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Chapter 1: Money Talks
It started when she helped Meg (then again maybe it was Luke), after they all profusely (falsely) apologised for calling the pure as driven snow cheerleader every synonym of whore under the sun. A few would come to her here and there, asking for small favours and offering hefty payments. Things she could do in her sleep/on the computer in the privacy of her own home while she ate ice cream sundaes of questionable portion sizes and watched South Park reruns. Veronica turned down a lot of cases, stupid requests not worth her time no matter the money. She's got bigger fish to fry than the case of Shelly Pomroy's missing Rolex. Her ability to avoid the masses at large remained intact, at least until Logan and The Sunset Regent. They formed a tentative truce while she worked his mother's case. There was still sarcasm of course, insults continued to be thrown like jagged knives, though never quite aimed at the jugular anymore. Insignificant touches became common place, strangely explained away phone calls and conversations in public school hallways. Nothing to quite push her back into the 09'er fold but enough subtle changes to alter the perception of one Veronica Mars in the eyes of Neptune's most wealthy. Many (like Madison Sinclair or Caitlyn Ford) still believed that she wasn't to be touched with a 50ft pole or otherwise but to the rest, for the right price Trampy McBitch had outgrown her uselessness.
...
"Hey Ver-oni-ca." John carried the 'ca', leaning against the locker beside her in a feeble effort to get a better view of the face she was trying to hide. "I was thinking..." he continued when she didn't respond and ignored the soft snort that followed. "I know you helped Luke out." Veronica turned to look at him now, her small sliver of concentration already waning. She has a stakeout to prepare for and an important meeting with her PCH biker contact tonight. She'd rather not spend her few remaining free hours in the company of John Enbom. "And Meg." It seemed he wasn't planning on putting whatever this was to a stop despite her clear disinterest, so in the hope of hurrying him the hell up, she motioned for him to continue. "Maybe you could help me out too?"
She laughed, outright laughed in his face.
Composing herself, she looked up to meet his eyes, bag in hand and shut her locker with a thump. "No." And then she walked away.
Jogging to catch up with her as she rounded a corner to the left he said, "C'mon Veronica you don't even know what I want yet."
"Don't need to." She countered, pushing through the front doors to Neptune High, ambling for the busy parking lot.
Not wanting to be seen so close to her in public, despite the lack of animosity between her and his 09'er buddies ringleader of late, he tugged on her arm to get her to stop. Not expecting the harshness of her tone, he raised his hands in surrender when she coldly threw back "Don't touch me." He succeeded in slowing her roll at least.
"Look," he said. "I'll pay you."
"I don't want your money." Veronica turned to walk away again, tempted to break out Mr Sparky, if Mr Airline didn't leave her alone sometime soon. There's no security camera footage from the angle they're on, leaving her with plausible deniability for Clemmons.
"$800."
The number threw her, she could really use it. Tearing up Logan's check loyalty wise had been a good idea, financially after spending a week and several favours on a case with no pay off, was not so much. "$850 and travel."
"Fine."
She smiled, $850 for an 09'er case would be cake. She'd almost feel bad for robbing him blind if he wasn't, well, the son of a multimillion dollar airline mogul.
"I need you to wipe the hard drive on Ashley Banks laptop." The smile fell.
A/N: Small start chapter to get the ball rolling, I've only just started writing for Veronica Mars so bare with me while I get a feel for the characters and the way they interact. Hoping to post a longer follow up chapter in the next 24 or so hours that'll get into the nit and grit of it. Thanks for reading - H.