[Spring 1996 - Veronica's 3rd Grade Year & Lilly's 4th Grade Year]

The mysterious Veronica Mars had no idea that her existence was being questioned. In fact, there were a good many things that were beyond the comprehension of the young girl whom Lilly Kane had nearly dismissed. Initially, Lilly had wanted to push Veronica down in the mud just to see what she'd do. Even at her newly turned ripe old age of 11, Lilly didn't trust the supreme innocence of the tiny blonde-haired, blue-eyed pixie. Lilly was sure that she wasn't for real. Either Veronica Mars must be a fairy princess or a magical sprite or she was even more refined at lying and manipulating than Lilly herself. Whichever it was, the bold, bright, and beautiful Lilly Kane was bound and determined to find out.

The moment Lilly had seen the flash of anger and determination in Veronica's eyes as she'd stood up to the infamously bratty Lilly Kane for picking on an overly sensitive peer, Lilly knew she'd met her match. Instead of being bothered by Veronica's harsh words or the tiny finger that poked her in the chest as she was lectured on treating people the way she would want to be treated, Lilly slung her arm around Veronica's shoulders and declared the girl her new best friend.

Lilly's voice when she spoke to or about Veronica Mars held admiration and respect, two emotions that the spoiled Lilly Kane was rarely able to conjure for another person. Typically, she was simply allowed to be wild and get away with anything. In fact, most of the time she had the distinct impression that she scared the bejeezus out of her parents.

Of course, that Lilly had even been allowed to play soccer had actually been a compromise between her parents to try to get her to learn how to cooperate with others and function on a 'team'. Her mother had wanted her to take ballet to learn discipline, precision, and the need to follow directions. Lilly had wrinkled her nose at that idea and had been about to protest loudly against such a dainty and underwhelming endeavor. Fortunately, just as she'd opened her mouth, her father had opened his and suggested a team sport such as volleyball or soccer.

At first, Lilly had planned to acquiesce to the volleyball option. When her mother had argued against soccer and how muddy and dirty she'd get, though, Lilly had immediately turned her cat-like gaze on Celeste. Quickly, she had spoken to her father firmly but also with excitement in her tone as she said decisively, "Soccer. I pick soccer. Anything that lets me kick things can't be all bad," she'd reasoned aloud.

Up until the day she'd met Veronica Mars, the teamwork aspect of playing soccer had not been going nearly as well as her parents had hoped. Thus, when Veronica's parents had refused to allow their only child to play at the Kane estate, Lilly had not had a single problem weaseling permission out of her father to spend time at Veronica's home instead. Celeste hated it. Lilly didn't know why but she was bound and determined to find out. In the meantime, knowing her mother hated the idea of her playing at her lower middle class friend's house was satisfaction enough.

Thinking back to the first time she had met Veronica, Lilly grinned to herself as she flopped on Veronica's bed and said, "We need to spice up your life a little, Veronica Mars. When are you gonna stop acting like such a boy and start actually liking boys already?"

Veronica rolled her eyes and bounced onto her bed as well. Looking at Lilly upside down as she lay on her back while Lilly lay on her stomach, Veronica declared, "Boys are dumb. Why would I want to like one? It's more fun to outsmart them!"

Tapping her lips theatrically, Lilly's green eyes gleamed as she responded, knowing her words would scandalize her puritanical friend, "Boys aren't as dumb as they look. They're just better at thinking with their dicks than their brains."

"Lilly!" Veronica chided, clearly flustered at her friend's brash statement, "How would you even know that?! And why? Never mind, I don't want to know."

"Of course you want to know, Veronica Mars!" Lilly had exclaimed, grabbing a pillow to playfully bash her friend with it, "You're what the experts call 'naturally curious'. You want to know everything. How you've managed to stay so pure and innocent in spite of all those questions you ask is beyond me. But seriously? You wanna know how I know?"

Veronica rolled over and looked at Lilly doubtfully, "I don't know, Lil...does it involve graphic descriptions of naked bodies?"

Lilly giggled and rolled her eyes, clearly enjoying herself as she sat up and said, "No, silly," she waited a beat to see if Veronica would pick up on what she'd thought had been implied but then she said, "Oh. My. God. Veronica Mars! You've really never seen it, have you?"

"Seen what?" Veronica asked in confusion, furrowing her brow as she thought back to try to figure out what she'd missed.

"Ok. Seriously. I shouldn't have to explain this," Lilly shook her head and 'tsk-tsk'd playfully, "Have you not been paying attention every time I drag you shopping with me?"

"Paying attention to what, Lil?!" Veronica asked in exasperation, now hugging the pillow that Lilly had hit her with in her lap.

"The looks," Lilly said in an exaggerated, drawn out manner, "I've started to blossom, Veronica Mars. Surely you've noticed that! I've even brought you with me to buy bras. Boys love boobs and I'm gonna have some great ones!"

Veronica was still staring at her friend blankly so Lilly shook her head and continued on in a tone that said her patience was being stretched thin, "Look. Pay attention next time we're out. Every male within a 3 block radius will be checking me out. I guarantee it." When Veronica just gave her a clear look of skepticism, Lilly took it as a challenge, "You don't believe me? Let's go to my house. Even my little brother acts like he's never seen boobs before!"

"Uhh, no thanks, Lil," Veronica responded, a look that was a cross between disgust and disdain etched on her face, "I'll take your word for it. Besides, wouldn't you rather boys liked you for your brains rather than your body?"

Lilly laughed and shook her head, "What fun would that be?!" Before Veronica could protest further, Lilly leaped off the bed and said, "Come on! Let's go see if your mom has any snacks for us."

Frowning, Veronica followed Lilly. She didn't want to go see her mom. She was afraid of what they might find. She was glad, however, that the topic of conversation had ended. She knew nothing about boys and wasn't sure she wanted to. For now, she was perfectly happy with her father as her hero and was content to leave all other male attention in Lilly's capable hands.