The sun beach down on the beach. Water droplets evaporated and were soon replaced by sweat. It didn't stop everyone from burning their feet on the hot sand, it deterred most. Veronica laid on a towel soaking up the sun and its heat. Logan soon came dripping salt water on her. A vacant towel laid beside her, after setting his surf board in the sand he flopped down beside her. She didn't move.

Logan flicked water at her face, still no movement. He leaned over her and planted a kiss on her lips. Her lips curved into a smile before returning the kiss. They pulled away shortly, both scanning the beach. Once they determined that no one they knew had seen them they relaxed on their towels. "So you haven't told Lilly yet?"

"I would except the two times she has called me it has been all about this horse guy she is seeing and how hot the smell of hay is?"

"Celeste's plan to tame Lil' isn't working?"

"No. I suspect she will be kicked out soon. She's getting bored." She lowered her sunglasses. "You haven't told Duncan?"

"I only talked to him once and he had to pretend I was Jake. He seemed bored too, and sad. It isn't something I want to write in a letter anyway."

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

Logan leaned in close and whispered in Veronica's ear. "Secrets are hot though."

She slapped him away. "You are so bad."

"But right? Aren't I?" Veronica's only response was to roll her eyes. "Come on let's get in the water. It is too hot to sunbathe." Logan got up and then picked up Veronica and ran into the ocean with her screaming as they went.

XXXXX

Duncan sat on his bunk. He had his cell phone in his hand. It was the third time that Logan hadn't answered. He wanted to call Veronica and see what was up with Logan, he just couldn't do that though. They were broken up for good. It had to be that way.

It was weird that Logan wasn't answering though. He knew that Duncan would be calling. Nothing like a camp designed for the future leaders of America to be boring and the worst time ever. The one thing Celeste hadn't done to him, like she had with Lilly, his camp was coed. He was sure it was some play to get him to fall for the type of girl he should be dating. Veronica had been that type of girl; smart, pretty, able to handle herself in social situations. Until all had been revealed her hadn't been sure why his mother wouldn't want him to date her. Why she had been so cold, mean and rude. Now he knew.

He tried Logan's cell again. And was sent to voice mail.

XXXXX

"Okay," they were walking back to Logan's Xterra, not holding hand but close. He had his surfboard under one arm and was holding her beach bag, as guys do when they still want to impress you. "We are going to tell them the next time they call us. I'm sure it will be tonight. Lilly will have finished her seduction and want to tell me all about it, and Duncan well he is bored out of his mind learning about how to rule the world." Logan gave a snort of amusement. "Deal?"

"Deal." They'd reached the car and he threw the stuff in it. "What should we do now?"

"Well I need to get out of this sandy bikini." Veronica looked down at herself. "Or at the very least get the salt water off of me."

"I can help you with the bikini...." Logan leered down at her.

"I'm sure you could. I'm just not sure I want that to happen her on a public beach." Veronica leaned into him. Now that it was okay to flirt and touch Logan she was taking full advantage. It was driving Logan insane.

"We can go somewhere private."

"Hmmm... maybe later. Right now I actually need to do some filing at the office. It'll take me a couple of hours but then we can do something."

"Come over and hang out by the pool."

"Well then it seems stupid for me to shower and change when I am just going to put this back on." Veronica gestured to her bikini.

"It is like you have never been to the beach before. There are showers to rinse the saltwater off. What do you think I was doing while you packed up the gear?"

"Picking up chicks?"

Logan rolled his eyes. "Come on." He grabbed her arm and led her over to the outdoor shower.

XXXXX

Lilly was in the couselors office. They were all at some meeting and she wasn't supposed to be there. She'd pilfered a key though when she was making out with Phillip. He wasn't aware of it yet. She had to call Veronica. She crouched under the desk. Just because the councilors were at a meeting didn't mean that one couldn't come back to the office. She'd dialed the number and waited while Veronica's cell phone rang.

"Pick up, pick up." Lilly chanted under her breath.

"Hello." Veronica was out of breath.

"Hey!"

"Lilly!"

"I am so glad you picked up. it is like prison here. No phones just horses. I could swear that Celeste sent me to rehab except that there is none of that touchy feely crap I am sure comes with it."

"Sounds lame."

"It is. At least I don't have to ride the horses anymore. I just showed them how incompetent and afraid I am."

"Lil' you aren't afraid of horses."

"I know. But they don't. I just hate the way the smell and I'd rather ride something else."

"So what do you spend your time doing? Or should I say who?"

"There is this councilor/instructor that they have assigned to me. We pretty much never deal with riding the horses. If you know what I mean."

"And I do."

"How is summer in Neptune? Are there a ton of parties?" The question was a loaded one. Not for Veronica it was for the rest of the 09ers if Veronica wasn't getting invited to the various parties then Lilly would have something to say when she got back. Veronica was her friend and if she wasn't invited then it was as though they were rejecting Lilly and making a stand against her and that just wouldn't be okay.

"There are a lot."

"Have you been going?"

"Yes. Lil-ly I go to parties."

"You just sounded annoyed. What's up with you? Any boy for you this summer?"

"Actually, now that you mention it I have been waiting for you to call."

"Veronica Mars! You have something to tell me." Lilly hoped Logan had finally made his move and that Veronica and him were getting down and dirty.

"I do." Veronica's voice had gotten quiet. Lilly knew it must be Logan. "I was wondering if you would have a problem if I started dating Logan?"

"Logan? Logan Echolls?" Lilly might want her ex and her best friend to hook up but she knew she had a part to play. "Like as in my ex?"

"Umm...yes. But if you have any problem with that I will cut it off. I don't want you to be mad at me."

"And with good reason." Lilly said under her breath. "Veronica. A boy could never tear the two of us apart. Logan and I are over, as you know. And I can't deny you and I can't deny him, after what I've done." It was the only thing Lilly could say that would convince Veronica that she wasn't mad in the very least.

"Okay." Veronica exhaled a deep breath. "Oh and I chopped off my hair."

"You did what?! And without me there to consult you?"

"It was time. I needed the new me to be a complete transformation and the long hair was the old me. This new 'do is the new me. Transformation complete."

"And the new bad ass boyfriend to go with it."

"Yep."

"Has Logan told Duncan about you tow yet?"

"No I don't think so. Duncan does get to keep his cell though. So hopefully he will soon so we can stop sneaking around."

"Oh please. No one will tell Duncan. So stop sneaking. Although that can be fun too."

"It is kind of stressful."

"Veronica, Veronica. It's fun trust me." Lilly couldn't see it or hear it but she knew that veronica was rolling her eyes. "Now let me tell you more about Phillip. When everyone else is out jumping and riding. We are back in the stables. Well some days were are in the bunk bed I have to sleep in. And other his bed. Today we were in the councilors office on the desk. But let me tell you all that horse back riding has really given him some stamina."

Veronica wasn't fully listening to Lilly. Lilly could go on and on and all Veronica had to do was make the necessary response sounds. So she kept filing, glad that telling Lilly hadn't been that big of a deal.

"And then when he went down he did this weird thing with his tongue. I'll tell Logan about it so that you can -" Veronica tuned in closer Lilly never stopped when she got to the part of her story she knew would embarrass Veronica the most. "-oh crap got to go. I'll call you when I can."

Someone had entered the office. Lilly hung up the phone. And unbuttoned her shirt so that the only button done was the one between her breasts. She had a 50/50 chance that the person who entered would be amendable to her display. At the worst it might be the person in charge of the camp and this would be the final straw to get her kicked out.

She stood up. It was Phillip. "I though t I might find you here."

"Noticed your key missing?"

"Yep. We don't have much time the meeting is almost over." Lilly walked over to him. Maybe someone would walk in on them and they'd both get kicked out. Even better.

XXXXX

She got the message several days later. They'd set up a system in case he needed to get a hold of her. She had cut off all ties. She didn't even check the local paper's internet site. It was the only way she could do it. Make a clean break. Then the wound wouldn't fester it could heal cleanly.

The message was short and he just wanted to talk to her. She would call him in another day or so. She knew he'd be waiting he said that he would. As she stared out the diner window watching the passing cars. Wondering how her life had ended up like this. How it had become so awful. Questioning her choices her mind set and why she had let an obsession take over her life. Ruin her life. And may those that she loved, her daughter.

At least she knew it wasn't love anymore. She wasn't sure what it was that consumed the two of them. An inability to let the past go? She wasn't sure. And she knew he didn't know either. At least he got to keep his family; the ice cold wife, the daughter who didn't love him and a son who was malleable in the extreme.

A flash of sadness crossed her face as she thought of not being able to see when the son finally stood up the ice queen.

XXXXX

Veronica was finished filing and catching up on all the rest of the office work she needed to get to. Keith was in his office on the phone and Logan hadn't shown up to pick her up yet. She reached for her phone sitting on the desk and thought about calling him. She put it down and decided to wait until her dad got off the phone. Veronica didn't tell her dad everything but she did try to keep as much above board as she could.

When Keith hung up the phone he came into the reception area. Veronica smiled at him as he leaned against the door frame. "Bad news."

"What?" She knew it couldn't be that bad since he was smiling.

"You are on your own again tonight."

"They spotted him?"

"Yep in Seattle."

"Well pack a rain coat. I'll make the plane reservations and car arrangements. It'll all be ready when you get to the airport." She turned back to her computer.

Keith cam over and mussed her hair, leaving is hand on her head for a moment. "You're a great kid you know that?"

"Yeah." Veronica rolled her eyes as she logged onto the travel website that had the best offers.

"Alright, I'll get my bags packed and call you when I land."

"You better."

He paused at the door and watched Veronica for a moment. "Love you."

"Love you too." She smiled over the top of her computer.

As the door closed behind her dad, Veronica brought her hand to her head. She forgot to tell him about Logan. It would just have to wait until he got back from Seattle.

XXXXX

Logan had finally shown up and was taking Veronica out to dinner to celebrate Lilly's approval. Logan had not contacted Duncan chickening out at the last moment. Veronica allowed this and thought that they could reveal themselves to Neptune because most people wouldn't call Duncan. They would have called Lilly in an instant and one never knew who Lilly might call on her own.

"So, Mar riddle me this.... how does one get the over protective father out of town when his only daughter begins a relationship s with the baddest boy in Neptune?"

"I didn't know I was dating the leader of the biker gang. Where is he? I've always wanted to ride on the back of a motorcycle."

"Funny."

"I thought so."

"Well? Should I be aware of surveillance cameras? Should we just stay at my house? We can hang out in the pool house, you know that is like being home alone."

"The thing is I haven't told him yet."

"Veronica Mars keeping secrets from her father. What is the world coming to?"

"Shut up I don't tell him everything."

"Almost."

"Whatever. Let's go get food." Logan parked the Xterra on the street as they headed for the burger joint they both loved. The street was a busy one in Neptune and they had to wait to cross. Logan took advantage of the wait and the fact they didn't have to pretend to be just friends. He pulled Veronica into his arms and kissed her. With tongue.

Veronica wound her arms up his chest and into the hair at the nape of his neck. When they pulled away Logan rested his forehead on Veronica's and smiled. "What was that for?"

"Our first PDA." Veronica rolled her eyes and saw their was a break in traffic. She untangled her self from Logan's grasp and bolted. Logan close behind. They were both laughing as they pushed in the doors to the restaurant.

XXXXX

Celeste was sitting at a stop light. Her summer was going fine. Both of her children were occupied and she didn't need to worry about they constantly getting into trouble, in Neptune at least. She hoped that Duncan found someone to date this summer at his camp. Everyone thought she didn't notice that he wasn't happy. She noticed she just didn't want it fixed. If the only cure was Veronica Mars, that is.

She wasn't sure how long until Lilly would be sent home from horse camp. That had been an inspired idea, reminding Lilly who was in charge. Lilly found trouble everywhere though and an all girls camp was no exception. Celeste knew she should have checked on the counselors.

It was as her mind was wondering she noticed the couple on the side walk. Making out. She sneered at the display, it was like no one knew how to act anymore. The only comfort she took in the scene was knowing that it wasn't her daughter participating in the scene.

Suddenly the broke apart and the girl dashed across the street, the boy following close behind. It was Logan Echolls and Veronica Mars. A smile spread slowly across her face. This could be the best summer ever.

Celeste reached into her purse for her cell phone. "Hello."

""Hi, Duncan. I have something I need to tell you....."