Belong

Complete Story

She didn't know how long she had been sitting out there. It could have been twenty minutes or twenty hours. She was soaking wet. Tears mixed with the rain with the crashing waves. She hadn't realized her lips were blue, but the constant tremble her body had let her know she was still alive. The waves came up over her bent knees, pulling her back with it towards the sea, inching her closer to oblivion. She let it, almost welcomed it.

The last few years in New York had been difficult for Veronica Mars. Sure, she had reunited with Piz, a college boyfriend. He had made her laugh and introduced her to new things and fun people. He was safe and predictable and adored her. He was sweet and nice and boring. He was pre-approved by her father for all these reasons. But, deep down, she felt something was missing. Her life, her heart, it didn't belong with Piz or even here in New York. It belonged in Neptune. After all this time, she knew, it belonged with Logan.

She hadn't kept up with Logan really. She knew he was in the Navy, which terrified her and made her heart swell at the same time. He had grown and became someone who was willing to risk his life for his country. He had left behind his wild lifestyle for one of purpose and discipline. The last time she saw him was when he and her friends graduated from Hearst. She had come back to see her friends and nearly swooned at the sight of him. Because of the tabloids still trying to find a reason to use him, Veronica still knew what he looked like. She knew he was lean and toned. Gone were the boyish cheeks with his broken soul looking through scared eyes. He was masculine and determined in every picture she saw. He had fixed himself, body and mind.

She knew he had been dating a pop star. But Bonnie DeVille would always been gossip girl Carrie Bishop to Veronica. Carrie had little redeeming qualities in high school, but Veronica remembered how she stood up to Mr. Rooks for her friend Susan Knight. She took the evil looks and scandal of a statutory rape story so Susan's pregnancy wouldn't get out. Susan had died a couple years later in a boat accident, but Carrie had never let the secret out. She was still loyal to a dead friend. Veronica knew exactly how that felt. Maybe losing people close to them is what drew Carrie to Logan. From what Veronica could tell, drugs were pushing them apart. Carrie appeared to have a problem with them.

Veronica thought how much Logan had become a stabling force. He was now the good one, the thoughtful one, the just one. He was the one that was dependable to take his friends to rehab or make sure they had safe rides home. His uniform had medals and Veronica knew he was worthy of those and more for his actions.

Veronica inched further into the sea, the water wrapping around her waist like a hug. She glanced up, noticing the once dark sky was beginning to light up just on the water's edge. The sun was rising and another day would begin. She had sat in the rain on the beach all night. She lifted her hands, looking at the pruned skin on her fingertips and palms, smiling at the memories of baths too long as a child. She pushed into the wet stand, forcing her torso up. Her back popped with the movement, rejoicing in the freedom to move once again. She pulled one foot back, underneath her, pushing her to her feet. She stood awkwardly, looking down at the water moving the sand where her behind had imprinted, erasing her mark. She raised herself up more, tilting her head back and feeling the rain falling down on her face. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth, feeling young and carefree. She giggled at herself, embracing the raw emotions her secluded moments here have given her.

"Are you alright?"

Her chin dropped as her eyes open, batting at the liquid assault. She turned, twisting her upper body while keeping her feet deep in the unsteady sand. She looked behind her, anger reaching up for whoever interrupted her private moment. Her eyes were playing tricks on her though. Her anger extinguished as a familiar face looked back at her in question.

"Veronica?" His voice was unsure. It made her feel magical, like he was spotting a unicorn in a forest.

She plucked a foot from the sand, feeling the tingles of circulation resuming in her toes. She spiraled further, turning her back on the barely there sun and looking at the man before her. He was in a loose pair of shorts that came to his knees with ankle socks and running shoes, both soaked from the rain or tracking through puddles. He had a tank top on under a hoodie. It was unzipped with the hood up, shielding his eyes from the rain. His face looked young, like it had when she last saw him years ago. She knew it was from the expression he wore. Shock, awe, love. She had to smile back at him.