Meg found Logan sitting on a lounge chair outside an hour later. "Partied out," she asked, sitting down next to him.
"Something like that," Logan replied.
Meg watched him take another long drink from his flask. His hands were holding the flask almost lovingly, and she knew in an instant what had happened. "What did Veronica do now?"
"Nothing." Logan's voice was quiet, and she could barely hear him over the loud music pouring from the house.
"That bitch," Meg seethed. "When I get my hands on her, I'm going to kick her ass, No more cheerful little conversations, I'm just going to –" Her words were cut off as Logan grabbed her, and pulled her against him.
"Calm down Manning, that was a genuine nothing." He smiled down at her, one of his real smiles, that other people rarely saw. "It's going to be a new year in five minutes, I just wanted a few moments to remember the last."
Meg closed her mouth and leaned her head against his chest. "It's been a weird year."
"You could say that. As much as I wish-" Logan shut his eyes briefly, and took a slow breath. "As much as I wish some things hadn't happened, it all worked out, didn't it."
"You mean for all the bad, some good came out of it all?"
"Yeah, the silver lining in the cloud and what not."
"Do you know every cliché?" Meg sat up and looked Logan in the eye. "In the worst of all possible worlds, the best of all possible things happened."
"Only Glenda would quote Voltaire at a moment like this. Nerd." Logan pushed her lightly.
"I paraphrased Candide, Logan, a very different thing. Neanderthal." They smiled at each other for a moment, before Meg leaned up impulsively and kissed Logan's cheek. "Thanks for being my best friend Logan."
"You too," Logan whispered back. He stretched his arms out behind him and leaned back. "You haven't, you know, told anyone about our BFF activities, have you?"
"You mean how you paint her toe nails?" Luke's voice surprised them. He stood behind their chair and smiled at Logan. "She blabbing it all over town, your rep's shot." He slapped Logan on the back. "Didn't know you had it in you, Logan!"
Logan glared angrily at Meg. "How many people did you tell?"
"Only Luke!" Meg protested, laughing. At Logan's irritated expression, she let out another giggle. "Oh, come on Logan, its cute. You are a sweet guy. Just like Luke."
Logan's eyes got big and he turned to Luke with an evil grin. "She has your balls too, doesn't she?" he asked gleefully.
"Only once," Luke protested. "Well twice. Okay C'mon, she looks you in the eye, she wiggles those toes, what are you supposed to do?"
By now, Meg had dissolved into giggles, rolling around on the chair. Wiping tears from her eyes, she grinned at the boys. "I'm just too pretty," she announced, her voice squeaking with laughter. Logan and Luke looked at her for a moment, then in one fluid motion lifted her. Luke grabbed her arms, while Logan held her feet. "Hey! Hey what are you guys doing?" The boys just laughed, and began swinging her as they brought her closer to the pool.
"No!" shrieked Meg, still laughing. "My hair, my clothes!" When neither boy seemed particularly interested, she began wrestling around. "If I go in, I'm taking you with me!"
"Go ahead and try," Logan said with a grin.
"Woah, are you guys throwing Meg in the pool?" Cassidy had popped up out of nowhere and was standing near them.
"Yes they are," Meg yelled. "Help me!"
"Uh…" Cassidy darted a quick look at Logan's face. Logan only winked at him.
"Cassidy!" Meg yelled as Luke and Logan began to swing her again.
"Have fun baby," Luke said, leaning down to kiss her quickly. Meg tightened her grip around Luke's wrists in response. A second later, she was in the pool, having dragged Luke in with her.
Her head popped out of the water, her curls stuck to her face. "You jerk," she laughed, punching Luke in the chest. "But at least I got you."
"Like you could really pull me in," Luke replied, wrapping his arms around her.
"WOO, sexy Meggy!" Dick had come out of the house, along with what seemed like most of the party, who were all staring down at her. Meg clung to Luke tighter as he saluted Dick. "Sweet party Dick!"
"Thanks man!" Dick punched Logan in the shoulder. "What's that phrase about Rome and doing shit?"
"When in Rome?" Logan replied sardonically.
"Yeah that one." Turning around, he made a grand sweeping motion. "When in Rome people!" he yelled. In a quick move, he shoved Pam Macy in the water.
"DICK!" she shrieked when she came up spluttering. She was surrounded by more splashes as thirty some people began jumping into the water.
"You coming, Echolls?" Dick asked, as he made the leap.
Logan shrugged his shoulders, then caught site of Valerie wearing a pale pink shirt that was quickly becoming see through. She waved at him, and he nodded, before neatly diving in the pool, and swimming towards her. She didn't say anything as her arms wrapped around him.
"Fancy meeting you here," he murmured. Her giggle grated on him, but he took a quick look down at her ample chest and smiled.
"It's 11:59, " someone yelled, and everyone began to cheer. Logan allowed Valerie to use him as a float as he looked around, catching sight of Meg and Luke already making out; Dick and Madison bickering even as her legs were wrapped around him; couples kissing and splashing, everyone yelling. He couldn't find Veronica or Duncan, and it felt weird to ring in a New Year with either of them around. He couldn't remember the last time he'd done anything important without at least one of them around. But Meg was waving as the two swam over, and Valerie was making fervent attempts to grab his face. Someone began chanting, and as the numbers dwindled down to zero, he smiled. Not his real smile, but the classic Logan Echolls grin, one he hadn't felt like using in a long time. Valerie laughed, and he let himself be pulled down. It wasn't a great kiss, it wasn't even a good kiss. But as he let his hands roam over her body, water splashing around him, people cheering, he had to admit, it was the first fun kiss he'd had in a long time. Meg was tugging on him from behind, and he vaguely heard Dick cheering his name, but he kept going. He was young, he was hot, and he was going to get laid tonight. It was a good fucking New Year.
