It was Saturday when Meg Manning and Veronica were in the Neptune North Street Mall shopping and Logan spotted them as his girlfriend Caitlin and Pam dragged him into yet another purse store, and his pulse immediately started to race. Their paths hadn't really crossed since his little conversation yesterday in Ms James' office. It seemed even when she wasn't herself, Veronica could still get under his skin somehow and, even with the repetitive thoughts of how he was going to try and navigate this new version of her… he hadn't been expecting to see her until Monday when he was planning to be accidentally-on-purpose in the same vicinity.

It was odd to be watching her like this… she was smiling and laughing at something that Meg's sister Lizzie had said. She looked just as she had before, but there was none of that hostility, none of that tough edge to her posture and she blushed when their eyes connected as she caught him staring at her.

Brave New Veronica…

Logan gave her a small wave and she smiled back shyly, tucking her hair behind her ear, she did that a lot recently he noted, always on the same side where she had hit her head.

"Ugh… I can't be having a fashion crisis right now, my schedule is full!" Caitlin complained as she looked through the rails of scarfs.

"Can't say I didn't warn you... we should have just driven up to Beverly Hills… there's never anything in here" Pam agreed.

"You really have no idea who I am do you?" Rick Pickett snarled as he stood in front of Veronica angrily.

"You'd think the confused look and blank stare would have answered that for you.." she replied sarcastically.

"Just leave her alone…" Meg said as she tried to push him away.

"I don't care what your excuses are… your dad is going to pay for what he did to my family" Rick snarled and Veronica backed away from the infuriated sales assistant.

"Pay? I don't even know who you are…" she said glancing over her shoulder as he backed her up against the wall.

"That has got to be the lamest pick up line in existence" Logan snapped as he hauled Rick backwards and shoved him away from the three girls. Where was Wallace?

"Encase you needed a little help… that's the ladies way of saying she's not interested so why don't you go do a stock check or something?" he added angrily as he tried to ignore the obvious look of relief on Veronica's face.

He'd have done this for any girl….

"This isn't over…" Rick warned her as he glared at Logan and stormed off towards the other side of the store.

"No.. its Done" Logan threatened.

"Thanks Logan" Meg sighed as she wrapped an arm protectively around Veronica and he gave her a quick once over. The old Veronica just would have used her Taser to subdue the jackass.

"You any idea what that was about?" he asked. Not that he should be surprised if they didn't… the Mars family were quite adept at making enemies.

"What was all what about?" Veronica joked quietly and Logan raised an eyebrow at her.

Amnesia jokes… really?

"No idea… he just came up and started threatening her" Lizzie told him as she clutched the small bundle of sweaters in her hand.

"Ah… Logan?" Caitlin called from the entrance and he turned to see her standing there with her hand on her hips expectantly and he gave Meg and Veronica a quick glance before waving goodbye as he joined his girlfriend again. "What the hell was that?" she demanded.

"I thought you loved it when I got all John Wayne" Logan retorted.

"That's not what an apology sounds like" she told him.

"Funny… that's not what I was going for" Logan replied as he began to head towards the food court.

"I am getting really sick of this Obsession" she accused him.

"Obsession?" he asked as he turned around to glare at her.

"Yeah, your one man mission to colonize Mars" she snarled. "You are MY boyfriend" she said possessively.

"Oh well that's a shame… I told them we would save them a seat" he retorted.

"Not at our table!" she snapped.

"Don't sound so disappointed… someone might think you don't like me" he joked.

"Well frankly Logan… Lately I don't" Caitlin told him as she glared.

"Excuse me?" Logan spluttered in surprise.

"Actually, I won't. I'm sick of it…" she snarled. "You alienate everyone who cares about you and I am tired of trying to hold your attention when all you do is give into your little Veronica Mars infatuation"

"Yea? Then why do you bother?" he spat back angrily.

"I'm not… not anymore" she said simply before pivoting on her heel and walking away with her hips swaying as Pam fell into step beside her.

Dear Diary,

Scented candles are burning, relaxing bath time music was on the Youtube playlist and I have just finished girly-ing it up with Meg and her sister Lizzie today. I think I am appropriately scented like raspberries and vanilla and my hair is now silkier and bouncy. I've also gotten a wardrobe overhaul… those band t-shirts don't really mean anything when you can't remember the bands but in other news we finally tracked down someone who can unlock my computer today… anticipating the secrets it can reveal tomorrow when Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie finally gets it back to me.

I attempted to bake something today, the Boston cream pie did not go well but Keith was very sweet about it anyway. I really have to start calling him dad… Wallace has started acting a little strange the last few days since we went to the movies, Meg thinks it's because he might be developing a crush. I really hope that's not the case. He's one of the few people I know here.

Although… speaking of crushes. I think I might have one on Logan Echolls… but that would be messy and complicated.

I'm not sure if it's because I might like him after what he did in the Mall today or if it's because being around him is the only time I don't feel completely out of place. I guess I could ask Dr Jeremiah Holtz tomorrow when I go for my first session? Hypnotherapy… if that's anything like the aroma therapy oils that Meg has burning in my Scentsy burner that might not be so bad.

Veronica finished making her daily journal entry and unplugged the small scentsy device and called Backup to cuddle up beside her on the bed. From what she had been able to piece together from the other 09ers at school and her little chats with Duncan Kane, things between her and Logan had gone sour just after Lilly's murder, but no one could quite explain to her why. She always caught his gaze lingering on her but he wouldn't speak to her.

Which was a shame, because a part of her was sure he was the clue she needed to start piecing things back together again.