Disclaimer: I own nothing.

AN: So I guess by now everyone knows that this is a Jess/Veronica pairing. I'm basically mapping out their relationship prior to A Lifetime, with that said...on with the story.

First Impressions

Chapter 2

Jess Mariano was annoyed. Not at the person before him but at the situation in general.

It has been a week since he arrived in Neptune, California. And it had been…for lack of a better term interesting. He conspired to teach Logan Echolls a lesson in privacy and got attacked by a petite blonde, who is now studiously avoiding all contact with him.

So for the last week since he arrived in Neptune he's been at Java the Hut, scoping out the competition is always good business sense after all, the Dog Beach, not as nice as Venice Beach but then again the place has a certain charm to it, he visited Neptune High at his best friend's insistence and he also took a tour of Hearst College, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive blonde. He has no idea why he's so hung up on finding Veronica Mars; all he knew is that he wanted more…of her.

"Don't you agree?" the question snapped him out of his reverie. Jess smiled at his best friend, who was looking at him expectantly.

"Of course." He replied easily.

"I knew you would. So let's go." Adriana Townsend, his best friend of eight years grabbed her bag and motioned for him to leave some money for their untouched food.

"Where are we going again?" Jess asked as he took out some money to pay for their food.

"Aha!" Addy pointed her fore finger at him accusingly.

Jess got up from his seat and rolled his eyes at her reaction, "Aha what?"

"You weren't listening to a word I said. You totally zoned out." She answered triumphantly.

The two friends left the restaurant and started walking towards Addy's car. When they reached the car she made no motion of unlocking the vehicle so they could go on their way.

"Whatever."

"No not whatever."

Jess crossed his arms across his chest and the two engaged in a staring contest. Addy mirrored his stance and the two stood there for ten minutes, neither were willing to budge. Until Addy's phone rang, she made a face at him when he smiled at her condescendingly.

"Townsend." Addy answered her phone grouchily.

Jess leaned against her car as she talked to the person on the line. It was obviously Logan since her tone changed immediately. Jess looked up the sky and wondered what he agreed to do with Addy. Maybe he should have paid attention, knowing Addy it just might be the not-so-legal-you-might-need-a lawyer type of activity.

"Okay see you in a bit." Jess heard her as she ended her call. He looked at her expectantly as a look of pure mischief crossed her features.

"Feel like filling me in on what's going on in that demented head of yours."

"For your information my head is not demented. And if you're going to behave like a complete jerk to your BFF then I don't see why I should even bother doing a nice thing for you." Addy huffed as she searched her bag for her car keys.

"Addy." Jess uttered warningly.

"Jessie." Addy mimicked his tone.

"Okay so I zone out and am now wondering if I should place a call to the lawyer your parents kept on retainer. And what nice thing did you do for me?"

"I was merely admiring the beauty of Veronica Mars, who has been on your mind since her wonderful taser has graced you arm. And I asked you if you agreed with me, which you did. We're too old to do illegal stuff; well you are so I didn't suggest we spray paint any SUV." Addy smiled when she finally managed to extract her keys from her bag.

"And the nice thing is?" he prodded, he planned to point out the fact that her boyfriend drove a Range Rover at another time, after all he might not receive the nice thing she did for him.

"I don't want to do it anymore." She replied as she unlocked her car.

"Adriana Arabella Townsend." His eyes narrowed in impatience.

"Fine! I was going to take you out of your broody mood and get you to see Veronica again, since she is obviously the cause of all the zoning out and the brooding."

Jess did not know how to respond so he just opened the door for her and smiled slightly as he jogged to get to the passenger side.

"Before we go any further are you sure this is what you want?" Addy asked as Jess buckled his seatbelt.

Jess' brow lifted at her loaded question and nodded in answer. Addy sighed and started her car; he smiled slightly at the thought of seeing the elusive blonde one.

Veronica was reading her textbook, waiting for the clock to strike five. She's been in the library for the last four hours and she was ready to go home. Wallace and Mac have long since abandoned her for better things.

She sighed heavily and ached to go home, change into her pajamas and consume an entire pint of ice cream. When she finally opened her eyes her gaze landed on the taser in her bag, mocking her mercilessly that she closed her eyes again in frustration.

It wasn't her fault that much she knew. The rouse was done with the intent to cause panic, only the people involve did not know she carried Mr. Taser with her at all times. She can't help the wave of embarrassment that rush through as she went over what happened a week ago.

"Dreaming of me?" the question was uttered softly to her hair.

"Yes, yes I was." Veronica opened her eyes and saw Logan standing next to her with a smug smile on his face. "I was thinking of ways to wring your neck without ever using my hands."

"So not a wet dream then?" his smiled widened at the indignant look on her face. "Moving on, feel like hanging out tonight?" he asked her as he took a seat across from her.

"Hanging out, yes I do feel like hanging out. With you? No thanks." She replied as she shut her book, no point in reading anymore since Logan is obviously in a snarky mood, she needed her wits about her.

Logan's smile dropped at her tone and he suddenly looked thoughtful. Veronica can't help but feel a little suspicious at his action. "What? No biting comeback?"

He tilted his chair back and crossed his arms across his chest. "I'm fighting the snark within if that'll make feel you better."

"Why would I need to feel better? This is what we do, we trade barbs." She rolled her eyes at him.

"I know you're feeling a little guilty at treating me with such callousness. What's wrong Ronnie? Got up at the bitch side of the bed?" Logan looked at her understandingly.

"Bitch side of the bed? Really Logan?" Veronica looked at him regretfully, but she couldn't bite back the smile on her face.

"What can I say? Happiness has dulled my rapier wit." He offered hopefully.

Veronica just scoffed at his reply. "Do you mean to tell me that when you're happy you lose the jackass inside you?"

Logan glared at her in return, "Don't remind me of my idiotic ways when we were dating."

Veronica had to hold back the laughter that threatened the peace of the library. She knew how much self-loathing Logan had for himself whenever he referred to their relationship the year before. Many observed his whipped existence and blamed her for it.

Before they could get any further into the conversation someone appeared over Logan's shoulder. Addy Townsend had impeccable timing; she smiled at Veronica and put her finger over her lips, so Veronica wouldn't alert Logan to her presence.

Addy put her hands over Logan's eyes that completely caught him off guard that he upended the chair he was sitting on and landed on his back, narrowly missing Addy. The chair hitting the carpeted floor made a dull thud and attracted the many stares of the students. Veronica could no longer contain her laughter. She laughed at the furious expression on Logan's face and started gathering her things before she got booted out of the library.

Logan on the other hand glared at Addy who was trying to help him up, while controlling her mirth. When Logan was finally on his feet he was muttering curses like a seasoned sailor while Addy giggled at his colorful language.

Veronica started for the door but she couldn't help but look back at the couple who were bickering quietly to the best of their ability as they followed her.

And that's why she blamed the two for what happened next.

She ran smack in the middle of someone. She was in such a hurry to get out of the library and fully release her laughter that the force catapulted her and the human wall onto the ground. Veronica closed her eyes in mortification; this isn't her day at all.

"You guys want to get up anytime soon." Logan asked as he and Addy stopped right next to her.

The question forced Veronica to open her eyes and found herself on top of Jess Mariano, the very same man that she's worked hard to avoid all week.

There was something about this man that made her feel completely unlike herself. He smiled at her warmly and made no move to get her off of him. Brown eyes, he had such warm brown eyes. But then she recalled Logan's words and got up hastily, which resulted in vertigo.

She swayed a little and felt Jess Mariano's hand on her waist, a worried look on his face.

"Are you okay?" he asked her quietly. When he saw Veronica staring at the hand on her waist he immediately moved his hand away.

Veronica looked at him and then at Logan and Addy, Logan was smiling wolfishly while Addy was looking at Jess who was still looking at her.

"Yeah. Sorry about the…" Veronica gestured to the floor and then to the two of them.

"No big deal." He shrugged in return.

"No big deal. It's not everyday that you're accosted by a beautiful woman, Jess." Addy scoffed at Jess' reply.

Jess turned to his friend and raised his brows at her words.

"Damn Veronica, Jess has only been here for what? Eight days and you've assaulted him twice already that has to be a record even for you." Logan commented as he placed his arm around Addy's shoulders and started to really leave the library.

"If I remember correctly the only reason I had to assault him the first time was because of your idiotic caveman tendencies." Veronica bit back as Jess handed her bag to her.

"And what happened just now was an accident, which you and Addy also caused." Jess added.

Veronica smiled at his words, so he knew she was looking at the couple before they collided and was definitely not afraid to call Logan on it, a man after her own heart.

Addy was looking at Jess strangely which obviously unsettled him as he glared in return. She shrugged her shoulders in response that Veronica can't help but think that they were having a conversation without having to say a word.

Once outside Veronica no longer felt like laughing. She was thinking of a way to leave the three and head home, after all she had her pajamas and ice cream waiting for her.

"So the movie's starting in an hour. We should get going." Addy stated before Veronica could get a word in.

Veronica's brows furrowed at her words, she was supposed to head home.

"You didn't tell her?" Addy smacked Logan's chest in consternation.

"YOU assaulted me before I got a chance to." Logan replied as he grabbed the hand on his chest.

"I didn't assault you. I was going for surprise-your-girlfriend-is-here-gesture, typically regarded as cute." Addy snapped as she tried to wrench her hand away from him.

"As entertaining as it is to see you two together, I think someone should tell Veronica about the plans you made for her." Jess sarcastically interjected as Logan looked ready to tried barbs with his girlfriend.

"You made plans for me without asking." Veronica felt a twinge of anger and a hint of nervousness at Jess' words.

"I'd tell you but I have no idea. She only went so far as to tell me that we were meeting you and Logan here." Jess uttered somewhat apologetically, which eased the anger brewing in Veronica at the thought of his presumptuousness.

"It's not as nefarious as you might think Veronica." Logan rolled his eyes at her. "I just figured since Jess is bound to feel like third wheel that it'd be a good idea that you tag along. I know, I know, we could invite someone else, but then you are the only person besides me and Addy here who knows Jess."

"So will you go with us?" Addy looked at her hopefully.

Veronica didn't know what to do. She's been avoiding Jess because she was so embarrassed by how they first met. She knew from Logan that Jess has been trying to track her down. Why exactly he felt the need to do so is beyond her.

She shifted her gaze from Addy who was still looking at her hopefully, to Logan who was wearing an impatient look on his face and finally to Jess who was just looking at her. She straightened her shoulders and nodded. She's Veronica Mars, she can deal.

"Yay! Um…we should leave. Logan insists on my presence in his gas guzzling vehicle..." Addy trailed off as she looked at her and then at Jess.

Jess was now sporting the same strange look that Addy was wearing earlier and it was amusing for Veronica to see, they seemed so in tune with how the other was feeling.

"Jess can ride with me." She offered as the two began a staring contest. Jess blinked first and offered her a wry smile.

"If it's okay with you." He nodded in her direction.

"We'll see you there then." Logan gave them a mock salute and reclaimed his hold on Addy, steering them at the opposite direction that Veronica parked her car.

"Downtown Neptune, we'll meet you there and then we can walk over to the indie theater I found." Addy yelled over her shoulder as she pinched Logan's side for not bothering to stop as she relayed the directions to Veronica.

AN2: Thanks for the feedback, I'm glad you guys liked the last chapter. I'll try to send individual replies through next time. Thanks for reading.