Mr Darcy Comes to Neptune

by steenbeans

P&P, baby: Pride and Prejudice! A modern re-telling of a classic, set in Neptune, CA. Veronica Mars will be playing the role of Elizabeth Bennet. And Mr. Darcy? Why, Logan Echolls, of course. LoVe. Very AU. Crossover.

12. Chapter 12

A/N Okay. So it's been a little while since I've updated this story. But this is a 53 page, 21,000 word chapter with like 30 different characters in it. I hope that helps make up for it.

Big thank you to everyone who's sticking with this story, and to all of you kind souls who have reviewed, favorited and followed through the years. I hope you all know by now, I can't do it without you.

I also want to say a special thank you to lilamadison11 and hanitjemars on tumblr, for the extraordinarily cool artwork they both made for this story. You guys seriously inspire me.

Hope you all enjoy!

P.S. The part of Mary Bennet, formerly played by Parker, is now being played by Mandy. All previous chapters have been edited.

Chapter 12

"I wish you didn't have to go," Veronica lamented, glancing up at her favorite aunt. "You just got here."

Alicia placed a slender hand on her niece's shoulder and squeezed gently, before taking the empty seat beside her on the couch. She set down her cup of tea on the end table and turned to face Veronica. "I'd love to stay longer," she replied wistfully. "Twenty-four hours just isn't enough time. If I didn't have that show tonight…"

"No, I understand," Veronica assured her. "I know how hard it is for you to get away from the gallery. I'm just glad you were able to come at all." Her gaze strayed towards Meg, sitting quietly at the piano bench beside Mandy, and she sighed heavily. "I've never seen her like this before. Never."

Alicia frowned at the sight of her eldest niece, her own concern rivaling Veronica's. "Still no word from him?"

"Not a peep," Veronica confirmed. She picked up her tea cup and took a small sip, her thoughts travelling to that fateful day after the Kanes' party.

The Mars family had remained oblivious to the tabloid stories throughout the morning, all five girls sleeping in far later than usual. They'd shared a lively brunch with their parents, rife with gossip about the events of the previous evening. An anxious phone call from Mac, around noon, had finally made them privy to the surprising news; but none of them- least of all Meg- had been prepared for the consequences.

"What about his sisters?" Alicia pressed. "Hasn't she spoken to them since?"

"No," Veronica responded, unable to keep the disgust out of her voice. "Just that text from Madison, the day they left." Boarding flight to NYC, the message had read. Sorry no time for goodbyes! Talk soon.

Alicia shook her head disapprovingly. "I thought they were supposed to be friends."

"Yeah," Veronica scoffed. "Meg thought so too."

"It's just so odd," Alicia mused, eyebrows drawn together in confusion. "No apology, no explanation…" She refocused her attention on the niece beside her. "And has she tried to contact him?"

"Not this week," Veronica said flatly. "When he stopped answering her texts and phone calls… she got the hint." She set her teacup down a bit too harshly, and the saucer beneath rattled in protest.

Veronica took a deep breath, trying to get her emotions in check. Meg had gone from elation to confusion, from concern to dismay, all within the span of a few days. It had been a transformation heartbreaking to witness, made infinitely worse by the fact that Veronica had been powerless to stop it. And that I didn't see it coming.

"And how is she handling the, um, stories?" Alicia asked, dropping her voice even lower.

"Not well," Veronica sighed. "I tell her not to read them, but…"

Alicia's brown eyes flashed in a rare display of anger. "Who would do this, to her?" she demanded. "Do you have any idea?"

Veronica leaned her back against the couch, not replying immediately. Rumors of Duncan and Meg's pending elopement was undoubtedly what had driven the wealthy young man away, back towards the sanctuary of his home. Unable to excuse or condone Duncan's behavior towards her sister, Veronica had nevertheless understood that he was under a great deal of pressure from his family.

She'd been focusing the greater part of her anger, instead, upon the anonymous source who'd leaked the false information to the press in the first place. The anonymous source who won't shut the hell up. Because the stories about Meg and Duncan had continued, despite his departure; and they showed no signs of stopping.

This merely added fuel to Veronica's fury. She was determined to find out who was responsible for her sisters public humiliation, and she'd vowed to make them pay. Veronica had been systematically analyzing the facts, over the past two weeks, in an attempt to discover the culprit.

The most obvious suspect was perhaps a fellow partygoer, trying to make an extra buck. But that wasn't a satisfactory explanation, when it came to her group of friends. Not only did the vast majority of them have healthy trust funds that took care of all of their worldly needs, but among her group this kind of behavior was considered tacky. Crude. There was an unspoken covenance, among the inhabitants of the 90909 zip code.

One of the dozens of people working the party was another possibility. But not only would the employees have been paid amply for their services, they all would have been required to sign confidentiality agreements. Violating that contract would have put any of them at serious financial risk, if they'd been discovered. It hardly seems worth it.

That line of reasoning had brought Veronica back to the people who had thrown the party. Duncan had been crossed off her list of suspects immediately, both for being the subject of one of the photos and because the focus of the story was certain to cause him personal problems within his family.

Logan, too, had been struck from her list quickly. Although it would have been a clever way for him to rid Duncan of an attachment she was fairly sure he'd never been pleased about, Logan would not have willingly allowed a fallacious story about himself to get placed on a gossip site. He valued his privacy far too much to play a hand in sacrificing it. And it seems… beneath him, somehow.

This had effectively narrowed down her list to three suspects: Trina, Madison or Conner. And although all of them had their share of motivations, her gut told her it was Madison. She'd had the most to gain.

Revenge against Logan, for turning her down that night. Revenge against me, for being a perceived threat. The perfect way to make my family look like the trash she always thought we were. And, most important of all, a ticket out of Neptune. The articles that had come out since were Madison's insurance plan, guaranteeing that she got to stay put in Manhattan indefinitely.

Oh yes, Veronica answered her aunt silently. I have a very good idea who's behind it. But I don't have any proof. Yet.

Externally, she merely shrugged. "It could have been anyone," she finally replied, reaching for her teacup.

Alicia shook her head, her eyes settling once again upon Meg. "It'll take time, but she'll be okay. A change in scenery will be good for her."

"I hope so." Veronica set the teacup down without drinking from it and turned towards her aunt. "Listen, I really think I should go with you guys," she said, for the third time that day. "Meg needs me right now. And-"

"And what about your own plans?" Alicia countered. "Isn't your friend on his way to pick you up right now?"

"Yes, but-"

"We've been over this," Alicia said patiently. "Meg will be in good hands." Alicia raised an eyebrow. "Besides," she continued. "She isn't the only one in this house who could use a little break."

Veronica barely heard her, too focused on concern for her sister. "But what if they run into each other, in New York?" she wondered aloud.

"Do you think that likely?" Alicia asked.

"No," Veronica admitted. "I don't think Duncan spends a lot of time in Brooklyn." But Logan does, she recalled, thinking of the shirt in her closet. And the last thing I need is someone snapping another picture of the two of us. Maybe it's better if I stay on the west coast, after all.

Resigned to her fate, Veronica retrieved her teacup and went on. "Honestly? I'm not even sure it would be such a bad thing, if she did see him. I mean, don't get me wrong, he has a hell of a lotof explaining to do. But if he actually laid eyes on her…" Then maybe it would be enough to drown out the whispers in his ears.

"So it was more than just a crush?" Alicia asked gently. "He genuinely felt something for her?"

"I thought so," Veronica returned softly. "I really did."

The retreat of the Kane family had been so abrupt that she hadn't fully processed her own feelings about their departure yet. Naturally, she was relieved to be rid of Trina, Madison and Conner. Especially Conner. In regards to Duncan, she felt a sense of personal betrayal. She'd thought him a good person, a genuine and honest man. A friend. And as for Logan…

Despite her words to him, that night, she hadn't truly thought it would be the last time she'd ever see him. Meg's relationship with Duncan had ensured that they'd be obliged to interact socially, from time to time. But with that relationship over, and with the Kanes' hasty exodus from Neptune, it seemed her last conversation with Logan had been interrupted permanently.

And I'm sure he was only too eager to put some distance between us, once he read that article, she acknowledged. He wouldn't have wanted to risk the press discovering my identity. It doesn't matter that there wasn't an ounce of truth to that story. Knowing him, the very idea of being linked publicly to the "daughter of the town drunk" would bring eternal shame and humiliation.

Warm liquid sloshed onto her jean-clad leg, startling her. Veronica had been so deep in thought that she'd accidentally tipped over her cup of tea. "Damn it," she muttered, setting the cup down and wiping at her jeans.

Alicia began to stand up, but Veronica waved her back down. "I'm fine, it'll dry," she insisted.

Her aunt settled back into her seat, watching her niece carefully. "And what about the other subject the gossip sites have been obsessing over?" she inquired, keen eyes locked on Veronica's face.

"What do you mean?" Veronica asked distractedly, inspecting her jeans. The tea had run halfway down the leg of one thigh. It occurred to her that she should probably change her jeans, before she left.

"I mean that I'd know my nieces anywhere," Alicia responded pointedly. "No matter how blurry the photograph is."

Veronica's head snapped up, jeans forgotten. No one but Meg had put that part of the story together, and she hadn't intended for anyone else to find out.

She glanced around the room warily, but no one was paying them any attention. Gia and Lilly were busy regaling their uncle with tales from the movie set, while their mother looked on proudly. And Mandy's piano playing was effectively drowning out all conversation from their side of the room.

She turned her gaze back towards her aunt. "Okay, fine. It was me in that picture," she admitted grudgingly. "But nothing was, or is, or ever will be going on between me and Logan Echolls. Those stories have zero basis in fact. We barely even know each other."

Veronica's adamancy only heightened Alicia's curiosity, and she couldn't help pressing the issue. "That picture suggests otherwise," she noted.

"We were playing a game of pool," Veronica replied, rather defensively. "And that's the whole story."

"All right," Alicia said mildly, sensing her niece's rising indignation. "I believe you." After a brief pause, she continued. "So is there anyone else in your life? Someone special?"

"No one serious," Veronica answered, relieved at the change in topic.

"What about this boy who's picking you up?" Alicia asked. "Troy? Lilly and Gia certainly seem to think he's someone special."

Veronica shrugged noncommittally, but the smile on her lips betrayed her. "He's just a friend."

"So far," Alicia amended.

"So far," Veronica repeated, smile widening into a grin. "And he should be here any minute," she added, standing up slowly. "So I should probably finish packing." She hesitated, though, eyeing her aunt speculatively. "Maybe you could, um, let me know what you think about him? Before we leave?"

"Oh, honey, you were getting that whether you asked or not," Alicia teased.

Veronica laughed, relieved at the promise of her aunt's objectivity. She liked Troy; he was easy to talk to, fun to flirt with and always quick to flatter. It was impossible not to like him. Even her guy friends, normally rather prickly when faced with male newcomers, had welcomed him into their group instantly.

So why am I holding back? she asked herself. He's made it very clear that he's interested. All I have to do is say the word.

The sudden appearance of her uncle expelled thoughts of Troy from her mind, as she attempted not to laugh at the expression on his face. Hank was her mother's youngest sibling, and he and Veronica had always been close. At the moment he was mouthing "help me" with deliberate exaggeration, as he headed towards them.

When he reached the couch he slung an arm across her shoulders and leaned close to her ear. "They could talk the fur off a cat," he informed her in a whisper. "Give me sanctuary?"

"Granted," she grinned, gesturing for him to join them.

Hank dropped his arm and sunk down gratefully onto the couch beside his wife. He placed a kiss on her cheek in greeting, then looked back up at Veronica. "And what are you two murmuring about, over here?" he inquired. "Or do I need to know the secret password?"

"It's a handshake," Veronica informed him. "And it's classified."

"Ah, a clandestine conference?" He raised an eyebrow. "That sounds far more intriguing than the plot of my brother-in-law's new film. Which your sisters have just educated me about in minute detail, by the way."

"You're always saying knowledge is power, Professor," Alicia teased him.

"True. And as fascinating as 'David's' betrayal of 'Brody' is," he replied, "I'm not sure how much use that knowledge will be in my daily life." He paused. "Although I am intrigued about 'Corey's' secret love for 'Kelly'."

"Spoiler alert: it's not a secret," Veronica told him. "Kelly knows all about it." She shook her head. "I'm so sad that I know that." She was only half-joking. In truth, her uncle's movie was turning out to be a lot more interesting than she'd bargained for.

"I see you've gotten sucked into the movie madness, Hank," Keith spoke up from the doorway. He walked forward slowly, lips pressed into a smirk and fingers crossed. "Personally, I'm rooting for Brody and Olivia."

"And where have you been hiding?" Alicia asked.

"His office," Veronica replied for him. "That's where he goes to 'work'."

"Air quotes, honey?" Keith asked. "Do I really deserve that?"

"I'm just saying," she returned with a shrug. "Your working sounds an awful lot like your snoring, to my untrained ears."

"Talk to me after you have five children of your own," he remarked dryly. "A long, long time from now."

"Five?" Veronica scoffed. "I don't even know if I want one."

Lianne, spotting her husband across the room, called out to him from her seat in the opposite corner. "What are you all talking about, over there?" she questioned. "I can't hear a word over this racket."

Overhearing her mother, Mandy stopped playing abruptly. The tips of her ears turned pink in embarrassment, and the room was suddenly bathed in an awkward silence.

"The merits of having children," Hank replied, not without irony. He smiled kindly at Mandy. "Although not everyone is so lucky to have such a musically gifted child."

Lianne placed her palm flat against her chest, insensible to his admonition. "Oh, kids are wonderful. I've always wanted to be a young grandmother." Her eyes lightened, her expression hopeful. She glanced around the room from daughter to daughter as she spoke. "One of you girls has to promise me that you'll have a big wedding."

Her longing gaze finally landed upon Meg, who was studying the sheet music in front of her diligently. Meg's eyes remained downcast as Lianne continued to watch her. "With hundreds of guests," she continued dreamily, "and a live orchestra. And a wedding gown with a long train, like Princess Diana's."

Lilly snorted. "Yeah, good luck with all that, Mom. I'm eloping to Tahiti."

"I'm eloping to Tahiti!" Gia protested. "That was my idea!"

While everyone was distracted by the twins' argument, Meg took the opportunity to stand up and slip quietly from the room. Veronica and Alicia exchanged a look, her aunt nodding in silent understanding, and Veronica followed her sister out the door.

She found Meg upstairs in her bedroom, sitting on her bed next to an open suitcase but not packing. Instead, her sister stared down at the phone in her hand. Veronica walked silently forward until she could see the image on the screen. It was a photograph of Meg and Duncan, arms around one another and smiling at the camera.

Meg spoke without looking up. "I asked Madison to take this picture."

"You look happy," Veronica remarked softly. "Both of you."

"I thought we were."

Veronica pushed the suitcase away, taking a seat on the edge of Meg's bed. "Will you try and see him, when you're in New York?"

"I doubt it," Meg replied. She turned her screen off and set her phone down, then stood up and walked over to her dresser. "I'll probably see Madison and Trina, though."

Veronica glanced up in alarm. "Why would you want to do that?"

Meg looked back at her, confused. "Why wouldn't I? We're still friends, even if…" She pulled several t-shirts out of her drawer, but made no move towards her suitcase. "Madison messaged me last night," Meg told her. "She said that they'd all been really busy, but she'd call me soon to catch up."

"Did you tell her you're going to be in New York for the weekend?" Veronica asked.

"Not yet. I figured I'd surprise her when I got there."

Veronica's apprehension grew, but she bit her lip on her words of warning. Meg was incredibly stubborn, when it came to thinking the best of everyone. "And have you… spoken to anyone else?"

"Who, Duncan?" Meg questioned, wry smile on her lips. "It's okay, Veronica. I'm not going to burst into tears at the sound of his name." She walked over to her suitcase and set the shirts inside. "No," she said decisively. "It may have taken two unanswered phone calls and three unanswered text messages, but I eventually got the point. He's not interested in me. If he ever was."

"He was," Veronica insisted. "He is. I'm sure of it."

"Stop me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure guys who like you actually return your phone calls," Meg remarked. "And they don't just pick up and leave town without saying goodbye." She shook her head. "It's okay. He never made me any promises. And we never did anything more than kiss. It's my own fault, really, for assuming he felt the same way I did."

Veronica didn't reply, but frustration washed over her in waves. She was angry at Duncan all over again, for letting his family talk him into leaving. For not reaching out to Meg, privately, to tell her what was happening- or even to say goodbye. For being a damned coward.

She struggled to find the magic words that would take away Meg's pain, but she knew there was nothing she could say. They were silent for several moments, until Backup started to bark, announcing a visitor. Veronica stood up abruptly. "Damn it. Troy's here. I'm not even done packing."

"Go," Meg insisted, forcing a smile. "I'm fine."

Veronica gave her a quick hug, before hurrying out of the room and down the stairs. She was attempting to beat either of her parents to the door, not wanting to subject Troy to her dad's interrogation or her mom's incessant chatter.

But as she came down the stairs, she saw immediately that her concerns were unfounded. Troy stood in the foyer wearing a relaxed smile, one hand shaking her father's firmly and the other grasping a bouquet of yellow roses.

"Veronica said you were a fan," Troy was telling her dad. "And I knew I wouldn't be here to use them, so…"

Keith smiled gratefully, looking down to inspect the pair of tickets in his hand. "Excellent seats," he noted with approval. "Right behind the dugout."

Seeing Veronica approach, Keith held up the tickets. "Padres," her dad informed her, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Tomorrow night!" He turned back towards Troy. "Why don't you come in for a few minutes?" he invited him. "Meet the rest of the family."

Taken aback by this unprecedented friendliness towards a male friend, Veronica hung back with Troy while her dad proceeded into the living room. "Smooth," she noted quietly. "And I assume those flowers are for my mom?"

Troy gave her a lopsided grin. "What can I say? I give good parent."

"Apparently," she joked.

"Oh, well done," he replied, flashing her a thumbs up. Troy's eyes strayed to her tea-stained jeans. "Hey, listen, I know you were excited to see me and all. But-"

Veronica smacked him on the arm. "Oh shut up," she said, pulling him forward into the hall. "Come on, follow me into the zoo," she instructed.

They headed into the living room, where Troy was treated to a warm greeting from her younger sisters and quickly introduced to her mother. Her mom was delighted that he'd brought her flowers, giggling like a teenager as she accepted them and insisting he meet Hank and Alicia.

Hank and Troy fell into easy conversation, while Alicia telegraphed her preliminary approval of their visitor to Veronica. Feeling slightly more relaxed after receiving her aunt's endorsement, Veronica re-focused her attention on Troy.

"Oh nice, I love Brooklyn," he was remarking. "Which part do you live in?"

"You know Grace Church?" Hank asked. Receiving a nod, he continued. "We're right across the street."

"That's a great neighborhood," Troy said enthusiastically. "Really eclectic. I spent a little time in that area last summer."

Veronica's ears pricked up at this. Was that before or after Logan kicked him out? she wondered. And who was he staying with?

"It is," Hank agreed. "We've been there about five years. It's hard getting our friends to come visit, and my commute into the city is a royal pain in the ass. But there's great beer in every pub and I can buy vinyl again. So it's a fair trade."

Veronica narrowed her eyes at her uncle. "Are you turning into a hipster?" she accused.

"His jeans are getting suspiciously skinny," Alicia remarked.

While her husband laughed and continued speaking with Troy, Alicia observed the young man curiously. He was a charmer, there was no doubt about that. The kind of guy who knows exactly how charismatic he is, and isn't opposed to using it to his advantage. And that kind of guy can break your heart.

As Veronica joined their conversation, her aunt watched them interact. There was a flirtatious familiarity between Troy and Veronica; their body language made it clear they were attracted to one another. But she witnessed no real sentiment beneath their superficial interest, and no signs of a deeper attachment. She relaxed, convinced her niece was in no danger of heartbreak any time soon.

Upon overhearing Troy's interest in local Brooklyn artists (professed, coincidentally, after he learned that she owned an art gallery), Alicia re-joined the conversation. Within a few minutes, she was so thoroughly flattered by Troy's enthusiasm for the topic that any lingering concerns she had about her niece's suitor disappeared entirely.

Satisfied that Troy was in good hands, Veronica snuck away to finish packing. And twenty minutes later, after a long string of goodbyes, she and her three younger sisters climbed into Troy's rented Jeep Wrangler and left to meet Mac.

xxXxx

Summoned to his foster father's office only moments after Jake's return from Hong Kong, Logan paused in the doorway and peeked inside before entering. Jake was seated at his desk, brightly-colored tabloid spread open before him. Logan grimaced at the sight, but rapped his knuckle against the door of the office to announce his presence.

Jake looked up, and Logan's lips quickly morphed into an ironic smile. "I didn't know The National Instigator had started listing stock quotes," he quipped, indicating the tabloid.

"Come on in, Logan."

Logan obeyed wordlessly, closing the heavy wooden door behind him, and Jake gave him a tight smile. "They certainly are persistent," he remarked.

"They certainly are," Logan agreed darkly.

Thanks to one fuzzy photo of him and Veronica, Logan had been pulled most unwillingly into the spotlight. The paparazzi had gotten so relentless that he'd been forced to hire an imposing ex-military security guard named Clarence- an old friend of Jake's. The man had insisted immediately that Logan curtail his solo trips outside of the house. And it's seriously cramping my style.

Jake read aloud from the magazine. "'Our sources confirm what we have long suspected: Software mogul Jake Kane was furious to learn the news of his son's secret affair, and continues to do everything in his power to keep the couple apart. He has even gone so far as to enlist his famous foster son, Logan Echolls, into his scheme."

Logan rolled his eyes and took a seat, as Jake went on. "'They've always spent a lot of time together," one source reveals. 'But now Logan won't let Duncan out of his sight.' Recent photos shot in New York (see below) seem to prove that Logan is keeping his friend close. Another source insists that Logan and Jake will stop at nothing in their efforts to distance Duncan from the woman he loves. 'I wouldn't be surprised if they read his emails and look through his phone'."

Jake set the magazine down, taking off his reading glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. "This has gotten completely out of hand."

"But they're not far off," Logan admitted wryly.

"No," Jake agreed. "They're not. To an alarming degree." He slid his glasses back onto his face and stared at Logan. "Who is the source they're quoting?" Jake demanded, throwing up his hands in frustration. "Is it this Megan person, trying to stir the pot? Is she attempting to make herself look sympathetic, so Duncan makes some kind of grand gesture?"

"Meg," Logan corrected absently. He picked up the pyramid-shaped brass paperweight off the edge of Jake's desk, turning it over in his hands. "And I don't know.

"You seemed pretty sure of yourself when the story first came out," Jake reminded him. "You were certain that she was involved. You even suggested that the girl may scheme to get pregnant, to try and force Duncan to marry her." He leaned forward slightly in his chair. "So tell me truthfully, Logan. Do you still think Meg is behind this?"

Logan set the paperweight back down on the desk, scratching at the back of his neck uncomfortably. He didn't make a habit of lying to Jake; but on the morning after the party, he'd been desperate. He'd needed to get out of town- fast. So he'd told Jake all about the article, and all about Meg; embellishing slightly to convey his urgency. And it's possible I went too far.

"I thought she was for sure, at first," he replied honestly. "But now…" Logan shook his head. It bothered him that the newest rumors were so accurate. Meg is still in Neptune. How would she know what's been going on here? Unless she's still in contact with Duncan…

"Alright," Jake said, accepting Logan's judgment. "Then what about this family of hers? You mentioned they've been having some financial difficulties?"

"That was the rumor, in Neptune," Logan confirmed. "But unless we get, like, a private investigator on the case, it's impossible to know for sure."

"Maybe we should," Jake responded, looking thoughtful. "I mean, I hate to assume the worst of anyone. But if you think they're a real threat…" He let the sentence hang, waiting for Logan to comment. When he didn't, Jake decided to ask directly. "Do you think we need to worry about this girl's family?"

Logan shrugged. He didn't want to think about the Mars family. But when Jake Kane asks a question, he expects an answer. "No," he replied firmly. "Not anymore. They're three thousand miles away."

"But they won't be when you-"

"And I've been checking his phone, like you asked," Logan interrupted quickly, delivering the lie with ease. "He hasn't tried to contact her."

"Well, good. That's a relief." Jake drummed his fingers against his desk distractedly. "How has Duncan been handling all of this? When I got here he seemed… subdued."

"I'm keeping as much of it from him as I can," Logan replied. "All he knows is that someone talked to the press, made up a bunch of lies. And we've finally got him convinced that it was her."

"I don't like to see him so upset," Jake said quietly, lines creasing his forehead. He glanced down at the tabloid again. "I mean, I'm not a dictator. If he really cares for this girl…" He looked up at Logan. "Then why should I stand in the way of his happiness?"

"That's a nice sentiment," Logan remarked dryly. "But remember Nicole? Bianca? They made him happy too, if you recall. And we both know how those situations ended."

Jake sighed. "You're right," he admitted. "Duncan hasn't always shown the best judgment."

"Exactly. Look, when it comes down to it, he barely knows her." Logan sat up straighter, bolstered by his own words. "And there's no way this thing with her is anything more than a crush. How… how could it be?"

"Okay. Good." Jake nodded slowly, too deep in thought to wonder why Logan had suddenly stumbled over his words. "Well, I'm relieved that you don't think there's any danger in Duncan returning to Neptune."

Logan blinked several times. "Wait. What?"

Jake stared at him. "Isn't that what we've been discussing?"

"You want him to go back?" Logan asked. He jabbed his index finger in the direction of the tabloid. "After all of that?"

"I want both of you to go back," Jake corrected calmly. "You just said yourself that the girl isn't a threat. And I still need Duncan in Neptune, learning the business. Nothing has changed."

Everything has changed. Logan looked down, attempting to collect his thoughts. After half a moment he raised his head, meeting his foster father's eyes. "I said she isn't a threat while she's all the way across the country," he pointed out. "But if he has the opportunity to get close to her again…"

Logan paused and took a deep breath, struggling to remain calm. It was critical that he not return to Neptune, right now. He couldn't risk feeding the tabloids' raging appetite for fresh gossip; especially while Veronica remained a temptation quite impossible for him to ignore.

"Look," he continued slowly. "I'll do whatever you need me to do. But I think it would be a mistake to bring him back out there right now. If he stays here in the city, at least for the summer, he'll forget all about her by the fall. And then, once he returns, she won't be an issue anymore. He'll have moved on, and she'll have moved on, and…" He cleared his throat. "And everything will go back to normal."

Jake didn't speak right away. He studied Logan carefully, weighing his words. Very few people were aware of how much consideration he gave to his foster son's opinions. Not even Logan himself knew the degree of Jake's trust in him. "It sounds like you've given this some thought," he noted.

"I have."

"Alright," Jake decided. "You kids will stay in New York for the summer. I'll send Gory out to Neptune in the interim." He folded up the tabloid, considering the matter closed for the moment. "And I guess the best thing to do is to keep Duncan busy. Help him forget about her."

"I'm trying," Logan replied softly.

There was a knock on the door. At a word from Jake, it opened slowly, revealing his assistant Nish. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Kane," she said. "But Senator Davis is here? He said he'd like a quick word."

"Thanks, Nish. I'll be right out." Jake stood up, buttoning his suit jacket and straightening his tie. "I'll be back in a minute," he told Logan, as he headed for the door. "And then we can discuss that other matter."

Logan nodded. When the door closed, his eyes went instantly to the folded tabloid on Jake's desk. Against his better judgment, he reached over and picked it up, flipping through it until he found the pertinent story.

"And what about Logan Echolls's own love life?" he read. "After doing a little digging, we've discovered that the mystery blonde he was canoodling with in our July 5th issue may in fact be long-time friend Hannah Griffith. 'They've been close since they were kids,' one source confirms. 'But now they've decided to take things to the next level.'"

Logan rolled his eyes. Whoever this source is needs to get their vision checked. Veronica is six inches shorter than Hannah and twice as pretty. He refolded the paper, tossing it down onto Jake's desk in disgust. And Hannah's not the Griffith sister who likes to canoodle.

xxXxx

Veronica was crouched down low in the last aisle of the convenience store, the latest copy of The National Instigator spread open across her lap.

"Yet a different source disputes this theory, insisting that Logan's mystery girl is not Hannah Griffith. 'The girl in the picture isn't anyone special, trust me. She was just some random hookup at a party. Logan isn't interested in getting serious with anyone, right now.'"

"So which is it, readers? Has Logan Echolls found true love with his mystery blonde? Or is he content being a playboy? Vote now in our online poll!"

"There you are."

Veronica started slightly, closing the magazine hastily and replacing it on the rack. When she looked up, Mac was gazing down at her curiously.

"Sorry," Veronica replied. "I just wanted something to read on the flight." She grabbed a copy of Vogue and stood up, just as Lilly turned the corner.

"Come on," her sister said impatiently, spotting her and Mac. "We're all wait-" She stopped speaking, eyeing the magazine in Veronica's hand. "Oh, good idea."

Lilly reached across Veronica, selecting the very magazine that Veronica had just put back.

Veronica frowned at the sight of it. "How can you buy that garbage?"

"How can I not?" Lilly retorted. "They made our sister famous."

"I think the word you're looking for is 'infamous'," Veronica corrected quietly.

Lilly, already walking away, didn't hear her; but Mac gave her cousin a tight smile, patting her on the shoulder. "We'll call Meg tonight," she promised. "Make sure she's doing okay."

Veronica nodded, and they headed towards the checkout counter.

xxXxx

As Troy's Jeep crossed the tarmac towards the waiting plane, he glanced over at Veronica in the passenger seat. Her sisters had gone with Mac when they'd left the convenience store (after a bit of nudging and throat-clearing on Mac's part), and Troy was completely alone with Veronica for the first time since they'd met.

"So it's probably not cool to admit this," he told her. "But I'm a bit of a nervous flyer." He gave her a crooked grin. "Will you keep me company during the flight?"

"Sure," Veronica agreed. "But I call window."

It was an easy promise for her to make. Veronica hadn't seen much of Troy over the past two weeks, her concern for Meg overshadowing her personal life. She'd been looking forward to spending a little time with him. And maybe Troy will act as Dick-repellent, she thought hopefully. Dick had been intolerable since she'd danced with him the night of the Kanes' party.

With that evening brought once again to the forefront of her mind, Veronica turned towards Troy. "Hey, you never told me why you missed the big Kane bash a couple of weeks ago."

"I had to do some looping for that movie I shot in L.A.," he answered smoothly. "You know, like voiceovers?"

"And you had to go that night?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, technically, no," he admitted. "But I decided that me, Logan and alcohol may not be the best combination after all. That temper of his doesn't get any better after he's got a few drinks in him." Troy rubbed his jaw absently in remembrance. "Trust me."

He pulled up behind Mac's VW bug and put the car in park, his eyes on Veronica. "You still talk to him at all?" he asked casually.

"Logan?" she asked, surprised at the question. "No, not since they left. It's not like we exchanged phone numbers."

She unbuckled her seat belt slowly, looking at him curiously. "Why would you think that?"

Troy unbuckled his own seatbelt and smiled. "A little birdie told me you two seemed very friendly, at the party."

"Who?" she demanded. Troy shook his head, smile widening, and she rolled her eyes. "Well your bird friend has a tiny little bird brain to match," she informed him. "We danced because I was trying to be polite. And that's as friendly as we got."

That wasn't quite the whole truth. She'd seen Logan twice more, that evening; and both encounters had been rather more intimate than expected. Veronica remained baffled by Logan's behavior towards her, on that night and on previous occasions. But I'm certainly not going to discuss any of that with Troy. Especially given their past.

"Easy girl," Troy replied, laughing lightly. He patted her arm. "Come on," he urged. "Las Vegas is waiting."

xxXxx

The sun hung low in the sky as they boarded the airplane, its orange reflection gleaming off the sleek silver aircraft. Veronica felt a jolt of exhilaration as she climbed the steps, suddenly very eager to depart Neptune and leave her problems on the ground.

Wealthy as the Casablancas family was, they weren't quite prosperous enough to own their own plane. The private jet was on loan from Cydell, the agency that represented Dick. He'd taken advantage of their hospitality by inviting over a dozen people to Las Vegas with him; all of whom considered themselves more distinguished for the honor.

The interior proved to be just as impressive as the exterior, complete with reclining leather seats, a couch, a full bar, a flat-screen TV and even a shower. A variety of food awaited them, displayed appealingly upon a long mahogany table, and many of the guests were already filling up their plates.

The Dom Pérignon was flowing before the plane had even taken off, and Dick raised a full glass of it high in the air. "Thank you, Kendall!" he praised.

Troy looked up, an odd little smile on his face. Noticing, Veronica asked, "Do you know her?"

"I used to see her around a lot, when my dad worked with Aaron," he replied. "You remember I told you she was Aaron's personal assistant?"

How could I forget? "Oh, right," she said aloud.

The stewardess came by to inform them of their imminent departure, and Veronica downed the rest of her champagne. She and Troy strapped themselves into their seats as the plane began to race down the runway, and he grasped her hand as they made their ascent.

When they leveled off, Troy turned to his left. "Much easier than normal," he informed her with a grateful grin. She returned his smile, and he squeezed her hand and let go.

"So do you know her?" he asked, continuing their earlier conversation.

"Kendall? I feel like I do," she laughed. "Dick doesn't shut up about her. But no, I've never met her. What's she like?"

Troy's gaze flickered towards Dick, wondering briefly if his friend's relationship with Kendall was strictly professional. I'll have to ask him later, he decided. She doesn't loan out this jet to just anyone.

He re-focused his attention on Veronica. "Well, it's been a long time since I've seen her," he began. "And I'm not sure words do her justice." He laughed briefly. "But I could tell you some very interesting stories."

Always eager for new information (and more than a little intrigued by the notorious Kendall), Veronica unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned back in her chair. "It just so happens, I've got a little time to kill."

Troy followed suit, twisting his body towards her slightly, and started speaking in a lowered voice. "Rumor has it that she comes from very humble beginnings," he told her. "But she doesn't like people to know it."

"How humble?"

"A trailer park in western Pennsylvania," Troy replied. "Followed by a studio apartment in Brooklyn, after the death of her mother."

Veronica narrowed her eyes. "How do you know all of this?"

Troy ignored her question, continuing with his story. "Her dad got mixed up with some people in New York, some Irish thugs he owed money to. And when Kendall was sixteen, he wound up in jail. She didn't want to end up in foster care, so she ran away to California with her little sister."

The stewardess came by to refill their champagne. As soon as she left, Veronica nodded to Troy. "Go on," she urged.

"No one's really sure what she did for the next five years, but she must have done something right. Because the next thing you know, she's working as personal assistant to the hottest actor in Hollywood."

"Aaron Echolls," Veronica said.

"Right," he confirmed. "A position that required her to get into several… flexible positions of her own, as the story goes."

Veronica's eyes widened at this; precisely the reaction he was looking for. Troy clinked the side of her glass and drank deeply of his champagne, taking a moment to revel in the luxuriousness of his surroundings. Once you've been on a private jet, drinking Dom Pérignon next to a gorgeous blonde… no other kind of travel will do, he decided.

"So what did she do after Aaron died?" Veronica questioned. Aside from taking advantage of his orphaned son…

"I'm not really sure," Troy replied. "She stayed out of the public eye until about six months ago, when she married Cyrus O'Dell."

"Who's Cyrus O'Dell?"

"The owner of this very plane," he explained, patting the arm of his chair. "The proprietor and CEO of the Cydell Agency. Who is, incidentally, a man old enough to be her father."

"Cy-dell," Veronica repeated slowly, rolling her eyes. "Of course. It all makes sense now."

Troy took another sip of his champagne and leaned in closer to her. "You know," he whispered, "not a lot of people know about Kendall's past. I'm trusting you to keep what I've told you to yourself."

"Of course," she promised. "But you have to tell me how you know."

"I learned it from the person who knows her best, of course," he replied. "Logan Echolls."

Troy watched her expression carefully as he delivered this piece of news. Yet Veronica turned her face towards the window, robbing him of her reaction. He wondered again if there was anything between her and Logan. Troy didn't think it likely; not after what he'd told her.

But he'd seen something in Logan's eyes, that night on the beach. Veronica meant something to Logan; he was sure of it. It was what had first elevated her, in his own mind, from potential hookup to coveted prize. The prospect of beating Logan Echolls in a challenge was far too enticing to pass up. The question is, does he mean anything to her?

Determined to draw Veronica's attention back to him, Troy rubbed his palms up and down his thighs in a nervous gesture. "Please tell me we're almost there."

Hearing him, Lilly walked over to their seats. "You bored already?" she asked. She tossed her magazine on his lap. "Here. There aren't any naked girls in it, but it's all I've got."

"Lilly," Veronica objected.

But Troy just laughed, eyes trailing down Lilly's body appreciatively as she walked away. When she was back in her own seat he looked down at the magazine, flipping through its pages idly until he saw a photo of Logan and Duncan. Curious, he paused to read the accompanying article.

Spotting the photo herself, Veronica rolled her eyes, glancing out the window while she waited for him to turn the page. But when she looked over at him a moment later, he was still engrossed.

After a couple of minutes, Troy looked up at her. "I'm sorry about what they're doing to Meg," he said. "She doesn't deserve it."

"No, she doesn't," Veronica agreed, pleased at his show of sympathy.

"But this part, right here?" Troy snorted, rapping his index finger against the bottom of the page.

Veronica squinted at the words. "About Logan and Hannah?"

"Yeah. This doesn't surprise me at all."

"Why?" she asked. "Who's Hannah?"

"She's Kendall's little sister."

Veronica stared at him. "You're kidding me, right?"

"Nope. And I wouldn't be surprised if Kendall was the one who set the whole thing up. If it's true, that is."

"Even though she and Logan…?"

"You think she cares about a little thing like that?" he asked. "If her sister marries a billionaire, she's set for life."

"Um, isn't she already set for life?" Veronica asked, indicating the lavish interior of the jet.

"For now. But once Cyrus kicks the bucket…" Troy mimed a rapid descent with his hand, followed by an explosion.

"Ah," Veronica comprehended. "She signed a prenup."

"Cyrus is no dummy," Troy said with a grin. "But then, neither is Kendall."

Veronica didn't respond, her mind swirling. Troy had given her so much information that she wasn't sure which part to process first. The part about Hannah, though, had perhaps been the biggest surprise. She's Kendall's sister. Could Logan actually be dating her?

No, she decided. The tabloids are only speculating on Logan's love life because of that photo of us. So there's almost certainly nothing to it. Unless Troy's right, and Kendall is actively trying to get the two of them together?

She took a sip of her champagne and turned toward Troy. "What's Hannah like?"

"Uh, skinny, blonde, sort of quiet. A little younger than us so… Logan's type," he replied, with a raised brow.

Veronica frowned at this pointed reminder about Logan's past, disliking the flippant way Troy had brought it up. It wasn't anything to joke about. Troy's account of Logan's actions the previous summer still disturbed her deeply, and she had a strong urge to bring it up again. But he'd begun a conversation with Gia and Chip, while she'd been silent; she'd have to find a better time.

Her gaze strayed to the open magazine on his lap. There was a small reprint of the photo of her and Logan in the corner. She stared at the fuzzy photograph until the image seemed to sharpen, the lines of his tuxedo smoothing and his brown eyes lingering on hers.

Troy shifted in his seat and the magazine slipped to the ground. He didn't notice, too busy speaking animatedly to several other passengers. Veronica turned away from Troy and his growing group of admirers, no longer in the mood for conversation. She looked out the tiny airplane window, staring at the darkening desert below.

xxXxx

Her mood improved greatly upon their arrival at the Bellagio, where Dick (or, more likely, his agency) had booked their entire party rooms on the same floor. Veronica and Mandy stood with their heads thrown back, marveling at the beauty of the massive glass sculpture affixed to the ceiling of the lobby. It wasn't the first time Veronica had seen it, but it always took her breath away.

"Neat," Troy remarked, coming up beside them.

"It's called Fiori di Como," Mandy spoke up shyly. "It means 'flowers of the lake'. Isn't it pretty?"

"Not as pretty as you," Troy smiled.

Mandy went pink at the compliment, returning his smile hesitantly. "There are two thousand blossoms," she went on, encouraged by his interest. "It took Dale Chihuly and his team over two years to make. And it weighs over forty thousand pounds."

"It's, uh, pretty secure right?" Troy asked, looking askance at the colorful glass blooms.

Before Mandy could answer, Dick returned from the front desk with two plastic key cards. "Which lucky lady wants an all-access pass to the Love Lounge?" he asked the assembled crowd, rotating his hips in a slow, suggestive circle.

There were a few giggling responses, but Dick abruptly changed his mind. "On second thought." He handed one of the keys to Veronica. "Here. You're the responsible one. Hang onto this for me in case I lose mine." Dick bent down to whisper in her ear. "Or in case you're feeling frisky later."

She didn't dignify that with a response, instead following the rest of their group to the elevators and up to the rooms.

Dick's suite was, naturally, the most elaborate of the bunch. With large floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the famous fountains and The Strip, the view was quite simply the best in the city.

Since Dick's accommodations were the largest, and thus best suited for their group of twelve, it quickly became established that his suite would serve as their central meeting place. Furnished with a large and comfortable L-shaped couch, a dining room, a sizeable wet bar and even a conference room, it was more than suitable for the job.

Veronica's suite was right next door to Dick's and only slightly less extravagant. It was so spacious that she would have been more than happy to share it with one of her sisters. Yet Lilly and Gia had their own room, and Mandy was staying with Mac.

Not for the first time, Veronica found herself missing Meg. She sent her a quick text message to tell her that they had landed safely, and asking her to do the same. The thought of Meg, so far away, was distressing. But Hank and Alicia will take good care of her. Determined not to dwell on it, she set herself to the task of unpacking.

xxXxx

The pot smoke was thick and the TV loud when Veronica made her way back into Dick's suite. She found most of her friends seated in the conference room, holding a mock meeting as they passed around a glass bowl.

"I hereby declare," Dick began, "that Taco Tuesdays will now be held on Wednesdays!"

Dick slammed his fist down on the table as the others laughed; then he accepted the bowl from Susan and took a deep hit. Veronica exited the room silently as he exhaled, feeling a little light-headed from the lack of oxygen.

She retreated to the living room, where Troy, Gia, Lilly and Casey were playing a rousing drinking game called Zoomy Zoomy. Lilly was the current leader, slapping her hands on her thighs and clapping them in a breakneck rhythm that the others attempted (and failed) to follow.

Veronica took a seat next to Troy, joining in the game at the start of the next round. After half an hour had passed, all of the players were teetering just on the edge of drunkenness.

"Um, it's only eight o'clock," Casey pointed out with a laugh. "We should probably pace ourselves."

The rest of them agreed, just as the group from the conference room began to trickle into the living room.

"We need to eat," Chip announced, his hand stuffed deep into a bag of Doritos.

"Yeah, we took a vote," Susan added, giggling. "It was unanimous."

"It was," Carrie agreed, taking the bag of Doritos from Chip. "Are you guys ready? We're starving."

It took a little while for everyone to gather together their things for the evening, but eventually they began to make their way down the hallway towards the elevators. They were just about to head downstairs to the restaurant when Veronica realized she forgot her purse.

She stepped off of the elevator quickly, waving a dismissive hand towards the group. "I'll meet you guys there," she called.

Veronica found her bag on one of the chairs in the dining room, where she'd unceremoniously tossed it when she'd entered Dick's suite. Feeling a sudden bout of dizziness, she placed one hand on the top of the chair back and paused to take a breath. I drank too much, she acknowledged. And I probably should have eaten something on the plane.

After a couple of minutes, Veronica felt all right again. She stood up straight and headed towards the door, but it opened before she reached it. Dick stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

"What, did you forget where the lobby is?" she teased him.

But he didn't smile. Sometimes smoking weed made him oddly introspective, prompting him to think about his life, his future. Tonight had been one of those nights.

"No," he replied. "I wanted to talk to you for a minute. You know, like in private."

Veronica felt her stomach tighten, and it wasn't from hunger. Settling her purse strap over her shoulder, she smiled at Dick. "Later, okay?" she asked. "I'm starving."

As she moved towards the door, Dick stepped forward and grabbed her arm. "Wait."

She stopped, unsure what else to do, closing her eyes briefly before turning around to face him.

"Look, I think- I mean…" He put his hands on his hips. "I want you to be my girlfriend," he said, in typically straightforward fashion. "Okay? You're like, my best friend. And you're the only chick I can even stand for more than an hour."

"Well that's a ringing endorsement," she noted, avoiding an actual reply.

"You know what I mean." Dick paused. "You and me? Come on, we'd be perfect together."

"Um, we'd be terrible together," she corrected. "Not to mention looking like matching Malibu Barbie and Ken dolls."

"What's so terrible about it?" he demanded, not amused at her joke. "It's because I dropped out, isn't it? You don't think I'm smart enough for you."

"Of course not," Veronica denied. "It's because we… We don't have any of the same interests. We're just not…"

She broke off, determined not to say anything that would hurt his feelings. "Not to mention the fact that I still have another year before I graduate," she added. "And you're going to be off on the Pro surfing tour, travelling the world."

Dick shrugged. "So come with me."

"How could I possibly-"

"Come with me, Ronnie," he implored, taking both of her hands in his enthusiasm. "I can totally get you tutors, or whatever. And we can see the world together. Chile, Australia, South Africa…"

"My parents would never go for that in a million years," she pointed out.

"Sure they would," he disputed. "I've known your parents forever. Our moms are like best friends." Dick dropped her hands, running his now-free right hand through his hair. "Look, it's no secret that your family is in bad shape. I can help them out. And if they still want to give you a hard time about it, we can get hitched."

Veronica's mouth dropped open. "What?"

"You know, married," he explained. "We are in Vegas."

Veronica took a steadying breath, suddenly feeling extremely sober. "I'm seventeen," she reminded him patiently.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure they don't care about that here," Dick replied with a laugh. Veronica didn't laugh with him, but he decided to take her silence as a good sign. "I want someone around me who I can trust, Ronnie. And I can take care of you."

She spoke slowly, measuring her words. "Dick, I'm flattered. I really, really am. But I'm way too young to get married. And so are you. So let's just blame this on the weed, or the alcohol, or whatever," she suggested, forcing a laugh, "and go meet the others for dinner."

"I'm not drunk!" he yelled, startling her. "You think I ask chicks to marry me, like, whenever I get bored or something? I love you, Veronica!"

His impassioned declaration was met by silence. It had just become painfully clear that logic wasn't going to work, here. Dick was going to make her spell it out for him. He's going to make me break his heart. She looked up at him.

"Dick, I care about you. Very much," she began. "You're one of my best friends. But… I just don't have feelings like that for you. I'm…" She reached for his hand. When he flinched, she let her hand drop to her side. "I'm so sorry."

As her words sunk in, Dick's blue eyes frosted over and his posture became rigid. "Everywhere I go, girls throw themselves at me. But I'm not good enough for you? What makes you so fucking special?"

He glared at her, all of his frustration coming to a boil. "Do you even know how long I've felt this way about you? And you're telling me you've never even thought about being with me? Seriously? Not even once?"

"No," she replied quietly. "I haven't."

"I get it," he said, voice thick with sarcasm. "It's because you're so pure, right?" He let out a humorless laugh. "But you've got no problem hooking up with Gant, every time you've got a little itch. Unless someone better like Logan Echolls is in town. Or is it Troy, these days? I can't keep track."

Taken aback by his derision, Veronica took a step backwards. Seeing her movement, Dick stepped forward. He seized her shoulders with both hands and bent his head down- intent on proving his worth, determined to show her how he felt. And when I kiss her, she'll feel it too.

But Veronica went stiff beneath his hands, turning her head to the side and trying to twist her body out of his grasp. "Dick…no," she said forcefully.

Dick let go and she broke away from him, moving all the way to the couch. This time, he didn't attempt to follow her. He crossed his arms over his chest. "You know he's just using you, right?"

"Casey?" she asked, surprised.

He ignored her. "So you won't even give me a chance."

It wasn't a question, but Veronica shook her head no. "You're my friend," she replied. "And that's important to me. So I hope you want to stay friends." She stepped forward hesitantly. "Maybe we can start by going down to dinner together?" she asked hopefully.

Dick stood completely still, staring at her for a long time. "Fuck dinner," he finally said. "And you know what? Fuck you too."

Without another word, he turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

Veronica sunk down onto the couch in shock. She'd never seen Dick that angry before. And he'd never spoken to her that way. She wanted to go after him; to make sure that he didn't do anything stupid. But she knew he wouldn't want her around, right now. Maybe not ever.

A knock on the door pulled her out of her stupor. She rose instantly and crossed the room, hoping that Dick was coming back to work things out. But when she opened the door, it was Troy.

"Hey," he greeted her. "What are you doing? I tried calling you, but-" Troy stopped talking abruptly as he registered the shaken look on Veronica's face. "What's wrong?"

"Dick and I, we just…" She shook her head. She didn't want to get into it with him. It was too fresh. "We just got into an argument, is all."

She wanted to go back to her room and have a good cry. But Troy was adamantly refusing to leave her alone.

"Alright, listen. This is what we're going to do," he announced. "I'm taking you back to your room, and I'm pouring us both a shot of vodka. And then we're going to go down to the restaurant-"

"I'm not hungry," Veronica protested. "And I don't like vodka." But she let him lead her out of the room, and followed him the twenty feet down the hall to her own room. She fished the key out of her purse, and they went inside.

"Well I'm not going to leave you here alone, all upset," he told her. He thought for a minute. "How closely do you think Dick will look at the bill, when we check out?"

"He won't," Veronica replied. "He'll just sign the credit card receipt."

Troy walked over to the mini bar. "In that case," he said. "Since he was the one responsible for making you upset…" He opened the refrigerator, producing several bottles and setting them on the counter. "Ladies choice," he told her. "Beer, wine, whiskey, gin or champagne?"

Veronica's shock had begun to fade into anger. She still felt badly for hurting Dick. But he put me in an awful position. He cornered me when I was least expecting it, forced me into rejecting him. And why did he have to do it now? After everything that's been going on? This trip was supposed to be fun…

Her eyes scanned the row of bottles, considering, before she glanced up at Troy. "Which one is the most expensive?" she asked.

"Atta girl," Troy approved. He picked up the bottle of champagne and unwrapped the foil covering, as Veronica took a seat at the counter. He popped the cork expertly, producing two glasses and filling them slowly.

"And since I know we're both hungry," he continued, handing her a glass, "and there's no way I'm letting you spend a night in Vegas, alone and miserable…" He picked up the phone. "I'm thinking we need a little surf and turf, to go with our bubbly. What do you say?"

Veronica raised the glass to her lips, taking a long sip. "Let's do it," she said when she was done. "I'm starving."

xxXxx

Logan strolled into Eleven Madison nearly twenty minutes late for his date. The greater part of him hoped the girl had left already, but he knew better. No one ever stood him up.

Recalling a morning several months earlier, waiting for a certain blonde to meet him for breakfast on a yacht, he scowled. Well, almost no one.

"Mr. Echolls," the hostess greeted him warmly. "Will you be dining with us this evening?"

"No, Jenny, thanks. Just meeting someone at the bar." He nodded to the tall man standing silently behind him. "And he's with me."

Logan breezed past her before she had time to escort them to the bar; he knew the way. Besides, he wanted to get this whole thing over with as soon as possible. He'd only agreed to it in the first place because it seemed like it would be in his best interest to appear in public with a non-mysterious, non-blonde female.

He'd flatly refused to go out to dinner with anyone, but had approved a brief meeting for drinks. His assistant, Cassidy, had set him up with a friend of a friend. He'd also requested that his new bodyguard, Clarence, make himself scarce. And he seems to be listening. Logan glanced around the restaurant, unsure where the man had hidden himself.

"Logan?"

He stepped forward, towards the girl offering him a hesitant smile. "Yeah," he replied, sticking out his hand. "That must make you Stacy."

She frowned briefly but nodded and shook his hand, picking her purse up off the bar stool next to her. "I, um, saved you a seat," she told him.

"Thanks." He sat down beside her. "Sorry I'm late. Traffic sucked, as usual."

"Oh. I took the subway."

Logan raised his eyebrow at that. None of his friends ever took the subway. "How adventurous of you," he said aloud. He nodded to her nearly empty drink. "What is that, a rum and coke?" he asked. "You want another one?"

"Uh, just a coke," Stacy replied. In a lowered voice, she added, "I don't have a fake I.D."

"You don't need to worry about that here," Logan smirked. "They know me." He caught the bartender's eye, and the young man walked over to them immediately.

"What can I get for you, Mr. Echolls?"

"Can I get a Jameson, straight up please, Tom?" he asked. He turned towards Stacy. "And the lady will have…"

"Um…a Cosmo?"

Tom nodded and turned away to fix their drinks, while Stacy gave Logan a mischievous grin and a thumbs up beneath the bar.

Logan's phone buzzed on the wooden bar top, and he picked it up. It was a message from Cassidy.

Well? How is she?

"You don't remember me, do you?" Stacy asked.

"No. Sorry," he replied distractedly, without looking up.

The usual, he typed into his phone.

"We jumped out of the same plane, once," she informed him. "Upstate, in Gardiner."

That caught Logan's attention. He looked up from his phone. "We did?"

"Yeah, last summer. You were dating my friend Caitlin, remember?"

"Caitlin…" he said slowly. He had no memory of a Caitlin.

"Yeah, Caitlin Ford?" Stacy urged. "Long blonde hair? A few inches taller than me?"

"Sorry, I don't…" Logan stopped, setting his phone back down on the bar. "Wait, did she have a tiny dog that she, like, kept in her purse?"

Stacy laughed. "Yup. That's her."

"She wouldn't jump," he remembered. "Caitlin, I mean. Not the dog. Only one girl did it."

His date pointed to herself, and Logan squinted his eyes at her. He did sort of remember that day, now that he was thinking about it.

He'd taken a big group upstate with him to the skydiving ranch, but only two other guys and one girl had gone through with it. When the instructor the girl had jumped tandem with had asked her if she wanted to do a backflip out of the plane, she hadn't even hesitated.

"That was you?" he asked.

"It sure was."

Tom returned, then, setting Logan's whiskey in front of him and pouring Stacy's Cosmo into a chilled martini glass.

When he walked away, Logan tapped his glass against Stacy's. "Well, I'm officially impressed," he announced. As he took a sip of his drink, his phone buzzed again.

Need me to make the call?

"Good," Stacy replied. "So does that mean you'll stop checking your phone every three seconds?" she teased.

"My assistant Cassidy keeps texting me," Logan apologized.

"Fire her," she suggested with a devious grin.

"It's a 'him', actually," he corrected lightly.

"Ah. Your beard?"

Logan blinked, surprised at the quickness of the quip. He took another sip of his drink before replying. "While he is a remarkably good looking lad," he returned, "I'm afraid he's not quite my type."

"Too short?" she guessed.

"No, I don't mind short. Let's just say he's equipped with one too many appendages for my tastes. But I am a little surprised the gossip rags haven't climbed up that angle, yet."

"Ah, give it a week or so," she joked. "They'll get to it eventually. In the meantime, avoid Broadway musicals and shoe shopping."

"Guess that means cancelling my plans for tomorrow."

Stacy laughed, light and easy, and sipped her drink. He followed suit, taking a moment to study her. She was cute. Brunette and petite, with a rather adorable smattering of freckles across her nose. And she's actually got a sense of humor.

Logan looked down at his rocks glass. But it doesn't matter, he realized. I don't feel a thing.

He picked up his phone, typing his reply quickly. Yes.

"So, do you go skydiving a lot?" she questioned.

"I do," he replied. "Can't beat the view, right?"

"I loved it." Stacy stirred her drink slowly, giving him a hopeful smile. "I'd actually really like to go again, if-"

Logan's phone buzzed again; but this time it was a phone call, not a text. Right on cue. Best assistant ever.

"I'm sorry, I have to take this."

He excused himself, walking towards the front entrance in the guise of being polite. After a perfunctory conversation with Cassidy to establish an alibi, Logan returned to the bar. Stacy looked so happy to see him again that he almost lost his nerve. But this would be for the best. For both of us.

"I'm really sorry," he told her, "But I have to go. There's an emergency on the set of this movie I'm kind of involved with."

"Oh," she replied. "That's okay, I understand."

"You don't happen to know any good crane operators in southern California, do you?" he asked.

"Um, no one comes to mind," she laughed. "Sorry."

"Well, too much to hope for I guess." Logan swallowed the last of his whiskey in a single gulp and set the empty glass back down on the bar. Spotting her nearly full drink, he frowned slightly. He caught Tom's eye, and the bartender hurried over.

"Anything she wants, you put on my tab," he instructed. "And when she's ready to go, can you please call her a cab? Also on me."

"Absolutely, Mr. Echolls."

When he walked away, Logan turned to Stacy. "Call a friend if you want, okay? Or a bunch of friends. Go nuts on my dime. As penance for leaving you alone."

"Logan, it's totally okay," she reassured him with a smile. "Things happen."

"Thanks for being so understanding." After a brief hesitation, Logan bent down and kissed her on the cheek. "It was nice to see you again, Stacy."

"You too," she said. "Good luck with your movie."

"Thanks. Good night."

Clarence appeared out of thin air as he walked away, keeping pace beside him. As they exited the restaurant, and the flashes of a dozen cameras went off, Logan found himself grateful for the man's company. But it had nothing to do with protection from the paparazzi. It was simply comforting, knowing that he wasn't alone.

Logan crouched into the waiting limo and shut the door, closing his eyes against the dim flashes of light. He settled into the corner and leaned his head against the darkened window, trying to convince himself that the emptiness he felt was just a passing phase.

xxXxx

The kisses were nice, Veronica supposed. Or, they ought to be. There wasn't anything wrong with them, technically speaking. Troy certainly knew what he was doing. So why do I feel… nothing?

As she returned Troy's kisses, she tried to clear her mind and relax. They were finally alone; it was what she'd been waiting for. He'd been kind and considerate to her all evening, keeping her company and trying his hardest to cheer her up.

And when they'd dimmed the lights and turned on a movie, she hadn't objected in the least to him putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer. She'd found his nearness comforting.

Then he'd kissed her. And it had felt… off. But why? she asked herself again. I've been thinking about kissing him for over a month, and here we are- kissing. He's a good looking guy. And I like him. What's wrong with me?

Troy's hand roamed from her hip to her abdomen. His long fingers gathered up the material at bottom of her shirt, sliding beneath her clothing and brushing against bare skin. Veronica pulled away abruptly, breaking off the kiss and sitting up straight. Troy looked at her in surprise.

Confused at her own reaction, and rather frustrated that her body was not obeying her mind, Veronica let out a nervous laugh. "Sorry," she apologized. "I'm not sure what-" She shook her head. "Ignore me," she instructed. She leaned forward to kiss him, determined to stop analyzing everything and enjoy the moment.

As their kissing resumed, Veronica's apprehension slowly began to ease. But when Troy's hand grazed her inner thigh a few minutes later, she pulled away again. This time he frowned, scratching at the side of his neck and regarding her worriedly. "I, uh… I thought you were into me?"

"I am," she insisted. "I'm just…" She shrugged, unable to offer an explanation.

"Alright," he said slowly. "Because I really like you, Veronica."

She smiled. "I like you, too."

Sensing her sincerity, Troy relaxed and moved forward to kiss her again. This time, when he replaced his hand on her thigh, she didn't retreat. Instead, she covered it with her own, holding it still. "Do you think…" she asked between kisses, "we can take this… a little slower?"

"Yeah," he replied. "Sure." But his actions belied his promise, as his free hand began to travel up her shirt. His placed wet kisses down the side of her neck, across her collarbone and to the swell of her breast, where he became particularly attentive.

"Troy," she protested, beginning to grow annoyed at his persistence.

"Sorry," he mumbled, showing no sign of halting his progress. "You're just so sexy…" His hand cupped her breast tightly, and Veronica pushed him away with both hands and stood up.

"I said go slower," she reminded him crossly. "That wasn't slower."

There was a glimmer of anger in Troy's eyes, the fingers of one hand curling inward slightly as he stared up at her. But a second later he relaxed his posture and dropped his gaze downward, shaking his head as though ashamed of himself.

"I'm really sorry," he told her, raising his eyes to meet hers and holding his palms up in surrender. "I guess I just got caught up in the moment. We had a lot to drink."

"Yeah," she acknowledged, still frowning. "We did."

There was an awkward silence as neither one of them looked at the other. Veronica crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the window at the glittering Vegas skyline, while Troy played with the end of his shoe lace.

"I didn't mean to upset you," Troy finally spoke. "If you want me to go, I'll go. But for the record, I'd really like to stay."

Veronica didn't respond. Now that her racing heart had resumed its normal rhythm and her breathing had calmed, she couldn't help wondering if she'd overreacted. Troy seemed genuinely contrite; his eyes on her were anxious, as he waited for her verdict.

"Hey," he continued. "I won't even sit next to you, if you want." Troy pointed across the room. "You can put me in the naughty chair over in the corner."

His lips curved up in a hopeful smile and Veronica couldn't help smiling in return.

"I really am sorry," he told her. "I've wanted to kiss you for a long time."

"It's okay," Veronica finally replied, shaking it off. "But I think we should get to know each other a little better, before we rush into anything." She glanced at her watch; it was after midnight. "And honestly? I think I need to call it a night and get some sleep."

Troy couldn't quite manage to hide his disappointment, but he stood up right away. He grabbed his button-down shirt off the arm of the couch, pulling it on over his t-shirt. As he buttoned it he glanced at Veronica, unsure where he stood with her. She was proving to be a far greater challenge than he'd anticipated.

"What time do you usually wake up?" he questioned.

"Um, around nine or so."

"Can I bring you a cup of coffee, in the morning?" he asked.

"Yeah, okay," Veronica agreed. "Unless you're using coffee as a euphemism for sex."

When he realized she was joking, Troy let out a relieved laugh. "No," he assured her. "Just coffee, I promise."

Resigned to an evening of chastity, he decided he wouldn't even attempt a kiss. He gave her a small wave instead. "Good night," he said. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night," she replied formally.

As soon as Troy left the suite, Veronica let out a long sigh and walked into her bedroom. She got changed into her pajamas quickly and turned off the light, intent on putting an end to what had turned out to be a very long day.

Yet sleep remained elusive for a long time, as she considered the vast chasm between fantasy and reality. And when Veronica finally drifted off she slept fitfully, dreaming of skyscrapers and limousines.

xxXxx

Troy's parents had not been poor; they'd been respectable, working middle-class people. They'd raised their only child in a neatly kept two-bedroom house, with a back yard large enough to run a lawn mower across approximately eight times. He'd been happy enough with his lot in life, until he was nine years old. That was when he'd visited the Echolls' mansion for the very first time.

He'd never realized how vastly different Logan's life was from his own. Logan had simply been another friend; a good friend. He was the kid who ran around studio lots with him; sneaking onto empty sets and pretending they were cowboys, or fending off alien attacks. When the day was done, Troy had always assumed that Logan went back to a house very similar to his own.

But the moment he'd arrived at the massive Echolls' estate, protected by a wrought iron gate and security guards, Troy had realized how very wrong he'd been.

He could still recall that bastion of luxury with perfect recall. The sound of water, cascading down the stone waterfall into the pool; the smell of leather and popcorn in the home theatre; the bright and shiny arcade games emanating cheerful tunes.

That was the first day Troy had gotten a taste of true wealth. That was the day he'd decided that he needed to be wealthy, too. And that was the day that he'd vowed to do whatever he had to, to make that happen.

Troy considered this, as he spread butter across his roll. The roll was still warm from the oven, and the butter melted instantly. Troy smiled. These were the little indulgences that he appreciated so very much. Other people didn't even notice. But he did. He always did.

He took a large bite of his roll, closing his eyes to fully savor the experience. The room service was an unwitting gift from Dick, as was the massage he'd booked for later that day. Once Veronica had confirmed that Dick was completely unconcerned about the cost of their stay, Troy had decided to spare no expense on his personal needs.

Troy finished off the roll and reached for a piece of bacon, glancing at the empty expanse of bed next to him. It was a shame he hadn't been able to share this experience with Veronica; yet she'd made it clear that wasn't going to happen any time soon.

He'd considered searching for other company, when he'd left her room last night. But it was too risky. Not with Veronica and her sisters, just a few doors down.

No, I have to play the good guy, he reminded himself. The respectable one. At least for the next two days.

He reached for his phone, going immediately to the Celebrity Hotspot website. He'd been keeping a very close eye on Duncan and Meg's story, as well as the recent rumors about Logan Echolls. Information had been his bread and butter for years, and he made it a priority to gather as much of it as he could. It had saved his ass on more than one occasion.

The headline of the day's gossip was just one word: Ruined! Beneath the word was a picture of Meg Mars. Troy put down his bacon, no longer interested in food. He read the article quickly, and then read it again.

"Financially ruined?" he said aloud. "They can't be."

He tossed his phone onto the mattress beside him, set the breakfast tray back down onto the cart, and stood up. It was a gossip site; it could all be untrue, or at the very least a gross exaggeration. But can I afford to risk that? he wondered. It could take months to sway Veronica to my side. And if she's broke, it'll all be for nothing…

Well, not nothing, he corrected himself. He still wanted her, quite badly. Just that tiny taste, last night, had been delicious. And then there's the added bonus of taking something that Logan wants.

Troy walked to the window, eyes on the dancing fountains. I'll give her up, if I need to, he decided. But there's no reason to burn any bridges yet. Even if she's not rich, she has rich friends. And it's not like it's any great sacrifice, spending time with her.

Yes. I'll stay on her good side; let her think I'm backing off to respect her wishes. And in the meantime, I'll keep my eyes open for other opportunities.

xxXxx

Troy kept his promise, delivering coffee to Veronica's room just after nine o'clock. She was surprised to see him, after the awkwardness of the previous night, but graciously invited him inside.

They sat perpendicular to one another in the living room, Veronica seated on the end of the couch and Troy on the oversized chair.

"So last night was pretty crazy, huh?" he asked, breaking the ice.

"Uh, yeah," Veronica agreed. "That's the last time I'm mixing champagne and whiskey in one night."

"Definitely a bad idea," Troy agreed with a laugh. There was a brief pause while they both sipped their coffee, and then he spoke again. "I'm sorry I acted like an ass last night. I was really drunk. I just wanted to make sure… are we cool?"

Veronica nodded slowly. "Yeah," she said. "We're cool. Things were just moving a little faster than I was prepared for." She set her coffee cup down. "And, um, I think we maybe need to take it easy."

She'd been thinking all morning, and she'd realized why everything had felt so wrong, last night. It's because I don't love him. Veronica had tried this once before, with Casey, and it hadn't worked then either. She didn't want a relationship that was purely physical- not again. She wanted more. She wanted to feel something.

Troy cleared his throat. "Yeah," he said. "It, uh, probably doesn't make sense for us to get together right now anyway, huh? I mean, with me only here for another couple of months and all."

"Right," Veronica agreed, relieved that Troy was correctly interpreting her intent.

He looked at her for half a moment. "But I really do like you, Veronica. And I'd be so bummed if we couldn't stay friends. Seriously, we're talking anti-depressants, therapy, the works. They may even have to commit me."

Veronica laughed easily. "Of course we'll stay friends," she assured him.

"Good. Because you're like the most chill girl I've ever met, for real." Troy smiled at her and stood up, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek. "And for the record, you're crazy hot."

"Well I'm pleased that I meet your friendship requirements," she joked.

Troy grinned and stood up straight. "I'll catch you around later, right?"

"Definitely," she promised. "Thanks for the coffee."

"Any time."

He left the suite, and Veronica stared at the closed door. Well. That was easy. Why couldn't things have gone this smoothly with Dick, last night?

xxXxx

Logan scrolled through picture after picture, considering each one carefully before moving on to the next. He was supposed to give final approval on the filming location for an important scene in the movie, but he was struggling to form a mental image of each spot.

He needed to see it. To get a three hundred and sixty degree view, to smell it, to know exactly how it would come across on screen. This would be so much easier if I just went to Neptune in person, he acknowledged. But that's not happening.

Logan picked up his phone. "Yeah, Cassidy, these photos aren't working for me. Tell Richie or Indira to take video, okay?"

As he spoke, Heather walked into his office. She was the only one who didn't wait to get announced or even bother knocking. His secretary had nearly had a heart attack the first time she'd breezed past her.

Heather walked directly over to his desk, pulling at his arm until his chair rolled slightly to the left. "Shake a leg, big brother, it's burger time," she ordered.

Logan gripped his desk to stop from rolling any further, while attempting to give her an annoyed glare. He covered up the receiver with his free hand. "I need five minutes," he whispered, gesturing for her to wait outside.

Heather didn't leave. She parked herself on his couch, crossed her arms over her chest and began to tap her foot impatiently.

"No, don't even bother with the first location," he spoke into the phone. "That one isn't going to work. Have them shoot…" Logan paused, scrolling rapidly through the photos on his computer. "Two, four and five," he decided. "And tell them to get it done today. Thanks."

Logan hung up and faced his sister. "Why are you still here?"

"Because I know how long your five minutes can take. What was that call all about?"

"A couple of issues with production in Neptune," he replied with a shrug.

"So why don't you go out there and deal with them yourself?"

Logan gave her a withering look. "You know why."

Heather rolled her eyes. "I still don't understand what the big deal is. So someone took a picture of you kissing Veronica. So what? No one even knows it was her."

"I told you," he reminded her patiently. "We weren't kissing."

"Sure you weren't." Heather sighed dramatically. "C'mon, don't you miss her?"

"We're not talking about this again," Logan stated. "I'm staying in New York and that's all there is to it."

"Fine. But I'm not letting you sit in this stuffy office and be a big brooding brooder all day," she informed him. "It's summertime. And it's the weekend."

"Yes, well some of us don't have the luxury of lazing around all day," he joked, as he responded to an email. "That fancy private school of yours isn't cheap, you know. So if you want to stay there, I've got to get some work done."

Heather's face grew somber, despite his teasing tone. "And… what if I don't?"

As her words sunk in, Logan stopped typing mid-sentence and looked up at her. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," she began, with more confidence. "What if I want to go to Claremont with you next year, instead?"

Logan leaned back in his seat, regarding her carefully. "Do you?"

Heather nodded. "Yeah."

Logan scratched at the stubble on his cheek, surprised to discover that he'd forgotten to shave. "You're only there because you wanted to get out of the city," he reminded her gently. "And because I thought that was probably a good idea, after… what happened."

"I know. And I needed to get away from all of this for a little while," she said honestly. "But I'm ready to come back now. I feel… okay again. Like myself. I even talked to Dr. Sue about it, and she thinks it's a good idea." Heather frowned, eyeing him anxiously. "But what do you think?"

Logan stood up, walked around his desk and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I think that you should do whatever makes you happy," he told her, laying his arm across her shoulders. "And if that means I get to see you every day again? Even better."

Heather grinned, pulling him into a tight hug. "Thank you. Okay, go finish whatever you're doing," she ordered, standing up. "But if you're not out of the office in ten minutes, I'm gonna play Justin Bieber at top volume, right outside your door."

Logan pretended to shudder. "Well in that case, I'll be right out."

Heather left the office and Logan walked back to his desk. He finished responding to his email quickly and clicked on the next one. Stacy Wells had sent him a friend request on Facebook. She was a sweet girl. I wish I could have liked her.

Logan had just turned off his computer when his phone buzzed. He glanced down at the screen.

Just checked into the Surrey. Meet me at 8. Don't forget.

Get us a private room, he replied.

The response came instantly. Done.

Good, he returned. See you soon.

xxXxx

Veronica didn't feel much like being around a large group of people, that afternoon, especially if they were all going to be congregated in Dick's suite. She knew she couldn't avoid Dick forever, but she wasn't ready to face him just yet.

She tried to get in touch with Mac, to see if her cousin wanted to have lunch. But Mac had texted her back that she was busy, and she'd explain later. Veronica ordered room service and ate a late lunch by herself, reminded strongly of her time on the yacht. She was feeling a bit lonely, and she missed Meg a lot.

After Veronica finished lunch, she tried calling Meg. There was no answer. Trying not to worry, she lazed around in bed and watched a movie. When the movie was over Veronica decided to send Dick a text message. She wanted to see what his state of mind was. She had just started to compose the message when there was a knock at her door.

She opened the door to find Mac. "There you are," she greeted her with a smile. "What on earth have you been up to?"

Mac gave a nervous little laugh, following Veronica into the living room. "Um, well, that's what I came to talk to you about." She stared at Veronica, chewing at her lower lip. "I honestly can't think of any good way to say this, so…" She stuck out her left hand, readying herself for the explosion.

"What?" Veronica asked confusedly, taking a sip of water. "You got your nails done?" And then she saw the ring, and she nearly choked on her water. "Is that a wedding band?"

"Yes," Mac confirmed.

"This is a joke, though, right?"

"Nope. Not a joke."

"But what- when… Who the hell did you get married to?" she demanded.

"Dick," Mac replied, in a very small voice.

Veronica burst out laughing. "Very funny," she said. "Seriously, who?"

"Dick," Mac repeated more firmly. "Seriously."

Veronica stopped laughing. "But… that's impossible. Last night, he asked me-"

"-to marry him," Mac finished. "I know. He told me."

The solemn look on her cousin's face finally convinced her that this wasn't all some elaborate prank, and Veronica sunk down onto the chair. Mac took a seat on the couch, remaining silent while she waited for Veronica to process everything.

"So you were drunk, right?" Veronica asked. "And this was all part of some crazy, like, high stakes scavenger hunt? Or a really intense game of truth or dare?"

Mac frowned. "We were a little bit drunk," she confirmed. "But-"

"Then you can get it dissolved, no problem," Veronica replied, sighing with relief. "It's okay." She smiled reassuringly at Mac. "Hey, everyone makes mistakes. No one even has to know about it."

"It wasn't a mistake," Mac stated forcefully, growing frustrated by Veronica's reaction. "Just because he's not good enough for you doesn't mean he's not good enough for anyone."

Veronica stared at her, stunned. "Mac, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."

The lines on Mac's forehead cleared, and she sat forward slightly. "It's okay. Look, I know this is all coming as a surprise. It was a surprise to us too. Everything happened really fast."

"I never even knew you had feelings for him," Veronica said softly.

"I didn't," Mac clarified. "Not really. But after he left your room last night, we ran into each other. And we talked, like all night. And then…" She trailed off, shrugging her shoulders.

Mac desperately wanted Veronica to understand, but she was finding it very hard to explain. She tried again. "I guess I finally realized that underneath all of the tasteless jokes and, you know, the general idiocy, he's… a decent guy. I mean, he's not perfect but neither am I. He's got a great career ahead of him. And I know he won't let my family end up on the street."

"I know he's got his good qualities," Veronica acknowledged. "But Mac…"

"Will you please quit looking at me like that?" Mac requested.

"Like what?"

"Like I just got a lobotomy or something," she replied. "I'm fully aware of my actions, here. And whatever you may think? I'm actually really good with all of this."

"Okay." Veronica sat back in her chair, trying to keep her expression neutral.

"I asked Dick if I could be the one to tell you," Mac said, looking down at the plush blue and white carpeting. "Because I thought I could make you understand." She glanced up at Veronica. "But is it possible that you can just be happy for me, without understanding? Maybe even congratulate me?"

"I'm sorry." Veronica stood up and walked over to her cousin, bending down to give her a hug. "Congratulations," she mumbled into her shoulder. "If you're happy, I'm happy."

But it was a lie. While she forced a smile and promised to join Mac and the others for dinner, inside she was screaming.

As soon as she left, Veronica began the process of trying to understand what Mac had done. How could she marry Dick? I can't think of two people less suited for one another than they are. And she's usually so level-headed. Doesn't she know that this is going to fail, miserably? They're only eighteen years old!

Disgusted, Veronica tossed her water bottle onto the couch and strode over to the window. She knows that he has feelings for me; that he has for years. And that he asked me to marry him just last night! Is this a rebound? A way to get back at me, for rejecting him? I don't want her to get hurt…

She shook her head, walking back towards the living room. This is insane. Is there something in the water, here? Because everyone has gone completely crazy. Dick's never even had a serious girlfriend before, and now he has a wife? And it's Mac?

Veronica stopped walking, placing her hands on her hips and staring sightlessly at a painting on the wall. There wasn't anything she could do. No matter how much she didn't agree with this, it had already happened. I'll try and talk to Mac again later, she decided. Or maybe even to Dick. Try to talk some sense into them.

Resigned to the situation, there was only one thing left to do. She walked into her bedroom to get ready for dinner.

xxXxx

Before she'd even fully recovered from the news, Veronica found herself sitting on a couch in Dick's suite surrounded by their entire group, listening to the story of Dick and Mac's nuptials.

"So I'm like dude, you wrote down the wrong name," Dick was saying. "I'm here to marry Mac, not Cindy."

Everyone laughed.

"Right, like my parents totally named me Mac Mackenzie," she spoke up, looking at Dick affectionately.

"What?" he asked. "It's catchy."

More laughter. Veronica looked around in amazement. They were all acting like this was the most normal thing in the world. No, it's not the water, she decided. I'm in the Twilight Zone.

She glanced over at Troy, dying to talk about all of this with him. But his attention was diverted towards Carrie, who was sitting to his right. Veronica leaned forward slightly, so she could see Carrie's face. She was smiling widely; absolutely enjoying the newfound attention.

Veronica felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, and pulled it out. It was Meg. Hurrying away from the rest of the crowd, she stepped into Dick's spare bedroom and closed the door.

"Hey," she greeted her sister. She couldn't wait to tell her everything that had happened, and there was a lot to discuss. But her sister's welfare was more important. "How are you?" she asked quickly. "How's New York?"

"Kind of hot," Meg replied. "But it's fine."

It had only taken that one sentence for Veronica to know something was wrong. "Did you run into anyone we know?" she guessed.

"Well, no. Not exactly," Meg replied slowly. "But something sort of weird happened earlier."

"What?"

"Well, Alicia and I went uptown to do a little shopping this morning. We were just coming out of Barneys when I could have sworn I saw Madison and Trina across the street. I called to them, but…" Meg's voice grew doubtful. "It was pretty loud, with all of the cars going by and stuff. I guess they didn't hear me. Or maybe it wasn't even them."

"Was anyone else with them?"

"No, it was just them. If it even was them." Meg paused. "I honestly couldn't say for sure. I tried calling each of them but both of the calls went to voice mail. So I left Madison a message, finally, to tell her that I'm in town. But I haven't heard back yet."

Of course you haven't, she wanted to say. Because they were never your friends, and you're the last person they want to see.

But she managed to keep her voice calm, attempting to placate her and suggesting that maybe it wasn't really them after all. She eventually changed the subject to Dick, telling Meg all about his unexpected proposal to herself and subsequent marriage to Mac.

That surprising news was enough to take Meg's mind off of the Kane's, at least temporarily. By the time they hung up the phone, her sister seemed a little bit more cheerful. But Veronica remained uneasy. She didn't trust those girls; she knew what they were capable of. And she was more certain than ever that she should have gone to New York with Meg.

xxXxx

Logan sat at the end of the table, picking at his beef tartare disinterestedly. It wasn't what he would have chosen. He'd been late to dinner, and Kendall had ordered for him. He hated when she did that.

They were in the private dining room at Café Boulud; a room normally reserved for much larger parties. But the restaurant had been more than happy to accommodate the request, when they'd learned that it was for Logan Echolls and the Kane family. They'd rearranged the seating specifically for their party of eight.

Logan was relieved. He was tired of people staring at him. And even restaurants of this caliber weren't immune to curious onlookers. Of course, there was nothing he could do about Madison. Every time he glanced up, she was looking speculatively at him and Hannah; trying to figure out if there was anything going on with them.

He was seated between Hannah and Kendall. He wished he was next to Heather; she was a much livelier dinner companion. But she was all the way at the other end of the table, trying to cheer up Duncan- who looked as though he were at a funeral feast.

Did he even shower today? Logan wondered. He looks like shit.

"So I, um, hear we're a couple," Hannah spoke up, face flushed pink to match her dress.

"Uh, yeah," he replied, turning to face her. "I'm really sorry you got dragged into that. I think someone is messing with me."

"That's okay," she replied. Her wide blue eyes met his, beneath black lashes, and she smiled shyly. "It doesn't bother me."

Logan looked at her, surprised. Hannah had never shown any particular interest in him before. But before he could reply, Kendall placed her hand on his arm to get his attention.

"We're going back to L.A. tomorrow," she informed him, taking a sip of her wine. "Why don't you come with us?"

"I can't leave New York right now," Logan told her. "I've got too much going on."

"Well, it's an open invitation." Her knee touched his thigh, beneath the table. "Any time you want." Her eyes glittered mischievously. "And people will be expecting you to visit, now that you're dating my little sister. According to several reputable magazines, anyway."

She grinned at him, her nose crinkling, and Logan rolled his eyes. "Why do you read that crap?" he asked, spearing an asparagus with his fork.

"Occupational hazard," she explained. "Ninety percent of my clients are featured weekly. I've got to know what the little birdies are tweeting about."

Logan didn't smile, and Kendall put her wine glass down. "What is up with you tonight?" she asked. She lowered her voice, eyes narrowing. "I'm starting to think there really is a new woman in your life. Want to tell Auntie Kendall all about her?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Auntie Kendall?" he repeated, taking a bite of the asparagus. "That's a disturbing thought."

Kendall waved a dismissive hand, crimson nails reflecting the light of the chandelier above them. "It's a figure of speech. I'm just trying to say…" She placed her hand on his. "You can still talk to me, Logan. About anything."

He slid his hand out of her grasp and picked up his whiskey, unsticking the ice from the side of the glass before taking a long sip. "There is no girl," he said shortly, setting the glass down with a thunk. "It's all bullshit."

"Good to know," Kendall smiled. "But I can tell there's something bothering you. Why don't we talk, after dinner? Maybe I can find a way to cheer you up."

She caught the waiter's eye, waving him over. Logan pulled his wallet from his pants pocket and reached inside for his Amex, but Kendall shook her head. "I'll expense it," she told him.

"Yes, Ms. O'Dell?" the waiter asked eagerly.

"When we're finished eating, I'd like you to go ahead and charge this meal to my room." She gave Logan a significant look. "It's 1606," she said distinctly.

"Of course, Ms. O'Dell. May I get you another glass of Cabernet?"

"Please," she replied loftily. When the waiter left, she glanced at Logan. "Did I mention my sister and I got separate rooms?"

"The rooms here are bigger than most apartments," he replied dryly. "That seems frivolous."

"It's all on the company's dime," she shrugged. Her eyes remained focused on Logan, although his were moving idly about the room. He was being far less perceptive than normal, tonight. Or maybe he's just pretending to be.

So that there wasn't any confusion, she dropped her hand beneath the table, letting it graze against his thigh. "And I thought I may need some privacy," she added.

Logan didn't even blink; he merely took another sip of his whiskey. "Not tonight," he declined, his eyes on his plate.

Kendall sighed and removed her hand. "You used to be fun."

Logan finally looked at her. "You used to be single," he returned pointedly. "I shouldn't have to keep reminding you that you're married now."

"Oh, whatever," she retorted. "Like you're such a boy scout."

He smirked, and she rolled her eyes. "But you do need a woman in your life," she advised. Kendall raised her chin in her sister's direction. "What do you think?"

"Hannah?" Logan muttered darkly.

Kendall shrugged. "Why not?" she asked innocently. "You guys have always gotten along. And she's not much younger than you. Look at how pretty she is, now that those hideous braces are gone?"

Logan didn't even glance at Hannah, instead shooting a disgusted look at Kendall. "You don't find it the slightest bit wrong, pawning your little sister off on me?" he demanded. "Given our history?"

"I'd rather see you with her than with whatever trashy little beach bum hoes you were screwing back in Nowheresville, California. You deserve the best, Logan. And if it can't be me…"

Kendall let the sentence hang in the air, still hoping to sway him back towards her. Logan used to confide in her; he used to listen to her advice. She didn't like the idea of another woman usurping her place in his life. But if it had to happen, she wanted to have a hand in deciding who that woman would be.

She watched Logan drink his whiskey, his actions always so measured and contained when he was in public. He had a confidence that far surpassed his age; his demeanor unconsciously elegant in suit and tie. But there was another side to Logan that was far less refined. A depth of passion she'd only ever glimpsed the edges of. And tonight, there was an angry glint in his eyes that fascinated her.

Kendall had never thought that her marriage to Cyrus would have led to the end of their affair. She'd had no idea that Logan's moral compass would maintain true north, when it came to marital fidelity. Despite gaining access to her husband's millions, she sometimes wondered if losing Logan had been worth the price.

Men had accused her of using sex as a weapon, before, but she didn't agree with that assessment. She thought of it less as a weapon, and more as a tool. It was a tool that she'd learned how to use with great efficiency and precision, through the years, and it had served her well.

Rarely did her sexual entanglements elevate themselves beyond the mild satisfaction of a successful business transaction. Her liaisons with Logan were one of the unexpected exceptions to that rule. She hadn't loved him, no. But she'd felt an affection for him bordering on possessiveness, at one point, and that had never truly gone away.

Kendall was very conscious of the value of maintaining her connection with him, even now that their relationship was no longer physical. Yet her feelings for him would never be fully platonic. Perhaps it stemmed from having been the first woman in his bed.

Logan finished his drink in one gulp, placing it on the table with an air of finality. "You really need to get out of L.A.," he told Kendall dryly. "That place is messing with your head."

He stood up. He could feel Kendall watching him, but his focus was on Heather. He walked to the end of the table and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I've got to get some work done," he told her. "Come find me when you get home; we'll go get Carvel."

Logan said a general goodbye to the table and left the room, barely acknowledging Kendall. She'd crossed a line, tonight, trying to pawn him off on Hannah like it was no big deal. She needs to learn that not everyone is her little puppet. Certainly not me.

A paparazzo snapped several photos of him as he was leaving the restaurant, and he was glad that he was leaving alone. The last thing I need is for another rumor to get started. Especially about me and Kendall. The gossip about them had persisted for years, and not all of it was wrong. And if any of that history comes out, my name will be front and center in the tabloids for months.

As Clarence waved him into the limousine, Logan's eyes strayed to the lone paparazzo, still snapping photos even as he was being escorted away by hotel security. It was strange that it was just one guy; he wondered who had tipped him off. He'll get a pretty penny for that picture, with no other competition here.

Logan rested the back of his head against the leather seat and closed his eyes, a mild headache forming at the base of his skull. And I'm sure I'll see the photo online by tomorrow morning.

xxXxx

The next day, Veronica and Mac were treading water in the deep end of the spa pool, where they had a little bit of privacy from the rest of the group.

"But what about school?" Veronica asked.

"I'm taking a year off," Mac informed her. "To go on tour with Dick next month. You know I've always wanted to travel." She swam to the side of the pool, grabbing onto the edge for a rest. "But before that, we're moving to L.A."

"L.A.?" Veronica repeated. "Why?"

"Well, Kendall thinks Dick will get more acting opportunities up there," she replied. "And she's probably right. I'm going to talk to my dad, see if they can re-work Dick's schedule so he can film the rest of his scenes now. And then we're leaving."

Veronica was surprised they had an actual plan in place, given the impetuous nature of their romance so far. But Mac is practical, she acknowledged. Maybe she'll even be good for Dick. Keep him grounded. She glanced over at the man in question. He was dunking Gia beneath the surface of the pool, while he laughed gleefully.

"We'll be going up there in a few weeks, to look for a place," Mac continued. "And, um, I wanted to ask you… Do you think you could maybe come with us? I could really use your opinion."

"Oh," Veronica said. "Um, I don't know…"

Mac nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. "Think about it, okay?" she requested.

"I will," Veronica promised. She wasn't sure she could handle being the third wheel to the newlyweds, especially when she was still struggling to come to terms with their union. But she wanted to be supportive of her cousin. Even though I still don't understand any of this.

"Hey, Veronica!" Lilly called.

"What's up?" she asked, swimming closer to her sister.

"Does this mean Dick is our cousin, now?"

"Uh, yeah," she said slowly. "By marriage, I guess he is."

"Good thing we never hooked up, then, huh?" Dick grinned, splashing Veronica playfully. "That would have been all illegal and shit."

Veronica smiled. Dick's attitude had surprised her. He'd shown absolutely no residual anger towards her, over the last twenty-four hours. In fact, he was acting as friendly towards her as ever. Nothing like getting married to take the sting out of rejection, I guess.

"There's the little pansies," Dick announced, spotting Troy and Casey at the entrance to the pool. "How were your womanicures?"

"Fabulous," Casey called, displaying his nails proudly. "The manicurist gave me her number." He ran to the pool's edge and jumped in right next to Dick, displacing a large quantity of water in his vicinity. Dick tackled Casey as soon as he emerged, both disappearing underwater.

Lilly, meanwhile, had climbed out of the pool upon seeing Troy. "I need an unbiased opinion," she told him, twirling slowly in her new white bikini. "What do you think?"

"Gorgeous, as always," he said with a smile.

"I don't want to be gorgeous," she pouted. "I want to be hot."

"No worries on that score," Troy reassured her.

Lilly grinned, walking down the steps into the pool. "Thanks, Carrie," she said, as they passed one another on the stairs. "You were right."

"Aren't I always?" Carrie joked, slapping Lilly's palm as she walked by. She headed towards the showers, and Troy watched her go curiously.

He followed Lilly into the pool. "Carrie helped you pick that out?" he asked. "She has excellent taste."

"Well yeah, but it's kind of her job," Lilly pointed out.

"Huh?" he asked.

"She works at the surf shop," Gia explained. "Poor thing."

"Why?" Troy questioned, growing rather concerned. "What, uh, happened to her?"

"Her dad lost everything in some kind of pyramid scheme," Mandy told him.

"Yeah, she had to move into an apartment and get a job and everything," Gia added.

"But it was really nice of Dick to invite her along," Lilly said magnanimously. "She doesn't get to do stuff like this too much anymore."

Troy glanced in the direction Carrie had just disappeared, resigning himself to another loss. Zero for two, he thought. I really need to step up my game.

He glanced over at Veronica. She was watching him with interest, the look in her eyes a bit too perceptive. He gave her a crooked grin. "Race you to the end?" he challenged.

Without waiting for her to agree, he set off swimming. And Veronica was quickly caught up in the competition, splashing her way towards the edge of the pool and momentarily forgetting all about Troy's intentions towards Carrie Bishop.

xxXxx

Jake and Celeste Kane were adamant about maintaining certain traditions with their family, despite their hectic schedules. One of those traditions was getting together for a Sunday afternoon movie. The decision on which movie to watch was on a rotating roster, and tonight's choice had been Duncan's.

"The Godfather?" Trina groaned. "Again?"

"Says the girl who forced us to watch The Devil Wears Prada for the fourth time, last week," Logan remarked, passing the bowl of popcorn to Heather.

"It's Duncan's call, Trina," Jake said calmly. "You kids know the rules."

Trina rolled her eyes but fell silent, and Celeste pressed play on the remote. Logan settled in to watch the movie. He, for one, was happy with Duncan's choice. It was one of his favorite movies. He watched Kay and Michael onscreen, quickly becoming absorbed in the film.

"If he's your brother, why does he have a different name?"

"Oh, that. When my brother Sonny was a kid, he found Tom Hagen in the street. And he had no home. So my father took him in, and he's been with us ever since. He's a good lawyer. Not a Sicilian, but I think he's gonna be consiglieri."

"What's that?"

"That's like a counselor; an advisor. Very important to the family."

Logan felt his phone buzz in his lap. He looked down to see a text from Madison. It read "911". Slightly annoyed, he glanced over at her with both eyebrows raised. But her eyes were wide, and she was gesturing urgently towards the hallway.

He stood up with a sigh, following her out of the room. Things had been a little chilly between them since the night of the party, largely by Logan's choice. He'd wanted to make it crystal clear that he had no interest in her.

"What?" he asked, as soon as they were out of hearing distance.

"Meg's in town," she informed him.

"What?" he repeated, in a very different tone.

"It's true," she confirmed. "Trina and I saw her yesterday. We had to duck into Saks so she wouldn't see us."

"Why the hell didn't you tell me about this yesterday?" he demanded.

"Because I…" Madison thought quickly. She hadn't told him because she hadn't been sure if Veronica was in New York, too. If she was, Madison certainly hadn't wanted Logan to know about it. "I didn't think it was a big deal," she said with a shrug. "I didn't answer when she called; I thought she'd just let it go."

"But?"

"But she didn't," Madison admitted. "She left me a voice mail yesterday, and I didn't listen to it until just now. She said she was going to be uptown tonight, and that she might come by. What should I do?"

Logan considered this news carefully. I guess I was right about her the first time, he decided. She really is making a play for Duncan. Why else would she be here? Something else occurred to him, and he frowned. And if she's been in New York awhile, maybe she really is the one feeding all of these new stories to the tabloids…

"Logan?" Madison prompted, growing impatient.

"Well the main thing is, we've got to keep her the hell away from Duncan," Logan began, plan forming in his mind. "Okay, listen. I'll get Duncan out of the house for a bit, as soon as the movie's over. Then you call her; tell her to stop by the house. But keep it short."

"Okay," Madison agreed, nodding slowly. "But what if she tries to hang around? How do I get rid of her?"

"Have someone call you, like fifteen minutes after she gets here. Say it's an emergency." Logan ran his hand through his hair, still thinking. "And while she's here," he added, "Let it slip that Duncan is out with another girl. Keep it vague, but make it clear that he's not interested in her anymore. Got it?"

"Yeah," Madison replied. "So… what do we do if Duncan finds out she's in town?"

"He won't," Logan said confidently. "I'll make sure of that. Just don't go making any other plans with her."

"All right," Madison agreed.

Logan scratched absently at his still unshaven jawline, trying not to ask the main question on his mind. But I have to know. "Are, uh, any of her sisters with her?" he inquired.

"No," Madison said coldly. "She's alone."

She pushed her way past him, back into the living room. But Logan didn't follow her. Instead, he made his way up to Duncan's room and walked inside. Duncan's phone was on his desk, plugged into its charger. Feeling like the worst friend in the world, he picked up the phone to do what he'd assured Jake he'd already done. He needed to see if Duncan was still in contact with Meg.

Logan spent a moment going through his incoming and outgoing calls, but there was nothing except the two calls from Meg, from a couple of weeks ago. And I already knew about those. He checked Duncan's text messages. Nothing. Maybe he wasn't that into her after all.

He was about to put the phone down when he had a thought. He opened up Duncan's internet browser to check his history, and his stomach dropped. A Google search for Megan Mars and Duncan Kane… Celebrity Hotspot's website… The National Instigator's website… Meg's Facebook page…

Logan set the phone down. So much for keeping all of the gossip from him. And so much for him not being that into her.

He was walking back towards the living room when his phone rang. It was Cassidy. His assistant knew better than to call on a Sunday afternoon, unless it was an emergency. Logan answered the call quickly. "What happened?"

"Well, we're going to have to fire Liam," Cassidy announced.

"What did he do now?" Logan demanded.

"Uh, long story short? We can't shoot at that club in Neptune, anymore."

"You've got to be kidding me," Logan replied. "It's the only club in Neptune. Right?"

"Right."

"Perfect. Well whatever Liam did, I've got to fix it."

"There's no fixing this," Cassidy told him. "Trust me."

"Why? What the hell did he do, screw the owner's daughter or something?"

"Actually… yeah," Cassidy confirmed. He paused. "But, uh, Kendall thinks she may have a solution."

"Kendall? How is she even involved in this?"

"Liam is her cousin."

"Of course he is." Logan sighed. "Fine. What does she want to do?"

"She knows a guy who's opening up a club in L.A.," Cassidy explained. "He's set to open up in about a month; but there'll be a small window where we could get in there and shoot what we need."

Logan shook his head. "No," he said. "There's no way we can make that happen in a couple of weeks. It'll completely mess up the schedule. And I don't even want to talk about the budget. We'd have to get permits, we'd have to-"

"I'll take care of all of that," Cassidy assured him. "It's not as bad as it sounds. There are only two principal actors in that scene, and we can use a small crew. I can have everything ready to go in three weeks." His voice was eager when he continued. "I can do this, Logan. Let me try."

This was far more responsibility than he'd ever given Cassidy before. But he hasn't let me down yet. "All right," he agreed. "See what you can do." Succumbing to necessity, Logan exhaled silently. "And when everything's all set to shoot, schedule my flight to L.A."

xxXxx

After an amazing dinner at Picasso and an entertaining few hours spent gambling, Veronica and her friends ended their last evening in Las Vegas in Dick's suite. There was one new addition to their party, however. A very pretty girl, about their age, who was currently deep in conversation with Troy.

"Hey Troy," Sean spoke up, eyeing the new girl curiously. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Jackie," Troy introduced her. "We met at the pool, after you guys left. And I was lucky enough to run into her again on the casino floor."

Jackie waved once, smiling self-consciously at the room. "Hello everyone."

Veronica's eyes shifted from Troy to Jackie, taking in their close proximity to each other on the couch, and the way Troy kept touching her arm. Veronica glanced at Carrie curiously; she didn't look pleased.

"Where are you from, Jackie?" Carrie inquired.

"New York," she replied. "I'm just out here visiting my dad."

Troy nudged her in the side playfully. "Go on, tell them who he is," he encouraged her. He glanced up at Dick. "Dude, you're going to lose it when you hear."

It took a little persuading, but Jackie finally caved. "He's Terrence Cook," she revealed.

"Are you kidding me?" Dick asked. "Oh man. He's like the best pitcher ever."

Lilly turned to Veronica. "Dad's gonna totally freak out when he hears this," she said. She turned back to Jackie. "Our dad is like the biggest baseball geek known to man."

While the rest of them continued talking to Jackie, Veronica caught Troy's eye. Seeing the expression on her face, he came over to sit down next to her. "Terrence Cook," he said enthusiastically. "Can you believe that? A living legend. Man, I wish I had a rookie card for him to sign. You know how much those go for?"

"Is that with this is about?" she asked, nodding towards Jackie. "Money?"

Troy was taken aback by her candor; Veronica could tell. But he played it off well, giving her a roguish smile and a shrug. "Hey, you know my situation," he reminded her. "I've got expensive tastes, and no one to pay for them."

"So you're saying that it's just as easy to fall in love with a rich girl?" she pressed.

"And more practical," he added with a wink.

Veronica frowned, not as charmed by his honesty as he'd bargained for. "Aw, come on," Troy appealed. "I'm not trying to con her out of millions or anything. I'm just being friendly."

"Yes," she noted dryly. "Very friendly."

"Hey, you're one to talk," he teased. "Rumor has it you used to date Casey Gant, heir to a small fortune. And before his, um, unexpected marriage to Mac, I believe Dick had a little thing for you as well?"

"What's your point?"

"That you don't seem opposed to spending your time with wealthy men," he said frankly. "Even the great Logan Echolls himself, on occasion." He gave her a searching look, hoping she'd elaborate.

"I've known Casey and Dick since we were kids," Veronica stated. "And anyone could tell you that I wasn't the one doing the chasing, in either of those cases." She paused. "As for Logan... There's something I've been wanting to ask you."

"Uh, sure," Troy replied. "Ask away."

Veronica lowered her voice. "That girl you told me about, last summer. The younger girl that Logan was involved with."

Troy kept his expression blank. "Yeah?"

"How is that you actually know what happened between them?" she questioned.

Troy frowned. "Because I walked in on them," he replied, suddenly subdued.

"You walked in on them having sex?"

"No," he replied, looking down at the ground. "But they were just about to. She was in her bra and underwear, and he was-" He broke off, standing up abruptly. "You know what? I don't really want to talk about it."

Troy quickly excused himself, reclaiming his seat next to Jackie. Veronica's eyes remained on him for several moments, considering. She had more questions than ever about him. After witnessing his affections shift from her to Carrie to Jackie in a matter of days, she wasn't entirely sure she could trust him anymore.

But just because he's a player doesn't necessarily mean he's a liar, she reflected. He was honest enough about his intentions towards Jackie, when I asked him directly. And he'd seemed genuinely upset by the topic of the younger girl; his entire demeanor had changed when she'd brought it up. So what, exactly, did he walk in on?

Several disturbing possibilities popped into her head. Veronica stood up and walked into the spare bedroom, needing a moment to clear her mind. No sooner had she closed the door than did her phone ring. It was Meg.

"Hey, what's up?" she asked.

"I just saw Madison and Trina," Meg said dejectedly.

"What happened?" Veronica asked worriedly. "What did they do?"

"Well…" Meg hesitated. "To be honest, they just weren't very nice. I'm not even sure why they invited me over. Trina was on her phone the entire time I was there, and Madison looked bored out of her mind. I- I tried to tell myself that something had happened to them. Maybe they'd just gotten some terrible news, or… I don't know, something. But now I think…"

"What?" Veronica prompted.

"I think neither one of them likes me very much, anymore," Meg concluded. "I suppose they believe all of that silly gossip in the tabloids. I really thought they knew me better. I thought we were friends."

"Oh, Meg," Veronica replied. "I'm so sorry."

"You did try to warn me, about them," Meg admitted. "But I was so sure you were wrong."

"Listen, don't worry about them okay? They're just a pair of stupid, vapid, entitled-"

"There's more," Meg interrupted her quietly. "Madison told me they're definitely staying in New York for the rest of the summer. And then she mentioned that Duncan wasn't at home because…" Meg swallowed. "Because he was out with another girl."

Veronica sat down on the bed. Madison and Trina revealing themselves as the horrible people they were, she'd seen that coming from a mile away. But Duncan… He had me fooled. He really did.

She spoke to Meg for a few more minutes, asking her about museum visits and shopping trips, but she knew very well that her attempts to distract her sister were in vain. Meg's last hope that Duncan still returned her affections had just been crushed. It was going to take her some time to recover.

When Veronica hung up with Meg, she didn't rejoin the party right away. Instead she sat on the bed, thinking. Every guy she knew had turned out to be a disappointment, in the end. Veronica was relieved, at least, that she hadn't gone any further with Troy. If she was being honest with herself, she'd never had particularly strong feelings for him to begin with.

I just liked the attention, she admitted. And he was a nice distraction. But that's over, now. So I may as well find something else to occupy my time for the rest of the summer.

Veronica stood up, finally, heading back out into the living room. When she spotted Mac, seated at the bar, she walked directly towards her.

"Hey," she said, taking a seat beside her. "Does your invitation to come to L.A still stand?"

A/N I think we all know what's coming next… Thank you for reading! Please review :)