"Begging on your knees isn't gonna make men want you any better," Macy scoffed with a flick of her streaked blond hair.
"Then I would gladly crouch here forever," Amber snapped right back, all the while vehemently scrubbing the obscenities off her locker. "Unlike some people, I don't need male attention to sweeten up my vapid life."
"You're the vampire," Macy shot back.
"You don't even know what vapid means, do you?" Amber stood up, eyes levelled at her arch-nemesis. The boys may taunt and prank, but only Macy would break her exasperation levels. And if the ditz wanted to play dirty, then she'd get dirtied back.
"You know, Macy, you ever thought about what it would be like to have your thoughts broadcasted to the rest of the world? Would be an interesting day."
"Yeah, sure, like I have anything to hide!"
"Really?" Amber arched an eyebrow. This was going to be good.
"What would it be like if your thoughts are broadcast to the rest of the world?" - a sweet, young voice promptly floated off the TV screens, prim and proper in its telejournalism - "Apparently, our highschool is getting our very own reality show with this latest submission: 'The Simple Life of Miss McCain.' Yup, that's right. Macy McCain has poured her heart out and given us exclusive access to her inner thoughts just like our very own Paris Hilton. Here's the reel."
Every eye focused on the small screens at each corner, students listened to one recording after another of Macy's confessions to her audio diary. The very fact that she had an 'audio diary device' just like Judy Jetson's arrive on her doorstep from an anonymous secret admirer should've been enough of a clue to steer clear; but hey, this was Macy McCain. She practically defined gullibility.
After witnessing three confessions of Macy's secret crushes, a slap from Rick to Macy, and a hundred whispers around them, Amber turned to look her companion straight in the eye. "Nothing to hide?"
"You are going to pay for this." Macy's hands burned into Amber's shoulders.
Much stronger in every way, Amber easily slipped away. "We'll see about that."
Veronica lowers her eyelids for a moment. Who knew writing imaginary stories could be more emotionally draining than 90% of real life?
"Veronica! Dinner's ready."
She smiles. "Luigi's?"
"Who am I to deny my only daughter of her one joy in life?"
Veronica smiles again as she approaches the small kitchen bar. No one needed a big house to be happy.
"Thanks for buying dinner again, Dad. Sorry I haven't cooked in a while." She works on the taped-up plastic containers. "Things have been a little - difficult at school."
"And when has that stopped my little supergirl?"
She smiles back.
Keith props his hands on the bar in a wide grip. "Someone picking on my little girl?"
She picks at her fettuccine. "Maybe?"
"Or is my little girl picking on someone else?"
"More maybe?"
"Ah, the joy of moral ambiguity."
She couldn't help smile at that one.
Rapid, happy dialogue intersperses their dinner conversation, one of the few things she could always count on. Mom may be gone, but at least the better parent stayed.
Unfortunately, better parent doesn't always mean young parent, and Keith excuses himself for bed after a hour. And unfortunately once again, a two-person household lives by the rule that when one person retires to himself, both fall silent.
Where does a lonely teenage girl find reliable company during the hours between healthy and realistic bedtime?
Veronica flips open her laptop.
"That was so mean. I hope Amber snaps out of her bitter spirit soon." - LoveBlonde
"Is Amber acting out of her frustration over Logan's treatment? I hope they reconcile soon." - 4everEcholls
"Poor Macy. No one deserves that kind of public humiliation." - glamourgirl
Seriously? People are siding with that witch?
Veronica gulps down an involuntary surge of anger. To admit that her faceless online readers are siding with Madison is to admit that she even cares enough about the ditzy bully to write her into the story; and denial has always been Miss Mars's strong point.
She scrolls down the screens for more encouraging comments.
"Good work" - cinderellafan1
"Cant w8t 4 the nxt update!" - tigerlilyprincess
Really, people?
Every short, positive line is countered with a handful of disapproving ones. Should've gone to a better place for good readers' taste.
Her eyes land on the last comment on the page, the very first one posted on her new chapter.
"Amber's sense of righteousness brings moral levity to her character. Macy had it coming. Beautiful work." - V3nd3tta
Veronica smiles.
"Need a hand with those books, Miss Private Cop? You're pretty tiny for an undercover agent."
She doesn't need to turn around to recognize his voice. Then again, a jab at her height is mild enough compared to all his other taunts.
"Seeing how you know about my badge, I'm surprised you're not running away in fear, buddy." She slams her locker shut and spins around, arms instantly crossing. She quirks an eyebrow in mirror image to his.
"Ah, she threatens with the badge," Logan announces with a dramatic spread of his lean, long arms. "Not very good at this secret identity thing, are we?"
"And what makes you think I have one, Mr. Echolls?"
He surprises her by leaning down till their faces pose inches away from each other. He lowers his voice to a stage whisper. "That Madison stunt? Totally Veronica Mars."
Veronica bites her lower lip to hide the way her breath caught in her throat. What's he gonna do?
"And might I say, Ronnie," he continues with a wink. "Excellent work."
Did Logan Echolls just compliment her? Okay, time to wake up, Veronica.
"I knew it was you!" A shrill female voice screeches a few yards away. Veronica pries her gaze away from Logan to notice a seething Madison Sinclair two yards away, face as red as a valentine's card.
Veronica groans. Be careful what you wish for.
"And what does that make you, Madison? Hm, let's see." She taps a finger on her chin in a faux thinking pose. "Slow?"
The taller blond dives and traps the smaller one against the locks. The latter stares back resolutely.
"You whore! I saw you hanging out with the mall employee at lunch today. You set me up!" Nothing offends the ear drums quite like Madison's shrieks.
"And what exactly do you consider setting up?" The words tumble out immediately.
"You figured out that I liked Logan, and you made me break up with Dick because of it. You are a liar, a cheat, a - "
"Very good observer of the human condition," Veronica concludes for her, promptly slipping out of Madison's range. Her eyes stay trained on the 09er, her arms still obstinately folded.
"But you had no right!" The shrieks continue.
"And neither did you in picking on an innocent little freshman!" Veronica thunders back.
The halls still; guess they've been gathering a larger audience than she thought.
But the guilty glint in Madison's eyes tells her that the accusation was perfectly understood.
"She had it coming."
"Then so did you."
A handful of seconds creep by.
"Veronica Mars, you stupid bi - "
"Enough!" A male voice commands firmly.
Simultaneously, the two female nemeses glance towards the tall brunette standing a few mere feet away.
"Madison, any new word out of your mouth will only end up humiliating you more."
"But, Logan, I - "
"I'm serious." His dark gaze matches his words. "Now leave Ronnie alone."
"But she - "
Another sharp glare from the young man silences her. Madison storms away.
Did Logan just -
"Come on, let's go."
He reaches for Caitlin Ford's hand and walks away.
The show over, the lunch crowd rapidly disperses, leaving behind a very surprised Veronica Mars.
M2r5hM2ll0ws: What makes you think Amber did the right thing?
V3nd3tta: Cuz she stood up for herself
M2r5hM2ll0ws: I know, right?
V3nd3tta: If you know already...why did you ask in the first place? Haha.
Why did she, indeed?
Veronica leans back against the purple pillows. After Logan's unexpected intervention today, feasting on negative comments on her story just somehow doesn't feel right anymore. After all, if the certifiable Logan Echolls could be borderline redeemable, what makes the rest of the world so hopeless? At least this reader could keep up with her unusually positive spirit for today.
V3nd3tta: You there?
M2r5hM2ll0ws: Yeah. Why?
V3nd3tta: Nothin. Thought you left. Didn't wanna offend you.
How could virtual - no pun intended - strangers be way nicer than anyone else in actual life?
Maybe it's exactly because they're strangers. Strangers don't have to care; so it's pleasantly surprising when they do.
M2r5hM2ll0ws: I'm not that easily offended.
V3nd3tta: Says the girl who writes revenge stories?
M2r5hM2ll0ws: It's not a revenge story
V3nd3tta: Then what is it?
Well, Chelsea seems pretty convinced that it's a romance.
M2r5hM2ll0ws: What if it doesn't really fit into any stereotype? Why does a story need to fit into a pre-concieved genre?
V3nd3tta: Whoa, slow down. No need to get defensive.
M2r5hM2ll0ws: I'm not defensive
V3nd3tta: Tell that to the mirror :)
Who can resist smiling at a smiley face?
Veronica sighs as she pauses for a minute to blankly take in her ceiling. One quick thank you private message to her almost lone literate reader earlier tonight has led to one quick message after another - an almost real conversation. And God knows how much she needs those these days. Surely, the don't-talk-to-strangers rule doesn't apply online, right?
M2r5hM2ll0ws: The mirror says I'm right
V3nd3tta: Then the mirror is smart
M2r5hM2ll0ws: Why?
V3nd3tta: Cuz something tells me it's smart to agree with you.
She smiles. Something tells her this person knows her far better than the ones she meets in the hallway every day.
M2r5hM2ll0ws: Guess that makes you smart too
V3nd3tta: I'll wear that statement proud
A quick text from Wallace informs her that he'll be having lunch with the basketball team tomorrow. Oh well, there's always online company, right?
M2r5hM2ll0ws: How often do you go online here?
V3nd3tta: Checking out my schedule now?
M2r5hM2ll0ws: Scared?
V3nd3tta: No. But never took you to be a girl who'd make the first move.
She almost chokes on her water.
V3nd3tta: Sorry, bad joke. Must be sleepy. Apologies.
M2r5hM2ll0ws: Accepted
V3nd3tta: Thanks
Who knew forgiveness could come so easily when there's no guaranteed future interaction involved?
V3nd3tta: Anyway, gotta go. Can't wait for your next update.
M2r5hM2ll0ws: Okay, goodnight.
V3nd3tta: Nyt!
A bark from Back-up has her exchanging her laptop for her pitbull. She snuggles him affectionately.
Dogs and online strangers - you sure pick 'em strange, Veronica Mars.
A/N: I know that Paris Hilton herself played Caitlin Ford. So I hope all the double-layer references didn't confuse. I'm sorry for the shorter chapter. I have to set up Act II. Thank you to everyone sticking with this story. It's somewhat of an experimental form for me; so I'm terribly nervous about each chapter I post. I hope you like it!
