Disclaimer: I don't own this fabulous, wonderful show cause if I did, Weevil would be on a lot more. The chapter titles are from the song Hurt as sung by the irrepressible, amazing Johnny Cash, who I believe to have been one of the true remaining artists in the music industry, surpassing boundaries in music and life. I adore you, man in black.
Pairing/Character: Weevil, ensemble with some WeeVer (of course).
Rating: R/M for language, some sexual content, and racial slurs.
Summary: After all, what is he but the character he has played for eighteen years?
Spoilers: Anything goes with the break of new episodes.
Author's Note: Thanks to PMD, who is always giving me kind words of encouragement, and thanks to all the other people out there who enjoy my work. I aim to please and hopefully this newest work will please all of you.
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Chapter Three: Full of Broken Thoughts
Weevil stirred in the back of the classroom, cracking one eye open to glance at his watch. Seeing he still had twenty minutes, he resumed his nap and his mind drifted, not quite asleep but not quite awake either...
He's standing on the edge of a cliff, staring out at the horizon. The wind is whipping at his clothes and tugging at him in a way that makes him eye the edge warily. He turns his head, sees Felix take a running leap...
Weevil wakes up with a start, a strangled gasp sounding out of his throat. Some of the students milling around glanced at him briefly before going back to their own conversations. He stood, picking up his bag and leaving the room swiftly. Walking down the hall, he glowers at a few of the students that glance at him and snicker.
Rubbing his hands over his head, he shuffles into the autoshop room and waves to the teacher. Going over to his assignment, he walks to his locker and changes into the regulation coveralls, ignoring the assorted PCH-ers and other students. He rummaged through his toolbox and began to work, letting his mind take over the task.
The bell ringing startled him and he glanced up as the other guys in the class began to leave, some going to the lockers and others walking right out the door wearing their coveralls. Weevil hesitated for a moment, his thoughts wandering back to the invitation Fennel had given him...
He shook his head and turned back to the car. Who was he kidding? No one wanted to associate with someone below even the outcasts...
No one; not even Veronica and her boy.
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A curse sounded loudly as Veronica paused at the entrance to the autoshop classroom. She hesitated, gaze flickering over the half-eaten sandwich and chips sitting on the table next to a toolbox. The radio was loud enough to be heard but not so loud that anyone would come in to check out who was inside. The sound of Nirvana filled the air as she watched Weevil bend over the engine of a nondescript gray car, his unshaven head seemingly out of place in her own mind of what Weevil looked like. After a moment of indecision, she walked forward and said, "Weevil?"
His head popped up, revealing to her a pair of red-rimmed brown eyes. He blinked at her owlishly for a moment before recognition flickered across his features. She frowned inwardly at the dark circles beneath his eyes and wondered if he even got a chance to sleep other than class.
"S'up V," he said as he wiped his hands on a rag, shoving it into his pocket as he leaned against the car. "Something I can do for you?"
Veronica shrugged and said, "You could explain why you weren't at lunch." She grinned at the look on his face, adding, "Wallace told me that he invited you. I'm very hurt at the snub." She pouted, sticking out her lower lip in a way that made Weevil snort in amusement as he dipped his head to look at her.
"Didn't think he was serious," he admitted after a moment of studying her. "Your boy's got no reason to be nice to me."
"Yeah but that's the great thing about Wallace," Veronica replied as she smiled at him. "He doesn't waste time on petty things like that." Weevil stared at her for a moment and sighed before saying, "I'll be there tomorrow. Promise."
"Good!" she said cheerily. "But that's not why I'm here. My car's been making a noise."
Weevil arched a brow in amusement. "A noise?"
"It's like a thump," she said. "Like a loose fan belt or something."
"Do you even know what a fan belt is?" Weevil asked seriously and Veronica mock glared at him as she said, "Yes. I do know...sort of." He laughed loudly at that and she rolled her eyes as she smiled. Suddenly, a voice sounded throughout the classroom, causing Veronica to stiffen up and Weevil to tense.
"Aw," Thumper said mockingly as he walked into the room, six PCHers behind him. "Isn't this cute? The secret meetings when you whisper sweet nothings into her ear."
"What do you want Thumper?" Weevil said shortly as he stepped in front of Veronica, keeping her behind him. She frowned briefly at the action but didn't protest, keeping an eye on the other gang members. Some of the boys looked uncomfortable, she noted, and others seemed content to let Thumper call the shots. One of them leered at her and she narrowed her eyes at him as Thumper said, "Just wanted to talk with you Eli. You know, make sure that you're not gettin' any ideas about anythin'."
"Yeah, like I'd tell you," Weevil retorted as he tipped his chin up, clenching his fists. "Why don't you go bug someone else, eh Thumper? You and I got nothin' to say to each other."
"And I really think that my screaming," Veronica chimed in sweetly from behind Weevil. "Would bring teachers running." Her smile grew cold as she added, "After all, Weevil was trying to stop you from attacking me."
Thumper sneered at her and growled, "You watch your mouth. Someone might have to slap it."
"Oh yeah," Weevil said mockingly. "You're a real man, Thumps, threatening a girl." His dark eyes glittered in a way that made a few of the PCHers shift uncomfortably. "You're real macho. Realmente me asustas."
Thumper chuckled darkly. "Oh, did I piss you off threatening your little girlfriend? What, did you get a taste for white meat with the Kane girl or something?"
Fury flared in Weevil's features and before anyone knew it, he had punched Thumper squarely across the face, the smaller boy stumbling back with the force of the punch. Thumper snarled at him, eyes snapping furiously as he opened his mouth to say something when a voice cut through the air. "Is this a private party or can anyone join in?" Logan Echolls asked from where he stood leaning against the entrance. A large lead pipe was gripped in his hand and the boy grinned wolfishly at the group, saying, "I mean, if there's going to be a fight, I need to make a pool and place as many bets as I can!"
"This don't concern you, cracker," Thumper snapped furiously as he wiped the blood from his mouth. "So, why don't you get the hell out of here before I let my boys have you?"
"Oh, but why should I?" Logan asked cheerfully as he strolled into the room. "I mean, I've got pure entertainment here."
"I ain't gonna tell you again," Thumper snapped and motioned with his head. Two of the larger boys began to move towards Logan but the boy smiled widely, revealing all his teeth as he help up his cell phone, saying, "Considering I've got Sheriff Lamb on speed dial, I'd reconsider the assault of three students. Two who are white, no less."
"His brain is too small to get it, Echolls," Weevil said gruffly as he crossed his arms over his chest. "After all, Thumps here? He don't even know how to add."
"Shut the fuck up," Thumper roared at him, spinning to face him angrily. He wiped at his mouth again and pointed at Weevil, saying, "You're a dead man Eli. Ain't no one gonna care when I get rid of you." He grinned unpleasantly. "Don't forget, I got friends in high places now."
'And you're going to get you and the rest of the boys killed,' Weevil thought to himself but kept silent. Thumper motioned to the others and stormed out of the classroom, leaving the three facing each other. An awkward silence fell as Weevil clenched his jaw together before saying roughly, "Thanks. I owe you one."
"Didn't mean to save you," came the snide retort and Weevil shrugged before turning to the silent Veronica. He sighed and said, "I'll take a look at your car later; after school."
She smiled tightly, blue eyes filled with something he couldn't quite name, saying, "Okay..." and left the room, Logan pausing long enough to glare at him before following her. Weevil sank into the nearest chair, burying his head in his hands as he thought about what could have happened.
Meanwhile, Logan caught up with Veronica in the hall, saying, "Veronica."
She wheeled around to face him, saying, "Thank you for that, Logan. I appreciated it."
Logan laughed harshly and said, "Jesus, Veronica, what the hell are you doing? You miss Duncan so much you're looking for the next thing now?"
Veronica stiffened at the accusation, her lips thinning as she said hotly, "I did not need you to go around throwing accusations like that around Logan. And frankly, it isn't any of your business what I do with my time remember?"
"It's dangerous being around him."
"You know, I think I can deal with that."
"I won't let you-"
Veronica snorted. "Excuse me? When did you delude yourself into thinking you had any say in my actions or my life? If my memory is correct, which it is, we broke up. We aren't together anymore so do us both a favor, Logan and get over it."
"And do what, Veronica?" he demanded furiously. "Just pretend we never happened? That we didn't spend a whole summer going through hell-"
"That you started!" she almost shrieked, her voice rising enough to cause a few students to glance over at them. "You started this whole stupid turf war, Logan. You and your stupid friends like Dick. So don't you dare judge me, Logan Echolls. Don't you dare."
"You can't replace Lilly."
Her mouth gaped open as she stared at him, shock and hurt written on her features. Logan stared back at her, face cold as he repeated, "You can't replace Lilly in Weevil's heart, Veronica. He was obsessed with her and he still is."
Veronica inhaled sharply, clenching her fingers shut as she said quietly, "Somehow I don't believe you when you say that Weevil was obsessed with Lilly. And you stay away from me." Then, she spun on her heel and vanished down the hall, leaving Logan staring after her silently.
Next Chapter Four: My Sweetest Friend...