First and Last - Chapter 5
Chapter five of the fic written for love_is_epic's birthday, after THIS little comment.
Thanks to my partner-in-crime and fabulous betaceltic_flicka, as well as to birthday girl love_is_epic (sorry this is late) and wily_one24 for jump-starting my muse.
First and Last
2011
Casey watched the couple take a turn around the dance floor. They looked so happy, in love even, staring adoringly into each others eyes. He could remember a time when they had hated each other. It had been surprising when they had started dating at the end of his senior year. The fact that they were now married still had Casey shaking his head in disbelief.
He couldn’t help wondering why Logan and Veronica had invited him to their wedding. Echolls and he had never really been what you’d call close friends, and he hadn’t talked to Veronica since that one brief, awkward conversation about the night of Shelly’s party. It didn’t make sense.
There was also the question of why he’d felt the need to come. He could have just sent his regards and an expensive, yet impersonal gift. Casey imagined that’s what they had expected him to do, but something had made him check the “accept” box and schedule a flight to Neptune.
He pondered these questions as guests began to make their way on to the dance floor, joining the newlyweds. Casey watched as someone tapped on Logan’s shoulder, asking to cut in. He let his wife go reluctantly, kissing her thoroughly before stepping aside. Veronica batted at him playfully, pretending to chastise him no doubt, but it was obvious to Casey that she was pleased with her husband’s attentions. She was absolutely glowing. He had never seen her look more beautiful. Overcome by the need to talk to her again, Casey found himself up on his feet, heading across the dance floor.
Veronica had her back to him, so she didn’t notice Casey until he’d reached across to tap on her partner’s shoulder. She smiled widely when she saw it was him, surprising him a bit. He hadn’t expected such a warm welcome.
“Casey!” Veronica wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. “You made it!”
“Congratulations, Veronica.” Casey returned her embrace a bit self-consciously. He didn’t think he’d been so thoroughly hugged since he’d left the Moon Calf Collective. “You look happy.”
“I am.” Veronica didn’t seem to notice how lame Casey’s compliment was. She just grinned even wider, her eyes flicking to Logan in the crowd before turning her attention back to him. “I didn’t think this day would ever happen.”
Casey focused on his footwork as they began to move to the music; their height difference made things a bit awkward, and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been on a dance floor. He was acutely aware of Veronica’s arms wrapped casually around his neck, and the feel of silk under his palms.
“What about you, Casey?” Veronica surprised him with her question. “Are you happy?”
“I…I don’t know.” It wasn’t a question he asked himself often. He thought for a moment, taking stock of his life.
Veronica frowned at him, her eyes full of concern. “That’s not a good sign. If you don’t know then you probably aren’t.”
He thought she might have said more, but her father chose that moment to cut in. Casey surrendered her gracefully and made his way to the bar. He felt the sudden need for a drink.
“’Sup, Casey?” He turned to find Logan leaning casually against the bar, a glass in his hand.
“Not much,” Casey answered. He noted that, although Logan was addressing him, his eyes were focused on his bride as she floated across the dance floor. “You got yourself a good one.” Casey hoped he didn’t sound as wistful as he felt.
“Yeah,” Logan smiled at Casey’s words, “I did.”
He studied Logan thoughtfully, wondering at the devotion displayed so openly across the man’s face. Casey had never felt that way about anyone, and that realization depressed him a bit. “Logan,” he asked finally, “why did you guys invite me here tonight?”
Logan’s eyes finally met Casey’s. “That was Veronica’s idea,” he admitted. “She insisted. Apparently she has fond memories that involve you in some way…” Logan trailed off, his eyebrows raised in question.
“Yeah. “ Casey nodded thoughtfully. “She was really there for me when my grandmother died.” He sincerely hoped that was what Veronica had been referring to. He really didn’t want to get into a fight over a kiss that had happened more than ten years ago.
“She’s worried about you.” All of Logan’s attention was now firmly fixed on Casey. “She’s been keeping tabs on you.” He chuckled at Casey’s affronted look. “Don’t look so surprised; it’s what she does. Besides, it’s not like you need a P.I. license to dig up dirt on Casey Gant. You don’t have to look any farther than the supermarket check-out line; the tabloids are full of you. You’re one of the country’s most eligible bachelors, and probably the best looking one.” He smirked, adding, “Now that I’m off the market, that is.”
Casey rolled his eyes at Logan’s comments. “I don’t know what she could have heard that would give her cause to worry,” he snapped irritably.
“I don’t think there’s any one specific thing,” Logan shrugged, unfazed by Casey’s tone. “It’s more the string of short-lived, high-profile, drama-filled relationships. She thinks you’re too decent of a guy for that.” Logan snorted, as if amused by his wife’s opinion.
“You know, what you guys have? It’s not easy to find,” Casey complained. “Not everyone can find their perfect partner in high school, get married right out of college, and live happily ever after.”
“You really don’t know much about Veronica and me, do you?” Logan chuckled softly.
“Sorry,” Casey responded drily, “but I haven’t been keeping tabs on you.”
“Let me tell you,” Logan’s voice turned earnest, “there was nothing easy about our relationship.” He sighed, shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts. “You know what I think your problem is, Gant?”
“You’re gonna tell me, aren’t you?”
Logan smirked. “You give up too easily; move on too quickly. If you want what Veronica and I have, you’ve got to be willing to put in some time and effort. It’s been my experience that the best things in life aren’t easy…but they’re usually worth the effort.”
Logan’s attention was drawn to something behind Casey, a smile lighting up his face. Casey wasn’t at all surprised to find Veronica standing there when he turned around.
“If it isn’t my two favorite 09er jackasses,” she quipped, stepping into her husband’s outstretched arms.
“Shhhh…don’t let Dick hear you.” Logan tucked her snugly under his shoulder, brushing a kiss against her temple. “You’ll hurt his feelings.”
Casey watched the exchange with a feeling of longing. It wasn’t jealousy exactly, not of Logan anyway. He liked Veronica, but not the way Logan did. That, he supposed, is what he was missing. The kind of love these two shared. He’d do anything to have that kind of love in his life.
Armed with this new realization, Casey said his goodbyes, smiling at the glare he received from Logan when he took the opportunity to kiss the bride. He was a bit disappointed this time around, though. No strawberries.
All Chapters Here
*****
Thanks to my partner-in-crime and fabulous betaceltic_flicka, as well as to birthday girl love_is_epic (sorry this is late) and wily_one24 for jump-starting my muse.
First and Last
2011
Casey watched the couple take a turn around the dance floor. They looked so happy, in love even, staring adoringly into each others eyes. He could remember a time when they had hated each other. It had been surprising when they had started dating at the end of his senior year. The fact that they were now married still had Casey shaking his head in disbelief.
He couldn’t help wondering why Logan and Veronica had invited him to their wedding. Echolls and he had never really been what you’d call close friends, and he hadn’t talked to Veronica since that one brief, awkward conversation about the night of Shelly’s party. It didn’t make sense.
There was also the question of why he’d felt the need to come. He could have just sent his regards and an expensive, yet impersonal gift. Casey imagined that’s what they had expected him to do, but something had made him check the “accept” box and schedule a flight to Neptune.
He pondered these questions as guests began to make their way on to the dance floor, joining the newlyweds. Casey watched as someone tapped on Logan’s shoulder, asking to cut in. He let his wife go reluctantly, kissing her thoroughly before stepping aside. Veronica batted at him playfully, pretending to chastise him no doubt, but it was obvious to Casey that she was pleased with her husband’s attentions. She was absolutely glowing. He had never seen her look more beautiful. Overcome by the need to talk to her again, Casey found himself up on his feet, heading across the dance floor.
Veronica had her back to him, so she didn’t notice Casey until he’d reached across to tap on her partner’s shoulder. She smiled widely when she saw it was him, surprising him a bit. He hadn’t expected such a warm welcome.
“Casey!” Veronica wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. “You made it!”
“Congratulations, Veronica.” Casey returned her embrace a bit self-consciously. He didn’t think he’d been so thoroughly hugged since he’d left the Moon Calf Collective. “You look happy.”
“I am.” Veronica didn’t seem to notice how lame Casey’s compliment was. She just grinned even wider, her eyes flicking to Logan in the crowd before turning her attention back to him. “I didn’t think this day would ever happen.”
Casey focused on his footwork as they began to move to the music; their height difference made things a bit awkward, and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been on a dance floor. He was acutely aware of Veronica’s arms wrapped casually around his neck, and the feel of silk under his palms.
“What about you, Casey?” Veronica surprised him with her question. “Are you happy?”
“I…I don’t know.” It wasn’t a question he asked himself often. He thought for a moment, taking stock of his life.
Veronica frowned at him, her eyes full of concern. “That’s not a good sign. If you don’t know then you probably aren’t.”
He thought she might have said more, but her father chose that moment to cut in. Casey surrendered her gracefully and made his way to the bar. He felt the sudden need for a drink.
“’Sup, Casey?” He turned to find Logan leaning casually against the bar, a glass in his hand.
“Not much,” Casey answered. He noted that, although Logan was addressing him, his eyes were focused on his bride as she floated across the dance floor. “You got yourself a good one.” Casey hoped he didn’t sound as wistful as he felt.
“Yeah,” Logan smiled at Casey’s words, “I did.”
He studied Logan thoughtfully, wondering at the devotion displayed so openly across the man’s face. Casey had never felt that way about anyone, and that realization depressed him a bit. “Logan,” he asked finally, “why did you guys invite me here tonight?”
Logan’s eyes finally met Casey’s. “That was Veronica’s idea,” he admitted. “She insisted. Apparently she has fond memories that involve you in some way…” Logan trailed off, his eyebrows raised in question.
“Yeah. “ Casey nodded thoughtfully. “She was really there for me when my grandmother died.” He sincerely hoped that was what Veronica had been referring to. He really didn’t want to get into a fight over a kiss that had happened more than ten years ago.
“She’s worried about you.” All of Logan’s attention was now firmly fixed on Casey. “She’s been keeping tabs on you.” He chuckled at Casey’s affronted look. “Don’t look so surprised; it’s what she does. Besides, it’s not like you need a P.I. license to dig up dirt on Casey Gant. You don’t have to look any farther than the supermarket check-out line; the tabloids are full of you. You’re one of the country’s most eligible bachelors, and probably the best looking one.” He smirked, adding, “Now that I’m off the market, that is.”
Casey rolled his eyes at Logan’s comments. “I don’t know what she could have heard that would give her cause to worry,” he snapped irritably.
“I don’t think there’s any one specific thing,” Logan shrugged, unfazed by Casey’s tone. “It’s more the string of short-lived, high-profile, drama-filled relationships. She thinks you’re too decent of a guy for that.” Logan snorted, as if amused by his wife’s opinion.
“You know, what you guys have? It’s not easy to find,” Casey complained. “Not everyone can find their perfect partner in high school, get married right out of college, and live happily ever after.”
“You really don’t know much about Veronica and me, do you?” Logan chuckled softly.
“Sorry,” Casey responded drily, “but I haven’t been keeping tabs on you.”
“Let me tell you,” Logan’s voice turned earnest, “there was nothing easy about our relationship.” He sighed, shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts. “You know what I think your problem is, Gant?”
“You’re gonna tell me, aren’t you?”
Logan smirked. “You give up too easily; move on too quickly. If you want what Veronica and I have, you’ve got to be willing to put in some time and effort. It’s been my experience that the best things in life aren’t easy…but they’re usually worth the effort.”
Logan’s attention was drawn to something behind Casey, a smile lighting up his face. Casey wasn’t at all surprised to find Veronica standing there when he turned around.
“If it isn’t my two favorite 09er jackasses,” she quipped, stepping into her husband’s outstretched arms.
“Shhhh…don’t let Dick hear you.” Logan tucked her snugly under his shoulder, brushing a kiss against her temple. “You’ll hurt his feelings.”
Casey watched the exchange with a feeling of longing. It wasn’t jealousy exactly, not of Logan anyway. He liked Veronica, but not the way Logan did. That, he supposed, is what he was missing. The kind of love these two shared. He’d do anything to have that kind of love in his life.
Armed with this new realization, Casey said his goodbyes, smiling at the glare he received from Logan when he took the opportunity to kiss the bride. He was a bit disappointed this time around, though. No strawberries.
All Chapters Here
*****