AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I have been creating teachers and classes to support my story. They have nothing to do with anything I have seen on the show. My inspiration for Logan's emotions in this chapter came from a Gavin DeGraw song called 'just friends'. Thank you for all the great reviews, it really gets me pumped to write more. Please write more, and don't be afraid to criticize if you feel I can improve somewhere.

CHAPTER 14

Logan was late to chemistry. There wasn't anything he could do about it, considering that Vice Principal Clemmons had found him wheezing in the hall and had forced him to go see the nurse. After ten minutes of the nurse saying there wasn't anything she could do and Clemmons trying to get answers, Logan had gotten out of there. He got a note though, so he didn't have to worry about the chemistry teacher getting pissed. And Mr. Garber did tend to get pissed. That fact was proved when Logan walked in. But it wasn't Logan that was in trouble, it was Veronica.

"… and considering the fact that you have asked me for a letter of recommendation for a scholarship, I am surprised that you would be so lax in your punctuality" Mr. Garber was practically yelling at Veronica as she stood in front of the class. His back was turned so he hadn't seen Logan arrive. "And not even an excuse!"

"Mr. Garber?" Logan rasped out, his voice still raw. The teacher turned at the interruption. "She does have an excuse" Logan continued, holding out the tardy slip Clemmons had given him. Veronica gaped at him in shock. "She was helping me." Garber grabbed the sheet from Logan's hands and frowned.

"The name Mars does not appear to be present on this" he said, calming down.

"Mr. Clemmons didn't see her sir." Logan rasped. "I was on my way to the nurses when he saw me."

"Echolls, do not waste my time! Explain it to me at once" Garber said, his voice rising again. Veronica glanced back and forth between the two, not knowing what was going on.

"Didn't Veronica tell you? Someone um… accidentally hit me in the neck and she stayed with me until I could go to the nurse's office on my own. She rushed to class as soon as I was alright." He finished. Garber looked suspicious.

"Accidentally?" he asked. "Why didn't you tell this to me Veronica?" he asked, turning to Veronica and gentling his voice.

"I…I didn't think it was a good excuse" she stuttered. Garber chuckled indulgently, waving his hand towards a lab table.

"Since you two were both late, you missed partnering up. You will work together for this experiment. Here are the instructions" he said, handing over a sheet to Logan. "You are lucky to have her as a partner Echolls." He said and looked back at the rest of the class. "You should all be working!" he said sternly to the students who were still watching the show.

Veronica and Logan moved to the corner that Garber had pointed out and sat. They began setting up for there work silently.

"Thank you Logan" she whispered, not looking at him. He smiled. This was better than he had thought it would be. Not only could he watch her, he would be able to talk to her, and maybe even touch her.

"No problem" he rasped. Veronica looked up at him then, frowning.

"What did happen to your throat?" she asked. Logan laughed, and then grasped at his throat as the pain hit him. Veronica murmured soothing words at him as his eyes watered. She stroked his back gently. "Logan, baby, what happened to you?" she asked softly. Logan's heart squeezed at the gentle tone and the endearment she had used. His eyes flickered to where Garber stood, but the teacher had his back turned and was busy helping another team.

"You don't want to know Ronnie" he whispered back to her. Her hand stopped rubbing his back and she withdrew from him. Logan swore under his breath. "I'll tell you at lunch, ok?" he said, noticing that Garber was moving in their direction. Veronica nodded and they got to work.

Lunch arrived slowly. Veronica caught herself glancing at the clock all morning. As the bell rang for lunch she jumped up quickly and left her history class. She was the first out and made it through the hallways quickly to her locker. Logan showed up only seconds later. He was slightly out of breath having to practically run to reach her so quickly.

"Come on" he said to her, leading her outside with his hand at the small of her back. Logan's plan was simple; get her to his car before anyone could stop them. If Weevil or even Duncan saw them, there would be trouble. "We'll go to a drive-through somewhere for lunch. My treat" he smiled down at her. Veronica was confused, but she followed him. When they reached his X-Terra he opened the passenger door for her. She smiled shyly up at him. Jumping into the driver's seat he drove out of the parking lot fast. It wasn't until they had made it out that he relaxed. "I was afraid that if Weevil saw me with you he would finish the job" he said lightly. Veronica's face fell.

"He hurt you?" she asked in horror. "Oh god Logan, I'm sorry" she said, already knowing the answer.

"It isn't your fault Ronnie" he said, his voice husky from hearing the concern in hers. "I had it coming for treating you like shit yesterday" he said. Veronica shook her head.

"That isn't why he hurt you Logan" she said. "I…" she sighed and looked out the window. "I broke his heart this morning" she finished softly. Logan's head whipped towards her. So that was why he had been crying, Logan thought to himself.

"Then I really can't blame him for attacking me" Logan said sardonically. At Veronica's startled look he chuckled quietly, careful of his sore throat. He pulled into the drive-through of a fast-food place then. They made their orders and Logan parked while they ate. When they had finished Logan turned in his seat to look at Veronica.

"Logan, I have something to tell you" she started. Logan raised his hand to stop her.

"No Veronica. Weevil already told me about last night and what… what happened between you two" Logan said, choking as he thought of them together. Veronica looked surprised at his words. "I'm not going to say that I'm not jealous. But I'm not mad at you either." Logan took a deep breath, his eyes shut "All I need for you to do is tell me that you love me and that I'm the one" he finished.

"I love you Logan" Veronica said automatically. Logan's eyes opened then. He touched her cheek lightly and smiled. "You're the one"