Disclaimer: Veronica Mars and all it's characters and situations are property of Rob Thomas and UPN/The CW. I do not own anything and will not make any profit from this story.

A/N: I'll try to update every Thursday.

A/N: Voiceovers are in bold.

A/N: I adore all your reviews. Thanks heaps! Obsessedlikeneverb4, that plot is coming up soon. xD Reviews feed my muse!

Veronica was waiting for Lilly by her car. They were supposed to hang out at the beach but had changed the venue to the Kane mansion (which Veronica usually avoided) per Veronica's request. Lilly assumed Veronica didn't want to be home because she was still dealing with her mother leaving, but now that Veronica knew Jake had dated her mom, she really needed to speak with him. What if she had somehow been driven out of town by him? She had just remembered that she had heard the name Jake being flung around when her mom and dad had been fighting right before she entered, and now it turned out they were high school sweethearts? Yeah, that's not weird. She saw Lilly skipping towards the car.

"You're unusually chipper." She said as they both got in and Lilly put the key in the ignition.

"I just met the cutest guy." Lilly gushed as they headed direction Kane mansion.

"Who?"

"A new guy."

"Sounds interesting. Anything else happen today, BFF?"

"Nope." Lilly said, 'forgetting' to mention her conversation with Logan.

Veronica's efforts were in vain as Jake was apparently out on a business trip. Any intention of finding out if her mom had left because of him and what exactly he and her mom had been in high school would have to wait a week.

Veronica knew that after her, though unintentional, botched up plan the day before she had to find a new and quicker way to get information. She couldn't wait a week for Jake Kane to come back. Now she just had to wait for opportunity to knock.

"Veronica?"

"Yeah, Ms. Dent?"

"This is Evelyn Bugsby. She's going to be doing a display of the class of '79 for their reunion, I was wondering if you could help her." Ms. Dent had a pleading look in her eyes.

"Huh, I think it, it happens." Veronica thought with an air of surprise. Who knew opportunity knocked so fast?

"I'll help." Veronica said quickly, afraid the opportunity would slip away.

"Okay, scan all the pictures she marked in the yearbook. And Veronica, please, keep her away from me."

Veronica nodded absently as she looked at all the pictures Evelyn had marked.

"Of course, she would mark the prom one." Veronica thought when she saw a post-it sticking out at that exact page.

She began scanning photos, eager to get it over with so she could get a chance to chat with Ms. Bugsby.

Okay, so mom and Jake were together in high school. Why did they break up? From what Evelyn told me they were pretty strong together and very much in love. Not that I'm not glad to be here, but what could have split them up? Dad? Celeste? Well, I wouldn't put it past the Ice Queen. But why would mom and dad be fighting about him before she left? He has something to do with it. Did she--? No, stop it, Veronica. Mom wouldn't cheat on dad.

Would she?

Or, maybe Celeste found out that they dated and was afraid they might rekindle their relationship and drove mom out of Neptune. Whatever it was, it wasn't pretty because mom started drinking before she left. She thinks I never saw her passed out, but I did.

Suspect number one for driving mom out: Jake Kane.

Suspect number two: Celeste Kane.

I'm putting my money on the Ice Queen. Why? She hates me and my family. Jake has always been kind and friendly to me. Now it kind of makes sense. I'll decide to give Jake the benefit of the doubt, mainly because I just hate Celeste.

Veronica jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Penny for your thoughts."

Logan sat down across from her.

"Holy crap, Logan. You scared me half to death."

"Damn, so close."

"Funny." Veronica said, rolling her eyes good naturedly.

Veronica took one of Logan's fries. He glared at her jokingly.

"So, where were you just then?"

"Nowhere. Just thinking about... schoolwork."

Logan laughed.

"Uh huh. Whatever helps you sleep at night. Now, for real."

Veronica was silent.

"Look, Ronnie, I'm just here to help, okay? I'm not going to judge you or anything. If you want to talk..." He pointed to himself.

"Talk to me."

Veronica was quiet for a couple of seconds. Logan made a move to stand up but Veronica grabbed his hand and pulled him back down.

"Look, I know you'll say it's not my fault and I should let it go and there's nothing I can do about it, but I have to know."

Logan looked at her with deep concern in his eyes. Veronica took a deep breath before continuing. She made her voice a low whisper.

"Remember the day my mom left? My parents were arguing and you may not have heard it but I heard the name Jake Kane. And now I discover that he and my mom were this power couple in high school. Very much in love, Neptune High's Golden Couple, truly, madly, deeply in love bla bla bla. Now, I know I'm paranoid but I can't help feeling like my mom's departure and Jake Kane are somehow linked."

Logan put his arm around her shoulder.

"Veronica, I don't th-" He started gently, realizing what Veronica was implying before she cut him off.

"I don't want to either, Logan. But come on, it's the first thing that comes to mind. Admit it."

He stroked her hair, aware and fully ignoring the fact that most people in the quad were watching. He knew Lilly would be pleased as hell if she was watching.

"I will find out why my mom left, even if the truth isn't pretty."

Veronica was sitting out on the quad alone, she still had about ten minutes before her next class and Logan had left, needing to use the bathroom after being assured a million times that Veronica would be fine by the Little Blonde One (as he liked to call her) herself.

Troy had seen the blonde chick around school, in the hallways. He'd loved Lilly Kane and wasn't surprised when the blonde chick turned out to be her friend. He was loving Neptune High so far. Unfortunately for him, she seemed to have a boyfriend. His name he knew, Logan Echolls. Everyone knew Logan Echolls. But Troy Vandergraff would never let someone stop him from getting what he wanted.

(A/N: Troy just thinks LoVe are together, they're not. Yet, at least.)

"Hey, is this seat taken?"

Veronica looked up and saw a guy with a very arrogant smirk on his face staring down at her.

"Nope." She said, continuing with her work.

Troy noticed the shortness in her answer but sat down next to her anyways.

"I'm Troy Vandergraff." He said it with such an air of smugness that Veronica instantly disliked him.

"Nice for you." She said without looking up from her history text. She was working on her paper on the Spanish Inquisition, and not making very much progress. Every time she saw this book she was reminded of the overheard library confession of Logan's love for her. And the fact that Trey here was trying to chat her up wasn't helping matters either.

Troy inched closer to Veronica. She immediately stiffened and poised herself, ready to fight back and flee at the first sign of discord or inappropriate behaviour.

Troy just continued to watch her and Veronica felt a sense of unease.

"Look, Trey, is there anything you want?"

He chuckled. "It's Troy, and how about a date with a hot blonde?"

Veronica rolled her eyes at his pick-up line and snorted.

"You know I think I left the catalogue at home but, hey, ask Dick Casablancas, he might have his copy if he hasn't worn it out by now." She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just take the goddamn hint." She thought angrily.

"Aw, come on, babe. Don't be like that." He moved even closer so that he was touching her and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer and holding her tight.

This was the last straw for Veronica. She was getting very, very pissed right now.

She gathered her things and tried to put them in her bag but Troy kept on pulling them away.

She banged her fist down on his hand, hard, and stood up. She quickly grabbed her stuff and shoved them in her bag before turning away. Troy grabbed her hand.

"Let go of me." Veronica hissed.

"No."

"If you know what's good for you, you will let go now."

"Come on, babe."

"If you don't let go now, don't leave me alone and even contemplate calling me babe one more time I swear to God, I will take your bullshit and shove it so far up your ass you will never be able to have kids."

Veronica yanked her hand out of his grasp and walked away, head held high and with a little bit of fear, cleverly hidden. She had no idea what it was but she disliked Troy and he made her feel uneasy.

"Hey, babe."

If was Veronica was happy a few seconds ago, it dissipated pretty fast. She wanted him to leave, but she couldn't lose her cool. Indifference was the key. She hoped Logan would arrive soon. Lilly had once again ditched her and she was 'stuck' going home with Logan. She really wished she would start taking her own car to school, but Lilly always insisted on picking her up.

She ignored Troy.

"Aw, still mad about earlier?"

Veronica scanned the hallway. Where the hell was Logan?

"Look, you can pretend as much as you want that you don't want me, but give it a week, I'll have you on your back, begging for more.

"Screw indifference." Veronica thought as she slapped him across the face.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her close to his face. He held on to her upper arm real tight and Veronica winced inwardly, holding her poker face in place. She would not let him sense her fear.

"Try that again, bitch, and I'll have you on your back but trust me, it won't be consensual."

Just as he said that he felt someone hit him in the jaw.

Logan had entered the hallway just in time to see Veronica slap some guy across the face and felt a surge of pride. His pride was quickly dashed by anger and a bit of fear as he saw him grab Veronica and heard him threaten to rape her. Logan boiled over. He punched the guy right across the jaw. Troy fell to the floor and was about to go for Logan when she stood in front of him holding out her taser.

"That's enough!" She was breathing heavily and seething. "Oh, just try it and see what happens. If you ever come near my boyfriend again, if you even come close to laying a finger on him, I promise you, I'm going to make you regret it for the rest of your life." (See Bottom) She realized too late what she had said. She couldn't believe she had called Logan her boyfriend in front of everyone. She said it mainly because she wanted to let Troy think she was taken and ensure his backing-off but also because, and this was a larger part, she wanted it to be true. "Well, that was one way of letting him know I return the feelings." She thought as she watched Troy get up and start to leave.

She could faintly hear a couple of people go "Go, Veronica!" Troy just looked at her and Logan with fury before disappearing behind the corner. Veronica was glad to see no one following him.

She took a deep breath and focused her attention on Logan.

"Are you okay?" She asked him. He looked at her in disbelief. "Boyfriend?" He thought.

"Am I okay? Proper question: are you okay? And where and when the hell did you get a taser?"

Veronica smiled at him. "I got it a couple of months back, before my first ever stake out."

Logan nodded understandingly. He was still too in awe to form longer sentences than the three questions he had barely managed. Veronica was a bad ass chick. Majority of him wasn't surprised but a small part still was, and that's the part he was showing, plus a whole lot of pride. He was scared Troy might carry out the threat on Veronica and vowed to keep a close watch on her from now on, but at least now he had a small sense of comfort in the fact that she could take care of herself. At least to an extent.

"But we're kind of drawing a crowd here, so let's go." She said, tugging his arm. She wanted to get out before Clemmons found out what happened and put her and Logan in detention for something they hadn't even done. She knew the attention came from the display, but her little slip of the tongue would get more than it's fair share of gossip coverage. Of that she was positive.

(A/N: This is a line borrowed from Home And Away, except Sally says 'my daughter' and not 'my boyfriend'. I don't own Home And Away either.)