Piz POV
The room is dark, the only light coming from the computer screen in front of him. Piz drums his fingers repetitively on the desk, contemplating what to write. This was supposed to be simple, a sort of prank meant to ensure Logan Echolls would never be a part of Veronica's life again. But, it doesn't seem to be going to plan at all. He sits there contemplating, his mind wandering to when and how this began.
Flashback
June 2013
"Wallace, I'm all settled in. Job starts tomorrow. Cannot wait. Anyway, call me back when you get a chance." Piz clicks end on his phone, disappointed he couldn't reach his friend, but sure he would call back soon. It was all finally coming together. After years of dreaming about being a radio DJ, his new job with NPR was a dream come true. Even better was that his dream was taking place in New York City, a city he had fallen in love with when he did an internship there between his freshman and sophomore year at Hearst. It turned out to be the perfect way to rebound from the disaster that his freshman year had ended up being. He had met the girl of his dreams, Veronica Mars, but she was with someone else. Then when he finally got his chance to be with Veronica, her ex beat the shit out of him, supposedly because of a sex tape. While there was a sex tape, Piz never really believed that was the sole reason Logan Echolls went after him. Even when Piz was hanging around waiting for his chance with Logan's girl, he knew that Logan was in love with her. The kind of in love that doesn't just end because you break up.
After getting his ass handed to him, he then got to witness Logan going after the real culprit of the sex tape and the look on Veronica's face made it clear that he wasn't the guy. She let him down easy but still destroyed his heart. The time in New York helped him gain some much needed perspective and mend his broken heart. It didn't hurt that when he got back to Hearst in the fall; she was gone and Logan was spiralling. The guy was a complete train wreck, and Piz took a lot of comfort, and yes pleasure, in the fact that he was destroying his life.
Of course all good things had to come to an end, and Piz was witness to the transformation of Logan Echolls from a party boy with a death wish to a studious young man trying to get his life together. Piz was never sure what happened, but one second Logan was a hair's breadth away from his last overdose and the next he was buying a place on the beach, going to class and getting his life together. He even managed to snag another girl that Piz was interested in and dated her all through their junior and senior years. Piz watched as Logan played at being a good boyfriend, but he could tell that it was never going to replace the one he lost. He took great joy in that fact, even if he didn't get a chance with this girl either.
Veronica never came back to Neptune, though Piz heard about her through Wallace and Mac. They even exchanged a few emails over the years. It was more than Logan ever got, and that too made him happy.
Now here he was in his dream city with his dream job. It would only stand to reason that the dream girl would come back into his life. He knew from Wallace that Veronica had been accepted into Columbia Law, which meant that his chances of being with her again had multiplied. Still, in the back of his head was the threat that was Logan Echolls. He had heard that Logan had joined the Navy and was flying fighter jets now, because of course he was. By all accounts he had grown up, put his past behind him and was a more stable, less violent version of himself. And while Logan and Veronica hadn't seen or spoken to one another in six years, Piz couldn't shake the feeling that they were like a ticking time bomb. You didn't know when they would go off, but eventually something would cause them to go off.
Despite all this, Piz couldn't wait to connect with Wallace and by extension Veronica. Perhaps he was wrong, and after six years, she'd finally put Logan Echolls firmly in her rearview mirror. His phone pings with an incoming chat on Google hangouts.
From: HM2007
Hey man, did you hear that the mountain goats are re-releasing All Hail West Texas on vinyl in July? You should totally pitch that as an idea for your radio show.
From: Pizski
That's awesome. I love that album. Best Ever Deathmetal Band out of Denton is still one of my all time top ten songs. What angle were you thinking?
From: Pizski
I would die to interview JD.
From: HM2007
I don't know, maybe how his music has evolved since that first album? If he would ever consider issuing another record recorded on his boombox. They're playing at that festival in Rhode Island in August. I'm sure you'll come up with something.
From: Pizski
I'll think about it. I'm still really new there, not sure how well the idea would go over. So what's up with you?
From: HM2007
Nothing much to report. Still trying to get out there and play, find motivation to write. What about you? Have you made contact yet?
Piz met Hudson Moros in a chatroom discussing the impact of piracy on music. The two of them had been the lone supporters of music belonging to the masses and found themselves quickly kicked out of the discussion. They had exchanged Gmail names, and a friendship had sprung up through the use of chats. Next to Wallace, Hudson was probably Piz's closest friend, even though they had never met face to face. Piz had told Hudson all about Veronica and even mentioned Logan Echolls as part of his story. When he mentioned that Veronica was also going to be in New York, Hudson was the one to encourage him to see if there were still any of the old feelings remaining.
From: Pizski
Not yet. Waiting for Wallace to call me back. It's still surreal to think I'm in the same city as her. I keep staring at every blonde I see on the streets trying to find her.
From: HM2007
You sure she's worth it?
From: Pizski
Absolutely. This girl...She's like no one else.
From: HM2007
And you're sure she's not with that guy anymore?
From: Pizski
Yep. Wallace said that they haven't even talked since she left Neptune. She's even forbidden them from saying his name around her.
From: HM2007
Well, I hope it works out. If not, I'm here for you man.
From: Pizski
Thanks. I should probably get back to getting ready for work tomorrow. I'll chat with you after work and let you know how things go.
From: HM2007
Sounds good. Take care and good luck.
It took a few weeks, but Piz was finally able to get Wallace to connect him to Veronica. They had coffee, and it was like they had never been apart. Piz could still tell that she was the love of his life, the one who got away. Hesitant at first, Veronica wanted to just remain friends. But he attributed that to her need to focus on law school. He had agreed to just being friends, figuring he could work his way back into her heart.
Veronica was busy with law school, and he was in no hurry. The two of them learned the city together. Not once did she mention Logan fucking Echolls, and Piz thought everything was good. It was just a matter of time until nature took its course and he would call her his again.
End Flashback
Almost two years he put into that friendship, being patient while she worked on her law school program, studying her ass off. Finally, one night about eight months ago, they were walking back from a movie and he took his chance. Things between them had been good, and there had been a lot of flirting lately. Veronica was graduating from law school, taking some time to study for the bar exam before beginning her job search. She was more relaxed than she had been in a long time. Veronica hesitated for a second, but then she returned his kiss. Everything felt like the universe coming into alignment after that. With her lease coming up and the building going co-op, it seemed like a good idea to ask her to move in with him since he had a two bedroom. His own roommate had moved in with his girlfriend a few months before, and it was a struggle to pay for it on his own.
Even when Veronica only agreed if they could keep things slow and that they wouldn't be sharing a bedroom just yet, he couldn't help but think about their future together. Everything was coming up roses until the day Logan fucking Echolls showed up again.
He wasn't even in person, just the mention of his relationship with Bonnie DeVille getting more serious. The cover speculated that the two celebrities may be headed for wedded bliss. Veronica didn't say anything, but he saw the way her face blanched when she skimmed over the headlines at their local bodega. Piz tried to make a joke, but her face remained stoic, showing no emotion. If he didn't know her as well as he did, he would have thought she really didn't care. Unfortunately, with Veronica, the less she showed, the more she cared. She shrugged it off quickly and was back to being his Veronica, but Piz had seen it.
Piz vented to Hudson that night after she had gone to bed. He just wanted Logan fucking Echolls gone. As long as he was living, Veronica was never going to fully let him go. They were always going to be connected by these huge, life-altering events that Piz didn't understand. He was always going to be that guy she met after. Logan was going to be her knight in shining armor.
Piz told Hudson how he wished Logan had just overdosed and died years ago. Of course Logan fucking Echolls couldn't just live up to his bad boy death wish. Hudson was the one who suggested they get rid of him.
It made sense. Veronica was always taking off for a few days, "to think". Piz knew when she said that she was going to her friend from Stanford. Hudson suggested that they fabricate a reason for her to freak out, one that would make her call Logan. Then when he came out here, the two men would make Logan realize that being in her life would only cause her pain. Logan was such a pussy he'd gladly push her away rather than see her get hurt and knowing him that would result in her hating him. Then he'd meet an unfortunate accident.
Finally she'd be free. She wouldn't even need to know that he was dead, she could just think that he left her like she wanted.
That was the plan, and it was working perfectly. Veronica freaked when she saw those pictures Hudson got of Logan. She ran like she always does when she feels out of control. Logan showed up, ready to play the dark knight for a damsel not really in distress. Everything was just as Hudson said. But then it went off the rails. Veronica dumped Piz, and now she's gone off with Logan to who knows fucking where.
From: Pizski
Where are you, man? Everything's a fucking mess. Veronica didn't get mad at Logan, she broke up with me. The two of them are off on some jaunt and she won't tell me where she's going.
From: HM2007
Dude, you've got to calm down. It'll all work out. Of course she dumped you for now, but who do you think she's going to come running back to when he fucks her over again?
From: Pizski
But how are you going to make that happen if we don't even know where they are?
From: HM2007
Don't worry, man. We just wait until she calls her dad. You said they're close, so of course she's going to tell him everything. Once he knows, you can find out.
From: Pizski
Right, I forgot about Keith. I'm just freaking out. I want this over with so I can have the life I deserve with Veronica. I want them to end on my own terms rather than waiting for it to blindside me.
From: HM2007
It'll be fine. They think it's that Russian mobster you told me about. We'll flush them out and then I'll deal with Echolls for you. A few days together to remind them why they shouldn't be together will only help you.
Hudson has been Piz's rock these past two years. He could never talk to Wallace about how much he hated Logan, worried about him taking Veronica away from him again. Without Hudson helping Piz all this time, he'd have been a pussy sitting here thinking everything was fine just waiting for the shoe to drop. Instead, Piz felt in control. He'd rid the world of Logan fucking Echolls and everything would be fine.