Drunk Logan
Chapter 8
A/N: Parts of this come from the show. (V & Troy scene adapted from canon...also Troy and Keith interaction)Thanks! FYI: I believe in long updates...so from here on out, they will be longer than they were in the beginning.
LOVE..LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE
"My dad wants to meet you." Veronica told Troy very cautiously.
"That's cool. So, I'll pick you up at the door, I mean, I can't do the beep and wave, but that's no problem."
"Uh, My dad's a little...intense." Veronica didn't know quite how to explain to him what to expect from her father.
"Don't worry. I give good parent." Troy responded without a care in the world.
"...and just so I can make the appropriate arrangements, Homecoming's a go, right?
"Yeah, yeah. It'll be fun." She should've been more excited. How, though, do you get excited about going to Homecoming when the last one you went to was spent with your best friend shortly before she died?
To top it off, not only would she be attending a very emotional memorial for her best friend, but Veronica was spending the better part of the week ensconced in video memories of her.
Veronica felt like she was just holding on to her sanity. She felt like if she could just get through this week and have everything go back to normal, she'd be okay. On the other hand, she didn't want this week to end...ever. Not that she needed reminders of Lilly, but she almost felt like Lilly was with them again. Reminders of Lilly were everywhere right now. It was so emotionally exhausting, but so wonderful, too. She was terrified that when it was over and all the attention was off of Lilly, she would feel like she was losing her all over again. Veronica didn't want to go through that loss a second time.
She also felt that, because the one-year anniversary was coming, people (and maybe herself) would expect her to have moved past Lilly. Like, okay Veronica, you've had a year to get over it. You've had a year to mourn and miss your best friend and to move on. She was no where near ready for that. She couldn't let Lilly go and she knew that something wasn't right about the way her murder was solved. Whether her father was right about Jake Kane or not, she didn't know. She just knew that something was off.
Logan had been standing at his locker when he saw Troy and Veronica walking down the hall toward hers. He heard their conversation and felt a pang when he heard about their Homecoming plans. Although, he knew it wasn't logical, he was a little irritated with Veronica. She was making plans for Homecoming and would be replacing the memories that the Fab Four had made the year before. Even though he knew that she had lost the most since Lilly's death, whether by choice or not, it felt like she was "moving on" from Lilly.
Logan had decided to abstain from attending Homecoming. He had plans to have a limo take him to the beach where he would spend his time walking along the shore with a bottle of champagne. It was the closest he could come to the last Homecoming. He was even going to wear a tux. He knew it was stupid and sentimental and a total "girl move", but he didn't care. It's not like he was broadcasting his plans, he hadn't told anyone. This was just for him.
He slammed his locker shut and headed toward the quad. He was lost in frustrated thoughts, when he harshly pushed open the door to the quad. It swung open so fast that it hit something in its path, er, someone in its path.
Logan heard someone say, "Whoa, watch it." Then, returning to a phone call, proceeded to ignore Logan's further presence. That is when Logan heard the boy making reservations at the Four Seasons for Homecoming night.
Red flags started flying and sirens started blaring. Logan was instantly ticked. He had found out less than a week earlier that Veronica was, in fact, no longer a virgin; and not by her own choice. Now, Troy was sitting there making plans to get into her pants.
All of the feelings of guilt Logan had after hearing Veronica's confession regarding the rape were resurfacing. He felt like he needed to make sure she was safe. Without thinking anything further, he went into "protect" mode.
'Number 1 Mission: Protect Veronica'
'Number 1 Enemy: One Troy Vandergraff.' Although Logan was still through-the-roof mad at Troy, he got a little evil smirk on his face.
'Oh, this won't only be fun, it's gonna be easy.' Logan quickly headed back into the school and to the Journalism room. When he arrived he sat down in front of one of the computers and pulled up the general e-mail. Because Journalism students often have to use e-mail to contact people while researching stories, they are given a general "Journalism Class" account. He constructed the following message, wearing a giddy smile on his face the entire time:
To Whom It May Concern:
I understand that Veronica Mars has a date with Troy Vandergraff for the Homecoming Dance this coming Saturday.
I also understand that Troy Vandergraff has room reservations at the Four Seasons for that same night.
Hmmm. Interesting.
"A Concerned Citizen"
Not only was Logan having fun, but he was keeping anonymous. His little e-mail would make it possible for him to ruin Troy's plans without having to answer to Veronica about why he would care enough to spoil them. Plus, if things went really well, his little stunt might even put a stop to all of Troy and Veronica's Homecoming plans.
Logan went on his way whistling and quite pleased with himself. "All in a days work," he said to no one in particular.
When Veronica walked into the A/V room that afternoon, she wasn't sure what to expect. Yes, Logan had been civil to her the day before, but there was no telling when that tide would turn. She half expected him to kick her out as soon as he saw her.
She wasn't surprised to see him already sitting there and loading up video of Lilly. She stood by the door, keeping her messenger bag on her shoulder in case she needed a quick get away.
Logan turned and saw her standing there. "Oh good, you're here. We have a lot to do today. I figured that we got enough clips yesterday of Lilly growing up. Today, I think we need to focus on the video you brought and get some stuff from the more 'mature' Lilly." He was speaking a mile a minute and Veronica released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
She walked to the seat next to Logan, which he pulled out for her, and dropped her bag on the floor. "Well, okay, let's get to work then."
"Great, I was thinking that we should break the video into two parts. The first can be what Celeste is expecting. The clips of Lilly growing up with the soft music playing in the background, then we can have it transition into something more upbeat and wild, just like Lilly. That way, we'll capture everything that Lilly was. The debutante...and the devil." He was excited the night before when he came up with the idea as he lay in bed. Now, he was even more excited because they could get to work on it. In fact, he was so pumped up, he was talking fast and using his hands a lot in his explanation.
It was the first true excitement he'd had over the project. The only reason he'd offered to do it was to save his best friend the heartache. Now, though, he felt as though he was truly creating something that Lilly would've enjoyed. He was creating something that would come as close as it could to capturing the essence of who Lilly was and he was deliriously happy about it.
They began planning out what they needed to do and realized that they needed to get most of it done that night. It was Wednesday, Veronica would be going out with Troy and her father on Thursday night and the Memorial Ceremony was scheduled for Friday night. Although they might be able to steal an hour here and there, they didn't want to chance it and leave things for the last minute. They decided that they would just have to tough it out and put in a long night to get it as close to completion as possible. Then, Logan could use Thursday night to add any finishing touches and work out the bugs.
Although they did have a dinner break when their take-out arrived, Veronica and Logan stayed on task pretty well. It wasn't as jovial as it had been the previous night. One, because they knew they needed to complete the task. Two, because the footage they were dealing with made it difficult for them to share and joke around too much. They were watching footage from the last time the Fab Four had been the Fab Four. So much had happened since then. They had dealt with Duncan breaking up with Veronica, Lilly breaking up with Logan, Logan feeling betrayed by Veronica telling Lilly about Yolanda, Lilly's death and Veronica choosing to side with her father over the Kane's and all of her friends.
The footage of Homecoming night just made it harder to ignore the almost year-long feud between the two. Although it was difficult, neither wanted to rehash any of it right then. They both felt like the video was so much bigger than them or their feud. They were willing to put it on the back burner to serve a higher purpose...that purpose being the praise and remembrance of Lilly Kane; sister, lover and best friend.
"We should put this in the video." Logan said as he pointed to the screen where Lilly and Veronica were sitting in the limo, dancing to music and drinking champagne.
"No, this isn't a video about me, it's about Lilly. Find a shot that just shows her." Veronica didn't feel comfortable inserting herself into Lilly's limelight.
"Are you kidding? You didn't have to know Lilly to know that you were a huge part of her life. People rarely saw her without seeing you and vice versa. You were a permanent fixture by her side. It only seems fitting that her longest-standing and closest friendship would be recognized in a video celebrating her life." He didn't make a big deal out of it, he just said it as though it was obvious fact.
Veronica was touched by his willingness to acknowledge the friendship she shared with Lilly, especially so publically.
"Well, then..." Veronica grabbed the mouse from Logan's hand and started searching through the footage. "if we're going to put that in, I think we should add this one, too." Logan looked at the screen and started laughing and couldn't help the blush that crept across his face.
"After all, people rarely saw Lilly's lips without seeing yours attached to them and vice versa. Your lips were a permanent fixture on hers." Veronica mocked Logan's earlier tone, then started giggling.
They were watching footage of Lilly laying on Logan on the seat of the limo...kissing.
"Well, Mars. I think that is a fine idea, your best yet, I must say. We both had our place in her life. This way, we'll show both of our talents. Your dancing abilities and my fine kiss-abilities." They were laughing. They knew they were being silly; but they also knew Lilly would get a kick out of it, so they didn't care.
By 10 o'clock, they had gotten pretty much everything done. They had ordered the footage they were using, chosen the music for both segments and overlaid it with the video. That way, Thursday night, Logan would only have to fix a couple of timing issues they were having.
"I can't believe that we've been working on this for over 6 hours. I've got to get home." Veronica said as she packed up her stuff and got ready to walk out.
"I know, but we were so busy, time flew. And, I think the final product is going to turn out really great. I'm sure she's loving this." Logan replied. "Wait up a minute and I'll walk you out."
"Oh, you don't have to, I'll be fine. I've got my taser." She patted her bag.
"No really, It's fine. Anyway, who said it was for your protection? You know, there are a lot of things that could happen to an unarmed kid like me. We should at least use the buddy-system when going out late at night into a deserted parking lot. It could save a life." Logan feigned serious.
"Alright, come on, Pretty Boy. I'll protect you against the Bogey Man." She laughed at him and tugged on his arm.
He grabbed her shoulders from behind. "B-But, I'm so scared." He said as he crouched behind her.
"Wait." He stopped dead in his tracks pulling her to a stop with him. "Did you just call me pretty? Wait until my mommy hears that someone thinks I'm pretty." Logan grasped at his chest dramatically and let out a big sign.
They continued to laugh and chat as they proceeded to their cars. They said goodbye and Logan waited for Veronica to pull out of the parking lot before he left, too.
The next day Logan was sitting at lunch with the 09ers. Dick and Duncan and he had been talking about a new video game that they were planning to try out on Sunday.
"So, I thought your boy toy, Troy was going to be joining us for lunch today. You don't think he got way-laid by Veronica, do you?" Dick was addressing Duncan when he was smacked on the back of the head.
"What the heck, Man?" He turned around and asked Logan as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Lay off." Logan growled.
"Off who, Troy or Ronnie-skanktastic?" Dick laughed at his creation of a new nickname for Veronica.
"Enough! This is not the week for it. I mean it, Dick." Logan ignored the odd look he was getting from Duncan.
"Okay, Dude, whatever." Dick figured it must have something to do with Lilly's memorial. Although, he didn't understand why that meant he should lay off of Veronica. Logan had always felt like she had betrayed Lilly along with everyone else. He figured that Logan was just out of sorts with all of the attention on Lilly. Logan had loved Lilly; and Dick was sure that the week had been tough on him so he just let it go.
Duncan was astonished by Logan's reaction to Dick's comment. At any given time, Logan would have out done anyone in the 'insulting Veronica' field. Even if he hadn't actually stood up for Veronica, he had temporarily put a stop to the insults. He knew by the look in Logan's eyes that he was serious. He might have been playing it cool, but he was boiling inside.
Logan was fuming. He had been watching for Veronica all throughout lunch. She hadn't shown up at her table and he'd wondered where she was and what she was doing. He hadn't noticed that Troy was absent, too. Logan didn't like Troy, so when he wasn't around, he wasn't missed.
When Dick spoke up, Logan mentally slapped himself. 'Of course, she's probably with Troy. Why didn't I think of that?'
Although the thought of them spending time together made Logan want to lose his lunch, that's not why he got upset with Dick. Knowing what he knew about the rape, Logan now knew how horrible all of the rumors about Veronica's sexcapades had been. Logan had happily spread rumors about her and would often bring them up when Veronica was around to hear him.
Logan had a new perspective when it came to commenting on her sexual experience. He didn't know what the future held, whether they'd continue to be civil or go back to the way they had been before Saturday night. He did know, no matter what, he wasn't going to be tormenting her regarding sex ever again. He would do whatever he could to stop those rumors altogether.
Veronica was running late and hoping that when she got home, Troy would still be in one piece. They were supposed to go mini-golfing with her dad.
"So Veronica tells me, uh, actually she hasn't told me anything about you." Keith addressed the kid sitting across from him.
"Well, I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing." Troy responded.
"Neither do I." They both laughed a little too hard.
"Well, if you have any questions or want a list of references or anything..." Troy said with an aire of confidence that made Keith want to pluck out the remaining hair on his head strand by strand.
"So, you're going to the Homecoming Dance?" Keith interrupted the boy.
"Yes, sir...if that's okay with you?"
"Oh, of course." Keith answered easily. 'Could your nose be any further up my butt, Eddie Haskell?'
"And after the dance?"
"Well, I think that Veronica said that she had to be right home after." Still playing the part, Troy knew he had this in the bag.
"Good, and you're going to stay for the whole dance. I mean your not going leave early and go to a party or a hotel and still make it back by curfew."
"No, uh, I mean, the whole point of going to the dance...is to go to the dance." Troy was getting smug now. 'What, do I look that easy, Old Man? Don't worry, I'll have your pristine baby girl home on time...right after we do our best impression of bunnies at The Four Seasons. Don't worry, Daddy. I won't break her. I'll take real good care of our Veronica.' Troy couldn't help himself. He had lied to so many tough dads before, this was like a walk in the park.
"Good. So, you won't mind then, that I cancelled your reservations at the Four Seasons?" Keith asked nonchalantly with a polite smile on his face. 'Check...Mate. You have no idea what you're messing with, kid.'
'Where ever that e-mail came from, it was a great tip. As an added bonus, I'll be sure to keep an eye on the cell tracker I placed on Veronica's phone. I know I wanted Veronica to re-join the social scene and to gain friends again, but I hope she's over this guy soon...I'd hate to have to shoot him, cut him into small pieces and then spread the pieces all over the state of California. Bail Jumpers, cheating spouses, Lilly's murder...my schedule really is too tight for anything else right now.'
LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE
Thanks to all of the great reviewers:
LoVeElle: So glad that you enjoyed that scene so much. I was hoping that you guys would be able to really picture it. Better watch out, though...you may end up losing your phone like Veronica and Tad did. Do you have a Mr. Wu? Hee hee
09nerLoVer: Me, too. Thanks!
xosummerxo: Thanks for your continued support, keep reading, lots more to come.
IluvVM: omg, I just love you. :-) Really, thank you.
RBDFAN: Welcome, it was nice to hear from you.
LoVefan4ever: Thank you...I think you'll like the way it continues.
SaraLyleth: thank you. I like the idea of there always being feelings there, but not understood at the time.
Adja: And here I thought you were going to be unavailable for reading for a little while. Tests, or something? Anyway, loved hearing from you. Glad to have tied you up in knots. wink wink