"Your story is amazing! Please keep on writing" - JennyJ
"Cant believe dat just happened it is so gud." - RosesRBlue
Seriously? Maybe Johnny can't read because there's really nothing left to read for America's high school kid.
Veronica leans back, propping her feet on a pillow. Her fingers continue to scroll down the list of comments on Chelsea's latest chapter, many of which represent cruel and unusual punishment on the English language. How will she even start finding Chelsea's nameless bully?
"Your going to hell, skank! Logan will never love you." - SoAwsome
Well, someone just volunteered. She opens a new tab on the profile, promising herself to check it later.
"Oh the feels!" - Harriett19
"Cherry n Logan together 4ever." - magicrainbowgirl
"You r amazing. YOu make Logan come alive." - EchollsForever
He actually is alive, idiot.
"I will always love how tender and gentle Logan is. He will always sacrifice himself for the ones he loves. You show his loyalty so well." - Kristen2004
Veronica breathes sharply while a foreign sting jabs at her eyes.
If you only knew, Kristen, if you only knew.
Suddenly deciding that she's had enough reading for the hour, Veronica closes the window on her screen. She pulls her cellphone out of her messenger bag and absent-mindedly checks her voice mail.
After a few run-of-the-mill messages of fatherly warnings and advice, a third message puts Chelsea's timid voice on the line. "I just want to say thank you so much for doing this, Veronica. I know it's not easy to help out someone unpopular. I totally get it if you don't want to help me anymore, but I just feel so alone and I thank you so much for being a friend. I'll see you tomorrow."
She shuts her phone with a sigh.
A promise is a promise.
Veronica reloads the fanfiction site and navigates to the "Secret Chamber" comments page once more.
"Logan Echolls is just so ugh amazing. I wanna marry him and rock his world every single night!" - MrsLoganEcholls
She forces back the sudden reflux in her throat and wills herself to continue.
"When will they actually get together?! This story is amazing!" - alwayspatrice
"When they kissed, it was just perrrrrfect!" - princessjasmine
"Every girl wants to be Cherry right now!" - kodakmoments17
Well, not every girl.
Veronica sighs as she idly scrolls down the page of endless, mindless chatter of one-liners. It's honestly worse than a needle in a haystack. Who knew thousands and thousands of fans could be this interested in the fictional lives of real people?
Anxious for a change of scenery, she refreshes the page. This time, two big paragraphs head the comments section. She sits up immediately, her eyes scouring the screen.
"There is something about this story that warms the heart each time. I mean, sure, Cherry and Logan might not be realistic. But they are just so cute together. If only real love in life can be like this for everyone. Thanks so much girl for sharing your beautiful writing with us. We don't always get what we want in life but there's always some kind of hope out there. Love your work please keep it coming!" - PerfectPrincess
As pretentious as the username may be, the girl is actually sweet - at least her words are.
The next paragraph, practically a tirade, has Veronica jumping from tender thoughts and a general faith in humanity back to the harsh reality of life.
"u r such a loser. Logan will never go wit a lowly girl like Chery. And she s as fake as u. I don't care if u r LLEcholls4Ever or anykind of forever nonsens. U r an imposter who needs to get a life. Logans gonna be mine b4 anyone like dat. Ur story sucks like u r fake n stupid. FU." - kawaiino
Veronica blinks at the sudden discomfort in her eyes as her breath grows a tad heavier. Yes, Chelsea's story is unrealistic and borderline nonsensical; but Chelsea herself is not. She is a living, breathing person who deserves the very best in life. She's a confused young girl who is being put down just because she dares to write something she thinks and puts it on the Internet. No one deserves to be treated like trash.
Veronica pauses at the sudden realization that she's been typing out her thoughts within the "new comment" box.
Oh, to hell with it.
She presses the submit button before she could regret it. A window promptly pops up requiring her to either sign in or sign up.
A momentary hesitance stays the finger on her mouse. Is she really going to stoop to this virtual sparring? Her eyes wander as she thinks, involuntarily landing on her phone. Chelsea's small, grateful voice resonates in her mind.
She isn't trying to fight anyone; she's standing up for what's right.
A quick visit of the refresh button shows the new comment right on top.
"Sure, even if this story is unrealistic, the person who wrote it is not. She is a living, breathing person who deserves the very best in life. She's a confused young girl who is being put down just because she dares to write something she thinks and puts it on the Internet. No one deserves to be treated like trash. People who treat her as trash are the real garbage." - M2r5hM2ll0ws
Veronica leans back, tentatively satisfied. Let's see what the bullies have to say about that.
She smirks in self-congratulations as she clicks the refresh button yet again.
"stupid M2r5hM2ll0ws doesn't even know what shes thinking. u all deserv each other so bad but never Logan." - kawaiino
"They are all whores who want fake action cuz they cant get it in real life." - SoAwsome
If only punches to the face could be done through the Internet too.
"Hey, Ronnie, need some marijuana to spice up that night with the swim team?" A strong forearm hits the locker next to hers. "Cuz I sure got a lot more of those bongs hidden in my locker."
Breathe slowly, breathe slowly.
Veronica trains her eyes on the books she's retrieving.
"Not so enthusiastic now, huh?" The tall brunette's voice grew louder. "Well, maybe you want to be a little more careful next time."
He sweeps down and presses his face close to hers. "Don't wanna get knocked up and not know who the father is."
Veronica shifts to face him then; her eyes zoom right on his. "That's okay, I'll just tell everyone it's yours."
He smirks, apparently enjoying his own obnoxious behavior.
"You know what they say," Veronica continues, nonchalant. "Logan Echolls is a bad, bad boy."
"You know it, Ronnie." He straightens back up. "But not as bad as you, Miss Mars. Been noticing all the new clothes lately; how much do you charge per night? Must take at least a couple of threesomes to pay for a whole new wardrobe without prince charming footin' the bill now."
His minions snicker in unison behind him.
And how exactly could anyone at all imagine this jackass to be a dream-come-true?
Veronica grits her teeth. Logan of all people should know of her frequent trips to the thrift store since childhood. She'd never been the type to splurge on clothes. But under the cruel scrutiny of the Neptune High hallway, it's his golden words against her inconsequential ones.
If he wants to hurt her, then there's no one to stop him.
"More than you can afford, mister." She moves to leave, temporarily happy with a stalemate.
"Uh uh uh," Logan chastises, quickly blocking her way. "We're not trying to walk away from a full appraisal of our services, are we?"
"Go away, Logan."
"What?" He feigns hurt with an arm to the chest. "You're rejecting me? But this is free advertisement, Mars!" He lifts his arms dramatically.
"Enough, Logan!" Her voice is now icy, her eyes fiery. "What would Lilly say about you doing this, Lo?"
His face contorts to an expression of bitter anger, but he quickly replaces it with affected manly bravado. While his shrug sends off a message for his followers to get moving, he looks back one last time at the tiny blond.
"Same question, Ronnie."
It stings that she knows what he means.
Chapter 23:
She woke up in his arms the next morning. They didn't have sex last night. He wants that experience to be special for them. Cherry smiled because she knew how lucky she really was.
"Hi Logan." They smiled at each other and kissed. By the time they stopped, it was one hour later.
"What are we doing today?" He asked her while he drove.
"Let's go ride a helicopter. I want to see the world with my handsome prince."
Logan smiled back at her and said "Your wish is my command."
Even though it was a nice day, Cherry suddenly looked very sad. Logan noticed right away.
He asked her what was wrong and she told him that a lot of people hated her and that the other girls think he's too good for her.
Logan was so angry that he wanted to hurt someone.
"They are wrong. I love you more than anything." He said tenderly as he kissed down her neck.
What was Chelsea thinking?
Last night found Veronica Mars tired after a long night of homework. Last night also found her navigating to alternateuniverse. net as if on autopilot, maybe because she'd already typed the URL one too many times. Once there, she'd expected strange imaginations of the Echolls family life; she'd even expected fangirls making uncomfortable comments about how hot Aaron and Logan were. She did not, however, expect a new update to "Secret Chamber."
Veronica leans back against the sink counter. As expected, raves and insults both abounded in the comments section she read last night. And as expected, Miss M2r5hM2ll0ws Mars also could not resist rebuking a bully or two. Yet while the fresh comments are indeed giving her clues to work with, Veronica can't help think that Chelsea couldn't possibly be updating her story merely to lure out the bullies. There are easier ways to do that.
Chelsea's writing because she wants to.
And for the life of her, Veronica can't understand why.
The sound of a door swinging open has Veronica looking up to her freshman companion. The moment their eyes meet, Chelsea's overflow with a waterfall of tears. Veronica quickly stretch out her arms as necessary.
Two minutes later, Chelsea asks between sobs, "Did you see the comments, Veronica?"
"Yeah, I did."
Chelsea nods, hands wiping her muddy face. "They're so mean."
"Yeah, they are."
Last night's comments were definitely unrelenting.
A silent moment passes before Veronica looks up again. "Are you okay?"
Chelsea nods as she straightens her hair. "Yeah, I am. I mean, I still want you to find the bullies - "
"Of course." Veronica feels suddenly defensive. "I'm trying to talk to this computer genius girl I know. She'll be helping me track the IP addresses."
Chelsea nods again, this time without the heaving. "Thanks. I'm so glad you can help me, Veronica."
"Yeah, no problem." Veronica tries to smile.
Chelsea interrupts her efforts with a hug. "Thanks, Veronica. I knew you would always understand."
Veronica barely nods as her companion pulls away.
"Anyway, I should get to class now. I'll wait for your updates, Veronica. See you tomorrow."
Veronica stays glued to the counter as the younger girl walks away.
Speaking of updates - "Chelsea, could I ask you a very, very honest question?"
The freshman looks back, her small hands wound tightly around the colorful three-ring binders in her arms. Veronica looks down, trying to channel all the sympathy she could. "If you know that these horrible girls out there are bullying you because of what you write - why do you keep writing?"
Veronica looks back up, anticipating every bit of anger, sadness, or defensiveness a fourteen-year-old could be expected to produce. The "you-poor-kid" expression on Chelsea's face? Not what she expected - not from a freshman to a junior.
"Look, Veronica, I know that you don't get it," she spoke with an unusual maturity to her voice. "And I thank you that you're still wiling to help me in spite of that. But the thing is?" Chelsea's face lights up with a smile that's equal parts helpless and wistful. "When I write about Logan Echolls, no matter how imaginary it may all be - it just makes him feel more real."
"More real?"
Chelsea nods. "I don't expect you to get it, Veronica. But really" - she reaches to pat the blond's shoulder - "thanks."
And with that, she's gone - the bathroom door swinging gradually to a close.
Real? More real? Veronica leans back on her bed. That freshman has no idea what she's talking about.
Logan Echolls - the king of the 09ers with a theatrical flair - is real. He's absolutely and unfortunately real.
He's real enough to be your best friend and to make your skin feel electric at the most innocent of hugs. He's real enough to hold you close at the end of a bad day with your mom and make you believe that everything will be okay. And he's real enough to worm his hand straight into your chest, grab a hold of your heart, pull it out, and pulverize it into atomic dust.
Veronica blinks back the unexpected moisture under her eyelids. Logan Echolls isn't the sweet, romantic, cliché male lead of a teenage girl's online chick lit; he's the crazy jackass who burns down bridges and turns everyone you ever cared for into an army waging war against you. He's not a dream; he's a nightmare.
And it's about time the little girls find out that Santa isn't real.
A/N: I want to thank everyone for the amazing response and support! This story is equal parts fun and intimidating to write, especially since I'm poking fun at my own mistakes very often. I hope you like where it's going! Let me know your thoughts!
