A/N: As promised Logan returns.
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Chapter 14 The Jousting Begins
EXTERIOR PARKING LOT
HEARST COLLEGE
SATURDAY NIGHT
Veronica pulled into the commuter lot promptly at the appointed time. Corrine, her friend from Spanish class who had roped her into going to this party, was waiting eagerly with another girl. When Veronica stopped the car, Corrine pulled open the front passenger door while the other girl climbed into the back of the Saturn. "Veronica, this is my roommate, Angie Jaworski."
"Hey, Angie," Veronica waved making indirect eye contact with Angie through the rearview mirror. In a light pull over, a denim mini and boots Veronica felt a underdressed compared to her passengers who were both sporting sleeveless dresses with cardigans casually thrown over their shoulders and ballet flats. The outfits were a bit preppy for Veronica's taste. "Whose party is this, anyway?"
"The house belongs to a guy in my econ class, Richard. He lives there with his roommate. I don't know his name. It's supposed to be a killer house," Angie enthused.
Veronica navigated the streets of Neptune to get them all safely to the party. She had been a bit surprised to realize that the address was a beach house near her apartment. By 90909 standards it was a modest house, but even on the nice part of the wrong side of the tracks as Keith often described their neighborhood, it was directly on the beach. As they say in real estate – location, location, location – and this one was pretty prime.
Instead of taking up the whole lot, the building was smaller to allow a kidney shaped pool to abut the sand. The ocean side of the three story house was all windows and decks. Partiers were already in the pool, on the sand and hanging off the roof deck, which was connected to the outside by a spiral staircase on one side and a long, narrow staircase on the other. Veronica offered to drop off her passengers but they insisted on coming with her while she found a place to park about two blocks inland.
As the trio walked back to the house, Angie squealed, "I can't believe I'm going to a beach party in October!"
For her part Veronica was starting to get an uneasy feeling about this. Maybe she should have given in to Mac and gone with her to the small get-together Logan and Dick were hosting. At least at the Grande everyone would accept her sullen mood. The events of Thursday night still hadn't settled into her brain and she was feeling pretty wiped out. She kept reminding herself that she had done it for Logan because this was the best way to guarantee his safety. Taking a deep, cleansing breath Veronica reminded herself that attending this party was part of her new plan – broadening her horizons, making new friends and finally being a "normal" college student. She'd done what she thought was required, sacrificing her moral high ground by pledging the Castle. They'd kept up their part of the bargain so far. Now all she could do was trust that Logan was safe.
From where they had parked, it was easier for the girls to walk down the public steps and approach the party from the ocean path.
The minute they entered the gate Corrine and Angie dumped Veronica in favor of the keg. She went in search of some bottled water. It would be a cold day in hell before Veronica ever took another drink that she didn't open herself at a party.
Before she made any real progress in her search she was greeted by a familiar face. "Fancy meeting you here, M-, Veronica." He smiled appreciatively at her outfit.
Veronica hid her surprise well. "Randy," she regarded him cagily. "Will wonders never cease? What brings you here?"
Randy, aka Polo cocked his head to the side, gesturing for Veronica to look in that direction where she immediately spied Wallace and some other basketball players hooting as a girl who Veronica thought she recognized as a cheerleader did a keg stand. "Wallace invited some of the guys from the team."
"I thought you played polo, not basketball," Veronica puzzled.
"I do, but my roommate, Carl Irving, plays basketball. Can I get you a beer?" Randy asked offering her his partially full red solo cup.
"No thanks."
Shrugging, the handsome knight took a long swallow and confessed, "I had hoped you were going to be at my match this morning."
Chuckling at the irony, Veronica replied, "Me? At a polo match at some posh country club? I don't think so."
Randy realized that despite her recent initiation into the Castle, Veronica still felt like she was on the outside looking in. That happened sometimes with members who earned their way in through something other than athletics or their family's influence; they didn't realize that they, more than most, deserved to be at posh country clubs, at the board meetings and generally the ones running the world. He decided to tread lightly. "Someday I'm hoping you can come and take pictures. I've seen some of the shots you got of Wallace and other pieces you had in the Free Press."
Veronica was surprised that Randy had taken such an interest in her and her work. She wasn't sure if this was good or bad but she did know she was thirsty. "I'm in search of some bottled water."
Understanding that she was still spooked, Randy pointed, "I think there's some in the kitchen."
"Thanks," Veronica nodded as she moved off. Stepping through the magnetic mesh covering the opening of the sliding glass doors and reclosing automatically to keep out the bugs Veronica found herself in the first floor living room. An open kitchen with stainless steel subzero appliances was in the back. The room had a casual, comfortable elegance; it was something more than she would have expected from your average college guys. A framed lithograph of a sandcastle complete with turrets and flags captured her attention.
"Of all the parties in all the world, she walks into mine," a familiar disembodied voice called from the deep white couch.
Veronica whirled around. "Logan."
He just looked at her, waiting for an explanation. She didn't have one, at least not one she wanted to share. She only came here because she expected he'd be squirreled away at the Neptune Grande.
"Veronica! You made it. I'm so glad you changed your mind." Mac greeted her coming in from a hallway where Veronica expected the bathroom was located. Earlier in the week Mac had tried to convince Veronica to go to a party Logan and Dick were throwing for Columbus Day. Veronica had declined. There were too many memories in that hotel. Some were horrible, the stuff nightmares were made out of, but these days it was the good memories of happy times that no longer were, that shredded her heart.
"Hey, Ronnie, nice of you to make it," Dick managed some semblance of politeness.
"What . . . ?" Veronica started pointing from Dick to Logan and back again. "You, . . . you live here?"
Dick spun around arms out wide open to his sides. "Great house, isn't it? We moved in at the beginning of the semester but this is the first official bash!"
Narrowing her eyes, Veronica glared at Mac. Why hadn't anyone told her that Logan moved out of the Grande? He was apparently already living here on both occasions when she bumped into him at the beach. This explained why they ran into each other and what he was doing so close to her house. They were now neighbors. The bile began to rise in her gut. Logan had never said a word. He just let her operate under the misperception that he was still living at the Grande. In effect, he made a fool of her.
Sensing the accusations about to spew forth Mac made a pre-emptive defense. "What? I told you they moved."
"No, you didn't," Veronica snapped. "I would have remembered something like that."
Mac shook her head, then nodded. She didn't know whether she was trying to agree or disagree with Veronica. "A few weeks ago in my room, after Bruce left . . ." Mac insisted. Veronica silently quarreled with her using an almost deadly stare.
"Well, I meant to," offered Mac sheepishly, as if that fixed everything.
Angie bounded in at that point. "Hi, Richard!" Corrine was right on her roommate's heels.
Veronica closed her eyes and blew out a deep breathe through her bottom lip so the hair flew away from her bang. Of course 'Richard from econ' was Dick Casablancas.
Logan hadn't taken his eyes off Veronica since she'd crossed the threshold into the house. She was well aware of his unwavering attentions.
"Veronica, this is my friend, Richard, from econ. This is his party," Angie made unnecessary introductions.
"We've met," Veronica cut off her well-meaning new friend without breaking eye contact with Logan whose head was casually propped up on his hand atop a bent elbow against the corner of the couch. He was enjoying watching Veronica squirm.
"That's great!" Angie bubbled. "I didn't know you knew Richard."
Not being the brightest bulb, Dick asked, "Who's Richard?"
"I think she means you, doofus," Mac clarified, playfully smacking the surfer lightly on the arm.
"You moved," fumbled Veronica. "I didn't know."
Logan smirked. "What? There was something the great detective didn't know. Alert the media."
Pursing her lips Veronica attacked, "The real story is that you have graced the 90902 zip code with your illustrious presence. Are you enjoying your time slumming it? Aren't you afraid of mingling with the unwashed masses?"
"I've never been a snob, Veronica," asserted Logan.
Dick was insulted. "This is prime beach front property."
Veronica just glared at him. "This was a bad idea. I'll go."
"No, you can't go," Corrine wailed. "This is supposed to be a kick ass party."
"Yeah baby!" agreed Dick sliding his arm around his guest. "The Dickmeister will show you a good time."
Corrine shrugged him off. "Who are you?"
"Dick Casablancas – your host for the evening," Veronica explained. Logan coughed. "And, Logan Echolls, his roommate, co-host and partner in crime. Dick, Logan and Mac, this is my friend, Corrine, and her roommate, Angie. Corrine and I have Spanish together. Dick, Angie is in your econ class." Veronica pointed to various people as she described their interactions.
"I take econ?" Dick pondered his schedule.
Logan arose grandly and bowed before Corrine and Angie. "Welcome to my humble sand castle. Allow me to give you the grand tour." He was still looking at Veronica, even as he schmoozed his other guests.
Logan offered Corrine his arm which she readily took. Beaming up at him Corrine was willing to go anywhere this handsome man took her. "Lead on, kind sir."
Rolling her eyes at Corrine's obvious flirting, Veronica demurred, "I'll skip the nickel tour."
Logan was having none of that. "It's a grand tour and it's mandatory for first time visitors."
Corrine released Logan and moved over to whisper in Veronica's ear. "What's your problem? He's gorgeous."
Meeting Logan's eyes Veronica instantly knew that Logan had heard Corrine's assessment and was waiting to see what she would do next.
Holding her hands up in protest Veronica again declared, "I don't need a tour. If you've seen one multi-million dollar beach house, you've seen 'em all."
Corrine looked delighted that she was going to have Logan all to herself.
"Au contraire, Miss Mars. California law requires the property owner to identity all of the exits in case of an earthquake," Logan tried to outsmart her.
"That law only applies to commercial establishments and besides, we're not having an earthquake," Veronica countered.
Logan looked her up and down appreciatively with a hungry gleam in his eye then whispered suggestively, "Are you doubting my ability to make the earth move?"
Veronica blushed then acquiesced, "Fine, the nickel tour it is."
"I'm going to get another beer. Anybody want anything?" Dick asked.
"I'll go with you," Angie gushed. Dick was oblivious as the overdressed girl followed him outside.
Mac burst out laughing. "Can I come on the tour too?"
Logan looked at her quizzically. "MacKenzie you've been here a dozen times."
"Really?" Veronica had no idea. How had she missed out on so much of her friends' lives?
"But I've never had a tour," Mac whined teasingly.
Something devilish in the twinkle in Mac's eye told Logan that letting her come could later prove useful. "Well then, the more the merrier," Logan conceded.