CHAPTER 7

"That's great Ronnie!" Logan said over the phone. "Just think, he'll be too busy planning the wedding to try and convince you to leave me" he snarked. Veronica's laughter floated over the phone lines to him. "When will he let you know?" he asked.

"I don't think it will be tonight" she answered wryly. Logan smiled. His plans for tonight were getting better and better. He was standing naked in his room picking out what to wear that day. She had phoned right as he was coming out of the shower and filled him in as he towelled off.

"So I guess that means I'm in the clear to come over and ravish you" he said in fake Italian accent. Veronica giggled and thought about it. Unfortunately she couldn't say yes. Being with Logan would be the icing on her wedding cake of a day. She lay back on her bed and looked up at the ceiling as they talked.

"You can't" she sighed. "I told Wallace I would help him watch his little brother tonight". Logan groaned and fell back on his bed with the cordless. Maybe his night wouldn't be so good after all. "If I could get out of it I would Logan" she said, hearing his groan and holding back one of her own.

"Why did we only talk last night?" Logan whined. He was already a little hot from thinking about her in the shower, and hearing her voice was not helping the situation. "Can you come over now?" he asked, his hopes rising again.

"I have to stay here and wait for a package for my dad" she mumbled, sounding as disappointed as he felt. Logan groaned again. No relief was in sight for him. "We will see each other at school at least" she said in a placating voice. He wasn't satisfied though.

"We will see each other at lunch" he emphasized. "Lunch at Neptune High isn't exactly the most romantic atmosphere. All those people staring and fainting over my fantastic physique" he ended, heaving a theatrical sigh. Veronica snorted and rolled her eyes.

"Pointing and laughing is more like it" she snarked. Logan made an insulted sound in the back of his throat and Veronica laughed. At that moment the call waiting started up. "There's someone on the other line Logan" she said. "I'll be right back". She switched over to the other line. "Hello?"

"Veronica Mars" a familiar voice said. A curl of excitement started in her stomach. Something about the way Eli said her name like that, it gave her shivers. No, she said sternly to herself. Logan gives her shivers, not Eli.

"Hey Eli" she said quickly, trying to sound casual. If he even suspected that she was attracted to him, he would take advantage of it. That would mean losing Eli, or losing Logan. Neither option sounded good to her. She cared about them both. "What's up?" she asked.

"I wanted to know how it went last night" he answered. "Did Echolls give you any problems?" Veronica rolled her eyes at that. He was probably hoping Logan had been upset.

"I have someone on the other line. Hold on a minute" she stalled, switching back to Logan. "Logan?"

"Hey Ronnie. I thought you were going to forget about me" he joked. If they couldn't hang out today, he wanted to at least talk to her for a while. "At least I had time to plan out what dirty things to say when we start the phone sex" he continued.

"Sorry. That will have to wait for next time" she laughed. He frowned. "I have to take this call". Suspicions started brewing in Logan's mind. They had talked about trust last night, but he still felt threatened when it came to Weevil.

"Who is it?" he asked, not able to keep the accusation out of his voice. She sighed on the other end of the phone. Apparently he had not gotten past this situation. She decided not to push things.

"It is only Wallace" she lied. "We're going to make plans for tonight. See you tomorrow" she ended lightly. She switched over to Eli.

"I love you too" he said to dial tone. He moved off his bed, hanging up the phone. He picked up his pants from the floor and took out his cell phone. Searching through his directory he found the number he wanted. Pressing SEND, he put the phone to his ear. It started ringing. His jaw clenched in rage, his empty hand making a fist. On the third ring the phone was answered.

"Hello?" Wallace answered, breathlessly.

"Hey Wallace. Running a marathon?" Logan asked, trying to hold on to his light tone. His mind was filled with too many scenarios for it to be easy.

"Logan, man. You just got me out of the bathroom." Wallace laughed. "I thought it would be Veronica calling about tonight. We had plans to see a movie with my brother, but he has a test on Monday that he has to study for" he explained. Since the new school year had started Logan and Wallace had seen so much of each other with Veronica that they had become friends. Wallace felt comfortable talking to the man that his best friend was in love with. Not to mention the lecture Veronica had given him when he had tried ignoring the 09er.

"So your plans are cancelled then?" Logan asked slowly. He moved to lean on the wall next to him. He wanted to brace his suddenly weak legs.

"As soon as I phone Veronica and tell her" Wallace said. Logan began formulating a plan. "Do you want me to tell her that you know?" Wallace asked.

"NO!" Logan answered vehemently. He controlled his voice and continued. "I want to surprise her tonight" he said calmly. Inside he was falling apart. He would surprise her alright. Probably in the arms of that piece of shit. His eyes closed tightly as the pain of that thought struck him.

"No problem" Wallace answered. "You have fair warning though. She never liked surprises" Wallace warned. Logan laughed a bitter laugh as he hung up. His laughter turned into sobs as he curled into himself and slid down the wall to the floor.