Season 3 Redux - 3.06 (Part Two)
Continued from Part One
Veronica hurried across the nearly deserted campus. There was something eerie and oppressive about Hearst at night, the way the security lights lit the ground with an orange glow or the dark doorways yawned open at her. Or maybe tonight the low and distant rumble of thunder was putting her on edge, either way-
“Hey, Veronica.”
Veronica spun sharply, pressing her hand to her chest and stifling the noise in her throat.
“Piz! What the f... What are you doing here?”
Piz looked slightly startled at Veronica’s near hysteria and waited a beat before responding.
“Oh. I... I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to... I was just finishing up at the radio station and...” He gestured behind him, trailing off as he did so. Veronica took a deep breath.
“It’s fine, Piz. I didn’t mean to snap. Just a bit jumpy tonight, I guess.”
Piz’s expression brightened. “Well, allow me to escort you then, m’lady. Keep you safe from Hearst dragons.” He winked at her, chuckling at his own joke.
Veronica blinked. “Oh no, really, it’s fine. I’m heading in this direction and you’re-”
“Going that way too. Great!” Piz began walking in the direction Veronica had pointed, looking back at her expectantly.
“Er...” Veronica looked about her for something, anything. Fleetingly, she wondered whether tasering Piz might border on the overdramatic.
Something flashed across Piz’s face as he watched her hesitate. He stepped back towards her, lowering his voice. “Actually, I’m glad I bumped into you. There’s... there’s something I need to discuss.” He glanced sideways. “Something private.”
Veronica looked at Piz as he gazed earnestly at her. “Private? Like ‘I have this rash,’ private? Or something else?”
Piz stepped closer still, crowding her. “It has to do with Wallace. I really didn’t want to say anything, but, you’re his friend and...” Again, he looked sideways.
“What?” Veronica asked urgently, giving Piz her full attention.
He placed his hand on her shoulder, staring down at her. “Not here. I don’t want to talk about it here. It’s important but... Tomorrow. Are you free tomorrow night?”
Veronica narrowed her eyes slightly. “Tomorrow? I can’t tomorrow, I have plans. Piz, if it’s important I want to know now.”
Piz stared at her with something close to pity. “I think this is more important than any plans you may have tomorrow.”
“In that case, tell me now!” Veronica stepped out of Piz’s grasp, folding her arms across her chest defiantly.
Piz blinked. “I... I can’t tell you now, Veronica, I have to... There’s more I need to... Please? Meet me tomorrow night. I’ll explain it all to you then. Whatever plans you have, you can change them. For Wallace.” He looked at her meaningfully.
Veronica looked away from Piz, tapping her foot. “Fine,” she said finally. “Tomorrow night.”
“Great!” Piz pumped his fist slightly. “Thursday nights are dollar night Fun Bowl.” He backed away, pointing a finger at her.
“What?!”
“Kidding. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Veronica fingered the taser in her purse, muttering a curse for not using it earlier.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Veronica Mars was used to people being angry at her, disappointed in her, disgusted with her, and sometimes all three at once, but it didn’t matter-it never bothered her. The only thing that really bothered her was when she wasn’t right. And what made it harder to swallow was when Logan Echolls was.
“Damn it, Logan, pick up this time.”
“This is Logan Echolls with your-”
Veronica clicked her cell off, tossing it onto her bed in frustration. She leaned back against the bedroom door heavily and began to chew on her thumbnail, her brow creasing. Her eyes flicked over to the bed when she heard her cell ringing. She sighed, knowing full well it wasn’t Logan. She pushed herself off the door and bent over her bed, snatching it up.
“Piz, I got it. You don’t have to keep calling to remind me that-”
“Veronica?” a girl’s voice asked, stopping Veronica abruptly.
“Yeah, this is Veronica. Who’s this?”
“It’s... it’s Marjorie. From college. Sorry to call, I-”
“That’s ok. Hey, what’s up?”
“Oh, well, I... I got your number from David, he said that he’d... That you two had-”
“Yeah, I helped him out with something. Are you guys back together?”
Marjorie paused. “I...I guess. I’m not too... It’s not... Listen, Veronica, I need your help... There’s something that...” Marjorie broke off as her voice cracked. There was a rustle on the other end and what sounded like a nose being blown.
“Marjorie?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, I... sorry... I just... Can we meet up? Tonight?”
Veronica frowned. “I can’t. I’m sorry, not tonight.”
Another rustle. “I wouldn’t ask, Veronica, if it wasn’t important.” Marjorie’s voice was muffled.
“Sure, I get that, but I really can’t-”
“You owe me Veronica! You owe me. You said that you would help-” Marjorie’s voice broke again.
“I tried to help you, Marjorie, but you didn’t want it.”
“Oh! So, your help has a limited warranty, does it?” Marjorie was barely holding it together.
“No, but I asked if you needed help and you said you didn’t. Look Marjorie, whatever this is, I’m sure it can wait till-”
“It can’t wait! Forget it, Veronica! I don’t even know why I bothered. Why I even thought-” Marjorie made a noise, like gritted frustration before the line went dead.
Veronica closed her eyes, breathing deeply. First rule of humanity: never get angry at someone who’s asking for help. Not if you want to live with your decision later.
Her cell rang again and Veronica answered hurriedly.
“Marjorie?”
“No, hey, Veronica, it’s Piz. Just checking we’re still on for tonight?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Veronica checked the address Piz had given her for the third time. “There’s gotta be a mistake...” she murmured, looking up at the building. “I am going to kill him.”
She stepped out of the car, slamming the door with more force than she intended. Save the beating for Piz, Veronica. Don’t take it out on your property.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward through the sliding door under the flashing neon sign: Fun Bowl.
“Veronica, hey!” Piz cried, hurrying over as soon as she walked into the building. “Glad you could make it.” He pulled nervously at the bowling shirt he was wearing. “I..uh...I got us a lane.”
Veronica blinked at Piz, clenching and unclenching her fist. “A lane? Tell me, have you ever gotten a strike with your head before or will this be the first time?”
“Wha-?”
“I had plans, Piz! I didn’t...” Veronica broke off, twisting her mouth and breathing heavily. “I did not break my plans to bowl with you. Now unless you tell me what I came here for in the next three seconds, I will drill three little holes in the back of your head and get my bowl on.”
Piz’s hand drifted up to his head. “Veronica, I-”
“Two.”
Piz’s face sagged. “Ok, look, I... I-”
“One.” Veronica turned and stepped back towards the door.
“Wallace is taking drugs,” Piz all but yelled, stopping Veronica in her tracks. She turned back to him, raising an eyebrow.
“What?” She said slowly, stepping forward. “If you are lying to me, I will-”
“Yeah, head meet bowling ball, I got it. I’m not lying, Veronica. I thought... I thought that this would be a good place to tell you, you know, crowded, noisy...” Piz looked around him nervously.
Veronica stared at him. “Did you think I was going to kill you, Piz? Did you want witnesses?”
“No! I thought, maybe, I thought that this way, no one would overhear.”
“Oh, well, good thinking there, Sparky. It’s a shame you had to go yell it out. I think there’s a guy in the john who didn’t hear. What say you and I go fill him in?”
Piz sighed heavily. “Ok, I’m sorry, please? Can we just go bowl? I promise to tell you everything. Please?”
Veronica glared at Piz for a beat, before glancing down at her watch. “Fine, but I am out of here in thirty minutes.” She pulled her cell out of her purse and flipped it open. She was midway through dialing Logan’s number when she realised Piz hadn’t moved. She stared at him, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh! Right, right... I’ll... I’ll see you at the lane.” He said, backing away, failing miserably at concealing his grin.
“This is Logan Echolls with your inspirational message of the day...”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Veronica stared at her reflection in the restroom mirror. It was the only place Piz was unable to follow her on what was officially the longest, most painful thirty minutes of her life. She bent over the sink to wash her hands and when she stood, caught the reflection of someone behind her.
“I thought that was you, Veronica.”
Veronica held the gaze of the smiling reflection for a moment, before turning around.
“Hello, Taylor.”
Taylor’s smile faltered slightly and Veronica saw her swallow. “So, I... You’re here with that Piz guy from Hearst, I see. Hot date?” She stepped forward and began to use the sink next to Veronica.
Veronica stepped around her and yanked at the paper towel dispenser. “No,” she began, drying her hands. “I have a boyfriend, Taylor.” She threw the paper in the trash and turned towards the door.
“Is there a problem, Veronica?” Taylor asked behind her.
Veronica paused, glancing down at her feet before turning around. “You’ve heard of him, I think.”
“Heard of who?”
“My boyfriend? You like to think that you two are real close, don’t you?”
“Veronica, I-”
“Don’t play dumb, Taylor. I have had enough of dumb today.” Veronica’s voice was beginning to rise.
Taylor turned to pull a paper towel out for herself. “Veronica,” she began calmly, “I don’t know what you think is happening between me and your boyfr-”
“Logan! My boyfriend is Logan Echolls.”
Taylor blinked. “I know, Veronica.”
Veronica licked her lips. “So you just think I’m here on a date when I already have a boyfriend? Or are you hoping to find out that we broke up?”
“Veronica, stop! Do you not have people around you who make jokes or small talk? I don’t know where this is coming from. Logan and I-”
“There is no you and Logan, Taylor! He’s my boyfriend. Not yours, mine.” Veronica was shaking, her vision was beginning to blur red around the edges.
Taylor stared at her for a long moment, before stepping closer, lowering her voice. “Clearly Logan is a very lucky man. Not that it matters, but I have a boyfriend, Veronica. One I have no problems holding on to.” She stepped passed Veronica and opened the door to the bathroom. “Perhaps you should concentrate on you and Logan for a change, before there is no you and Logan.”
The door banged shut behind her, the sound echoing around the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Veronica didn’t bother concealing her groan when she saw Piz pacing outside of the ladies restroom waiting for her.
“I’m outta here.” She said without preamble.
“So, you agree? A-about Wallace?” Piz jogged alongside Veronica to keep up with her as she strode towards the exit.
Veronica stopped suddenly, pushing Piz back with one hand when he bumped into her. “Fine, Piz. Fine. I have to go. We can...” Veronica sighed. “We can talk about it later.” She rolled her eyes when she saw the grin split Piz’s face and turned around without another word to him.
As the doors slid shut behind her, silencing the sound of pins crashing and yells of triumph, Veronica cupped her face in her hands, her fingers digging into her brow bone. She breathed in the cool night air, her breath catching as she exhaled. She wanted to think about everything and nothing at the same time. Her mind raced, incapable of staying on one topic for long enough to make sense of it. Gradually, Veronica became aware of a voice drifting through the night. A voice she recognised. Her hands slid down her face, dropping at her sides. Her lip curled in disgust. The voice was coming from around the side of the building, out of sight. Veronica’s eyes flicked over the parking lot, searching quickly. Veronica’s eyes narrowed as she found what she was looking for and a smile spread over her face. She jogged noiselessly across the parking lot, searching in her bag for something as she went. She crouched down as she neared the car, pulling her hand out of her bag.
The overhead streetlamp caught on a flash of silver as Veronica’s hand came sharply down, stabbing at the tire with a practised air, grinning in satisfaction at the whoosh of air. She glanced around before standing and moving behind the car toward her own, trailing the blade along the bumper, digging it in as it caught over the sticker of the New Zealand flag.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She’d been here before, in front of this door, arguing internally about the pros and cons of knocking. She pressed her palms flat against the wood, leaning forward slightly, breathing deeply. This time, she hoped, Kendall Casablancas wouldn’t be on the other side. This time, she hoped, Logan wouldn’t have forgotten all the meaningful whispers that had passed between them. This time, she hoped, she wouldn’t end up in an elevator feeling her heart plummet along with the descent.
“Why don’t you use your key?” The voice on the other side of the door should’ve startled her, but she realised she was expecting it.
“I’m not sure I want to come in.”
“Dick’s not here.”
Veronica allowed a puff of laughter to pass her lips. “Well, in that case, I’m definitely leaving.”
Her eyes flicked down as she saw the handle move. “Don’t.”
The handle stopped. Silence filled the hallway again.
Veronica traced the grain of the wood with her finger. “Did you get my messages?”
“Yeah.” Logan’s voice sounded nearer, like he was leaning on the door. She waited for him to elaborate, but he remained silent.
“Okay,” she said, slowly.
She heard Logan sigh. “What do you want me to say, Veronica? I’m sorry that you blew me off and I didn’t feel like talking about it?”
“No, I-”
Logan forged ahead, ignoring her. “I’m sorry that Neptune’s seedy underbelly is more important to you? Is that it?”
“Logan-”
“Or, I’m sorry that you had no idea what tonight was for us? What tonight was for?!” Veronica jerked back as the door shook under the impact of Logan’s fist.
Veronica swallowed, expecting more, but Logan remained silent. “What tonight was for?” she asked quietly, tentatively. “I’m not... I don’t...” Veronica shook her head, confused.
The silence stretched out between them, longer this time. Slowly, Veronica pressed her palm to the door again. “Taylor has a boyfriend.”
“Christ, Veronica, please tell me tonight is not about that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Maybe because I don’t want to spend time with you talking about someone else.”
“Or maybe because you didn’t know.”
“Seriously, Veronica? All this is about that?”
Veronica began tracing the grain again. “You’re not answering the question.”
“You didn’t tell me Piz had a girlfriend.”
“He doesn’t.”
Logan laughed mirthlessly. “Well, maybe that’s more of a problem.”
“I don’t have any interest in Piz.”
“What aren’t you saying, Veronica? Just say it. Stop hiding behind subtext and hotel doors and say it.”
“I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
“The way I-? Veronica, you’re... You’re completely..! I’m not answering that.” Logan’s voice dropped, as if he’d turned away from the door. Veronica fumbled in her purse for the key card, jamming it into the slot with shaking fingers.
“Why not?” she demanded, throwing the door open.
Logan turned, halfway across the room. “Because I shouldn’t have to, Veronica! After everything between us, I shouldn’t have to convince you that I’m not thinking about being with someone else.”
Veronica took a step towards him, dropping her bag on to the ground. “Then just deny it, Logan, if it’s that easy.”
“Deny what? That I had a conversation with a girl? That I was friendly to a girl?”
“Flirted with a girl?”
Logan scoffed. “I have a girlfriend. She has a boyfriend. It’s called a conversation, Veronica. It’s harmless”
Veronica blinked. “Harmless? Harmless?! How about the harm done to your relationship with your girlfriend?”
“I never know where our relationship stands from one day to the next with you, Veronica! I’m sorry I found a girl who was willing to have a regular boy-girl conversation with me, is that what you want me to say?”
“If she’s such a great conversationalist, why don’t you date her?!”
“I’m not doing this, Veronica. After everything, after tonight, you want me to be on the receiving end of your accusations? You’re unbelievable.” He turned away, heading towards his bedroom.
“Stop. Don’t walk away, Logan. We’re not leaving it like this.”
“You can leave it how you want, Veronica, I’m not talking to you when you’re like this.” He spoke without turning.
“Just deny it!” she all but choked out.
She wanted to stop, but the words kept pouring out of her. She glanced around at the now empty room, realising with a start that this was the exact spot she had stood and shouted yesterday. Shouted at an empty room. Shouted a declaration she couldn’t bring herself to repeat now. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t risk exposing her final layer to Logan just to have it thrown back in her face.
She took a shaky breath and followed Logan into his bedroom. He stood, silhouetted, with his back to her, looking out of the window, watching as a storm rolled across Neptune. The room was dark, so she kept her gaze fixed on the floor as she picked her way closer. Logan remained silent.
As she rounded the edge of the bed, something caught her eye, something glinting by the wall. She paused, glancing up at Logan. It was hard to tell, but he appeared to still have his back to her. She bent to pick up the object, sucking in her breath when she saw what it was. She straightened with it cradled in her palm, looking up to see that Logan was watching her. Her lips parted, but the question never had a chance to form.
“Where were you tonight?” he asked quietly.
Veronica paused, hating that she couldn’t see his expression, but knowing full well he could see hers.
“The truth, Veronica.” He added at her silence.
“I was with Piz.” She saw Logan’s head drop slightly, as lightning lit up the sky behind him. “He had to tell me something about Wallace.”
Logan shook his head. “And all this time...” He didn’t finish.
Veronica felt an age-old anger begin to boil in her belly. She tried to swallow it down, tried to dissuade it from rearing its head, but it was too late. “So what, Logan? So I missed a date, big deal! Piz had something important to tell me about my friend Wallace, who, believe it or not, matters to me. So, yeah, I went, but I’m not going to continue to be punished for it. And I’m not going to take your insinuation that something is happening between me and Piz, especially when you have spent the last three weeks trying to keep your eyes out of some Kiwi’s cleavage!”
“What?! You don’t know what-”
“Yes I do, Logan! I’m not going to sit back and pretend nothing is happening between you and-”
“Nothing is happening!”
“Then whose is this?!” Veronica’s yell reverberated around the room, the hand holding the jewelry thrust in Logan’s direction.
Logan was silent for a moment. “Happy anniversary, Veronica,” he finally said in a dull voice, turning back to the window.
Veronica stared at him, her lips parted. She glanced down at the necklace, looking at it properly for the first time. It was beautiful in its simplicity. Her hand closed over the cool metal and she closed her eyes. She willed herself to say something, the right thing, but she kept her mouth shut, knowing she couldn’t.
“Do you know what happened six months ago?” he asked quietly.
She shook her head, then remembering he had his back to her murmured, “No.”
“You called me from New York, as soon as you arrived. You called me just to talk to me, to hear my voice. Those were your exact words, and I knew then, that we were going to be together. I knew it was going to work. I knew that then, Veronica, but now I’m not so sure.”
“Logan, don’t.” Her voice was calm. She moved towards him.
“Don’t what, Veronica? This can’t keep happening.” He turned back to her. She was only a few steps away.
“This necklace is beautiful,” she whispered, stepping closer still.
Logan gazed down at her, silently. “Veronica.” His tone sounded half-warning and half-wanting.
“I don’t want to fight anymore, Logan. Not tonight.”
Logan shook himself slightly. “I don’t want to fight anymore, period, Veronica. I... this can’t keep happening,” he repeated weakly.
Veronica placed the necklace in his hand and turning, silently pulled her hair aside to expose her neck to him. Logan paused before looping the necklace around her and fastening it. His fingers remained on her neck, but didn’t move.
Veronica turned, tilting her head up to him. Logan caught her head in his hands, stilling her movement. He licked his lips. Veronica watched his tongue hungrily.
“Veronica, we-”
“Tomorrow. We’ll talk when the storm is over.” Her hands slid around his waist, sneaking underneath his shirt to press against his warm skin. “Please, Logan, don’t make me beg.”
Logan hesitated, keeping her at arm’s length, until he finally pulled her to him, crushing his lips against hers. Veronica let herself go, trying to ignore the anger just barely concealed beneath the surface of the kiss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now
Veronica closed her eyes, feeling the cool breeze wash over her face. Her stomach balled into a tight knot as last night flashed through her brain. Are you strong enough, Veronica? To let yourself go? To let yourself believe? To let yourself trust? She wondered whether she’d ever know the answers to those questions. Wondered whether she’d ever be that person.
She took a deep breath, feeling the cold air fill her lungs. She only knew one thing: I don’t want to lose Logan.
She heard rather than saw him.
"We need to talk about last night, Logan."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next week on Veronica Mars: Episode 3.07