Note: Contains spoilers up until 221 "Happy Go Lucky". I haven't seen the season 2 finale yet, so this is based on what I already know.
This is my first fanfic of any kind, so feedback is much appreciated. If some of the characters seem a bit OOC, it's because this takes place 5 years in the future, and people have been known to change.
Veronica stopped at her mailbox on her way up to her apartment. She didn't start looking at any of it until she was already in the elevator. Bills, bills, junk mail, a large flat envelope that promised to contain those photos she was waiting for, and a small white envelope that looked like an invitation. Puzzled, she looked at the return address. Neptune High? Who could possibly be inviting her to something at Neptune High?
Since graduation, she had only returned to Neptune a handful of times. Stanford may not have been all that far away, but Veronica had always found a handy excuse for not coming back during long weekends and vacations. Sure, she missed her father, but they talked almost every day anyway. Thanks to Kane technology and the world of webcams, they even got to "see" each other. And of course she missed Wallace, but their friendship hadn't suffered from the long distance. It was easy to keep in touch, especially after their parents worked everything out and got hitched during junior year. She still got a kick out of calling Wallace "little brother", even if there was really no age difference between them.
The wedding had been the last time she'd stepped foot in Neptune. That was two years ago. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, she came up with a new excuse not to go home, but she knew her family saw through them. At least Alicia knew that it had nothing to do with the marriage. It was just that going back to Neptune hurt too damn much. Everything from high school came flooding back the minute her foot touched Neptune soil…Lilly, Duncan, Meg…Logan. A bloody body beside a swimming pool. A school bus exploding and driving off a cliff. Limousines and homecoming dresses. A bright yellow XTerra. Some of those memories made her smile. Others made her heart bleed. Wasn't she allowed to put it behind her?
Ironically, it was because of the Kanes that she was able to heal herself as much as she had. Or rather, because of their money. The Kane Scholarship very nearly saved her life. Stanford gave her a chance to start over. No one knew her there- not the Veronica she'd been before Lilly's murder, or the Veronica she'd had to become afterwards. She made friends that knew nothing of the ghosts that haunted her, nothing but what she chose to share. Not that she shared very much. Where could she start? It would have sounded like some kind of TV show- murder, lost love, kidnapped babies, corrupt politicians, inept law enforcement, espionage. Who would believe it? So she left it behind her in Neptune, as much as she could. The only problem was that she seemed to pick it up again as soon as she returned to Neptune. So she chose not to return very often. Cowardly? Maybe. But who could blame her?
Now, as she stood in the elevator, staring at the little white envelope, it felt as though the evil demons in Neptune had reached out their tentacles and wrapped them around her. In a daze born half out of curiosity and half out of shock, she got off the elevator and let herself into her apartment. A pit-bull puppy scrambled off the sofa and started jumping at her excitedly. "Chill, Tag," she murmured absentmindedly, as she dumped her bag on the coffee table and sank down onto the sofa. She looked at the Neptune High envelope for a few more moments, before she flipped it over and ripped it open.
Can you believe it's already been five years! This Thanksgiving weekend, when you've had your fill of turkey and family, come to the Neptune High Five Year Reunion and find out what everyone has been doing since graduation!
Veronica skimmed over the date and time info, pausing briefly on the names listed under Reunion Committee. Typical. Madison Sinclair and Shelly Pomroy. She was only surprised that they hadn't "forgotten" to send out invites to non-09ers. Still looking at the paper in her hand, she flipped open her cell phone and pressed #2 on her speed dial.
"What's up, girl? Didn't expect to hear from you this early in the day."
"Hey there, little brother. Hope I didn't…interrupt…anything."
"Nah…I kicked out the Swedish volleyball team as soon as I was done with them."
"That's my boy. Love 'em and leave 'em Fennel. So, listen, I gotta ask you something."
"Really? I'm shocked. Give me a moment to start breathing again."
"No, I'm not asking a favor. I was just wondering if you'd gotten anything in the mail from Neptune High."
"No…but I haven't been by the old folks in a few days. It might have been sent to my mom instead of to my place. Why? What'd you get?"
"An invitation. Five year reunion during Thanksgiving weekend. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a five year reunion. I though I was off the hook for at least ten."
"So what's the big deal? You don't have to go. I though you weren't coming home for Thanksgiving anyway."
"Yeah, I know. I wasn't going to. Then Dad and Alicia reminded me that I haven't been home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day, or any of the birthdays since they got married. I can handle guilt from one of them. But when they gang up like that…"
"Yeah, I know. Try living here in Neptune with them. They have me home every Sunday."
"And now you know why I live in Chicago."
"And here I thought it was because of the wonderful winter weather."
"Yeah, yeah. Keep it comin', buddy. Seriously though…this reunion…"
"So don't go! Hang out with Mom, Keith and Darrell. Take Backup on the beach. Enjoy 70 degree weather in November."
"You're right. Why am I getting so worked up about this?"
There was the briefest of pauses before Wallace answered. "No reason. Guess you're just crazy."
"Guess so. Anyway, I have a paper to write. Catch ya later."
"Later."
She closed the phone, and put the invite on the coffee table. 'Get a grip, Veronica,' she told herself. 'You don't have to set foot in that place ever again. High school is over.' She turned on her laptop and opened up the paper she was writing on the juvenile detention system in America. No matter how hard she tried, though, Neptune was tickling the back of her mind. Those demons just wouldn't unwrap their tentacles.