Veronica Reynolds. Popular girl. Cheerleader. New York elite. Not a bad undercover assignment if you take out the boring classes that I do in my sleep.

She was walking with her new best friends, Veronica "Ronnie" Lodge and Betty Cooper, en route to River Vixens practice. On their way, a tall, beefy redheaded guy waved at them.

"Hey, Ronnie. Betts. Who's this?" His smile was as broad as his shoulders and as genuine as a Nebraska farm boy's.

Ronnie put her hand on Veronica's shoulder. "Archiekins, meet Veronica. She's my long lost city sister."

The boy eyed her curiously. "Two new Veronicas in one year. Weird. It's nice to meet you. I'm Archie." He shook her hand, and Veronica shamed herself for even wondering to herself whether he was eighteen. You are not old enough to be a cougar, Veronica Mars. Stand down.

After he left, they resumed their walk, and Ronnie was all talk again. "Betty's had a thing for Archie since forever. They've been besties since childhood. She's a regular Mary Jane Watson."

Veronica gave an honest chuckle. Betty gave off every indication of being the girl next door, and she could appreciate a good Spiderman reference with the best of them, but she doubted that either girl had ever actually picked up a comic book.

When they got to the gym, Veronica was pleased to see that it was just as big and well-maintained as Neptune High's. Take that 09ers. Twin Peaks, Jr. is just as cool as you. Cheryl was already there, and she waited for them with hands on her hips.

"Look who's late. And you're dragging poor Veronica down with you."

Veronica spoke up. "It's okay, Cheryl. I kept stopping them to ask questions."

Her new friends shot her a look of approval. Standing up for my girls. I just got street cred.

Cheryl shrugged it off. "Fine. Take a seat, Veronica. Everyone else, get in formation."

Betty frowned. "Isn't Veronica joining the squad?"

"You should know better than anyone," Cheryl sneered. "that it's not that easy to get on the team. She hasn't even tried out yet."

Ronnie took Veronica's hand. "I'll do it with you if you need a partner."

Cheryl and Veronica exchanged a look of panic. Veronica sat on the bleachers and hunched over. "No, I really shouldn't. I… I'm cramping."

A few of the girls gave her sympathetic sighs and nods. The matter was dropped, and Cheryl began running the Vixens through their routine.

"Five, six, seven, eight! Forward. To me… Betty, stay on beat!"

Veronica was grateful that she was on Cheryl's side. It wasn't that Veronica hadn't been bullied or couldn't take it, but at the end of the day, she just didn't want to.

"Turn and kick… Lodge, you think this is a game? Back from the top! You can thank Veronica for having to start over… Ready? Five, six, seven, eight!"

Veronica checked her watch. She couldn't wait to get out to the diner and get the scoop from Betty and Ronnie's friends. With any luck, they'd all be gossips and journalists, and she would solve the case tonight. A girl can dream, right? Besides, the longer she stayed, the more time she'd have to spend faking cheerleading talent and fending off drama. And as far as Veronica was concerned, bitchy cheerleaders were so 2004.