Chapter One:

BackStory

Hearst college, the site of rape, a murder and probably suicide too. The natural habitat of college frat boys in their oh so unnatural states and college frat girls in positions better not seen in the light of day. When I was all set to go to college last year I thought it would be different to high school, less idiots, less classes…well there are less classes at least. Ah foolish naïve Veronica Mars, I suppose I never will learn. And talking of idiots here comes their king now.

"Hey Mars," one of Veronica's top ten least favorite people stood before her in all his glory, she thought he'd have been kicked out by now, another reason to not get her hopes up for this new year.

"Dick," she said surverying him,. He looked a little worse for wear, she'd heard he'd been subdued after his Dad slit for Fiji again, she guessed the thought of spending even one month in prison gave Dick Senior cold feet.

"So ready for the non stop party that is second year college Mars, yeah baby," Dick grinned inspecting a voluptuous girl passing by who gave him a withering look. Veronica guess that whatever supposedly came over Dick during the summer he was well cured of it now. "There's one on tonight actually, and so it begins. It's going to be wild, you know we can hang out, grab a few beers, like old times."

"I think it's really great that you've matured over the past year Dick." Veronica quipped, "But I still think you should work on this whole delusional thing you've got going for you, the thing where you think that in a million years I would want to ever party with you."

"Ah V," Dick sighed draping his arm around her as she walked, "Why is it that you constantly deny your inner party bunny in the potential alcohol paradise which is college."'

"Dick do you want to lose your arm?" she smirked as he quickly removed the offending object. Obviously he still had some sense of self preservation and fear of her wrath. "Now what is it exactly that you want?"

"I'm hurt that you would even think," he dropped the act at her unimpressed look. "Okay, so maybe some of my frat brothers are a bit upset about the new and wacky alcohol policy your dad inspired."

"And they think I'll something about it for them?" she raised her eyebrows, an annoyed edge to her voice. She had already heard this song and dance from Mac and she didn't even drink that often or that much. "As I recall your frat house parties which contained a lot of alcohol and a lot of minors was used by a rapist to spike unsuspecting and helpless girls drinks. So why would I want to really help you guys again?"

"Uh, because our parties rule, and they're only fun if every ones drunk."

"I'm still not seeing your point."

"All right, all right," Dick held up his hands in defeat, "I told them it probably wouldn't work but I still had to try. I mean obviously being raised by your Dad who's such a killjoy even a hot babe like you had to be damaged."

"Right and if I ever hear the word babe and hot in conjunction with my name from your lips again.." she reached into her purse in a threatening manner giving him a sickly sweet smile.

"Point taken, you are neither hot nor a babe," Dick said, she rolled her eyes. "What, I thought that's what you wanted to hear? You used to be fun Mars."

"When?"

"Never in this reality. But now I'm sober for most of the time I like to think about us on those long cold nights without alcohol, and I'm a very lonely man."

"Get a room Dick," Veronica snapped contemplating taking Mr. Tazer out, then suddenly she saw someone she wanted to see probably less then Dick, and her attention was diverted.

"Earth to Mars," he waved a hand in her face, snapping Veronica out of her daze. He was grinning at his stupid joke, he never did get tired of it.

"Right, as much as I hate these hate filled chats of ours Dick, I've got to split," she promptly turned and quickly walked away, she would have run if that wouldn't have looked to suspicious.

"Weird," she heard Dick mutter behind her, obviously he hadn't seen her ex making his way towards them across the quad, it was a meeting she would dearly love to miss.

"Oh god," Veronica cried out as she slammed squarely into someone. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking," she quickly bent down to pick up the books and paused as she found herself holding a pink notebook. She looked up and there stood Parker, looking down at her.

"Oh that's fine," she said coolly almost snatching her notebook from Veronica and walking away.

"Great," Veronica muttered, standing up and brushing her jeans off. After Parker broke up with Logan it was like Meg all over again, except this time it was completely not Veronica's fault, okay maybe she was the cause of it, but she was definitely and in no way at fault. So why was it that she still felt so guilty? She guessed it was just her warm gooey centre playing up again.

"Could this day get any worse," she muttered checking her watch, if she didn't sprint she was going to be ten minutes late for her first class with her new criminology teacher who hopefully would not be jailed by the end of the year, fingers crossed.

"Maybe this will help to brighten up your day," a cup of coffee was shoved into her hand and an arm wrapped around her waist. "Perhaps put me into your good graces."

"Yeah, that will probably score you some brownie points," Veronica smiled sipping the drink. "Caffeine beverages are high on the list."

"Enough for a kiss?"

"No, sorry those don't come cheap," Logan turned her around and pecked her on the cheek anyway, smiling.

"You thief," Veronica fake gasped as he twined her hand with his, "You'll have to pay me back later."

"Anything," Logan grinned, "Maybe that bear we talked of so long ago with I love you beary much stitched on its fluffy tummy."

"Oh that's so adorable you'll make me puke," Veronica grinned, "But we'll have to do that another time, I'm late for class."

"And here with the unpleasant reality," Logan sighed and followed her as she briskly walked towards the lecture theatre.

"Nobody said I couldn't multi task, so how's your first day been so far?"

"Well I talked to some new kids, threw a hacky sack around, spotted about ten babes with bikini's on, all in all a quite productive day. I'm ready to hit the sack."

"Already," Veronica raised her eyebrows, "And when do you plan to actually go to any classes?"

"Classes?" he grinned innocently as she glared at him. "Gee relax grandma, I've got media in about twenty minutes, maybe we can meet up for lunch and some quality time."

"Grandma?"

"Well she was the only one who ever asked me how I was doing at school, along with hitting me on the legs with her cane when I tried to steal one of her famous burnt brownies, ah god bless her miserly old soul."

"So did you attend that counseling session yesterday?" she attempted to slip it in subtly but it sounded false even to her ears.

"Oh you mean that court ordered one?" sarcasm dripped through his voice, "Yeah I skipped it, didn't feel like talking much yesterday. I thought maybe your Dad could write me one of those leave of absence letters"

"And waste that pink paper he likes so much? Not for you he wouldn't.

"But I thought our relationship was really progressing. At least tell me I'm above cockroach on his friendship scale?"

"Well…at least you're above criminals, if that's any help?"

"After I sent him that fruit basket and everything, I have been really trying."

"What can I say, he's a hard man to please."

After spending almost the whole summer on the FBI internship (which hadn't turned out exactly as I planned. I had solved less crimes there then I did back home in Neptune, all it seemed about was taking coffee to male agents who rated females butts as they walked past. It turned out Sheriff Lamb wasn't' the only jackass in the law enforcement business.) This is what I had missed the most.

After Logan had beat Goyra to a bloody pulp Piz had broken up with me. He said he wasn't going to play bass to anyone's guitar. It had been an awkward break up, Piz seemed half regretful half angry, and I had barely mustered enough regret in my voice to ease his feelings and make him think that I was hurting just a little. The thing was I and Piz were really just mucking around, that was our relationship, and I had moved on before Piz had even said the words.

Logan and I hadn't gotten back together straight away, but he came to see my off at the airport, and we emailed each other, talked on the phone and I found that I was starting to forget why I was even angry with him. And then when I'd gotten back from her internship I found that the great and connected Goyra hadn't been as bad assed as I thought and his brilliant plan of revenge was to take Logan to court for assault.

After facing a murder charge assault was nothing, or so Logan said. He did practically get a slap on the wrist (with some help from Dad, now elected Sheriff Mars, no thanks to me). He had some community service hours to do (easy as handing out some pies, he'd told me sarcastically after). It was the counseling that had really impacted on Logan. The judge had ruled he must attend a counseling session to learn to control his anger. Logan had almost told her where to go, (restrained by Cliff's firm foot which connected with Logan leg just before the words could tumble out of his mouth.)

The thing was Logan hated counselors, he hadn't seen one since he was ten, and she had slept with Aaron and taken a nice settlement in order not to spill on all the juicy goss the relatively innocent Logan had spilled to her. After that Logan never trusted to tell anyone personal details for fear it would end up on the front cover of People, and I can't really blame him for that. So now his community hours were done, and he was attending these counseling sessions every weekend, a month left before he could be free of them as I was constantly reminding him.

I always asked him about them, because if he didn't go he would be up in front of the judge again, and I didn't want that. So far he hadn't told me an outright no which was a good sign, he never said what he did there though, which though his right doesn't satiate my curiosity.

"Sir, I do believe this is my class," Veronica stopped in front of the door, turning back to Logan, "Oh and look," she checked her watch, "You managed to make me ten minutes later."

"I'm luring you towards the path of evil," Logan grinned leaning in to have another peck, but Veronica quickly slipped away from him smiling.

"I'll be expecting that bear in the mail," she smiled.

"Aw, how romantic," Veronica turned shock on her face as she stared at the person standing in front of her in an over sized t-shirt and jeans.

"Wallace?" she said laughing she quickly ran to him and gave him a hug, much to his shock.

"Gee, Veronica I know you've gotta give your brother some love, but I've been away for a month not ten years."

Veronica pulled away from him, looking at him accusingly. "When did you get back, and why haven't you told me?"

"I see you haven't changed," Wallace grinned at her. "I got back a day ago, my mum refused to share me with anyone, I tell you she was practically smothering me with food and hugs, like I'd gone to war or something. I thought I'd surprise you so here I am."

"Wallace," Logan said saluting him, Wallace nodded towards him, "Logan," he said smiling. Veronica shook her head, she knew it was a guy thing not to greet each other properly but it still baffled her.

"It's so good to see you, it really is," she said sincerely taking in his face. He was still the same, his hair cut shorter, he looked a bit weary but all in all he was still her Wallace.

"It's good to see you too V." Wallace smiled at her, "So where's the home made snickler doodles woman?"

"Well you go and surprise me like this I only had time to make you ten out of fourteen tiers of your cake silly. Cooking is a full time job us females take seriously and as it's not finished I suppose I'll have to just throw it out."

"Hey that's not funny."

"As much as I hate to break up this reunion aren't you supposed to be getting to class?" Logan intervened.

"Oh it was a walk," Wallace said dismissively.

"I didn't know you were taking this class."

"I'm not, I was waiting around for you and all the students came out like five minutes ago apparently the professor never showed."

"Ah, the beauty of college life," Logan sighed, "I see I still have ten minutes before I'm stuck in a room with a bunch of people who really don't interest me. Perhaps we could go find a nice corner to have an enlightened conversation in, of course your free to join us too Wallace?"

"I'm sorry Logan, but that enlightened conversation will have to wait," said Veronica, flashing him an unapologetic smile, "Wallace my BFF is back and its time to party."

"You're dumping me for him?"

"When you have your BFF wait in front of a class room at least ten minutes for you then you'll understand. "

"Actually," Wallace said awkwardly, "Not that I didn't want to, but I wasn't just waiting for you. The new Dean wants to see you in his office, and he seemed pretty angry about something."

"Hardly a morning gone and you've already managed to piss off the new administrator, oh teach me your wise ways old one."

Veronica stuck her tongue out at Logan "Well I don't think I've broken any rules yet…" she mused as she walked with Wallace and Logan towards the office.

"Well that skirt your wearing looks pretty against the rules, "Logan quipped.

"And this is your stop," Veronica sniped pushing him towards an open door.

"God, first day and you already know my timetable? I'm flattered."

"Go," she shooed him away. Wallace watched her as Logan sent her a kiss through the air and she pretended to wipe it away disgustedly.

"So you two are good now I see," he said as she resumed walking.

"Well an internship at the FBI really put things into perspective for me," said Veronica putting her face towards the sun she leaned on Wallace.

"How so?" Wallace asked, "And I thought I was the one who was supposed to come back all changed and inspired?"

"Well…I realized I could do a whole lot worse then Logan, and that the FBI may not be the best in the business. And how is that changed and inspired thing going for you?"

"Well, I also realized that I could do a lot worse," replied Wallace, almost gravely.

"Then Logan?" Veronica joked looking at him anxiously, he smiled back at her, but it seemed a little forced, she frowned.

"Well this is where I leave you, goodbye for now my queen," Wallace suddenly came to a stop and gave her an extravagant bow. Veronica paused, looking at her best friend. There was so much she wanted to talk about with him, so much she wanted to tell him. She was never good at expressing her feelings though, showing others how much she relied on them. Finally she just settled on keeping it simple, hoping he'd read the meaning in her words.

"I'm glad your back Wallace," she said quietly, hesitantly then quickly went into the office.

The secretary pointed her onwards into the Deans very own den. Hearst had a temporary Dean for a while, one Veronica had no contact with gratefully. Now there was a new one, Dean Yates, highly qualified and extremely strict who had promised (foolishly in Veronica's opinion) to stamp out under age drinking and lewd behavior at Hearst. She felt there was another storm on the Hearst horizon sparked by the Dean's words, which did not bode well for her hoped peaceful future year.

Veronica sighed before opening the door the Dean was shouting at someone clearly in an agitated move, she could see his exaggerated movements through the distorted glass. She knocked and there was a pause, obviously he was trying to compose himself.

"Come in," Veronica opened the door and walked in. The office had changed remarkably since Dean O'Dell. It had a new coat of paint, the carpets were lush and obviously extremely expensive and there was what she thought could possible be a pure gold clock. The Dean stood behind his desk, he was a stocky man, with a full crop of black hair, a lined face and a fierce scowl which she thought might even penetrate the thick shell of stupidity which prevented the likes of Dick feeling fear. Despite the decor and the Dean there was also something else very different in the office.

"Weevil? Dad?"

A/N: This is my first foray into an actual story for Veronica Mars, usually I just do angsty oneshots. Its how I would have liked season four to be, of course it would have been so much better in reality. I tried something different, integrating what would have been Veronica's voiceovers into the story. Maybe if you like that in future chapters I might add some of the other characters thoughts. It's a pretty short chapter for me, I thought it would be easier to do a fic that way. I hope you like and I appreciate constructive criticism : ). Please review and I'll have the second chapter (which I've already written) up soon, depending on the reviews of course : P.