A/N: Thank you all so much for the amazing feedback I got for the first chapter! I really hope that this one lives up to expectations, and if anyone has any ideas about what Logan could be doing to surprise Veronica then I'm sure they're better than what I have planned and I'd love to hear about them and possibly include them! xx

Last time…

I don't turn around. "I'm kind of busy right now; could you come bug me a bit later?" I ask whoever is behind me, acidly.

"Actually, Ronnie, I'd rather talk to you now." His voice hasn't changed. Nor has its effect on me. Heart beating wildly, I whirl around to face the man I left behind four years ago. He grins at me. "What's shaking, Ronnie?"

I pull myself together quickly. No one is allowed to have that effect on Veronica Mars – not anymore anyway. But I'm struck by how little he's changed, in appearance at least. Same light brown hair, same gelled up spikes, and the same combination of confidence and pain in his eyes.

"Hello, Logan." I reply, icily. I'd rather not be sidetracked into conversations about where I've been or why I haven't contacted him in four years. I just want to do the job and get out.

"What, that's all I get? 'hello Logan'? That's cold, Ronnie, it really is." He appears to be all smirks and jokes, but I can tell that under it all he's wondering what on earth he should say, and worrying that I'm going to slap him, or something. I decide to make things easy for him.

"Well, it isn't as warm in New York as it is down here, Logan. If you'll excuse me, Sheriff Incompetent over there really needs my help." I stride off purposefully towards Sheriff Incompetent, as I've taken to calling him, even to his round, red face. He's the kind of policeman that my father and I hate; the kind who're only in the job for a badge and a feeling of power. I decide to focus on my hatred of all men like that rather than my shaken up feelings at seeing Logan again.

"You can't run away from this, Veronica." He calls after me, and I can practically see what his expression is, I know him that well. "We're gonna talk about this, and you're gonna have to listen to me. So you better start expecting me."

I don't say anything to him, only request another look at the crime scene from Sheriff Incomepetent.

By the time I get back to the Camelot its already morning. And not the early hours, either, its nearly nine o clock. I decide that rather than work myself to death, I'm going to have an incredibly long sleep, since I've now been up for 24 hours straight. I'm just slipping into a deep sleep when my door is knocked on, violently.

I roll out of bed, cursing whatever gods there are for making my luck so bad that I've run into my ex and been interrupted from much needed sleep in under 12 hours. I open the door, cautiously, but I'm no way prepared for what's waiting for me.

"How could you not tell me you were coming back?" "What the hell, Superfly, we could have hung out!" "Veronica Mars, you have got some serious explaining to do. Why did I have to be the BFF you cut off?" all came at me at once.

On the balcony outside my room were standing my father, Wallace and Mac. The first two I could easily deal with; after all, they know how much I hate coming back here, and I can always guilt-trip them if reasoning fails. But Mac's outburst floors me. She's in the right in this situation, and I have no idea what to do. So I do the first thing that comes into my head. I try to make more noise than all of them.

"Would you guys please just shut up!?" I yell, noticing Logan for the first time, standing silently behind Mac, his hands on her shoulders, keeping her from physically attacking me. That's new. Are Logan and Mac….But I don't allow myself to think of that. Back to the task at hand, Mars. "Dad, Wallace, I'll deal with you later. Sorry etcetera, but how about a beer later? On me?" They seem satisfied with that, and are kind enough, or possibly cruel enough – I haven't worked it out yet, to leave me with Mac and Logan. "Jeez, Logan. When you said I'd have to start expecting you, I didn't think you meant right away."

I motion them inside. Better get this over with.

Xxxxxxxxx

When I leave the Grand, I'm hurting. For once, only emotionally, not physically too. I'm not too preoccupied to notice the fact that Mac didn't come into the Grand with me. Better grill her about that.

"What the hell, Mackenzie?" I ask, sitting back down in the XTerra. "I thought we were gonna go in and confront her? You don't know how stupid I felt doing it alone. It felt like she could tell what I was gonna say." Mac is the only person I feel comfortable telling everything too. Apart from Veronica, but a lot has changed.

"Sorry, Logan. I just – I couldn't. I haven't once let myself think about the fact that she chose to stay in touch with Wallace but not me, but when we were driving over here it was the only thing on my mind. I couldn't face her, knowing that she betrayed me." I don't think I've ever seen Mac this emotional, except when Cassidy threw himself off the roof. Its…different.

"I know what'll make the confrontation easier, Mac." I grin evilly, and explain my plan.

We decide to wait until morning before putting it into action, but even in the safety of a condo that Veronica has never seen, never been in, I can't stop myself thinking of her. I thought that it would be easier to see her again, but it wasn't. It was almost impossible, I had no idea what to say, and I still can't shake the feeling that she was expecting me to say what I did. But she never used to be able to anticipate my words, so why can she do it now? Has she been thinking about me since she left? I hardly dare to let myself hope.

The next morning I make various calls, and then drive over to Mac's place and pick her up. Together we drive to the Camelot – thank you, helpful receptionist with the loose tongue – neither one of us acknowledging the others nerves. Wallace and Keith are already at the motel, looking angry and hurt respectively. We go up to her room and knock on the door.

I can hear her curses as she bumps around the darkened room, and fiddles with the lock. I also see her look of surprise and horror when she realises what's happening. After her little shouting match with the two people she allowed to stay in her life, she gestures for me and Mac to come into her dingy room. She's wearing pyjamas – I think I bought them for her a long time ago, and its obvious that she was asleep when we got here.

"I hope we haven't interrupted your beauty sleep, Ronnie." I quip, trying to mask my nerves as she picks up some clothes and walks into the bathroom to change.

"Don't worry about it Logan, its only the first five minutes of rest I've had in 24 hours. But nothing waits for Logan Echolls." Her sarcasm is evident, even through a locked door.

Mac and I sit down on her bed, holding hands, and wait for her to enter the room. When she does come out, she looks stunning, as usual. I don't know why I expected her to become a slob while she was gone, but I guess I was hoping that without me she wouldn't care about looks anymore. Who was I kidding? Dream on Echolls.

I realise that she and Mac have been talking for several minutes, both of them trying to hide the anger and hurt in their voices. Looking up I see that Veronica isn't looking at Mac's face, but rather at her hand, clasped in mine, and that she has an odd expression on her face.

"Well, its not like you've been overly lonely here. You've had Logan to comfort you, after all." Hearing the bitterness in Veronica's voice, I realise that she's jealous! Veronica Mars is jealous!

"You're jealous, Ronnie. You can't stand that I might have moved on, and started dating Mac." I realise that my triumphant outburst was not a smart move when her eyes narrow, and she walks over to the door of her room, opening it.

"Out. Both of you. I don't have to explain myself, and you have no right to demand an explanation. Go live your lives without me." She's furious, but I can tell that she's sad as well. I don't push it though, instead walking silently out of the door with Mac.

"Well, that didn't go very well."

It's later that day when I have a genius stroke. I've been brooding about how to win back my Ronnie all day, when it suddenly occurs to me. I should talk to Wallace.

When I ring him he doesn't sound pleased to see me. Evidently Ronnie has already called to bitch about me, and he isn't inclined to help me out.

"Come on, Wallace. Its just a small favour! You used to do them for Ronnie all the time." I plead. I hate the fact that Wallace the Jock has got me grovelling and begging for help, but, like so many other things, I don't mind doing it if it'll help me with Ronnie.

"You're right, I do V favours all the time, and she happens to have asked me to do her a favour and keep her mind off you tonight." He replies.

"Well, you'd be doing her an even bigger favour if you help me prove to her that we're meant to be together, because then she'll be happy forever." It's a long shot; I'm not really making much sense, and if I were Wallace I know I'd just hang up and spend the rest of Veronica's stay keeping her away from the crazy ex-boyfriend. But that's just me.

"What would I have to do?" He sounds doubtful, but the fact that he's even asking about the plan is a good sign.

"Just get her outside the bar at eleven o clock, and keep her there until I call. Then just follow the instructions I give you then." I know its all a bit vague, but the best plans were formulated as they went along.

"kay."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I said, 'okay'. I'll get her there. Just don't break her heart again, Echolls." He hangs up as soon as he's said it, leaving me reeling with shock.

Xxxxxxx

"You're jealous, Ronnie." His words have been echoing round my head all day, unable to let me rest or sleep for more than five minutes altogether. God damn him. He's right, though. I am jealous, even though I have no right to be.

I've spent all day sulking about the fact that Logan can read me that well, and that my jealousy was that obvious. I've also been wondering why I got so mad when Mac started asking me why I'd cut her off. To be honest, I don't know why I didn't keep in touch. I guess its cos, more than anyone else, except possibly Dick, she reminds me of the night when Cassidy died. That was the night that I realised I had to get out of Neptune. The incident with Logan and the panties just made me leave quicker.

I am a horrible friend. The realisation comes suddenly, at about five o clock, when I'm getting dressed to go and meet my father. I am just a generally horrible person. I mean, who else would cut off their best friend when they were needed most? Who else would enjoy making a living out of broken couples and cheating businessmen? Who else would neglect to mention to their father that they were coming home for a few days, just to avoid staying longer than necessary? No one. I'm in a little category of horrible all by myself, less bad than Hitler and Mussolini, but worse than Madison Sinclair and her red panties. Dante should make an extra circle of hell called the Veronica Circle.

That's when I call Wallace, and have a bit of a cry and 'confess' my sins. He promises to be over within the hour, and take me out to get drunk. I realise that what I didn't bank on, when I offered free drinks to my father and best friend, was the fact that I would have to go to a bar. Where everyone will be able to see me. Oopsy.

I decide that if the whole of Neptune is gonna see me get drunk, then I'm gonna look good doing it. I dig out the one pair of black high heels I've brought with me, along with a black high-waisted skirt and one of my trademark grungy t-shirts. Perfect for a night on the town. Maybe I'll find some drunk, easy guy to lose myself in. That would be nice.

Its nearly seven when Wallace eventually knocks on my door.

"Sorry I'm late, Superfly, but I had to deal with some stuff. Did you know that our parents are seeing each other again?" He cuts off my half-hearted greeting. "Now we've both got things to forget."

"Aaw, what did you see?" I'm secretly pleased that my dad is seeing Alicia again, because no one since my mom has made him so happy, but Wallace has never been able to take the sight of parental PDA.

"Everything. Tongues all over the place, hands where I couldn't see them, it was awful!" He groans, pulling me out of the motel room and dragging me to his car. "I figure we can just leave the car at the bar if we both get as drunk as we're aiming for." He explains.

"Always a planner. Not like me, I prefer to let things pan out by themselves." I laugh.

"Okay, 1. no you don't." He laughs, "And 2. You just seriously reminded me of someone."

"Who?" I ask, curious, considering Wallace has always said that I'm the most unique person he's ever met.

"Uuh, Logan." He admits. "I talked to him earlier, after your call."

"Lemme guess, he wants your help winning me back, or making me jealous or something. I hope you refused." I grumble.

"Damn right, girl. What kind of a friend would I be if I agreed to help Logan Echolls?" He laughs, but looks shifty. "Anyway, onto the booze." Well, I'm definitely not gonna argue with that statement.