The Shark Tank grounds of Columbia Law School was the last place that Veronica Mars ever expected to run into her old friend, Parker Lee.
She certainly never imagined when she left her lecture this afternoon that she would find her standing in a simple green jacket, white t shirt and tight blue jeans outside William and June Warren Hall with a petite Asian woman in her mid-twenties, but as it turned out, New York could be a pretty small place sometimes.
It had been almost 6 years since the two of them had shared their awkward farewell at her going away dinner when Veronica had left Hearst College to take up her internship at the FBI before she had transferred to Stanford and moved out of Neptune, California for good.
Away from Him for good.
Veronica wasn't convinced at first it was Parker, her hair was a soft honey brown colour in a short pixie cut style, instead of the bouncy long blond locks she had been sporting when Veronica had last seen her. It was only when she laughed at something her shorter companion said that she was able to say for definite that it was her. Cindy "Mac" MacKenzie's former college roommate and the girl who had saved Veronica from being raped by Mercer Hayes, the asshole who had terrorized the Hearst Campus for close to two years before Veronica's investigation into the rapes had exposed him.
"Mars!" Brodie Carter called as he came running through the College grounds and she cringed inwardly as the sound of his voice drew Parkers attention. Their eyes connected across the quad and Parker smiled in recognition. Not too many petite blonds on this campus.
Agent Brodie Nathaniel Carter had just finished his training at the Farm after he had graduated Quantico, her on and off again boyfriend for the last few years. These days, she wasn't quite sure what they were doing, this little dance between them had begun during her summer internship in the FBI and they had been crossing paths ever since… he was currently stationed in the New York field office, but they both knew that this was going to be over between them soon when he finally got that promotion down to Washington, DC. They just hadn't gotten around to admitting it to themselves yet she thought sadly as he ran up beside her, sweaty from his usual run.
You have to keep your edge if you want to get the bad guys.
This had almost been her life, up until that final case in Neptune that almost ended in her father Sheriff Keith Mars being prosecuted for evidence tampering after she had crossed one line to many, Veronica had considered herself a triple threat. A girl, a teenager, and a private detective - It had barely fit on her business card. She had been chasing a dream of joining the FBI or the CIA but the cost was too high. The closest she came to going undercover or crime solving these days were her weekends re-watching Covert Affairs on Netflix.
"Hey Handsome" she smiled as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead but she kept her eyes on Parker.
"See someone you know?" Brodie asked as he followed her gaze. "I am just putting this out there…. If you are thinking of switching teams… she is a fine choice" he joked as he glanced over at Parker who was now excusing herself to come over and greet them.
"Veronica Mars?" she smiled.
"Parker Lee… it's been a long time" Veronica smiled back.
"It's been forever… you look amazing, this is so weird… I was just with Mac and Wallace last week" Parker exclaimed as she gave her an awkward hug as her boyfriend cocked an eyebrow expectantly.
"Oh… uh this is Brodie, Parker Lee, this is Brodie Carter" Veronica said quickly as she introduced them both.
"Nice to meet you" Parker greeted him as she shook his hand and gave him a small look of appreciation and Veronica felt something in her stomach twist. Hadn't she looked at Logan Echolls in a similar fashion a few years ago?
"My Pleasure" Brodie grinned.
"I know Parker from my time at Hearst" Veronica explained.
"Ah, well that explains it!" he smiled. "You are a long way from Neptune" he observed but Veronica knew he was picking up on more than just that, he had been taught all about how to read a situation at Quantico, body language, vocal inflection… he was just drinking all this in and if it wouldn't give her uncomfortableness away, Veronica would have stabbed him in the foot with her heel.
"I graduated about three years ago… I'm here for my brother's wedding" she smiled.
"Andrew?" Veronica asked, trying to piece together what she could remember of Parkers family.
"Aidan" she corrected. "What about you? Are you in Law school now?"
"Just started my second year" Veronica nodded, was small talk always this painfully awkward?
"We should grab lunch, while I am in town" Parker offered quickly looking at Veronica.
"Well, we were just about to head for some dinner in an hour… if you are free would you and your friend like to join us?" Brodie suggested as the petite Asian woman joined them. He was digging again… his non-stop quest to uncover the elusive origins of Veronica Mars… the ever emotionally unavailable concrete angel.
"Oh, this is Amida Wang, my partner" Parker explained as she handed over her business card.
"Hi" Amida greeted them shyly.
Amida Wang and Parker Lee – Public Relations.
"We were just discussing you two joining us for dinner later this evening" Brodie informed her and Veronica grimaced as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "But of course if you two already had plans…."
"We would love to" Parker answered casually.
"Excellent… shall we meet at The Salty Dog, 37th and 5th in about an hour?" Brodie suggested, looking at his watch.
"Yeah, sounds great… it will be good to catch up" Parker smiled warmly.
Does absence really make the heart grow fonder?
"Here's my card" Brodie told her, passing her one of the cards with his real name but cover job on it, according to the rest of New York, he was just a low level data analyst for a Wall Street Investment Mogul. Not an Agent in the FBI.
"Cool, We will see you later" Parker told him as she looped her arm around her companion.
"What do you think you are doing?" Veronica complained after they were out of ear shot.
"What? Since when do I ever get an opportunity like this?" Brodie countered.
She was getting wary of this constant attempt at surveillance, the prying into her life before she had went to Stanford… is this what it had been like dating Veronica Mars, teenage sleuth?
"You ever think I left my life behind at Hearst for a reason?" she frowned.
"The sex tape?" he questioned, cocking an eyebrow, his blue eyes probing hers.
"And among other things…." Veronica sighed.
"I will unwrap these mysteries…" he joked as he pulled her in for a kiss.
Dinner with Parker was only going to accelerate the inevitable, this thing between her and Brodie wasn't working out… couldn't work out. His life, his career was a constant reminder of the choices she had decided to walk away from all those years ago.
Deep down Veronica knew the truth, it wasn't working out because she had never let it start… not really. No one ever got that close to her anymore. Perimeter defences had gone up around her heart after the death of her high school best friend Lilly Kane and any and all attempts to get her to commit to something before her goals of getting her Law Degree were complete were met with an impenetrable barrier.
If no one else got in, no one could hurt her… not like He did.
"I promise I won't interrogate your friends" he assured her.
No matter how well intentioned or determined Brodie was… it didn't matter in the end. Her heart had been fortified. Love was a liability, and this thing between them was nearing the end.
"It's a bit too late to back out now" she told him derisively as she looped her hand around his waist and they made their way to his apartment.
"Amida and I actually live together" Parker smiled as she sipped her Cosmo while they waited for the hostess to get them a table.
"Here in New York?" Brodie probed.
"No.. Seattle" she replied cheerfully. "So how long have you two been together?"
"Almost four years" Brodie smiled casually.
"On and off" Veronica added quietly as she sipped her gin and tonic.
"Yeah.. on and off" Brodie agreed before his phone rang. "Sorry babe, its work.. I'll be quick" he said, kissing her cheek before making his way through the thick crowd.
"I'm going to go get a smoke before they get us settled at our table" Amida told Parker loudly.
"It's so loud in here" Parker commented.
"Yes but the Key Lime Pie is not to be missed" Veronica joked.
"I'm sorry this is so weird" Parker apologised.
"Don't be… it is really good to see you" Veronica told her genuinely.
"Pauline's older brother Jayden Sampson, is in his final year at Columbia" Parker explained. "I'm surprised you are though… I thought for sure you would be sweating it at The Farm or something equally CIA?"
"Yeah… well… turns out that video of me Undercover… was a little too much to risk putting me Undercover" Veronica smiled sadly. The sex tape had gone Viral.. no escaping it now, but she no longer cared. There was more than one way to get the bad guys… and a court room was as good an arena as any. She lived for it… trying cases…. at least she did at the moment. Frivolous law suits that seemed more and more likely for her future might not have been as enticing but she would figure that part out in time. She still had to pass the Barr exam.
"I saw him recently you know.." Parker told her finally.
Him, Logan Echolls. Their mutual ex-boyfriend.
The Epic Love of her life.
"Yeah?" Veronica asked carefully, sipping her drink, careful not to give too much away.
"Yeah… I was doing some work for Senator Harrocks down in Marysville, and there he was in his uniform… He looks good" Parker told her softly.
"He always did" Veronica replied quietly.
"He's got himself together… finally…" she admitted. "Never pictured he'd end up joining the Navy… but then I'd never pictured that I would be sitting here talking to Veronica Mars Future Ms Attorney at all and not some Agent"
"Legally Blonde" Veronica joked as she noticed Brodie coming back.
"Is it serious between you two?" Parker asked and Veronica could almost see the comparisons she was making between Logan and the tall African American man coming back to join them at the table.
"Not really…" Veronica sighed. "I'm not really sure what we are anymore"
It's always going to be Logan. Parker thought sadly as she looked at her petite blond friend.
"Carter-Lee?" the Hostess called as she appeared by the side of the bar.
"That was well timed" Amida smiled as she returned to Parker's side and Brodie lifted his drink and the four of them headed to their table.
"What about you? Anyone special?" Veronica asked Parker as they headed to their seats.
"Really?" Parker laughed in amusement. "Amida is my girlfriend!"
Brodie chuckled as Veronica nodded in understanding as she picked up the Menu.
"Oh"
Perhaps Brodie was right… maybe she was studying a bit too hard lately if her Private Eye senses had missed something so obvious?