A Different Way

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Pairing: LoVe, maybe some Duncan/Meg

Chapter one: October 3rd

Veronica was shaking as she waited in her Dad's car outside the house of her best friend, Lilly Kane. There wasn't a spot to look that was void of flashing lights and officers of the law. She had been given strict instructions to 'stay put', but she knew something was up the moment she saw Duncan in the foyer, shaking just as she was. Her mind was so jumbled that she didn't noticed that the soccer uniform her wore was covered in blood.

Still in her pep squad uniform, Veronica got out of the car and slowly approached her ex-boyfriend. She kneeled in front of him.

"Duncan, what's wrong?" she asked.

He didn't answer.

"Duncan, where's Lilly? What's going on?" she pushed.

He stopped shaking and looked directly into her eyes. Tired of waiting to be answered, Veronica stood up and followed the medical examiner, who had just arrived. They walked through the kitchen and out to the pool. There was a crowd, and of that crowd, was her father.

Then she saw blood.

And blond hair.

And the pep squad uniform.

Oh God.

"Lilly," Veronica whispered.

Along with a group of deputies, she saw her father start to head toward the house. If he saw her, she knew he would make her leave the crime scene, and she wanted answers; needed answers. So she turned away from him and let him pass.

It was then that she saw all of Lilly's dead body.

Tears flooded her eyes and she turned again, just in time to see her father ask Jake Kane something. Mr. Kane nodded and her father, along with his subordinates, took a left and headed down the hall. Somehow, Veronica knew where they were going.

Lilly's room.

She followed them, tears still gathering in her eyes. She knew the Kane house well, and he spent a lot of time here, but it looked so foreign to her that night. She didn't want to be there. No one tried to stop her or question why she was there as Veronica made her way to Lilly's room. To be frank, no one could have stopped her, gun or not.

Veronica didn't know how long she stood there, watching a group of men ransack her best friend's room; going through things that Lilly wouldn't want anyone to see. She knew this was necessary, that this may help find who ever ki- . . . took Lilly away.

And it was for that reason only that Veronica made her presence know.

"Check the air vents."

Her assumptions had been correct, of course. Her father had ordered her away and tossed her keys to the car. Veronica walked away just before Deputy Lamb handed three tapes to her father.

She didn't drive home. The thought of spending another night in an empty house really didn't suit her. She didn't want to be alone tonight.

Veronica thought of calling Logan, but she knew he wouldn't answer his phone. He was still mad at her for telling Lilly about the whole Yolanda thing. She had no idea how she made it to the beach safely; her eyes were filled with the tears she refused to let spill

However, she slipped her shoes off and her feet were surrounded by the cool sand, she knew Logan wouldn't be a problem.

"Veronica Mars, fancy seeing you here!"

It was Logan and he was drunk. Very drunk.

"Ronnie! I know you can hear me, and I just wanted to tell you something," Logan slurred as he stumbled over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you."

"Logan," Veronica started.

"No. I'm glad you told Lilly, really. I'm through putting up with all of her crap. She can screw Weevil all she wants, because we're through!" he yelled. "So I kissed another girl, so what? She blew me off, again, and I didn't mean it. She's just going to have to come back to me this time, because I-."

"Logan!"

The look on his face let her know that he now realized that she was serious. It was if her look instantly sobered him. It had always amazed her how he could go from being drunk as hell to cold stone sober.

"Veronica, what's wrong? Did something happen? Are you okay?"

"It's Lilly," Veronica whispered, dreading what she was about to say.

"What about her? Is she okay?" Logan asked, the worry written all over his face contradicting his previous statements about his supposed indifference to her.

Veronica shook her head, "No Logan, she's not okay." Veronica took a deep breath, "She's dead Logan."

His face fell and Veronica didn't know what to do. His eyes filled up with tears and that scared her. She couldn't remember ever seeing him cry.

After that night, however . . . .

One thing was for sure. Veronica Mars would always remember the way she held Logan Echolls that night as he cried.

Veronica Mars didn't know how she made it through the next few weeks.

It was time spent with Logan and Duncan, who seemed to forget the fact that he had just dumped her. But Veronica wasn't going to bring it up. The two boys had each claimed themselves a guest room in her house. The three of them were friends, and Veronica was the one who made sure Logan didn't drink himself to death and the one to make sure Duncan ate a little each day and didn't forget to take his pills. Her broken relationship with him was the furthest from her mind, to tell the truth.

She hadn't cried yet.

Her house was chosen because it was the only that wasn't full of adults. Duncan's house was full of cops, and even if it wasn't, there was no way in hell the three of them would mourn in the house that Lilly was killed in. Logan's house was obviously out, considering his mom was drunk most of the time and his father was the prime suspect in Lilly's murder. In fact, he was the only suspect. He had already been arrested and was currently out on bail, but on house arrest. Duncan and Logan were actually currently residing in the two guest rooms in Veronica's house.

Another thing Veronica would never forget is the look on Logan and Duncan's face when they found out Lilly had been having an affair with Aaron Echolls.

Her Dad had told them, and Logan almost broke her hand after squeezing it so hard after hearing the news. Duncan had started laughing, and it was then that Veronica had learned about his epilepsy.

She also made trips to the Neptune Grand to make sure the elder Kane's didn't need anything. Mostly, she did it to keep busy, to take her mind of the fact that her best friend in the world had been murdered. Celeste had given her Duncan's pills and was actually nice to her. Jake was nice as well, but then again, he had always been nice to her.

09ers came to her house to pay their respects. Dick and Cassidy Casablancas stayed over for a few hours once. It was the first time Dick hadn't acted like . . . well . . . a dick.

Her mother didn't call, but Veronica didn't expect her to.

Her Dad was never home either, but he was Sheriff. His job was demanding. Still, he had pulled even more all-nighters at work since her Mom left.

She was just glad her house wasn't empty. Having guests gave her something to do, didn't give her time to cry. She didn't want to cry.

Lilly's funeral was held a week after her death. It would have been sooner, but the coroner needed to do an autopsy to find out her time of death and, even though it was quite obvious, just what had killed her.

She assumed it was a project of Celeste, one that served as a tool to keep her busy and Veronica wondered what she would use now. The reception was held at the Mars'. After all, the Kane mansion was still a crime scene, and Veronica's house was somewhat large and could hold a decent amount of people.

Veronica and Celeste rushed around all afternoon to make sure everything was perfect. They had become allies in the sense that the men in their lives had finally started to realize that they were avoiding the real world. Logan was always trying to do things so Veronica didn't have to do it. Jake was badgering Celeste to sit down and relax. When either of the women saw the other being cornered they would make an excuse that would help the other escape.

It was strange to be on Celeste's good side.

Veronica made sure everyone had something to drink, even thought, as Logan pointed out multiple times, there were servers who made sure of that.

That night, after everyone was gone, Veronica sat in her room. All around her were pictures of her and Lilly, or her and Duncan, or of her, Lilly, Duncan, and Logan. Even though the three of them were under the same roof, still friends, she knew that they were all different now.

Tears filled her eyes as she caught a glimpse o herself in the mirror. The small diamond on the chain caught the light and sparkled. She remembered when Lilly gave it to her.

"Wake up Veronica!" Lilly called as she skipped into Veronica's room.

Veronica opened her eyes, "Lilly?" her voice was filled with sleep.

"Happy Birthday!" Lilly screeched.

"What time is it? How did you get in?" Veronica asked.

"God, always one for details; if you must know, it's midnight and I snuck in through the window in your living room," Lilly said as if it were common knowledge.

"But that windows locked," Veronica replied automatically.

"Yeah, well, I unlocked it yesterday. Enough of that, I need to give you your present!" Lilly exclaimed.

"Can't you wait until my party?"

"No, I'm the best friend, I get to give you your present when I want," Lilly declared.

Veronica smiled and sat up, "Okay, let's see it."

"Close your eyes," Lilly demanded.

Veronica knew it would be useless to argue and complied. She felt Lilly move her hair to the side and then felt something around her neck.

"Open!"

Veronica opened her eyes and looked down. There, around her neck, was a small, diamond encrusted V.

"Is that real?" Veronica blurted out.

"Of course it's real. Your sixteen now Veronica, you need some bling,"she laughed. "So do you like?" Lilly asked.

"Are you kidding? I love!"

Tears filed her eyes before she could stop them and before she knew it she had broken out into full fledged sobs. Veronica didn't know how long she had been crying before two strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her to a warm body.

It was Logan.

He held her as sobs racked her tiny body.

"She's . . . r-r-really g-gone," Veronica sputtered as Logan laid them down on her bed, letting her cry into his chest.

So, this is m first foray into the world that is Veronica Mars. Please tell me what you think!