Title: Home Sweet Home
Author: Modern-Insomniac1138
Pairing/Character: Logan/OC Friendship, LoVe eventually, a little V/D, Beaver/OC, Ensemble
Word Count: 3,680
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Carly Hayes is a freshman at Neptune High, and she's an old friend of the Echolls Family. Slight AU. Season 2.
July 11, 2002
"Carly, you're doing great! I bet by the end of the summer, you're going to be an awesome skateboarder." 14-year-old Logan Echolls said smiling.
"Thanks, Wally." Carly Hayes said sarcastically as she picked up Logan's skateboard and handed it to him. Logan took it and put it under his arm as they walked back to his house.
"You know you deserve a really good reward. How does ice-cream sundaes sound?" he asked.
"That sounds like a plan!" Carly said happily. Logan smiled as he looked over at Cecilia, who was slumped against her car, which was parked in the Hayes' driveway.
"Um... Carly, I'll meet you inside in a few minutes." Logan said as he handed her his skateboard.
"Okay, sure, just don't take too long or else I'll have to start eating all that ice-cream by myself." Carly said as she continued to his house.
Logan walked to wear Cecilia was and smiled. "I didn't think that they delivered." he said smirking.
She looked up and said quietly, "Hey."
"Hey yourself, what are you doing here? I mean you should be doing something "fun". Where are Heather and Jeremy?" he asked as he leaned on her car next to her.
"Heather is babysitting her little brother and Jeremy is doing god knows what." Cecilia answered bitterly.
"Oh, well you could join me and Carly. We're going to eat ice-cream sundaes, watch a couple of movies, and hang out. Come on, Cecilia, it'll be loads of fun, fun, fun." he said smiling.
"That sounds nice, but I think that I'll just go inside," she said sadly.
"Now that's definitely not what I call a fun time. Are you sure?" he asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I am." she answered.
"Okay, look, I also wanted to say thank you for the whole Fourth of July thing. It was really cool. I mean you seriously didn't have to come with me and Carly." he said.
"Logan, I wanted to. I had fun too, but I think that Carly had the most fun. She loves fireworks for some odd, strange reason." she said.
Logan chuckled and said, "Yeah, I sort of figured that one out."
Cecilia smiled as she stared at the ground. Logan smiled and said happily, "See, that's the Cecilia Hayes I want to see."
Cecilia looked up and met his eyes. Their eyes locked for a few moments. Cecilia saw something in Logan's eyes that she hadn't seen before. She couldn't help but stare. He had grown so much, she had noticed. As they stared into each other's eyes, they both seemed to get lost. Cecilia then blinked and broke the stare. "You should go with Carly. She might think that you bailed on her with some cheap hussy." Cecilia said as she looked at the ground once again.
"Yeah, I should. I'll talk to you later, Cecilia." he said as he smiled weakly.
"Yeah, same here." she said as he started toward his house.
She watched him as he walked away and sighed. "Cecilia, Cecilia, what the hell is going on with you? That's your 14-year-old neighbor, here. You don't have those feelings for him. He's just a friend." Cecilia whispered quietly to herself as she rubbed her forehead in frustration.
Present
"Carly, do you honestly know this Cassidy boy?" Julia Hayes asked as she entered her daughter's bedroom.
"Mom, we've been over this a hundred times! He's a nice boy, he doesn't do drugs, he doesn't drink and drive, he doesn't do anything illegal, as far as I know, and he doesn't steal candy from babies. Does that sound reassuring enough?" Carly asked sarcastically as she looked for an outfit in her closet.
"I'll be at ease when you join a convent." Julia answered.
"Like hell I will!" Carly said smiling.
It was already Friday night, which meant it was Carly's first date with Beaver. It was her first date ever.
Carly pulled out a shirt from her closet. She scrunched her nose in disapproval as she put it back in.
"Sweetie, are you having trouble finding something to wear?" Julia asked.
"Yeah, just a little." Carly answered timidly.
"Here let me help you." Julia said as she approached the closet and started sifting through clothes. She pulled out a long white skirt, a bright blue camisole, and a black cardigan.
"How does this look?" Julia asked smiling.
"It's perfect! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Carly exclaimed happily as she admired her mom's selection.
"It was my pleasure. Here you should put it on, I mean your date is supposed to be here at six and it's already five minutes after five." Julia said as she handed Carly the outfit.
"I still can't believe you have a meeting tonight! That is so unfair, I wanted you to meet Cassidy." Carly said.
"Yeah, I wanted to meet him, too. I know it's unfair, but we have to discuss product plans and our Christmas promotions. I mean Christmas is already around the corner. You know that this is the busiest time of year, Carly." Julia said.
"Yeah, I know. I'm just glad that we found ourselves a babysitter for Dakota on short notice. As much as I love Dakota, I don't want to babysit her every single night of my life." Carly said smiling. At that moment the doorbell rang.
"Oh, well speaking of our trusty babysitter. Bye sweetie, I've got to go. The meeting will start soon. Good luck tonight. Look at my baby, all grown up." Julia said as she hugged Carly.
"Bye mom thanks for the help." Carly said as they let go of each other and she headed to her bathroom to get ready.
"Your welcome, bye." Julia said as she walked out of Carly's bedroom and headed to the front door.
She opened it and smiled. "Thanks again, Logan. I'm so sorry for having you babysit Dakota on such short notice, but I had to be at this meeting." she said as she stepped aside for him to enter.
"No problem Julia, I'm just doing what good neighbors do." Logan said happily as he entered the Hayes' house.
"Well Carly and I both thank you. Okay I've got to go now, the meeting starts in ten minutes and I think that I'm going to be late. So the emergency numbers are on the kitchen table, my number is on the refrigerator door, please don't let Dakota eat any candy or else she'll be bouncing off the walls all night, there's tons of apple juice and milk in the fridge for her to drink, I already prepared her dinner ahead of time and it's in a Tupperware container, labeled Dakota's dinner, in the fridge, and have her in bed by eight. Also, please watch her at all times, she's just two-years-old." Julia said.
"You got it dude." Logan said smiling.
Julia smiled and said, "Alright then, Dakota is on the couch in the living room playing with her doll. Also, make sure Carly gets home by eleven."
"Alrighty, bye Julia." he said.
"Bye Logan." She said smiling as she exited the house.
Logan strolled to where Dakota was and picked her up playfully. "Hey Koala Bear!" he said smiling.
Dakota giggled and exclaimed happily, "Lolo!"
She hugged him tightly as he plopped onto the couch with her still clutching onto him. "So look kid, I'm supposed to babysit you tonight and I thought that we could eat some dinner first, does that sound cool?" he asked staring into the two-year-old's big, green eyes.
Dakota smiled and answered, "As wong as my dolly can join us."
"Of course your dolly can join us." he said as he put his forehead against hers.
Dakota smiled as she grabbed her doll that sat neatly next to them on the couch. "Now what's her name?" Logan asked.
"Her name's Lola, kinda like Lolo." Dakota answered as she combed the doll's brown hair with her fingers. Logan smiled as he carried Dakota, who was clutching Lola, to the kitchen. He put her in her highchair and gave her some apple juice and her dinner.
"Wow, you've got it made kid. I mean me, Logan Echolls, as your babysitter! You're one of the luckiest kids in the world." he said as he watched Dakota eat. She just nodded in response as stuffed a spoon full of pasta into her mouth.
"Hey Logan!" Carly said smiling as she emerged from her bedroom. She wore black converses, and the long white skirt, bright blue camisole, and black cardigan that her mom had picked out. Her hair was in a high ponytail, which she slightly waved.
Logan looked over at Carly and said smiling, "Thank the great Lord that you dress conservatively."
"Wow, not the response I was expecting, but thanks." she said.
He smiled as he continued to observe Dakota as she ate.
"Thanks again for babysitting on such short notice, Logan. You're truly a lifesaver." she said smiling.
"Aw, thanks." he said.
"Hey, did my mom leave already?" she asked as she got a bottle of water out of the fridge.
"Yeah, she did." Logan said as he stared at Dakota.
Carly sighed as she walked over to where he was and whispered, "Why are you staring at Dakota?"
"Because I don't want her to choke on anything." he said flatly.
Carly looked at Logan and said, "Okay, super dad, I need to get my purse and find something in my room, so please tell me when Cassidy gets here."
"Cassidy?" Logan asked a little confused.
"Beaver!" she shouted as she walked back into her room.
"Gees, what's her problem?" Logan asked Dakota. Dakota just shrugged as she finished her food. Ten minutes later somebody rang the doorbell.
Logan sighed as he just finished cleaning Dakota up. He quickly picked her up from her highchair and shouted, "Coming!" as he walked hurriedly to answer the door. He swiftly opened the door and weakly smiled. "Hey Beav." he said.
"Hi, Logan." he said confused by why Logan was at Carly's house. He looked over at Dakota who was being held by Logan. "Hi, Dakota." he said smiling.
"Cassy!" she giggled happily. Beaver smiled, at least a few people called him Cassidy.
Logan moved aside to let Beaver in. "So what's up, man? I mean I haven't seen you in a long time." Logan said awkwardly.
"I'm... coping." Beaver said quietly.
Logan looked down at the ground and said timidly, "Beav, look, I'm sorry..." Beaver held up his hand to stop Logan from continuing.
"Logan, please, I get it. I mean, come on, she was my step mom. Who couldn't resist the allures of Kendall Casablancas?" Beaver asked sarcastically.
"Beaver, you've got to understand..." Logan started.
"Logan, I understand completely. You liked banging my step mom behind my father's back. Now my dad's gone, Kendall's making a mockery of the Casablancas name, and all you can do is say your sorry." Beaver said angrily.
"Beaver, I'm truly sorry." Logan said pleadingly.
"Whatever makes you sleep at night." Beaver spat bitterly.
Logan gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, since you don't want an apology, I'll give you something else. Let's call it a warning."
"Okay, I'm all ears." Beaver said.
"Beaver, oh, Beaver, Carly is like my little, baby sister. I taught her everything she knows. I taught her how to skip rocks, chug a soda under three minutes, skateboard, and everything else. She's already been hurt, I don't want her to be hurt anymore. So here it is, if you break Carly's heart, you die. Plain and simple. Are we clear?" Logan asked demandingly.
"We're clear." Beaver answered.
"Good, cause, honestly, I don't want to kill you." Logan said.
"Hey Logan, is Cass..." Carly trailed as she walked into the living room and saw Cassidy. "Hi Cassidy." she said smiling.
"Hey Carly, you look stunning." Beaver said shyly.
"Thanks, see now that was the response I was expecting." she said pointing a finger at Logan. Logan just playfully shrugged. "Behave, you two." she said to Logan and Dakota as she walked toward Cassidy.
"Bye Care Bear, remember to be home by ten or else you're going to be grounded young lady." Logan said sternly.
"Yeah, yeah, I know, eleven it is. Bye." she said smiling as her and Beaver exited the house. Logan sighed, he knew that he couldn't fool Carly.
"Well, I'm glad to be out of there." Beaver said smiling as they walked toward his car.
"Yeah, tell me about it. Can you say awkward? Why are you guys fighting anyway? Did somebody cheat during the Candyland extravaganza last year?" Carly asked.
"It's nothing." he answered as they made their way to his car and he opened the passenger's door so she could get in.
"Thanks." she said as she slipped in and he shut the door. He went to the other side and quickly got in.
"So what restaurant are we going to?" she asked excitedly as he started to drive.
"The Italian Oven, it's a small Italian restaurant. It's very low key and very good." he answered.
"What would I do without you?" she asked smiling as she looked out the window.
Beaver just smiled as he continued driving.
"I don't think that I can eat another bite for days!" Carly exclaimed as Beaver opened the door to his house.
"Yeah, I know! How could somebody of your stature eat that much food?" he asked. She playfully hit him in the arm and said, "Yeah, speak for yourself."
Beaver laughed as they both entered the house.
"Dick? Kendall? Anybody home?" he called out. No answer. Beaver gulped, this could be his chance.
"Well, I guess it's just you and me, buddy." Carly said smiling as she made her way to the couch in the living room and plopped onto it.
"Yeah, I guess it is." he choked out nervously as he sat next to her.
"Thanks for asking me out. I'm having a really great time tonight. Back in North Carolina, I didn't really do a lot of social activities, let alone date." she said.
"Your welcome, I'm having a great time, too." he said smiling weakly.
Carly smiled and asked, "So where do you want to do this? Here or in your bedroom?"
Beaver looked at her in disbelief. He couldn't believe that he was hearing this. This was Carly Hayes, for god's sake. The same Carly Hayes who blushed at the word sex and cringed when somebody talked about a woman's body. The same Carly Hayes who still hadn't experienced her first, real kiss. Was this the same Carly Hayes who was now asking him where he wanted to do it?
"Hello, earth to Cassidy!" she said as she snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Wherever you feel more comfortable." he said.
"Okay, here." she said as she opened her black purse.
"Are you sure? What if someone walks in on us?" he asked in disbelief.
"Then, they can join us if they want." she answered knowingly as she continued to dig through her purse.
He sat next to her in total shock at what she had just said. "What?" he asked loudly.
"Cass, why are you freaking out? We're just going to watch a movie." she said as she held up what she had been digging through her purse for. It was the DVD of the movie, Trainspotting.
Cassidy sighed in embarrassment and said timidly, "Sorry."
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." he answered as his cheeks became red as a tomato.
"Are you sure, because you've been acting a little weird ever since we walked through those doors?" she said as she pointed to the front doors of his house.
"No, really, I'm fine." he answered as he stared at the ground trying to avoid eye contact.
"What's going on? Should I leave?" she asked worriedly.
"No, no, please don't. Let's just watch the movie." he said still staring at the ground.
"I think that I should go." she said as she quickly tucked the DVD into her purse and started to walk toward the door. He quickly jumped off of the couch and tried to stop her.
"Don't go, Carly." he said.
"Cassidy, I think that I should leave." she said. He took her by the arm and spun her around so that she was facing him. He saw that there was hurt in her eyes.
"I'm sorry for acting the way I did, I don't want you to go." he said pleadingly.
"Why were you acting weird?" she asked.
"I wasn't acting weird." he answered.
"Well with that performance, you really did fool me." she said sarcastically.
"Carly, please just stay. Either way, I'm the only one who can drive you home." he said.
"How much do you want to bet?" she asked loudly.
"Are you mad?" he asked.
"Ding, ding, ding, right answer!" she exclaimed loudly.
"Look, I'm sorry for how I acted over there. I was just confused." he said.
"Confused about what? We were going to watch a damn movie! I told you that when you asked me out." she said.
Beaver could've just kicked himself in the ass at that exact moment. He felt like such a stupid pervert. Carly was one of those girls who weren't going to give their V-card so soon. During their past month of bonding, he should have known that. She didn't want to go to an empty house to have sex; she just wanted to watch a movie with him. He felt like he had just had a Dick moment. He felt like a stupid asshole for thinking that Carly was throwing herself at him.
"I'm sorry, I just thought you meant something else." he said quietly.
"Something else? Something else! What the hell did you think I..." she trailed as she slowly realized what he meant. "Oh." she said softly as she slowly started blushing.
"Yeah." Beaver whispered.
"Did I make you think that I wanted to make out with you?" she asked.
Beaver sighed in relief. 'Thank god she thinks that I just wanted to make out with her' he thought to himself.
When he carefully nodded his head yes in response, she blushed even more. "I'm sorry. I'm totally sorry for leading you on like that. I just didn't realize what I was saying." she said calmly.
"You don't have to apologize. I should be apologizing. I thought that you wanted to sle... I mean make out with me. I'm such a pervert." he said.
"No, you're not. You're one of the sweetest guys I've ever met. You don't need to apologize. I was asking the wrong questions." she said.
"I think that I should take you home." he said.
"Yeah, I think that would be best." she said quietly. He quickly got his jacket and they exited his house. As they made their way to his car she quickly had second thoughts. She couldn't just end the date like this. They were totally on weird and awkward ground. She had to do something to make everything right.
"I don't want to go home." she blurted.
"What?" he asked.
"I don't want to go home, yet. It's not even nine. Do you want to just go back inside and talk or hang out or something?" she asked.
Beaver smiled. "Yeah, I would like that." he answered. They both smiled as they turned around and went back into his house.
Author's Notes: Thank you for reading. Please R&R for my own sanity! I hope everyone liked it.
I am extremely happy that I got to write another chapter, but I have some distressing news that I have to share. Remember how my laptop got a virus? Yeah, well, my dad has just informed me that he is getting it fixed by a professional (finally). But he also told me that he does not like me going on the laptop anymore. He said that my sister and I say too many negative things about the laptop (well hello, it got a freakin' virus!) and that he does not want me to ruin it (oh yeah, I just invited the virus for crumpets and tea!). So he told me that once the laptop was fixed I were to never use it again. Yes people, time to freak out and die. I tired to reason with him, but he just said that his decision was final. I also tried to reason with my mom, but she thinks that my dad's right, too. I am devastated at the news.
Now that I will never be using my laptop ever again, he said I could use his old computer which is conveniently located in the living room where my mom talks on the phone louder than humanly possible, my dad watches football and yells at the TV screen like a crazy person on crack, and where I'll never get a moment's peace. I am crying my eyes out right now. I am so, so sorry to say that updates will have to wait longer than usual.
Next chapter (I'm going to try to write it as fast as I can), expect Veronica to appear, but as we all know where Veronica is, a new case is sure to follow...
Ally