CHAPTER 3

1 MONTH LATER

Veronica was in class when the call came in over the intercom. She was wanted in Vice Principal Clemmons' office. What a shocker.

She ignored the looks from the other students as she made her way to the front of the class to the door. She didn't notice that not all of them were mocking. Some of the guy's eyes followed her figure in her fitted jeans and black t-shirt. She was petite, but that didn't stop her from having presence.

She exchanged a look with the teacher, acknowledging without words that she wouldn't bother coming back to class. The period was almost over and there wouldn't be any point.

Making her way to Clemmons' office she tried to figure out what he might want. She hadn't done anything illegal recently; at least not on school grounds.

Knocking on his door sharply, she let herself in. "You wanted to blame me for something sir?" she said with a smile before even seeing him. Turning at his cough, she noticed that he wasn't alone. "Dad" she said in surprise, grimacing at him catching her being flip to Clemmons.

"Veronica, I have something that I have to tell you" Keith said quietly. That was when she noticed the sadness in his eyes. She took a step forward in concern. He waved a hand to keep her from talking and motioned again to a chair. Veronica sat.

"Uh…maybe I should leave you two alone to talk" Clemmons said softly, excusing himself from the room. Veronica began to panic. Why would we need to be alone to talk?

"Veronica, it's about your mom" Keith said, putting a hand on her shoulder. Veronica shot up from her seat and looked at her father with denial in her eyes.

"No!" she cried, backing up as her father moved to hug her. "She's fine" Veronica said pointedly.

"There was an accident" Keith continued, ignoring her denials. "She was driving d…she crashed into a pole and she was hurt"

Veronica noticed how he had changed his words. "Driving drunk?" she asked for clarification. Keith averted his eyes causing Veronica to suck in a deep breath. "She's dead isn't she?" she asked, a calm born of shock in her voice.

Keith could do nothing but look on helplessly. "Yes"

Veronica nodded shakily and moved to the door. "I have to go now" she said, each word said carefully as if she was scared that she would fumble them. She opened the door and ran out.

Keith knew that she needed time and stayed behind, waiting for Clemmons so he could make arrangements to excuse Veronica from classes.

Veronica couldn't think. Thinking would mean acknowledging the fact that her mother was dead. It would mean coming to terms with the fact that she died drunk, behind the wheel.

The bell rang as she was making her way through the halls. People began spilling from their classrooms, trying to get to their lockers and to lunch. Veronica barely noticed them. She was just getting to the parking lot when she heard her name called out. She kept moving, turning to see who it was.

Duncan and Logan were jogging towards her, laughing at some joke. Duncan was wearing an argyle sweater with jeans; Logan was wearing an orange shirt with no sleeves and jeans. They sped up when they noticed that she wasn't going to stop. "Hey, where's the fire?" Duncan called out.

FIRE. The sudden mental picture of her mother burning in her car entered Veronica's mind before she could stop it. A sob escaped her as she reached her car, fumbling for her keys and dropping them. She was shaking as she started crying uncontrollably.

She was crying.

The thought flashed in Logan's mind like the lights of Las Vegas. The sight nearly stopped him in his tracks it was so startling. He had never seen her cry like this; her whole soul was being poured out of her in that moment.

He automatically pushed past Duncan, who was standing there shocked, to get to Veronica. "What happened Veronica? What's wrong?" he asked her softly. His only answer was another sob and he took her into his arms. She grabbed on to him, burrowing her face into his shirt. He stroked her back as he whispered soothing nonsense into her ear.

He could feel her shaking in his arms and he held her tighter. He could feel the chill through their bare arms. He knew that the chill wasn't going to kill her, but it still worried him. What was going on?

He could hear Veronica taking in a shuddering breath. "My mother dead" Veronica burst out, drawing in laboured breaths. Logan's eyes clenched shut with pain at the answer to his silent question. He knew what kind of pain she was going through. The only thing he could do for her was be there; like she had been there for him.

He swung her up into his arms and carried her across the parking lot to his ride, leaving Duncan to take care that Veronica's keys were picked up. People looked at them curiously, but he ignored them. Both he and Veronica were used to being stared at.

He didn't want to put her down, but he needed to get the car door open for her to get in. He decided to balance her against his chest with one arm and open the door with the other. Veronica put her arms around his neck to help. He leaned over with her to gently sit her down, murmuring reassuring words when she wouldn't let go of him.

Her arms loosened around his neck, but she still held his shoulders. She looked up at him with tear drenched eyes that broke his heart. "Logan" her words were a quiet whisper that he could barely hear; he read his name on her lips.

"Shhh, love. I'll take care of you" Logan said as he brushed some hair off of her forehead. Veronica's eyes closed slowly and she let her head rest on the seat as he closed the door. Logan could see Keith Mars walking towards him with Duncan and Clemmons behind him.

He didn't waste time, getting in the SUV quick as he could and leaving before anyone could stop him. He sped out of the lot, ignoring the yells that he could hear from the three men. As soon as he got on the street he drove in the direction of a quiet place. Somewhere that no one would expect him to go.

The car ride was a quiet one. Veronica was still crying, but it was silent tears that made their way out of her closed eyes. Logan kept looking at her to make sure that she was alright, not really trusting that calm after the storm.

Her black shirt was twisted on her from being held in his arms. The bottom was riding high on her waist, showing her pale soft skin. He could see that her jeans were low riders and had to pry his eyes away from the tantalizing view that they afforded him. Her hair was mussed, but in a sexy just-got-out-of-bed way.

She was beautiful. She's in the process of grieving her mother's death, and she still manages to be beautiful. Logan would prefer it otherwise. It would make taking care of her a lot easier.

Veronica knew where they were even before she opened her eyes. The smell of the ocean gave it away.

"Veronica?" Logan said quietly as he turned in his seat. They had just parked and he had turned the X-Terra off. "You ready to go?" he asked, briefly touching her cheek with his fingers.

Her eyes opened and she met his gaze. "Yes" she answered in a voice rough from crying. Logan smiled softly and kissed her lightly on the forehead. He got out and moved to where she was opening her door.

He looked as if he wanted to carry her again, but he just put his arm around her shoulders and led her to the pier.

His father's boat was docked a close by and it was stocked with enough supplies to last three or four days. He had planned to surprise Dick and Beaver with a trip this weekend.

They would definitely be surprised.

"Logan, how long can we stay?" Veronica asked as they walked. "I…uh…I don't want to face anyone for a while" she continued.

Logan smiled ruefully. "I always knew that I wasn't anyone" he snarked. Veronica only smiled weakly at his joke, but she pressed tighter to his side. "We can stay for as long as you like" he answered her question. "I have supplies for a few days and enough cash to buy more when we run out"

Veronica nodded seriously, and then smiled suddenly. "Not even my dad can track me down at sea" she explained when he gave her a questioning look.

Logan laughed. "Let's hope so. I'd rather not have to face him with a gun out there" Veronica smiled her understanding and rested her head on his shoulder.