Life Goes On…
Chapter 1: No Sleep Tonight
Author's Note: This is my first VM fic…and I'm unbelievably nervous. Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated… positive, negative, ambiguous, whatever. If this goes well, I'll hopefully be able to update frequently. And if no one likes it, I'll run away. It's a LoVe story at heart, and the whole ensemble will be there and everybody I like will get a turn in the spotlight. Basically, I'm playing with them to kill the time until the new episodes come back again. So everything that has happened on the show has happened here. Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Veronica Mars, the characters or the premise. If I did, epic wouldn't be so hard.
There are, of course, many upsides to Dad's appointment to temporarily fill the position of Balboa County Sheriff…the salary, obviously; the lack of obstacles (legal and otherwise) in obtaining information from the department's records; the advantage of a badge and uniform and title; the readily available staff. But being as it is, well, temporary, there are downsides too. Namely, trying to keep Mars Investigations open and thriving on the side. Which has fallen largely into my petite, already-full-with-the-demands-of-higher-education hands. Not that I mind too much, I've always preferred being busy, and it's not like I couldn't use the distraction from my personal life, but all the same, even the great Veronica Mars needs sleep sometime…
"V?" Wallace called as he let himself into the Mars apartment, immediately heading to the fridge as he listened for a reply.
"I'll be out in a second!"
Accustomed to the often-hectic merry-go-round of Veronica's life, he wasn't surprised that she was running slightly behind, he was however surprised by the unkempt state of the usually clear living room. Nibbling on a sandwich, he glanced around, taking in the spread of text books and notes along the couch, the stack of file folders piled high beside the chair, and another haphazard heap upon the kitchen counter.
He was just sweeping the crumbs off his shirt when his best friend padded out from her bedroom, wet hair thrown messily into a bun atop her head, clad in soccer shorts and a thin, old t-shirt.
"Hey, is there a reason your home looks like a crazy old hermit-professor's office?"
Moving to grab a water bottle, she shot him a smirk. "I've got at least 6 cases going for my dad, not to mention 3 tests this week. I've found that I'm too busy to clean up between tasks. Which is just one of the reasons I'm not sure how you talked me into this."
"Oh, come on, all work and no play is the surest way to a breakdown. And didn't you tell me just the other day you felt as if you weren't getting the full college experience?"
Making a playful show of rolling her eyes, and donning her classic sorority-girl voice, Veronica nudged his shoulder. "Meaning where is my stint on 'Girls Gone Wild,' not let's go play intramural Ultimate Frisbee."
Wallace merely chuckled as he ushered her towards the door.
"Veronica, I had no idea you were so competitive." Bronson commented as he, Mac, Wallace, and a very sweaty, very grass-stained Veronica Mars crossed the quad of Hearst College.
"Really? Have you ever met her? 'Cause it kinda goes right along with the being a pushy-stubborn-fearless-badass thing she's got kickin'."
Giggling at her BFF's assessment, she swatted at him in mock indignation, but didn't bother to deny it. "Hey, it just might have been my pushy-stubborn-fearless-badass-ness that ensured our victory."
Mac smiled, "And to think, those silly Frat Boys had the nerve to call you 'Princess.'"
"Even after she slide-tackled two of them."
Smiling as she relived the memory of taking a smug and taunting Chip Diller down, Veronica almost didn't notice the lanky male figure lurking a few yards away, staring at her intently.
Motioning towards the boy with a nod of her head, the foursome changed their direction slightly, and soon his nervous expression deepened as they stood directly, and expectantly, before him.
"Can I help you?" Veronica asked, no edge in her voice, but not necessarily any friendliness either.
"Are you Veronica Mars?"
"Most people seem to think so."
"I need your help."
"I figured, so can you fast forward to the details, I'm low on time."
"My name is Toby. Toby Day. And I need you to prove that someone in my Statistics course switched my test."
Apparently Toby overestimated her psychic ability, because it took the crossing of her arms and quirking of her eyebrow to get the thin and shifty-eyed boy to continue.
"We got back tests today that we had taken a few weeks ago, and I got a much, much lower score than I had been expecting. After looking over the test, I realized the work didn't match my own, that the answers weren't what I put down. I studied, hard, and knew what I was talking about. Whoever put in the answers for this test didn't have a clue. I know it wasn't mine. So I went to the professor, but there was only one test turned in with my name, and no tests were turned in without a name, and the handwriting is a pretty good match for mine, so she seems to think that I just don't remember what I put down or that I'm trying to cheat. The difference between the score and what I was expecting is significant enough to hurt my class grade, which can kill my GPA, which could take away my scholarship. I need you to find out who did this, and then prove it. I'm not sure what your going rate is, but I can give you two hundred now, and another three hundred later."
Veronica's face remained blank a moment, eyes squinting as she processed his request. When she spoke, the boy seemed to be taken by surprise that she hadn't just walked away. "What time is your class?"
"Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:30."
"Can you meet me tomorrow for lunch, 12:15?"
"Yeah, I should be able to make that."
"Okay, bring a list of everyone in that class, the professor's schedule, including office hours, and the two hundred dollars to the food court. I'll see you then."
Toby nodded in response, but Veronica had already turned and was heading back in her original direction, Wallace, Mac and Bronson in tow.
"Should you really have taken on another case? You're already using your entire apartment as a workdesk. How are you going to have space, let alone time, for this too?"
"Relax, this shouldn't be too hard. He's going to flat out hand me a list of suspects. It's not even as complicated as the McMurphy pre-nup case I'm on." She glanced at Wallace briefly, before returning her gaze to the streets of Neptune. "And besides, I could use the money."
"By money, do you mean excuse to lock yourself away and avoid anywhere Parker and Logan might be seen?"
Veronica could feel Wallace's stare burning intently on the side of her face, but was determined to keep her voice as light as possible. "No, that's just a bonus."
His own tone indicated he didn't buy it. "How are you handling that, really?"
Pausing a moment, Veronica felt herself relent and forced out a brief response of emotional honesty. "Really? I'm not. I don't even know how to, so I'm just not. And so far, it's working out okay."
"How do you figure?"
"I haven't been a bitch to Parker, I haven't picked a fight with Logan. I haven't cried. I haven't whined. I haven't gouged my own eyes out, or beat up his car. So in the great spectrum of ex-girlfriends, I'm on the less-crazy end."
"You also barely see one of your best friends, and rarely leave your house."
"Mac understands. She knows I'm trying, and she's got Bronson to keep her company anyway." She tried to indicate with a set jaw and a slight volume increase on the radio that she didn't want to talk about it anymore. While her point was probably taken, it didn't stop Wallace from trying to get the last word in.
"V, just remember, you can be a badass, and a real person, at the same time. That's kind of what I'm here for."
She didn't want to admit it, as she strode purposefully into the food court the following afternoon, but she was a little nervous. Taking a swift inventory of the students milling about between classes or grabbing a quick bite, Veronica realized that Toby wasn't there yet, and that thankfully the two students she was only internally acknowledging she was avoiding weren't there either.
Letting a slow breath of relief out, she made her way to one of the few remaining empty tables and pulled out the flashcards she'd made for her upcoming psychology exam, hoping to get through the thick stack at least two more times before her test later that afternoon.
A chapter's worth of cards in, she could feel someone's stare on her and looked up expecting to find her newest client. Instead she locked eyes with one Logan Echolls, and it took every ounce of strength she had to suppress her groan.
"You're avoiding me."
Rolling her eyes as she set her neatly color-coded index cards on the table, she took her time in answering him. "No. I'm not."
"Okay then, semantics, you're avoiding us."
She felt a slight cringe at his use of the word while meaning him and Parker. She was thankful he didn't seem to notice it. "No, I'm just busy."
"You're busy on purpose."
"Look, Logan, what do you want from me? We broke up. You're dating someone new. I gave my blessing when you asked. I have been civil, and polite, and haven't uttered a single word to suggest that I'm anything other than fine with it. Do you want me to throw you a party, too? Do you want me to try and move on a little faster so we can set up a double date? I'm doing the best I can, and honestly, I'm just that busy."
Her voice hadn't been angry, her eyes hadn't been cold. Nothing about her had meant to be combative or attacking in any way, still she thought she saw him flinch and she knew she could hear a defensive quality in his reply
"I didn't expect to lose you completely."
"Well, I wasn't expecting to lose you at all, but…." She sucked in a deep breath, stopping herself from baiting him, from being baited. "If you'll excuse me, I'm meeting someone."
Thankfully at that moment, as if on cue, Toby finally stepped up to the table, awkwardly, but yet oblivious to the tension between the former lovers.
"Veronica? You ready?"
"Yeah, Toby. Have a seat. Logan was just leaving."
And even though she refused to look at her ex-boyfriend again, she knew he watched her for a few more moments as he backed away.
"And what kind of 'favor' do you need this time?" Weevil's eyes had barely flickered in her direction before he went right back to the wiring task at hand.
Feigning shock, Veronica's mouth formed a near-perfect 'O.' "What makes you think I need a favor?"
"It's the head tilt, V. I've told you before…dead give away."
Giving a small smile, she fully entered the vacant classroom. "Damn me and my innate girliness." She waited patiently as he finished up with a few snips and some screwdriving, and then turned his attention upon her. "I'm working a case, and I was hoping to do a little sleuthing in a certain professor's office. Nothing too intrusive, of course. Just some file perusing and a bug or two. Maybe a tiny camera. Do you by any chance have keys to all the rooms on campus on that awfully large ring of yours?"
He raised his eyebrow, perhaps in resistance, but she could see the amusement and fondness in his large brown eyes. "You never cease to amaze me." His voice had no hint of surprise though. He gave a little shake of his head and stalled, wiping his hands clean of any grease his job may have entailed. "How much would the key be worth to you?"
"See, I am banking on your missing of the good, ol' days of B & E and the thrill of rebellion." She shot him a playful but honest smile.
"What time are you planning this thrilling act of rebellion for?"
"Say 9ish?" She slipped him a small piece of paper with the building and room number of Toby's professor's office.
He nodded slightly, but as she walked away she smiled as she heard him muttering something about blondes and head tilts and him being a sucker.
"Mac Attack, you ready for this?"
"As ready as a girl can get for her first venture into actual espionage."
Shooting her closest gal pal her very brightest Veronica-smile, she held out a small gift bag.
"If I had known presents went along with the missions, I would have upgraded past gadgets years ago." Peaking inside, only a slightly exaggerated expression of excitement on her face, Mac reached in and lifted out a rolled up t-shirt. Unfolding it, she let out a snorty laugh. "Did you seriously buy me a shirt that says, 'Hot and Sneaky'?"
"Yes. Yes, I did."
"Do you expect me to where it tonight?"
"Ah, yes, I do. Aaand…" dramatically unzipping her dark hoodie, Veronica revealed a similar shirt that read 'Smart and Sassy' across the chest. "I could never get Wallace to coordinate wardrobes with me. I'm so glad you're a girl."
"Me too. But for other reasons. Let me just change then so we can go get our spy on."
Looking around the room while she waited, Veronica couldn't help but think of how glad she was to have a friend like Mac. She loved Lilly, and still missed her every day, but friends like Wallace and Mac, they let her be a whole other side of her self, and there was something truly special about that. Studying the photos and posters Mac had put up to claim the dorm space as her own, it was without turning at the sound of the door, that she giggled, calling out to her friend, "Hot and Sneaky, you ready to go a-Nancy-Drew-in'?"
She was surprised when it was Logan's voice that answered her. "I always felt more like Nancy's schluppy friend, Bess, myself. But thanks for the ego boost."
Feeling her cheeks redden, Veronica twisted to look briefly at Mac's roommate and her ex-boyfriend, linked at the hands, before searching for anything else in the room her eyes could dwell on.
"Sorry, I was just waiting for Mac to come back from changing."
Noticing the tension in her boyfriend's shoulders, and the pained discomfort etched clearly across Veronica's face, Parker tried to push it away with pleasantness. Her smile was wide, and genuinely trying to please, as she asked, "Are you and Mac going out for a case tonight?"
Slipping in through the still partly opened dorm door, Mac took the liberty of answering, shooting an apologetic glance to the very uneasy-looking petite detective. "Yeah. It's my first time actually out in the field. I'd be nervous about breaking in to an office if Veronica wasn't so good at it."
"Well, every girl needs a talent. Why shouldn't that be mine? Anyway, Mac, we really should go. Weevil gets cranky if he has to wait for me." Veronica was surprised that it was only half an excuse to get the hell out of the room.
"Wait, your breaking in somewhere with Weevil?" Veronica was surprised at the lack of detectable emotion in Logan's voice, but she tried to give him a slight smile in case it was concern that made him ask. But she doubted it.
"Actually, he's just the enabler tonight. He's still on parole after all." And with a slight nod as goodbye, she made her way out the door and away from the awkwardness.
"Sorry about that, they don't usually get to the room until closer to 10 on Tuesdays."
As they walked side by side across the campus, Veronica gave her friend a shrug. "It's not a big deal, don't worry about it. It's her room, she can come and go as she pleases. I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"Yes. Between you and Wallace and my dad asking me every day, I've gotten to be quite certain that I'm okay."
A moment of quiet passed before Mac spoke up again. "So, what exactly are we looking for tonight?"
"Well, Toby implied his professor was a little old-school, so best case scenario, she'd have some hand-written info. Like the grades for the semester to see if anyone's score was unusually high on the test in question. Maybe see if we can get any indication on how much she let's her TA help with grading. Toby seems to think of everyone involved with the class, he's the one who has the closest thing to a grudge against him. Apparently they hit on the same girl at a math-lete party, I don't know."
Mac stifled a giggle, as they approached the darkened math and science building. Making there way, quietly but quickly, to the third floor, they found the familiar outline of Weevil propped lazily against the wall.
"You dragging another innocent girl down into a life of lies and deceit?"
"I'm certainly trying."
He returned her smirk "I asked around. Old Wes is cleaning up this building tonight. He talks to himself and is very thorough, so you should have plenty of time before he makes his way up here, and you should hear him coming. If you should get caught, I don't know you and I had nothing to do with this."
Fixing her with a significant look, he pushed off the wall and crossed to unlock the door and then handed her the key.
"Thanks, Weevil."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be in the food court when you are done."
Once he was out of earshot, Veronica turned to Mac and whispered. "He thinks he's all tough and grumpy, but he's really just a great, big, ex-motorcycle-gang-leading teddy bear."
"Now that should be on a t-shirt."
Having spent a large portion of my day running back and forth between over-extended private eye and scholastically committed student, one would expect that at 3 in the morning, when I finally had allotted time for sleep, that it would come easily, and would be welcomed with open arms. And yet, here I am, 47 minutes later, eyes still open and alert, mind still racing. And these are the moments when I am quite sure that I hate Logan Echolls.
And sadly, they are also the moments when I'll admit that I miss him.
