hi. remember this story? Of course you don't; it hasn't been updated in a year. Here's my 15,000 word apology.
#1: Monday Morning
Veronica jogs into Hearst's main cafeteria, sweaty and at her limit. She scans the sparse crowd and spots Weevil sitting alone eating breakfast.
As she makes her way to him, hands on her hips and panting, he sees her too, says something, and looks at her with a shit-eating grin.
"What'd you say?" Veronica asks pulling out her ear buds. "My music was too loud. It'd better be good, for you to look that proud of yourself." She collapses into the chair beside him.
"I said 'Nice shorts, Barbie. I bet your old man doesn't know you wear those in public.'"
"These?" Veronica said demurely. "I'll have you know my old man picked these out this morning."
Weevil made a disgusting face, to which Veronica quickly said, "I take it you meant the paternal 'old man' and not my boyfriend."
"Still," Weevil made the same face.
Veronica laughed and then agreed. "Yeah, I don't see the Sherriff endorsing these."
"As with most things in your life chica, what the Sherriff doesn't know…"
"…won't cost him an election. You almost finished?"
"Just waiting on you," Weevil says as he stands and disposes of his food and tray. She sees he's wearing his typical early morning attire: white tank top and long shorts. "You sure you don't want anything?"
"As appealing as a cafeteria breakfast is, I'll pass. I've already had bacon, eggs, and pancakes."
"Before a run! I'll never understand you, woman."
"You expect me to run on an empty stomach? That's suicide."
"How long today?" he asks, walking beside her.
"3.5. If I got nothing else out of Quantico, I now know I could outrun some perp."
"Hey, you got an early morning workout buddy out of your incarceration there too."
Veronica was looking at Weevil with an amused grin as he held the door open to Hearst's gym.
"What?" he asked gruffly.
"I love living in a world where the former head of the PCH biker gang calls me his 'workout buddy.'"
"You think I've lost my edge, huh, Goldilocks?" Weevil asked with a cocky sneer as he edged her against the nearest wall. "I could give you a real workout," he said looking her up and down. "You just say the word."
"Are you finished?" Veronica asked, still keeping an amused expression, but pushing him away with one hand.
"Haven't even started, baby," he said stepping back to her.
"Weevil," Veronica said with a laugh that reminded him of Lily. She walked away from him and the wall, "You're not even convincing anymore!"
"Convincing?" Weevil questioned as he trailed Veronica to their usual corner of the gym. He started loading up the weights for his machine as she did the same.
"Yes! We perfected the fake flirting routine years ago, and now you can't even convince me you're serious. You've become such a bad actor since you fell in looove," Veronica teased as she began her set.
"Love? Where'd you get an idea like that?"
"Really? You're going to play dumb? Okay, I'll give you the Watson version: Is Lettie Navaro the best cook in the county?"
"Yeah, so?"
"So, did you win the lottery?"
"What? No. V, you're not making any sense."
"Did you move out of your grandmother's house?"
"Of course not."
"Then you're in love."
"V, you're trying my patience here," Weevil said, extending his legs fully with each leg press.
"Good, concentrate on your form. Why would you eat cafeteria food this early in the morning, when your lovely abuela would gladly cook you anything? You had to have come here from a night out."
"Damn straight. I came here directly after leaving the arms of a woman. Doesn't mean I'm in love."
"Yeah, but you look tired, so you drove a long way this morning," Veronica said wincing on the last rep of her bench press.
"Could be I just didn't sleep, if you catch my drift."
"Oh, I caught it, Loverboy, but that wouldn't explain why your face is dirty only where your helmet didn't cover. You had to come a long way."
"Maybe I just found a chick worth driving for," Weevil said wiping his forehead as his legs continued to push against the weights. " Doesn't mean I'm in love."
"Weevil, you're carrying your clean maintenance uniform and it and the clothes you're wearing smell like lavender. I know for a fact Mrs. Navarro doesn't use anything but Tide. Some one-night stand, long-distance or not, would not wash your clothes in her girly-smelling soap wanting you to think of her all day."
"Shit Sherlock," Weevil said with a smile after a minute, "you should think about doing this detective thing professionally."
"So I'm right?"
"Well, there's this girl…"
"Cut to the chase. Is she the one?"
"She's the one for me," he said with a wistful look in his eyes, but a grimace on his face, "I'm still working on being the right one for her."
"What's there to work on? You're great, Eli."
"Oh, now you're gonna' be nice," he said standing up and adding weight to her lat press machine.
She nodded at the help. "Seriously—am I going to have to go talk some sense into this girl? What does she want you to change?"
"She doesn't want me to change anything," Weevil said quickly, "I just don't think what I do for a living is…"
"Is what? You have a good job. You have benefits. There's nothing to be embarrassed about working hard, Eli."
"…what I want to be doing for the rest of my life."
"Oh, well, that I can see. Thinking about a change? What've you got in mind?"
"Actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about that," he said with a smile.
#2: Monday Afternoon
"You nervous?" Dick asked her as he drove.
"I wasn't….until this afternoon," Mac answered honestly from the passenger seat. She realized fidgeting with her water bottle and staring out the window weren't concealing her anxiety.
"It's not like you feel bad though, right?"
She looked at him confused.
"You know, like have symptoms or anything?" he said grimacing and not looking over at her.
"No Dick, I don't have symptoms. I finally worked up the courage to go to the doctor after finding out my boyfriend was double dipping with me and a whore. Feel free to use this time as you drive me to the clinic to grill me about my gynecological health."
"Ugh, don't use big words that make girl parts sound like something gross."
Mac continued to stare out the window. In truth, she hadn't thought about her health at all until her mind started wandering in her last class of the afternoon. She made this appointment a month ago, wrote it on her calendar, then pushed it out of her mind. A few days ago, she bit the bullet and asked Dick to take her.
Dick took their current situation as a good sign. When Mac asked him a month ago if he'd ever had an HIV test he'd thought it was weird. But when she asked if he would drive her to a doctor's appointment a few days ago, it all made sense. Mac was nothing if not responsible. Of course she would want to make sure she didn't have any STDs from that loser before starting any new relationships. The fact that she was making plans for moving on got him excited and the fact that she trusted him enough to rely on him while facing something this personal made him ecstatic. And grossed out. And pissed at Max that she even had to do this. But ecstatic.
After a few minutes, he said, "Mackie, I'm sorry. Enough with the silent treatment. I wasn't grilling you. I was going to remind you that you're healthy and that you said you were safe so there's probably nothing to worry about."
"I'm sorry too," Mac said quietly.
Here it comes, thought Dick.
"You're being really nice taking me and I'm sure this is weird for you. I'm sorry for being snippy. It's just that I'm focusing all my energy on not freaking out right now."
Dodge. But he couldn't be mad. Not while she was so obviously distressed. "Don't freak out," he told her uncharacteristically softly. "It'll be okay."
He parked at the address she had given him and they both climbed out of the Jeep. Dick walked around and swiftly gave her a hug. Mac was surprised, but at the same time not at all. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. After a few seconds, she released him, looked in his eyes, and nodded. It was time to go in.
As they walked to the door of the office building, Dick said, "So I'm guessing you just want me to stay in the lobby? I didn't think you would want me to, like, hold your hand or anything. But whatever you want, I'll do it."
Her eyes lit up a little. "Whatever I want?" she asked playfully.
"Anywhere, anytime Mackenzie." He knew what she wanted, but throwing in flirty banter was a hard reflex to check.
She gulped.
Did she just gulp?
Dick pulled open the door for her, giving her a moment to collect herself.
"Dick, there's something I have to tell you," Mac said, stopping to face him.
"At the fucking door?" he asked snidely, but with a chuckle.
"What?" she replied, startled.
"You're going to tell me this at the fucking door to the clinic?"
"Tell you what?" she said, still confused.
"You've had a whole month," he chided.
"You KNOW?" she asked, shocked.
"Yes, I know," he whispered as he tugged on her elbow and pulled her into the reception area. Dick looked at her and shook his head. Then he strode to the front desk.
"Dick Casablancas, I have a 4pm appointment."
"So, how mad are you?" Mac whispered sheepishly as they filled out paperwork together in the lobby.
"I'm not mad, Mackie. But why'd you do it?"
"Why! Dick, you need to know this stuff is serious! They're not just going to check for HIV, but hepatitis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, all kinds of other nasty stuff that could make you really sick. And you said you've never had a check-up before!"
"Shh…shh…" He sighed as he looked around at the other people in the waiting room. "I get that part. What I meant was, why did you make an appointment for me and not tell me?"
"I didn't think you'd come," she said simply.
"Well, I'm not mad that I'm here—you're right, I needed an appointment. And I'm glad you're not here alone. But I am pissed you used a Veronica Mars move on me."
"Oh really. Well what could I have said to get you to come for yourself?" she asked sarcastically.
Dick sighed again and leaned into her, "You say, 'hey dumbass, you need to go to the doctor.'"
"And that would work?" she exclaimed, dubious.
"It worked when I had strep."
"You were basically unconscious that day."
"If I gave you any crap, then you say, 'Why? Because I said so, that's why' and I'd probably drop it."
"You would?" she asked, still doubtful.
"Only for you," he whispered, suddenly serious.
They both realized she gulped again. "Noted," she whispered back.
She needed to change the subject. She knew she had feelings for Dick, but she couldn't be sure if he was testing her. It didn't feel like he was trying to get her flustered for a laugh though. Regardless, having any deep discussion—or more likely, just flirting back—minutes before they had exams was bad timing.
"So how did you find me out anyway?" Mac asked him with a smirk.
"You know last week when you asked if I would take you to the doctor? It got me thinking that maybe I should go to one too 'cause I haven't been since I was a kid. I still had the business card from Dr. Angel and I thought she was cool enough, so I called to make an appointment. Since it wasn't an emergency, they said it would be a few weeks before I could be seen. But then when they entered all my information in the computer, they told me I already had an appointment for today. The same day and time as yours."
"You know I only did it because I care about you, right?" she asked, nervously avoiding his eyes.
"I know."
"And I care about you so much I made your appointment with Dr. Angel. While I've got to see some new guy." Now was not the time to tell Dick what prompted Mac to make appointments for them at this family practice clinic was hacking Julie Reynold's computer. Max factored in, sure, but the Beta was the catalyst. She would have preferred to see her old GYN—a sixty-something sassy female physician—but Julie doing google searches about gonorrhea was red flag enough. Getting Dick seen ASAP by someone he trusted was her priority. And Mac thought the only way she could get him there was with some trickery.
"Thanks. I like her," he told Mac. "You know they're going to draw blood though, right? Using needles. Real ones. Not just that finger pricking thing."
"I'll buy you ice cream afterwards," she told him with a wink.
"You bet your ass you will."
"Cynthia Mackenzie," a lady in scrubs called from the door.
All her nervousness rushed back as she stood.
"Everything's going to be fine," Dick said as he stood for no reason. "And if it's not…" Mac's eyes widened at this, "then you my friend will at least get a front row seat to Max's beat down."
When Mac next saw Dick he was surrounded by four nurses. FOUR. One was drawing his blood, one was holding his hand, one was standing behind his chair, and one was off to the side. Two of them were close to his age, one could have been his mom and the hand holder could have been his grandmother. All were completely enamored with him.
Mac peeked around the corner of the laboratory after hearing his voice, worried he'd made it to the lab for bloodwork before she did. He was fine, not faint or woozy at all. Laughing and flirting like he was back at a party at the Grande despite the needle in his arm.
"Mackie?" He'd spotted her before any of the nurses.
"Hey. You okay?" she asked. The three unoccupied nurses turned toward her.
"I'm great," he said with a smile. "How about you?"
"Take a seat, dear," one of the nurses told her motioning toward a lab chair across from Dick. The two young nurses scattered, realizing this was probably his girlfriend and that they had work to do.
"You're Cynthia?" the free nurse asked her.
"Yes," she replied. Then she looked at Dick, "I'm fine."
"So, what'd he say?" Dick asked her from across the room. Both had tourniquets around their arms now, but Dick's nurse was almost finished drawing his blood.
"You really want to talk about this here?" Mac asked nodding to the ladies.
Worried, Dick started to stand up. "Sweetie, you need to stay seated," the saintly patient nurse told him while she kept both of them from getting injured with the needle in her hand.
"Dick, sit down! Dick, I'm fine, really. The doctor said I'm fine. He's going to email me later with all the test results."
"The doctors here are pretty quick about it too," her nurse told her as she stuck her. Mac scrunched her face up and closed her eyes. "You'll probably get the results this week."
"So tell me about yours. How did it go?" Mac asked him as his nurse finished and he stood to be next to her. She welcomed the distraction of his answer.
"Oh, you know. She asked me a million personal questions, had me pee in a cup, manhandled my junk, and then sent me here to the vampires. All in all, not my idea of a good time, but I survived. How about yours?"
"Pretty much the same," Mac agreed. Her eyes were still closed or she would have seen Dick scrunch his face up just like hers.
"Gross."
"Which one, the exam or the fact that you're watching my lifeblood being drained from me?" Mac tilted her head up toward him, eyes still closed.
Dick rubs her shoulder. "Both."
"I agree completely."
"How about I buy you some ice cream?" he says as her nurse finishes and pats her arm that she's free to go.
"That's the best thing I've heard all day."
#3 Tuesday Morning
"I'll probably be back late tonight, honey, so don't wait up for me," Keith says as he cooks breakfast for his daughter.
"Dad, are you expecting a late night crime spree in our fair city?" Veronica asks as she pours them both juice and coffee.
"Expecting? No. Would I be shocked if it happened? Never. Always be prepared, that's my motto."
"Um, actually, that's the Boy Scout motto. Aren't you the boss around there? Can't you get one of your lackeys to stay late for you?"
"Veronica, I'm having dinner at Alicia's," Keith said making peace. He knew the subject of their morning conversation had nothing to do with his late hours at work.
"Mmmm…is Mrs. Fennel serving tapas at 9pm?"
Rather than answer her cheeky question, he asks one of his own. "You think I don't know that you pay Darrell to text you when I'm staying over?"
"Well, technically Logan is paying him, but the texts do come to me," she says as she slurps some juice.
"So we're done playing games then?" Keith asks, surprised Veronica is being so upfront about their current situation.
"Dad, did you think I didn't know Randy sends you a text every time I cross through the threshold of the Grande?"
"Sometimes, it's Jerry," Keith deadpans.
"Well, yeah. Randy needs a night off every now and again."
"He's got those kids."
"And his wife…she just gripe, gripe, gripes if he doesn't take her bowling on occasion."
Both are smiling at each other now.
"Sweetie," Keith says lovingly, "I don't think it's a good that you stay with Logan so much. He's growing on me, he is, but spending this much…time…together, do you honestly think that's the best thing for you right now?"
"We're just writing music and lyrics for a funky new Ska Opera, Dad."
"Veronica…"
"Knitting sweaters for orphans from the herd of llama we've been shearing?"
"Honey…"
"Planning an elaborate bank heist involving rodent extermination, a foreclosure, and some chicken wire?"
"VERONICA."
"Dad," she says calmly, "Logan and I are good now. Stable. He's been stable about us for a while, but I didn't know how I felt about him until I was away from him so long this summer. I know it's hard to think of me as an adult now, but I am. And I'm in a loving, adult relationship, like you."
"You…you love Logan?" he asks, in amazement and disbelief.
"I do, Dad. He's a good man and he loves me too."
"I—I—" Keith stammers.
"And I didn't want to play this card, Daddy-O, but here it is: I don't like staying here alone. Back-up is fantastic company, he is, but he's not you. When you're not here, even though I know you're just at the Fennel's, I worry. I worry about you, and Logan, and me, and have nightmares about drug runners pulling my shoulder out of joint and fiery refrigerators and Lily. I sleep—actually sleep—better when I'm with Logan. He keeps me from being irrational and he would never let anything hurt me."
"I'm so sorry. I had no idea. I can stay here more, honey."
"No you can't," Veronica said quickly. "You can't because when you're not with Alicia I know you worry about her. You worry about her and Darrell because you love them too. But I'm sure it's hard for you because when you're there you worry about me and Back-up."
"Back-up can take care of himself; it's you I worry about. You know that."
"I do, Dad. But you love Alicia. She makes you happy, and more than anything, I want you to be happy. You want to be with her just like I want to be with Logan. "
He shuddered slightly at this and Veronica continued, " I know that's got to be strange to hear as a parent, but this is part of growing up. Eventually dads have to let their daughters be with and be taken care of—as much as I hate that sentiment—by another man. I honestly think we haven't talked about this until now because deep down you worried less about me the nights when you knew I was with Logan." She paused then said, "Dad, I know I can't be happy without him."
Keith stood up and walked to his bedroom. For a brief moment, Veronica thought she sent him over the edge with that last statement.
He returned and placed a small black velvet box onto the kitchen island. "I've wanted to talk to you about this for a while now." Veronica opened the box and saw a perfect diamond on top of a gold engagement ring. "I want to ask Alicia to marry me."
"Do it," she said breathily, still stunned by the beautiful ring her father purchased.
"Veronica—" Keith said in a tone that let her know he wanted to hear more about what she thought on the matter.
"Seriously, Dad. She's wonderful. I love her too. I'd tell you you were a moron to ever let her go the first time, but that would be the pot calling the kettle black for sure. Alicia is fantastic—she's smart, beautiful, a good mom. She makes you smile like an idiot all the time, and I know she loves you too. Do it. Ask her."
"Like an idiot?" he asked with the aforementioned smile, relieved and ecstatic all together.
"All. The. Time." Veronica told him with a hug. "I've never seen you so happy. Never, in my whole life."
"That's so good to hear, Sweetie," he said hugging her fiercely, appreciating Veronica's word choice for what it was— permission to move on after Lianne. "I am happy, and I think I can make her happy too. Alicia and I have talked about marriage and we've decided we want to live in her house first before we think about making any large investments in a new house."
"Moving into her house?" questioned Veronica somewhat surprised.
"Yeah. It's plenty big enough for the two of us and Darrell. By the time we get married, you and Wallace will be further along in school and—"
"We really are going to have to get bunk beds, aren't we?" Veronica mused.
Keith laughed. "No, we can put the boys together when Wallace is home for the summers. That's what I was trying to tell you. You can move into Wallace's room while he's in the dorm and then all of the people I love the most will be under the same roof."
"Dad," Veronica started hesitantly, "As much fun as it would be redecorating my BFF's room in pink and purple unicorns, Wallace is not going to be happy getting pushed into sharing space with his little brother. And unless you and my step-mom-to-be are planning on letting Logan share Wallace's room with me, I've still got the problem of not being with the person I love."
"Oh, and what am I? Chopped liver?" Keith said despite his instinct to hold in this remark.
Veronica grimaced. "No, Dad, I misspoke. You know I love you," she said and saw that Keith relaxed, "I will never love anyone like I love you. But I do love him. A lot. It's a different kind of love, but I'm willing to bet it's equal with what you feel for Alicia."
"Really?" he said finally understanding how much his daughter loved the boy. "Wow, honey…that's….that's…."
"C'mon, Dad. Logan's not that awful."
"No, it's not that. Logan impressed me over the summer and I know he's been there for you in ways your dear old dad never could…like a man should… not that I'll think anyone will ever be good enough for you. I just can't believe that in the span of two minutes you've said you love Alicia, and me, AND Logan."
Veronica gave him a teasing stern look , "Don't go thinking I've gone soft, Sherriff."
He knew she was ready to be finished with this conversation because she started joking again, but he had to let her know what he was thinking. "It's okay to be soft every once in a while, honey. I'm thankful you love so many people and that they love you. But Veronica, you're also the strongest person I know. Stronger than any officer of the law I've ever worked with. Stronger than any man or woman I've ever known. And I know that's the part of yourself your most comfortable with. But it's okay to be loving and strong, to show both. Like you do with me." Veronica looked down. His compliment meant so much, but she also knew there was a warning in it—she could be too harsh, too cold and often didn't show the love that she felt for anyone but her dad for fear of being vulnerable.
Keith escaped from this tender moment, from this mild admonishment, the way they always did, "So, unicorns, huh?"
"Well, yeah," Veronica said, livening up again. "I mean, I'd have to paint the walls like an enchanted forest and put up some twinkle lights, but I think the unicorns could go a long way in making a strange place feel like home."
"Yeah," he laughed, unable to suppress his delight in his daughter, "you're one tough cookie."
# 4 Tuesday Afternoon
It's a sunny Tuesday afternoon and Stosh Piznarski is trekking through Hearst's campus on his way back to his dorm room after a long day of classes. His mind is distracted replaying the night before.
"Piz!" he hears a familiar voice yell from far away.
He turns and sees Mac and a monster of a guy walking toward him. Piz blushes and winces remembering the last time he saw the girl. "Hey Mac!" He calls back, hoping a wave and a smile will keep her at bay.
No such luck. She is hoofing it toward him. The big dark headed guy is trailing after her, but not as fast.
Mac reaches Piz quickly and almost slams into him. He's surprised when she hooks arms with him and continues walking, at quite a clip, in the direction he was going. He and Mac are friends, but not close friends. He braced himself, knowing she was about to mock him.
"Hey Piz," an out of breath Mac says still walking close beside him. He's shocked, realizing for the first time Mac's objective was not to tease. "Going my way?"
"Hey…" he said slowly, still confused. He had almost slowed to a standstill and Mac eventually matched his pacing.
"See you Thursday, Mac," the guy called after her with a smile and a wink.
"Okay, later," she tells him half-heartedly as he passes them.
"Who was that?" Piz asked her.
"No one," she says without thought. "I mean, just a guy from class."
After they see the guy in question move out of view, Mac releases Piz. "Sorry," she apologized motioning to their arms. "I just needed an out," she said vaguely.
"Yeah, no sweat Mac," Piz says with a kind smile and they continue walking.
"You okay?" he asks after seeing her take a few deep breaths.
"Uh-huh, I'm just out of shape, I guess," Mac tells him, though he doesn't believe her completely.
When she sees Piz's eyebrows furrow at this, she quickly drops in, "So, I'm really sorry about last night." Piz looks down at his shoes, and Mac lets a sneaky smile creep onto her face, "Parker and I have a pretty reliable system for preventing that sort of thing. And, uh, I didn't have any advance warning."
"Yeah... last night was kind of…unplanned."
"Was it?" she asked, full on smirk in place.
Piz actually laughed. "Okay, in my mind? No. But it's not like I thought it would really happen."
"Well, I didn't see anything," she offered, then paused a beat and said, "of yours. I got an eyeful of Parker, but that's nothing new. The girl is hardly ever fully clothed in the room."
Piz's jaw went slack and now Mac winced. "Not that she'd want me telling you that," Mac mumbled.
"Hey Mac, do you mind keeping what you saw to yourself?" Piz asked quietly. Mac gave him a questioning look. "I like her! I do!" Piz said to put out the fire he saw in Mac's eyes, "I just want us to talk about it, before everyone else is talking about it. Okay?"
"Oh, sure then. Your business is none of mine," Mac said with a nod.
Piz smiled at her. "Thanks." If anyone out of all of their friends was going to catch them, he was glad it was Mac; she seemed to be the most respectful of the privacy of others.
Mac was glad, out of all of her friends, she ran into Piz. He was definitely the least suspicious.
"Here's my dorm," she tells him as she starts to break away. Then laughs to herself and says, "Oh! You already knew that, huh?"
Piz gave her a Really? look.
Mac smiled at him sincerely. "Good luck talking to her, Piz. I think you guys could be great together."
# 5 Wednesday Afternoon
"In here," a deep voice said close to her ear. Veronica felt herself being pulled through a doorway and into a dark and small room. She was leaving her last class of the day and had been looking forward to getting a Coke, driving home with the windows down, and taking Backup for a nice long walk on the beach. All of these thoughts vanished when she heard that voice.
The room was completely dark and somewhat musty.
Everything happened so quickly she never even saw her assailant.
"I can't see anything! How do I know it's really you?"
No words came. Only lips. His mouth crashed down on hers and his kiss was heavy with desire. His hands slid over her body and pulled her completely to him.
"Convinced?" he asked. No light was necessary for her to see his smirk.
"It sounds like you." Veronica wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself up his body. She inhaled deeply, "and it smells like you. But I'm not sure about the kiss. This time you should really try to let me know it's you," she teased.
He descended again but this time kissed her slowly. Their lips and tongues could not be rushed through the sweet coming togethers and pulling aparts. After a few minutes of painfully slow foreplay, she opened her mouth to kiss him more deeply and he pulled away teasingly. He kissed her again then pulled away a second time. Then a third time, a fourth, and on the fifth she said, "If you thought being a jackass would convince me, you're wrong. Unfortunately I've kissed a lot of jackasses."
"You're still not sure it's me?" he said in a low voice directly in her ear. "Would anyone but me know that if I did this," he grabbed her and lifted her onto a table or counter of some kind "it would take you two seconds to wrap your legs around me." Her legs were already firmly wrapped around his waist pulling his body into her by the time he finished the sentence.
"Don't answer that," he said. "On second thought, just scream the first name that comes to mind when I do this." She knew she was in trouble now. In the same second, his mouth was on her neck and one hand was under her shirt while the other held her close to him; he timed his rough kisses and the movement of his hand together.
"Logan!" her response was involuntary. The second time she actually tried for a scream but it came out as more of a moan after "Lo", which pleased him even more.
He softened his kisses at her neck and moved back to her mouth. Veronica eagerly kissed him, glad to be closer to him on her perch on the counter.
"Oh, it is you," she said sweetly.
Logan pulled his face away, "You could have just touched me to see if it was really me, you know."
Veronica's hands were weaved into his hair; she loosened them and let them run over the back of his neck and his broad shoulders slowly. She helped him remove his shirt and caressed his shoulders again. She traced her hands along the sides of his neck and across his cheeks. With both hands she traced his eyebrows, his eyes, his nose, his cheekbones, his chin, and finally his lips. She reached up and kissed those lips lightly.
Logan, clearly loving her delicate attention, had his eyes closed and was breathing deeply throughout her gentle touches.
But, true to form, after she kissed him he said, "Awwww…you thought I meant my face."
Veronica gasped and chuckled and swatted at his chest all at the same time.
When Logan pulled her to him to kiss her again, Veronica said, "I have to tell you something."
He gave her a searing kiss, "Can it wait?"
"Yes," she said tracing her hands on his chest as she kissed him again, then she pulled away, "but I don't really want it too."
"Something, something, past the conversation portion of the evening," Logan mumbled into her hair before assailing the base of her neck with his lips again.
It took Veronica a moment to catch her breath, but then she became focused. "Okay, you keep doing that and I'm just going to start talking."
Logan chucked, "You want to see which one of us will stop first? " He resumed sucking and kissing the skin above her collarbone as he traced the bony prominence with his fingers. "You're the one taking my clothes off here."
Always up for a challenge, Veronica untangled her legs from Logan's waist until she could kneel on the desk under her, and leaned into him. Enjoying the slight height advantage she had over him now, she firmly said, "Yes."
"Hands up, please," Logan requested. Even in the uncertain darkness, Veronica did as she was asked, knowing Logan would steady her. In the same second, one hand was on her waist and the other removed her shirt completely.
"Logan!" she gasped as she wrapped her arms around his neck, looking down on him slightly, and pulling her body against his.
"I thought we already established it was me," he said as his hands traveled up her back to unclasp her bra. "Where's that doorstop you used to use?" He asked conversationally before his lips met the skin of her breasts
"Bathroom….First floor….Neptune high," Veronica managed to choke out as she clung to him more tightly.
"Okay then, I'm not apologizing if some janitor gets a show," Logan said with a laugh.
He felt Veronica stiffen, but she remained silent. "What?" he asked. "Did I hurt you?"
"No," she said breathlessly. He relaxed his grip a little and rested his forehead on her sternum. They both could tell the mood had shifted.
"Tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"Whatever it is that you thought of that made you tense up," he said knowingly.
She sighed and rested her head on top of his, loosening her hold on his shoulders as well. Veronica traced her hands down his arms. "Fine. You saying janitor made me think of Weevil and he's part of the good news/bad news thing I was going to tell you before you got me all distracted."
"Sit," he said without frustration as he held her waist and helped her sit down on the counter.
When she was settled, Logan walked to the door in the dark. He returned to Veronica and handed over her shirt and bra. She heard him put his shirt back on.
"I didn't mean for us to stop," she apologized.
"I know you didn't. I just prefer you to be unburdened of thought—especially thoughts of delinquent custodians-when we get distracted. Let's get dressed. Tell me about your news as I drive us to the Grande. Then we can get as distracted as we want and have a lock on the door."
"That sounds like a good plan….if you drive fast," she said as she hopped off the desk fully clothed. Way better than Coke and a pit bull. She reached for him as they found their way to the door in the dark. "But you'd better believe I'll be investing in a door jamb to go in my bag."
"I was already planning on putting one in your stocking for Christmas," he said as he took her hand.
They stepped into the sunlight and blinked before looking at one another for the first time since parting the night before. "You look really pretty today."
Laughter and then, "You're not so bad yourself, Mars. So, I'm a non-traditionalist. I'll take the good news first."
"Actually, I have two things to tell you about, but I haven't decided which is the good news and which is the bad news. I think each one has a little of both."
"Okay, hit me," he said as they buckled into the illegally parked Land Rover.
"Well, the first one is about my job. I think the PI thing is more my style than the FBI—I mean, I'm thinking this is what I want to do for my career. You know I want to keep working at Mars Investigations while Dad's the sheriff, but we're so busy and I'm pretty overwhelmed. Plus I've learned enough from the summer to know not to get too involved in the intense stuff. I'm owning up to the fact that PI work is dangerous and having an enforcer around isn't a bad idea."
"I thought I was your enforcer. Why do you sound like I'm getting the boot?"
"Logan, you know there's no one who protects me better than you, but despite your lack of current career aspirations we both know working at Mars Investigations would sap your soul. It's not a long-term gig for you, you'd hate it and you'd hate me. And that's not allowed."
"Weevil," he said, putting it all together. "But didn't you try that before?"
"Dad and Weevil tried it before, not just me and him. He's tough, he'd look out for me, and he's actually great at the PI thing, Logan. He's even going to get his license."
Logan was quiet for several minutes.
"Hey Logan?" Veronica said softly after a little while. "Don't be mad. If this is going to be a problem for us, tell me. Nothing is set in stone. Weevil volunteered to hunt down some bail jumpers which is much more dangerous than taking pictures from the shadows. It'd be good money and he'd do all the traveling, like my Dad did."
He looked at her, not believing this was the same 'my way or the highway' woman he feel in love with. He was surprised to realize how much they were both growing.
"Veronica, I actually think it's not a bad idea. Weevil and I have…had our differences in the past, but I know he's been a good friend to you for a long time and he's one of the few people that I think could actually stand up to you but also—and this is the part I care about—stand up for you."
"Then why do you still look like I just told you there is no Santa Claus?"
Logan sighed deeply. "I realize if I say this you're probably going to get mad or hurt or both. And I sure as hell know that if I tell you what I'm thinking you're not going to want to do what we were going to the Grande to do…"
"Just say it Logan," Veronica said half frustrated at the preamble and half frightened at what he was going to say.
"I'm sorry, but I just need to know. Once and for all. Have you and Weevil ever…?"
"Ever what?" she asked not following. He gave her a look that said it all.
"Logan no! Never! Not even a kiss!"
He exhaled through pursed lips, but played it off, "Good." He revved the engine and passed a car. "I have no problem copping to the green eyed monster. The quicker I can get you back to my bed the sooner I can give you more reasons never to stray."
"Logan." He knew she was admonishing his words and not his driving.
"Okay, okay. Since we're trying to be honest and open and all that, I'll tell you that my first thought was that he's going to have a lot of opportunities to spend time with you alone. Of course Weevil's attracted to you; he always has been. And in high school I wondered if you liked him back. The idea of you two on stake-outs and traveling and late nights…well, it was just unsettling V."
"You think I don't get it?" she asked, looking at him earnestly as he weaved through traffic.
"Get what?"
She sighed then said quietly, "Weevil's your Madison."
Logan's eyes found hers instantly. Veronica broke their gaze only when it felt too long. She feared their lives were in danger, and her nodding forward caused Logan to quickly focus on the road again.
They were both quiet for a solid minute. "In a nutshell, yes."
"Hey," she said softly as she reached out and traced her hand along his arm. His white knuckles flushed with color again as he relented from teaching that steering wheel a lesson. He was pulling into the parking garage of the Grande as Veronica said, "I'm not Lilly, Logan."
He froze and then sighed deeply. Her betrayal still hurt. Losing her still hurt. Hurting Veronica with Madison still hurt. "I know," he finally said adoringly as he parked then kissed her forehead lightly. "I loved her, I did. But she's got nothing on you, Veronica." They stayed with their heads together in silence for a few minutes more.
"Okay, so the good news was now you'll have help at work. The bad news is that it's my mortal enemy."
"Your mortal enemy is 6 feet under." Twisted as it was, that one didn't hurt, Logan thought. "Don't give Weevil that much credit; he's your prime annoyance at most. Kind of like Dick is to me."
"So what's part two of this news blitz. I'd really like to get out of this car and ravish you properly upstairs. I'm starting to come down off my janitor's closet high."
"Part two is this: Good news/bad news -I'll soon be gaining a step-mom and losing an apartment. "
"Wow. Good for Keith," Logan said with a smile, then frowned as he considered, " How are you doing with all of this?"
"Good. Alicia and Dad are perfect for each other. The part about Dad seriously thinking I'm going to share a bathroom with Darrell and Wallace is the bad news."
"If you're moving in with Wallace, let your dad know that I'm coming too," Logan said with a laugh.
"I did."
"You what?"
"I told him I needed to be close to you. That I loved you and I didn't want to be away from you."
Logan started patting his cheeks and then his arms.
"You're hilarious Logan."
"Am I dead?" He asked without giving himself away with a smile. "I mean, I don't feel dead and I don't remember dying, but if my girlfriend told her father, Sherriff Mars, that she loved me and I was moving in with them—sharing a bed with his little angel—I'm certain I'm no longer breathing of my own accord."
"Well, he said you'd have to share a room with Darrell," Veronica said rolling her eyes.
"And leave you to cuddle with Wally? No deal. Papa Bear is all mine."
Veronica laughed and then said quietly, "I was actually thinking maybe when Dad moves to Alicia's I could move in with you."
Logan was stunned. Then all that ran through his mind were jokes. Jokes about her barefoot and in the kichen. Jokes about their roommate Dick. Not until Veronica started stammering "I, uh, well…" did he regain composure.
"Now I know I'm dead," he replied softly but with a grin. When Veronica didn't reply right away Logan continued, "because that sounds like my idea of heaven."
"Logan, listen, it doesn't have to be a big deal. It doesn't have to mean anyth—" His hand over her mouth silenced her.
"Yes. Yes. Please, yes. I would have offered if you had given me another 90 seconds to process what you were saying. And it is a big deal. I want to make it a big deal. Waking up with you every morning… Taking you to bed every night…"
"Really?" Veronica asked with a questioning look.
"Of course really. What did you think I was going to say?"
"I don't know, something about your freedom or sewing wild oats or not putting the toilet seat down."
"Um…let's see," said Logan counting off his points on his fingertips, "I'm as free as I want to be. You and I can sew plenty of wild oats together. And when you falling in the toilet gets old I'll work harder at remembering."
"What about Dick?" she asked, bracing herself.
"Veronica, Dick's never going to remember to put the toilet seat down."
She chuckled and smacked him again. "You know what I mean. What will he think?"
"You're probably giving him too much credit on the thinking thing, but he'll be fine with it," Logan said with a smirk.
Veronica learned long ago not to trust his smirk. "He'll be fine with what exactly?"
"With you as a roommie. Though I'm going to have to insist you cover up a little more around the suite. He tends to stare."
Veronica crinkled up her face at that thought, but mulled over her next words carefully. She wanted to joke about never taking her clothes off again, though she knew Logan and Dick were practically family. Breaking up their tenuous attempt at a home might be detrimental to them both. "You know, we've got some time before Dad and Alicia get married. Let's just see where we all are when that time comes," she said judiciously.
"Veronica," Logan said in the voice she recognized as his serious and sincere tone, "you know there is no way I would move you into the suite with me and Dick. You and I need a place that's ours. We need space. But I agree, let's see what's going on with Dick when you're ready to move in with me. Ridiculous as it is, he's like my brother and I don't want to leave him hanging."
"It's not ridiculous," Veronica said holding onto Logan's hand in the car. "He's ridiculous, but you two together is not. Can we at least get him a guest house or a pool house or a tree house?"
"Angling for a mansion, huh Mars?"
She blushed, "No, I mean, I just thought—"
"Relax, Cupcake," he said with his true smile, "I've had my eye on houses in Neptune since I moved into the hotel. I've got at least five that I love—all of which could have a Casablancas wing; I've just never had a reason to strike out on my own before."
"You've been looking at houses?" she asked in wonder.
"Veronica," super-serious voice now, "when we talked about getting married before I wasn't exaggerating. I need you to know that. I'm not planning on living in the Neptune Grande forever; I want us to have a home. I don't care that we're twenty. It's you. It's always going to be you for me."
"I love you," she volunteers looking into his eyes. "It's always been you for me, Logan. No matter what I said or did," she ends in a mumble.
Logan swoops in and kisses her. "Can we please go upstairs now? No more news today."
"No more news," Veronica agrees as she opens her car door. She can't believe in this dingy underground parking lot she feels the happiest and most optimistic she has ever felt in her life. Talk about replacing a bad image with a good one. Now all she needs is to get engaged on the roof of the Grande and to have her wedding at Shelly Pomeroy's, she thinks morosely. Veronica shakes her head. Just enjoy this, him, right now. She looks at Logan walking toward her and beams. She's finally in the present and not the past.
"I have veto power on the houses, right?" Veronica states more than asks.
"Want to earn it?" Logan purrs as he kisses her cheek and wraps an arm around her.
She stops long enough to roll her eyes at him and feign a scowl.
Logan laughs as he says, "Why do you think I didn't settle on just one?"
# 6 Wednesday Night
A timer on Mac's phone buzzed, and Dick let out a deep sigh of relief.
"My professor is a jackass," Dick mumbles to Mac as they sit in his suite studying
"Why? 'Cause you have an essay due right before finals?" she asks, getting up from her seat on the floor and stretching before making her way to the refrigerator.
"That too," he pouts putting his books down and massaging his neck, "No my professor thought he'd be cute when he handed out assignments and I'm just now getting the joke."
"What joke?" Mac asks as she retrieves a bottle of water for each of them.
"Each of us got assigned to write a review of an article published by someone in the business or finance world. Like from Buffett, or Sam Walton, or Bill Gates," he nods his thanks as he takes the bottle from her .
"Yeah? So what's the joke?" Mac asks, now settling in beside Dick on the couch. She snuggles into a position with her back against his right arm and pulls her computer back into her lap.
"I got 'The Gospel of Wealth' by Andrew Carneige," Dick said taking a large swig from the bottle.
"He's the Carneige Melon founder and Carneige Hall, right?" she clarifies, taking a large drink of her own.
"Yeah, and about a million other things, mostly from his money in steel."
"Dick, I still don't get it. What's the article about?" Mac asks as she turns her head to look up at him. She notices the defeat in his eyes.
"Basically it's saying rich people shouldn't leave money to their kids 'cause they're too dumb to handle it."
"And you think you professor is trying to make a point by assigning that article to you? What point do you think he's trying to make?" she asks, nuzzling her head on his shoulder, in hopes of being comforting.
"I guess that I'm too stupid to manage a billion dollars," Dick replies absently as he smoothes her trapped hair with his left hand. " I shouldn't have been left with all this money. I'm just going to ruin my life and if my granddad had left it to charitable organizations then other people in the world would have been better off."
"Is that what you really think?"
"Yeah, why shouldn't I?"
"Maybe this professor doesn't even know about your money," Mac says again looking up at him.
He gave her a look that said he didn't buy it.
"Okay, so what if he did assign this one specifically for you. Maybe he's not saying your granddad was unwise, maybe he's trying to challenge you to think about your money in a different way."
"How so?"
"More about the legacy you're going to leave than the one you've been given."
Dick thought about this and looked over his notes again. "Yeah, maybe. Because Carniege says that giving away your money when you're dead isn't the right way to do it either. So maybe Professor Lee wasn't thinking about my granddad, he was thinking of me. Carneige was the equivalent of a billionaire in his day and gave most everything he had away while he was living but also set up endowments handled by boards of people when he died."
"So maybe it wasn't a joke after all," Mac said elbowing him playfully. "Maybe he was trying to, you know, teach you something."
He nodded in agreement, deep in thought for a few more minutes, then abruptly he exclaimed, "I'll teach you something," as he made to tickle her ribs.
"Dick!" Mac yelled, already laughing, "No! No, no. We've got to study. Stop! Please!"
"Fine, set your timer again. I'll give you thirty more minutes of peace."
The next half hour was much more productive for Dick than for Mac. He pulled his laptop to him and began typing feverishly. Dick was far too focused to notice her typing had slowed.
When the timer buzzed again, Dick smiled, pushed away his computer and notes and started to tickle her again. When he turned to her on the couch so her back was against his chest, she didn't even notice when he put his fingers against her ribs to begin her torture.
"What's up, Mac?" he asked, turning his action into an embrace instead.
"Do you think I'd still be me if I grew up with them?" she asked, sounding far away in thought.
The question threw him at first, then he connected the dots. They were talking about money before. She was thinking of the Sinclairs. Dick tightened his hug, then leg go and turned her around to face him.
"No."
"No?" She asked, almost sounding angry.
"No," he said again simply, but with a smile.
"You think I'd be stuck up like Madison? You think I'd have turned out like her and she would be like me?"
"Hell no," he said quickly. "I just meant you'd be different."
"Explain please."
"Mac, I still think you'd be you: nice and sweet and good, like the person you are deep down. But maybe you wouldn't be so funny if you didn't have to work hard growing up making people laugh because you wanted them to like you. "
She smiled at this.
"Maybe you wouldn't have the awesome style that you do if you felt like you fit in better."
Mac rolled her eyes at this compliment.
"Why are you so good with computers? Probably because you like them, but probably a little because you felt weird and distant from your family so you found something anti-social to rule at and the more you practiced, the more bad ass you got. So yeah, you'd be you, but a different un-Mackie you."
"Thanks Dick," Mac said hugging him on her own now. "You always know just what to say to cheer me up."
Dick held her tightly, taking a deep breath. Now that she was happy and in his arms seemed as good a time as any…
Then the door to the suite swung open. They both knew Logan was back from taking Veronica back to her car on campus.
Logan, rarely one to be at a loss for words, entered and upon seeing he had broken up a heartfelt moment, could only muster, "Shit. Sorry." He made a beeline for his room.
"It's okay Logan," Mac said pulling away from Dick and gathering up her books and computer. "Dick and I were just studying. And then I had a girly breakdown and Dick was trying to cheer me up. No harm done."
She slung her bag over one shoulder and said to Dick, "Thanks for understanding."
"Thanks for talking me out of hating my favorite professor," Dick replied, sad to be standing so far from her.
"Anytime," she said with a laugh. "Night Logan," Mac said as she left the suite.
"Worst . Timing. Ever." Dick said without looking at his roommate.
"Yeah?" said Logan smirking, "About 200 more times of me ruining the mood for you and we'll be even."
Logan faintly heard Dick grumble about getting his own place as he picked up his books and cleared the living room of all their bottles. After the afternoon Logan had, he was more than happy to help Dick look for his own place too.
# 7 Thursday Afternoon
"Hey, hey, look who it is," Dick said to Logan as they were walking on the outskirts of campus to their cars.
Logan's eyes followed Dick's pointing finger and they both watched Wallace jogging to the soccer fields.
"Ooohhh," said Logan, "Wonder if he's meeting his new girl?"
"I think it's only right that we make sure she's good enough for ol' Wallace."
"Dude, it's me," said Logan picking up the pace towards the small crowd of onlookers watching the girls practice. "Just say you want to see them in their little shorts."
"And the bouncing," Dick adds catching up to Logan. "The little shorts and the bouncing."
"Just in time for stretching! " Logan said quietly as they both crowd behind a surprised Wallace.
"What are you two clowns doing here?" Wallace asked, annoyed but amused.
"I support all Hearst Athletics," Logan says proudly.
"And you?"
"I like watching girls sweat," Dick says just as proudly. "What are you doing here?"
"I've got a date with Celia tonight," Wallace said beaming, staring at a group of girls bending in a circle, "but she didn't know if she would have a long practice or not so she told me to stop by around 5 and she'd let me know what time to pick her up."
"If she's #20, I'm impressed," said Dick leering.
Logan and Wallace looked over at him incredulously. "You can cut the act, Romeo," said Wallace with a smile. "Ain't none of these girls Mac and we know the only thing you want is the one thing you can't have."
"Ooohhh," taunted Logan who high-fived Wallace.
Dick playfully pushed both of them mumbling, "Shut up. Let me admire these girls in peace."
"Ogle. Ogle is the word, Dick."
"Seriously Wallace, if she's # 12, I'm impressed," volunteered Logan. Like dopes, they all turned their heads to the right to admire the player in question stretching.
Dick let out a low whistle of approval which broke Wallace out of the trance he had entered. Wallace pushed the man on either side of him. "Okay, you have a girlfriend. Stop staring at her! And you are just disgusting! Stop staring!"
"Touchy, touchy!" teased Dick as all the women on the field huddled up together.
"Keep your eyes on Miss Celia," continued Logan's torment, "#12 should be turning around any minute now."
"Can you guys get out of here?" Wallace asked, slightly desperate.
"No way man! If that girl looks half as good from the front as she does from behind—" but Dick stopped before he could finish that thought. The huddle broke and Celia did turn around.
Wallace couldn't help but smile as he watched the beautiful woman look around the sidelines for him. She was gorgeous. Although strong, she looked extremely feminine, even in her cleats and shin guards. Her thick hair was pulled into pig-tails on either side of her dark heart shaped face. Her eyes were huge and deep brown and sat upon flushed prominent cheeks. Her bright smile widened as she saw Wallace and began to jog toward him.
Dick and Logan instantly froze. Not because she was so pretty, that they were already aware of. It was because she was familiar. Seeing her face here, out of context, shocked them into silence.
"Hey Wallace!" she greeted him. "Thanks for coming by." Celia looked at his two companions and then, if it was possible, her smile got even bigger.
"Logan!" she shrieked in delight.
"Logan Echolls, that's me," he said extending his hand for a handshake. "Man, I must remember to send that fruit basket to those folks over at Tinseltown Diaries. Notoriety has it's perks," he added with a cheesy wink to Wallace. "This is our buddy Dick Casablancas."
Dick could only nod hello. He knew he was a horrible liar.
"Logan and Dick," Celia said coolly after a second's hesitation. "That shouldn't be too hard to remember." She gave them both a small scowl.
"Well, Wallace here says you all have a date tonight, so we don't want to hold you up. Good running into you Wallace. Nice to meet you Celia," Logan said turning to leave.
"Bye Wallace, Celia," Dick said with forced cheer as he also turned to leave.
Wallace was so thankful the boys left without embarrassing him, he didn't notice the dour look she had given his friends.
"Are those guys friends of yours?" Celia asked Wallace.
"Yeah, I mean, I guess. We all went to high school together, and they're starting to grow on me," he offered. When she looked and him quizzically, he shrugged and said, "It's complicated."
"Complicated," Celia repeated. "I can believe that."
In the parking lot, Logan looked distressed.
"Dude," Dick said in disbelief, "Wally's dating CJ!"
"Not a word," Logan scowled.
"I didn't even know she went here! I mean, she told us, but there were other things to occupy my mind at the time. Have you ever seen her on campus before?"
"Seriously, Dick, not a word. Not to anybody, especially not to Mac."
"You know I suck at secrets. Don't you think we should just tell everybody?"
"Are you crazy?" Logan almost screams. "It's finally working out with Veronica. Think it through, Dick. You think telling her the quaint little story of how me and the goddess dating her best friend got acquainted is going roll right off her back? We're not saying anything!"
"CJ's probably telling Wallace right now! What are you going to do if she does? You think Wallace is going to keep your secret from V?"
"She won't tell him," Logan said.
"How can you be sure?"
"CJ obviously knows something's up—did you see how pissed she was at us? Plus, it's not like she would want Wallace to know all of her drama about how we met—they're just going on their first date tonight. She didn't let on with us standing there. I think if I can catch her before her date tonight, I'm safe."
"Dude, you're acting like you know the girl. It was just a week."
"I do know her."
"Yeah, well I know Ronnie. And you know what Ronnie loves to do? Dig up dirt. You saw her and Mac on CJ's computer! As your friend, I'm telling you to be up front."
He laughed without humor; Dick telling him to do the right thing was never a good sign. "If I tell Veronica about this summer, she'll never forgive me," Logan says sadly.
"If she finds out on her own, she'll never forgive you either, bro."
"Dick," Logan said frustrated, "I've gotta' at least buy myself some time. I'm going to try to catch up with her now. I'll see you at home."
"God speed, homie."
Logan's mind went back to the time he spent with Celia this summer as he ran to the sports facility annex outside the practice fields. He shuddered. No, Veronica could never find out.
He leaned beside the door to the women's locker room. Logan thought of standing right in front of the door, but didn't want Celia to retreat back into forbidden territory when she saw him. Likewise, he didn't want any of her teammates gossiping about a guy, a semi-recognizable face, waiting outside. So he concealed himself as best he could. Girl after girl were leaving. Logan knew seniors—and especially those with pressing engagements like a date—would probably have first pick of the showers. Celia was either primping beyond recognition or she was upset. Unfortunately, he knew her well enough to know the answer.
"CJ!" he called to her back, his voice still somewhat subdued, from the shadows when she emerged.
He saw her shake her head slightly as she marched forward. "Oh! Now you remember me?"
"CJ! Wait! I'm sorry about that," Logan said as he caught up with her easily.
Celia wouldn't look at him, but said, "Get away from me," as she continued toward her dorm.
"C'mon, let me explain," he pleaded.
"Not now, Logan," she said as she wiped her cheek furiously.
This caught Logan off guard. He sped up and stopped right in front of her.
"CJ, are you crying?"
This is always a dumb question when you can see the person plainly is—Celia's answer was just as dumb, "No." she said as she halted inches before running into him, but was forced to wipe away more tears.
"Listen, I'll explain everything. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings—"
"You think these tears are about you!" she said finally meeting his eyes. "You're an egomaniac, Logan. Of course I'm not crying about whatever childish game you're up to now."
"Then why are you crying?"
Celia sighed, sniffled, then wiped her tears. "I haven't thought about… I mean, I've been doing really well lately…. It's just seeing you reminded me of the night we met… And I don't know what I'm thinking going out with this sophomore tonight…."
Logan understood. "Hey," he said gently holding each of her elbows with a hand. "I get it, I do. I'm sorry seeing me made you think of that asshole." He paused and added with an appraisal, "You look like you've been doing well lately."
At this, their well-practiced flirting, she tried to subdue a grin. "But Wallace," Logan continued, "is nothing like him. He's a great guy. A real salt of the earth, genuine, good-guy. Nothing egomaniacal about him," he ended with a smirk.
"If Wallace is so great," Celia began, "then why did we just fake an introduction back there?"
Logan dropped her arms and ran his hands through his hair. "Remember that girl I told you about?"
"Your true love?"
"Yeah," Logan said in a sigh, not remembering calling her that to Celia, but happy she understood.
"Veronica , right?"
"How did you know her name?"
"You called out for her all the time while you were asleep."
Logan blew out all the air in his lungs. This is exactly the kind of detail he didn't want CJ to tell Wallace. "Yeah, Veronica. Well, she and I are back together. We're together forever now, I hope."
"Logan!" CJ said, excited. "So it worked! It was worth it?"
"It was worth it, but it's not what worked. But that doesn't matter now. What matters is her best friend."
"Who's her best friend?"
"He's going to be picking you up tonight for a date," Logan said with a smile as he started walking back toward campus housing.
"Your Veronica and my Wallace are best friends?" Celia asked surprised, eager to be moving in the direction of her dorm.
"Your Wallace, huh? Guess he's not just 'this sophomore' now?" Logan teased.
"I don't know, he seems nice," Celia said with frustration. "He's athletic and cute. Wallace seems okay."
"Wallace is a prince. What's your hesitation about him, anyway?"
Celia gave Logan a look. "Okay, besides that CJ. There's nothing you can do before your first date to guarantee you aren't going to get your heart broken at some point."
"Except not go."
"Yeah, that's a healthy way to live."
"What worries me about Wallace? Here goes: he seems perfect, he seems too great actually. She did he, so was he. Wallace is hot and funny and charming, but that's what I thought about him and I still catch myself crying about him in the locker room 8 months after we broke up. You're his friend, Logan. You tell me what I should watch out for around Wallace."
Logan was stumped. He honestly couldn't think of anything a woman should be careful about with Wallace Fennell. If he and CJ didn't work out, he should give Trina Wallace's number.
"Seriously CJ? I can't think of anything."
"Really? What about all those girls he hangs out with? The ones who are all over him all the time."
"All over him? Who are you talking about? Describe them."
"Well, the pretty blond is the main one. I don't think he eats a meal without her by his side."
"The pretty blond is all mine, CJ. I think you're talking about Veronica."
"Is she the one who sits with you and brings her camera to all his games?"
"You've seen me at Wallace's games? Why haven't you ever said hi?"
"'Cause you were snuggling with the camera girl," Celia admits.
"See! So, you know she's not all over Wallace. That one's mine! And they're practically family, so don't worry about her."
"What about the tall one I found in his room? The one from Colorado?"
"Parker? She and Wallace are 100% friends; I'm sure they were just hanging out."
"She didn't go to high school with you guys, so you can't know Parker that well, right?"
"We kind of used to date," Logan said wincing.
"Who haven't you dated, Logan?" Celia said with a laugh. "So what about you and the purple-haired girl? When did that go down?"
"Mac!" Logan laughed. "No, Mac is my friend and Wallace's friend—neither of us have ever dated her."
"But she likes Wallace?" Celia asked cringing. "I've seen them together studying in the library. I've even seen her whispering with him at Shakey's."
"CJ, Mac doesn't like Wallace and Wallace doesn't like Mac—I'm almost positive. And even if he did, I'm sure Dick would have something to say about it."
"Dick is dating Mac?" CJ is shocked.
"Not yet," he says with a knowing smile, then adds, "Shh…it's a secret," with a wink.
"Huh, I definitely didn't see that one coming."
"Neither did he."
The pair arrived at her dorm. "I'm fine with keeping our secret Logan," said Celia, "but if Wallace asks me about you point blank, I'm not going to lie. I'm not going to lie to anyone who asks, okay?"
"Fair enough, CJ," he concedes. Logan sighs and takes in Celia, " It was really great seeing you. I'm glad things are going better for you these days."
"Me too. It was good to finally run into you again. I didn't want to tell you this before," she whispers, "but you looked like hell this summer."
"Hey! I felt like hell too, so at least you're observant."
"It's all working out for you and Veronica then?" Celia asked with a smile.
"Better than I could have imagined," he said thinking back to yesterday.
"Wow, this girl sure must be something. You adore her and Wallace has told me several times about his awesome best friend." Celia pauses then mutters, "Of course I imagined his private investigator best friend from high school was the type to grow a beard over his acne scars."
Logan laughed. "He didn't tell you his best friend was a girl?"
"Would you?" she shot back. "Wallace Fennel is no fool. No woman wants to put themselves in the middle of some Dawson and Joey situation."
"Doesn't the bad boy get the girl anyway?"
"You'd better," Celia says with a light laugh then gives Logan a disapproving look for knowing what she meant. "Seriously, if I like Fennel, I probably need to win over his friends. I can tell the opinions of his friends matter. You and Dick are on my side because, well, because I own you now. How do I get Veronica to like me?'
"Really? You like Wallace that much?" Logan asked, surprised.
"I don't know. I'm considering my options. Answer the question."
Logan thought back to Veronica and Mac doing background searches on Celia and shuddered again. He composed himself and said, "I wouldn't start with how many times you've seen me naked."
"I wasn't that impressed," she teases with a tight smile, him looking him up and down. "Why would I start with something so unremarkable?"
"You're a funny girl."
"I'll let you think that."
"CJ, you're a nice girl. You have money but you don't flaunt it, you work hard at everything you do, you thrive on helping people. Veronica likes the do-gooder types like you & Wallace. Over time she'll get to know you, and once you're in with her, you're in for life. You know, until you mention the naked thing. But don't be offended if she's cold or harsh at first—that's just the Mars charm."
"What's she doing with you if she likes do-gooders?" Celia teases.
"She likes do-gooders, but she loves bad boys," Logan says proudly.
"What if I'm not up for the arduous best-friend-interrogation phase while she learns to like me?"
"I'd say tough shit, she's a PI. Or you'd have to impress the hell out of her."
"What impresses Veronica Mars?"
Logan thought for a moment. "Loyalty. Being smarter than her. Quick wit. Thoughtfulness. And a whole slew of bedroom moves it's best we don't discuss."
"Good to know," Celia says shaking her head as she turns to go into her dorm.
"Have fun on your date tonight CJ!" Logan said turning away from her. "Oh, and uh, you don't have any pictures of me on your computer, do you? Or, you know, you didn't mention anything about me in any emails?"
A once happy Celia has a furious look as she turns back to Logan, "Why?"
# 8 Friday Morning
"I've never been here for breakfast before, have you?" Mac asked Veronica as the hostess of a chic but sparsely crowded restaurant tells them to sit where ever.
"No, I just thought it'd be a nice change of pace. Let's sit over here," Veronica said moving into a booth.
Before sitting, Mac paused and looked at the patrons around her. "A change of pace!" she whispered in frustration as she clambers into the booth. "Veronica, Celia Jones is sitting at the table next to us. Do you seriously want me to believe we're here for a change of pace?"
"Oh, then no. Now you know exactly why we're here."
"One of these days, you're gonna' want me for my company, Bond."
"I do want you for your company. I also want to hear from the horse's mouth how her date went last night."
Mac pulls out her phone, "We could just call him and ask."
"Yeah, but what's the fun in that?"
Veronica and Mac put the spying on hold and actually had a great time at breakfast. In the last few weeks classes had been winding down so projects and papers were all coming due; they hadn't spent much time alone together.
Celia was sitting with three other girls, each seemed to have a relationship issue of her own. Much time had been spent analyzing why one's boyfriend had not yet proposed. Now they were discussing the upcoming wedding of another. While Celia's friends weren't talking about Wallace, Mac and Veronica were happily chatting about their own lives and munching on banana oat pancakes.
"You're moving in with him! Ahh… that's so…major."
"I know, right? You don't think it's going to screw it all up, do you?"
"Do you?" Mac asked with a furrowed brow.
"No," Veronica looked almost bashful at this admission. "I don't. Not this time."
"I don't either," agreed Mac. "Not that you should care what anyone else thinks anyway."
"Speaking of not caring what anyone else thinks—"
"Here we go," said Mac.
"What!" exclaimed Veronica chewing on a piece of bacon. "Inquiring minds want to know what big secret you and Dickie C have been hiding this week."
"It's not what you think," Mac said sighing.
"Oh, what have I been thinking?" Veronica asked with a sly smile.
"It's nothing…illicit. I decided to get a check up, you know, after Max. And I made him see someone too. That's all. We weren't telling people because, well because he didn't know he was going, and then afterwards we wanted to make sure everything was fine."
"Everything okay?" Veronica asked leaning forward, now very concerned. She never really discussed the whole Chlamydia-from-Beaver thing with Mac. Veronica couldn't even bring herself to ask Mac about seeing a doctor after all that came out in court.
"Yep! Clean bills of health for both of us!"
"What?" Veronica asked, choking down some coffee. Well that answered some sure-to-be-awkward questions about Mac and Cassidy. "For both of you? Even Dick? Is this doctor even reputable?"
"Yes, very reputable. I got an email this morning saying my tests were all negative, and I checked Dick's email and his said the same."
"You checked Dick's email, huh?" Veronica asked, the smile creeping back on her face.
"Drop it, Wallace," Mac told her, indicating she was done talking about Dick.
"Consider it dropped. Um, Miss," Veronica said catching her waitress in passing. "May we have two mimosas please?"
As the waitress left to collect the drinks, Mac asked, "It's a little early and we're both headed to class. Are we celebrating something ,V?"
"You bet. I'm moving in with the man of my dreams and you and Mr. Casablancas, despite your youthful proclivities, have managed to stay shockingly disease free."
"To our continued good fortune," Mac toasted when the waitress returned.
"To good company," toasted Veronica in return.
The loud giggling at the table behind them alerted them to the topic of last night's date.
"…after dinner we went for a walk at, I think it was, Dog Beach."
They heard the other girls 'oohh' and Celia continued. "It was getting cold so he ran all the way back to his car to find a jacket for me."
"How sweet," said one friend while another said, "Get to the good stuff! So how did it end? Did he kiss you goodnight?"
"Guys, c'mon, you think I'm really going to tell you?" Celia said though it sounded like she was teasing.
"Jonesy," said one girl, "You know we did not get up two hours before class to hear these two bitch about their men and to go over my wedding plans."
"Again," added another girl pointedly.
The girls all laughed. "Fine, fine. Yes, Wallace kissed me once down by the beach—that one was really sweet. Our bare feet were a few inches in the water—it was a good first kiss. Memorable. But the one at my door, that was….that was…."
"He left you speechless? You?"
"It was something else entirely," Celia said dreamily, and Veronica and Mac tucked in their booth, didn't need to see her to know her face was full of joy.
"So when is Mr. Hot Lips Point Guard taking you out again?"
"He said he'd call me today," and the table erupted in more 'oohhs' and speculation.
"Go Dubs," Mac said quietly to Veronica, her expression full of surprise.
"You'd think I'd be grossed out," Veronica whispered back, cocky smile in place, "but I'm actually kinda' proud."
Veronica and Mac stopped spying and resumed talking about the upcoming weekend. V had plans with Logan tonight while Mac was planning on calling Dick 'at a reasonable hour' to discuss celebrating on their own. The girls decided finals studying needing to start in earnest on Sunday, so Veronica was going to book a study room in the library for the day. The guys didn't yet know there would be a mandatory attendance policy.
Mac and Veronica were finishing their meal when the other group walked past them, laughing and joking on their way out of the restaurant.
"Oh! I left my purse! I'll see y'all back at campus!" shouted Celia to the girls as she doubled back.
Celia walked up to Mac and Veronica's table, purse in tow, and slid into the booth beside Mac.
"Veronica Mars," she said locking eyes with the woman across the table. "Mac Mackenzie," she said turning to the girl beside her. "I'm Celia Jones. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Mac was shocked. Veronica recovered more quickly. "Hey, Celia," she said sounding cheerful. "I think you know our friend—"
"Just stop, Veronica. Don't embarrass yourself. Do you really think I didn't know who you were the minute you walked in here?"
"We love this restaurant. We come—" Veronica started while simultaneously Mac was saying "—the only place nearby with a vegan brunch menu—"
"Girls," Celia said in such a quietly, commanding voice they both stopped talking. "I just have one question: Did Wallace ask you to come here to eavesdrop on me?"
"No!" They both say adamantly.
"Fine," Celia says, and now she just sounds tired and frustrated. "I didn't say anything he doesn't already know, not that it's any of your business." Then she's thinking out loud, "If he didn't tell you, then how did you know—"
"Where you'd be?" piped up Veronica, sitting up straighter now. "It's not that hard to track down your super-secret weekly brunch, Celia."
"No," Celia says sourly. "that we changed the time." She's eyeing them both now.
"Listen Celia," Veronica starts patronizingly, "you're schedule wouldn't be a tough nut to crack hypothetically, of course."
"Hey Super-spy," Celia counters, "I bet Wallace would love to hear that you two followed me and my friends to breakfast today."
"Us being here proves nothing, Celia," Mac joined in, not liking the tone she was taking with her friend. "You complaining about it would make you sound paranoid."
"Paranoid am I?" Celia asks now glaring at Mac. "I suppose this breakfast encounter could all be seen as coincidence, you're right. But you traipsing all through my computer—with that kind of evidence Wallace would see why I feel so paranoid."
Mac's eyes widen, belying her calm façade. She knew she hadn't left any trace. Right? She's certain. Almost certain, now.
"Yes, I know all about your not-so-stealth endeavors, Whiz Kid. I was actually willing to ignore the fact that the two of you were so invasive, thinking you must just be curious about the type of person dating your friend. You're not going to find any dirt on me, so I didn't worry. But I look up from my meal with my friends to see you two stalking me? This is going too far—this is some unhealthy behavior!"
"Let's make a deal," Veronica says, turning Celia's attention back to her. "You seem to be a stand-up girl. We'll stop checking up on you, you leave Wallace out of this."
"I may be a stand-up girl, but what about you two," Celia replied hotly. "What if I think the man I date should know his friends are snoops?"
Mac actually snickered at this, and Veronica tried to suppress a smirk.
"Something funny?"
"Celia, Wallace is well aware that Veronica is a snoop."
"And he knows that Mac's the Q to my Bond. You won't be telling him any new information."
"Maybe not," Celia replied calmly, still sitting closely to Mac in the booth maintaining good eye contact with both the girls. "I'm well apprised of your private investigator career Veronica and your computer hacking skills Mac, but that doesn't give you any right to make me your target. I thought you targeted bad guys, people who had done someone wrong. "
"We do," said Veronica, "we're also wary of anyone new getting close to our friend. Fine, I'll apologize. I'm sorry, Celia. We didn't mean to scare you or make you nervous."
"Ladies," Celia continued in a superior tone, "you neither scared me nor made me nervous. You pissed me off. And I'd advise you to avoid pissing me off in the future. What happens or doesn't happen between Wallace and me is our business, no matter how much you care for him. I know he's like a brother to you, but how would you like it if someone was digging around in your past."
"Wouldn't be anything new for either of us," Veronica shot back.
"Oh really?" Celia replied. "I'd guess the skeletons in my closet do look rather dull compared to yours, Veronica. Billionaire boyfriend in high-school, then you went for the criminal then law-enforcement boyfriends back to back, and now I hear you and the famous Aaron Echolls' heir are hot and heavy."
"Wallace had no right telling her all that," Mac whispered under her breath to her best friend when she saw her shocked face. So much for an appreciation of privacy!
"Wallace?" Celia exclaimed laughing, "You think Wallace told me anything about you two! He never even told me he had friends that were girls, much less your names! After I discovered my computer security had been breached, I did some detective work of my own! Don't look so shocked Cynthia—for someone in love with Dick Casablancas I would have thought you were used to hearing shocking things all the time."
At this, Mac's face flushed but Veronica actually had to cover her own scoffing laugh.
"Like I said ladies," Celia said standing, "it was a pleasure running into you this morning. Like it or not, I'm calling a truce. Violate my privacy again and I'll prove publicly, not just to Wallace, that you two aren't the only ones with skills." With that, Celia Jones exited.
Mac and Veronica sat in dumbfounded silence for the next few minutes.
Eventually, Veronica gushed, "You may be right, Mac. She may just be Wallace Fennell material."
So there, I'm sorry for the delay. I hope you liked at least one of the meetings! Next chapter is completely Mac and Dick! (FINALLY, they are Vegas bound.) But I was glad the whole gang was in this one to lay down the ground work for the rest of this story. Thanks in advance for being patient for the next installment (not like a year patient, I promise). More thanks and notes are in my bio, if you're interested.