A/N: italics represent Veronica's voiceovers.
September 20, 2004
8:21am
This is my school. If you go here, your parents are either millionaires or your parents work for millionaires. Neptune, California, a town without a middle class. If you're in the first group, you're pretty much royalty. You drive expensive cars, wear designer clothes, vacation in Europe or Fiji or wherever.
A blue Mercedes ML500 pulled into a parking space, and its driver, a short blonde girl, got out and began crossing the parking lot toward the large crowd surrounding the flagpole.
Yup, your life is pretty much one big fairy tale, just without the happy ending.
November 14, 2003
"What, you guys find a way to unlock the porn?" Veronica asked the two freshmen boys gazing intently into the screen of one the computers in Neptune High's library.
"It's the Lilly Kane video," one of the boys explained. "How do you think that family feels?"
Before Veronica could get a good look at the computer screen, Logan Echolls rushed over and stabbed his finger into the monitor's power button. "'That family?' Don't you idiots know that's her sister?"
"Logan, I—" Veronica Kane attempted to interject.
"Get out of my sight before I kick your asses, you morons," Logan shouted at the two freshmen. Turning to Veronica after they had hurried out of the library, he said in a softer voice "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to flip out like that, but you shouldn't have to see that."
"Thank you," Veronica answered sincerely.
"I just can't believe what an idiot we have as sheriff," Logan spat out, gesticulating wildly with his right hand while resting his left on Veronica's shoulder. "First he accuses your dad of killing Lilly, now he can't even keep stuff like this from leaking."
"I know," Veronica answered. "How did someone like Keith Mars get elected sheriff in the first place? I can't understand how anyone could believe that my father could hurt anyone, much less his own daughter."
Just then, the bell rang. As Logan turned to leave for class, he said, "hey, look, Veronica, if you, you know, need anything, or just need to talk or something…."
"Thank you," she repeated.
Lilly wasn't just my sister, she was my best friend too. Ever since she died, I've felt like I can't go on living either. I don't know how I'd manage without friends like Logan, or without my brother. Not that Logan's not just as heartbroken. He was Lilly's boyfriend. The four of us, me, Lilly, our brother Duncan, and Logan Echolls, had been best friends for years….
August 13, 1999
9:22am
"Guess what, Duncan," Jake Kane began cheerfully as the Kane family sat down to breakfast.
"What?"
"You know your friend from summer camp, Logan? His family's moving here to Neptune from L.A. He's starting junior high with you in September."
"Seriously?" wondered Duncan. "That's so awesome! When is he moving in?"
"Actually," interjected Celeste, "the Echollses have already starting moving in, but we're having them over for lunch today."
"Wait," interrupted Lilly, "the Echollses? As in Aaron and Lynn Echolls? You're serious? I am so getting Aaron Echolls' autograph!"
"It's not that big a deal," answered Duncan.
"Not that big a deal?" shot back Lilly, "are you kidding?"
"Now children," said Celeste, "I want you to make the Echollses feel welcome. Understand?"
12:46pm
"Logan, hey, great to see you," said Duncan as Logan came running into the Kanes' foyer.
"Duncan, hey, this year is gonna be so awesome." As the two boys greeted each other, their parents did likewise.
"Duncan," said Celeste, "perhaps you'd like to introduce Logan to your sister."
"God, Mother, what is the matter with you?" Lilly shouted.
"Logan," cut in Duncan smoothly, "these are my sisters," he continued, emphasizing the last s, "Lilly and Veronica."
2:14pm
"Ah crap!" Logan cried as he threw the video-game controller down in disgust. "I hate this game."
"Only because you suck at it," shot back Duncan. "You want to do something else?"
"I don't know, maybe," Logan answered, flinging himself into one of the easy chairs in Duncan's room. "Tell me something though; what was the deal earlier, before lunch, with your mom and your sisters?"
"Oh, you mean when my mom tried to pretend that I only have one?"
"Yeah, what's up with that?"
"Well, Lilly and I are twins, but Veronica's only three months younger than us."
"I'm no doctor, but I'm pretty sure that that's medically impossible."
"Veronica's my half-sister. We have the same dad, but Celeste isn't her mother."
"Ah. My mom and my half-sister don't get along either, but that's because Trina is such a bitch."
"I know, I know, I've been listening to you bitch about her for the last seven summers at camp."
"Veronica seems cool though."
"She is. She really doesn't deserve the way my mom treats her. I mean, I understand why it's difficult for my mom to have her around, but it's not like it's her fault our dad had an affair."
"What happened to her mother?"
"She died in a car accident just a few weeks after Veronica was born. My dad wanted custody. I don't want to think about how my mom must have reacted when he broke that piece of news to her."
September 21, 2004
8:24am
Veronica reached the crowd surrounding the flagpole and saw that what had drawn so much attention was a new student who had been duct-taped, naked to the flagpole. Someone had scrawled "snich" on his chest.
"Who'd that guy rat out?" someone asked.
"The bikers," someone else answered.
"Why doesn't somebody cut him down?" a girl asked.
"Yeah, I'll do it. I want to be the guy up there tomorrow," another boy rejoined.
"I, on the other hand, would have nothing to be embarrassed about," cut in Logan Echolls, as he muscled his way to the front of the crowd. "Hey, Ronnie," he said to Veronica as he passed her. He mugged for the cell-phone cameras for a few moments before finally pulling out his pocket-knife and cutting the new kid down.
8:27am
"So, Veronica," asked Logan as the two of them walked into school, "What do you have first period?"
"AP English. You?"
"Physics. So where's Duncan? The two of you not drive to school together?"
"What, he didn't tell you? The 'rents finally got him the G500, so—"
"They did? Seriously? When? The silver one or the black one? I can't wait to see it. Where is he?"
"Just last week. The black one. I think he decided to take the scenic route to school today though. He's still enjoying driving it."
"That is so awesome. Did they get you a new car too?"
"Are you kidding? You've met Celeste, right? The whole reason she made Dad get Duncan the G500 is so that everyone will know that he's the favorite. It's cool, though. At least now I get the ML all to myself."
"Yeah, plus you know Duncan'll let you use the new one, right?"
"Sure, if we ever manage to pry his hands off the steering wheel. Logan," Veronica continued in a more serious tone, "I thought it was cool what you did, cutting that kid down, but aren't you worried about what the bikers'll do to you when they find out?"
"The bikers?" Logan answered with a crooked grin. "You mean the group of guys, all guys, I might add, who dress in black leather and wear earrings and have shaved heads? Those bikers? Yeah, I'm just terrified that I might come home and find my whole house redecorated." Logan brought his hand up to cover his mouth, feigning shock. "What, what if they restyle my hair to bring out the color of my eyes?"
Veronica just laughed. "Logan, you're terrible. Go to class," she finished, punching him gently one the shoulder.
To be continued….