(Gabrielle Aplin - Salvation)

Logan checked the time on his phone and decided it was time to start heading to his next class across campus. He should have really looked at the Hearst map when he had selected his courses for the term, most of his involved defying the laws of physics to get there on time, even though he was only enrolled in the minimum. That's what he got for his last-minute enrolment. His academic disregard was most likely due to the lack of parental oversight after his mother's suicide and the arrest of his movie-star father Aaron Echolls, and dealing with a very tough senior year.

He had been too busy trying to clear his name of the murder of Felix Toome's to be too concerned about College applications, and the ankle monitor he had been forced to wear during most of that time, really limited his ability to travel around looking at alternatives. Besides, he smiled to himself, Hearst had the intern programme to Quantico, the very reason a very tenacious petite blond private investigator had chosen this place.

And he was his best self when she looked at him.

He would probably have followed that girl half way across the country had she asked him to. Probably even if she hadn't asked him too as well, he admitted to himself. Something about Veronica Mars had shifted his centre of gravity, and now he knew for certain it was the same for her as well. He hadn't see her much in the last two days, mostly just stolen moments between class and lunch, she was on a peace mission spending time with her dad and trying to get caught up on her classes and he was doing everything in his power to avoid upsetting Keith Mars any more than absolutely necessary. He had a deep mistrust of Logan, not that he could blame him. Son of the infamous Aaron Echolls, the man whose crimes had single-handedly ruined his career as Sheriff, and not forgetting the night his dad had tried to burn Veronica and her father alive when they finally uncovered the truth of it.

Veronica's strong relationship with her father was something Logan envied. Years ago, the entire town had turned its back on Keith Mars for allegedly bungling the high profile murder investigation of Logan's girlfriend, Lilly Kane. He had been sure during his time as Sheriff that Kane family were obstructing justice and creating false timelines, he had be so relentless that the Kane's had leveraged their considerable influence over Neptune's Elite, being one of the largest employers in the area had given them an unsettling amount of power, and they had ousted Keith Mars from office. For the year and half after Abel Koontz false confession, everyone had been convinced Keith Mars had been wrong, but Veronica's loyalty to her father had never wavered, even after Logan had instigated the 09rs in their school to turn Veronica into a social pariah, not even after his investigations had caused Veronica's mother Lianne Mars to abandon them both. It had an intensity that would probably never understand, they were more than father-daughter, they were business partners, best friends. They were real with one another. They were a family. In a world where Logan was now completely alone, he knew how important that connection was.

In the end, Keith had been right, the Kane's had believed the killer to be their son Duncan, Lilly's younger brother, resulting from an episode related to his epilepsy, so they had created a false narrative, false leads and coerced a false confession to save their surviving child. They had all been wrong, Veronica had discovered the truth, evidenced on video tapes found hidden in Lilly's bedroom of her having sex with Logan's father, Aaron Echolls. The finger had even been pointed at Logan, before his dad had attempted to kill Veronica to keep the truth from getting out. Keith Mars had literally crawled through fire to save his daughter that night, and Logan swore he could feel the former sheriff measuring him, weighing him, seeking any similarities to his father, waiting for any red flags to prove he was his father's son. That some evil darkness lurked inside him.

He had been tolerant of Logan that first summer they were together after those very public revelations about Lillys true killer, and the book Keith had released about it. He hadn't criticized his daughters dating choices during the hearing about the Felix murder case, but mostly that was because Keith Mars had not been in a position to do much more than silently condemn the relationship. He had been recovering in Neptune Memorial Hospital from the burns of the fire. Logan knew from first-hand experience the night she had broken up with him for his part in the turf wars between the 09rs and the PCH biker gang, before Veronica had gotten back together with Duncan, how protective and formidable a force Keith Mars could be. He had almost broken Logan's arm that and told him to stay away from his daughter. For such a short man, the years of being in the Police Force and years of wrestling bail jumpers into the backs of cars had toughened him into a man to be respected. He had never had a bond with anyone in his life like the one she shared with her father. He hoped that someday, he could find some common ground with him, since they both shared a love of the same petite blond library assistant.

Logan had eventually been cleared of all suspicion, innocent of all charges, innocent of everything except being a rich slacker party boy desperately in love with one petite private investigator. The Progeny of one Keith Mars. He was trying his hardest to be reformed, he had earned a little goodwill with the older Mars after the night he had brought a drugged and bleeding Veronica home when she had almost been targeted by the Hearst Rapist. He still felt he had to be on his utmost best behaviour at all times. He was trying his best to measure up, to mature, to become the sort of man that Keith Mars would be proud to have dating his daughter. It was hard though, to try to be a better man when you had no example but a dead psychotic cradle robbing murdering bastard… Logan thought as he tried to shake the memories of Aaron Echolls from his mind.

He was always over thinking things when she was AWOL in his day. It was like missing a limb, a vital part of himself. Although, her absence today visit Mac and Wallace Fennel, had provided the perfect opportunity to get some vital items.

He saw his roommate, Dick Casablanca's, son of disgraced investment tycoon, Richard Casablanca's, waiting for him in their usual spot after class.

"Dude… did you check out the size of the ChimmyChangas on that TA?" Dick admired, lost in a daydream. Logan couldn't help but laugh, even after all the chaos his life had been over the last few years, the loss and the drama, the court cases.. Dick Casablanca's had been one of the few constants in his life. Even after the two boys had stopped speaking briefly following the suicide of Cassidy Casablanca's, Dicks younger brother, the mass murderer of Neptune High, Dick had always been his most loyal friend. The two shared a history, an understanding of exactly what it was like when your life became tabloid fodder and your most personal tragedies were plastered all over the internet and paparazzi hiding in bushes or following you around the supermarket. Both of them knew what it was like to have to face the loved ones of your murderous family member's victims. They both had their nightmares, their demons and the trials they endured had forged together the only family either of them had left. Dick Casablanca's was more than just his friend, he was his Brother.

Veronica wasn't his most favourite person, he disliked how she had the power she had to hurt his friend, and it was her investigations which had uncovered Cassidy's direct involvement in the murder of 37 people. He had blown up a school bus and a plane, and even tried to kill both Logan and Veronica on the roof of the very hotel Dick and Logan called Home. But if there was one thing that got Dick through life, it was his pure love of women, beer and surfing. "You hearing me?" he asked.

"I hear you" Logan smiled. "I take it you had no luck with Jackie this morning?" he mused, referring to Dick's fascination of trying to organise a date with the brunette lesbian hospitality staff in the Neptune Grand. He was a bad influence

"Today is the first day of the rest of my life" Dick replied.

"No luck huh?" Logan chuckled.

"Not even an inch" he sighed "That girl is my Everest… and her hot girlfriend, I was on their insta earlier during my computer class… you have to see the legs on this girl."

An unwavering pervert. Consistent. He was always, without reservation, 100% himself, no matter what trouble it got him into. It was part of what he truly appreciated about Dick. It's what would ultimately make him the perfect choice, Logan thought.

"What are you thinking about?" Dick queried.

"Bachelor parties" Logan replied and Dick gave him a confused look.

"I don't think she's a stripper man, but they could probably be glossed up pretty good" he considered.

"That's not what I meant… never mind, it's not time yet" Logan told him, running his hand through his hair. "I'm going to need your help Dick, if I keep it, Veronica will find out.. and I can't risk that just yet" he rambled, taking a deep breath.

"Dude… you trying to hide your kinky toys in my room?" Dick asked disgusted.

"No.. its nothing like that" Logan dismissed, unable to look him the eye.

"Well what's going on man? We talking some grade A Porn here?" Dick continued. "It must be some extreme shit if you are trying to hide it in my room, you never should have shown her that air vents trick I taught you" he scolded.

"Dick! I am not talking about sex toys or porn ok?" Logan interrupted, grabbing him by the shoulders. "I am trying to ask you to be my best man" he told him seriously.

Dick's eyes widened.

"Did you get that? I am asking you to be my best man" Logan repeated.

"You popping the question?" Dick said in shock.

"What you want me to get down on one knee? Come on man, you know you are family to me, you are closer to me than any brother could be, and I am asking for you to help me by keeping this, in the one place I know Veronica Mars would never go" he declared, holding up the small jewellery box.

"That girl climbs through trash for clues" Dick informed him.

"And yet she insists on vaccinations and a hazmat suit to go near your side of the couch, your room, is the one place I know where she would never find this" he explained earnestly.

"Dude, that's a ring" Dick uttered pointing at the small box like it was a cursed object. "You are in COLLEGE, what are you thinking?" he protested. "Did you at least get a pre-nup drawn up?"

"Pre-nup?" Logan said, dejected, this wasn't going well. "Dude, come on, I just asked you to be my best man, are you even going to give me an answer?"

"Will she? You two have been on and off again for years… she broke your heart, broke Duncan's heart and both of you keep yo-yoing back and forth for some more" Dick reasoned. "I've been putting you humpty umpty sad sacks back together again everytime this happens. A ring? That's a lot more permanent than just going for some beers and surfing dude, you have never seen the effects of a divorce man, my folks put each other through hell for years and they weren't anywhere near as volatile as you guys" Dick exclaimed, running his hand through his own hair and looking at the small box being held out to him like it would bite him.

"I know Dick! Getting married, that's kinda the point… permanent" Logan shouted. "That's what I want, no more breaking up, no more on and off, just US, and I want you to help me man, I want you to stand up there and make sure I don't screw this up again."

"You're serious about this?" Dick relented, his voice softening, reaching a hand out for the box to look at the bling. Logan handed it to him and nodded.

"Serious as a heart attack" he sighed.

"You could have at least brought some Bromance, got down on one knee when you ask a guy something like that, bought me a beer, took me to a strip club, a guy likes a bit of fuss you know?" Dick said as he opened the box and looked at the small rose gold engagement ring with a rainbow moonstone setting.

"That a yes?" Logan smiled, relieved, his eyes tearing up.

"Of course dude, I might not always be down with who you get down with, but weddings always equals bridesmaids and I've met her friends, they are Hot" Dick agreed, closing the box. Logan laughed pulled him closer as the two guys hugged it out. Dicks eyes were watery when he pulled away. "Besides, we are family right?"

"Always" Logan replied as the two of them stood and regarded each other.

"Just don't go putting a ring on it until we see how good this thanksgiving dinner is gonna turn out, this is about more than just your commitment, we are gonna have holidays together, I don't want no second rate yams" Dick shrugged.

"Oh… never change man" Logan sighed.

"What? This is a serious matter!" Dick told him.

"Well… I expect we will probably be engaged for a while first" Logan said simply. Putting the ring back into his pocket. "That is IF she says yes" insecurity creeping into his voice.

"IF? Oh come on, I've heard you two… there's no way that girl is turning you down" Dick scoffed, looking slightly annoyed. "So no Vegas? Dammit this Best Man gig is starting to blow already" he complained as they headed back to the car.

"You sure Dick? You get free reign on planning the bachelor party, there's no point putting limits on you, she's a private eye, there's no secrets her sleuthing wouldn't uncover, so go all out" Logan consoled him, and his friend perked right up. "Not to mention, people have these things called engagement parties"

"Free reign?" Dick repeated "All I am hearing is Parties," he said as he climbed shotgun beside him, groaning inwardly Logan started the engine.

"Please don't make me regret this" Logan breathed, driving back towards the Neptune Grand Hotel.