Disclaimer: Maybe if I'm really really good, for Christmas I'll get the exclusive rights to Veronica Mars and Jason Dohring. Heh. But as of now I have neither-and believe me, it's pretty torturesome.

Minutes tick by that feel like hours. He doesn't know how long he can sit there, farcically holding her, pretending to pretend. He shifts; a tiny turning motion, and his fingers accidentally brush the skin of her arm. He feels the electric undercurrent go through her, but despite the tinge of red spotting her cheeks; she doesn't look at him, her eyes riveted to the window.

"Did I do something?" The words are low-his voice hoarse, and although the words have tumbled out of their own volition, he finds he desperately needs to know the answer. Finally she looks up at him, and he finds that her eyes are as tormented as his. Before he can speak she turns away again, biting her lip.

"No." Her tone is broken and she curses herself for it. Logan Echolls is trouble-more trouble than she knows what to do with, and although that excuse has worked in the past, as she sneaks a glance up at him, she finds it doesn't quite fit anymore. Why did you have to kiss him, Veronica? She looks up at him again, but this time he catches her, and their gazes hold. And why did he have to let you? "You didn't do a thing." She continues, surprising herself almost as much as she's surprised him.

"Okay." He responds lamely, but before he can say another word, she's gazing up at him, unshed tears darkening her eyes. "Veronica-"

"Duncan isn't at League Meets, is he?" She asks. For a split second his eyes close and it hurts-kills him, knowing that once again this isn't about him.It'll never be about him, he realizes. Maybe it never was.

"Now where would you get that idea, Veronica?" He asks tonelessly, and though she glances at him sharply, he doesn't say a word.

"You wouldn't have come if he was." She responds simply, and the confusion in his eyes almost looks real. "Humor me, Logan. Give me some credit, Okay? I get paid to determine how exactly the significant other cheats."

"Veronica-"

"No!" She exclaims, her thin vale of composure slipping. "Don't lie to me, Logan." He opens his mouth to speak but she shakes her head, the tears spilling onto her cheeks.

"Veronica, it's not what it seems like." She glares at him them, anger and contempt sharpening her features.

"And what does it look like, Logan? Even my boyfriend, my nice, normal boyfriend can't stand to be around me." The sobs that wrack through her are heavy, and her shoulders heave with the weight of it all; heavy, fat tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Veronica," He murmurs, grabbing her into his arms and fitting her forehead beneath his chin. "Shh." He's murmuring incoherent nothings into her hair, holding her close, and she can't help feeling that this is the safest she's felt in months.

"Am I not good enough?" She scoots back, settling into the passenger seat and tilting her head back, looking at him straight in the eye. Her voice is broken, and her heart is shining in her eyes, but he can see the steely resolve behind them. His little Veronica, even in the face of heartbreak, she was still strong. A fighter.

"Veronica, c'mon-"

"No, Logan. Jake and Celeste never liked me-all of the '09ers thought he was slumming…you did too…" Her voice breaks again, and she turns away, glancing out the window and he feels her getting further and further away from him with each passing word.

"Veronica, there is nothing wrong with you." His tone is harsher than he'd anticipated and she stares up at him, eyes wide. "You are-you're perfect! You're smart and beautiful, my God Veronica," He leans forward, cupping her face in his hands and lightly kissing her, not thinking, not holding back, and not giving her the opportunity to get away. Their lips are fused together, and he drags her onto his lap again, tangling his fingers in her hair. "I love you," He whispers, averting his eyes, the words tripping out before he can stop them. She inhales sharply, her lips parting. He glances up, trapping his eyes with hers. "I love you."

A/N: It was really really hard to write this. Really, really hard. But I hope you liked it.