A/N: The fourth most voted for scene was this one, which surprised me, but I hope whoever reads it enjoys it anyway; the product of Logan & Veronica vs. Principal Van Clemmons!

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

4. Clemmons talks with T.J.
during Chapter 27

T.J. was not massively impressed when she got a note in class to say she had to see the Principal after the last bell. Clearly Mr Clemmons wasn't just going to let her new found fame slide on by like some of the other teachers. Unfortunately, T.J. wasn't entirely sure how the guy would react to this. There were other famous kids in school, well, fairly famous anyway. There Dad's were big in business or their Mom's had been models before marriage. Nobody had a movie star father as far as T.J. was aware so it was difficult to know how things would go down exactly.

The administrator told her to go on into the office after barely a minute's wait. Sam wished her BFF luck and sat down to wait, and T.J. headed in to see Mr Clemmons. He smiled when he saw her, asking her to close the door and come sit down.

"So, Teresa Jane..." he said, glancing up from his desk in time to see her awkward look. "Sorry, T.J." he amended, momentarily forgetting that she much preferred that shortening. "Well, that was quite the revelation yesterday."

"Yeah, I really agree," she nodded along. "I mean, who would've thought Darcy shot Mercedes."

The look on Mr Clemmons face was priceless, and T.J. knew she really shouldn't have messed with him. She bit her lip and forced back a laugh, making herself appear innocent as anything when she continued.

"Oh, we're not talking about Sunset Nights?" she checked, referring the soap opera popular amongst her class-mates.

"T.J." her name came out like a warning and she let out a long breath in response.

"I'm sorry, sir. I guess I might be using my Mom's usual tactic, covering the awkwardness with humour," she apologised sincerely.

"Actually that was really more your father's forte," the Principal told her, trying not to smile as he shifted the papers on his desk.

"I didn't think... Oh, you mean Logan," said T.J. suddenly understanding.

Avoiding the topic had been so much easier than talking about it, but it seemed there were no good choices here. The world knew she was Logan Echolls daughter, and that included the faculty of Neptune High. It was still going to take a while for T.J. to think of Logan when anyone referred her Dad. Her brain still automatically went to Leo for the moment.

"T.J. I just want you to know that... that we're here to support you," Mr Clemmons began to explain then, putting on that face he had for when he was trying to be sympathetic and understanding - it never quite came off. "If you have any problems with the other students or feel you're being treated differently..."

"I really don't expect to be treated the same," she said then, sure she shouldn't have interrupted but realising too late that the deed was done. "Like you said, kind of a revelation, for me as well as everybody else."

"Of course," he nodded some kind of understanding, "but you can rest assured, T.J., that neither myself nor any other member of Neptune High's faculty will treat you in any special way just because you have been proven to be the biological daughter of a celebrity. As you are aware, many of are students are well known for various reasons and some do have more affluent families than others," he told her. "This does not mean a high grade or an excused absence can be bought," he said firmly.

"Mr Clemmons!" T.J. gasped in genuine shock, the kind that Veronica would've had to fake back in the day. "You know I would never..."

"I do know that," he assured her. "At least I'm pretty sure I do," he amended, staring at her like a bug under a microscope for a moment.

T.J. shifted uncomfortably in her seat and yet she wasn't as freaked out as she might've been before. People kept fixing her with that same look today, trying to see the genetics that had been hidden so long. Some said she looked a lot like Logan, others that they couldn't see it at all. T.J. was never sure which one pleased her more, and vowed not to think on it too much, though she did wonder which side of the line Mr Clemmons would fall. It was a pleasant relief when he backed off without passing comment at all.

"Mr Clemmons, I'm the same person I was last week," T.J. assured him then. "I know this whole situation is weird, believe me, it's freakier to me than anybody, but I am still me. I just wanna go to class, study hard, and leave here in two years with a diploma in my hand. That's all," she said definitely

He knew she was telling the truth. As much as Veronica always gave him trouble after Lilly Kane's death, she had a good heart and a sharp mind. All her unexcused absences and minor indiscretions aside, Van Clemmons always knew the young P.I. would graduate on time and with flying colours. Logan was a different story, but he had scraped through in the end, and Mr Clemmons was as proud to have him in that graduating class as anyone. Those two young people went through so much back then. T.J. was living a dream in comparison, even if her world had been somewhat thrown upside down when she realised her father was not the local sheriff but a celebrity that any self-respecting movie-goer could recognise with ease.

"I only say all this T.J. so that there are no misunderstandings going forward," he told her, with a smile she could tell was genuine enough. "We treat all students equally in this school, despite what some think. I want you to feel at no more advantage or disadvantage than your class-mates following the revelations of yesterdays press conference," he assured her.

T.J. smiled at that too. He really was trying to be kind to her and she appreciated it. Must be weird for a Principal to have such a diverse mix of students in a school and keep the peace the way he did. Of course, from the way her Mom, Logan, Aunt Mac, and Uncle Wallace told it, he'd been there long enough and certainly had plenty of practice back in their day.

"It'll be cool, Mr Clemmons," she said then, nodding her head positively. "I swear, if I have a problem, I won't take it out on school property or join a gang," she smiled too sweetly, every inch the product of Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls in such a moment.

"Very well," the principal nodded once. "Now, get yourself home and to your studying, young lady," he advised.

"Yes, sir," said T.J. dutifully as she got up from her seat and turned to go. "Thank you, Mr Clemmons," she added fast before she slipped out of the door.

Just a few paces away T.J. could see Sam and Antonio. She could hear them yelling about her and already knew she was about to be in way more trouble with her friends than she ever had been with Clemmons.

"Oh, great," she sighed, heading once more into the breach.

End of Scene