Title: Cry for Me
Fandom: Veronica Mars
Genre: Romance/Drama
Pairings: Logan/Veronica, some Duncan/Meg and Mac/Dick, mentions of Logan/Lilly
Rating: T
Spoilers: general Season 1
Summery: AU. Veronica and Lilly were never friends but October Third will still change her life forever. LoVe.
Disclaimer: All I own is a stuffed unicorn, please don't sue and take my unicorn away…
AN: obviously certain events have been changed and timelines altered, hence the reason I gave it the Big Fat AU Stamp.
Chapter 1: Tears (1/9)
"Any event, once it had occurred, can be made to appear inevitable by a competent historian"--Lee Simonson
Veronica Mars grinned as she sat down at the table next to her best friend.
"Hey, Mac-attack! What are our plans for this oh-so-wonderful Friday night?" Veronica asked as she handed a tray of food over to the girl with blue streaks in her hair.
Mac sighed. "Nothing," she replied. "This weekend is another camping trip with my family."
Veronica patted her friend's shoulder in sympathy; she knew how much Mac hated camping. The computer genius was much happier indoors with a laptop or curled up with a good book. "The bi-annual rite of torture strikes again?"
Mac nodded. "We're leaving right after school."
"Damn, now what am I supposed to do with my weekend?" Veronica mused.
"Try not to get into trouble?" Mac suggested.
"Me? Trouble?" Veronica tried to look innocent, flipping some of her blond hair over her shoulder.
"Please, Veronica, you always end up in the weirdest of situations," Mac grinned.
"It's not my fault!" Veronica protested. "My Dad's the Sheriff, I can hardly be blamed if helping him out sometimes gets me into those situations."
Mac was about to reply when a commotion at the 09er table caught their attention. They were too far away to hear what was said but the sight of Logan Echolls punching Dick Casablancas was pretty impressive. They watched as Duncan Kane pulled Logan off. He glared at Dick for a few moments before stalking off.
"Huh, wonder what that was about." Veronica turned back to her school provided meal with little enthusiasm.
"Lilly Kane probably," Mac shrugged.
Veronica quirked and eyebrow at her friend.
"Her and Logan broke up again, haven't you heard?" Mac asked.
"Mac, I rarely ever pay attention to the 09er gossip," Veronica said with a headshake.
"Why not? It's like our very own soap opera, sans the television." Mac chuckled.
"It's petty and depressing," Veronica replied.
"Like I said--soap opera. It's free entertainment."
Veronica just smiled. "Whatever you say Mac."
As tawdry and entertaining the lives of the rich and powerful students at Neptune High may be, paying attention to them was a good way to get them to pay attention to you--and never in a good way. Veronica was content to ignore, and be ignored by the 09ers. A lot of people would give anything to be part of their crowd but not Veronica. She had everything she really needed already; an awesome best friend, a good car, and a loving family. In her estimation that added up to a pretty good life. With a Sheriff for a father Veronica saw well enough what happened behind the glittering façade the rich showed the world, and really, she wanted no part of that.
"Earth to Mars!"
It took Veronica a moment to realize that Mac had been speaking to her. "That really gets old after a while," she informed her friend tartly.
"Hey, you stop spacing and I'll stop using," Mac grinned. "I asked you what you were going to do with your weekend now that I'm being forced to answer the Call of the Wild."
Veronica shrugged. "Hit the beach with Backup and help Dad at the station probably. I promise to try and keep out of any so-called weird situations."
"Good, 'cause you can't call me at three in the morning to hack into the Librarian's personal computer while I'm out of town."
Veronica smiled at the memory. "Ah, good times."
Mac just rolled her eyes.
Saturday dawned bright and clear; a typical October day in Southern California. Veronica awoke a few minutes after noon with a smile. Her plan was to spend a relaxing Saturday doing absolutely nothing so sleeping in, while not her norm, fit into her plan perfectly. She spent the majority of the afternoon editing her photos and painting her toes. Photography was her hobby but it was rare that she got a whole afternoon to devote to it. Veronica was enjoying it immensely. Nothing about the day suggested that in a few short hours an event would occur that would forever change her life.
The phone ringing caught her attention shortly before six. It was her father.
"Hey sweetheart, is your mother home?" Keith Mars asked his daughter when she answered the phone.
"Nope, she's out with some friends I think." Veronica replied, phone in one hand and the other held away from her to avoid damaging her freshly painted nails.
"Well I'm probably going to be at work late tonight. Will you be alright by yourself?" Keith questioned.
"Sure, I'm just gonna host a rowdy party and smash all the good china," Veronica replied cheekily.
"Very funny."
"And yet I don't hear you laughing," she pointed out. "Seriously though, I'll be fine. I know where the leftovers are and I'll probably take Backup for a run before it gets too dark."
"Alright, be safe," he cautioned.
"I always am," she replied.
Veronica hung up the phone and blew on her nails one last time to ensure they were dry. Her father worried a lot but with all he'd seen as Sheriff she understood it.
The sun had just set when Veronica's cell buzzed in her pocket. Frowning she transferred Backup's leash to her left hand and dug out her phone. The caller ID showed Dad. Her frown deepened; it was unlike her father to call again so soon.
"Dad?" she answered.
"Veronica, where are you?" Keith's voice was unusually tense.
"On my way home, I was taking Backup for a walk, why?"
"I want you to go directly home and stay there, okay?"
Now Veronica was worried. "Dad? What's wrong? What happened?"
"A girl was murdered tonight, I'd prefer you not be out and about when there's a killer on the loose." Keith said seriously.
Veronica gasped. Someone was murdered? "Oh my God! Who was it?" Veronica was sick at the thought it could be someone she knew.
"Lilly Kane," Keith replied after a moment.
Veronica was even more shocked then before. Lilly Kane, daughter of beloved Neptune billionaires Jake and Celeste Kane, Neptune High's own wild-child princess, was dead. Veronica had never known Lilly personally, being a year younger and in a completely different social circle, but no one in Neptune didn't know who Lilly was. Fun-loving and extravagant, Lilly Kane had always been the main feature of gossip. It was impossible to distinguish fact from rumor but, if even half of what was said was true then Veronica had been certain that the girl was indestructible. The thought that someone could hurt her--hurt anyone Veronica knew was both sobering and disturbing.
Veronica quickly made promises to her dad to head straight home and hung up the phone. The shadows that stretched everywhere as twilight moved into true night suddenly seemed ominous and threatening. Somewhere out there a killer lurked. She lead Backup towards her car at a half-jog. Sensing her uneasiness the pit bull whined and growled at every stray leaf that fluttered across their path. Veronica drove home as quickly as possible and did not relax until she had her front door locked behind her.
Still she jumped about half a foot into the air when her phone buzzed in her pocket again. Backup whined and looked around as if trying to figure out what he should be protecting her from. Veronica gave the dog a comforting pat as she pulled out her cell.
"Hello?" her voice was slightly breathless from nerves.
"Veronica?" It was Mac. "You okay? You sound kinda weird."
"Um, yeah. I'm okay, just kind of jumpy is all," Veronica replied.
"Have you been watching horror movies again?" Mac asked, sounding amused.
"No, Lilly Kane was murdered tonight."
"What?" Mac yelped. "You're kidding me? How did it happen?"
"I don't know. I just got the call from Dad myself. I get the impression they don't know too much about what happened yet." Veronica replied, walking over to the couch and sitting down.
"Wow, that's awful," Mac said.
"Yeah, and scary," Veronica agreed.
"Huh. Suddenly the Grand Canyon doesn't seem so bad," Mac remarked.
"The Grand Canyon? I've always wanted to see that." Veronica said, happy to talk about anything other than murder.
"There's not much to see. It's just a big hole in the ground with lots of squirrels where you ride donkeys down to the bottom." Mac replied.
"Donkeys huh?" Veronica asked.
"I'm sore in place I didn't even know existed," Mac confirmed. "I can't believe my parents think this is fun. I have to be adopted."
Veronica laughed at her best friend's usual assertion. "It can't be that bad."
"Veronica, trust me, it really is." Mac assured her. "I'm just happy they chose a place with cell reception this time." There was a noise in the back ground. "Sorry, I have to go. I'll see you on Monday, okay?"
"Later Mac-attack." Veronica hung up.
Monday. Monday at Neptune High was going to be chaotic at best. It wouldn't be long before word of what happened got around and there was no telling what the fallout would be. Lilly had been at the heart of the 09ers and her death was going to have a definite effect on the school's social hierarchy. Veronica was certain that despite the tragedy the school's elite were going to use the girl's death to further their own ambitions. Sure they would pretend to mourn their friend's death but the next few weeks would be full of back stabbing and rumor campaigns as the 09er girls jockeyed for position as the new queen. Veronica wondered if one person outside the Kane family would genuinely miss Lilly and mourn her death. It was a truly saddening thought and another reason Veronica wanted no part of 09er life. She'd much rather have friends who'd miss her when she was gone. She headed to bed with the feeling that it was going to be a long week.
Keith did not come home that night and Veronica heard her mother come in around dawn. Lianne was still sleeping when Veronica got up at ten. She wrote off the odd occurrence as part of the strange events that were sure to happen for the next few days. The house was quiet and constricting; forced inactivity always made Veronica edgy. She decided to take Backup down to the beach when the pit bull's whining suggested he shared Veronica's feelings. The beach was a public place and Veronica figured she would be safe enough there. It was highly unlikely that anyone would try something on a public beach in the middle of the morning.
It was another cloudless day in Neptune. The warm breeze and raucous calling of the gulls was in discord with the tense feeling in the air. Privately, Veronica thought that the skies should be dark and gloomy or, at the very least, there should be thunder. The pleasant weather seemed almost disrespectful somehow.
She was so wrapped up in her musing that she didn't notice Logan until she was almost on top of him. She stopped a few feet from the boy sitting in the sand. Tear tracks could be seen clearly on his face and it was obvious that he remained oblivious to her presence. It seemed that she had been wrong; someone did miss Lilly Kane. Logan Echolls had been Lilly's on again, off again boyfriend and while Veronica had always viewed their tumultuous relationship as unhealthy it seemed that Logan had really cared for Lilly.
Keeping and an eye on Backup who was running back and forth in the surf, Veronica cautiously approached Logan.
"I'm sorry," she whispered when she reached him. "My dad will find out who did this to her." They were the only words of comfort she could offer him. There wasn't much one could say to a boy they didn't know that wouldn't come off as trite.
He turned to face her his gaze unfocused, probably due to both the crying and the alcohol she could smell on his breath. He blinked at her, trying to figure out who she was.
"You're the Sheriff's daughter," he said at last. "What do you know?" It was a genuine question and not a dismissal.
Veronica shrugged and tentatively sat down next to him. "Nothing really," she replied slowly, "just that my dad hasn't been home at all since."
She wasn't sure if that was comforting or not but he seemed to find it so as he gave her a short nod.
"I said I hated her, you know?" His voice was listless. "Friday, at school, I said I hated her but I didn't and now she's dead. I was just so sick of her jerking me around all the time, treating me like a puppy, but I never wanted this to happen to her."
"It's not your fault," Veronica said.
"Isn't it?" he countered. "If we hadn't been fighting then I would have been there to protect her." He was talking more to himself then to her, Veronica realized.
"You can't know that," she offered anyway.
She didn't know why she was trying to comfort him, they were from different worlds, but she couldn't stand the sight of someone in pain. Uncertainly, she reached out and touched his shoulder. The contact seemed to break something inside of him and Veronica suddenly found her arms full of a sobbing Logan Echolls. She murmured soothing words as he clung to her. She didn't know exactly how she was supposed to react to this development so she settled for doing what she would do if it were one of her friends. Lightly she rubbed his back, letting him cry into her shirt. No one else must have offered him any sort of comfort, she realized, if he clung so fiercely to the first person to offer any kindness. It made the desire to comfort him even stronger.
For that moment it didn't matter that he was a practical stranger, one of the 09ers she went out of her way to avoid. All that mattered was his pain, his loss and guilt, and the meager comfort she could offer him. Veronica didn't know how much time had passed--Hours? Minutes?-- when he finally pulled out of her embrace.
"Thanks," he muttered, wiping at his cheeks and not meeting her eyes.
Veronica could only nod, having no idea what to say.
"You're dad will find out what happened right?" he asked, staring at the ground.
"I know he will," she said softly. She knew her dad would not stop until the killer was brought to justice.
Logan nodded shortly and rose unsteadily to his feet. "See ya around, Veronica Mars," he said before walking off in the direction of the parking lot.
Veronica could only watch him go, feeling confused. Her brain was working overtime to try and process what had just happened and so far it wasn't having much luck. Had the king of the 09ers really just broke down sobbing on her shoulder? Comforting him had been her natural reaction but now she wasn't so sure it had been a good idea. Still, Veronica reasoned, it wasn't likely that Logan would mention the incident to anyone and as long as she didn't talk about it he wouldn't have any reason to think twice about her again. She resolved to just forget about the whole thing and stay happily out of the 09er's attention. Things would go back to normal eventually, it should be easy enough to do.
AN: well there's my first attempt at a Veronica Mars fan fiction. Reviews are helpful and much loved!