Redeeming LoVe
AN: This is a very long chapter but it covers a lot of details.
Chapter 6: Ghosts & Heartache
Logan
I loved living behind our huge gate and blocked walls keeping the adoring fans of Aaron's away from us, but at the same time it made growing up a little harder for me. Even though we lived in this nice luxurious house we still didn't have a lot of privacy. I loved ticking off my dad, but it always came with a price. Sometimes the price was heavier for things that didn't even matter.
We were eating breakfast I was still in my pajamas with a robe over them, but my mom was in her nightie. She asked me to go get the paper so I got on my scooter and rode down the drive to pick it up. My mom had walked out with me and stayed at the front door waiting for me to come back. I was at the edge of the drive way when I saw the tour bus pull up and people get out. I hated the idea of people all over the world knowing where I lived because they saw it in an article or something else.
"Here, folks, is the house of Aaron Echolls," a man with a speaker says among the admiring voices of the tourists. I get off of my scooter as I reach the gate where the paper was currently lying. I distinctively flinch as I hear the movement of the tourists running toward the gate for a look.
"Quite a show, huh?" I say antagonistically as I look back toward my mom still waiting for me then back to the waiting crowd of onlookers. "Don't you people have lives?" I snap as I
snatched up the newspaper "You don't see me poking around your trailer park, do you?" I say as I go to make my way back up the drive to my mom.
"Hey, uh, uh, are you the son?" one of the many tourists yells out as I am losing my patience, turning back to the crowd pissed off.
"I'm the guy telling you to get back on the bus and get out of my driveway," I snap as I go to push him back away from our gate but stop when I hear my mom.
"Logan! Come back in the house, honey," she yells out to me as I walk back to my scooter. I notice out of the corner of my eye the arrival of my dad's overly priced chauffeur-driven car. I watch as the great Aaron Echolls gets out of the back of the car to the joy and amazement of the damn fans in front of our home.
"Hey, you guys are out early," Aaron says excitedly as one woman yells out his name and others ask for autographs. I can tell just how excited the crowd is as he makes his way toward them and he takes a pre-offered pen. "Here," I hear him say as he signs a picture of himself.
"Hey Logan. Come here," Aaron sneers at me in the voice he uses when he is challenging me. I can tell how the tourists were eating all this crap up, but I would rather be digging my eyes out with a spoon. At first I don't move until Aaron reaches for my robe belt and pulls me toward him. He holds on tightly to it daring me to try to move away from him. "Get a few shots with my son, huh?" he smirks as he takes his sunglasses off, and putting his arm around my shoulder. I was getting sick to my stomach with him so close to me.
"It's good to know you still have time for your son," a fan yells out as I see several flashes.
"There you go. Smile, Logan," he sneers into my ear as I put the biggest fakest smile on my face. "Don't forget these folks pay for all of this, huh?" he snaps annoyed as he beams toward his damn fans. He knew how much I hated posing for this kind of crap because no matter what he said it was all for him.
As soon as he let go to begin signing the autographs once more I made my way back toward my scooter and then up the drive to my waiting mom. I handed her the paper without even looking back as I heard her sigh in frustration.
"Logan you need to do a little more with that attitude of yours," my dad enraged says as he walks into the dining room just as I was placing my last notebook into my back pack. I had already went upstairs and changed, but wasn't fast enough to get out of the house before he came in.
"Sure, I'll try," I tensely say as I realize too late he was just inches away from me.
"You'll do more than try. I don't think you would like to see what happens if you don't," he hastily says to me as he grips my upper forearm tightly twisting it with each movement. I knew it would leave a bruise, but I wouldn't show him any emotion as he twisted once more before my mother reentered the room.
"Logan if you don't leave now, you'll be late," she says chastising to me as I pick up my bag and head out. I wait until I am in my SUV to check my hurting arm. Yep, there was already a bruise forming. I barely made it to school before the first period bell. I watched Veronica get out of her beat up car just as her friend had walked up yto her. I even saw Troy lurking in the background talking to Madison Sinclair. I knew something fishy was up, but wasn't sure just what it was. I would find out though.
"Hey man you didn't back it out to go surfing this morning. The waves were awesome," Dick casually says as he walks up beside me.
"Yeah well I had an Aaron and fans meeting this morning," I cynically say as he raises his eyebrow at me. "You don't want to know," I finally admit. I make it to my seat in my first period class by the second bell. Troy who is in the same class walks in late with a smirk on his face as he looks right at me before sitting down beside of me.
"You know I thought there was something off about you and Veronica, but I never thought she would actually get with an ass like you," he says bemusingly as I look toward Madison who is smiling back at me.
"I am not with Veronica, we hardly even talk," I snap at him as he pulls out a recorder and plays it. It was the conversation I had with her the other night about him still not leaving.
"How the hell did you get that?" I question as the teacher looks back at us with a dirty look.
"I have my ways. This is a warning stay away from her. She is mine," he sneers as he puts the recorder away. I knew what I was going to do at lunch. I would go get a new phone.
***LoVe***
Veronica
I had seen Troy early this morning while I was walking Backup, but I didn't let on as if I had seen him. I was a little startled by him being at the beach near my apartment, but decided to let it go. There was nothing he could do to me, but I wasn't going to get close enough for him to try either.
Wallace was waiting for me as I got to school which was our normal thing. I could see Logan pulling in just after me. He parked closer to his friends than me which was of course normal as well. I was a little worried about him because of the way he sounded the other night when he called me to warn me about Troy. I could see Troy a few cars away from me talking with Madison. I disliked the girl with a passion. I wasn't able to see Wallace again until lunch and that was after a brief run in with Troy.
"I missed you this weekend," Troy says as he pushes me up against the locker next to mine.
"I thought you would be halfway to an all boy's school," I retort as he pushes me harder into the lock. I knew I would have a bruise later.
"Yeah, well what can I say my dad saw things my way? I told him that it was stolen while I was away, and he believed me. I don't like the idea though of you stealing drugs from me though. I had plans for them," he angrily spits in my face.
"Well I wasn't going to let Luke take the fall for you, so your drugs are somewhere between my toilet and the ocean by now," I say as I knee him and shove him away from me.
"Don't worry Veronica! I am not done with you just yet," he says as he laughs while I walk hastily to the quad. I see Logan look toward me with a worried expression and I shake my head. He nods as he goes back to eating.
"Hey girl you okay," Wallace says as he hands me a slip of paper. I open it slowly as I read, 'V, I had an interesting talk with Troy. He somehow got the conversation of you and me talking the other night. I am going to get a new phone and will text you the number. I think you might want to get one as well. I don't know if my room is bugged or not, etc. I know you know what to do in this kind of a situation, but I thought you should know. I don't think things are on the up with Troy. Watch yourself. Logan'
"Did he give this to you?" I ask as I look back toward Logan.
"Yeah, he asked me to pass it along in the office when he went in to change his schedule," Wallace says as I just look down at the paper in my hands before folding it up and putting it away.
"So, my dad wants to take me to the San Diego Zoo this weekend," I say as I change the topic.
"Aw, man, I love the zoo. Everyone gets all excited about the monkey house. I'm a big cat man myself," Wallace exclaims as I look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"My dad's gone a little nutty with all these father-daughter days," I smile as he just shakes his head at my sentence.
"Yeah, see me on the other hand, would love to go to the zoo with my dad," he says sadly. I didn't think about Wallace when I said what I said.
"Wallace, don't…" I start to say but he puts his hand up to stop me.
"But he's dead, so," he bluntly states as I watch him begin to pick at his food.
"Okay. I hate myself. Are you happy? I bet you could come if you wanted to. My dad might actually enjoy having another guy around to talk to once we get to the pony area," I say with a smile. I knew my dad might be a little disappointed with me inviting Wallace, but he was my friend.
"Um-hum," he smirks as he plays like he is thinking about it before nodding his head. Wallace smiles and laughs softly. He looks up at the sound of a whistle. I look round to see where it came from to find it had been Wanda. I had to laugh at the changes that girl went through since our days together on the pep squad. She was now dressed in combat boots and a tee-shirt that advocated sex, drugs and rock–n-roll while wearing fishnet stockings and a mini skirt.
"Yo! Man! Over here," she yells out drawing attention to herself and the delivering person. She motions for the man to come to her. I watch as she takes the bag of food and hands him over his money. I knew this wasn't going to end well for her. "Keep the change," she replies as he leaves.
"This isn't going to end with Wanda eating her lunch," I mutter softly as Wallace looks from me to Madison Sinclair who is carrying two boxes of delivered pizza. She walks right up to Wanda, with her hand on hip and gets in her face. Yep, this wasn't going to be a nice conversation.
The whole quad is silent as we all watch the power struggle with the have not's and the haves. It looks like Logan is struggling to hold back his laughter as Wanda marches over to his table and stomps on the pizza Madison just ordered. I didn't think it was fair for Wanda to lose her lunch after she paid for it, but I so thought it was worth it to see her destroy the 09ers lunch. I made sure to capture it with my cell phone as well to savor this moment as Madison got pizza sauce thrown in her face. She totally deserved it.
The rest of my day went pretty fast as I didn't see Logan in Journalism class, but Duncan was there as he kind of spaced out most of the period. I use to wish to know why he broke up with me, but the more I see how distant he is the more it bothers me a little less. I went to the office to borrow a bug scanner to check the apartment for bugs as a precaution.
I did find one in my phone which was probably how Troy got the recording, but it's never wrong to double check. I found two bugs in the living room, but none anywhere else. I smashed them into small little pieces before sealing them into an envelope and sending them to Troy. I was glad my car didn't have any. I was still trying to figure out how he got the bug into my cell.
I was at the counter empting the last of a can of whipped cream onto the contents of a bowl of ice cream as my dad enters the apartment. I had just gotten back into the apartment after tossing the letter to Troy into the mailbox. I can slightly hear the TV on in the background as I watch my dad walking toward me.
"Hmm, all out, huh?" he says as he motions to the can of cream in my hand. I just pick up the chocolate sauce and begin to pour it all over the bowl. He makes a face at me as he drops his case onto the floor next to the counter and collapses into the oversized armchair.
"Tough day?" I mock as he gives me a scrunched up face before speaking in his best impersonation of Philip Marlowe.
"That ain't the half of it. See, this dame walks in and you shoulda seen the getaway sticks on her. Says something's hinky with her old man," he keeps up the façade as I try not to laugh.
"D'ya put the screws to him?" I question as he barely holds it together wanting to laugh himself.
"You ain't kidding. He sang like a canary," he laughs as he pats his stomach in a big gesture while I put the finishing touches on my sundae.
"Well, you're in luck, Philip Marlowe because it's dessert for dinner tonight and I've got a whole sundae thing set up here," I say as I push a bowl of sweet sugary substance toward him.
"You know, if Child Services finds out about this, they will take you away," he jokingly mocks because he knew that this wasn't true.
"Well, that's a risk I'm willing to take," I say as I give him a small kiss on the cheek.
"Okay smart pants," he says as he picks up the sundae to follow me. The truth of it all was I really didn't have time to cook once I began checking for bugs and collecting a little info from the office.
"I invited Wallace this weekend to the zoo," I say as he sighs looking down at his bowl..
"I thought it would be just you and me. I need this father daughter time," he moans as the TV announcer comes on.
"The Lilly Kane murder case…" caught both of our attentions, "took an unexpected turn this morning as convicted killer Abel Koontz fired his public appointed legal counsel. Forfeiting further appeals, the defendant is scheduled to die by lethal injection as early as next year…" while talk they show the footage of Koontz being arrested and brought in by Lamb, who holds the evidence bags. There is a close-up of the bag in his left hand. In it, there is a pair of white sneakers, decorated with sparkles along the edge. The sneakers have wide ribbon laces with pinks stars on a white background. A heart with a name inside is drawn on one of the shoes, "And, coming up n-"I am lost in thought as I remember making the drawings on the shoes and seeing them somewhere. I don't even notice as my dad switches the TV off and walking back toward the kitchen.
"Why would he do that? I mean I know he isn't the real killer, but why would he take the fall" I question not sure why anyone would just give up like he was. "Well, what are you going to do about it? You don't believe he's guilty…" I ask not sure if I should mention that I still know he is looking into the case or that I have proof Lilly was still alive after her apparent time of death.
"I hate to break it to you, honey, but nobody in Neptune cares what I believe in. They didn't care when I was Sheriff, they sure as hell don't care now. This town's gonna have to find another conspiracy nut," he says ending the conversation so I walk quietly to my room to think. I knew Neptune had turned their back on him, but I stood by him. That was one of the reasons I was such an outcast with Neptune High, but I hoped he didn't make be out to be the real loser in the situation.
***LoVe***
Logan
It seemed that everywhere I turned lately there was Troy looking at me with a smirk on his face. I totally hated the jerk for so many reasons, but found it hard to really narrow it down. I was in Journalism class with Duncan when the announcement came on about running for class president.
I can see Veronica smiling broadly as this Wanda character makes promises about destroying our precious privileged system. I was in awe how relaxed most of 09ers were about the whole ordeal, but it really was bothering me. I watched as Duncan was the last one left slowly clapping. I wasn't enthused once so ever as I leaned forward slapping Duncan on the arm.
"Hey dude. Can she do that?" I mutter as I see Veronica watching me from her station a few seats from me.
"Student council giveth, student council taketh away," he says nonchalantly as if it weren't even that big of a deal.
"No, we're not giving up those points, man, you gotta run," I snap quickly as he turns to look at me.
"Actually, I don't," he says before turning back to his computer and finishing up his game of solitaire. I couldn't believe this was the same kid who was Lilly's brother. He had changed so much since her death. I hardly knew the person he had become.
"Awe is Logan going stir crazy," Veronica smirks at me as I try to ignore her. I was trying to think of a way for Duncan to run without having to do everything myself.
"Does it matter Veronica?" I question her.
"Thanks for the heads up," she says as I see her pull her phone out of her pocket. I watch as she heads toward the door just as Troy walks by. He has this look on his face when she stops dead in her tracks while he goes by. I would need to keep a better look out for her, he was up to something.
I was so thankful that school was out for the day as the guys and I were headed up to Dog Beach for some fun when I noticed I needed gas. Dick, John and Cas get out of the car, and head into the station. I am part way out of the car, standing on the running board. "Hey! Hook me up with a beverage, huh?" I yell out as Dick gives me a hand gesture while I go to the pump to put gas in. I notice a big black guy walking toward my windshield.
"And what goes with an icy, cold beverage? A nice clean windshield," he asks as I step forward to stop him.
"No, man you don't have to do that," I say as he continues spraying on the chemical and wiping the dirt off the window.
"The car was just professionally detailed," I snap as I knew darn well how clean my car was since I took better care of it than my own body.
"Ah, they got a lot of nerve calling themselves professionals," he says as he wipes the squeegee onto a cloth and shows me the dirt already on the window. "Look at that. They just move the dirt around," he says as he finishes up.
"Man, A for effort but, uh, you're not getting paid for it," I snap as the guys are coming back.
"I don't remember asking," he says showing me the sign that stated clearly, 'Homeless Vet. Donations Accepted.' What could I say but nod my head. I offer the homeless guy a chance to fight for me, but he turns me down and threatens to beat me up instead. I slam down on the accelerator and peel out of the station without looking back.
That night we had a good turnout for the bum fight. Dick and I made a lot of money with it. I got home with just enough time to talk to Aaron about making an endorsement video for Duncan to run for President. He agreed to it and got to work on it. I had a disk waiting on y my desk when I got up this morning. I was nervous walking into the school because I was going behind my friends back for something as trivial as Pirate Points.
During Journalism class the video is shown and I can tell right off the bat that Duncan isn't too happy with me once so ever. He even has the nerve to stand up before the voting to tell everyone not to vote for him. I bet he would disqualify himself if he could, but lucky for us he can't. I put my vote down for him. I could tell Veronica wasn't too pleased with the candidate either.
***LoVe***
Veronica
I was a little mad in Journalism class when I found out that Logan had decided to make sure that Duncan ran for President. I wasn't surprised when Duncan stood up asking the class not to vote for him. If you had asked me a year ago to vote for him I would have in a heartbeat, but he isn't the same person he was back then. He has changed a lot.
I decided to head to the office to look through some of the evidence my dad had about Lilly. The whole case seemed fishy to me. I rummage a little in the file until I pull out an envelope marked: Crime Scene Photographs. Lillian Kane. "Where did this come from?" I wonder looking at it. I can't help myself as I open the envelope finding the crime scenes photos of the various locations at the Kane Mansion, as I am flipping through them something catches my eye. I look more closely to the photo to see it is the sneakers in her room, the same ones that Lamb claims to have found on Koontz boat.
"It's impossible!" I snap as I try to think of how they could be in two places at all, this didn't add up. I would have to get the news video. I hear a car door and hurriedly shove everything back into the folder just barely making it as I hear my dad coming up. I have to put the photo in my hand quickly into my bag as he enters the office.
"Hey," he says as if he wasn't expecting me to be here.
"Hey, Dad," I say half out of breath as he walks slowly into his office.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Wallace and I are eating our lunch, while at the 09ers table; everyone is eating take-out including Logan and Duncan.
"In a way, it's a little sad. You know the end of an era. Wanda wins and no more Pirate Points. No more lunch delivery," I say as I see Logan look angrily at me.
"Attention students. The results of the election have been tabulated. There will be no runoff votes in any of the races," Mr. Clemmons says over the loud speaker.
"Thank god," I hear Duncan mutter thankfully.
"Vice President, Katie Keenan. And it gives me great pleasure to announce, the 2004-2005 SCA President, Duncan Kane," he says as there are some cheers and many boos from the students who obviously wanted a different leader. Logan like the obnoxious jerk stands on a table to gloat.
"That's how it's done!" he says smirking before going over to Duncan who just gets up and walks away.
"There's no way Duncan Kane could have carried half the student body," Wallace says as I watch the guy walking away.
"Now I've got a story," I say smiling as I think Wallace might be onto something. I tried to get Mrs. Donaldson to let me inspect the ballots, but she adamantly refused saying that I needed to mind my own business. Although she might have been right, but I wasn't going to let her know she was. I went back to our Journalism teacher to ask for her help and she gladly helped me.
Of course we did find that Madison had tampered with the ballots giving two different ones to the students. She had switched the names so that no matter what Duncan would win. So there would be a runoff between Duncan and Wanda after all. It was also an added plus to know that Madison Sinclair was behind the whole mess. She lost both her student council gig as well as her student aide spot. It's nice to know some people can be taken down one notch at a time. It was clear though that Troy was still lurking around as I caught him going toward Madison after I moved away from her.
I couldn't believe it the next day when I arrived at school every one of Wanda's posters had the word, 'NARC' sprayed or written on it. I knew some people could go over broad but this was high school does it really matter who is President or not. I run into Wanda and tell her I would help her make new posters and catch up. It would be like our old days on the pep squad.
As I walk into Journalism class I see Duncan at the main desk, looking at some clippings. He glances over towards one of the computers, where Logan is as I enter. I head right to Logan knowing full well he is the one behind all the 'NARC' comments.
"Bravo, Logan. It's a new low. And just when the critics were having some doubts," I snap at him as he looks over towards Duncan, then back at me.
"Mmm. Must be talking about your, uh, narc friend, W-W-W-Wanda," he laughs as I can't believe him. I thought he was becoming a better person, but I guess I was wrong. He was the same jackass. "Well, isn't it time that you found another bad guy?" he snaps at me as I look toward where his eyes went as I see Troy walking by. I turn back to him glaring as he just looks at me with a serious expression, sincerely or otherwise I wasn't too sure yet. "Look, I just don't…have time to be responsible for every little thing that goes wrong in your life," he says as I have to close my eyes.
I can't believe he just said that to me as I roll my eyes at him once I open them again. He gestures by pointing to me with his fists and grunts as he laughs going to the other side of the room. So I turn back to Duncan who hasn't said anything this whole time.
"So, was it your idea or did you just play it your usual way?
Veronica crouches down by the desk," I snap lowering myself to a crouching position as I see Troy walk back by the door. I am getting sick of that guy being everywhere, but I try to focus on the task at hand.
"What's my usual way?" he asks astounded by my words.
"Oh, you know, Duncan. You don't initiate trouble. You don't initiate much of anything anymore," I snap back at him as I take a deep breath trying to keep myself from exploding on him with the pent up frustration of a year's worth of questions and demands.
"Don't stop there, Veronica. Say it. What's my usual way?" he asks a little louder. "I mean you don't have to use the kiddie gloves with me, we aren't really anything to each other. So tell me oh high and mighty Veronica Mars, what is my usual way," he chokes out cynically with a look of disgust clearly written on his face.
"You stand idly by," I say with deliberation on each word as he just stars at me lost in his own little world as I get up walking away from him. I hear Dick yell into the room toward Logan, "Gotta check out "The Smoking Gun" website," before he was ushered out of the room by our teacher. I had a feeling by the looks of Logan's face once he saw what had Dick so excited wasn't the same for him. I couldn't help him right now, but I knew I would have to check in with him later even though he was being an ass. I had some compassion for him knowing what Aaron did to him.
***LoVe***
Logan
I hated how Veronica always thought the worse of me, but this time it wasn't even my issue. I had nothing to do with her new little friend reject. Whatever happened to her was someone else's issues not mine. I wasn't going to sink to that level just to win a damn election. I knew Duncan would win in the end. I did hate to watch Veronica tear Duncan down, but she was right about how he stood idly by while others did his dirty work. He has stood by for a year as his friends tore her down, but never lifted a finger himself to help protect her or stop it.
"Gotta check out "The Smoking Gun" website," Dick yells into the room before our teacher pushes him out the door once again. I head toward one of the empty computers to see what has gotten Dick so excited. I type in the, "The Smoking Gun" website; the featured document shows a picture of Aaron. God, like the ass needed any more features about him. I decided to click on his picture, only to come face to face with the words that I knew would be my downfall: In twisted and horrific brutality Aaron Echolls son, Logan Echolls, has been participating in organized fights. The only catch is the fighters are homeless men. A tip to TSG led to the obtainment of a video tape shot by a spectator. The footage clearly captures Logan smiling and cheering at a bum battle. No word as of yet from Aaron's publicist for comment on the matter. But we are sure the Echolls' household is none too pleased with this barbaric act tarnishing their Hollywood perfection.
I felt nauseated knowing that what was just my friends and me blowing off some steam had turned into an issue that now could be very hurtful for me. I look toward the window and barely catch a glimmer of Troy's obnoxious smirk as he holds up his phone smiling. I didn't need to clink on the link to see the video I already knew what had happened and who had won.
I knew I was in trouble as I drove around after school trying to keep myself busy, but really it was because I was afraid to head home. I knew Aaron wouldn't care who or why we did what we did, but that it was hurting him. I decided I had to head home even if I didn't want to so I drove to the manor and parked my SUV before getting to the front door I took my shoes off hoping Aaron was in bed. I saw there was no lights on so I thought I might make it in without him noticing, but no he was lurking in the shadows.
"Hey, Dad," I stutter as I see him flick on the small lamp next to the chair he was sitting in. I was clearly unsure of how to proceed since I couldn't read his facial expression to gauge how much trouble I was really in. "What are you doing up?" I try to ask innocently.
"I couldn't sleep. What with the phone ringing every five minutes," he sneers at me as he stands up walking quickly over to where I had planted myself. "Access Hollywood," "Entertainment Tonight," "E!" Any guesses what they wanted to talk about? My charity work? No. My latest Christmas movie? No," he yells at me as he comes face to face with me. He jerks me closer to his face as he digs his fingers into my shoulder.
"I can explain," I mutter as he uses his nails to dig more into the shoulder blade as he puts his whole arm around my shoulder. I can see the silhouette of my mother standing off in the hallway with her friend in her hand.
"They wanted to talk about my son's latest opus. Skid Row Boxing," he snaps sinisterly at me as he back hands me in the head before shove me head first down onto the couch.
"Look, Dad, I, uh…I didn't know what-" I stutter once again trying to keep him at arm's length, but he grabs my neck tightly and firmly.
"I have to say that your performance was really impressive," he softly but dangerously snaps at me before getting louder, "The way you play the ungrateful son determined to humiliate his father was utterly impressive," he enragedly yells at me as he flings me across the area to the other sofa. I scrabble to my feet still half lying on the sofa. I am totally worried about what he might do, I try to prepare myself for the blow to come but it doesn't just yet.
"Do you have any idea what you just cost this family? Of course you don't. You never had to work for anything in your life," he yells as I notice for the first time my mother coming closer to the room, but she stops in her tracks when Aaron raises his hand up. "Now, tomorrow, after school, you're going to get your first lesson in public relations," he softly but forcibly says as I try to mask my disappointment. "Logan. Don't you ever embarrass me again," he whispers softly as I barely hear the next words from his lips, "because mark my words if you do I will not be responsible for the actions I might take with you. I will make sure you never do it again even if it ends in your death. Mark my words Logan this is your final embarrassment," he then gets up and walks away leaving me alone in one piece. I had to calm my breathing because I was very afraid, but more shaken by his words than anything else.
As I lay in my bed I knew in the depths of my soul it was all Troy's doing. He must have followed us when we headed to the beach and tapped it. I wouldn't have put it past him. I just didn't understand why he was trying to hurt me I hadn't done anything to him.
I heard my phone chirp as I headed to the bathroom to use it, "Are you alright?" Veronica had texted me. I smile a little knowing she did care even if it was only because she knew what Aaron did.
"Yeah, in bed," I reply as I wait for her response.
"I bet Troy was behind the video, even though you shouldn't have done that stupid fight," she responds as I chuckle as she is chastising me.
"Yeah, never again. I won't be in school doing Community Service with Aaron," I reply as I get back in bed.
"Okay, I'll check with you later. Night!" she types ending it. I fall asleep knowing that I did have one person who knew me, but how to keep her from always hating me was becoming the hard thing. I wasn't prepared to wake up with Aaron lurking over me as I slept.
"It's time for your lazy ass to get up!" he bellows into my face. His breath already smelt of hard liquor. I looked over toward my window to see that it was still dark outside. I was puzzled as to what I was supposed to be doing when it wasn't even light out. "I gave the help the morning off. You will be cleaning up around here while we wait to head over to the Soup Kitchen," he yells as he pulls the blankets off of me.
As I looked at the alarm clock I noticed it was only 4:30 in the morning. I didn't want to make him angry before going out so I got dressed quickly and made my way to the kitchen. I had just poured me a glass of orange juice when Aaron came out of nowhere slapping a sheet of paper on the counter and taking the glass pouring the juice out.
"I want all of this done before we leave. You had better get to it," he sneers at me as he walks away. I look over the list and quickly get started on stripping the beds and making them. It took me an hour to do the upstairs beds. I was done with all the beds by 6. I was tired. I looked at the next task which was sweep and clean the pool; I knew how to do that. I went onto the next chore which was to wipe down all the cars with the duster. The list went on and on with stupid things until I flopped down on the couch ready to relax.
"Please be good," my mother whispers to me as she sits down beside me. I can barely hold my eyes open when I see Aaron walk into the room with a grin on his face.
"We have an appointment to head out for," he smirks as I can barely get to my feet. God I hated this man so much! I thought it was irony how we ended up at the same gas station I was at a few days ago. I even saw the same bum cleaning windows. Aaron got out of the car to fill it up as his phone rings. I listen to the conversation.
"Yeah. I know I'm late Marty. Look, is this the closest homeless shelter you could find?" he asks as he looks toward me before saying, "No. Never mind. Are the cameras ready? Good." He finishes up the call and filling the tank. I watch him carefully knowing he is in his show biz attitude. "All right. Now this is how this is gonna work. They're gonna get a few shots of you volunteering at the soup kitchen, then I'm gonna join you for an interview with the TV crews, you got it?" he says as he leans over toward me in the car.
"What do you want me to tell them?" I ask honestly because any wrong word could set him off.
"What do you think, Logan? That you're sorry. That you're bone-headed. And that ya screwed up. I'll take care of the rest," he snaps as his stupid cell rings once again. "Vince! What's happening? Yeah, I got the script. I've seen better writing on cereal boxes," he retorts as he half listens and then makes a snarling sound before continuing his conversation, "Oh, big deal. The man hasn't made a watchable movie since the seventies. Are they gonna meet my quote? Hot damn!" he says happily as he looks toward me with a smirk. He puts the phone against his chest as he asks me, "Son! How do you argue with eight figures?"
I couldn't do much more than nod my head. I mean what did he want me to say to that. Did I really want to know what crap pot film he was going to do just to make that kind of money, not really? I would be happy to see him gone all the time.
"Ya can't. Can't be done," he says laughing as he returns to his precious call, "Okay. Have 'em to draw up the contract," he adds as I see the bum walking toward the car.
"Hey," he says as he is inches from me. "It's Don King. Hey, you find some sucker who's willing to make a bitch outta himself for cash?" he asks me before walking away as I am left speechless. The man didn't even try to hide his disgust in what I had done, but it didn't matter I felt it.
"All right. You ready to do this?" Aaron asks as he puts his sunglasses on and shifts the car into gear.
"Yeah," I mutter as I watch the bum clean the windows of another car. I wasn't really ready for what lay ahead of me, but I had made up my mind and I wasn't going to let Aaron win.
When we get to the homeless shelter Aaron has already made the place set ready with cameras and all the works. I thought this was supposed to teach me something, but all it looked like was staged to me. A man placed an apron on me the moment I walked into the room. I was quickly ushered to where I was supposed to serve people.
"Thank you," a man says as I put some mashed potatoes on his dish. I could see that all of the people here probably had nothing worth anything in their name. I was a little taken back at how Aaron could use this setting to show something superficial. I knew this was wrong, the people here deserved more. I thought of Mrs. Navarro and all the hard work she did to all the rest of the people who worked for us. This made me feel wrong, allowing Aaron to use his lesson really for his own propaganda.
I watched as the film crew got ready for Aaron's speech about how he is a loving father trying to teach his wayward son a lesson. That his son knew what he was doing was wrong, but did it anyway without thinking about the consequences that would come later on. I knew America would eat it all up think he was this great person when in fact he wasn't. I thought of a way to get back at him, but only one thing came to mind; money. Aaron liked or should I say loved money. I needed to hit him where it would hurt, his pocket book. When he was finished with how his father was a hard worker and he worked his way up to be an educated man, and how I was a good boy, just wasn't using my head.
"Um. I know now that, uh, that what I did was wrong. I'm really sorry. I, uh, I only hope that one day I can live up to my dad's good example," I say as the producer turns to see what I had to say about the whole thing. I turn to Aaron and give him a huge hug laying the fake love on thick for the media. "I love you, dad," I say with a wicked grin as I step out of his hug so I could stand beside him before continuing with my plan. "Okay, look, uh, I know that you didn't want to make a big deal out of this…" I say as I look toward Aaron as he gives me a scowl at not knowing what I was planning on doing, "…but I'm just so proud of him that I, I can't keep it a secret," I say as I feel his fingers wrapping around my wrist tightly.
I watch amused at how Aaron keeps his face smiling, but nonetheless looks surprised by what I might be willing to say next. He knew I was no longer going off the preset script he wanted me to follow.
"Well son secrets are suppose to be kept secrets," he murmurs looking half way at me, but I brush his words off.
"Dad told me on the way over that he's donating half a million dollars to the Neptune food bank," I blurt out as I step away from him to allow him his moment in the bright lights as the crowd gasps and claps their hands. I watch as his smile drops and he stares angrily at me. I go back and give him a hug as the cameras flash even more. I knew by his body language I was in deep, but to me it was worth it. I took a stand in what I knew was wrong. I also knew he would have to donate the money.
The whole car ride home was silent. I knew he was thinking up the punishment for me. I was sure the beating I would get would be one to mark in the history books, but I will stand strong through it. I will not show him any weakness. He wasn't going to break me. I knew what he would want the moment we got home so I headed right to his closet to get a belt. I look in at all the belts and try to pick one that was light, but wouldn't hurt as much. I knew if it wasn't the right one; he would send me back for another one.
Once I got the one I thought he would pick I headed toward his study where I knew he was waiting for me. I walked by my mother who was half sitting on the arm of the chair drinking her scotch. I hated the thought that she could just sit by as I was hurt, but had learned long ago that she was more afraid of Aaron than she was at protecting me.
I paused at the door with the belt in my hand before entering his study. Aaron holds out his hand for the belt. I watch as he unfurls the belt and goes to close the door. As he closes the door I begin to remove my shirt, before I even have it half way off he hit me with the belt causing me to fall forward into the desk.
***LoVe***
Veronica
I wanted to put the crime scene photos I had taken back so I snuck into the office before heading home. I make my way quickly to my dad's office and to the safe. I am stumped as I try to open it, but it won't unlock. Crap, he knows I was in it and he locked me out. There isn't anything I can do about that but head home. My dad is sitting on the couch reading when I walk into our apartment.
"Package for you," he says as he points toward the counter before adding, "Something from action news."
"Oh, uh, nothing, a tape…for a journalism project. Just to compare and contrast TV news footage with, uh, local print coverage," I say as I move toward my room knowing full well he already knows I have been up to something.
"Hmm," he mumbles as I take the package as he watches me. I can't take lying to him so I head back into the living room plopping down in the chair next to him.
"I'm lying. You know I'm lying. I don't want things to be like this between us anymore," I snap harshly as he just looks up at me.
"Like what?" he asks innocently as I want to yell at him.
"Like our own game of spy vs spy. You know I was in the safe. And I know you're still investigating Lilly's murder," I say as I fiddle with the package in my hand.
"I was. I'm not anymore. I used to think that solving the case was the key to our happiness. Solve the case and my reputation is restored. Solve the case and your mom comes home. Solve the case and you go back to being a normal teenage girl," he mutters as if he really thought all my problems would go away if he solved the case. My issues ran much deeper than they once did.
"So let's do it, let's solve the case-" I say as I try to get him to see my point.
"Wait, Veronica. What I believe in now is that we make the most out of what we have here and now. I believe in going to the zoo with the person I love the most," I felt how much he cared and loved me in the statement he just said. I hold the package out to him and explained what I had found. I first showed him the photo I enlarged of the shoes Lamb says was on Koontz house boat as well as the video taken the day Koontz was arrested.
"What are those shoes doing in Abel Koontz's possession?" he says looking from the photo to the screen.
"Good question," I say as I flick the video off catching the last of the news showing Logan and Aaron at a Soup Kitchen. I guess that was why he missed school. I knew once Logan said his dad was going to donate money to the food bank he was in trouble. I had to get over to the Echolls house.
"Going somewhere," my dad asks as I grab my bag.
"Yeah, I forgot I had to meet a friend to work on an assignment. I might even stay over if we don't finish it," I say quickly walking toward the door.
"Do I know this friend?" he questions as I look at the clock.
"Yes, but dad I am running late. I most likely will be staying the night," I say as I make my way out the door and to my car. I hoped I was too late as I drove pretty fast to the Echolls house. I punched in the code knowing it hadn't been changed. I grabbed my bag and walked to the door ringing the doorbell.
"Can I help you?" a middle aged woman asks as she opens the door.
"I am supposed to meet with Logan tonight to finish up some homework, but he hasn't answered my calls," I say as she invites me in.
"Veronica it's been a long time," Mrs. Echolls says as she enters the hallway.
"Logan and I have an assignment to work on. He told me to meet him here for it yesterday," I say as I see a flustered Aaron coming into the hallway.
"Who the hel," he stops before he finishes his sentence.
"It seems our son has an assignment to do," Mrs. Echolls says as Aaron turns around quickly heading back the way he came. "Why don't you head up to Logan's room and wait for him?" she continues as I do what she says. It seems like ages when the door opens as I fling my arms around Logan crying.
"I am fine Veronica," Logan half snaps as he pulls his shirt off tossing it in the hamper. "How did you even know anything was up?" he questions.
"The news showed your Soup Kitchen announcement. What the hell were you thinking," I snap as he chuckles before tossing me the first aide.
"I hated how he was using the volunteering to push himself. I decided to turn the tables on him," he says as he shrugs at me.
"God Logan sometimes I wonder if you use your brain for anything," I mutter as he chuckles.
"Thank God for the news," he says as I clean the three belt gashes on his back and then put a bandage over them.
"I was worried I wouldn't get here in time," I admit as he pulls me in for a hug.
"Please don't worry about me like that. I don't want your pity Veronica," he mutters as I feel like yelling at him but bite my tongue.
"It's not pity. I can't lose you. We might not be best of friends, but I can't lose you. I lost Lilly and Duncan turned his back on me, but you I need you in my life," I say as I feel him tense up before pulling me down next to him on the bed.
"I'm not going anywhere Veronica. I will try not to work Aaron up, but I am not going to back down when I think he is wrong," he says as I look back at him. "Okay, are you staying the night," he asks as I nod my head. "Then let's study later and go to sleep. Aaron woke me up at the crack of dawn to do slave labor," he snaps as I just laugh. He was spoiled but he was growing on me.