~~ Chapter One: Summer Time: Neptune: The Mars Residence~~
Veronica's stomach was pressed onto her mattress as her legs swam in the air while she flipped through a copy of Seventeen magazine. She never really indulged in her ex-classmates obsessions over the rich and famous. Unlike her ex-peers she watched the news and read the newspaper instead of flickering through pages of the glossy magazine. Yet here she was paging through Meg's copy of the teen magazine.
Meg was seated on a green bean bag couch that was spiralled out on Veronica's floor. The harmonious blonde of the group held a note book and pen in her hand as she jotted down her thoughts. Meg had high hopes for her future; she had wanted to become an actress much to her parents' dismay. Meg had always loved drama in school; she loved to dance, sing and act. She was brilliant at it as well. One could have easily called the blonde a geek but she was a cheerleader, hot and she held a certain sense of purity and innocence that made it impossible for people to be anything but nice to her.
And there was Mac seated on a blue chair as she typed away on Veronica's laptop; installing the latest firewall and tightening Veronica's security on her computer. Mac had always been the computer whiz in high school; like Meg, she could have been considered a geek but her wicked computer skills shut anyone up who dared insult her. She intimated many of their 09er peers by her wits and skills.
Even Veronica had her geek side, she forwent cheerleading for soccer and she was on the school's decathlon team along with Mac. Veronica also played chess and was a master reader of people though she was feared by her peers because of the information she had against them. Veronica was the school's very own Nancy Drew.
Lilly was the head cheerleader also known as the Queen of 09ers. Lilly had her own geeky side but the only people that saw it was Mac, Meg and Veronica.
Perhaps it was Lilly's status that kept Veronica, Meg and Mac from being exiled into the 'nerds' crowd because they were Lilly Kane's best friends.
Veronica caught sight of a quiz; she wasn't one to take these 'fun' quizzes but she had nothing better to do.
The title was in big bold writing, 'Are you a rebel child?'
Veronica bit her lip; the most probable answer would be yes but it wasn't because she wanted to be, it seemed to be a natural talent of hers to be a rebel. She spent a few minutes taking the quiz and was surprised at her score of 21 out of 30. It read: '13-22: Naughty & Nice' Veronica glanced at the other two options and she was sure that Meg would be 'Miss Goody-Two-Shoes' and Lilly would be the 'Rebel' and Mac would be a little bit of everything and most probably would have scored in the 'Naughty & Nice' just like she had.
Lilly startled the girls when she leaped into the room with alacrity. Her bright green eyes sparkled and she grinned mischievously. "Who's the most fabulous person in the world?" Her ebullient voice radiated throughout the room and effectively broke the peaceful silence. Lilly's enthusiasm caused her three best friends to be cautious. Lilly loved to live life to the fullest and she was very persistent on her BFF's celebrating life with her. Though Lilly's free-spirited way of the celebration of life usually involved reckless and spontaneous ideas that would in one way or another was bound to get them in trouble if they were ever to get caught.
Mac's eyes darted between Veronica's and Meg's, finally her sight settled on Lilly as she breathed out an exaggerated sigh and gave a fake quiver as she remarked, "I'm afraid to answer that."
Lilly frowned dramatically as she threw her hands up and exclaimed, "Oh come on guys show a little love!" She heavily sighed. "I, of course," she twirled her index finger as she points to herself. A smile hovered over her lips as she tried to build the suspense, "got us," she paused for a dramatic effect and smirked, "the most awesome summer ever!"
Veronica lifted an eyebrow at the statement. Lilly's 'awesome' usually ended with Veronica having to use one of her get-out-of-jail-free-cards. "Aren't all of our summers awesome Lils?" The petite blonde questioned as she scanned the pages of the magazine in search of more 'fun quizzes' instead of asking what was really on her mind; sometimes I'm better off not knowing, she decided.
Lilly raised an eyebrow at the sight of Veronica with the Seventeen magazine in hand and then flounced onto the soft bed, quickly she snatched the magazine from Veronica in the process. "Ronica, any season with me in it is awesome," Lilly smugly grinned as the three girls rolled their eyes at Lilly's 'subtle' hints of her awesomeness. "This year is gonna be epic."
"Epic?" The wary voice belonged to Meg. Lilly's normal was crazy; her 'special' would just be... "What have you gotten us into now Lilly?" Meg queried and placed her notebook on the desk beside her; it was impossible to do anything but pay attention to Lily when the girl was hyped up.
"Me?" Lilly tilted her head innocently. "Why, I have gotten us parents free summer," Lilly's eyes glimmered with mischief. At their unresponsiveness and sceptical glances Lilly continued, "Oh come on guys it's no fun being mysterious if you aren't being intrigued!" Lilly sighed and gave up on being enigmatic. "We are travelling this summer. To Utah."
"Utah?" Mac repeated; clearly this was not what she had expected.
"Yeah, apparently in Utah resides a little cabin; that I like to call the Kane cabin. It seems that daddy dearest had a big secret cottage in Utah."
"Really?" Meg's eyes brightened as excitement started to colour her features.
Veronica, Mac and Lilly, knew Meg's excitement was for Lilly's statement of a parent free summer. Veronica thought about all the differences in their parents.
Meg's parents almost never give her a break; they are way too religious in my opinion. Meg is probably the most innocent person you could ever meet, practically a saint. Though, at the same time not close to one since she's friends with us but she would totally pass for a Disney princess. I guess the idea of a parent free summer would be a wonderful fresh break.
Mac's parents are cool but according to her 'I love them but they just don't get me." One example would be that Mac's a vegetarian but her family are meat-eaters. I guess it would be like herbivore living with carnivores. But didn't Simba live with Timone and Pumba? Hmm but they did eat bugs...
Ah, Lilly, well, she got tired of trying to impress her parents; they always wanted a boy but never got one. Lilly always said that her mom cares more about her image and what the public sees. And that her dad loves her but not more than his billion dollar business. So her philosophy is 'if you couldn't please them, go out of your way to piss them off,' and that's exactly what she did. Lilly is rebellious but that's because she craves their attention knowing she won't get it any other way; not that she would admit it to anyone.
I once had 'perfect family' as everyone used to call it, my parents and I actually bonded and spent time together. People couldn't understand why I would decline a party invite to hang with my parents that was until I found out my life wasn't as perfect as I thought.
My mom split and I found out that she was an alcoholic. My dad had to be both a father and a mother. He even quit being sheriff and opened his own business, Mars Investigation so that he could work his own hours. But that was two year ago. Honestly? I miss my mom, probably always will but, the hero is the one that stays, and she left. I used to hate her for that but my dad looks so much happier now and that makes me wonder; the happier I see my dad, the more my anger at my mother fades.
After all doesn't everything happen for a reason, what's that saying? There has to be sunshine and rain for a rainbow. So if all of the bad things didn't happen I wouldn't be who I am today? I think I like this girl more than the girl I used to be.
"Yep, it's in Bear Lake and apparently its mine." Veronica's thoughts broke when Lilly's response rang out. Of course Lilly owns a cabin, her father is a billionaire! And being the only child Lilly always gets what she wants, but a cabin? Veronica thought to herself. She often wondered whether the way the Lilly's parents gave her everything was a good thing. In Veronica's opinion, things awarded often held more value and made people happier.
"It's a big cottage, peaceful, luxurious and apparently there's this huge lake like right beside the cabin," Lilly began with a dreamy expression.
"Wow," The girls shrieked with excitement.
Lilly laughed. "Well I told you it's going to be awesome!"
"We won't doubt your awesomeness ever again Lil," Veronica managed to get the words out through her laughter.
"Oh my gosh! We have so much planning to do!" The girls laughed at the perky blonde, Meg, as she continues to talk. She's an energetic bubble of joy.
~~L.A: Echolls Residence~~
Duncan leaned forward, his eyes focused, determined and vengeful. A smile slowly curved onto his dry lips, he was hungry and thirsty yet he wouldn't stop until the end.
Logan concentrated as well; his body tense as if the wrong move would ruin everything he'd worked so hard to achieve. He heard Duncan's stomach growl for food but made no attempt to help his brother, if he wanted to play with the big boys he had to keep up with them.
Dick and Casey's eyes were huge as they watched but didn't say anything because interrupting Logan would result in an annoyed Logan and an annoyed Logan was a moody Logan and a moody Logan was unpredictable and an unpredictable Logan was dangerous. At least that was their theory.
"Ownage!" Logan whooped as he jumped up from his position on the floor and laughed at Duncan who threw the remote controller on the side.
"You cheated!" Duncan accused with a glare.
"Dude, he totally blasted your head off," Dick laughed and high-fived Logan.
Logan grinned but damn his fingers were killing him, they had been going at this for the entire day, mostly because neither of them was ready to accept defeat and continuously demanded rematches.
"Yeah, dude, just let it go, for a moment I thought your stomach turned into an angry bear, it was scary," Casey said with a hint of sympathy in his voice.
Logan laughed as Duncan glared. Logan patted his brother's shoulder, "Come on man, my treat."
"Shot gun!" Dick calls out and races down the stairs as if to secure his seat.
Duncan frowned but followed, "Dude, we get our money from the same place."
Logan shrugged, "Yeah but I'm the one that's going to have to carry a wallet."
Duncan let a small grin appear but shook his head. Logan draped his arm on Duncan's shoulder and then ruffled his hair. Duncan laughed as they headed out.
"Hey so I was thinking we should totally go on a trip before we head to college," Casey started to say.
"Road trip!" Dick shouted with a whoop sound in the end.
Logan laughed as he went around to the driver's seat of his X-Terra. No matter what anyone said, his baby would be with him forever, even when he was an old dude living in his beach house he'd still have his beautiful car; nothing could replace his X-Terra as it really did feel like his baby.
The excitement seemed to clog Dick's brain because he made the mistake of touching Logan's radio, the song 'Summer time' by Shaggy blasted out. Dick started to sing along as well.
"In the summertime when
The weather is high
You can stretch right up
And touch the sky
When the weather is fine
You've got women…"
When Logan was seated, he glared at Dick while Dick remained oblivious as he continued to sing. Logan smacked the back of Dick's head, the tall blonde yelped while Logan's gruff voice of stated, "Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cake hole!"