their way to get food.
The little group continued through the Winter Carnival enjoying their time together before the big party that night. Needless to say they were all nervous to see what was going to happen. It was an 09er party so anything was up for grabs.
Once it hit four o'clock the little party went their separate ways with promises to meet up at Veronica's that night. Logan dropped her off before going back to his house to change and to shower. Veronica went to her room to pick out an outfit that would be comfortable, but hide her bump. She had finally begun to wear the maternity clothes since her bump was becoming more and more visible day by day.
She began to pack her stuff when she realized she left the white bear in Logan's car. She made a mental note to get it tonight when she saw him. Then she put her laptop in her messenger bag and her camera along with some other little trinkets she didn't go anywhere without including Lilly's bracelet and an extra sweater in case she got cold. When six rolled around she ate dinner trying to ignore her mother passed out on the couch and then went to take a shower to get ready.
As she got dressed she put on a little big of make up, a light bit of jewelry, and the maternity dress she'd brought while out with Lynn and Logan. She stuffed an additional pair of yoga pants and t-shirt in case she wanted to change and then she slipped on a pair of flats. She went to the kitchen to grab some snacks and finally she was ready by eight for Logan and everyone else to come. The last thing she had to do was try and move her mother to her bedroom.
"Mom? Mom! Wake up!" she asked shaking her mother.
Lianne grumbled and swatted at Veronica's hand.
"Mom you need to go to your room." Veronica said trying to move her mother.
"Go away Veronica." Lianne grumbled turning over.
"Please mom, I have friends coming over." Veronica said quietly shaking her mother again.
Lianne's eyes finally snapped open and she slapped Veronica's hands away. "Fine!" Lianne snarled taking the half empty bottle on the ground and stumbling to her room. Veronica watched her go for a moment before going to grab her stuff and waiting for the other three to show up. She tried not to think of her mother's anger and how she was going to go right back to drinking when she went into her room. She wondered what she had done to make her mother drink so much. She wondered if she was such a disappointment to drive her mother to the bottle.
"No use crying over spilled milk, V." she mumbled just as the doorbell rang.
Veronica got off the couch to open it not the least surprised to see Mac looking nervous in a black and blue stripped dress.
"Are you ready?" Veronica asked giving her a smile.
Mac shook her head, "I'm scared beyond belief honestly. Are you ready?"
Veronica gave her a reassuring smile, "It's going to be fine." she said leading her to the couch and then going to get something to eat. It seemed she was always hungry these days now that she'd stopped throwing up so much.
"Just remember don't make eye contact with Madison you might turn to stone."
Mac laughed as the doorbell rang again this time Wallace emerged.
"Who is ready to paaarty!" Wallace cried doing some wild hand motions.
Veronica snickered as Mac's face went even more ghostly pale.
"We're waiting on Logan and then we can go." She said wringing her hands with nerves. She'd be much more confident about this if she wasn't showing so obviously. She felt like one of those characters in those stupid teen movies going to a party where she really didn't belong. The only difference was she had no make over to make the guys drool over her. Instead she was pregnant and looking it. She just had a bad feeling something bad was going to happen tonight. Finally Logan got there his expression one of cool and calm, but Veronica could see the anxiety underneath.
"Are we ready to pretend to be rich." Logan joked as they all left Veronica's and headed to his car.
"You're already rich." She grumbled casting him a pointed look.
He chuckled and wrapped an arm around her before leaning down and giving her a gentle kiss.
"It'll be fine Veronica we'll go there you do your spy stuff and then we'll go home all in time for a possible movie marathon. What do you say?" he said as he opened the car door for her.
She looked back at Mac and Wallace who were laughing about something and then turned back to Logan.
"I just have a bad feeling about tonight." She said quietly.
Logan's smile dropped and he wrapped both arms around her. "Nothing bad is going to happen, sugarpuss. I'm with you tonight and I won't allow it. Super Logan to the rescue."
She cracked a smile, "I've always thought of you as Lusty Logan or Lecherous Logan."
"I can be all three if you want." He said waggling his eyebrows.
She laughed and finally got into the car as Mac and Wallace came to stand beside them.
The foursome drove to Madison's and parked behind the long line of cars out front and sat in the car willing themselves to get out.
"Ok so the plan is…" Wallace trailed off looking at the other three.
"We attack Madison and hope for the best." Logan said with a smirk.
Veronica rolled her eyes, "no start talking and walking since there are four of us she won't say anything. Plus now that her and Dick are broken up she's been all after Logan." Veronica said casting him a look.
He scowled.
"Yeah I hear things." She supplied at his 'what the fuck' look.
"That's never going to happen." He said taking her hand tightly in his. He wasn't letting her go of that he was sure.
She smirked, "it better not. I just heard her and Shelley talking about it a few days ago. I swear some people never pay attention who's in the bathroom." She said with a shake of her head.
"Wait Dick and Madison broke up? When did that happen?" Mac asked curiously.
"Like—"
"Off topic people let's go party it up." Wallace said opening the door and getting out.
Logan leaned across the console to kiss Veronica hard on the lips before they got out as well. Mac took a deep breath before following them and all four walked together like a solid wall.
They walked up behind some Seniors and entered with them undetected by Madison who was gushing over one of the hot male Seniors who'd come to her party.
"I guess she just wasn't that into me after all." He whispered in Veronica's ear as they went towards the kitchen.
"Pity." Veronica said with a smirk.
As they entered the kitchen Wallace went to get a drink and Logan opted for two water bottles since he was driving and Veronica was pregnant. Neither of them noticed Mac fall behind.
"If you want to drink I won't stop you." she said cracking open her water bottle.
Logan shook his head, "No after last weekend…" he trailed off as they shared a look.
"Logan my main man! What's up?" Dick exclaimed seeing the couple in the kitchen doorway.
Dick glanced at Veronica and let his eyes rack her form. "Wow you really are pregnant."
She glowered at him, "Wow way to use your detective talents to realize that and after all these years I just thought you were only good for your looks."
Dick frowned not hearing her sarcasm. "I thought you were the detective-y one. Besides I just thought those were rumors about you Madison made up. I didn't think you two were dumb enough to cook a baby."
"Cook a baby? Wow, really? You mean have a bun in the oven?" she said incredulously.
Dick's face morphed into one of confusion, "I don't get it. Why are there buns in the oven? Did you cook some because I'd rather have a donut or a cookie. Where can I get one though? I'm starving."
She continued to stare at him in amazement over his lack of knowledge and Logan wrapped and arm tightly around her waist.
"What's up Dick?" Logan asked steering the conversation away from Veronica's pregnancy.
"Madison dumped me a few days ago. Something about hitting on other cheerleaders or something, man shit's not cool we had a whole plan set up for this weekend. We were gonna boomchikawowow." He said making gyrating motions.
"Neat." Logan deadpanned.
"Yo dude when we going to go surfing? You've been all on Ronnie lately and doing boring stuff! Every time I call you have an excuse. What gives, dude? When are you going to have dude time?" Dick whined.
Logan looked down at Veronica who smiled sweetly. "Dude time, Dick? What happens at dude time? Is it like painting your nails and massages like our girl time is?" she asked her tone sugary.
Dick frowned, "Girls massage each other? Dude how come I'm not invited! What about pillow fights are those real?"
Veronica glanced at Logan who was trying to hold in his laughter.
"All the time Dick as a matter of fact sometimes we get oil and—"
"Veronica! There you are!" Mac exclaimed coming to stand between Dick and Logan. Immediately Dick's eyes racked her form curious at the newcomer.
"Did you find anything?" Veronica snooped.
Mac opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off by Dick.
"I don't believe we've met. I'm Dick, Dick Casablancas." Dick said giving Mac a mega-watt smile.
Mac looked over at Veronica and Logan before giving him a brief uninterested smile.
"And you are…" he said when she didn't respond.
"Mac." She finally mumbled not sure if he was playing with her or because he was actually interested.
"You have killer hair Mac it's like blue." He said reaching out to touch it.
She smacked his hand away and gave him a tightlipped smile. "It is blue." She said shortly before going over to the keg to get a beer.
Dick watched her go fascinated and then turned back to Logan and Veronica who wore identical amused expressions.
"Who is that girl?" he asked amazed.
"That's Mac she's my friend and off limits." Veronica said shortly.
"Off limits?" Dick asked confused.
Logan chuckled, "it means unavailable."
"Nothing is unavailable for Dick Casablancas." He said proudly before going over to the keg to continue talking to her. Before he got there she left and went back to Logan and Veronica a red cup in her hands. Veronica and Logan watched in amusement as Dick circled the kitchen before coming back to them.
"So Mac are you from around here?" Dick asked flirtatiously as Mac sipped on her beer.
She frowned and looked over at Veronica.
"She goes to our school, Dick." Veronica said woodenly.
"Neat, Freshman?" he asked curiously.
"Dick we have history together and English and last year we were in the same art class. So no, I'm a Sophomore like you." she said as Dick took in her words.
"Cool! Do you surf?" he asked ignoring the disinterest in her body language and tone.
"Surf?" Mac asked incredulously.
"She could come with us, right dude?" Dick asked hopefully then looked down at Veronica who was sipping her water. "I guess Ronnie can come too." He added less enthusiastically.
"Dick I think you have to ask if she even wants to come out before you make plans to go out." Logan said chuckling at the looks on Mac and Veronica's faced.
Dick frowned, "why wouldn't she go out with me? I'm Dick Casablancas." he asked.
Mac rolled her eyes, "First I don't surf and second I have no desire to go out with you. Third don't talk about me like I'm not here." She said before turning and leaving Dick looking like a wounded fish with his mouth hanging out.
Logan slapped Dick on the back giving him a comforting look. "Better luck next time, Dick."
He scowled and shrugged Logan's hand off. "Whatever." He mumbled before going back to the keg.
Veronica smirked, "I think she may have hurt his feelings."
"Doubtful Dick isn't capable of too many feelings outside inebriated and happy."
She laughed, "I guess, but Dick's right—for once—you haven't been surfing as much as usual. I hope it's not because of me."
Logan shrugged, "it's not I just haven't had the time."
"Well maybe tomorrow we can go to the beach? You can surf and I can read a nice book." She said grinning up at him.
Logan smiled, "sure ok." He said before taking her hand and leaving the kitchen. They walked around for a bit watching as their classmates got drunk or made snide comments to them. Finally they found Mac in the Sinclair study talking with a twelve year old girl about her book.
"Are you ready?" Veronica asked as Logan went to find Wallace.
Mac hesitated and then nodded finally knowing eventually she was going to have to leave.
Veronica gave her a tender smile and then they said 'goodbye' to the girl before leaving the study. Once outside Mac stopped in her tracks a sullen look on her face.
"I could've had this, you know. Everything could've been different if they had just switched us back." Mac said angrily on the verge of tears.
"You can't change the past, Mac. Believe me." Veronica said trying to sooth the brunette.
"I just don't get it. They should've switched us back. I bet Madison has never even set foot in that library or read even one of those books. She probably doesn't even know about the history of any of the places she's gone! She doesn't deserve this." Mac said bitterly.
Veronica sighed and gave her a comforting hug. "I know it's hard, but it's for the best. You love your parents, right?"
Mac nodded teary eyed.
"Then that's all you need to know. Don't think about the 'what ifs' it will drive you crazy." She said giving her a small smile.
Mac nodded and opened her mouth to respond when suddenly they heard a commotion coming from the living room. Veronica hurried towards it and Mac followed her. They came to a crowd in the middle of the living room gathered around two people fighting. Veronica thanked her lucky stars for being so short and pushed her way to the front surprised and yet not as much as she thought she'd be to see Duncan and Logan in the middle yelling at each other.
"Screw you, Duncan! You know that's not true and don't you ever say that again!" Logan yelled flexing his fists to restrain his anger.
"I can say whatever I want! You stole my girlfriend and everyone knows it!" Duncan drunkenly yelled taking a swing at Logan.
Veronica watched wide eyed as Duncan's fist connected with Logan's face and he retaliated with a punch of his own knocking Duncan down to the ground.
"What the hell is this!" Veronica shouted taking the moment that Duncan was on the ground to approach Logan. Logan whipped blood from his lip and looked back and forth between Duncan and Veronica.
"It was Duncan, V, he came at us." Wallace said piping up from behind Logan.
Veronica opened her mouth several times before suddenly Logan grabbed her and put her behind him. She barely had a moment to ask what had happened when suddenly Duncan rushed at him. Veronica shouted for them to 'stop', but she knew she couldn't do much in her current situation.
Duncan swung a punch at Logan again, but he dodged it and head butted Duncan in the head. The room heard a sickening crunch and Duncan fell off Logan blood pouring down his face.
Logan pushed him the rest of the way off of him and he stood up staring down at Duncan both of their blood decorating their faces.
"Stay away from us." Logan said bitterly and then looked around.
"Can someone take him to the hospital?" he asked not wanting to do it himself. He wanted to remain friends with Duncan, but after everything that had happened between them he didn't know if it was possible. The things Duncan said…
"I'll do it." Meg spoke up from the crowd.
Logan gave her a nod and then grabbed Veronica's hand and dragged her out of the party.
"Logan! What the hell happened!" she yelled as Wallace and Mac trailed after them.
Logan shook his head his grip on her hand tightening. "I was looking for Wallace when Duncan drunkenly came up to me and started going on about you. I got angry and before I knew it he began to push me. What was I supposed to do? Sit back and watch? He was goading me on, Ronnie! I couldn't…I know it was wrong and I'm sorry, but he just…the stuff he was saying." Logan said angrily.
Veronica sighed knowing she should tell him off for attacking Duncan. "Don't do that again." She said annoyed getting into the car.
"It's not my fault!" Logan exclaimed.
"I didn't say that! Don't put words in my mouth, Logan!" she yelled back irritated.
Wallace and Mac watched quietly from the back seat as the two began to argue.
"He was goading me on! Saying things about us and how I wasn't good enough for you! I wasn't going to take it." He shouted as he drove back to Wallace's house to drop him off. Everyone, but him had asked their parents for a ride.
"Duncan's going through a hard time! He's crazed and you know this! Whatever he said you could've ignored it because you know it's not true."
"He insulted the baby how was I not supposed to respond?" Logan admitted his voice a deadly quiet.
Veronica opened her mouth to tell him to ignore it, but she knew that wasn't Logan's style. She let out a deep breath instead and the car went silent.
"Thanks for the ride." Wallace said as Logan finally pulled into his driveway.
"No problem thanks for the backup." Logan said casting a glance at Veronica. She stared down at her lap not knowing what to say. It was one thing to talk about their relationship, but a whole other to bring their kid into it and provoke Logan on about things he was already self-conscious about.
"I'm sorry." Veronica said as they headed to Mac's.
Logan shook his head, "I understand why you're angry, but I didn't just attack him. He was saying all of this stuff and it just got to me. Stuff about you, stuff about me, and once he started about the kid I just…"
"I know." Veronica said putting a hand on his almost forgetting about Mac in the backseat.
Mac cleared her throat loudly making them come back to the real world.
"I'm sorry tonight didn't go like how you wanted." Veronica said looking back at Mac.
She shrugged, "I learned a lot that's for sure and it was kinda nice." She said quietly.
Veronica smiled, "tomorrow we're going to the beach if you want to come. No Dick, promise."
Mac smiled slightly, "He wasn't that bad not compared to some of the other guys in our class."
Veronica chuckled and sat back as they pulled into Mac's neighborhood.
"I'll call you tomorrow." Mac said getting out and going to her house.
They began to drive towards Veronica's neighborhood. It was only a few streets over since they both lived in the same area.
"So where to next?" Logan asked looking over at Veronica.
"Home." She said just as he phone began to ring.
"Veronica?" he dad's voice crackled over the phone.
"Dad." She said smiling.
"Where are you?" he asked worry etched into his voice.
"Logan's about to take me home." She said confused.
Keith let out a sigh, "Ok I'll see you soon. Be careful." He said before hanging up.
"What's going on?" Logan asked confused.
"Beats me. My dad probably just being cautious or some—" she stopped talking seeing smoke in the distance.
"Do you see that?" she asked her eyes getting wider as they drove closer to the smoke.
"It's a fire so what?" Logan said carelessly as he played with the radio.
Veronica frowned the anxiety in her stomach tightening. She placed a hand on her bump trying to comfort herself. As they drove closer to her house the smoke got thicker and the wail of sirens could be heard. Veronica gulped as they turned onto her street and saw the area was blocked off. As soon as Logan pulled over she jumped out of the car without waiting for him. She ignored everyone trying to stop her as she raced down the street towards her house. The bad feeling finally made sense she thought it was the fight between Logan and Duncan, but this was so much worse. She stopped right before her house taking in the sight of her home going up in flames.
(A/n: Ahhhh snap V's home's on fire where ever shall she live?! Anywho let me know what you think! Please review!)