Title: The Way We Get By (2?)

Author: Kayla

Character/Pairing: Veronica, The new girl, mentions of Logan/Veronica

Word Count: 1,200

Rating: R (for language)

Summary: The Kane's never existed by somehow Veronica still finds herself outcasted.

Warnings: Spoilers up to 1x22

Author's Note: Lilly is not a year older than Veronica, they are in the same grade and are the same age. Read and you'll find out why you need to know that, ha. Veronica's moms not mentioned because she…never existed? I guess, I don't know. I just don't really want her in the story.

There's a new girl at your school. Lilly Kane. You hear she's a billionaire or something from LA. Great, just what Neptune needs, another spoiled rich kid. You kind of hate her already. She has long blonde hair and laughs all the time. She's definitely not innocent; you've seen how she acts around the guys in study hall. But you could care less. Last period, you heard some B-list actor murdered her brother. Despite that, she seems peppy. Too peppy. Didn't her brother just die? She should be mourning or something. But she's not because she just sat down at your lunch table.

"Did I say you could sit here?" you ask, because yeah, you're pissed. This is your table and you don't need some rich girl, or anyone for that matter sitting with you.

She completely ignores your question, which pisses you off more, and begins talking.

"So, I hear you used to date Logan Echolls. God, how hot is he?" she asks with a smile. She always smiles. It makes you want to punch her.

"Totally," you say in your best valley girl voice. And then your face hardens. "Now can you leave?"

She laughs and looks at you with bright eyes. "You know you're like a total rocker chic Veronica Mars. I think we could like rule the world together."

You wonder how she knows your full name but you're not really surprised. You know people talk. A lot…about you. What they think you are. What they think you did. How you stalk Logan. And where the fuck do people get these things? You're just trying to get through senior year. Your thoughts are broken when you realize she's still talking.

"…and you know, he totally still wants you. I haven't really been here long, but damn 'Ronica, he so looks at you in study hall. I'll just be sitting there talking to Luke or something, and I'll look over at Logan. He'll be starring right at all. He does it like all the time."

You roll your eyes. The more she talks, the more you want her to leave.

"I really don't care."

You don't. At all. Whatever you had for Logan disappeared a long time ago. The day he threw you out of his house. The day he broke up with you. The day he told you reminded him of his mother. You didn't really understand at first, you and Lynn look nothing alike. But you figured it out later. Lynn always hugged you. Lynn always had dinner with you and Logan. And told you that Logan would make a wonderful husband. And Logan would smile and you would too because all of you thought it was true. But it's not anymore.

Lily bites her lip and looks at you. "Are you over him? Like really?"

He's a jackass and you're a bitch. Sounds like the ultimate OTP but it's not. You're over him. You tell yourself that everyday so it has to be true.

You look at her and laugh. She's definitely persistent. You don't need any friends but if you did, you'd probably hang out with Lilly Kane. Just because she actually talks to you…like you're human. Few people do that anymore.

"Yes, and can we please stop with the Echolls talk," you say. Talking brings back memories. Memories that scare the hell out of you. Because not matter how hard you try not to, they always make you smile…and that's scary.

"Good. So tomorrow, me and you, we're going out," she says like you have no choice whatsoever.

"Lilly, I'm not even sure I like you yet."

"Whatever Mars. Take off your hardass mark for like two seconds. Admit it, you wanna party with the infamous Lilly Kane and you know it. Pick you up at seven," she says.

"You don't know where I live," you protest.

She laughs and stands up and begins walking away. "I'll figure it out."

You and Lilly Kane partying? What has the world come to? You haven't really been out since Logan broke up with you. You and your dad hang out sometimes, but mostly you work.

Lilly picks you up at 7:13pm and hands you a fake ID.

"Troy and Luke are going to meet us there," she says as she pulls out of your apartment complex.

"Where and who?" you ask. This is not happening. Luke as in Luke Halls? 09er? Dammit. And who the hell is Troy?

"Troy is about to transfer to Neptune. He used to live by me in LA. Luke as in Luke Halls. Come on 'Ronica keep up." She rolls her eyes and grins. "Oh, and we're going to Club Thin. Every been there?"

"Once, on a case. Lilly, why didn't you tell me Troy and Luke were coming?"

"A case? Oh right, I heard that you help your dad with PI stuff in class."

She sighs and looks at you. "I didn't tell you about Luke and Troy because I figured you wouldn't go if I did. And you need to get out more. From what I hear—"

You cut her off. "What do you hear? About me?" Yeah, you're curious.

"Bullshit that's probably less than like half true. I hear rumors. Which are lame. Logan's mom dies so he blames you? Loser. You dad tries to find justice for her and gets fired from Sheriff. Logan's an asshat to you now. Supposedly though, you send him pictures of yourself naked and shit. That you fuck the basketball team on Fridays and the Football team on Tuesdays. What the fuck ever. I kept hearing all these things and I'm like, damn, I need to go talk to this girl."

You smile because you haven't for awhile. And it feels nice. And because somebody doesn't believe the rumors.

You think maybe this is a start of a beautiful friendship, but you don't believe in beautiful and friendship has always failed you.

"So what about you? What's your story?" you ask.

"Brother dies. Mother cries. Daddy lies. Basically, Duncan, my brother got mixed up with the wrong girl. Her psycho daddy killed him. Movie star and everything. We took the bastard down. After that, my mom, who is like ice queen bitch, tried to put me on pills. Umm, no. Dads off having affairs. So I moved to Neptune for a while. Just to get away from it all. The parents are still back in LA."

"Wow," you say, because that must suck.

She looks at you and smirks. " So new friend, ready for club thin?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," you say.