Disclaimer: I own no part of Veronica Mars. Not even the teensiest tiniest part. It breaks my heart every day, that.
It is the tinny sound of her cell phone that breaks them apart. She takes a shuddering breath, pushing her hands against his shoulders and swallows shakily.
"Time to get back to reality," She quips nervously, as she leans over the desk rail to grab her phone out of her bag, hoping that her hands aren't shaking too badly.
"So did you find out anything?" Lilly's voice is hopeful, and as she stands, Veronica can feel the connection breaking up. Damn the school for not having better service.
"I um-"
"C'mon 'Ronica, spit it out. Either he's banging some cheerleader against the bleachers or he isn't." Veronica's head spins. The world is fading at the edges. To tell the truth, or to lie to ones best friend...that is the question.
"Not exactly a cheerleader." She murmurs quietly, closing her eyes in agony. This is going to be the hardest conversation you've ever had, Mars. Own up to it and get it over with.
"What? Veronica what are you talking about? Caitlin Ford is on the Varsity Cheer Squad." Logan Echolls is not worth losing your best friend over, the voice inside her whispers, but as she glances back at him and sees his heart in his eyes, she knows that's a lie.
"Logan isn't cheating on you, Lil. Not with Caitlin Ford." Even through the bad connection, she can hear Lilly's sigh of relief.
"And you're a hundred percent sure?" Her voice is hopeful and so very young that for a moment, Veronica doesn't want to tell her. Doesn't want to upset this fractured peace they've created. "He didn't slip into a bathroom or behind a closed door?" She giggles slightly, but Veronica can hear the apprehension in her voice. Do you want me to hate myself Lill? Cuz I already do…
"Nope. I've been with him since school let out." She murmurs softly, glancing over her shoulder at Logan, noting that he looked as wrecked as she felt. At least we're in this together…
"Oh hey, Donut." Lilly says, her voice muffled, and Veronica can't help but smile at the playful nickname she has given Duncan. "Duncan just got home. I should go, 'Ronica. Thanks for all your help, seriously." The bounce is back in her voice, and Veronica knows that if she doesn't tell her now, she never will.
"Wait, Lill-"
"What? Crisis averted, right?" Veronica swallows, an unexpected ache of sorrow filling her.
"Not exactly." She mumbles, staring down at her hands, and wishing that this was easier. That she hadn't fallen in love with her best friend's boyfriend. The right thing to do, Mars, is to give him up, apologize and beg for forgiveness.
"What's wrong?" Lilly is distracted, she can tell. Her inner turmoil has been resolved, and negative thoughts have been wiped away. Her voice is far away, distant, and Veronica really doesn't have the heart to tell her.
"Logan isn't cheating yet, and I don't think he will, but I think there might be someone else in the picture." The words trip off her tongue fast, and she cringes as she glances back at him. His lips are set in a thin line, but he reaches his hand out to grab hers and squeezes.
"What!" She exclaims, and dread fills the pit of her stomach. I knew this wasn't a good idea…
"I'm sorry, I didn't know how to tell you-"
"Who is it?" Her tone is hard, the words icy, and tears begin to well in her eyes, blurring her vision.
"I-"
"I asked you who it was, Veronica." Her tone is dull and lifeless now. Veronica silently sobs, the tears sluicing down her cheeks. It wasn't supposed to be like this…
"I-It's-" She can't get the words out, trips and tumbles over them, trying desperately to get hold onto Lilly. Her Lilly. "It's me, Okay?" Her voice breaks, and she closes her eyes, hoping to hide her horror. "I didn't know how to tell you. I-" She isn't given the chance to finish as the line goes dead.
"What'd she say?" He asks quietly, and she turns to face him fully, her eyes filled with a maelstrom of emotions. He reaches his arms out to her, and she crumples into them, crying noiselessly on his shoulder. "It'll be Okay." He whispers quietly into her hair, but she sighs, shaking her head. It is over now, and nothing will ever be the same again.
A/N: And that, ladies and gentlemen is what we call a flashback. I know, it's inopportunely placed, and you're probably wondering why I put it in, especially here-well, there probably a few people who've figured out what I'm doing with this story, but if you haven't, the mystery shall be cleared up in about a chapter or so. I really hope you liked this, folks. I had such a fun time writing it.