i'm sitting here basically writing non stop whenver i get the chance and i'm totally oblivious to the fact that i hadn't posted! i'm sorry i'll try to keep them more regular. so there quite a lot of important bits in this chapter. i just want to let you know that the story, altough it follows the same lines, is not the complete reverse of the original. so jake kane was not having an affair with lily etc. although right now I DON'T KNOW WHO KILLED LILY. this is exciting for me to right cause i have a faint idea but you'll find out in due time!
7.
Veronica walked down the hallway. It was the first day back at school since the party, and Veronica wasn't quite sure whether these new 'slut' rumours were better or worse than the ones about her dad.
'Oh my god, you missed an amusing night.' One girl was telling her friend as Veronica passed. 'You should have seen her, she was out of control.'
'An alcoholic, just like her mother.' One of the boys spat.
Veronica ducked her head and tore into the nearest bathroom. Seeing it was full of girls, who all gave her disgusted looks, she turned and left, but not before she heard. 'Oh my god she is such a whore, she thinks she is so much better than everybody.'
Veronica tore into the next set of bathrooms, glad to find them empty. She burst into a fit of tears, falling on her knees. If only she knew what had happened, but she couldn't remember anything. She had been drugged and raped, every girls worst nightmare.
'Well, well, Veronica Mars in the boys toilet?' Veronica shuddered when she heard the voice. 'Now do we have another of your whorish conquests in here, what cubicle is he in, just tell me!' Logan sneered, checking the cubicals, not noticing Veronica's tears.
Veronica stayed on the floor. 'I don't know what you're talking about.'
'Oh come on Ronnie!' Logan exclaimed. 'Friday night, partaay, you got wasted, do I need to draw you a diagram?'
Veronica shook her head, standing up.
'I didn't think so.' Logan spat. 'You were so innocent before Lily died, now you're just a trashy reusable slut. What happened?'
That set Veronica into another outburst of tears. She hated showing weaknesses in front of Logan, or anybody, but it was all too much.
Logan looked carefully at Veronica. He had never seen her this upset from one of their slanging matches, he knew it had to be something else, but he didn't care to ask. He sighed, not sure what to do.
'Is the little baby crying cause she's a slut? Got yourself pregnant now eh?' He snarled, knowing it was wrong.
Veronica looked up at him, shaking her head. She was disgusted at what Logan had become, who he had become. It was like she didn't know him at all now. She stood up, and turned to face the mirrors. Satisfied that she looked reasonable, she turned towards him.
'What happened to you?' She asked him gently, challenging him by looking him straight in the eye. Logan said nothing, just looked back at her.
Sighing, she went to leave, but Logan grabbed her arm, pulling her to him, he gazed down at her with his intense gaze. She looked back up at him, trying to ignore the sparks shooting up her arm at his touch.
'Veronica?' Wallace called from the corridor, seeing her in the boys toilets through the open door.
'If he hurts you, I'll kill him.' Logan said darkly, jealousy shining in his eyes.
Veronica was speechless, tearing her gaze away from Logan's she removed her arm from his grasp and started to leave.
'I'm not vermin, by the way,'
------
Veronica sat at her desk, looking over the pictures of the murder scene. Pictures had been taken of the whole house and its exterior. Veronica moved to her laptop and started searching for the press pictures of when Abel Koontz was arrested. She had never looked at what shoes he actually had in his house.
Finding the picture Veronica saw that it was Lily's favourite pair of white sneakers. Veronica had decorated them for her one lunch hour, and had finished it off with a love heart with Logan's name in the middle. Lily had been really freaked out.
Veronica printed out the photo and sat it next to the other ones. And then it hit her. In the corner, under Lily's desk, were a pair of sneakers. Veronica immediately scanned the photo onto her computer and enlarged it. As soon as Veronica saw the heart she knew what she had found. These were the shoes that were found in Abel Koontz houseboat, but they were there, in Lily's room, on the night she was murdered.
------
Logan Echolls sat in his father's car on the way to a homeless centre while his dad bartered on the phone for more money for his next movie.
'Tell me why we are going here again?' Logan asked his father as he hung up the phone.
'Because you are a jackass, your stupid stunt with the bong at school makes it look like this family is into drugs. So we are going to this shelter, the press will get pictures of you helping out in the soup kitchen, you will tell them you are a stupid idiot who has shamed his family and you are sorry. Then I will come for an interview with the press, and everything will be sorted out.'
Logan said nothing, just nodded, but inside hatred boiled through his veins.
-----
Veronica walked into the prison, accepting her visitor's pass and moving though to the visiting area. She counted up the seats until number 12, where she sat down and waited.
A buzzer went and Veronica watched as a line of people emerged from a metal door and took their seats opposite the appropriate people.
'Hi Abel, I just came to ask you a few questions for my school newspaper.' Veronica put on a southern accent. 'My name's Mandy.'
'I know exactly who you are.' Abel Koontz snarled. 'Veronica Mars!'
Veronica gasped. Composing herself, she fiddled with her pen.
'So what can I do for you Veronica? Do you want to know exactly how I killed your friend, or do you still not believe it?'
'You're dying Abel.' Veronica said quickly. Koontz froze. 'You have two months to live, that's why you would take the fall for this murder, because the sentence won't pass for another 6.' Veronica went on. 'So what I want to know is, why would you take all of that money, just to die anyway? Who are you giving it to Abel.'
'Now where would the fun be if I told you?' He growled. 'I'm not getting paid Veronica, so I suggest you stop trying to ruin your father's reputation and get over it.' Abel stood up and left without another word.
-----
Logan Echolls stood posing for pictures with his dad, pretending everything was fabulous.
'I just want to say I'm sorry for the way I acted, it's not appropriate for someone like me to go off the rails like I did. It was a stupid mistake and I hope that the public realise that I'm not that guy.'
There was a small round of applause and more photos were taken. Aaron put his hand on his son's neck affectionately, or so it seemed to a blind eye. He squeezed hard, the pain searing through the bruises from the previous night.
Hatred boiled inside of Logan, hatred that he could not control, and that might explode at any moment.
'I'd also just like to add one more thing.' Logan added, looking over at Aaron, who looked confused.
'To show our appreciation of society and this shelter, my Dad is donating one million dollars to this shelter.' There was a great cheer around the room. Aaron glared at his son.
Logan feared what was to come, but it was worth it to see the look on his dad's face.
-------
Veronica lay flat on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her best friend, her boyfriend, her reputation, and now her virginity, gone. Over the past three months a lot of important things managed to vanish from Veronica's life.
At least some things were on the up. She was getting closer and closer to solving Lily's murder. All she needed was proof that Abel Koontz was being paid off by someone. But who?
'Veronica.' Her dad knocked on her door. 'Someone's here to see you.'
Veronica sat up, a confused look crossing her face when she saw none other than Duncan Kane enter her room.
'Duncan?' She said blankly. Inviting him to sit down.
'Hey Veronica. Sorry for this.' He said quickly. 'I just wanted to check if you were ok?'
'Ok… how?' Veronica replied, as Duncan sat down next to her on her bed.
'Well, I don't think Friday night as maybe one of your finest.' Duncan said softly. Veronica nodded, closing her eyes.
'I agree.' She chuckled. What else could she do? She was hardly going to tell Duncan what actually happened.
'You must have had a lot to drink that night.'
Veronica raised her eyebrows. 'You'd be surprised.'
They sat in silence for a while, Veronica straining her brain to remember the slightest detail.
'I know what happened Veronica.' Duncan spoke suddenly.
'What?' Veronica turned to face him.
'I know the boys took advantage of you, I don't think you're a slut. I just think you were drunk.' He smiled softly.
'What do you mean?' Veronica asked.
'The boys that you were all over, I'm pretty sure it was mostly their initiation rather than yours.'
'When you say boys…' Veronica said. 'How many do you mean exactly?'
Duncan looked upwards, counting in his head. 'Maybe around 15? Definitely over 10.' He said apologetically.
Veronica cringed. 'Oh my god.' She sighed. 'That many huh?'
Duncan looked at her confused. 'What do you mean, do you not remember?'
Veronica shook her head. 'I think the alcohol made me a bit fuzzy.' She lied. 'It doesn't matter, it's done now. The school probably couldn't think worse of me.'
The silence grew and Duncan looked around awkwardly. Veronica struggled to imagine what different guys she had seemingly been 'all over'.
Veronica looked at Duncan, who was now looking straight back into her eyes. She felt a lump rise in her throat and her stomach somersaulted. Why?
Duncan was leaning in further. Veronica held her breath as Duncan's hand came out to push a strand of hair behind her ear before cupping her cheek. Veronica let out a sigh as she leaned into his head, closing her eyes and tilting her head upwards.
Their lips meant instantly, Veronica's mind went blank as she dived into the kiss.
Breaking apart several minutes later. Veronica opened her eyes and smiled. Duncan smiled back.
'Sorry.' He muttered. 'I've wanted to do that for a long time.'
Veronica put her hand on his neck and pulled him towards her, kissing him again.
'I think subconsciously I wanted to do that too.' She smirked, letting him kiss her again.
'Veronica?' Keith called from the living room.
'I had better go.' Duncan said, standing up. 'I'll see you tomorrow?'
Veronica nodded softly, blushing as Duncan bent down to kiss her cheek before leaving her bedroom.
Falling back onto her bed, Veronica's mind started working again. What did he mean, see her tomorrow? He wasn't actually going to commit social suicide to talk to her. A secret relationship? Now that was the most pathetic thing Veronica had ever heard.
What was she even doing? Duncan was Lily's boyfriend. It didn't matter that she was gone, that was still wrong, wasn't it?
-------
Logan Echolls tried to get rid of the fear that was rising within him as he entered his dad's closet. Moving through the large space, he reached the back, opening doors to reveal hundred of belts hanging gracefully, arranged perfectly.
Logan let his eyes scan over them, deciding to pick one without blood stains on it for tonight. He chose a smooth leather belt, brown in colour, with a heavy gold buckle at the end. He closed his eyes as he ran it through his hands.
Walking out of his parents' bedroom, he avoided his mother's gaze as she poured a drink and shut the door behind him.
Logan walked toward his father's study, every step becoming harder than the one before, but easier than the one that followed.
He passed the belt to his father's smug face, and, hands shaking, pulled his t-shirt over his head and threw it to the side.
Aaron Echolls closed the door to his study, but that didn't block out the cracking noises drifting through the household. And all Lynn Echolls could do was drink