Hello Everyone! I know, I know, ages without an update. The funny thing is, it wasn't really because of me – you see, my sweet, lovable beta-reader, wildhorses, was busy. Thanks anyway, honey! Hum, anyhow, I actually have like three more chapters already written. And let me tell you, it's really weird to be posting this particular chapter when I'm already deep in the LoVe scenes. So you see, moirariordan and MClarkie, the LoVe will come eventually (hee, now I'm just being mean…)
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I'm glad you liked my version of Lilly-Veronica closure, this time it's the whole gang's turn, hope you like that as well. Oh, and to tchele and everyone who were (maybe) wondering – the Southpark reference was actually a nod to the fact that Veronica's favorite movie was the Southpark movie (because I wrote chapter 12 ages before the premiere). I think Butters from 2x01 was also a nod to that same thing. So actually, me and the show are both nodding to the same thing.
Ok, enough with the babbling, on to the story. Enjoy!
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They were in her hospital room now, and Veronica knew her time with Lilly was coming to its bitter end, finally. She knew Lilly wasn't the type of person to stick around for too long.
Still, she had to admit the scenery was a bit strange, even considering the South Park thing from a second ago (or was it a second? It felt like twenty minutes, or hours?). The room was washed in a disturbing green shade and Veronica tried hard to think where it had come from because neither she nor Lily had ever liked gray. She came to the conclusion that it was something she had seen once on TV or something like that.
She could see herself lying in a bed, bruised and asleep. Or maybe she was lying in bed, looking down on herself? It was hard to tell, and the angles kept shifting. Lilly took a seat on the bed next to her and looked warmly at Veronica's sleeping form.
Veronica sat down heavily beside herself and shook her head wearily. Duncan was sitting tensely behind her, and Logan was leaning on the bed next to Lilly. Neither seemed to acknowledge the girls' presence.
Lilly stretched her legs out and absently began to stroke Logan's hair. Veronica thought she'd like to do the same, but she couldn't bring herself to move. "You're leaving, aren't you?"
"Well, it's not like I asked to be killed, you know."
"No one asked for you to be killed, Lilly," Logan surprised them both.
Lilly waved her hand in front of his face but he jerked it away, "You can see us?" she asked incredulously, "Are you dead too?"
Logan chuckled, "No, just asleep, and obviously I can see you, since this is my dream and all."
"You wish," Duncan said from behind Veronica and brought his chair closer, "it figures that even in my dreams you'd make everything all about you."
Logan smirked, "Dream about me often, do you?"
Duncan wrinkled his nose in disgust and Veronica couldn't help but giggle.
"Hey, no giggling! There's no shame in being secretly gay!" Logan said with mock sternness.
"Excuse me, but who's the real star of this TV show?" Lilly asked. "Have you considered maybe this is Veronica's dream, and you two are just guests?"
Veronica shrugged, "I would have thought you were the star of this gig, Lil. You're the one who brought us here."
Lilly laughed, "Oh no, Veronica, all I did was die. You were the one who kept pushing, I had no problem with the truth staying hidden. What the hell do I care? I'm dead."
"But you said…" Veronica and Duncan started to protest, both remembering their dreams about Lilly, how the truth would eventually come out and how she was doomed to walk the earth until justice is served.
"Oh please, I was kidding, the only reason I came to you guys was because you were getting way too boring."
"Oh, really? Then why are you leaving now?" Veronica asked.
Lilly shrugged, "Well, I'd stay, but you guys are so clingy. Get over it already. I know I was awesome, but that won't bring me back, so quit wishing it would."
"Awesome," Logan repeated with a bitter chuckle.
Lilly rolled her eyes, "Yes, I slept with your Dad, what're you gonna do, break up with me?" she mocked.
Logan stared at her disbelievingly. Duncan and Veronica exchanged looks and rolled their eyes, why did they always have to witness the love spats between Logan and Lilly? And shouldn't that have stopped by now, what with Lilly being dead and all?
Veronica almost slapped herself, trying desperately to remember that none of this was real. There was something about this conversation that seemed ancient. Familiar, comfortable, missed, but totally ancient. She felt like any moment she'd start playing absently with her long curls and think about how stupid her two friends were and were they going to fight like this even when they were both old and possibly married to each other?
Logan sighed, giving up. Lilly flashed Veronica a triumphant smile.
"I feel a group hug approaching," Duncan said warily.
Lilly laughed, "Oh Duncan, you were always the most screwed up of us all."
"Hey!" Logan protested, "I have issues!"
Lilly turned to him, "Oh yeah, 'my father's an abusive bastard, and my dead girlfriend slept with him! And my new girlfriend accused me for killing my other girlfriend and nobody loves me!'" she mocked him with the most hilarious cry-baby voice.
Logan puffed out his chest, "You forgot my mother dying."
Lilly rolled his eyes, "Yeah, you're troubled."
"Way more than Duncan, all he has is some strange epilepsy thing and bad parents," Logan claimed, sounding very much like a cry baby himself.
Veronica couldn't stop laughing at this whole exchange. She wondered how life would be when this was over. She wondered what she'd been doing for the past year without this.
"Oh come on," Lilly cried, "dude's in love with his freaking sister! That's totally more screwed up."
Veronica wondered if she maybe had a few superpowers, because she somehow managed to make everyone ignore what Lilly just said by thinking things like "Oh God, please pretend you didn't hear that." really hard. Maybe this really was her dream after all.
"Anyways, you be bad now, alright?" Lilly asked in a rushed tone, like she knew she was running out of time, "Do something wild once in a while, for me? Even when you're wrinkled and you have bad backs… once a year, do something interesting. Preferably something I can laugh about from upstairs."
It was unlike Lilly to get all semi-deep like this, but it seemed to fit the situation.
"Fine," Logan spat, "whatever you say."
Duncan nodded.
Veronica smiled at her best friend and already knew they were probably going to break that promise and become middle-class and boring and forget her eventually. "Sure," she said, nevertheless, "I promi…"
And just like that, it was all black.
It's over.
It's really over.
She wanted to open her eyes, or get up, or scream – anything. But something was pulling her down and she couldn't move.
Wake up, Veronica. Come on, the alarm clock's ringing, you're hungry, you're thirsty and most importantly – YOU NEED TO FIX YOUR FREAKIN' LIFE, LIKE NOW!
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Her eyes snapped open.
The first thought that went through Veronica's head was damnit. She was pretty sure that the overwhelming, consuming emptiness that seemed to fill every little void in her body would never completely wash away, no matter what she did.
Well, being wrapped in her parents' asphyxiating hug(s) certainly helped a little. Only a little bit, but still. They stayed like that for about five whole minutes before finally letting her get some greatly appreciated air.
"Oh honey, are you okay?" Lianne asked desperately.
"How are you feeling?" Keith followed.
Veronica felt a little uncomfortable, lying like that under both their inquisitive eyes. She tried to say something like 'um… okay' but her throat felt incredibly dry and sore, like she hadn't used it in centuries. She tried to clear it, but it was kind of painful, so she settled with nodding reassuringly.
Keith, bless him, got the message and handed her a glass of water. She took a few thirsty sips, cleared her throat again, and only then managed to blurt out: "How long was I out?"
Keith and Lianne exchanged glances, probably trying to remind each other that the answer to that question wasn't 'decades', which was how they felt, but actually "24 hours or so," as Keith informed his little girl.
"Wow," Veronica breathed, "what happened?"
"Well, it's a bit of a madhouse out there," Keith admitted, "reporters all over town, everyone's looking for you and Aaron… and Logan," he added as an afterthought.
"And where are they?" she asked weakly.
Lianne stroked her head, "Aaron's been moved to a top-secret jail-hospital thing."
Veronica had enough presence of mind to think her parents were trying to distract her from Logan, which either meant that they didn't approve of her concern, or they didn't want to give her some bad news in her fragile state. She thought that if the Gods knew what's best for them, they'd make the answer A.
"And Logan?" she asked pointedly.
They did the annoying exchange-worried-looks again and Veronica felt like she might just start biting her sheets in frustration.
After about three hours (okay, fine, 15 seconds) her father finally murmured: "Outside, waiting."
Veronica only had time to breath a sigh of relief at the apparent liveliness of Logan when Wallace carefully poked his head in the room, "Hey, I just heard voices… Oh!" he called happily, "Veronica! You're awake!" he leaped inside and also crushed her in a hug before calling outside, "Hey guys! She's awake!"
Meg jumped into the room first followed by Duncan and Weevil, who made a hilarious attempt at trying to enter the room at the same time only to get stuck in the doorframe trying to push each other out of the way. Clearly, they had become great friends already.
After three more embraces, which might have caused permanent damage to Veronica's rib-cage, Keith and Lianne agreed to leave the younglings alone (but not before hugging her again, anyone sensing a theme here?) to talk.
Veronica was truly happy to see them, she was, but where the hell was Logan? Was he trying to play hard to get or something? Because this was probably the worst day for that game, what with Veronica needing to see that everyone she loved was still alive and well.
Thankfully, Wallace brought the issue up, "Where the hell's Logan?" he asked, "Is he being coy?"
"Went to get coffee," Duncan blurted out, still gazing at Veronica as if she just woke up from a three-year coma.
"Man, boy's got timing issues," Wallace said, shaking his head.
Veronica released the breath she was holding, "So what really happened?" she asked, stealing glances at the door. She could almost see Logan, standing unsurely with a tray in his hand, scratching his head confusedly at the empty waiting room and wondering where everyone disappeared to.
"Lamb arrested Aaron," Duncan said, "and they took him somewhere, no one knows where."
"Yeah," Wallace added, "the fans raided the hospital like ten hours ago so the police had to put him underground."
Veronica smiled (and glanced at the door), "Sorry I missed it."
"Well, you miss a lot when you sleep through the day," Weevil teased her.
"What the hell happened?" Meg asked, "Sheriff Lamb was going to crazy waiting for you to wake up," at Veronica's quizzical look she added, "he's been waiting to get your statement since yesterday. Or so I hear, since no one bothered to call me. I had to call them."
"Well, we were a little caught up," Duncan smiled apologetically, "sorry."
Veronica grinned (and glanced at the door. was Logan manufacturing the damn coffee with his own bare hands?), "They found the tapes?"
"Yeah," Duncan assured her.
"And Lamb said something about you being pretty smart," Weevil added.
Veronica mock-gasped (and glanced at the door. damnit, Logan, this ain't the time to stall) "Goodness, he actually said the words 'Veronica Mars is pretty smart'?"
"More like 'that was a smart move'," Wallace admitted, "but you should take what you can ge…"
"VERONICA?" the greatly awaited shout from the door finally came.
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"Yes, yes, blah, blah, this is all very touching. I'm glad everyone is so happy and joyful and everything. Now maybe they'll have the presence of mind to, maybe, I don't know – GIVE ME A STORYLINE?
"Oh, sorry. Wrong crowd. I didn't mean to go loco on you people, it's not like I'll get what I'm asking for here – this is a (finger quotes) 'LoVe story', after all. Here no one gives a second look to the poor Mexican boy (with the big old hog) who's getting LESS AND LESS SCREENTIME EVERYDAY!
"I mean, fine, don't include me in fanfics, whatever. I'm not bitter. I know you dumb-asses LoVe fans aren't getting what you want elsewhere… what with everything that's been going on the show (Lily said NO SPOILERS or she'll tape me to her imaginary flagpole with transparent scotchtape). Oh, yes, I called y'all a bunch of dumb-asses, what're you gonna do about it? Why, you ask? Do I really have to dignify that with an answer? How about 'because Logan's a rich, white asshole who don't deserve half of what he gets'? Is that answer good enough? Ouch, Lily! Stop poking me!
"Um, where was I? Oh, right, why don't I get any fanfics of my own? Am I not interesting enough for you? Did I not just lose my best friend or something? And to Asshole Logan on top of everything? Damn, all I got in the stupid show so far were three minutes of playing that dude who drove Miss Dasey around! The hell?
"So, anyway, I volunteered to do this entries rant because, unlike my fellow ungrateful hostages, I kinda like this story – I appear in, like, a WHOLE chapter! Given it's with pretty-boy Echols, but still! And I get to kick his ass too! So please, for more 'Weevil whoops Logan good' scenes - REVIEW THIS STORY!"
(Lily: I know maybe it doesn't exactly sound like Weevil, but I can actually hear him say these things in my head, so… anyway, if you review, maybe I'll let Logan win a fight for once. Won't that be quaint?)