For Good (2/?)
Chapter title: What If
Rating: R for this part, up to NC-17 in later chapters.
Summary: Casey always had feelings for her. But he realizes that he needs to become someone he himself can be proud of before he is worthy of her. So after he leaves high school he does just that and returns Neptune at the beginning of her sophmore year at Hearst ready for the chance he's always wanted.(Casey and Veronica CaVe)
Characters/Pairing: Veronica/Casey (mentions all VM characters at some point)
Spoilers: entire series
Word Count: 4530
Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars, Zac Efron, or any of the movies i mention in this chapter
A/N: You will hear Veronica's POV in this chapter as well as Casey's. and so just to make it clear I screwed up when I researched this chapter. This takes place in October 2007, but I researched movie releases from October 2008 without even thinking about it, and they fit so well with my plot that I didn't change it. So yes I am aware that these would not have been out for another year but oh well, I everyone makes mistakes. Oh and I haven't actually seen any of the three so im just going off of what ive heard about them in my descriptions
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, alerted and/or favorited this fic! I really never thought I'd get so much interest in this ship or fic, so thank you all so so much!!!
She smirked and tilted her head. "So were you gonna stalk me all night? Or were you gonna finally grow some balls and say hi."
I laughed. She'd seen me, she'd just been playing with me. Figures. "It's good to see you too Veronica."
"It's been awhile." She stood up and walked to the opposite wall and leaned there so she could see me as we talked. And fuck, I just couldn't take my eyes off of her. "How've you been Casey?"
We talked for awhile filling each other in on our lives since the last time we'd seen each other and she looked proud of me. Proud, god I hadn't seen that since my grandmother died.
An hour later we were still standing there and she looked down at her watch. "It's getting late."
I nodded I was not ready for this to be over. "Do you need to get back in there?"
She smiled a little but looked hesitant. "Yeah, I don't really want to. These riotous parties aren't exactly my scene, but I promised Mac."
"Yeah, I get it." And I did, but that didn't mean I wanted her to go back in there.
She stood up and took a few steps before stopping and turning back to me. "You coming?"
I shook my head. "Nah, I think I'm gonna head home, these parties aren't my thing either. It was good to see you." Truthfully, my brain was overstimulated from my Veronica time and I needed to recharge before I spontaneously combusted from the excitement.
She took a few steps towards me and the next thing I knew her arms were around me and I was pulling her close enjoying her touch probably a little too much. I didn't want to let go and when she stepped back I could tell it was as obvious to her as it had been to me. "It was good to see you too, the real you that is. The Casey Gant I considered a friend."
And then my brain shut off and the words just fell out of my mouth. "And more."
She blushed and took a second to answer. "Yeah, and more."
She reached up and kissed me on the cheek and when she pulled back I just stared at her wide eyed, she had felt the same way, maybe still did. Before she could walk away I grabbed her hand. "What do you say Veronica 2.0 and Casey 2.0 have coffee together tomorrow?"
She tilted her head and squeezed my hand. "I was thinking more like dinner and a movie."
I beamed, god was this really happening? "Whatever you want."
She nodded, let go of my hand and was almost back to the room by the time she turned and answered me. "Just so you know, now that I've got you back I'm not letting you get away this time. So all those psychoanalyst quacks can go to hell."
I laughed again and walked towards her, cupping her cheek when I got there. "I'm not going anywhere."
And I wasn't.
I'd be lying if I said I never thought of him. Because honestly, I'd thought about him a lot over the years.
He was my 'what if.'
You know, the person that you always wondered what would have happened had circumstances been different.
If his parents hadn't reprogrammed him and we'd continued on the road we were on, would it have been more? I'd always kind of thought it would have.
He was the first real, true connection I'd felt with a guy in a long time. Sure, I'd dated Troy, but I didn't feel the comfort and acceptance with him that I'd felt with Casey.
When he turned back to the original jackass he had been, I felt like I lost a part of me all over again. I'd thought he might be my redemption and instead he was just another let down.
But of course that didn't stop my mind from wandering.
I'd kept tabs on him since he'd left Neptune, I knew how well he was doing and always made sure my ears were perked when Dick or Logan mentioned him, but I hadn't heard much over the past couple of months. According to Mac who heard it from Dick, Logan and Casey had had some sort of a falling out. She didn't say why but I knew Casey had been in Aspen at the same time as Logan and wondered if maybe he knew about the Madison indiscretion and had been angry with Logan.
But I let it go. I didn't want people knowing that I had a pseudo crush on a guy I hadn't seen in over 2 years and had barely talked to for months before that.
Plus I'd had a boyfriend. 'Had' being the operative word there. Piz and I imploded in June before I left for my internship, he said that he knew he wasn't what I wanted, and even if I didn't want Logan back, there was always going to be someone else better suited for me. He was just happy he got to have his dream girl for a little while, even if it didn't last. We parted amicably and our friendship was stronger than ever.
Logan spent most of the summer trying to get me back, he showed up in Virginia three times and once I returned home was at my house every day, but I just couldn't do it. I love him, I always will, but all we do is hurt each other and truthfully, I never have gotten past his night with Madison no matter how hard I tried to forget it. He finally accepted it, and like Piz, we are better friends than ever and we are both happy with that although I know he still wishes it was more.
When I heard that Casey had transferred to Hearst I was really excited. Dick had told Mac who told me because Dick told her to tell me. Confusing I know, but it made me wonder why Dick was so big on me knowing.
I spent the first couple of weeks watching the campus like a hawk for any sign of him with no luck. And then I ran into Luke about 3 days before the party. I knew he'd transferred too and was living with Casey so I figured I'd fish a little. As always Luke was a terrible bluffer. I'd kicked his ass in enough poker games my freshman year to know his tells and I knew for a fact after talking to him that Casey wanted to see me. So I made sure that they got an invite to the party.
I saw him the minute I walked in and my breath hitched at the sight, but I turned fast hoping he hadn't noticed me notice him and he hadn't.
He looked soooo good. Better than I remembered and I felt his eyes on me immediately. But he didn't come talk to me and I know it sounds terrible but I decided to have a little fun. He followed me for a few hours never getting close enough to run right into me, but enough to where if I turned around, I'd see him and when he walked out into the hall, I decided to take a chance and it paid off fruitfully.
When he hugged me I didn't want to let go. His arms felt too good and it made my years of wondering worth it. I just had a feeling that this was…something, or at least would be I hoped
When he said, 'and more' my heart flip flopped in my chest and I blushed as it occurred to me that maybe I was his 'what if' too. So I gave him an in, let him know that he wasn't alone in the feeling.
I almost laughed when he offered coffee, he seemed nervous and it was unbelievably sweet but I didn't want this to be anywhere near the friend zone, so I upped the anty and he took the bait right away.
When he said he wasn't going anywhere I smiled to myself, he better not be, I wasn't lying when I said I wouldn't let go of him now that I had him back. I was gonna find out about my 'what if' and I had a feeling it was gonna turn into a 'better late than never'.
And as he headed out and I returned to the party, I couldn't help the butterflies, for the first time in a long time, I felt like a normal girl.
I had a date with Casey Gant.
"I'm going on a date with Veronica Mars. I'm going on a date with Veronica Mars. I'm going on…"
"Dude, Casey seriously, well all know you're taking out Veronica, the plants, the walls, the gardener and the cook all know now. It's time for you to just accept it and be happy about it. This is what you wanted, right? You aren't changing your mind are you?"
I looked up from the counter where I was dazedly making a sandwich and met Luke's eyes. It's not that I'm not used to the new him, but it still throws me occasionally.
"God no, never! I just still can't believe that she practically asked me."
Luke laughed and walked to the fridge grabbing a beer and opening it.
"See, maybe you should listen to me more often. I remember telling you once that she might want you as much as you want her. I bet you're her 'what if'."
I just sat there for a second staring at him, squinting my eyes and trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about. "Her, 'what if'?"
Luke shook his head and tossed me a coke. "Seriously Casey you are really out of the loop. It's like what she is to you. The person that you always wonder if it could have been more. And from the sounds of it. That's how she feels."
I still didn't completely get it. "So you think that's why she wanted a date and not coffee?"
Luke rolled his eyes at me and hopped up on one of the stools at the breakfast bar. "Yes Casey, that's exactly what I'm saying." Well maybe he's right; it definitely felt like she was interested, this was good real good. I was lost in the thought of how good she had looked the night before when Luke's voice broke thought my reverie. "Have you decided where you're gonna take her?"
Fuck, I'd been thinking about it for years. "Well I know she likes Italian, but I don't want to take her to Luigi's; I know that was one of her and Logan's favorite places. But there isn't another good one in town and I know how she feels about flaunting money, so I don't want to take her to LA or San Diego, at least not on the first date."
"Yeah, that makes sense….." He paused dramatically and I wondered if it was time to wind him up again. And then suddenly, it was like a fucking light bulb came on over his head. "Didn't they just open a new one on the outskirts of town? Romeo's?"
"Perfect, that's perfect Luke! Somewhere new, to start something new. "
Luke smirked and leaned back in the stool. "What can I say man? It's why you keep me around, now all you have to do is pick a movie, and secure the kiss."
"Oh believe me Luke, I'm bringing my 'A' game, a kiss will be had and hopefully there will be more, much more to follow. Well, when she's ready of course."
Luke just laughed and leaned the stool further back until it was on only two legs. "When did you become such a girl?"
It was that comment that made it so I didn't feel even a tiny bit guilty when I kicked the bottom of the stool and sent him falling to the floor. "I don't know Luke, when did you turn into Dick?"
I didn't bother to apologize and he didn't need one anyways, he knew it was true; he just laughed and pulled himself up off the floor as I left the room to get in the shower.
I needed to be pretty for my date with Veronica Mars after all.
Saw V
Quarantine
High School Musical 3.
We both stood there staring at the board and neither of us said anything for a good 5 minutes. I wasn't a huge horror movie fan, too many years living in big empty mansions had soured me on the idea of masked murderers hiding in the shadows and monsters in the closet. But I'd choose zombies or ghosts any day over Zac Efron. And I prayed to god that she wasn't going to suggest High School Musical 3, I was sure she wouldn't, but there was that small chance.
I turned to her and she was still studying the board aptly, so I just waited and took in her appearance again.
When she'd opened the door to her apartment when I arrived I swear I almost stopped breathing. She was wearing a tiny little jean skirt, which I swore wouldn't fit over even one of my legs, she was so freaking tiny. A white long sleeved shirt under a black tee and black boots. She looked beyond drool worthy and if I hadn't had any self control I would have attacked her then and left the dinner and a movie for a post coital experience, but I refrained. And give me a break for my thoughts, I may be Casey 2.0, but I still have urges like any man.
Dinner went amazingly well. Conversation was effortless and I loved hearing her tell me about her internship and the new criminal justice classes she was taking this semester. And when I told her about how well I'd done Stanford, she listened like I was the only person in the room.
By the time that dinner was over I'd gotten the courage up to finally touch her and when I grabbed her hand across the table she squeezed it and didn't let go until we got to the car. The minute we were on the road it was back in mine and resting on the gear shift. And now, even 20 minutes later, standing in front of the theater, she still hadn't let go and she'd be lucky if I ever let her. The night was going better than I ever dreamed it could.
When she finally focused on me again she was smiling. "Well Case, we don't have lot to pick from do we?"
I laughed and held her hand up kissing it softly and she stepped closer to me. "Nope, so what's your choice?"
She giggled a little, tilted her head and in her best perky cheerleader imitation, clasped her hands together, mine between them, and exclaimed . "OMG Casey! I so want to see HSM3! Cuz Zac is like so totally hot!!"
I let out a loud laugh at her antics and let go of her hand, pulling her against my side. "Anything for you Sunshine."
She looked up, eyebrow raised at my ridiculous pet name and smiled. "Well in that case, it's definitely not a Zac night. That is unless you feel like seeing my dinner make a reappearance on our first date."
"Yeah, not my idea of a successful one."
She chuckled and leaned a little more into me as I tightened my arm around her. "Well, I'm not a big horror movie person, they freak me out. 'House of Wax' gave me nightmares for weeks, mainly I think because of Paris Hilton, but still. How do you feel about them?"
I took a deep breath and looked down at her beautiful face as it was turned up to mine. "Well neither am I. So I say we choose the least gruesome of the three."
She nodded and agreed. "So that would be?"
We both spoke up at the same time. "Quarantine."
We laughed and walked over to the ticket booth, this would be interesting, my stomach wouldn't be able to handle Saw or High School Musical, but zombies were one of my least favorite things. I just hoped I wouldn't look like a total tool in front of her.
We got popcorn and pops and found the perfect seats according to Veronica, right in the middle of the middle row. I smiled inside as we sat down, I didn't tell her that they were my favorite seats too and as soon as the lights dimmed my arm was around her and she was resting her head on my shoulder.
I was half way through my date with her and still couldn't believe it was actually happening, I was on a date with Veronica Mars and it was going well, really well.
Every time she jumped or got scared she cuddled closer and before I realized what she was doing, she'd pushed the arm rest up and was practically sitting in my lap and I was holding onto her like my life depended on it.
By the time the movie was over I was so freaked out and turned on at the same time that I didn't know what to do.
So I did the only thing I could think of that was appropriate, I grabbed her hand and led her to the car, the whole time looking every which way afraid that the zombies might come out of the screen and flood the streets.
Yeah that was exactly why I don't do zombie movies.
I hate zombies. It's the whole cannibalistic feeling that gets me. But choosing between them, Zac and Saw, there was no contest; cannibalism is doable compared to the needless and senseless extrication of limbs, buckets of blood and ridiculous teenage musicals. I mean we did just eat after all.
It felt so good to be in his arms that I couldn't help but take advantage of the movie and every time something bad happened, I pretended to jump and cuddled closer. God it was nice and he seemed to be more than ok with me being in his personal bubble, so I couldn't help but get rid of the only thing separating us and pushed the arm rest up so I could lean against him completely. If I could have crawled into his lap without giving myself away completely, I would have.
Of course the movie totally freaked me out, but the thing is that I'm one of those girls that finds horror movies to be an aphrodisiac. The minute we left that theater and he grabbed my hand all I wanted to do was jump him. Oh fuck, who was I kidding? I'd pretty much wanted to jump him since he picked me up. My 'what if' guy was turning into my 'must have guy' fast.
When we got to the car we both climbed in and he turned to me and smiled. "Well that was an interesting movie."
I leaned closer and giggled a little. "If by interesting you mean gross, senseless and plot-less, than yes, I agree."
His eyes were locked on mine, I couldn't seem to pull myself away from the deep brown of his and as he leaned closer to me I found myself holding my breath in anticipation.
When his lips met mine I swear that a lightning bolt shot up my spine and I gasped as he circled his arms around my waist pulling my against him over the gear shift, mine wrapped around his neck and I granted his tongue access.
When we broke away I could barely breathe, thinking was a thing of the past and from the looks of it, he felt the same way.
We stared at each other for a few seconds in a heated gaze and then his eyes lightened and his lips curled into a smile. "Veronica, I'm not ready for this night to be over…." My heart flip flopped again and I got goose bumps, but I wanted to wait a little, maybe a long, while before I slept with him, which, let's be honest, was going to happen at some point, there was no way it wouldn't with the way I was feeling; but after the first date? I went to speak but he beat me to it. ".. I don't expect anything, I just don't want to take you home yet. Would you like to come to my house? We can watch another movie. One that doesn't include dead people eating other people."
God, how did I get so lucky? Casey 2.0 was Casey 2. Amazing and I seriously felt myself falling for him already, which is not something I do. He was the first man in years that I trusted immediately and I'd be damned if I was gonna let that go to waste. So I reached my hand to the back of his neck and pulled his face to mine connecting our lips in a soft and sweet kiss this time. "Let's go."
His face lit up with my response and he placed one more small kiss on my temple before starting the car, grabbing my hand and heading towards the 09er district and his house.
Having her lips against mine was probably the best feeling in the world. She tasted amazing and feeling her body so close to mine was just intoxicating, so I took a chance and told her how I felt.
I hadn't meant sex, I didn't expect her to sleep with me and her long moment of consideration made me realize that she'd probably thought I had meant sex. So I clarified and when she agreed to my idea and kissed me again, my heart soared and I headed home with a smile on my face and her hand in mine.
When we got to my house Luke's truck was gone and we walked into a dark empty house, both of us definitely still a little freaked.
I turned on almost every light on the way to the media room and when we got there I didn't bother to turn any off. The more the better I thought.
I let her pick the movie and couldn't believe how perfect she was when she chose Garden State. It was one of my favorites.
So I put it in and went to sit next to her on the couch, but she stood up quickly as I hit the seat and I watched in confusion until I realized she was just turning off the lights before coming right back over to me.
Thirty minutes into it I was lying on my back with her next to my on her side, her head resting on my chest, my fingers running up and down her arm and hers grazing over my stomach.
I wasn't concentrating on the movie anymore, I couldn't. I had to consciously keep my erection from appearing I was so turned on, and I was bound and determined to do right by her. I had every intention of sleeping with her eventually, fuck by that point I was pretty damn sure I'd be making love to her, but this was too soon and I respected her too much and needed her to know that.
When I kissed her forehead she angled her face up and kissed me pulling my bottom lip between her teeth and I grabbed her waist pulling her on top of me.
I buried my hand in her hair and her hands trailed over my abs as my lips left hers and explored the rest of her face and then her neck. Kissing every inch of her I could find.
We were both breathing hard and when her hips shifted against mine it was do or die and I refused to give in to temptation, so I pulled back, sat up with her in my lap and became the voice of reason. "Wait, wait, we need to slow down."
She looked at me like I was crazy for a second and then she smiled. "Wow, Casey Gant the gentleman. I'm impressed."
I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against her collar bone before pulling back again, kissing her and cupping her face with my hands. "Are you mad?"
She shook her head and put her arms around my neck. "No, I think you're right actually. We're moving too fast. I don't want to rush this, I want to do this right."
God, if that wasn't a fucking relief. I kissed her quickly and held her to me. "Thank god, so we're on the same page then?"
She laughed a little and kissed my neck. "Yeah, I think so, but just to be sure…" She looked up at me and I knew she wanted me to say it, so I did.
"We slow it down and establish an actual relationship before introducing the physical aspect, well at least all of it."
She looked as relieved as I felt and then she smirked. "Casey Gant are you asking me to be your girlfriend?"
I couldn't help but laugh as I kissed her again. "Are you accepting?"
She sat there for a second and tilted her head before smirking again. "Ummm yes."
I smiled and crushed her body to mine. "Well then yes, I'm asking."
I captured her lips again and my tongue had just entered her mouth when the lights all of a sudden flicked on. Luke was standing in the doorway with his arms crossed and looking all fatherly. "Casey, you have class tomorrow, I think it's time you took Veronica home."
He had a shitty grin on his face and Veronica burst out laughing as I replied. "Gee Pops, if I must."
He just nodded and left us alone and once I heard his bedroom door close we both cracked up. "Wow, that was almost as bad as a parent waking in."
Veronica just smiled. "Yeah, but at least he doesn't have a license to carry a gun."
I shuddered and laid my forehead against hers. "This is true."
I took her home a few minutes later and we spent 5 minutes on her door step lost in each other, than another 2 minutes setting up lunch the next day and another date the day after.
After I kissed her one last time I walked towards the parking lot and my car with the biggest smile I'd had in years.
Veronica Mars is my girlfriend…..and it was beyond worth the wait.
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