Chapter Seven

Veronica arrived at her apartment, shuffling through mail as she unlocked the door and stepped inside. She dropped her bag on the couch and finished sorting the mail into piles - crap to toss and crap to keep. A nudge on her leg brought Backup to her attention. She knelt down and scratched behind his ears.

"Oh, dear, someone's eyeballs are floating. Need to go out, huh?" Backup whined in agreement. Veronica grabbed his leash from the counter, clipped it to his collar and led him outside.

A short trip down to the beach and back found Wallace waiting on her porch. Annoyingly, she felt tears prick her eyes at the sight of him. She waved and walked a little faster. He opened his mouth to greet her, but didn't get a chance as she barrelled into him, hugging him tightly.

"Hey, V, it's good to see you too, but it's also good to breathe." She let go and stepped back. His jaw dropped as he noticed her rapidly color changing cheek.

"Did Aaron Echolls do that?"

"The one and only."

"Damn, girl," he said, pulling her in for another hug. Veronica couldn't prevent a few sniffles from escaping. "What's with the waterworks?" Veronica shrugged and wiped her eyes.

"It's just good to have a B.F.F." Wallace chuckled and hefted his backpack.

"We'll see how much you like me after you see all this school work I'm bringing you." Veronica eyed the backpack and pursed her lips.

"Hmmm, having B.F.F. second thoughts already."

Trina and Logan stood outside the limo as Aaron and Katie finally reached them. Trina launched herself into her father's arms and belted out some dry racking sobs, so as not to make her mascara run. Aaron patted her back, smiled indulgently for the cameras, and motioned to Katie with his head. She stepped forward and gently grasped Trina's shoulders, pulling her slowly away.

Aaron looked expectantly at Logan, who was ready for his moment in the spotlight. Blending just the right amount of forgiveness for having sex with his girlfriend and a son's love for his father, Logan extended his hand. Aaron slowly smiled and gave a nod, placing his hand in Logan's. They shook hands as the cameras recorded and snapped around them. Then Logan suddenly pulled his father into a hug, allowing just enough moisture to gather in his eyes for an attractive shine, but not quite enough to shed tears.

'Damn, I'm good at this acting shit', Logan thought.

Wallace was seated at the kitchen table doing his homework while Veronica puttered around the kitchen finishing up a batch of snickerdoodles. She placed a plate on the table and took her own seat. He smiled as he bit into a bar.

"So how long is Clemmons giving me to get back to school?" Veronica asked. Wallace had to swallow before answering.

"Actually, he said to take as long as you needed." Veronica raised her eyebrows in disbelief, then tilted her chair back to stare out of the window upside down. Wallace leaned forward and followed her gaze in confusion.

"What are you looking at?"

"The sky," she told him, setting her chair back on the floor. "Just making sure it hasn't fallen." He chuckled and continued eating. "So how is the general mood at school?" He frowned and shook his head.

"Not good. Especially the 0-9ers. They're all eyeing each other like one of them is going to grow horns or something." Veronica might've found that amusing at any other time.

"Well, it's just high school, right? Only another year." Wallace shrugged and started working on his assignment again. Veronica sighed and followed his example.

Logan was positively jovial on the ride home. He exchanged playful banter with Trina, was civil to Katie, and was nothing but courteous to Aaron. They discussed Aaron's upcoming welcome home party that night as if he'd just been released after a twenty year sentence from the penitentiary, not an overnight stay in the city jail.

Logan almost gave himself away as he stared at his father's face, the bruises and scratches adorning his million dollar visage. He wondered how many Veronica had administered while fighting for her life. That thought brought on such rage, he had to grit his teeth and curl his hands into fists to keep himself from attacking Aaron.

The usual gaggle of media persons were gathered at the Echolls' estate front gate as the limo approached. The driver honked and edged his way forward, eventually turning into the driveway and coming to a stop at the front door. The Echolls said goodbye to Katie so she could retrieve her car from the jail. She would return for the party.

Trina tried to cajole Aaron into eating some lunch with her, but he declined. He wanted to rest before the party and could Trina be a dear and call his masseuse for a pre-party session. Trina scowled as she picked up the cordless. Logan took the opportunity to try to sneak out the front door, but his sister spotted him.

"Hey," she asked, on hold with the spa. "Where are you going?"

"Out." Trina put her free hand on her hip and raised her eyebrows at him. That answer obviously wasn't going to satisfy her. "I just have a couple of errands to run. I'll be back in plenty of time for the party. Scout's honor," he told her, holding up his hand in the Boy Scout's sign.

"You were never a scout," she hissed. She was about to argue more, but the spa came back on the line, so she contented herself with tapping her watch meaningfully. Logan gave her a thumbs up and headed out the door.

A short time later, he was parked at the county courthouse. He turned off the engine and simply sat, waiting. Waiting for what he didn't know - divine intervention? Natural disaster? For the temperature to build up in his car until he collapsed from heat stroke? That last option was kind of appealing. Finally, thoughts of Veronica made him open the door and step out. He had to make her safe. From his father and from Katie Campbell.

And what of Lilly? Did she need her murderer behind bars before she could rest in peace? He looked around furtively, wondering if he would catch sight of a swish of long blonde hair or a scent of musk lingering in the air.

Logan entered the building and took the elevator up, exiting to the chaos of a dozen lawyers running between desks. Many stopped to stare at him as he walked straight through to the main office. Anna Steadman was sitting at her desk, flipping through some papers as Logan came to a stop in her doorway.

"I'd like to speak to you."

Wallace and Veronica finished up their work and did a little hip bumping and high-fiving in celebration.

"So will you be needing my services tomorrow?" he asked, hefting his backpack over his shoulder.

"Nah, I think I'll be dragging my sorry butt to school." He frowned and gave her a worried look.

"You know what it's going to be like?"

"Yes, I do. Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt." Wallace looked chagrined and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Sorry, I forgot about last year." Veronica shrugged dismissively.

"Bygones," she assured him and punched him lightly on the shoulder. "See you tomorrow." She opened the door and waved him out. She was just clearing the table when there was a knock on the door. Assuming it was Wallace, she smiled and swung the door open. "Did you forget some . . . " Logan was standing on her porch. " . . . thing?" Logan licked his lips nervously and tried to smile.

"Hi," he managed. Still in a bit of shock, Veronica took her time in replying.

"Um, hi." There was an akward silence while Veronica waited for Logan to say something else, but he didn't. "Well, you can't have just been in the neighborhood. So . . . ?" He cleared his throat and pulled a small flat box out of his pocket.

"This is for you," he told her, holding the box out. She eyed it suspiciously.

"It's not going to blow up, is it?" Logan let out a genuine laugh which seemed to lessen the tension between them.

"A year ago, maybe. I think I'm over the exploding poop bag stage." Veronica smiled and accepted the box.

"Can I open it now or should I wait until Christmas?"

"I think it would come in really handy now." She flipped open the lid, looking a bit confused as she lifted out a pair of keys.

"Mmm, handy. A really short back scratcher." She shrugged. "No, really," she told him seriously. "I don't understand." He grinned and motioned out to the parking lot. In her usual parking spot was a brand new black Chrysler Sebring Convertible. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. She stared from the keys to the car and back again.

"Uh, Chrysler doesn't make LeBarons anymore, but you like convertibles, right?" he asked her haltingly. She swallowed and started to look very upset.

"Logan, I - " She took a deep breath. "I can't," she told him, trying to hand the box back to him. Logan didn't take it.

"It's not from him," he said softly, staring at the ground. Veronica looked sharply at his downcast features. "My mom, she left me some money . . . Please take it." Veronica shook her head, tears forming in her eyes.

"Oh, Logan - " She sniffled and shook her head again. Logan sighed deeply and pulled a sheaf of folded papers from his back pocket, giving them to her.

"Well," he told her jauntily, "the title's in your name. Do whatever you want with the car." With that, he gave his signature finger salute and backed off of her porch, turning to the parking lot.

'Don't let him go, he might not come back,' Veronica thought in sudden panic.

"Logan! Wait!" she called out, crossing the porch to stand on the walkway. Logan stopped in his tracks.

'Don't leave this time,' he told himself. He turned to look at her. She hesitated, searching for something to say.

"Do you like snickerdoodles?"

Author's Note: Ha! How's that for a cliffhanger? I am a cruel word mistress. My thanks to all who have e-mailed and reviewed! I welcome the encouragement.