AN: Summary explains it, but Veronica is more like season one Veronica then season three Veronica or pre-series Veronica. A bit of angst and dark humor.
Chapter 1
The first day of school... She used to love it, really she did, but this year... Something was off. Maybe it was that she saw more of herself in the outsiders then her best friend, or how when she saw that blue haired computer girl she wanted to say hi rather than mock her, or how Lily was feeling so predictably rich teenage girl rebellious, or that Duncan had started to feel so, so boring...
No. No, Veronica, just no. Don't go there. They're your family. If they seem boring or predictable, then it's because you know them better than anyone. Besides, what else was there, other then what she already had? She was the It girl. People wanted to kiss her, kill her or be her. She had a throne, and a spotless reputation, and popularity. People respected Lily, but they genuinely liked her.
As she finished getting dressed, she turned and looked in the mirror. White skirt, pink flats, floaty pink silk top. Perfectly her, only...it didn't feel right.
She sighed. Lately, this had been happening more and more. For example - her hair. For as long as she could remember, she'd had long blond curls, but two days ago she marched into the salon and had it all chopped off. It was to her chin now, and straight. When she got home and realized what she'd done, she fainted. Not because it looked bad - it didn't. It was stunning, eye catching, not beautiful, but something more exotic. Gorgeous. But Veronica Mars wasn't supposed to be stunning, or eye catching, or gorgeous. She was sweet. Fashionable. Composed. Pretty.
Pretty. What a perfect word for it. Nice to look at, but not anything meaningful. Not memorable. Something that people pass by in the store and go, "oh, that's pretty."
No! Stop thinking like this. It's not fair. This all started after - don't think about that either. Oh God. Distract yourself.
She turned and plunged into the closet. Her hands automatically sorted through the clothes, matching and discarding before she pulled on what she had chosen. When her hands stopped shaking, she made her way into the living room. It was empty and silent. No doubt mom was still asleep and dad already at work.
Veronica slipped into her car, glanced in the rearview mirror and backed out of the driveway. As she parked in her regular spot she stifled a sigh. Lily and Duncan were standing a few feet away, waiting for her.
She got out and walked towards the siblings. When she reached them Lilly let out a whistle. "Damn girl, I just saw you a week ago. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the good girl gone bad look, but what happened?"
She had no idea what she'd put on that morning. Glancing down, she almost did a double take. Officially, she hated her subconscious. She, Veronica Mars, doubtlessly this years prom queen, voted most likely to succeed, the girl who scored a ninety-eight on the Purity Test, was dressed in a red plaid skirt, a tiny black button up vest, white knee socks, and a sleeveless button down top. It wasn't slutty, or any worse than what Lily wore on a regular basis, but it wasn't her normal style for sure.
"I saw it in the mall the other day and couldn't resist." Veronica lied, then turned to Duncan. "Do you like it?"
"Your hair..." He looked like he was in shock.
"I got bored of long hair. I've had it forever."
"Well," Lily decided. "I love it." She linked her arm through Veronicas and pulled her towards the school. "So, I'm determined to host the annual back to school party this year, so I need-"
"Hold that thought, Lil." Veronica interrupted. Weaving her way through the crowd, she stared up at the flagpole. "Move." She commanded the boy in front of it, taking out a knife. "You new here?" she asked the kid taped to the pole.
"Yeah."
"Welcome to Neptune High."
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"... All I'm saying is that you don't have to be nice to the losers, Ronnie. You're too kind for your own good."
"Thanks." Both Veronica and the loser in question answered dryly. The boy Veronica cut down from the flagpole - Wallace - was in their first period class, much to Lily's annoyance.
"Besides," Veronica continued, "how do you know he's a loser?"
"I can just tell." Before changing the subject to the party she wanted to throw.
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At lunchtime Lily, Veronica and Wallace, who Lily had grudgingly accepted as Veronica's charity case, were intercepted by Duncan, who kissed Veronica on the cheek before heading over to his seat. As Lily and Veronica continued in the opposite direction, Wallace asked, "Why aren't you sitting with him?"
"Logan Echolls," they replied in unison.
"Who?"
"Him." Lily said, pointing, "My brothers best friend and my ex-boyfriend."
"Every school has a psychotic jackass." Veronica added. "He's ours."
"He's mad at me because I cheated on him, and he and Veronica have always despised each other."
"We don't despise each other. We just have a friendly rivalry between two people who really, really hate each other."
"Of course. Because there's a difference"
"Speaking of which, they're checking his locker today."
"I'm gonna skip asking how you know that, and instead ask what they're going to find."
"You'll see."
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Logan cornered Veronica in the bathroom the next day.
"Sweetie, this is the girls bathroom. So unless there's another reason you and Lily broke up..."
"Do you know what your little prank cost me?"
"Well," Veronica smirked, perching on the edge of the sink, "I'm guessing you won't get your bong back."
"Wrong." He stepped closer. "Care to guess again?"
"Clearly your sense of humor."
"My car. That's right, daddy took my T-bird away. And you know what I won't be having? Fun, fun, fun."
"And you think I care... why?
"No reason. Actually, I'm here because I thought you might want to know what happened to your car."
"Oh, you didn't."
"I didn't. But someone smashed all your lights. And slashed the tires. Weird, huh?"
She shook her head, breathing out an incredulous half laugh before she noticed how close they were and stopped breathing entirely
