SLIGHTLY REVAMPED - I am currently in the process of changing and fixing the first chapters of this story on account that they gave me a fever. It's hardly noticable, but still.

Disclaimer: rolling eyes they're not mine, if they were this would be appearing on TV. Ok? Ok?

A.N: Hey everybody! How's it going?

First of all, thanks to all the wonderful, beautiful, fabulous people who took a chance and pressed the button, you are brave! Plus, you've maid my life happier, you've given me hope! Please don't stop now! And I'm glad you liked that totally made up flashback. I don't know where it came from, I think I just wanted a good LoVe memory that didn't involve making out, because I just don't know how to write that...

Second of all, a giant thanks to my beta reader (ha! I never thought I'd write that) wildhorses! I love you!

Ahem, right, I tend to get carried away, sorry. Anyway, this is where the story gets kind of AUish though it still kinda sticks to the plot, it'll just get more and more imaginary as we go... Hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to press that little purple button again, they say that once you do it, you're never able to stop!

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"Could he really do it?" Duncan asked with disgust.

Veronica couldn't move, breath, think. "He's psychotic. I watched him beat a guy into a bloody mess and ask Logan how his school day was." Good god, Logan didn't do it (of course he didn't do it, you stupid bitch). "He beats Logan, you know?"

Duncan nodded faintly and then remembered, "He's here now. He came to meet the governor."

Sure, Veronica thought, meet the governor, of course; don't they have a movie together or something? She shot Duncan a worried look and sprang up. Must be practical now. "I have to get these tapes to my Dad, will you help me?" she asked, close to hysterical. "Will you keep Aaron in your sight at all times until I call you?"

Duncan looked frightened, but answered hurriedly, "Yeah, of course."

Veronica nodded, hoping he won't hyperventilate and die before he gets to Aaron or she gets to her trustworthy dad who will know what to do with all this mess.

"Hey," he called before she left, "be careful. Okay?"

For some reason, she remembered Shelly's party, and how they couldn't even look at each other anymore without feeling sick. "My Dad had a paternity test." she said with a smile, "I'm not your sister."

Duncan looked like a ton of titanium had been lifted off his shoulders. After all, he'd been carrying the burden of incest for an entire year, while she only had it for a few days. She wanted to say something else, something soothing, but there was no time to talk.

At least not with Duncan, she thought as she dialed Logan's number only to be answered by his stupid machine, sporting a new stupid inspirational message. Veronica took a minute to wonder if he looked through history books in search of those stupid quotes he used, or if he just watched the history channel too much. She left a message anyway.

Next was her dad. "Hey sweetheart," he said casually.

"Dad," she said, barely breathing, "it was Aaron Echolls, he did it. I have a video of Lilly on his bed on the day she died. They were having an affair."

She swore she heard him spit something, "Where are you?"

"I'm just leaving the Kane's," she whispered.

"No, you stay right where you are, I'll be there in a minute."

"No, Dad, he's here," she said, suddenly remembering she was sharing space with a psychotic jackass and maybe it was time to skedaddle. She hurried her pace towards her car, keys already in hand. "He's talking to the governor. Duncan's gonna keep an eye on him, I'll be home in ten minutes."

"Alright," Keith gave up, "you come straight home, you don't stop for anything."

"Okay."

"Not even Logan, you hear me?" he added, reading her mind.

"Okay," she said again, and hung up.

She was inside her car in an instant, already feeling a bit safer. This was her own car, her territory. Aaron couldn't invade this space. She remembered suddenly how he drove her home a few weeks ago. God, up until this moment she never realized why she felt so terrified afterwards. He had acted so strange, flirty and suggestive on one hand and a concerned father on the other. All this time, and she was right there in his house car, dating his...

Her phone rang, cutting off her train of thoughts. "Hey," She answered.

"I can't find him," came Duncan's distressed whisper.

Oh crap, "Did you ask around?"

"I've been asking everyone, but no one knows where he is."

Veronica started to sweat a little. "Thanks. Well, call me if you find him."

Duncan was already beyond sweating. "Let me know when you get home. Okay?"

"Okay," she said quickly, "bye."

Was he following her in his car? A quick glance at the rearview mirror told her that wasn't the case. Well, then, did he came looking for the tapes, gave up, and left? Oh, yes, that was an option she wanted to stick with, thank you very much.

Feeling a little more relieved, Veronica picked up her phone again, and dialed Logan's number.

Oh, screw that damned machine. "Logan," she breathed, "I know you're angry and I'm sorry, but I need your help. Please, if you find your Dad somewhere keep him distracted and don't let him out of your sight. I'll explain it to you later but please do as I say, it's important… if you see him call me or Duncan, but please don't tell Aaron anything. I'm so sorry."

Errors in judgment are always painful, she reminded herself as the tears threatened to well up at the corners of her eyes. Maybe I should stop making them so often.

Maybe Aaron was following her after all? She got to a curve and checked her rearview mirror just in case.

What she saw in it made her scream. Two predatory, yellow eyes staring right at her. "Hello, Veronica," Aaron Echolls (oh, please no) breathed.

"Oh God," she whispered and tried to reach her bag, only to have it snatched away to the backseat (oh, please no).

"You know," he said sympathetically, "that was kind of touching, but I don't think Logan's gonna forgive you that easily. He holds grudges. Drive." He commanded.

It was beyond her how he could speak so casually about Logan when he was looking in her bag for sex tapes of him and his son's girlfriend, whom he had murdered. Clearly the man was a psycho. If she did as he said, and promised to forget this whole thing and move out of town, will he let this go?

He didn't hear her talk to her dad, he might believe her.

"I've been looking for these for a long ti…" he started to say, fondling the tapes lovingly, but he was cut off when Veronica drove her car into a street lamp. The impact was a lot worse, and hurt a lot more than she had expected. She always wondered if her car was new enough to have air bags installed, apparently, it wasn't.

Veronica passed out and Aaron was thrown all the way back to the passenger's seat.

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Okay, he told himself, no more chickening out. He was there, where his mother had killed herself, it was all symbolic and poetic and he had absolutely no reason to live.

The phone rang, yet again. Only this time it was the family ring, reserved for his house, his father and his mother. These days, though, it served more as a smart avoidance system. Whenever he heard the Family Ring (The Brady Bunch theme song, which took forever to find) his brain was automatically programmed to ignore it.

He decided to answer it, though, regardless to who it was, although he had to admit he was hoping it'd be his mother. Anyway, whoever it was, he was going to say goodbye.

"He-llo?" he answered brightly, pronouncing every vowel.

"Logan," came Trina's annoyed voice, "it's Trina."

Logan ignored the irritation in her sister's voice like he always did, "Triny!" he called happily, "how you doing, big sister?"

He heard her sigh, "Listen, can you please tell Duncan to get a grip?"

"Why?"

"He called the house like three times already," she said, sounding bored.

Logan frowned. Duncan didn't call anymore these days, but maybe he forgives him now? It won't stop him from jumping, of course, but it'd be a nice send-off to the other world, even if he turns out to be Lilly's killer. "What'd he want?"

"Actually, he was looking for dad," Trina informed him, "he only asked to talk to you when I told him dad's not here. How sad is that, right?"

Logan took another swig of his flask and agreed completely with his sister. Suddenly he realized he forgot what they were talking about already, "Thanks Trina," he squeaked, in case she told him something nice, which was what his drunken mind hoped for, "you're the best!"

Trina sighed again, "You sound drunk. Is there another school dance?"

"I'm not drunk." Logan argued and then added with joy; "Goodbye, big sis! It's been a hoot!"

Maybe he was a little drunk.

He hung up the phone just as Trina puffed and tossed it on the seat of his car (oh, wait, didn't I plan on throwing it into the water?). He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and prepared to jump.

Jump, Logan, Veronica said.

Now, Logan, Veronica urged.

He opened his eyes.

I can't do it, realization dawned upon him with a sigh, I just can't.

He was actually a bit disappointed with himself. He always thought he was angsty enough to do himself in and he was sure as hell doing it for all the right reasons. How did he, of all people, turned out to be the all-talk teenagers everyone rolled their eyes at? How could he be such a coward?

What the hell was so good about living that made him move away from the bridge and drag his feet over to his car?

Nothing, you coward, Veronica spat.

Even now, after she accused him of murder, the strongest thing he felt was a longing to have Veronica's lips on his, or on his neck, or earlobe, or any other place for that matter. He almost had to remind himself she stabbed him in the back, therefore, going to her for comfort like he always did lately, was kind of a stupid, pathetic idea.

I hate to break it to you, baby, but you're the poster boy for stupid and pathetic, Veronica mocked.

Logan rolled his eyes at that imaginary Veronica, but his wasted mind actually saw it as a confirmation to go to her. Next thing he knew, he was driving back to his beloved town, the same one he'd wanted to set on fire ever since Lilly had died. All the while he was hoping some truck would just spread his guts all over the highway.

Hey, if he couldn't do the deed himself, might as well give someone else the fair chance.

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Heh, of course Logan wasn't going to kill himself! What kind of monster do you think I am?