A.N Wow! Once again, I'm blown away by the response to this! Thank you so much!
Lilly gawked at her best friend. "You ran away?"
"What was I supposed to do?" The petite blonde groaned helplessly.
"Well, he's got a backseat."
Veronica's eyes widened scandalized at her best friend suggestion. "Lilly!"
"God, Veronica," Lilly exasperatedly blew out. "It's so obvious that he wants you. Just like ravish him already." She got off the bed, grabbed the bottle of water on the dressing table and began to uncap it.
The blew eyed girl gaped and recalled, "You said that about Billy Turner in sixth grade."
Lilly swallowed down the beverage. Always with the Billy Turner argument, like let it go already. "I was wrong once. Okay. How was I supposed to know he had a stuttering problem? He like only spoke to you."
"Yeah. Because I was the only one nice to him."
"Yeah. Okay. Whatever." Lilly flopped back onto Veronica's bed. "This is so not like that. I could take a survey and I bet everyone would agree with me."
"Lilly! This isn't about everyone else. This is about him. Okay? Can you please just leave it alone?"
She huffed out a breath and reluctantly agreed, "If you run away again, I will totally parent trap you. And you can't even get mad because I told you about it."
Veronica's mouth opened with disbelief as she was reminded of Lilly's previous interference with her so called love life and objected, "I didn't get mad at you for setting me up with Troy because I didn't know! I got mad because I didn't like him."
A grin crossed her lips and the green eyed blonde remarked, "Yeah 'cause you're all for the Logan-lovin'."
"Oh my God," she gawked. "You did not just say that," the petite blonde swung her pillow at her best friend.
Lilly laughed and easily tucked the pillow under her arm. "Logan the love machine. Lo-Lo the go-go express. Love monkey 3000."
Veronica shook her head. "Okay now you're just saying weird stuff."
Lilly's warm and playful laugh drowned out Veronica's anxious thoughts of Logan and life in general. Veronica smiled along with her best friend and despite herself found herself erupting with laughter as well.
When Veronica entered school the next morning, she'd never before felt as anxious as she had now. She hadn't kissed Logan yesterday. But she was about to. And this was Logan, of course he knew that she was going to kiss him. Would he pretend that she didn't almost kiss him? Or would he want to talk about why she almost kiss him?
And the thing is, she didn't know which option was worse. Maybe she should just avoid him. Give them some space. And then it'd be too late to talk about the almost-kiss. And everything would go back to normal.
She swallowed, her eyes met the sight of one Logan Echolls, walking through the halls like he owned the school. And he did. Everyone greeted him with passing hello's and good mornings and slapping of hands while she just stood at her locker trying to at least not stare at him like some love-struck girl. Even though that's exactly what she was.
"Yeah, you totally don't like each other," Meg teasingly said as she bumped her friend's shoulder.
Veronica staggered a little, caught by surprise. She let out a breath. "Good morning to you too, Sunshine."
"He's practically making heart eyes at you," Meg all but squeaked out.
The petite blonde rested her head on her locker. "How do you and Lilly see these things? Do you have a third eye I don't know about?"
Meg chuckled. "Well, you've always been a bit slow on the up take."
Veronica gasped. "Meg Manning, I'm astounded."
"I learned from you," she struck her tongue out.
"Hey Ronnie," Logan greeted in a soft warm voice. His arm wrapped around her waist and he pulled her into a hug. Veronica's face heated at his touch.
"Hey," the petite blonde let out and returned his hug.
"Hey Meg," Logan smiled and gave Meg a much briefer hug.
Meg bit back her grin at Veronica's blush-filled cheeks and the fact that Logan gave Veronica a lingering hug. Logan Echolls was totally into Veronica Mars. Now, if she could only make Veronica see it.
"Hey Logan," Meg chirped. "So we were just talking about the dance. Do you know who you're taking?"
Veronica's eyes widened, silently she tried to convey to Meg to just stop whatever it was that she was trying to do.
"Are you tryna ask me out Meg Manning?" Logan grinned, fully knowing that she was going with his best friend.
Usually, Meg would blush and profess her object but she knew that Logan knew that she was going with Duncan and she knew that Logan was head over heals for Veronica.
"No," she simply shrugged. "But Veronica here needs a date." Veronica's jaw dropped at Meg's words and Meg bit back her smirk. Her eyes lingered around the halls and she picked out. "John Enbom? He's cute."
Logan looked at Veronica, and almost smiled at her adorable wide-eyed expression. He wished he could just push her up against the locker and kiss her senseless. This was a good of opportunity as any to ask her out to the dance but that would ruin his surprise. She could wait a day, couldn't she? At his party tomorrow night, he'd ask her.
"What do you think about John Endom, Ronnie?" Logan casually asked.
Veronica took in a breath and repeated Meg's words. "He's cute."
Meg watched Logan curiously. Where was his insane jealousy? Maybe mentioning a boy wasn't enough.
"Oh! What about Luke? At least he's friendly and cute," Meg suggested, closely watching Logan's reaction. "Luke," Meg cheerfully called out.
Veronica gawked at Meg. What in the world was the peppy cheerleader doing?
Logan watched Veronica with amusement. He didn't have to worry about Luke. Or John. Or any of these guys.
"Hey Meg," Luke staggered back and warmly greeted the cheerleader. He nodded at the others and said a short hey. "What's up?"
"Do you have a date to the dance?" Meg innocently asked. Veronica stared at the scene with disbelief and Logan narrowed his eyes warningly at the boy.
"Are you asking me out Meg?" Luke grinned. His eyebrows furrowed at Logan's expression and he stammered. "But uh, aren't you going with Duncan?"
Meg nodded and casually remarked, "Yes. But Veronica doesn't have a date yet."
Veronica never thought it was possible but Meg Manning could be just as embarrassing as Lilly Kane.
Luke's face paled. Sure, he'd go with Veronica. But with Logan standing there with eyes of death. No way in hell. Logan's eyes pierced him and he whimpered. "Uh. I already have a date. Macy. Marcy."
Meg pursed her lip, she didn't know of any Marcy. And why did Luke look so scared all of a sudden? She quirked an eyebrow and asked, "Do you mean Darcy? She's Casey date."
Luke swallowed. "Uhm. Yeah. No. Marcy is Darcy's cousin."
Meg frowned, Veronica hadn't heard any of the conversation, her attention had been on Logan's fingers playing with hers. Did he know what he was doing to her? Was he doing it on purpose? Or was it a natural response? It's not like it was uncommon for them to be touchy with each other.
Logan held a self-satisfied smirk
Meg glanced at Logan, her eyebrows furrowed at his self-satisfied smirk. She glanced back to the quivering Luke and a knowing smile spread across her lips.
Veronica was intently listening to Ms Murphy talk about Romeo and Juliet and their eternal love for each other.
Seriously, how did they fight the odds of an eternal family conflict and she couldn't conjure up the courage to tell Logan that she liked him? It's not like her tale would end up in death. Logan might be a jackass at times but he cared for her. She knew that the worse case scenario would be awkwardness for a few weeks but she'd get over it. Right?
She sighed. She really didn't want there to be any awkwardness. She didn't want to second guess decisions around him. Did he do that? No. He was Logan. He just acted out whatever he was feeling. And if he wanted to ask her to the dance, he'd have asked her. If he liked her, he'd have told her. If he wanted to kiss her, he'd have kissed her.
That's who he was. He wore his heart on his sleeve with his all or nothing philosophical view on life.
Lost in thought, she hadn't noticed the little note left on her desk until Meg poked at her arm and gestured to it.
Veronica unfolded it and read, So, I think Logan's done something to like ward of the 09er guys away from you.
She looked at Meg with confused eyes. "What?" She mouthed.
Meg scribbled down her explanation, Luke was practically shaking in his boots.
The petite blonde shook her head. Was Meg really suggesting that Logan concocted an elaborate plan to keep boys from asking her to the dance? That was ridiculous. All Logan had to do was ask her. Then she'd have a date and no one else would need to ask her.
Her mind set, she responded, Logan wouldn't do that.
Fully believing her theory, Meg elaborated, C'mon! This is Logan Echolls we're talking about. He's got a flare for the dramatic side of life. He's totally cooked up some big romantic plan in store. I wouldn't be surprised if he professed his undying love for you.
Veronica let out a heavy sigh. Meg truly was a romantic. And the million teen movies she watched has definitely gotten twisted with reality. She shook her head at Meg in disagreement with a clear look that said she was being ridiculous.
Meg wanted to throw her hands up in the air and just shove them into confessing to each other.
Yes, seriously! C'mon, Veronica, I saw him wear that smirk on his face like it was a prize. You know, for scaring Luke away.
Veronica resisted the urge to sigh again. Couldn't they just understand what she's saying? Logan clearly didn't want to have a romantic relationship with her. Because there was literally nothing stopping him.
If he wanted to ask me to the dance, he would have done it by now.
Meg groaned at her friend. She glanced at Duncan, bit her lip and decided that desperate times called for desperate measures. She wrote, Did Logan tell you what he did to scare the 09ers away from Veronica?
Duncan read the note with confusing brimming in his blue eyes and wrote down his thoughts, Why would Logan scare the 09ers away from Veronica? Are you OK?
Meg frowned. Did Duncan not know? They were best friends. Why wouldn't they know everything about each other? Meg shook of her thoughts on what boys spoke to each other about and explained, Because he likes her and doesn't want anyone else to ask her out. I just don't get why he hasn't asked her as yet.
Duncan stared at the paper, surprised. He jotted, Wait. Logan likes Veronica?
Meg gaped at the piece of paper. Just how oblivious was he? It's a good thing he has other things going he's sweet and good looking. With a sigh, she asked, He's your best friend. How did you not know?
Duncan's brows furrowed. He wasn't inquisitive like his sister, he wasn't going to prod Logan about his life. If Logan wanted him to know something, he'd tell him. And so he responded, Because he didn't tell me?
I mean, c'mon, Duncan. It's so obvious that they like each other.
Duncan read the note and sighed. Logan and Veronica always behaved like they were a couple. They were just those type of friends. Once, Duncan had thought they had something more and had helped Lilly plan a kind of parent-trap operation. Much to his surprise, the concocted plan had been for Troy and Veronica. He'd given up on his ability of observing the human condition and decided that his life was way easier if he'd just minded his own business. If someone wanted to know something, they should tell him.
How? They've always been the way they are.
Meg sighed. Well, they like each other but won't admit it to each other because they're afraid that their feelings aren't reciprocated.
Duncan read the message with amusement and quizzed, Are you sure you're talking about Logan and Veronica and not one of those soapies that you watch?
She bit her lip from chuckling. Logan and Veronica did seem like they belonged in a romantic drama.
Yes! C'mon, just watch them during lunch, Meg responded.
Veronica was relieved when Yolanda had started to pass her notes, she appreciated the distraction from all her Logan thoughts. Seriously? Since when did everything remind her about Logan?
And then Yolanda passed her a note that said, I don't know who I'm going to the dance with!
And her mind magically connected it back to the fact that Logan hadn't asked her. And that she liked Logan and Logan most probably knew it. While she was left with nothing to go on.
She swallowed and wrote, Haha we're in the same boat here.
What? Aren't you going with Logan?
Veronica wondered at which point in time did the universe decide to put Logan into every one of her conversations. Why wouldn't the universe just let her be for one period without thinking about the brunette surfer with his lopsided smile and chocolate brown eyes. And gah, shut up mind.
Why would you think that? She promptly responded. Yolanda had only hung out with them for a day. There's no way she could have figured out that she liked Logan.
Well, you two are dating.
Veronica gaped at the piece of paper. Her heart raced for a moment. She swallowed and quickly denied, No, we're not.
Really? 'Cause Lilly told me that you were dating.
Veronica sighed. Of course she did. She blew out a breath and scribbled, Nope. I'm single as the letter 1. Can we talk at lunch? I really wanna get this work done so I don't have homework.
Sure! :)
"So what does your dad do?" Dick casually asked as they began eating lunch.
"He's one of the Dixie Chicks. And, yeah, he makes more money than your dad," Yolanda sharply remarked. Everyone at the tabled chuckled with amusement and she promptly said, "Was that your real question?"
Logan was seated next to Veronica, he easily sort took her left hand and examined the new pink band on it, he tugged on it while Veronica busied herself with eating her food. "You guys prepared for the biggest blow-out of all time?" Logan asked, his fingers still playing with her band, Their fingers touched and Logan had to bite back a grin when he noticed Veronica's reaction to him.
Veronica swallowed. She decided to ignore every and any thought of them as anything more than friends. And friend Veronica always let Logan play idly with her hand, her fingers, her hair, her... she frowned, she always let Logan do whatever he wanted.
Lilly bit back a laugh at the duo. How much more obvious does it have to be to finally get them together? She really was going to lock them up in a room and she knew Meg would be more than delighted to help her. "Where are your parents going this time?" Lilly quizzed.
"Nepal," he shrugged as he started to remove the band from Veronica's wrist. "Sherpas lug their crap up and down a mountain for two weeks so they can take pictures of a yak." A grin etched it's way across his face as he flung the band at his best friend who'd been way too obvious with his 'observing.'
Trying to keep her cool, Veronica interjected, "While I take pictures of you yakking in the comfort of your living room."
Logan smiled at her and proceeded to play with the colourful band that had been next to the pink one that he'd flung at Duncan. Veronica bit her lip when Logan proceeded to caress her fingers and wrist, how could such an innocent touch affect her so much? She glanced at him and he was picking at his food with his free hand.
She bit on her food and briefly wondered if Lilly and Meg had been right. Maybe Logan did like her.
"Happens twice a year," Lilly off-handedly offered. "His parents leave town. He throws a big party and he gets busted. You must be there."
A warm sensation ran through her body and her fingers felt tingly and she looked at Logan eating so casually like his fingers weren't touching her at all. Maybe he didn't realize that he was gently rubbing circles around her wrist. And then he noticed her gaze and smiled back. Her breath hitched. Or maybe he did.
She tore her gaze away from him and smiled brightly at Yolanda and insisted, "You must."
Yolanda smiled and agreed, "I guess I must."
