Chapter One

I stare out of the window as the plane I'm in goes over the Pacific ocean. Sighing I turn up the music in my headphones.

My name is Victoria Mars or Tori for short, and I'm currently on my way home after spending the last semester as an American student in Australia. It was a great opportunity and I met some great people and that is what I will be telling everyone who asks me how my trip was.

" Welcome to Neptune please stay seated until we make a complete stop and thank you for choosing Sky Airlines. " One of the flight attendants says over the intercom.

Yawning I stand and stretch. Reaching up into the overhead compartment I grab my carry-on and wait my turn to exit the plane. It's about six PM when I get to my luggage and see my dad and Veronica waiting. A huge grin is on his face and he reaches to hug me tightly.

" Oh, you're blonde! Did you have a safe flight, sweetie? " He asks tearing up a little.

I hate seeing my dad cry. " No, I died like six times. " I say sarcastically to change the mood.

He laughs. " God I've missed that sense of humor. "

" Hey, sis. " I say to the girl staring right through me.

Her slight glare turns into a full-on glare and I glare right back. " Fine don't say anything. " I mumble before grabbing my bags.

Veronica is my older sister. Okay, so eight months isn't that much older but still. How are we only eight months apart you ask? I'm adopted. I've known pretty much my whole life. With my olive toned skin and my used to be natural curly black hair, it's kind of obvious to everyone.

My dad was just a deputy at the sheriff's department when my bio mom left me with the receptionist. They already had Veronica, but my dad always treated me like I shared DNA... My mom... Eh, but whatever. Everything was great until about ten months ago when my sister's best friend Lily Kane was murdered.

Veronica got into high school and immediately made friends with the most popular people. I, on the other hand, didn't care much for them. They were nothing but rich snobs and Lily was one of the worst. It didn't matter that I wasn't even a year younger she refused to speak to me. When she was around Veronica acted as if I didn't exist.

Her death shook the whole town to its core. My dad was the sheriff and he had a lot of pressure on him to find who did it. For one reason or another, he felt that Jake Kane, Lily's father, was guilty since things didn't add up at the scene of the crime. The whole 90909 zip code went on a witch hunt and got him thrown out of office. As a result, Veronica and I suffered for it at school.

She had it way worse than I did since she was her best friend and in that crowd, but I had my share of haters. It came from all sides. The rich, the poor, even my best friend. Let's not get into that. Too many good memories were flushed down the drain and I couldn't deal so I entered an essay in a writing contest. The first prize was to go to Australia for a semester abroad and I actually won. Getting away from that awful place for a while has really done me well. Now I'm going back...

September 1st, 2004

The summer went by quickly. A little too quickly. I mostly worked and played my guitar. Every girl needs a hobby. Music is mine.

I wake up the morning of the first day of school and sigh. Here we go, Tori, you're about to walk into the lion's den with no allies. Should be fine right?

I shower quickly and go back to my room. My polka-dotted underwear set is right at the top of my drawer and I slip into them. Looking through my half-unpacked suitcases I find my low rise boot cut jeans and pair them with a brown t-shirt. I put them on and loop a thin black belt through my jeans. Putting the necklace dad got me for my last birthday on I take a look at my makeup in the mirror.

Once I'm fully dressed and in my gray high tops, I head out into our living room/kitchen. Dad and Veronica are already there eating waffles. I sit down at the table where my plate is already made.

" Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I'm glad I can now share it with both of my daughters again. " He says happily.

Veronica rolls her eyes and I grimace suddenly losing my appetite. I eat half of the waffles just to appease dad but that's all. What does she have to be so mad about anyway? It's not like I cut her out of my life and then move to Australia. She cut me out and then expected me to stay and get bullied with her every day. No.

After putting my plate in the sink I grab the keys to my old red Grande Prix and get my backpack. " I'll see you later pops. " I say opening the door.

" Have a great day honey. " He calls after me.

Pulling up to Neptune high is bittersweet. So many memories both good and bad happened here. Locking my car I head in thanking God that I'm early enough to avoid the huge crowd that is sure to come within the next twenty minutes.

Going into the office I get my schedule, locker number, and sign my re-enrollment papers. My locker is right by my homeroom, which is nowhere near any of my other classes. Awesome.

Once I get everything situated I take a quick look around. The hallway is empty so I turn my attention back to the books I need for calculus and geography. The next thing I know I hear heavy footsteps coming from behind me.

" Well well well look who decided to come home. " Comes an accented voice from behind me.

Turning around I come face to face with a smiling Eli, or I hear Weevil as he goes by now. Seeing him throws me off. I'm speechless. Over the summer we saw each other around... But he always left without so much as a head nod. We weren't on the best of terms before I left or before Lily died to be more exact so I guess it's normal. What isn't is him acting like we're still on good terms out of nowhere.

" The torture that is Neptune high keeps calling my name... " I say turning back to my locker.

He looks at me strangely with his pretty brown eyes. " What? Aren't you happy to see me? "

I move my lips to speak but nothing comes out. Is he for real right now? What kind of games is he playing?

" Yo Weevil! "

He looks down the hall at one of his friends and then back at me. " Later. "

Once they're out of sight I lean against my locker and sigh. How tongue-tied and stupid can I get? Shaking off the humiliation I walk to my first class and hope the rest of the day goes better.