Vignettes

by Renee145

Summary:

Got inspired and felt Rob Thomas just didn’t give us enough moments of Veronica and Logan. So please read Part 1, which gives a little backstory to where I’m going with this. The stories start in Chapter 2.

 

Part 1: Preface
Part 2: The Beginning
Part 3: MoneyGate (OUT NOW 1-6-2024)

Chapter 1: Preface

Hello all! Thank you for being curious and clicking. I promise you this is just a brief explanation/back story and anything after this will be nothing but me writing/simping for VMars and Logan Echolls.

A few things to keep in mind before going into this as I wanted to keep the integrity of what Rob Thomas created while also needing to get this story in more of a place where there aren’t as many hardships that plague our characters:

• Lilly is alive. 
• Cassidy did not do anything to Veronica at Shelly Pomroys party, in this he’s a sweet angel… kind of.
• Keith stepped down as sheriff due to the growing corruption he saw and not because he got removed from office. He still created Mars Investigations.
• Veronica did go through an identity/style evolution without the trauma that spurred it originally. Let’s call it just growing up. She’s the dark to Lilly’s light (style that is not personality)

Chapter 2: The Beginning

Notes:

I love Logan sooooo so much.

 

(End of season 4 is not my canon lol)

What the actual fuck is he doing here? He could be on his board in Maui for a few more days. Could be sipping Mai Tais, which his mom didn’t realize she left out for his awaiting and willing hands. Could be scouring the soft sands and blue waters for girls who have loose morals and giggle to their friends that they’re gonna sleep with the Aaron Echolls' own flesh and blood.

Yet he’s here watching Dick attempt to pierce the bottom of a beer can on the back patio of the sprawling Kane residence while the sun starts its daily descent toward the horizon. So again, he’ll ask himself, what the fuck is he doing here?

Oh right.

That.

There’s a blonde currently hidden somewhere inside the house with two other blondes, most likely giggling about who’s gonna get the drunkest or who’s gonna snag a make-out with the new boy Troy Vandegraff. What a drag that conversation must be… and what’d he do to be a fly on that wall.

“Dude,” Dick scoffs, “Why’d you have to get the shitty beer? This crap is halting me from getting my freak on.”

“Please halt getting that on until you’re actually at the party.” He mumbles.

Duncan glares, “Celeste would kill me if she found I got the expensive beer, dude. It’s my parent’s credit card. If you just drank from the can like a normal person, you’d be fine,” Duncan reaches out to pry the bent-in beer from the blonde dunce and replaces it with a newly opened can.

“Buzz kill,” Dick mumbles gruffly before chugging half the can just as happily.

“You throw up in one of the cars; you best bet no one will hesitate to throw you out wherever we are. Even if we’re in the middle of nowhere.”

“Daddy’s helicopter is fueled up,” Dick shrugs. Beaver shifts awkwardly at the mention of using something that their dad probably asked both his boys not to abuse.

He can’t help the chuckle that escapes his mouth, meeting Duncan’s exasperated glance with an easy smirk. He nurses his beer, hoping it somehow takes him away from this place.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Somehow, someone volunteered him to be the poor tribute to answer the current knocking at the Kane’s front door. He really should’ve shoved Dick this way in protest, but part of him kind of wants a moment of reprieve from his friends.

As the door swings open, a shorter guy around his age stands awkwardly with his hands in his pockets, a fish out of water. His eyes shift shyly before his mouth opens, words ready on his lips. Logan beats him to it.

“No one ordered whatever it is you deliver. Try the house next door.” He swings the door shut, ready on his heel to turn back to the pre-game before another few knocks spins him right back around. He plasters on his most placating smile and reaches into his back pocket.

When he meets the kid’s eyes, he leans against the door frame, flipping through his wallet between the ten, a few twenties, a fifty dollar bill, and the few hundred’s his mom threw at him earlier when he left the house.

“Looking for a tip? How does ten sound? Good for you? Or better yet, are you here for the sage life advice I can provide? I’ll supply one for free: don’t swim with socks on.”

The kid’s face screws up, confused, before stuttering slightly, “I was told that this was the Kane residence.”

“And what’s it to you?” His lips press into a thin line, impatient.

“Wallace,” Veronica Mars’ voice echoes from the living room, “that you?”

Logan’s eyes narrow at the recognition that follows the kids— Wallace’s— face in front of him.

“Yeah.” The kid gains confidence, it seems.

The door swings wider, and a blonde in gym shorts and a sweatshirt materializes beside him. He shifts to stand straighter, watching Veronica smile at the rando standing on the doorstep like a chump.

“You made it!” She all but squeals.

“Thought I had the wrong house for a minute,” Wallace sizes him up quickly before smiling back at their apparent mutual companion.

“Don’t mind the guard dog,” Veronica jests, “his bark has always been the only lethal thing about him.”

He sneers down at the blonde twig of a girl, ready to say any number of things, but Lilly interrupts in the nick of time.

“Fennel!” She actually does squeal, “What are you still doing out there? Come in!” Lilly pushes Logan out of the doorway to grab Wallace’s arm and tug him in, Veronica taking the lead to shut the door like a dutiful second in command.

“Adopting strays, are we?” He jibes.

“Wallace,” Lilly grandstands, “Meet my depressed ex, Logan Echolls. Ex-lover, meet our newest best friend— well, Veronica’s but mine by association— Wallace Fennel.”

“Nice to finally meet you.” Wallace holds out a hopeful hand.

He stares down at it, “Feeling isn’t mutual.” Veronica's blue irises glare up at him, and Lilly rolls her eyes. Wallace’s hand falls limply back down. “What’s he doing here?”

“He’s coming to the party with us,” Veronica answers, giving Wallace a smile, which is returned joyfully by the poor sap.

“Why is he here?” He emphasizes meaning in the general sense. Why is this new kid hanging out with their kind?

“Veronica here saved Wallace from utter doom, and now they spend practically every day together,” Lilly answers.

“How riveting.”

Duncan interrupts, “Hey, Wallace. What’s up, man? Want a beer?” His best friend calls from across the room, wiggling an unopened can of the worst beer they could be drinking.

“No thanks,” this Fennel kid responds with a grateful smile, “DD.” Why hasn’t he heard anything about this Wallace kid? He wasn’t gone that long.

“How boring,” he mumbles, taking a swig of beer, still sizing up the kid before him. He’s got height on him, money for sure if not for the old two-door rust bucket he spied when he opened the front door a few moments ago, though he does seem to be in both Lilly and Veronica’s good graces at the moment, so that he’ll have to work through later, hopefully, when he’s much drunker.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

He leans back against the kitchen counter as Veronica ambles around the Kane’s expansive kitchen, retrieving Wallace a previously offered glass of ice-cold water. This kid’s going to be a fucking drag.

“So what trouble did you get yourself into Walter—“

The kid glares momentarily, interrupting, “It’s Wallace.”

Logan ignores him, “—steal candy from a baby? Stare a little too long at some 09er WASPs’ monetarily endowed assets?”

Wallace’s brows furrow, “No.”

Instead, Lilly fills him in, as always. Wallace apparently just moved into town. He’s set to start at Neptune High with all of them in about a week. And he just so happened to pique the interest of their local high school biker gang.

“— so Veronica and I were at the sac-n-pac a few weeks ago to get some alcohol with my fake, and Wallace happened to be working that night. Before we could check out, two PCHers waltzed right in all boisterous and wild, and Wallace here proceeded to do his job and deny letting them buy since they were obvi underage. Bad for V and I, I know.” Lilly sighs.

He just rolls his eyes, another swig of cheap, stale beer down the gullet.

Lilly continues, “So they teased poor Wallace here and walked out with the beer. Cops came like a minute later, and Sheriff Lamb was a total ass.”

“The worst.” Veronica nods. “Swear that man’s got a spiteful stick up his ass. He told Wallace to visit the wizard.”

Logan murmurs in agreement, “Case of the missing backbone.”

It earns him a scathing look from both Meg and Veronica. Lilly again rolls her eyes, continuing with the grand story of how sweet, virginal Veronica went toe to toe with one of the most intimidating kids who keeps repeating junior year seemingly constantly. Then, she used her connections at the sheriff’s office to switch out the Sac-n-pac tapes right before the arraignment of said PCH bikers.

“—you should’ve seen Weevil’s face.” Lilly grins easily at her best friend, leaning forward on the island restlessly, “he was awestruck as we all should be by our little blonde spitfire after she got his guys off with salacious dirt on various Neptune county law enforcement officers.”

“Color me awestruck,” Logan mocks, rolling his eyes as Lilly, satisfied with her input, sweeps away, ignoring his sour mood. Of course, Veronica swindled the head honcho of the PCH bike gang into some twisted form of love. In his two months away from Neptune, Mars seemingly has decided to start a collection of sorts.

Meg shrugs, “It was pretty cool.” She shifts her curled blond hair behind her shoulder and hooks her arm through Veronica’s, “we need to leave in twenty if we want to get there at a decent time. Let’s go finish getting ready.”

Veronica nods in agreement. Apparently, her current outfit doesn’t fit their Saturday night plans. “Wallace,” she speaks over her retreating shoulder, “make yourself at home.”

“Just keep your hands off the China.” Logan lifts a brow before pushing himself back towards his friends gathered in the living room, more than happy to leave the new guy to his own devices.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Meg, Lilly, Veronica,” Duncan yells thirty minutes later, “Let’s go. We’ve got an almost fifty-minute drive. We won’t get there until close to 10:30 at this rate.”

Lilly’s annoyance is muffled from her bedroom before a flourish of a door opening down the hall indicates they will be graced with the ladies’ presence.

Lilly comes around the corner first, dripped in red satin lace that hits every curve in every mouthwatering way possible. He’s worried one wrong move and everyone will get more of an eyeful than most of them signed up for. However, he can’t say he misses her body as much anymore; his father tainted that. But also by a different blonde in turn.

“We’re ready, sheesh. Get off our backs, Donut.”

Meg is more demure in her plain black sheath dress and sweater combo. She’s still stunning to any sensible guy, or at least Duncan seems to get off on the more conservative way she dresses.

Only when woman number three comes into view does he have to check multiple times that he’s still breathing. The expense of exposed bare skin between the top of her calf, hugging black boots to the hem of her black leather skirt, is intoxicating. It hits just a little too short for his liking while simultaneously making him want to graze a finger up from edge to edge just to see how her skin reacts. And to think the tiny straps of her thin, crushed velvet camisole can even hold strong is beyond him.

And fuck those fucking space buns. An impulsive side of him wants to flick them, maybe even run his hand across her exposed neck just to see if goosebumps follow him in their wake. Or if Veronica looks at him with the same lust that he’s felt constantly over the last five months, two of which he only had his fantasies of her to keep him sane. Or probably rather insane. He can’t tell anymore.

Ever since he stumbled upon his dad’s secret stash of sex tapes one day last spring when he was trying to break into the pool house bar, he’s been somewhat lost in understanding his feelings. Confronting Lilly broke his heart, blackening it to make him just that little bit more cynical than he was before— as if that was hard to do.

But it broke his mom, took her over the edge for months, and his dad went through rage, then denial, and finally refusal to admit he did anything wrong or immoral or hurtful and is now writing a memoir. A fucking memoir.

Lilly did her apology rounds which didn’t much mean anything to him at the time, ending his sophomore year still utterly pissed at her and his dad and every other girl his dad starred in a sex tape with. Trina tried to defend him before she realized he was lucky he didn’t go to prison on the account of three separate underage girls.

His mom had to go to rehab for three months, and in that time, he only saw Dick, Duncan, and Veronica, all three of which provided him different outlets.

Dick, the ever so fun-loving best friend, got him out on his board way more than summers before and possibly got him way more drunk and high as well.

Duncan, after the embarrassment of his sister fucking his dad wore off, would play video games, shoot the shit and just ride around like old times, talking about nonsense and Meg. Duncan talked a lot about Meg. At first, it shocked him. Was Veronica not what made Duncan’s world spin, or did he miss something? But, over his month of withdrawal from all things routine, they realized they liked each other more as friends, even if there was a part of them that would forever have a piece of each other’s heart. It was all cute and whatnot, but in contrast to that piece in his that still beat for Lilly felt heavy and as if it had been stabbed about forty times over.

Now, Veronica was a dream and a curse after Lilly’s infidelity. She reminded him of the best parts of Lilly, and he couldn’t convince her to choose him over her best friend, regardless of how much he tried in the first two months after. He was a bit pissed at her for that. Duncan was one thing, being her brother and all, but Veronica could’ve shown some loyalty to the friendship they had cultivated over the past four years. And the incident back in March didn’t help at all. When he sneered and jibed at her about her mother and how she left town a drunk only months beforehand.

Veronica didn’t speak to him for a whole week until he sought her out to beg for her forgiveness. Who is he to cut deep with that kind of ammo when his own mother’s public rehab stint for almost overdosing was plastered over every headline possible this Spring? He is just thankful that Veronica forgave him after a full three days of groveling. But after that, she was basically around almost every day. Whether she read a new mystery novel in a beach chair while he and Dick surfed or provided her colorful insight from the back of his xTerra while Duncan gushed about Meg’s scandalous bare shoulder, she was there, making him laugh. Like maybe life wasn’t entirely against him.

At some point in late April, when they were huddled around the Casablancas dining room table, Veronica attempting to get Dick to study for his Biology final is when he knew. When she sought him out to share a scathing, exasperated roll of her eyes at Dicks insistence to use her as a live study tool is when he realized he had crossed the line from “you’re my friend” to “I want something more.”

And it was great for maybe a month until he fucked everything up as he always seems to do.

The moment his mom was released from rehab, she told him she needed to get out of Neptune for the summer and that she was going to rent a house in Maui. He leaped at the chance. He barreled his way through packing and drove them to the airport himself. He needed to escape Lilly, his dad, and… Veronica.

Especially Veronica. If not for the fact that he completely and utterly embarrassed himself when he declared his attraction and subsequent crush on her and she didn’t say a single word. Not a single fucking word. Even when he asked her to say anything, whether that be a word of agreement or disgust. Anything. But she left him with a blank face and silence, so he left for the summer.

And all he got was more silence the entire summer, after having reached out to the girl on three separate occasions. If anything, losing her friendship kills him more than her just telling him she doesn’t feel the same.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Dick, you’re in the other car,” Lilly states as Dick rounds the back of her SUV.

“Wait, I don’t wanna go with Veronica and Willy—“

Wallace interrupts Dick with a glare, “It’s Wallace.”

Dick brushes him off, “Whatever. I wanna go with Logan and Duncan.”

Lilly sighs, “Logan’s not going with me and Duncan. He’s going with Veronica, you dunce.” He spots Lilly’s short glance.

Dick perks up slightly, looking to him for confirmation. He just shrugs, not giving a shit, just as long as he gets to where ever the fuck they’re going.

“That’s fine then.”

“Glad to have received your approval, Richard.” Lilly flounces away with a roll of her eyes.

Meg and Duncan hop into Lilly’s awaiting SUV, and Beaver shrugs to no one in particular, taking the seat behind Lilly. Logan peers over into Veronica’s more affordable Saturn, hoping and praying he at least gets through the next forty-five minutes unscathed. Luckily he’s got Dick to keep him sane.

“Get in, losers,” Veronica shouts from Wallace’s open passenger door. Dick shrugs, flouncing away in the same way Lilly had done, shoving into Veronica’s back seat and situating himself behind her. He meanders his way after him.

As Veronica pulls out of Kane’s driveway, tossing her iPod over to a startled Wallace, he lets his eyes linger on the smooth skin extending from the hem of her skirt, contemplating how everyone would react if he were to lean forward and touch it. But getting the four of them seriously injured or, worse, killed in a car accident probably isn’t the best way to start Junior year.

“Wallace,” Veronica calls over, “control the tunes.” She says with glee. Excited Veronica is always a sight to behold. She grins a lot, agrees to more, and is an all-around agreeable human. Get a little alcohol in her, and she’s the life of the party.

Dick shutters, “Nothing emo. I don’t want you two cramping my partay mood!”

“And how did I get stuck with you?”

“Logan didn’t ask to be here,” Dick answers.

Veronica glares at Dick in the rearview mirror, “I wasn’t talking about Logan, Dick.”

“Whatever,” Dick brushes her off, instead turning to him with a conspiratorial smile, “I heard from Enbom that there will be college chicks at this party. Let’s team up and conquer.”

The hot stare of blue eyes hits him hard, but he chooses to ignore them and instead eggs Dick on and proceeds to pretend to be interested, asking for more information to get under her skin hopefully.

It seems to be working from the numerous flames he catches during the excruciating forty-minute drive.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Dick barely allows Veronica to put the car in park before he’s out the door and yelling towards the beach house, another beer already cracked open and thrust above his head in raucous spirit. He chuckles at his best friend’s liveliness, partially glad to be back with the people he feels most himself with. Summer away was great in some aspects, but he missed the people he’s experienced his formative years with. Maybe this party won’t be as bad as he first thought.

He stops at the curb, maybe out of some sense of intuition, offering his hand out to Veronica, who glances up wearily for a moment, hesitating, then taking it, allowing him to aid her over the taller-than-necessary curb, her boots finding solid ground. A quick, thankful nod is thrown his way before he’s either blessed or cursed— he’s not too sure— with her walking away.

A few people greet him as he trails behind Wallace and the girls, welcoming him home; he promises to regale them later with stories from the island. He’s happy for the short distraction until he nearly slams into a stationary Lilly Kane.

Said Kane twirls a piece of her lengthy hair, scanning the crowd of friends and strangers scattered about the foreign beach house, inevitably looking for something or someone to occupy her attention, “Lots of fresh meat. Maybe we should find Veronica someone to pass the time with.”

Somehow, he feels that pointed at him, what with Lilly having found out about Logan’s less-than-platonic feelings for her best friend three months ago. At least the subtle wink aimed his way makes him aware of that fact.

“Oh my god, you guys made it,” Jackie Cook comes out of nowhere. “I’m so glad you all are here.”

“Hey, Jackie.” Meg greets for them with a smile, nodding when Duncan whispers something lowly to her and starts off towards the back of the house.

“Jackie,” Veronica shouts over the loud music and cacophony of voices, “meet our new friend Wallace Fennel. Wallace, this is Jackie Cook.”

Jackie turns to Wallace, more timid than he’s ever seen the girl be before, “Welcome to Neptune, Fennel.”

Wallace slowly takes Jackie’s hand and kisses the back, “A pleasure.” A smug smile lights up his face, heart-eyes abound.

Jackie blushes with a smile of the same caliber.

Veronica’s mouth quirks up, “Okay, smooth operator. Save some of that for the others.”

“Veronica!” A voice shouts from the void of bodies—a girl about seven inches taller than Veronica shoves her way towards them.

“Hey, Gia.”

“Veronica,” the raven-haired girl babbles. “I need you.”

“Are you two gonna make out?” Dicks excitement, which quite frankly came out of nowhere, is overflowing at the thought, eyes wide and hopeful. Already a jump past tipsy, it seems. All four women shoot him equally disgusted looks.

Meg just happens to pipe up first, “Is that all you see when you look at us? A means to collect new fantasies to conjure up when alone?”

“I’d like to know what girl-on-girl fantasies Dick’s having where V’s not with me.” Lilly giggles.

Putting that picture in his brain isn’t going to help matters, even if the thought is kind of hot, and somehow, he knows it’ll come up in the next couple of days when he’s lonely. Thanks a lot, Dick.

Gia seems to perk up, though, asking Dick point blank, “Would you enjoy that kind of thing?” Her eyes flare with potential, and Dick smirks back, eyebrows waggling suggestively.

“Okay,” Veronica interrupts, pointing at Dick, “You, leave.” Dick’s shoulders fall, eyes rolling, he turns on his heel and bursts back through the party, not a care in the world. “You,” She turns to Gia, “Explain.”

“I have a seceret admirer.” Gia bounces happily, a grin painful from even his view.

Meg smiles, “That’s great, Gia.”

“I know, right? I was so terrified no one would like me when I moved here, but not only have I gained soooo many friends, but someone is declaring their love for me. It’s like my very own fairytale.”

“Are you the princess?” Logan drones out, startling the women; various looks of annoyance and confusion sent his direction. “Does that make Veronica your fairy godmother? Let me give you some free advice: don’t eat any apples she may supply you lest you want to keel over.” Gia smiles. Not what he expected.

“You’re new.”

“Like looking in a mirror.” He snides, lifting his head to scan the party. He needs to find a beer, stat.

Lilly slides to him, returning him to the conversation, “Gia, this is Logan Echolls. Logan, meet Gia Goodman.”

Gia steps forward, hand stretched, waiting, “Your dad is Aaron Echolls. That must be so cool. I just moved here. My dad thought it better for me to go to public school instead of private. I’m just lucky these girls found me and took me in.”

He glances down at her hand and back up, “I hate germs.” Her hand awkwardly drops.

Lilly slaps him in the chest, “Shut up. He does not. And usually he much more tolerable, but someone came home with a stick up his ass.”

“So far up.” He agrees. Veronica rolls her eyes with a short chortle. He’d rather be making them roll for other reasons.

Fuck, he needs to get laid.

“Gia,” Veronica pulls the raven-haired girl back, snapping her fingers, “back on topic.”

“Right, so, I have this secret admirer, and I need you to find out who.”

“Ooh, a mystery.” Lilly eggs on, “How noir.”

Veronica sighs, “Gia, I was hoping to take the night off and—“

“Please, Veronica.” Gia pleads, grasping Veronica’s hands tightly, “I need to find my mystery man. Please, please, please.”

“Come on, V. Let’s do some sleuthing.”

He spots Dick pouring shots in the kitchen with John Enbom, Caz Truman, and Casey Gant. He concludes that’s where he wants to be. Regarding the gaggle of girls one more time before exiting, he decides he wants the last word.

Leaning over to Gia, he shouts over the loud base thumping through the floorboards, “You’re going to be sifting through a lot of toads. Another tidbit of advice: careful not to catch anything.” He slips past Veronica, sharing a fleeting glance as he passes, her mouth set with annoyance.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Hand over your phone.”

He glances up wearily through his lashes, the blonde spitfire looking at him expectantly, “No.”

“Logan—“

“What happened to privacy, Mars?

“Have you sent Gia a bouquet in the last three days?”

“What’s it to you?”

“Investigating a case.”

He smirks, shifting further back on the counter, lightly tapping the heel of his sneaker on the wood cabinet, a thrill shooting up his spine, “And pray tell, if I were to send a bouquet to the woman who holds my affection, what would you be expecting, Mars?”

He can’t tell if the shift in her stance is because he’s making her nervous or if her patience is wearing thin with him. He chooses the former as her hand shifts to tug her leather skirt further down—a wanted distraction as she conjures up a surely scathing clap back.

“Yellow carnations.” She glares, lips set in a thin line. Not as scathing as he hoped. Ah, the flower of rejection. He may have walked himself into that one.

Her tongue peeks out quickly, wetting the corner of her lips but just as quickly setting back into an unbothered position. All he can do is chuckle lightly, storing that tidbit of information that should he ever send her flowers, they should be the total opposite of yellow carnations.

“I’m particular to calla lilies, to be honest. Really gets across the meaning for those I feel deserve it.” Affection.

“How ironic,” Veronica mumbles. Lilly is around here somewhere, flouncing between people happily, and her best friend probably thinks his mind is somehow, after the past few months, still with said someone flirting her way through the party as opposed to his current fixation on the girl fidgeting with her excruciatingly short skirt. Fuck, he really needs to get laid.

“Pass the test? Or do you need something else from me?”

“Phone.” She expectantly holds out her hand. Gia currently bounces next to her with hope in her eyes. Fuck he’d do anything to get Gia’s “fuck me please” energy away from him. He barely met the girl, and he already has a feeling she’s gonna be a handful. Why is he being pulled into this?

“I just met Gia; how in the hell would I be a suspect in your investigation?”

She falters a moment, “Because Gia knows no bounds.” She rolls her eyes just for him. Gia still stares dreamily at him.

However, he’s slow in his descent into his cargo pants, wanting Veronica to have to wait for him to give away a piece of his privacy. How he lets her play him like a fiddle. If he were anyone else, he’d slap himself across the head.

Her hand curls around his for the briefest of moments when he produces what she wants. Bets if he tugged just a little, she’d surely stumble forward in between his legs. And some twisted part of him imagines locking her between them and seeing how she reacts. But the eyes she’s giving him say he’d most likely be going home with some bruised testicles and he would actually like to keep those intact.

“Your cooperation is appreciated.” She sneers softly.

“Do I get a treat?” He can’t help but tease.

Her lips turn up. She’s trying to keep from encouraging him, “Only if you’re good.” Her hands make quick work of his cell phone’s tiny keypad.

“And if I’m bad?” He attempts, hoping it throws her off just a little. But she doesn’t respond, too focused on finding out if he is the grand secret admirer of Gia Goodman. He flirts with the idea of tapping her with his foot, just noticing how she shifted closer in the last minute of their exchange and how easy it would be to touch her.

Gia stares at him, however, like she’s imagining what color their wedding party might wear a few years from now. It sends a different shiver up his spine, and he hopes that Veronica confirms he’s no longer a potential suspect in the little high school investigation she’s been roped into instead of getting drunk and making trashy memories with her friends.

Veronica still ignores him, though, fingers working overtime on his keypad. He smirks, “You know what’s funny?” This seems to pique the petite blonde’s interest but not enough to catch her eyes.

“What?” She’s annoyed.

“I’ve only ever let the girls I want to sleep with stifle through my phone.” He scratches behind his ear with a mocking smirk, “Guess there’s a first time for everything.”

He almost misses catching his phone that pelts him in his chest, taken aback by the speed with which his device left Veronica’s hands and made it back to his person. Her cheeks color pink, and her eyes look briefly for something but just as quickly turn ablaze.

“Gia,” Veronica fixes her tone, sickly sweet.

“Yea?” Gia turns to their companion with eager eyes.

“Logan’s not your guy.” Veronica glares, attempting to push Gia back into the crowd of bodies littering the living room.

“But— are you sure?” Gia’s voice edges with disappointment.

Veronica mumbles and glances at him, to which he smiles as innocently as he, Aaron Echolls’ offspring, possibly can before she loudly declares, “Positive. Wouldn’t even want him to be, trust me.”

He tries not to let that dig hit. Tries to imagine she said it more because Veronica herself wants Gia not even to begin to consider him as a worthy suitor because Veronica herself would rather have him all to herself. A guy can dream.

“Dude,” Dick slaps him roughly on the shoulder, coming around to rest against the countertop, “Guess what?”

“Please enlighten me.” He drawls.

“Found these two hot coeds who totally want to bone. At first, I thought more for me but then remembered you were dumped and have been a sad sack of shit for the last few months—“

“Fuck off,” he shoves Dick back softly.

“—so I thought I’d do you a solid and talk you up to one of them. Get over, get under. She totally wants to meet you.”

“Dick,” he sighs, “thank you but have at it.”

“What?” Dick scoffs, “I bring you a hot ass coed— well, she’s not as hot as mine but like still hot obviously— on a silver platter, and you say no. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I’m not in the mood—“

“When are you not in the mood? Are you okay?”

He laughs, “Why would you assume I’m not okay?”

“You are denying sweet, sweet boning with a fairly hot college girl,” Dick shakes his head, “are you dying? Is that why you left for the summer?” Logan can’t help the vocal laugh that escapes him. Of course, Dick would go worst-case scenario on him at a time like this.

“No, dude. Just not feeling it.”

“Fine. Be lame.” Dick says with frustration, pushing past Logan back out towards the sprawling deck. He almost has enough time to scan the room for his little blonde fixation before Dick whirls back around in front of him.

“Can you at least do some damage control? You may not want the lesser hot one, but if we can talk them into a threesome with yours truly, you’d be alright in my books.” Dick looks at him like a little boy waiting for permission to go crazy in a candy store.

“Fine.” He agrees with a smirk, popping the lid off another beer bottle and hopping off his perch, “Let’s go get you laid.” Dick, whoops, fist shooting up in the air like the end of an 80s coming-of-age rom-com. Logan chuckles at his best friend and follows him out mindlessly.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“So, is your dad working on anything right now?” The less hot, as Dick suggested, of the two coeds asks with a flip of her brunette hair and flutter of her bedroom eyes.

“This and that. He’s currently prancing around in Italy.”

“Must be so cool having Aaron Echolls as your dad.”

He plasters the fakest smile, “It’s just the absolute best.” He pointedly makes sure each word drips with sarcasm.

Fuck his dad and his career of fucking around on his mom with anything that moves and pretending that they’re an all-American family while behind closed doors being a raging asshole and unloving as fuck. It’s an absolute dream. Or the other fact that the man who uses belts to his back as punishment decided to fuck his girlfriend behind his back. Lilly may have been let to worm her way back into his life, but his dad could fuck off forever for all he cares.

He probably should go to therapy.

“Do you get to visit him often on set? I bet a film set in Italy is stunning.”

He can tell these women romanticize everything about anything outside the state of California. Truly uncultured humans. But maybe he’s being too harsh, as everyone’s favorite topic lately seems to always lead to his most hated.

“Only in my dreams.” He jokes, rolling his eyes when Dick gives out an exasperated giggle along with the brunette and her much hotter red-headed friend.

“My dad has a private jet. Lets me use it whenever I want. I usually take it to our vacation house up north.” Dick boasts with a smirk. Both girls giggle, the brunette twirling a lock of her hair around a dainty finger.

He laughs languidly, hoping he’s selling his best friend well enough. Shifting his gaze up, brown eyes meet blue from across the crowded backyard. He holds her gaze longer than two friends probably should, but he decides he won’t let up until she does.

Which, disappointingly, comes much too soon for him. Her head turns down, a subtle kick of her leather boot against some pebbles down by the gate that leads to the beach kicks up some loose sand. Gia giggles adamantly at something spoken by Troy Vandegraff, his so-called friend Duncan, laughing it up all the same.

“Hey, Dick, ladies. I am needed elsewhere.” He winks at Dick, turning to both ladies and smiling, “You both are in good hands. It was nice to meet you.”

“Do you have to leave?” the redhead leans on his arm, pushing her well-endowed chest against him. Fuck if he wishes she were blonde. Something unsettling shoots through him, and he glances back over the college girl’s head to meet Veronica’s furrowed blue gaze. Her eyes widen slightly before focusing back on a jubilant Troy.

“I do,” he confirms with finality, inching out of the women’s space and nodding to a now grateful Dick. He pushes his way with one goal in mind and ignores any calls of his name as he goes, placating people with a quick smile or nod. Veronica shifts on her feet as he comes up to the group.

“Hey man,” Duncan greets him happily, “What’s up?”

“Got jealous I was missing out with all the laughter happening over here.” He smiles shortly, quick eyes meeting Veronicas.

Duncan slaps Troy on the shoulder, “You’ve met Troy before, right?”

“Duncans sixteenth,” He nods in recognition, “Good to see you again, man.”

“Likewise,” Troy smiles before fixating back on Gia and, worse, winking at Veronica. “Was just regaling the ladies with the tales of my many stints in the last two years.” Gia giggles wildly, slapping a hand on Troy’s forearm.

“Gia’s ready for marriage.” Veronica quips with raised brows, which Troy seems to match. So they have little looks already, do they?

Gia smiles, “I just think it’s so brave of you to be so positive and willing to meet so many new people over the years.”

“We should give him a medal.” He snides. Duncan laughs awkwardly, but Gia just continues to giggle.

“I agree.”

Veronica interjects, “So Troy, you’ve never met Gia before today?”

Troy scratches the back of his neck, “Uh, no. No, unfortunately not. I also realize I never met you at Duncan’s birthday, yet I hear you were in attendance.”

“I was probably—“

“Veronica’s our black cat. She only lets you see her if she wants you to.” He nudges her stiff form, “Tread lightly, or she’ll get you with her claws.” He mimics a quick claw hand before licking his lips and glancing down to avoid her glare.

Duncan clears his throat, “Well, Troy, I think you’ll enjoy Neptune. Luckily, you are among friends, so the first day of classes shouldn’t be too bad.”

“Veronica promised to give me a tour.” Troy smiles, and Veronica blushes, looking down at her boots.

Is his blood boiling? It feels like it’s boiling. He might also be seeing red; the urge to lift his fist for no reason other than annoyance of the smug ass face before him, and it overwhelms. Veronica would hate him, though. Sneer at him and tell him he’s being a jackass. At this point, what’s the harm in living up to that version of himself?

That’s a last resort, though. He’s still got his sharp wit.

“Make sure you get her to take you to the bathroom. She’s taken many a satisfied customers there. Practically a landmark at this point.” His shoulder gets socked pretty hard, fury from the short one beside him. Troy chokes on his beer, and Duncan looks uncomfortable. Again, Gia is the only one who doesn’t bat an eye. “Speaking of, I need to go relieve myself. Good to see you again.”

A heated glare follows him all the way inside.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Dude,” Dick stops him as he pushes through the party, “Guess what?”

He feigns interest, “You had a threesome.”

Dick smiles, “Not yet, but here’s hoping,” He holds out his beer, to which Logan clinks in cheers. “But no. Beav has the hots for Ga-Ga-Ga-Gia.”

“Wow. So the case is closed.”

“What case?”

“Nothing,” He shakes his head, lying for a quick getaway, “I gotta go piss. Grab me a shot?”

“Hell yeah,” Dick shouts, slapping him joyously on his back before shooting through the crowd.

Luckily, the first door he tries is unlocked and just so happens to be a bathroom. At least there’s some luck on his side tonight. He needs to remove himself. He needs to get out of the fray and take a second to breathe.

“You are just all types of hot and cold tonight.”

Why, oh, why did she follow him? He came into the bathroom for some peace and to maybe splash some cold ass water on his hot-headed face. The last thing he needs now is the annoyed blonde getting on his ass.

“Veronica, leave me alone.” He edges out, “Please.”

“No,” She argues, locking the door, “One second you’re all flirty, and the next you look at me like I’ve torn your heart out and pulverized it.”

“You basically did.” He counters roughly.

Silence.

“Logan,” her tone lowers. He doesn’t want her pity. It’s not what he’s looking for.

“Just—“ he sighs, bracing himself against the bathroom sink, “Please leave.”

“No—“

“Veronica.”

“I’m not leaving. Not until you look at me and say it to my face.”

He almost turns. He almost repeats himself, spitting the words she’s waiting for just to watch her face fall, contort unnaturally. But he has to give her credit; she doesn’t move or bolt, spurring him some confidence to turn around and step closer, inches away. Her chest expands quicker, eyes trained on his shoulder. The nagging in the back of his head tells him she’ll try to escape the minute he touches her, and it scares him from trying.

“I told you I liked you.”

“I know.” She whispers.

“And you said nothing. You didn’t answer any of my texts over the last two months. I called. What do you expect from me?”

“Logan. You didn’t even give me time to process.” Veronica looks for something in his gaze. “Lilly—“

He moves away, “I don’t fucking care about Lilly.”

“She’s my best friend— your ex—“

Logan laughs dryly, “Yeah, and she fucked my dad behind my back. Multiple times.” If she keeps talking about him, he may be the first to burst back out through that bathroom door.

“You still feel the same as when you left?” She prods softly, wringing her hands in front of her.

He turns back, trying to process, “What?”

“What you said before you left. You still feel the same?”

He feels her eyes trained now on the side of his face, waiting. He could tell her no, that he is over it. That it was a momentary glitch in his system and that he was just distraught over what had transpired the few months before with Lilly and his dad and then his poor mom. But he’d be lying through his teeth and knows Veronica would probably see right through him.

“Yes.” He moves suddenly, startling Veronica and, himself if he’s honest, stepping back into her space. Gently, he lifts a hand to brush back a piece of hair that fell from her space buns, searching her blue eyes for discomfort or refusal but finds none. He leans down.

“What are you doing?” Veronica whispers, her breath short, fanning across his lips hotly. It’s time. Decisions to be made. Potential relationships to be ruined. Heartbreak possible. But he’s always prided himself in making rash decisions that more or less benefit him in some capacity.

He whispers back, “Doing something I should’ve done two months ago.” He lets it linger a moment, lets her eyes widen in realization or whatever the fuck those words mean to her before he seals her mouth with his.

It’s light, and he puts more emphasis on his hands curled around her waist, pulling her tighter to him partly in fear of her escaping him and leaving him high and dry and partly because the feel of her body pressing into him makes his head swim even more. Feels like he drank ten beers tonight as opposed to his measly two that Dick surely will tease him about tomorrow.

But to be drunk for this moment would be his biggest regret.

As he slows the kiss, he can feel her pull back and shift away like he hoped against. He’d be the grandest psychotic jackass if he were to deny her escape, so he pulls away. The best six seconds of his current existence are about to also probably be the worst. At least this beats his first misfire two years ago with Shelly Pomroy at the 09ers beach bonfire when she barely grazed his freshman crotch and ended up scarring the poor girl with his less-than-manly groan.

Fuck him.

He gazes down at her as she worries her bottom lip, eyes avoiding him. He waits. Hopes.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” She says slowly.

His heart sinks for a moment.

He doesn’t foresee the strength this petite woman truly possesses as she roughly grabs at his jacket and yanks him down, her lips molding to his own with more enthusiasm than before. It takes his motor function a few seconds longer to catch up in any beneficial way. He slips his hands back around her waist, curving around her hips, squeezing her into his body. Tingles shoot down his spine when her fingers traverse his neck and curl into the hair at the nape.

It’s intoxicating all over again. And hot. So incredibly hot, especially when she mewls into his mouth as his tongue slips past her lips. He has to think of his dad and Lilly just to keep all of the blood in his brain from rushing to his dick. Doesn’t help much, but at least he’s not fully pressed against the girl who’s been staring in every nightly fantasy for the past few months with a raging hard-on.

But if he’s honest, his neck is starting to hurt being angled like this, and regardless of the height of her boots, her head is still tilted far back just to reach his own. So he shifts them, spins her around, and guides her back until she’s pressed so tightly to the edge of the countertop that he’s forced to slip his hands past her ass to grip the backs of her bare legs and lift.

She follows like the good girl she is, too, scooting her body back and creating a nook between her thighs for him to press into. The heel of one of her boots hooks around the back of his knee, and her teeth lightly nip at his bottom lip, tugging harder on the strands of hair she’s got between thin fingers. He grips her hips hard in return, rubbing small circles into the skin that meets the waistband of her skirt. He pulls her impossibly closer, if that’s even possible with how much their bodies are currently rubbing against one another.

Time seems to pass much too quickly for his liking; a sudden banging on the bathroom door and growl about getting a different room muddles its way through, ultimately breaking Veronica away from him. Eyes dazed and teeth worrying her bottom lip, she seems to contemplate staying away or going back in for more. He wishes she’d choose the latter. He prays even, and he’s not even a spiritual person.

However, whoever the cockblock on the other side of the door is, scares her from being confident enough to try again.

“Logan—“ she attempts to catch her breath, licking her lips too damn much for his comfort.

“Please don’t say you regret this.” He might die if she does. He’s too far gone for this girl to go back to any semblance of a friendship.

She’s silent as her blue eyes fly back and forth between his brown. Maybe she’s searching for a sign that this is just some messed up dream she’s having and that perhaps she might wake up. Forget this ever happened. Her hands shift up around his neck, interlocking, pulling him closer.

“Peonies.”

His brows furrow, “What?” He moves his hand to cup her jaw.

“I want a dozen Peonies.”

He laughs, “I’ll get you two dozen.”

“They have to be mauve. Or rose.”

He smiles down at her, brushing his thumb across her cheek, unable to hold back his grin. It hurts almost as much as Gia’s looked to hurt earlier, “You’ll get whatever you want.”

She smiles up at him so achingly sweet he can’t stop himself from leaning down to capture her smile beneath his.

Fuck, if his heart isn’t going to beat out of his chest.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

He’s pretty content shoved in the back of Veronica’s SUV, the darkness of the night covering them in shadow. The dashboard and radio emit a soft blue light as he, mesmerized, watches his thumb lightly trail goosebumps across Veronica’s inner thigh. Her hand wraps around his wrist, index finger grazing the protruding vein carrying blood to his hand.

Up front, DD Wallace is gently arguing with a drunk ass Dick who blabbers way too much, touching any dial he can get his alcohol hazed hands on. His friend is seriously in need of some greasy food as soon as possible. Beaver, squished on the other side of Veronica, is already passed out, head leaning on the cool window.

He agrees that calla lilies aren’t suitable enough for her. He ought to check with his mom first thing tomorrow about her florist and how he can get five dozen peonies sent straight to Veronica’s front door. Images of her twirling a hue of mauve or pink between those perfect fingers that were, just an hour ago, tugging at his hair flash through his mind.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Two weeks later

 

“So I never found out who Gia’s toad was.” He states, curling his arm around Veronica and pulling her closer to him on the blanket.

“Do you even care?” She laughs with a pointed stare. The soft breeze coming off the ocean shifts through her hair, a hand coming up to shift it back in place.

“I do, in fact. I was potentially a suspect. I would like to know who the culprit was— wait. Dick said it was Beav.”

“Cassidy, yes, has a crush on Gia, but no, he was not her creepy stalker.”

“Creepy?”

“You should’ve seen the texts she was getting. Bordered on murdery if you ask me.”

Logan scoffs, “Which is why you checked my phone. You seriously thought they could’ve come from me?” He tickles just below her ribs.

“No.” She giggles, attempting to squirm away. She ends up falling back, taking him with her. He doesn’t mind, though, immensely enjoying himself nestled between her thighs. He runs his fingers softly just under the hem of her shorts.

“So going through my phone was just a fun perk?”

“I was stalling.” She says quickly, then hesitates, gears turning before continuing almost too quickly, “And proving to Gia that you were not, in fact, an option.”

He smirks, running a finger lightly up her neck, completely fascinated. “You were jealous.”

“I was not jealous.” She says vehemently, “I just… was taking you off the table.” She shrugs like it doesn’t mean something, but her nervous eyes tell another story.

“We’ll go with that,” he smirks. “Continue.”

“We did, like, three laps around that party to anyone Gia ever thought could be a potential candidate. She even batted her eyes at Weevil. And get this, Weevil didn’t even know Gia existed—“

“Weevil?” he quirks a brow, “PCH leader Weevil? Why was he there?”

“He’s been hanging around with some of his friends over the summer. Shelly’s end-of-year party you missed. A few of the dog beach bashes. I can’t be too certain, but...” she trails off, concern taking over.

He grimaces, “Let me guess, Lilly has some part to play in his attendance.”

Veronica pushes back some of his hair, “You okay with… that?”

Logan stares momentarily at the small pile of sand that made its way onto the blanket just shy of Veronica’s shoulder, contemplating if he even has a right to be mad. And maybe some part of him that still lingers in the past is… but then again.

“Why should I care?” He shrugs, meeting her gaze.

She speaks to the deserted beach, “And that folks is what we call growth.”

He feigns tickling her again, to which she squirms, happy.

“So it wasn’t me, wasn’t Weevil, nix on the Beaver front,” He counts on his fingers, “I hope and pray it wasn’t Duncan, so I’m counting him out as well—“

“Troy had never met her before—“

“Ah yes, our boy Troy... Troy boy?“

She squeezes him between her thighs, “You can quit with the nicknames and the sneering.”

“Ah, I will never tire of making him squirm in discomfort. Think I could convince Pam or Kimmy on a new yearbook superlative?”

Veronica rolls her eyes, ignoring him to continue, “Dick was all for it, obviously, but he just does not have the initiative to write poems and send flowers. Dick only has one pickup line, “I’m filthy rich.”

“A true casanova.”

“Cole was the same as Weevil, much to Gia’s disappointment. But I found out from Casey that he saw three guys on their phone around the same time Gia got her big party text, which spurred her to me.”

“Three? You find this out before or after you snooped through my phone?”

She glares at him shortly before laying out the suspects, “Sean, Luke, and Martin.”

“Quality picks.” He grimaces.

“They’re your friends.”

He shifts up, hovering over her, “Only by association.” He leans down, placing a slow kiss on the soft skin of her shoulder.

“For a second, I thought it had to be Martin. He’s always been kind of a romantic from previous experience. In eighth grade, he sent Carrie Bishop five candygrams on Valentine’s Day.” He murmurs confirmation against her skin, trailing his lips slowly up her neck as she continues. “But he’s allergic to most plant species as Caz ended up telling Gia and I. Flowers would be the last thing he would send. Again, the candygrams prove he’s more of a sweets than flowers kinda romancer.”

He makes it to her jaw, nipping lightly at the skin, trying his best to get her out of her head and to focus on him.

“Logan,” She sighs, “Can you let me finish?” He grunts, lifting back on his elbow above her.

“Sean vs Luke.”

Veronica smiles, “Sean bought the flowers.”

“Sean likes Gia?”

“Nope.” She pops the ‘p’ with a smile.

“You just said he bought the flowers.”

“He ordered them for Luke because Luke is a coward.”

He chuckles, “Of course he is.”

“Pretty sure the guy is perpetually in a state of fear like he’s selling weed on the down low or something at all times. Also very confident in saying he takes that energy into all aspects of his life.”

“So Luke Haldeman has a crush on Gia Goodman.”

“One big fat, albeit creepy, crush.”

“How riveting.” He drones. “Now,” he taps her delicately on the nose, “let’s use our mouths for something more fun.” He leans down, capturing her lips beneath his. Her body shakes erratically under him, hands pushing him away.

“You asked.” She hisses.

“And I regret doing so every second.” He teases. She shakes her head, fake exasperation evident, before cupping his face and pulling him back down.

Later, when he drops Veronica off at her house fifteen minutes past her curfew, Keith Mars’ warning stare seems to follow him like a ghost all the way home.

Chapter 3: MoneyGate

Notes:

Prepare for some great lines from the show littered throughout this installment... also please excuse the length. I went maybe a little overboard, but I just kept putting in little things here and there, and I couldn't help myself.

CAUTION: There are some adult themes in this one. Read at your discretion, but I will also state it is nothing explicit.

Also, this is 20K words at about an hour and twenty minute read time... so enjoy, haha.

“We are about to have the best winter break ever.” Lilly declares with jubilation as she plants herself across from him at the sun-drenched yellow lunch table. 

“Ah, yes. Fun, fun, fun.” He drones out, raised brow, sucking the pizza sauce off his pinkie while twirling a stem in his other hand under the table. He was quite enjoying the relative silence before the most boisterous human he knew had to come and ruin it. At least that also means one of his favorites is not far behind. 

“Have you guys studied for the History midterm yet?” Meg worriedly asks as she takes up the space next to Lilly.

Duncan places her lunch tray down for her before dutifully slipping in next to his girlfriend. Veronica, materializing over the bench seat, uses his shoulder to steady herself before falling softly against his hip. He turns, wrapping an arm around her waist and smiling at his cute-as-a-button girlfriend, brandishing her with a lone pink peony. 

Registering it takes her a few seconds, but inevitably, her face lights up, “You brought me a flower.” She quietly fawns, taking the stem and twirling the flower between her fingers. She beams up at him through her lashes, leaning up to plant a kiss on his cheek. “How did you know?” She teases.

He smirks, “Call it intuition.”

“Earth to Mars and Echolls,” Lilly’s voice cuts in. “I am trying to discuss winter break here. Hello?”

Veronica leans into his side, turning back to Lilly, “You were declaring?”

Lilly smiles, shaking off Veronica’s obvious irritation, “Celeste and Dad have some friends who have a chalet up in Mammoth. I convinced the parents to let us use it for the New Year.”

“Wait, spending New Year’s in Mammoth. Fresh powder, no parents, fake IDs.” Dick grins from ear to ear, holding up a hand for a not as enthused Beaver to answer his high-five. “Let’s go shred some snow and some girls.”

“Classy,” Veronica murmurs, bringing the flower to her nose. He rubs a comforting hand on her knee.

Duncan scoffs, “Dude, you’re the only one here that’s going to be ‘shredding some girls.’”

Dick shrugs, winking, “More for me.”

Lilly ignores the whole exchange, “The parents will be staying at the resort hotel just a cart ride away, so we won’t be completely sans parents altogether, but they won’t be near. And Gia is going to convince her dad to rent the cabin next door, and I think Shelly and Pam might be trying to snag one or two cabins down. It’ll be a whole thing. We’ll have the absolute best time.”

“Lilly’s already invited basically everyone we know,” Duncan adds. 

Jackie plops down in the open spot next to him, grabs a piece of pizza, and addresses Lilly, “So, are we doing Mammoth?”

Lilly smiles wide, “We are indeed.”

“My dad’s not going to agree at all.” Veronica supplies, moving around the lump of brown goo on her tray, pushing it away disgusted, and stealing the crust out of his hand instead. 

Lilly leans forward, “VMars, you better bet your cute ass Papa Mars will be putty in our hands, and you will be ringing in the New Year in Mammoth if it’s the last thing I do.”

Logan squeezes Veronica’s knee softly in agreement.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“And how the hell did you get the Sheriff to agree to let you travel over five hours to Mammoth?” He questions incredulously to the blonde in his passenger seat.

Most still refer to Keith Mars as Sheriff out of affection and probably intimidation, if he’s honest. When Veronica’s dad got tired of the corruption threatening him day in and day out when he held the office of Neptune Sheriff last year, the man decided to step down and take up a private investigator role. Logan guesses it allowed him more freedom and an outlet to do what he enjoyed— well, when he wasn’t off chasing bounties and bail jumpers. No one can deny the man knows his stuff, that’s for sure, and Veronica uses her dad’s new business for her own benefit, having solved numerous cases around school over the last ten months. 

Veronica shifts, moving a leg under her in the seat and tearing open a bag of salt and vinegar chips. “Lilly and I told him her parents would be just next door, the girls would be sharing the cabin, Lilly and I sharing a room, and the boys would be in a cabin just down the road.” She shoves a handful of potato chips in her mouth, peeking over at him sheepishly. 

“And he bought all of it.”

“Most of it, I hope.” She shrugs, tucking back a lump of hair that’s fallen from her ponytail. He laughs dryly.

She looks over with a curious eye, “What?”

“Just waiting for a swat team to steal you away in the next forty-eight hours.”

“He’s not that bad.”

“He doesn’t trust me.”

She punches him in the shoulder, “He trusts you.”

“Okay. He’s suspect of me.”

“You threaten his daughter’s morals.” She laughs. 

“Oh yes, because Duncan didn’t threaten your morals.”

“My dad picked you and Lilly up enough times over the past two years— being dumb, drunk-ass kids— to know Duncan is the golden child compared to the both of you combined.”

“What rave reviews I have.”

“A three out of five stars, Logan.” She teases, shoving another handful of chips in her mouth. 

He shoots her his best scathing glare. 

She chuckles again, “Okay, fine. Three-point five.”

“As long as it’s noted that I give brilliant orgasms, I can live with that.” He tips his head back against the headrest, turning to look at her for confirmation.

She smiles at him as the back doors open, Wallace and Jackie climbing in from either side, “I may need another go or two before I can make that determination.”

“Ready,” Wallace interjects, placing his and Jackie’s bag of assorted road trip snacks between them in the backseat. 

“Let’s get this show on the road, Echolls.” Jackie drums her hands excitedly on the back of Veronica’s seat. “Been itching to get back on the slopes.”

He quickly smiles at Veronica before pulling out of the Neptune gas station, tuning in and out of Jackie’s tale of how she met and skied with Jude Law on her last winter vacation in the Swiss Alps. 

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Well,” A well-dressed man in tan slacks, blue button down, and charcoal winter blazer flourishes with a hand, “Here is your lodging. Each of the cabins comes with a complimentary golf cart that we advise to only sit at most five at a time, three on the inside and two on the back.” The slightly older man warily glances at a few of them, probably believing that they won’t follow that rule in the slightest. “Let me help you all grab your bags, and please, if you require anything, do not hesitate to call up to the concierge. We have numerous people ready to bring you anything you need or give you a carpool into town for dinner.” The second pleading warning. 

Various members of their large group murmur their thanks, and Duncan hands the guy a sizable one hundred and fifty dollar tip before any of their bags are even unloaded. Many start heading for their respective cabins, too excited to check out their home for the next few days. 

Jackie smiles up at their cabin, “Homey.”

Veronica scoffs next to her, “Homey? It’s a Mini McMansion. In what world does this monstrosity represent the word ‘homey’?”

“It’s smaller than my dad’s vacation house in Miami?” Jackie shrugs nonchalantly. 

Wallace smiles, saddling up to Jackie, “Well, I, for one, am excited to settle in and go out tomorrow on the mountain. I used to drive a few hours to go skiing with my mom back in Cleveland.”

Jackie leans into Wallace for a moment, lowly stating, “I’m excited to get to know everyone better.” Jackie brushes a soft hand against Wallace’s bicep before moving behind them to grab her stuff.

Wallace stands stiff, a blush coloring his cheeks and a smile growing sweetly on his face. 

Wallace has been in the semi-friend zone for the past four months. Veronica disapproved of how Jackie has been pretty nonchalant with her friends’ feelings lately and only agreed to be a bit nicer to Jackie once Wallace told her he had it handled and was a big boy. That doesn’t stop Veronica from egging Jackie on to define the relationship when possible and encouraging Wallace to make a move. 

He almost slaps the guy on the back in jest, but Veronica beats him to it, “Go offer to carry her bags, stud muffin.”

Wallace grins at Veronica, stepping away, “Wish me luck.”

“You get her cowboy.” Veronica teases with a supporting wink. Logan chuckles to himself. “They grow up so fast.” She says with dramatic inflection. 

“Gotta let baby bird fly the coop.” He quips. Wrapping a loose arm around her shoulders, he steers her towards the growing group of luggage on the sidewalk. There’s way too much of it if you ask him.

As they step into the foyer with Weevil, who somehow got roped into coming along, which seems to be entirely a Lilly-contrived decision, Veronica lets out a low whistle, starring out the back of the floor-to-ceiling windows lining the back of the cabin. The mountain peeks through a few snow-covered trees, the sky blue sky and the scattering of wispy clouds providing the perfect view off into the distance. 

“It’s like something out of a postcard.” She states. He wraps his arms around Veronica, pulling her back into his chest.

“Until they tell you it’s all a lie and just a green screen,” Weevil says dryly.

“Ooh, think we could make it tropical. Really throw the senses out of wack from the cold.” Veronica suggests. 

Suddenly, a shriek sounds from the second floor, causing people to glance around in alarm. 

“Everything okay up there?” Weevil paces back to the front, shouting up the stairs.

With a few thumps and a whoosh of a door, Wallace’s voice sounds out, a bit on edge, “Everything’s fine. We’re all good, promise.”

It doesn’t sound promising. 

“You sure I don’t need me to come up there?” Weevil threatens, ready on the first step up.

Wallace calls back, “Uhh, Veronica. Can you please come assist me with a— thing for a moment?” Veronica glances up at him, concern flashing in her eyes, before starting up the staircase. He follows, just in case. 

When they round the corner where Jackie and Wallace have already called dibs, Wallace’s hands clench and unclench uncomfortably at his sides, shooting unease through Logan’s bones. Jackie dashes about the handful of bags strewn about, shuffling open zippers and pouches, stuffing her hand and upending packed clothing.

“Jackie,” Veronica tries, “everything okay?”

Jackie turns erratically, “I had cash in my duffle bag for this weekend. Two thousand dollars.”

“You had two thousand dollars just hanging out in your bag?” Veronica spews uncomfortably. 

“Yes, and don’t you dare look at me like that, Mars. It wasn’t out of my sight and in a money clip in a zipper of my duffle.”

Veronica turns, asking him straight up, “Do you have cash in your bag?”

“Nope,” He responds, quipping with a bland smile, “But I do in yours.”

Veronica halts a moment to contemplate if he’s serious but shakes her head all the same, zeroing back in on the nervous wreck in front of her. “Jackie, are you sure—“

“It’s not all gone,” Jackie reveals, “But I am down four hundred of it, and unless I mistakenly went on a spending bender between removing my bag from Logan’s car and here, then something nefarious is definitely going on.”

Wallace regards his best friend, “Veronica, you have to find it.”

“Track down four hundred missing big ones; let me go grab my magnifying glass and fingerprint duster,” Veronica jibes, “I wasn’t really planning on spending this weekend solving a case...“

“Veronica, please,“ Jackie steps forward, “Who easily gets away with four hundred dollars?”

Veronica snaps her fingers, “The tooth fairy. Anyone here lose a tooth?”

“Veronica,” Wallace warns. 

“Evidently, someone who figured you’d have four hundred to steal.” Veronica counters.

“Everything okay in here?” Lilly’s face crests the doorway, inquisitive.

Jackie speaks for them, smiling as if nothing happened, “Everything’s fine. I was so excited about the personal bathroom that I couldn’t help myself.” The weak laugh followed is nowhere near convincing. 

Lilly takes in the disarray of the bags and meets each of their eyes briefly before shrugging, “If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask.” His ex then pulls a previously obscured Weevil down the second-floor hallway, leaving Jackie to exhale aloud. 

“Smart,” his girlfriend says, “Let’s keep this on the down low for now until we know more. Is there anything you can recall when your bag was out of sight or someone else other than you or Wallace who may have handled it?”

“No. I mean, just me for the most part?”

“The second anything comes to mind, come find me,” Veronica confirms. 

For Logan, that comes quicker than he’d like it to. 

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Everybody,” Lilly, the ever-loving party girl and leader of their friend group, “I just want to say thank you all for coming to make this the absolute best New Year’s trip ever. We’re gonna have fun, let loose, and maybe even get a little wild.” Lilly emphasizes the word wild, which produces a few whoops and hollers from some of the guys. Raising her glass of champagne higher, everyone else following suit, “Let’s make memories we'll never forget yet live to regret.”

Clinks and cheers sound about the room. An overfilled champagne flute splashes from someone’s glass onto his hand before everyone takes varying amounts of sips and gulps of their alcoholic beverage. Veronica smiles up at him happily, running her fingers lightly across his lower back beneath his puffer. He may have gulped down more alcohol than he needed just to keep calm. 

Various conversations break out, a few people biding their leave to settle into their respective cabins. Jackie seems to think it’s the perfect time to conspire with Veronica. 

“So, how do we do this? How do we get my money back?” Jackie nearly pleads to his girlfriend. Wallace leans in close. 

Veronica ponders a moment before speaking, “Well, I’m not gonna promise you you’ll be breaking even come Sunday morning, but I’ll do my best to find out what or who you can blame.”

“What about the valet? Think he might know something if not be the someone?” Wallace asks. Not the worst idea, to be honest. 

“The chalet valet could have something to say.” Veronica considers. 

“We totally should find the chalet valet.” Wallace agrees. 

“But, how do we find this chalet valet?” Veronica edges on joking. 

Wallace replies with a sly smile, "Well, he’s the chalet valet, so he should be zooming about.” Jackie rolls her eyes at their antics. He’s close to joining her. 

Veronica shares a smirk with Wallace, ”I love saying that. Chalet valet. Isn’t it awesome when things just rhyme?”

“Back on topic, you two.” Jackie scolds softly. 

“Sorry,” Wallace states before muttering chalet valet one more time under his breath. 

“I’ll figure out how to find this…” Veronica pauses, waiting with a mischievous smile. 

Logan answers with exasperation, “Chalet valet.”

Veronica beams smugly up at him before refocusing seriously on an even more irritated Jackie, “… and then put him over the coals. If he has anything to do with it, I imagine it shouldn’t be too hard to get him to crack. If not, perhaps he can help me put a timeline on when someone could have had time to break into your bag and steal the cash.” 

“The guy did say to call concierge if needed.” Jackie offers.

“And ask what?” Wallace says, skeptical, “We think your valet guy might have possibly stolen some cash, and we would like to interrogate him even though we are high school students and our private investigator is a petite blonde?” 

“And what are we investigating?” Lilly remarks rather loudly, pressing in between Veronica and Logan.

“Lilly, shhh.” Veronica chastises gently, turning to observe for any more eavesdroppers.

In a lower register, Lilly asks, “Why are we being so secretive?”

“I’m out four hundred dollars.” Jackie supplies, “It was in my bag, and now it’s gone. We’re just discussing next steps.”

“Ooh, a mystery. Mars Investigations is on the case?”

Veronica grins, “Gonna have my guard dog sniff out the culprit.” She smacks her hand across his chest with a wink.

“I’ve got no bite, remember.” He blinks.

His petite girlfriend makes eye contact with a quiet PCHer, “Weevil—“

“Mars,” Weevil glares, “Don’t even start with me.”

“What?”

“I had nothing to do with this. Don’t you dare bring me into this.”

Veronica scoffs playfully, “I was just gonna ask if you could flip everyone over and shake them until the money falls out.”

Weevil questions, “Why don’t you interrogate your boy here?”

Logan holds up his hands to view, “These sticky fingers only move at Veronica’s command.” He shoots Weevil a flat smile and lifted brows in return for the biker’s sneer.

“We’re moving off-topic here, friends. I might just call the concierge and ask them to send me our guy.”

“Whose our guy?” Lilly inquiries.

“The guy,” Veronica says; Jackie nods with her in bewildered confirmation.

Wallace rolls his eyes, “Did no one pay attention to the poor guy’s name?” The disinterested looks aimed his way apparently annoy him just the littlest bit. “His name was Jared.”

“Cool, we’ll call our guy Jared. Ask him to do… something? What can we ask him to lure him back?”

“Bunch of hot coeds?” Lilly proposes.

Veronica squints a quick eye, “Didn’t really come off as the type to be enticed by seventeen-year-old high schoolers.”

“Guys,” Meg’s voice calls out abruptly, “Anyone seen my suitcase?”

Lilly smiles at Veronica, “Looks like you got your trap.”

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Wow,” his wide-eyed girlfriend comments, “this is rather nice.”

Logan shoves their suitcases inside the doorway and studies their humble abode for the next few days. A nondescript queen-sized bed with comfy enough-looking bedding sits between two windows encased by blackout curtains. An ornate wooden desk sits opposite where Veronica delicately sets her small duffle, running a brief hand across the smooth surface in awe. They have their own bathroom on the other side of the floor-to-ceiling wooden dresser, separating it from the hallway door. 

“It’s kind of pathetic.” He admits. 

Veronica turns with playful scorn, “Not the Neptune Grand?”

“Never said that. Just a bit ‘homey’.” He laughs when Veronica shoots him a glare. He shuts the door, opting to toe off his snow boots. “At least they splurged for the heated floors.”

“Ah yes,” she mocks as he tests the bed with his hands, feeling how bouncy it is, “Poor rich folks scraped up enough extra cash for the heated floors. And the extra large hot tub on the deck. And the floor-to-ceiling view of the mountain. And the five bedrooms.” 

He smiles as he flips, bouncing onto his back. The mattress is just enough plush as it is firm. At least the owners of the modest cabin, in his opinion, understand how to accommodate reasonably well. 

“But they just couldn’t find the money to fly in a designer from France or something.” She toes the line between playful and irritated. 

“I would’ve appreciated it.” He teases, moving his head to watch her check out the rest of the room.

She wanders around, popping a head through the bathroom doorway, “Wow. This bathroom is almost the size of my bedroom, and we didn’t even snag the master.”

He smirks at her, “It’s about as big as my bathroom.” She zeros in on him, not as amused as he’d hoped. 

“You are one spoiled egg, Logan Echolls.”

“Am I complaining?”

She ignores him, spinning about the room one last time before setting her gaze on him, hands twisted behind her back. “So. What now?”

“We could sit and stare at each other?”

She snaps her fingers, “I was just starting to forget what you look like.”

He laughs, “Can’t have that. Might start mistaking Caz Truman for me.”

“I could never.” She taunts playfully, smirking. “Now Troy…”

He lunges up, the oh shit evident in her eyes, and grabs at her playfully, yanking her laughing form down to the bed. She expertly dodges his fingers attempting to tickle her side, stunning him when she uses the little weight she has to flip him onto his back. She sits astride him, thighs encasing his hips. 

“Hello there.”

Veronica bites her lip, “Hi.”

“I was waiting all day for this,” he squeezes her hips lightly. 

She shifts back gently, rubbing their jean-clad hips together. Logan has to hold back a groan at the friction. Bending down, she fuses their mouths, slow and sensual. He’s fully aware of how his heart speeds up, his hands grow clammy, and his lungs expand and contract, simultaneously needing air and not caring the slightest fuck about being out of breath. He follows her lead, letting her set the pace, the angle, how much tongue.

Minutes go by before she breaks away breathlessly, inches from his face. Her eyes flip back and forth between his before whispering, “Did you bring—?”

“A whole box.” He boasts, threading a hand in her hair and dragging her back in. She lets him attack her mouth for a moment before pushing back again. 

“You’re confident.”

“Gotta get that rating up to at least four stars.” He wiggles his brows. 

“There are criteria to meet for that, good sir,” She laughs lowly before rushing back in, sloppier than before. Her hands run down his chest as their mouths find a comfortable rhythm, hands only stopping when they reach the waist of his jeans to dip a quick finger under the band, a tease. 

“We have all weekend.” He reminds her, threading a hand in her hair. 

“Might need another box then.”

“I’ll steal some from Luke.” He jokes, planting a hot kiss on the corner of her mouth. 

Suddenly, he’s pressed into the bed, “Luke brought condoms.”

“The guy is head over heels.”

Veronica shakes her head, “Poor, poor Gia.”

He laughs, “Focus on me.” He moves his hand from her hair, trailing down her ribs until he’s got a good grasp on the hem of her sweater, tugging up. She effortlessly pulls it over her head and drops it beside the bed. He always gets this little moment of pure happiness when he sees her like this, vulnerable. How lucky he is. And he’s never tired of it. Never once. 

Her voice purrs suggestively, “Ready to get lucky?”

“Born.” He quips. 

He grips her warm waist in his hands as she dives back down, their lips moving in tandem, the subtle grind of her hips against his. Veronica’s hands start unbuttoning his shirt, fingers making quick work of it until one button tugs, probably stuck on a loose thread. Her attempt to shift it another way proves unsuccessful. With a sharp tug, the button lets loose and flies to the wood floor, rattling and rolling away. They break apart, his shirt falling limply open. Her mouth drops open as they glance down at the now buttonless fabric. 

“I— that thing was already loose. I can’t be blamed for that.” He shoots her a pointed, momentary look through his lashes. “Okay, I helped, but it was again already ready to fall off; I just encouraged its escape.” She stares pointedly back. “Like you care right now?” A delicately shaped red nail lightly scratches tingles across his exposed stomach.

“My grand ‘ole dad bought this shirt.”

She attempts to keep a lively chuckle in as she stares down at him, “Let’s get to ripping then.”

“Spicy,” he murmurs, lifting his head to recapture her lips. Her hands run up and down his chest, igniting a fire across his body. Gripping her jean-clad hips harder, he pulls her down to rub against his own, a short mewl escaping to reverberate against their, quite frankly, messily joined lips. The added shift of her hips against his makes him momentarily think of anything else just to keep his growing erection from prematurely ruining their rendezvous. 

“V,” a voice loudly calls through the door, followed by three distinct knocks, “Supafly, you in there?” 

“Lovely,” she murmurs, short-breathed. She pushes up. “Wallace. I’m… changing?“ her eyes furrow, second-guessing her less-than-stellar excuse for a locked door and the hope for longer than five minutes of privacy. He’ll have her confined in this room for at least twenty minutes and, hopefully, two orgasms. Three if he’s quick. 

The last thing he ever wants to give any other guy is a mental image of a naked Veronica should they hear anything nefarious from the other side of the door. He may be twisted in believing he should be the only person to live that fantasy and reality, but he is nothing if not helpful in all things, and she needs help undressing. So he kindly shifts his hands expertly up her back to unlatch her bra, nimble fingers doing quick work of de-robing her of the offending piece of clothing. 

“Logan—“ she chastises under her breath, hand flying up to slam his down, the two now unlatched pieces of fabric holding strong. He’d be offended if it weren’t for the scathing look she’s currently leveling him with. 

“I’m helping,” he winks, sitting up to trail his mouth up her neck, nipping at her jaw to melt her. He’d think she needed more thawing if not for her sudden inhale. 

“Wallace,” she raises her voice, trying to avoid the apparent crack of arousal, “I’ll be out in ten—“

“Twenty,” he murmurs against her skin, nipping again at the soft skin just under her ear. 

“Fifteen.” She corrects to her best friend waiting in the hallway. 

“In five minutes, your chalet valet will be back across the resort.” Wallace urges through the door. Veronica pulls away from him, her hands shoving him back down to the bed roughly, hopefully on purpose. Her fingers quickly work to relatch her bra, and she leans over to the floor to grab her sweater. 

He pushes his head back into the pillows, hoping to catch her gaze and level her with his own scathing glare. She ignores him expertly, instead finding the false tête-à-tête between Wallace and her more interesting than her willing, half-naked boyfriend. 

“He still here?”

“Currently lugging Meg’s missing suitcase up the drive as we speak,” Wallace answers dutifully. 

“Crap,” she shoves off him quickly, rushing to gather a boot and hop into it, “stall him.” She all but yells towards the door. 

“Ten-four.” Wallace’s footsteps echo back down the cabin’s staircase. 

“I always knew your heart belonged to another.” He rubs his chest disappointedly. He can feel her annoyed glare as she haphazardly hops into her other boot, but he decides not to give her the acknowledgment she seeks. 

“And what am I supposed to do?” He glances down quickly at his apparent arousal and back to the lithe blonde, ready to up and leave him. 

Veronica smiles sweetly, “Think impure thoughts of me.” Winking a blue eye, she slips out the door, her footsteps disappearing from earshot. 

Fuck him. Guess he’ll have to pull out the old VMars in pigtails and pep squad colors from his repertoire.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

He feels much more refreshed after his shower, taking extra time to clean up for their soon-to-be excursion into town and subsequent night of hopeful debauchery. 

He meanders past Meg and Duncan cuddling on the leather couch, pretending as if they’re not wanting to fuck each other silly. He can, unfortunately, spot a Duncan in heat from afar, and he certainly resents that curse. 

Casey and Dick expertly ignore the cuddled-up lovebirds as they tease Beaver relentlessly about his crush on Gia Goodman. Beav attempts to take it lightheartedly, but even Logan can tell it’s starting to grate on the kid. He shakes his head as they pummel him with pillows and rounds the corner to the sprawling kitchen. 

Veronica huddles on the island beside her conspirator, Wallace, and his maybe girlfriend. Lilly’s relaxing against the opposing counter, eating grapes and trying to follow along with whatever is transpiring. 

“Thought we truly were going to leave work at home,” he startles the foursome, meandering over to rest his hip beside Veronica. 

“You know me. All work and no play.” Veronica states. 

Jackie scowls, “I want my money back, Logan.”

“I can easily hand you the cash right now.” He offers.

“I think it’s more the principal of the matter, babe.” Veronica’s term of endearment warms him.

Wallace rubs his hands, “I’ve got myself a stake in this mystery, and I expect to be compensated fairly for my time.”

“In due time, mon ami.” Veronica lightly jokes. 

“Be happy I don’t charge extra.” Wallace jokes, “May need to take that up with my superiors.”

“We can bring it up for discussion at your yearly.” Veronica shoots back quickly. 

Jackie’s smile is firm, over the current conversation apparently, as she tugs Wallace back out toward the living room. 

“Promise me, Veronica, if you need to do good cop bad cop, let me be bad cop.” Lilly pushes off from her place and crosses over to the island, hugging Veronica around her waist. Veronica hugs her back. 

“How about bad cop, bad cop? We could probably do some damage, Lils.”

“Oh, so much damage.” Lilly laughs. She unravels herself from his girlfriend, “Imma go find my... guy friend.”

Logan rolls his eyes as his ex-girlfriend chuckles on her leave. Knowing Lilly - being trapped in Lilly’s web for over a year and a half - he knows this game well, and a part of him is glad he semi-reformed.

“What’d I miss?” He settles between Veronica’s legs.

“Dick made a yellow snow angel.” His girlfriend clasps her hands behind his neck. 

He can’t help but laugh, “Burgeoning artist, that one.”

“And we may have a lead on when Jackie’s suitcase was left unattended. The valet guy said once the suitcases are in the cart, it’s locked and doesn’t allow it to unlock until the engine is off. We were following the cart the entire way, so there’s no way he would’ve stopped without us seeing.”

“So he’s out of the running?” He lightly thumbs at the small rip in her jeans. 

“Someone was with him the whole time we were loading all our items in and out of that cart. He wouldn’t have had time to steal anything without being caught. Anyway, the guy makes bank on tips from all the clientele. I can bet you he wouldn’t dare to put himself in a position to lose that. Though I did grab his number just in case I need him.”

“Always business with you,” he leans forward, pecking her temple. “You going to turn on vacation mode anytime soon?”

“Like that, would you?” She teases, squeezing him by the hips, beaconing him closer. He rubs his thumbs under her sweater, the soft skin of her stomach pulling him into a close urge to caveman carry her back to their earlier activities. 

“What? Me being cockblocked by your curiosity and utter determination and yet only desiring your attention for a mere ten minutes tops?” 

“You promised me twenty.” She surges forward for a quick kiss on his nose. 

He raises his brows and states, “Generosity is my middle name.”

She chuckles, pinching lightly at a clump of his hair, “Talk me into an interrogation with Luke tonight, and you may just get thirty uninterrupted minutes with yours truly.”

“Ah, foreplay.” He smiles, hers growing just as bashful before he seals her lips with his. It’s short and sweet, the opposite of what he truly wants right now, but he’ll practice obedience in turn for her promises of later. 

When he pulls back, she runs her finger softly down his cheek, stopping at the tip of his chin. “You smell good.”

“It’s called hygiene. We rich folk like to spiffy ourselves up before partaking in jubilations with our brethren and commanding the working class.”

She flicks him on the nose, pushing him away with her calves. “Us working class, thank you.” Hopping down from her perch, she sweeps away without a glance, leaving him having to remind himself not to follow. 

Fuck if he’s not wound tightly around her little pinkie. 

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Logan runs his hands up and down Veronica’s covered arms as she stands huddled close to him, previously complaining about being cold even though she’s encased in a heavy winter jacket. Maybe she’d be warmer if she wore something more than the thin, short sweater dress Lilly somehow convinced her into. The exposed skin of her legs gets littered with goosebumps above the borrowed knee-high boots. He warned her.

But with the way all the other women are currently dressed sans Meg and Carrie Bishop, Veronica’s somehow more on the conservative side of cold weather wear. She lowly warned him before stepping outside that her happiness at the moment stems from how warm she is. Her face portrays resentment as they wait for their friends to finish piling onto the various golf carts. That’s why he’s currently standing in the way of the cold wind coming off the mountain while using his warm hands to keep her body temperature up. 

“Who are we still waiting on?” Weevil asks, irritated. 

“Lilly,” Jackie states shakily, attempting not to show weakness from the cold. “And I think Madison and Pam are holding up the others.” Wallace wraps an arm around Jackie, who shoots him a grateful smile. 

Veronica zeros in on Weevil, “Think you can go move your girl… friend— along?”

Weevil looks towards the open cabin door, “Lil-lay!” He shouts. A few of the others from the other cabins look over curiously.

“Yo,” Casey shouts from a hundred yards away, sitting in the driver’s seat of a golf cart, Dick and Beav sitting next to him, “When’s the reservation again?”

Duncan checks his watch, “Uh… ten minutes.” He calls back, tugging Meg in closer on the golf cart. 

“It’s about a six-minute drive in these things. We might want to get to it.”

“Will someone run in and grab Madison and Pam?” Tad asks, annoyed. His girlfriend Carmen sighs, stepping off their golf cart consisting of Kimmy, Caz, and Martin, briskly running into their cabin to grab Pam. 

Jackie turns to Wallace, “I think all our people are present,” gesturing to where Cole, Troy, and Luke fuck around on their golf cart, Gia squirming to avoid their playful hits from her perch in the back. Wallace and Jackie both nod to them in temporary farewell to meander over. Gia’s shoulders drop in relief when Jackie slides on the back next to her, and Wallace joins in with the rowdy boys. 

Lilly flies through the cabin door, expertly shutting it and strutting down the pebbled path towards them in wedges. Logan is relieved that Lilly at least didn’t talk Veronica into the small scrap that Lilly currently wears else he'd have an even more unhappy girlfriend.

“Waiting for me?” Lilly laughs. 

“The faster we get there, the faster I become happy again,” Veronica states, disgruntled. He quickly pulls her in and rubs her back to try and help. She sighs happily against his chest. 

“Let’s get this show on the road,” Lilly announces before turning to Duncan in the driver’s seat, quirking an eye, “I’m driving Donut.”

“What?” Duncan glares, “No.”

“Yes. Move.” Lilly disputes. Weevil rolls his eyes but stays back dutifully. It’s odd thinking of Weevil taking direction from Lilly when he runs an entire high school biker gang with an iron fist. 

Duncan moans, walking around the cart to sit on the other side of Meg as Lilly excitedly clutches the wheel. Meg pats her boyfriend on the back as he drops into the seat. Weevil moves onto the back, with Veronica squishing in next to the guy. She scoots over to give Logan enough room to squeeze in. It’s crowded, and if they get caught by the resort staff, they for sure would get a warning. The poor chalet valet guy was right to suspect none of them would listen, but with their numbers and only five to a cart, they’re kind of screwed already on that front. 

As Lilly starts up the engine, Pam flings herself onto her cart with Carmen, and Madison shuffles quickly behind Dick, huddling closer to Shelly and Carrie for warmth. Logan has to clutch the golf cart's roof and squeeze Veronica closer as Lilly lurches it forward. 

Meg calls over the growing wind tunnel they’ve started to create, “Careful, Lilly. This thing doesn’t have seatbelts.”

“Oh, it’s fine. We can’t get over like twenty miles per hour anyway.”

When they finally get to speed and adjust to the sway in the back, he clasps Veronica’s hand, which rests on his leg, and moves it closer to the warmth between his knees. She glances over to him gratefully, using her other to hold her coat closed. 

Fortunately for them, though, they have a wonderful and somewhat hilarious view behind them as Casey and Troy egg each other on from their respective driver seats, seeing who can overtake the other. Casey almost takes the lead before a small pothole causes him to brake abruptly to handle the rattle of the wheels. The boys in Troy’s cart laugh heartily, to the dismay of Gia and Jackie. Logan just chuckles, glancing over at an equally amused PCHer. 

Luckily, they make it safely to the reservation, maybe a little unsteady, and Veronica shoots him a little scowl when the wind picks up on their short walk to the restaurant, which he dutifully situates himself to take the brunt of it. She seems pleased enough with him, too, because when they all cram inside the door, she tugs him down for a lingering kiss. 

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Logan can’t help but roll his eyes and heavily sigh when Jackie comes up to talk to Veronica as they’re being sat. 

“Think Meg’s missing anything from her suitcase?” Jackie dodges a couple of chairs to keep up with him and Veronica.

“Possibly. Depending on what, if anything, maybe we can get an idea of what exactly this pickpocket is after. You and Meg could’ve just been opportune targets, though. Again, I can’t promise anything with how many people are coming and going from this resort daily, but I can try my best.”

He will be so much happier the moment this case is solved. Kinda hopes someone waltzes in, really, and just turns themselves in. Maybe then he can get all of his girlfriend’s attention back. 

Once seated and having ample time to study the menu, he leans over, “What are you getting?”

“The duck confit sounds pretty good or could definitely scarf down the sixteen-ounce New York strip.”

“Options.” He may go for the New York Strip himself. 

“Know what I really want, though?” She looks over, briefly, embarrassed. 

“Huh?”

“A burger. A thick juicy burger with all the fixings.”

“Go for it.” He chuckles.

“It’s so wrong, though.” She lowers her voice, “This place is so nice it would just feel so improper to get a burger.”

“No one’s gonna care.”

Veronica scoffs playfully, “Says one of the rich folk.”

“Pretty sure the Kanes are already taking care of the bill. Might as well put in two entrees.”

Veronica drops her head back, “Just my luck, Celeste would know exactly what I ordered from the entire bill.”

“Prepare yourself for that invoice later next week.”

Her head drops back in laughter, “There would probably be calculated interest.”

“And an automatic twenty percent tip.” He plants a quick kiss on her temple before taking a sip of his water. 

Once they order— Veronica settling on the lemon chicken— small conversations break out amongst the table, Jackie getting down to business, much to his dismay. 

“It was just lost? Nothing missing?” Jackie prods Meg. 

Meg shakes her head, “Nothing from what I could tell. They said it just got left because the cart was so full.”

Duncan adds, “Outta sight, outta mind.”

Veronica smiles, “Glad they could return it to you so quickly.” She sends a short smile to Jackie for the apparent dead-end.

“Oh my god,” Gia’s voice rings out, alarming the table. All eyes shoot to the raven-haired girl whose hands are frantically scrounging around her purse, personal items piling haphazardly onto the table in front of her. 

“Gia—“ Luke attempts to halt her frantic hands, concerned eyes racing around for someone to help.

“My money is gone.” Her voice raises, eyes quickly looking up to regard the confused stares of Madison and Troy in front of her before she literally turns her purse over and dumps the rest of the contents. Martin has to chase after a jailbroke lip gloss.

“Didn’t you have it back at the cabin? Maybe you just took it out?” Kimmy questions from down the table.

“No, I swear it was in my bag,” Gia says, “I put three hundred dollars in the inner pocket. It’s gone.” Luke turns in his chair, scanning the floor as Gia stares at all the scattered items.

Veronica leans into him, “What is with you people and having hundreds on hand at all times?”

“Our credit cards are too heavy,” he remarks, “Just be mindful of the one hundred dollar bill I slipped into your coat pocket.” She briefly shoves a hand in her jacket, then rolls her eyes when she comes up with nothing. He chuckles.

Jackie leans across the table, whispering as Kimmy helps a dejected Gia pack all her items back in her bag, “Three hundred dollars missing. Just gone.”

Madison’s voice echos down the table, sickly sweet, “Gia, maybe you should be more careful next time.” Logan rolls his eyes. 

Veronica leans over, “I’ll talk to her after dinner. See if she knows anything. Who knows? As Kimmy said, maybe Gia forgot she left it back at the cabin.”

“Likely.” Jackie disagrees. Wallace rubs a hand across the girl’s back as they talk lowly to one another. 

Veronica turns to him, resting a hand on his leg, “You’re a big boy; I think you can handle the weight of your parent’s credit card.”

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The quicker he gets his girlfriend some face with Luke, the quicker she can drop this case for the night. The bar they stumble into is already stuffy, and he spotted a dark corner he has plans to take Veronica to. 

“Hey Luke,” he rounds up on the baseball player, beer in hand. 

“Hey, Logan!” Luke’s nothing but smiles. “What’s up, man?” 

“Veronica would like a word.” Straight to the point. Who is he if not efficient in all things?

“There he is. Luke!” Veronica smiles, walking up from behind. 

“Hey,” Luke’s happy-go-lucky demeanor never fails, “what can I do you for, Veronica?”

Her voice drips with false cheer, “What have you been up to today?”

Luke smiles at him before regarding the blonde, “Uh. Nothing much. Everything everyone else has been doing.”

“How original,” she quips dryly. “You helped load and unload suitcases today, right?”

Luke smiles, amused, “Uh yeah, but only for like a couple of seconds. Gia requested that I assist in taking a few photos of her and the view once I got our suitcases on the cart, so I left to help her.”

“Did she have her purse with her by any chance?”

Logan studies Luke’s face closely for any signs of deceit. Quite honestly, the staticky behavioral training VHS Veronica made him watch with her this past fall completely went over his head when he found out that Keith Mars was out of town that weekend. 

“Uh,” Luke shrugs with confusion, “I don’t know. I mean, yes. I guess.”

“Okay. Anything else?”

“Am I supposed to have answers prepared for this impromptu interview?” Luke laughs with a leisurely grin. 

“Not at all. Thank you for your time. Look forward to sharing a shot with you.” Veronica supplies. Luke cheerfully turns about, and Logan shrugs at a more defeated Veronica. But then Luke stops a few feet away, reversing back around, seizing both of their attention. 

“If it’s about Gia’s stolen cash, you could ask Troy, Dick, Tad, and Sean. They were the ones helping load when I left and also helped unload.”

Veronica shoots Luke a warm, thankful smile, which he returns in kind. 

“So, we’ve got to make four boys squeal tonight.”

“Why not make it five?”

“Are you referring to yourself?” She chuckles. 

“I am. And I do not mind being the first squeal of your night.” He raises a suggestive brow.

As always, interrupted.

Casey stands on the platform above the bar’s loose idea of a dance floor, gaining half a foot in height, “Friends! May we have your undivided attention for a few moments.”

Everyone shuffles around, Logan taking Veronica’s hand, pulling her on over to the rest of them. Caz quickly takes the spot next to Casey, the two boys smiling conspiratorially.

“Let’s take this night up a notch. How’s everyone feel about that?” Caz asks, shaking sneaky smiles with the lot of them. Logan knocks back more beer; maybe it’ll let him forget all things about to be asked of them. 

“I say let's!” Lilly smiles. 

Caz smirks, “Everyone will get their very own dare to perform tonight. You have to achieve it—“

“Hell no,” Weevil states, arm around Lilly, “I’m not playing.”

Caz swallows, nodding in return before refocusing, “Most of you who opt in and are brave enough—“

A growl sounds from Weevil.

“—those of you who want to participate for fun—“ Caz looks over at Weevil, but the biker doesn’t react, prompting some kind of assurance for Caz, “—you will perform said dare. You will not know what dare everyone else has, and you may not ask; you may only tell—“ 

Casey pipes up, ”Only if you want to. If you want to keep it a secret or don’t care, go crazy, scream it from the rooftops.”

“Exactly. That is only for Casey and me to know outright. So if you, in front of us, perform said dare sufficiently, then you will be in the running for all drinks during the New Year’s Eve festivities on Friday to be on Casey and I.”

A few whoops sound within their group.

“Now. You will get your dare via text, so be ready. And you have to accomplish it before we leave the bar tonight. So if it seems daunting, well, guess you’ve got to figure it out.”

The guys release the group, everyone breaking back out into various groups, going different ways, whether it be to the bar for more drinks like Troy, Cole, and Caz or the dance floor, like the current pep squad members. Logan allows Veronica to pull him to the dance floor for two songs, letting her do her worst dance moves and only laughing at her a little. The one thing he loves about Veronica is her capacity not to care what anyone thinks the moment she’s got a little booze in her and the music she likes starts to play. He even plays along when she becomes a sprinkler for all of five seconds. 

Dick somehow hauls him away from his girlfriend, convincing him on a round or two of pool and a shot or two more. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t having a great time. And fuck, it only gets better the moment Caz claps him on his back and turns him around, pointing out to the bar across the way.

Beaver awkwardly stands at the end of it, tapping a nervous finger against the grain as the bartenders move swiftly back and forth, fulfilling orders. It’s almost painful watching as Beaver edges closer to the back of the counter, trying his hardest to be inconspicuous. As the few bartenders move away towards the other end of the bar top, Beaver slips behind, reaching up to grab two vodka bottles towards the end. He almost knocks them into one another as he hastily tries to bring them in and clumsily exits back out, fast walking towards their pool table with a look of pure terror adorning his features. 

Logan almost feels bad for him but dismisses it in favor of joining in on the raucous laughter the rest of the guys produce. Dick slaps his brother on the back heartily as Beaver’s mouth breaks out into a nervous smile, holding them low and out towards Casey, who mimics bowing for a few seconds before slipping his hands around the two bottles and hiding them in his currently unused jacket.

Guess he knows what text Beav got for tonight’s festivities.

And it doesn’t stop there. The guys and a few of the girls are subject to Casey subtly trying to hump the air with a dildo. Twice behind Tad for at least two songs as the guy dances with his girlfriend. Without getting caught, mind you, the poor guy had to explain why he was so close to a confused and agitated Tad.

Madison made out with a guy she would probably declare “ew” any other time, much to the amusement of Dick and a few of the other guys. She had to shake the poor sap off afterward because the guy evidently thought it was true love or some sort of twisted love affair. Troy flirted with Logan, even trying to grab his ass twice before Logan spotted him doing a similar thing to Martin and again to Cole. 

It’s close to midnight when he gets his text.

Your reputation precedes you. Make your girlfriend audibly moan in front of at least three strangers.

Fuck Veronica would probably kill him.

He can’t do it.

He can… but he won’t.

But he could.

“Logan Echolls. Just the guy I was looking for.”

Logan shuts his phone and turns, acknowledging his girlfriend for the first time in about two hours. 

“Long time no see.”

“Like an eternity.” She supplies, draping herself around him. 

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” He questions with a raised brow.

“I can’t come find my boyfriend and say hello.”

“Who? Me?”

“Shut up.” She grins, leaning up to plant a solid kiss on his awaiting lips. 

If he’s gonna do it, why not now?

He grabs her hand and leads her through the crowd to the alcove he spotted earlier in the night. Turning back to her, he pulls her in, letting the weight of her body push him into the lone potted plant in the corner. His lips make quick work to coax her mouth open, slipping a tongue in once or twice for good measure. 

Logan deliberately moves his hand leisurely down her ribcage, wrapping around her lower back to pull her tighter against him. He’s using every trick in his personal '10 steps to get Veronica Mars hot and bothered' mental manual to get this damn girl to audibly moan for the random few that have found themselves, unfortunately, in their vicinity in this random nook. He even darts an eye open to make sure Casey or Caz are watching. Creepily enough, they are.

It’s a little bizarre, but it’s what you do for free drinks, right? And Veronica will probably laugh about it later, anyway.

Too soon, though, he thinks she suspects something as his lips make their way down her neck, and his hand slips scandalously past her butt to grip the back of her thigh.

She draws back breathlessly, “What are you up to?” Her arms are still wrapped around his neck, glimpsing up at him through suspect eyes.

“What? Nothing,” He attempts to laugh it off, to pull her back in and finish what he started, but he can tell she’s about to crack him for all he’s worth. However, before he can get her close to any semblance of “turned on,” they’re interrupted. Again.

“Hey, V!” Wallace shimmies in their direction. “Logan!”

“Someone found the alcohol.” He remarks, swallowing. Veronica stares up at him for a few more seconds as she slows her breathing before refocusing her attention on her friend.

Wallace beams like the Cheshire cat, “Someone just did a body shot.”

Veronica’s mouth is agape. Wallace has to physically close it for her to snap back into reality.

“Wallace Fennel, you devil. Who? What? And… what?”

“Jackie.” Wallace blushes.

“Jackie Cook, Jackie?”

“Only Jackie I know,” Wallace reacts with a smirk. Logan holds up a hand, to which Wallace claps back happily. 

“You dirty boy,” Veronica states with a smirk. 

Wallace is bashful, “It was pretty great.”

“Happy embarrassment looks good on you, my friend,” Veronica lets go of Logan and swings an arm around Wallace, yanking him in closer to her with a pat on his shoulder. 

“I ran away from her.”

“Wallace,” Veronica chastises. “You can’t lick a girl, slurp out of her belly button, then ditch.”

“I didn’t ditch. I said thank you and... then I ran.”

Veronica’s arm drops to her side, head shaking, “I was so hopeful for you too.”

“Did you get a text?”

“I did.” 

“So?”

“I told them I’m opting out.”

“Lame.”

“I know. Veronica Mars, buzz kill.” Veronica jokes, “Tell me something I don’t know.”

“How about you, Logan?”

“I didn’t get one.” He lies with a shrug.

“You didn’t get one?” Veronica scoffs, “You liar.”

“What—“

“What was on your dare?”

“I’m not liable to tell.” He argues lightly back.

“I can grab your phone whenever, remember?”

“You would forgo my right to privacy?” 

“If it curbs my curiosity, you betchya' cute ass.”

"You two are something," Wallace chuckles.

He smiles. God, he loves this girl. 

"Guys!" Cole materializes from behind, "Come outside before you miss it."

"What?" Wallace asks before willingly following Cole toward the front door. Veronica opts to follow too much to his disappointment. But looks like they're not the only ones making their way outside cause once they do, god, are they in for a sight.

“Oh my god,” Veronica states. He glances over where Dick currently frolics with Lilly in the nude a few hundred feet away in the dark snow. Both laughing wildly and quite drunkenly. Casey and Caz laugh as Lilly attempts to cover up any part of her that would expose her fully but continues to prance around happily, much to the dismay of Weevil, it seems. But Dick lets it all hang out. Madison yells about how Dick is such a child, and this is one of the reasons why she broke up with him. 

“Guess we’ve found out what Dick and Lilly were dared into doing.” He comments amusedly.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Ahh, this is nice.” Dick groans, head thrown back, eyes closed. 

Madison glares at her ex, rolling her eyes. She regards the rest of them with contempt. Always a pleasant one, Madison is. However, she apparently has no problem floating around them in her barely there purple bikini. Logan had to kick Dick and Martin when she came out of the cabin to hop in. Caz shortly escaped indoors, and Logan has the sneaking suspicion it was not because the guy was getting cold out here. 

When the bar proved too much, the rowdiness with which some of his friends were causing the bar staff to scrutinize them, they decided they better leave before someone got arrested for underage drinking or, worse, public nudity. Keith would kill him if his daughter got caught and jailed for the night. A five-hour drive home from hell he’d never want to put her through. 

But he can agree with Dick. As brisk as it feels outside, the hot tub is much needed. He lightly skims the top of the foamy water, turned up by the gentle pressure from the jets, and takes a swig of his beer, his head abuzz with inebriation.

Troy fills the silence, “I cannot wait to get out on the slopes tomorrow. I haven’t been snowboarding in what feels like years.”

“If I see any little hotties out there, I’m gonna pull out all my best tricks. Really show them I know how to move.”

“I would rather not know your pickup game, dude.” Troy laughs. Logan joins in, imagining Dick in his lumbering glory doing anything sick on a snowboard to grab the attention of the opposite sex. And it’s not like he doesn’t trust his best friend to have some decent moves, the guy is a great surfer. It’s just the thought of knowing his friend will inevitably try something way out of his skill set, probably crash and burn in style, and get the girl anyway.

The water next to him shifts erratically, signifying somebody entering the hot tub. And it just so happens to be his girlfriend in a tiny, black bikini that may or may not stir him a bit in the swim trunks. He’s not the only one it seems as he catches Troy’s subtle appraisal along with Beaver's reddening face. Madison pouts, scowling at Veronica, annoyed their attention isn’t exclusively on her anymore. 

“So, boys,” Veronica spreads her arms out behind her on the hot tub, mimicking Dick, her elbow pressing into Logan’s shoulder. “Talk to me about your involvement in loading the suitcases this morning.”

“We grabbed people's suitcases and loaded them into the cart as directed by that guy,” Sean answers matter-of-factly. “What more could we do?”

“Anything odd? Anything any of you saw? Who may have handled Jackie’s bag if so?”

“What’s it to you, Ronnie?” Dick asks.

“Just doing my normal thing, you know, making your life harder, nothing much.” She remarks with a shrug then turns serious, staring at Dick for an answer.

“Jeez, Veronica, we’re on vacation. Take a little break. Have a shot. Get wild. Isn’t that what girls are supposed to do at these things?”

Veronica hollowly laughs, “Oh, Dick. I wish, but someone just keeps stealing other people’s money, and unfortunately, no one here anticipates you to find out who, so.”

“Dad would just send me more.”

Beaver shrugs next to Dick, “We have his credit card.”

Veronica quips, “Heard those are quite heavy.” Beaver's head tips in confusion. Logan conceals his smirk behind a well-placed beer bottle, trying to swallow the beer while attempting not to choke on the urge to laugh. 

Sean provides, “I’m out fifty bucks.”

Veronica perks up, “You think someone stole it?”

Sean shrugs, “Not sure, but I remember having more money in my wallet this morning when we settled in, and then tonight at the bar; when I checked my wallet, I was down money I never used.”

“At any point, did you leave your wallet somewhere you didn’t have eyes on it?”

Sean thinks about it momentarily before nodding his head, “Yeah, actually. I put it on my bedside table, and then Caz texted about pregaming a few beers before we left for dinner. I was away from it for maybe an hour, an hour and a half tops.”

Veronica nods, “If you remember any other time, let me know.”

Madison groans out, “This is so boring.” Slowly, she lifts herself out, making it known that she’s getting out for the benefit of the hot-blooded males sharing the same heated water, and slowly slips out. Madison quickly pulls a just as scantily clad Pam and Kimmy into the warmth indoors. Dick licks his lips from across the way.

“Earth to Dick.” Veronica snaps her fingers. "Eyes on me.”

Dick smirks, “Not sure my boy Logan would like that too much.” Dick’s not entirely wrong.

“This morning?”

Troy shrugs, answering, “ I’m pretty sure the most eventful thing this morning was a couple of ladies—“

Dick smiles over at Sean, who returns in kind, “They were so hot. I could tell the brunette totally wanted me.”

Sean adds, “I preferred the one with the diamond nose ring. Edgy. Hot.”

“Oh, she was smokin’ too.” Dick agrees.

Troy smirks, rolling his eyes with a chuckle before continuing, “They came out of the hotel and flirted with us for a bit but left a few minutes later. Then the valet guy told us we needed to get going, so we finished helping load. When we got to the cabins, we helped unload, but most everyone took their own bags in.”

“Wait,” Veronica urges, “you guys had hot, wanton women around you, and yet none of you are scoring tonight?”

Dick sneers but Troy voices, “They had plans tonight, so we’re kinda out of options at the moment.”

“You know you have a few hot, potentially wanton women here. Now.” Veronica states.

Troy chortles, “You mock us, but it’s not like the hot, wanton women here are doing much to want our attention.”

Veronica scoffs, “Says you. Did you not see some of our kindly pep squad friends in little bikinis just now?” she thumbs haphazardly over her shoulder. “Pretty sure that’s for your guys' benefit, not mine.”

“Madison won’t let me hit that again.” Dick declares, “So this one’s scouting for some snow bunnies tomorrow on the slopes.”

“I wish you all the luck, Dick.” Veronica’s voice drips with sarcasm.

Dick doesn’t notice as he shoots her a grateful smile along with a “Thanks, Mars. I need to get more drunk so I can fall asleep. Let’s go play Flip Cup.” 

Sean leans forward a moment as Beaver, Dick, and Troy step out of the hot tub, “I just remembered. I’m pretty sure I saw Tad shifting around oddly, like he was a little on edge or something. Fidgeting.” Sean states.

“Fidgeting?”

“Yeah. I don’t know. Just thought it was a bit weird. Not sure if that helps any?”

“No, it does. Thanks, Sean!” Veronica smiles as Sean nods, getting out and following the other guys inside. 

“And we’re alone.”

“It’s quiet out here, isn’t it?” Veronica gazes into the night as far as the cabin lights go. “It’s kinda spooky.”

“We could go inside.” He suggests, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and placing his other hand on her smooth thigh.

“We could.”

“We could retire this crusade until tomorrow.” He murmurs into her ear, running an index finger in swirling patterns on her inner thigh.

“Say more.” She whispers back lowly, shifting her legs slightly apart to accommodate him. 

“We could head up early. I am more than willing to show you exactly what this hot-blooded male thinks of a particular kindly former pep squad member in a bikini.”

“Oh, can I take notes?” She asks conspiratorially. “For later reference, that is.”

“You can, but I’m not sure you’ll be physically well enough to keep up the mental note-taking.”

“Oh, you completely underestimate my tenacity, Logan.” She lifts to give his jaw a quick peck.

“You should definitely prove me wrong,” he squeezes her knee and stands, making his way out and turning to help her. Logan tugs again on Veronica, who carefully, with his help, steps out of the hot tub. Just as he’s got her close and warm and leading her into the back door, she’s stopped just inside. 

“Hey, Veronica!” Sean comes to a stop next to him, “One more thing. Shelly was pretty pissed with Casey earlier tonight when we were getting off the golf cart right before dinner. Whatever it was, she was not happy, and Casey was looking off. Might want to look into that.”

Logan sighs as Veronica’s face twists in thought, addressing Sean, “Thanks, Sean. If you remember seeing anything else, you know where to find me.” Sean gives a curt nod before strolling back over to the guys currently grouped around the island in the kitchen with many half-open liquor bottles and empty beer cans.

“Wait. Tads over there.” She nods towards the fireplace where Tad, Carmen, and a handful of others are huddling around, warming up some marshmallows. 

“Talk to him in the morning,” Logan insists, tugging again at her hand but getting solid brick in return. He glances back at her pleading look. Seriously. She’s gonna forgo their heightened libido to interrogate Tad. This fucking better be quick. 

With a resigned stare, he allows her to pull him towards Tad. 

“Hey guys,” she greets to disarm, “this looks fun.”

Beaver raises a crisp marshmallow at the end of his grabber up to them, which Veronica gladly takes with a smile. Beaver, in turn, grabs a new one and shoves it back towards the flames quietly.

“Tad,” she grabs the pompous boy’s attention, “Can I have a word with you, please?”

Tad looks wearily from her to his girlfriend, a glance at him before handing over his marshmallow roaster and standing. Veronica leads them a few feet away until she is confident they’ll be somewhat discreet. “So Tad, I heard from a little birdie that you helped load the bags this morning.”

“Yeah, what’s it to you?” Tad’s never been the most agreeable, even to people he’s known for a while. Carmen is probably the only person Logan has ever seen this guy be thoughtful and reasonable person to, and that’s saying a lot.

“Well, not sure if you heard, but some money went missing from Jackie’s bag, and Gia—"

“I didn’t steal the money if that’s what you’re after here.” Tad snipes.

“Did I accuse you?” Veronica counters.

“I can read between the lines, Ver-onica.”

His girlfriend quickly turns just as sour as Tad, “So then why are you so defensive?”

“Because I don’t need to be a part of this stupid little mystery. I want no part ‘cause I played no part.”

“Then just give me a good reason why someone said you were so fidgety and weird this morning while doing said task?”

“I don’t have to tell you anything.”

“You know, when someone acts aloof and guilty, they usually are.” She argues.

Tad sneers, “Even if I did take the money, which I didn’t, why do you think I would fess up to you of all people?” It’s a dig. The guy has always been a classist dick, hell almost all of them come from money and can be all the same, but Tad is the worst. Logan actually thinks it comes from a place of hatred, and anyone he sees as not being worthy enough— Veronica, Wallace, Weevil— he pegs as lower than thou. Makes Logan even want to fucking kick the guy in the balls. Punch him in his smug ass face.

“We’ll see about that,” Veronica remarks.

Tad churlishly states, “Fuck off.” Before storming away in a huff. Carmen looks toward them, concerned, before following her boyfriend out the front door.

“Well, that was eventful,” he states. “Give me one reason I shouldn’t go out there and deck him.”

Veronica pats his forearm, distracted, “I need to talk to Wallace.”

His head whips down, “Wait, what? I thought we were gonna call it a night,” he wraps a hand around her hip, fingers drumming suggestively on the curve of her butt.

“I know, but after what the guys said in the hot tub and Tad’s apparent reaction, I need Wallace’s opinion. And I think he may have squeezed more out of Luke.”

“Veronica,” he pleads. He'll fucking get down on his knees if he has to.

“We’ve got all night.” She gently touches his face, “Promise I’m all yours after.” She bounds away towards Wallace, lounging in the kitchen. 

He doesn’t see her until they both collapse in bed around three-thirty am from exhaustion, the alarm set for seven am for their early morning start on the mountain. The kiss she plants on his cheek will have to suffice. 

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Fuck whoever is stealing money, to Logan, at this point, they fucking suck.

“I can’t believe this.” Kimmy moans sadly, “I’m so sorry, Carrie. I swear I will pay you back when we get home.”

Carrie shakes her head, tone reassuring, “I know. Don’t worry about it, Kimmy. It’s okay.”

“I just feel so awful.” Kimmy groans. The sandy-haired blonde looks so tiny in all her snow gear, one ski boot on, the other left haphazardly across the room. Logan almost feels bad for the poor girl. 

Gia rubs Kimmy’s back gently with a look of concern. Veronica stands before the downtrodden girl, a mental notepad going as usual.

“So you left your bag in the locker, locked, right?”

“I thought it was locked. I could’ve sworn because I didn’t want something like this to happen in the first place. I was gonna go get the money to pay for my gear after the fitting.”

“And you don’t think there’s anywhere else you might have lost…” Veronica cringes.

“Five hundred dollars?” Kimmy supplies.

Veronica swallows. Logan can tell she’s trying not to question why Kimmy, or anyone for that matter, would just have five hundred dollars cash on their person. He thinks Veronica is coming up with good reasons to start a PSA on the merits of a credit card, especially for the rich. But she swallows it back, it seems, instead opting for the more non-judgemental route.

“Yep. You had it when we got here?”

“I had it when we left the cabins, I know that. After that, I assumed it was there. Until obviously, I went to pay for the gear.”

Veronica shoots him a look that conveys that she’s gonna be there a while longer. Maybe he’ll end up seeing his girlfriend up on the mountain, though he’s not too confident on that either. As Logan makes it outside with his gear, Dick and Duncan greet him happily with open arms promising a good time. If he can’t have his girlfriend, at least he can have his best friends. 

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Hey there, snow bunny,” Veronica’s sultry tone causes an eyebrow to rise from him. 

Dick snorts, “Ball and chain alert,” he shouts, followed by some sort of hockey buzzer sound. Logan laughs, shaking his head. 

Veronica plops in the snow next to him, hip to hip, moving her goggles to her helmet. He shifts back to make more room for her, moving an errant strand that falls from her neck gaiter and then letting her lean back against the outstretched arm he’s currently using to steady himself. 

“Dick,” Veronica grimaces, “Always a pleasure.”

“Look, I get it. But I refuse to allow you to hop on Dick right in front of my best friend, your boyfriend.”

“However did you know?” She feigns shock. 

Dick smiles, “I see the way you’ve been looking at me. The little suggestive glances. Want to visit the dealership, see if you can trade in?”

“Trade in this 'ole thing?” She pats his inner, pant-covered thigh lovingly, “I’d be downgrading.”

Dicks narrowed eyes betray the smile that lifts on his mouth; the same look his girlfriend mimics right back. 

He interjects dryly, “We should see about getting you two high together; see where the night takes us.”

Dick looks haunted for a moment before waving at someone behind them, “Casey, Martin, and Cole made it up.” Dick shuffles up with his board, regarding him excitedly. “Let’s go.”

He can feel Veronica’s eyes trained on the side of his face. “You go ahead. Be there in a few.” Dick rolls his eyes but says a quick goodbye, trudging back through the fresh snow towards a few of their friends. 

“And hello to you.” He starts, “I was beginning to think you were a figment of my imagination.”

“You dream about me too much, poor sweet Logan. We need to get you a hobby.”

“Trust me, Veronica, you are hobby enough.”

She shifts, her knees resting lightly against his leg, “I’m sorry. I know we were supposed to hang out, but then Kimmy and Gia—“

“Monopolize.” He lets his hand mimic a banner in the sky.

Veronica’s brows furrow, “Excuse me?”

“Means to have and control fully and exclusively. It’s my word of the day.”

Veronica’s hand comes up to graze his chin lightly, “Logan. I am sorry. I promise you I don’t seek it out—“ his pointed look startles her only just so, “—fine. I seek it. But the people, they need me.”

“I need you.”

“You lose something important?”

“My girlfriend, apparently.”

The next thing he knows, he is being straddled by his now very attentive girlfriend. He almost lifts her back off because they’re on top of a mountain surrounded by the prying eyes of strangers. Kids are running amuck. But he can’t deny a spark of arousal and anticipation shoots through him. And he’s also the last person to display signs of embarrassment at public displays of affection. 

“I think I found her.” She smiles, thumbs rubbing softly against his jaw. 

He smirks, “Have you? How could I ever repay you?”

She leans in just a breath away, whispering, “I can think of a few ways.” She seals her lips to his with the clang of their helmets and goggles banging together. He grips her clothed back, pulling her as close as possible, what with her seemingly dozens of extra layers. How bad would it be if he took off a few? They’d probably get banned for life. There’s a dangerous part of him that couldn’t care less, so mentally pulling himself from that wanton urge might be his best bet. All he needs is Sheriff Mars to find out he led her into a public indecency wrap. 

As soon as he’s enjoying himself, though, the strap on his helmet begins digging into the underside of his neck, and the brim of Veronica’s slices uncomfortably against his forehead. 

“This isn’t working,” he grimaces against her lips, their helmets knocking loudly against each other. Veronica shifts back on her knees with a disgruntled sigh. 

“Guess you’ll just have to make it up to me later.”

“Is that a promise, Mars?”

“It’s a guarantee.” She assures, surging forward quickly for one more uncomfortable peck, which he gladly reciprocates. “Now I think you, my friend, owe me a ride down the mountain.” He helps her ungracefully stand, catching her snowboard, which attempts an escape in the process. She helps him in return, though, until he’s standing full height above her. 

“Promise you won’t ditch me if I fall?” He feigns insecurity. 

“I’ll be sure to kiss all your bruises away.” She smiles up at him as she moves her goggles back in place. 

Dick calls from a hundred feet away, “Dude if you’re done sucking face, let’s get our shred on.”

Veronica laughs heartily, grabbing his glove-encased hand with hers and pulling lightly towards a growing group of their friends. Not only does he get about five rides down the mountain with his girlfriend, but she does, in fact, afterward kiss the nasty bruise he receives on his shoulder blade when Gia manages to take out five of them for a few hundred feet after her skis hit a nasty patch of black ice. 

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

He examines his back in the mirror, the bruise on his shoulder blade starting to melt black and blue. It’s a little sore when he rotates his arm, but fortunately, he still has a considerable range of motion. It kind of reminds him of his dad, though, a year ago when a particularly hard belt strike after he helped Lilly steal one hundred and twenty dollars worth of alcohol from the local convenience store and got caught left a little scar on his spine. Lucky for him, his dad has the star power he does, but unlucky for him, his dad also has an odd collection of multiple belts. 

God, is he glad his dad is out of the house these days.

If he’s honest, he’d rather spend some alone time with his girlfriend than go out again tonight with the group. But convincing Veronica to get her mind off MoneyGate, as he now calls it, would be a feat on its own, and currently, with how she’s been moving, he’s unsure he’s convincing enough to get her to focus back on him.

As he walks out of the bathroom, Veronica finishes hopping into her jeans, buttoning them up when he asks, “Do you even want to go tonight?”

“Yeah, why?” Veronica smiles at him through her lashes as she hops into a boot.

“I was just thinking we could maybe stay in instead.”

Veronica stops her jumping, holding his stare. “You don’t want to go out? Are you feeling okay? Are you sick?”

“No. We could have a little alone time. Finally.”

“We’ll have alone time later tonight.” Veronica laughs at him, moving to continue putting on her other boot. He watches, trying to hold off the dejected expression that wants to take over, and then she hits him with the next bit. 

“Wanna help me get time with Tad by any chance?”

“Do I want to… no. Will I… convince me.”

“Logan, I need you—“

“You need me?” Logan chuckles, “Wow, I feel so wanted.”

“You are wanted. By me. And getting me time with Tad. I need to confirm my suspicions.” She clasps her hands together, staring up at him with hopeful eyes.

“What suspicions?”

“Well, Tad was being difficult, so I went to Carmen. Poor thing didn’t hold it together for long before she apologized for Tad’s behavior and indulged me in more information than I wanted. Let’s just say Tad was on some… medication… which made his libido heightened.”

“He took performance enhancers?”

“She was so embarrassed. You cannot tell anyone I told you.” Veronica lifts up close, gaze serious, finger pointing at him, “You are sworn to secrecy as my boyfriend.”

“But the guys would find this so—“

“For your ears only.” She states sternly, but he also doesn’t miss when her eyes glance at his lips quickly. Her tongue peeks out to lick her own. 

“Fine.” 

“Now, five minutes with Tad?” She smiles sweetly, wrapping an arm around his neck to bring him down closer.

“What do I get in return?”

“How about my appreciation and,” she places her other hand on his chest, her finger slowly running down the front of his shirt before hooking just beneath the waistband of his jeans, “I’ll throw in that thirty minutes of uninterrupted Veronica time. All yours.”

“Let me have some time to think about it.” He remarks.

Veronica’s shoulders fall, “Logan.”

He sighs, resigned. He grabs the back of her head and softly kisses her forehead, “When we get to the bar tonight, give me about five minutes, then come over to corner him.”

Veronica grabs a fistful of his shirt, pulling him back down for a sound kiss, “Thank you!”

“Uh-huh. I’ll be cashing in my reward later.”

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Veronica constantly looks at him the whole cart ride to downtown Mammoth and then continues to shoot him looks as they wait to enter the bar. Once inside, the look doesn’t stop as she eagerly raises her brows once they all have a drink in their hands and their friends start crowding around in small groups. Part of him wonders what she’d do if he ignored her all night and never talked to Tad once. She’d probably still find a way to corner the guy, but then she’ll be pissed at him too. 

Tad is in deep conversation with Troy and Caz across the room when he finally shoots his girlfriend, currently surrounded by Lilly, Weevil, and Kimmy, as they stare at Dick, who, presently, looks to be enthralled with a tall brunette he’s never seen before. Veronica smiles at him from her perch and nods as if saying it's go time.

“Hey guys,” Logan greets the threesome. Martin holds out his beer to clink, which he reciprocates, continuing, “What are we talking about?”

“Spring break.” Caz smiles. “Thinking of doing this but at a beach somewhere down south. Mission Beach, perhaps.”

“They have pretty nice houses along the beachline. We could rent two or three. Could totally chill, drink beer, catch some waves, beach babes.” Troy wiggles his brows, nudging Caz to the side.

“You know how you get this plan in motion, right?” Logan questions Caz and Troy. They both regard him with confused curiosity, so he says, “Get Lilly and Gia on board with whatever idea you have.”

Tad nods in consensus, “Yeah, Lilly will definitely get something going the minute we’re back in Neptune, I bet.”

“Where is Lilly?” Caz starts looking around eagerly.

“Left her by the bar last I saw her.” Logan supplies.

Troy smiles, “Great idea, Logan, thanks.” He smiles back and guesses he’ll throw the guy a bone. As much as he still gets a little on edge around Vandergraff, if not for the fact that he still has an inkling that the guy still holds a candle for his girlfriend, Troy’s not the worst guy. And he’s nice to Veronica.

Caz slaps Troy and Logan on their backs, “Let go do a shot. Then Troy and I can go pitch it to Lilly.”

Troy smiles, “Hell yeah. Liquid courage.”

The guys start to move, but Logan is on a mission— for Veronica— but even so.

“Hey Tad, can you hang back a sec? Was wanting to ask you something.”

Tad narrows his eyes, suspicious, “What does this question entail?”

“Well,” Logan waits as the other two move away, “Was wondering when you were going to—” he trails off, not coming up with anything to ask the guy. He’s not even sure he’d be interested in even the most mundane of questions. 

“What?” Tad freezes, and when Logan just stares at Tad, eyes darting around briefly to spot his blonde girlfriend, Tad gets irritable. Worried that the guy might bolt, the moment he spots the short blonde, even forty feet away, he gets on topic.

“There’s my enigmatic girlfriend right now,” he reaches out when she's close, pulling her in under his arm, hers securing around his hip. 

“Hello, Tad,” her greeting takes on a business tone. Oh great. “A pleasure to talk to you again.”

“It’s a displeasure for me,” Tad sneers. 

“Oh, come on, Tad, we’re friends, aren’t we?”

“Friends don’t normally accuse you of stealing,” Tad argues. 

“How about we forget that? Let bygones be bygones. And I’ll leave you alone once you answer one question for me.”

“Friendships don’t normally come with a price, Mars.”

“Sometimes mine do.” She states, slowly getting irritated. 

“What do you want?” 

Logan has half a mind to shake this guy for all he’s worth and tell him to show more respect. That, though, is psychotic jackass Logan. He is not psychotic jackass Logan tonight. 

“When those snow bunnies were flirting with Dick, Troy, and Sean, you remember when we arrived,” Veronica teases Tad with a knowing smirk, Tad’s face falling in realization, “They're all good-looking guys. I would have expected one of them to luck out, at least. Why do you think none of them scored?”

Tad’s face screws up in anger, and he quickly shrugs, “No clue. Maybe on the account that Dick says the dumbest shit, Troy looks like and acts like a goody two shoes pretty much at all times with no follow through, and Sean wasn’t anywhere near them when they came over.”

“Wait,” Veronica halts, “Sean said he was—“

“Sean says a lot of things. As much as he likes to boast he’s got game, that kid runs away from the opposite sex like it’s on fire. Sean was unloading the bags when Dick and Troy got distracted.”

Veronica’s face lights up, “Okay. Thank you, Tad. I appreciate your time.”

“Whatever.” Tad brushes her off. 

She holds firm, though, shoving a hand his way, “So we have a truce. We don’t have to like each other; quite frankly, it goes against my entire ethos to have any warm fuzzies for, specifically, you, but these get-togethers will be a lot more bearable if we can agree to be civil.”

Tad examines her hand momentarily, probably waiting for something to jump out at him before taking it wearily and nodding, “Fine. Truce. Don’t go blaming me again for stealing.”

“I won’t unless I’m really sure.” 

Tad narrows his eyes but accepts it as much of an apology as he will get from Veronica. They drop hands abruptly, Tad barely nodding his leave, instead ambling over to Carmen and some of the girls with feigned happiness. 

“That was fun.” He remarks. 

“Tad is such a ray of sunshine.” Veronica quips dryly. “Totally see what Carmen does.”

“A magnetic force.” He takes a sip of his drink.

“You know, I also just had to watch Dick flirt, like truly flirt in action, real-time, and I do not know how that guy gets laid so much. The stuff that comes out of that mouth.” Veronica shakes her head.

“Well, throw daddy’s money around…”

Veronica nods, “Right, but fuck. I’d have to be compensated for at least ten thousand.”

“Your selling price is a bit low, Veronica.”

She smiles at him, “Awe, thank you, Logan.”

“At least fifteen thou, come on.”

He smiles, pleased, and Veronica’s mouth falls open in astonishment.

“What if someone bids to twenty thousand?” She asks incredulously. 

“Breaking the bank.” He smiles. 

“I’m worth more than twenty thousand.”

“I’m extracting myself from this conversation,” he says, smiling at her growing amusement and narrowed eyes. 

“You little…” She playfully grimaces, starting after him.

“Hey, Veronica!” Meg comes out of nowhere, halting Veronica’s path behind him, halting his own in return. Please, god, no. Not now.

“I heard about your investigation—“

“Pretty sure everyone has heard up to about this point. Hard to keep secrets with you lot.” Veronica jokes.

“I think you might want to talk with Shelly. I heard she might be out of some cash as well. Unsure if it was of her own doing or not, but she seemed worried enough.”

"Stolen?"

"Not sure. Just going off what I heard through the grapevine."

Veronica shakes her head, “Who is ballsy enough to steal from people within the same friend group?”

“Someone not ballsy enough to know that Veronica Mars will sniff them out,” Meg replies with a smile and a shrug. 

“Well,” Veronica sighs, contemplative, “I was already entertaining a bidder of my time tonight—“

Meg smiles, “How much are we talkin’?”

Logan quips, “Fifteen thousand.”

“Not sure I have that on hand at the moment,” Meg admits with a smirk.

Logan tips his beer bottle, “You can have her. It’s on the house,” before languidly and quite disappointedly spinning a heel and finding anywhere else to be, ignoring the Logan he hears following him. 

She’s a ghost in the air the rest of the night as he nurses a new beer, listens to a recycled spring break story from the guys, and mistakes a distant Lilly and Meg, even Madison, for his girlfriend numerous times. Thinking, hey, she came back just to be disappointed that she’s off interrogating suspects as if she’s already been indoctrinated into the CIA. He can’t even be confident he can find his girlfriend in a cabin full of people. How sad is that? How sad is he? 

Fuck, he needs to get laid.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Honey,” Veronica’s voice carries across the room as the door shuts, the click of the lock audible. “I’m home.”

He shoves an arm under his head, pulling the comforter further up with his other, protecting himself from the chilly draft that entered with her. Dryly, he supplies, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Irritation on you only makes me want you more; you know that?”

“I’ll be sure to refer back to that at a later date.” He quips back, tone tight. 

Veronica halts where she stands a few feet from the bed, a contemplative look set upon her features. He holds her gaze, willing himself to stand his ground for once. She slowly, without breaking eye contact, toes off a boot, then the other, waits a few more moments, which causes him to shift slightly in anticipation, then smirks, “Let’s get naked.”

“Ah yes, until someone calls upon you to diddly daddle elsewhere.” He’ll gladly be difficult. Weighing two nonexistent items in both his hands above him, he says, wiggling his first one, “Will I be able to get my pants off, or will someone inevitably knock with a new clue.” His second hand shoots up dramatically, the first mimicking a crash and burn. “Looks like my boxers are staying on.”

Veronica suddenly launches herself forward with a cheeky grin. “You’re already halfway there. Shouldn’t be too hard if you think about it.” She bounces onto the bed, narrowly missing his crotch with her knee, but just as soon as he moves away, actually fearful for his balls, she’s got his hips locked between her thighs, hands resting against his bare chest. “I remember this from the other day.”

“Do you?” He ponders, “It’s fleeting for me.” 

Yes, he’s a little snippy. Yes, he’s irritated. But how could he not be when he’s felt like this grand mystery of the missing monetary assets has capitalized his girlfriend’s time? He’s feeling neglected. 

“You’re mad at me.” She observes keenly. 

“Wow, surmise that from my mood ring?” He exhales, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m not mad.”

She pushes back on his chest, sitting up a little higher, “You’re seriously gonna pull the ‘tude?”

“I’m as cool as a cucumber.”

“Wow. Kitschy sayings and in bed before 2 am. You getting old on me, Logan?”

He lightly pinches the soft skin of her waist, a short giggle bubbling from his girlfriend’s pink lips. Her hands rub small circles across his ribs. 

“You know what I think?”

“What?”

She smiles sweetly, “I think you need someone to help you relax.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“Would you like me to pickle your… cucumber?” Veronica narrows her eyes, seemingly understanding just how awkward her come-on sounds, particularly when spoken out loud. 

“Pickle my cucumber?” He repeats, not actually knowing if it’s the alcohol getting to his head or if his girlfriend just attempted the worst line he’s ever heard to come from her lips. She’s really off her game these days.

“Forget that happened.”

“That’s now forever locked in my wank bank.” 

She playfully pleads, “I am better than that, I swear.”

“You’re losing it.”

She bends down, resting her head against his shoulder, “I know. I’m even scaring myself.”

“Maybe if you stopped hanging out with all those 09ers, you’d have your bite back.”

“Jealous?” She teases in his ear, nipping at the skin on his neck. His hands squeeze her thighs to keep his head. 

“Only if I thought any of them had a shot.”

She pulls up just so, enough to hover over him, “Too bad all my fantasies star poor little Logan Echolls.” Her lips capture his in a slow kiss. Lingering in just the right way to leave him suddenly more hot and bothered. 

“I knew I kept you up all night.” He teases against her lips. 

“Careful. Your head looks to be growing,” she responds smoothly, “and apparently, that’s not the only thing getting bigger.” The corner of her mouth turns up, and he groans when her hips rub against his pelvis, his hands sprawling around her hips to aim her where it feels good. 

“Well, get to pickling.” He teases with a wink. 

She laughs before diving back in, sealing her mouth over his in a tantalizing fashion. Slow and measured. Methodical, just like her brain works. Every dip and touch of her hands calculated, whether that be tangling into his hair or lightly scratching her nails down his chest, over his ribs, index finger teasing under the edge of his boxers, only further causing blood to rush down. 

He lets his hands travel just as slow over her ass, up to their intended destination of her bare back. The sweater she wears rubs lightly against his knuckles until she sits up momentarily to paw it off and throw it haphazardly away. And he’s more than willing to help her this time unlatch the offense that is her bra. He makes sure to chuck that thing as far as humanly possible in his current horizontal position. He’ll give himself extra points come morning if he makes it anywhere unexpected, like the standing lamp in the corner. 

She moans into his mouth as she grinds slowly back down onto him, hands covering his when he unbuttons her jeans, and they’re a tangle of limbs as they both work them down her hips. 

“Do you have—“ she whispers. Logan responds with the quick production of one of the little foil packets he dumped into the side table when he unpacked yesterday afternoon. 

“I’m a Boy Scout, Mars.” He smirks, cupping her jaw and trailing open kisses across her neck. He can feel her grinning from here. 

“You took that oath a little too seriously.” Veronica quips, cupping his hands and moving them back down her bare skin until she lets them go at the edge of her underwear. She sits back on her knees, and he blindly follows her up until he’s upright. “You have me all to yourself, Logan.” She rests her forehead lightly against his, eyes half-mast, a look Logan can only describe as lust and hopefully love mixed in her blue irises. He lets himself take this in for a moment, take a mental image of Veronica here and now, with him, declaring some form of consented possession he can stake his claim in.

“Veronica,” he whispers lowly. Hoping his affection comes through and that she realizes what she does to his heart, or better yet, hopes she feels the pitter-patter only she ever seems to get out of him and that it will most likely be forever her who does. She smiles softly, moving to cup his chin and capture his lips in a passionate kiss. 

He doesn’t stall, removing her of her last piece of decency and letting his quickly follow. It takes even less time for him to maneuver her onto her back, hips moving up in time with hers, expert fingers helping when and where needed, an understanding their bodies have both learned over the last few months as they’ve gotten better and better together.

He curls an arm around her lower back for traction, and his other cups the crown of her head, fingertips grazing the tip of her ear, trailing his mouth up the side of her face. Her short, hot breaths entertain his ear while her hands trail their way down his back, attempting to grab skin as he continues to shift back and forth in a hypnotic rhythm. One of her smooth legs wraps around his ass, calf working overtime in helping control the push and pull of his hips. 

That moment she reaches her peak is etched in his brain forever, if not for the fact that every single time, without question, one of her hands, regardless of where it happens to be on his or her person, shifts to thread into the back of his head, fingers lightly tugging hair when she arches off the bed, hooked leg locking in place. Her breath stops for what feels like an eternity in this state, but not soon after, short, shaky breaths escape her lungs, puffing into his ear. 

He speeds up his movements; some might say erratically, dipping his head into the crook of her neck and supplying a few more lingering kisses to the skin before he feels his body reach that same high, a hot feeling of bliss coursing through every fiber of his being. Her fingers dance softly against his scalp as their bodies seem to work in tandem to come down from their shared high. 

He peppers light kisses back up her neck, across her jaw, watching as her eyes flutter closed when he reaches her mouth, languidly placing a kiss against her lips, throwing a little tongue in for good measure. Her head follows blindly when he pulls back. 

“That was—“ her voice laced with satisfaction. 

“Amazing? Mind-blowing? With some begging, I might be up for performing an encore.”

“Epic.”

“I can get behind that,” he accepts wholeheartedly. 

“Hubba hubba.” She pinches his ass lightly. 

He laughs, kissing her cheek softly, “Did you just hubba hubba me?” He kisses her other cheek just as softly, waiting for her to open her eyes. 

She just nods, a smile on her lips, eyes still shut, “I did. And I’ll do it again. Hubba Hubba.”

He shifts up to his elbow, softly brushing back the hair that fell across her forehead. Her eyes peek open, squinting up at him. 

“Is it really over?” She teases. 

“For at least another few minutes. Need some time to recover.”

“The great Logan Echolls needs time to recover. Tsk tsk.” 

“Just powering back up for a thorough rocking of your world.”

“Aren’t I just the luckiest gal in said world?” She takes on some form of an old southern belle. 

“I’ll say.” He drawls back.

“Well, I expect,” she lifts her bare wrist and squints at it, “At least nineteen more minutes of my previously agreed upon thirty minutes.” 

“I said twenty.”

“And I raised it to thirty, remember?” She smiles. “The well-endowed Logan Echolls is supposed to be able to perform under pressure, is he not? Are we not aiming to get you that coveted four stars?”

“Give a guy a complex, why don’t you.”

Veronica shrugs beneath him and flutters her eyelashes, taking on the persona of the innocent. Her cold foot runs soft lines up and down the back of his calf, goosebumps following in its wake. 

“Keep that up, and I’ll extend it to forty.”

“You need that long to recover?” She jests. “Wow. You’re losing your touch.”

“Shut up,” he falls back into her, squeezing her body to his, head burrowing into that soft space between her neck and her shoulder, blowing a raspberry that bubbles a soft fit of laughter out of his tiny companion. Her fingers run lazy shapes across his spine, tickling as some form of retaliation. 

He causes her “to see stars,” her words, four more times within his allotted and much expanded time of “fifty minutes,” also her words, along with the aid of his right hand, a very valuable friend indeed. He can just make out the harsh white numbers of the clock turned away on the desk when they finally make it to bed around 2:36 am, satiated, clean, and dressed in a fresh pair of boxers and underwear. 

Curling her closer as his lids get heavy, he can’t help feeling his heart beat better than it ever has before. Not with Lilly, not with Shelly in ninth grade, not even with Jessica Alba in his thirteen-year-old fantasies. He’s unequivocally in love with this petite blonde spitfire. 

Now, just to actually tell her. 

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The following day, as he and Veronica are eating some late breakfast, Jackie rounds the corner of the kitchen with Wallace in tow.

“Any updates?”

“Talked with a couple of people. I’m still trying to gather exactly where everyone was the other day that had any access to you and or Gia and yesterday with Kimmy. I don’t have any significant updates, though.”

“Dammit.”

“Casey was arguing with Shelly the other night. Maybe something to look into, or maybe they just slept together. Who knows, but I guess I may as well.” Veronica rolls her eyes.

“Oh, that,” Jackie says, “I thought that was something small. I heard them arguing at the bar that night. She was mad at him for not paying her back yet or something.”

“Interesting. They say anything in the ballpark of three thousand?” 

“Maybe he was such a bad lay that Shelly needs payment to forget.” Jackie’s remark is a little more cutting than probably intended.

“All these relationships and secrets. I need a new hobby.” Veronica sighs.

“You do. What else do you even like, though, other than getting in people’s business?” Jackie questions.

Wallace offers up, “Photography. Maybe you should just advertise taking professional photos.”

“That’s not a bad idea, per se.” Veronica contemplates. 

“Or soccer. Didn’t you used to play?”

Logan smiles, “She played.”

Veronica slaps his stomach lightly before responding, “I was decent. Pretty sure I only did it because my parents wanted me out of the house doing something physical, and at the time, I was all heart eyes for Duncan.”

“Your dad change his mind then about needing physical activity in your older age?” Jackie asks. 

“She gets physical activity. Veronica was quite into pickling early this morning.” He gabs. 

Her hand shoots back to slap him rather harshly in the stomach. The look of utter embarrassment shatters through her features, traveling first through her eyes before her mouth follows in a deep downturn. Not the time or place for him to allude to their sexual activities, he can agree.

“I was wrong. Veronica’s hobbies know no bounds,” Jackie grimaces. Wallace stares off just past them before shivering, shaking his head, avoiding eye contact, muttering about needing to be anywhere else, and pulling a slightly disgusted Jackie along. 

She turns on him, staring up with eyes of furry, “Seriously. Loose lips, Logan. Loose lips.”

“Sorry.” He does mean it, too. 

“Wallace is gonna be scared to look at me for the next few years at least. What happens in our bedroom stays within the confines of your memory.”

He smirks, “I might need you to jog it now.”

“Your memory may be the only thing you can rely on if you continue down this path.”

“Luckily, you’ve supplied me with a plethora of material to last me a while.” He teases. 

“Can’t say the same.” She jabs back playfully. She pivots on her heel to join the others outside. 

“So what you’re saying is I have to step up my game? Go for that five outta five?” The middle finger he receives in return makes him chuckle. 

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“You ready to leave?” Logan calls as the bathroom door opens with a flourish. He almost misses her pointed look, too busy tying his other sneaker. Luckily something urges him to glance over and fuck; he’s sure glad he listened.

She stands just inside the bathroom, wringing her hands in front of her, “It’s too much, isn’t it? I told Lilly it was too much.”

He’s worried he doesn’t have the right words to describe exactly how he wants to react. The black dress hugs her small curves in the best way, with long sleeves tight to her skin, flaring out only once they reach her wrists. The fabric’s subtle silver sparkle shows itself off when she moves, shimmering softly even in the dim light of their room. And don’t get him started on how the dress barely reaches her mid-thigh. He’s gonna be thinking about her legs all night long. How can he not? 

And fuck him, she turns— it’s practically backless.

“You look—“

“Like Lilly?” She squats gracefully, mindful of the short nature of what she’s wearing, to pick up silver heels, which do look to be Lilly’s.

“No. You look indescribable.”

“Not sure if that’s a good thing or bad.” She attempts a weak laugh.

“Veronica,” He says sternly. She stops her fidgeting and looks him in the eye. “You look breathtaking. Nothing like Lilly. All you.”

She bites her bottom lip, trying to hold back a grateful smile. Logan wants to pull it back out and kiss it.

So he does, making it over to her in three leisurely strides— thumb on her chin— pulling her lip from her teeth and leaning down to plant a sound kiss on her gloss-covered lips… strawberry. He likes. An errant strand of curled blonde hair makes its way out of her simple black headband, and he happily tucks it back behind her ear.

“What would you say if we stayed here instead of going out?”

“You had me all to yourself early this morning. Multiple times.”

“I can’t want more?” He inquires.

Veronica blushes, vulnerable, “Let’s go celebrate the New Year with people we like, and then you can have me all to yourself first in the new year. Agreed?”

“I think I can handle that.” He admits, pulling her back for another two… three pecks. Fuck if he’d rather throw her on the bed now and forgo the whole festivities. 

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The bar they find themselves in happens to be one that doesn’t quite care if you look like high schoolers yet claim to be twenty-two. Either that or someone paid off the bouncer because Logan finds himself for the third night in a row surrounded primarily by strangers, a girl on his arm and a beer in his hand. At least the girl on his arm is his own, and the booze isn’t half bad. Better branded than that Duncan tried to feed them in August. The strangers he can handle, too, even though part of him still wishes he were alone with Veronica back at the cabin. 

“There he is.” Veronica nods over where Casey is currently taking a shot with Caz, Dick, and Beaver.

“Let’s get this over with.” He states, grabbing his girlfriend’s hand and pulling her in Casey’s direction. The guys notice him as he steps closer, Dick shoving an extra poured shot out to him. He takes it and knocks it back quickly to the cheers of the guys before him. Veronica’s hand grazes his lower back, waiting as the liquor burns a little but coats the back of his throat well, some little place in his mind rewarding him for it.

“We need Casey for a few.” He states matter-of-factly. Casey’s smile falters briefly before sharing a confused glance with the guys. Dick rolls his eyes and claps a hand on his back, whispering what he believes was, 'You’re whipped.'

Maybe he is.

The guys move away as Veronica crosses her arms, shifting on a heel, brushing against his arm, and staying, “I heard from some little birdies that you owe a certain someone named Shelly Pomroy money.” 

A few strangers around them awkwardly look over before moving away. Logan shoots them raised brows as they leave.

“Veronica,” Casey whispers, “Please just. I don’t want anyone to know.”

“Did you steal the cash from Jackie? Gia and Sean? Kimmy?”

Casey’s face twists, “What? No. I would never do that.” Casey sighs, scratching his head before standing tall, “I would never steal from my friends. And I sure as hell wouldn’t be stupid enough to steal from my friends just to pay back another. I asked to borrow that money from Shelly, and I promised her I’d pay her back. She’s just not too happy I haven’t been able to do so in full yet because she doesn’t want her parents to know.”

“Why would her parents care?” Veronica prods.

“They may be rich, but they’re tight about where the money goes. Shelly still has to ask permission to spend it much of the time, and I asked for a lot.” Casey explains, “She was nice enough to lend it to me without much question other than assurance I would pay her back.”

“Why were you two arguing the other night?”

“What?”

“Before Dinner. Sean saw you two arguing when you got out of your golf cart. And then Jackie saw you two arguing at the bar—“

“Veronica. What are you on about?” Casey interrupts. “I mean, maybe yes, she confronted me at the bar, but she didn’t say anything to me before dinner. Sean wasn't even with us going to dinner that night.”

“Sean wasn’t— he said he overheard you two when you guys got off the golf cart.”

“We didn’t. Ask Shelly, and she’ll say the same. Sean was with Troy, Wallace, and Luke.”

“Gia was Luke.”

“I think so, yeah.”

Veronica stares off for a moment before her face turns perturbed. Casey glances at him quickly, uncomfortable, “Can I... ?“ He points behind him. Veronica just nods. Logan keeps his eyes on her as she works out whatever she needs to. He’s just about to ask Veronica how she’s holding up when she excuses herself, asking him to wait where he is, and exits outside sans coat. He tries to convince himself that there is no need to go after her, to bring her her coat, make sure she’s okay. But after five minutes, when he decides she’s been going far too long, he spots his blonde girlfriend trekking in her heels back through the growing New Year’s Eve crowd straight to him. Her eyes are laser-focused.

"What's wrong—“

“I can’t believe that little weasel. I felt bad for him.” Veronica teethes out at him.

“Who?”

“Sean.”

“Sean.” He repeats.

“I called my dad. I asked him to do a little background check back in Neptune yesterday. Basically, on just about everyone. Maybe not the best thing to do to your peers, but I was starting to doubt my abilities and needed something to go off of.”

“And?”

“Sean’s been a busy little bee.” She almost seethes.

“Now you just need to nail him.” Logan attempts to rub the tension out of her shoulders.

Weevil materializes out of thin air, “You good, Mars?” His face shows a hint of concern.

Veronica breathes once audibly, heavily, staring at Logan. He gives her a small, encouraging smile before she squares her shoulders and calls over to where Jackie, Wallace, and Lilly stand watching. “Jackie. I’ve found your culprit.

Jackie’s face twists in scary satisfaction before shoving her drink at Wallace and following, pulling a confused Kimmy on her way over. 

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Logan follows Veronica, Jackie, Weevil, and Kimmy to the other side of the bar, where their culprit happens to be conversing with Gia and Luke. The couple laughs at something with Sean before they notice Veronica’s determination. She exudes a woman on a warpath. 

“Hello, you little poacher?” Veronica states. Sean glances between her and an irritated Jackie before laughing awkwardly. He doesn’t feel that sorry for the kid, though. 

“Veronica.”

“You have been a busy little bee this weekend.” Veronica narrows her eyes, “Tell me one thing: what were you planning on doing with it all?”

Sean laughs again, but much more strained, “I— what are you on about— I don’t know—“

“Says the guy who’s nearly quaking in fear.” Veronica, as always, spotting the little details. Focusing on Sean’s hand shows a subtle shake, his fist clenching to try to stop the physical reaction to being caught out, it seems. 

“Someone stole fifty dollars from me.”

“Oh, you and your measly fifty dollars. No one ever stole from you. That was just your way of trying to remove yourself from implication. You got stolen from; how could you have stolen?” Veronica finishes directly, “And next time, try going higher if you’re going to lie. Everyone else had at least a few hundred stolen, again, by you.”

“Nothing to say?” Gia adds, arms crossed.

“You can’t prove it.” Sean doesn’t sound too confident. 

And Veronica doesn’t let up on him— he’s kinda getting turned on— “You had access to Jackie’s duffle the morning we arrived. You made it seem the other night like you were distracted along with Dick and Troy when the hot, wanton women stopped to flirt, but Tad told me you were nowhere near. Too scared of the opposite sex. That would’ve given you just enough time to slip a sneaky hand inside her duffle bag, root around, find her money clip, and help yourself to a few hundred. How was she going to know it was you? There were three or four other possibilities if it came down to it. Smooth sailing, right?”

Jackie sighs hotly, hands on hips as Veronica recalls the events as they most likely occurred.

His spitfire continues, “Wasn’t enough. The rush of seemingly getting away with it in the moment was a little too much. Who knows, if you would’ve stopped at that, then maybe you wouldn’t be here now.”

Luke looks at the blonde sleuth, “What about Gia’s missing money?”

“That my good friend was done on the way to dinner that same night.”

“What? I wasn’t—“

“Sean, be real. You tried to lump yourself on the— Dick, what did you call it?”

Dick smiles happily, “The Bentley Buggy.”

“Yes, the... Bently Buggy. You were more than happy to allude that you hitched a ride on that one, but Casey confirmed you weren’t with them on the drive to dinner. Specifically, you squeezed in next to our very peppy Gia Goodman.” 

Gia looks over at Veronica seriously, “He was.” She looks back at Sean, “You were.”

“Perfect time, especially if Gia is distracted about how wild the boys were on the ride there to slip your hand right into her bag. Give you another rush, did it?”

Sean steps forward, whispering, “Veronica, can’t we talk about this somewhere more private?”

“Why? Too worried all your friends will find out? It's a little late when you've already stolen from the people you considered your friends in the first place. What about Kimmy? You found the opportune time when the handful of us were getting fitted for our ski boots. Slipped your hands right into her purse and stole the money she was going to use to pay for her gear that day.”

Kimmy shakes a disappointed head. It seems the little crowd that formed to watch Veronica eviscerate the thief among them all look at Sean with varying degrees of pity and anger. Even a few strangers milling about seem enthralled by what they’ve stumbled upon. 

“Wanna know what else?” Veronica teases.

Sean doesn’t answer, so Jackie does for him, “I do.”

“All it took was a quick call into records at the Neptune Sheriff’s office to find out you’d been picked up thrice for shoplifting. You’re not very good at it. Let me offer you a piece of advice,” She pauses— he thinks for dramatic effect. ”I would find a new hobby.”

“You’re an asshole, Sean.” Gia— the most sunshine-esque girl of their group— adds with narrowed eyes. Sean’s face reddens more, if possible, not making eye contact with anyone. 

“Hey,” Weevil’s voice raises, focusing straight in on Sean, “What are you gonna do about it?”

Sean frantically looks around at his victims, “I- I have the money. It’s back at the cabin. I- I can go get it—“

“No,” Weevil states. “You think anyone’s gonna trust you on your own? You sit your ass on a stool and wait until the rest of us are ready to leave.”

“Fine. Fine.” Sean agrees, holding his hands up. He looks back at Kimmy, at Gia, and at Jackie, “I’m sorry. I was an idiot, and I let myself get carried away.”

“Carried away?” Jackie’s voice drips with disbelief, “You shouldn’t have gotten to a point where you could get carried away. Who does that? Especially to the people you are on vacation with? Stuck with all weekend?”

“I have the money, I promise. I’ll get it back to you. Tonight.” Sean finishes dejected and turns.

Weevil halts him with a hand on the shoulder, “I’ve got my eye on you.”

Sean nods, scrambling over to the bar as told. Weevil throws Veronica a quick nod, to which Veronica returns in kind. 

Luke fills in the awkward silence, “Well, case closed, right?”

Gia and Jackie both turn to Veronica nearly at the same time, Gia beating Jackie out. “Thank’s Veronica. You are so awesome.”

“Don’t thank me until you physically get the cash back in your hand. Go try to have fun.”

Kimmy sighs, “Twenty minutes until midnight. At least we can ring in the new year with some resolution.” Gia, Luke, and Kimmy leave, and he feels Veronica’s hand twine through his, squeezing, to which he returns happily. 

“Seriously, Veronica, thank you.” Jackie sighs. “I was totally on you all weekend and pressuring you. You didn’t really have to entertain me, but you did, and now we know who the snake is.”

“Trust me,” Veronica responds, “Sean's gonna feel the heat for a while after this.”

“Oh, from me, for sure,” Jackie promises. His girlfriend shares a smile with the other, “I’d hug you, but not sure if—“

Veronica shakes her head, “Please. Why can’t two friends hug?” Veronica pulls the taller girl in, who reciprocates with a laugh. 

A few seconds later, Jackie pulls away, backing up slowly, “I’ll let Wallace know you cracked the case. I gotta find him anyway for my New Year’s kiss.”

“Jackie?” 

Jackie stares at Veronica with rapt curiosity, “Yeah?”

Veronica smirks. “You obviously know he likes you.”

Jackie blushes, “I know. I’ve known.”

“So put him out of his misery already and ask him to be your boyfriend. You know he’ll never say no.”

Jackie smiles, “I know.” She shoots Veronica a wink and sends him a little wave. He tips up his beer in return.

“You stole my line.” He drawls with a raised brow. He's the resident let me give you a piece of advice guy. He takes on that burden with pride. 

Veronica shrugs, “When warranted, it’s a good line.” She glances up at him, a shit-eating grin taking over her face, “Nailed him good, didn’t I?”

“God, I love you,” he laughs, pauses, then realizes what he said. Oh shit. He glances down slowly, meeting her blue eyes. She almost looks lost for a moment, thinking. Processing. Slowly, her eyes fly from his to his lips to his chest and back up, the corners of her mouth tugging up gradually before she settles back in on his gaze. “That okay?”

She grins, “More than. I love you too, Logan.”

His face hurts with how hard his lips stretch. And his heart feels as though it just may beat right out of his chest. 

Five minutes to midnight, they find their group of friends huddled together, close to Sean, who sits dejected on a bar stool in direct line of sight of a watchful Weevil. Two minutes to midnight, they all take a shot, provided by an encouraging Cole and Caz, both of whom speak grand things planned for 2005. Thirty seconds to midnight, everyone around them starts to buzz about with joy and excitement, hyping themselves up— feeding off the energy of the crowded bar. Veronica squeezes his hand when the screens around them showcase the Times Square ball drop at ten, nine, eight… 

The crowd of rowdy, intoxicated, and lustful strangers and friends alike shout Happy New Year at the top of their lungs as all the clocks around them flip to the first am of 2005. Poppers spray glittered silver and gold through the air, dusting every surface and human around. His neck gets sprayed with distant bubbles shaken up by some rowdy partygoer, probably Dick. 

He glances down as Veronica lifts up on her toes, grasping the back of his neck. His hands fall to her hips, helping lift her closer; their lips meeting sweetly, the taste of sweet and sour liquor on her lips tinging his before he turns it more feral. Lips sloppy, a tongue darting around wildly. Her hand achingly presses his head closer to hers before she releases with fractured breaths. 

“Happy New Year,” she whispers, grinning wide. He responds with his own wide smile, brushing some hair behind her ear, silver and gold flecks shaking loose. Here’s to a full year of hopefully only the best memories to be made with a girl who’s stolen a piece of his heart. 

Notes:

How'd you like it? More? I have like four other vignettes I've written a little bit for, and my VMars muse is strong at the moment. I can't promise those won't take a few days, but I might be encouraged to finish them quicker if people enjoy this one.