Logan Echolls watched as Veronica raced from the classroom, her cheeks pale and piece of paper still entwined in her hair.

Girls like Madison Sinclair and Kayla Yates reasoned his treatment of the petite blonde was merely the social hierarchy in full effect, it was prudent after all, in their estimation to remind people of their place in the pecking order. Dating Neptune's answer to Royalty, Duncan Kane would have put the former Sheriffs daughter in the Neptune Pirates Cheerleader crosshairs if it hadn't been for Lily Kane's friendship or her dad's previous job.

Every pack had an omega after all, and Neptune was its own Wilderness.

Making the girl miserable was merely the social ecosystem, any of his 09er peers would reason.

It wasn't personal.

Except to him it was.

It was fuel.

Hating Veronica was one of the few things that still felt real after losing Lily, maybe it was even a defense mechanism.

Lily's death created a void, left him grappling with grief, anger, and a sense of emptiness. His feelings towards Veronica became an outlet for his unresolved emotions.

In a twisted, hurting Veronica was a way to keep Lily alive.

He knew it didn't make sense, nothing about this situation was rational, as if death could ever be reasoned with.

Letting himself move on would be a betrayal.

Logan's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a chair pulling up next to him. He turned to see Kayla, her gaze swept over him. She was wearing a tight black dress that showed off her curves.

"A yacht for your thoughts?" She said, her voice dripping with sugar.

Sun poured in around them from the tall windows, his finger tapped on the table and his gaze sought out Dick in the back of the room, perched against a desk trying to find out his girlfriends cheerleading practice schedule this week. Kelsie Danvers caught his gaze and then shyly looked away before Kayla noticed. Folding his arms across his chest he peered towards the doorway, Mr Faust was frequently late, reminding the 09er students that while he may not have their collective wealth, he could waste something as equally valuable, their time. Principal Moorehead, always keen to prioritize the desires of the affluent parents, dismissed the complaints of the teenagers, emphasizing the importance of securing letters of recommendation from teachers like Mr. Faust to guarantee admission into prestigious Ivy League schools.

The benefit of a multi-million dollar slush fund meant he could skip the usual college preparation which plagued the rest of his peers.

As the classroom buzzed with the usual commotion of his hungover and under caffeinated classmates Logan glanced at the mess surrounding Veronica's desk. Trying to read her was like deciphering expressions on a concrete angel, so much of what he wanted her to feel were.. projection. A mirror for his own self-loathing and the eternal insecurity.

"A quarter for your silence?" His tone was clipped, her flirtations since they hooked up a few weeks ago at the party at Dog Beach had grown tiresome.

Especially after she'd tried to get them caught out by her stepmother. His father would have loved to be on the end of that phone call.

He understood the game, he was a distraction for her personal issues caused by her fathers second divorce and rumours circulating she would be getting sent to Manhattan to live with her mother and new stepfather.

"You aren't still sour about the hot tub, are you?" she asked indignantly.

Logan shrugged, rising from his seat to move to another desk before Mr Faust arrived and he was stuck beside her the whole period.

"Do you think I'll be able to fit in a nap?" Dick asked sliding into the seat beside him.

Logan stifled a laugh, shaking his head. " Last time he caught me dozing off, he gave me a three-page essay on the importance of punctuality. Not fun."

His best friend had woken him early with a video call to shame him for all the tasty waves he was missing that morning. For Logan, surfing was an escape from the pressures and routines of everyday life but for the older Casablancas, it was a way of life, where some people were all about the mental and physical challenges, Dick swore being out in the water, feeling the waves, and immersing oneself in nature was be a deeply transformative and exhilarating experience.

"Dude, you have no idea what you missed! The waves were pumping! It was like nature's rollercoaster out there. I caught some insane barrels and pulled off a sick aerial. You should have been there, man!" Dick grinned, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

Mr Faust walked into the room, a coffee thermos in one hand grumbling to himself, kicking the door stop and closing the door. Logan and Dick exchanged subtle glances, sharing a silent understanding.

Mars would not be joining them again it seemed.

With renewed determination, Logan turned his attention back to the lesson. After the bell rang, signaling the start of his lunch period, Logan spotted Veronica heading towards the school's courtyard with her lunch tray.

She brought lunch from home in a small brown paper bag and sat out there most days, he knew because he often found himself choosing the seats opposite her.

In that moment, surrounded by the noise and energy of the cafeteria, his fingers itched to reach out, place a hand on her shoulder in a comforting gesture.

"Save the sarcasm, Dick. We were just having a heart-to-heart, and its decided, if Maize McCoy wants to stay on the squad, she's got to either gain a somebody boyfriend, or lose 25lbs." Kelsie agreed with Madison.

Their conversation was interrupted by Luke, who approached their table with a playful smirk on his face.

The Pirate Points had earned the 09ers pizza for the afternoon but he had a craving for egg rolls, so he lingered near the entrance waiting for the petite blonde to pick up her book bag and head back towards the video library.

"So breaking into people's houses is part of your job now? Always playing the hero, solving mysteries. Don't think for a second that I'll let you off the hook that easily." Logan warned following her. He knew this confrontation was inevitable, but he wasn't prepared for the surge of resentment that washed over him. Veronica looked down, her remorse evident in her posture. His jaw tightened, and for a moment, she could see the turmoil in his eyes.

At least before they'd been friends enough to respect one another's boundaries...

The past weekend had been the first time one of her cases had taken her directly to the Echolls' Estate.

"Sneaking around like that crosses a line." he growled sharply, studying her features. Her heart fluttered as she felt his presence so close, his towering figure making her feel small in comparison.

He knew about her case, the Neptune Bling Ring had cost Dick his favourite surf watch a few weeks back when they were at Madison's pool party, but it didn't make him feel any less... violated.

As they stood there, locked in a battle of emotions, Logan felt his anger begin to waver. The pull he felt towards Veronica was undeniable, a magnetic force that he couldn't ignore. In that moment, he realized that his anger was merely a facade, a shield to protect himself from the raw vulnerability that she awakened in him. Her breath hitched, her pulse quickening as he closed the distance between them. She could feel the intensity of his presence, and she couldn't deny the ache that still tugged at her heart. The tension between them crackled in the air as they stood face-to-face. Luckily she knew Logan always turned the security system off during his parties, so it was only his word against hers, and Sheriff Lamb was more likely to blackmail Logan to keep mentions of his kegs and party quiet.

"Don't act like you're the victim here. You've been nothing but cruel and vindictive ever since our friendship fell apart." she retorted, voice filled with frustration. "You're just a spoiled brat who thinks your privilege gives you the right to do whatever you want," she shot back, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and longing.

"Is that what you really think of me, Ronnie?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of vulnerability.

Their faces were mere inches apart, and he could feel the warmth of her breath on his skin.

"I don't know what to think anymore, Logan," she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness.

Her eyes were focused on, her the floor, lips pressed together in a contemplative line. He couldn't help but notice the slight crease in her forehead, a sign that she was still processing their earlier confrontation. Their interaction attracted curious glances from other students, but neither Logan nor Veronica paid them any mind.

"Last time I checked, you were the one who couldn't keep your nose out of my business." Logan's hands fisted at his sides, his voice seething with resentment.

The weight of their words hung in the air, their friendship crumbling before their eyes. In that moment, all the pain, anger, and unresolved issues boiled to the surface, leaving them both feeling raw and exposed. His gaze bore into hers, trying to decipher her motives, but the intensity of their history together made it difficult to think straight.

Veronica's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with disdain. "You know what, Logan? You're right. I should have stayed away from you and your toxic mess of a life. But don't think for a second that I regret leaving that behind."

A flicker of hurt crossed Logan's eyes, but he quickly masked it with a cold, indifferent expression, approaching her with a challenging posture.

"You know what, Veronica? Excuse me for not living up to your high standards. I'm done with you and your games," Logan said, his voice cold and cutting. "Stay out of my life."

Veronica shot him a defiant look, her own anger evident in her eyes.

With that, Logan turned on his heel and stormed away, leaving Veronica standing there with a mix of emotions swirling inside her. Part of her wanted to yell after him, to let out all the frustrations and hurt that had built up between them. She knew deep down that they had both contributed to the breakdown of their friendship. But whether they would ever find a way back to each other remained uncertain.