Part 2
"Hey what's up, man?"
Logan sighed and turned around to see Dick Casablancas strolling towards him with his arms raised. "Dick."
"You stood us up, Logan," Dick accused. Behind him walked his brother Beaver and their friend Cole. "I thought we were going to catch some waves."
Logan shrugged. "I got stuff to do."
"Whatever, man," Dick grumbled and headed towards his last class. Cassidy reached out and patted Logan's arm as he passed. Cole, on the other hand, merely grinned at Logan.
Logan waited until the three vanished as they turned at the corridor. Satisfied that they would not be able to watch him, he strolled happily to the back of the school where he and Veronica were supposed to meet. He opened the door and saw Lilly Kane hiking up her pants, trying to look at her ankle. She whirled around at the sound.
"Oh hello, Logan," she murmured, batting her eyelashes.
"Should I even ask?"
Lilly straightened and walked up to him, laying her hand on his chest. "You know you want to," she taunted.
"Fine," Logan sighed. "What were doing just there?"
Her lips curved into that intriguing Lilly smirk. "I was checking out my tattoo."
"Nice," he said.
"Oh yeah," was her confident answer. "You would've loved it. I would've let you kiss it better coz it's still sore."
"But I can't because we're broken up, right?" Logan prodded.
"Maybe if you're a good boy and ask me to the Valentine's Day dance, I'd let you have one last kiss."
Logan grinned slightly. "I'll pass."
Lilly pouted dramatically. "I'm offended, Logan." She placed the tip of her finger between her teeth. Then, she ran the moist tip along the line of his lower lip. "Don't tell me you're not hung up on me anymore. That's so not you."
She had a point, certainly. Logan had always been the one panting after her every time they broke up. This time though, Logan had no residual longing for the pretty girl in front of him. He was delighted with her, amused, as any person, man or woman, would be of Lilly Kane. She was that kind of spirit. His pining was reserved for a completely different person now, speaking of whom still had not arrived.
"And why aren't you showing off your tattoo to your best friend?" Logan inquired. "Isn't your perpetual role to demonize her? By now, you should be harping on her to get a matching one."
"Logan Echolls!" she gasped in mock surprise, smacking him on the upper arm. "Are you insinuating that I'm a bad influence on Veronica Mars?"
"You said it, Lilly, not me. Where is Veronica anyway?"
Lilly rolled her big, inviting eyes and sighed the world-weary sigh of philosophers, poets and intellectuals. "I had to leave her in the caring attention of my brother. Last I saw, Duncan was waiting outside our classroom with a huge bouquet of white roses."
Logan frowned. Duncan was truly getting on his nerves. "So I gather the sheriff's daughter jumped up and down?" he fished.
"She seemed a little uncomfortable," Lilly answered. "But you know, Veronica. She'll come around. I won't stop telling her how much he adores her. I so want her to be my sister. I am not going to stand around while Duncan mopes around with a broken heart and eats all the ice cream in the fridge."
"You actually see Veronica and Duncan together?"
"Forever," Lilly said with conviction. A stray thought passed through her mind and she winced. "Better her than some evil sister-in-law I'd have to share a bathroom with."
Logan watched Lilly's face as she went on and on about how horrendous it would be to share the spotlight with someone she didn't like. At least she could live with Veronica Mars, according to her. She could not wait to do all the cool old people stuff with Veronica, like shop for wedding dresses and buy out toy stores, plan baby showers and anniversaries. He felt his chest rumble, and Logan wondered if that was hunger or his heart. "You sound like you should marry her."
She glared at Logan. "Oh grow up, Logan!"
"Well I don't have time for this. Where's Duncan? I need to talk to him. He owes me something."
Lilly waved her hand away. "He's probably still with Veronica."
Logan excused himself and went back to the school, heading in the way of Veronica's last class. On the way he saw Veronica running. When she spotted him, she slowed down, gasping for breath. "Logan, I'm so sorry!"
He took her hand and looked around them, then pulled her towards an open classroom, then closed the door behind them. "I was just looking for you."
Veronica nodded, pushing her long hair back, tucking it behind her ear. "I know I'm late. I'm really really sorry, Logan."
His eyes fell to the bouquet of flowers sticking out of her bag. "That's fine. I was just on my way to tell you I couldn't keep our appointment. Dick invited me to something."
Her jaw fell. "You were going to stand me up for Dick?"
Logan shrugged coolly. He was not Logan Echolls, King of Neptune High, if he was going to show Veronica Mars that she could get to him so easily. "You know how it is with guys."
"Yeah, I do," she said sadly. She had planned to watch a movie with Logan at her house, so that her father would get used to seeing him less as Lynn and Aaron's uncontrollable son and more as the boy Veronica keeps bringing home. "Some other time then."
"Sure. I'll bring my day planner," he responded, allowing an edge of sarcasm to enter his voice. "And Veronica, don't forget to put those in water." Logan pointed to the flowers. "Lilly can bring you home, right?"
"Yeah," she answered quickly. "I was going to skip cheerleading practice so we can hang out but I guess I'll just hang around and check out the new choreography, which I am absolutely never going to get anyway."
That brought a smile to his face. Just because he was upset that didn't mean that he could turn off his imagination. "Who cares about the right moves? I'd be happy just to see you strutting around in that short skirt."
She blushed. "I'll see you then." Veronica tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.
Logan waved goodbye, then waited ten seconds after she had left the room before exiting, just in case someone had seen her leave. "How I gotta find Dick," he muttered.
Veronica sat on the bench with Lilly as they watched the head cheerleaders demonstrate the acrobatic stunt that they were going to perform during the next game. She marveled at the way that the two veteran members of the squad were tossed up into the air. Four male cheerleaders caught them by the waist right before they hit the ground.
Veronica shot up to her feet and started applauding. She turned to Lilly and exclaimed, "They were so good, Lil! I wish I could do that."
"Well I think they're starting us off easy," Lilly told her. Veronica noticed how Lilly turned around and looked at the bleachers, as if waiting for someone.
Michelle, the senior student who was captain of the squad, stepped up to the front and addressed them. "All right, junior recruits! It's time for you to show us what you can contribute to the team. I want a pyramid made up of only the new girls. Who's going to be on top?"
At those words, Lilly brightened. She raised her hand. "Of course I am," she presented.
The captain of the squad smiled and nodded. She had not expected anyone else. In fact, she wanted no one else. What better way was there to pump up the crowd than to place their princess right on top of the pyramid?
"At the count of fifteen, I want the pyramid built. You people arrange yourselves." Michelle yelled, "One. Two. Three. Four."
Lilly stood at the sidelines with Veronica as the girls scrambled to fill the spots. Veronica stepped forward, but Lilly took her by her arm. "You have to pick one of the highest spots, Veronica." "Five. Six. Seven. Eight." Veronica's heart sank as one by one the spots were all occupied except for the top. "Nine. Ten. Eleven."
Lilly turned to Veronica and raised her shoulders. "Ooops. Sorry." She then proceeded to the pyramid and started climbing. "Twelve. Thirteen." Lilly was crouched at the top. "Stand up and smile, Lilly Kane!"
Uneasily, but her smile not slipping, Lilly raised herself up on one leg then steadied herself on her own two feet. "Fourteen!" She raised her arms and smiled brightly at all sides. "Fifteen! Good job, ladies!"
The girls slowly dismounted. Lilly laughed out loud, exhilarated. "Veronica, that was the best!"
Veronica smiled, a little jealous that she did not get to participate. "It looked great."
The two heard a chirping sound. Lilly glanced at Michelle who was speaking with one of the new recruits. "Veronica, I gotta go. Just for a few minutes. Cover for me." Before Veronica could respond, Lilly was off, slipping away then jogging towards the bleachers.
"All right, people. I want to see that beauty again. This time, I want it in twelve."
Veronica whirled around and searched for Lilly.
"One. Two. Three. Four. Five." The stack built up as Veronica watched in horror. "Six. Seven. Eight." Michelle frowned and looked towards where Lilly had been. "Veronica Mars, where's Lilly Kane?"
"Michelle, she went to the washroom," Veronica called back.
"Then move your ass up there, Mars. You're the only one free." Veronica gazed up wide-eyed at the pyramid. "Nine. Ten. Two seconds, Mars!"
Veronica clambered up frantically, hearing the groans and the squeals of the other cheerleaders. "Eleven. Show me your teeth!" Muttering a prayer and cursing at Lilly, Veronica stood up with her knees knocking together, giving Michelle a tense and lopsided grin as she raised her arms waist-high in order to balance herself. "Twelve!"
Just then, Veronica's uncomfortable smile fell when she felt one side of the pyramid collapse. She let out a piercing squeal as she tumbled off the top and right smack on the grass. Veronica felt the blinding pain on her elbow.
"Oh my God, Veronica!" she heard Lilly scream.
A dazed Veronica turned her head to see her best friend running towards them from the bleachers, still fixing the top of her cheerleading outfit.
"Duncan, Duncan, Veronica's hurt!" Veronica heard Lilly yell.
Veronica turned her head to the other side of the field and saw Duncan running towards her in his soccer uniform.
"We have to take her to the clinic," Michelle's voice was heard.
Veronica felt herself hoisted up into moist arms. She let out a strangled moan of pain as her hurt arm was crushed against Duncan's chest. She gritted her teeth when he started running towards the school building, jarring her arm with every step. Instead of keeping her eyes open and watchful while Duncan sprinted, Veronica squeezed her eyes shut and she buried her face into Duncan's sweaty shirt.
She could tell they had arrived at the main building and they were making their way to the clinic. The level of noise had intensified.
"Hey what the hell happened?" one familiar male voice demanded.
Veronica wanted to turn her face to him so she could assure him she was fine, and he should not worry. By then though, the pain was killing her. She was sure that the rescue process had made her injury worse. She did not want Logan to see how her face was streaked with tears then. With her other hand, she tightened her hold on Duncan's arm.
As Duncan made his way inside the clinic, Veronica heard her best friend recount the tale in her own words.
"Oh Logan, thank God. She took my place in the pyramid. Imagine if it happened and it was me," came Lilly's fading voice.
"Kids, I need you to stay outside as I look Veronica over," the nurse said in her gentle voice.
Duncan deposited her into the bed and kissed her forehead. "You'll be fine."
"Hey I want to see her," Logan's voice rose. "She's my friend too. Duncan saw her."
"Mr Echolls," the nurse told him gently, "I think Mr Kane deserved that exemption. He saved her after all. Now everyone, shoo. I have a patient."
Right before the door closed, Veronica heard Logan grumble, "Saving her means catching her."
A soft and gentle shaking woke him. Logan looked up at the person standing in front of him. He had fallen asleep outside the clinic, sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall. He had been waiting about half an hour when Lilly reminded Duncan that Celeste was going to be waiting for them. When they left, Logan told them he'd stay because he was still hanging out with Dick, Cole and Beaver. Only thing was, he stayed outside right on the floor.
"Logan," the nurse said, "you're going to have a killer backache if you don't stand up now."
He groaned and stretched. "I got a killer backache now." Remembering why he was still in school when he normally left before the last bell, he asked, "How is she?"
"She's going to have to go to the hospital for a cast. I put a temporary one there for the time being."
Logan stood up and brushed his pants to smoothen it. "Can I take her?"
"I've called an ambulance," the nurse said. "She's still under the school's responsibility because the accident happened on campus."
"Oh. Okay. Can I come with her?"
The nurse smiled, knowing that Logan's car was in the parking lot and he would have to find a way to make it back to the school to pick it up. "Tell you want," the nurse presented. "Since I have to follow in my car anyway, you can ride along in the ambulance and then I'll drive you back here for your car."
Logan's grin was blinding for one moment, then it faded. Gruffly, he said, "Yeah. Not that I care. But my mom would kill me if she knew I didn't offer. She's friends with the sheriff."
The nurse nodded and opened the door to the clinic. "I know. The sheriff has a lot of friends, doesn't he?"
Logan glared suspiciously because he thought the nurse was patronizing her. He followed her into the clinic. His hard stare softened at the sight of Veronica sitting on the bed with her arm in her makeshift cast. He waited until the nurse was out of earshot. Then he stood beside Veronica and with his eyebrows furrowed, he asked her, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fabulous," she told him with a dreamy smile.
"I'm sorry," he admitted. "I was on a stupid strike."
Veronica frowned. "You were? Strike against what?"
"Against Duncan's stupid flowers. I already told Dick I wasn't coming, but I got jealous."
Veronica smirked. "You, jealous? Logan Echolls is too good to be jealous, right? You're the king!"
He shook his head. Logan glanced back at the nurse, whose back was turned to them. He leaned his forehead against hers. "Can't be too good for you." He cupped her face and kissed her on the lips, a brief and chaste kiss.
Veronica breathed deeply, the kiss lingering on her lips. "Come on. I'll let you be the first one to sign my cast, your highness."
Logan nodded. "You are the only person with a broken arm I've met who's still so cheerful and positive."
The nurse finally turned around and helped Veronica off the bed. "That's because she's hyped on painkillers."
Veronica giggled.
tbc