"Lamber angst breaks my heart! Do fix them up soon." - MrsGilbertBlythe
"Update soon! Pleeeease! Im practicly on my knees." - cleopatra33

She almost smiles at her readers' silliness as she smears on that last bit of bright red lipstick. She takes a quick glance at the mirror. She could hear Lilly screaming in her ears - roaring her approval of tonight's outfit.

And if Lilly were to see the one-liners on her computer screen?

Veronica smirks. Miss Kane would definitely have a kick out of 'ships' - no matter how ridiculous they happen to be.

A handful of wistful seconds slip by before Veronica sighs. Heaven forgive her for not being adequately grateful for her date tonight. How could she celebrate something as mundane as a school dance after having tasted the glamor that is fun-defined-by-Lilly-Kane?

Veronica blinks. Oh how she misses her!

She blinks again. But Lilly Kane's not here, and Duncan and Logan might as well no longer be. Veronica turns around and takes in her reflection one more time in the floor-length mirror squeezed beside her bed. Curly and short blond hair, heavy make-up, and bright red satin dress - can't claim that the Veronica of homecoming past is really around anymore either.

A numb vibration from her desk has her snatching up her cellphone two minutes before she'll have to rush out the door. Even Troy Suave Vandergraff can only take so much of Keith Mars.

She flips her screen open.

Chelsea: "Thanks for all your help, Veronica. Enjoy the dance."

Oh yeah, Chelsea. Veronica smiles grimly to herself. It's a little unnerving to admit that she's no longer even using Chelsea as an excuse for her own presence in the fanfiction world. Since about a week ago, fanfiction has conveniently descended from means to help client to personal guilty pleasure. It's a whole new facet to Veronica Mars.

She huffs at a stray curl, Princess Ariel style. The good thing about admissions to yourself? No one else has to know them.

Veronica: "Thanks. You doing okay?"
Chelsea: "Yup. Might just stay in and write tonight."

Veronica cringes. It's been a while since "Secret Chamber" had a new update, and perhaps for the best. Is Chelsea really planning to ask for trouble - again?

Veronica: "Be careful."
Chelsea: "I know what I'm doing. Thanks. Enjoy ;)"

And who is she to argue?


Did she plan to wear big, bright traffic-light red to honor Lilly? Yes. Did she plan to explain herself after arriving back in the limo with every last inch of her dripping in salt water? No. But did she expect to run into Logan Echolls - bane of her life - the very moment she enters the redecorated school gym?

Maybe?

After all, what's life without coincidences, right?

"Ronnie!" He chants with hands held high.

"Ronnie!" His minions echo.

Veronica rolls her eyes and moves one step closer to Troy.

Logan chooses this time to smirk. He walks - stumbles, rather - awkwardly towards them while his followers turn towards their own respective dates. Drunk already, Lo? It's only 8:30.

"You. Troy," Logan presses a finger on the transfer student's chest as if trying to leave a fingerprint. "You be nice, okay? She" - he nods towards her - "she's a good girl."

A good girl? Veronica flinches. Can't let this continue.

"Logan, get off my date." She lets go of Troy's arm and moves to pull away the drunken brunette.

"No, no, I can walk." Logan staggers backwards, steps ragged and arms flailing. He shakes his head rapidly before speaking again at Troy. "You man - you be nice. You be nice."

Logan mutters something unintelligible before looking up again.

"Be nice," he repeats. "You never know how long they'll be around."

Then he disappears into the crowds just as Veronica gasps, a fierce sting piercing her eyes as her hands fly to cover her mouth.

Lilly - he's also thinking of Lilly.

"Veronica, you okay?" Troy's voice sounds far and distant.

She nods and dismisses him with a request for a refreshment she never plans to drink. He slips away obediently.

The room whirls mercilessly as she tries to regain her bearings. She thought she'd let it all go at the beach tonight. Veronica shakes her head - much like Logan did a moment ago. Guess all it takes is a sliver of genuine empathy for her to unravel, forcing her to realize just how much she would never really be over her best friend's death.

Veronica leans against a chair while she eyes the dancing teenagers from a distance. Duncan is shifting away in his most awkward dance moves with Shelly Pomroy as audience. Two feet from him, Logan churns his arms and legs like a madman all by himself.

Probably trying to dance his tears away.

Veronica lets one of her own escape her eyes. Very few people knew the real Lilly Kane. And tonight of all nights, being in the company of those who do seems particularly important. She glances one more time at the two dancing boys. But did they feel the same way?

"Here you go." Troy and all his affected charm appears with two drinks in hand.

"Thanks." She grabs one, smiling politely, and pretends to take a sip.

"Guess what I heard over at the water hole?"

"Yeah?" She barely hears him.

"Logan Echolls the crazy jackass actually came by himself tonight. No date, no limo, no nothing."

He what?

"No wonder he's such bad company," Troy concludes, slipping an arm around his date's shoulders.

But her eyes are locked on someone else's.


The brisk evening breeze forced her hands just a little tighter around her bare shoulders. She really should've brought a sweater.
A soft thud accompanied the sensation of a warm layer covering her chilled skin. She looked down at the expensive tuxedo planted on her small frame.
She looked up for the man behind the act. "Logan?"
She stepped back involuntarily. Who knew if he was friend or enemy today?

"Amber, it's okay," he spoke softly, meeting her eyes only for a moment before looking out towards the ocean. They both looked quietly.
Whoever had the bright idea about a school dance in a tent near the sea had obviously not planned to stay outdoors much.
Amber fiddled with the edges of the coat. Then again, what could a girl who ditched her date legitimately complain about a school dance?

"I'm sorry." Logan's voice mixed so smoothly with the wind's that she almost missed it.
"For what?"
"Being mean?"
"And?"
"Look, Amber." He turned to face her; she faced him. "I'm sorry I reacted that way the other day."
"And I'm not sorry I reacted that way the other day."
He let out a breath. "Of course. I deserved that."

She peeked at the fingerprint scratch on the bridge of his nose. Guess she really had responded rather fiercely.
They stayed silent for a few more seconds.
"Logan, why did you - "
"I didn't like what I was seeing."
She raised a brow. "You mean - "
"I mean you," he blurted, "and Trent."

Amber paused in thought of her long-abandoned date for the night. Any potential in that relationship had evaporated the moment she dodged his kiss.
But it still didn't add up. She looked Logan straight in the eye. "So, why would Trent cause you to act any differently towards me?"
He stared back wordlessly for a minute.
"I dunno." He shrugged. "Guess I thought that saying bad stuff about you would kinda, you know, make him stay away."
"Away from me?"
He nodded.

She frowned a little deeper. "But Logan, why would you want to - "
He cut her off with the sudden sensation of his lips against her forehead, firm but gentle. And he disappeared inside.


"Oh be still my beating heart!" - gingerkins
"Hurray! Lamber foreverrrrrrr!" - 27starlets
"Boys are so stupid. You r smashing this story outta the park, girl." - lindalucas

Veronica smiles. It's almost ridiculous how worked up these people sound.

"Oh how beautifully they're growing back together! I can't wait for their friendship to blossom again." - PerfectPrincess
"You write da good stuff so well" - GenovianDiaries

She sighs with a look out the window. She doesn't know what spurted her to write something so obviously pandering to fan service. Whether it was her irritation at fending off Troy's bold advances all night or her fleeting moment of kinship with Logan - she can't tell.

Nor does she want to.

Besides, it could be something else entirely, right?

"Its about time Lo makes a #$&* move!" - friskyfridays
"You capture the nuances of their relationship so well! Can't wait to see where this goes!" - 89milkmaid

Whoa, relationship? She ruminates in the extravagance of fan imagination while her fingers navigate to yet another familiar comments page - this one for "Secret Chamber."

"Reel tears! pls right another story" - catrinainAhat
"Surprise ending much?" - fallNluv
"Can't believe it's all over! :(((" - meiyanni

Over? Did Chelsea just -

A comment catches her eye just before she clicks the link to the main story.

"u so stupid like this is ever posssibol. Jus stop writing." - kawaiino


The green tiles feel even sicklier than usual as the back of her skirt grazes the sink counter. She lifts her eyes, shifts her weight, and twirls a finger around a loose thread. Veronica huffs. Trapped within the suffocating, judgmental walls of Neptune High, she almost longs for the free meadows of the online world.

She clenches her fist. And this is why she's here - because she wants to protect those meadows from the shadows of evil giants.

"Veronica?"

She rouses from her fairy tale metaphors to Chelsea's inquisitive eyes. Veronica observes her quickly. There are no dark circles, bad skin, or fidgety behavior. The freshman looks healthy, comfortable even.

"Veronica, I'm okay." Chelsea's voice sounds just as collected as she speaks with a smile.

The blonde knits her brows. "Oh, of course. I wasn't implying in my message that - "

Chelsea's giggle cuts her off. Veronica lifts an eyebrow.

"Thanks for calling me out here today," Chelsea states matter-of factly. "I - I really appreciate your help all this time."

Veronica nods slowly, mentally scrambling to piece together the situation. "So - you're gonna stop writing?"

"Well, about Logan, anyway." Chelsea smiles, her almond eyes almost disappearing into her fair skin. Her soft, straight hair falls forward effortlessly.

"I see." Because what else could she say?

With a healthy glow, Chelsea leans forward and squeezes a very surprised Veronica. She returns the hug.

"Thanks for everything, Veronica. You really helped me go through that phase."

Veronica nods. It feels strange to hear a real person spoken of as a mere passing interest.

"So anyway," Chelsea pipes up, still unusually optimistic. "There's really no need for you to be online anymore. I appreciate what you did though."

"Online? Oh, for you. Yeah - sure."

Chelsea giggles again. "Unless, of course, you want to. I mean, you can go online and write anything you want, of course."

"Me? Write?" Veronica injects as much incredulity into her voice as possible. "Why would I - "

"Just if you want, Veronica, just if," Chelsea clarifies with a much too knowing smile.

"So, just so we're clear - you don't want me to get rid of 'kawaiino' for you?"

Chelsea sighs and shakes her head. "No, it's fine."

"But it's not - "

"It's fine, Veronica," she cuts her older friend off. "I know who she is. It's okay."

"You do?"

Chelsea shrugs. "Yeah. She - well, the alias - is my sister's. She never approved of me writing. So it's fine."

"Oh." The world shifts one degree off. "But you're fine with that."

Chelsea nods and goes back to smiling. "Not everyone appreciates fanfiction, you know?"

"Yeah." Now Veronica softens. "I know."

"Anyway, thanks, Veronica." Chelsea jolts up a couple of sliding folders on her arm. "Thank you so much for helping me."

Sensing her stocky companion's move to go, Veronica asks quickly, "Have you - have you always known it was your sister?"

Chelsea nods, resignation galore.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

The freshman shrugs.

"I could've helped you, Chelsea. I mean, I still can. I - "

"It's okay," Chelsea reassures, an unexpected confidence in her voice. "I - I thought she'd come around by now. But even if she doesn't - well, it's okay. I don't need her approval, you know?"

Veronica bites her lower lip before she eases into a smile. "Yeah, you're right."

Chelsea smiles back and reaches for the door.

"Oh yeah, Veronica?" She turns at the last minute.

"Yeah?"

"Just in case, you know, you still want to read fanfiction - I totally recommend 'Echolls Unchained.'"

"Echolls what?" Veronica forces down the gasp that's threatening to escape her lips.

"'Echolls Unchained,'" Chelsea repeats. "It's just really, really well done."

"Oh, tha - yeah? Uhm - how?"

"Well, it's not every day that writers get Logan's character that rich, you know?"

"Rich? I mean, yeah, he's loaded. His father - "

Chelsea giggles. "You know that's not what I mean."

Almost impulsively, she marches back over to share yet another hug. Veronica opens her arms as expected.

But Chelsea surprises her with a whisper, "And if I were to know who Marshmallows was? I'd tell her just how gifted of a writer she is. She should never stop writing."

By the time Veronica recovers, Chelsea's by the door.

"And by the way," she tosses back with a hand to the doorknob. She smiles. "I totally ship Lamber."


"So this is it then?" "Yeah" Cherry replies. They've spend the last hour in each others arms ever since Logan said he's going to leave for Switserland. They really enjoyed their time togther but all good things must come to an end. "Will we keep in touch?" he asked. She kisses him back and nods her head, "Thanks for everything, Logan. I'll always love you." "I'll always love you too." Cherry kisses him one last time before he baords the plain. "Find happiness with someone who deserves you. See you next year." 'Okay!" he waves from the plane. Even if its not forever, they know the memories will be theres always.

Veronica licks her lips as the finality of Chelsea's story sinks in. Who would have thought?

Veronica scrolls down at the menacing comments on Chelsea's chapters. Having checked all around the website, it's true that 'kawaiino' never left any comments elsewhere. The freshman wasn't making it up.

Veronica sighs. As if it's not tragic enough to be bulldozed by insensitive bullies, here we have family picking on their own. But that's the funny thing about online interaction, isn't it? Your best friend could be a world away, your enemy next door, and your biggest fan a total stranger.

A beep pulls her eyes back to her laptop screen.

"Amber has got to be my favorite OC. Smart and spunky's the way to go." - V3nd3tta

Veronica smiles.

M2r5hM2ll0ws: You there?
V3nd3tta: Of course
M2r5hM2ll0ws: Of course?
V3nd3tta: Whenever you need me :)


A/N: Here ends Act II. Hope the story wasn't hard to follow with so much stuff packed in one chapter. I love every review from my darling readers, and long, detailed ones are even more amazing. Thank you all so much! Please let me know your thoughts on this one, even if it's a lot more heavy than humorous :)