Chapter 2

"W-w-what?" asked Veronica. Garret looked at her, slightly worried. Veronica never acted like this. She was being all shocked by this, freezing up and now stuttering? It just wasn't Veronica Mars.

"Logan Echolls." Said Connor. He knew Veronica invested everything in her work and her few friends, and hardly ever did things for pure fun. "He's an actor, he acted in-"

"I-I know who he is." She said quietly. After a moment she added, "I saw two of his movies."

"Two? Two of his movies?" called Rose. "Damn, that boy is the hottest thing in Hollywood for like 10 years, and you saw two of his movies!"

"Rose, chill" called Harry.

"Veronica, if you want to do some research on him, I could help you. Or if you need help with making questions up…" suggested Clair. Veronica shot her a grateful look.

"Did he leave a number for Veronica to contact him? To set up a meeting?" asked Garret.

"Yeah, when is he coming any way?" asked Harry.

"I gave him Veronica's office number. He said he'd call her and set the dates with her. I guess-"

"I have to go" said Veronica suddenly and set up, grabbing her side bag and bolting to the door.

"Wait, Veronica!" called Garret. But Veronica ignored him, and left the conference room.

Veronica went by her desk and grabbed her jacket. She walked to the elevators and got inside. Once there she pulled out her cell phone and pressed speed dial #2.

"Veronica!" called the voice on the other side. "Girl, what you doin' callin' like this in the middle of the day?"

"Am I interrupting something, Wallace?" she asked quietly.

Wallace seemed to notice her tone of voice. "No. You aren't interrupting. Is somethin' wrong?"

"I… I'm not sure." The elevator reached the lobby. Veronica went out of the elevator and toward the exit, waving goodbye to the security man, Bert. "I…"

"What is it, girl?"

"I just got an assignment… from the newspaper. An interview… very important one"

"Congratulations. I don't see what's wrong."

Veronica motioned for a taxi, and climbed into the one that stopped.

"It's with Logan freaking Echolls, that's what's wrong." Wallace didn't say a word for a moment, and Veronica used that pause to give the driver her home address.

"Logan Echolls… our Logan Echolls?" he asked.

"I wouldn't really call him ours. Mostly cause I haven't seen him since graduation. Have you…"

"Only in the movies, Mars."

"Damn it, Wallace. What am I going to do?"

Wallace sighed. Back in high school, after three months of Logan and Veronica avoiding each other he finally dared to ask her what the deal was between them. Veronica tried to avoid the subject, but finally, after two more months of nagging she told him. Her and Logan kissed, after he saved her from the almost-kidnapper, undercover federal agent, Ben. Both didn't have the guts to say something about what happened, and so they both ignored the incident, and each other too. The only time they spoke after that was on graduation day. They didn't say much, and surely didn't talk about the kiss. But they did say goodbye. And in the ten years that had passed since then, the two hadn't exchanged a word.

"You are going to calm down first. And when you meet him, you show him what he missed all this time not talking to you, a'ight?"

Wallace knew deep down, that Veronica was a bit in love with Logan. He wasn't sure that she was ever over him. And though he didn't care for Logan too much, he cared for Veronica a lot. And he wanted to see her happy. If somehow Echolls would make her that, he wasn't gonna stop them. He knew Veronica's social life were on the verge of dying. Her friends and her only met at work. She always worked, and in the spare time she had between working, she was pulling the "Veronica Mars, PI" act, just like in high school. Sure, it wasn't really an act, but a part of Veronica's being, and she loved it, but it didn't matter. Veronica swamped herself with work and more work. He was her best friend, just like in high school, even though she was living in NYC, and he was living in Chicago. Her last relationship was a year and a half ago. And Veronica only got into relationship if they were serious. No casual dating or what not, not for Veronica Mars. And the relationships never got anywhere, because Veronica was too much of a work-a-holic and too intense for the male population of New York to handle.

"Now, I want you to explain to me how the hell did you manage to land an interview with him." The rest of the drive was spent with Veronica explaining the whole story to Wallace.

By the time Veronica was off the phone, she had reached her apartment. She paid the taxi driver and got out. As she entered her apartment building she dialed the all too familiar number. After three rings, Duncan Kane picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Duncan" she said, trying to sound cheerful.

"Veronica… uh, h-hi"

"Hi." She replied. "You sound nervous, Duncan."

"Do I?"

"Yes, you do. Is there a reason for you to be nervous?" Veronica unlocked her apartment's door and entered, closing the door behind her. She let her bag drop on the floor and set down on her couch.

"Not that I can think of." He replied. But they both knew what was the subject in hand, the purpose of this conversation. Veronica decided to cut to the chase. "So, talked to Logan lately?"

Duncan sighed. It was odd hearing Veronica saying Logan's name. It was the first time in over ten years he heard her talking about Logan. Usually, the subject of Logan was considered taboo.

"I guess you heard."

"I did." She replied. "I would have appreciated a heads up."

"Look, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, but I knew you wouldn't take the interview if you knew."

"Probably."

"And I didn't want you to do that." He said. "You are a very good friend of mine. And Logan is my best friend, and was that since we were 12. Just… I need you two to at least be on speaking terms."

"So this was your idea?" she asked. "This whole, gotta-be-Veronica thing?"

"No. Logan came up with the whole thing. He only told me about it yesterday."

Veronica took a deep breath. "You better not be lying to me, Duncan."

"I swear on Lilly's grave, I'm telling you the truth." Veronica swallowed, and stopped herself from sucking air loudly. Even after she and her father solved the Lilly Kane Murder, she still had some trouble with handling Lilly's death. The fact she kissed her dead best friend's ex boyfriend always made her feel slightly guilty. Even if it happened ten years ago.

"Are you okay, Veronica?" asked Duncan.

"Yeah, fine. The whole thing just-" she let out a giggle, and hoped it didn't sound too fake "took me by surprise. That's all. I'm fine."

"Okay."

"Okay. So, I'll talk to you soon. I have to get back to work."

"Sure, no problem."

"Good." She paused. "Hey Duncan?"

"Yeah."

"Don't tell Logan I called." She could almost hear him smiling.

"Don't worry about it. Bye, Veronica."

"Yeah. Bye."

The line went dead.