Summary: Begins with the missing scene from 1x19, just after LoVe's kiss, and before she breaks up with Leo. AU from there.
A/N: This is still around the end of 1.19, but I'll slowly be heading towards 1.20, just not sure exactly when. As usual, thanks to lex83 and forcedmovement, my muses. Italics are VMVO, and feedback is a lovely, lovely thing.
Veronica opened her eyes the next morning, the events from the previous night came flooding back. She and Logan had kissed, again...and had maybe started something really good. She sighed.
Of course, I also broke up with Leo...and that went over like a ton of bricks.
She threw back the covers and stood up with a stretch. She'd also shared a very interesting phone call with Wallace, who'd not taken the news as well as she'd hoped. Although, she smiled wryly, if the rest of the school took it as bad as he had, she'd get through this with out too much trouble.
Trouble is, Wallace knows exactly how I feel about Logan...cause I've spent the last seven months complaining about him.
"Hi Wallace." Veronica greeted, laying out on her bed. She had just gotten back from the Sheriff's department.
"Hey girl, what's up?" Wallace replied, making her smile.
I knew he wouldn't react well, but I also knew that just showing up to school in Logan Echolls Xterra was not the way to go either.
"Not much." She said into the phone, though her voice rang a little false, and he picked up on it.
"Try again." He told her, not buying her cheerful act.
"I broke up with Leo." Veronica volunteered.
"What? Why?" Wallace asked, concerned. "Do I need to go perform some kind of ass kicking?"
"No, nothing like that." She reassured him. "There's...someone else. Me, I mean. I like someone else."
"Really?" Wallace drawled it out, making it much longer than it's two syllables.
Yeah, it's Logan Echolls. Lock me up, cause I must be crazy.
"Care to share, V?" He wanted to know. "or you just gonna leave a brother hanging?"
"You have to promise me that you will not freak out." Veronica demanded.
"You have my word." Wallace said seriously.
"Logan Echolls." She whispered.
"What?" Wallace clarified. "It sounded like you said Logan Echolls."
"That's because I did." She finally answered.
"But you hate him." Wallace sputtered. "How? Why?"
"I don't think I can explain it, Wallace. It's just...there." She answered.
"Are you sure you can trust him, Veronica?" He asked.
"He's been different lately. More like the Logan I used to know." Her voice held a soft quality. "We used to be really close."
"I just don't want you to get hurt." He told her.
"I'm a big girl, Wallace. A broken heart is not the worst thing that could happen to me."
It took a little convincing, but he eventually came around. Of course, he's also meeting me at Logan's SUV this morning, so I'll see how he really feels.
Veronica couldn't help but smile as she got out of the shower. Wallace was a good best friend. He wasn't Lilly, no one could replace her. He was Wallace, and that was just what she needed.
The phone rang, startling her, and she picked it up while running a towel through her hair.
"Good morning, sunshine." Logan's perky voice met her ears. She giggled before she could stop herself, shaking her head at her own girly-ness.
"Logan." She returned his greeting, setting out jeans and a shirt on her bed.
"I'll be there in about 20 minutes." He said.
"I'll be ready." She promised, finding a scrunchie and tossing it on the bed with her clothes.
"Are you sure you still want to do this?" He double checked. She was touched by the doubt in his voice. It meant that he was nervous too.
"If you are." Veronica told him.
"I'll be there shortly." Was all he said, before hanging up.
She dressed quickly, and was just pulling her hair back into a loose ponytail when she heard a honk from the parking lot. Glancing out the window, she spotted Logan's SUV, and hurried to grab her jacket and bag. She took a final glance in a the mirror and was startled by what she saw there.
So that's what you look like when you're happy, Veronica.
She slid on her jacket and slipped her bag on her shoulder. She brushed her bangs out of her eyes, and then headed for the door. Out on the balcony of her apartment, she spotted Logan leaning against the side of his Xterra. Her breath caught in her throat as she indulged in a stare.
Wow. Take a good look, Veronica. That's your boyfriend.
She flushed to the roots of her hair when she realized that he was staring at her right back. A little shiver went down her spine, as the day at the Camelot Motel ran though her mind. Logan had a stare with an intensity like no one else. It was like he could see right through all the walls she put up to keep others out.
Maybe that's why he gets under your skin, Mars. He knew you before the walls went up.
Veronica headed towards him, feeling his eyes on her the whole time. She met his gaze and felt his smile grow to match his. He was clearly glad to see her.
"Good morning." She said, returning his earlier greeting from their phone call. He crossed the distance between them and kissed her suddenly. A giddy feeling spread from her head all the way down to her toes.
"Now it is." He replied breathlessly, touching his forehead to hers.
"As enjoyable as this is..." Veronica began. "We should go."
"After you." He released her and made a sweeping motion with his arms. She walked past him and he followed her to the passenger side of the car. Logan opened the door for her, and she climbed inside. He got in on the drivers side, and started up the car. Before he could put it in drive, she put a hand on his arm. He gave her a questioning glance.
"I just thought you should know...I broke things off with Leo last night." She told him. Logan seemed surprised for a second, but it was replaced by a smile.
"I guess it's a official then." He said.
"What's that?" She asked.
"I think this qualifies us as a couple." Logan answered. "You okay with that?" He glanced at her.
"I think..." She began slowly. "That I am." They exchanged another smile, and he finally put the car in drive.
She slipped her hand into his after being on the road for a few minutes.
"I told Wallace about us." She told him. "I didn't want him to find out from someone else."
" He's on the basketball team, right?" Logan asked. She nodded.
"He's my best friend." She said it quietly.
"I'll be on my best behavior." He promised.
They neared the school, and Veronica felt the butter flies start up in her stomach.
Here we go.
Logan slowed to a stop outside the parking lot, and she tightened her grip on his hand. One glance at his face showed that he was concerned too. He made the turn, and pulled slowly into the lot. It was a little early, so not too many students were milling around.
However, I know from past experience that it only takes one person. The whole school will know by third period.
He pulled into a parking spot and shut off the car. Both of them stared at the Neptune High building.
"You ready?" Logan asked.
Yeah, Veronica. Are you ready?