The music was pounding by the time Logan and Meg stepped through the door.
"DUDE!" Dick Casablancas came out from nowhere and jumped on top of Logan, nearly knocking him to the ground.
"What the hell, man!" Logan yelled, shoving him off. Next to him, Meg laughed, and stuck her hand out, palm down towards Dick.
Stumbling up, Dick grabbed her hand and pressed a messy kiss to it. "You are looking foxy tonight, Meggy. Is the Dick going to get a little of that action?"
Meg rolled her eyes, laughing. "Sorry, no can do tonight Dick. I've got men lined up." She did a little swirl, causing her poofy skirt to flare out.
Logan wrapped his arm around her shoulders and nudged her in. "One of your many minions would like to actually go to the party."
"You just want the liquor."
"It's New Years, baby. And I have got something to celebrate."
By the time they made it to kitchen of the Casablancas' home, Meg thought Logan was already a little drunk. He was laughing, and pulling long gulps from his flask. "Give me your keys!" she said, as her hands began rummaging through his pockets.
"Woah, woman back-off, your boyfriend might get a little mad!"
"Just give me your keys, Logan!" He grinned stupidly at her, before pulling them out. He dangled them in front of her face out her reach and asked, "What are you going to give me for them?"
"She's not giving you anything," Luke said grinning as he wrapped his arms around Meg's waist.
"Hey," she said, leaning up to peck him.
"Hey, you," he replied, nudging his nose to hers.
"Awwww, they're mating! Luke and Meg sitting in a tree." Logan began to sing in a loud voice, twirling around, causing the keys the clang. "First comes love, then comes marriage." He stopped grinning down at them, "No baby carriages though kids!"
Meg smiled at him. "You idiot!" She jumped up, and tried to snatch the keys again, but Logan pulled away. "No baby carriages?" he asked, looking down at her. Meg could see the lucidity in his eyes, and the concern.
"No baby carriages, Echolls. Now give me the keys." Logan handed her the keys, then swooped down and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Be good, Ms. Manning." He gave Luke a stern look. "Nothing I would do, all right?" he said, wagging his finger.
"Go get drunk," Meg said shoving him towards the alcohol. "You deserve it, it's about to be a brand new year!" Luke was pulling her the other way, and she let herself be dragged out towards the dance floor. "You better find me at midnight!"
"Like I would want anybody else, babe!" Logan waggled his fingers at her, and then went straight towards the alcohol. If he had to name one thing he loved about a Casablancas party, it was the large and varied supply of alcohol. If he had to name two, it was the hardly dressed girls, who seemed to occupy the place. He let his eyes wander over the crowd, eyeing everyone, trying to decide whom he would ring in the New Year with. The last one had been fucked-up; he needed a new one.
"Hey Logan!" A brunette with big eyes and even bigger boobs sauntered over. "Drink?" She handed him a bottle of Grey goose, her eyes dancing. Logan took the bottle out of her hand and took a deep swig.
"Why thank you," he said saluting her. "I may just have to take this off of your hands."
"You can take anything you want to." The innuendo was clear. Logan was officially a hot commodity again, and he couldn't decide if he liked it. Staring down at her big breasts, he took another large gulp of the liquor and grinned. "I'll keep that in mind…" his voice trailed off as he tried to remember her name.
"Valerie." She pouted a bit, turning her head to the side. "You didn't remember?"
Logan laughed. "Valerie. And the head tilt, not quite there yet. But I'll look for you later" He nodded to her again, and then began to weave his way through the crowd, his hand still grasping the bottle. He wasn't sure when it happened, but boobs, big boobs, didn't seem to do it for him anymore. He tried not to think about what that really meant, and just took it as his tastes changing as he grew older. Maybe Valerie could be the one to change his mind, she was cute enough.
"Dude." Another arm clasped his shoulder, and he turned to see Duncan leaning against a counter, obviously tipsy, Veronica standing next to him, her lips thin.
"DK! What's up?" He high-fived him, then gave a Veronica a salute. "You guys having fun?"
"Oh, Loads," Veronica replied sarcastically. "What could be more fun than a bunch of drunk 09ers's puking all over themselves?"
"The puking doesn't start for a while," Duncan said wisely. He noticed the bottle in Logan's hand, and grabbed it. "Sweet, where did you find this? They had cheap stuff over here." He took a deep swallow, and closed his eyes.
"Lone wolves, we get all the good stuff."
"Isn't that something Dick came up with?" Veronica asked.
Logan grinned. "He makes sense sometimes." He leaned against the counter on Duncan's other side, and they began to companionably drink, watching the people mill around them.
It was nice, standing her with Duncan. After that night at Meg's, things had went back to normal between them. There had been playstation, a couple parties, and somehow, it was like the summer had never happened. Veronica had taken longer. Logan didn't really think about the night things finally ended between them, at least on his side. God knows she had quit long before. He didn't go back to that bar again, even if the music rocked. "Want some," he said, waving the bottle in Veronica's face.
Veronica scrunched her nose up. "I think I'll pass."
"C'mon babe, you said you were going to try tonight." Duncan gave her a pleading smile, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Remember?"
"I said I would be polite, not that I would binge drink," she snapped. "Why did you think that would magically change?"
Logan bit his lip trying not to laugh. Same old Veronica. "All right kids, I'm just gonna mosey on out." He eyed a bottle sitting behind Veronica and leaned over her, his lips nearly brushing her forehead.
"Get off me Logan," she snapped, shoving at him.
"Tequila!" he replied grinning, and waving the bottle. "You can keep that," he said nodding to the vodka, "Jose and I are going to have a rocking good time."
"You and Jose are going to take it easy."
Logan turned and grinned. "My angel"
"My knight," Meg replied dryly. She smiled at Duncan and Veronica. "Hey you guys."
Duncan grinned and leaned over to press a kiss to her cheek. "How are you, Meg?"
Meg shifted away, moving closer to Logan. "Great. Having fun, Veronica?"
Veronica smiled, the first real smile Logan had seen. "Like a regular fiesta over here!"
Meg laughed. "So I see. I just wanted to get this one," she jabbed Logan in the chest, "to get something from his jacket for me."
"But I left that somewhere in front," Logan whined looking at her.
"Please," she mouthed batting her eyelashes.
"Bitch," he mouthed back before smacking her ass. "And I get more of those later, you owe me. C'mon DK."
"The lipsticks in you front pocket!" she yelled as he began to walk away. He flicked her off and kept walking, dragging Duncan behind him. She saw them separate in the crowd.
"He's such a jackass," Veronica said.
"We love him that way," Meg replied, taking Logan's old spot. She took a sip out of her drink and looked around. "I don't even know half the people here."
"I don't think Dick does either." Veronica shook her head. "What's the point of this anyway? It's stupid."
"That's the point, Veronica. To get drunk and get stupid." She jolted back as a brunette slammed into her. "Watch it!"
"Watch yourself," the girl replied nastily, before walking away.
Meg reached behind her to grab some paper towels, cleaning the liquor off her hands. "What was that about?"
"She wants in your boyfriend's pants," Veronica said lightly staring straight ahead.
"She wants in Luke's pants?" Meg asked confusedly.
"No, Logan's." Veronica's piercing eyes were suddenly boring into Meg. "You're with Logan."
"No I'm not." Meg replied. "I've been dating Luke since October."
"But you're always with Logan."
"And you're always with Wallace. So?"
"Yeah but its Logan. He' s not capable of a platonic relationship. He's too needy."
"Stop being a bitch Veronica."
Veronica pulled back stung. "What? No, you just don't know Logan."
"No, you just don't know him. So stop being a bitch, and get the stick out of your ass, you're making everyone else depressed." Meg smiled inwardly as she stared at the shocked expression on her face. Serves you right, you witch she thought, proud of herself.
Veronica pressed her lips together firmly, before saying coolly, "Look Meg, I get that you are still mad at me…"
"No Veronica, I get that you are mad at me. Forget it, I'll tell Logan I tried to be nice." She shoved away from the counter, and shook her head. "Let it go, Veronica, everyone else has."
Seething, Veronica turned around and began weaving her way to the crowd. A drunken guy slammed into her, causing her to stumble. "Shit," she mumbled, picking herself off the ground. She stood up, brushing off her skirt, and saw Duncan, vodka bottle still in hand, talking to a laughing Pam Macy.
"Duncan?" He turned towards her and a grin spread across his face. Veronica could see the pissed off expression spreading across Pam's face at the same time, and felt some of the tension in her lift. She reached for his outstretched hand, and let him pull her towards him.
"Hey Veronica!" Pam's voice was incredibly fake, but Veronica ignored her.
"Where'd you go?" she murmured into Duncan's chest.
"Just wandering. Didn't think you wanted to."
"Oh," she replied quietly.
"I was trying to talk Duncan into going for an alcohol run. He' s the only one with a good fake, and the taste to get something good." Pam smiled at Duncan, leaning in. "Please Duncan?"
Duncan shrugged his shoulders. "Sure, but somebody else has to drive."
"I will," Pam said cheerily.
"That okay with you babe," he asked, pressing a kiss to Veronica's head. Veronica knew she had two choices. She could say no, and he would stay and sulk. Or she could let him go and be miserable here at the party by herself. Duncan's bottle clunked against her arm, and she realized she had a third option.
"Give me the bottle," she said, pulling out his arms.
"What?" he asked surprised.
She stuck her arm into the crowd and grabbed Cassidy's shoulder. "Hey Cassidy!"
Cassidy blushed and smiled. "Hey Veronica, Hey Duncan, Hey Pam."
"What's up Beaver?" Duncan patted him on the shoulder then looked down at his girlfriend. "Veronica?"
"Cassidy is going to make me a drink with your vodka, and I am going to go about being a teenager."
Duncan smiled. "You want me to stay?"
"No, go." She smiled coolly at Pam. "I trust you." She pulled him down and kissed him possessively. "I'll see you in a bit." She waved, then grabbed Cassidy's hand and began dragging him to the bar. "What are you going to make me?"
"This really isn't my thing," Cassidy said nervously. "Logan usually makes the drinks."
"Well I don't want Logan," Veronica snapped. Cassidy took at step back, and Veronica wanted to slap herself. "Sorry. There just seems to be a lot of Logan Echolls love tonight."
"Well his name was cleared."
"What?" Veronica stared at Cassidy in surprise. "When?"
"Last week. Some new evidence was procured, and Logan was cleared."
Veronica hadn't really looked at Logan's case since that stupid night; it was punishment for dragging her down to that bar, making her cry and ignoring her in the weeks after. Veronica still didn't understand why he had done it. Understanding Logan wasn't her job anymore though, Meg had made that much clear.
"Well then make me a drink in honor of him."
"You're drinking to Logan," Cassidy asked confused.
"I'm drink to anything," Veronica retorted, and she took a swig of the bottle in her hands. Bile rose up in her throat but she gasped and swallowed it down. This was normal, wasn't it?
"Sexy. Real sexy." Logan rolled his eyes at the antics of the girls in front of him. His estimation of his net appeal going up was apparently an understatement. Four girls, in barely there skirts were currently grinding up against one another and beckoning him over. He must have matured at some point; he wasn't even tempted by the group.
"Not jumping in?" Meg piped up from next to him.
Logan smirked at her. "I will if you will." Meg looked over at the girls.
One of them had dropped to her knees, her face lost in the thrusts of the other girls' pelvises. "No thanks." She watched them dance for a few more moments, before they noticed her and began to pout. Someone yelled something at her, and they moved away as a group.
"They don't seem to like you," Logan observed dryly.
"Apparently I'm the bitch that's stringing you along."
"My balls are in your purse?"
"And I've tied them up with pretty pink string," Meg replied chirpily.
"I'm hot again, what can I say?"
"You can start by telling Veronica that we're not together."
"What?" Logan turned to look at Meg. "Why would she think that?"
"Apparently you're too needy to just be friends with someone."
Logan snorted. "She has a way with words."
"She's a bitch," Meg replied. "A self-centered, controlling, horrible person."
"Ouch, harsh words from Neptune's resident Glenda." The smile slipped from his face when he saw her expression. "Meg, she sometimes says the wrong things. She's a good person, she deals with things differently."
Meg laughed. "Will you ever stop defending her?"
"Probably not," Logan replied quietly. "Making up for all the times I didn't before."
Meg grabbed his hand, lacing their fingers together. "We make our beds."
"And we lie in them. But it doesn't mean I don't still care about my old sheets."
Meg sighed and pressed her lips to his cheek. "You need to shave," she murmured.
"And here I thought women liked the rugged thing."
"You practically have bad-boy imprinted on your forehead. I'm pretty sure people think you have debauched me."
"I haven't?" Logan put his hand to his cheeks. "All right, bedroom right now. We need to make this official."
"Back off Echolls." Luke wrapped his arm around Meg's waist from behind. "I just told Shelly we were together, and she laughed." Luke gave his girlfriend a worried expression. "Are you that out of my league?"
"I'm just so pretty," Logan said, fluttering his eyelashes. Meg shot Logan a glare and he laughed. "It's all right Luke, most people would pick the bad boy, but Meg's still keeping it clean."
Meg tried to shove Logan again but he backed away hands in the air. "I've sobered up, so need to find some more liquor. And maybe those girls…tell them I got my balls back."
"Just don't ruin the ribbon," Meg replied, batting her eyelashes the same way Logan had done moments earlier. "You look good in pink. So pretty."
"Are you mocking me woman?" Logan growled taking a step towards her.
"My boyfriend can beat you up!" Meg yelled, hiding behind Luke's back.
"This is why people don't believe we're dating," Luke said dryly, his arms hanging at his sides. Meg wrapped her arm around Luke's waist and pulled him back, until his face was right next to hers. "You're jealous?"
Luke grinned. "Of course." She grabbed his face and pulled him towards her, kissing him with all she had.
Logan stood there smirking stupidly. "You kids have fun!"
Luke gave him a thumbs up sign as he pulled Meg around and dipped her backwards, their lips never breaking contact. Logan smiled watching as they flopped onto a couch still making out. It was nice to see Meg so happy, and with such a good guy. There were few people he would trust her with, but Luke was one of them. He could see them being happy; happier than he and Meg would have been. He was just too much of an Echolls, he didn't want to taint her. That and the little issue that he was still drawn to that little bitchy detective he used to date.
"Looking for a conquest?"
Logan shook out of his thoughts and looked surprised as Veronica appeared. She hadn't spoken to him in months, not since the night at the bar, unless Duncan was there as well. He had become a blank spot in her world, something she looked through, not at. "Clean place to sit actually."
She let out a light laugh, and took a sip of the drink in her hand. Logan watched in amusement as she coughed delicately, trying to get the drink down. "What the hell are you drinking?" he asked.
"Don't know. Cassidy made it."
"Beav? Yeah, okay, give me that." He snatched the drink out of her hand, and took a sip. Holding down the urge to gag, he looked at her incredulously. "Are you sure he didn't just puke in a cup, this is disgusting."
"It is? I wasn't sure…" She trailed off, looking away. Logan could imagine how awkward this was for her, not knowing something.
"C'mon," he said, prodding her back. "I'll make you something good." They wound their way around the kitchen until they reached the bar. Logan surveyed the array of bottles lying on the table before looking at her. "Sweet, salty or sour?"
"You have that much skill," Veronica asked sardonically. "Maybe you do have a future after all."
Logan only smirked in response, looking at her pointedly. "Sweet," she said finally, hoisting herself onto the counter.
"Sweet," Logan drawled, as he began grabbing bottles. "Not really you, is it?"
"Well you're being helpful, so it must be opposite day," Veronica retorted. Logan smirked again, and gave her a wink before grabbing another bottle. "Speaking of," Veronica said.
"Speaking of what?" Logan replied, distracted. "Opposite day, vomit, me being a jack-ass, you being a bitch."
Veronica couldn't help but laugh. "No, you drinking."
Logan's eyes shot up. "Are you really going to lecture me right now?"
Veronica pulled back. "I don't lecture." Logan let out a snort, as he continued to make her drink. "Okay well." She clamped her lips shut, composed herself then asked, "Where did your ankle monitor go?"
"The friendly people at the Balboa County Sheriff's department took it off for me yesterday."
Veronica held in her surprised gasp. "You're cleared?"
"Yeah and you get a new car." Logan reached over her to grab the forgotten vodka bottle. He took a deep swig from it, and offered it to her. She shook her head in response and stared him down.
"A new car? How did you know I got a new car?" Logan gave her a knowing smirk, and her lips compressed again.
"My dad helped your case."
"The lady wins a prize!" Logan took the bottle of cherries sitting next to Veronica's elbow, and began pouring the sweet syrup into the glass. "Your father was my case," he said, shooting a glance at her stern face. "And you really need to stop pressing your lips together; you look like one of the witches of Eastwick." He flashed another smile at her, and Veronica felt her lips soften. Rubbing her finger over them self-consciously, she watched Logan finish the drink. With a flourish, he presented it to her, his heels clicking together. "My lady," he said, bowing to her.
Veronica took the glass from his hands and took a sip. Her face lit up in appreciation. "This is actually good."
"I know," Logan replied smugly. "I'm a man of many talents."
Veronica didn't try to repress her laughter this time. "So."
"So," he replied. He reached behind him fumbling, before his hands grasped the tequila.
He took a deep drink and leaned back.
"It's a little disturbing that you can tell the bottle by its shape."
Logan didn't turn his face as he replied, "Man of many talents Mars, man of many talents."
Veronica hopped off the table, and attempted to mimic Logan's lean. He did everything so gracefully, all lean lines, and smooth steps. Being with Logan was like being with a perfectly bred cat; he was beautiful and he knew it.
"Whenever you're done perusing."
Veronica shot Logan a look. "Perusing? Do you sit around all day and study the dictionary?"
"Only on Tuesdays and Thursdays," he retorted. For a moment they were both transported back to before Lilly's death, when one Kane would be gone on alcohol runs, the other hooking up with someone neither wanted to know about, and it would just be Logan and Veronica sitting at the counter trading sarcastic insults.
Logan clunked his bottle lightly against Veronica's head. "As fun as this has been."
"Leaving so soon?" Veronica couldn't help but feel the loss of contact between them.
"Midnight comes and I still need to find someone to kiss."
Veronica blinked, surprised that something was welling behind them. Logan noticed, and shoved her lightly. "So a drunk Veronica is an emotional Veronica. This could be fun."
Veronica laughed. "Dream on Echolls."
"I always do." He pulled away from the counter and faced her, his body shielding her from the rest of the room. "Tell your father I said thanks again." He began to move away then stopped. "Don't drink that too fast, and uh- don't put it down."
Something flared up in Veronica's eyes. "What your stupid cronies decided another round of GHB would be fun? Is that how you're going to get your girl at midnight?"
Logan stuck his hands up. "Just giving some advice. Blame me Veronica, its' what you do best." He shook his head and leaned over her, so his breath hit her face causing her toes to curl. "Make a new year's resolution, Veronica. Try not to be such a bitch."
"Try not to be such a jack-ass," she retorted. There was no more play in either of their voices as they glared at one another.
Logan surprised her by smiling. "I'm working on it Mars. Happy Holidays."
