Chapter 1: Old Habits

Veronica sits in a corner of the living room nursing her can of soda talking with Cassidy Casablancas. The couch is large and comfortable. She is enjoying listening to Cassidy tell her about his latest film project. It's a Saturday night and this is a normal 09er party with good food, loud music, lots of alcohol and no adult supervision. The tiny blonde looks over towards the dance floor when she hears her best friend's raised voice as she argues with her current boyfriend Weevil Navarro.

Frowning as she listens to the loud, angry voices of the arguing couple, Veronica wonders what sparked the fight this time. Veronica had a ringside seat watching her best friend's on-again, off-again relationship with Logan Echolls for over two years. Everyone thought Logan and Lilly would eventually get married but both seemed happy to permanently end their dating relationship. Now they have settled into being friends. At first, Lilly seemed set on dating as many guys as she could telling her friends that she was too fabulous to stay with just one guy. That changed one morning a few months ago when she shocked the students at Neptune High by showing up for school riding on the back of the leader of the PCHer biker gang's motorcycle. Close to Lilly, Veronica quickly saw that her wild best friend had real feelings for Weevil and once Veronica got over her shock, she liked the strong, quiet gang leader. Now Lilly is falling into the same routine with Weevil as she had with Logan. She would be happy with Weevil and things looked good. Then the next thing you knew, Lily would find another guy and have a huge fight with Weevil. When she got bored with whatever guy she found, she would get back with Weevil.

Veronica tilts her head as she thinks. Weevil has been good for Lilly and Veronica knows Lilly cares for the biker. It would be a real shame if Lilly let her problems at home and her insecurities break up the good thing she has with Weevil. As far as Veronica can see, he grounds Lilly and she needs that in her life. While Veronica and the other Neptune High students watch the stage show, Weevil shakes off Lilly's arm and leaves the room abruptly. Quickly, Veronica decides it is time she stepped in and made Lilly think about what she really wants and needs. It is past time to start her plan to help her best friend. Decision made, the tiny blonde puts her drink down and excuses herself. With light steps she slips past Lilly who is now dancing wildly with Casey Gant, rubbing against him. Veronica quietly reaches the patio door and steps outside turning towards the front driveway of the mansion.

Across the room, Logan sees Weevil and Lilly's fight and smirks. He is grateful that he is away from that whole roller-coaster relationship. Part of the Fab Four as the high school students call them, Logan figured that someday he would marry Lilly Kane and live close to her brother Duncan who would marry Veronica Mars. A few months back, he and Lilly broke up. After a few weeks, he was deeply upset to discover that Lilly had genuine feelings for her new guy. Fortunately for Logan, his friendship with Duncan and Veronica grounded him when he felt insecure and alone. The truth is, he didn't try to get his life in order at first. No, he partied, drank, and dated too much but as time went on, he began to see that Duncan and Veronica were still his friends and that his breakup with Lilly wasn't going to change that. Now that Duncan and Veronica have broken up, Logan thinks he will follow his heart and try to date Veronica. He has loved her since he first saw her on the soccer field but he knew his best friend Duncan who is a perfect, golden boy loved her so he stepped aside. He felt he was a better match for the wild, sexy Lilly Kane. Now he and Lilly were done and inexplicably , Duncan and Veronica have broken up and they both seem Ok with it. Lately, Logan has been drinking less, partying less, and has not been dating other girls. The other students have noticed and he knows there is a lot of talk about what is going on with him.

The simple fact is Logan has decided to see if he can have a relationship with Veronica. Slowly, surely Logan had been getting closer to Veronica. At times he feels like there is more between them but he just doesn't know how she feels about them as a couple. As Logan watches Lilly start to dance suggestively with Casey, he notices Veronica put down her drink and leave the room. He follows her to see where she is going. When he gets to the door, he is just in time to see her catch up to Weevil who is sitting on his bike preparing to leave. Logan remains by the door watching as Veronica and Weevil talk. Veronica puts her hand on his arm and then Logan stands in shock as Weevil looks at Veronica and then reaches back and hands her a helmet. Logan sees Veronica put on the helmet and then climb on the back of Weevil's bike. Veronica puts her arms around Weevil and they leave the party together.

Dick and Madison walk out on the patio just in time to see Veronica put on the helmet and leave with Weevil. Dick asks in his loud voice, "Was that Veronica and Weevil?" Madison smirks and goes back into the party. Logan sighs as he knows that she is going to make sure everyone knows about Weevil and Veronica.

The following Monday at school Veronica arrives with Lilly. The 09ers watch as there is no change in their relationship. Veronica and Lilly are talking as usual and there doesn't seem to be any tension between them. They are still obviously best friends.

Madison is shocked. She ran back into the party to tell Lilly that Veronica left with Weevil. Lilly had rudely told Madison that Veronica would never step out on her and then had drunkenly said, "Besides Ronica is in love."

Logan standing close enough to hear had been worried. Lilly and Veronica told each other almost everything. If Veronica was interested in someone else, Lilly would know. The thing that really worried Logan is that Lilly said Veronica was in love. Logan knew she was over Duncan. Who else had she been with lately? Who could she be in love with? Maybe the guy didn't go to Neptune. Logan had gone home shortly after but had spent the rest of the weekend wondering who Veronica loved.