Dinner was supposed to be a quiet affair. Mom, Dad, Logan, and I all sitting around a table sharing a quiet meal, but that was before we walked through the door and my mom waved a manila envelope in my direction.
I'd gotten mail. The test to be exact. The results were in.
I stood frozen in the entry way as I looked at the envelope my mother held in her hands. Logan, having not expected me to stop so suddenly, bumped into my back. He wrapped his arms around me and placed a quick kiss on my shoulder.
"Move it, babe, traffic jams are so passé." I could feel him smiling against my shoulder. I moved towards my mother, slow motion style, or maybe that was just in my head. I wasn't sure if I was ready to read the results.
"Thanks Mom. Logan and I are going to be in my room. I'll leave the door open." I cut her off before she could make the request. I grabbed Logan's hand and dragged him down the hallway into my room, glancing out before I shut the door slightly; just enough so that I'd have warning before one of my parents stepped through.
"Logan? I need you to be very, very quiet for a few minutes. This is important." My eyes didn't leave the envelope as I spoke to him. His arms slipped around my waist, holding me close, and I felt him nod against me. Logan didn't say a word.
I tore the envelope open slowly, pulling the top sheet of paper out. I stared at it for a few minutes, the words blurring before my eyes, before I sagged against Logan.
"Um…" Logan trailed off as he read over my shoulder, "why did you need a paternity test Veronica? Something you're not telling me?" He was still holding me gently against him, which was good, I wasn't sure I had the strength to stand on my own.
"My mom had an affair with another man. Well technically the affair was with my father." The words came out on a breathless rush; once the floodgates opened I couldn't seem to stop them. "She was with Jake Kane. They'd been together on and off since high school, sweethearts. He was married to Celeste, but still kept my mom around, and then she met my dad. There wasn't enough time between them. She wasn't sure… and my dad didn't care, so…" I trailed off into uncertainty as Logan went very still behind me.
"That's why Duncan broke up with you? Because he thought…" Apparently Logan was capable of losing his voice, his trailed off into nothingness.
"Lilly told me, the day of the car wash, she'd over heard Celeste and Duncan talking, she felt I had the right to know." I was starting to tremble now. Everything catching up to me in the matter of minutes, I hadn't realised how much this was affecting me until now.
"So, are you disappointed?" Logan's voice sounded unsure.
"What? That I'm not a Kane?" I asked questioningly, but I knew that's not what Logan meant, he could be very transparent at times.
"Well yes, are you disappointed that you're not a Kane? And… you and Duncan aren't related, where does that…" He trailed off again, turning me in his arms so he could meet my eyes. I could see the worry there, a hint of fear. Logan Echolls was afraid of losing me.
"No, I'm not disappointed that I'm not a Kane. I'm relieved, the thought of… Duncan and I doing… and what it would have meant." I shuddered visibly, Logan's arms tightening around me. "I just, had to know." I hugged him back, standing on tiptoes to place a gentle kiss on his mouth. "As for where that leaves us… right where we are. He broke up with me Logan, this doesn't change anything." I smiled at the relief on his face.
Logan pressed a kiss to my lips, teeth nibbling at my lower lip, before pulling away. He let out a loud whooping yell and spun me up in the air. If he kept this up I was going to toss my cookies one of these times.
"Veronica? You've never said, I mean, you've said you wanted to see what this could be, but you've never said, and I just want to, I mean if you're…" Logan trailed off after a moment, before he seemed to visibly pull himself together. He took a deep breath, pushing me towards my bed. Bending down he slid to one knee in front of me.
My breath was caught in my throat. I was going to choke to death right here in my bedroom, on my own breath. Logan was on one knee in front of me, and he was reaching into his pocket, and oh my god I'm only sixteen years old, we both are! What does he think he's doing!
His hand came away from his pocket with a slip of paper. "I had to write this down, cause I'm more liable to forget myself in the heat of the moment." Logan unfolded the sheet of paper, scanning the contents quickly before he turned to look up at me.
"Veronica Mars, we've been 'seeing' each other for a few weeks now. There's been ups, there's been downs, there's been misdirection, and I don't want that to happen here. So I'm going to say this plainly so that even a four year old could understand. Veronica Mars," he paused dramatically at this point, smirk lighting up his face, "would you be my girlfriend?" He unfolded his hand under mine and there in his palm was his science club pin from the sixth grade.
I burst out laughing, I couldn't help it, trust Logan to pick the most romantic, idiotic way to ask me to be his girlfriend. "I'm not wearing that skeezy pin, and we'll see about the girlfriend bit." I grinned at him, winking when I saw his face start to fall.
"Hey, I figured you at least deserved a cheesy proposal." He grinned at me, white teeth flashing, small lines appearing at the corners of his eyes. "Besides, I want to be able to say you're mine, do you know how many guys I had to tell to back off this month? Even Casey wanted to ask you on a date!" He grumbled under his breath.
I took his hand gently in mine, staring into his eyes for a moment before I said seriously, "so if I'm your girlfriend, does this mean you're going to help me with getting revenge on Dick?" I smirked when he burst into laughter.
"Of course! I'd already planned on it." He rubbed his hands together in glee; there was no other word to describe it.
"You know, honey," my voice gave honey a sarcastic lilt, "with my evil genius and your brute strength? We'll be unstoppable." I grinned wider as he laughed outright, falling off his knee to slide to the floor. Logan's hand wrapped around my ankle, tugging gently, then harder until I fell from the bed, laughing and giggling on top of him.
"I'm counting on it Veronica. I'm counting on it."
Logan asked me out in the most ridiculous way, I still remember the way he looked, down on one knee. I admit, I panicked; I seriously thought he was proposing. It's kind of sweet the way he needed to write his little speech down. I've gotten quite used to it actually, anytime he has something seriously important to say, he'll jot it down, so that he doesn't forget, losing himself in the heat of the moment.
I'd learned my paternity. I was officially a Mars. I had a brilliant idea, or at least an idea that I thought was brilliant. The Kanes, with the exception of Lilly, didn't need to know. Duncan didn't deserve the courtesy and neither did Jake and Celeste, they'd never bothered to find out before, why should it matter now.
The plan was set for the following Friday. Dick was going to get what was coming to him, in front of the whole school. Logan and I had been planning, organizing, our time together fraught with evil manic laughter, as well as a few very bad Mr. Burns impersonations.
Logan was down right scary when he was plotting with manic glee. I'd had to take a step back, more than once, patting him on the arm until the fire disappeared from his eyes. I also had the feeling that this wouldn't be the only time Dick paid. This was only the beginning if Logan's reaction was anything to go by.
Apparently you weren't supposed to drug the girl that Logan had an interest in. Dick should have known better, but apparently he liked to live dangerously, which was obvious when he took his life into his own hands.
"Whatcha doin?" Logan's voice sounded from behind me, making me jump. The boy moved like a cat, silent and stealthy, constantly scaring the crap out of me when I least expected it.
"Plotting world domination and you?" I snarked. Sometimes Logan asked the stupidest questions. "I'm putting my books away so I can go and each lunch." I rolled my eyes.
"Ah! Lunch in the quad with the common folk, let's go princess." He held out his arm for me to take and I couldn't help but laugh at his ridiculousness. "Remember, dance lesson tonight, Sandy won't be impressed if we're late again." He smiled and rolled his eyes.
"Why do you call her Sandy anyway? I thought her name was Cassandra." I was a bit puzzled at Logan's causal use of the name Sandy, and the way that Cassandra never batted an eyelash.
"It's a secret." Logan mimed zipping his lips and I hit him gently on the arm.
"Should I be jealous?" I asked sweetly, laughing at the gleam that appeared in Logan's eyes.
"Nope. Truth be told, Sandy is a cousin of sorts, married to one of my other cousins for a brief stint years ago. When I wanted to sign us up for dance lessons for Mom's party, I couldn't think of a better person to call." He smiled and pulled me closer for a brief hug.
"What's with the shop? I mean, no sign, no number… you can't even tell it's a dance studio from the outside." My curiosity was getting the better of me, as usual.
"That's kind of the point. Sandy caters to the rich and elite, promises total anonymity so her clients can have two left feet, trip all over each other, and not be photographed by the paparazzi." He grinned at me. "Something I'm sure you appreciate." Logan winked at me, before laughing at my sour look.
We'd made it to the quad just as the pizza guy showed up, Logan quickly paid for our lunch before setting the box on the table. I looked up to see Wallace hesitantly making his way over.
"Hey Wallace! Over here," I scooted over to let him sit on the other side of me, the side usually reserved for Lilly. She'd understand just this once.
Lilly showed up a moment later and looked about ready to blow a gasket that someone was sitting in her place, I broke in quickly before she could alienate my new friend.
"Lilly? This is Wallace Fennel. It's his second day here at Neptune High, and you are going to play nice and be a good girl, for a change." I smiled at her and tilted my head. I'm still amazed how well the head tilt works, even on Lilly, it usually got me whatever I wanted. Logan was especially susceptible to my ploy, caving loudly and for all to hear.
Lilly looked at me for a moment, eyes inscrutable before she turned to Wallace. "Hello Wallace. I'm Lilly Kane, as you've no doubt heard all about me I won't give you details. You're welcome to sit here anytime, just not there. My spot, so scoot over." She smiled winningly and I could see Wallace blushing, another one bites the dust thanks to Lilly Kane.
"Nice to meet you. So question?" He raised his eyebrows at me not bothering to move over for Lilly. "I've been learning the social structure here at Neptune, Jocks, Cheerleaders, 09ers, and then everybody else. What did I do to be welcomed at the exclusive 09er table?" He smiled as he said it but I could see the wariness in his eyes.
"You met me." I smiled, Logan laughed as he slung his arm tighter around my shoulders, Lilly was scowling now. "Okay that sounded more conceited than I meant it to. I must be hanging out with Logan too much." I smirked at his indignant squawk. I patted Logan's arm gently before focusing my attention once again on Wallace.
Lilly, being Lilly and not liking to be ignored for any length of time, came around to our side of the table and plopped herself down in Wallace's lap. That was one way of getting her seat back.
"Oh! You're comfy, I take it back, you sit here every day and I'll just sit on you." Lilly grinned her feline smile at Wallace, and I could see him mentally check himself. He pushed her gently off his lap and moved over a place like she'd originally asked.
"Hey superfly, no need to get cozy. Hot blondes are great and all, but you're not really my type." He winked at Lilly, before smiling a wide smile at her indignant look.
"Not your type? I'll have you know Lilly Kane is every boy's 'type'." She smiled again, but her smile quickly turned to a frown as she heard the 'Not Mine's' being chorused around the table.
"Whatever." She turned towards me, quickly brushing the comments from her mind, "So Veronica Mars, we are getting together on Friday right?" She smiled again, but I could see the touch of mischief clinging to the corners of her lips.
"Can't on Friday, Lilly, you know that. There's that big surf competition, and I promised Logan I'd go with him. Heck, half the school is going to be there." I turned back towards Wallace, smiling as Lilly's giggles were barely muffled by her hand, "So how's about it Wallace? You up for a little sand and surf?" I grinned when he nodded slowly.
"Sounds good."
We easily slipped into conversation, Logan, Lilly, Wallace, and I, excluding most of the others as we chatted, before I knew it lunch hour was over and it was time to head back to class.
Logan walked me to my first class of the afternoon, kissing my forehead before slowly pivoting away, "I'll pick you up at your last class of the day, we'll go straight to the studio." He did a little finger wave and he was gone.
Logan and I had filled Lilly in on the plan to get even with Dick. Lilly of course was all for it, even adding her own brand of justice.
Wallace was great, he stood up to Lilly, still does actually, calls her on her bullshit, Lilly for her part has never been able to figure out what to make of him. Logan and I had been dating officially for about three days. Three whole days and nothing had gone wrong, I should have known it was too good to last.