A/N: This chapter is kind of a flashback to when they made the promise. Um, I think I made Lianne's "problem" more severe in this story because it needed to be a little more equal to Logan's problem with his dad. Not much else to say so...on with the story..Enjoy! R&R! Thanks. -Mac

Disclaimer: I don't own..still sad.

Chapter Two

The Promise

They were thirteen years old when they first made this promise to each other. Thirteen years old and already matured beyond their years. Thirteen years old and they had already seen and experienced things that most people couldn't even bring themselves to imagine.

Summer was in full swing and that sunny afternoon held plans to swim at the Kane residence. Veronica, Lilly and Duncan had been swimming for awhile before Logan arrived. Well, Lilly was more lounging than swimming. Veronica noticed the unnerved expression Logan possessed when he arrived by the pool. He had his arms crossed across his chest and he refused to look anyone directly in his eyes.

Veronica, the ever joyful one, felt instantly obligated to kick his gloomy mood. "Hey Logan! Come on in! It geels great!"

Logan didn't falter at Veronica's perky attitude. He wouldn't be surprised when she joined the pep squad at Neptune High. Lilly would do it for the title. Veronica, on the other hand, despite following Lilly she did it based on pure spirit.

"No thanks. I think I'll just hang out over here." Logan shook his head heading for one of the pool chairs set up by the pool.

Lilly's head poked up from her raft, and she pushed her sunglasses back from her eyes, "What do you mean, no? You're supposed to be coming to swim."

"I know, man." Duncan scowled, "Don't leave me with the girls."

"I don't feel like it." Logan muttered.

Veronica frowned, looking concerned. "You sure?"

"Yes." Logan snapped, and Veronica recoiled.

She didn't say a word about it after that. Instead, she opted to tread near the wall and talk to him about random things. Logan only half committed himself to talking to her. Veronica didn't like how he was behaving. He refused to remove his shirt or even approach the pool. It was worrying her. Taking after her father completely and dead set on figuring out what was going on with him, she followed him into the house when he went to get a drink.

"Logan." Veronica called out as he entered the kitchen making him stop short.

"What is it Ronnie?" Logan questioned as he turned around to face her.

"What's wrong, Logan?" Veronica responded, watching his eyes for the answer rather than listening to what he said.

"Nothing." Logan muttered and his eyes flashed with an undeterminable emotion--which definitely didn't agree with his response of 'nothing.'

"You're lying." Veronica stated simply.

Logan turned and headed for the kitchen as he said, "So what if I am? Does it really matter to you?"

"Yes, you're my friend, one of my best friends. Anything you're feeling matters to me." Veronica replied sincerely.

"You don't want to know." Logan shook his head after a long pause.

"I do want to know."

"I'll tell you right now, you don't."

"Will you stop telling me what I want?" Veronica exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "I don't like playing this childish game."

"Do you really want to know?" Logan asked angrily.

"Yes." Veronica nodded.

"I mean do you really want to know?"

"Yes."

"Because I don't think your innocent existence can handle it." Logan responded, looking irritated and frustrated and all those words for angry.

"Don't pretend to know everything about me, Logan." Veronica said firmly. "You haven't known me long enough."

Logan took a deep breath and took hold of one of Veronica's hands. He pulled her down one of the deserted hallways and into one of the Kane guest bedrooms. He closed and locked the door behind him. Without saying a word he began to pace--unsure of what this decision he had made meant.

Veronica stood quietly, waiting patiently. She knew that if he was going to tell her, he needed time to get it out. It had to be something big, huge, gigantic, if he was so nervous about it. And it meant a lot that he could trust her enough to tell her, because it meant she could trust him enough to tell him her secrets.

Finally, Logan stopped pacing and stood right in front of her. He turned around so his back was to her and began to pull off his shirt.

Veronica gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, "Logan!"

He hadn't wanted her pity, the last thing he wanted was anyone's pity. It was why he had never told anyone. Until her. He couldn't explain why he suddenly fell apart when she asked him what was wrong. He had perfected the "Everything-is-okay" facade, but it melted away when he saw the concern on her face.

"Who did this?" Veronica asked as she took it all in.

Logan remained silent. He closed his eyes as he felt her move closer. Veronica couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. The angry welts stood out on his slightly pale skin. They were freshly inflicted. It made Veronica physically sick that someone could deliberately inflict that kind of pain on another human being. Veronica was angry that someone could do that to him. All she could think about was who could possibly have done it and what could be done to make them pay for what they had done.

"Who did this?" Veronica repeated more forcefully. She wanted an answer. When she got none, she asked again. "Logan, who did this to you?"

Logan turned to look her right in the eyes as he pulled his shirt back on over his head. "I think you know who."

"Oh God, Logan." Veronica murmured, as he confirmed what she had already assumed--his father.

"Now you know, are you happy now?" Logan muttered angrily, then raised his voice. "Poor, poor Logan. He can have whatever he wants that money can buy. It's sad that Daddy hits him when he gets angry. You get scolded, he gets whipped with the belt of his choice. Twenty lashes for spilling his drink on the good tablecloth. I didn't tell you for your pity. I don't want you sympathy."

Logan had started for the door when Veronica spoke up. "My mom drinks...a lot. She thinks I don't know, but I've found empty vodka bottles in places they shouldn't be."

Logan froze with his hand on the doorknob before turning back to listen. "Really?"

"There are times when she comes in during the middle of the night when she thinks I'm sound asleep, but I always hear her." Veronica continued. "The worst part is my dad lies for her. Says she's sleeping when she's passed out from drinking so much. He says she's got the flu--24 hour bug--when it's really the alcohol. I hate that he has to cover it up for her."

"There's more, isn't there?" Logan could tell by the look on her face, she wasn't done yet.

"She's having an affair, cheating on my Dad." Veronica nodded. "My Dad doesn't have a clue. Sometimes I hate her for it, for hurting him so much, for hurting me so much."

Logan stayed quiet so she could finish, "I bet you could never guess who she's seeing behind my Dad's back."

Logan shook his head. "I don't know."

"I think it hurts more knowing who it is. Knowing it isn't only my life and my Dad's affected by it. But Lilly's and Duncan's as well..."

"Wait a minute...Mr. Kane?" Logan exclaimed.

"Jake Kane." Veronica let out a strangled laugh. "Yep. My best friends' father. Apparently, he was the high school sweetheart that she couldn't let go of even after they were both were married. I saw her old yearbook, I put two and two together."

"Veronica..." Logan started.

"'I didn't tell you for your pity. I don't want your sympathy.'" Veronica smiled slightly, as she stole his words. "I told you because I think we can trust each other with our secrets."

"Does Lilly know?" Logan asked. "Or Duncan?"

"No. I couldn't tell them that." Veronica answered. "Do either of them know about..."

Logan shook his head. "No."

Veronica suddenly plopped down on the ground. She crossed her legs and just sat there. After a minute or two Logan joined her, sitting right next to her. They sat their quietly for awhile until Veronica said something to break the silence.

"Wouldn't it be amazing if we could just leave it all behind?" Veronica replied. "If we could just run from everything?"

"Yeah that would be amazing." Logan breathed. "To get away from all of it, be free...that would be great."

"We should do it." Veronica said suddenly. "We should do it together."

"Run away?"

"Yes. At a time when we both need it, we'll do it together." Veronica responded. "Is it a deal?"

"It's a promise." Logan smiled.

They were young but they could understand pain and heartache better than anyone. And they could understand that they needed something to hold them up, otherwise they would drown in it. That's why they made the promise, why they had to act on it.