Title: Home Sweet Home
Author: SWChick57
Pairing/Character: Logan/OC Friendship, LoVe eventually, a littleV/D, Beaver/OC, Ensemble
Word Count: 1,730
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Carly Hayes is a freshman at Neptune High, and she's an old friend of the Echolls Family. Slight AU. Season 2.
Disclaimer: I do not own Veronica Mars, Rob Thomas does. Though I wish I owned Logan… Oh well!
July 17, 2000
"Logan!" a 15-year-old Cecilia Hayes yelled as water splashed all over her.
"God, Cecilia, I warned you that I was going to jump in the pool, but of course, you never listen," a 12 year old Logan Echolls said, giggling at the site of his wet, angry neighbor. Cecilia, Logan, and Carly had decided to have some summer fun in the Hayes Family pool.
"Oh you are so lucky that Carly's here or I would beat the crap out of you right now!" Cecilia warned.
"Cecilia, it's just water," 9 year old Carly Hayes piped in.
"Yeah, well Logan's just an ass." Cecilia informed while wiping herself with a towel.
"Oh I love our little summer get-togethers, don't you?" Logan laughed.
"Ha, ha, very funny." Cecilia said sarcastically.
Present
"Hey sleepy head," Julia Hayes said soothingly into her daughter, Carly's ear.
Carly, for the second time that day opened her eyes to see her mother hovering over her. "Hi mom," she replied half asleep.
"Carly, are you feeling alright? You slept on the car ride to the airport, on the plane, and now in the cab on our way to the Neptune Grand"; Julia asked worriedly, "I'm beginning to think things. Bad things."
Julia Hayes looked just as beautiful as she ever was. Her sparkling brown eyes, shiny black/brown hair and beautiful features would never make you think that she was over the age of 40. She may have been dubbed "The Lipstick Queen of the 80s", but she was definitely still the kind-hearted woman she was, even before fame and fortune caught her.
"No, mom, I'm fine I'm just tired from all the packing we did yesterday. See, I'm awake now," Carly said sitting up straight, only to find that Dakota's little arms were holding on to hers for dear life.
"She said she wanted to sit next to Auntie Car for the rest of the drive," Julia said smiling.
Carly stared at Dakota. Dakota was 2 years old, and she was talking and walking. Carly was "Auntie Car" to Dakota. Carly loved Dakota, but every time she looked at her, she saw Cecilia. This only made her depressed.
Carly was heartbroken when she found out that Cecilia had died during childbirth. She was only 12 years old, and her older sister had died. Cecilia and Carly did everything together. Their 6-year age difference was never a problem. They weren't Paris and Nicky, but they were Cecilia and Carly, and that was good enough for them.
Dakota's first month of being at home with the Hayes Family was a rough one for Carly. She couldn't look at Dakota for weeks. She saw her sister in Dakota's big green eyes. She sort of blamed Dakota for Cecilia's death. There were always the "what ifs". Like, "what if Cecilia never got pregnant", or "what if Dakota was never born". She hated herself for ever thinking that. It was nature. Nature's to blame for Cecilia's death, not Dakota. No, not Dakota.
"Hey mom, why are we going to the Neptune Grand?" Carly asked curiously.
"Oh yeah, well it seems that your father needs to get some stuff straightened out before we can move back into the old house. So we're going to be staying at the Neptune Grand for about a week," Julia replied pretending to be occupied with her watch.
"Okay, so are we there yet?" Carly asked trying to shake herself free of Dakota's tiny, but tight grasp.
"Yes, in a few more minutes," Julia replied calmly.
"Yup...just in a few more minutes," Carly whispered to herself.
Life in North Carolina wasn't what they had hoped for. The press didn't lighten up there. The press harassed them wherever or whenever they could. Carly was taunted and teased at school, too. She didn't have many friends. She missed life in Neptune. She missed her friends, she missed the sun and the beach, but most of all, she missed Logan. She never really talked to Logan after she moved. She was busy helping out with Dakota. It also seemed that Carly never really wanted to talk to anybody anymore. She distanced herself from everything for a while. She sort of became the daughter that couldn't. She was not as pretty as her older sister; she was never as talented as her either. She was just plain old Carly Elizabeth Hayes. No more, no less.
When Dakota was a few months old, Carly's parents started fighting all the time. They fought about everything, it seemed. Carly's dad started coming home late, and having monthly weekend business trips. A year later, Carly's mom found out that Lynn Echolls had died. She was devastated at the news, but she couldn't leave North Carolina for the funeral. Her marriage was in jeopardy, she had to support the business, plus she had to care for two children. She had lost her oldest daughter and her best friend. Soon after she lost the love of her life.
Five months later, Carly's mom found out that her husband, Mr. Hayes, was having an affair with a "Hayes Cosmetics" model that went by the name of Louise Scott. Her mom divorced him soon after. Carly, Dakota, and Julia moved out of the house and into an apartment for the time being.
It was not only a month ago that Mrs. Hayes decided that they should move back to Neptune. Carly wasn't sure why after so long, her mother wanted to go back there. Carly was uncertain of Neptune now. Especially after all the news surrounding the Echolls family that year. She could not believe that Lynn Echolls had jumped off a bridge. She could not believe that Aaron Echolls was the one who had murdered the infamous Lilly Kane. She also could not believe that Logan was accused of murder.
What was Neptune now?
"Granny, Granny!" Dakota whined, which brought Carly back from her deep thoughts. "Oh, come here KoKo", Julia said cradling Dakota, "Don't worry, we're here."
Once the cab stopped, they got out of the cramped, yellow car. Soon after they found their room and started settling in. It was a big, spacious two-room penthouse. The best room child support can buy. After Carly's dad agreed that her and Dakota would stay with her mother, she almost felt as if her father was saying "You were nice children, but I need some alone time with my ex-Playboy bunny, Louise. Send me a postcard, adios". She was angry at her father for betraying the family. She refused to talk to him, even see him. She admired her mom's courage during the whole situation. She loved her mom, more than she could ever love her father again. Her father was just another face in the crowd to Carly now.
"Mom!" Carly called.
"Shh… be quiet, Dakota's asleep. Now what is it?" Julia asked with Dakota in her arms.
"I'm looking through my stuff and I can't find my skateboard," Carly said while shuffling through her belongings.
"Don't panic, it's next to the door. Seriously, why do you even have that thing?" Julia asked.
"Maybe so I can ride it? It's a hobby, mom." Carly said while grabbing the skateboard to put next to her bed.
"No, hobby's are sewing and painting, not trying to get yourself killed on a wooden board," Julia said.
All Carly did was sigh.
"Well I don't know if I told you already, Carly, but I arranged for you to start Neptune High tomorrow," Julia said casually as she tucked Dakota in.
"What? I thought I was starting next week?" Carly asked incredulously.
"Well, I think that you should start tomorrow. The sooner, the better, right?" Julia said happily. "Look, Carly, I think that you should start tomorrow. Like you said, you feel fine. So what's the big deal? I know it feels too soon, but I believe that right now is the right time."
"Mom, but..."
"Carly, no buts! You're going to start school tomorrow." Julia said in a serious tone.
"Okay, fine, but I don't have any school supplies," Carly said, using her only excuse.
"Carly, you still have your backpack and your old school supplies. Just use those for now. We'll buy more this weekend." Julia reasoned.
"Fine." Carly said giving up this battle.
"Okay, good. While we're on the topic of school, the car and all our other stuff doesn't come till next week, and when it does, I'm not going to have the time to drop you off and pick you up from school. It's only me now, plus I have to figure some stuff out concerning the company. So could you take the bus to and from school from now on?" Julia asked unpacking her stuff in the other room.
"Yeah, fine, but why can't we hire a chauffeur? I mean dad's loaded, and so are you. So what's the big deal? " Carly asked plopping onto the twin bed next to Dakota's.
"Well, you know how divorces can be. They can be tricky. You're right, we can afford a chauffeur, but no daughter of mine is going to have that luxury. You don't need any more attention. The bus is the same thing as a chauffeur anyway, so what's the problem? Plus, since you love that skateboard so much, why don't you put it into good use." Julia said as she turned off all the lights.
Carly sighed and replied, "Okay, good night mom. Thanks for the chat, but since I'm going to have to start high school tomorrow, I better be in tip top shape."
"Super, well good night. Good luck tomorrow, and don't worry you'll be fine. Hey, maybe you'll see Logan tomorrow." Julia said before leaving to go to her own room.
"Yup, maybe I will," Carly mumbled to herself as she drifted off to sleep, "maybe I will"
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I appreciate it. I'm glad you are enjoying it. Don't worry, next chapter is going to have the students of Neptune High. Go Pirates!
Ally