AN: I'm back with a new LoVe fic. This chapter is pretty much introductory. It'll pave the way of the entire story. What you should know...this particular part is set before Lilly died. A few days after the homecoming dance, a few days after Duncan breaks up with Veronica. That's pretty much it. Now on with the story...oh and a little warning, there are a few curse words.
The Choice
Prologue: Prelude to everything
He shattered her. Beyond repair.
At least that's how she felt. It has been exactly three days since he ignored her. Three excruciating days since she fell from the cloud that she's been walking on. She found herself completely confused. And deeply hurt. By the one person who promised her that he would love her forever.
He lied.
She wandered aimlessly. Hoped to find the salve to her inner turmoil. Knew without a shadow of a doubt that she wasn't going to find anything at the deserted beach.
A familiar figure caught her eye. Something inside her broke. She wanted to march up to him and stomp her feet. To demand an answer. But she quelled the impulse. Something stopped her.
He looked defeated. Beyond defeated. Under the moonlight his presence seemed almost insignificant. This boy who was always full of life, always ready with a biting remark, always ready to flash his boyish smile. He seemed lifeless. Conquered by something bigger than him. She felt her heart break a little bit more.
She approached him quietly. Stood by his side, waited for a simple acknowledgement. She loomed over him. He did not look up. She debated whether she should even bother.
The moonlight bathed his dark features. She could see him clearly. He did not want her there. She could feel the desire to be left alone radiating from his body.
She ignored it and kneeled next to him, ignoring the sand that clung to her knees. Placed her hand on his back tentatively. Couldn't help but see him flinch at the contact. Retracted her hand as though she had been burnt. Was she really that despicable that he could not even stand her touch? She distanced herself from him. Her heart was already broken. She refused to let him break it any more.
The sound of the waves lulled her emotions. She was not going to let anyone else fracture her being. Not even this broken boy.
"Hey." he uttered quietly, she almost missed it.
He seemed to have gotten a handle of his emotions. He was back in control. She didn't know if she was relieved or disappointed. She was used to seeing him shine. His personality had always been luminous. This utter defeat that painted his entire being was not something she wanted to associate with him. For better or worse he was her friend.
"Hey." she replied just as quietly.
"I'm sorry." he finally looked at her. She turned away. She didn't want to see the pity that colored his warm brown eyes. He was the one who desperately needed comfort. For reasons still unknown.
"He's an idiot." he mumbled as he ran a hand through his hair.
She remained quiet. It was the first time that someone, aside from Lilly, made such a comment. Everyone else she knew just ignored the fact that he broke up with her. Oh wait a minute…he ignored her instead of breaking up with her. It felt like everyone swept his transgression under the rug. Completely ignored. Like her.
He finally leaned back and looked up at the night sky. "He's an idiot." he repeated.
"Too late." she replied softly.
He finally spared a look in her direction. His brows were furrowed, as if he had no idea why she would say what she said.
"You're three days too late. You ignored me, you're no better than him." she said accusingly.
"No, no." he wagged a finger at her. "DK is and will always be better than me." he declared matter of factly.
"You would never just ignore a girl you're dating instead of breaking up with her. No Logan, Duncan forfeited his perfect guy award by acting like a complete asshole." she too stated it like it as a matter of fact.
They remained quiet at her remark. It was like he did not want to agree with her, but he couldn't find himself to contradict her.
"I caught Lilly fucking some random guy by her pool today." he broke the silence that settled over them. The way he said it was completely empty of feeling.
She couldn't say a thing in return. She knew that Lilly and Logan each had their own affairs. They broke up and got back together. That was their pattern. But she never really got to hear the details of said 'affairs'. She couldn't help the mild disappointment at hearing the depravity of Lilly's life. Especially since she actually claimed to love Logan.
"I'm sorry." she repeated the very same words that he said to her.
He inhaled deeply and shook his head.
She once again she reached out tentatively. Placed a hand on his shoulder. Once again he flinched noticeably. But the difference was she knew she had nothing to do with his reaction.
"You're hurt." she said plainly.
He laughed humorlessly. "And there are just so many of types of hurting isn't there? There's the emotional type and then there's the physical."
"You're both." she could feel the heat coming from his back. And it was no longer his desire to be left alone. She lightly ran a finger down his spine. She felt like he was burning. She toyed with the seam of his shirt, fighting the urge to pull it up and look at the cause of his discomfort.
"Don't Veronica." his tone was both a warning and a plea.
She ignored his words and lifted his shirt. She swallowed the gasp that threatened to burst from her. Her eyes started to water at the sight. She bit her lip to keep from crying out in anguish.
His back. His pale skin marred by bloody bruises, dark hues were already forming. From a belt perhaps. She took a fortifying breath as she leaned her forehead against his shoulder. He stiffened considerably.
"Did I hurt you?" she pulled back at the thought. She saw him shake his head. "I-"
"Don't say you're sorry Veronica. You had nothing to do with this." he murmured soothingly. She felt her heart break all over again. There he was broken, yet he still found it in him to try and comfort her.
"Who?" she asked brokenly.
"Who do you think?" he countered with the slightest hint of amusement to his voice.
She nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Why?"
"I wore his tux. For homecoming. I damaged his Oscar tux." he answered, completely emotionless.
She fought the urge to cry. Couldn't imagine anyone beating their child for such a reason.
"I deserved it." he uttered with such certainty. "I knew how much he loved that tux. I still wore it. Spilled some champagne on it."
She blanched at the words. He stayed out all night and instead of being grounded for that he got beaten because he wore a tux.
"No." she shook her head vehemently. "No!" somehow she ended up sitting in front of him. She cradled his face with both her hands. "No." she whispered just before she buried her face against his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her and rocked both of them comfortingly. "It's okay."
She looked up at him. Astonished at the quiet strength that he displayed. She touched his cheek tenderly. "You have to tell someone."
He looked at her straight in the eye. She felt like his warm brown eyes were swallowing her whole in their depths. "No." he whispered just before pulled her back in his arms.
TBC
AN2: As I said this is just an introductory part. Next chapter the title would make sense.