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 after Ain't No Magic Mountain.
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 Five: If I Could Find A Way...
Veronica plodded down the hall, feet making a squeaking sound against the wet tile. Rolling her eyes, she entered the office swiftly and got a late pass, the secretary saying with a sympathetic smile, "Looks like this storm isn't going to let up for a while."
"Well," she quipped as she got her stuff together. "Glad I'm not made of sugar then!"
Leaving the office, she went to her locker and got her things for the morning classes. She glanced over her shoulder as the double doors opened and grinned as Weevil came flying in, cursing a blue streak as he stomped his wet boots against the floor and shoved the hood off his head. The look on his face was so comical, she laughed to herself and said, "I get the feeling you don't like the rain."
Weevil glanced up and said sourly, "I hate rain in any shape. Especially when my car won't start." He sighed deeply and coughed, the sound echoing in the empty hallway. Veronica winced slightly at that, the wetness of it making her frown in concern as she said, "Have you looked at the nurse for that cough? It sounds bad."
Weevil shrugged, stripping off his soaked sweatshirt, revealing a long-sleeved white shirt. "I can't afford health care V," he replied as he walked with her towards his own locker. "Not on a part-time mechanics salary."
"It doesn't sound very good, Weevil," she began and he waved her off, saying, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll get some stuff from Walgreen's if it'll make you leave me alone."
"Excuse me for being concerned," she retorted slightly stung and Weevil sighed again, rolling his eyes towards the ceiling briefly. "I'm sorry I'm snapping," he offered wearily. "I'm just tired. Graduation's a while from now and I'm going a bit crazy."
"Here's hoping the rain stops," she replied and he grunted in agreement.
--
At lunch, she found herself sitting with Wallace, Jackie, and Jane, who seemed unsure as to what Jackie was exactly doing at the table. Sitting down, Veronica moaned, "I hate calculus. It's a deep loathing I have for that course."
"He dropped the bomb about another test, didn't he?" Jackie asked and Veronica nodded, shoving a lock of hair behind her ear as she said, "Oh yeah, and this one is to prep for the final."
Wallace laughed and said, "You'll be fine, Veronica. It's not like your grades are suffering."
"Unlike the rest of us," Weevil cut in as he sat down beside her, tossing a paper bag on the table. "Who have to struggled and be mortal."
Veronica laughed and said, "Oh stop!" as she batted her lashes. The others burst into laughter while Jane eyed Weevil curiously. The Chicano youth didn't even pay her attention as Jackie began to tell a story about her morning in study wall, complaining about how the rain had derailed her driving the Ferrari to school that morning. Wallace and Veronica teased her unmercifully, Jackie shooting back a few self-deprecating remarks of her own.
"Well," Jackie smirked as she got her stuff together. "I need to get to the library. I've got a presentation due last period."
Wallace blinked and said, "Wait. Emerson's class? Those are due today?" At the nod Jackie gave him, he cursed and Jane's eyesbrows arched as he said, "Crap! I'm dead. I better go y'all, I've got to figure out something before class starts..."
"See you later," Veronica called as he and Jackie left, Jane smiling uncomfortably as Weevil said amused, "Dang, I was under the assumption that Fennel was gifted."
"Oh he is," Veronica said cheerily. "Just more on the courts than in the classroom. Besides, it's my fault, I had him doing some stuff for me." She shrugged. "Guess he forgot about the assignment during all the excitement."
"Hmm," Weevil remarked and then looked at Jane shrewdly. "You've been staring at me for a bit now," he commented dryly. "Something you wanna say, girl?"
The girl gasped, cheeks reddening slightly and said, "No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean too-"
"It's all right," Weevil cut her off neatly. "I'm used to people staring; although normally it's because I'm wearing leather."
"You wouldn't happen to own a pair of leather pants, would you?" Veronica asked him, eyes twinkling and Weevil leered at her playfully, saying, "Why? Want me to model 'em for you, V?"
Jane glanced around the cafeteria and floundered, before saying, "I'm going to go, Veronica..."
Veronica smiled politely at her. "Okay." The other girl got her things together and left, crossing the quad to sit with her friends. Shaking her head, Veronica confided, "As nice as she is, she is so not the girl for Wallace."
"Too Sandra Dee?" Weevil queried as he snatched a chip from her bag and she swatted his hand, laughing as he snatched another one unrepentantly. At that moment, a familiar voice said, "Aw. It's the skanky detective and the loser biker. Isn't this a pretty picture?"
As one, they turned to look at Dick and Veronica said acidly, "If it isn't Mr. Casablancas. What can I help you with? Are you having problems with your manhood, Dick? Is that it?"
Weevil glanced at Dick, eyes trailing him from head to toe and said, "Shit, V, no help from a real woman'll give him his manhood." He added with a smirk, "That's if he even had any before the...incident."
Dick glowered at them and opened his mouth but Logan cut him off as he appeared behind him, saying, "And what Weevil? You're a man now? Thought you were a bug."
Weevil snorted as he placed a hand on his chest, saying mockingly, "Me? Dude, I'm a man. After all, the ladies know so." In the air hung the unvoiced addition to that comment, 'Lilly thought so, remember?'
Anger flared in Logan's eyes briefly at the unsaid remark but he merely said, "Fuck you."
"Aw thanks, dog," Weevil retorted as Veronica watched them with assessing eyes. "But I've got a date for prom."
"What girl in her right mind with go with you?" Dick challenged and Veronica said cheerily, "Well, I was always told I had a few screws loose." She smiled, tipping her head to the side as she held out her hand to Dick, adding, "Hi! I'm Veronica, Eli's date."
Logan's eyes widened slightly and Dick gaped; Weevil rolling his eyes as he went back to his lunch, dismissing them without a word. While the two 09-ers stood there in shocked surprise, Veronica went back to her lunch as well, saying to Weevil, "Now, I don't like roses and I hate carnations-"
"I know," Weevil retorted. "You like sunflowers." He grinned at her, eyes twinkling. "Give me some credit V."
Veronica blinked and said, "Well then, I only have one other rule for prom: no hanky panky. At least not without me included!" causing Weevil to choke on the chips he'd stolen. Shaking his head, Dick muttered, "Sick man..." before leaving and Logan stood there watching the pair for a few more seconds before leaving as well.
--
Washing his hands in the sink, Weevil glanced up as the door to the bathroom opened, Logan entering with a look of irritation on his features. "Can I help you?" he asked as he dried his hands on a paper towel. The other male said icily, "You stay away from Veronica, vato. I'm not going to tell you twice."
Weevil chuckled darkly as he turned to look at Logan. "You know something that really bugs the shit outta me Echolls?" he asked. "The fact that you seem to think V's remotely still interested in you."
"You don't know jack about Veronica and me," Logan shot back and Weevil snickered as he said, "Of course, I don't! Watching the two of you last year was the most sickening thing I'd ever seen in my life. You pulled shit on her and around her that woulda made any other girl run screaming for the hills." He shrugged, making a tsking noise with his tongue. "Luckily, she smartened up. At least, lucky for me."
"Don't you even think about your hands on her-"
"Or what, boy? You'll make me pay?" Weevil laughed loudly. "Man, you are nothing to me, Echolls. Below that, even. There is nothing you could possibly do to make my life any worse than it is, so I suggest you don't even try." Wrenching open the bathroom door, he left Logan behind, shaking with anger.
Rounding the corner, he didn't even have time to shout as someone grabbed him and dragged him into the nearest empty classroom. Kicking out, he grinned nastily as his boot connected with something solid and a male voice cursed.
"Don't let him get away, damn it!"
"Oh, you wanna try and keep a hand on him?"
Something was pressed against his face and Weevil struggled more as he swung his arms wildly, his mind racing in panic...
His lungs burned and he coughed, inhaling the scent of chloroform and had the brief thought of 'Fucking Eholls...' before he knew no more.
Next Chapter Six: Beneath the Stains of Time...