Here is chapter 2. Starting next week, I will try to publish every Wednesday. Still no beta? Hope you will like it.

Chapter 2 : No Veronica, you haven't changed

Veronica glanced in the mirror, satisfied, she turned off the light, took her wallet and went down the stairs. At the building's entrance lobby, Casey was waiting for her tapping on his cell phone. When he caught sight of her, he stopped dead and a strange sound between Wah and Mmm came out of his mouth. Regaining control of himself, he kissed her on the cheek and said:

- You are beautiful.

She just nodded as he accompanied her to her car, gently pressing a hand down her back. As a gentleman, he opened the door and they both settled into the vehicle.

- How was your meeting ? She asked, breaking the silence that had settled.

- It went pretty well, I managed to convince this writer to join our publishing house, we discussed his latest project. This is a novel about a lost love.

- And has he found it?

- No and it was autobiographical.

- It's sad.

- I don't think so; he has precisily realized that this love was nothing but utopian, a fantasy of youth that had grown by distance, time and memories but that in reality both were no longer the same. The changes had allowed them to build a better life independently of each other.

- Wow, what a life lesson ! And you Casey, you don't cry over any lost love ?

- Definitely no, I regularly see most of my ex and I can tell you that none makes me nostalgic. My tastes differ from high school and college. And you Miss Mars?

VVO : How to respond to that ? That I regret to have said "you're out of my life forever", that nobody ever could compete with him, when he seems to have perfectly evolved without me. Was this writer right?

So she took the easy way, he has always been the safest option :

- Knowing that my first love is I don't know where, fleeing the FBI and illegally raising his daughter, I think our chances of big meeting are at ... 1 against 1000?

- OK, sorry, stupid observation. We're here, ready?

- Mmm, she replied.

Nervously, she made her entrance into the restaurant. She wore a blue velvet dress, the same as the Homecomig Dance. The money didn't flow, a loan to pay college, and only a few extra evenings in a swell bar to provide her daily needs. They had hired her as a waitress for her professional qualities, dynamism, efficiency but be realistic not only, her plasticity and her ability to diplomatically decline the advances of wealthy clients being too self-conscious, sealed the deal. But It was not enough to allow her to renew her wardrobe so she managed with limited means : exchange of clothes with her roommate and use of old high school clothes.

- Veronica Mars !

- Luke, congratulations for your career and your victory at your last game.

- Thank you, I didn't know you as a baseball fan.

- Not me, but my dad is, we were at the game last week. That's where I met Casey.

- You live in New York ?

- Yes for college, however my father still lives in Neptune.

- I'm glad you're here tonight and thanks to you since you're not foreign to ... all that. He said with a gesture of his hand.

- I know I have some talent but how am I responsible for your success?

- Well I still have my two legs.

- You're referring to a tall, full of protein, bodybuilded blonde with atrophied testicles?

- Exactly.

- Add scatterbrained and we could talk about Dick.

- Veronica you haven't changed.

- Is it a compliment ?

- Physically yes, verbally it depends on whom the venom is directed. Let's go inside and sit back, I will join you at the table later.

The dining room was of medium size, contemporary chandeliers contrasted with the more classic style of the walls. A large table was set up with a tablecloth and dishes that screamed luxury. A waiter took charge of the couple's coats as a brunette burst in.

- Oh my god ! Veronica Mars.

- Hi, Gia.

- I have so many mixed emotions right now. I kind of hated you, like, a lot, but I don't anymore. I'm trying to remember my progress. Blaming you for telling the world... that my dad was a pedophile is what my therapist calls "misplaced aggression," so... Basically, we're totally cool. Just so you know. Hi, by the way.

- You look great.

- Thank you. We should see each other as long as I'm here, just ... hanging out together, having a drink, with Casey ... why not ?

- Why not !

- Gia, I will show Veronica her seat, see you later. Casey interfered perceiving the uneasiness of the young woman.

- Oh and Veronica, you haven't changed. Gia concluded.

The couple walked to the back of the room.

- Wow ! It was ... it was ...

- Unexpected, the man tried.

- Unexpected and extremely uncomfortable. I did not expect to see her again.

- I know what happened with her father. I was already in college in LA but I followed the media outburst and one evening ... Dick, heavely drunk, talked about his brother.

- A memory among my top five of those of Neptune. Veronica replied ironically.

- Enough with the past, let's rather celebrate the future.

A few hours later, we found a more relaxed Veronica, conversations were going on around the table. To her left was Casey and to her right a teammate from Luke of good-fellowship, revealing humorous stories about the host of the evening.

- Luke had bet he could get this hot girl we'd met in a bar, except she left with Matt's sister. He climbed the top 40 floors of the empire state building hopping.

Everyone laughed at the anecdotes, and no one noticed the group of three people approaching the table. Veronica was chatting with Casey about the best way to travel in New York, when her attention turned to the voice of another person she was so tired of hearing on the radio.

VVO: No, no, no, Carrie Bishop. Bonnie DeVille pursues me everywhere, in my car, in my apartment, in waiting rooms and now in the restaurant. Be brave Veronica, the dessert arrives, you have changed, get over yourself and smile. What could go wrong?

- Hello everyone, sorry to be late but I just finished an interview.

She sat down next to Gia, both began talking about the journalist's questions. She looked very different from high school. Too much make-up, less smiling but there was a certain depth. They were interrupted by Enbom :

- And how is your admiral ?

- Oh my Bonnie lies over the ocean.

- And when does he come back ?

- End of November or beginning of December.

- Have you had any recent contacts ?

- A phone call about a month ago. Everything was fine, he was stressed by one of his missions, but secret defense so I never really know . I look forward to his return.

Gia placed her hand on Carrie's, in a gesture of support. She resumed her conversation with her neighbor at the table, putting an end to this discussion.

The meal ended with glasses of champagne, Bonnie DeVille, guitar in hand, interpreted dancing and entrainants hits. The dining room was transformed into a dance floor. The bodies moved happily, the dancers exchanged partners.

- I'm glad you're having fun, Casey whispered in Veronica's ear.

- Thank you for having pushed me to come, it was entertaining and I confess that you were right, it was not so terrible to see old acquaintance and to meet new ones.

Around two o'clock in the morning, Casey and Veronica left the dance floor, Carrie, who was probably very intoxicated, joined them.

- Veronica Mars.

- Carrie Bishop.

- New York ? Are you following Casey?

- No, I live here now. I study at Columbia, law school. I intend to pass the bar. By the way, congratulations for your songs, you were athletic in high school but I didn't know you had a gift for music. Your album is successful.

- Thank you, I knew you would go far, this sharp tongue will make you a good lawyer.

- I think it was you the champion of the acerbic tong.

- Retract your claws, it was a compliment. You didn't change Veronica Mars. Good night ... both of you.

VVO: Everything comes in threes. Well done Veronica ! You jump down the throat of your enemies without thinking and enemy, listen to yourself ... She didn't do anything to you since high school, let it go, vindictive and aggressive Veronica, it's not you anymore. Prove to others that you have changed. Celine was right, Carrie is an excellent singer, she seems to care about Logan and to be really pained by his absence. They are certainly good for each other, she radiates on the red carpets, it's a girl with whom he can share his tastes for parties and alcohol. I have to face facts, people evolve independently of each other and find happiness elsewhere. You have a man by your side, who takes pleasure in sharing moments with you, then Veronica, concentrate on your future.

- Break -


A bungalow by the beach. Carrie sits on a bench on an outdoor terrace, she plays guitar and sings at sunset.

"Bring back, bring back

O, Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me

Bring back, bring back

O, Bring back my Bonnie to me"

A man's silhouette approaches the beach, dressed in a white uniform, he smiles and walks straight toward Carrie. She stopped playing, drops the guitar, they eye each other, she starts to run and jumps into his arms. They kiss passionately.

Veronica watches the scene from upstairs, she opens the window, the couple stops, Logan raises his head in her direction :

- Veronica what are you doing here ?

Not knowing what to answer, Veronica remains open-mouthed.

- Veronica, get out of here, go back to New York, I'm out of your life, as you asked me, now go.

- Veronica! Veronica! Get-up , we have class in less than 30 minutes, you missed your wake-up call.

- Celine?

- Come on, out of bed !

Celine threw at Veronica a jean and a t-shirt.

- Shower or coffee? No time for both.

She got up and ran into the shower, hoping to chase the nightmare she had just woken up.

- End of chapter 2-