That night, that horrible night Veronica will never forget, Duncan's parents sent Duncan somewhere. Veronica felt so alone without him as she sat on a bench in the Neptune Sheriff Department. She was waiting for her mother to come get her. It was 2 amand she had spent the entire time there either answering her father's questions or just waiting, crying or both. She honestly couldn't imagine going to school in 6... make it 5 hours. The school was indefinitely going to be flocked with reporters and students telling how they knew Lilly, looking for their 15 minutes of fame, despite the fact a girl, who they dared to talk about, was dead.

Later that morning...

Veronica arrived at the school early to avoid reporters. Despite her efforts, she was hounded until someone familiar hurried her into the school.

"Thanks, Logan." she said, acknowledging her rescuer

"No problem." he said softly "They were hounding me earlier. I almost punched a reporter when he stuck a microphone in my face."

"I admire you're self control, Logan. I was ready to sock one of em before you pulled me away." she replied light-heartedly " I don't understand why they don't leave us alone. Don't they realize we're grieving? Do they have any compassion?"

"Thats the paparazzi for you, V. They are like snakes ready to strike. And they have compassion... for money and acknowledgment for their hard 'work'. See ya later. I'm gonna see if I can find Duncan. I doubt he's going to school today though. Bye"

Logan waved and walked off to his locker in the West Wing. The rest of the day was hell for Veronica. Everyone just stared at her and her teachers gave her sympathetic smiles. She felt sick. When lunch came, she started to head to the 09er table but stopped when she didn't see Duncan. She took a U-turn and sat at a table where no one else sat. She was perfectly content on being alone until Logan sat next to her.

"Veronica? Why are you sitting here alone? You can come and sit with us, you know. Just because Duncan isn't here and Lilly..." he stopped himself and continued "doesn't mean you hafta sit alone."

"I need to sit alone Logan. All people have been doing all day is staring at me and patting me on the back. Just for today, I want to be alone. And Duncan not being here, just worsens it." she told him, fat tears rolling down her cheeks, their rate rapidly increasing until she was sobbing onto Logan's shoulder.

"Shhh, Veronica. Its gonna be OK. Come on. I'll take you home." he told her

He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to his X-Terra.

"Why are you doing this Logan?" Veronica asked inquisitively

"Because Duncan isn't here to and Lilly would kick my ass if I didn't help you. You are too decimated to stay at school any longer."

"Wow, Logan has aextended vocabulary." Veronica joked light-heartedly

15 minutes later

Lianne opened the door of her house to find her daughter sobbing in the arms of Logan Echolls.

"Is she hurt?" Lianne asked frantically, checking her daughter for bruises, blood, anything.

"Not physically. She just had a mental breakdown at lunch. I wanted to take her home before she fainted from exhaustion or threw up from crying too much."

"Thank you, Logan." Lianne said, thanking the boy. Logan left and Veronica was in a deep sleep.