Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own
Chapter Six - Day 1 - Things Overheard From the Closet
Flashback – August 2003 - Logan – Aaron Echolls' Home Office
Logan dove into the closet pulling the louvered door closed behind him when he heard his father's voice approaching. He wasn't ever supposed to be in Aaron's office - unless he was being beaten - but Lilly would be over in an hour, and he'd been searching for the key to the poolhouse liquor cabinet.
The door was flung open, and Aaron strode in followed by his agent, Harvey Greenblat. Logan prayed he wasn't as visible to them through the louvers as they were to him, and the inside of the closet was so musty that he prayed he didn't sneeze either.
"Did you handle my little request?" Aaron asked.
"What? The yacht?"
"Yes, the yacht." Aaron answered condescendingly.
"Yeah. I found one. 43 ft. motor-yacht. The Titan's Trigger. Huntington Marina, slip 38 on Nicholas Key. Spacious enough to live on, not so large as to require a pilot."
"It can't be traced to me?"
"No, the title and insurance are in the name of a dummy company. There's no link to you, and Lynn will never find out."
"Good…" Aaron said rifling through a stack of mail on his desk.
"The yacht has everything you need for a weekend trip. Two cabins. Fully equipped galley, shower, washer/dryer, satellite TV. You could actually live on this boat permanently, if you wanted to."
"That's what I asked for."
"Personally, I think you're paranoid." Harvey said. "The IRS will never come after you for such a low amount. You're not even credited as the body double for that picture."
"Yeah, well you can never be too prepared, right? And I don't' recall asking for your opinion."
Harvey opened his briefcase and pulled out a folder. "Here's all of the paperwork."
Harvey handed Aaron a set of keys with a green floatation keychain.
"A guy named Joe Morgan will inspect and maintain the boat every three weeks, so it should be fueled up and ready to go at all times. His contact information is written down, but you probably won't need him as long as you have the key. And remember, anybody who even wants to board the ferry to Nicholas Key needs to be accompanied by somebody holding that Island Pass-card. You already have one, but I got you an extra for a guest."
Aaron pulled out his cell after Harvey left. "Hey gorgeous!" He said into the phone, turning up the charm. "Next Friday: make-up an excuse to get away. Because I'm taking you to Florida. A weekend on my new yacht. I don't know. Think of something. Tell them you're going somewhere with a friend. Bring that bikini. You know the one. OK baby, see you soon."
Logan watched through the louvers as Aaron lifted the seat of the black leather chair against the wall. Under the cushion was a hidden cubby of sorts and Aaron stuffed the keys and the folder there.
Logan waited three more minutes to come out of the closet to be sure the coast was clear.
Logan – Day One – Interstate I-8 California to Arizona
"So your brilliant plan is for us to go live on a yacht and sip champagne all day?" Veronica asked incredulously.
"Sounds like a good time to me, and, technically, I never mentioned champagne." Logan said. Veronica was starting to piss him off with that disdainful 'you're-a-waste-of-human-skin' look she did so well. He thought his plan was a good one, and it's not like she'd offered up any ideas.
"What makes you think your dad won't show up out of the blue?"
Logan sped up to pass an 18-wheeler before answering. "Daddy Dearest flew off to the Czech Republic two days ago to begin filming on his latest action movie, Inferno of Retribution. He'll be gone for at least three months."
"Any chances he'll come back during his downtime?" Veronica unbuckled her seatbelt and slipped into the back seat. Logan heard the crinkle of plastic shopping bags.
"Nope, he's banging his costar. He'll stay on location."
And then mom will be forced to smile and shake hands with the slut at the premiere.
"How can you be so blasé? Doesn't it bother you?" Veronica asked sliding back into her seat with a book in her hand. She struggled with the seatbelt for a second before it clicked into place.
"Nah, I love seeing my mother humiliated time and time again. Can we skip the discussion of my feelings and my daddy issues and get back to the plan?"
"Fine with me. You'd have to actually possess feelings in order for us to discuss them. So…what if somebody on the island recognizes us and turns us in?"
Way to get your little dig in before changing the subject. I could run with that one, but I'll let it go.
"What if somebody at the next red light recognizes us and turns us in? We're talking about Nicholas Key Veronica, not the trailer park. Nobody's going to turn us in for beer and cigarette money."
"I've never even heard of Nicholas Key."
"There's a reason for that. It's one of the most exclusive locations in the world." Logan moved into the left lane to pass a mini-van. "Millionaires and celebrities buy property there for the privacy and anonymity. You can't even step foot on the Key if you don't 'know somebody'"
"So how much do you actually know about this place?" Veronica asked. She was idly flipping through her book, but didn't seem to be stopping to read anything.
"We spent the weekend at Will Smith's house a few years ago, after he did Around the Bend with dad. Then my parents started talking about buying one of the beach-houses there. They're all isolated from their neighbors. You pretty much get a private stretch of beach. Further inland are the mansions, typically for the year-round residents. There's a large marina, a country club with golf courses, a spa, two or three shopping centers, restaurants and night clubs. Like a playground for the rich and famous.
"Even rich people might turn us in, Logan."
"At the risk of their own anonymity. It's in the best interest of the inhabitants to see nothing and hear nothing. You haven't heard of the place because it's a well-kept secret. Were somebody to turn us in, the paparazzi would get wind of the island, and would probably descend upon it like sharks. Nobody wants that to happen.
"How can something like that remain secret? What about public records?"
"Public record will show most of the properties are owned by dummy corporations." Logan gestured like a tour guide. "Move along folks, nothing of interest here."
"So what do we do after your dad's movie is done filming?"
We pray he never finds us.
"Let's worry about that when the time comes. For now, we have a place to stay for at least three months. We can find jobs on the mainland and after our time is up, we'll rent an apartment."
"If we're lucky, Liam Fitzpatrick will be in jail by then, and we can go home."
"In jail for what? Extreme hate with intent to kill?"
"I emailed my father before we left and asked him to dig up dirt on Liam – to find something that will get him put away so I could come back home."
"Aren't you worried about your email being read by the cops?"
"I sent one email for public view asking dad not to search for us. I sent a second secret email the cops will never get their hands on. My dad and I created secret webmail accounts for emergencies. Even a hacker couldn't track that email."
"Cool. Teach me how to do that?"
"Eventually. I'm still not sure about Florida."
"Would you like to offer a different suggestion?"
"I have nothing."
"Well then, Florida it is." Logan examined the steering wheel buttons and set the cruise control to seven mph over the speed limit.
"You realize we're on the run. It's not supposed to be all champagne wishes and caviar dreams."
Always judging Veronica. As if I did something wrong by coming from money.
"I'll be happy to drop you off at Hillbilly Holler on the way to Florida if you'd like."
"And...there's the psychotic jackass I know and loathe." Veronica said. "Should have known you couldn't put away your stupid vendetta for even one day."
"My stupid vendetta?" Logan asked.
So she wants to have this conversation?
Veronica set down her book and shifted her body to angle towards Logan, her face confrontational. "Yeah, stupid. Your argument doesn't even make any sense. Stand behind my dad or stand behind Duncan and the Kanes. So I didn't side with the boy who dumped me over my own flesh and blood. Big freaking deal."
Logan glanced around interior of the truck subconsciously looking for something to fiddle with. "It wasn't only Duncan. You turned your back on me. And all the rest of our friends, too."
"OK. Let's talk about this. Let's discuss the mechanics of choosing you."
"What? The mechanics?"
"Let's go back in time to my 'so-called' choice, and I'll do it over."
"Huh?" Logan noticed a pen sticking out of the front pocket of Veronica's bag and reached for it. Veronica made no move to stop him.
"OK, pretend it's 2003. I, Veronica Mars, renounce my father, Keith Mars, and choose you Logan Echolls. You are my chosen one. So will I be living in your pool house or one of your spare bedrooms?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Oh. You mean you hadn't intended on providing a roof over my head once I had chosen you? So are you providing me a swank hotel room? Or do you expect me to stay at home."
"You're mental, Veronica." Logan chuckled. He threaded the pen over his middle finger and under his index and ring fingers.
"Oh, so home it is. But I chose you. Doesn't that mean I'm not allowed to talk to my dad? Do I slip him notes? Should I send him emails? To: kmars at aol From: vmars at aol Subject: Toilet Paper Body: If you read this within the next hour, please pass me a fresh roll of t.p. through the bathroom door."
Logan snorted.
"Kind of ridiculous, huh?" Veronica asked.
Yeah, for the most part.
Logan levered the pen in his fingers up and down as he watched a gray pickup truck in the rearview as it flew up from behind in the right lane and then passed them weaving in and out of traffic.
"Now let's talk about these so-called friends. The way I see it, out of the entire 09er group, only one of them was my friend, and it wasn't you. It was Meg Manning.
"Wait, you're saying I wasn't your friend? What were those four years leading up to it then?" Logan's face was angry as he took his eyes off the road long enough to shoot a glare at Veronica.
"I don't know, but a true friend would never make you choose between the people you loved."
I would have chosen. No contest.
"That's not the only reason I had a problem with you, Veronica. You told Lilly about me kissing Yolanda for all of three seconds."
"Again, boo-freaking-hoo. You're the one who put your lips – and possibly your tongue – where they didn't belong. Don't put that on me. Plus, we hung out and played video games the day before you went to TJ. You had already forgiven me."
"I forgave you then. When I thought I'd still have all the time in the world to fix things. How was I supposed to know that she'd be dead two days later. I only went to TJ because she dumped me, and she only dumped me because you ratted me out. I would have been there to keep her alive, otherwise." His pen flicking became more agitated.
"Logan…" Veronica sighed. "You need to stop lying to yourself. Lilly was bored. The breakup was inevitable. So, what if she had waited one more week to break up with you? The killer could have gotten her then. This person could have been stalking her all along, waiting for her to be alone."
"Abel Koontz-"
"Forget Abel Koontz, he's a patsy." She held up a hand when Logan looked about to argue. "But regardless, you were dating Lilly and you kissed Yolanda."
"It was barely a kiss, and I knew she was cheating on me. She'd bragged about it. Why shouldn't I kiss somebody else?"
"That was between the three of you. I don't even fit into that equation."
Logan opened his mouth but couldn't come up with anything to refute her words.
"They're all excuses, Logan. They're like bullet points or supporting arguments. You use them to make yourself feel better about being an asshole to me. But there's a missing puzzle piece as to what really made you turn on me. Probably the most important piece and it has nothing to do with my so-called choice or telling Lilly about Yolanda."
Logan's heart stopped and he risked a glance at Veronica. She stared back at him suspiciously.
Perceptive Veronica, but that is one conversation we are never having.
Logan changed the subject. "So, what's going on with you and Weevil?"
"Going on? He's my friend. We have each other's back. Weevil showed up when you were trying to destroy my car with a tire iron. I cleared his name of credit card fraud. I helped him out one or two more times, and I guess now I owe him again. He comes through for me. I come through for him. You might remember what that's like. Or not."
"So there's nothing romantic going on?"
Veronica shot him a scathing glance. "It is possible for a guy and a girl to be platonic."
"If you say so."
"We used to be friends."
"No we weren't."
For a moment, Veronica looked as if she'd been slapped before her mask came back up.
"Remember? Your only true 09er friend was Meg Manning."
What the hell? She's the one who'd said it, and now I'm the ass for throwing her words back in her face?
"Those were your words. You didn't seem to have a problem telling me that I wasn't your friend."
Veronica relented first. "We were friends. Just not at the point where you demanded that I make a choice."
Logan started to speak, but Veronica cut him off. "Whatever happened between us, happened before you made that demand. You knew I'd never stand against my dad, so that's how you knew it would be the perfect way to exile me."
"Can't slip anything past you, huh?" Logan asked. It was unnerving how perceptive she was sometimes.
Veronica gave him a phony smile and turned to watch out the window. For several minutes, the only sound was Logan tapping out the beat to the radio on the steering wheel with a pen.
"So you all broken-up about leaving your boyfriend behind?" Logan asked when the silence grew uncomfortable.
"I assume you're talking about Troy this time."
"Why? Do you have a third devoted admirer after Troy and Weevil?"
Or should I say fourth? Duncan is still hung up on her. Or hell, fifth?
Veronica ignored that question. "I wouldn't call Troy my boyfriend. We only went on our first date last night."
"Was it a good date?"
"Yes, it was very nice."
Ouch.
"Nice, huh? Kiss of death."
"What's that supposed to mean."
"Kiss of death? It means that you're just not that into him. Speaking of kiss, did he kiss you goodnight?"
Logan grinned and raised his eyebrows.
"He leaned in. I panicked. He got really weird, shook my hand and left."
It was obvious to Logan that Veronica instantly regretted sharing with him.
"Panicked?"
"Disregard that. It's nothing."
Panicked? What's up with that? She's been kissed before. Duncan and….and….
"Veronica, how many guys have you kissed?"
"This week? Only sixty-two."
Logan laughed. "Just admit it. How many, Veronica?"
"How many people have you kissed?" Veronica countered.
"So many that I can't even count." Logan said. "But only one of them mattered. Now how many, Veronica?"
Veronica spoke under her breath. "One."
I could not have heard that right.
"What did you say?" Logan asked, turning his head to watch her speak.
"One. Unless you count that thing in the limo with Lilly"
"Doesn't count. No tongue. So, one? Duncan is the only guy you've ever kissed?" Logan asked, disbelievingly.
Veronica turned away, embarrassed.
"Wait, Duncan did know how to use his tongue, right?"
He laughed at her hate stare.
"Well, no wonder you're still obsessed with him. We're gonna get you kissed, Veronica Mars. Soon."
"Excuse me?" Veronica asked incredulously.
"No, I'm not volunteering." Logan said putting up a hand. "But at some point on this little road trip, we're going to get you kissed by somebody new."
"Get me kissed? Like I'm some charity case that nobody wants to put their lips on?"
She's cute when she's belligerent.
"More like everybody wants to put their lips on." Logan said.
Damn! Why would I say that?
"Everybody except me." Logan amended. "I'm completely immune to your charms."
"I'd say 'right back at you', but that would imply that you had any charms. I thought the whole point of the fake engagement thing was to keep guys from hitting on me."
"I said we'd get you kissed, not laid. Guy tries anything further, I'll kick his ass."
"Logan Echolls starting a fight? Shocking!"
Veronica – Day One – Interstate I-8 California to Arizona
So, how do I feel about being trapped in a car, life, and possible future with Logan Echolls and Duncan Kane? If you combined worst nightmare with...well...worst nightmare should about cover it.
Only two weeks ago, Veronica had been about to begin her junior year of high school. Due to some sort of state mandate, school started earlier this year - snatching back a precious week of August.
Veronica had dreaded the start of school for two reasons: Logan Echolls and Duncan Kane.
Duncan was easy to explain. When a boy tells a girl that he loves her and wants to be with her forever, of course her emotions will be complicated after he walks away without any explanation. Sometimes, Veronica longed for what used to be. Sometimes she felt inadequate - she must have done something to have driven him off. Occasionally she worried about him – people don't just turn into zombies for no reason. Usually, she was disappointed in him - the lethargic stander-by was not the Duncan she used to know and love. And sometimes, when his cold blue eyes stared right through her, she felt freaking uncomfortable.
Yes, uncomfortable was the perfect word. Even when he tried to be friendly, he made her uncomfortable. Just last week, forced to ride with him to the Gold Coast to report on a surfing competition, Veronica had been tempted to barrel-roll out of the moving car just to get away from him.
But if her feelings for Duncan were complicated, her feelings for Logan went beyond explanation.
If an encounter with Duncan left Veronica feeling cold all over, an encounter with Logan left her burning - burning to punch him, burning to destroy him, burning to pull his fingernails out one-by-one, burning to strip him of every ounce of power he had over her, burning to comfort him to make all of his pain go away, and yes – although even the aforementioned fingernail torture couldn't force her to admit it aloud – sometimes burning to kiss him.
This last only seemed to occur at the most inopportune of times - like after he smashed her headlights. He'd loomed over her threateningly, muttered something about 'fun, fun, fun' and for a fraction of a second, she'd felt...something – as if Wallace and all of Logan's goons had disappeared, and only she and Logan existed in the world. She'd stared up at him, tire iron propped behind his neck in a way only Logan Echolls could possibly make look sexy, and some deeper message hidden behind the smarmy insolence in his eyes. Her heart had started pounding, and she'd felt fucking alive!
Weevil's arrival and save had almost been a disappointment. Which probably made her insane.
She imagined it was simply a chemical thing - something about his chemistry or pheromones resonated with hers when he stood too close. That was the full extent of it. Nothing more. Nothing. Nada.
Logan had been given everything life had to offer on a silver platter and he squandered it. Beauty, brains, charm, money, fame, popularity, and charisma. People naturally followed him. He was clever and connected.
Veronica could not comprehend why, with all of his natural gifts, Logan chose to funnel his energy into antagonizing her.
But did she want him to stop? Would she be happy if he began playing the "Duncan card" of pretending she didn't exist?
No.
Not really.
Logan energized her. Logan motivated her to go on. Even while he was tearing her down, he was making her stronger.
One of these days, when she finally solved the Lilly Kane murder, she would go straight to Logan to shove it in his smug face, and she would thank him for driving her to keep going. She wouldn't expect an apology, but she'd be vindicated. That would be reward enough.
But for a moment earlier, he had really thrown her. His speech about creating a new life outside of the shadow of his father? That was the boy she'd met that day at Community Park when he was twelve and she was about to turn thirteen. She'd always wondered if she'd imagined that side of Logan.
Flashback – August 2000 – Veronica – Neptune Community Park
Veronica's eyes scan the parking lot. "Looks like my mom forgot what time to pick me up again." She sighs, looking up at the cute, too-tall-for-his-age boy she just met.
"Bummer. I guess you're stuck hanging out with me then." He says in mock sympathy. He nudges her elbow to walk with him towards the Home bleachers for the soccer field. Something is…different about the way he walks – as if he weighs thirty pounds less than he appears. As if he's light as air.
"Stuck with you?" Veronica pretends consternation. "Should I be worried?"
Logan pivots on the ball of his left foot to face Veronica, walking backwards without ever breaking stride.
"Be very worried." He says with a twinkle in his eyes. "I have a terrible reputation."
He pivots again to walk forward next to Veronica. She wonders if he has some kind of dancing background.
"Do that again." Veronica demands.
"Do what?"
"That thing you just did while you were walking."
"What, this? Logan asks duplicating his earlier movements.
"You practice that!" Veronica laughs.
"Do not!" Logan protests.
"Right…" Veronica smirks and Logan hangs his head hiding a grin.
She looks out to the parking lot. "I suppose I can risk hanging out with you for a bit until my mom comes. Are terrible reputations contagious?"
"Only if we share bodily fluids."
"Which I'm sure you're very,very stingy with." Logan amends quickly upon seeing the surprise on Veronica's face. "Sorry, you're probably not used to people as forward as I am. If I offend you, feel free to pummel me."
A smile tugs at the corners of Veronica's lips. "I should be used to it. My best friend exists to shock me."
"If your mom doesn't show up by the time Duncan's game is over, I'm sure Mr. Kane will give you a ride home." He looks back towards the parking lot. "I wonder where he's disappeared to now. He said he was going to stick around and work on some files."
"I'm sure one of them will turn up soon." Veronica says.
Logan steps aside at the base of the bleachers and gives an 'after-you' hand motion. As Veronica begins to climb, Logan's hand touches her back, exerting a gentle pressure to keep her climbing.
Veronica takes a seat on the top row, and Logan drops down on her left, slouching back against the back-rail and pulls out a cell phone.
"Would you like some privacy?" Veronica asks.
"I'm not calling anyone." Logan says, fiddling around with the phone until Veronica hears the sound of a camera shutter.
"Did you just take a picture of me?" She asks.
"I did." Logan smirks.
"Do you always take pictures of strangers?"
"But we're not strangers. We've been introduced already. Honestly? I just wanted to get a picture of you the way you look now. I'm sure that the next time I run into you, you'll be all neat and clean, and I want to remember what you look like mud-splattered."
Veronica looks down at her muddy uniform and knees. "You realize I just came off the field, right?"
"Absolutely. I like it. Especially the big spot of mud on your cheek. I think it's cute. You don't meet too many girls who aren't afraid to get dirty."
Logan grins at her. His eyes are possibly the darkest brown she has ever seen. She realizes she's never properly appreciated the color brown before. Rich soil, espresso coffee, dark chocolate, hot fudge...
Hot Fudge! She realizes she will never have a hot fudge sundae again without thinking about Logan's eyes.
"Still with me?" Logan asks, his eyebrows lifting in amusement.
"Sorry, just thinking about ice cream sundaes. I tend to do that. Often." She flashes him a grin. He returns it.
"I'll have to remember that. What's your favorite kind of sundae?"
Veronica blushes. "Hot fudge." She mumbles.
Logan raises an eyebrow, obviously wondering what is so blush-worthy about ice cream. Veronica changes the subject.
"So I take it you're not the president of your father's fan club?"
"Not even a member." Logan says, his eyes scanning the horizon.
"It has to be difficult." Veronica says.
"What does?"
"Being the child of two celebrities. Having your whole life under a microscope."
Logan looks back at her, his eyes brimming with emotion. Gratitude, for sure, but something else. She cannot put a name to it.
"You're the first person who's ever asked me that." Logan says, quietly. "Not one single person has ever considered – before you – that my life might not be a non-stop party where I snap my fingers and things magically appear. Nobody gets it."
Veronica senses that he wants – needs – to unburden himself. She puts a hand on his knee. "You want to talk about it?"
Logan looks down at her hand and then into her eyes. Searching for something. He closes his eyes for a second, takes a breath and then opens them again.
He answers her unspoken question. "Girls usually put their hand on my knee when they want to seduce Aaron Echolls' son."
Veronica pulls her hand away, aghast. "I didn't-"
Logan is quick to cut her off. "I know! I realize that." He puts a hand on her arm reassuringly. "But it's happened often enough that it's kind of instinct for me to suspect."
"They actually try to seduce you? You can't be much older than I am."
"I'm twelve. But I'm tall for my age."
"Twelve…" She whispers, her eyes brimming with empathy.
Logan shifts, propping his forearms on his knees and his head lowers so that his hands can thread into his hair. "You'd have to understand. Hollywood is a completely different world. They eat innocence for breakfast."
"What do your parents do to stop it?"
"I don't think my mom is aware of it, and my dad..." Logan laughs bitterly and tugs at his sleeves. "My mom has these parties, and there are people in and out. Starlets, agents, directors, producers, trophy wives, trainers and stuff. They put on this show for my father. It's ridiculously predictable. They'll catch his eye, and then do the whole oral thing - sucking on an olive, or a cherry or an ice cube or something, like they're in a bad porn movie. Sometimes I catch the spillover. I can see them eyeballing me like a stud horse. Calculating whether I've inherited whatever it is they think my dad has. Maybe they think I'm older, maybe they just don't care, who knows?"
He reaches down to scratch at a splat of mud on his shoe before turning his head to see Veronica's reaction.
"That's disgusting. You're not much more than a child yourself." Veronica looks repulsed.
He closes his eyes again, obviously fighting back some emotion. When he opens them, he looks calm.
"I'm not a child. I'm not sure that I ever was one. Thanks to my whacked-out family. People worship my father. They imagine what it would be like to be around him or live with him. But they're completely delusional."
"How so?"
Logan sighs and leans back against the back-rail again, distractedly lifting one of Veronica's pigtails from where it drapes along her back.
"Dad doesn't enter a room in slow-motion. He doesn't rappel into a room from the roof, like in 'Hair Trigger' although he certainly has one. He doesn't sweep my mom off her feet and carry her to their bedroom like in 'The Pursuit of Happiness'. He barely seems to realize that she exists anymore. He doesn't sit at my bedside imparting wisdom and integrity like he did with that kid in 'Recovery'. He doesn't have any integrity. He's just a man. And not a very good one. The non-stop party thing is true, but Hollywood parties blow. And yeah, I have a lot of material possessions, but maybe the price is too high. Way too high."
Logan face is haunted as he turns to look back at Veronica, and he seems surprised to find that he's been weaving and twisting the end of her pigtail around his fingers.
"Sorry." He says bashfully.
"Not a problem." Veronica smiles softly.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm no angel. I've never claimed to be."
"That's obvious." Veronica smirks. "I would guess that you're more of a rebel."
"Eh...rebel tendencies, but rebels are typically loners. I couldn't be a loner if I wanted to. People won't leave me alone."
"So just how does a rebel rebel when all eyes are upon him?"
"He becomes The Ringmaster."
"The Ringmaster? That's an odd choice for somebody who wants to be left alone."
"I'll never be left alone. But at least as The Ringmaster, I get to control the show."
"Does that make you happy?"
"Not really." He turns to study the horizon again.
"Sometimes…I fantasize about running away. Being adopted by some nice, normal family, where I could start over from scratch. Just some John Doe with the same challenges and opportunities as everybody else. Where I wouldn't have to worry that most of my friends were using me for who my father is. You know what I mean?" His eyes drop to his hands, half concealed by his sleeves. He tugs the sleeves down to his knuckles.
"Yeah." Veronica says quietly. "I can only imagine."
"Everybody wants to know Aaron Echolls' son. Nobody ever really wants to know Logan."
"I do."
"I know." His eyes rise to meet hers again. "I can tell you're one of those rare people who are...beautiful on the inside, I guess."
Veronica blushes. "Thank you."
"Hey, I'm sorry for being morose. Something about you just makes me want to spill my life story." He gives an embarrassed grin and shrugs. "Did I tell you about the time I went bowling when I was seven?"
Veronica laughs.
"So…Tell me how you know Duncan." Logan asks, dropping down one row and leaning his elbows back on Veronica's row to her left. He looks up at her from underneath, and once more, she's captured by his dark eyes.
"Oh, I've only met him one time, but I've been best friends with his sister since we were seven."
"You're best friends with Lilly Kane?" Logan asks incredulously.
"Yeah…"
Logan laughs. "That's almost impossible for me to believe."
"Why?" Veronica asks belligerently. "If you're going to bring up class differences I'm warning you now-"
"Class differences? What does that have to do with anything? Don't get your cute little knee socks in a twist." He tugs at one of the socks in question, and flashes an impish grin. "I meant…because…you're like this angel fallen to earth and she's like a…"
"Devil?"
"I was going to say bitch, but devil works."
"Wow!" Veronica says, eyes wide. "Not used to guys talking about Lilly that way. I'm not sure how I feel about it."
"You want to defend her because she's your best friend, but you feel that would make you a hypocrite, because you're aware that she actually is, in fact, a bitch."
"Yeah, something like that." Veronica laughs softly.
"Well relax. I've been best friends with Duncan since kindergarten. I've known Lilly long enough to be able to tell her like it is."
"Most guys…"
Logan cuts her off. "Most guys fall all over their feet to be near her, right? See, that's the problem. She thinks that because I possess a "Y" chromosome, I should happily volunteer to be her slave. It pisses her off to no end that I don't." He sits back up and turns around to face Veronica, pulling one knee to his chest.
"Why should you, when you're so used to having girls fall over their feet for you?" Veronica teases.
"But never the right girls."
"Ah, but from what you said earlier, the right girl wouldn't fall all over themselves for you at all. That would never impress you. The right girl would get to know the real Logan as an equal – never as an object of worship."
"Yeah...but that doesn't mean I wouldn't worship her." Logan says quietly.
"I can see where you might be prone to that." Veronica smiled. "You have a romantic streak don't you?"
"I might." Logan admits, a shy smile forming on his lips. "I wouldn't be surprised if it were in there somewhere waiting for the right girl..."
"It's in there. I can tell. And whomever it does manifest for will be one lucky girl."
Logan's eyes are both soft and intense, and Veronica wonders how such a contradiction could exist. He is about to say something, and then obviously changes his mind.
Veronica feels disappointment. For a second there…. She supposes it doesn't matter. She's too young to think like that.
"So, you'll be going to the public middle school with Lilly?"
"Yeah."
"Duncan and I will be transferring there this school year. Maybe we could sit together at lunch. You could be my first new school friend."
"I'll think about it." she teases,
"Could I bribe you with a hot fudge sundae?"
"With whipped cream and extra nuts?"
"Obviously. So it's a deal?"
"I...suppose…" she grins. "But you have to promise not to antagonize Lilly more than strictly necessary."
"If that is the only way you will let us hang out with you, I'll be on my best behavior." He grins mischievously. "Although I'm warning you, my best behavior might be somewhat equivalent to your worst."
"I'll consider myself warned." Veronica bites her lip to keep from smiling.
"It's just that…I'm not used to people…getting me. The real me. You know?"
Veronica nods. "Yeah. I do."
He shifts so quickly from teasing to sincerity. A girl could get whiplash.
"You're pretty cool, Ronnie."
"Nobody calls me Ronnie."
"Until now." He smirks. "Look at that, Duncan's team caught up and won the game, and we weren't even paying attention."
Veronica glances over to the parking lot. Her mom has arrived and is standing by the car. But why is she having such an intense conversation with Lilly's dad?
Veronica – Day One – Interstate I-8 California to Arizona
"Earth to Mars" Logan said, waving a hand in front of Veronica.
"Seriously? Ten points for originality there."
"Well, I've been trying to get your attention for two minutes. Where were you?"
"Thinking about hot fudge sundaes." Veronica said, avoiding Logan's eyes.
"With whipped cream and extra nuts?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact."
Logan laughed. "Shocking! Actually, we haven't eaten all day. I'm surprised you're not gnawing on the dashboard by now."
"Such a comedian." Veronica eyes rolled skyward.
"So what do you think? McDonalds? Taco Bell? Wendy's?"
"Actually, I think we'd be best off sticking to mom and pop establishments that aren't likely to have surveillance cameras. Like diners."
"You're worried about cameras in fast food joints? What if we just went through the drive-through?"
"There are drive-through cameras as well. Then there will be a record of what we're driving."
"Isn't that taking things to extremes?"
"I'm not saying we should never eat fast food, we just need to prioritize. If the town has a mom and pop diner, try that first."
"If you insist. And it's only a coincidence that diners have ice cream, huh?" His eyes challenged her to deny it.
"Never crossed my mind." she smirked.
Logan parked the Explorer in the back of the parking lot at, quite literally, Mom and Pop's Diner.
"So, you think we should bring Duncan in?"
"No. He would only call attention to us. We can give him a nutrition drink when we come back out."
Logan looked back at Duncan dubiously. "Sorry DK, but it's all for your own good. The sooner you snap out of this daze, the sooner you can hang with the cool kids…and Veronica."
Veronica rolled her eyes as she pushed a curly brown wig onto her head and added a pair of horn-rimmed glasses.
Logan looked at it with distaste. "Don't you have any other wigs?"
"Why? This one's fine."
"It's crap. I kind of don't want to admit to being your fiancé with that mop on your head."
"You have a problem with brown hair?"
"Not at all, but the wig itself is crappy. You look like a wallflower or something. Who would ever believe that I would want to date you?"
"You turn being an asshole an art form. I'm so sorry that you're embarrassed to be seen with me."
"Not the real you, just this hideous wig, but I'll survive." Logan said, looking her over. "Stay still." He pushed some stray blond strands of hair under her wig and tilted his head inspecting for any others strays. Not finding any, he turned his attention to his own disguise.
"Where are those eyeglasses?" He asked, and Veronica handed them to him. He slipped them on, and added a black baseball cap.
Logan snorted when he caught a glimpse of the so-called engagement ring. "You can't wear that thing."
"Why not?"
"It's too big. Anybody who knew what they were looking for would know that it's a fake, and then look at me as if I'm some kind of cheap bastard. And anybody who doesn't is going to wonder what else we have worth stealing."
"Your faith in humanity is so refreshing." Veronica said as she exited the vehicle.
"I thought you wanted to lay low." Logan called after her.
Veronica surreptitiously scoped out the diner for cameras before selecting a booth in the back corner. Before sitting, she calculated the length of her skirt vs. the large gash in the burgundy vinyl that would surely pinch her leg were she to sit on it, finally deciding just to scoot all the way in. She glared at Logan in annoyance when he sat down to her left on the same side of the table as her.
"Mind sitting on the other side?"
"So that I can have my back to the door? Sorry, but I watch enough movies to know that you never want to have your back to the door when people are looking for you. But be my guest." Logan motioned to the other side of the booth, indicating that she should be the one that moved.
Veronica scowled and pulled menus from the holder on her right, handing one to Logan.
"So…do I have to be careful about what I eat?" Logan asked.
Sliding his dinner knife out of the wrapped paper napkin he began his patented flick, twist, twirl thing. Lilly would slap his hand were she sitting here, but it had never bothered Veronica much – except for those times when she'd find herself almost hypnotized by his twirling pencils, straws, or chopsticks.
"Why? Worried you'll get fat?"
"I don't know…I wouldn't want us to get caught because I always ordered buffalo burgers everywhere we went, or something." He said. "I suppose we won't want to have any obvious patterns."
"Buffalo burgers? What do you think this is? The Neptune Grand restaurant? In the real world, we eat these things called cheeseburgers. You should try them. Kinda yummy."
A waitress approached, mid-forties, wearing a hideous polyester uniform, with shoulder-length light-blond hair and brown eyes that turned down at the corners giving her a perpetually sad look, even when she smiled, which she was doing now.
"Hi, I'm Laurel. Can't stand to be apart from each other, huh?" She asked indicating Logan and Veronica sitting on the same side of the booth.
"She gets separation anxiety." Logan smiled up at the waitress.
Veronica glared at him.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of, baby." Logan said. "Trust me, I understand. I'm just that lovable."
"Well apparently she is too." Said the waitress. "If the size of that rock is any indication." She reached over, picking up Veronica's hand to examine the ring. "What'd you do, knock over a bank to buy that ring?"
It took all of Veronica's willpower not to snatch her hand away from the waitress. Her skin was literally crawling. Logan must have picked-up on her discomfort because he reached over and gently extricated her hand from Laurel's to take another look at the ring himself.
"Pretty spectacular, huh? It was my great-grandmother's ring. The only thing they had left after the great stock market crash of '29, passed on to my dad, and now me." He pressed a soft kiss to Veronica's hand, folding it between his two large hands.
That's the third time today his lips have touched my skin. Typical Logan.
It had driven Lilly crazy how Logan was constantly touching her and giving her little kisses, but Veronica had always thought it was sweet and romantic.
I guess that's the only way he knows how to be a boyfriend – even a fake one.
Logan looked back up a Laurel with puppy-dog eyes. "But she would have been worth every penny...if I'd had to actually buy one for her. Nothing's too good for the girl I love. I'd bring her the moon if she asked for it."
Laurel's eyes softened, charmed by the young lovers.
Oh, he's good!
"I'll take a Coke, and my girl here will take a Skist."
"I'll be right back with those drinks." Laurel said.
"You can release my hand now."
Logan dropped her hand and reached for his menu. "So tell me about these cheeseburgers that you speak of."
Laurel arrived with their drinks and Veronica and Logan placed their food orders.
"You know…" Logan said. "Even with the cameras at McDonalds, I think we'd attract less attention getting in and getting out with disguises than we did here."
"Probably." Veronica said. "I'm waiting for your 'I told you so'. About the ring."
"I know it's hard to believe, but occasionally, I can be right, Veronica."
"I'll try to keep that in mind, but you should call me Victoria in public."
"Or I could just call you baby." Logan smirked.
They both ordered burgers and fries, and ate in silence. Veronica inhaled her fries and then went to work on Logan's. He raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. When Logan reached for the last fry before she could, she pouted until he sighed and fed it to her, at which point, she grinned smugly.
Laurel returned and asked if they would like any desert.
"Two hot fudge sundaes?" Logan asked, looking at Veronica.
"With whipped cream." Veronica said.
"And extra nuts." Logan added.
Laurel was back two minutes later with the sundaes and the check.
"So how long have you two lovebirds been together?"
"Three years." Veronica said.
"Five years." Logan said simultaneously.
They looked at each other wondering what to say now. Laurel looked at them skeptically.
"Sweetie, you don't get to count those years when you were dating my best friend." Veronica said.
"Why not? It's not like we ever stopped seeing each other." He leaned in to her neck. "Remember all those times in the mop closets? You know it was always you, baby."
Veronica giggled vapidly as she pinched Logan's leg under the table.
Laurel backed away slowly. Her faith in young love extinguished.
Logan gave Veronica a rakish smile. "We might want to work on that cover story."
Veronica looked at her hot fudge sundae, looked up into Logan's twinkling, dark brown eyes, and smiled back. "Mop closets, huh?"
Logan ducked his head.
A/N - Decided to split this chapter into two parts. 12,000 words seems a bit much for one chapter, which means the next update should be fairly soon.
A/N2 - Don't bother Googling Nicholas Key. I made it up (Hey, Stephen King made up Duma Key!). If you happen to be in the mood to research, look up Fisher Island, FL (outside of Miami). It's my inspiration for Nicholas Key - the only difference being that Fisher is condo city, where imaginary residents on my island would have more privacy in their secluded beach houses. The amenties are the same, however.
A/N3 - As usual, feedback is awesome. Tell me what works for you.